Chapter 8 –Return to Idavoll

Three years ago Idavoll, the capital city of Asgard, had been a badly damaged mess. Blood had stained the streets, rubble and shattered glass everywhere, the remnants of the Bifröst scattered as far as the city outskirts. To the south had lain the Astronomy Institute's remains, while to the west the mountains bore terrible scars from the Bifröst's blast. Even as Loki had departed a year later the city had been a cracked reflection of itself.

Now, as Loki returned, he found that much had been restored, though perhaps in a new way. The Bifröst had been reconstructed, but its shimmer was subtler and full of new colours. The observatory was not gold, but dark silver, reflecting the stars. Homes had been restored, and new stained glass windows lined the main streets, depicting hundreds of moments in Asgard's history.

Likewise the people seemed changed as they came in droves to greet Loki. He noticed women wearing trousers and there were men who wore no armour, but fine silks and they carried book bags over their shoulders. As the king's party travelled towards the palace, they passed the new public library Loki had commissioned, which shone as brilliantly as the Thorstaðr he had built in Thor's honour. It seemed to be quite popular, as evidence by the market stalls that had sprung up around it.

"Welcome back your majesty!" cried a woman's voice.

"Welcome back!"

"Welcome back little princes!"

Jörmungandr, sitting astride his own pony right behind Loki, looked around in surprise and gave a little wave. Loki grinned to himself as they turned a corner onto the processional street, which was the widest and most beautiful part of the city, leading straight to the palace. Most of the city seemed to have crammed itself into this street, waving and cheering to their king. Loki lifted a hand in greeting, smiling faintly as he looked to the palace and saw his mother standing at the huge doors, which were flung open to welcome him.

When he reached the foot of the stairs leading into the palace, Loki slipped off Sleipnir, helped Jörmungandr down from his pony, gave him his great helmet to hold and then strode up the steps to embrace his mother. Her touch seemed to flood him with warmth and he felt his shoulders relax. He was home.


Frigga's first assessment of Loki was that he was far too thin. He had always been lean, but there was a new hollowness to his face that told her more about his mental state than any conversation would. He looked exhausted, as if he had spent many nights awake, and she thought she could see a grey hair or two in his sleek black locks. He hugged her so tight her corset dug into her skin.

"Mother," he breathed, and the word made her think of all the times he had come to her as a boy, the word 'Mama!' falling from his lips as he crawled into her lap, looking for a hug. Frigga wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held him tight, then gently eased him away when he did not let go. She stroked his cheek affectionately, then looked at her grandson. Jörmungandr was hugging the helmet to his chest, the horns arching over his shoulders as he approached them. He also looked too thin for Frigga's taste.

"Jörmungandr!" Frigga reached for him as Loki took the helmet and Jörmungandr hugged her with a slight hesitation. Frigga squeezed him as tight as she had Loki, sighing, "Oh I've missed you sweetling."

"Amma," Jörmungandr muttered, half affectionate, half shy. Frigga's heart seemed to swell in her breast as she held him. How could she have ever let this boy go?

"You'll have to tell me all about your adventures," she said, releasing him and straightening up, touching Loki's arm, "Both of you."

"Amma Frigga?" asked Jörmungandr quietly, "Where's Thundi?"

Frigga smiled and looked over her shoulder where Reifer was standing, his hand on the shoulder of a young blonde boy. Jörmungandr's face lit up.

"Thundi!"

Thundi hesitated for a moment, then threw his arms out as Jörmungandr ran into him. Frigga pressed her hands together, smiling at the boys' delight and looked at Loki who looked slightly strained and sad.

"Thundi! Guess what papa's going to do," said Jörmungandr excitedly.

"Later Jörmungandr!" called Loki. Jörmungandr spun around, nodding as Loki said, "Wait until this evening, when we're all settled, alright?"

Frigga's eyes widened slightly as she looked at Jörmungandr's excited expression and the way he held Thundi's hand, then at Loki's face.

"Have you decided then?" she asked very quietly.

"Later mother," muttered Loki as Hlin appeared at his side carrying Fenrir.

"My Lady," she greeted, curtsying and presenting Fenrir to her. Frigga accepted the baby, beaming down at his chubby cheeks.

"Oh Fenrir, my beautiful boy, look at you!"

Fenrir gurgled and flexed his hands. Frigga looked up to praise Hlin's care, but she saw a dark look pass between Hlin and Loki and they seemed to turn from each other. Frigga raised her eyebrow as Reifer stepped forward and knelt to Loki, hand on his heart.

"My king, I am so glad to see you back with us."

Loki touched Reifer's hair, then his shoulder, rising him to his feet.

"I am glad to be back, knowing you have cared for this city so well at my mother's side Reifer," he said in a clear, carrying voice. Reifer blushed and bowed his head gratefully. Frigga smiled at him.

"He's been invaluable, all your jórsalafarar have."

"I'm glad and grateful," said Loki drawing Reifer closer and saying, "I want a meeting with you all in two hours."

Reifer nodded with a smile, then grunted as Sverrir attempted to tackle him in glee. Frigga took Loki's elbow and said,

"Come inside, reclaim your home. Everything is ready."

Loki smiled and nodded, reaching for Jörmungandr's hand, which he gave, holding Thundi with the other. Loki paused and waved to the crowd. Then everyone bowed as the Royal Family swept into the palace.

"Come," said Frigga again as the cheering from outside was muted, leading them towards the Eastern Wing. "They were finished two months ago."

"That was fast," said Loki.

"They were all eager to work, many of them were your thralls who want to repay your kindness," said Frigga proudly. "Everything has been done exactly as you requested, down to the last details."

"And my things?"

"Those that you placed in my care have not been touched," said Frigga as they all entered the conveyor, Jörmungandr and Thundi whispering excitedly to each other. Hlin was ridged next to Frigga, and Loki was swaying slightly on his feet, though he did not seem to notice.

Still, when they walked out into the top floor, everyone seemed to forget themselves as they stared in astonishment at the change. Before they had left the conveyor had opened onto a corridor with two doors, one leading to Loki's personal chambers, the other to his study-library. Now the corridor was gone in place of a room, spacious with a glass dome ceiling, a fireplace in the very centre, surrounded by fur rugs and comfy couches.

"Wow!" Jörmungandr gasped, "This isn't the same place as before!"

"Amazing what skilled builders can do," said Frigga with a laugh as Jörmungandr ran to the huge window that over looked the city, exclaiming again in delight. "Thundi helped me pick the couches," she added to Loki. Thundi blushed and ducked his head. Loki smiled down at him and ruffled his hair.

"Thank you Thundi."

"Look at the books!" said Jörmungandr, now running over to where hundreds of books were resting in an ornate, iron bookshelf. "And the paintings!" He ran over to stare at the paintings hanging on the wall. Frigga had picked them from Loki's very large collection that he had hidden in his old study. They were almost all from Midgard. "Why's everything so different papa?"

"The way things were was not exactly ideal," said Loki airily, walking towards a door. "You didn't even have your own room."

Jörmungandr gasped and flung himself at the door, which flew open with a bang.

"WOW!"

Frigga laughed even as Loki admonished Jörmungandr for his carelessness, following the two into the room. Loki had ordered that Jörmungandr's bedroom be the best room a boy could have. It was full of light from the large windows and the skylights, and every wall had a mural of a warrior or a mage from a great epic. On the floor was a beautiful mosaic of the Nine Realms, floating among Yggdrasil's branches. The bed was large and soft, and there was a box for toys at the foot of it. Jörmungandr ran around like a wild animal, hardly stopping to look at one thing before moving on to the next.

"Do you like it?" asked Loki tentatively.

"I love it!" Jörmungandr cried. "What's through there?" He pointed at another door.

"Ah, that, I expect, is my bedroom, so you can come and find me if you need me," said Loki as he walked to the door and opened it. He froze in the doorway as Jörmungandr pushed past him.

"It's all different!" said Jörmungandr excitedly. As she came up next to her son, Frigga could see the horrified expression forming before he covered it up. She reached out and touched his arm.

"Darling? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, it's wonderfully done," he said shortly, taking Fenrir from her. Frigga's arms felt empty but she did not object, seeing how tightly Loki held Fenrir. Instead she said,

"Shall we see the other rooms? That door leads to Fenrir's room."

Fenrir's room had a gold and enamelled crib, with a small but lovely bed for Hlin or the other night nurse. A mobile hung above the crib, tinkling sweetly in the soft breeze. A special soft floor took up one corner for when Fenrir could crawl with countless stuffed animals. Loki crossed the room and laid Fenrir down in the crib, nudging the mobile to spin gently, which made Fenrir coo.

"So Fenrir is getting his own room?" Jörmungandr frowned as if he was unsure if he liked this idea.

"Yes, but he won't be far," said Frigga gently, "You can always have a sleepover whenever you want, right Loki?"

Loki nodded, but he still looked preoccupied, "Of course."

They finished the tour of the new layout, which included Loki's redone study and an extra bedroom which had been intended for Frigga so she could be closer to her family. Now Frigga expected that room might be used by someone else.

"Queen Aetril was not among the people greeting me," said Loki as Hlin took the boys to Jörmungandr's new room for further inspection. "Where is she?"

"She's been unwell these past few days. I told her she could miss the greeting ceremony, I hoped you wouldn't mind," said Frigga carefully.

"Did you now?" asked Loki coolly, pacing around the new fireplace, his eyes flicking mistrustfully around the room.

"I believe she is depressed," said Frigga bluntly. "She's never been this long without her children and she has not felt her own people's magic and presence for so long. Her usual charm has been missing for some time and she has withdrawn from public life."

"Well then the only cure would be to send her home. How stand the Bifröst repairs?" Loki asked.

"Everything is ready, and the seiðr wielders are hoping that they can begin to tap into the subspace corridors soon, they are finally beginning to settle."

"The last report suggested it would be another year. Why the sudden change?"

"They were being very cautious in their predictions, I think they were afraid of suggesting a time that would pass without result. So they erred on the side of caution." Frigga looked at her son from the other side of the fireplace and reached out a hand. "Come and sit with me, my son."

Loki hesitated then sank into the couch next to her, tense as a bow string. Frigga petted his hair and kissed his temple, relieved when he did not reject her. Their relationship had improved hugely during her recovery after the Rebellion, but there was still an underlying tension that she could not seem to dispel. It had seemed Loki was always watching her with suspicion, especially when she was near the boys. Despite what he might say, he clearly had not forgiven her for her role in the boys' long exile. Then again, she mused to herself, she doubted if Loki had forgiven himself for that.

"You look so tired, my boy," she sighed, taking in the dark circles under the eyes and the gaunt features.

"I'm starting to see why Odin needs the Odinsleep," said Loki lightly. Frigga smiled ruefully, playing with his hair just so she could maintain contact. "How is your back?"

"Eir says I should be out of this back brace within the year, provided I do my exercises," said Frigga. "Don't try to distract me from my mothering, Loki, I want to talk about you. How are you?"

"Not now mother, I've only just arrived," said Loki as he got quickly to his feet. "Boys!"

Jörmungandr and Thundi came out, Hlin trailing after them. Loki crouched down before them and said, "Jörmungandr why don't you tell your grandmother and Thundi all about what you saw on your trip? I need to go and speak with Queen Aetril."

"Yes papa!" Jörmungandr dragged Thundi over to sit with Frigga on the couch. Frigga smiled and put her arm around her skinny grandson.

"Come here sweetling and tell me everything!" she said, lifting Jörmungandr into her lap and pulling Thundi close.


Loki knocked once before walking into Queen Aetril's chambers. He found the queen of Alfheim lying on her stomach on a couch, her wings wafting sleepily. The tiny queen was as pale and pretty as ever, yet her smile had lost the glimmer of seduction he remembered.

"Majesty!" she purred, starting to rise. Loki waved her down again,

"Please don't get up, my mother said you aren't well."

"Merely homesick," said Aetril softly.

"I can understand, but I hope Idavoll has not denied you any comforts that it could provide."

"Truly, King Loki, you and your realm have been very kind to me," said Aetril sitting up and leaning to the side.

"I simply wanted to check on you before something else came up to take my attention," said Loki, folding his hands behind his back.

"I appreciate it," said Aetril, her pale eyes now scrutinising him. She had dyed her hair again, when Loki had left it had been a chestnut red, now it was a cool blonde that matched her wings. "You look like a man who has been ground down to bare bone," observed Aetril. Loki sighed,

"Alright, I get the message, I need to eat more."

"Food is not necessarily what you need," said Aetril. "There are many things a man may go hungry for."

"I think I can guess what you mean by that," he said with a faint smirk. Aetril smiled and rose to her feet,

"I mean anything and everything your majesty. However, that you went to that first and foremost speaks for itself."

Loki laughed for the first time in days. In truth his libido had died along with his remaining hope about finding Sigyn alive again.

Aetril crossed the room to sit next to Loki, her wings fluttering as her shoulder brushed his.

"You're troubled," she stated. "Is there any way I can help?"

Loki shook his head ruefully, "Would that you could your majesty."

Aetril smiled faintly and looked down for a moment, her hand reaching out and resting on his. Loki's throat suddenly felt very tight and he curled his fingers around hers.

"How are your boys?" she asked.

"Good, very good. Jörmungandr is thrilled to be home, he missed his friend, and he loves his new room."

"Ah! The rumours that flew about that renovation," Aetril laughed, "I confess I was tempted to go and sneak a peek myself. Are you satisfied with them?"

Loki thought about his bedchamber, and his smile fell. "The work is remarkable."

Queen Aetril gave him that look again, the one that made him feel as if she knew what he was thinking. Yet she did not say anything except,

"I am very glad to see you, your majesty." And she kissed his cheek, her lips lingering on his skin for a fraction longer than was strictly necessary. Loki leaned into it, warmth spreading through his face that was not embarrassment.

"I should go," he sighed, wishing he could stay in the quiet, easy company of Aetril. She nodded, smiling as if she understood his thoughts.

"Of course. Welcome back King Loki," she said, squeezing his hand as he stood up. Loki bent to kiss her hand and he left the room.


Loki met with his council to announce his intention to take a break from full ruling.

"It won't be for long," he said, feeling uneasy. "It can be as short as-"

"Forgive me my king, but you can take as long as you wish," said Ragnalfr, Sverrir's sister, who looked as if she wanted nothing more than to bundle him up and feed him. "Things ran well here while you were on your travels and now we have the whole council back together, we should be able to manage."

Loki's lips twitched and Sverrir quickly added,

"Not that you're not needed!"

"I'm not a child Sverrir, I don't need to be pandered to," said Loki primly.

"I think we've made enough changes," said Dag, twirling his pen in his hands. "Let's give the people time to relax into them before we do more. The biggest changes are in process, so for now we can simply focus on the day to day running. We've no big events coming up except the Bifröst opening and after that we'll probably be so busy that we won't have time to relax. So why don't you take until the Bifröst is ready to ease up on your duties. Your council can manage the minutiae of running the realm, and can come to you when needed."

"You know nothing can be made into law without my authority," said Loki, eying the fourteen men and women before him. Out of that number only three were sons of the previous council members, the rest were all people who had caught Loki's eye by their beliefs and their ethics. Admittedly Ragnalfr was the daughter of a previous member, but being a woman meant that she was less of an overt replacement, and she was very vocal about the health care of the realm.

"Of course my king," said Kalfr, an older man who had worked all his life in the Smith Guild. He had shaggy blonde hair and a big muscular body from his work making weapons for Asgard. "We would not presume to rule in your stead."

"I'll bring anything that needs to be dealt with by you personally," said Sverrir.

"Good. Well, if that's agreed then, I'd like to begin my break at once."

They nodded and Loki stood. As he left the room he noticed Reifer following him.

"Yes?"

Reifer flushed a little and said, "I… I wanted to thank you my king, for trusting me with running the council after… after everything that came to light."

Loki nodded, "Reifer, your father's actions have not reflected on you, I told you that."

"I know! But still," Reifer shuffled his feet, a strange motion on such a big man. "I appreciate that you were so public in your support. I don't think any other king would have been."

Loki shrugged, "You showed me more loyalty than those who purported to be the loyalist men in Asgard. I don't forget that."

Reifer nodded, looking slightly distracted. Loki waited, watching him. Finally Reifer said in a rush,

"Thundi's a good boy!"

Loki's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "Yes, I think so too."

"We, well, I've been spending a lot of time with him," said Reifer, looking very nervous.

"Yes, so your letters and my mother's said."

Reifer nodded hard, clenching and unclenching his fists.

"What is it Reifer?" asked Loki.

"I –my king I –I wanted to ask you for permission to –to…"

Loki laughed "You're stuttering like a man about to ask for a woman's hand in marriage –come on Reifer, out with it!"

"I want to adopt him!" Reifer burst out. Loki's insides seemed to seize up as Reifer panted, as if the words had exhausted him. "I know I am not a married man, and I know my family is disgraced by what my father did, but I've spent two years with Thundi, watching him grow and worrying over him and –and I can't bear the idea that someone else might have the privilege of raising him. I want to do it –I've wanted to do it for a year, but I didn't want to put any pressure on the boy, he was still grieving so much for his family."

Loki stared at him and could not decide what he felt. After all his worrying it seemed infuriating that Reifer had been willing to take Thundi on for so long. Yet he thought about Jörmungandr, who was so excited about gaining a new brother, and was loathed to disappoint him.

"Have you asked Thundi about this?"

"A month ago. He wants me to be his new father." Reifer's chest puffed up and his eyes were bright. He looked the way Sverrir did when he talked about his son and daughter, the way Loki felt when he thought about Jörmungandr and Fenrir. "I told him we needed your permission, you are his guardian after all."

A bad one, thought Loki with a guilty knot in his stomach as a sense of relief began to spread throughout his chest.

"If Thundi wants it, and you are certain… I cannot think of any reason to object."

"You're sure?" asked Reifer, now eyeing him nervously, "I thought maybe, you yourself would want to-"

"I care about Thundi, a lot, and I did consider it, but it was out of a sense of obligation and the idea that Jörmungandr would love another brother. I worried I would not be able to love him as a father –not when I'm currently…" Loki trailed off, ashamed to admit the struggles he had with the sons he already had. "In any case, it's about what's best for Thundi and if you and he are both agreed on it –well, I would not stand in your way."

Reifer beamed at him, "Thank you my king! Thank you!"

Loki nodded, but before he could say anything else Fulla, Frigga's chief handmaid, came running up.

"My king! You need to come quickly. Prince Jörmungandr and Thundi are in a terrible fight and the queen and Hlin can't calm them down."

Loki's heart stuttered and he broke into a run, Reifer behind him.

"What's the fight about?" asked Reifer.

"I think I can guess," said Loki as they all got into the conveyor and shot up to the highest floor. As the door opened Loki heard Jörmungandr screaming over Thundi, Frigga and Hlin.

"NO! NO! THAT'S NOT FAIR!"

"It would seem Thundi has explained to Jörmungandr what you just explained to me," said Loki as he strode through the circular room and into the brand new bedroom where Frigga was holding Thundi close as Hlin struggled to hold Jörmungandr back. Jörmungandr's face was darkening and his eyes were yellowing in a warning of his shifting into serpent form. Loki flicked his hand out and forced the form back, returning Jörmungandr to normal and making him stumble backwards. He blinked hard, then pointed at Thundi, shouting,

"You're mine! My brother! You're a liar –I hate you!"

"That's enough!" barked Loki, his voice overpowering his son's. Silence fell, save for Fenrir crying in the next room. "Mother, you and Reifer take Thundi down to the kitchens for something sweet. Hlin see to Fenrir, and Jörmungandr you will stay right where you are."

Everyone obeyed at once without a word. Loki did not move or speak until he was sure Thundi was well away. Jörmungandr was glaring at him, and before Loki could speak, Jörmungandr snarled,

"This is your fault!"

"My fault?"

Stamping his foot, Jörmungandr bellowed, "Thundi's mine! He's not supposed to be in Reifer's family. You made him not like us, you left him behind."

Loki swallowed as his own temper flared and he said in a forcefully calm voice,

"Jörmungandr you cannot lose your temper like that, what if you had turned into a serpent before I got here? You could have hurt someone."

"Don't care! You ruined it! I hate you!" Jörmungandr ran at Loki, tears streaming down his face, his hands bunched into fists. "You promised! You promised he'd be my brother! I hate you!"

Loki grabbed at the small fists beat against his legs. He turned Jörmungandr and wrapped his skinny arms around him, then pulled Jörmungandr against him, holding tight as Jörmungandr screamed his rage. Bolts of seiðr flickered at his fingertips, setting Loki's hair on edge as he struggled to hold Jörmungandr still.

"Stop it, stop it now!" he ordered, every fibre of his being screaming at him to do anything to make Jörmungandr stop.

"No! I hate you! I hate yoooooouuuuuu!" Jörmungandr gave himself over to wordless screams of rage, his pale face turning puce with effort as he thrashed about, seiðr sparks firing in every direction. Loki closed his eyes and cast a protective bubble around them both as the sparks rebounded and merged, growing stronger and brighter. One of the windows shattered, the bedding was set alight and the beautiful mosaic was cracked before Loki gave up trying to restrain Jörmungandr with normal methods.

"ENOUGH!"

Clenching his eyes shut, Loki released a jet of freezing ice from his body. It streaked across the room, freezing everything, including the fire and the seiðr on contact. Jörmungandr's screams cut off to a squeak as he was distracted completely from his tantrum by the cold that had consumed him. Silence fell over the room, save for the creak of growing ice. Loki held on to Jörmungandr for another moment, then let him go and looked around. The room had been badly damaged by the tantrum and Loki's temper roared.

"Get up!" he hissed at Jörmungandr, who stumbled to his feet, breathing heavily. "Look at this mess! Look at what you did!"

Shivering, Jörmungandr looked around, wide-eyed and plaintive as he turned to Loki, "Papa…"

"I don't want to hear it," snapped Loki. "You do not deserve this gift of a room that people made for you out of love, you do not deserve a brother like Thundi, you don't deserve anything!"

Jörmungandr began to cry, reaching out for Loki, but Loki stepped back. He could not give in to the tears, he could not give in to the tantrum. He would not raise another Odin, another Thor.

"I'm sorry papa," Jörmungandr whimpered.

"Sorry does not fix the mess you made, sorry does not excuse your behaviour. You were cruel Jörmungandr, don't you understand that? You thought only of what you wanted, not what Thundi wanted. When he told you he was being adopted by Reifer, you should have been happy, because he would be happy. Instead you nearly attacked him as a serpent –you are no friend of his! And to say you hate me, do you have any idea how much that hurts me?"

Jörmungandr sobbed, his hands twisting at his shirt. Loki wanted to scoop him up and hold him tight. He backed away to resist the temptation.

"You will stay here for the rest of the night –you won't attend the feast, and you won't have any dessert. You will remain here and think about your actions, and how much they hurt the people around you." Loki turned away and left the room, hearing Jörmungandr run after him, and closed the door between them.

"Papa!"

Loki covered his ears and hurried to the conveyor. He fell back against the wall of the moving conveyor and slid down, hugging his knees. He could still hear Jörmungandr calling for him, and hear him screaming 'I hate you' over and over and felt like screaming himself.


Frigga watched as Reifer rocked a sobbing Thundi in his arms, her heart aching as Reifer murmured reassuring words in Thundi's ear.

"It's all right, you're safe."

"B-but h-h-he was so mad! He was so mean!" Thundi hiccupped, staring up at Reifer desperately. Reifer nodded, petting his blonde hair.

"I know, I know my boy, but he was just upset. I think he was hoping you'd become brothers, and you know he does not like being disappointed."

Frigga frowned but conceded the point. Jörmungandr did not like being told no, something Loki was not good at saying. Frigga had tried to warn him about it, but Loki would not listen to her and she had not entirely blamed him.

"He hates me," Thundi sobbed as Ellie, his fat white cat, leapt into his lap. The cat had somehow survived the rebellion where Thundi's family had not.

"He doesn't hate you," said Reifer firmly. "He's disappointed, but he'll get over it."

Despite the situation, Frigga smiled to herself at Reifer's demeanour. He was a worthy father for Thundi, and she was proud that he had overcome his shame over his father's crimes.

The kitchen door opened and Fulla entered, looking slightly ill tempered.

"My queen, Hlin begs you come to Prince Jörmungandr. Apparently he is very upset and the king has disappeared."

"What?" Frigga jumped to her feet, "What do you mean disappeared?"

Fulla shrugged, "I don't know what exactly happened, but the king cannot be found and Prince Jörmungandr is beside himself with distress."

Frigga could not believe Loki would just leave Jörmungandr but if he could not be found…

"Of course."

Frigga strode back to the family wing and when she entered the central room she found Hlin pacing outside Jörmungandr's bedroom. Frigga could hear her elder grandson sobbing on the other side. Hlin's face was pale and blotchy as she turned to Frigga.

"My lady –please! The king has left the prince so distraught, and I heard him say the prince is to be confined to his room for the night, but he's so upset-"

Frigga nodded, "I'm glad you called me, do you know where the king is?"

Hlin shook her head, "He just left, just like before."

Frigga frowned, "Explain."

"Whenever Jörmungandr has had a tantrum in the last while, the king loses his temper and shouts at the prince, then flees as if afraid of his own anger. He always comes back, but…" Hlin winced as Jörmungandr let out a particularly loud wail. Frigga kept her expression calm.

"I see."

Without another word she strode into the room to find Jörmungandr had thrown himself on the floor and was sobbing into his arms. Sighing, Frigga thought back to the times she had walked in on Loki in the exact same stance, outraged at some sort of injustice done against him.

"Jörmungandr?"

Jörmungandr looked up, blotchy skinned and snot-covered, with his eyes swollen from crying.

"Amma?"

Frigga sat next to him and said gently, "Do you want to tell me what's wrong?"

Jörmungandr did not seem to remember that Frigga had been present when he had exploded at Thundi because he sat up and wiped at his dirty face with his sleeves and pouted, "Papa hates me."

"That's not true and you know it," said Frigga in as gentle a tone as she could muster. "He loves you and your brother more than anything, and I know he tells you all the time."

Jörmungandr looked taken aback and there was a slyness in his eyes that reminded Frigga that this was Loki's son, he was undoubtedly just as clever. Loki had always been good at making himself sound like a victim as a child.

"Perhaps," she said diplomatically, "Perhaps the word angry would be better. Your papa is angry with you."

Jörmungandr flushed and wiped at his face again as he muttered, "Maybe."

"Well, why do you think he's angry?"

"'cause I got angry and said mean things to him and Thundi."

"And why did you do that?"

Jörmungandr scowled and hissed between his teeth, "Thundi's my brother –papa promised. Now he's not gonna be, and it's papa's fault."

"Why?"

"'cause we went away!" Jörmungandr slammed his fists down on the damaged floor and Frigga sighed.

"Do you really think you're being fair? What about what Thundi wants? He loves Reifer and Reifer loves him, do you really think it would be fair to pull them apart? What if someone tried to take you from your papa? You wouldn't like that, would you?"

Jörmungandr shook his head sullenly and curled up with a loud sniff,

"Papa's gone away."

"He'll be back soon I'm sure," said Frigga with conviction. "And when he does, what will you do?"

Jörmungandr shrugged, now picking at bits of broken mosaic. Frigga reached out and cupped his chin, making him look at her and repeated her question. Jörmungandr sighed and muttered,

"Say sorry?"

"Yes, that's a good idea. What else?"

Jörmungandr frowned up at her, "What'd you mean?"

"I mean, it might be nice to do something for your papa to show him you are sorry."

"He yelled at me."

"I know, and I'm sure he's sorry about that. That's why he went away, because he did not want to yell at you, but he was angry with you because you've hurt him, and Thundi and a lot of people with your anger."

"Who?"

"Well, look at the mess you made," said Frigga, pointing at the floor. "People who love you and your father as their prince and king worked very, very hard for you, to make this floor beautiful and you destroyed it in a single day. What if you made something special for someone and they broke it? How would you feel?"

"… bad." Jörmungandr hung his head, looking less sulky and more sad.

"Didn't this room look very beautiful when you first walked in?" asked Frigga gently. Jörmungandr nodded. "Now look at it, it's broken," she waved her hand at the broken window and the singed bedding.

"… 'm sorry," Jörmungandr muttered, sounding genuinely mournful at last.

"I know you are," said Frigga softly, lifting him into her lap and summoning a handkerchief to clean his face. "Now, what can we do to show your father how sorry you are?"

Jörmungandr slumped against her, exhausted from his tantrum and Frigga started to run her fingers through his hair.

"Clean up?" asked Jörmungandr softly.

"That sounds like a good idea," said Frigga encouragingly. "Why don't you wash your face, then I'll help you clean up."

Jörmungandr nodded and Frigga stood them both up, going to the door as Jörmungandr went to his lavatory to wash. Hlin and Fulla turned towards her, Fulla rocking Fenrir while Hlin wiped her face. Frigga sighed and said, "Fulla, will you bring us some water."

Fulla nodded and passed Fenrir to Hlin before disappearing. Frigga turned to Hlin and said,

"Now, what has happened between you and my son Hlin?"

Hlin flushed and muttered in much the same fashion as Jörmungandr, "Nothing my lady."

"And is nothing the issue?"

Hlin flushed deeper, "I… we had a moment and I thought –but he stopped it. He rejected me."

"Good," said Frigga calmly. Hlin looked at her aghast, but Frigga was unmoved, "Hlin, I know you feel deeply for my son –you may even love him, but I was not worried about Loki's behaviour on your travels, I was worried about yours. I don't doubt your feelings, your kindness, or your sincerity, but Loki is vulnerable right now, vulnerable to feminine affection. He craves it and you are in a perfect position to offer it, but he is not in the right mind to take it. It will haunt him far more than it will haunt you."

Hlin stared at her in disbelief, but Frigga had sworn while her son and grandsons were away that she would put her family before her position. So despite recognising that Loki was an adult and a father, she could not help but step up where she had failed before, because she could see in Loki's face that he was struggling.

Fulla returned, carrying a tray with a plate of food and water.

"Hlin heard the king say the prince would not be attending the feast tonight, so I brought his dinner now," she explained.

"Ah, you're very kind Fulla, thank you," said Frigga, taking the tray. She worried for a moment if this was perhaps undermining Loki's authority as a father, but decided that as long as Jörmungandr remained in his room things would be all right.

Once her grandson was settled, Frigga would seek out her son.


This was originally two chapters but this fic is already insanely long and I'm getting frustrated, so I'm trying to sort that out at the moment and combining chapters to try and shorten them up. Although I will say that now we're back in the city I can start pushing forward with more speed.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed this and please bear with me as I'm really busy in RL atm when it comes to spotty updates.