Many people bustled about within the halls of the palace, servants hurrying from room to room as the Æsir wore their most luxurious clothing, preparing for Thor's coorination.
Loki passed a heavy set man with auburn hair preening his beard by use of his reflection in the polished walls.
He turned reaching out for a passing platter of food, only for the servant girl to smile smoothly weaving out his way. He huffed as he continued combing his fingers through his beard, exclaiming in delight when he happened upon a morsel of food that was entangled. Loki sneered disgusted at his behavior, not even mortals behaved like that...well not the ones he encountered.
Then next man he passed was walking on his way to the main hall, pausing briefly to fit a small dagger into one of the sheaths on his forearm.
A goateed blond stood in the corner of a hallway surrounded by several giggling women who fawned over him. Loki rolled his eyes as he watch a girl who was tugging at Fandral's hair while he praised another, "Darling girl," who held up a mirror that he admired his face in.
"Now," he began, drawing his saber with a smirk, "who wants to polish my sword?" The girls laughed uproariously and followed him as he strode off. Loki shook his head, he didn't understand how most Æsir women seemed airheaded. There were very few exceptions.
A brunette woman, one of the very few women he respected began to put her shield, sword, and knives carefully atop a long table before moving around it and handing a curved, ornamental, metal weapon to a guard before walking further out to join those gathered. The Warriors Three filing in to line up in front of the golden steps that led to the Allfather's throne. Loki walked without a hurry to where Thor was waiting for him.
Within the quiet of the palace, the heavy double doors at the far end of a shadowed hallway were thrown open, a large figure striding forward with his red cape whipping behind him. He carried a goblet and drained the wine in it before throwing the cup to the floor, calling, "Another!"
The pieces shattered and flew in all directions, the flames flaring in response to the added fuel and illuminating the blond, broad-shouldered, armored warrior standing with a great hammer in one hand.
He continued down the hallway towards a curtained juncture that separated him from the raucous masses outside. Loki stepped out from behind a pillar draped in curtain with a smirk to meet him. He wore his horned helmet and green cape, a compliment to Thor's own scarlet cape, they stood beside each other in the hall.
Loki turned to teasingly ask, "Nervous, brother?"
Thor laughed, "Have you ever known me to be nervous?"
"Hm, well there was the time in Nornheim-" Loki said reminisant of that day.
"That was not nerves, brother, that was the rage of battle," Thor argued, clearly embarrassed.
"Ah, I see."
"How else could I have fought my way through a hundred warriors and pulled us out alive?" Thor questioned rhetorically, turning to face Loki.
He furrowed his brow in mystification as he turned to mention, "Uh, as I recall I was the one who veiled us in smoke for our escape-" Thor guffawed at that, a servant approaching with a platter that held the requested drink.
"Yes, some do battle others just do tricks," Thor viewed with a mocking smile. Loki ground his teeth in frustation, it'd be better to bite his tounge and hold quiet.
The servant chuckled at the remark, Loki's gaze swiftly turning incensed as he gazed at him.
Loki minutely raised a hand and splayed his fingers, twisting it so his palm was directed towards the servant. He quieted in disbelief, horror taking over his expression as his eyes darted between Loki and the goblet not a foot from his face where three small snakes coiled up over the rim. One let out a soft hiss, in his facepaling as he yelped and dropped the tray on the floor along with the cup, three striped snakes slithering across the floor. The servant watched Loki in fear, frozen as he smiled and laughed at his terror.
"Loki," Thor whined looking at the empty cup forlorn, "Now that was just a waste of good wine."
Loki's expression straightened as he defended, "That was just a bit of fun, right my friend?" waving away the serpents. Both he and Thor chuckled lightly as the servant forced himself to flash a scared smile before he bent to pick up the dropped wares, hastily retreating.
A guard swiftly approached bowing and offered a winged helmet to Thor, stepping back once Thor carefully took it. Loki threw his eyes from it to Thor, who looked down at it then back again.
"Ooh, nice feathers," Loki teased lightly, running his hands along the feathers.
Thor smiled and chortled, turning to face him as he speculated, "You don't really want to start this again, do you, cow?" as he glanced up at Loki's horned helmet.
"I was merely being sincere."
"You are incapable of sincerity."
Loki raised a brow, "Am I?"
"Yes."
"I've looked forward to this day as long as you have," Loki softly declared. He was being genuine. Despite his belief that Thor wasn't ready, he rather Thor have the burden of the throne. He kept those thoughts quiet unlike Idris who would softly mutter her complaints whenever Thor was around her. "You're my brother, and my friend. Sometimes I'm envious, but never doubt that I love you."
He would always love Thor despite everything he's ever done to hurt him whether intentionally or not. They shared soft smiles as Thor clasped the back of his neck, "Now give us a kiss," Loki joked.
"Stop it," Thor laughed a slight warning in his tone, shoving him lightly as they both turned back to stand face in the hall enterance. They quieted and Thor looked down at his helmet again before raising his chin slightly and asking softly, "Really, how do I look?"
Loki looked at him, considering, before saying, "Like a king."
Thor gave a slight nod in thanks to the opinion, Loki turning back to face forward as he heaved a sigh and said, "It's time."
"You go ahead." Loki looked at him, contemplating the request. "I'll be along, go on," Thor urged again.
Out in the open air, an enormous crowd had gathered in a sprawling courtyard, warriors donning their extravagant armour and civilians their finest ensembles. Their shouts sounded off the mighty stone pillars as they cheered, flags held aloft that matched the scarlet banners of the royal family hung from the ceiling.
Golden stairs led up to a sprawling throne were the Allfather sat, Thor's four friends arranging themselves along the steps.
The applause of the Æsir rumbled, surrounding Thor as he strode down several steps at the far end of a long aisle that led to the raised golden platform. Armoured and caped in red, having donned his silver, winged helmet, he struck an impressive figure as he held his hammer high above his head. He sauntered down the aisle lined with elite guards, standing with spears at attention. He approached the Allfather, his family, and his friends haughtily, tossing his hammer into the air to the entertainment of the people, grin cocky and laughter loud at being exhibited in such a manner.
Idris watched from her spot near the steps, a harsh sneer on her face. 'That stupid fool as the next ruler of Asgard,ugh.' Not with what will happen soon.
"Oh please," Sif muttered from her stance on the steps, fondly rolling her eyes in annoyance. Frigga stood several rows above, on Odin's right, and smiled slightly in amusement at Thor's antics, but looked away so to display her belief in the inappropriateness of the action. Odin sat in full armour, winged, horned helmet on his head and ruling spear, Gungnir, in hand, looking on.
Loki stood near his mother a soft smile on his face as he watches Thor perform.
Thor raises his arms, egging their praise on, Odin begins frown at the display. Thor reached the bottom of the steps leading up to the Allfather's throne and sunk to one knee, resting his hammer on the floor alongside him and taking off his helmet. He sends a wink to his mother. Her eyes widened, though a brief smile alit on her mouth, and she shakes her head.
Odin stood, the noise of the people quieting as he did so. The Allfather rapped Gungnir on the floor, silence descending swiftly.
"Thor Odinson," he began, "my heir-" Loki, who stood on Thor's left in between Lady Sif and the Queen, glanced down and pursed his lips at the title. They had always been told they were both born to be king but this further proves Odin had always approved of Thor before him.
"-my first born," Odin continued, words wavering in pride as his wife looked upon Thor softly also, "so long entrusted with the mighty hammer Mjolnir, forged in the heart of a dying star. Its power has no equal; as a weapon to destroy, or as a tool to build – it is a fit companion for a king.
"I have defended Asgard, and the lives of the innocent across the Nine Realms, from the time of the Great Beginning..."
Loki began to tune out part of the speech eyes focusing on Idris who seemed to fidget with excitement.
Odin asked the knelt Thor, "Do you swear to guard the Nine Realms?"
"I swear," Thor answered.
"And do you swear to preserve the peace?"
"I swear," he repeated.
"Do you swear to cast aside all selfish ambition-" Loki looked away from Odin, disbelieving of Thor's ability to do such, "-and to pledge yourself only to the good of the realm?"
"I swear!" Thor shouted, thrusting Mjolnir upward at the vow.
"Then on this day, I, Odin Allfather, will proclaim you..." he trailed off, gaze drifting. Thor's smile fell in worry. Odin's eyes glazed as he saw within the weapon's vault, its floor crackled as it iced over, a guard kneeling to inspect its progression in fear and confusion. Crimson eyes reflected, a Jötunn growling from behind him as one of its clawed hands seized his throat. Another giant transformed an arm into a spiked icicle and speared the remaining guard's throat.
"Frost Giants."
The Jötunns marched to the far end of the vault, ice concentrating along the floor and base of the walls as they approached the Casket. The power of the artifact seemed to swirl in anticipation, the prism glowing a bit brighter as cobalt hands grasped its sides and took it from its base. They turned to exit.
From his stand in front of the Æsir the Allfather struck Gungnir against the gilded floors, and below the wall disappeared revealing the Destroyer. It stepped forward to look down upon the intruding 'giants'; the lead Jötunn twisted to face it and raised the Casket, not knowing how to use it but ready to try. But he was instantly incinerated by an intense beam of power.
The Allfather and the two princes left the ceremony, leaving Frigga to settle the frightened crowd, and entered the Weapons' Vault as the Destroyer retreated back to where it came, the the wall reappearing in front of it. Loki stooped to examine the bodies: the guards prone and frozen, the barest of pieces remaining of the giants. With a glow of his hands hovering over one, they were still alive but barely. They needed immediate healers.
With a wave his hand the ice melted and their bodies transported to the healers.
"The Jötunns must pay for what they've done," Thor declared, Loki gazed on in silence. He already knew what his father would say.
"They have paid, with their lives," Odin replied. "The Destroyer did its work, the Casket is safe, and all is well."
Thor looked to his brother for commiseration as he queried in irritation, "All is well? They broke into the Weapons' Vault. If the Frost Giants had stolen even one of these relics-"
"But they didn't."
"Well I want to know why," Thor insisted. Loki raised an eyebrow from the sidelines, Thor was actually asking qestions for once.
"I have a truce with Laufey, King of the Jötunns-" Odin started to say and give him the same response he always gave when Thor wanted to eliminate the Jötunn race.
"He just broke your truce! They know you are vulnerable."
Odin turned to face him directly and asked, "What action would you take?"
"March into Jötunheim as you once did. Teach them a lesson; break their spirits so they'll never dare to cross our borders again-"
'Fool. You never think before you speak.' Loki, who'd been peacekeeper and working treaties with other relms for many centuries, could seem Thor wasn't thinking as a ruler at all.
"You're thinking only as a warrior," Odin noted.
"This was an act of war!"
"It was the act of but a few, doomed to fail," Odin corrected.
"Look how far they got!"
"We will find the breach in our defenses and it will be sealed." That was the biggest question that no one had yet to ask, how did they get in?
Loki knew the passages and would have to check but there were very few others that knew about those passages besides himself.
"As King of Asgard-"
"But you're not king!" Odin cut off. "Not yet." Thor's expression was stony as Odin walked past.
"Brother." Loki called out softly, only to have Thor look at him with anger. Thor left, walking in harsh strides towards the dining hall.
Thor stormed into the room and reached forward to fling the servants away, roaring as he overturned the table, letting the multitude of food and remaining precious tableware fall to the ground, Thor standing with an enraged expression, teeth bared.
His four friends entered the hall, Lady Sif lifting her palms and asking derisively, "Redecorating, are we?"
"What's this?" Volstagg looking at all the fallen food surrounding his friend.
Thor breathed heavily as he tensely circled the area that was now in shambles to sit on the steps lining the room.
"You do realize that you are only causing more trouble," Fandral commented.
"All this food," Volstagg murmured, "it's just cast to the ground, it's-" He breathed heavily through his emotional response and finished, "It breaks the heart."
A man dressed in indigo with a stark white fur cloak covering his shoulders, his own armor shining as brightly as his blue eyes looked over at a pillar awaiting for his friend to appear. Loki stepped out from behind it smirking at Baldur before he crouched to sit beside Thor on the low rows of stairs.
"It's unwise to be in my company right now, brother," Thor warned. Loki already knew that, he already faced Thor's heated stare before.
He nodded his head in agreement and saying, "Who said I was wise?" as he settled beside him.
"This was to be my day of triumph," Thor said discontent.
"It'll come, in time," Loki reassured softly, laying a hand on his shoulder. Sif watched their conversation curiously as Volstagg gathered an assortment of food on a tray that escaped Thor's wrath.
Baldur looked at the brother briefly before talking to Fandral to keep himself occupied.
Loki looked back at the other warriors and shifted closer to Thor, leaning in to whisper quietly into his ear, "If it's any consolation, I think you're right – about the Frost Giants, about Laufey, about everything. If they found a way to penetrate Asgard's defenses once, who's to say they won't try again? Next time, with an army."
It was true...sort of. He didn't necessarily agree with Thor's methods but what if they did breach Asgard again.
"Exactly," Thor responded.
"There's nothing you can do without defying Father,"
Thor turned to look at him suddenly, gasping in realization, "Yes, there is," as he got to his feet.
Loki searched his expression frantically before his eyes widened and he started to protest, "No, no no no no, stop; I know that look, stop right there-"
"It's the only way to ensure the safety of our borders,"
"Thor, it's madness," Loki tried again. Thor would get them all killed if he didn't stop this soon.
"Madness?" Volstagg interrupted. "What sort of madness?"
"I-It's nothing, Thor was just, merely making a jest," Loki diverted, trying to stop Thor's foolish plan.
"The safety of our realm is no jest," Thor stated, "We're going to Jötunheim."
Loki sighed and raised a hand to cover his eyes in resignation, Baldur walked over to him ready to take action. To Sif it seem strange to see the two men together.
Baldur did not fault Loki for landing the blow that killed him, it had been unintentional. No one else could see that nor could they see why Baldur the bright formed a strange (and reluctant on Loki's part)friendship with his own killer.
Fandral scoffing out an incredulous, "What?" at the proclamation.
"Thor," Sif began with a shake of her head, "of all the laws of Asgard, this is the one you! Must. Not. Break."
Fandral yelled, "This isn't like a journey to Earth where you summon a little lightning and thunder and the mortals worship you as a god. This is Jötunheim-"
"If the Frost Giants don't kill you, your father will," Volstagg said trying to keep as much out of the conversation as could but he couldn't help but add that important tidbit.
"My father fought his way into Jötunheim," Thor supplied, Loki swallowing in anxiety, "defeated their armies and took their Casket. We will just be looking for answers-"
"It is forbidden," Baldur's soft voice seemed to echo in the room, silencing them.
Thor chuckled before he said, "My friends, have you forgotten all that we have done together? Who brought you into the sweet embrace of the most exotic maidens in all of Yggdrasil?" he asked Fandral, coming to stand before him.
"Well, you helped a little," he responded with a smirk.
Thor laughed and looking at Hogan, "And who led you into the most glorious of battles?"
"You did," he replied.
"And to delicacies so succulent you thought you'd died and gone to Valhalla?" he asked Volstagg, who'd been in the middle of assembling a tower out of bread, meat, and cheese.
He chortled and answered, "You did."
Thor laughed with him and approved, "Yes," as he clapped him on the shoulder. Then he turned and started towards the brunette, asking, "And who proved wrong all who scoffed at the idea that a young maiden could be one of the fiercest warriors this realm has ever known?"
"I did," she cheerfully answered.
Thor paused for a moment before admitting, "True, but I supported you, Sif." He spun to face Baldur about to say something but then stopped it would not be good to remind him of the contest he, Thor, had started in good jest once hearing of what their mother did to protect him.
"My friends, trust me now – we must do this," he said regaining his confidence, returning to stand by Loki and gesturing down at him, "You're not going to let my brother and me take all the glory are you?"
Loki's eyes flashed up and widened as he breathed out, "What?"
His gaze shifting from side to side in unease. He did not want to indulge Thor to his whim.
"What," Thor wondered, his smile falling, "You are coming with me, aren't you?"
He turned with a smile and answered, "Yes, of course."
He stood and confirmed, "I won't let my brother march into Jötunheim alone."
"And I," Volstagg said.
"And I," Fandral repeated with a sigh, now that Loki was in he would have to help.
"And I," Baldur said nodding.
"And I," Hogan affirmed. "The Warriors Three fight together."
"I fear we'll live to regret this," Sif finished, closing her right fist and holding it over her heart as she bowed in recognition to Thor's leadership.
Volstagg added, "-if we're lucky," to her statement.
Birds twittered in the trees lining a bright, round garden; white, pink, and red flowers bloomed a foot from the ground and were planted in interlocking, large circles; a decorative stream coursed down between the flowerbeds. Loki watched as his brothers, the warriors three and Lady Sif prepared. Loki looked over where a few guards stood, a plan forming in his mind. The seven warriors strode with purpose side by side, fully armored with their capes (and skirt) whipping about them. They came to a halt at a long rail that allowed them a view out of the realm of Asgard.
"First we must find a way to get past Heimdall," Thor told them.
"That will be no easy task," Volstagg retorted. "It's said the Gatekeeper can see a single drop of dew fall from a blade of grass a thousand worlds away."
Fandral laughed as he created another superstition mockingly, "Yes, and he can hear a cricket passing gas in Niffleheim."
"Jest not," He countered as they proceeded to file over to their horses, "he hears all."
"Please, getting past him should be simple enough now – since he seems to be letting Frost Giants sneak by under his nose," Fandral chortled. Loki scowled, he had great admiration for the man, it would not do well to disrespect him.
"Oh forgive him," Volstagg apologized, addressing the Gatekeeper though he wasn't there, "He means no offense." Sif watched him bemused, shaking her head slightly.
Hogan trailed behind, casting a glance back at Loki who had stopped to speak with one of the guards.
Loki asked the guard quietly to go alert Odin of Thor's plan. The guard gave a nod and Loki swiftly moved to follow the others.
They mounted and adjusted the holds on their weapons, spurring their steeds into to go faster. They rode over the wide, golden road that cut through the center of Asgard to its golden, gated walls that led out of the realm. The road shifted into the Rainbow Bridge and they moved closer to the site of the Bifrost.
They slowed as they approached the Bifrost. They dismounted and approached an impressively armored, dark skinned male with piercing amber eyes. He stood as the unyielding Gatekeeper of the Bifrost, a broadsword held downwards clasped in his hands.
"Leave this to me," Loki said confidently as the seven moved towards him. He had to stall them as long as he could. "Good Heimdall-"
"You're not dressed warmly enough," he cut off.
"I'm sorry?" Loki asked puzzled. Damn. He knew his plan would fail.
"Do you think that you can deceive me?"
He stuttered out a laugh, "You must be mistaken-"
"Enough," Loki obeyed instantly.
Thor stepped around him, asking, "Heimdall, may we pass?"
"Never has an enemy slipped my watch until this day," he stated. Heimdall cast his dissecting gaze onto him before returning it to Thor, adding, "I wish to know how that happened."
"Then tell no one where we have gone until we've returned, understand?" Thor ordered, striding past.
The Warriors Three and Sif followed, Volstagg laughing, "What happened, silver tongue turn to lead?" Loki watched him in consternation as he passed.
They entered the golden dome, Thor taking point. Heimdall ascended the steps to the governing mechanism of the Bifrost, sliding his sword into it. Blindingly white branches of lightning split off to strike the walls and floor sporadically, the machine shifting and beginning to spin underneath them. The outer wall spun with it, gaining momentum as the pyramid atop spun and fell to point away from Asgard; a bright beam shot out, channeled by its point.
"Be warned," Heimdall spoke, "I will honor my sworn oath to protect this realm as its Gatekeeper. If your return threatens the safety of Asgard the Bifrost will remain closed to you, and you'll be left to die in the cold wastes of Jötunheim."
Hogan and Sif traded apprehensive looks while Volstagg asked, "Couldn't you just leave the bridge open for us?"
"To leave the bridge open would unleash the full power of the Bifrost and destroy Jötunheim with you upon it," he answered, Loki absorbing the fact wondering how they discovered this.
Thor smiled and held, "I have no plans to die today."
"None do."
He fully sheathed his sword into the machine and the seven were slipped into infinite streaks of colored light, dragged through the beam and blasted through the starry skies. It was a dizzying array of colors spun around them as they flew through the heavens, finally erupting into the harsh atmosphere of Jötunheim.
AN for some reason i hard trouble remembering what the dining hall was called i kept calling it feast hall food hall etc. anyways im speeding up the actual tw plot bc im lazy and if i didnt and tried to fit all of it i would probably quit before we get to loki. also the teen wolf timeline itself is very confusing, supposedly it starts in September or possibly after winter break but many of the scenes done after lean more to the cold weather of fall/winter (also winter formal anyone) but according to moon calender is would more likely be in January rather than september, and since they use their own phones with out of plot dates (ie their phones say feb and jan rather than canon months such as sept or oct.) it gets real confusing for me and essentially fucks up its own canon timeline but whatever.
by the time we get to the end of the asgard line and meet jane and stuff we should be around magic bullet/the tell on the time line. there will be interludes within the asgard chapters to tell of the progress with the wolfsbane potions/tw plot.
to get a clearer idea of the timeline i will post a time line starting the next chapter.
So i have a deep love for Baldur. And i figure since norse canon doesnt have much interaction with him and loki besides the hand in his death he has, i imagine that Baldur as a pacifist (he only fights when he really has to) wouldn't really blame Loki (well this loki idk about canon norse loki) for his death and would actually form a bond with him (rather than hate him and be a total ass to him) and basically be his friend because loki essentially saved him from death. One thing that was pointed out is Hogan, Volstagg and Sif all wear red showing their loyalty to Thor but Fandral wears green whenever he's draw so he's more allied with Loki. Fandrall will shown in this fic allied more to loki, (whoopsie but not really because loki needs more friends especially those who tease/flirt with him nicely)not as much of an ass as he probably could be. So yeah that my reasoning for adding Baldur.
read and review my lovelies.