The Trickster God


Before the start:

Frigga

He was small. Smaller than Thor at his age. So frail and vulnerable. It was hard to think that this small child would be the cataclysm, the one to end an era, strong. He would never be big and muscular like his father, but he'd be smart, too smart. Even now, she could feel the natural affinity towards greatness, towards magic. It would be his greatest ally, or his downfall.

Loki was born from kings and would be raised by kings, but not the same ones. That may perhaps cause some resentment, even a powerful sorcerer such as her could not see the future. Versions of it, yes. The definitive one, no. She knew that it would be a while before the kickstart of things, before the pieces fell into place, so she would raise her boys to be good and gentle, to be smart and strong, even if they were not in fact hers.

His differences to Thor were as the night is to the day. Dark hair to his blond. Green eyes to his blue. Pale skin to his tan. He was silent, never cried, even when abandoned in the middle of a battlefield. Thor was never quiet, even in his sleep he was thunderous. He had an air of knowing that didn't belong in a baby, like he was in fact understanding what she was saying.

Odin had a look she could not unveil when he came home, and it was not fault only to his missing eye. That was a new feeling. She was usually able to read him like one of her books. One of those she wrote.

"I brought more home than only the Casket of Ancient Winters," he said "I brought a child, a baby, Laufeyson."

She was wrong, she could place that look on his face. It was the same one he wore when bringing Thor home and asking her to raise him as her own. She could not deny him. She wanted another son, a brother to the one she had. Maybe this one would have any aptitude to sorcery.

"I will raise him as ours" she said " Thor will love his brother!" a smile spread on his face.

"I couldn't ask for a better wife. Just don't tell him of his origins, I'll do that when the time comes." was his response.

"He could grow to resent you.".

"He won't. He will be the one to transform this truce into peace".

When she held him in her arms she knew she loved him. She knew he would be important. She only hoped it was for the good, because either way she would protect him. Loki Odinson, he smiled, a toothless grin. Hair as balck as a crow's feather, deep green eyes. It almost seemed like he knew her, that feeling was lost when he got distracted by her hair. Odin looked at the baby in her arms. She knew he loved him as well. Thor ran into the room.

"Can I see him, my little brother!"


The Trickster God

He had strange speech patterns, she noticed. Not anything particularly disconcerting, only sayings and expressions she could not pinpoint the origin. Where he learned them she had no idea, but he was strange like that. He had learned how to walk and talk at a pace that she had never seen, but he was only her second son so she didn't mind it until another person pointed it out. One of the ladies of the court, she had six children. An effort she could not imagine.

When she first met him she had felt his sorcery affinity, but she could have never guessed how strong it would become. It was natural to him, he could create images and mirages to his will. He could teleport by the time he was ninety, which was an interesting experience. Raising a teleporting toddler.

"Figga, my lady wife, I was taking Loki for a walk when he simply vanished!" He had the look of a father that had lost his son. Which he was, a father who had lost his son. "I asked the guards to find him and came to tell …" it was then that he realized the toddler in my arms. "Well, that is new."

"It would appear, Odin my king, that our son has learned a new skill." was my answer.

It didn't take long for Loki to start using his magic. It just so happened that he applied it to his found passion, mischief. His older brother was the main victim, but no one was safe. It was particularly amusing to watch him impersonate Odin. She worried for him, he seemed to understand things beyond normal children, she was afraid this could kill his childhood innocence.

"Mother, you worry too much. We'll be okay, I'll make sure of it." Her son once said, after catching her worried gaze.

"You grow too fast. Besides, it's a mothers duty to worry about her children." was her eloquent answer.

Thor was boisterous. He was loud. He was big. But above all else he was kind, she saw that in him. She knew he was arrogant, but he was young, still had much to learn. The people of Asgard loved him, and that was an important attribute to a king. But his youth and physical strength made him overlook the diplomacy side that a ruler should have. Loki never had that problem, she would think to herself.

Loki practiced with swords and shields and spears and bows, even if they were not his strong suit. He was good with daggers, like her. His prowess in the mystical arts was absurd. His tutors in History, Geography and Science praised his intellect. He had the diplomat bone in him, as well as the negotiator. The problem was that he had no interest in applying his abilities to ruling Asgard, or anywhere else for that matter.

"I'll leave that to Thor." He'd said "I just want to learn magic, see the universe and be prepared to face anything that would hurt you or Thor. He'll learn to be a king, even if I have to stab him to it!"

She trusted him. He seemed always tranquil, except for these little moments where it was only the two of them. In those moments she saw the fire in his eyes.


A/N

This is something I have no hopes on finishing. Maybe I should have chosen a character I know more about. I had the craving for a fanfic that I could not find, so I thought: 'Why not write it'. This chapter took more effort than I expected. I think I'll write myself into a corner. Nice to meet you. Don't expect regular updates, this is more for myself than for you.