Author's Note: Oh, I'm about to get soooo much hate...
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Theroc had scored a hit on Loki's shoulder. It ached as he walked, but he ignored it. A guard swept aside the lap leading into Theroc's tent, now Loki's.
"We will fetch a healer for you, my liege," said one of the Jotuns.
"It can wait," replied Loki. He nodded to Thrym. "This is my personal advisor and king's-friend. Prepare your best tent for him."
"Sire." The Jotun left.
Loki turned to another warrior. "Gather the generals. We are to have a War Council."
The warrior bowed and left. Thrym approached. "My liege," he said, "I am honoured by your regard, but-"
"You are Jotunheim's greatest asset and have already proven to be my friend. I would have you at my side."
Thrym didn't look so certain, but he bowed. Cloth rustled as five generals entered.
"Sire," said one, "I am Sven, leader of the generals. It is an honour to have you among us." He turned and introduced the other four.
"Explain to me what Theroc has been doing here."
Sven outlined Theroc's battle plans, which consisted in near-daily clashes. No ground had been gained or lost. Many Jotun lives had been lost.
"Send a messenger," ordered Loki. "Instruct him to say that Theroc is dead and Bjarte, heir of Laufey, is now head of this army. He demands their surrender, immediately."
"It is likely that messenger will not return."
"I know. That is why we will attack tomorrow, and it will be decisive." He outlined the battle plans. It was one he had only been able to talk Thor into using once, though it worked brilliantly.
"A daring scheme, my liege," said Sven.
"But worthy of our times. Go. Send the messenger. Prepare the warriors. We will have victory tomorrow."
The generals shouted their approval, bowed, and departed. Thrym, bowing, excused himself as well. Loki turned to look for something to bind his wound with when the cloth rustled again. Angrboda, holding a bowl with towels draped over arm, bowed.
"I have come to attend to your wounds, my liege," she said.
"I am well."
"It is a fit service of a wife to her husband."
He froze, the realization dawning on him that in killing Theroc, he had gained Angrboda. And there was nothing he could do about it, short of killing her. If he sent her away, he courted war with her father's clan.
"Yes," he managed to say. "Very fitting." He sat in a nearby chair and gestured at his shoulder.
She crossed the room to him, setting the bowl on a nearby table. She dipped the cloth in the water and began to carefully sponge away the sweat and encrusted blood on the wound. He winced under her hand.
"My apologies, my liege," she said.
"Call me Bjarte."
"As you wish, Bjarte. I assume, then, that I have permission to speak freely?"
"Yes. Of course."
She didn't say anything for a moment as she worked on his shoulder. "I had no love for Theroc. My father forced me into that match, believing he would become king and our clan would be allied with the Royal Clan. It was better than going to a complete stranger, for I knew what I was getting."
"And what was that?"
"A brute who enjoyed lording over others. He and I did not get along."
"I see."
"You, on the other hand, are a mystery."
"I am sure you'll learn the way of me."
"Yes." She laid her hand over his cleaned wound and hummed. Her palm flared ice cold, electricity shot through him, and he gasped. Angrboda removed her hand. "You are healed, Bjarte."
Loki looked at his shoulder. It was sound. Rolling it, he stood. "Thank you."
She watched him with a slightly cocked head. "A Giant that says thank you to his wife? Hm." She handed him a towel to dry his shoulder. "I know you must bed me eventually. But not tonight. Let me have one night of peace."
"As you wish, Angrboda."
She bowed and left with the bowl and wet cloth. Loki whirled around as soon as she was gone and with shaking hands snatched up the nearest mirror. Blowing across it, the glass frosted over. He drew on his magic and called up Sigrid's image. She laid sleeping and he gazed on her hungrily. He would give anything to be lying next to her.
Forgive me, he thought.
Shivering, he released the image and unfrosted the glass. The mirror reflected a monster. Growling, he threw it, shattering it against a nearby post.
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As Sven predicted, the messenger did not return and scouts reported an increase of activity in the other camp. Loki moved through their camp, overseeing the operations and speaking words of encouragement. He made sure as many Jotuns as possible saw his face and heard his voice.
It was evening by the time he returned to his tent and he took his meal alone. What Thrym or Angrboda were doing, he didn't care. It wasn't until he laid down for much needed sleep that his worries over Sigrid arose in his mind. He wanted to call up her image again, to gaze on her, but he refused. He realized that as long as he was tormented by thoughts of her, he would become distracted. And distraction led to mistakes.
Rolling onto his back, he began to gather up all memory of Sigrid, every feeling and every ounce of love and desire. He pressed them together into a compact ball and locked them away in his mind. As soon as the mental door closed, Loki drifted to sleep.
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Thor swaggered down the hall, winking cheerily at a passing friend. The past week had been the best in his life. But now he must return to his duties and, better yet, he would do it with his Jane. He paused a moment to admire the sunset before turning and knocking on his parents' chamber door.
A maid opened it and bowed as he entered. Mother and Father were sitting beside the fire. They stood as he entered. Frigga rushed forward to hug him.
"Mother," he said. "Father."
"Did you enjoy your time with Lady Jane?" asked Odin. "I trust you are ready to take up your duties again."
"I am. How fares Lady Sigrid? I hope she didn't birth while I was away. I want to be there to see Loki's face when he sees his child for the first time."
"No," said Frigga, her smile fading. "And her health is declining." She gave Odin a significant look.
"Ah. My brother must be worried sick, then. I will go visit them." He turned to go.
"Thor, wait."
He frowned at his mother's downcast appearance. "What is the matter?"
"I will leave that to your father to say."
He looked to Odin. "Father?"
Odin looked at the maid and nodded toward the door. Once she was gone, Odin said, "Loki is no longer here."
"What does that mean? I find it incredible that he would leave Lady Sigrid, as devoted as he is to her."
"He left for her own good, actually."
"Well, when will he be back?"
The tension in the room increased and Frigga looked down. After a moment, Odin said, "He won't be returning."
"What? You exiled Loki? Why?" His mind raced as he tried to come to grips with this.
"There is war in Jotunheim. To prevent it from spilling into Asgard, to gain real peace, I sent him to take the throne. He left the day after you wed."
"And for how long have you and him been planning this?"
"I gave Loki the order shortly after your wedding. He did not know of it before then."
He shook his head. "What does this have to do with Sigrid?"
"Naturally, her life is in danger if war reaches Asgard."
"How could it, though? The idea is laughable!"
"The Jotuns discovered a way."
Thor took a deep breath. "This is madness, Father. You can't-"
"It was the only way! Don't think for a moment that I didn't consider every available option."
"But exile? He is your son, my brother. How could you decide this without discussing it with us? Loki or I could have seen another solution."
"Sometimes, a king must make difficult decisions on his own."
"I would not have done this. I would have found another way."
"Hm. Thor, you are forbidden from going to Jotunheim. Leave Loki to his work."
Thor turned and began to walk away.
"Where are you going?"
"To comfort my sister."
"Wait," said Frigga. "Odin, tell him. I am sick of secrets in this house!"
Thor turned. "Tell me what? What secrets?"
When Odin did not respond, Frigga said, "Your father sent Loki away to protect him. The war in Jotunheim was an excuse. There are those who want Loki dead."
"Then why the deception? Does Loki know?"
Frigga turned to Odin, who said, "No. He does not. Thor, Loki would always be in danger. His leaving was for his good."
"As was keeping the truth from him about his heritage? And why keep this from him? Why not tell him-" A thought came to him. "Sigrid is in danger as well."
"Loki does not think clearly concerning her. If he had known, he would have taken drastic steps, and I will not have civil war in Asgard."
"So, you send Loki away. To protect him. To perhaps calm some of those who fear him. How much does Sigrid know?"
"Only of the war in Jotunheim. And you are forbidden from telling her more. This is for the best."
Thor let Odin's words sink in. "But how is it for the best? With the truth, she can better protect herself."
"She is under enough pressure. One more thing to worry about, to fear, and she may not survive this birth. And the fewer that know, the easier it will be to discover the faction behind this."
Thor began to walk away once more, the anger riding his shoulders.
"Thor."
But he ignored his father, leaving to go comfort his sister.