Snow Days

by kalimecat

Thor remembers several times when he and Loki were younger and they played in the snow he thinks of what those times revealed to him about his younger brother

11. In the Aftermath of a Blizzard

HI GUYS! First of all I hope all of you were safe if you were in anyway affected by Hurricane Sandy. I have been eager to put this chapter out, but I have been busy and haven't had the time to update. Your reviews and favorites and follows are so encouraging and I appreciate each and everyone. You all give such great feed back that it keeps me inspired to write :D And I seriously take into consideration all of your suggestions. Since Loki has had such a rough time in the past couple of chapters I thought it might be time to let him have a little fun:)

Guest: (Yes you) You mentioned wanting to see something with Loki's pranks... well I think this chapter might cover it ;)

May God Bless you all and happy reads.

"Brother, let's stop in a tavern and get something to eat before we head home," the stately blonde prince suggested as they rode through the streets of the Imperial City. His gallant horse, Thor was carrying a strapping white buck. He brought his noble steed to a halt getting ready to turn down a path that would divert them from the palace.

"The castle isn't much further, Thor we can eat there," Loki insisted with a shrug from behind Thor.

"It's still a good 2 miles off, at least we could warm ourselves by the fire and have a warm cup of ale before we journey on," Thor expressed he nonchalantly tugged his cape over his shoulders a little more and turned to face Loki who was now sitting by his side on his own dark-colored stallion..

"We are not going on a great journey Thor where we need to rest up before we continue our travels." The silver-tongued young man explained. "it seems impractical to go and warm up only to have to come back out into the cold," Loki reasoned.

"I'm starving," The wielder of Mjolnir insisted. He grabbed at his gut through his tunics and doubled over on his steed as if he would collapse from hunger. "I can't wait til we arrive home to eat,"

"You are far from starving," Loki rolled his vivid green eyes. He continued toward the palace. If anyone should be complaining about hunger it was him, "you ate my portion of food while we were hunting today," Loki reminded the blonde Viking prince as he gave his beefy brother a stern glare. It was bad enough that Thor woke him up before dawn saying that he owed him a sparring match. Loki was far from a morning person, but he indulged his brother's request. Still, Thor had demanded more out of him. He wanted to go hunting. The elder prince had said there was good game a foot and then insisted that they go out for the day. naturally, Thor didn't take an interest in preparing lunch. While Loki had started to assemble some satchels of food for them, Thor merely scoffed. The blonde prince explained to his sibling that they weren't going on a picnic by the seashore. They would just trap and catch their own food. Thor left his satchel behind, but Loki still brought along his own lunch. While they were in the woods Thor ate two of their kills. But hunting always made the crown prince work up a hearty appetite and so he ate all the food that Loki had packed as well.

"What can I say," Thor began releasing a winning grin through his golden beard. "I'm a growing boy," he teased and flexed his rippling muscles.

"Fine, you go to the tavern I'll go home," the younger prince huffed in agitation. He had been out since early morning with his brother and although they had a good time tracking in the woods, he longed to pull away to himself and retire for the evening. He was damp and dirty and unkempt looking in his opinion. Loki liked to be polished and groomed when he was among the plebian population of the realm.

"Loki we are supposed to be spending the day together," Thor said in a whiny voice which was hard to muster when one had a baritone cadence such as he. He batted his bright sky colored eyes in Loki's direction pleading like some sort of sad dog.

"I never agreed to spend the whole day with you." Loki stated and pointed a scolding finger in his older brother's face then sharply turned away. He couldn't stand when Thor made that face like some sort of begging mongrel. It irritated him because it worked. It worked on their parents and on officials in the kingdom, it worked with girls and though Loki hated to admit it, it sometimes worked on him. "I agreed to spar with you this morning and some how you have managed to connive my whole day from me!" Loki grumbled.

"I just wanted us to spend sometime together," Thor shrugged and attempted to talk in a baby voice, but Thor's voice was like a roll of thunder and far from childish. "You've been so busy lately," Thor went on his blue eyes were wide and hopeful.

"We both have our roles to fulfill to the kingdom Thor. You've been appointed as captain of 1000," Loki said a twinge of bitterness in his tone. "And I…I have my class of younglings," Loki sighed. Their father had assigned Thor the honored position of leading a battalion only a few years ago. Thor was a captain amongst the Einherjar. He had been given the most powerful weapon in all of Asgard Mjolnir, the invincible hammer. It had been made by the most famous and gifted blacksmith in the nine realms, Wayland. The Norn had made it from the parts of a dying star. It was his last masterpiece made for the golden prince on his 800th birthday.

Loki's 800th birthday was right around the corner. The 800th birthday was one of the biggest birth anniversaries that Asgardian's celebrated. They called it Coming-of-Age. This birthday was preparing you for your adulthood rights. It wasn't until the age of 1000 that a young man or woman of the kingdom was bestowed all the privileges of their title. Loki wondered what his father had in store for him. He hadn't mentioned the occasion even though his birthday was only a few days away. In fact noone had mentioned his up and coming celebration. He was worried that he would be forgotten. After Loki took his mage trial, he was so sure his father would give him the Tesseract Talisman. It was such a powerful relic. So many scholars in Asgard had asked to once again harness its energy, but Odin had denied them all. Loki, wondered if perhaps this denial was because his father planned on bestowing this ancient magic on him. When it hadn't happened after the Mage Trial, Loki assumed that his father must be waiting to give it to him for his 800th birthday. So far his title as a Mage of the Realm hadn't given him the desired perks. As far as the emerald eyed prince was concerned he had been slighted. Thor was given a battalion of Asgard's finest under his control, Loki had been granted children. He had been assigned to work at the academy. His father said it was an honor. That as a prince of the realm he should be a role model for the young people of the realm. Surely, he thought if this was the case he would be made head of a department, he'd research or write about recent discoveries, but no.. he was assigned the menial class of being a professor for a kinder-class. Not a class for wealthy young scholars who came from all the realms to study, that would have at least been a task suited for a prince of Asgard, but alas he was to be tutor to nothing more than a bunch of urchins. They were orphan children who lived at the academy. It was a simple class, just basic astrology for students who claimed to have gifts of prophecy. Simple star charting and horoscopes, things that Asgard youngest prince had taught himself at a tender age.

"I just thought you might want a little break. .. besides I thought you didn't like working with the children," The older prince teased.. Loki always returned to the palace complaining about how he didn't like children. He went on and on about how they were unruly didn't listen and how he literally had to glue them to their seats. For all that though Thor thought Loki actually enjoyed teaching the youngsters. He one time saw his stoic little brother give one of the girls in his class a hug at the end of the day.

"I don't!" Loki barked, "But still, I had a responsibility and you kept me from that… I have traipsed around in the woods with you all day, gallivanting off trying to chase down unicorns even after I informed you that their migration pattern shows that they will not be going through this region until two weeks from now," Loki raged.

"We did bag a nice badger though brother, he'll make a nice throw for one of the guest rooms,' Thor added optimistically.

"That's besides the point!" Loki said through gritted teeth he was on the verge of yelling. "The point is I would like to go home and rest and have a nice quiet dinner, not go to the pub and deal with base and droll drunks among the peasants,"

Odin's oldest boy had scarcely listen to his brother's gripes. "There's a new place Sif, Volstagg and I came upon a few months ago, we took Frandal and Hogun a little while ago. It's become our new spot. You stay so busy all the time. I haven't been able to pry you away from your library long enough to take you," Thor said sadly. Sometimes he felt as though their paths were diverging. "I think you'll like it," Thor pointed out jerkily as he caused his horse to gallop so that he was beside Loki riding once more.

"I'm really not in the mood to…"

"Not in the mood, not in the mood to what?" Thor countered quickly. "Aren't you hungry?" He asked innocently enough.

"Yes," Prince Loki admitted, when he thought about it he had worked up an appetite. "But I'd be just as happy to eat at home," he pointed out.

"I really want you to see this place," Thor persisted. He smiled wholeheartedly at his black-haired brother and placed a warm hand around Loki's neck.

"Why brother?" Loki asked he returned the smile with an exasperated sigh as he moved Thor's hand from him to massage his aching shoulder muscles.

The fair-haired prince of the realm, laughed as his brother winced trying to rub the kinks out his neck. "If you'd spar more and read less maybe you wouldn't get so sore," Thor admonished. "and maybe you'd actually present a challenge for me," he teased while hitting Loki on the back before he cause his horse to continue trotting.

The slighter built Asgardian glared at his brother, "I recall knocking you on your back," Loki said but his voice wasn't exactly full of mirth. It was almost a spat declaration.

"Yes, but you cheated, You used your magic and you shifted the stones under my feet and caused me to lose my balance," Thor pointed out quickly as he continued riding in a way that was diverting them from the path to the palace.

"Magic isn't cheating!" Loki protested bitterly. Thor often now belittled his craft in front of their comrades. And cutting his brother down to size with a dirty trick was the least he could do to show him how powerful and useful magic could be in battle.

"Some do battle Loki other do magic tricks," Thor quipped and tossed his blonde head back as he let out a bellow of a laugh. Loki scowled. His brother's humor was droll at best. Thor chuckled to himself for a long while as the trotted down gilded paved streets. He noticed that his younger brother didn't return his amusement.

"Why do you want me to go to this tavern tonight?," Loki finally asked as he massaged his temples.

"I just want you to try it," Thor insisted trying to sound as innocent as possible. He could sense that Loki wasn't completely buying it. His brother kept moving his head trying to stare into his eyes. Thor wasn't a very good liar. He always gave things away. Worried that once again his eagerness would betray him, the young warrior broke eye contact and shifted his gorgeous azure pupils up to simply stare at the heavens. It was perfect timing, a few flurries were starting to fall. Thor was glad of the fact, sometimes Loki's gaze could be so penetrating like he was seeing right through you and reading your mind although his own eyes wouldn't show any emotion or motive at all.

"Why?" Loki pressed, his voice smooth and even as he twisted his neck so that when Thor did look down again he would be met with his emerald eyes.

"Mmm, stop that!" the elder sibling scolded and punched Loki playfully in the shoulder. The hit had been light on Thor's end, but Loki winced and rubbed his shoulder. "I told you about reading my thoughts like that," Thor warned teasingly waging his finger at Loki's face.

"Your thoughts?" Loki gasped with surprise, "Why brother I would never try to read your thoughts," Loki pointed himself attempting a look of hurt.

"Oh no," Thor retorted rolling his eyes a bit.

"You haven't any for me to read," Loki jabbed and snickered to himself.

Thor raised his fist and aimed it dead for Loki's face only to be met by grin full of straight stark white teeth and mischievous green eyes batting back at him. He dropped his massive fist and shrugged then let out a pent-up laugh himself. He grabbed Loki roughly around the neck, almost yanking him off of his stallion, and folded him into a headlock and giving him the customary hard noogie that Loki detested. He released his sibling whose arms had been flailing about wild while he was in the uncomfortable position, and pushed him back up on his horse, "Look it's starting to snow," the eldest prince pointed out. Pointing his bronzed finger at the heavens.

"Why thank you Captain Obvious," Loki spat as he managed to wriggle free of the choke hold. "I have eyes to see," he explained while he tried to smooth down his messy black mane.

"It's a sign," Thor expressed with a nod.

"A sign? A sign of what?" Loki questioned indignantly.

"A sign that we should go to the tavern and stay the night," Thor proclaimed with ease.

"Thor I have absolutely no intention of spending the night in a tavern when the palace is less than an hour away," Loki told his brother harshly and exasperated breath out the side of his mouth as he continued to try to slick his raven hair back down.

Thor took the lead now, trotting a head of the green-eyed prince. "Come on, just for a little while, then" he encouraged turning around and giving that winning smile that all of Asgard was charmed by.

With a reluctant sigh the emerald eyed youth followed behind the blonde warrior. "What makes you think I'll like this place?" Loki inquired suspiciously. "You and I don't exactly have the same taste." He pointed out.

"Why are you so suspicious brother?' Thor let out a loud chuckle. He looked back at Loki who wore a bored expression, the blonde haired young man who would be about 21 by earth's physical measurements, shuck his head. "If you must know it was just the name… it reminded me of you," Thor admitted.

"The name?" Loki questioned indignantly, "What's it called, Silver spoons?" the dark prince questioned.

"No…Elixirs," Thor replied.

"Hmm," Loki began, "Clever," he smiled to himself ever so slightly.

"See you like it already!"
"We don't need to go there tonight though," Loki pointed out quickly. He honestly didn't want to drag Thor home after one too many mugs of ale and whiskey. "Wouldn't you rather go with everybody," Loki offered.

"I've already been with them…we haven't been together yet, little brother," Thor winked.

"Is this the tavern?" Loki asked curiously. He could see the sign. It said it Elixirs, but this place was pitch black. There weren't any other horses, chariots, or carriages in the surrounding area. "Thor I think we're going to have to come back another time," Loki said his voice was gentle and patronizing and somewhat relieved. "There's no one here," he pointed around. Their weren't even candles in the window.

"What? What? What?" Thor bellowed in bewilderment. 'That can't be right this place is open all night," he insisted.

"Apparently not," Loki replied simply gesturing his thin hand toward the darkened building.

"Well we shall simply wake them up and demand that they serve their princes," Thor went on enraged and his stalked over to the door.

"Why would we need to do that when we could just go home?" Loki pointed out folding his thin arms over his slender chest.

"We are already here, that is why." Thor explained. He marched up the steps and banged on the door. He banged and banged.

"Brother, stop causing a scene," Loki ordered as he quickly came up behind the blonde thunderer and tried to pull him away from the taverns doorstep, but eventually the door gave way under Thor's heavy hand.

"Is anyone here?" Thor Odinson, prince of Asgard demanded in a booming voice into the darkness.

"Thor," Loki called in an almost whispered tone as he crept behind the bigger man, "It's obvious that there is no…" His voice trailed off as he entered the still and empty atmosphere of the tavern. He then felt it. There were many people here. "Thor…what's going…"
All of a sudden light flooded the once abyss like atmosphere: candles burned and lanterns were lit. "SURPRISE!" boomed throughout the room as what seemed like about 200 young people popped out of the woodwork from around the establishment holding banners and throwing streamers of green and gold and flinging confetti and glitter. "HAPPY 800th BIRTHDAY LOKI!" the continued as they honked horns and blew kazoos while the nearly 800 year old prince stood gaping at the sight. His emerald eyes were wide with astonishment. His hand clutched his heart as his breath hitched with excitement. He staggered backwards still taking it all in: the beauty of the decorations that had been hung all around, the extensive array of food that was spread out, the massive cake that was practically the focal point of the room and the guests…all the guests. There were several people from his classes at the university and of course all the young nobles of court, Frandal, Volstagg, Hogun, Sif and Dagmar.

Dagmar! He hadn't expected to see her, not that he had expected to see anyone, all of this came as a wonderful surprise to him, but seeing her was possibly the highlight of all of this. His heart which was already racing from the jolt of the surprise nearly stopped when he looked at her sweet smiling face. He had thought that he was over her. He told himself that he was. He reminded himself that if she only saw him as a friend than that is how he would view her: as his old chum and nothing more. But despite his prowess at deception he failed miserably at convincing himself that he felt nothing toward her. His heart sank to the pit of his stomach as he remembered the day a little over 200 years ago. He'd poured out his soul to her that night. He'd practically groveled at her feet desperate for her to reciprocate his affections, but while he'd been kissing her hand, she'd turned away telling him that she'd rather be a shooting star in Thor's night than the sun in his day. He looked at her there in the crowd it was a sea of people but his keen green eyes honed in on her, she was so wonderful and… he loved her, still.

"Well aren't you going to say something Loki?" Thor asked coming up from the crowd and wrapping his thick muscular arm around Loki's slight shoulders drawing him from his dismal thoughts and back into the occasion as he gave his a jostle.

Loki finally broke his stare from all that swirled around him and turned to face his golden brother who beamed proudly as he waved a generous hand pointing to show all he had done. "I…uh…" he stammered hand still pressed over his pounding heart. "I…"

"Hahaha," Thor laughed good-naturedly still holding firmly to his brother's shoulders. "I see we've left that silver-tongue of yours speechless," He chuckled and gave Loki a squeeze. "Good work friends," he turned his attention from his stunned sibling and back to the large gathering. They cheered wildly.

"My birthday isn't even until next week," Loki finally managed to get out blushing ever so slightly.

"Is it now…someone must have given me the wrong date," Thor teased. "Well, still there has been too much preparation and the food won't keep until next week…I suppose we'll just have to celebrate tonight," the blonde haired young man exclaimed to all around. "To the tables everyone and stuff yourselves!" the crown prince bellowed to all present. Immediately, everyone dashed away rushing to the banquet tables. Volstagg was first to take a seat at the head table in the center of the tavern. All Prince Loki's close companions gathered there with him while the rest spread themselves out amongst the well furnished tables throughout the 5 story tavern.

Once everyone was seated, the servants and barmaids began serving the meal and naturally lots of drinks as well. Everyone ate voraciously, for the meal was so delicious. They all guzzled down the contents of their mugs and glasses quickly looking for servants and bar wenches to refill them as soon as the last drop touched the tip of their tongues. By the time the meal was done being served most of the guest had finished two helpings of food and about 4 helpings of drinks. They had drunk more than the birthday boy. "Loki you have hardly touched any of your ale!" Thor proclaimed. The expression on his face was one of sincere worry as if his little brother was somehow very ill. He leaned over in his chair a little wobbly from the tankards he had put away and pointed at the slim dark-haired prince.

'I don't much care for the taste," Loki admitted with a shrug. It was truth. He couldn't understand how anyone could tolerate the stuff going down their throat long enough for them to become intoxicated. Of course Loki had had drinks before. He had them at political functions at the palace and on occasions like tonight when his brother would draft him to a pub. Ironically, he introduced his older brother to strong drinks. They had been very young boys, far too young to even be thinking about having spirits touch their lips, but Loki was always a curious child. He knew adults often partook in sipping these beverages. He'd heard people say that the best part of the gala or feast was the ale, what he didn't know was why it was so much fun for them. He intended to find out. He'd conduct a little experiment. His brother could be his test subject.

Their parents had thrown a banquet honoring some warriors. It was wild and lavished party, actually similar to the one on this night. He and his brother had been small though. Thor had been about 10 in Midgardian years and Loki had been about 7. Their nurse, a stodgy old woman named Helga had settled them into bed after reading them a story, but Helga always fell asleep while she read to them. So while their nanny slumbered, Loki snuck down stairs to grab more goodies for them to snack on in their room, while he was at it he couldn't help take two small glasses of mead back to the chamber, only because he knew it was taboo. He knew adults always seemed to want to wash their meals down with one of these strong drinks and he knew that it could get them pretty foolish acting afterward, what he didn't know was why. So he and his brother sipped as part of a little experiment. Loki tasted it and gagged, it was disgusting and burned all the way down. He looked at his brother who seemed to have taken a mouthful of the awful beverage. Not wanting to deal with Thor teasing him about not being able to finish the little that he had he performed a simple slight of hand making the rest of the brown liquid evaporate in thin air. His brother then thought he had guzzled the whole drink. Well naturally the older prince would never allow his frail little brother to out do him so he actually downed the complete contents of his glass. The results were hilarious yet disastrous. Thor went down to the banquet and got in the middle of a group of their mother's wait gentlewomen and mooned them all. The sweet ladies shrieked in horror and one actually fainted. Loki rolled on the floor unable to contain his utter amusement. Soon Thor darted off completely nude across the ballroom. He got on the table top naked as he was grabbed another mug of mead toasted to everyone and to no one proclaiming 'This'll put sum air on ur chest!" The attempted to guzzle the alcohol, most of it just ended up spilling down his body though, He threw the mug to the ground and shouted, "ANOTHER!". There parents were not pleased to say the least.

It was at that time prince Loki decided he never wanted to become drunk. He had no desire to end up like his older brother, a naked fool, passed out in their mother's arms minutes later. He had no desire to lose control. Loki liked being shrewd. He never wanted to have a night where he couldn't remember what had happened. Where he acted foolishly and the joke was on him. He didn't see how such antics were the act of Coming-of-Age.

"Don't much care for the taste? Don't much care for the taste?" Prince Thor questioned causing an uproar of laughter for the rest of their party guests. "That excuse may have worked for you in the past brother, but not tonight," Thor said in a gentle tone shaking his head and wagging his finger. "It's your 800th birthday you're practically a man and you ought to drink like one," Thor declared and everyone let out a shout of approval at the elder prince's reasoning.

"Technically," the raven-haired prince began, as he placed his napkin in his lap… "I am not yet…"

"Oh no you don't!" Thor stuck out his strong bronzed hand and silenced his younger brother, "This is not the time to be bothered with technicalities, bother," Thor proclaimed standing and extending his arms wide as if beckoning for all to come into agreement with him."As far as I am concern tonight is your exact date of birth," Thor great warrior announced. He got up from his seat and marched over to where his brother was seated on the other side of the table in the very center. He slammed his mammoth palms down on Loki's thin shoulders. "And you're going to drink like it," Thor declared giving a wink to the dark-haired young man as he looked down at him fondly. "Am I not right my friends?" he called to the party goers who now hung over banisters from the top most levels hooting and rooting with their fist and giving out heart "Here! Here's" behind Prince Thor.

The other young people at the table began to roar with applause and the older sibling waved his hand signaling for the three buxom blonde barmaids to bring out a large plank of wood that had about 10 goblets of grog on it. Prince Loki looked at the large amount of alcohol critically. He had been around his brother and his band of followers many times as they indulged in liquor. He had watched them spend all night drinking and making fools of themselves and honestly he had never wanted any parts of that. He never liked to feel like he didn't have his wits about him it was the one thing he could pride himself on always having. "I don't want to get really drunk tonight, Thor," Loki said quietly.

"What? Don't want to get drunk?" Thor bellowed with laughter for all to hear and the revelers laughed in reply. "Why?" Thor asked still smiling as he clasped his hands firmly around Loki's shoulders. "How are you supposed to come of age without a being drunk?" he questioned.

Loki shrugged, 'I don't like…"

"How do you know you don't like it if you've never even tried it?" Thor questioned.

Loki was about to give an answer when he felt gentle fingers lightly reach across the table and rub his cool hand. He looked up to see who was touching him when he met starlit eyes twinkling at him and a sweet pomegranate mouth beaming in his direction. "Have fun, Loki," Dagmar encouraged. "It's your birthday," she reminded him and smiled that intoxicating smile she had. Looking at her was intoxicating enough without him having to become completely inebriated under the influence of wine and ale, but her request was so beguiling that he couldn't disappoint her, she had come a long way to celebrate with him. "It should be a night to remember," she winked her bright gray eye.

The raven-haired prince chuckled at her, 'That's just it." Loki began, "how am I to remember if I'm drunk," he pointed out.

"Don't worry I'll take good notes. I am an excellent scribe. I'll remind you of all goofy things you did," she teased and leaned back in her chair proud that she had found an answer for him as she took a drink of wine from her own glass. "That's what friends are for,"

" Ahh yes that's what I'm worried about," he mumbled nervously more to himself than to her. "I don't want to lose control," Loki admitted as he stared into her silver pupils.

She chuckled,"I won't let you make a fool of yourself," Dagmar assured him and gave his chilly hand a squeeze with her warm one. The Vanaheim maiden offered him a gentle smile. "I promise," she hooked her pinky finger around his and crossed over her heart.

"I think Prince Loki could use a little more encouragement, yes?" Thor offered the crowd. The already tipsy party-goers immediately responded with hoots and whistles. They stood up from their seats and swung their fist, shouting 'Chug! Chug!'

"Well brother, what do you say?" Thor asked cupping his hand over his ear listening to the excitement in the air. Apparently all of Asgard would pay good money to see reserved, stoic, Loki drunk. Loki conceded with a nod and Thor grabbed his brother's arm waving his hand in the air signaling to everyone that Loki was ready for the festivities to begin. Everybody cheered even wilder once he agreed to play in the festive drinking game. "Alright, so this is how you play," Thor began to instruct giddily as he rubbed his hands together and gave a hearty laugh while slapping Loki on his thin back. "You have to drink all these grog goblets, by the end of us singing happy birthday to you."

"Thor I couldn't possibly drink…"

"That's why it's a game, Loki," Thor chuckled a bit and ruffled his younger brother's raven hair. "Try not to take it so seriously,"

"So what happens if I can't finish?" Loki questioned. He smoothed his messy hair back down and smiled wryly at his blonde sibling.

"Well then you have to start over and we add 10 more goblets and you…you…you" Thor's bright sapphire eyes darted around the room searching for something

"I'm listening," Loki stated impatiently. He was getting the feeling Thor was making things up as he went.

"You have to kiss Olga," Thor declared snapping his fingers as he pointed his head over to the hag of a barmaid who worked at the tavern. The party goers all jeered and clapped at the suggestion. They made catcalls and whistled. Frandal, bust out laughing and making kissing noises at Loki. Loki turned in the direction of the tavern girl. She was part troll and had more of the features of a troll than of the Aesir. She was green-skinned, pimply and silvery haired, though she wasn't elderly. She fluffed her brown hair and pushed up her bosom, turning to the youngest prince of Asgard and winking her beady eyes while blowing a kiss and waving. Loki managed to wave back but his thin lips curled in disgust.

"You must be jesting," he said pulling Thor down, by his collar so that his ears were near his lips.

"Nope," Thor snickered, straightening himself up right away, 'That's the way the game is played brother. All you have to do is finish your plank by the end of the song and you can avoid such a…gruesome fate," Thor laughed at his pun and all around mimicked the prince's guffaw. "Besides," Thor began loudly once he had gotten himself together from chuckling so. "Frandal and Volstagg will help you," Thor explained and immediately the two young warriors appeared at the slim prince's side placing to firm hands on his shoulders..

"How are they helping me?" the shrewd emerald eyes royal wondered out loud.

"Ah-ah-ah," his older brother scolded mildly, "too many questions. You'll just have to play and find out." Thor nodded his head at his brother, who actually looked pretty worried. Before the thinner prince could offer any word of protest Thor called out loudly, "LET THE GAMES BEGIN!"

And begin they did. The guest began singing the traditional song for birth anniversaries: "Ja, må du leva, Ja, må du leva, (Yes you may live, yes you may live)

Ja, må du leva uti hundrade år. (Yes you may live 100 more years). As the group sang ecstatically, Frandal shoved one goblet after another toward Loki's mouth and Volstagg held him firmly in the chair so that he couldn't get up even though he tried to several times. He bucked and his eyes got wide as golden cup after gold cup was shoved at him and the thick frothy liquor kept pouring down his throat. The pleasant-faced blonde warrior presented the drinks quickly, too quickly. Grog was a strong thick drink, the foam from the beverage kept bubbling back up in Prince Loki's throat. It didn't taste that good but it tasted better than straight mead so Loki was grateful for that much. Loki leaned back in his chair since his friend Frandal wouldn't relent in keeping the drinks coming. Loki could only take a slight shallow breath before another one was being pushed at him. And the plumper Vikings hand were so heavy on his shoulders that Loki felt like he was being pushed down causing the goblet to miss his lips a couple of times and the drink spilled down his chin and neck and on to his polished tunics.

"Thor!" Loki gasped for air after he finally managed to push Frandal away from him. He panted leaning his elbows hard on the table while wiping the froth from his face. His throat was on fire from trying to chug chunky grog. "Time out?" He asked making the "T" with his hands. He panted as his jade eyes watered.

"Giving up already?" Thor laughed standing to the right of his brother arms folded as he looked down at the drenched emerald-eyed youth with much amusement. He took a swig from his own mug. "Well I'm sure Olga will love that," He gestured over to the almost green colored maiden, sitting on the bar stool who already had a few of the other waitresses spraying her with perfume. "Bring her over bring her over!" he called to the other serving girls who had helped Olga primp for the big kiss. Olga immediately spring from the bar stool she was just a lowly half-breed bar wench who would think she'd get lucky enough to kiss a prince. Thor turned away from the haggard young woman. He shivered as he took one last look at her. As she got closer he noticed her crooked nose and that she even had a few missing teeth. "I can't let you go out that way brother," Thor laughed and took another large gulp of his drink. He slammed the mug back on the table. Loki looked up hopefully at his older sibling thinking that Thor was going to actually call off the insanity of this little game. The eldest prince strolled past the redhead warrior and patted him on the shoulder giving a smile then clapped his own meat hooks around Loki's bony frame. He yanked him back in the chair. "So I'm going to help you out," He grinned with his full mouth devilishly.

"Thor," Loki gave a warning voice, "Wait!" He protested, "no…no…wait," he almost begged, but the words were quickly brought to a standstill as another tankard was thrust at him and he was rapidly forced to guzzle said contents. Sif took the task of encouraging the assembly to go back to their chanting of the old tune. "Ja, visst ska du leva, Ja, visst ska du leva, (oh sure you will live, oh sure you will live)Ja, visst ska du leva uti hundrade år. (oh sure you will live 100 years)" the choraled. By the time they had finished those two brief verses Thor made sure that his brother had downed four more goblets. Loki was choking, red in the face and drenched with alcohol. There was one last cup of grog left. This one was bigger than the other had been though. And Loki was sure that it hadn't been there at the start of this contest. It bubbled and foamed and fizzed as Hogun slid it down from his end of the table and Thor caught it with perfect timing to present it to his brother just as the last verse was being sung.

"Drink up to your good health, dear brother," Thor teased offering the mug. "Who knows what you'd catch if you kiss a troll," Thor snickered in his brother's ear.

Loki swiped his hand sluggishly over his mouth and chin trying to removed the access mead that hadn't made its way to his mouth while it was being rushed down his throat. "Thor, I'm going to kill you," Loki growled as he felt his stomach turn. He didn't know if it was from the of alcohol or not. He'd never drunk that much before. Still, Loki imagined that had hebeen drinking cups milk his stomach would have hurt had he drunk that many in rapid succession of each other.

"You won't feel that way later on," Thor predicted happily as he patted him on the back roughly and Loki rocked forward in his seat. "You should thank me," the strapping son of Odin explained to his sibling.

"For?" Loki inquired he put his hands on the table steadying himself. He felt slightly off-balance.

"helping you uphold the honor of our ancestors and treating you to a proper drink on your 800th year," Thor boasted.

"Less talking more drinking!" cried Frandal jovially as he stood a few feet back with a maiden wrapped in each of his strong arms.

The elder royal tilted his head back and let out a roar for a laugh, 'He's right, brother," Thor warned. "Bottoms up!" Thor taunted tilting the mug up on Loki's lip and watching as his younger brother's Adam's-apple feverishly bob up and down as he hurriedly tried to drink what was being presented if only to keep from having even more of his clothing stain with liquor.

"Ett fyraldigt leve... leve du (four fold cheer for you)" rang in his hear as he finished the last drop breathlessly. Everyone was shouting hurray and standing up clapping, but the room was swirling around and his throat was protesting causing him to cough and choke. He closed his eyes and tried to steady his now throbbing head.

They instantly played another game. One his brother called Blizzard. The nobles formed a large circle on the dance floor and servants began distributing small vials filled with a white wine. Each of the guests was given 4 of these vials. Loki was put in the center of the circle, blindfolded, and spun around. While the young Asgardians were taking turns spinning their prince some one could yell out 'blizzard.' When 'blizzard' was called they began to push the prince around the circle and who ever Loki bumped into had to give him a shot of the white liquid from the vial. At first the emerald eyed prince was horrified by what was going on he kept trying to pull away or exit the circle, only ever to be pushed back in, but by the end…well he had drank so much that he honestly didn't know whether he was coming or going. He felt as though he wasn't in control of what was going on and it startled him and yet he felt he was starting to like it.

When the game ended the blindfold was slipped off his eyes and his jade pupils rolled back in his head several times as he frantically tried to grab hold of things that weren't there to keep from tipping over. The room was swirling around madly and he wasn't exactly sure if he was dizzy because he'd been forced to spin around like a top for the past 20 minutes or because he was intoxicated. He'd never been drunk before so he wasn't quite knowledgeable of the signs. Usually, if he did share a drink with his brother and the warriors it was only one or two and he drunk slow and ate. He also used his magic to stifle the effects of alcohol, but he had already drunk more tonight that he had in his life and it all happened so quickly and without his control that he hadn't had time to ward off such unwanted effects. His dazed jade eyes blinked struggling to make out the forms around him. He watched with confusion as the colors of the ladies dresses and the young men's capes rushed pass him

"Having fun yet!" Dagmar called gaily from behind him as she came and grabbed him by his shoulders and turned him around. He nearly ended up on the floor after the quick spin, but luckily he gentle hands were on his shoulder steadying him. She laughed her sweet twittering laugh in his ear and Loki felt if he wasn't drunk already her beauty was enough to get him there.

She looked stunning. "I always have fun with you, Mar Mar" He expressed and giggled. Dagmar quirked her pretty features. Mar-Mar? Loki had not called her that in many centuries. Loki smiled in her face as his green eyes looked sleepily into her silver pupils. With that he hiccupped, lost his balance and felt his legs give out from beneath him. He would have collapsed on the floor had not his best friend been there to catch him. She was a good deal shorter than the dark-haired prince and even as she attempted to hold him up Loki's alcohol weakened knees only dangled a few inches off of the ballroom floor. His dizzy head flopped down resting on her slender white shoulders. His lips pressed against her sweet, supple flesh. She smelt like honey and morning dew. She was soft and warm and her body was like a welcoming pillow for his throbbing skull. Loki smiled unconsciously against her skin feeling like he could fall asleep right there. "Mam-mar?" he mumbled forcing his drink weary emerald eyes to pop open.

"Yes," the black-haired maiden responded gently as she tried to push his face away from her breast

Youschmellgood," he muttered helplessly as he leaned heavily into her.

"Are you Ok, Loki?" the gentle voice asked slightly chuckling, but before the tipsy prince could lift his head of his own volition and look into Dagmar's deeply concerned gray eyes he felt strong muscular hands grip him and hoist him to his feet.

"He's fine!" Thor assured Dagmar his tone jovial and confident as he wrapped his massive arm around Loki's slight frame. Loki doubted he would have been able to stay standing had Thor not been supporting his body weight. "Right, brother?" Thor asked and nudged Loki's chin.

"IdunnoThor…I feel…" Loki paused trying to think of how he truly did feel, but thinking was becoming difficult. His thoughts weren't exactly clear at this point. "Tired," Loki replied as he blinked his green eyes trying to make things come into focus again. He ran his hand over his face sluggishly.

"Tired!" Thor bellowed and laughed so hard that he shook the chandeliers. Loki started laughing to all though he didn't know why. "We're just getting started, little brother," The mighty Thor proclaimed as he escorted his brother's alcohol inept body over to the table. "You haven't even had your cake and blown out your candles yet," Thor explained cheerfully pushing Loki along. Dagmar followed behind the two brother slightly giggling. Thor had been so eager to get Loki drunk tonight. He just wanted to see him have a good time but Dagmar wasn't so sure that the thinner boy had his stately brother's capacity for strong drink.

"How do you feel brother?" Thor asked excitedly as he took a seat next to his sibling as the enormous cake was rolled out and presented to the youngest prince of the realm. Everyone clapped. It was a gorgeous looking pastry it was sure to taste even more grand.

Loki rolled hazy looking green eyes in his brother's direction, "I think…hic…I think…hic…I think I'm gonna to be sick," Loki said slowly fighting to sit up straight, but some how he ended up slouching down even deeper in his seat.

"Good!" he exclaimed. As he watched the servants began serving slices of cake to the party guests. Loki gave his brother a bewildered and slightly angered stare, "Means you're having a good time!" The young wielder of Mjolnir explained with a hearty chuckle, patted his brother on his pale cheek and served his brother the first slice of cake.

"Good job, Loki I honestly didn't think you had it in you," Sif jeered walking up to him and playfully punching him in the shoulder while she went to ask another slice of the scrumptious chocolate cake. It was so good and though Sif would never admit it. It was too much womanish stereotype, but she loved chocolate.

"She actually put money down that you would pass out after the 5th mug," Hogun explained he strolled up to Sif and stuck his hand out gesturing that he wanted his payment. Sif rolled her eyes but did give the few copper coins she had promised her fellow warrior earlier that night.

"You shouldn't be so surprised Sif, any proper son of Odin can hold his own Liquor," Thor began defensively as he wolfed down a large helping of dessert. "Loki was doing no more than demonstrating how our family came to rule this realm," Thor expounded on an ancient truth he was steady concocting in his drunken mind. As he talked on he heard the faint sound of his brother's swimming forehead hitting hard against the table. "isn't that right Loki?" he asked crossing his arms and nudging the thinner young man in the back. "Right Loki?" The blonde prince questioned once again only to be met with no intelligible answer save a groan. "Loki sit up," Thor insisted snatching him by the back of the collar and hoisting him to a proper sitting position. "Now isn't that right, Loki?" Thor asked again.

"Right!" Loki replied uncharacteristically loudly and with a great deal of enthusiasm. Honestly, Loki didn't even know what he was agreeing to. All the chatter was starting to blend together. His head hurt and his eyelids felt heavy, but for all that he was starting to feel something else. Something that made him see things fuzzy if he stared too long without blinking and something that made him feel cozy in his skin and slowly he was becoming increasingly more and more relaxed. He leaned his right elbow on the table and missed the edge the first time and had to reposition his arm. Once he was able to find that the ledge was stable he propped his heavy head up by resting his chin in his palm and shut his eyes.

"You can't fall asleep yet birthday boy, we haven't opened your presents,' a gentle voice came behind him saying while a dainty hand cupped his shoulder.

"Dagmar," Loki said dreamily his alcohol heavy head still resting on his hand. He sluggishly turned in the direction the voice had come from only to find that the person he was looking for wasn't there. He blinked bewildered touching his hand to his foggy head.

The Vanir guest snickered a bit as she watched the youngest prince of the realm look around in confusion. Finally, she decided to ease his puzzlement and she tapped him on the shoulder again. He rotated quicker this time finding the beautiful maiden standing before him. She was arrayed in a Grecian style blue dress that glittered and shimmered with gems and bangles as she moved. The elegant dress hugged her curvaceous waist line; the evening gown was strapless so it revealed her slender porcelain shoulders and outlined the cleavage of her ample bosom. "Over here," she explained tenderly to her friend.

"Dagmar!" Loki exclaimed flinging out his arms with excitement as he saw what a vision she was. "There you are," he replied all the while, he felt like he was losing control of his speech . He could feel the liquor taking slow effects and he was doing his best to use his magic to keep complete intoxication from setting in. "Mmm, Dagmar stand still," Loki requested. He reached out his long, narrow fingers and gripped her around her forearms and moved her to stand right in front of him. "Ahh, yes you stand right here," he stated proudly once he got her at the right spot.

"Loki, I haven't moved," she giggled as she felt him shifting her to stand in different areas.

"Then the room must be spinning," the emerald-eyed prince reasoned as he struggled to rise to his feet. His legs somehow felt unsteady and when he looked at the ground it seemed like it was sloshing back and forth beneath his feet. Prince Loki felt his stomach turn again.

"That happens sometimes," Dagmar explained as she took a step closer and reached out her lovely pale hands to help steady the young mage of the realm, seeing as he was swaying. "When you're drunk," she explained smiling.

"I'm not drunk," Loki informed her a toothy grin plastered across his face he was looking her in her gorgeous silver eyes now and he felt like he could fall into those liquid pools of starlight. Then he realized he was falling. He was falling right into her arms. She caught him best she could to get him from ending up on the ground, but Loki was tall and lanky and heavy for the petite young enchantress to hold all by herself.

"Right," Dagmar burst out into giggles as she tried to aid the 18-year-old looking young man back to standing on his own. He was like a newborn colt all shaky limbed but eager to try and at get to his feet.

"I-I-I'm not," Loki protested but he nodded his head in agreement rather than shaking it. "I-I-I-I'm justa tad bit tipsy," he explained finally supporting himself.

"Hmm," Dagmar said looking him over his clothes were wet with the spilt alcohol and his cheeks were flushed. He was wobbly in his stance and his voice which was normally calm and even, articulate and smooth vacillated constantly in pitch and speed. He was almost endearingly intoxicated. "Maybe you should take a little nap," the gray eyed beauty, suggested gently stroking her white hand across his blushing cheek. "I think there are some rooms upstairs,"

"I don't wanna take a nap…the party just got started…and I didn't even get any presents yet," he nodded and tapped her on the nose playfully while leaning into her face. Dagmar thought that Loki was falling once again so she reached out her hands trying to prop him up. He looked at her sleepily, his bright green eyes peeking out under heavy eye lids. He smiled and kept his face close to hers, "Mar-Mar?"

"Yes."

"Did I tell you…you…you look really pretty tonight?" Loki asked he awkwardly attempted to push the gentle midnight tendrils that were falling out of the elegant bun she wore behind her ear. "I mean…not that you don't look pretty any other night…it's just," Loki paused and looked at her intently with his half-lidded eyes.

Dagmar gulped as she felt his nimble fingers slip low around her waist. " Thank you Loki," He leaned forward and plants a clumsy kiss on the edge of her mouth. Lady Dagmar Audricdottir was somewhat startled by the gesture. She was unsure whether Loki had been aiming for her cheek or aiming for her lips, but either way he missed. Dagmar laughs a little bit as she remembered the kiss they shared a long time ago. It was sweet and eager, passionate and pure. The look in his eyes reminded her of the same gaze he gave her 2 centuries ago when he told her that he loved her. She felt her cheeks flush as she looked into his enchanted green eyes. She had wanted to talk to Loki about that night for a long while now, but when ever she tried to broach the subject Loki was quick to change it. She had never meant to hurt him. He was her closest friend and she loved him.

"Whaboutme?" the birthday celebrating, magician asked his tone chipper and giddy like a child. He giggled a little, before straightening up, "Do I look handsome?" he as mutters unable to filter much of what he says at this point, his posture slouches once again.

"Hmm, let me see," Dagmar begins and she looks the swaying raven-haired young man up and down with a scrutinizing eye. "Smooth back your hair," she instructs him, but she doesn't give him the chance to respond. Dagmar immediately raises her light fingers to brush back the scatters locks of hair from his face. "Fix your shirt," she goes on and does it for him. She straightens the collar and uses her magic to remove the moisture of alcohol from the rumpled and alcohol soaked garment. "Now stand up straight," she admonishes pacing around him. Loki inelegantly slaps his arms down at his side rigid like a soldier would. His shaky knees turned in as he tries to hold the rigid pose, but he imagines he looks gawky at best. Dagmar snickers and he feels himself loosen up. "yes you look very handsome," the Vanir noble woman assures the Asgardian prince as she plants a chaste kiss on his telltale rosy. "Now go open your presents," she instructed him and gives him a little push in the direction of Thor who is beckoning for him to come to the room where all the gifts are being held. Loki walked over like a toddler who was just learning how to walk. The steps were unsteady and she felt like an over protective mother not wanting to see him fall down. Dagmar rushed to his side and wrapped one of his flailing arms around her shoulder. "See I'm keeping my promise," Dagmar teased as she wrapped her hand around his waist stabilizing him as best she could. Loki would have been terribly embarrassed if he thought he was falling around like all night.

The reveling continued .All the partygoers still seemed to be content and to be enjoying themselves. There was singing and dancing and games. Everyone's actions, though slightly enhanced by the consumption of wine and other intoxicating drinks, were still much in line with their normal behavioral patterns. It was Prince Loki's behavior that Dagmar had been monitoring all night. Sometimes at social events her old friend could be sullen and standoffish, but tonight Loki was exceedingly friendly and gregarious. He laughed and told jokes and even danced with several maidens.

She watched Loki throughout much of the evening. She had wanted him to have a good time, let loose and maybe become a little tipsy, but she had promised him as his best friend that she wouldn't let him humiliate himself. She knew how self conscious Loki was, he felt like all of Asgard judged him anyway. He always felt like he was being held to this standard to be just like Thor, a pillar he could never measure up too. She was happy to see him have a good time, he deserved it. But throughout the night funny little things started to transpire. Snakes crawled out of the drinks of the young ladies of court sending them into panics and causing them to run about like chickens. They'd run to get the assistance of the noblemen's sons who they were courting. The brave young Asgardian men came boldly over to try and find the serpents who had offended their fair ladies, only to end up slipping all about on floors that weren't wet. They then would find themselves stuck to the floor and they'd end up calling for help. No one would ever come to assist them though. All the other partygoers were too busy pointing and laughing at the sad state of affairs. There was much guffawing at such strange antics, but it was one laugh that Dagmar was able to pick up. It was a laugh she knew well a sort of nasal cackle followed by an irreverent snort echoing from the corner stool by the bar.

"Loki, what are you doing?" Dagmar's silvery voice asked softly as she made her way to stand in front of her giggling friend. Loki was leaning over on the bar countertop, elbows propped behind him to help him sit up. He had just finished having a glass of Vanaheim wine refilled. When he saw lovely Dagmar standing before him dressed so lovely a her Grecian goddess blue, he tried to sit up straight like a proper prince should and He wiped the smile from his face and didn't appear to be under the spell of alcohol.

"At this exact moment?" the green-eyed prince asked cunningly.

"Yes." The Vanir lady replied a slight smile playing on her plump pomegranate lips.

Loki smiled back at her with one of his signature toothless smiles, "Simply, enjoying another glass of wine," He hummed and patted the open chair next to him for her to come and sit.

She shuck her head, "you're so smart mouthed," she replied, "what were you up to just before you had your wine glass refilled, hmm?" the silver eyed Vanir woman inquired as she reached out her porcelain fingers and smoothed down Loki's collar.

"Idunno…what you mean" He explained slowly turning around in his chair and facing the bar area. He actually found the spin around to be quit amusing, but slowly everything was becoming more amusing as the night progressed. His headache had faded and he didn't feel so drowsy anymore. His throat didn't burn any longer and the over abundance of alcohol was actually welcomed now by the soon to be 800 year old. The room from time to time would rock about, but he sort of enjoyed that now. He wondered was this what becoming intoxicated felt like. He didn't feel completely out of his wits yet, he just felt…loose…free…well he felt like himself…mischievous. For a moment he paused mid-sip he looked at the deep Vanir wine then he looked back at Dagmar. The wine and the woman had similarities. It was red and juicy, succulent in taste, was oh so very appetizing. She was oh so juicy, her body was soft and ivory colored, curvy and delicate…tantalizing and he was so very, very thirsty.

"Oh don't you?" Dagmar's voice came back into his ear as her figure slipped to sit by his side. "I wonder than why so many girls are scared out of their wits tonight by invisible snakes?' the posed food for thought, as she bumped shoulders with him she giggled slightly and his smile deepened.

"Well they are probably very dimwitted girls, unlike you," he laughed.

"I'm also curious as to why so many have fallen and are unable to get up," she inclined her head to a few feet from them where several young soldiers wallowed on the ground flipping and falling and rolling over themselves like baby bilgeschnipe stuck in a tar pit. Loki lazily rolled his head to view his handiwork. He stifled another snicker.

"Pitiful display," he stated clicking his tongue. "Poor boys must be well past the point of no return…perhaps their servants should carry them home, lest they disgrace themselves and their family in this drunken indiscretion," the silver-tongued prince articulated. He found his tongue for a minute and rejoiced he didn't like not having his proper speech about him.

"Loki," Dagmar dipped her melodious voice down an octave making her sound stern and maternal. He felt like his mother was scolding him putting thumbtacks on the seats of the dignitaries at the dinner table. He hunched his shoulders up looking shy and made his gleaming green orbs look wide as if he about to cry. Dagmar laughed loudly and pushed his face away from hers playfully. He laughed to than took a big swallow downing the remainder of wine in the tall flute glass. Instantly, the bar attended refilled his goblet as she had been instructed by prince Thor, too make sure prince Loki stayed happy and festive all night. It was his 800th birthday and Thor would settle for no less than to see his little brother quite intoxicated, so to make their ancestors proud. Lord Audric's daughter grabbed Loki's pale, but cold hand as he was going to grab the wine once more, "Loki, maybe that's enough for right now," she offered. "You've had a lot tonight…no more, ok?" she tried to coax rubbing his back.

"This is good," Loki replied ignoring her concerned warning. "Have you tried any?"

"Not tonight, no" she replied shaking her head.

"You should," he said with a smile waving the beverage under her nose. She didn't seem so tempted by the offer though Dagmar did enjoy a good night out of drinking. "It's my birthday, Mar-Mar eat, drink and be merry with me," Loki insisted. He whistled for the old servant woman to come and pour something for Dagmar. She did quickly enough. "Puhleeeez?" Loki asked sweetly as he tottered where he sat.

"Why not," Dagmar shrugged her infectious red lips forming a beautiful smile that made his head spin more than the alcohol had all night. Loki beamed back a fool toothy grin because he couldn't contain his excitement when he was around her. They wrapped their arms around one another's so that they drank from each other's glasses. "To your long life, Loki," she offered a toast.

The prince shuck his head refuting the offer, "to our long friendship," he said shyly.

"We'll always be friends," Dagmar assured him.

"Friends," He echoed, but his smile was a sneer. He wondered if that was all he could ever hope for from her. They drank deep and long. They laughed when they were finished then sighed and couldn't help but have their gemstone eyes meet. Loki broke the stare only to cause a snake to slither under some barmaids dress. The poor servant woman screamed and tossed up the play of food she had been carrying and it spilled all over a nobles daughter who was standing behind her. The enraged rich girl immediately slapped the clumsy servant for ruining her evening dress. The servant ran. The crowd broke out laughing no rich Asgardian ever felt bad for disrespecting the help.

Dagmar gasped in horror, Loki liked to play tricks on people but never anything this wide scale and their was something mean and spiteful with it tonight. "Loki what are you doing?" she demanded her voice quivering almost fearfully.

"It's just…hic… a couple…hic harmless pranks, Dagmar," he said causing the snake to evaporate from off the ground with a wave of his hand. He shrugged and a goofy sort of snigger bubbled up from his stomach. He tapped her on her cheeks. "Just to keep…hic…keep things interesting," he went on looking around at all the mischief he had caused tonight and relishing in it. "Look at how much fun everyone is having," he pointed to the crowd of jeerers at the bumbling soldiers who couldn't get themselves off of the completely dry marble floor. He then pointed to a group of noble young maidens laughing at a few prudish boys who had conveniently lost their trousers and now blushed shamelessly in front of the damsels.

Dagmar snickered for a moment. She put her dainty ivory fingers over her mouth to cover her giggling. It was indeed a funny sight. To see the soldiers stuck to the ground for no reason that they could guess and seeing servants frantically trying to help their young masters up only to get pulled into the pile and suffer the same fate. "Alight," she replied finally composing herself as she turned away from the bar and started to get up, "Just don't have too much fun," she reminded her royal childhood playmate.

"I thought you wanted me to have fun. As I recall it's my birthday," he pointed out cheekily

The onyx haired Vanir nodded sort of chuckling remembering how she had told him to indulge in the drinking game and allow himself one night of wild intoxication. "Yes I want you to have fun," she told him rubbing her hand against his smooth, frigid cheek, "But not too much fun," she moved her palm from caressing the side of his face which he happily leaned into to, to grabbing his pointy nose and squeezing it shut. Forcing him to open his mouth to breath. "You have to play nice with the other children, Loki" she chided him softly.

"Yes mummy," Loki replied in a childish voice.

"Are you going to be a good boy?"

"I'll try, mummy" he promised batting sweet emerald eyes at the silver eyed maid while slipping crossed fingers behind his back.

As the hours went on Loki's alcohol consumption did not wane and his jokes became even more cruel. At one point in the night Loki caused some poor boy to just gorge on cake. The poor young nobleman was helpless to just keep thrusting his face into the dessert chomping and chewing away unable to stop. Some friends came to his aid. They tried to pull him away from the pastry, but he would fly right back desperate for more. He was sobbing by the end. He had eat the whole cake and was vomiting on the ground. Loki chuckled.

After much coaxing on Dagmar's part, she convinced Loki to get some more to eat rather than filling up on mug after mug of frothy grog. Loki slowly made his way to the head table where he had been sitting. His brother and the Warriors 3 along with Sif were seated their once again since they had grown somewhat tired of dancing. Loki started to eat something, but he completely lost his appetite upon watching Volstagg eat. Prince Loki had never much found Volstagg pleasant dinner company. Volstagg ate with obsolutely no decorum. He chewed with his mouth opened and never took the time to bring a napkin up to wipe his face. Valhala forbid he should be detained from consuming the next morsel for something as petty as merely removing the residue from off his red beard. No, he just gobbled down food like a greedy pig. With this thought floating through Loki's mischievous and tipsy mind an idea was formed. His glazed green eyes twinkled with impish delight. If Volstagg were a pig it would make his lack of table manners much more understandable; it would even make dinning with him more enjoyable. Loki worked hard to stifle the laughter bubbling up in his throat while he rubbed his bony palms together before grasping at another glass of wine.

Volstagg began to chow down even harder on the gracious plenty that he had received. He ripped through the leg-o-lamb as he continued to tell one of the adventures of the warriors 3 and Thor. He talked on explaining and gesturing to illustrate the scenario. He never seemed to notice the peculiar looks that people around the table seemed to be giving him.

"Volstagg, maybe you should slow down," cautioned Lady Sif.

"What in the name of Asgard for? The story is just getting good Sif, you know that," the jolly, plump Viking declared without a care in the world. He waved the piece of meat around the shoveled it back toward his face, ready to stuff his gullet once more.'

"I'm not talking the story," Sif stated blowing and exasperated breath out the left side of her mouth. "I'm talking about your eating," she said with a look of repulsion creeping over her face.

"What ever for?" Volstagg asked as he raised his glass and let out a hearty laugh, "The food is just getting good."

"Volstagg, you're turning all pink in the face!" Dagmar pointed out from her seat in between Thor and Loki. She looked perplexed by what she saw.

"I don't start to call it a night until I turn blue in the face, my dear," Volstagg replied as he reached for three honey buttered rolls and stuffed them down the hatch all at once. He then let out a good natured laugh with the food showing in his mouth.

"My friend, please, there are females present," Frandal reminded the pudgy warrior from his position leaning his head on a girl's lap of whom he had only recently become acquainted. He reached up his masculine hands only to flick her under the chin causing her to squirm giddily at his touch.

Volstagg covered his ever morphing face with his big hands, "My apologies, my lady," he said giving a sweeping from his seat, but as he bent over to show his gentlemanliness a large belch rumbled forth from out of his midsection. It shook the table and at first the crowd around the table appeared disgusted by the bodily function, but drunkenness relaxed their manners and soon all were laughing.

"Slow down, Volstagg," Thor commanded, 'it is not a contest."

"But what if it was?" the plump, redhead warrior offered.

'it would still not be much of a contest, my friend, I'm afraid nobody eats as much as you," Thor said as if congratulating Volstagg for a victory he slapped his meaty hand over Volstagg's shoulder and took another swig from his mug of ale.

"you are sweating," Hogun pointed out to his portly chum.

Volstagg took a break from his gorging to wipe his hand across his brow. He did feel as if he were starting to perspire. "Oh it's nothing," he replied still jovial as ever, "We are just sitting a bit too close to the fire," he shrugged and slapped another piece of boar's meat on his plate.

"Oh my goodness! His face!" one of the maidens on Frandal's lap screeched. She stood up and pointed in horror and disbelief.

"What? Do I have something on it?" the big warrior asked taking his hand to his face. He was alarmed at what he felt. What he felt was not his skin nor the matted curls of his long red beard. No he felt a leathery texture and saggy wrinkle to his flesh. Something was out of place. His skin was tingling…it was down right burning it tingled so much and his nose itched.

"AAAAAHHH!" the other girl who was fawning over Frandal shrieked, "he has the face of a pig!" she blurted out.

"What?" Volstagg questioned. He reared back showing his hoggish features. His face was fatter than normal and fully pink. His nose was a snout and he had a long curly tooth growing out of his mouth and wrapping itself around the side of the jaw. Volstagg's big hands kept trying to grab something so that he could gaze upon his reflection. He found the task impossible seeing as though he no longer possessed hands rather he found he had pig's feet. He eventually managed to flip over a tray with his split hooves, the food splattered everywhere, but for once Volstagg was unconcerned with the fact that perfectly good meats and cheeses were being wasted. He looked into the silver platter and saw the hog's face staring back at him. The warrior of the realm was horrified. This was saying something seeing as though Volstagg had faced armies of ogres, but indeed seeing his visage transformed sent the proud soldier into a frenzy. When he screamed it out like a pig's squeal. He slapped his hooves over his mouth once the sound escaped his snout.

"Remain calm," Dagmar expressed she immediately jumped up from her seat and rushed to Volstagg's side. She rubbed his shoulders and began to mutter some words in a mystical language sparks sputtered from her fingers, but Volstagg's face did not return to that of an Aesir. She looked up at Loki, who sat sipping on another cup of wine and glimmer of a grin curled on his thin lips as he took his drink. Dagmar's silver eyes got wide pleading with her friend to undo his mischief. The dark-haired prince didn't budge off of his spell though. His best friend's eyes narrowed at him. Normally, he'd flinch just a little from such an incriminating glance from her, but now he didn't even avert his eyes, his emerald eyes stared back at her and the glimmering grin inched up more on his face.

"Remain calm? Remain calm!" Volstagg began to wail seeing as though even her own incantations could not break whatever ill fate had befallen him "Look at me Lady Dagmar! Look at my face!" he lamented his hooves tapping on his snout.

"if you ask me it's an improvement," Frandal quipped under his breath.

"What?" Volstagg raged. "Why I oughta improve your face!" Volstagg declared. He was about to lunge across the table and pound Frandal good. He reached for his powerful spiked club, but now that he had hooves instead of proper digits he was helpless to grab hold of his weapon.

"Fear not, my friend," the crown prince spoke. His voice which was never quiet boomed even more with the help of several casks of ale that he had been downing all night. "We will find out the cause of your transformation and we shall reverse it!" Thor declared triumphantly; he stood up and waved his finger in the air with the decree. "This is but another adventure for the Warriors We, Sif and Pig," Thor added and blasted a thunderous laugh at his own joke. He doubled over clutching his stomach unable to suppress his amusement at the small pun after a night of heavy drinking.

"We do not need to find a what!" Volstagg growled. "Merely a who!" he seethed as he cast a glance at Loki, who sat cackling to himself at the other end of the table. Volstagg lumbered over on pigs feet to the twittering trickster and roughly gripped him by his forest green collar. It was a difficult feat for one who no longer possessed fist but he managed to heave the little weasel in the air so that his boots just skimmed the glittery floor of the tavern. Volstagg's now piggish face was snarled up angrily at the youngest prince of the realm. Loki's eyes lazily reviewed his handiwork and he erupted into fitful laughter once more. Volstagg shook the skinny royal a little, but this did nothing to quell the prince's humor. Mocking laughter the only response the prankster gave to the threatening gesture. "Loki, you did this to me, didn't you?" Volstagg demanded and at the end of his yelling a slight oink out and caused all around to start rolling on the floor with chuckles. All but Dagmar. Loki mashed his two thin lips together, doing his best to gain some composure.

The prince's thin fingers unhooked his silk garment from being wrapped around Volstagg's hoof. "Careful, Volstagg," He chided mildly, "Don't go…hog wild," he quipped trying to stifle himself from cracking up again.

"Why you slimy little snake!" Volstagg roared. He managed to hook his hoof around Loki's shirt again and held the weasel in place. He drew his other hoof back and aimed the large animal foot at Loki's pointed nose. "Why I oughta!" the pig face warrior rumbled with anger as he set his hoof to strike Loki in his smug little kisser.

"Now you see me," Loki stated, he blinked and put his hands up to shield his face from the impact from the on coming punch.

"Volstagg don't!" Dagmar shouted. She rushed over to the big pig and pushed down his raised hoof. "Don't, it's his birthday," she whispered. Seeing that Loki was still hiding behind his fingers like a toddler.

"It's not his birthday until next week," the redhead growled.

"He's drunk… he's just drunk," she breathed trying to think of something that would persuade the warrior of Asgard from punching his own prince in the face. She couldn't bear to see anybody hurt, but she especially didn't want to see Loki injured tonight

Volstagg looked as if he was considering the ebony haired maidens words, but the when he tried to speak he oinked once more and his humiliation was rekindled. "I don't care how drunk is," the big face knight hollered and aimed hs hoof once more.

"Now you don't" Loki finished disappearing from the sight of his chubby friend. Volstagg's beady pig eyes squinted trying to find out where Loki had vanished to. "SUUWEEE SUUWEEE. Here pig, pig, pig, pig!" Loki taunted Volstagg from behind his brother's back. Thor looked at Loki and then bust out laughing at his brother's antics.

Volstagg went charging over to the skinny magician and if he had had proper hands he would have wrung Loki's slender white neck. Thor managed to get his laughter under control long enough to stand as buffer between the hog-like warrior and his neary 800 year old sibling. "Now Volstagg," the older prince said slowly shaking his head and waving a finger in the face of the warrior boar.

"Thor look what he has done to me!" Volstagg blubbered running his hooves over his pigskin face.

"You can't pin this on me, old friend, you what they…hic…say…hic…after all?" Loki began. He could make out Volstagg's bewilderment through the animal visage. "You are what you eat.," he said and winked at the swince faced warrior while inclining his head toward the piece of boar's meat that was on Volstagg's plate.

Volstagg was made to see red as he heard the rest of his friends laughing up a storm. He pounced at Loki, but the youngest prince of Asgard was quick and made himself teleport to another part of the room easily. Volstagg tumbled to the ground. He was sprawled out, panting on the floor when he heard one of his taunters call out: "hey looks like we've got ourselves a boar chase!" with that the young man pulled one of the antique spears off the wall and tossed it at Volstagg. The spear just missed the merry warrior's bulbous belly. After that Volstagg managed to maneuver through the group of drunk and half naked men who were starting to get their swords, spears and bows and give chase.

"Head for a barn, Volstagg!" Frandal called as he came drunkenly gallivanting behind the pack of hunters.

"Stay away from butcher shops!" Hogun advised with a drunken slur as he too joined in the hunt.

"Guess I'll have to go save his hide," Thor bellowed with laughter trotting along with the rest. "Here pig, pig, pig!" he called chuckling along the way as he raced behind the others.

It didn't take long for the makeshift hunting party to return with their captured prey. Poor Volstagg was brought back into the tavern hogtied to a stick. His front hooves and fore hooves were wrapped around the stick and an apple was stuck in his swine mouth. Volstagg grunted, pleading for mercy as his fat body wriggled trying to get free of the humiliating. The young people who had remained in the tavern cheered with delight as the boar was carried in. Thor was actually one of the people carrying him. Frandal actually told one of the servants to light the fire on the hearth so that they could have a pig roast. Volstagg's piggy eyes bulged and he shook violently desperate to escape the roast. The fire started blazing and Volstagg was being carried over to the open flames. He managed to shake the stick so much so that it snapped and he rolled free on the floor, but immediately a group of young soldiers pounced upon him proclaiming him a wily boar as they tried to drag him back to the hearth.

"Loki! Change him back!" Dagmar demanded from the trickster who doubled over cackling with delight at how far his mischief had gone. He let out a high pitch giggle like a child who had just learned how to light a match. She grabbed his forearm. "Loki, this little joke has gone too far. Everyone is drunk, change him back before something terrible happens," Dagmar requested frantically.

"You are out of control," Dagmar tried to explain to him. But he seemed not to be heeding her words, he merely continued laughing as he watched his brother try to haul the plump warrior on his shoulder and drag him to the open fire. "Loki this isn't funny!"

"Fun for Loki," he chimmed giddily as he watched the scene. Still unsatisfied with his pranks Loki transformed the rest of Volstaggs body into that of a pig with a flick of his hand.

"Not fun!" she told him. "You have to change him back! Loki, look around. You've been playing tricks on everybody all night. You made that poor boy gorge on cake without end, you still have people stuck to the floor, half of your guests are now animals!" she elaborated. "Loki what has gotten into you?" she asked shaking her head her voice soft and trembling.

The green-eyed prince hiccupped his eyes rolling about in his head. "Mead, grog, ale, wine," he babbled, 'Take your pick," he laughed as he reached out his hand and used magic to float another mug of grog off a nearby table. He ran his finger around the ring of the mug getting the access froth on said finger and then licked it.

"No more!" Dagmar fussed reaching for the drink in his hand and taking it from him. "Loki, stop this! Change everyone back!" she ordered.

"Don't order me about Dagmar!" he shouted in her face and drew his hand back like he was going to slap

Dagmar recoiled. "Loki!" she gasped. She'd never seen Loki like this so crazed…so mad with this sick humor he was out of control. "I'm not ordering you, Loki, I'm asking you…I'm asking you as your friend, please stop," She asked looking up wide eyed into his emerald eyes. They shined with alcohol, but also something else something wild and impish. Loki looked back at his friend with glassy green eyes, but obliged her request. He muttered the enchanted words and Volstagg slowly morphed back into an Asgardian. "What has gotten into you tonight?" she questioned more to herself than to the intoxicated green eyed prince.

A few hours passed but the festivities were still going strong. Loki had not danced with Dagmar all night. He had danced with a few other girls. He had danced much of the night with Freya, a gorgeous, busty blonde. His eyes saw Dagmar she was sitting on the sidelines of the dance floor now. He watched with pleasure as her shapely body swayed along to the rhythms of the music that filled the tavern. She patted her feet and clapped along as a quick ditty started to play. Loki reached out his nimble fingers and grabbed her gentle around the forearm. "Wanna dance?" he asked shyly.

"Why, Prince Loki, I thought you'd never ask,"

The song was fast and lively and everyone spun in and out alternating partners as the music played on. Loki and Dagmar reconnected by the end of the song. The music slowed to a gentle waltz. Prince Loki suddenly broke into a vicious snickering spasm as the slow dance played.

"Are you alright?" lovely Dagmar asked with slightly bemused concern as she watched him giggle.

"Yes darling," Loki replied still sniggering as they twirled about.

"What are you laughing at?" she asked gently as they continued to dance. She looked around shrewdly trying to find Loki's latest trick or stunt.

"You know what?" Loki began looking at per dazzling sharp features and gazing into her entrancing silver eyes. "I don't even know," he replied.

Dagmar lifted her hand to Loki's cheek cupping it as he smiled dazedly into her face. "Maybe we should sit down," she suggested gently.

"But…but I don't…hic…I donwanna sit down." Loki stated shaking his head. "I wanna dance," he slurred his explanation. He was a little shocked by how inept his tongue had become. "I wanna dance with the prettiest girl here," He was normally so articulate, but his tongue felt heavy and thick, while the rest of him felt light and at ease. He was now convinced he was drunk.

"Freya is already dancing with Frandal," Dagmar pointed out as she twirled back into his arms.

"Shh," He began, "Can you keep a secret?" He asked giddily. Dagmar nodded as they continued to move in circles. "Freya's not the most beautifulest maiden here tonight," he phrased awkwardly, he realized the grammar was off but couldn't think of the right words to say.

Dagmar tossed her head back and laughed. "You're so drunk," she muttered.

Prince Loki frowned and started to pull away from her in a pouting fashion, "I'm not as think as you drunk I am," he protested.

"Where has your silver tongue wandered off to tonight?"

Loki's grimace became deeper he was embarrassed that his words were getting so garbled. Dagmar noticed his frustrated look, 'Who is the most beautifulest maiden here, Prince Loki?" she asked sweetly.

Loki laughed, snorted then swooned, "You are Dagmar," he attempted to whisper in her. "I wanna dance wit you all night," he confessed sweetly to her. "I love you," he gushed in her ear.

"Loki," she sighed and brought her hand up to stroke his pale cheek, he leaned in closer as they danced, his lips were a short breath away from touching hers and she was about to meet him in the kiss, but all of a sudden a young maiden who had been drunkenly dancing about the floor by herself collided with Loki. She knocked him on the ground and her drink splattered in the prince's face. "Loki! Oh my goodness!" Dagmar shrieked as she observed him sprawled about on the ground face and hair drenched in mead.

"Clumsy little wench!" Loki spat as he wiped the dripping brown liquid from his face with his hand. His adorable slur had somehow vanished and was replaced with something harsh and cold. He climbed off the floor with the aide of Dagmar's delicate porcelain hand. Once standing he roughly shoved her off of him and pushed her to the floor.

"Loki!" Dagmar gasped she placed her slender ivory fingers on his shoulder and wrist trying to pull him from looming over the tipsy barmaid. "She was just stumbling in drunkenness just like everyone else is tonight…it wasn't purposeful," Dagmar tried to reason with him tugging on his arm. Loki pulled his arm and shoulder from her tender clutch and turned around and glared at her. His lips curled into a ravenous snarl and his green eyes glistened with a rapid anger and they darted back and forth between her and the cowering servant girl who lie on the floor. His shoulders heaved up and down and his breathing got sharp and ragged like he'd been running a race.

"Look what you've done, you drunken buffoon!" he yelled at the bar attendant, it was Olga that hag of maiden who he had been threatened with the thought of having to kiss. He pointed out his once again soaked tunics. A crowd started to gather as they over heard the ruckus Loki was causing over the incident.

"Loki, it was an accident," Dagmar tried to assuage her friend's offense. She came behind him and rubbed his heaving shoulders. "it's nothing to be so upset about," she whispered in his ear.

The emerald-eyed prince ignored the gray eyed Vanir maiden. He reached down and snatched Olga up by her bony arms bringing her to her knees as he leaned over her, "Thought you would embarrass me at my Coming-of-Age party?" he demanded shaking her. Olga cringed and tried to pull away from the unsympathetic prince. "Answer me peasant!" He hollered even louder for no reason.

"I…I…I'mmm s-s-so-sowy Prints Loki," the half troll half Aesir tavern worker slurred. She tried to go on to say more, but as she opened her mouth to explain herself or to beg pardon from her cruel lord she found herself croaking. Olga was so confused at first. She kept trying to make utterance in the language of Asgard only to find toady sound were bubbling forth from her lips. "Now at least your voice suits your visage," Loki muttered cruelly to the crying servant girl as hoots and whistles from guffawing exploded around the room. Olga got up crying covering her face not knowing what to do. The crowd of Asgardian youths started roaring with laughter as every time the frog-featured girl opened her mouth a ribit was emitted . They jeered and continued teasing her making nasty faces at her and croaking back at her while licking out their tongues telling her to go and catch flies. Loki all the while smirked as she frantically groveled at his feet begging in croaks for him to reverse the nasty little spell he had obviously woven.

"I should flog you right now you dirty little urchin, who told to stop working," he demanded yanking her by the arm harder and Olga let out a pitiful mew. Magically, he produced a whip in his hands. Instantly, the laughter amongst the crowd stopped. All were hushed and horrified.

"Loki, don't" Dagmar pleaded trying to grab his chilly hand that held the whip. She had never seen Loki like this before, so cold and unmerciful it frightened her. "Loki please," she begged for the whimpering servant girl. "Loki this isn't you," she went on grabbing his arm Loki was so rabid with anger that he pushed her off of him. Dagmar fell to the ground. "Loki please," Dagmar whispered reaching out her hand and crawling on the ground clutching at his boot. "Your not yourself...this isn't you." she entreated him once more as tears glistened in her silver eyes.

"No, Dagmar," He shuck his head laughing humorously at her in such a humbled position begging at his feet. He'd never wanted to her to beg, but somehow he liked being in the place of power for once in this relationship. "I really am," he told her and he smiled a wicked broad smile.

"You're not a monster! Don't make everyone in here think that about you," she implored him her head pressed against his leg. His eyes darting back and forth with devilish pleasure as he caught the scared stares of the crowd around. They were horrified, but dare not challenge Loki fearing that they would be retaliated against with some terrible spell. He noticed the warriors 3 and Sif run off some where. Loki then cracked the whip across the girls spine. He did it three times and each time he cackled loud and hard as he saw he writhe

"Loki what are you doing?" Thor demanded catching Loki's wrist as he was about to swing it and strike the roll barmaid on the back. He shook Loki's limp wrist forcing the giggling green-eyed prince to drop his unneeded weapon. "What is wrong with you?" He yelled in Loki's face. Loki looked startled at first but then seeing that it was his golden haired brother he started laughing once more.

"Now I'm just like you brother," He chuckled pointing at Thor.

"What are you talking about?" Thor asked roughly.

"I'm drunk and fun," Loki giggled.

"You are out of control and mean!" Thor corrected. "It's time for bed," the elder sibling stated and gave Loki a shove.

"Juzsumfun…hic…big brother," Loki laughed as he turned around and looked at Thor's disgusted face. The laughter bubbled up again followed by another hiccup and the younger prince lost his balance and tumbled into his brother's arms. "Juzsumfun," he repeated groggily, his head started throbbing again and he was so tired, so unbelievably tired again. This whole night was becoming a blur as he fell into unconciousness.

'It wasn't his fault…Loki's not like that," Thor tried to reason with their friend after the Coming of Age party. "He was just drunk. You all know he never drinks…he just can't hold his alcohol," Thor defended his little brother to their peers. It was late in the day, but Loki was still in bed with a massive hangover. "If anyone is to blame we are we were the ones insisting he drink so much," Thor added.

"I am never letting him near a drop of alcohol again," Hogun responded.

"Oh he wasn't that bad,"

"He turned me into a pig!" Volstagg raged.

"We all say and do foolish things we regret when we've had a long night of drinking. It was just his first time," Thor shrugged. "You remember you on your first time," Volstagg, Thor playfully nudged the pudgy viking in the arm.

"I could have been roasted a live!" Volstagg yelled.

"I don't think Loki regrets it," Hogun stated again.

"I doubt Loki will even be able to remember in order to regret," Frandal added thoughtfully.

"He was out of control and dangerous! " Sif insisted.

That was the first time Thor had ever seen Loki' out of control. He blamed it on the alcohol. It wasn't Loki's fault. Loki wasn't really like that. Loki was mischievous, but he wasn't cruel and heartless. It had just been because he was drunk. Thor blamed himself he was the one who made Loki drink. He was responsible for his brother's actions that night.

Almost 400 years later Thor would watch his brother become out of control again. He was drunk with this madness, intoxicated with hate, tipsy from hurt. And Thor had once again took blame. He had pushed the strong drinks at Loki all their lives, making Loki jealous, making him feel like he was second place, of course he hadn't meant to do that. But he had. He had caused his brother to consume so much bitterness that in the end he didn't know why he was shocked by how inebriated Loki became. In the end Loki lost control.

"He was out of control and dangerous" Sif insisted. The rest of the warriors nodded along

"I agree that Loki was a bit out of control, but Come on Loki's not dangerous," Thor brushed of his female friends statement.

"He could have killed that girl!" Sif yelled.

"He could have killed me!" Volstagg chimed in

"He stopped, didn't he?" Thor fussed back defensively. "he said he was just having fun. You all know Loki, he would never..."

"After what I saw...I wouldn't put anything past him," Sif stated firmly

Thor began sobbing in his sleep... Loki would never beat a girl for nothing, Loki would never sabotage his coronation, Loki would never attack another realm, Loki would never fight him to the death, Loki would never commit suicide. That wasn't Loki, that was just some wild drunk. Wasn't it? Wasn't it?

This was a difficult chapter to write, but I hope you all enjoyed it. The next chapter after this will be the finale to this tale. So if you have something that you want to see happen, let me know :)