Loki sits in his study pouring over a mountain of scrolls demanding the attention of the king. He has not managed to accomplish a thing. His mind is still lingering on Thor. He's in love with him, damn it all! His mind came to a rapid solution which is so outlandish its failure is assured. In order for Thor and Loki to be together Loki would have to both expose his Jotunn heritage and turn into a woman so that Thor could put his heir in his womb. He's done it once before with Sleipnir, he could do it again with Thor's child. But what would that make him? Would Loki still be considered the King? Or because he's transformed into a woman (however temporarily) to bear them a child, would that make him the Queen. Or would Loki still be King and Thor the King's consort? Would the people of Asgard even allow it? Does Loki even have the courage to tell the world the truth about his heritage? He doesn't even know how to answer these questions. He needs guidance, and the one person he would normally turn to is currently trying to marry him off to someone else. Loki shakes his head and redoubles his focus on the task at hand. He will figure something out. In the meantime he and Thor need to be discreet.
Loki and Thor are not very discreet, as far as Sif can see it. This past month she has never seen Loki happier in the whole of his life. He smiles all the time now. He never used to do that. Thor smiles a lot too, but only a former lover of his would notice the difference between his jolly everyday smile and the smile Thor gives Loki when their eyes meet. Sif boils with jealousy because she cannot recall Thor ever smiling at her like that when they were together. Thor was always a gentle, loving, and kind man but it didn't shake the feeling Sif always had that she loved him more then he loved her. Moreover, she now realizes that Thor was never physically attracted to her. Most of the time when they made love she was on all fours with her ass in the air, hiding her large breasts and downplaying her voluptuous curves.
If the two royal brothers are found to be having an incestuous affair the scandal would rock the entire nine realms. As much as Sif dislikes Loki she doesn't want the entire kingdom to fall into ruin because of their sexual perversity. For the good of the kingdom, Sif will keep her mouth shut. Thor needs to be King. Loki grows crueler to the people of Asgard with each passing day. The only people Loki shows any tenderness towards are his family. Loki is really good at crushing Asgard's enemies and running the business of the realm as a whole, but when it comes to showing kindness and mercy to individual citizens, Loki is severely lacking. Thor has the opposite problem. He is too kind hearted. He is relearning his warrior skills, but he is no longer the battle harden killer he used to be. Though Sif knows Thor can become that again in time, she doubts time is on his side. The people of Asgard are growing restless under Loki's rule. The other day Loki turned down additional funding to an orphanage because the headmaster is an old political enemy of his. Loki has been busy getting revenge on everyone that ever snubbed him. Frigga took care of it afterward, but such incidents cannot continue. Eventually Frigga will succumb to old age as well. Sif needs to speak with Frigga about her concerns.
Frigga receives a knock on her door. The guard announces the Lady Sif is requesting a formal audience with her. Frigga has been expecting Sif for a while now. She is surprised it took her this long to seek her out.
"Come in my dear. It has been ages since we last spoke." Frigga greets Sif warmly.
"My Queen, there is something I must address with you most urgently." Sif says.
"I'm the Queen Mother now dear. Under different circumstances you would have been Queen." Frigga says.
"Queen Mother it has come to my attention that Thor and Loki…..I believe….I have suspicions that they are together…intimately." Sif says with fear and trepidation. She looks Frigga in the eyes to see her reaction. She knows the accusation she is leveling serious. Frigga keeps calm. If Sif wanted to spurn Thor for abandoning her she could have made her suspicions public. That she came to her first is a good sign. Sif may well be of some use.
"And if I confirmed your suspicions, what would you do?" Frigga asks her. Sif is shocked! Frigga knows and is permitting it!
"Queen Mother, how can you let your children cavort in such a way? They are brothers!"
"Loki is King now and will do as he pleases, as you well know."
"He is cruel to the people my Queen. There are whisperings among the people. They are not happy."
"Yes I know. Loki's political enemies have been hard at work to undermine Loki, including Loki himself. He is his own worst enemy Sif. The power of the throne is corrupting him."
"Is there naught we can do? Can Thor speak to him on the matter?"
"You know Loki will only do things that are his own idea. He must come to a conclusion himself. If we try to push him he will retaliate. Speaking to Loki directly on the matter is unwise for Thor, and unsafe."
"Loki would never step down voluntarily and hand the reins to Thor. He's competed with Thor his whole life for the crown. He will not give it up now." Sif says.
"He would for love Sif. He'd kill Thor in an instant as a rival but as a lover he'd do anything to please him. Loki's cruelty and disregard for the people of Asgard may ultimately be what convinces him that he no longer wishes to be king. In truth I don't think Loki really wanted the crown to begin with. I think, for once in his life, he just wanted to outshine Thor."
"But they are brothers they cannot be together in that way. Whether it is Thor on the throne or Loki, they are both men. One of them would have to marry and produce an heir."
"Loki is a talented shape shifter, lest you forget. Bearing Thor a child is not an obstacle. As to them being brothers….there is something I need to tell you."
XxXxXxXxXx
Thor, Sif, and the Warriors Three return from an excursion into the Ice Mountains of VanHilda. An ice dragon had awoken from its thousand year slumber and had taken to eating the villagers down in the valley. It is the opportunity Sif and Frigga have been waiting for. Stones from the gizzard of an Ice Dragon are large beautiful green stones, prized for making necklaces. They are also used to dampen magic spells. Sorcerers hate them. If Loki were to touch one his camouflage would disappear instantly and everyone would see him for what he really is. The people would demand his abdication and Thor's succession. Sif is carrying one of the stones in her satchel. At Loki's name day in two weeks she will present it to him as a gift. Though she will say it is but a large emerald.
Thor walks back to his room to shower and change. It is late and he is eager to see Loki. They have both taken to using the private royal corridors only used by the royal family. Thor has concerns about Loki's rule. The more time he spends out among his friends and people the more he learns about Asgard, about Loki, and about himself. On more than one occasion Thor has had to defend his brother with praise. Thor is complimented regularly for his growth and dedication to relearning all he has forgotten, but people are saying things to him that are actually backhanded insults towards Loki. It angers Thor. Some of the things they say are just plain wrong, but others are truer than Thor would like them to be. It bothers him. He does not want to question his brother's judgment or methods, but he is beginning to worry that Loki is turning into someone he will not love.
He walks the secret hall to Loki's chambers and crawls into bed next to him, pulling him close. Loki stirs awake and turns to meet his eyes.
"How did it go?" Loki asks Thor. He's been worried sick all day that Thor would be injured again, and this time with Loki not around to save him.
"We slayed the beast easily. How was your day?" Thor asks. Loki is ashamed to tell Thor what he did today. He did something he is not proud of, though it felt good at the time. Revenge feels so good, but Loki knows a good king does not mistreat his people so. If only Thor were further along on his recuperation, Loki could lean on him more, maybe ask him to fill in at court listening to the petitions of the people for help from the king. He'd stripped a nobleman of his title and land and tossed him into the dungeons all because of a backhanded compliment the man had the gall to say to Loki's face. Odin would never have done such a thing. He was a better man than that, then again he was also more respected. In one fell swoop Loki has managed to turn all the nobles against him. He can't keep this up.
"It was…fine. Thor? Would you be interested in attending some of the council meetings with me tomorrow? I could use your guidance. I am not good at winning the hearts of the people." Loki asks. Thor kisses his forehead.
"It would be my honor my love."
"How I managed to win your heart I will never understand." Loki says.
"You don't need to."