Author's notes:

Time skip ahead! (It is clearly stated in the chapter itself, but I'm just saying that again because I am me).

In the bottom author's notes you will find information about this chapter and the next ones. You may want to read those before you read the chapter itself (there are no spoilers there).

This chapter may not have been sufficiently proofread, I am sorry if the mistake count is higher than the usual.

mybonded, thank you for the review, I appreciate your commentary very much!
Well, Loki had a reason to be upset or perhaps more accurately – sad. He didn't expect it – so it was a much bigger blow. I sure hope to finish them, I would be very disappointed if I would fail to do so. Thank you for the support, I hope the drawing didn't look too bad :'D

Chapter thirty-seven

Coronation

Hundreds of years had passed. Many a thing had changed in the Nine of Yggdrasill and many more remained the same. Most changes occurred in the realm that turned the quickest of all others, only Midgard was swift in bringing the new and unseen – in accord with the short and fast lives of its inhabitants. Beings died and were born, worldwide wars were waged – but none large enough to overtake a neighboring planet, taking just one at a time. Minds matured, though some – less than it could have been expected. A great deal of things fell and arose, though some were destined to remain the same – or so it may have seemed...

One of those things, a thing unwilling to embrace change and battling to gain the name of a constant, was the relationship between the second-born Prince of Asgard and the half-blood Princess of Vanaheim. Their union, created so long ago, remained as it was in its very first days. Even the princely duties belonging to the Heir of Realm Eternal failed to truly interfere and the mystical bond that bound the two Gods together – had only grown stronger. Although there may have been things that they would have liked to change – they did not grieve what they did not have. Sorrow could not be a guest where reality resembling fantasy (or perhaps it was fantasy that hid reality in a shawl of oblivion?) reigned. In the lovers' childish naïveté what they had was perfect and they couldn't imagine it being anything else.

Life in Asgard appeared to have remained the same. But a new dawn, which had been foretold, was drawing near – promising another golden age of prosperity... Although the changes that had happened in the highest branch of the World Tree were only marginal, it was not the same in Vanaheim. Whispers in the very closest of Vanaheim were heard, a rumor of a Queen's return. But this knowledge was limited even in the realm itself, such was not known by any other of the remaining eight. Peculiar things were occurring in that world, things that should not be happening, paths that had not been there before – were open. Even the consort of (the unelected, unrecognized, unofficial) Queen Sigyn knew little, but he hadn't interested himself much in her affairs, having been busy with his own. Those occurrences as well as the possible presence of a new Monarch – were all in the shadows, though not sinister those shadows were, it was not to stay hidden for long – the forever watchful all-seeing eyes would not be kept ignorant for long...

The God of Trickery stood on the stairs of the grand dais in the Great Hall of Gladsheim. It was crowded, the hall was brimming not just with court's people, nobility and other privileged individuals – everyone who could come was allowed entry to watch this historical event. Asgard was rejoicing, greeting a day long awaited. And despite the fact that the Allfather had tried to misguide some into thinking that this day could take a different path, everyone knew that there was only one course for it.

All eyes turned to the firstborn Prince – the true Heir of the Golden Throne. Loud ovations burst forth for the God of Thunder and he was reveling in it as was his right.

Loki could have hidden his emotions and disallowed them to play on his face so blatantly, however a mask was unnecessary when the attention of all was focused someplace else. Even Frigga, his own mother – probably one of the few pillars of support the God of Magic ever had, did not spare a glance his way. So it was of no importance what his visage looked like, he would be unnoticed anyway (not a very rare happening if the fact was worthy of mentioning).

It was not envy, greener than the envy-green garments that he wore, that was showing through his lax attempts at freezing his features into a façade of nonchalance. The emotions that ruled him differed from that by a huge ravine of difference. He was not jealous of Thor, for it was his brother's day and it was progressing as it was supposed to. Alas while he had no wish to trade places with his older sibling, thus did not mean that he was certain of this coronation.

It appeared that no one else shared his worries concerning the Strom God's ascension to the Throne, well, no one that was present. His lover (or wife as Asgard would have him say) was not there by his side, she was not standing a step from him (instead there stood Lady Sif and that was an unpleasant substitute to say the least). However it was so by his design – it had been a long time since they last saw each other.

Sigyn had known that the coronation was going to occur soon, though he had not bothered to tell her how soon that would be. He was aware that she too was unconvinced of the Thunder God's ability to rule Realm Eternal and he was also aware that if he would have told her of when it was to happen – she would have been there for him. Not just that, if he would have told her of his plot – he was quite certain that even if she wouldn't have agreed with it (though that was unlikely) she would have gone with him anyway. But he did not wish her to be involved in this, not because he feared for her safety – with how well he had planned this out, it was impossible for things to go down a different path than the one he had dug – it was simply because it was his concern and his royal duty (and that of a sibling's) and not hers.

His woman felt often the same as he did, sometimes even with greater and more volatile reactions than his. Having her worried over his troubles was not something he wanted. Therefore he had told her nothing and avoided conversing about the upcoming power-shift in his home. He had even made sure to shut out their bond slightly – so that she would not sense his turbulent emotions.

Gungnir was brought down onto the ground, the hall fell silent. Thor knelt down and removed his feathered helmet. The ascension began.

The God of Lies and Deceit was trying to temper himself, though his fists and jaw remained forcefully clenched. He yet hoped for the Odinfather to change his mind and delay the coronation for the sake of being truly convinced of his firstborn's readiness for this unspeakable responsibility.

Alas, no such thing came. And as the second-born had expected – he was right to take the matters into his own hands. It was not to say that he doubted his brother, but he had no evidence to be certain that this was the right time for such a great step. Therefore it was only sensible that if the God of Wisdom would not test the Golden Prince one last time – then the God of Magic would have to do so himself...

The procession was dragging on and the oaths seemed to last too long to be fit into a century. Worry and anxiety began treacherously gnawing at the Sorcerer's gut. Had something gone awry? But that was not possible... was it? He knew, he was certain, that there was no trace leading back to him – but fear was beginning to frost into fractal-like patterns within his mind, growing larger and more defined with every second. Where were they?

Everything broke with just two words, and only one person was relieved to hear the words from the Aesir King's mouth.

"Frost Giants"

The scene in the Weapon's Vault was branded onto his mind as the Trickster lurked behind pillars of gold in the open-spaced hall, which provided the vista of an equally golden sunset. Truly a Golden day, he thought to himself idly, it was not like the skies would be frosted over or tainted by his machinations – it would be foolish to presume such. His actions were the equivalent of throwing a pebble into a lake – ripples were created, but made no sign of universal magnitude.

He heard how the tables were upturned and how plates and trays fell to the ground with unforgivably loud metallic clangs. The exchange in Odin's treasury replayed before his eyes over and over again – he was trying to reevaluate it and find what he was looking for. Alas the search was not successful (and he wasn't quite sure what he was looking for anyway); he wanted to build the case for the gain of his sibling – but no evidence for it or against it was vividly apparent. He needed to be certain, he needed to find what he was looking for.

The God extracted from his conscious the remembrance how his eyes had flickered from father to brother. His mind had tried and was still trying to assess the situation without being biased as much as was possible. There was nothing yet that would discredit the had-to-be King. What the older male had expressed were valid concerns, though the words the still-Ruler of Asgardians had said were just as true. The God of Thunder was too active in his tactics, the God of Wisdom – perhaps a bit too passive. A mediator was required to find the golden-middle, and were the situation any different (if the Lie God would not be directly involved) – he would have offered a better solution that would have taken the best of both sides and gotten rid of the worst. Though whether his council would have been taken into account was not certain (it was always a gamble for the Trickster God on whether he would be heard of ignored).

The firstborn Heir was too rash, but that was nothing new and did not lay solid proof against him. It was also to be expected – the man's day of ultimate glory was ruined – rage (of varying levels of course) would have been the response of nearly any person. It was Thor, Thor for Norns' sake, he had a greater amplitude of emotions than most – that was simply his temper and Loki had known that.

He was uncertain and he had to be certain, he refused to allow his efforts to be for naught. He needed more information. He needed to try harder. This test was not to occur later, it was going to happen now.

Turning on his heel he slowly moved around the pillar. His steps were feather-light but he consciously allowed them to be heard so that his presence could be acknowledged. And as he was familiar with the steps of his brother – it was only natural to be the other way around as well (unless the Magician wanted to remain undetected).

A warning was heard but ignored (there was no true threat at being in the Storm God's presence now, well, not for him at least). And the deceitful one knew that some warnings were worth ignoring.

The silver-tongued male expected the thunderous one to be adamant on being left alone and that he would have to use words, with which he was so gifted, to convince Thor otherwise. However that did not happen, indirectly the Thunder God was asking for reassurance and it was no difficulty to give that to him. There was no lie in his words, he believed that that day of triumph was going to happen and that the ascension to Throne will occur, but how soon was that day to come he did not yet know.

He felt other presences bare moments before they had stepped foot into the chamber; he had been too focused into his devastated and furious brother to have noticed them earlier. Before the warrior band could distract his sibling – that way ruining what he was so bent on achieving, he leaned closer and started talking to the elder God with hushed words.

He goaded him with honest agreements to what the firstborn Prince had expressed in the vault. And now came the time to utter the final sentence, to put out the bait (which he hoped, fervently hoped, would not be taken). Alas what occurred was what the God of Deceit had feared, the bait was taken with unspeakable greediness, the idea he had planted in the other's head took root without a second's thought. He tried to calm himself – not all was lost yet, he had to try and mend this – and maybe, maybe, the God of Thunder would not fail the test.

Swift opposition sprung from his throat, with all the honest wish to be heard. But it just didn't happen, his nay-saying was ignored and fell upon deaf ears. It was already decided – and that was all the evidence he needed to be certain that the final test his dear, foolish brother did not pass. The God of Trickery shielded his face with the palm of his hand.

He did not want to believe this, he did not want to believe that the trial was failed and that they all might die consequentially. For that was what awaited them in Jotunheim – possible death; and it didn't matter that their friends did not see eye to eye with Thor yet, it was only a matter of minutes until they would be convinced. The man could be convincing if he wanted to be, especially if the people he tried to persuade admired him (and that meant nearly the entirety of Realm Eternal). With the God of Lies having been left ignored by the older Prince, after the Warriors Three and Sif would take up the ludicrous mission – whatever he'd say would be ignored by them as well.

Sure, entering that despicable world was not a certain way to fall into one's tomb – however it would be the kind of visitation that had (almost) certain doom written all over it. He was sure that no lurking would be involved, which was the only thing (because magic was a given) that had allowed the lurker to realize that faultless scheme of entering the Cold World before. It was going to be a bold barge-in on the Jotunn King's door and a fated-to-fail attempt at reckoning. It was pure suicide – and since he could not stop this insane idea from happening – he was definitely coming with them (and hopefully his involvement would give them more of a chance of survival).

He did not want to remove his hand from his physiognomy, his thoughts didn't know whether to be sorrowfully disappointed or accusing.

Oh Thor, why did you have to fail?...

A/N

Well, we're finally done with the pre-movie arc and now we've entered the realm of the movie-verse! I will be writing about both of the Thor movies and the Avengers, however I will not be doing so scene by scene. I am sure that most of the readers have seen the films and so there is no actual need to put everything about them to the written word, additionally such meticulous fanfictions do exist in the fandom (I am pretty sure there are many more than the ones I've encountered), so that has already been done and it's not a loss since you can read such elsewhere.

I will not be putting down any of the dialogue from the movies into this story, only the general idea of what had been said will be written. That is so because I do not have an English version of the first Thor movie (and I think that is the case with the other two as well), it is not even Lithuanian over-dubbing with the original language still audible in the background – it is a full Russian dub. It would simply take too much time for me to download the English versions and writing down the actual dialogues is too much time consuming – since it can be written in a way that would still be clear (at least to the ones who had seen the films) without being strictly specific.

Some movies may be touched much more than the others (it is possible that the Avengers will be touched the least; and I will not be waiting for the third Thor or the second Avengers movie – so they are not likely to be included in any way in this story). Most of the scenes will be canon (since this fic is heavy on the introspective – the characters' thoughts and motivations behind one action or another – may not be what the authors of the films had intended), but there will also be tidbits that are not part of the movies. If there is any serious canon divergence – the readers will be warned.

For these chapters the pacing of the story is much quicker, that is because these scenes are not the main focus of the story-line; fear not though – the excessively detailed ones will be back once the movie arc will be over with.

This chapter and the ones that I have pre-written were intended to incorporate more of the canon scenes and be lengthier albeit fewer, however seeing as I am very busy – in order to be able to update sooner I had chosen to shorten them which consequentially increases their number.

Also if there is anything unclear in this chapter or the upcoming ones – do ask me, I encourage that, and I will answer your questions and clear up any hazy parts.

I think that that's it, so buckle up and let's head further into the movie-verse! (I've been reading too much Alien/Predator/Prometheus fiction lately, lol).