Loki could only grit his teeth as the Allfather heaped praise upon Thor. It wasn't unusual of course, but it rankled. If the Lady Sif could see him now she would smirk and mouth 'Jealous?' but even her attention was riveted to Thor.

"-its power has no equal. As a weapon to destroy, or as a tool to build-" He said of Mjolnir and Loki contained the snort that threatened to escape him. A tool to build, really? As if Thor had ever built anything in his entire life. He knew only destruction, only war.

The portal had already been activated. Loki had felt the shift, always had been sensitive to the changes when a doorway was opened and this was no different. The air tasted different, crisp somehow and a hint of the different magic of Jotunheim bleeding into Asgard, so small that had Loki not been looking for it he would never have felt it.

But they were taking too long. Thor was done with his oaths and just about to be proclaimed the new King of Asgard, if only they would-

"Frost giants" Odin said and though the words were spoken softly they were heard by everyone and murmurs rose, rippling through the crowds that had gathered. Only when he raised Gungnir and hit it down onto the ground did the whispers stop but the damage was done and fear and restlessness was in the air.

"Thor, Loki." the Allfather commanded them and while the Einherjar herded the crowd, calming them down the three made their way down to the Weapons vault and then all Loki had to do was nothing.

He had simply to watch as Thor simply proved everything that Loki had been saying for months and months on end now, that he was immature, too hungry for war, too stubborn to listen to advice. And the Allfather marched out and ordered the crowd to disperse as Thor's coronation was deferred to...well, who knew. He would have to prove himself worthy now, Odin would be watching him carefully.

It was done. Finally Loki could have some peace.

"You did this." Arha said as she flipped through his books. Loki had come for but a second, only to sit for a bit as the adrenaline of a scheme complete coursing through him abated. Odin hadn't looked at him even once, and while it would have been a point of consternation at any other time it was a relief then because it meant his father did not suspect him of this. He was safe, or so he thought.

"I don't know what you mean." He said simply but she laughed.

"You forget, I feel echoes of what you feel."

"And what does that have to do with anything?"

"You were relieved, happy that your brother wasn't crowned."

"My views on Thor rising to the throne have never been secret. He is unfit for it." Loki crooned but a flash of guilt still persisted. "For now at least."

"You were relieved, happy, guilty, worried even."

"The Frost giants-"

"Not surprised." Loki swallowed but Arha continued, her cool voice never faltering and she stalked towards him knowingly. "Never surprised."

Loki found himself backing away from her. A panic was rising in him, if she told anyone, if she even suggested it...Loki wasn't liked and it wouldn't take much more than suspicion to have him painted as a traitor.

"You lied to me Loki," She purred and he found he had run out of space, cornered in his own room, pathetic. But still the thought persisted, when had he ever lied to her? "You let me believe there was no way to Jotunheim."

The panic left him as he pondered that. In the rush of everything else, of her near assassination, of the coronation he had forgotten about her strange obsession with Utgard.

Loki stayed silent, waiting for her to say something but she didn't say a word either. She just smiled that strange half smile and looked at him with wide unblinking eyes.

"Loki!" cried Thor and threw his doors open and Loki and Arha sprang apart. "Most glorious battle awaits us!" His brother continued having not even noticed Arha in all his excitement.

"What in the Nine Realms-"

"We're going to Jotunheim to teach those Frost giants a lesson." Thor continued with a too wide grin that belied his anger.

"Can I come too?" Arha said excitedly and Thor's smile dimmed briefly before regaining its brilliance.

"The more the merrier."

What sort of madness was this?