Loki Odinson:
The day would soon rise and the night was about to say its farewells. Within the warmth of Asgard's wide library sat the elusive son, Loki. With a high tower of ancient Asgardian texts that surrounded his curious soul, he read.
His fingers softly caressed the words on the pages while the fireplace flickered and danced near by. He kept warm while he read of the monstrous race named the Jotunn. Of the ways to identify such horrific creatures, the indigo color of their skin, the marks on their body which demonstrated their rank, and their height that stretched past other races
A slur of Frost Giant was awarded to them when King Borr, father of Odin fought them in the first battle the realms ever witnessed.
In these sacred Asgardian books graphic drawings were sketched of frost giants beheaded and skinned by the hands of a man Loki once called his grandfather. He rubbed his temple as his mind raced. Footsteps approached and Loki shut the leather bound book moments prior to the guard declaring his presence. The sun was not out yet, but King Odin was already summoning Loki.
Whatever might this be about? Loki thought.
—
Loki entered the throne room to give his respects to the King and Queen of Asgard, with a polite gesture of his head and the lowering of his gaze.
"You called, Father?" Loki asked.
King Odin's head snapped to the young man before him. The well-dressed youth had black gloves on and his torso was adorned with leather, metal and faint green fabric. His hair was cut neatly ending at his earlobes, unlike the tradition that most Asgardian youth followed which was to keep their hair long and untamed. The sight surprised the King immensely.
"Your clothes!" Odin barked.
Loki rose to his feet. He looked down his chest, and at both his shoulders. He searched for torn fabric or rogue bread crumbs but instead found unaltered perfection in his attire.
"Does it displease you?" He said hesitantly.
The King walked down the steps from his throne to his puzzled son. Odin's wardrobe was his sleeping robe, a fabric covered in symbols of his level yet still comfortable enough to rest in. His eye patch slightly crooked and his hair unbrushed.
"These clothes aren't what I had expected to find you in. One does not wake up in such attire, unless you have not gone to bed," King Odin spoke with a hint of suspicion.
"I had an unpleasant run in with Tyr then took to reading," Loki explained.
Queen Frigga appeared tortured at her son's words. She fiddled with her fingers nervously.
"Why had you injured Tyr so cruelly?" Frigga asked with hurt in her eyes.
Loki's brow furrowed and he tilted his head.
"Do you deny something you admitted to only moments ago?" The King muttered in an agitated tone.
"I merely ran into him. His suffering came from the hands of another, a witch," Loki's lips twitched into a smile.
"Loki please lay aside your lies. Your father has had a terrible night. What with the unwanted visitors - -" Frigga begged.
"Visitors? Do you mean the brides? " Loki questioned his mother.
"Silence! I wash my hands of you, Lie-smith!" King Odin practically shouted. He snarled at the youth whom he called his son for years.
"Father but wh- -" Loki said though was quickly cut off by an angry King.
"The lying, scheming, tricking and distractions you've caused these past months won't go unpunished, boy!" He said as he pointed an accusing finger at Loki.
"Odin, you mustn't - -" Frigga reached out to her husband but he stopped her protests with a single glaring stare.
Loki swallowed hard and stood with the calmest expression he could muster. He believed he could maneuver out of any punishment sent his way, if only he remained collected.
"From the start I was aware of your disdain for the marriage arrangements, however I had never suspected you'd steal your own gift from the Advisor. That was a cruel trick, having the senile man search the realms for that ridiculous golden pendent. He was sure he had lost it! Thought I'd have his head for the act, when you were the one who took it!"
An appalled expression crept onto Loki's features; he couldn't help the surge of disgust that rose in his chest. He took a few strides forward to stand a mere finger away from King Odin before he unleashed his frustrations.
"What glory would I gain by the theft of my own treasure?! The pathetic excuse of an advisor should be questioned, Father! He stole it!" Loki said with resentfulness pouring through his words.
"We searched him!" Odin answered.
"The he sold it. It is gold!" Loki remarked.
"That little pendant isn't worth a single token of gold," Odin said as his nostrils flared. He went on to add. "It is unrealistic that he would not touch a single golden coin your brother sent yet thirst for that worthless pendant."
Loki shook his head side to side; he refused to accept his King's words. His mind worked frantically to devise a plan that would shield him from any harsh punishment that Odin decided upon.
The King of Asgard took a deep breath then turned his back and returned to his throne; his Queen at his side as he squeezed her hand for comfort. The perceptive son saw the discomfort in his father's demeanor and feared the worse.
"Loki, due to your careless acts you've placed Asgard and the rest of the realms back to pre-discussion of peace. The treasures were not to be tampered wi - -"
"Father, I — "Loki pleaded.
"YOUR LIES WON'T BE HEARD HERE!" Odin bellowed out in a terrifying voice.
Loki shrunk back to his earlier position further away from the golden throne.
"The punishment regards the unexpected guests that knocked on our door at such a late hour. The advisor from Jotunheim recognized you as the missing prince during the peace meetings. Thus he reported to his King. Laufey threatens war unless his kidnapped son, hence you, are sent to Jotunheim to be married to a woman of their kind. "
"Surely you refused! You wouldn't agree to such a preposterous — " Loki was speaking frantically with tears in his eyes.
"I agreed. You are Loki Laufeyson. These upcoming months are important to Asgard's foundation. I won't allow you to poison the waters of Asgard any longer." Odin's voice was steady and filled with authority.
Frigga pulled on her husband's arm with distraught painted on her gentle features.
"I won't let you give half-truths! Tell him why! Tell him!" She spoke with a broken heart.
Odin merely lifted his head higher and didn't respond to his wife. The abandoned and wounded expression on Loki's face was enough to provoke the King to fall to pieces. However Odin managed to keep a ruthless demeanor in place.
Frigga rushed to her son, she grabbed at his arm. He shrugged her grip off; the act shocked both his parents.
"What is the truth then Frigga? Do share." He spoke in a patronizing tone.
"You will respect your mother!" Odin yelled.
"How is she my mother when you declared me to be your enemy's son?" His voice broke while a tear caressed his cheek.
King Odin sighed then whispered. "My decision is final."
"No! You have no right to use me as currency to buy peace from Laufey!"
"You shall depart in a month after Thor's coronation," Odin ordered.
Loki's jaw protruded and his gaze was lethal.
"I won't listen to a spineless King!" He shouted.
"Loki don't," Frigga whispered.
"Enough Frost Giant!" Odin screamed then paled when he heard the words escape his lips.
His youngest son's body stiffened. His face filled with dread.
"Then be it. If you consider me such a monster then I truly have no other place to go but that freezing Hel. I will bring peace to Jotunheim and prove my worth. I won't marry their filth. I will thrive there and never return to you. Rest assured I will leave within the hour." Loki's voice was steady and his stare set on Odin.
The king laughed the first time that night.
"Don't be foolish. You cannot make such rash decisions about - -" Odin was speaking when Loki interrupted.
"My life? I'd rather risk dying by my own choices than live by yours," Loki replied as he turned on his heel.
Morgana Pendragon
Music floated in the air. The lights bright and dresses colorful. Men were leading the dance and woman followed in the celebration. Laughter bubbled out of Morgana's chest while Arthur mimicked Merlin's odd stance. Four days after her encounter with the magpie her wedding was taking place. Her gown was of the finest gold and midnight blue velvet. A thin crown on her brow marked her as Asgard's future queen. Her husband, a kind man with a loving heart approached her. He offered her his arm and she eagerly took it.
"You look breathtaking, my lady," he said.
"Don't let her charms fool you, Thor. My sister surpasses any other princess due to her skill with the sword." Arthur wrapped an arm around his brother-in-law's shoulder.
"I'll have to see your skills one day, dear wife," Thor whispered to Morgana.
A gathered crowd of foreign guests and close friends cheered for the couple. The happy pair leaned in for a kiss after the insistence of a persuasive Fandral. Claps and well wishes are heard when Morgana accepted the passionate kiss. Thor's fingers sunk into the waves of his bride's locks, as the kiss grew longer. The princess felt the envy of every woman present but couldn't care for their glares. She felt warmth from her husband and expected that this was what true happiness felt like.
When they pulled apart for the slightest moment she saw it. She saw a sorrowful look in his eyes, quickly masked with a marvelous smile. A look of bewilderment reflected on her face from the recent hurt in her groom's blue eyes.
She had heard in whispered voices that he lost a brother, how, where and when had not been spoken of. King Odin, the soon to be retired King of Asgard, banned the faintest mention of the youngest son's name. Morgana came to her own conclusion that he either died in a horrific manner or tainted the family's name.
She was introduced to Baldr whom she concluded was a flirt and Tyr whom she, unknown to him, cursed nights ago. While Baldr beamed whenever Thor was near, Tyr sulked and threw a fit at the crown prince. She didn't need much of an explanation to understand Tyr's anger. He was livid that the throne of Asgard was unavailable to him though he was the true first born. His fury followed him like flies on a rotting piece of flesh.
Merlin watched on with a heavy heart. The princess danced and celebrated her day while he stood behind a pillar. Gauis snuck up on his apprentice, which earned him a startled scream from the young man.
"You frightened me, Gauis! " Merlin said with his hand on his chest.
The old man gave a toothy grin.
"Shouldn't you be busy preparing for Arthur's departure? He has boots to be polished and trunks to be packed," Gauls reminded.
"I know but I couldn't help it. I wanted to capture just one more glimpse of her. She is so beautiful, Gauis," Merlin muttered in a love-struck manner.
"Yes, she is. She is also a married woman now. Make peace with that and return to your duties." The old man was about to leave when Merlin called out to him.
"I need your help," Merlin stated.
"With?" Gauls inquired with a raised brow.
"The dragon in Camelot, warned me of Urien Rheged, the man with three ravens on his shield. He is to be a threat and rival of mine," Merlin whispered in a hushed tone.
"You have his name, simply cast a spell to locate him," Gauis instructed.
"I've already done that numerous times both in Camelot and here but nothing appears. There is no one who goes by that name," Merlin muttered.
Gauis raised his index finger and slowly stated. "Perhaps there is no one who goes by that name now."
—
Thor rested his head on her shoulder as she consoled him. Her lips pressed to his ear as she murmured soothing words. His brother's departure wounded him deeply. His heart felt shattered and his world wasn't his to control. He had no say in any decisions lately. He wouldn't be allowed to even declare his honest thoughts in public. He raised his head and peeked into her large eyes.
"Whisper it again for me," Thor begged of her.
Her eyes filled with unshed tears before she moved in to steal a kiss from the prince.
"I love you, Thor," She answered in a loving voice.
He shut his eyes then opened them with a blazing focus on the woman before him.
"I won't forsake you. I could never ignore what we have together," He said.
Thor's callused hand lowered to rest on her belly.
The wide stained glass doors that Morgana stood behind shattered with an untamed force. Her heart thudded in her chest and she dug her nails into the flesh of her palms so that she broke skin. Her eyes glowed with gold. Where her pain ended and her rage started she didn't know. The betrayal was great and the happiness she was blessed with four hours ago evaporated.
Thor embraced Sif to protect her from the unknown attack of glass. His bare back bore a few shards of jagged glass. He turned to face the villain when Mjölnir flew into his grip. He expected to see dark hair and emerald eyes looking back at him with a smirk. What he received however was pale silver-blue eyes filled with disenchantment. Morgana's hands dripped with blood and her piercing gaze rested on her husband's till she turned her back and ran down the hallway.
She was determined to leave him on their wedding night.