In the palace, everyone was running everywhere. They were those who had actually something to do and the others who just wanted to look busy. Anyway, there was excitement in the air and there was a good reason for it. The Queen was going to give birth to his new child.

In the royal apartments, the king was waiting patiently for the handmaid to call him. As for the princes, they were talking together in Thor's bedroom, a bit worried.

"So, it's a boy." said Thor who was pacing up and down since at least fifteen minutes.

"Yes. Mother is sure about it." answered Loki. "Would you like to sit down?"

Thor didn't answer to his brother.

"And do you know how they plan to name him?"

"Not a single idea." answered Loki. "Mother did not tell me."

"Do you think he will be as deceitful as you?" asked Thor with a smile.

"I don't know." answered Loki amused. "Do you think he will be as stubborn as you?"

"I hope, for his sake, that he will have none of that." said Thor wisely.

"We should go and see Father." said Loki. "I guess he will be warned first."

"Good idea." said Thor.

The two brothers started to walk to the Queen bedroom.

"You know, when you were born, Father and I were waiting together. And when they called us, I ran in the bedroom."

"To see me?" asked Loki.

"Of course! I was a bit worried about Mother too. I didn't know if it hurt or something. But I was very curious about you."

Loki smiled. It was good to see that his brother was caring about him.

"If you want my opinion, you look rather anxious than curious." said he instead of expressing his feeling.

When they finally arrived in the corridor where the All-Father was supposed to wait for the handmaid, they saw no one.

"Did we go wrong in the corridor? Is this the good one?" asked Loki.

"Yes, it is. I guess we missed the call..."

The princes ran in the hallway to the door were their family should be. Thor knocked.

"It's us."

From inside came the voice of the queen.

"Come in, my sons."

Thor and Loki opened the door and entered the room. The queen was holding a little baby in his arms. The King was standing beside her. It was obvious that they already loved him very much. Loki was jealous. He had to fight everyday since his childhood to earn this love from his father. And just by appearing, this little one had it already. It seemed so unfair. As for his mother's love, it was even worse. He had always considered himself as the favourite brother for her. Now he doubted that it would last giving the fact that she would be with the baby all day.

"Please, welcome your new brother, Balder." said she.

The princes looked at their brother, curious, even Loki wanted to know how looked like the one responsible of his future misfortune.

"He is sleeping." said Thor disappointed.

His mother smiled.

"You said exactly the same thing when you looked at Loki for the first time. Don't worry, he won't always be like that."

"He will be awaken soon enough." said Loki. "Before long he will be pulling your hair and stick his tongue out at you!"

The queen smiled.

"Would you like to hold him?" asked she to his sons.

"No, no." answered they.

"Fine. If you'll excuse me, I need to rest now."

"Of course." said Loki who was relieved to retire.

He got out of the room with his brother and his father. He was ready to go back to his apartments but his father stopped them.

"My sons, I have a mission for you." declared he. "Just the two of you."

The All-Father had piqued the curiosity of his sons.

"I would like you to go to Vidar and tell him that Balder is born."

Loki and Thor looked at each other.

"Why us?" asked Thor.

"Because I wish you to meet him. I don't expect you to go just now. Your mother and I will need you in this particular time. But I would like you to go before the end of the month."

"How will we recognize him?" asked Loki.

"He leaves alone. Heimdall will send you to the right place."

Then the All-Father left without any further explanation. Loki let a breath out.

"And I thought having a brother was enough… Three, it is way too much…" said he.


After Balder's birth, Odin had counted on his elder sons to take part of the kingdom business. In fact, they were in charge of receiving the presents of the different dignitaries who wanted to congratulate the All-Father. Most of the time, they had to give banquet for the ambassadors. Thor was pleased with this situation but Loki was fed up with it. He was taking refuge in his chamber while Thor was having fun with the strangers. Moreover, Loki was happy to be alone to practice magic. His mother was busy with the baby, so he could not benefit from her teaching.

However, despite his mother's absence, he had become really good in teleportation. He was now working on metamorphosis. First, he had tried to change a part of his clothes, which was quite easy. He had made an illusion appear instead of his real clothes. But he had soon learned that it was not enough. It had taken him more time to manage a true transformation. After succeeding in changing his clothes, he had tried to model his face differently. He was good at it but he was failing in keeping the spell visible. After only few minutes, he was already taking his normal state back.

On this particular day, he was trying once more to change his appearance. The difficulty was in the details. If he wanted his disguise to be perfect, he had to look like a real person and not just an illusion. It took him a while but at the end of the day, he was able to look like another and keep his form long enough to be a useful ability.

Of course, his first attempt to test it was on his brother. He thought of transforming into Wolfram, but, beyond enjoying his brother's face during a limited time, it would be a bad joke. Then, he wondered whose appearance was funnier to play a trick to Thor. And he found out that being the Dark Man could be enjoyable. It would be a good challenge for him for he had to look taller than he was and his skin should stay blue. He had to be discrete and only be seen by Thor to avoid any problem. He decided to teleport in his bedroom. In order to do that, he had to see the room and be sure that the place where he would appear would be free. After taking care of that, he waited for Thor to arrive in his room.

After a while, Thor came back and Loki was able to execute his plan. He transformed and teleported in front of Thor and started to talk:

"You thought you could escape from me?"

Thor looked astonished.

"What… What are you doing here?"

"I've come for you, of course." answered his brother.

"But you said you would leave us alone."

"Well, I was lying, obviously!"

"I warn you, if you take on me, my father will…"

"So, you can't defend yourself without Daddy?" mocked Loki.

Thor was angry and was going to attack the fake Dark Man. But before he threw his fist into Loki's face, the trickster came back to his previous self which stopped him from being hit by his brother.

"Loki?" asked Thor.

"Yes. It's me! What do you think of my new ability?"

"What an idiot! Are you completely out of your mind?" asked Thor. "I could have killed you."

"I don't think so." said Loki proudly. "I would have bested you."

Thor looked at him disapprovingly.

"So, what do you think?" asked Loki again.

"Well, it kills me to say it, but it was brilliant!"

"Thank you! Look at that now."

Loki transformed himself into his brother.

"I can't believe it!" said Thor.

The prince inspected his brother to find an imperfection but the resemblance was perfect.

"Is there actually something you can't do, Brother?" asked Thor.

"A lot, to my displeasure…" answered he. "I can't survive from a decapitation, for example, or teleport someone with me."

"Well, transform into someone is really great. I guess it could be a big advantage for us in particular occasions."

The two brothers spent the afternoon trying different forms for Loki. He took their father's appearance and even animals'. After executing the change a dozen times, Loki was tired though. He agreed with his brother to continue the day after to see the limit of the trick and he slept the whole night to recover. Thor even forgot to talk with him about Sif. As Loki could have predicted it, the day after, Thor was already busy with something else to spend time with Loki, so he practiced alone, once more...


After some weeks, Loki and Sif were the happiest couple in all of the Nine Realms. They were frequently together in the gardens, not hiding at all from the people at the court. The prince had talked to Sif about his mission in the mountains of Asgard to see his brother Vidar. At first, Sif had been very surprised. Who wouldn't be, learning that Thor, Loki and Balder had another brother? Then she asked about how long would last the mission. He had answered that it would not last long for they would be carried by the Bifrost bridge to his brother's home and even if they didn't know which kind of welcoming they would receive, he thought they would be back in the afternoon.

They were talking together when a messenger came to them.

"I have a message for the prince Loki and the Lady Sif."

"Speak." said Loki.

"The King and the commander of the Royal Army are waiting for you in the throne room."

Sif and Loki looked at each other.

"You will find your brother there, with the warriors Fandral and Hogun."

Loki guessed that it had something to do with their mission in Nornheim.

"We follow you, then." said he.


When they arrived in the throne room, the others were already there. The King was not sitting on his throne, he was simply standing beside Volstagg. The King started to talk:

"Well. I was very busy this few weeks and I didn't take the time to congratulate you for your mission to the Dark Man's fortress. So, I address you my most cheerful congratulations for it. The commander told me what happened. We can't pretend that you defeat the Dark Man but neither did you lose. I would like to thank particularly Thor, who did fight like a true warrior against the Dark Man, in the fortress and on the bridge. You showed your bravery, my Son, I am proud of you."

Loki was furious that his brother was praised so much. He was convinced that he deserved the same honours that Thor was receiving. And this time he thought to Sif as well. She was standing next to him and he could see that she was not pleased either. Of course, she was too well educated to let herself interrupt the king.

"You will soon be assigned to another mission. Together or not. That's all. Thank you for your time."

As soon as they were dismissed, Loki shared his feeling about his father's speech.

"As usual, please, praise the mighty Thor and his golden hair!" mocked he, making his friends laugh.

"Loki…" said Thor. "You were all there, you know I didn't do everything alone."

"So, why did you not tell Father so?" asked Loki more serious.

The others stopped laughing and listened to Thor's answer. He looked at them all.

"So, you all think I should have said something?"

"Of course!" answered Fandral. "Who knows what Volstagg has told him? Maybe he didn't talk about us at all."

"Of course, he did!" answered Thor. "You heard him, he congratulated all of us. You really think that I'm my father's favourite one?"

The silence of his friends was eloquent.

"Fine… I'll talk to him."

"Too late..." said Loki taking his brother's shoulder. "It is always like that with you. You think you deserve all the honours and you are never surprised when you are the only one receiving them. Grow up, Thor! You are acting like a capricious child!"

Loki left and Sif caught him up. They joined the palace together. The others split up. Thor felt guilty, but didn't care very much. He guessed that all of that would be forgotten the day after.


After some time, Sif had grown worried about Vidar's mission and been separated from Loki, even if only for one day, made her anxious. It was not in her nature but she could not help it. She was hate herself for feeling so attached to the prince. However, the day before his departure, they meet again and Sif had something special to say to him. They were lying down under their favourite tree in Frigga's gardens. Sif was stretched out on Loki's chest.

"I have something to show you." said she, raising up on her elbows. "But you have to promise me, you won't mock me."

"Hum… It seems pretty serious. I promise you." said he looking her in the eyes.

As Sif found out no lie in his gaze, she decided to talk.

"I found a poem and I thought it was appropriate for the situation."

"The situation?"

"You'll be going, we don't know where, with giants!"

"Well, fine. Then a poem... I'm impressed! You can actually go to libraries." said he, mocking.

"Loki!"

"Sorry, I'm listening." said he, sitting now to listen carefully

"It is for you to know that I will always be with you. No matter what. So, when you remember it, you will think of us."

"I won't need it to think of us. But go on." said he in a smile.

Encouraged, Sif started to read the poem.

"As the sun rose, I wondered why I didn't feel alone.

Only my heart had the answer.

"As long as you love and you are loved,

You will never be alone." was it telling.

And in truth, I felt like you were here

Forever, at my side."

Loki was looking at her intensely. And he felt like he never did before. He figured out that apart for his family, there was effectively someone else really caring for him. He felt loved and it was good.

"I love you, Sif." said he for the first time and he kissed her.

"I love you too." said Sif in return.

Loki smiled even happier than before.

"Don't worry, I will not feel alone. However, I am practically sure that I will miss you." added he, smiling.

"Practically?" said Sif reproachfully and then she hit him gently.

"Of course, I will miss you." corrected Loki.

They spent the rest of the afternoon under the tree, enjoying the few hours together they had left before the mission.


In the morning, Thor and Loki were readying themselves in their apartments. Loki had put his green cape and his golden armour in case of a fight, better be ready in case of disagreement. Thor had done the same with his red cape and silver armour.

They both headed toward Heimdall's observatory on their horses. The guardian of the bridge was already waiting for them.

"So, heading to the mountains, are we?" asked he to the princes.

"Yes." answered simply Thor who didn't know if Heimdall was fully aware of their mission.

"And, Prince Loki, I know about you and my sister." said Heimdall. "I warn you, do her no harm or, son of Odin or not, you will regret it."

Thor smiled discreetly. Loki was not amused.

"Ready, my princes?" asked Heimdall, back to his normal deference.

They both nodded and Heimdall activated the Bifrost.

"Remember, when you want to come back, just call me."

It was the first time that Thor and Loki were using the Bifrost. They were a bit nervous, but the curiosity took the best of them and they walked to the place that Heimdall was showing to them. Then they were taken away by the tunnel. Through it, they saw stars and a multitude of colours. It was really stunning!

When they finally got back to dry land, it was on the slope of a hill. There was grass and rocks everywhere. The view on the valley was beautiful. It looked like a nice place to live in. The only visible house was a shack surrounded by fields. Thor and Loki assumed it was their brother's house. It looked big for a normal Asgardian but for a giant they thought it was not very large. Loki took the initiative to knock on the door. They waited for an answer, looking at each other anxiously. They heard something from the inside, like someone was walking. Then the door opened and they saw him. Their father had not lie about his nature. He was truly a giant. Loki was looking for some resemblance between him and his family, but he was interrupted in his inspection by the giant.

"What do you want, Asgardians?" asked he.

Thor looked at Loki and spoke first.

"We are looking for Vidar."

The giant didn't answer, so Thor decided to be direct.

"We are looking for our brother."

Vidar squint and figured out that they were the princes Thor and Loki.

"Odinson's are you?" asked he.

"I am Thor. And this is my brother Loki." answered Thor.

Vidar took a moment to think and said:

"You are not welcomed here. What do you want with me?"

"Our father just wanted us to inform you that you have a new brother." said Thor. "That WE have a new brother."

"This is true then." said the giant.

"You knew?" asked Loki.

"The wind holds the news and it blows strongly here, you know." answered Vidar mysteriously.

Thor and Loki were not convinced but they didn't try to learn more about it.

"His name is Balder." said Thor.

"Whatever his name is, he won't be more welcomed here than you are."

Thor couldn't help it.

"Pardon me, Vidar, but why this animosity against us? You don't know us."

"And I don't want to." answered Vidar. "You come here, dressed with your most beautiful garments and your shiny armours. I hate you. You represent everything that I don't have. That I will never have."

"So, it is jealousy." said Thor.

"What did you expect?" said Vidar angrily. "I am a prince! I have every right to be jealous! You think that, because I'm not like you, I don't deserve to be your equal? I should be king after my father. It is my birth right as the first born!"

Thor's biggest fear had risen up. He wanted to be his father's successor and he was scared that Vidar wanted to claim it too.

"We are not here to speak about who should reign or not." said Loki seeing that Thor was not responding to the attack. "Father decided for you and will decide for us. We have no power over it."

It seemed to calm the giant. Vidar looked like a brute but he was smart. He knew that Loki was right.

"Well, tell Father that I don't want anything to do with him. He can have a hundred sons if he feels like it. I don't care. You are no more my brothers than the giants of these mountains."

Loki felt like he had lost. But he didn't want to concede defeat.

"You can hate our father for the decisions he has taken. But Thor and I, we are for nothing in your fate. You can count on us if you need someone. You may not feel like our brother, but we consider you as such."

Despite the hard feelings against his father, and his brother Thor sometimes, Loki wanted them to be a family above all. It only seemed only fair that Vidar could be part of it too.

"I thank you, Loki Odinson. I may have misjudged you."

After defeated, Loki was now feeling proud. He had managed to change his brother's attitude.

"Would you like to take a seat and eat with me?" asked the giant.

Loki and Thor agreed and they spent the day talking about life in the mountains. They discovered that Vidar had a wife and met her later in the day. Loki was very curious about his brother's life, on the contrary, Thor didn't ask any question, apart from where he could find ale. If it wasn't for Loki, he would have left just after the message was delivered, but it seemed that Loki was fond of his new brother.

Strangely, Loki was not jealous of this brother. The other two, it was another story… Maybe it was because this one was the most rejected of the four brothers and that he didn't feel any danger coming from him. He didn't know exactly why, but he felt like he could trust Vidar. In some ways, he could identify himself to Vidar. Something Thor would never understand…

After promising to see each other soon, thing that they all knew they would not do, they separated. Thor was happy and called the guardian of the Bifrost immediately. A ray of light appeared and both disappeared, letting a strange form in the grass.


When they arrived in the observatory, Heimdall asked them how was the journey. They didn't really answer to not reveal their brother existence, but knowing Heimdall's abilities, they were practically sure that he already knew.

It was almost night when they reached the palace. On the way, Thor had talked about Loki's great ability of speaking.

"I thought that we would come back home with nothing good to announce to Father and then you spoke one sentence and he invited us in. You really deserve your nickname "Silvertongue"!"

"Of course, I do! You doubted it?" asked Loki smiling.

"That makes me think about another subject: Lady Sif!"

Loki knew that his brother would bring up the subject one day or another. So, he was prepared to answer anything.

"What would you like to know?" asked he.

"You've never talked to me about her before, except when you asked me to help you to get her into the academy. And even there, you didn't say anything about your feelings about her."

"You should have guessed… I'm not used to help people."

"True, but from all the girls in Asgard, why her? She is the most masculine one."

"I don't think so. She likes to fight and she is not always wearing gowns but she is a true woman." affirmed he, self-assured.

"You admire her, don't you?"

"Don't you?" asked Loki in return.

Thor didn't answer so Loki continued.

"I do. Since the beginning. I think it is the reason I helped her in the first place, actually."

"Well, people are talking a lot." said Thor.

"And what do they say?"

"That Sif will become a princess."

Thor had thought that his brother would deny something like that, but on the contrary, Loki approved.

"And what's wrong with it?" said he innocently.

"Really? You wish to marry her?" asked Thor with surprise.

"You are really naive, Brother… Of course not! We are not thinking about that right now."

"Maybe she is…"

"What do you mean?" asked Loki.

"People say that she had befriended you to marry you and gain power."

Loki laughed so loud that people on their way turned to look at them.

"What is it?" asked Thor.

"You really don't know her, Brother."

"Enlighten me then!"

"She doesn't care. She is a true person. You should get to know her."

When they arrived to the throne room to report to their father, he was not there. So they headed both to their respective bedroom and slept to the next morning. However, Thor's speech had affected Loki. He had planted the seeds of doubt in his brother's mind. Loki had dreamt about Sif taking the throne and killing his mother. Luckily, when he opened his eyes, everything was back to normal. He decided to go see his girlfriend, because, even though he thought her innocent of Thor's accusations, he had to check if he was true.


"Back in the afternoon. I could not say why I thought you punctual!"

Sif was crossing her arms on her chest. Loki had found her in the arena, training. She looked not pleased at all.

"Sif!" said Loki. "I'm sorr…"

"Don't apologize." said Sif changing her angry face into a smile and kissing him. "I'm not one those girls blaming their boyfriend for any reason. I guess you had a lot to do with your brothers."

Loki smiled and kissed her back. He knew he was right. He didn't even have to ask. Thor and the others could go to hell!

"I'm not angry, but I did wait for you." added Sif. "What happened? Tell me!"

Loki and Sif went under their favourite tree and Loki told her about Vidar and the welcoming they had first. Then he spoke about what he had said about their father and the afternoon they had spent in the mountains with the giant.

"They are lucky to have you." said Sif.

"Who?"

"Your family."

"They hide it well then!" laughed Loki.

"I'm not joking. I'm sure this is what they feel. Maybe they take for granted your love, your attachment, your devotion and your loyalty, but I am sure they feel it."

"I am lucky to have YOU." said he kissing her forehead, like he was not believing her. "And don't be so naive, I am not as good as you wish me to be. I am not easy to live with. Ask my brother."

"And what would he say, if I did?"

"That I am the worst brother he ever had. Now that he has got two others, he must be happy."

"I am sure he would not say that."

"You like him." said Loki.

"Who?"

"My brother."

"Thor? Yes. Why do you ask?"

"You don't think ill of him. It is all to your credit."

"Why? Did he say something about me?"

"Nothing important, he was only telling me on what people say."

"About me?"

"This is not important. I should have not talk about Thor."

"Loki, please! What is it?"

Obviously, Sif wanted to know. There was no escaping now. Loki took a deep breath.

"Some people think that you are after the crown."

Sif looked annoyed.

"Do you believe them?" asked she.

It sounded like an accusation.

"No! Of course not!" answered he.

Sif was looking at him closely.

"How can I be sure, that you are not lying to me?"

"I thought you trusted me…" answered Loki. "There can be nothing between us if there is no trust, Sif."

Loki stood up and left, leaving Sif alone under the tree.


Explanations for this chapter:

- Here is the new brother: Balder! See how Loki feels that something will go wrong between the two of them! If only he knew... But this is another story.

- The other brother of the chapter is Vidar, the giant. He effectively live in the mountains, far from the Asgardians in Marvel Universe. He also exists in the Norse Mythology. I wanted Loki to feel sorry for him because the rejection from his father is something he fully understand, on the contrary of Thor.

- Loki is now able to transform into anybody! (His father, for example...)

- And jealousy, love, jealousy... Teenage years at their best!