"Do you swear to uphold the peace?"

"I swear."

"Do you swear to protect the nine realms?"

"I swear."

"And do you swear to put the needs of your kingdom before yourself, even laying down your life for your realm, if necessary?"

"I swear!" Thor shouted enthusiastically, and, silently, Loki agreed with him. Asgard was the first place that had welcomed him as a person, and, already, he would do almost anything for the realm, and certainly it's soon-to-be-king.

"Then I, Vili Borson, declare you..." Thor's uncle paused dramatically. "King of Asgard."

The audience burst into wild applause as Vili handed the spear, Gungnir, to Thor. The Thunderer smiled at his uncle, and stepped up onto the dais, seating himself to the throne, much the enthusiasm of the crowd. Loki felt numb in anticipation, standing alongside the Warriors Three. Now was the time.

The audience quieted in anticipation.

Thor leaned forward, the spear carelessly resting across his knees. Loki rolled his eyes at his friend's careless treatment of… well… everything. The newly crowned king cleared his throat to address his people for the first time. "Hello, everybody." He gave a small wave. Loki internally groaned, as a wave of laughter swept through the masses. "Nice to see you all made it out." Thor continued cheerfully. "Now, I know you're all probably expecting a really eloquent speech, but, well, I kind of stink at those."

Loki face-palmed, a fond smile on his face as his heart galloped a mile a minute. Just say it, you oaf!

"But I do have a few things to say." Thor smiled reassuringly at his uncle, who did not look pleased at Thor's careless, informal demeanor. "First of all, I just want to point out that I will never be my father. So, I will consider it extremely uncivil of anyone who tries to compare me to him. He was a great man, and I always looked up to him, but I am not him."

Vili did not look pleased. Thor was supposed to be using this time to nominate his board.

"Secondly, I'm changing a lot of stuff, around here, and the first thing would be that I'm officially abolishing slavery."

There was a stunned silence. Loki felt light-headed. Fandral glanced at him in shock, as if to say, "Did you know he was going to do this?"

"Effective immediately." Thor chirped, leaning back on the throne. Loki noticed he apparently really liked that phrase.

The crowd went nuts. Screaming and hisses and booing erupted, and, for a second, Loki thought there would be a revolution right then and there. Boots, rotten food, and other projectiles flew through the air, and the young Jotun wondered if people brought dead cats to coronations just in case the new king's first edict was unfavorable. That was when something began happening. People began shifting through the crowds, pushing through the walls of people, and slipping past the Einherjar. These people weren't the brawny, warrior type, or the well-dressed, fat type that the slavers would be, as Loki had feared. These people wore rags, their heads were shaved, many of them had brandings, most had scars, and all were as ecstatic as Loki had ever seen a person be. They were the slaves.

They fled from the men who had previously been their masters, and pooled against the apprehensive barrier of royal guards, pushing against them with no intent of malice, only the most exuberant joy.

"HEY!" Thor bellowed, shocking everyone into silence. "I wasn't finished." He smiled to himself. "Anyone caught holding slaves after today is subject to… let's say… permanent exile. Or life in the dungeons. Whichever is fairer considering the circumstances."

The crowd buzzed disapprovingly, as the slaves let out wild whoops of sheer joy.

"With that in mind, I would like to nominate as my Chief advisor, Loki Silvertongue." Shakily, Loki stepped forward, eyes wide as he approached Thor's throne, and stood beside it to the left. Thor continued nominating his board members, and Loki noticed that all three of the warriors had very important ranks in the council. After he had finished, he stood up, looking every inch the king. "Now that we have that out of the way, I'd like to remind everyone of the rich feast the cooks have prepared. Everyone is invited to attend, and I look forward to seeing you there!"

There was a mini-riot as all the slavers tried to protest indignantly, all the farmers and warriors bolted for the feasting halls, and all the former slaves rushed forward to greet their new king. Excited voices clamored to thank Thor, and the children began a strange sort of dance in front of the dais. Many of them were too young to truly understand what was going on, but they rejoiced.

"Hello!" Thor cheerfully smiled, standing up, and shaking hands all round. The people gushed over how kind and benevolent he was, how much the realm owed him. A few of the young women smiled shyly at him, and complimented his good looks and kind heart. Most of them looked like they could barely believe that they were free. "My pleasure." Thor assured them, as a small child approached, and, with a boldness Loki honestly admired, tugged on Thor's cape. The Thunderer crouched down to be on eye level with the little boy. "Hello, there." He smiled kindly. "What's your name?"

"Ragnar, Sire!" The boy lisped, reaching up, and placing a wreath of flowers on Thor's head. It made him look ridiculous, but he seemed extremely pleased with himself.

"Thank you very much, Ragnar!" Thor smiled, fondly ruffling the boy's hair. "Well, do any of you want to go to the feast?"

They looked around at each other's faces, shock etched over their features. Slaves were not guests at the feasts, if they were allowed to go at all, they were attendants, nothing more. To be able to participate was an extremely new thing to all of them, including Loki, who had never been at a feast, before, until this day. Not used to making decisions for themselves, though, they all nodded eagerly, and respectfully trailed after Thor as he made his way to the feasting hall, a bright smile on his face. They made quite a parade as they entered the hall, and almost everyone jumped to their feet, making a thunderous applause for the new king.

There were a few stragglers who only sneered, but Thor ignored them, and sat down at his table of honor, with Loki on his right side and Fandral on his left.

"You've done a great thing, today, Thor." Volstagg proclaimed, sitting down on the opposite side of Loki.

"Loki said I made half of the population extremely happy, and the other half furious, or something to that effect." Thor happily grinned, digging in to his roast venison.

"I'd concur with that." Fandral smiled, watching the former slaves run around, dancing, and talking amongst each other like they'd never been allowed, before. They were getting a lot of very nasty looks, however. Loki noticed the lady Sif standing in a corner, arms crossed, with a disapproving look on her face. She glanced in his direction, and he quickly busied himself with his food, pretending he hadn't been staring. (He'd been staring.)

"So, Loki, what are you going to do, as chief Advisor?" Volstagg asked cheerfully.

"I think…" Loki began slowly, an elated light in his eyes. "That my first piece of advice will be: take a long walk off of a short pier."

Thor laughed uproariously at this statement. "Sound advice, if you ask me." Fandral smirked, thumping Thor's head playfully.

"Quickly followed by: hand over the entire kingdom to me, right?" A quiet voice to Fandral's left spoke up. It was Sif. When she'd moved, Loki had no idea, but she was here, now.

"No, more likely followed by: wash your hair." Loki joked. "The stench of it alone could fell a bilgesnipe twelve miles away."

Thor and the warriors roared in laughter, but Sif only cracked a small smile. "No worse than the stench of your treachery."

The four men were stunned into silence. "Sif, I don't think…" Thor began, but Sif shrugged him off.

"We all know he's had an influence on you, your Majesty." She explained coldly. "Now his whispers in your ear have driven you to make a decree that has ruined my father."

Thor reared indignantly. "Sif, I…"

Sif did not let him finish. "It's only a matter of time before the little rat worms his way onto the throne, and ruins us all."

"Sif!" Volstagg scolded. "What's gotten into you?"

"Oh, I don't know, did I mention my father was ruined, this night?" Sif guffawed. "There's nothing left, for us. As soon as that worm gets upset, he gets revenge."

Loki blinked in surprise as Sif moved to stand behind him. "Listen, rat, you may think you're so special, with your title, and fine clothes, and everything, but deep down, you're still nothing but a slave, and that's what you'll always be, no matter what your new puppet says." She spat, and then stalked out of the room. Loki stared after her in mute shock, before turning to Thor.

"You know, I don't want all of that… right?" He blurted. "I don't want your throne; I barely want this title…"

"I know." Thor smiled reassuringly. "She's just mad because her father's out of a job."

"You're not even sorry?" Loki raised an eyebrow.

Thor gestured out at the feasting hall. "If I was sorry for everyone I forced to find a new occupation, tonight, I'd be apologizing till Ragnarok. And, there's no reason to be sorry for doing the right thing. I'm not sorry for the people I freed."

Loki nodded, accepting this as an answer, but Sif's barbed accusation had stolen his appetite. "Where's Hogun?"

"He couldn't attend." Volstagg sighed regretfully. "His wife has just had a child, and he needs to be there for her."

"Really?" Fandral perked up. "When did this happen?"

"Just last night." Volstagg answered. "A healthy boy."

"Well, that's wonderful!" Thor cheered. "I'll have to send him my congratulations."

Someone stood up at the end of the table nearest theirs. "A toast!" He announced. "To our new King! Long may he live!"

"To King Thor!" The people cheered, eager to have any excuse to crack into the alcohol.

Loki had only had alcohol once, when one of his friends had smuggled a bottle of wine out to the slave huts. Splitting it between everyone, there hadn't really been enough for him to discern whether he liked it, or not, so he allowed the servant to fill his goblet, and downed the entire thing in one go, like Thor was doing. He choked at the strong sting it left on the back of his throat, but his head felt suddenly lighter, and he was far more cheerful, so he really didn't mind.

"Loki, could you pass the cheese?" Fandral asked politely.

"No."

Thor turned the Jotun in shock. Loki was wearing a huge grin on his face. "I don't have to do what everyone says, anymore." He explained.

"Ah…" Volstagg nodded in agreement. "Fandral, don't order a free man around. Ask nicely."

Fandral laughed amiably. "Very well, then. May I please have the cheese, my dear friend."

"No." Loki giggled. "I still don't have to give it to you."

Thor rolled his eyes, handing the basket of cheese to his friend. "Just because you don't have to, doesn't mean you need to be uncivil, Loki."

Loki turned to him, a mildly confused look on his face. "Now, when have you ever known me to be civil?"

Thor shrugged in agreement. "You have a point, there."

The servants filled their goblets with wine, once more, and another toast was proposed to the new king.

"You know, Thor…" Loki giggled, suddenly a bit foggy in the head. "With all the toasts to your long life, you'll be a very long liver, indeed."

Thor nodded seriously, downing another stein of beer. "I might just see Ragnarok come."

Loki snorted in laughter, while shaking his head. "No, you'll simply have a very long liver." Another goblet.

Thor turned to look at his friend, a quizzical expression on his face. "Long… liver?"

"Mm-hm!" Loki shook with laughter at his own joke. He downed another goblet of wine, then collapsed, giggling, onto Thor's shoulder. "What's wrong with me, Thor? I can't… can't… think straight."

Thor laughed heartily. "I think you're drunk." He guessed. More wine.

"Drunk?" Loki slurred. "Then… why aren't… you… drunk?"

"He is." Volstagg offered. "Just not nearly as drunk as you."

Loki thought this was a hilarious joke, and shoved another stein of beer toward the king. "Come… Thor, you musht… must be as drunk as I. You can't let me beat you at this game, can you?"

Thor downed the alcohol, and slapped Loki on his shoulder. "There. Now I'm…" Thor hiccupped. "Drunk as you!"

Loki fumbled for another glass. "I'm not… giving up, you… you… shnee katze." He muttered, downing another glass.

"What's a shnee katze?" Thor asked, after chugging another goblet of mead.

Loki shrugged. "Don't rightly know. Ask me… tomorrow."

Fandral face-palmed as the two of them fought to become the drunker man. Thor was, in truth, only half as drunk as Loki, being more used to alcohol, but in half an hour, they were both totally snockered.

"Aright, that's enough." Fandral stood up. "Servants? Can you escort his Royal Highness to his chambers, please?" The servants gave each other knowing glances, as Loki whined half-heartedly about Fandral spoiling all their fun. They staggered back to Thor's room, giggling about some unspoken joke, as the servants made sure they didn't crash onto the floor.

Dizzily, they both flopped onto Thor's bed, and were both out like a light in seconds.

FEEEEEEED MEEEEEEE REVIEWWWWWWWWS *review zombie noises*

TheOnlyHuman.