Chapter 14
Thor rapped on the door to the king and queen's chambers. Frigga opened it and for an instant, Thor thought that she would slap him. This thought vanished when she hugged him as though she had not seen him in a year. She made a choked noise into his shoulder and reddened in embarassment.
"I'm sorry." Thor said simply, though not certain for which infraction.
"I'm leaving you two to talk." she said. She dropped her shoulders and proceeded down the hall without so much as looking at him. Frigga herself would not say so, but Thor knew she wanted no words with him.
It hurt as though someone had taken a fistful of his insides and twisted them. He watched her walk until she turned, out of sight.
He entered to find Odin seated in his regal armchair. Thor knelt and let his neck stoop.
"You have either acted very bravely or very ignorantly. Perhaps both. It rests on your understanding of your vow."
"That was what you wanted, was it not?" Thor said shakily. He rose.
"Not in blood, Thor. You have added a buffer between his power and our realm." Odin sighed, the mere words seeming a burden. "You have treated the Jotun princes with cruelty unsuited to a king. You are also in king Farbauti's debt."
"What would you have me do?" Thor asked dubiously. Odin sighed again, this time more laboriously.
Thor scowled.
"I have spoken to Frigga. She agrees that you have acted vainly and brutally, and I have seen from your repetitive immaturity that you are not ready to be king."
"I did the best that I could in your sudden absence," Thor said with a sharp, defensive tone. He gestured to the window. "There was no warning and nothing- nothing, father- prepared me for this type of warfare."
"You brought Jotunheimr and Asgard into crisis with your own war. Droves of Asgardians died because of your urge for revenge."
"I have not killed any Asgardians!" Thor cried desperately. "How was I to know that so many would perish? I never meant for that to happen."
"You are young and I hope for your sake that you learn." Odin said slowly.
"I learned, I protected Asgard from more attacks by that Jotunar. I made a vow that will last Asgard for centuries." Odin was impassive.
"From now on, my absence will be filled by Frigga and the advisory of our guards. Since you seem to think that your judgment outweighs that of your mother's, I must declare that your priority falls below her's. You will no longer be a standing heir in times of hardship or when my hand does not stay this realm. You are not fit to act as king."
"You're wrong." Thor said stonily.
"Your poorly intentioned actions have lead to this mess." Odin paused and shook his head. "Have you forgotten everything I taught you? I had a truce with Laufey and Farbauti. You broke that truce the moment you decided as king to open this realm to the horrar and desolation of war. We would be beyond diplomacy were it not for their crown prince. And Frigga can hardly fathom what you did to the child heirs." Thor started to speak, but Odin silenced him with a look of disappointment that made his stomach sour. "I do not care what possessed you, Thor. I do not care for your excuses. You have acted brutally. You must learn how a king commands his people before you will ever hold this throne. I wish Balder were still here to advise you."
"I will prove to you that I am a worthy heir." Thor said tautly. "Let me speak to mother."
"She will speak to you if she wishes." Odin said with a note of resent. Thor glared at him, challenging the Allfather. Odin cleared his throat. "We're done here. Go back to your quarters."
"Watch me, father. These realms have need of me." Thor strode out and slammed the door in his wake.
AN: While I am not particularly fond of the events in this chapter, I had already planned it and it was a necessity. I would like to thank Decepticon-silverstreak, amokeh, Daku-Darkness316, Dark-Angel-Princess 01 and SailingFXforGold for their reviews! If I remember correctly, I hinted to some of you that we'd be seeing Thor. Next chapter will be a different face and a purging of blood.
What do we think of Thor thus far?