Chapter 2: God of Thunder

The large den of alcohol had opened for the first time in centuries. Its high quality of beer, wine, and liquor reserved only for the most momentous of occasions. The coronation of the new king of Asgard was deserving of such marvelous drinks.

His thirteenth serving of wine of the night, Thor chugged the red alcohol contained in the goblet. Only less than an hour from being proclaimed king and Thor was drinking. How king-worthy. Once finished with his drink, Thor stared at the golden cup and felt its composition. A servant stood by the side, anxiously waiting for the soon-to-be king to throw empty goblet to the ground.

"Nervous, brother?"

Thor turned in his seat and saw Loki approaching him with a sly grin on his face. His clothes were designed in an ornate manner similar to those of this brother. Embellished with pure gold on his green garments, Loki was demonstrating the definition of royalty. He wore his signature curled headpiece.

"Have you ever known me to be nervous?" Thor questioned his younger brother as he set the cup on the table.

"There was that one time in Norheim…"

"That wasn't nerves, brother. It was the rage of battle. How else could I have fought my way through a hundred warriors and pulled us out alive?"

"As I recall, I was the one who veiled us in smoke to ease our escape."

Thor sighed. "Some do battle; others do tricks."

The servant refilled Thor's goblet and laughed at his last statement, which did not go unnoticed by Loki, who frowned in response. His eyes aimed at the cup while his hand twitched, eels rose from it, and slid down the rim. The servant responded with fear, dropping the plate holding the goblet, and stepping away from the magic-made eels.

It was Loki's turn to laugh, and Thor's to be disappointed. "Loki, that was just a waste of good wine."

Loki did not let the grin escape his face as he made the eels return to their original form as wine. "Just a bit of fun," he said to the servant. "Right, my friend?"

A guard approached the brothers. He handed Thor his famed eagle-winged helmet.

"Nice feathers," quipped Loki.

Thor sneered. "You don't really want to start this again, do you, cow?"

"I was being sincere!"

"You're incapable of sincerity."

"Am I? Well, in case you do not know, I have a three-year-old daughter. Being sincere is necessary for any father."

"What will be Eira doing during the coronation?"

"Mother will watch over her, hopefully, keep her in check."

"Based on the fact that she is your daughter, I doubt she won't cause trouble."

Loki playfully punched his brother's arm. Thor smiled before straightening his posture and looking forward. Loki did the same and changed the subject of the conversation.

"I have looked forward to this day as long as you have. You're my brother and my friend. Sometimes I am envious, but never doubt that I love you."

Thor searched his brother's face, seeing no trace of irony. He was either speaking from his heart or being a very talented liar. Maybe both. Thor put an appreciative hand on his brother's shoulder.

"Thank you."

The brothers were silent before Loki ruined the moment.

"Give us a kiss."

"Stop," Thor said after his sigh. He adjusted formal wear. "How do I look?"

"Like a king," responded Loki. Before he could say more, he was interrupted by the ceremonial horn. It was time for the coronation.

"Go ahead without me, Loki," Thor said as he put the helmet on his head.

Loki only spoke with an "alright then" before leaving the room.

He was not lying when he said he had been waiting for the day of Thor coronation. Odin always preferred Thor as a son, Loki knew this for years. Loki recognized the fact that Thor would become king instead of him, despite his anger, ignorance, and stubbornness. The only way to denounce Thor: embarrass him in the eyes of a crowd, and more importantly, in the eyes of his father. He would never recover, and Loki would become the hero and king of Asgard.

For the past year, he prepared for his brother's rise to kinghood. The fashion of it was the exact synonym of mischief. It was perfect, and not a soul knew what he was doing, not even Heimdall. He would make life better for his daughter, who would be proud of her father becoming king. His plans benefitted them both. The coronation of Thor would be their rise.

It was a beautiful sight.

Mere seconds before the All-Father proclaimed Thor as king, a small group of Frost Giant stole the Destroyer and Casket of Ancient Winters and disturbed the coronation. Somehow the perfection grew, with Thor suggesting that Asgard declare war on Jotun. Watching Odin be disappointed in his son for advocating war was magnificent to Loki.

Thor flipped a table covered with gourmet food. Loki sat on an embellished seat across from his brother, watching his tantrum and trying his best to hide his smirk. The door opened as soon as the food hit the floor. Sif and the Warriors Three entered. The usual jest came from Sif, while Volstagg looked at the waste of food in horror.

Loki spectated from his seat, surveying their conversation and observing that the door was open, everyone in Asgard could hear the yelling.

The shouts became distant once he saw Eira run into the room. She inspected the room, looking for her father. Luckily, she did not have to find him. Loki immediately stood up and moved toward her. He picked her up and returned to his previous seat. Her sobs were quiet, but Loki could feel her tears and stress.

"I thought your grandmother put you to bed," Loki whispered to his daughter. "Did you have a nightmare? Did something happen?"

Eira sniffled before answering. "I wanted to see if the Frost Giants got you. I faked going to sleep. Please don't be mad at me."

Loki sighed. He knew she might have been scared the Jotnar once they interrupted the ceremony. But he considered Eira to be braver than most children. She enjoyed listening to her father's stories of battle and the tales of the Nine Realms, though they contained slightly less gruesome details. Perhaps actually witnessing real Frost Giants created a different fear than the nonexistent ones she heard at bedtime.

"Eira, I could never be mad at you," said Loki as he stroked her hair. "I'm so sorry you were scared. Those Frost Giants would never hurt you. So many people will protect, and no one would dare harm you, you are too powerful."

Face still leaned against his chest, Eira smiled tiredly. "You really think I'm strong, Daddy?"

"Of course I do," Loki spoke in a hushed tone, attempting to lure Eira into sleep again. "And I know everyone else agrees with me."

Eira quickly fell asleep as she listened to her father's heartbeat. She must have been genuinely exhausted, Loki thought. Probably mustered all of her strength to find me. I should have done something about her overattachment to me years ago.

Loki shifted his eyesight from his daughter to his older brother, sitting on the floor and leaning against a pillar. He was angry and blood-hungry, ready for battle. The smile could not hide from Loki's face any longer. Out of all of his mischievous plans, this was the one that had no errors. Everything was flawless.

More manipulation was needed. If he said nothing, then Thor would not go to Jotunheim. A simple talk would convince Thor to go without the permission of Odin. The next few steps would require Loki to pull no strings; his father would take care of that.

Looking down at his daughter before standing up, he walked to Thor. He sat down and said nothing, waiting for Thor to make the first move. Thor immediately noticed the presence of his younger brother and niece, casting a swift glance at the father and daughter pair before returning his view to the Asgardian landscape.

"It's unwise to be in my company right now, brother," spoke Thor.

But it is a wise time to exploit, thought Loki.

Loki could not think, his mind preoccupied with the events of the battle.

I should be happy, he thought while watching his friends discuss and bicker over Thor's banishment. Thor being exile was my highest hope, but I thought it would never happen. I thought Odin would just revoke his status as a prince, yet I somehow got the best possible outcome. I felt fortunate, but when that creature touched me… Why did I turn blue? I can't be one of them. I can't be one of those fucking monsters. The murals, the documents of my birth have existed since the day I was born. Was everything a lie this entire time? Am I a lie?

When he finally joined the conversation, his statements were thoughtless, off the top of his head. He could not display weakness now; he had to seem sensible, be the voice of reason in a room of imbeciles.

Staying in this room was vain action, he knew. Sif and the Warriors sent vexing glances at him, but that was the least of his concerns.

The Vault had his answers, for it contained the Casket of Ancient Winters.

…

Loki Odinson saw the Casket of Ancient Winters standing at the end of the Vault. Glowing blue with dark grey embellishments, it sat on a long pillar, casting a tall shadow on the floor. The object held immense power, granting the holder the power to control the ice within. There was a twist, however. Only a Jotunn could utilize the Casket to its full potential. Still, if the Frost Giant using it were perhaps in disguise as a different creature, then the Casket would revert the user to their original form.

If Loki touched the Casket, would his skin turn sapphire like when that Frost Giant grabbed his armorless arm just hours ago?

He ambled toward the pedestal, eyes fixated on the mythical gadget. Grasping the handles, he lifted the Casket from its plinth and waited for the transformation to begin. His hands were shaking, anticipating the results. The moment his hands converted to their original hue, Odin entered the Vault.

"Stop"

Loki's hands froze in place. He did not turn to face his father, rather he looked at the gold on the wall, which reflected his image.

"Am I cursed?" Loki asked while remaining still.

"No," Odin quickly answered.

Loki wanted to retort, as his neck was shifting from pale to dark blue. He felt cursed, there was no other answer to explain what was happening. "Then what am I?"

"You're my son."

The casket returned to its pedestal the moment Loki saw his eyes turn red. He finally faced Odin, wanting his father to see the lie he desperately tried to hide. "What more than that?"

Odin did not dare to look at his son, ashamed to have been finally caught. He felt stuck, not knowing what to say. A weary and burdened attitude was rare for Odin, so Loki was surprised to see his father in such a vulnerable state. It was the perfect time to tell the All-Father his wrongdoing.

"The Casket wasn't the only thing you took from Jotunheim that day, was it?"

Odin finally gathered the courage he lacked in the past one thousand years: he told Loki the truth.

As Odin explained that after taking the Casket he had found King Laufey's smaller than average son and took him back to Asgard to raise him as his own, Loki realized that everything about his life was suddenly clearer. Why Odin preferred Thor over him and why he was constantly judged by the elder nobilities. He was never the son of Odin or even a person; he was a tool used to bring peace that would never be used.

"So why not tell me what I was from the beginning. Were you afraid of letting me know that I am the monster parents tell their children about at night? The tales of monsters that I tell my own daughter."

"Loki, please," said Odin with a weakened tone. He looked tired, not the strong king everyone saw him as.

"It all makes sense now. Why you favored Thor all these years. Because no matter how much you claim to 'love' me, you could never have a Frost Giant sitting on the throne of Asgard!"

Odin sat on the steps on the Vault as Loki reasonably yelled at him. His eyes felt weak, he couldn't stay awake any longer. He did not want to fall into the Odinsleep now; he had to comfort his son, aid him in understanding himself.

The All-Father's body hit the floor. Loki forgot his anger as he moved to aid his withered father. He was about to check his pulse, but kept his hands at a distance, afraid that his Frost Giant skins would randomly come through and hurt his father more.

After calling for the guards, Loki Laufeyson watched them take Odin away.

The Odinsleep was held off for too long. The All-Father intended to enter his extensive slumber after Thor was declared king. Even if everything about the coronation went smoothly, Odin still procrastinated. In tandem with his confession about Loki's true parentage, his rest would be lengthier than usual.

As Odin was transferred to his resting bed, Frigga explained the circumstances of Loki and his adoption in a comforting manner. She spoke with a soft tone and sounded like a mother. Loki did not yell at her, as she seemed truly regretful for not revealing the truth sooner.

"My son, I sincerely love you. I'm sorry for lying to you for so long. Do me a favor, do no let this revelation interfere with your royal duties. You are a king now. Before your first day, spend the night with your daughter. Well, it is rather late. Sorry for the doltish statement. Just be with Eira tomorrow morning. Explain the current situation and do not make her feel lonely. You're the only parent she has. Be her father and King of Asgard. Can you accomplish that?"

Loki knew he would never sleep for the night. It was early in the morning and there was too much on his mind. He entered his chambers reflecting the plethora of information divulged in one day. The stress was temporarily diminished when his gaze fell upon his sleeping daughter. Eira was in the same sleeping position Loki settled her in hours ago. He stroked her soft cheek and smiled as she made a slight sound before she tranquilized.

His eyebrows creased in wonder. Eira was the sole Jotunn and Asgardian half-breed, no one knew what one looked like.

Activating his seidr, Loki redacted his glamour. Blue skin replaced snowy white and Loki flinched; he would never grow accustomed to his natural hue. Skin reacted upon skin. Eira's flesh transformed. Her pure form a pallid azure and her markings less deep, she appeared as the quintessential combination. As her glamour disappeared further on her face, Loki saw her forehead adorned with the Crown of the Ymir: the Jotnar symbol of royalty.

How would she handle being the first and only half-Jotunn half-Asgardian? The half-breed of two races with a diffuse history of pure hatred. Loki told her bedtime stories of battle with the Frost Giants and described them as blood-lusted, vicious monsters. Eira found entertainment in these narratives, interested in the ploys that destroyed the villains.

Would Runa have been accepting of her daughter if she knew the truth? Although his lover was a selfless and compassionate individual, she probably believed the Jotnar were homicidal and pernicious. Those tales were rooted in Asgardian folklore for centuries, so it most certainly had to affect their prejudices.

Eira was the only half-breed in existence, and the anatomy of the Jotnar was largely unknown. An Asgardian would get immediate frostbite if touched by a Frost Giant, so what would happen if a female member of the Aesir carried a half-Jotun child?

Loki redacted his hand from his daughter's cheek. Is that why Runa died? he thought. Was carrying a half-breed like Eira too much for her body?

It all made sense now. Runa delivered a month early in Asgardian terms, but Eira was born perfectly healthy. The pregnancy length was the combination of the Asgardian and Jotunn gestation periods. She was often cold and ordered to bed-rest for most days. Giving birth, having a Jotunn, albeit a halfling, travel through her body had patently damaging consequences.

Mother and Father, they knew Runa's pregnancy was precarious, yet they did nothing. There had to be others who knew about my parentage. How could they do nothing? They knew Runa was in danger and did not do shit. If the healers had treated her correctly and with more care, she would still be alive. Eira would have had a mother if it weren't for these fucking lies.

"Daddy? Why are you up?"

The new King turned around. Eira sat up on her bed, rubbing her eyes and clutching her plush toy, Hati. Loki moved to her bed and sat.

"I'm sorry to wake you up. A lot has happened tonight. I don't know if I will be able to sleep. That should not affect you, though."

Eira leaned her head against her father's hip as he stroked her unruly hair. "Is Uncle Thor okay? He seemed upset after the Frost Giants came."

Loki sighed. "No, he is not well. He made several grave mistakes. His anger led him to invade Jotunheim and your grand … the All-Father banished him to Midgard."

"Uncle Thor was banished?" Eira yelled with tears in her eyes. "I'm never going to see him again?"

"Eira, it's alright," Loki lifted his daughter and placed her on his lab. "Your uncle will return if he humbles. I don't know when that will happen. It stressed your grandfather into the Odinsleep, and so I am now King."

"You're the King?" the princess asked but did not wait for an answer. She cried into Loki's chest, gripping the fabric of his shirt and Hati.

"My little one, why are you upset? I know things are difficult, but we will overcome them?"

"I glad you're the King because I know you wanted it, but you will be too busy. You wouldn't spend time with me anymore. I want you to teach me magic and play with me. You can't do that as King."

"Eira, I will never forget you. Although you may not see me as much, I will find time to spend with you. Every morning I will wake you up, braid your wild hair, and eat breakfast with you. At night I will read your favorite stories and tell tales of my battles. A king has duties to his nation but must regard his fatherly tasks. You're my daughter, the best thing to ever happen to me. I will continue to teach you magic and watch you grow. I love you, my little one."

"Daddy, you better not be lying," Eira said as she wiped her tears.

"I would never lie to you." Loki kissed her forehead. "Would you like to sleep with me in my bed tonight?"

Eira nodded lazily against his chest. She had awoken too many times tonight, her body was surely exhausted. The grip on Hati and Loki's overgarments weakening with each wearied eye flutter. Loki stood up and walked to his bed, rocking her tiny form into slumber. He could keep his royal clothing on for the rest of the night. His debilitation was taking control of his body. Any movements would disrupt Eira's sleep.

The princess was asleep by the time Loki laid them on his bed. He pulled the covers over them pull. His eyes could not escape his daughter's face, she was truly precious, innocent. The first moment he held her, he almost cried; afraid that letting her go would create danger.

Laufey discarded him the moment he was born, his small stature disrespectful to the power and brutality of the Jotnar. The Frost Giants hated his presence and left him to die in an abandoned temple. He knew they were heartless, but sentencing one of their own to death for a birth defect was beyond atrocious. Transporting himself to that fateful day, he tried imagining placing his runt daughter alone, left to die in a forsaken location with no one knowing of her existence. He felt like crying; the idea of leaving Eira to diminish bringing too many distraught emotions.

If they kept him, he would certainly be the King of Jotunheim. Then none of this mischief would have occurred. The Jotnar would respect his royal status and he could live perfectly. But he never would have meant Runa; Eira would be nonexistent.

If he remembered correctly, Laufey's wife, Faurbati, died around the same time Odin discovered him. They must have killed her, Loki deduced. Although she successfully gave birth to two strong sons beforehand, her life was meaningless once she birthed a runt. Laufey took no blame for convincing such a minuscule boy.

All of the Jotnar, every single one, were callous. Raised upon malicious morals, they were selfish and ignoble by nature. They were a negative influence on all the realms. Loki would never be one of them. He had to destroy them all. They would start a war soon enough, giving him the perfect excuse to wipe them from the universe.

Odin would be proud of his son. Eira would be safe.

Everything went to shit.

The plan was faultless, but Thor had to become humble. Fall in love with human scum, sacrifice himself for a small town, become worthy the moment his plane was about to become successful. Who cared if the nobility was against him? The only thing that could ruin his plan was Thor, and here he was. The brothers were battling to the death, and Loki held his pride and stature, but Mjolnir was powerful.

And to make everything worse, Odin appeared and displayed affection for Thor, and disappoint for Loki.

"Father, I could have done it was us. For all of us!" Loki yelled in desperation as he held onto Thor's leg while they dangled from the broken Bifrost Bridge.

Odin would usually give a long speech regarding wisdom, but he simply shook his head.

Loki's heart broke. Odin was disheartened and unforgiving toward him. After lifting the brothers, Loki would be sent to prison, likely for the rest of his life. Eira would be told of her treasonous father and the Asgardians would look upon her with shame, the reminder of a man who attempted genocide.

His eyes looked to the abyss below him. He was an expert in the many transportations to the other realm, yet even he was unaware of what lay below. It was not death but could be anything else. Whatever it was, Loki would survive. He would find Eira, take her away, and escape between the realms until they found one in secrecy. If he landed where there were people, he would comply until his ultimate betrayal, and then find Eira.

Everything would work out. It might be difficult for Eira, but her father would return.

And with that, he let go.