A/N: So I finally decided to respond to all of your lovely reviews! Terribly sorry that I didn't do so before, but I am now so…..HURRAY!

Reviews:

Dreamles-Sleep777 – Again thank you so much for pointing out the problem with the spacing last chapter! I personally blame the technology gods for screwing with me right when I got the precious- err I mean computer back.

NotToLogins- It's good to be back! Yes I plan to diverge more from cannon, but I can't promise you that Loki will never be an ass, let's face it everyone's a bit of one :)

Em- I'm glad you like it and I'm pretty excited to see how what happens next too.

Ribke D'Crazy- Hee hee, gorilla's. Nah I won't punch you in the face, after all you were pointing out errors plus you made grammar funny! So thanks for that..

anastacianott- Even though your review was just two words it still made my day!

Chapter seven: In which there is much ice

"Then speak." If the first Jotnar voice was like cracking ice, then this one's was a blizzard. It rolled with power and danger, yet remained quiet and calm all at once. This voice was a deadly blend of intelligence, strength, and cunning. Loki followed the source of the voice, and found himself staring into a pair of cutting red eyes. This voice was the voice of Laufey, King of Jotunheim.

Loki stiffened slightly at the intense gaze, but he forced himself to remain steady and not look away. He gave a slight nod in respect to the king, and in return Laufey gave him a curious look, wondering perhaps about an Aesir that actually showed him a sign of courtesy however small it may be. Laufey eventually turned his stare onto Thor who still had a look of contempt on his face. Seeing this, Laufey's face once again grew completely impassive, and when he spoke, his voice was even colder then before.

"I am Laufey, King of this Realm." The Jotun King said with cool dignity.

Thor opened his mouth, "And I am-" he was cut off.

"We know who you are Odinson." Said Laufey, a hint of a sneer on his face as he did so, "Why have you brought the stench of your blood into this world?"

Thor looked slightly miffed at being interrupted but responded, "I demand answers."

Loki barely bit back a groan at his brothers disrespect, and from the looks on the others faces, he wasn't the only one. The Jotnar standing by looked justifiably furious, and a few even started forward only to be stopped by a wave of their leader's hand. Laufey turned back to Thor and slowly rose to his full height. His very, very, very tall height. Loki did not know if size was a sign of power on Jotunheim or not, but if it was then it was no wonder that this was their king. Laufey, although his built was slim and lean, (much, a distant part of Loki's brain noted, like his own body,) his head rose at least a foot taller above any of his subjects.

Laufey spoke, a faintly mocking tone entering his voice. "How very brave of you Prince Thor to demand answers in a land that is not your own, in a court that is not your fathers. Yes, very brave, or very foolish indeed. But my dear Prince even if I would give you answers I could not, for I do not know what it is you demand."

Thor gritted his teeth, "How did your people get into Asgard?"

Laufey rose an eyebrow ridge in amusement, "You broke the accord, ignored the laws against trespassing on other Realms and risked sparking a war, all to search for answers that can not be found?" he began to laugh quietly, shaking his head as he did so. "I am afraid, Odinson that I will have to label you fool after all."

Thor, growling, took a step forward. "Enough of your word games, Giant."

Loki sighed, bringing everyone's attention to him. "They are hardly word games if they're straightforward are they?"

Thor glared at him, "Know your place brother." Loki narrowed his eyes at him, ignoring the slightly surprised looks the Jotnar gave at the word brother.

"Well, brother," he hissed at Thor, "it seems that my place is covering up your idiotic blunderings and actually trying a lovely little thing called diplomacy." Thor's glare only intensified further.

Loki grimaced at the sight of it, but turned and gave a shallow bow in the direction of the Jotun king. "King Laufey," he said smoothly, "allow me to introduce myself to your majesty. I am Prince Loki Odinson, and I humbly beg your pardon for the disrespect shown to you by my older brother."

Thor grabbed the younger prince's shoulder and yanked him back towards the group. "What are you doing?" he growled in a whisper.

"Saving our skins, now for once in your very long life, shut it!" Loki shot back.

Loki turned back to Laufey, and thought he saw a glimmer of amusement pass through the red eyes, but it was so fleeting that he almost assumed he imagined it. There was a moment of silence before the king spoke, "I was unaware that Odin had a second son."

One side of Loki's mouth quirked up, "Yes, those not of Asgard or are not trusted allies are mostly unaware of that fact." He hesitated for a moment, "My family is rather overprotective." They both turned to look at Thor, who was currently baring his teeth at any Jotun who dared draw near."

"Yes, I noticed that." Said Laufey.

Loki gave a cough, "I thought you might." He looked up, face growing serious. "I assume by your former words that you did not realize what the two Jotnar were doing or where they were going until they had already left?"

Laufey nodded, "You assume correctly, I was unaware that they had even left until one of my guards informed me of seeing them step through a portal."

"Is it possible that they could have opened it themselves?" Loki asked, but Laufey was already shaking his head.

"No, that kind of doorway could only have been opened on the other side."

That got Thor's attention. "What are you saying?"

Laufey sneered. "I am saying Odinson, that before you began traversing to other Realms, you should have taken a closer look at your own."

Thor bared his teeth at him, "Do not dishonor my land and people with your lies."

Laufey's eyes snapped with anger, "Your land is full thieves, traitors, and most of all murderers. For example, today two of my people were needlessly killed!"

Loki stepped forward, "As were two of our own." But the Frost Giant was to far gone in his anger to hear the words.

"And for what reason?" he snarled. "What reason other than to prevent them from gaining what is needed to return this Realm to its former glory? Your father stole what is ours. We have the right to reclaim the Casket!"

"Not when you'd use it to make war against other Realms." Thor snapped back.

Laufey laughed, high and cold. "And why have you come here? To make peace? You long for battle, you crave it. I see you for what you are, Thor Odinson. Nothing but a boy, trying to prove himself a man."

Thor snarled, "This boy is tired of your mockery."

"That's enough, Thor." Loki said sharply. "We came here to get answers, not start a war." He turned to Laufey. "King Laufey, we apologize for wasting your time, and we ask your permission to leave so that we may waste not a moment more of it."

Slowly the raging storm in Laufey's eyes simmered down, and he nodded slowly. "I see you inherited your parent's way with words. Such a shame I cannot say the same about your brother." Ignoring the thunder god's seething expression, he turned away from them and let out a heavy sigh. "Go now, while I still allow it."

Loki put a hand on Thor's shoulder slowly pulling him back. "We will accept your most gracious offer." Thor resisted for a beat longer, and then turned and began walking back the way they had come.

'I can't believe that we got out of here without any bloodshed.' No sooner then Loki had thought this, an idiot decided to ruin his happy delusions of peace.

"Run back home little princess." An idiotic Frost Giant muttered in the direction of the retreating group.

Loki went white, and slowly turned his head to look at the Jotun that had spoken, eyes like flints of emeralds. "You just had to open your damn mouth didn't you?" he hissed at him.

Sir Idiot of the Sparkly Snowflakes, (the name that Loki had just come up with) looked confused for a moment until a giant hammer smashed into his face sending him flying backwards into a wall of ice. That, Loki imagined, would wipe confusion away on any occasion.

Volstagg chuckled nervously as everyone drew their weapons, "Silly hammer, has a mind of its own." The approaching Jotuns did not slow down at his words, choosing instead to draw upon their elemental magic, covering themselves with shining armor, and creating wickedly sharp looking blades all made out of the same dark colored ice.

'Well,' Loki thought dryly, 'this could be problematic.' He also noted with some irritation that Thor and the other Asgardians had surrounded him, effectively cutting him off from the battle. That, he decided, would not do at all. He teleported out of the circle, paying no heed to the cries of the others behind him, and right into the middle of the fighting.

He took a deep breath, grabbed one of his numerous knives, and flicked his wrist watching it fly out of his hand and into the abdomen of an approaching giant. He repeated the action, and lost himself to the rhythm of battle. Duck. Throw. Dodge. Teleport over to Sif, incapacitate Jotun sneaking up behind her. Duck. Throw. Dodge. Create doubles to confuse enemy. Duck. Throw. Dodge.

He was brought out of this pattern by Volstagg's cry of, "Don't let them grab hold of you!" He glanced towards the direction of the voice, and let them do just that. A Jotun, taking advantage of the young princes distracted state, leapt towards him. Loki's breath rushed out of him as the Jotun seized him by his throat and slammed his back against a nearby wall. Loki's neck snapped back, and he closed his eyes wincing as his head smacked against the ice behind him.

When he opened them again, he found two curious eyes looking at him. Puzzled, he glanced down, and to his horror he found not blackened skin as he assumed he would, but an icy blue that was slowly spreading.

"Who are you?" asked the Jotun, loosening his grip on Loki.

Immediately, Loki kicked out and plunged two of his daggers into the giant's chest. The giant and he dropped to the ground at the same time; the only difference was Loki got up. He stared at the Jotun's twitching body.

"I am Prince Loki of Asgard." He said, hating how uncertain his voice sounded to his own ears. He attempted to turn away but stumbled as a wave of vertigo washed over him. Taking a deep shuddering breath he managed to regain his balance. He then glanced around dully, wondering why the battle was still continuing when clearly the whole world had stopped. What was the point of all this again? Try as he might Loki couldn't remember. Why did they have to fight? Couldn't they all just lie down and go to sleep?

He snapped out of his stupor at the sound of his name being called. He looked around more alertly, paying no heed to the headache blossoming in the back of his skull. His eyes finally landed on Fandral who was currently surrounded on all sides by Jotnar.

"Loki!" he yelled dodging a blow to the chest, "I could very well use your assistance at the moment."

Loki furrowed his brow. Fandral needed his help? Fandral, his friend, needed his help. But did he want to help? His brow cleared. Of course he wanted to help. Fandral was his friend. And good people helped their friends. And he was good. He was. He wasn't a monster. He wasn't a Jo- Loki shook he head vigorously, and a moment later he was by Fandral's side fighting once more.

He forced a smirk unto his face, "Oh so the mighty Fandral needs my help does he?"

Fandral scowled, "Shut it Loki."

Loki's smirk turned more genuine, "No need to deny it, we all know that with out me you'd have been dead long ago." Fandral opened his mouth to retort, but instead his eyes widened in horror. The warrior mouthed something, it might have been his name, but Loki was paying more attention to the sharp pain that had blossomed in his chest. He glanced down and saw to his great surprise a sharp blade of ice sticking out of his body, just below his heart.

And just as suddenly as the sword had appeared it was gone in one ripping motion that caused Loki to gasp, trying to draw enough air to scream. He was on the ground, forgetting about screaming and just trying to draw enough air to breathe. His name was being shouted, the voices growing more and more frantic. He was being lifted up by a pair of warm calloused hands. He found out that he did have enough air to scream after all as a jolt caused a blinding pain to shoot threw him. He was looking up into a pair of frightened blue as a familiar voice was whispering soothing words at him. And then he was nothing.