Author's note - Sorry once more that I haven't been keeping up with this story like I want to. However I am writing again and will hopefully finish this sometime soon. Thank you all for sticking through with me, I truly appreciate it.
Shout outs -
Cosmos11 and Lozzy-lou94 - Thank you for adding to your favorites!
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As always please enjoy, read and review!
A guard interrupted the couple, "Loki, your mother requests your presence in the Odinsleep chamber," he turned leaving quickly.
Liya helped Loki to his feet, "Come love," she pushed him along to the chamber.
Frigga was at Odin's side as he lay in a bed covered by a golden blanket of light. She was holding his hand as she looked at the couple standing in the doorway. Loki was being supported by Amaliya. It made Frigga smile, the strength in the Vanir Princess was unwavering and her love for Loki was unending. She got up and led them into the chamber, leading them to the bedside of Odin. Amaliya helped Loki to his father's side then got up to leave.
"Amaliya," Frigga called, "stay," she softly ordered. She smiled at the couple, happy they were together. "I asked him to be honest with you from the beginning. There should be no secrets in a family."
"Why did he lie," Loki asked.
"That answer is twofold; he kept the truth from you so that you would never feel different. You are in every way our son, Loki, and we your family. You must know that."
Loki nods staring at Odin, "What is the other reason?"
"The other reason was Amaliya," she told the couple. "After the attack that took Saga's life we along with Arkyn decided to keep it from you both, there was no sense in telling you after that."
The couple looked at one another understanding that their parents made a decision which was meant to protect them. Loki pulled Amaliya closer; if it was possible he loved her more for her decision to be by his side after knowing the truth. He looked over her, she was indeed gracious and incredibly understanding.
"You can speak to him," Frigga told Loki reaching for Odin's hand, "He can see and hear us, even now."
"How long will it last," Loki asked his mother.
"I don't know. This time is different; we were unprepared."
"I never get used to seeing him like this," Loki looked closer at his father's almost lifeless body, "The most powerful being in the Nine Realms lying her helpless until his body is restored."
"But he's put it off for so long now I fear…" Frigga stopped and Loki let go of the Princess reaching for his mother's hand giving it a reassuring squeeze. Frigga smiled wiping away a few tears, "You're a good son. We mustn't lose hope that your father will return to us," Frigga told Loki, "And your brother."
"What hope is there for Thor," Loki asked letting go of his mother's hand placing his arm back around Liya.
"There's always a purpose to everything your father does. Thor may yet find a way home."
Loki looked as if he was about to say something with the armored footsteps of the Einherjar guard entered with Arkyn and stood at attention. Frigga rose from her perch to stand in front of her son.
"Thor is banished. The line of succession falls to you. Until Odin awakens, Asgard is yours," she told the stunned couple. Arkyn walked through the two lines of guards handing Gungir to Loki as Frigga continued, "Make your father proud."
Loki took the weapon tentatively but it felt good in his hand. He looked back to Liya reaching out his hand. She took it without hesitation standing next to him. She truly was his queen now, they would wait to be officially married by Odin once he came out of the Odinsleep, but it mattered not the couple was already so devoted to each other.
"I am allowing Amaliya to stay in your care Loki," the King of Vanaheim told the Trickster, "I trust she is in good hands?"
Loki stood tall and proud before turning and looking at the princess, "She will be in the very best care I can provide."
"Good lad," Arkyn told him reaching out for his forearm before pulling Loki into a warm embrace, "thank you for taking care of her Son."
Loki's heart grew hearing the words of Arkyn, "Thank you for trusting me with her."
Arkyn nodded, "There is one more thing I would like to speak with you about."
Loki looked quizzically at Liya's father, "Of course."
The King of Vanaheim put an arm around the Trickster, "There is something that you should know about Amaliya." Loki's face dropped and Arkyn quickly recovered, "No, it's nothing terrible, however I wanted to fill you in as I am sure my daughter would have told you in time. Amaliya is descended from the Celestial Infinity. Due to that she is special in her abilities."
"The power of the Stones," Loki questioned.
Arkyn nodded, "I am telling you this as she will only continue to get stronger. I am trusting you to help her through that transition. Of course her brothers and I will also be able to assist, however as her place is here with you."
"I understand Arkyn; you can trust she is the best care," he assured his future father.
"Thank you Loki," he embraced the Trickster once more.
Liya's father nodded before leaving with the Einherjar. Loki led Liya to the throne room helping her take her place as Loki took his on the throne. Two Einherjar guards were placed at the bottom of the steps. It was quiet, there was no pomp or circumstance as Loki took command of Asgard. He sat leaning toward the left, Amaliya sat at his feet, overjoyed that her father had let her stay with him.
The quiet of the afternoon was interrupted by footsteps hurrying into the throne room. Liya looked in the direction of the noise to see the Warrior's Three being led by Sif, their right fists over their hearts in respect to the King.
"Allfather, we must speak with you," she managed to get out before they all looked up to see Loki on the throne.
"What is this," Volstagg questioned.
Loki smirked, "My friends," he said sitting up straight, "you haven't heard? I am now King of Asgard."
"Where is Odin," Fandral asked his eyes left Loki for a moment traveling to Liya.
"Father has fallen into the Odinsleep. My mother fears he may never awaken again," he told them. Liya looked at Loki in mild disbelief but said nothing.
"We would speak with her," Sif rebutted.
"She has refused to leave my father's bedside. You can bring your urgent matter to me," he moved from the throne standing at the edge of the platform setting down the end of Gungnir on the gilded floor and it echoed through the room, "your King."
The four of them kneeled before Loki begrudgingly as Sif spoke once more, "We would ask you to end Thor's banishment."
"My first command cannot be to undo the Allfather's last. We're on the brink of war with Jotunheim. Our people must have a sense of continuity in order to feel safe in these difficult times. All of us must stand together, for the good of Asgard," he turned pulling up Liya with him, "and Vanaheim."
Amaliya looked on the four then back to Loki. She was trying figure out why he lied to them. The Princess looked back her eyes landing on Fandral he nodded to her slightly, "Of course."
The four of them took left in a hurry but not before Sif nearly burned a hole into Loki. After they left Liya looked at Loki still in shock.
"Why did you tell them that?"
Loki turned to her, "They do not need to know the private conversations that were held. Do not worry Dove, everything will be fine," he held out his hand, "Come," he softly ordered. Liya took his hand and sat back down at his feet.
Sif paced angrily, "We need to get Thor back."
"You heard Loki," Fandral told her.
"Amaliya," she stopped pacing facing the blonde.
"What about her," Volstagg asked.
"She looked scared," Sif told them, "we can use that."
"No," Hogun told her, "We will have to come up with another way."
Sif ignored Hogun, "One of us can talk to her and get her to have Loki bring back Thor, and he will listen to her." She turns to Fandral, "You should talk to her."
"Why would she even entertain this let alone talk to me," he asked.
Sif turned to the blonde, "There was a moment where it seemed that the princess acted as if she didn't believe what Loki was saying. If there's a chance we have to take it to get Thor back."
Fandral looked at Hogun and Volstagg before turning back to Sif, "Fine, but if this doesn't work we will need to come up with a different plan."
The blonde walked back to the throne room cursing the very idea of this supposed plan of Sif's, yes they all wanted Thor back, however manipulating Amaliya on an assumption shouldn't be a part of it. He had his head down shaking it slightly, he stopped several times on his pursuit to find the princess debating whether it would be more agreeable to face Sif's wrath as opposed to Loki's, as the new King of Asgard would not take kindly to any action that could potentially hurt Amaliya. Fandral stopped in his tracks weighing his options he didn't hear the footsteps approaching him.
"Fandral," Liya's soft voice asked.
"Milady," he gave a respectful bow. Once he straightened up he gave the princess a charming smile, "I was just looking for you."
"For me," she questioned.
The blonde nodded, "Yes, I was wondering if I could speak with you for a moment, in private?"
"Of course," she said absentmindedly looking around to make sure Loki was nowhere to be found, "this way." Liya led him to her chamber and closed the door quietly, "What can I help you with?"
Fandral paced for a moment, muttering to himself, he had found the princess but now how to ask her about Loki's behavior and bringing Thor back, a difficult task to say the least. He continued his nervous pacing for a few more moments, the air in the room going tenser as he pondered.
Liya got up and walked in front of him, "Fandral," she stopped his movement with two light hands on his shoulders. The blonde looked at the princess, her eyes meeting his and he was instantly calm, "Come sit," she led him to a small table.
"My apologies Your Grace," he said respectfully still unsure how to voice his concern.
"I know what you would ask of me," she informed him to which the warrior responded with a shocked look. "I do not think that I could convince Loki to bring Thor back, as much as his presence would ease the tensions building."
Fandral nodded in defeat, he knew this wouldn't work, "I understand Highness, and I apologize for my intrusion."
He moved to get up but Liya stopped him, "You are not wrong to worry, there is something off with Loki," she dropped her voice to a whisper and looked around the room as if the Trickster would hear her. "I am hoping that it will dissipate once he is used to having the burden of the crown, however if not," she paused once more leaning closer to the blonde, "I would speak with Heimdall, he knows where Thor is and possibly the only one that can help you."
Fandral took her delicate hands in his, "Thank you Amaliya," he told her softly placing a gentle kiss on her hands. He left carefully but admittedly more hopeful than before their conversation.
Liya looked around her room, something was off she could feel it in her bones. The way Loki had no issue lying to Sif and the others was troubling. Frigga was hopeful that Odin would wake and that Thor would return, why would he say otherwise. True there was no love lost between the five of them, but it still didn't make sense and then Fandral coming to her…she had to find out what it was.