Silver and Scales
Chapter Twelve: The King of Asgard
"Come with me," Loki said when their lips parted from his kiss.
Even before she could respond appropriately, his hand had wrapped around her numb fingers to incline her forward.
"Where?" she asked, following his beckoning pull.
He didn't answer as she retreated after him, leaving the blankets and pillows untouched. She took her robes off the floor and threw them on, pulling the sides of the material to hide the silky night gown. He motioned for her to follow.
"Where are we going?" she asked him again, her curiosity enhanced by his silent.
He led her down the corridors of which she had always passed through on her way to her bedroom. Loki's hand around her wrist led her without any confusion of where to go. He released her when he stood in front of a marvelous door, one that was several feet high, brazened with marble and beautiful gold.
"This is the door to your father's chambers," said Vyperia.
"It is."
"Why have you brought me here?"
"You must see Father for yourself."
"Why?"
He didn't answer. Loki reached for the door handle and slowly pushed it open. Before Vyperia, she saw Odin All-Father. He was pale and lifeless, lying in his bed; the space around it was warped by the effect of the Odinsleep. Shimmering gold surrounded his bed as a vulnerable fortress. Odin looked like a royal king, laid down to an endless sleep. The walls of the chamber moved close around him, seemingly protecting him.
Vyperia's gaze lingered on the foreground of the scene.
It didn't seem so real until her eyes saw it.
Beside Odin was Frigga, seated by her husband's side, holding his hand. She was dressed down from the regal appearance of a beautiful queen; her long hair fell down her shoulders as if like it was an endless blonde shower of hair. Her eyes were downcast, sad and worried. Loki took Vyperia's hand in his and led her into the room.
Upon seeing them together, Frigga smiled warmly at them; her eyes softened as Vyperia approached the casket. Loki said nothing as he sat down on the opposite side of his mother, glancing at his father with a stony look on his face. Vyperia gazed at the closer body of Odin, relatively numb at seeing him there, motionless.
He looked dead.
She strode around the casket and stood before Frigga.
"My queen..." Vyperia greeted Asgard's majesty courteously, leaning forward to bow before Frigga.
Loki smiled as Frigga's hand lightly grazed Vyperia's head for a moment, then instilled her fingers along Vyperia's hair as a mother would to a child who had complimented her. The motion made Vyperia look up at her.
Frigga's gaze was pleasant and welcoming.
"Stand straight, my dear," she said in a voice that was most amused. "You are as much family to me as anyone else in this castle."
Vyperia's eyes questioned the manner in which Frigga spoke to her.
Those in Asgard who claimed themselves better and more worthy of remembrance had always cast Vyperia into shadow, as if she was less worthy of the title of a goddess than the next person. However, Frigga showed welcome and love that Vyperia hadn't seen in any other face than her personal friends. Frigga motioned for Vyperia to carry through the request. Vyperia straightened her back, still in a state of query, but smiled all the same.
Frigga turned to Loki. They exchanged warm smiles.
"Sit beside me, Vyperia." Frigga beckoned, indicating a chair next to her.
"Uh...All right..."
When Vyperia sat down, Frigga looked at her, noticing the discomfort about Loki's love interest.
"Vyperia, you are not like the other women that I have seen come and go in this household. Thor and Loki have encountered women whom I thought were very suitable queens, but all come and go." Frigga smiled endearingly. "You are well-respected within this castle, even if you think that you are not."
"No offense, Your Highness," offered Vyperia with a weary smile, "but the hand-maidens, servants, and your loyal chefs and butlers may have you fooled."
Realizing Vyperia's skepticism, Frigga shook her head.
"You are my son's loving girl, whether or not they choose to accept it. You kept your promise to your king that you would never have relayed the truth about Loki."
Vyperia glanced at Loki, who lowered his gaze to Odin.
"I tried to tell Loki the truth," confessed Vyperia. Frigga's gaze didn't teeter from warm compassion. "I was going to tell him before Thor's coronation."
"It wasn't out of resentment, was it?" asked Frigga curiously. She didn't seem too mad about it.
"No," answered Vyperia truthfully.
"Then you had nothing to fear," Frigga returned.
She looked at Loki.
"I asked him to be honest with you from the beginning. There should never be secrets in a family."
"So why did he lie?" asked Loki.
"He kept the truth from you so that you would never feel different. You are in every way our son, Loki; and we, your family. You must know that."
Loki stared at Odin, and then his gaze fell upon Vyperia.
"You can speak to him," said Frigga softly. "He can see and hear us, even now."
"How long will it last?"
"I don't know. This time is different. We were unprepared."
Loki gazed down at his father.
"I never get used to seeing him like this. The most powerful being in the Nine Realms lying helpless until his body is restored."
"But he's put it off for so long, I fear..."
Frigga's unfinished sentence was tethered with a soft cry. Loki's hand took hers. Frigga smiled gratefully. She wiped the tears from her eyes. Vyperia's heart quickened, touched by the interaction between mother and son.
"You are a good son, Loki." Frigga said gently.
Loki merely sat there, uncertain of how he should act or feel.
"We mustn't lose hope that your father will return to us." Frigga said. "And your brother..."
What came across as concern for Thor on Loki's face was something less than that as Loki looked up at Frigga in mild shock. Vyperia had known Loki for many years, and she knew that the look on his face was mild disappointment, nothing more. However, Vyperia kept silent during those swift two minutes that his expression went from said disappointment to one of gentle curiosity.
"What hope is there for Thor?"
"There is always a purpose to everything that your father does." Frigga answered. "Thor may yet find a way home."
Loki looked openly troubled by the revelation. He rose to his feet and headed for the exit. Vyperia's stomach turned when she felt the sensation of numerous light footsteps prod their way to the door. Then the clatter of armored footsteps hurriedly approached.
Vyperia rose to her feet and slowly came to stand by Loki.
The Einherjar guards entered the room, and blocked the way. Loki tensed, prepared for the worst; but the guards merely stood there before them. Vyperia and Loki exchanged baffled looks. They glanced over their shoulders to look at Frigga.
"Thor is banished," she said loudly. "The line of succession falls to you. Until he awakens, Asgard..."
A guard stepped forward, holding Odin's staff, Gungnir, in his hands,
"...is yours."
Vyperia's eyes widened as the Einherjar guard knelt before Loki, whose face was a clear slate of utter shock. The guard held the staff in his hands and offered Gungnir to Loki, waiting for the newly appointed king to take the proffered spear. Loki glanced at Vyperia, who smirked.
His eyes watched Vyperia as she slowly lowered to the floor on her knees; she bowed before him. The guards behind he who offered Loki the spear followed Vyperia's suit. They knelt down as well.
"Make your father proud," Frigga said with a big smile, "my king."
Loki reached out tentatively. As he took it into his hands, he inhaled slowly as one would to relish a moment. Vyperia smirked at him as he grasped it tightly.
He liked the feel of it in his hands...
