Author's note: Hello hello, I apologise for the delay but here is another chapter! Enjoy!
They discussed the war for a while, two different perspectives on the same conflict. They argued about the wording of some events, Loki saying she was being pugnacious while she called him biased. She was lying on the sofa, her head on his lap and she crossed her arms in protestation, staring obstinately at the ceiling.
"I see what you mean but you cannot say that Vanaheim started the war…"
"I am not saying it did. I am simply asking you to follow the Asgardian narrative"
"This is ridiculous"
"You do not have to believe in what you are saying… I am simply asking you to use the appropriate phrasing so you can sound convincing when you meet Odin"
"Or I can simply lie when I see him" she shrugged.
"Sólveig, you are a terrible liar" he pointed out. "If you cannot pretend that you think Vanaheim was responsible for the war, how do you expect Odin to believe that you will be a suitable and devoted ally to Asgard? You have to familiarise yourself with the wording"
She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Do not force me to make you comply, Sólveig"
She sighed and he asked her to start over. She described how the Aesir and the Vanir had always been competing with each others, the Vanir supposedly provoking Asgard's wrath multiple times over the past centuries. Her eyes were fixating the ceiling while she spoke and she wriggled agitatedly whenever she pronounced the terms he'd asked her to use as if to show her disapproval. After a while, she uncrossed her arms and the neckline of her shirt slightly slid to the side. Loki caught sight of her cleavage and he remembered he initially planned on taking her that evening. He hadn't expected her to be so stubborn regarding the narration of the war and it was getting late. He yawned because he was getting tired and bored and his hand ventured absentmindedly within her hair before stroking her shoulders and her throat as he corrected her every now and then. She shivered when he slid one finger behind her collar and ran it all the way around her neck. With the flat of his hand, he started to caress her ribs, smoothing the folds of her shirt.
"Go on" he commanded as she paused, enjoying his touch.
Solweig was rather uneager to recount what she considered to be a tendentious retelling of history but she complied. Slowly, he unbuttoned her shirt and parted the fabric, exposing her breasts. She inhaled when she felt the cool air of the room against her skin and her speech started to ramble when his thumb brushed her nipple. She closed her eyes as his other hand ran along her hip and reached for the inside of her thigh. She paused again, expectantly, for his hand was getting closer to her crotch and he tsked at her disapprovingly. The girl said she forgot where she'd stopped and Loki replied that she was about to tell how the Vanir had cursed Asgard with bad harvest for five years as an attempt to weaken the Aesir.
"Right" she noted, her voice hoarse.
He untied her leather pants and he saw her inhale when he slid a hand within her underwear.
"Don't you think it is cruel Sólveig?" he asked, teasing her. "Many Aesir famished and perished from starvation during that time." She frowed ever so slightly, as if she was disagreeing but was unsure of whether she wanted to engage in another argument with him. He smirked because he enjoyed seeing her so obedient.
"Who started the war Sólveig?"
"Vanaheim did" she blurted and he smiled, victorious. He grabbed her hand and led her to his bed for an ultimate embrace.
—
She was still panting when he stood up and slipped on his clothes.
"I can't stay" he declared and she frowned, dumbfounded.
"Where are you going?" she asked in a small voice, trying to compel him to stay but he said he had a meeting with his father and that she should sleep.
She watched him disappearing behind the door as the God of mischief headed towards his father's apartments. He glimpsed at Thor who was waiting before the humongous door and climbed the flight of stairs. The blond prince turned around at the sound of his brother's steps echoing within the corridor and he glanced at his sibling. They had planned on telling Odin what had happened in Vanaheim but the king had left hastily that very morning for Nidavellir, saying he would meet them both shortly before midnight.
"I hope you're ready brother" joked Thor before nodding at the guard who was waiting for their approval for opening the door.
The Allfather was still dressed when the two princes entered the room. He seemed agitated, as if the conversation he was having with his wife was of the unpleasant sort. She was herself pacing back and forth within the room, her pastel blue nightgown moving around her. The queen was touching her upper lip, seemingly preoccupied. At the sight of her sons, she stopped and moved behind her husband, her hand slightly trembling as she readjusted her shawl before resting it on the king's shoulder. Loki glanced at her but she averted his gaze.
Odin lifted his head, staring at the two princes, stone-faced.
"You look exhausted Father" mentioned the golden-haired prince, heading towards the armchair facing the sofa on which Odin was sitting.
"Do not make yourself too comfortable" he snapped back and Thor stopped in the middle of the room, frowning.
"Do you know why I summoned you tonight sons?"
"It's about Vanaheim isn't it?" started the raven-haired prince with a sigh. "I am sorry I disrespected your orders, Father but-" he pursued as he was about to report what happened with Thorsten and why he could not bring him back. He did not intend to give him the cold hard truth regarding how the Vanir king had found death but he assumed he would simply pretend it was self-defence. He was about to pursue, composing an apologetic look on his face when Odin interrupted him.
"I have been informed by some people in my inner circle that my son Loki has a new concubine..."
He paused, his lips pinched into one straight line. Loki breathed in, suddenly dreading what would follow.
"... a young, very beautiful one... I thought, how strange? Did she not attend his birthday party? If she is as gorgeous as they all claim for her to be, surely I would have noticed her…"
Odin pursued, narrating how Asgard's finance councillor came to him the previous night, to discuss some worrisome matter about the increase of highway robbery. Two convoys of coal that should have reached Asgard weeks ago had been lost, and he had to make sure that the dwarves were equally sharing the burden of securing the roads, even the ones on the outskirts of their realm. Odin had agreed to pay a visit to the king in Nidavellir and he'd expected the councillor to leave him be, for he had been tired and longed to sleep. Yet, he had stayed, asking Odin if he had heard about his second born's new concubine. The Allfather had said that he'd heard some rumours of course, but that boys would be boys and he could not care less about the romantic life of his sons. The king explained how the councillor had shot him a disapproving glance before asking: "Even if she looks like the former Vanir princess, Allfather?"
Odin reached for the inside of his cloak and raised a piece of leather. The raven-haired prince frowned, his guts telling him he was in a right mess.
"Property of Loki Odinson" Odin read out loud, turning Solweig's old collar in front of his face.
Loki exchanged a long look with Odin, his back very straight.
"Why did you claim her?"
Loki smirked.
"I simply did it for my own enjoyment" he shrugged. "She's just another slave girl"
Odin was quiet for a while before he disclosed, finally laying his cards on the table:
"And I suppose you training her clandestinely is also for your own enjoyment?"
Loki raised his head, his chin up while he shot his father an impudent look. The Allfather frowned, glancing at his sons alternatively, noticing that Thor was looking down. He waited a few minutes, hoping that they would repent themselves but when he saw no expression of remorse in them, he could not help but roll his eyes.
"You are nothing but thoughtless and obstinate boys" he shouted.
"Go get that girl" ordered Odin and they heard the sound of the door as the guards complied to their king's command. A few minutes later, Solweig was being dragged within the room and dropped at Loki's feet. She looked back and forth at the Allfather and the two princes, her eyes widening in horror before she tried to cover herself for she was still naked. Loki's brows furrowed, anger washing over him at the thought that Odin did not even let her dress.
"Free he" snapped Odin. "I will send her to Svartálheim where she belongs and we can all move on and forget this mockery"
"Odin-" interjected Frigga, outraged.
"Why does it matter? He said she's just another slave girl" replied the Allfather, his tone falsely indifferent. He reached for his glass of wine and rested his back against the backrest of the sofa. He stared at his son whom he knew was trying hard to remain calm.
"Surely there are plenty of pretty girls out there… Free her"
Loki glimpsed at Solweig, whose back was turned away from the royal couple. She had crossed her legs before her chest, her arms wrapped around her knees, facing Loki. She averted his gaze and he could tell she was holding back her tears, from shame or from hearing what he had told his father as a stupid attempt to get away with the whole situation. He felt a pang in his chest at the thought that once again he had failed her. He sighed and a cloak magically appeared in his hands as he kneeled before her. The God of mischief gently covered her shoulders with the fabric to conceal her nakedness. He searched for her eyes and she glanced back at him.
"You want to know why I claimed her?" asked Loki. His voice was hoarse.
"I did it because you were wrong" he quipped, standing up. He reached for the girl's hands and helped her stand. Now that she was dressed, she turned around, facing the royal couple while Thor moved towards them, the three of them unified against the Allfather.
"Your hatred of the Vanir is so strong that it is blinding you Father"
The raven-haired prince shot a glance at the king who was extremely still. Frigga closed her eyes, very slowly, as if to indicate that he was on the right track but that he needed to advance cautiously, so he pursued, carefully picking his words, in order to tell his father what everyone had thought the entire time.
"Yes, Thorsten was a mad man but you raised Solweig as your own daughter. You might think it made you look strong and unforgiving to deprive her from her privileges in Asgard but truth is, you dumped your trump card, you very best argument to keep the Vanir in line"
"Vanaheim is already defeated son"
"For how long?" argued Loki. "The Vanir had been dancing under Asgard's nose for thousands of years. It was peaceful over the last centuries only because Thorsten was too young to lead. Yet, the very moment he was made king, he threatened all the efforts the Aesir invested in maintaining cordial relationships with Vanaheim... Enough blood had been shed, from both sides"
His voice softened at the last words and he paused for a moment, letting his talk sink in. His mother gave him an encouraging smile when he continued and he walked a few steps towards Odin.
"Let Solweig rule, Father" he pleaded.
The Allfather stared at Loki for what seemed like ages before he glanced at the girl.
"Would you be made queen of Vanaheim, what would be your first command?"
Solweig's mouth opened, searching for her words. She remembered her talk earlier that evening with the prince, how they had argued about her using the other narrative, the one people had hammered in her head here in Asgard. She wondered what would happen if she disagreed here and now, confront Odin but she thought the risk was too great. In the end, Loki was right and her pride was not worth the lives of hundreds of people.
She held Odin's glance.
"My first ever command would be to vow my unconditional support to Asgard, Allfather"
Loki finally breathed when he saw Odin closing his eyes.
"You will be on probation for the next fifty years. We will speak again when spring comes to see whether you are ready. Should you not be, you will remain in Asgard until I deem you are prepared enough to rule. For security reasons, you will remain under my son Loki's surveillance and continue being deprived of the seidr until I decide differently"
He looked alternatively at the three of his children, keeping his eyes on his second born as he pursued:
"Do not disappoint me"
