Chapter 14

Thor has not missed that Little One has been mired into the pool of endless lies by Silver-Tongue. It wounds him; yet if the Vanir is stupid enough to buy Loki's drivel… one thing is sure he is not the Vanir's keeper. He is not the Vanir's brother. Which leads him to think of Balder, of his brother. Of his brothers, of Loki.

The man locked in Asgard was insane and the man dressed up as a Vanir does not exactly breathe of a sane mind. He seems to have forged some sort of friendship with Little One, a Vanir spy. Not exactly the best sort of people to befriend when one is a prince.

Should he remind the God of Mischief tthat too many tears have been drawan by Asgard, that he is an Odinsson despite what his foolish pride says and that no prince can harbour the heart of a traitor. He must cut ties with the spy!

Should he tell Loki that the Trickster has a brother? A different other one, a more innocent one. Probably not. Loki half crazed was devoured by jealousy. Loki on Midgard would have slaughtered himself the childwithout the help of the Chitauris. Loki in Malekith's hands does not seem to have turned traitor; still it is early ways to call hiscondition to be under control not to say in remission.

If only he was on Asgard. His parents would know if or if not Loki is 'better'. Odin is too far away and Frigga is too close. Mother… Mother 's tears were true; she lost a son. How can Loki stop at the word adopted? How can he stubbornly refuse to see he has a real family. ... Mother. He must free his, their mother. The mother of three Asgardian princes whose all children are imprisoned The middle one being stark mad, the youngest too young to fight along his brothers while the older one despite being a seasoned warrior, the best warrior of their realm has lost controlled of his magical hammer. What a dismal band of brothers…

They must get free none the less… And he turns to Sif and his threefriends. It is time to hold council.

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- 'How is Gr…the Great Khan of the Vanirs?'

- 'Grand.. the Great Khan is fine. He … he is doing quite all right fora man of his age. He has not had any of Idunn's apples since the Great War; still look at him! Grandfa… Great Khan is…'

- 'I know who Grandfather is, Little One and you better learn to hide your secrets with more skills. Malekith would use you as a bargainning chip to get to the Dark Energy. As for Thor… .Less you speak, less they will use your words against you'

Little One blushes with the hesitant grace of a man leaving childhood behind. Wonders how long it has been obvious he was more than he pretended to be. Is glad Loki of As… Loki the Jotun wants to keep his secret safe and cannot help to worry about Loki tricking him to perdition. What price will the Mischievous One ask? How heavy will be the pound of flesh he will want as reward? What does Loki want?

- 'Vanaheimr will be… is from now on my home. We must make sure our five companions never share what knowledge there is to be about the Spider Horses … No!'

Loki put a finger in front of his Vanir companion. No, he does not want to know the truth. A secret shared is not more a secret! He has all the time in the world to know and since Odin has removed all magic from him, knowledge in this cell would be truly wasted time. He does not need to know. Vanirs do not lie; as a congenital acknowledged liar nobody will, can and should trust him. The proof, the reality of his honesty will be in his actions. Not his words. By refusing to allow the betrayal of Vanaheimr's best magical weapon, he shows he harbours the true heart of a true Vanir.

- 'Why would you prefer my realm to yours? Loki the Jotun half-breed raised by indifferent foster-parents had reason to look at Asgard as unfit to be his home. How can Vanaheimr become home to an Odinsson?'

- 'Odin adopted me. I am still the half-breed. Please, allow Freya's grandson to find shelter in her realm?'

- 'Freya... You may claim to have lost your magic, you still have your touch with words. Freya and Njord are kin. Therefore, I can't but grant you asylum...'

A wistful smile followed by a bow is his reply. If Thor has concerns about Loki, Loki has concerns about Little One. Both brothers being dissatisfied with the behaviour of their younger ones. While said young ones look to be blissfully unaware of said concerns!

- ' Regardless, next year I shall be probably married and our people will be allowed to worry about the next youngest Heir of the Vanirs.'

- 'Still, humour me. What is exactly the line of succession regarding Vanaheimr?'

The rule is simple or complicated. Typical Vanir confusion. The Eldest. The Eldest of the king's children; failing this the eldest of his grandchildren, failing that the eldest of his nephews cousins would be called . Male and female alike. If the oldest grandchild is a girl being born to the youngest daughter, Vanaheimr will be ruled by petticoats. Not that Vanir women would wear petticoats!

Vanir ladies may or may not, depending on their mood, show their faces. They may or may not wear breeches or long dresses. Their hair may or may not be dressed in elaborate hairstyles. Said ladies confuse a lot the rare Aesirs who visit their realm. As Aesirs are more than too often bored soldiers stuck in lonely garrisons, it can lead to misinterpretations followed by unpleasant altercations.

The Asgardians believing the women to be wanton and inclined to share their favours, more than often get a slap of the wrist, when it is not a smack on their cheek. Many Asgardians still smart at this incomprehensible attitude while trying to escape the ensuing angry Vanir menfolk.

The women take care of themselves. This much is true. Their partners as the easy-going men who are not Gods, seldom engage in formal marriages. It does not prevent them from taking a dim view at the heavy handed Asgardian attempts to dalliance.

- 'Our next King will be Njord's eldest grandchild. Failing this Heir, it will be Balder.'

- 'And Balder is…?'

- ' Balder Odinsson. The child. The child who was there with Malekith.'

- ' Balder O… Oh… A third son … Another relic, then.'

It would seem brothers are not raining but pouring. One day, Loki believed his brother was no more his brother and he was unbearably alone; now, he has too many! The not-brother…s and the soon-to-be one. Now if he has an extra sibling he knows nothing about, it means that he is not lonely sitting on the shelf devoted to useless might-have-been. How much did Thor know? From what Thor looks as Loki darts a quick eye on the oldest Odinsson, said not-brother seems to be quite as surprised as he is. Odin has lied to both brothers. What about Balder? Is he aware the Queen is his mother? Does he know who his father is; if he does, where does he stand in the line of succession? Why has Frigga said Loki was second in the line? After all, he is not an Odinsson or is it because being adopted changed the deal? Unless Balder is not on the line of succession because…

Bright as he is, the Trickster cannot fathom why he was not told for all these years about a younger brother. He certainly would have welcomed a new face. He would have been able to share his anxieties about being unfit, unprepared, feeling woefully un-satisfactory. Balder would have reassured him, shown him his good points just like he would have supported his inexperienced little, young (so young brother)… or not.

The age gap between Odin's eldest sons and this baby brother is an abyss. He calculates that he is old enough to be … to have potentially been old enough to sire Balder himself! The pregnancy happened when… Thor and he were young bucks ready to prove their mettle in an arena where he was not aware his parents could be still engaging. Blind. He has been blind to his parents. Thor and he were devoting days and weeks on training fields, in hunting trips. When it was not visiting other realms including Vanaheimr steppes. When it was not spending days pouring over old manuscripts in the palatial library, trying his hands at spells his fathe…Odin frowned upon or openly competing with Thor as whom would bed more ladies than the other. Silver-Tongue may not have been as successful as Thor on the war scene, though he is no mean warrior and Thor would have no other but he to keep his back; Silver-Tongue has been way ahead of Thor when it came to engage battles in the boudoir. And just as merciless as his brother with the losing as he may have been yet it was him who provided titillating details to a wide–eyed Thor. Twas he who started experimenting when he was reportedly reading books in his father's library late at night.

At the beginning, the royal brothers had shared a large apartment and their beds had not been far apart till insensibly the distance between said beds grew wider and the day came it was obvious both needed their own room. Their own breathing space. If only to avoid greeting certain ladies met in other voluptuous circumstances. At one point both brothers kept a chart on whom could out do the other, who was an unassailable fortress; both having a good laugh about some high born ladies known for their virtue or lack of thereof rather.

Loki had a passionate affair with the fairer sex whose lack of prowess as warrior did not prevent from being ruthless winners to the art of Love. Love… The younger prince was a seasoned courtier when it came to the refined art of courting. Wooing a maid was easily done, easily said. Flattery, honeyed words hiding the disguised plunderer. And plunder he did. At first it was just fun. Just the pleasure of discovering what his body and other bodies could do. Like a life-size test straight from Odin's laboratories. A full-scale experiment. Then he discovered the delight of believing one-self in love and being the object of Love. Followed by the crashing revelation one could love no more; one could lose one's love. Far from being a game this emotion could be deadly, wounding; aimed at grieving the other. Lovers could be fickle. Lovers could forget all about you in the blink of an eye, yet who could be swept away by a brother who happened to be the First prince, the First born, his golden brother. Lovers…

As for people you would not love if they were the last persons left in Asgard... Like Sif. Who pretends to love what she is doing. Not because she does not like it, Loki grants her to be rightly called the War Goddess. QA true Shield Maiden. But because she thinks also it will please Thor and Thor is so blind! Sif who calls herself a warrior but Loki suspects that deep inside she does not. Does not whole-heartedly enter into being a warrior, does not enter the ranks of prospective Valkyrie without misgiving at the dedication it will require. Wants to be a warrior and a lover. Ending up with Thor as mentor regarding her aptitudes on the battlefield and as a friend… a friend! Silly girl!... How can he see her but as a friend if she does not allow him to see there is somebody else beside the sword wielder.

As for Loki... Stupid Loki! Losing a girl whose name and face he cannot remember. One girl too much has been his downfall. After that humiliating episode, Silver-Tongue has only been bent on pure mischief, evil-dripping revelling! No love lost here, just … just sex and cruel jests. The aim was to take as many victims and no prisoner left behind. If it left him with a bitter taste in the mouth, it certainly did not show. Only Thor and Thor only did venture as why he did not settle down (why all these needless unreasonable conquests) only his m…the Queen would gently sigh and wish him 'peace'. Peace… As for Odin, he would offer no comment. Unless his son's philandering ways were at risk of causing more scandal than usual, then the AllFather would send away the troubled jaded wife or marry off the too bold now boring ex-debutante far from Asgard… It certainly did not make his life any easier with their male relations.

All fools, all whores. All cheaters. Love is a waste of his precious time. An excuse to release physical tension, pent up energy. Nothing more. Nothing but wanton adulteresses who betray the trust of their lovers. All of them. His own mother included…. Not his mother. Not Frigga, not the Queen. Not Mother. And he has… would have a brother if… if. Balder…

Balder Odinsson. Odin's third son. Second son born to Frigga… and he turns to Little One who has pulled all the weeds collected along the very long walk to this cell. The Vanir… his blood-brother, his soon to be brother. His just brother has engaged into weaving on some strange sequences the tall grass muttering something in a language, a tongue he does not understand. Would understand if he had his magic back. Along the braiding, he watches his blood-brother's finger tracing runes over the ensuing rope. Vanir magic. Does the child plan the walls to fall as if he were to pull them down with the long string?

- 'Why Balder? Why not Thor? Thor is the eldest. Is it because Vanirs do not approve of a king who would rule over two realms?'

- 'Thor is Odin's first born. Balder is Frigga's. Frigga is my cousin at some degree or another. She has just one son, I believe. Balder is for sure her one and eldest. If… when… if… the Vanir double circlet will be his to wear.'

- 'Balder… first born… Who is Thor's mother?'

- 'Gaea, Mother Earth. In the past she was called Jord. After she turned her back from Odin and her new born son Thor, after she became a Chosen One as she renounced Asgard, as she renounced to be Aesir, she became New again. AllMother gave her this name: Gaea.'

Jord… Earth. The Goddess of Earth who is totally disregarded by Asgard. A Goddess his tutors called a mad woman who gave herself willingly to profess the Vanir Heresy. A woman who proclaims men and women, Gods and Goddesses truly equal as in not the Asgardian way.

- 'What happened?'

- 'Ask my gr… ask our King for the finer details. Odin was young, wanted a wife at his taste. Jord got disgusted by his boorish manners and slammed the door. On him.'

People forget the times were unsettled, uncertain. it was war. Realm against realm. Husbands against wives as Laufey. Let suffice to say Asgard, Jotunheimr and Vanaheimr were not lucky with their Queens. Plus this is Asgard business. A sad business. Gaea leaving Thor was wrong; Odin being just as wrong.

- 'Humiliating for for the AllFather. Better keep it unrecorded.'

- 'What happened to…? Oh yes, Njord is a widower.'

Compared to Laufey and Odin Queens, Vanaheimr Queens had led a quiet life. But the winds of war which had seized the realms brought also pestilence to the horse herders. Within a few days, Njord lost partners, children, grandchildren… Of the hecatomb, only Freyr managed to escape leaving to the Jotun King the severance of the life-thread of the surviving Heir of the Vanirs.

- 'Njord. Then Freyr. Now, me. Little One. Hopefully not Balder. I will marry soon and give Grandfather many more Heirs and save our realm from the odious Asgardian brat. Our faith will be protected and all will end well.'

The information he has just digested may not go down well with Thor. What a revelation. Thor is not Mother's son. Thor has just as much or just as less claims to Frigga. Thor's loss is Loki's gain. This is equality. Not as he has original envisioned it. Still to know he is not alone in having lost his real mother feels surprising satisfying. Farbauti tried to save her baby; Jord dumped Thor as an unwanted package leaving husband and child behind never to return. The not brothers are brothers in being orphaned.

Chapter 15

- 'Why… yes. Naturally, it would diminish Odin's standing if it was revealed his first wife had abandoned him. As for Thor… what a lovely morgen-gabe… for Mother!'

He imagines Frigga having to raise a child which was her husband followed by an orphaned Jotun. He wishes he could have his magic back for one second, change his shape as of a mice and watch in the shadows the interesting scenes which were omitted in the edited version of the real Asgard taught by the Palace school. A Realm Eternal which shines like gold in the distance and reveals itself to be brittle and false. A dark world. A realm darker than his own soul.

- 'Why was Balder hidden?

- 'I don't know. Some prophecy I believe.'

Loki raises his eyebrow, invites by his hand the Vanir to elaborate…. The way Little One pronounces prophecy, it rings personal.

- 'It is said our three realms are united like the… the strands I am braiding for Sleipnir. And Ragnarok will happen when each and every strand snaps. The first will be a Vanir mirror held by three children followed by one Asgardian youth and lastly a doubly-bonded albeit only once-broken forever-fettered Jotun.'

- 'By definition, prophecies are obscure. This one follows the rule.'

- 'Numbers are important, they say. I have tried. Makes no sense at all. Plain Elfin Rubbish between you and me.'

- Three and Three but it is one or two, then one followed by two unless it is… Vanaheimr is freedom …A couple? ... followed by an Aesir warrior with a double yet broken sword. Ragnarok, you say? Though prophecy . The idea would be laughable. Until one remembers worse things have happen with less cause.

Balder, kept locked safely tucked away from a pompous prophecy. Why was he brought back to Asgard? Did Odin seriously believe that introducing the child to a raving lunatic would have healed Loki from the madness which had engulfed him until … Little One healed him? As in an unconscious reflex, he rubs his shoulder where one bullet branded his skin and he knows the wound is no more. Or it could be that Balder is going to become the second Prince of Asgard. Anotrher golden son, another son who is the favourite!

Loki will make sure Balder does not inherit the Vanir kingdom. Smiles as he knows he has already made sure Odin's ambitious plans regarding Balder will never come to fruition. Oh, it is brilliant. Odin's plan is faultless. Thor born to be King will not rule Asgard. Midgard is for you… He smirks as the vision plays into his mind: the Midgardian Avengers having to bow to clueless Thor. How do they... yes PointBreak. The meaning is lost on him; but the mockery is not! Vanaheimr would go to Balder. Njord is not getting young and Little One's rash tendency to play stupid pranks suggests a life at risk of being cut short. Soon.

As for Loki, the Jotun runt must have been seen as a grace coming from the Norns. Odin would bestow to Jotunheimr his adopted son. Asgard would rule over four realms. Would not. Will not.

Loki, Freyr's eldest son plans to live a very long life and beget as many sons… and daughters as need be.

- This girl… this betrothed. Is it something arranged for the Heir, is it something more personal? As only written for Little One.

- It has been marked specially for me. I cannot… one can rescind from own's binds. From one's word of honour. The bride has no choice. We are in both together, as the decision was taken by our elders. The Norns have decided. We both obey.

- It is unrelated to the Heir?

- No. bloodlines Yes. It is complicated. Asgard considers ... it's controversial. Our shamans, the Runes Bones... We are a Cycle. We cannot but become one. We have been pledged before the Beginning and after the End. Do not worry. I am sure… I am quite confident theAllMother… and the AllFather will make our union fruitful. And who knows? The bride and the groom may come to learn and like each other tolerably well.

Loki understands. It is a matter of choice and his blood brother has not been coerced. Little One will marry according to traditions a bride especially chosen for him. Love does not have to intervene in this instance. Other considerations... Pedigree. Qualities and weaknessesone will bring is to complete, to match seamlessly the other. A rare combination.

A cycle. Whereas Asgard is the Realm Eternal where Odin is the Lord of the Gods (Please do not ask about Lord Bor Ymirsson and what it implies if a God has a father and a Grandfather or how they died, because they did!),Vanaheimr believes that not only the Gods do not hail of Asgard or the Vanir men. Worse their Gods play endlessly the same game: Chaos finds Order morphing into an AllFather eternally mating an AllMother resultant into Life who is bountiful like the AllMother and chaotic like her grandfather while Death (who cannot but follow Life as there cannot be death if there has not been life prior to it) is so attached to his divine twin sister that he wants to keep her all for Himself. Chaos is the lustful, slightly warrior-like AllFather and Death. Life is AllMother when she has given a purpose as Order. All being One, all being different. Reliving endlessly the birth and the death of the Greater Universe of the Great Forest of the World Trees where Yggdrasil has no preeminence. A world tree lost among equals.

A cycle. Just like their Gods who are avatars of themselves, some Vanirs believe they are avatars of the Gods. Thus said lucky or unlucky men who are not Gods must marry their counterpart. Only a woman marked as Life can do for a man called as Death by their shamans. Such marriages go through the Blessing of the Nine Realms of the Four Elements. He or She who dare to try and break the Eternal Bond with the pair will pay with his own life. AllMother and her two avatars Order and Life may be lenient; such is not the case for Allfather in all his aspects. Chaos is territorial just as much as Death is jealous. Nobody is allowed to intrude on the divine pairing. Chaos, AllFather and Death will all strike together the unforgiving blow.

- 'Ah!... And you are...?'

- 'We are Beautiful Chaos and Healing Order. We ... Could be worse. I do not plan to die yet!'

Little One giggles. Chaos fits him. Since Loki is obliged to follow him, they have gone through a few adventures not all pleasant leading to bewildering Earth-Quaking challenging revelations. Asgard must still be reeling of the chaos the little Vanir has inflicted on its certitudes. What sort of woman would do for the youth? Order, as in a wife, sounds boring.

A wife... Loki wrinkles his elegant straight nose. He smells the idea, tastes the water. A wife? Or not... Maybe this is his destiny. To remain single…or to marry a 'good' 'nice' 'boring'… and as he feels tiredness pulling his eyelids down, he starts to imagine what sort of wife he wants. Except he does not want. A wife.

A wife must be regal. Must be wise and stay wisely three steps behind her husband. A wife must be like Frigga but stand her ground like when Mother disagreed with Odin. Wise but not boring. She must like … fun… tricks and mischief. Gentle mischief naturally. Not boring. Smart. He could not abide a wife deprived of intelligence. Deprived of magic… like him.

Not deprived. A magician. Yes she must also be skilled in wizardry crafts. Mischievous, that goes without saying. She must be the most beautiful woman of Asgard. No. She must be … everything but Aesir… and not Jotun. Not Jotun, Everything but Jotun. Beautiful. Manners, elegance of deportment. A born Queen. But not cold. She must be alive; she must be passionate. She must be skilled in love-making. But not too much. She must be his. Though he will never be hers. Loki belongs to Loki. Loki does what he wants.

His. She must be his. His only. She will be his and His One. Loki fears he is a bit like Farbauti… a bit too possessive. Too territorial. His fingers press tentatively the pereviously injured shoulder as to make sure all is fine from now on. He carries on the day-dream.

Tall, she must be tall. He cannot abide midgets and Jane Foster with her quiet dignity does not please his eyes. As for the Widow, though she dared to challenge him, he expects less stealth and more ... innocence? More he spends time imagining his future Queen, less she sounds findable. Unrealistic expectations would say Odin and Thor would laugh. Finally, she must obey him like one must obey the AllFather because… and he awakes coming to realize that if he is to reign, one day, over Vanaheimr he has to come to terms with the acceptance of this perfect bride being an heretic.

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The troll does not come back. The mouldy loaves of bread left in each cell look more and more appetizing while this time, calls for more water remain unanswered.

Little One has obtained an ungainly plait of weeds which must have a role to play with the sorcery of the Spider Horse. Still with some shorter unused stems, he carries on braiding. Twisting some smaller rope. And pushes the result in Loki's hand.

- 'You may find this handy to find your way in the Forest. Snap it and I shall hear you calling. Wherever I may be. I shall make sure you never stray on the right path.'

- More Vanir magic? He! Weeds do not feed a man! Groans Volstagg.

- Your wife will not have to enlarge your breeches after your return. She will be quite content. Sneers Fandral.

- You don't expect him to fight in his undies? Snickers Sif.

- I would cherish this vision. Concludes Hogun

- We must get out of this cell! By Asgard, we cannot stay prisoners. We are princes of the Realm Eternal. Our blood is boiling of this injury to our honour!

- I hear you, Thor. Still getting out without Mjolnir may end up by us returning to this elegant abode.

Thor would like his hammer back. Very much, thank you. But they fell into a trap soon after their arrival in Svartalfheimr and Malekith's pell which is a miserable copy, a lighter version of Odin's spell when he was exiled on Midgard is working.

- I cannot make Mjolnir hear me. It dropped from my hands and is still where it fell. Nobody can lift it. And the counter-spell is captured in a riddle. You have heard it. Malekith is gleeful of his mischief!

- Where is it?

- It fell near the Stables, where Malekith's horses are allowed to get a sprint and exercise when the field is not occupied by the training of his soldiers.

Loki knows the answer to the riddle. He may be disallowed to practice his sorcery; his mind stays as powerful and Odin has not unplugged it. Knowing the answer is not enough; Thor and his Asgardian companions are set to die tomorrow. Which is why the Troll has not turned up. Why waste good food on people who will be dead soon …?

- 'What if we ask to be witness to Malekith's greatest achievement? As Vanirs, we could vouch to our king Njord that it is true Malekith captured the Thunderer and put him to death!'

Aside the fact Thor is reluctant to provide the principal attraction to the distraction of jail-languishing Vanirs, he fails to see how the promise of Vanirs applauding to his glory will mollify Malekith.

- 'Even if you know how to give me back Mjolnir… Loki, do you remember when ...'

Thor stops. Before reaching a potential breaking point of the very slow process of re-bridging some faith, some trust with his brother. Tonight, they must build and not destroy. The process is more fraught in danger than constructing the Bifrost.

-' I know how to give you back the hammer.'

- 'Why would he let you near my Mjolnir…'

Because he will. Little One has a straight answer. After explaining why and how, they all agree to the common plan: Loki and the youth are to distract Malekith by promising him a demonstration of the magical weaving of the Spider Horse. Something will happen and Little One smiles while his right lower canine gently shows and rubs against his upper lip. Like a little fox. The Vanir has some mischief in mind and the Dark Elves are in for a nasty surprise.

Thor and the Asgardians will be far enough as to give the Accursed a false impression of security. Once handed Mjolnir, Thor and his companions will cause mayhem and hopefully win the day.

- 'We shall fight together, brother. We have never lost a battle when you and I, when we were together.'

- 'I seem to remember a time in Jotunheimr... If Allfather had not turned up in time…'

Thor looks at Loki. But sees no evil in his brother's eyes. His answer seems to have been sincere. Yet with Loki where does truth end and where do lies begin ? where does poison becomes a vitalizing cordial?

- 'Unlike my brother, I am a lot less gullible as to you plan to distract Malekith. What are you planning to do?'

- 'One and maybe two things: I shall jump and possibly play drummer boy. One thing is sure: if I have my way… Malekith will regret the day he was conceived. Nobody may but true Vanirs ride the SpiderHorses. Nobody can use the Dark Energy, our AllMother's own blood for his own selfish gain! Trust me: he will not forget it. He will rue this day!'

- 'And if you fail.'

- 'Grandfather will have to look for another heir. But it will be fine and… and I shall marry my betrothed. We shall put our steps on the same Earth, finding common ground.'

The bride will weave the winds while the groom will walk the sky . They willl soar to the Highest Heaven. Clouds will give fresh shadow from the soaring heat of Father Sun. Like kites flying in the wind. Then all will stand still, the wind will hush as the groom will hold hands with what is his own..

They will dance in the waves and the bride will refresh her life companion's harassed brow like a soothing rain. The newly married pair will warm each other up like Fire. There will never be enough wood to match the fire of the fusion of their souls as she will sleep under the roof on his tent. There, the seed of tomorrows will be allowed to grow and they will only drink forever from one and one cup only fresh foaming Vanir Ale.

A real Vanir wedding. He remembers reading about the ceremony. Plenty of fertility rites. To be married through the Nine Realms of the Four Elements is a serious proof of attachment. Unlike the free-will unions, this cannot be dissolved. But by Death.

- 'Death is AllFather is Chaos. Order is AllMother is Life. Blessed be the Divine Twins. What has been read will be written again. I shall marry my betrothed. If we survive till the day after tomorrow. Trust me, Loki for I trust you. Tomorrow will see wondrous things.'

Loki is impressed secretly by Little One's faith. But after a childhood spent in Asgard on adoring a father who is a God, wrecked by the sudden realization said God was a father with feet of clay prone to kidnap innocent babies, he is done with Gods and Fathers. The Hulk has shown him the real secret: Asgardians may be immortal Gods; they are not immune to pain. To be called a puny God by such a dull creature... He can… does not, does believe anymore in any Gods. Vanirs do not believe in the divinity of Asgard; none the less they have Gods. Loki… Loki has no home, no Gods, nothing…

- 'Let's try and sleep Loki. Volstagg seems to snore less tonight. Fasting must be doing some good.'

Little One wraps himself inside a blanket and soon falls asleep likethe child he is still. Thor does not sleep. Not yet. Both princes may be living their last night; both are readying soul and body to a day to come which may end up in abject disaster or utter glory.

Thor wants this day to show to the Nine Realms Loki of Asgard is back. Loki wants to preserve the frail peace of mind he has been able to reconstruct. Possibly in Vanaheimr. Tomorrow, he must escape again. .. He is more tired than he thought he could be . How long has it been since he was able to sleep, to really sleep at peace within Yggdrasil's folds? Tired... So tired...

Dear oaf... you are in for quite a surprise... Mother... Dreams. Fleeting flashes.

A black stallion galloping along side a mare. a black falcon flying by his mate, two salmons dancing along a glistening river and two foxes biting gently each other, tasting each other blood... a little boy whose face he knows but cannot recognize. And the dear shadow of his...

And it is tomorrow.

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Note to the reader

A very long double chapter. I could not stop as all the main characters are enclosed in a small tight stage. I wanted to have them interact, to voice their misgivings.

Next chapter coming soon.