This CH is more of an intermediate but don't worry soon things will escalate:P For all those rooting for Loki Angst and war don't worry your blood thirst shall be sated in due time:P


CH7

It was around three in Asgardian time though the sky seemed to remain dim as if the planet had no sunset or sunrise but was plunged in eternal darkness. Loki was not one to give up easily but after perusing about twenty tomes of Jotun history he decided to take a break. During his reading he found out that quit a few of the customs Asgard had were observed on Jotunheim as well. Particularly the hierarchy and the social structure though women appeared to have an equal standing with the men even though they usually did not join the army. And like on Asgard magic was neither shunned nor encouraged rather another weapon to heal or fight. The main difference was that Mages were considered on equal if not on a more equal pedestal then ordinary warriors.

He pushed the twenty first tome away. Hadn't anyone thought to label these? He was looking for the Jotun Kings family history not what food and customs were observed during the yearly winter solstice.

He walked to the door muttering a curse as he nearly walked into a tray of food. Hungry as he was he decided a walk would do him good. He lifted the tray and studied it. The food looked foreign though he could identify what a few of the items were supposed to be a substitute for.

One of the frost giants of which were standing on either side of his door eyed him as curiously as Loki had just eyed his dinner. Now that Loki thought about it these guards were only slightly more built than a normal StarGaurd though that could simply appear that way because they wore no armor on their chests. Loki put the platter aside and raised an eyebrow at the guard. "Yes?" He questioned, these guards seemed just as bold as the ones on Asgard it was amusing and refreshing all the same.

The guard's friend gave him a shoulder shove "I apologize my lord I meant no disrespect." The first guard replied hastily now eyeing him fearfully.

This would never do. "Call me Loki or Ambassador." It's what he was anyway and it felt like a far lighter load then your highness or my prince. "Anyway what are your names?" If he was going to stay here he might as well know the name of his captors. Now both guards were staring at him. Loki frowned, he had just read twenty one and a half tomes trying to piece a puzzle a task he had epically failed to do. He was not in the mood for anymore guessing games. "What? Why are you staring at me like I've turned you hair green?" He was beginning to like the sound of that idea though a part of him reminded him that as an ambassador he would be breaching quite a few inter realm laws though being prince he would probably get away with it.

"My name is Fanzel and this is Cai," the first guard replied cracking a smile, "I apologize for my bluntness but you're not two headed." Loki stared at him blankly.

Cai who seemed older of the two now that he looked more carefully at their facial features ran a hand over the sharp edge of a spear he was holding. "What Fanzel meant to say my lord is that many tales were told to our young ones about you and your family obviously exaggerated but rather hard to forget."

"Yes," Fanzel added in, "Although you are not arrogant most Asgardians are my prince. But that might be perhaps because the Jotun blood in you is more demanding."

"I see," Loki replied "Do you know where your king went?" The gaurds didn't seem to mind his wording and replied that he was currently taking care of matters of the realm. But he was free to roam around if he so chose. He didn't care about Jotunheim but if Asgard was going to war it would be best to see the enemy's defenses. Upon leaving the room he found himself in a military encampment of sorts. He was greeted by a frost giant only slightly taller than him but just as wide in the chest as Thor.

"Hello cousin."


My cousin from Asgard was too small for my liking. I'm not saying all of us frost giants are twelve feet tall and just as wide but he seemed small even for an Aesir to me.

He didn't wear a belt with the skulls of Jotun babies and though I wasn't as clever as Byleistr I obviously knew that part wasn't real. Though I was half expecting him to pull out a sword and try to run me through with it. Which he didn't do so he must either like me a lot or the rumors about Asgardian's killing every frost giant they saw was only a myth.

"Hello cousin, I'm Helblindi!" I greeted him hoping I didn't sound as excited as I did when I found out my brother was alive. Byleistr asked me to show him around he will never show it but he is happy as a drunken snow leopard that he won't have to take the throne. It strange that most Asgardian's would jump at the thought of ruling but as wise Orduin said sometimes the one who wishes to rule is not as good a choice as one who rejects power.

He eyed me warily like I was about to pounce him. Well I did get looks like those when I was younger since I was always rather big for my age but fortunately I stopped growing. "Are you my tour guide?"

"I believe I am?" I answered hesitantly the word guide was known to me but what was a tour? He nodded though I sensed he didn't seem too happy about that. It's strange really I don't have magic but sometimes I can simply discern the mood of others particularly if the feeling is strong. It's why I don't like hanging around the village much theirs always too much suffering in the air.

He stared at me expectantly. "Come," he followed. "Where are we going?" He asked me at length. His aura kept shifted too much to be healthy. "I assume since you might be king one day you will have to meet all the generals at least?"

He stopped at that. "And if I don't wish to be king." I tilted my head in confusion, "Why not? Surely it's not a bad thing?"

"But if I don't wish it?" He pressed. I shrugged "Then I suppose Byleistr will be king."

"So Byleistr doesn't care if someone simply comes and steals his birthright?" I couldn't understand what he was getting at. "He never wanted to be ruler of the realm." It didn't look like he believed me. Was it really that difficult to understand? My brother did not want to be king there was more to it than but it was not my place to say.


Loki frowned internally. No one gave up the title King easily. Something was missing. The camp was well armed, though without support from at least Alfheim the jotuns would be no match for Asgard. Upon walking around the camp he had noted quite a few things. The first being the bigger the frost giants the, how should he put it simpler they were not in the sense that they were idiots but in the sense that they were more like Thor relying on their physical prowess while those smaller seemed to be focusing on honing their minds. Another thing he noticed was the older the frost giant was the more of both he had, even if not brute strength then a strength of experience similarly to an older large frost giant who was more cautious from his own slip ups in experience.

The idea of growth intrigued him. On midgard one had little time so they were forced to change with their bodies but on Asgard all was the same and very little ever changed.

Helblindi brought him before a few generals a few brushed him off as harmless though he himself thought they knew better. At length he came to a tent with its flaps wide open. Helbindi pointed him out as General Mimir.

This general however was different. He was massive in size but was playing Kal To against himself, a game similar to midgardian chess but with more rules, requiring quite a tactician on both ends. He frowned at Loki. "Will you join me?" It was a demand.

He didn't say my prince? So, someone finally taking him seriously this would be entertaining. He slid opposite Mimir who he judged would be thirteen feet when standing.

They played in silence. But of course that could not be allowed after all a game usually revealed much about a person. "You do not like me much? You think I'm an Asgardian to the core?"

The general looked back at him and though his face was stoic his eyes held all the realms in their grasp. "Yes, I do." It was a surprise Helblindi remained silent he wasn't very similar to Thor after all or maybe he didn't care either way on what was being said. This would prove an interesting game indeed.


Lady Sif hastily dressed into her uniform wanting to start the day she was assigned. After all precious time was being wasted.

She still would go back to her chamber in the palace at nights but other than that she had agreed to do all else as a warrior.

She was stationed at the end of the hall guarding a door. It was tedious work and became rather annoying when the guard assigned to the door with her began to strike up a conversation obviously flirting with her.

After her shift she entered the armory to put her spear back. She heard loud voices of soldiers making jests and jokes. She smiled to herself. Soon women would be a part of this world too. She entered and placed her spear on the stand. She froze, something wasn't right, the talking had stopped. She slowly turned around. She could see a few men were still talking but most like her were placing back their training gear or weapons because their shift ended were staring at her.

It was her teenage years all over being ostracized for wanting to fight, being tripped on purpose. But no just like then she wouldn't give in. "What?" she asked never seen a women before?"

One of the men, Regas snorted. "We were just wondering with Lif here why it is her highness forgave you."

Sif glared back, "I don't remember doing anything to be worthy of rebuke." She snapped back.

"Oh really," taunted Lif, "What about your little declaration at court yesterday?"

"If the queen decided to reward me for opening my eyes to her sons treachery then what off it, jealous that you weren't the one to tell her?" Men they were so laughable truly.

"I don't think you understand." Regas interrupted icily "You may have weaseled your way into the StarGaurd because of your status but let's make quit a few things clear you wench, the royal family is under our protection the entire family. And if you can't get it into your pretty little head that it is our sworn job not to accuse but defend all particularly prince Loki from harm then there's the door." He hissed.

"What did you call me!" Sif snapped shaking from rage her hand on her hilt. "Say it again, I challenge you to say it again!"

"What wench?" Regal laughed and Lif joined him and soon everyone would be laughing like they did when she first lifted a sword and lost her balance. She pulled her sword out. "Defend yourself you halfwit!"

At that moment Lieutenant Angborn walked in only to be met with Sif pointing a sword to Regal's neck. "What is the meaning of this?" he snapped lower your weapon!

Sif immediately sheathed it realizing what she had done. Regal shot her a smile practically begging her to smear it off with her fist. Suddenly a thought crossed her, he had known Angborn would enter it was all planned out oh she played right into his trap she was so foolish. "I, I'm sorry!"

"Come with me," the lieutenant snapped, "And forfeit your sword to me." It was an order, hesitantly she obeyed as he marched her down the halls.

"I apologize but your men antagonized me, they impeded my honor!"

Angborn stopped and turned to face her. "My lady there are rules, one may never point a sword at another one of the StarGaurd with the intention to fight unless they have committed treason! If such a thing occurs and it has not in six centuries the Guard loses his right to remain as a guard at the royal palace."

"But he was defending a traitor!"

A scowl crossed Angborn's face. "We all know what you think of our prince. But the moment you don your armor you lose your sense of self. Your duty is to serve only one thing Asgard."

"But he told me so himself!" Sif angrily exclaimed as the Lieutenant opened a door to the lower levels. "Where are you taking me?"

Angborn sighed. "I am helping you my lady. At this very moment I have a right to throw you out in shame from the guard. In shame because you couldn't even last a day as a guard."

"Why don't you then?" she taunted. "You want me to owe you a favor?"

"Regardless of what you or others may think I do believe you are a good warrior and women if they so desire could become great warriors as well." He opened one of the cells and motioned for her to enter.

"Is this my punishment then?" She asked entering with her head held high. "To rot down here for a century?"

Angborn laughed heartily, "Your mind has a rather dark sense of humor, and no you will stay here for the night and tomorrow return to your duties."

Sif smirked so the gaurds did know Loki was a traitor this was simply protocol! "I don't understand if you know Loki is a traitor why don't you say something?"

Angborn slid the prison shut and frowned. "You should know Sif the StarGaurd does not believe the prince a traitor. And even if he had allowed the Jotuns in the vault and caused the deaths of two of my men he must have had a good reason to do so!"

"Your loyalty to Loki might one day get you killed as well; he has already killed two for his whims he might not stop there." She smirked.

"Do you know why I am loyal to him? Why I don't believe he intended their deaths?" Angborn questioned his voice dropping dangerously. "Because those two guards, he knew them, their names their lives their dreams. Let me tell you something Lady Sif. Badmouthing him won't get you points with the guard I can assure you of that. Neither will it raise you in my eyes and trust me you want me to like you. And I believe he is Prince Loki or simply your highness to you now that you're part of the StarGaurd because I do not think you even deserve to say his name."

Angborn locked the cell walking away his heavy footsteps echoing in the halls. Leaving Sif to wonder where she had gone wrong and what had Loki done to the royal guards to make them follow him so. She sighed. It would be a long night.


And Sif got what she wanted:P