~ Chapter 20 ~
The pair looked around until their heads were spinning. Thor stepped away from Loki and stared wide eyed at the glorious beauty shown to him. It was no longer a ghost town but the sound of running water blessed his ears.
"Is this really happening?" he asked. "Loki?" when he got no answer he looked over his shoulder and saw the Jotun standing in front of what looked like a giant mirror. "Loki?" he called again.
The Jotun stared into the mirror, slowly raising his hand until his fingertips touched the surface.
Suddenly, Loki's hand went through the mirror like it was water and the force pulled at him.
"Loki!" screamed Thor, running to his mate's aid. Most of Loki had already disappeared through the mirror when Thor latched onto his arm, but the pull was too strong and he ended up being pulled inside the mirror as well.
He didn't let go. No matter what he forced himself to never let go of Loki's arm.
It probably didn't take more than a few seconds before they were cast out from whatever that had caught them.
As soon as they were free Loki leaned forward, gasping for a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding.
"Are you all right?" Thor asked between his own panting. His heart racing in his chest.
Loki nodded his head as that was the only thing he could do without using his voice that wouldn't work at the moment. When Thor wrapped his arms around Loki, he leaned into the embrace, needing the reassurance of his other half.
"We have waited for you."
They looked up at the sound of the echoing voice and saw only a statue. All around the room was nothing but statues of Jotuns in rich garments and other decoration. In the middle of the floor was a mirror equal to the one that had kidnapped them. The other thing that distressed Loki was that there were no doors or windows in this room. It was a sealed room.
Whatever happened to them here, they wouldn't be able to escape.
It all looked so familiar to Loki that he couldn't place where he had seen something similar to this room. The realization hit him hard.
These were graves. The statues were the ancient Frost Giants that had once lived in Jotunheim long ago. More than that; this was a royal grave chamber.
"Great Heaven." gasped Loki.
"Don't be afraid." the voice said once more.
"Who's there?" Thor's head snapped to full attention, his voice demanding. "Show yourself!"
"We are all here." said a new voice. "We always have been. Through time and generations."
Loki placed his hand on Thor's arm as he stared up at the statue. "You're-?" he stuttered.
"Yes." another voice said. "We are the foundation of Jotunheim. In life we ruled magnificently and in death we bring life. Although our time came long ago, it doesn't mean our souls left our beloved home."
"Now, as we are a part of the ice who gave us life, we guard and watch over it."
Thor and Loki exchanged a look before returning their attention back to the statues.
"What's happening to Jotunheim?" Thor asked with forced courage to hide his nerves. There were few things he didn't like, and as he grew older, the list grew shorter, but talking statues now made its way on that list.
"Jotunheim is a world of ice and magic. To repair Jotunheim is a small feat for us. We are as old as the realm itself. We are aware of every living being in Jotunheim."
"Why now?" Loki called out. "Why now after all this time? When we came here Jotunheim had remained in ruins ever since the Heklas attacked us. Why now?"
"Because a soul of royal magic is needed to awaken us. While our magic is great, we need the presence of the royal line."
"Until recently, we were asleep, and while your entering Jotunheim made us aware of your presence, it was not enough to awaken us fully."
"It was your coming into adulthood that truly awakened your own soul, and us at the same time."
"My coming in-?" Loki felt his face flush with the realization of what they were talking about. He couldn't face Thor at the moment. Thor felt his own face heat up at the thought of being observed in bed. "If I leave, what will happen."
"Unless another of royal magic can take your place, we will fall asleep again."
"Royal magic?" Loki repeated. "Like my father?"
"No. Your father does not hold the same magic as you. While he was born from the ice, you were blessed by magic. Few in our long history has ever been blessed in this way, in any realm. The only other alternative to keep us from sleep is the presence of the Casket of Eternal Winters."
"Only the Casket of Eternal Winters can substitute for a Royal Sorcerer. For only an existence of equal value can replace the other."
"I'm equal to the Casket?" Loki said in a low voice. "I don't believe this." he felt Thor's hand on his back, making him look at his Asgardian lover. "This is too much."
"Believe or not is up to you. In the long line of Kings, few of us has seen a Royal Sorcerer during our life time. But few as they were, their magnificent souls couldn't be hidden from the world. All lived to the full extent of their lives. None regretted anything. All unique in their own way. You will see things others will only dream about. Experience things others wouldn't understand. No doubt you will live a life that will be remembered through legends."
Thor and Loki looked up at the statue in front of them. It didn't only look bigger and more imposing than the Frost Giants of today, but it also looked almost alive. They could see this Jotun King sitting on the throne of Jotunheim and rule by example. Even Thor, who was of Asgard birth, couldn't deny that he was in the presence of a great King.
"Both of you will."
Deeper into the ice, far below the city of Jotunheim, where other creatures hadn't stepped since it became the realm of the Heklas, things were moving quickly.
While hundreds of Black Albors were working on the stairs that would take the monsters to the surface there were also unceasing activity in the heart of the nest.
A inhuman roar tore through the moving mass of black. Shrieks responded as the smaller children crawled under their parents and across the massive open area.
In a space that could easily rival ancient Jotunheim, there were nothing but black, limbs, and the glistering yellow flashes of eyes. Far more than could be counted.
It was not just a nest of monsters.
It was a nest of destruction.
TBC