Summary: The war between Jotunheim and Asgard draws to a close, but thanks to a horrible twist of Fate (or perhaps not), the nameless runt of Laufey-King is not discovered by Odin and so begins a remarkable journey of life that should not have been. Jotun!Loki AU. Set pre-/during-/after Thor/Avengers Assemble. MCU-verse only.
Warnings: ANGST! Loki-whump! Language, adult situations, violence, child abuse, dub-con, sexual assault (also of a minor), substance abuse, one abortion scene (sort of), slavery, sex trade (maybe), some mild original character/Loki M/M pairings.
Comments: This is not a slash fic. Sorry. It's Loki-centric, although I definitely show the rest of the Avengers and etc. Please review! Constructive criticism welcome.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avengers. Marvel owns it. I do not get paid for this piece of work. Sadly, but understandably. LOL.
Thanks to pressure from friends, I watched Catching Fire... I hadn't seen the first one, or read the books (just read excerpts and the end)... and I must say that the whole thing is soooo depressing. The only really "good" person (Peeta) is weak - and I know he's gonna end up broken for the rest of his life. So sad. My favourite characters were the other crazy fighters and their mentor.
'THIS IS A TRAIN RIDE YOU'LL NEVER BE LEAVING!" THE NEVER ENDING TRAIN RIDE!
Kyahaha. I laughed a lot. I think I needed to be able to see something dark and laugh at it since my mood lately has been dark. But the movie was well-done. Very artistic. Very lovely. Very thoughtful. Now to see Ender's Game... hmmm... (will have to download it or something)
After watching these films, I'll be set for writing a Loki AU Hunger Games/Ender's Game style. XDDD
Thanks so much to people following and faving and reading... and REVIEWING~! So encouraging since this week I felt a bit more tired than usual and depressed b/c I dunno if I'll finish Nanowrimo in time. Le sigh. Anyways... Thanks to everyone who's been so sweet to drop a line or two (or more~): Augustus Blade, Sheeshasan, The Psychotic Queen, Mishil, acidburned, Chiharu-angel, Roith and Lorette, cecld16, Winter Cicada, Double Gemini, ClaMiAl, Naerysa, DragonsFlame117, InfinitelyBoredForTheMoment, IvySnowe, The Soul Soldier and InsolentKatt~!
I'll be working on a side-story for those who have reviewed Chapter 48 and onward. xD "A Day With Elska" - tiny!Loki flangst.
Be sure to...
A) CHECK OUT FANART ON MY PROFILE PAGE. SCROLL DOWN TO THE BOTTOM! THERE BE THE PRETTIES! Comment on the pics too as well! A new pic by our Double Gemini/Tiamatsan - a coloured pic of the Ulfrbarn with Wolf~ Very cool.
B) Add the side-story story to your fav and follow list. Some of you who don't review, go there to read what you have missed for the side story stuff. (May I call it goodness?)
Well, we have a fight scene up ahead! VIOLENCE~!
Distortions In Time
[Bitter Desolation, Incandescent Harmony]
Chapter 51
Turning Tables, Standing Firm
The Ice Field of Korovasi was laid, tales tell, by the ancient Jotunn King of the same name, Laufey-King's own Great-Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather, a lover of sport and, above all, justice, had instituted with rigorous standards the ritual of Holmganga. Not invented it, no, but he refined the concept that it may better serve as a form of resolution between conflicting Jotunn. At that time, Gastropnir was only a small village and had no real significance within Jotunheim – until Korovasi arbitrarily chose the central city as the head of the Jotunn's judicial administration. Thus began Gastropnir's gloried past as a beauraucratic city – and now it was exalted even more as Laufey-King's favoured seat within the Realm.
The Ice Field, a wide stretch of property to the east of the Palace yet still within the city's walls, was flat, hard and, with its thick ice covering the black soil perpetually a dull grey-white. Round about it, various stumps of ice were scattered for Elders or important dignitaries while the rest of the audience were forced to stand or sit on the ground.
On this particular morning, the entire field was surrounded upon all sides by the King's Court as well as other important merchants and officials who had caught wind of the news in time. Servants and other staff leaned out of the nearby King's Tower, the battlements of the city's wall or other dwellings erected round about. Tall Jotunn, lean Jotunn, short Jotunn, stout Jotunn… each of them unique in colouring of style of carriage. Younglings, not yet molted or showing signs of horns, were cradled in the arms of a few – squealing in high-pitched voices as they flailed about in the usual rough tunics carefully sown for them. Loki, walking past the outer ring of spectators, kept his eyes steady and straight in a vain attempt not to notice the lucky youngsters.
…Elska with a needle, grumbling as he struggled to sew the torn edges of the rough sacking in a straight line…
…no no no….
-don't think on it-
Heavily scarred Jotunn Elders, remnants of the Lengi Ofrithr, sat while around them crowded other older Jotunn, wrinkled and roughened from signs of difficult life-long labour.
…Elska's still form did not respond when he had woken up the next morning…
…nonono…
What brings on such memories? Loki wondered viciously as he walked down the wide path which had been left empty by the Jotunn in preparation for his arrival, who quickly closed ranks behind him. More than ever, the young Jotunn was aware of all the eyes which glowered down upon his dark head. Animosity now safely revealed. Shades of Utgard, Loki thought grimly, damn them. Damn them all to Helheim.
Then Byleistr was at his elbow, tugging on his wolf cloak in a poor attempt to straighten it further. Loki sighed as the second Prince recounted all the possible rules of engagements: the Glima'ganga (can you wield a blade, Smar'brothir?), the Brandr'ganga (do not choose that one – you will not, right?), the Vit'ganga (this is the best, I think, for you), the Frothleikr'ganga (you could choose it, I suppose – but it would not be considered fair and you would lose honour…), the Almror'ganga (archery or throwing knives – can you do either well, Smar'brothir?) or the dread Dauthr'ganga (that means no holds barred – the most vicious form of holganga!). He knew them already and his mind was already decided, but Loki relaxed a little as Byleistr babbled on.
Elska, he mused, perhaps there are a few of you yet. Hluti… Elder Skoll… now, Byleistr.
"I know what I am doing," Loki smiled.
"Yet, Smar'brothir, you have never fought holmganga."
"True – but I have -" Loki paused as memory of the battle pits of Shax rose before his mind's eye. Toh. Xaxor. Shiva. All the dead who had bled before him on the sand. "I have fought before."
"So you keep saying…" Byleistr was still not convinced.
Loki sighed. He will know soon enough.
Stepping out on the field, leaving Byleistr to make his way to the side of his family who firmly occupied the north-west corner, Loki looked forward with stiff shoulders and lifted chin - and faced his opponent who emerged from a tight bunch of raucously shouting Jotunn. Their confident laughter rumbled like heavy stones and deep thunder; their audible whisperings were filled with threats and dark promises. The short Jotunn paid them no heed. Such tactics, I have experienced before, Loki reminded himself, and you know the power of words, have used it yourself.
Taking his place on the south side of the field, Loki met the gaze of his opponent who stood at the far north side, waiting for the Rettr'orthir to step forward. The Rettr'orthir, the officiator of the most important holmganga, raised a fragile stand of ice and then, letting his hands fall back to his side, he proclaimed:
"The Rettr'orthir recognizes Kortha of Ulath and the Rettr'orthir recognizes the Ulfrbarn – who have both come to this place, this Ice Field of Korovasi. Let the heitamogr step forward and name his battle."
Loki stepped forward, allowing his wolf's cloak to fall back, raising his chin to better show off his ancestral lines and planting his gifted spear firmly on the ground.
"State the ganga," the Rettr'orthir intoned barely giving Loki a glance.
"I choose to meet Kortha of Ulath in Dauthr'ganga," Loki's calm voice broke the following silence – and immediately all of the onlookers raised their voices in horrified excitement.
"N-"
Helblindi's hand, hitting Byleistr hard in the chest cut off his younger brother before the young Jotunn could get out a syllable.
"Ulfrbarn," the Rettr'orthir frowned, turning to look down at the small Jotunn and paying Loki real attention for the first time in the proceedings. "Dauthr'ganga? Are you certain?"
"Is this questioning usually part of holmganga?" Loki growled, red eyes glittering. "That was not how it was done in Utgard-"
"Well… no…" The Rettr'orthir murmured, nonplussed.
"Then, let us start already!"
"Very well…"
"This Rettr'orthir recognizes the Dauthr'ganga of Kortha and of the Ulfrbarn."
With that, it started.
-0-0-0-
For many years after, Loki would remember his first holmganga as being incredibly quick. It was over before he knew it, he often admitted, and this was largely due to the fact that he had been (once again) grossly underestimated by his opponent. As usual, the audience was heavily weighted against him, which may have seemed daunting to most, yet Loki had learned to glory in the knowledge that soon – SOON – they would realize their mistake.
When the Rettr'orthir swept his hand down, breaking the fragile stand before him, Kortha charged – and for a few breathless seconds, Loki envisioned a long, painful death, trampled below the stocky Frost Giant's feet. Then, several ice projectiles began to fly at him - the forewarning of impending doom – if he did not move. Without hesitation and with the skills born of experience, Loki ducked and raised a wall of ice, gathering his natural ice abilities and melding them with his other augmented powers.
Small shards of ice rose up cracking the sturdy wall, weakening it before Kortha came crashing through, left arm raised protectively across his face as his right reached out to grab hold of Loki by the shoulder. Jerking Loki off his feet and slamming him back down on the rough sheet of ice, Kortha brought his full strength to bear. Shouting and roars of encouragement gave way to cries of shock as Loki shattered into several large shards of ice. An illusion.
Laufey leaned forward, hand raised to his chin – clearly intrigued. Farbauti and Byleistr were looking rather relieved and Helblindi watched silently, face blank and eyes darting around the crowd.
Kortha whipped about just barely fending off a hail of ice daggers which flew at him in a sharp white cloud – he lunged for Loki again and missed. Slipping past the older Jotunn's arm, like water twisting about a rock in the riverbend, Loki eased past – a picture of flexible grace and swift economic movement – to slice the official deeply in the lower back with the bladed edge of his spear. As his short swing ended, his left hand dropped, summoning three of the black, Dwarven-made throwing knives which Thor had gifted him with. They buried themselves in the back of Kortha's knees as the Ulfrbarn managed to find the larger giant's blind spot.
Roaring in pain, Kortha twisted about with surprising agility, reached down and grabbed Loki, this time verifying his catch by squeezing the muscle and bone of Loki's leg. Loki barely had time to react to the pain, to the mild fractures now hidden by the heavy bruises no doubt forming. Suddenly, he was up in the air, facing a blue-grey sky – and then brought down heavily on the cutting edges of the icy field. Biting back the sharp cry of pain nearly wrenched from him, Loki called deeper on the magical well within his possession, teleporting himself out of the Jotunn's hand to relative safety across the field (which raised even more shouts of mixed approval and anger).
Amid a rising roar of encouragement (for Kortha, not him) Loki staggered to his feet, pressing a hand now flaring with magic to his ribs. He allowed the healing flow to run quickly through him – painfully burning in the rush. The bone knit back together – but Loki knew it was only a short-term solution. Another hit like that will put me out permanently, he coughed painfully, eyeing the laughing Jotunn.
"So, like the cowardly wolves, the Ulfrbarn runs from battle-"
That brought hard memories of the Asgardian soldiers and stable boys who had ridiculed him for relying on his magic. Reminded Loki of Thor's easy dismissive attitude toward his fast-growing abilities. The warrior-mage gritted his teeth, ignoring the insults hurled his way.
"Perhaps he should run back to his wolf-mother and suckle her teats for a few more years before he returns to finish this – like a grown Jotunn!"
He will die, Loki decided then, he will die slowly and painfully. Or quickly, the better to warn them – to warn them – this is one who will show no mercy.
Sending another flock of ice birds Kortha's way, Loki watched carefully as the official barricaded himself easily with a wide ice shield, before letting down his guard and running toward him. Once again, the taller Jotunn bent, intending on scooping up Loki, but this time, the shorter Jotunn was ready. Darting between the official's legs (raising laughter from the audience as Kortha ended up grabbing at air and looking like a general fool), Loki began to focus on gathering up all he had.
"Run, run!" Kortha's taunts rang in his ears. "Or better yet, accept your inevitable loss – you will always lose-"
Loki froze as he remembered another time, another memory when he lay before his Mother and spoke of one of his deepest fears.
"...Sometimes, I wish I could. Just to see... to see if this is my destiny."
"What is your destiny?"
What is my destiny?
"To lose. I sound so silly. What I mean is – must I always play the role of the wrong one... the misguided one... the defeated one? Why must... I always fail in what I set my hands to?"
Why must I be the one to fail?
"Oh... Kol'la... Kol'la... Of course not," Frigga had repeated over and over. "Of course not. The things I saw... they were great things... and maybe some of them may seem terrible – but I know that you will work through your path, however dark it may seem and find the place to which you truly belong."
"From the time you were born – no, even before, no doubt, you were fated to die, so accept it and take respons-"
The cruel vitriol of Kortha's words inflamed the fire within Loki and the young Jotunn, quivering with barely contained rage, turned, red eyes like flames. Above, the grey-black clouds scudded, forming even more quickly than usual and snowflakes began to swirl down at an alarming speed. Looking upward nervously, the watching Jotunn murmured as the wind began to pick up, as the clouds lowered into a light fog.
With alarming speed, a gale whipped up and Loki spoke – strange, foreign words to the surrounding Jotunn. A spell they would have supposed if the obvious power behind it hadn't thrummed so strongly through the air. Such magic they had never seen before. An unnatural voice reverberating – rising and falling – matching with the elegant ferocity revealed in the red eyes now lit as twin flames. As the elements converged on the group, everyone huddled together under the unexpected blast.
Except for Laufey.
He sat still and watched closely as ice began to form in giant swathes and columns round about, building up, caging in, looming over the arena. Overhead, snow and ice were forming into a familiar, yet dangerous form. Something so ancient it felt foreign – something not seen in Jotunheim for a millenia – the mighty ice dragon Iormungand. Long and spiky, it's tail whipped about, lashing at Kortha and driving fear into the hearts of the onlookers. For so long, it had been the symbol of the frozen Realm – a thing of pride, now soaring and given life again as the Ulfrbarn's hand twisted and formed what Laufey recognized as Elvish sigils.
A kind of working, the like they had never seen before. It spoke of ancient of power and a realization of things they could just barely begin to dream of.
Then, the Ulfrbarn spoke again, his voice finding form in the ancient High Tongue: "Protecting the pride and glory of this nation – this was the gift and burden given to you... and yet you sit here, craven, casting aspersion on the lowliest – no better than wild dogs turning on each other."
The cold words resounded with the force of a thousand waterfalls and none could meet the living flames of the Ulfrbarn's eyes.
-0-0-0-
Walls rose up higher and the last thing the Jotunn saw were hundreds of the Ulfrbarn's slight figure flickering into being, successfully providing an illusory cover while the wicked creature completed his deed, enacted his will.
His will, Laufey thought, forcing himself not to flinch as the others did when foreign lightning crackled down. His will remains ever strong. He was always so tenacious – I knew it then... and so he will ever be.
Thickening and hardening, the ice wall was now opaque and stood higher than the tallest Jotunn – but they could see how the storm had appeared to settle. Perhaps the Ulfrbarn had overextended himself – they could not tell. For a short moment, none could see any movement within. And then... and then... suddenly an orange glow began to expand along the walls of the giant barrier. Laufey stiffened at the sight.
No, he thought, impossible...
And yet, it obviously was possible, forming before his eyes – flames exploding outward, shattering the ice in every direction with a loud resonating BOOM. Shielding their eyes, the Jotunn cringed as light and fire and ice blinded their sight.
Then, the world fell into silence.
[...and the land of Jotunheim fell silent...]
[...can you hear it?]
[...it is even here... in the silence...]
When the Jotunn finally raised their eyes, all that was left of the Official Kortha was a smoking black pool of sludge before the leather-booted feet of the Ulfrbarn. The Ulfrbarn who stood there without a word, face hard as stone, red eyes hard as crystals.
He looked out and then paused, gut clenching as he recognized the looks on their faces. The looks he had long since learned to decipher as hatred and fear. Fear most of all. Fear which fuelled the madness and cruelty of the superstitious residents of Utgard. Such dark looks held no respect – only repudiation.
I should have expected it, Loki thought, distantly, only barely aware of his quick steps across the ice to take his place before the Rettr'orthir who only nodded in return of his ceremonial bow. Of course, of course... of course... this is – I am – I am. I. Am... something they cannot accept. Never could. Never would.
Loki left the arena, forcing down the feeling of failure as he remembered Byleistr's worried gaze which had transformed to something like fear.
Never forget, he told himself, foolish Loki – this is the home that never could be.
-0-0-0-
"I suppose," Laufey's voice rumbled out of the shadows, breaking into Loki's musings as the young Jotunn looked out over the city from his high perch in the King's West Tower. "I suppose you think yourself clever."
"Should I not?"
"Hm. 'Cleverness is a two-bladed knife, cutting the wielder as well as the opponent.'"
"Mage Kaldro during the Lengi Ofrithr," Loki nodded. "I know. Perhaps I cut myself today. If I did, you will not – you cannot know-"
"Byleistr understands a little now I think," Laufey smiled grimly. "That is enough. For that… I thank you."
Loki refused to reply to the unspoken warning and criticism.
"The two of you have been deep in the Archives researching a variety of things: magick, philosophy history…"
"Yes," Loki glanced over at Laufey who was now bent over the railing, also gazing down at Gastropnir and watching the lights slowly wink out. "That must burn – to know that one of your house has had the temerity to live when it was offered honourable death – and the other one to cling to what Jotunheim supposedly needs least – children's tales and myths."
"Do you believe that you will survive those trials set before you made by those who look forward to your downfall? You think you will outlast our people's hate?"
"I know I will. I have much to do," Loki replied calmly. "Reading is only one of those things. You know," he added casually. "There have been some mysterious references to Iormungand – as if he had actually existed a long time ago – and other things. Names I have never heard of – ancient names, I think – Ingard… Meerauk…"
"Ingard is a mystery for certain," Laufey grunted, "and as you say, such inquiries are the not what Jotunheim needs… fairy tales indeed… They have no need of your attention, for they are myths only – and Meerauk-" He paused and then frowned. "It is a matter for kings, Ulfrbarn, and is not a common thing to besmirch in talk with one such as you."
Loki glared down at Laufey from his high seat. After a few moments, Loki shifted in his seat, dropped down lightly to the ground and then disappeared without further word; yet, despite the fact Laufey had silenced the creature, something stirred uneasily within his gut.
-0-0-0-
The next two weeks followed in a quieter fashion – full of the regular duties and activities of the Jotunn King's Court as everyone gave the vicious Ulfrbarn a wide berth. Left to his own devices, Loki continued to research with renewed zeal – with a focus which increased Byleistr's consternation, although the young Prince had made a point of leaving Loki alone for a few days. Ever since the Dauthr'ganga, the so-called family time during the evenings was now full of awkward pauses – Farbauti attempting to make conversation, Laufey sitting in his usual disinterested silence, Helblindi darkly glowering and Byleistr, obviously discomfited, vascillating between uncertainty and overtures of friendship.
Of course, things did not improve when Helblindi lost to Loki in an informal duel of wits, which ended with Loki, as usual, soaring far above the rest of the Jotunn with his cutting flyting skills. The well-aimed barbs he sent Helblindi's way concerning Utgard's slowing progress were not appreciated – and in the end, even Byleistr's chuckles had faded away. From that night onward, the younger Jotunn nobles kept well away from the sharp-tongued Ulfrbarn, leaving Loki in peace to research.
Research was the main focus of Loki during those days, fueled as he was by Laufey's dismissive tone and cryptic words, more certain than ever that the answer to Meerauk lay within the realm of kingship. Byleistr, hovering at his elbow now and then, could not deter Loki from his self-imposed quest even if the taller, older Jotunn offered much-needed knowledge on the politics of Laufey's Court or was the only one now willing to spar with the "wild creature".
One particular morning, during a fight with Byleistr which ended with Loki ramming his head into Byleistr's protective hand (which should have sprained the taller Jotunn's wrist in the very least!), Loki discovered that Byleistr had been reduced to laughter. Sending a blast of wind at Byleistr's feet, Loki brought the Jotunn Prince to the ground, but Byleistr's laughter did not abate. Loki sat on the young Giant's chest, folded his arms and glared.
"What is it now?" he huffed.
"No-nothing," chortled Byleistr, attempting to rise and failing, thanks to his quaking. "No-no-nothing."
"It must be something," Loki scowled. "Tell me! Tell me!"
"It is just that with your size – and – and all…" More laughter. "That move-"
"You blocked me so it was incomplete-"
"Y-y-yes, I know – but – but-"
"Tell me!" Loki bounced up and down impatiently on the laughing Jotunn's chest.
"Ai! Ai! Let me up, Smar'brothir, and I will!"
Byleistr then composed himself as promised and looked down at Loki as they angled themselves toward each other, sitting cross-legged together on the hard matting of the indoor sparring room.
"Haahhh…" Byleistr let out a gusty breath. "I meant no disrespect, Smar'brothir, but it was funny-"
"I fail to see the humour."
"Ai! Such a black look on your face will scare even a thurblakulfr away! The thing is-"
"Yes-"
"It is nothing really – only-"
"Yes?"
"When one is small – or young, I should say," Byleistr eyed his younger brother thoughtfully, "when the horns begin to bud, one tends to head-butt things a little more often."
Loki's hand rose automatically to his smooth forehead and self-consciously smoothed back his short black hair which needed a cut all too soon, he thought.
"Would it not pain the forehead bone more?" Loki asked nonchalantly as Byleistr's hand rose to press against Loki's smaller forehead.
"'A different pain is some relief', Sage Ola'o once said," Byleistr shook his head and smiled. "He was right. Some say that with battle, the horns become stronger."
"Hm. Well. I show no signs of growing horns – but to hit you with my head is pleasing."
"It is a mark of all Jotunn, big or small, I should guess. Mine grew out quite nicely," Byleistr proudly puffed out his chest. "Faetha says mine are especially fine."
Loki eyed the twisted horns, stifling the envy rising in his chest, thoughtfully. They were no longer than this forearms... My own horns, the second Prince of Asgard smiled at the thought of his favourite gold helmet now safely sitting at home, are much grander. A pity I couldn't bring them along… Ever since the day of his adoption, Loki had felt great pride in the grand horns gifted to him by Asgard. Greater than Grandfather Bors's helmet, Loki had privately thought – and definitely grander than Thor's! The conversation steered away from the uncomfortable topic, returning to the familiar ground they both enjoyed: research.
"How goes it?"
"Slowly," sighed Loki. "Too slowly. For a kingdom of nothing-"
"Hey now!" interjected Byleistr.
"Laufey-King's Archives are filled all too well."
"What do you seek?"
"A name. A name that will lead to a name," Loki responded cryptically and then added quickly. "Meerauk is the name I seek. Laufey mentioned it related to the Kings and kingship..."
"Meerauk," Byleistr leaned back against a stone column and scratched his chin thoughtfully. "Meerauk... Did you ask Fylgja?"
"I asked. It did not go well."
"Ha. I should not think it would – hm. I will ask Faetha."
"Farbauti would know?"
"As Consort, maybe," Byleistr shrugged.
"Well, it is worth a try," Loki sighed ungraciously. But he was smiling.
-0-0-0-
The next morning, raising his head stiffly from the book on top of which he had fallen asleep, Loki's blurry vision caught sight of a scrap bit of parchment by his hand, the lines of his brother's neat script written across it. 'Suggest you try out Talik's On Stars and the Kings; Mage Lu'iko's Vithrvatn: Lake of Legends and The Annals of the Kings and Rituals on the unbound shelf. Peace, Byla.' Then, further down, as if an afterthought: 'You should sleep in your own bed, Smar'brothir. In this place, exhaustion leads to death. Even with such shields as you erect.'
Thanks to Byleistr's suggestion, Loki's research continued apace – and yielded better results. Within the following week, Loki had all the information he needed. With renewed zeal, Loki took note of the information hidden within the obscure scrolls he had found. Finally, finally, he had found Meerauk.
[...the ancient forgotten city of the kings...]
[...it is calling...]
Loki packed swiftly and efficiently, memorizing the land features on the map he had also copied by hand from the ancient scroll he had found tucked away – almost hidden – beyond the stacks of unbound books in the far corner of the Great Archive. Into his pack, he placed all of his few possessions which had sat neatly in the corner of the large quarters which Farbauti had given him: his flint and tinderbox, healing kit, spare clothing, whetstone, fishing pole, hooks and bait and other dried food he had stored up. On his way out, Loki planned to nip into the pantry to grab a few spare fresh items he could use. Once out of the kitchens, Loki slipped out the back door to find a quiet, unnoticed spot where he could call upon his magick – but a quiet voice stopped him in his tracks.
"So, you are leaving."
Loki turned slowly, adjusted a strap, shifted his spear to the other hand, cocked his head a little to the side and eyed the gangly figure of young Byleistr, idealistic Byleistr who had even in the past month grown before his eyes. Byleistr, who now emerged from the gloom of the large side porch's overhang. Loki did not reply, merely raised an enquiring eyebrow.
"You put all your books back."
"Ah," Loki acknowledged Byleistr's explanation quietly.
"You found what you sought."
"A fairly good clue."
"You do not exactly know then?"
"Not exactly," Loki admitted, "yet, I am fairly certain-"
"Therefore you must go on foot?"
"Well, mainly... yes..."
"The season is not suitable for travel – much less to-"
"Are you my mother now?" Loki asked curiously.
"I worry. What if you do not return?"
"Then... you can assume I went to a better place," Loki answered flippantly and shrugged easily. "Wherever that may be."
"Can you so easily... leave?" Byleistr asked softly.
Loki looked up at Byleistr finally and, as their red eyes met – so similar in so many ways, he felt a pang of regret as he spoke his final words.
"What is this place to me? What is this place?" The short Jotunn paused, breathed in and then out. Closed his eyes for a moment before opening them and starting again. "Jotunheim is... is nothing to me – nothing. To you... to you, it is many things. For me, there is little here – I was never meant to stay."
"But-"
"No buts, Byla," Loki said softly. "Farewell... and... may the snows fall lightly before your feet."
Byleistr reached out and pushed down on Loki's head, grinding a rough palm against the dwarf Jotunn's smaller forehead.
"May the snows fall lightly before yours as well, Smar'brothir – and may your horns bring pride to our For-Eldra."
With a quick nod, Loki turned away and disappeared to the outer edge of the city in the blink of an eye. And Byleistr stood amidst the softly falling snowflakes. Silently.
[...it is a land of silence...]
[...it fell into darkness...]
[...still it falls...]
[...it is falling...]
[...]
The Path of the Kings, my Faetha's Faetha used to say, is a journey of the spirit given only to the True Heir and displays the natural inheritance of such youth. It is walked alone and those who take such a road heedlessly rarely return – for the end of the Road reveals the heart of Jotunheim, Faetha said, and the Truths of its Origins and the foundation of its Traditions. As such, it is guarded by the spirits of the For-Eldra and the Heimsrsal itself, which together working, provide the signs to those who are gifted. Nature itself provides the barrier, the test and the protection; yet, such knowledge, I fear, has become hoarded by ones who stand above – by the King, his Court and the Mages – and, as such, the reasons for our Rites are slowly lost to the people. Let he who seeks knowledge, take heed, therefore, that he may not obscure the meanings of all things, hide or lock away the Truth and so keep it as useless treasure for the sacred few.
[...]
So we have a sort of Hulk!Smash! moment... and we have Loki being BAMF... and we have a kind of sadness here, I hope that you can see. And some foreshadowing. Ehehehe.
Up ahead - MEERAUK! A NAME! AN EPIC! A LOST EPOCH! GET THOSE TIMELINE SHEETS OUT FOLKS! IT'S HISTORY TIME!
(with Loki)
Thanks so much!
Let me know what you guys think!
See ya round!
-KI
Alien Glossary:
'auzha – fucker
Dou'ma – idiot
r'senk'ne – a kind of deer/cow hybrid
n'ch'nka – a kind of cow
chi'iano – a radioactive piece of rock similar to uranium
cho'ai - lover
kol-sava'atha – a titanium-rich ore
Morning-star - a mace.
oma'auzha – mother-effer
oto'oa - big sister
udji'oo – a drug, like opium
Asgardian Glossary:
bikkja – bitch
Brenna-Fir – the Immolation
Drakka Thyod – Dragon Race
ergi - womanly, weak, "gay"
Fiendfyre – a phoenix-firebird
Flauguna – flying feet/teleportation
fotr'ro - footstool
Ginnung – the Void
harhvila - high bed
Hiti-mothr – Flame Fury (also known as Lachruth)
Kaesia-Seithr – Spirit-Spear style
Koma a Aldr – Coming of Age
Kveykva-herklaethi – Light Armoured style
Laegja – the Immersion
Ofolr Leith – Dark Paths, Other Ways (crossing the Void)
Ominni-tith - the Forgotten Times
Rikr-Hringraevi – Grand Cycles of Time
Runa a Fyrsta – Rites of Initiation
Runa a Kelda – Rites of Spring
Runa'a'vetr – Winter Solstice
Saga-Vefr – Story-weavers
seithr - magic
seithrmaster - mage, sorceror
Skjald-borhyrr – Wall of Flame
Skipa – the Infusion
Skokkr-a-Mir – concealment skills, Box of Mirrors (also known as Col'ca-cenedril)
stormerki – mysteria
Tveir-Andlit – illusionary skills, Double Face
Velspara-Speki – the Well (of Wisdom)
Elvish Glossary:
skreyppa – slippery one
gargani – snake
fintalenir – trickster
vanwa – defeated one, impolite term for "loser"
caitahto – liar
curunar – fiery one
Lachruth – Flame Fury
Col'ca-cenedril – Box of Mirrors
Cebir-Gondlug – Spike-Stone Dragon
Am'loce Norie – Dragon Race
raudhaust – high bed
Jotunheim Glossary:
Aldinn Stathr – Ancient Place
Almror'ganga - Long Range Weapon Contest
Arlang'leith – the Annual Caravan
Atfirth – energies
blakkrbjorr – black beer
Blakkrbjorn – black bear
blakkrgras – black grass
blargras – blue grass
Brandr'ganga - Unarmed Combat
Dagaheim
Dauthr'ganga - Death Duel
dvegr – dwarf
dyrspeki – zoologist
Eybjarg (Chasms of Forever)
Faetha'snaer - "Mother", "who births the snow"
fauld – a part of armour around the lower midsection
Fjor'fylgja – Life Mate
Flara River – Treacherous River
For-Eldra – Ancestors
Forn Vegr – Old Ways
Frothleikr'ganga - Battle of Magick
Fylgja'snaer - "Father", "who aids the snow"
Gastropnir
Glima'ganga - Battle of Swords
Gnottvatn (Lake of Abundance)
Gothahus – temple
Grarfjall – Grey Mountains
grarulfr – grey wolves
Griotunagardar
hafnathr – sea serpents
heillgrjot – healing stones
Heimsrsal – Soul of the Realm
heithrsker – crystal flowers
Holdra River – Hero's River
holkimurtr – small flat fish
Holkn Vollr – Flat Plains
holmganga – a method of ending feuds/disagreements
hota-eik – white oak
hvaeta – wheat
Innaheim – Inner Realm
jarnkottr – iron cat (beast which Laufey released in Thor)
jarnvithr – iron wood
Kaldrfjall (Cold Mountains)
Kero Fornvetr – Casket of Ancient Winters
kostrboth – a method of proving virility for the purpose of marriage
lagreinn – small one (epithet)
lagr'hyggr – fool
Lengi Ofrithr – Long War
luthrblom – trumpet flower
manisilfr – moonsilver
Meir'brothir – Older Brother
melrakki – white fox
Myrkr Skogr – shadow forest
Nattura – spirits
Northri Stjarna – North Star
silvralmr – silver elm
silvrfiskr – silver fish
Sithr Efingi – True Heir
Skalldi
skordyr – Jotunheim goat
Smar'brothir – Younger Brother
snaerharra – snow rabbit
Storrholl – Great Hall
thurblakulfr – giant black wolves
tunglbom (moonflower)
Utanheim – Outer Realm
Utgard
vaetki – nothing
ventrmellin – winter melon
villrkyr – wild ox
Virtha Aevi – Coming of Age
Vit'ganga - Battle of Wits
Vollrvatn – Lake of the Plains
