Notes: Beware of the plot! It bites!

With the taste of his uncle still fresh in his mouth, Thor couldn't stop his eyes from following him on his swimming through the cave.

"I received the invitation a few moments ago," he was saying, to Thor, to himself, to no-one. "Which means that they received my message two days ago, which means that they expect us to arrive tomorrow. And they expect me to become once again Odin's older brother!? No! This must be a trap of some sort. I know that algaeface. He must be planning something. A feast? And I am invited? Ha! There's something that doesn't-"

"Uncle?" Thor asked. He was starting to get dizzing watching the fast and switf movements his uncle made. Loki stopped and looked at him, eyebrow lifted. "Don't worry about that. I am sure it was my mother who wanted you to attend. You don't need to be on your guard. And I will also be there," he smiled and Loki smiled back and Thor felt his heart hammering and he didn't know what to do. Loki was convinced that Thor would stop feeling whatever he felt for Loki in a short period –a century at most–, that he would get bored and then move on. Then he seemed to remember Thor's mother and paled.

"Your mother is going to gut me!" he exclaimed.

Thor would have swam towards him and hugged him but he was still feeling drained and dizzy. After his uncle had mapped him, he had set right the conduits of his seidr inside himself so he wouldn't be channeling it through storms. He had also told him about being berserkr. As soon as he had realized what that meant Thor had felt blood rush to his ears. He was a berserkr. Just like his father. Just like his uncle. He would be a great warrior. If he could rein in his impulse as berserkr then he could be a great king, too.

"I doubt she will," he said to his uncle. Loki stopped and looked at him.

"Oh. I don't. She is quite able to stab me. If she ever suspects I have tainted you the last thing she will consider is that she would be killing a member of the Royal Family. Even thought it's not like it will happen again. But has happened already," Loki had crossed his arms in front of him and was looking at his side and Thor could admire his long neck. His uncle's gills looked more appetising than ever and he had to control himself lest he leaped and attacked him again. Loki's moans and whines were forever etched in his brain.

"But surely she will be happy that we came together. That you helped me," Thor tried again. Loki looked at him as if considering his words.

"Would you say that to her for me?" he asked. Thor nodded. "Would you lie for me?" He sounded surprised. Thor shook his head.

"It wouldn't be a lie. You helped me."

"I cursed you!"

"I asked for that curse!"

Loki huffed, but he dropped his defensive stance.

"She won't see it that way. She already thinks I chose the worst conditions to the curse just to get back at Odin," he said, looking away again. Thor cocked his head.

"Did you?"

Loki looked back at him, smiling.

"Maaaaybe... I might have made it harder than what was necessary for you..."

Thor loved that smile. It was playful and mischievous and unrepentant. He snorted.

"It's not as if you didn't try to disuade me," Thor pointed.

"I could have done a better job. And I knew who you were all along. It was just a petty revenge."

"But Fandral told me about how to break the curse. You said there was no way out and still put a loophole in it."

Loki looked pleased.

"That I did. As much as I would have enjoyed seeing planktonbrain crying because his pup was even more of an idiot than before, I can't in good conscience sentence an innocent pup to such a fate."

"So you are still plotting some kind of revenge against my father?"

Loki didn't answer, only smiled.

"Are you feeling better? We should get going. But before that I want to make sure you have recovered enough."

Thor nodded and when Loki extended his hands towards him he grabbed them. Loki closed his eyes and seemed to be deep in contentration. Thor felt something strange poking at him within himself. Seconds later Loki released his hands and nodded.

"So... Am I good enough to leave?"

"Yes. Let's go."

00000

There was a retinue awating for them half way to the capital, guards mostly, that surrounded them and gave them some necklaces and ornaments to put on like rings, wristbands and straps to braid into their hairs. Thor let his usual servants do his hair and help with the fastening of some of the items, looking at his uncle through the corner of his eye. He didn't let anyone touch him and weaved the golden threads, pearls and small clams on his hair.

They waited until he was finished and even though Thor couldn't see himself he knew that Loki had done a better way with himself than the servants had done to him. Seeing his uncle looking so regal, wearing a shoulderplate with runes that represented his status was nervewracking for him. Loki exuded authority and after he was done none of the guards nor the servants dared to touch him as they had before.

If one were to ask Thor, he would say that Loki looked more like a monarch than his own father. The way he had gone ahead of the party to flaunt his status, the sure, sinuous waving of his form, the delicate yet precise movements. It was undeniable that Loki had been breed and raised by royalty and now more than ever Thor could see the likeness between his father and uncle.

As soon as they entered the capital the fanfare that had been prepared for them was cut short. People murmuring among themselves. They had been told that Prince Thor was coming home and that he was bringing a member of the Royal Family with them. Everyone had assumed, if their faces were any indicator, that Thor had married and was bringing a princess. Thor could hear some of the whispers: "Prince Vili!" "Wasn't he dead?" "No! That's his twin brother! I thought they died together."

But it was a brief pause, the people went back into track and greeted them as they had been told to do, as they wanted to do. Some of them even recognized Loki as the Sea Witch and then became even more excited. Loki had a charming smile on his lips, teeth as white as pearls and as iridiscent, winning back some hearts with a gaze or a gesture of his hand. Their people were excited to see one of the king's siblings alive.

"There was a rumour about it going on, you know?" Fandral said at his left.

"What kind of rumour?"

"That Loki killed himself after being unable to keep going without his twin brother. But that's just stupid. The dates don't add up. I mean, the war was some two to three thousand years ago and only in the last thousand years the prince was lost to the people, which means that if he really couldn't live without his twin brother he should have been dead longer. Don't you think? And my parents remember him going around playing pranks, though whenever a delegation came he was always proper."

"There were other kind of rumours about that, too," Hogun added at Thor's right. Thor turned his head. "Rumours that said that he would lay with any of the ambassadors as long as the peace treaties held strong and to forge new alliances."

That wasn't the kind of information Thor wanted to know.

"I don't know. He was a member of the Royal Family. I doubt he would have done something so shameless," Thor said, only half certain. He searched his uncle's profile.

"No doubt those rumours were started by people who wanted him and couldn't have him," Hogun continued. "I am not inclined to that kind of shape, but even I can appreciate that he is alluring and his song must be one of the most enthralling things in the Seven Oceans."

"That's more likely. I doubt he would let about anyone touch him without his permission, and I've seen him kill a man with his teeth," Thor said. Both Hogun and Fandral looked surprised. "And I know he is a berserkr," he added, just for the effect that it cause. Fandral intake of water and Hogun small stop before continuing. Everybody knew not to anger a berserkr.

They finally reached the castle. His parents were there already, waiting with smiles so huge and bright that they made Thor feel stupid. He had made his parents worry, had he not? Then as he approached he too in the differencies. The most acute one was his father: he looked centuries older, still broad and strong but skin soft instead of taut and his hair was completely white, he was wrinkled and wore a patch over one eye. His mother looked almost the same, though there was a weariness about her eyes and it seemed that she was incubating now. What had happened!?

As per protocol, the king and queen greeted Loki first, who directed his own greetings to Odin and then to Frigga. Once that was done he swam around and positioned himself at Frigga's other side. Then Thor greeted them and went to his father's side. Once together they waved at the masses and then disappeared inside the castle. Thor followed the three royal adults, feeling like a pup all over again. All the confidence that he had gained in himself had vanished once he was under his father's sight. He still saw him as a pup, he could feel it, but uncle Loki had seen him grow and rise against his challenges.

Once they were behind doors and undisturved his father grabbed Loki by the shoulder with one hand and by the jaw with the other, exposing his neck.

"What in the Seven Hels is the meaning of this, Loki? Who did this to you?" he bellowed. Loki shook his brother off.

"None of your business. What are you, my father?" Loki growled.

"No! I am your king and I demand to know what kind of depraved creature would abuse of a mer's gills until they are like that!" Odin answered with his own grunt.

Thor blushed and looked at the wall, trying to be inconspicuous. His eyes crossed his mother's for a second and he saw her's growing slightly bigger. Then her mouth formed a perfect "o". After that, she looked between him and his uncle and then she took one hand to her face, frowning. When she looked back at Thor she didn't look angry but disapointed. While the brothers bickered she approached him.

"Son, I don't want to know any details, but tell me that you didn't do anything stupid," she pleaded. Thor was sure that even in the dimlit stance his cheeks were glowing red.

"I... Em... I mean... I might have... gone... berserkr?" he tried. His mother only sighed.

"Pray that he won't want revenge on whatever you did to him. And when you start remembering come to me, I have a cleanshing draught that can help you forget," she told him.

"What... makes you think I would want to, to forget?" he asked her, quietly. She then looked shocked. "He didn't do anything to me, mother," he assured hed. "It was all me... He even tried to stop me but I pushed and pushed and... But he says that I shouldn't worry..."

There. There it was. The horror.

"Thor... My pup... You didn't... Did you... force him?"

Thor paled.

"I don't know. I don't remember yet. Only bits... And he said that it was all right. That I didn't- that he didn't stop me and that he could have." He saw his mother looking towards the brothers who were now yanking each other's hairs and giving flicks with their tails.

"I will ask him. Mean while... Don't get near him. All right, son? Don't approach him. I want to know if he wants to ask for compensation and... If there is going to be a trial-"

"-tired of your shit! You are my little brother, don't act as if-"

"-can't care!? I am also tired, Loki! I'm tired of all those people going after you time after time and you doing nothing but-"

"-I can defend myself, Odin!"

"Really? Because last time what I saw was that you were ready to throw away yourself just so you wouldn't anger them!"

Thor and Frigga were startled out of their conversation by the two other mer.

"Look, brother," Loki said, trying to calm himself. "I don't appreciate that you try to act as my guardian at ever little evidence that I have had an affair. I am not a pup. That you think that you need to, to defend my honor, which is disturbing, has nothing to do with me!"

"Loki..."

"No! I already told you! My gills are just slightly swollen because I filtered some filth, all right? And it has been centuries! We both know you can drop whatever crappy promise you made to Vili of protecting me. You can't! Because I am protecting myself quite well."

Both brothers went quiet then, glaring at each other.

"You weren't attacked," Odin demanded.

"No," Loki growled.

"And you were with my son."

"All the time!" he snarled, showing teeth.

"Good... Then... I don't have to worry like last time." It was more a question than anything. Loki smiled in a unkind way.

"You won't. No-one will come in demanding my hand in marriage and claiming to have been bewitched."

Thor's ears perked up at that.

"What? What happened last time?" he blurted out. His words made his father and uncle startle and look at Frigga and him.

"Nothing, pup," Loki said, looking away.

"Nothing, son," Odin said, at the same time, also looking away.

Thor narrowed his eyes and looked at his mother. She was also looking away.

"Why won't you tell me? You were talking about that as if some nefarious creature had tried to, to kidnap uncle Loki and when he couldn't just came to you and asked for an alliance through marriage," Thor said, scoffing. And then he saw the tension in Loki's jaw, how his father's hands were balled into fists and how his mother's shoulders squared as if ready to attack. "If I am to rule some day, I think it fair that I am made aware of any possible threat against me and my family," Thor said with an authoritative voice. A voice he had never used before with his parents. A voice that he had found while living amongst humans. His parents seemed surprised by it, but not Loki.

"Your parents can tell you if they want. I don't care. I'm tired. I'll see you later at the feast. If you will excuse me," Loki said in a cold tone, bowing mockingly, but with narrowed eyes and a snarl on his lips. He didn't wait until he was given permission and left. Thor looked at his parents.

"Well?"

"Son-"

"No, father! I have been kept in the dark of many important things. One of those that I have an uncle who could have claimed the throne from you if he wanted, so, I demand to know what's going on and why uncle Loki is not welcomed here while this has been his home before."

Odin sighed. His mother squeezed his shoulder and left. Thor was surprised by this. He looked back at his father again.

"This is not easy to tell..."

"And how does mother know?"

"She... She found out herself. She is a great queen and has helped me time and again with relations with the other kingdoms and she found some documents... She has seidr, pup, she can scry."

"But what happened!?"

Odin motioned for Thor to sit. He did.

"This happened some centuries after the war had finished. Even though we had managed to live peacefully there were still people who resented the other side. We decided that the best course of action was to invite a delegation from Jotunheim to Asgard. If the people saw both of us acting friendly they would calm down. They agreed, but they demanded we sent a delegation there first. Loki was sent there with some other nobles.

"We got reports that things were going well, and that the people there adored Loki. It seemed that he had managed to charm them with his words. I was worried about him. I would have gone in his stead but the mere thought of seen a Jotun and not being able to slice their heads off made my blood boil. Then, the time for them to come back arrived and the envoy started making preparations to leave. A cousin of the king wanted to come with them in the guise of strengthening our relationship further and it was allowed. Then, a few hours from the border, some raiders attacked and tried to take Loki hostage," Odin seemed to find that notion funny, though he still looked grave. "The very idiots thought it would be easy to kidnap Loki, and he just... unleashed his powers and teleported everyone back into Asgard –raiders included–. They were caught. The subsequent days were tense.

"You have to understand, Thor, that if we were to make a misstep, war could still break all over again, so we couldn't outright punish the raiders. We had to investigate and we discovered that the king's cousin had pacted with these raiders, who turned out to be other nobles from Utgard-Hall, to kidnap Loki. At first we thought that what they wanted was war, then that they wanted some ransom," Odin rubbed his brow, looking every bit the old man he was outside. Thor was speechless.

"What happened next?"

"The king himself appeared before us demanding his courtiers to be released on the threat of war if we didn't." At Odin's words, Thor's jaw dropped. "Then, he demanded more. He wanted Loki's hand in marriage as compensation."

Thor let out a raged groan.

"How dare they!?" he exclaimed. Odin smirked in a familiar way. That tiny detail distrated him from his outrage enough for Odin to continue.

"That was exactly my reaction. After some more investigations were done, we discovered that everything had been a ploy from King Thrym to take Loki as his spouse from the beginning. He didn't care if his cousin managed to kidnap Loki or not. What he was aiming for was for us to make a mistake so they could ask for Loki in exchange.

"Apparently, he had fallen in love with Loki while he had been an ambassador there, even though Loki barely exchanged words with him outside the polite, correct way. They were never alone in the same place and they never spoke of courtship but Thrym was convinced that it was Truel Love," Odin laughed at that. It was an ugly sound and it resonated within Thor.

So Loki had been also punishing Thor for pursuing Ture Love by way of his curse. Now he saw the whole picture. On the one hand, having Thor cursed like that would wound Odin, which served the purpose of revenge. On the other hand, Thor was being taught a lesson aboud what it meant to love someone who you knew nothing aobut and claimed to want to be with them for ever. Thor felt lucky that Loki hadn't decided another route to make Thor realize his stupidity.

"Then... Uncle Loki refused?"

"No."

That answer wasn't what Thor was expecting at all.

"What?"

"It would have been enough for us to be at war again. So he didn't refuse."

"Then... Then, uncle Loki married Thrym?"

"No."

Huh? Thor was confused now.

"Father, please, be clear."

Ah! That smirk again. And then Thor connected the dots. That smile was exactly as the one Loki used while speaking with humans he deemed mentally challenged –or plain stupid– and wanted to mock them. Thought it wasn't exactly as Loki's, either. Ugh! How could have Thor missed the similarities between his father and his uncle? They looked so much alike! Though, in his heart, Thor couldn't help but to admit that Loki had gotten the best part on their genes. His father wasn't exactly ugly but if you were to compare both brothers there was a clear winner, letting aside the fact that Thor couldn't see his father as outside the tag of "father" which implied that he did not think of him in such light. Ever.

"When the convoy that was travelling back to Jotunheim with your uncle and his future spouse arrived at the border, it was attacked. Apparently, some strange rumour said that whomever married Loki would be the rightful king or queen of Jotunheim. After that, a civil war broke within their kingdom and Loki disappeared from their radar."

"So... The fact that none of my generation knows about uncle Loki is because of this?"

"Yes and no. I didn't plan for this to happen. But I suppose my advisors did it while I wasn't looking. Since there's still the belief on Jotunheim about Loki, we tried to make it appear as if Loki wasn't here anymore, and then..."

"Then you vanished him and transformed him into an octopus," Thor supplied.

"It's a bit more complicated than that, pup."

"So it seems... I think I would like to retire now..." His father nodded. He bowed and went to the door but stopped before opening it. "Then... You didn't do it actively, but you neither stopped the people to believe that uncle Loki never existed," he said, not turning to look at his father. "Why would you do something so cruel without telling him?"

"I was trying to protect him... And us. If word got out that Loki was still alive and well, I'm sure the kidnapping attempts would increase again and even assassinations attempts."

Thor nodded.

"But it's been long enough. Do Jotnar still think that they have to marry uncle Loki to be the rightful monarch?"

"... Yes."

Thor turned around, surprised. What?

"Why?"

"Loki became a legend, and now he is more than a tale for them. The latest report from our spies tells me that they believe Loki to be a Deity of the Seas."

"That's... Absurd!"

"I know. Sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't be easier for him to just... Become fully human and die with them..."

Thor didn't know what to say. His head hurt with all the information thad had been thrown onto it.

"Does mother know all of this?"

"Just enough. She started scrying into the matter more deeply after our last, eh... conversation, with your uncle."

Thor looked at his father: cursed twice because of Thor's own stupidity, tired of being anrgy at his brother, tired of having to protect their people constanlty with the shadow of another war –after all this time– hovering over their heads. How come his parents have never told him about this?

"Why didn't you tell me sooner? Not... Not the details, but that we have been risking war, that the peace was so fragile that the life of one mer could throw into chaos the two kingdoms?"

"You were too young then, and I had decided to leave Loki like that. Without having to face him it was easier to throw him away."

Thor growled, indignant.

"I can't believe you, father! You would rather have Loki imprisoned than at your side trying to set things right?"

His father looked exhausted, sadness washing over his features, shoulders hunched.

"I'm not proud of many things, pup, but I am ready to make sacrifices for the greater good."

Thor stormed out then.

He couldn't understand his father's reasoning. He wouldn't! If it was up to him, he would protect his uncle. It seemed that what was taught at school was true: the mer Jotnar were savages who didn't deserve to be a kingdom on their own right. He went to his chambers to rest before the feast, mind in turmoil.

More Notes: This is going places I haven't intended before, and we haven't seen a little surprise I have planned for above water either! x3 Ah! Sorry, that might count as spoiler, don't mind me. :P