All Previous Disclaimers Apply.
Author's Note: 2 of 2 for one day. I'm kind of proud of myself. I know where this is going and much of it I've already written at this point so hopefully I'll be getting chapters out a little faster. Thanks so much for reading!
Hogun frowns as he surveys the training grounds before him. It has been quite some time since the Allfather named Hogun the leader of Asgard's forces and placed him in charge of training the combined forces of Asgard and those from Jotenheim and Vanaheim who come to learn different styles and higher forms, but it feels as if he will never get used to it. It feels like such a different life when he thinks of where he came from. He is the youngest son in a family of Vanir intellectuals, considered strange due to his tendency not to speak for days if he didn't see the need and his single-minded focus on training and improving himself. Unlike Asgard, magical and studious pursuits were always much more rewarded in the village in which he grew. Training the body, learning weapons work, they were not frowned upon, but they were seen as something to be done in the time between serious studies and intellectual pursuits. The fact that he dreamt of being a warrior, that he wanted nothing more than to improve himself in the art of war, made him something of an outcast with the other children. His parents are good, honest people, but they had no idea what to do with such a child. His mother, friends from birth with the woman who became the Queen of Asgard , finally asked if perhaps there might be a family to foster her youngest as he wasn't fulfilled living with his more intellectually minded family.
The first day he arrived in Asgard he was overwhelmed by the city. So many people, so much noise. Frigga herself took him on, introduced him to those who would be training him, the showed him to a set of rooms as large as his family's home. The bright golden colors, the incredible vastness of the rooms, the servants who were told he was their charge, it was all too much for him. As soon as he had given thanks to Frigga and dismissed the servants he'd put all of his things back in his travelling sack and run, intent upon making it back to the Bi-Frost and being sent back home. But, his sense of direction was not exactly honed in those days and he'd only managed to get himself incredibly lost. He finally managed to make it to the library where he found seated and studying as old tome, the younger prince of Asgard, just his own age and as quiet as he was.
From the moment he met Loki the second prince seemed to understand him. Loki saw his discomfort with his new surroundings without him having to say a word. He sat across from Loki a the large table in the biggest library he'd ever seen and simply let himself breathe for nearly an hour, taking in how much Loki reminded him of his own brothers and sisters and thought that maybe he could learn to get along here as long as there was someone in his life who had the same focus of his family. At the end of that first hour Loki had dropped a scroll in front of him. For a moment he'd despaired until he unrolled it to find it was a tome of tactics from an Asgardian general he'd never heard of, but found absolutely fascinating. Later that day Loki took him to the practice ring and suggested quietly that he pair with Fandral if he wanted a real challenge and to show the trainers all that he could do, as Fandral was the best swordsman Asgard had to offer. Fandral was truly a worthy opponent but he also kept his eye half on the swooning girls at the edge of the arena, rather than fully on the battle at hand. But he also surprised Hogun when he merely laughed and congratulated him on a good spar when he was beaten. The trainer immediately approached after their fight to tell him that he would be training one on one with the best of the Asgardian warriors, as he was too advanced to join the classes that he had been given before anyone had seen him fight. Hogun turned with a smile to see Loki standing against the wall of the training arena, his arms crossed and a smirk Hogun would come to know well on his face.
From that day they were the closest of friends and each found that they understood each other as no one ever had. The had the advantage of being raised in the way that the other wished they had been, so Loki understood Hogun's need to continually improve his skills in the art of war and Hogun understood Loki's need to be as strong in his magic and as educated as he could possibly be. They helped each other, supported each other, and encouraged each other to become the best they possibly could be. And when Sif joined them if was as if she'd always been there. Her wild ways were not theirs, but they managed to temper her and she managed something no one else had. She made them laugh until they cried, she gave them occasion to be wild. She was the stereotypical Asgardian warrior in many ways that neither of them could be and yet she adored them both. There was almost never occasion when the three of them were out of each other's company, much like Thor was with Fandral and Volstagg, though there was always a different element to their triad than Thor's. It was Loki who had given Sif and him the idea to take each other's innocence before the pressure from their fellow warriors would cause them to do something they would regret.
They were such close friends, it ended up being the most fun summer in his memory as they laughed their way through their first time, then spent the next days and weeks learned from each other how best to please the opposite sex. It was very educational and when he was ready to begin a serious courtship with an Asgardian merchant's daughter Sif had let him go with a happy kiss and length of silk she'd bought years before with the intention of giving it to Hogun to give to the woman he intended to court for marriage. She'd done the same, he knew, for Loki, having bought him a dagger to give to the man he intended to marry. She really was much more tenderhearted than she let on to anyone but Loki and himself. He hopes that someday she will catch Thor's eye as he caught hers so many years ago. She is an incredible warrior, one of the best in the realm, and an even better friend. She would make a stunning queen in every way. He knows that Loki agrees with him.
Loki…he turns his thoughts back to his greatest friend and the reason for his frown today. Something is wrong. He can feel it low in his gut and see it in the way his friend it moving. On any given day, even after his wounding and subsequent healing, Loki is one of the swiftest warriors of the realm. He is deadly and almost terrifyingly accurate with his daggers when he chooses to be, but today he has yet to land a blow in his sparring match with Fandral. He is moving so slowly, as if he were testing new forms and moving at half speed purposefully. But, he is not. They all know that. He can see the concern on Fandral's face, the way he is pulling his blows, and the way he catches Loki when he stumbles rather than pressing his advantage and winning the match. He looks to Hogun when Loki does not immediately straighten.
"Hold!" Hogun calls, and all of the matches in the arena come to a halt in a breath, just as they should. Hogun vaults effortlessly over the wall and shoots a look to Volstagg who understands immediately and takes his leave to fetch Thor, who left the training grounds just moments before.
"Loki," Hogun steps up to his friend, still leaning on Fandral's shoulder, and sets a hand to his back. Loki starts as if he has been burned and jerks out of Fandral's reach, only to overcompensate and almost fall back. Hogun catches him by his elbow and cups his face in one hand, trying to see into his eyes.
"Hogun," Loki murmurs as he blinks like he cannot focus his eyes. Hogun curses lightly when he feels the fever burning through his practice gloves and sees the glazed over look in Loki's eyes.
"Loki, try to focus on me, my friend," Hogun murmurs, "Can you tell me if you are injured?"
"Hogun," Loki repeats quietly, then looks up at him. Hogun just barely manages to catch his cry of dismay in his throat as Loki's eyes roll back in his head and his knees give. Hogun and Fandral catch him and lower him to the ground slowly.
"Loki," Hogun shakes his friend gently and feels his heart fall as he does not respond. He looks up at Fandral and sees the fear in his eyes that he knows is reflecting in his own. The worst fear any of them have had, the worst fear of the royal family since Thor brought Loki back barely alive and he has been so very weakened since his recovery, is that they are going to lose their prince. Hogun sends up a prayer for mercy to whatever higher power may be listening and presses a kiss to Loki's burning forehead, "Not like this, my friend," he says quietly, tears burning in his eyes.
"Please…not like this."