Author's Note: Thanks to Nani 1-9-5 for the follow and Paula Galtarocha for the favourite.
To Paula Galtarocha: Yes, Loki is pretending to be Otr and eventually he will tell Fandral the truth. I'm glad I could make something new for you to read and just amazed that you like so many of my stories.
To thephoenixandthedragon4ever: Here he's just pretending to be the guard. Well, considering that Fandral broke down at his delivering the news of his 'death' to Fandral, Loki's wondering if faking his death was really the best solution and just wants to make sure Fandral's all right. Of course, Fandral's not going to realize that for a while. Also, it'll please you to know that I'll probably be posting the second chapter of Power tomorrow or the day after.
To everybody: You're awesome.
Kettle
Restless, Fandral asked, "Otr, would you want some water, tea, maybe ?" while getting up from the table and walking over to the counter. Leaf shadows would be flitting over the table as a wind suddenly howled outside before dying. 'At least, it would give me something to do. I want tea...tea is good. It always helped with those rough patches Loki and I had. Norns, arguing over if a second edition Snorri Fenson was real or fake that was so stupid. Yet a while later, we solved it over mint and raspberry tea then threw the fake in the fire.'
Otr replied, "I can assure you that I do much better at water than tea. Such an affinity, yet I'm without a clue how I ever came about it." The Einherjar shook his head then smiled ruefully, "Aie, that was terrible, I'm sorry."
'Well, let me do one worse than him then. If only so he doesn't feel that bad.'
He countered, "Really ? What otter you say, it's better than mine." as he got out a mug, grabbed the pitcher to fill the cup then turned to walk and give it to Otr. For himself, he moved back to get a kettle out of a wall-niche along with a packet of tea herbs that Hogun had given him weeks ago. After he filled the kettle with the rest of the water, he hung it over the fire place.
His response got a dry chuckle from Otr, "Now that was truly terrible. By your reaction yesterday, I'm sure that he loved you for more than your humour or I should hope so."
As he stared into the crackling fire he winced, he'd never tell another terrible joke and hear Loki laugh because it was so terrible it was actually funny, again.
With a sigh, he stated, "Loki did, he really did. One thing always annoyed me though, since he was so used to taking the blame for Thor sometimes he'd apologize for things that weren't his fault. I don't get how Odin could just throw Loki into the dungeon and ban Queen Frigga from seeing him. Yes, Loki wanted to destroy Jotunheim, but it was Odin who warped him into think it was an acceptable way to go about it instead of being able to tell His Majesty how he really felt. Loki was always under so much pressure when he wasn't with myself or the queen, Otr. If His Majesty had just been more open none of this would have happened. Your mother would still be alive, but instead we have to have three weeks of funeral feasts and hundreds of funerals because of something that could have been so easily avoided."
Slowly, he turned to look at Otr who had twisted to look at him. The Einherjar looked rather shocked by what he'd just learned. Otr wondered suddenly, "Did you know Fandral that C-Prince Thor has left Asgard ?"
His gaze drifted to the emerald cloak and the bookshelves beside the hanging rack. Angry, he shouted, "Thor, did what ?! The last years, I started to dislike him, yes, but how could he leave now ? Loki and Frigga are dead because of him and that girl. Odin became half-mad with grief and revenge because of the Dark Elves. Now, all of Asgard is ruined if not physically than emotionally !"
'What of Thor's swearing to protect Loki ? Now, I find it meant nothing to him. Two hundred years after that we swore our oaths to protect Asgard. Well, I suppose that he finally forgot that as well. Even more than myself for going along with his damned plan, he's a traitorous bastard.'
Otr murmured, "Odin, at least, seems to have regained himself. When he was informed of Loki's death and of Thor's intent to leave Asgard he nearly entered another Odinsleep." The brown-haired Einherjar took a sip of his water then continued, "There are no princes left and our king is barely strong enough to keep chaos from breaking out, this couldn't have happened at a worse time. If I could have reached Svartalfheim sooner perhaps I might have found someway to save Loki. I just wonder...if he had the chance did Thor stay after Loki was impaled ?"
Again, nearly in tears for the second time in Verdandi only knew how many minutes, he turned to look at the fire place. To glare at the kettle if only to keep his tears at bay. 'At least, if Loki were still alive there would be some sense of consistency.'
Flashback
"They need a sense of consistency."
He blinked up at Loki, noticing that those green-eyes looked nervous from under the golden horned helmet. Somehow he was resisting the urge to frown because he knew how unhappy his love probably was. It was even harder not to go up and make a terrible joke about pretty, powerful stags not needing thrones, much less pretty powerful ones.
Distantly, he heard himself say something in response and for a moment it seemed like Loki would almost smile in relief. Slowly, he rose from his kneeling position, then turned before he walked away.
End Flashback
'Norns damn it ! Why did I have to remember that ? Why do I have to have memories at all ? Wait, what did he just say ?'
In horror, he turned from the red-bricked fire-place to look at Otr. Then he echoed, "I-impaled ? Oh surruptitious Skuld. Otr, do you know how long that would take ?" Anger crept into his tone. "How could Thor let their brotherhood die so quickly ? If he were able to, but didn't I'm going to kill him !"
Otr put the cup down and got up to start walking slowly towards him. Memories flashed through his mind of all the times that Loki had done the same whether for a simple embrace, kiss or heart-felt apology.
With a simple tone Otr asked, "Is that what Loki would want you to do, Fandral ?"
Shame rushed through him because no Loki wouldn't have wanted that. Somehow likely because he didn't know how Thor had acted while he was gone, on the skiff he'd seen that Loki still thought of Thor as his big brother. Yet, Thor himself had thrown that love and loyalty away without even asking Loki himself about it.
Moments passed before he answered, "No, no, he wouldn't. It's just Loki do-didn't even know that Thor treated him like dirt while he was in the dungeon. Thor forced me break my last promise to Loki - I said I was going to visit him again and I never did. H-he probably thought I hated him when he died. I wouldn't blame him, I would if I was him."
Some warm emotion flitted through Otr's grey-eyes and the Einherjar shook his head. Otr gently disagreed, "Again, forgive me for presuming, but I don't think he would."
It startled both of them, and he jumped, when the kettle suddenly whistled.
