A/N: So, this chapter takes place nine days after Vali and Eisa were born, and the Avengers are still in Asgard.
"Why are they still in Asgard?" you may ask. "Won't they be missed on Earth?" And yes, that is a very good question. With all the dimension hopping, I'm thinking that it's kind of a 'Chronicles of Narnia' sort of thing where time moves differently in each realm.
I will also freely admit that the first segment is somewhat inspired by MacMhuirich's story 'The First Song'. It's a wonderful one-shot (which actually inspired me to bring Sigyn into my Thor/Avengers stories), so if you're interested, you should go check it out.
It was the middle of the night. Loki held his son, rocking him gently by the lamplight. Vali stared up at him, his innocent eyes searching his father's. His brow wrinkled in confusion, and he squeaked slightly.
"Sh, sh, sh. I won't let anything happen to you." Vali, however, was not comforted by this promise. He began to cry again. Loki kissed his forehead and walked around a little. "Don't wake your sister. Or your mother. They need to sleep." The child ignored him. Loki glanced around, afraid of waking his wife. Would a lullaby perhaps calm him enough to get him to sleep again? He stared down at the child uncertainly, and began singing softly. He hadn't sung in a long time.
He remembered spending a few days with Bragi and Idunn when he was but a youth. Bragi had taught him to sing, after his voice had broken and become deeper. He had been quite good, as he recalled. But singing was not a fitting way for a prince to spend his time. Not when he could be training to fight and protect the realm he might someday rule. He remembered all too well the disdain of Thor's friends after they heard him singing a particularly beautiful ballad with Sigyn and her sister Vara. He hadn't really given much thought to music since then.
But he still appreciated music. It held more power over people than they realized. Music embodied existence.
Take rhythm for instance. From something as secret as a heartbeat, or as loud as the thunder of a horse's stride as it charged into battle, rhythm was an integral part of life . Notes also. There were highs, and lows, and then everything in between. Major and minor, happy and sad; all songs had hints of each. As did each life lived under the heavens. Music was in everything. The wind that swept across the landscapes, the birds that sang in Frigga's gardens, the sound of rain on the roof of the palace, the trickle of water in a courtyard fountain.
Even the brightest melodies were disrupted by discord, but they always resolved themselves, becoming ever more beautiful in their complexity.
Even the steadiest rhythms were interrupted, and changed to match someone else's designs, but there was always a way back to the original. The song always resumed.
He'd thought at one point that his life would never get better. That there would be no forgiveness for him. But all his regrets were proven wrong by the very fact that here he was, singing to his son. His voice was nowhere near as good as it had been, but the sound seemed to comfort Vali, so he kept on. Vali slowly ceased crying and drifted off to sleep. Loki kept singing. At first, he wasn't sure if he was hearing things, but a second voice joined his, an octave higher, now and then dipping into a long-forgotten harmony. Loki paused, and the soprano voice continued. He grinned when he realized that Sigyn was awake. She stepped through the door of the nursery and smiled. He began singing again, putting a little more emphasis on his harmony, and allowing her to take the lead. One verse later, the song was over. Sigyn stared at Loki for a while before speaking.
"I didn't know you still had music in you." she said finally. Loki nodded.
"I didn't know it either. But it seemed to help him." He replied, glancing down at the sleeping child in his arms.
"You seem troubled, Loki. Tell me what's bothering you." He didn't answer her for a moment. He set Vali back in the cradle.
"I thought when Narfi was born that raising a child would be the most terrifying thing in the world. I was wrong. Having two more children…" Sigyn looked worried. Loki noticed. "I love Vali and Eisa dearly, but how can I avoid making the same mistake as Odin? How do I show my children that I love all three of them equally? I don't want to try too hard to prove it, because then I'm only making it worse…" Sigyn shook her head.
"You will not make the same mistake as your father." she whispered.
"How do you know?" Loki felt all his worry slipping into his voice. The conviction in Sigyn's eyes was unmistakable.
"I have faith in you."
Odin sat upon Hlidskjalf, waiting. The seconds dragged by. He sincerely hoped that this would work. He glanced up when he heard the doors open. Loki walked down the aisle towards the throne. He bowed, and stared up at Odin, waiting.
"You called for me, All-father?" he asked impassively. Odin felt fear grip his heart. Would Loki refuse to listen?
"Yes, I did. When you came back from Midgard with Thor and Sigyn, I realized how much of a part I played in your fall. I have regretted my actions ever since that day." He paused. "I would like a chance to start over." Loki regarded the old man with wonder.
"You can't undo the past, Odin." He said. Odin smiled.
"Your use of the Infinity Gauntlet reminded me of something."
"Oh?"
"Indeed. You know the power of the Mind Gem and the Soul Gem, but did you ever give thought to the other three? Time, Space, and Reality?"
"I'd thought about them before, but never deigned to use them. In my hands, the destruction caused would be far too great. I have no wish to destroy any more innocent lives." He said. Odin nodded his approval.
"A wise decision on your part. The Gems are not to be used lightly." He stopped again as his breath caught. "Would you please walk with me, Loki?" He slowly stepped down from the high seat, and made his way down the stairs. He set Gungnir down in its resting place. Loki watched him, concerned.
"I will." He replied, his voice soft. Odin placed a hand on his son's shoulder and guided him towards the balcony. Loki wondered what could possibly be so important that Odin sought private audience with him.
"It is the uses of the Gems that I wish to speak of."
"Father…"
"My son, you have a chance to reverse everything, remove all these deeds from your past. Moreover, I have a chance to right what wrongs I perpetrated by not being honest with you from the day I brought you into this house. But before I do this, I want you to speak your mind." Loki looked confused.
"You would use the Gems to…undo everything?" he asked, clearly taken aback. Odin nodded.
"Yes. It would erase all the events that have transpired since I adopted you. A fresh start, a clean slate."
"But Father…It's too much of a risk. What if everything went wrong again?" Loki stammered.
"Think about it, Loki. The chance to actually get the praise you deserved, the chance to be loved by your subjects." Loki had to admit, it sounded wonderful. He internally debated.
Think about it! A chance to make everything right. To prove that you were worthy from the start! To possibly become king?
No. Thor was right. The throne would suit me ill. Besides, look at all the good that has happened because of what you went through. You never would've met the Avengers, never reconciled with Thor, never married Sigyn, or had a family with her. Don't do it…
But think of all the horrible things that have befallen you. Falling from the Bifrost; your torture at the hands of Thanos and his accursed Chitauri, your defeat on Midgard…You could be rid of that!
No. All happened as it should have. I have learned from my mistakes. The reward has been worth every punishment heaped upon me. Fate has already been kinder than I deserve, who's to say that it will be so kind the second time around?
"Well, Loki? What say you?" Loki snapped back to the present. Odin watched him expectantly. Loki opened and closed his mouth a couple times before he finally was able to speak.
"Your offer is tempting, but I fear that even if you were to undo the past, it would be no better. Don't do it." Odin stared out over the city.
"So you decline." He said flatly. Loki nodded.
"I can't give up my family like that. Or my friendships. It's too much to lose. I'm sorry." He ducked his head. Odin placed a hand on his shoulder.
"A wise choice, my son. Do not apologize."
"Am I wise? Or am I just afraid?" Loki asked, a glint of humor appearing in his eyes. Odin smiled.
"A little fear is good. It's when our fear rules us that we start to go astray. Go, find your friends. I will see you at the feast tonight."
"Thank you, Father." Loki bowed and walked away briskly. Once he was gone, Frigga walked up to Odin, twining her arms around his shoulders.
"So, how did he take it?" she asked. Odin kissed her forehead.
"He declined. But you already knew he would." He said wryly. Frigga laughed.
"Yes. But he did actually consider accepting for a moment." She stepped back. "Thank you for giving him a choice."