Nothing was talked about, no hint of Loki's breakdown anyway. But Loki was honestly wondering if that would have been preferable as a month dawned and Loki had almost all the children in Asgard under his care. Even with the Thor and his friends popping by in the afternoon Loki didn't have enough eyes to look after all of them.

It got to the point where he considered turning people away, maybe setting himself a limit or a schedule, or even just destroying Ikol altogether and hoping no one would question her untimely death. It would be so easy, and Loki was sure he could figure out another way to let Thor see his boys. Except, it wasn't just the twins now. About a week ago Thor had turned up and more than the twins called Thor father as they ran to see him. More children Thor wasn't allowed to see it seemed.

This was the best situation for all of them. Loki just wished it wasn't him orchestrating it.

"I was thinking," Thor said, greeting Loki with a hug that threatened to squeeze the breath from his chest. "Maybe tomorrow we could go down to the river. I want to teach Ullr how to swim, and the twins like playing in the shallow water too."

Fifty children, Loki and a river. He could feel his panic ramp up. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"I could just take them. I'll bring them back before you leave," Thor tried, no doubt seeing the rise in Loki's little group. "You know, if you added some structure to them they might not be so hard to look after."

"What do you mean?" Loki asked.

Thor shrugged, "Well, you could always section a few off, Volstagg and Sif have their afternoons free for the next few weeks. Maybe if you asked them they could help you with stories or maybe teaching them something. Alaric and a few of his friends have said they wanted to learn some beginners sparring."

"And I suppose you'll make sure you get the group with the twins," Loki said.

Thor gave him a guileless smile. He'd certainly more than just had a passing thought about this. It was to be expected however, since it wasn't like Thor had a chance to be an actual father to these children before now. He'd probably missed their first words and steps. He'd probably missed teaching them everything up to now, and Thor didn't look like he wanted to miss anything more. He already had a collection of books amassed, ones he either read to them, had them read to him or had nothing inside so the children could practice their writing.

However, Loki had to admit Thor did have a point, so, swallowing his pride, Loki asked very nicely mind, if Sif and Volstagg would mind helping Loki section the children off into easier, more manageable groups. They agreed, Sif extremely pleased with the amount of torture that simple request had cost Loki.

Therefore, the next day, Thor took his own children, as well as ten others to the river for a swimming lesson. Volstagg entertained his young ones with stories, Sif with training, and seemed to acquire more girls the longer she swished her hair around as she parried. Loki. well, he found he had very little to teach in the ways of fighting or story telling. But, what he could do was show them little magic tricks.

They weren't as prejudiced as their elders, and sat in awe as Loki conjured up balls of light in different shapes. A few of them even tried to do it themselves, which lead to Loki discovering just who among the young population of Asgard had been gifted with magic.

He stole Magni and Modi at one point, telling Thor to behave himself when he came to sit with Loki's group. With his little magic users, he started them on small things he as a child was able to do, noting that his belief these twins would grow to be quite powerful were proven true.

For two months he did this, he played nice and he taught beginners magic. He smiled at the parents when he dropped their children off, he didn't antagonize Thor's friends even if the urge was there to do just that. He did everything right, and ended up staring outside of his window one day.

No children. No Fenrir. Not even Sigyn since she'd decided to abandon her plan of getting Loki's help in favour of cosying up to Nanna. Nanna, of course, being deathly afraid of Loki, meant that Sigyn also had to pretend to feel the same. He understood the abandonment when it came to him in a letter. He didn't like it because it meant he had to go out as Ikol now if he wanted to walk the streets with some sort of anonymity but he understood.

Thor found him by the window as night fell, angry, as Loki knew he would be, that the boys weren't there to see him today. No doubt there were quite a few upset children in Asgard right now, as well as vengeful mothers. "Where were you?"

"Here," Loki answered easily. "And don't start playing the martyr here Thor, I've been doing this every day for a month, I deserve a day off."

"So you tell me," Thor snapped, "You let me know so I'm not standing there looking like an idiot."

"Fine," Loki agreed, keeping his eyes on the horizon.

He heard Thor's frustrated sigh, and the stomp of boots that indicated he was off for a bath. From the smell, once he'd realised Loki wasn't coming, he'd started back onto the training field, no doubt pulverising anyone that so much as looked his way.

Loki thought he would get a good half hour of peace, yet those boots returned before the water even started running. "What's wrong with you?" The aggrieved tone was still in place. A bit softer, but Thor wasn't going to let his irritation at not seeing his children die down so soon.

"Nothing," Loki answered easily. "Go have your bath."

Another sigh then a chair was being pulled up alongside his own. "Loki, what's wrong."

He didn't answer. Namely because he didn't want to. There wasn't anything actually wrong either, per se. Just, a realisation, and one he wasn't too pleased with.

"Are we actually going to have to fight every time I want to get some answers out of you?" Thor asked. "Something is bother you. Maybe if you talked about it, you might feel better."

"Nothing is physically bothering me Thor except you right now. Please, just take your bath, I promise I'll bring the children tomorrow." Except even that might be a lie with the way Loki was feeling right now. It had been so long since he'd spent time with Frigga. Maybe he would do that instead.

Thor let his head fall into his hands, huffing once before emerging to say, "I thought we were friends again."

"We are." Since he certainly had no one else in Asgard, save Frigga, who he could bestow such a title to. Not since Sigyn left him anyway. Besides, it wasn't too difficult to find some affection for Thor, it never had been. The problem with Thor was that he was far too easy to love but getting that affection in return was as fleeting as a storm.

"Is it something dangerous?" Thor tried.

"No." Well, not dangerous in the sense that Thor might think. "If you must know I'm a bit homesick."

Thor paused in thought for a while before saying carefully, "If you like, maybe we could remove Fenrir from your home for a while."

"Not that home."

"Jotunheim?" Thor asked incredulously. "Really? After what they did to you? If anything you should be missing Midgard."

"Why? Because you haven't been taught to hate Midgard? You seem to forget that as fleeting as my time there was Jotunheim was my home, and not everyone you met there was the monster waiting to devour you." Stories like that still stalked Loki in the streets. They would never stop. It made Loki wonder how Jarnsaxa lived with it. Or whether she even knew of her Jotun heritage. Gerd at least had it easy. Her and Freya were living with the elves on Alfheim. As far as Loki had been told Alfheim was now one of the biggest trading posts for Jotunheim goods. They must see a lot of Loki's people, much more than the scared Asgardians hiding behind their harsh words and golden walls. Alfheim was seeing first hand that not all Jotnar are as evil as they say. That, like them, they were people, with good and bad never outweighing the other. Unlike Thor who one moment seemed to see that and the next completely forget he'd ever thought there was more to Jotunheim than the stories people told him.

"I didn't mean it like that," Thor said, "I only meant that they haven't exactly been in touch with you have they? And you said yourself that you were a ploy in Skrymir's plot to undermine Asgard. I would think someone as smart as you would be able to turn their back on that."

"I have." It wasn't the people per se that he was even missing. "It doesn't matter. Look, your bath is going to be running over if you're not careful."

Thor ran like he should, the swearing from the other room indicating that some water had indeed overflown. But he came back once he was done, taking his seat once more as if that would prove to Loki that he was to be trusted.

Well, it kind of worked, if only so Loki could work his problem out loud. "I'm bored Thor."

"Bored?" Thor repeated, "You have fifty kids to look after how are you bored?"

"It's not that kind of boredom." It sounded stupid even saying out loud but that had always been his problem deep down. The only time he hadn't felt bored had been in Jotunheim. But that might have been because he'd been trying not to die almost constantly. "I just, I have nothing to do with myself. I'm capable of so much and yet here I am, stuck inside of Asgard with nothing to do with my life but trick a bunch of mothers into letting me steal their children for the day. I can't-" He can't leave. He can't go to Jotunheim like he wanted and destroy Skrymir, to stop him from putting foolish thoughts into Midgardians heads and expecting the Norns to play it out. He couldn't find every copy the Midgardians had of Loki's supposed fate and destroyed it, or find Jormungandr and release him from his prison. He couldn't even use his magic to hide himself anymore because as soon as he did Heimdall had been instructed to inform the Allfather and all the Einherjar who would kill Loki on sight. As were the terms of the agreement with Jotunheim.

"Most people would be thankful for the nothingness you have in your days. You want for nothing, you have no duties, you can do whatever you like within reason. Loki if you're bored do something about it."

"I can't. All I can do is sit here and grow weeds. You know not once has anyone thought to ask me about my stay in Jotunheim. I was a prince, just like you. I could have advice or, I don't know, an opinion that might be beneficial for Asgard. I could be useful, and you just shut me up here." He knew why of course. If Loki were in Odin's position he wouldn't have Thor looking at the proceedings of Asgard. Even if Thor knew how it actually all worked, Loki would still try and keep him away from it all. But still, it didn't change the fact that Loki could be useful, even if they just gave him something to do with his day. "I can't even go to training despite the fact that I'm handy with a weapon and, once upon a time, I was actually training to be one of them."

"In all fairness I was the one who said you weren't allowed on the training ring. The people there, they have weapons and I doubt you could fend off all the axes that fly your way." A fair statement, but didn't change the fact that Loki was growing rusty sitting here doing nothing.

"I'm bored," Loki sighed. He lolled his head on the back of the chair until it faced Thor, "Want to have sex?"

The squeak of "What?" Thor let out didn't even bring a smile to Loki's face.

"Sex? Do you want to?"

Another squeak let itself out of Thor's mouth, the man struggling for a moment to remember what words were. "Do you want to?" He countered.

Loki shrugged, "I've said it before that you're not the worst to look at, and it's not like we've needed to be in love. Besides," he said, more to himself than Thor, "Maybe if I actually pop out a spawn your father might trust me enough to let me loose in other realms. Or at least with a chaperone."

Thor gaped for a moment, "So you want children now?"

Loki felt his eye twitch, "No." Even if he had two. "But it's expected. Don't tell me you're backing out of your husbandly duties Thor?"

"I'm- you don't even want this. I'm not having this conversation with you." And with that Thor finally went to take his bath. Loki was starting to think he should have led with that.

Thor was the one avoiding Loki the next few days. He still came to see the boys, Loki making good on his promise by making up some excuse the mother's bought and bringing them to their usual haunts. But apart from that Thor tried his hardest not to be left alone with Loki. He stayed out late, later than Loki who still went to go see Fenrir after his time with the Asgardians. He didn't come to supper, even when Loki himself started coming to the ones with Frigga and Odin. When morning came he was the first up, if he ever came home at all, and Loki couldn't help but be impressed with the swiftness of Thor's excuses as he purposefully arranged a situation where the two of them were left alone.

Still, despite the challenge even that posed Loki found himself bored. Listless and yearning for action he knew he needed to take but was trapped by promises made on his own behalf.

He groaned as the door closed softly behind him. Kicking off his boots he fell face first into the sheets, wondering if he had the strength to even push himself the rest of the way on.

He didn't.

Yet somehow, when he woke, his feet had made it onto the sheets. He suspected magic, or maybe his body had finally grown sick of the awkward angle and decided to correct it. Either way, his feet were nice and cosy when the next rock found its way onto his chest.

It wasn't anything big, a pebble really, and while it didn't hurt either it had been enough, along with the seven others littered around Loki's body, to wake him from his well deserved slumber.

The next one hit him in the face, Loki hissing revenge as he changed shape and slithered over to the window. If this was Thor's way of trying to sneak in after he forgot how to use the doors again Loki was seriously going to bite him this time. Or maybe just curse him so the next time he decided to go drinking he wouldn't be able to.

Yet it wasn't Thor outside the window.

"Helblindi?" Loki asked, changing shape to lean over and see that yes, his eyes actually weren't deceiving him. There, below, looking small under the vast walls of Asgard's palace, was Loki's giant of a brother. He grabbed the nearest thing to him just in case, the goblet hitting Helblindi firmly in the nose. "What are you doing here?"

Helblindi made some shushing motions, waving his hand like that would get Loki to leave the safety of his rooms. This was a man who had tried to kill Loki once upon a time. One who also hadn't exactly come to his aid when Skrymir cast him out.

Yet, according to Frigga, Helblindi had been the only one to ask after him.

It was with that, and Loki's stupid curiosity, that had him flying down, keeping his distance as he changed back and conjuring a knife for good measure. "What are you doing here?" Loki asked again.

Helblindi said nothing, just, before Loki could react, pulled him forward and crushed him to his chest. Loki thought this was the end, up until he heard Helblindi sigh and found himself being held at arms length. "You're well? The Asgardians aren't harming you?"

"No, they're not allowed to unless I break the rules. Helblindi what are you doing here?"

"I had to see you." And if this were coming from anyone that wasn't in Loki's family he would have maybe believed them. Except Helblindi did have the same blood as Loki therefore he knew concern for Loki's safety wasn't the only thing that had made Helblindi cross realms. "Are you sure you're well? What is wrong with your skin?"

"Oh," he changed to his real skin momentarily, before he remembered that Asgard was stupidly hot. "I can er, change my skin. My shape too," he waved his hand in remembrance of the bird he'd flown down as. "I may have kind of lied to father about the extent of my powers."

"I figured," Helblindi scoffed. "Probably wise of you too. Father was always looking for an excuse to go to war. If he knew you could sneak into Asgard like this he would have had you spying for him."

"You don't seem too surprised," Loki noted.

Helblindi shrugged, "I knew you were a demon. Whether you had come to kill or save us was really what I was concerned about."

Which was fair enough. But still didn't answer a lot of Loki's questions. "I'm guessing Skrymir doesn't know you're here."

A look of almost fear came over Helblindi, "No," he said slowly, "He doesn't. Things aren't good Loki."

"And you've come to me for help," Loki filled in.

"No," Helblindi said, "I've come to warn you. Skrymir, he has horrible plans, for all of us not just Asgard. I knew there was something wrong with him as soon as he said you had abandoned us for the Asgardians. We had won, why would you do that?"

"He said what!" So that was the line he'd fed them. Oh Loki could see it now, all of Jotunheim assembled, waiting for Loki to return triumphant with the casket and there Skrymir stood in his place. He'd spiel some lie about Loki working for Asgard the whole time, that Skrymir was the one to fetch the casket in the chaos Loki had created just to rid the nine realms of Jotunheim once and for all. "Let me guess, Byleistr and Farbauti accredited his claims."

"They didn't speak up if that's what you mean." Just as Loki thought.

"And you? Why are you here now? Everyone else has been plotting to get Skrymir back in Jotunheim since the beginning."

"You're my brother," Helblindi said like it was that simple.

"You tried to kill me," Loki pointed out.

"I-" Helblindi paused, after a moment he said, "I did. At the time I thought I was doing the right thing. But Loki, I'm sorry, and I know that's not going to change what I did but I am sorry."

The apology hadn't been one Loki was expecting. Namely because he had nothing to be sorry for. At the time, he thought he was doing what was right, and there was no apology for that needed, he was crown prince and Loki had been sowing dissent amongst the people. Yet, that didn't change the fact that Helblindi had said the words, that he meant them now, that he even offered them.

That he went on to say, "I was never meant to rule, I can see that now, and maybe that was why I never fit the role how our parents wanted me to. I'm grateful for what you did, believe it or not. I think I've always been more of a fighter than a politician, and a king needs to be both."

He had more to say, Loki knew it, but they were kind of in a hurry here so he cut Helblindi off with, "That's very kind, and I accept your apology. Now can we get back to Skrymir. You said he had plans."

"Yes," Helblindi said, getting back on track, "I think he means to bring about Ragnarok."

"And?" Loki prompted.

Helblindi blinked back at him, "And what? That's cause for concern enough."

"So that's all you know?" Here was Loki hoping there was something else.

"All I- you knew about his plans?" And now Loki looked like the traitor.

"Yes, I've known about them since he speared me through the middle, kidnapped me to Midgard and bound me to Asgard. The problem is I can't do anything about it." He took a calming breath, knowing if he let anger rule him he was going to do something stupid. "Listen, Skrymir has been orchestrating this for centuries, and while I don't know every plot he has in motion I do know that Ragnarok is coming."

"I heard him say to Byleistr that you were the key. Loki what is he having you do?"

"I don't know." Which was the problem. "He didn't exactly give me instructions. But then, he doesn't need to. I'm not part of this," Loki implored, "Not willingly. But I can't stop whatever he's planned because I don't know how." He took another breath, "I think you should go."

"The guards didn't see me," Helblindi said.

Loki shook his head, "The guards haven't been ordered to attack, but you've most definitely been seen. They have a watcher with the sight. He is no doubt judging when he should intervene, so I suggest you go, now, before your children miss you indefinitely."

Helblindi shuffled his feet, "About that." There was a pointed look that Loki followed and there little Hron was with his brother poking at the ivy growing up the side of the palace. How Loki had missed them he didn't know. "Guma was executed a few weeks ago. He was the one who stumbled on Skrymir's plans, he managed to tell me before they took him away. Skrymir's been waiting for an opportunity to get rid of me too, especially since Hron is still heir. There were guards on my door before I snuck away to the casket."

"Oh." So, it looked like Helblindi was here for three things rather than the two Loki had originally thought. "I-" But what did he say to that? He couldn't offer them asylum. He barely had asylum himself. He sighed, wondering just how much longer they had before Heimdall stepped in. Not much Loki would wager. Long enough to make this decision however. "I think it's time we talked to the Allfather."

"You think he can help?" Helblindi was right to doubt. Not even Loki knew how he was going to take all of this information.

Still, "If there's anyone that can help us stop Skrymir it's him. He's the most powerful man in the nine realms after all. Much more than Skrymir and his petty tricks."

"Or," came from the shadows, "You could not go to my father and tell me what you've been keeping from me Loki."

"Thor," Helblindi growled in greeting.

"Helblindi," Thor nodded, sidling up next to Loki. "We should take this where we won't be overheard. Are your children able to stay outside a while longer?"

"Your world is too warm. You take them inside they might faint," Helblindi said, eyeing Thor carefully as he called his children over. "Have you come to harm me Odinson?"

"Don't give me reason to and I won't," Thor promised, leading them, not inside, but around to Frigga's gardens and the woods beyond.

They walked all the way to the meadow Loki used to bring Sigyn and Nanna to, the children running off as soon as they saw the waterfall to freeze it in its path and play in the pools that didn't. They were big enough that the water didn't even appear deep to them, but Helblindi still insisted on a stance that would allow him to watch over them anyway.

"Speak thunderer and be quick about it. The longer we dally the quicker Skrymir figures out where I've gone," Helblindi urged.

"He surely won't follow you?" Loki said, realising that, yes, Skrymir probably would, and since he had the casket it would be all to easy to do so. Something told him that Helblindi hadn't brought his children in the hopes of starting a new life in Asgard. He was leaving them. By choice or by force. Clearing his throat and his mind of his new charges Loki got back on track, turning to Thor with his best convincing smile to start, "Look, I didn't want to keep this from you-"

"But you knew if my father found out you would be imprisoned. I know."

"You do?" This was the first Loki had heard of it.

Thor nodded a little shiftily, "I may know a little something about what you two were talking about."

"A little something? Be clear Thor."

He looked back the way we came, "It's hard to explain. I would need something from our room."

"Then why bring us all the way out here?" Heimdall was probably rallying the guards right now.

"Well, I couldn't take the chance that you would go to my father. Loki, if he finds out now he's going to do more harm than good. My father doesn't always act rationally when threatened."

Loki huffed, restraining himself from pulling his hair, "Well do your best to try and explain. We don't have much time."

Thor squinted for a moment before realisation dawned. Yet, instead of looking worried, he just waved his hand, "Heimdall has alerted no one. I made sure to stop him when he told me of the intruder. As for the explanation… you remember when we received our gifts?"

"Vaguely," It was all a blur of panic and desolation.

"Hogun gave me a book, one his sister gave to him after the Vanir rebellion. He said it would help me understand, and, Loki it's about us."

Loki remembered that book. It was the one Thor kept with him on his adventures, that lay on their bedside table or near the fire when Thor wanted to do some late night reading. It was the only book Loki had seen Thor give any intense attention to.

Suddenly Loki was wishing he'd taken a look at it himself.

"It's about those stories we heard on Midgard. And more. I thought, maybe Hogun had overheard us talking about them and though to write them down as a gift, but, when he said it was from his sister and once I read it I realised that… Loki, did you know you were in it?" Thor finished.

"No," he said shakily. "Not- I mean, I wasn't."

"You are," Thor insisted. "You're in them. They aren't good."

Helblindi cleared his throat, "What does this have to do with Skrymir?"

"A lot," Loki said. "But it still doesn't answer why you don't want us going to your father."

Thor huffed, "You have to read it. At first I thought they were just stories but now, after what you just said and, other things that have been happening, I'm not so sure. And if they are true, then it's best my father doesn't know about them. You saw what he did to Vanaheim. A whole realm. Imagine what he could do to you Loki."

He didn't want to, which was the whole point Thor was trying to make. So, with that done they moved onto more practical things, like Helblindi. Thor insisted off the bat that he would talk to his father at least about Helblindi staying in Asgard. So long as they stretched the truth just a little Thor was sure he could make it seem like it was for the good of the realm that they didn't let Skrymir take Helblindi back to Jotunheim.

Which meant, once Thor had brought them back to the palace and gave some vague instructions to make themselves comfortable, that they had to move onto the other pressing issue, the heat. It took Loki making charms for all three of his new charges for them to even step foot inside. Once they did, while height may have been an issue Loki had considered, it seemed that it wasn't necessary. The halls of Asgard were large enough to let Helblindi walk among them with relative ease. Even when they came to Loki's chambers his brother managed to find some comfort in the lavish space.

"Laufey used to tell me that Odin's bearer was a Jotun," Helblindi said, grabbing Hron, again, from trying to touch Loki's things, even if Loki had said it was fine.

"Really? Here was me thinking the animosity between Asgard and Jotunheim had been there since Audumla licked us into being." It had always been told to him that way, especially from the younger Asgardians Loki talked to. Like Thor's friends. If this was true then it's no wonder Odin didn't see too much shame in allowing his son to marry Loki.

"There are parts of Jotunheim in Asgard," Helblindi went on. "I saw it as I walked up. I see it now even here."

Helblindi seemed to be in awe, perhaps that Asgard even had Jotun influences in their realm. In any case the topic piqued Loki's curiosity enough that he asked for Helblindi to tell him more as they waited for Thor to return.

The halls and their height were one such indicator that Jotnar were once welcome here. In the tales Laufey used to tell, well, less tales more the angry grumblings of a defeated king, he used to curse Odin and lament the fact he would never walk those golden halls once more. Then there was the gold.

"We didn't have much use of it in Jotunheim," Helblindi remembered. "You saw what they gave you Loki."

Loki had. Riches were one of the things Jotun's were almost eager to part with. A practical land, they had no need for pretty things. They bartered in their livelihood, in their cattle and their stone, the only coins they had were made out of smooth glass, and often time people saw them littering the houses of the hillfolk than in the palm of traders.

When Jotunheim had been in accord with Asgard Odin had taken that unwanted treasure when it surfaced, he used it to line his walls that were stone at the base of it, and fill his coiffers. He made many great things out of it, then mocked Jotunheim once he had for being a people that were unsightly to look at.

After the gold, Helblindi moved onto Loki's clothes, pointing out the animals that, before now, Loki hadn't really looked at hemming his tunic and his boots. They were Jotun animals, and littered the bed, the wood, the walls and essence of Asgard. The people probably thought they were just pretty patterns, why would they think different after all when they had not seen such beasts for themselves. But Loki had, and he couldn't believe now how blind he'd been to the ignorance and audacity of Asgard.

Around the time Loki pulled out his capes for Hron to try on did Thor come back. Not alone either. While Odin was without his Einherjar that did not mean they weren't waiting nearby.

He was just as old and terrifying as last Loki had seen him, even more so now someone had slipped into his kingdom without his knowing. "I would have words with Helblindi alone," Odin said, leaving no room for argument.

Loki still lingered, if only long enough for Helblindi to put his youngest in Loki's arms and nudge him out. He lingered at the door, yet no sound came out. A good sign, he argued as he set his nephew down and stopped Hron from wandering off.

"It's best this happens now," Thor said, taking the youngest from Loki. "Without interruption we will be able to speak better. And I know you were worried about your brother."

"His mate is dead," Loki said, only now realising what that meant. "His father, his brother, let that happen."

"Byleistr was always a wanderer," Thor said to himself.

"A wanderer easily led." He turned to Hron, "You listen here, your family, they mean nothing to you. You have to look out for yourself, and only yourself okay."

Hron nodded, Thor making a displeased noise at the comment but saying nothing more. Loki supposed even Thor couldn't deny that it was good advice in Loki's family. Helblindi was here now, but he'd only come here for himself, not for Loki. Family meant nothing in the long run when it was full of traitors and schemers.

Hron made a full circle once Loki had let go of him, asking "Am I living here now?" when he was done.

"Probably," Loki agreed.

Hron nodded, asking a hundred more questions, mostly about why everything was yellow instead of white. He was sweet, and just how Loki remembered him. It made some part of him inexplicably mad when he thought this could have all went if Hron had been just that bit more older and knew what 'dead' meant. Truly meant. If he did, he would surely have been sitting as solemnly as Loki, plotting his revenge like a good son would do. But he was young, and it didn't matter. Hron had Loki, and he had Helblindi, both of whom were ready to spill some blood, Guma or not.

Half the night passed before the door inched open and Thor tried lifting his sleeping charge back into the room. Odin hadn't killed Helblindi, which was a good sign, but neither of them looked too pleased.

"Helblindi has been granted asylum in Asgard. I trust you will see no harm comes to him Thor," Odin said, waiting for the nod from his son before continuing. "I have already sent men out looking for any giants that have crossed into our realm, and will send a raven tonight so Skrymir knows of our agreement."

He looked old, lifting himself out of Thor's chair, so much so that Loki couldn't help wonder just how this man was as powerful as he was. Even when he walked, there was no sign of strength, just an aura and a reputation that warned Loki to be careful.

He patted Thor on the shoulder when he came near, "Your mother has had the servants set up your old chambers, make sure our guest is comfortable."

"I will father," Thor promised, seeing him out.

As soon as the door shut Loki and Thor turned their attention to Helblindi, the question of what had been discussed hanging in the air yet still Helblindi remained silent. The only thing he said the rest of that night was to ask if he could retire, taking his children easily in either hand as he followed Thor out and to another part of the palace.

The bed called to Loki while Thor was gone. It had been a long night, one filled with things that still he had no answer to. So he ignored it, taking up Helblindi's former chair instead after he'd hunted around for that book Thor had told him about.

He didn't find it, and only when Thor returned, pulling it out of one of his discarded boots did Loki finally get a good look at it. The cover was just how Loki remembered it, a Vanir print, one, Loki realised now, that had been in circulation before the rebellion. This was what they had used to further their madness, yet before Loki could open it and see for himself just what had ruled his life Thor stopped him with a heavy hand.

"Are you sure?" Thor asked. "Some things can't be forgotten once they've been read."

That age old warning of fate and its workings were heavy in Thor's tone. Yet Loki already had a good idea what was waiting for him. All this book would really be doing was showing him the taint Skrymir had sowed in Midgard.

He opened the cover, and managed to get through three whole stories, his childhood coming back with each word, before falling asleep.