Scene 25

"Odin, we have to tell him. We should have told him ages ago."

"No."

"He's become so powerful. He's starting to suspect something."

"More powerful than you?"

An icy chill runs down Frigga's spine. Odin doesn't even try to veil the meaning behind his question. He's a warrior assessing a threat. She shakes her head.

"No. But more powerful than I was when—when he was young."

Odin nods.

"So you're still capable of controlling him."

Frigga winces at the phrasing, but she says "Yes," hoping with all her heart that it's true.

"Then make sure you fix the problem."

"Odin!"

"He will not know!"

Scene 26

Frigga enters Loki's quarters with a smile. He looks up from the book he's reading and returns the smile.

"I've been thinking, about what you told me."

Loki puts the book away.

"I think I know how to help you."

"That's good! What do you suggest?"

"First of all I need you to lay down."

"Sure."

Loki gets comfortable on his bed and looks up at his mother who sits down next to him.

"Close your eyes."

He does, but he's tense.

"What—"

"Trust me," Frigga says and reaches into the sleeve of her dress. She pulls out a crystal and holds it to Loki's forehead. The moment it touches his skin his eyes fly open.

"I'm sorry, my dear son," Frigga murmurs as her magic overpowers his and his body goes slack. His eyes are closed now, but it's not sleep. It's something a lot darker and more powerful, and entirely more dangerous. Frigga puts the crystal down and wipes at her eyes.

"I'm sorry," she says once more, and then she conjures Loki's core. The sphere rising from his chest turns in the air, blue and green, white and golden. Frigga frowns and focuses her energy on it. Very slowly the blue disappears and the green becomes darker, richer. The white battles the gold but finally disappears as well. Frigga pauses for a moment, swaying slightly with exhaustion. She takes a deep breath and makes a last effort, and the golden streaks become thicker, surrounding the green more tightly. The sphere sinks back into Loki's still body. Frigga sags. She sits on her son's bed, slumped and spent. Eventually she straightens and stands, murmuring a memory spell. When she sees the tension on Loki's face she adds a few words. His features relax and he looks so peaceful, young and innocent that she's tempted to kiss his forehead like she used to do when he was little. But she doesn't. Instead she whispers: "Oh my sweet darling. The things we have done to you." Tears streaming freely now she adds: "At least now you can rest a little."

Scene 27, a few days later

Loki and Frigga are sharing breakfast in her garden. As lightly as possible she asks:

"How are you feeling today?"

He knows what she means.

"I'm good. It hasn't happened since we talked. Maybe talking helped."

She hides behind her tea cup for a moment.

"Maybe. And don't forget the power of the healing hug."

Loki smiles at her.

"Yes, that too. Thank you, mother."

Frigga forces herself to return his smile.

"You're welcome, son."

Scene 28, a few days later

Leif is sitting cross-legged, hidden from view, on a mountain top overlooking a narrow path that runs along a steep cliff. At the food of the cliff there's a meadow and a small river. The healer is preparing for a spell he has used a hundred times before as part of a patient's treatment. Only this time he will have to do it over a distance. He takes the magnifying crystal Uta took from the queen in one hand and the strand of hair Breka cut off Thor's horse in the other and waits.

It doesn't take long for Thor and the Warriors Three to appear on that narrow path. Thor leads them, spurring his horse to a full gallop. His friends shake their heads but follow him as they always do. Leif waits until Thor is directly underneath him, then he focuses his magical energy on Thor's horse through the crystal, forming a connection, and pictures the horse's muscles straining beneath its skin. A moment later all of the horse's muscles relax at the exact same time.

Fandral looks up to the mountain top when he sees movement out of the corner of his eye. He halts his horse and turns to tell the others. They have stopped as well, staring over the edge of the cliff in horror. Fandral turns back just in time to see both Thor and his horse hit the ground at the foot of the cliff.

When the Warriors Three get down there, the horse is dead and Thor is unconscious. They get him back to the palace and to the healers as fast as they can. It turns out he broke a dozen bones and cracked his skull, but he will recover.

"How did this happen?", Sif wants to know.

The Warriors Three look at each other, but the only thing they remember is the horse tumbling in mid gallop.

"I think I saw something," Fandral says haltingly.

"Speak!" Sif demands.

"I'm not sure, to be honest, everything happened so fast."

"Tell me."

"I think there might have been somebody there, above us, on the mountain top."

"You think someone caused this?" Odin joins in.

"I have no way of being sure, all-father, but I suspect."

When Thor comes to he says he felt his horse go slack under him at full speed. Odin is furious. He's convinced that somebody attempted to murder his son. Possibly using magic. But every sorcerer capable of a spell like that has an alibi. Including Loki, who was training with Breka.

Scene 29

"The spell worked, the horse is dead, but Thor is hard to kill", Leif says in a hushed voice when he returns the magnifying crystal to Uta. "Return it to the queen's chambers as soon as possible. We'll have to lay low for a while. Regroup. Are you sure she didn't notice?"

"Yes, I am. But you're right, the king suspects magic, so we have to be very careful. We shouldn't meet for a while."

Leif just nods and slips out the door, making sure nobody sees him.

Scene 30

Odin gathers his family at Thor's bedside. The all-father stays silent until all eyes are on him. He looks from Thor to Loki to Frigga. When she meets his gaze he smiles softly at her. And then he squares his shoulders.

"My sons, there are a few things I have to tell you. I am old, and as we've just witnessed the royal family is vulnerable and not as strong as it should be. One of you will follow me on the throne in a not too distant future, and you will both take a wife."

Loki's head jerks up.

"What? I am not getting married! Thor? Are you going to comment on this?"

Thor doesn't look at him, but there's a slight smile on his face. Sif. They will let him marry Sif. Of course. Thor gets to marry his best friend and not so secret crush. Loki doesn't remember anyone asking him—Odin interrupts his train of thoughts.

"You are princes. You need wives and sons."

"But—why—who?! Whom would I marry?"

"Your mother and I have discussed this. Arrangements have been made."

"What?!"

Odin sighs.

"We are willing to tolerate your… dalliances, but you will marry Sigyn."

"Sigyn?! She doesn't even like me!"

"You need a wife, not a soulmate. Her family is acceptable and she's beautiful and charming. The people will like her."

Loki can't believe it, but when he turns to his mother she just smiles at him. It's all settled then. He doesn't get a say. Loki consciously forces his anger down.

"Can I be excused, father?"

Odin nods. Loki gives his mother a small bow, ignores his father and idiot brother and flees to Breka's quarters.

Scene 31

When Loki tries to talk to Breka about Thor he doesn't get the reaction he expected. In fact he doesn't get much of a reaction at all. He makes another attempt:

"Someone tried to murder my brother! Your future king!"

Breka sighs.

"I'm glad they didn't succeed. But I can see their point."

Loki stares at him.

"What? How can you say that?!"

Breka takes a deep breath and looks straight into Loki's eyes.

"Because I love you, and because the throne should be yours."

Loki lifts his chin. When he answers Breka, his voice is a shard of ice, low, barely more than a whisper, and absolutely lethal.

"You'd force a stolen crown upon my head, drenched in my brother's blood, and dare speak of love?"

Breka's jaw sets.

"You're better suited to be king."

Loki hits him, back handed, swift, brutal. The unexpected blow sends Breka flying.

"That's not for you to judge, let alone enforce!" Loki yells, furious, eyes blazing, magical energy still sizzling at his hands. Breka sits up, refusing to back down in spite of the blood dripping from his lip.

"You said it yourself, and more than once!"

Loki stares at his lover for a long time, and then he deflates. He moves over and squats down.

"I never wanted the throne, Breka. I would guide Thor, standing at his shoulder, counselling, controlling his temper. But like this? Stepping up to a throne that's covered in my brother's blood, that's never what I wanted!"

"But will you do it?"

Loki stares at him.

"If by whatever circumstances Thor should—"

"Enough."

Loki straightens to his full height. He's all prince now.

"I will not hear any more of this. My brother the prince is your future king and I will not tolerate any insolence against him. Should I learn about any further attempts to move against Thor, and should I have reason to suspect that you are part of it, then may the norns help you."

Breka is staring at him unable to say anything. Loki sighs.

"You're not doing me any favours, Breka. I don't want this."

Breka stands up but refuses to look at Loki.

"Have I made myself clear?"

Breka is still avoiding eye contact. Loki takes Breka's face between his hands, a firm grip on his lover's skull. Breka closes his eyes and gives in, leaning into the touch.