When the first rays of sun entered my room, I woke with them. As I sat up and stretched, I felt something chilled around my collar and down my chest. I looked to see obsidian scales resting against my skin. A tail was between my breasts and its head was buried in my hair. I smiled softly as I gently unwrapped him. His eyes stared me down in the most adorable way plausible. I placed a tender kiss on the end of his snout before setting him on my pillow.
"Good morning, Loki." I spoke as I headed toward the shower. There was no movement as I prepped the water. Or none that I heard. When I reached to undress, I was met with two hands on my hips and a kiss on my shoulder.
"Good morning, darling." He spoke against my skin, wrapping his arms around me and holding me as close to his body as he could. I leaned in to him to return the embrace. "Would you like me to go have breakfast prepared?"
I turned to face him, smile present. "If you feel its necessary. Or you could always join me."
That smirk appeared before I even finished my sentence.
His bright viridian orbs were swimming with ideas he shared through his touch as he cupped my face and kissed me lovingly. My hands slipped from his chest to his neck, pulling him deeper into the kiss. He picked me up and tenderly sat me down on the edge of the tub.
"You are always a necessity in my life, Hildr." He took my hands in his and kissed the backs of them. "But I also know you were out late training and didn't eat dinner last night. So you relax this time." He took a few steps back, smirk still on his lips, before bowing playfully. "And I will make sure the food is ready."
I laughed lightly as he left, admiration on my face. I took a bath as quick as I could, knowing it was rare that Loki was home in the morning. I threw on a loose-fitting tunic and dashed toward the dining room. I slid through the doorway just as the food began to arrive. Loki beckoned me to the seat beside him. I nodded politely at Thor and Frigga as I sat, but also noticed Odin's absence.
The boys had already begun to eat, so I looked to Frigga. "Where is the Allfather?"
"Oh he's preparing for Thor's coronation today." She smiled sweetly at the blonde and he returned the gesture. I felt myself inhale a little harder than I meant to. Loki slid his hand over to my thigh, trying to keep me from lashing out. Was Loki a strong fighter? No. But he would've made a much better King of Asgard than Thor.
"That explains why Loki is here. I'd forgotten all about it." I gave them the best fake smile I could muster, but even Loki could hear how sour it was. We ate the rest of our breakfast in silence. Once I finished, I excused myself and returned to my room to get ready for the celebration.
It took all my patience to keep a level head as I braided green and gold threads in to my hair. Even though Odin disliked me- and the feeling was mutual- I knew better than to cause trouble during an event where Thor was the star. I threw on one of my many fighter-friendly dresses, strapped twin daggers to my thigh, and laced up my boots. While I was partial to keeping my hair tied up, Loki enjoyed it hanging free around my shoulders. I decided to put a smile on his face by leaving it down. I took one last look in the mirror before inhaling sharply and marching towards the hall.————
Everyone in Asgard attended Thor's ascension ceremony. Of course I wasn't allowed to stand on the throne steps with Loki, but Frigga let me hide behind a nearby pillar. When it was interrupted by the Frost Giants, I remained with her. My duty to protect the royal family always came first. Once I'd heard Odin and the boys were back from the vault, I decided to tag along with Sif and The Warriors Three to check on them. I was mainly focused on Loki but perked up when Thor said he was going to Jötunheim.
"Are you completely mad?" I couldn't hold back my anger.
"If my father can do it, then so can I!" Thor bellowed.
"It is forbidden!" Sif spoke firmly.
Thor reminisced with the four warriors, trying to hype them up as I made my way to Loki's side. He gave me a look of worry and I simply shook my head. There was no talking Thor out of anything once his mind was made up. The next best thing was to tag along and keep them all alive.
When we arrived to the Bifrost, Heimdall was outside waiting. I would've been concerned if he wasn't. The brothers exchanged words with the guardian of the realm before everyone headed for the front of the room. The journey was quick, but cold. As soon as we reached the other world, we began searching for the Jötun.
"Where are they?" Sif wondered as we approached the castle entrance.
"Hiding, as cowards always do." Thor's continued frustration was evident in his voice.
"You've come a long way to die, Asgardians." A deep tone vibrated around us. My hand instinctively went for my thigh as I closed what little distance remained between Loki and myself. Thor and the man exchanged words before he finally asked his question.
"How did your people get in to Asgard?" The god of thunder stared down the ruler of the Frost Giants.
Laufey turned his gaze to us. "The House of Odin is full of traitors."
"Do not dishonor my father's name with your lies!" Thor bellowed. I heard the ice cracking around us and tuned the argument out. If even half of the sounds I heard were Jötun, there was no way we could put up a fight. As the Giants approached us, The Warriors exchanged glances. Loki shot off to Thor's side and tried to stay his hand, but was met only with anger.
"You know not what your actions would unleash." Red eyes bore holes in to us. "I do. Go now, while I still allow it." A guard approached us as if to push us out sooner. Loki thanked them as we turned to leave.
"Run back home, little princess." The warden growled. I sighed heavily and heard Loki curse under his breath. I pulled both my daggers from my side and flipped them outward, extending them to full-sized swords, just as I heard Mijölnir connect with bone.
The giants came our way all at once. It was amusing how easily we could all go from talking to fighting. Of course Thor had to gloat, which caused the King to send in the juggernauts. I tried to find Loki. I knew he wasn't a warrior, but he wasn't the trickster god for nothing. I set eyes on him just to watch a Jötun phase through him and fall to his death. I gave the illusion a smirk and went back to the fight.
"Don't let them touch you!" Volstagg boomed. I whirled my head around to check on him, but laid eyes on Loki first just as a Jötun grabbed him.
"Loki!" I yelled, snapping him out of his daze. He looked to me quickly before slicing into the monster's chest. He stared at his arm in awe. The Warriors, Sif, and I continued to slay fighter after fighter, until Fandral was struck. A pole of ice pierced his clavicle.
"Thor!" Hogun shouted, hoping he could hear him over the ice. "We need to go!" The others helped Fandral free.
"Then go!" He roared as he continued fighting. He threw Mijölnir through a line of fighters. Laufey took notice of the hammer's direction and shot a white light under the ice. The fighting continued as a giant golem-like creature was birthed from a frozen statue.
Volstagg bellowed for everyone to run as it began to break free. Loki called for his brother as the god of thunder continued to swing his hammer at anything in reach. The monster wasted no time in chasing after us as Thor continued his onslaught. With little warning, the sky lit up and a shockwave was sent out from the Jötun's castle. We all quickly realized this light was from our ally. Fandral gave a pained laugh as the ground behind us shattered and fell into the caverns below.
"Heimdall! Open the bridge!" I cried for help as we reached the edge of the cliff. There was a guttural growl from below. Slowly and methodically, the creature from earlier made its way up the cliffside. We stepped back as it stood on hind legs.
As if on cue, a blur of red burst through the creature's mouth and out the back of its head. Thor landed in front of us as the monster collapsed and fell back in to the ravine. The sound of footsteps made all of us turn.
Laufey and the Jötun warriors approached in a swarm. I took to Loki's side when we were engulfed in a bright light. A horse whined as I tried to look up, but I only heard Thor shouting for Odin.
"Silence!" The Allfather demanded. The Frost Giant's king rose to meet Odin and Sleipnir.
"Allfather," Laufey spoke softly. "You look weary." His eyes held some sort of reservation.
"End this now," he replied.
"Your boy sought this out." I felt Loki's hand on my arm. Thor was going to get us all killed.
"You're right. And these are the actions of a boy- treat them as such. You and I can end this here and now, before there's further bloodshed." If I wasn't so on edge, I would've actually agreed with Odin.
"We are beyond diplomacy now, Allfather. He'll get the war and death he came for." My eyes ran along the rows of Jötun that stood before us with worry.
"So be it," Asgard's ruler responded so cooly that it made me more concerned. Without a doubt, Thor got his temperament from his father. However Laufey was the one to throw the first punch. He was immediately pushed back by Odin as Sleipnir rose up. Just as quick as we'd arrived in the icy realm, we all departed it.
Odin and Thor exchanged heated words while the Warriors and Sif escorted their injured to the palace. Thor spoke of making the frost giants fear him and a worried look was cast over Loki's face. I held his hand in mine, hoping to ease whatever thoughts were bothering him.
"You've forgotten everything I taught you about a warrior's patience. Even the valkyrie stayed her hand until you lifted it." I shifted my weight. Hearing Odin praise me felt...strange.
"While you wait and be patient, The Nine Realms laugh at us." His anger was as strong as his thunder. "You'd stand giving speeches while Asgard falls."
"You are a vain, greedy, cruel boy!"
"And you are an old man and a fool!" Silence hung thick in the air, but only for a few moments.
"Yes," Odin dropped his gaze and I felt Loki squeeze my hand. "I was a fool to think you were ready."
"Father," My lover finally spoke up, releasing my hand and stepping to defend his brother. He was met with a growling cry from Odin and he fumbled back to my side. I quickly wrapped my arm around his shoulders and glared at his father. The thought of throwing a dagger through his other eye had never been more enticing.
"Thor Odinson," The king spoke slowly as he looked toward his eldest. "You have betrayed the express command of your king. Through your arrogance and stupidity, you've opened these peaceful realms and innocent lives to the horror and desolation of war!" He injected his staff in where Hofund would usually perch. Lightning began spouting from the center.
"You are unworthy of these realms, you are unworthy of your title." Odin ripped off pieces of Thor's armor. I could tell Loki wanted to help his kin, but I held him back for fear he would face the same fate. "You are unworthy of the loved ones you have betrayed." There were no voices as the Allfather stepped back. "I now take from you, your power!" Mijölnir flew in to his hand as his son's armor fell from his form. "In the name of my father, and his father before, I, Odin Allfather, cast you out!" A burst from the hammer threw Thor in to the Bifrost and stripped him of any remaining armor. Loki stared helplessly before trying to go after his brother. I grabbed his arm just in time to stop Mijölnir from flying in to him. The Bifrost closed behind the hammer as Odin retrieved Gungnir.
"Allfather," Heimdall spoke softly. "Lady Frigga has requested your presence." Odin silently acknowledged him as he looked toward Loki and me. I briefly thought about asking Heimdall to let me go after Thor, but decided against it.
The King left the three of us in silence. After some time in the quiet, Loki and I bowed to Heimdall respectfully before also departing back home. My partner refused to take notice of the civilians paying their respects to him as their prince, so I thanked them and bowed for him.
Once we were back on palace grounds, he let out a ragged sigh. I tenderly took his face in my hands and kissed him lovingly. He returned the kiss as his hands found my hips and pulled me against him.
"I don't know what to do, Hildr." His voice was barely above a whisper. "I've never seen Father so upset." His eyes fluttered closed as our foreheads touched.
"I believe you will do what needs to be done, my prince." A soft smile graced his lips. "In the mean time, may I suggest we go check on the others?" We separated and stared at each other for a moment in silence.
"One of the many reasons I love you- you know when to fight, when to protect, and when to nurture." He cupped my face as his glowed. "I cannot wait to marry you."