Thor had to hand it to Loki, he made a good show out of trying to look composed, even as they stood in front of so many council men… Their eyes naturally directed at Loki.
Loki whom had a swap in wardrobe for the occasion, his usual green garbs were now black and red. When Thor had asked about it Loki had informed that the green simply didn't look very good with his new complexion.
It was fine for when he was on his own, but not decent for official gatherings like this where it simply clashed horrible.
There were so many small things in Lokis life that Thor never thought about, personally Thor had never really thought about what colors would clash and what wouldn't.
But Loki had always been very sensitive about his own appearance and wanted to look matriculate in any official capacity, now it seemed more than ever.
And while Lokis current clothes had changed color, it was as Asgardian as could possible be.
A clear Asgardian design, with old fashioned buckles, a long cape swirling after him when he walked. Strong elegant boots and all of course suited him amazingly.
Loki had made sure of it.
"Sir." A council man finally stepped forward. "Forgive me, but is it wise to have a member of an enemy family listening in?"
Thor lifted an eyebrow.
"We are at war with Jotunnheim." The council member pointed out.
Thor starred down at the council member, it was enough to make him step back. "True, Loki is Jotnar, but he is not Jotunheim. He is not an Aisir but he is Asgardian!" he stated. "Not just an Asgardian, a prince of Asgard! Whom has always been loyal to our realm and its people."
Mumbles sounded, there seemed to be a lot of disagreement. There were both mumbles that Thor was right and others that he were insane.
"SILENCE!" Thor demanded and all quieted. "Lokis situation is not his own making! Odin was the one who picked up a baby on Jotunnheim and presented it as his own! Lying to everyone for over a thousand years, including the baby! Loki had no idea either until Odin had no choice but to inform of the truth only days ago! Then Loki was put in a position where he had no choice but to give up his Aisir skin if we were to safe the entire universe. You are included in that universe! For that alone you owe him your trust! And your gratitude!"
And people did indeed quiet, then Loki held up a hand and Thor nodded stepping back allowing Loki to step forward. He breathed deeply.
"Apparently I was a part of the all fathers plan to reach peace between Asgard and Jotunnheim." Loki informed. "I did not know of this, until very recently… It is true, I gave up my Aisir skin. I had no desire to do it… Which is why the sacrifice was accepted by the soul stone. Only that which holds immense value is accepted. The fact that it worked, shows how much I truly valued it." He sighed deeply. "The reason why I am even here today, it is because… I am officially casting away any claim I might have on the throne." he stated. "The Aisir ought to have an Aisir king at least, and I am supporting my brother. Odin has yet to wake, and I vote for having my brother fill the role as regent until we know of Odins condition in the future."
That made people gasp wide-eyed and then big shouts sounded, it was impossible to hear what anyone was saying.
"SILENCE!" Thor demanded and people quieted. "Loki has given up his claim, which leaves me the only available heir." he stated. "There is another one though, locked away. Hela Odindottir, goddess of death. The day Odin passes she will be released, and your choice is simple. Her or me."
Now there was just stunned quiet, wide-eyed people were looking at Thor.
"Odin chose Thor as well. It was a choice made months ago, when Odin announced Thors coronation." Loki stated. "We the royal family, which includes myself, Queen Frigga, and King Odin picks Thor. If there are any objections to this decision, we wish for you to speak to us directly. You are free to do so now."
Murmurs sounded, then slowly it quieted.
Finally another council member stepped forward. "Prince Loki." she bowed for him. "I do believe you, but I would still like to hear it from your own mouth. Let everyone hear." she asked. "To whom are you loyal?" she asked. "Asgard or Jotunnheim?"
"My heart is with Asgard." Loki replied. "My loyalty is with Thor. I will follow him and honor him as he is crowned king."
The older woman nodded then stepped back. "Thank you my prince."
It was not lost on Thor that Loki had named his loyalty to him and not Odin, but…. He was just going to ignore that one. This was a question of who was going to be the successor after all and… His position had been cemented it seemed.
It honestly felt so much more real now than any of the other times.
At Thors first failed coronation, Odin had named him next king but… He didn't have Lokis support, and many doubted him calling him to young and inexperienced… They were right.
When Odin had asked him again, Thor had flat out refused and gone to Midgard to spend time there.
And when it had finally happened… It was just the only option available. Odin was dead, the Asgardians were fleeing, there had been no coronation at all just a desperate need for someone to step up and lead, and he was the only one available. That was it.
Now… Here Thor stood. He had Odins support like before, but also Lokis and also Friggas, the nay sayers were still skeptical, but far more willing.
He himself was no longer inexperienced, he now actually had a knowledge of what this meant… This time it was very real.
When Thor and Loki finally left the chamber they both let go of a breath of relief, just happy to be over with it.
"Well… I think that went well." Thor gasped.
"Food wasn't flying in all directions and no one is in the healers room because someone else tried to choke them. So aye. That is what you call a success in these circumstances." Loki replied, though he to looked like he had just escaped from battle.
"I swear, this is different when father is the one holding the conference." Thor stated.
"That's because everyone is to scared of him to object to anything." Loki informed and Thor blinked.
"Oh..." Thor halted. "Well, that's…. That's not a good way to rule."
"It worked for him." Loki commented.
"Well yes but." Thor sighed. "On Midgard they call that tyranny."
Loki looked at Thor.
"What?" Thor asked.
"Sometimes I question if your fascination with that realm is for the better or worse." Loki admitted. "I mean, it's not like their own realm is perfect either. And these things has worked for us. Aside from that, people who have lived for thousands of years will often be very resistant to change."
"Well, Loki. Change is necessary for growth. Whether we like it or not." Thor replied. "And if Asgard is to survive, it needs to grow. There will probably be much kicking and screaming involved, I'm afraid it just means the two of us needs to be the adults here."
Loki nodded thoughtfully.
"Thought Loki?" Thor asked.
"Growing up is hard." Loki groaned.
Thor smirked amused. "Aye, it is." he admitted. "But you know, I don't think it's all bad either. We've become stronger, less concerned with what other thinks of us and thus can be more true to ourselves. Growing up proper, does mean becoming a better truer version of yourself after all."
Loki nodded thoughtfully.
"Only as we both grew could we ever become this. Had either of us kept at our old childish ways, it wouldn't have gone that way. So I will just say... Worth it." Thor stated.
"You really talk like an old man now. I hope you know that." Loki shook his head and Thor just laughed.
"MY PRINCES!" He shouted making Thor and Loki turn to him.
"Thank the norns I found you!"
"What is going on?" Thor asked.
"The king is awake! He wishes to see you, now! He said there is no time to waste!"
For a brief second Thor and Loki looked at each other, and then they stormed forward, rushing towards Odins chambers were he had been laid down as was costume when he was in Odin sleep.
The moment they ran through the door Frigga was already there, by Odins side as she always would be when he had fallen to Odin sleep.
Then… Thor and Loki halted. Frigga looked at them, slowly she stood up and walked forward. "I shall leave you to it." she informed, and quietly walked out, closing the door behind her.
Thor and Loki was silent, they looked at Odin still laying in bed and… He didn't look good. His face was ash gray just like before, he was breathing deeply and looked… So weak. So old… So frail.
Slowly his one eye opened, sparkling blue as he looked at them, then a soft smile graced his lips as he spoke in a hoarse voice. "My sons."
Thor and Loki scrambled forward so they both could kneel down beside him, Odin was smiling softly.
"When I am in Odin sleep… my conscious is allowed to wander the halls of Asgard like a ghost. I see all, which happens within these walls. Words cannot describe, how proud I am." Odin informed. "I watched you… Saw you aiding and helping each other in your hour of need. Pushing each other forward, and using each other as an inspiration. It was everything I ever wished for you two."
"Father." Thor breathed. "You shouldn't be awake yet, clearly you are not yet well."
"Odin sleep isn't working, it is only slowing down my demise not stopping it." Odin informed. "I forced myself awake for just one last time… I wished to speak to you. Just ones more."
Loki gasped. "What?" he asked. "But."
"Loki..." Odins blue eye turned to him, he reached up a weak shaking hand, then finally touched Lokis blue cheek and Loki grabbed the hand, holding it tight. "I am so sorry." he gasped. "So many hardships I have put you through, and yet it is not over." he stated. "Now I am to leave you with all the burdens. I failed…. As your father. Truly I am sorry."
Loki swallowed holding his hand. "I was so angry with you." he admitted. "I wanted you to feel pain, I wanted to see you humiliated. I wanted you to feel true regret for making me feel like I did... I don't anymore. I'm sorry to… Father."
Odin smiled softly. "You make me proud, Loki. Wear your blue skin with pride! For it is proof of your bravery and your selflessness! It is proof of your commitment to Asgard and your wit! For you are the only one who ever found a way around the rules of the soul stone! All others who retrieved it ended up with blood on their hands. Only you, used your unique circumstance to find a way around it! Only you would have the wit to figure that out! It is proof Loki! That you are great! Help Thor, he is going to need your help. So very badly. I fear he is going to need you even more than you'll need him."
Loki nodded. "I understand." he stated and Odin lowered his hand turning to Thor.
"Thor."
"Father." Thor spoke.
"I see it in your eyes, you have been through untold hardships." Odin breathed. "And yet, your heart remains good. You were brash and immature, but you always had a good heart."
Thor breathed deeply.
"I am glad you decided among yourselves, either of you could have been a good king." Odin admitted.
"Then…. " Loki asked.
"Yes Loki?" Odin turned to him.
"Why Thor?" Loki finally asked. "I mean… Is it because he is your blood and I am not?" he asked. "Look, I wont be angry if that is the case. I just desire to know." Loki actually sounded slightly desperate.
"You desire the truth?" Odin asked. "Very well… Why I chose Thor?" he asked. "Because Loki, out of the two of you… I always saw myself most within you."
"Me?" Loki asked.
"I was so afraid, that my ways had been to ingrained within you. You always followed my wishes without question. I saw myself as a young man within you, always… And I made so many mistakes. So very very many." Odin breathed. "I was sad to see you walking my old path, and see you nearly making the same mistakes I did. I feared for you. Thor how-ever… Is different from either of us. Perhaps with him, things can be different. That is why."
Loki took in a deep breath.
"Intelligence is both a blessing and a curse my son. It so easily make people so very arrogant." Odin informed. "You… Always had the greater potential. But thus also there was even greater danger involved with you."
"Father… Did you fear me?" Loki asked. "Fear what I could become?"
"Sometimes." Odin admitted. "But more I feared for you."
Loki glanced down.
"No more." Odin smiled softly. "What I saw, when I was a sleep… It has put my mind at ease. I am so very glad." he sighed deeply.
Loki smiled lightly. Then he swallowed. "Father, please. You have to tell me. I must know... Why didn't you tell me?" he asked. "Why would you have me believe I was your blood? And promise me I was as equally likely to get the throne as Thor? Why?" he asked.
"Fear, I am afraid." Odin spoke sadly. "The hatred for the Jotunns runs deep among the Asgardians. You've seen it yourself, I feared that if the truth was to come out. They would hurt you. Then as you grew older, you yourself would talk of slaying the Jotunns, and I feared what such knowledge would do to you... I acted coward. Instead of handling the issue I swept it away, and willed myself to forget."
Loki closed his eyes.
"And why tell you you had an equal chance at the Throne?" Odin asked. "Because that one, wasn't a lie. You are my son, if something happens to Thor. I pray to the norns it shan't be so. The throne will be yours, this is my will." Odin stated. "Hear my words, know this. I leave Asgard not just in Thors hands, but in both of yours. You now share the responsibility, to Asgard. More importantly, to its people."
Lokis eyes opened again, and they were filled with tears then he nodded. "We hear you will, it shall be as you wished." he stated.
Thor nodded firmly.
"My sons… I fear before I go back to sleep, I must warn you." Odin informed. "When I sleep… I am going to sleep until I am finally gone from this world for good…. How long I am going to sleep, I do not know. But it will not be more than months, I will linger for as long as my body permit me. How-ever, the moment I am gone… A great foe will turn its eyes on Asgard. You must be prepared."
"Hela..." Thor breathed.
Odins eye widened. "You." he asked. "How?" then his eyes softened. "I see, that was the secret Loki was referring to when we confronted in Bors catacombs."
Lokis cheeks were a very deep shade of blue.
"So you know… That's good." Odin breathed.
"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Thor asked, disappointment evident in his voice. "We have a sister, didn't we deserve to know?" he asked.
"You did deserve… I was ashamed." Odin admitted. "Hela… She only did what I demanded her to do. It was me, I asked her to kill the first time, then kept praising her actions and commitment. Later she developed a taste for blood… When I finally realized I was doing wrong, she was to far gone… Encouraged by me. She was my own handy work, I turned her into what she was. An extension of myself… and Loki." he turned to him. "As I watched you, I was so afraid it was happening a second time!"
Lokis eyes widened as the pieces seemed to fall into place.
"I am so sorry, You are not her. But yet as I looked upon you I feared it. She would not stop, I pleaded and begged." Odin admitted. "But she refused… She left me no choice. I… I should have ended it for good. Taken her life but.. I could not. The person she had become, it was my fault. And… She's my daughter."
Thor sighed deeply. ""It's okay father." he finally stated. "Your life has been long, and full of hardships. Rest easy." he asked. "Loki and I will handle things… Together." he promised.
Odin looked at him, then he smiled softly. "Aye…. That you will." he breathed, his eyelids growing heavy.
"Father?" Loki asked.
"I must go back to sleep, seconds awake are days less before Hela comes." Odin breathed. "I am sorry… And… I love you my sons." he stated as his eyes fell shut. "I love you so very much."
And then, his breaths turned deep and heavy, and… He was gone.
Thor swallowed, then he leaned over and kissed Odin on the forehead. "I love you to. Father." he whispered, sitting back.
Loki was sitting still, his eyes closed, then he to bowed over and kissed Odins forehead as well. "And I as well." then he sat back, only to having to wipe his tears away with the back of his hand.
Slowly Thor and Loki looked up at each other.
"We have work to do." Thor stated.
Loki nodded. "Aye… Hela is coming. We must act."
