- Chapter 77 -

When he heard Prince Loki's judgment of him Hogun almost laughed. It so closely mirrored his own earlier thoughts that Hogun felt it couldn't be a coincidence. He acknowledged that he wronged Prince Loki. He didn't speak when he could have, when he should have. The Prince had suffered horrendously because of his silence. This day was the Norns showing him this. Hogun was no fool to think otherwise. While he didn't appreciate being cursed, he did appreciate his Prince giving him the chance to fix the mistakes he made. He was immensely grateful that Prince Loki hadn't chosen to go to his village and call him out. That would heap public humiliation on him. Of course, now he had to humiliate himself by calling out his companion. At least he had a choice of how and when it happened. Prince Loki left him his honor, and he was grateful. As a man of honor there was only one path forward. I can no longer allow sentiment to silence me.

This was another judgment Frey approved of. He understood the culture that Hogun came from. For Hogun to be forced to call out Thor in that fashion was going to humiliate the man. If he called Thor out after he'd done something wrong, then Hogun would be justified in doing so. To call out Thor before he'd done something was going to humiliate Hogun publicly. It would leave him his honor, which was tremendously important. Frey decided that he would honor this judgment as well despite having a preference for simply having Hogun's tongue cut out.

It wasn't difficult for Volstagg to wait patiently for what he knew was coming. He could only hope it wouldn't be too bad. Both of the curses thus far hit at the center of who and what his companions were. He took heart in knowing that Prince Loki hadn't aimed to hurt them, only correct what he saw as bad behavior. What do you think my bad behavior is?

.-.-.-.

A smile touched Loki's lips. I'm glad my King approves. "Volstagg eats too much. He is gluttonous and fearful. He swallows down meal after meal hoping to swallow down his fear. If he cannot swallow it down, then he attacks. He never stops to think, never tries to master his emotions, only kills and kills and kills. He has no respect for peace and reasoned discourse. He can be as much of an overbearing bully as Thor. It's a poor way for him to raise his children. So, if he wishes to eat, then let him eat. I gifted him with an unending hunger. No matter how much he eats he will never be satisfied. He will eat away his health. If he is to avoid this, then he must face and conquer his own emotions. He must advocate for peace, must show reason and consideration. If he can conquer himself and use reason instead of his sword, then the hunger will be lifted, and he will be as healthy and fit as he was when he was first married. Moreover, his children will each be gifted with a Prosperity Charm."

"You don't dislike him nearly as much as you dislike Fandral." Tony chuckled at that.

"Oh? What makes you say that?" Loki asked. A little smile crossed her lips. Midgardians called them stepbrothers. Hers was bumbling and red-headed, but ever well-intentioned and jovial.

"You allowed for the possibility of gifts for his kids," Tony said as he stroked his fingers over his baby's head again.

"They're fine children, they deserve a good father. I merely allowed for the possibility of him being a better father to his children. That's all," Loki said with a sly look.

"Mm-hm, sure thing, cupcake," Tony pressed a kiss to her neck.

.-.-.-.

Surprise raised Frey's eyebrows a little. Even a single Prosperity Charm was a weighty gift, for her to have gifted one to each of Volstagg's many children was a telling gesture indeed. You like him, my dear? Even now? He nodded to himself as he decided that this too was a fair and wise judgment that he would honor. It was easier to accept knowing that Loki genuinely liked Volstagg. Frey would've had Volstagg's homestead burned, but this would do as well.

Surprise also raised Frigga's eyebrows. A Prosperity Charm for each of his children? That's a royal gift! She wasn't sure that that Volstagg deserved such a gift, despite being a Captain in the Royal Guard. While he was one of her son's companions, he was still of common birth. Something as powerful as a Prosperity Charm normally only went to the members of a Royal House. Even Noble Houses didn't routinely receive something that powerful. The bending of good fortune around a person could only be achieved by a Master Mage who was not only powerful but talented and skillful. It wasn't something that even an ordinary Master Mage could accomplish. It certainly wasn't something that belonged on a commoner's children. There was little she could do to change it.

As Volstagg listened to Loki his jaw almost dropped. I am not fearful! He stopped and thought, Why do I eat as I do? He frowned as more and more questions filled his mind. Why do I eat so much when I'm nervous? Is my nervousness fear? Do I attack like a witless beast? Do I attack when there's no need? It's true that I was blood thirsty in my youth, but I thought I'd grown from that. I've settled with age and marriage. Fatherhood has dulled my blade. Hasn't it?

He would never have said that he was overbearing. Volstagg only tried to be an Elder Brother to the lad, like Thor. Like Thor. Like Thor. The thought echoed uncomfortably in his head. If I acted as Thor did, then have I been overbearing when that wasn't my intention? Volstagg couldn't deny that he too had wronged Prince Loki. He saw the signs of Prince Loki withdrawing from them. He noticed the Prince's strange behavior and did nothing about it. Like everyone else, he watched the Prince struggling and did nothing.

Prince Loki hasn't been vengeful when he had the chance to be. No, if he's bearing children, then I must acknowledge Prince Loki has chosen to live as a woman. She hasn't been vengeful. Prince Loki is a woman, but not womanly. Volstagg smiled and thought, Princess Loki would make a fine Queen. Although, if she is Stark's wife then she might as well be Queen of Midgard. He looked over to Lady Frigga briefly. Princess Loki is strong, like her mother. She is a good son, or daughter. Yes, a good daughter.

He pictured his own children then. Volstagg knew what a Prosperity Charm was, and he felt a deep gratitude to Princess Loki that he might be able to provide his children with this. Never in his life did he think he would be able to afford even a single Prosperity Charm, for they were the complex magic of manipulating luck. The chance to have one for each of his children was just too tempting. He was going to have to try to conquer his nervousness. It cannot be fear. A determination sprung up in him that he hadn't felt since he was a young man battling his way across the realms. The Lion of Asgard does not back down!

.-.-.-.

"Then there's Sif. Dear, sweet Sif. Her tongue is sharper than her blade. It's a pity that her mind isn't as sharp as either of them. It's also a pity that she shows so little discretion in whom she wields her sharp tongue against. She's a pernicious gossip who cares none for the wake of damaged people she's left behind. She won't hesitate to publicly tear down anyone who even slightly annoys her. She uses her position to bully and destroy people. Sif is a detestable coward. She lacks the courage to see the damage she's done because she lacks to courage to tolerate differing opinions," Loki had to laugh then. "She fancies herself the next Queen of Asgard. It's such a pity that she'll never be married."

"Oh really?" Tony arched an eyebrow.

"She's spent centuries trying to get close to my brother; even going so far as to fashion herself into a warrior outside the Valkyr. This is a thing that's almost never done. The women of Asgard can be fierce but aren't warriors. She did this in hopes of attracting my brother's attention. She's a vain fool who lacks compassion and empathy. Unless they can 'prove their worth' or 'prove their strength' then they're cowardly, or weak, or just not worth her time. She thinks herself a Queen, yet cares not for the people around her, and actively diminishes the people she considers beneath her. To her I gave her greatest desire. Since she spent centuries training to be a warrior, that is what she will be," a certain measure of vindictiveness crept into Loki's voice as she spoke. Her smirk gained a wolfish glint.

.-.-.-.

The thought of Sif trying to make her way in the Valkyr amused Frey and he at smirked at it. She wouldn't last long. He knew exactly what the Valkyr were. Their monastery sat on Vanaheim, but the land had always belonged to them. There were no records left of how or when they'd taken those lands as their own. They never expanded their holdings or gave them up. For all Frey knew it could have been there since the First Era. All Frey knew for certain was that the monastery was home to the Valkyr. Death found any who tried to take it from them.

As she glanced over at Sif Frigga smirked slightly. She wouldn't have lasted a week under my command. She almost snorted disdainfully as she thought about what she'd seen of Sif in the Training Grounds. Sif wouldn't have been able to win her second spear. She certainly wouldn't have been able to challenge for and win the right to carry a named and unique star-forged steel long sword. Snaelda Asni wasn't just the blade Frigga wielded in combat. It distinguished her as a warrior. Sif had a long way to go to even get her second spear. A long sword was beyond her reach.

.-.-.-.

"No man will ever see her as more than a fellow warrior. A companion and shield-sister, nothing else. No woman will ever consider her a womanly friend. She wished to be a warrior, so she shall be. Strong, daring, trustworthy, and very manly. It was a fitting gift, don't you think?" Loki asked sweetly.

"Very nice. What's the rest of it?" Tony chuckled.

"If she can find the courage to look beyond her own opinions, to see what harm she's caused and to make amends to those people; if she can grow as a person, learn empathy and respect for those 'weaker' than her; if she can find it within herself to see all people as equally worthy of her time and aid, then she'll be able to keep the enhancements to her abilities that I gifted her with, without others being blinded to her as a person. She will be a gifted and well-respected warrior. She might even attract Thor's attention. Sif won't be a great match for him, she's far too timid for my brother's tastes. However, she could be a fair match. Their personalities are compatible, as are many of their interests. Her devotion and enthusiasm would make up for her many other deficiencies. Sif could never hold a candle to my mother in terms of the quality of her stewardship of Asgard, but she could be competent at least."

"Sif's a bitch. I dislike her almost as much as I dislike Fandral," Tony grumbled again.

"That's not surprising," Loki said. She patted his arm again before dealing with another small yawn.

.-.-.-.

This is excellent. Frey very much liked what he was hearing. These were Royal Pronouncements, well-crafted and beautifully tailored. He would honor each of them. It wasn't so hard to give up his plans for Sif. He would've had her head shaved and then sent her to train with the Valkyr for a few weeks. He smirked again. It would be perfectly acceptable to have the Valkyr return most of Sif when they were done. All of her wouldn't have been necessary. Had these four fools not been Captains in Asgard's Royal Guard then he would have taken care of them all long ago and all at once. This was more than acceptable though.

He leaned forward to rest his arms on the table. Frey looked at Loki, then he looked to his beloved sister, then back to Loki. An idea began to take root in his mind. Perhaps I can do better than letters, he thought hopefully. He'd have to wait until he'd heard Heimdall's curse. Frey hoped it was suitably painful. The oath-breaker deserved no mercy in his opinion.