By the time Loki, Isla and Njall made it back to the city, Loki's lips were pursed together so tightly were white. The winter storm had subsided, but it was nothing compared to what was building in the King. Isla glanced at him, squirming in her saddle as her her brows furrowed in worry. She'd never had a sibling before. She knew he was upset, but what on earth was she supposed to do? He was her younger brother and an unfamiliar part of her psyche urged her to protect him, but she hadn't the faintest idea how to act on it. Or if he'd even let her. She sighed. At least he wasn't pouting.
Loki took no notice of his sister's discomfort. He was locked in his own head, ruminating on what he could have done differently when Signe was taken. He should've fought for her. He was her husband, her protector. She was the mother of his child. Njall needed her and he failed to keep her safe. Loki's knuckles cracked audibly as he fingered his reigns with such a grip that the leather squeaked. He should not have married. He wasn't a fit for such a sacred union, let alone parenting. How long until he son was taken from him as well? As he rode, the King's back was ramrod straight and his horse's ears swiveled anxiously, picking up on his rider's despair.
Servants met the siblings at the stables and took the horses as Loki took a moment to check on his son. Njall's impending over-tired squawks had begun and his father knew it wasn't long until the little boy dissolved into tears. Loki felt the urge to do the same.
Silently Isla and Loki stalked back to the castle, ice from the previous days' storm crunching under their heavily booted feet. Once inside, Loki refused to make eye contact with his sister. Being without his wife made him vulnerable in a way he had never imagined possible, and she was not permitted to see him in such a state. No one was.
"Have my dinner delivered this evening. I will eat in my rooms tonight. Good day, Sister."
Silently he turned and briskly scaled the white marbled stairs with his son.
Isla glowered at his back. Muttering to herself about not looking like a servant, she turned on her heel and summoned a maid to deliver Loki's message to the kitchens.
On his way up the stairs, the baby started squirming and whining restlessly and Loki doubled his speed at the telltale signs of an imminent tantrum. Njall wailed and fussed for "Mama" until his face took on an unpleasant deeper shade of blue. When the cries turned into inconsolable shrieking, a part of Loki broke. He needed his wife. Needed her to comfort both of them, because he didn't know how to soothe himself nor his child. He held Njall to his chest, rubbing his back until eventually the baby tired himself out. His screaming reduced to the stuttered breathing of a child who cried too hard as he lay his head on his father's shoulder and drifted off to sleep.
For some time, Loki held his son, quietly walking about the room as the child slept. The father couldn't let go of Njall, as if putting him down risked losing him forever. What if he couldn't get the Casket? What if he was too late? He'd failed his wife in every way possible. Njall whimpered and Loki hugged the baby to his chest, determined not to fail him as well.
Though reluctant to let his boy go, Loki eventually placed Njall in his protected and soundproof bassinette. The King paced back and forth alongside his sleeping child. With his son out of his arms, he finally allowed himself to feel the rage. Normally, his anger was stormy and subtle, if not rather passive aggressive. It was quiet. The terrified rage he felt now was anything but. His fists clenched and unclenched as he walked, quietly muttering violent threats. He needed to destroy something, someone. He wanted everyone to feel the agony he did.
Loki started at the knock at his door. Ready to explode at whoever dared disturb him, the King answered to find Isla flocked with several ladies in waiting. He took a breath and held it, still deciding whether or not he was angry at her for interrupting his brooding. She spoke first.
"I thought we might speak."
With agitation Loki ushered her in, rudely shutting out the other women without a second thought. He scowled at her.
"What?"
Isla clasped her hands together before speaking.
"We need to discuss the Casket. Jötunheim needs it, but we also need it for your wife. Is it realistically something your fath—."
"He is not my father. I am no Odinson," Loki snarled.
Isla huffed. She knew he was upset, but really. She was trying to help.
"I apologize. Do you think the King will realistically gift you the Casket?"
Loki glared at her and idly cracked his knuckles, gaze fixated on the window. The barren land stretched on forever. How would he even find his wife in this wasteland? His shoulders sank.
"There was nothing I could do to stop them," he murmured.
Isla was not expecting to see such an unprotected side of her brother. Tentatively she approached him and patted his arm.
"I know. Loki, we will get her back."
"I—. I do not know what to do. I cannot drag Njall to Asgard and back to fetch the Casket. It is far too dangerous for a baby."
The Princess thought for a moment, then frowned and shifted uncomfortably as an idea dawned on her.
"Er, the child could stay here. With me, I mean. I could… care for him, while you're away," his sister offered.
"Absolutely not."
The Princess threw up her hands and sighed.
"What do you want me to do, then? Go get the Casket myself? That went well the first time."
Realization dawned on Loki's face and immediately Isla shook her head, her ruby eyes narrowing.
"No. No, no, no. I will not go back and drink tea with your ladies."
"No, of course not. But you could go to Thor."
"Your oaf brother?"
Loki couldn't help but smile darkly. They really were related.
"Yes, that one."
"And what then? Seduce the Casket out of him?"
Loki's grin was nothing but cunning. Isla's cheeks burned with embarrassment.
"I may not have royal blood, but I am no whore," she hissed.
The King sighed and thumbed at his lip in thought.
"Then do not seduce him. Just… Enchant him. Thor likes women, Odin likes Thor. Odin will give Thor the Casket. It will be easy."
The Princess hesitated and shifted her weight from foot to foot.
"I'm not saying I'm going to do it, but if I were going to—If I went back to Asgard and got the Casket, will you promise to stay? Here? To rule Jötunheim and return it to what it once was?"
Loki wandered to the window and stared out at the barren land. So much ice and snow and nothingness. Was this planet indicative of the life he would lead here? Even if he got her back, Signe may refuse to stay. The King would understand if she took Njall and returned to Asgard without him. He sighed. He could only hope that she'd forgive him.
"I will stay. If you succeed in bringing the Casket. Signe and I will rule. We will raise our family here."
Isla released a breath neither realized she'd been holding.
"Then I'll go. We'll do this together."
x
It took some convincing to get back into the palace at Asgard, for which she had no patience. After arguing and bullying her way through the guards, she stormed through the corridors, using her height to intimidate anyone that got in her way. Isla was exhausted and cranky and needed to find the idiot blonde before any harm became Signe. Eventually she was able to frighten the location of Thor's rooms from a young servant. Isla banged on his door with her fist.
"Thor!"
After some giggling and a shriek, the big man poked his head out from his room, brows raising in surprise.
"Princess?"
"Get rid of her. Now," Isla snapped.
Thor had the decency to blush as he motioned back into his room.
"Oh, we are only just beg—."
"She leaves, now."
A pouty, partially clad woman emerged from his rooms a minute later. Her gaze was positively murderous when she looked at Isla jealously. The Jötun rolled her eyes.
"I don't want him. He's all yours. Come back later."
The Princess pushed her way into Thor's chambers and seated herself, crossing one leg over the other.
"Not that it's not wonderful to see you, Lady Isla, but where is Loki?"
"Loki is ruling Jötunheim. Signe was taken, you need to get the Casket from Odin in order to get her back," she said bluntly.
Thor baulked.
"Princess Signe? She was kidnapped? Wha—."
"I don't have time for your questions. We must move quickly. How do you think Loki will react if any harm befalls your sister-in-law?"
Thor's normally jovial face fell.
"Oh."
"Yeah. "Oh,'" Isla muttered.
Disappearing around the corner, Thor fetched his armor and returned, standing before the fire. He began donning it piece by piece. For several beats the Princess watched him fiddle with buckles and straps as her foot twitched with irritation.
"We don't have time for this," the Princess grumbled, rising and advancing towards him. She snatched up a piece of metal and leather.
"Where does this go?"
Thor pointed to his shoulder and Isla began strapping the armor together, vaguely registering the thickly corded muscle beneath her fingers. Not bad for an Asgardian. The joint effort saw Thor dressed in record time. He looked down and admired their work.
"Impressive," he said with a grin.
The giantess rolled her eyes and headed for the door.
They strode from his rooms in search of the King. Isla stood a head taller than Thor and he had to walk faster than normal to keep her pace. The several times he fell behind, he gazed appreciatively at her backside. Casually he engaged in conversation as they trekked.
"It is not often a female bests me physically. Do you spar?"
Isla stopped dead in her tracks and looked down at the Prince.
"You have no idea what I'm capable of. Do not invite a fight you can't handle."
Thor chuckled but remained silent the rest of their way.
When they found him, Odin was in the Throne Room with a Vana diplomat. Both men looked up in surprise at the strange pair before them. The blue woman, horribly uncomfortable in front of the Aesir king, looked at her feet, deferring to her royal counterpart.
"Father, I apologize for the interruption. I'm afraid it's an urgent matter that cannot wait."
Odin's eyes flicked back and forth between his son and the giantess.
"Very well. Please, excuse us for just a moment."
The ambassador nodded and left the room and Odin glared at the pair.
"My son, there had better be a good reason for bombarding me in the middle of a meeting."
"There is, I'm afraid. I am here to ask fo—."
"The Casket is not up for discussion."
"Father, you don't know the situation, if you would just listen—."
Odin shook his head again.
Isla had had enough of the Odin's blatant disrespect for Loki.
"You old fool," Isla spat at the King. "You were his father once. Do you care nothing for Loki? His wife has been taken and we need to Casket in order to return her safely. Though you act aloof and ignorant, you know Loki better than most. You know of his darkness, of what he's capable of if any harm comes to her. No one in the Nine Realms will be safe from his wrath. That little boy is the only thing tethering him to reality right now. We need the Casket."
Thor cleared his throat, impressed by the Jötun's speech. He chimed in.
"We are not leaving without the artifact, my King." It was rare Thor used such a title with his father.
"And if I give you the Casket, yet harm befalls Signe anyway, what then? Loki will be twice as powerful. No one would be able to stop him from wreaking havoc."
"The power within the Casket can be transferred. The pure energy within is what Jötunheim needs. Signe's captors won't be able to tell the difference between an empty, glowing box and the real thing. That way we retrieve the Queen and the Casket never touches anyone's hands but mine."
Both Thor and Odin's brows rose at "Queen."
"Loki has agreed to rule Jötunheim," Isla explained uncomfortably.
For a moment Odin's eyes blazed with fury, but he took a deep breath and spoke, surprising both Isla and Thor.
"He will make a fine ruler," Odin murmured to himself.
Isla's brows rose in surprise, but she nodded in agreement.
"He will. But first we must retrieve Lady Signe. And we can only do that with the Casket."
Odin shook his head.
"As Keeper of the Nine Realms, I cannot in good faith release the Casket into your possession. You will find another way."