Hi! How you're all doing! Here you go! ENJOY!

Chapter 48

Frigga's banquet was planned for the evening. So naturally the whole of Asgard's court had been partying since the morning of the sixth of September. Especially Fandral and Volstagg didn't let this opportunity to go loose slip through their fingers. By the start of the banquet, both warriors were already as good as wasted which only got the party started that much faster.

Loki stood in a corner, holding onto his second goblet of wine. The young king smiled as he watched the cheerful sight at the main table where Frigga had started to receive her first presents. To the delight of Volstagg, all the leftovers were cast aside, to make place for the sudden avalanche of gifts.

To Frigga's surprise, lots of other Asgardian kids had decided to show up on her birthday, every single one of them carrying a present for their new princes. Being bullied and ignored all her life, Frigga didn't know how to connect with other kids of her age. To be honest, she'd found that her closest friends were mostly grown-ups. Luckily for the little girl, the Asgardians were more than social and inquisitive. Within the hour, the young girl was surrounded by a new set of friends.

Loki had never seen his niece happier. While excepting one funny gift after the other, she told her new friends about her life on earth. The Asgardian kids hang on her every word and in return told the young princess about their Asgardian childhood. Frigga proudly told the kids about her father's heroic deed alongside the other Avengers. She told them about sweet Banner and cocky Stark. She spoke off Malekith and Thanos. She told them about SHIELD and how she never quiet understood on what side they were. She explained the Tesseract incident and told them how she'd discovered her true powers, of course with the help of her favourite uncle. She told them about how she loved princesses and how she adored books. She told them about the library and about how the people of Earth pretended to know everything about Asgard and their inhabitants. To Frigga's delight, the kids frowned and protested.

The night grew old, but no one felt like sleeping. Frigga was running around the table, playing tag with her new friends. Loki smiled while taking a new goblet of wine from the tray of one of the servants. It had been a while since he's last had a proper party on which he had the liberty of drinking as much as he desired. As a result, the young king was starting to feel slightly tipsy. Nevertheless, one look on his friends clearly showed that he was some goblets behind. Fandral and Volstagg were dancing on the table by now, entertaining the kids, while Hogun watched the duo, shaking his head in disbelief. Jane and Thor set at a table in the corner, laughing and talking loudly. Sif and Arya were sharing a drink and told the most expressive of tales to everyone who wanted to listen.

Loki smiled. Soon it would be his turn to give his present to Frigga. It was an old Asgardian habit to first receive the gifts from the families of "lower" stand.

As if he could read his brother's mind, Thor suddenly looked up from his conversation with his wife. The God of Thunder searched for his brother. Loki stared back and nodded. Thor smiled, turned to Jane, said something and got up from his chair. Jane followed. At the door, Thor softly kissed his wife, smiled sheepishly and left the room. Jane slowly walked towards the long table.

Loki put down his goblet and made his way to the table as well. Arya, Sif, Fandral and Volstagg had joined them by then. Jane called her daughter and the room went quiet. The little girl climbed on the table and watched the people around her with and excited look in her eyes.

Thor walked back inside the room, smiling mysteriously.

"Frigga!" he called out while joining at the table. "You're about to get your final presents for today. Are you ready?"

Frigga nodded excitedly.

The first who stepped forward were Fandral and Arya. The threw each other a drunk grin, although Fandral was clearly the worst. The Golden warrior turned to Frigga and smiled sheepishly.

"Although I am certain that everyone here has a marvellous gift for our little princess, my gift will simply be the best!"

Arya shook her head and laughed. "Our gift!" she corrected while taking a box from a servant who'd just entered. She smiled at Frigga and put the box on the table.

"Happy Birthday, Frigga!" she said.

"What she said!" Fandral shouted way to loud. Arya giggled and took a closer look at the box in front of her, until it suddenly moved. The little girl took a step back and threw a questioning look on Arya, but the Captain only smiled.

"It's the head of a dwarf!" Fandral whispered. "But it's still alive!"

Arya playfully hit the golden warrior on the head. "Don't listen to him! Open the box, Frigga. Don't be scared."

The little girl bit her lip and took a step closer. Again the lit moved. Slowly Frigga reached for the box and opened it. A soft hairy thing popped out of it.

Frigga's mouth dropped open. There, in the box, with its tongue dangling out of its mouth, set a cute completely white puppy.

The little girl cheered and picked the puppy up. Immediately the little thing started licking the young girl's face.

"It's a dog, Mommy! It's a dog!"

The kids around the table clapped their hands while Frigga cuddled the puppy.

Arya took the box of the table.

"Well, technically, it's a wolf's cub. It's a very rare breed. Completely white, blue eyes, extraordinary senses, incredibly fast and strong. In the wild, their dangerous, but if they are trained correctly, they'll make the best of companions."

Fandral nodded. "We found it on a field trip to the northern borders of Vanaheim, in the Ironwoods. It's mother had been killed, probably by another animal or a bandit."

Frigga bit her lip and looked at the cub in her arms.

"Poor wolfy… I'll take care of you!" she said while staring in the blue eyes of the cub. "I think I'll call your princess!"

Fandral and Arya shared a look.

"Actually…" Fandral started. "It's a boy…"

Frigga frowned. "Prince then…" she said after a short silence. Arya and Fandral smiled.

"Look at that!" the golden warrior exclaimed while hitting Thor clumsily on the shoulder. "You're getting competition!"

Fandral gestured at the silver wolf cub in Frigga's arms. "Prince of Asgard!"

Thor shook his head and pouched his drunk friend away.

"Frigga," he said. "We expect you take good care of Prince. This is no ordinary dog! Prince will be stronger and live longer than a normal Midgardian dog! He will have to be trained!"

Frigga rolled her eyes.

"Daddy!" she exclaimed. "I'm not stupid!"

With a smile, Arya handed Frigga another present. It was a bright blue collar with a blank, silver name tag. Carefully she put it around Prince's neck.

"There!" she said. "All yours Frigga!" the little girl was completely taken aback. She stared at her wolf in awe and knew that she'd just made a new friend. She put Prince back on the table and the small cud curled itself around her ankle.

"Thank you…" Frigga stuttered while tears of happiness coloured her bright blue eyes. Both Fandral and Arya gave her a big hug.

The next in line was Hogun. He stepped forwards and cast Frigga one of his rare smiles. He held up a small, brown packet. Excitedly, the little girl accepted it. With trembling hands she ripped open the brown paper.

The little girl's eyes grew big when she found a silver crown inside. Thin silver strings curled through each other like the branches of a young tree. Miniature leaves, each one holding a tiny diamond caught the light and threw dancing sparkles on the table.

Jane gasped.

"Oh, Hogun!" she whispered in awe. Frigga looked up from her present and smiled widely at the Vanaheimer in front of her. Hogun smiled and took the crown. Arya bowed down and let him gently put it on her golden locks. It fitted perfectly.

"A good friend of mine, who lives in Storborg, made it. The crown itself comes from the mines of the dwarfs, yet the design is Elfish, just like the diamonds. A princess of Asgard should wear a crown of the worlds."

Frigga looked at her reflection in a silver plate on the table. She was speechless, as was everyone else. Prince looked at the reflection as well and barked softly after which he licked Frigga's reflection in the plate.

"Thank you! Thank you!" the little girl squeaked while throwing her arms around the Vanaheimer. Hogun froze, but quickly relaxed.

Frigga pulled back and rubbed her eyes dry.

"Mommy, Mommy! Look!" she shouted while jumping up and down. "It's so beautiful! I look like a real princess!"

Jane could only nod. Somewhere she was starting to panic. Was this the usual "quality" of birthday presents on Asgard?

The next one up was Volstagg. The warrior stepped forward. His head had turned bright red, but Frigga wasn't sure that was out of shame or just because he'd drunk too much.

Volstagg smiled shortly.

"I'm a little embarrassed to give you this now…" he started. He was fidgeting his hands around something. "I mean… it's not a lifelong friend and it's not that valuable…"

Frigga giggled. "I'm sure it's wonderful!" she said with a smile while her eyes sparkled.

Volstagg smiled back. After some more hesitation he opened his hands and held up a scruffy rope with a sharp looking tooth hanging in the middle. The warrior bit his lip.

"It's the tooth of a bilgesnipe. It's rather rare to find one as beautiful as this one… most of the time they already blunted their teeth on the stones they chew… I fought it myself… I thought you would like a necklace… So I made you one."

Frigga stared at the blinking tooth. Her mouth opened in amazement.

"Cool!" she whispered. Volstagg frowned.

"Cold?" he asked confusedly.

Loki sniggered and shook his head. "Midgardian slang, my dear Volstagg… don't pay attention to it. Let's say she likes your gift!"

Volstagg smiled widely.

"May I?" he asked kindly. Frigga nodded, turned around and pulled her long hair aside so Volstagg could tie the necklace around her neck. Frigga looked down at the tooth and glowed with pride. She'd never felt stronger. The kids around the table stared at her, completely speechless and slightly jealous.

"Thank you, Volstagg!" Frigga said with a big smile. She bowed forward and placed a wet kiss on Volstagg's red cheek which instantly turned purple.

Her next present was the one from her parents. Jane hugged her daughter and smiled mysteriously.

"Look, sweetheart. Since I really didn't know what to get you of Asgard and travelling to Earth was rather difficult, I haven't bought you anything this year. Yet…" she said with a smile. "Your father and Lady Sif have managed to persuade me into giving you something quite special. I'm not saying I agree with them, and you'll only be thought by someone I trust and know. But, Frigga… Happy birthday!" Jane kissed her daughter on her forehead and stepped aside so the little girl could see the door.

The groom came walking in with in his wake a beautiful white horse with long blond manes. Frigga was once again speechless. Her father took the rope of the horse and led it closer to the table.

"Her name is Lyn. It means lighting." The God of Thunder explained. "She is named after her incredible speed. She is light and swift as the wind and will always carry you to where you need to go."

Frigga nodded vaguely. Thor smiled. "She's been destined to be yours, Frigga. She comes from the same family as my horse, Loki's horse, Odin's horse and our ancestors before him. I got the thunder, you get the lighting…"

Frigga didn't say anything. Her eyes drifted form the horse to her mother, who only tried to smile an encouraging smile, back to her horse, Lyn. She suddenly felt really small, even though Lyn was still a young horse herself.

Lyn turned her head. One sparkling dark eye crossed with Frigga's stares. A sudden weird feeling took hold of the young princess. For some reason she knew her father was not selling nonsense. Lyn had always belonged to her and her alone. It just fitted. Frigga had the feeling she'd known this horse her whole life and she immediately felt safe. She would look after Lyn and Lyn would take care of her.

Almost in trance, the little girl jumped of the table and slowly made her way to Lyn, who almost seemed as curious as her future rider. Frigga looked up. Although Lyn was a young horse, she still towered over the little girl, but Frigga didn't feel any fear. She stretched out her arm and Lyn bowed her head to let Frigga gently pet her nose. Lyn snorted and softly pushed against Frigga's palm.

Thor smiled, as did his brother. The royal family had always been served by a rare breed of horse. They were believed to be created together with the first Asgardians. Their line had followed the kings and queens until this day. Both brothers remembered all too well when they first lay eyes on their trusty stallions. It was a feeling neither would ever forget. Yet, now Loki thought about it… It was rather curious that he, being a frost giant and not at all related to the royal family, also received a horse from the line. The young king smiled. There were forces in the universe that even he would never understand.

The room remained quiet until Frigga suddenly snapped from her trance. She looked up at her father, her face glowing with excitement. She turned to her mother.

"Does this mean I'll get to ride a horse!" she shouted. "Sif's gonna teach me?"

Jane's worried expression didn't fade, but a small smile managed to break through at last. Frigga started jumping up and down and hugged her father tightly. Lyn seemed to share her excitement and happily neighed. Prince the wolf barked enthusiastically before continuing his task of biting as much meat as possible of the leftovers.

"Thank you daddy!" Frigga shouted before rushing off to her mother to hug her tightly. "Thank you mommy!"

Jane caught her daughter and hugged her back. "I'm glad you like it, sweetie…" she managed to say. Frigga was too excited to notice the worried look Jane threw to her husband. Thor smiled shortly and handed the rope back to the groom who took Lyn back to the stables.

"Now, let me give you the best present of tonight!" Sif suddenly interrupted. The female warrior got up from the table and walked to a corner where she picked something up. Afterwards she walked back to the table and handed Frigga a small, silver shield.

"I can teach you to ride a horse and fight in battle. But, before you can learn how to fight, you'll have to be able to protect yourself!" she said.

Frigga shove the shield over her arm and waved it around.

"Awesome!" she exclaimed. She rushed to the lady warrior and shortly hugged her. Sif smiled mysteriously. "Off course, your sword is safely hidden until we'll need it…" she added in a whisper so only Frigga could hear it.

Frigga bit her lip excitedly. Sif put a finger on her lips while winking. The young girl nodded.

Frigga untied the shield and put it on the table. Then she turned to Loki, a questioning look colouring her eyes. The young king could see she was already trying not to look disappointed when he would tell her he didn't get her anything. But Loki smiled moved his hands around each other until a big book suddenly appeared. It looked ancient. The thick parchment pages had turned yellow and soft. The leather binding was almost falling apart. A leather strap bound the book and the many extra pages put in between, together.

Loki kneeled down and handed the book to his niece. It had nothing written on the dusty cover. Frigga looked at the book, impelled and curious. Loki started untying the leather strap.

"This is not just any old book, Frigga. It once belonged to my mother. Before that it belonged to her master, The Great Merlin himself. Everything he knew is in there, everything my mother ever taught me is in there… the book has grown over the years. It has been edited by hand. I, myself, put in many extras. Spells I found in old runes, the spell of The Beginning is in there as well. If you want to learn magic, there is no better place to start…"

Frigga didn't know what to say. Loki looked up and met two pair of suspicious eyes. Jane and Thor were thinking the same thing. If all Loki's and Merlin's knowledge was in that book, then that also counted for the Dark Magic…

Loki smirked. "And just to put you at ease… " he said more to the parents than to Frigga. "This book only exist of Light Magic. Merlin put a special spell on it … before he turned. No Dark Magic will ever find its way in those pages… Not his, not mine…"

Thor and Jane shared a look. They didn't know if Loki was telling the truth, but it would have to do for now.

"Thank you Loki…" a silent voice sounded. Loki looked down and met the bright, watery eyes of his niece. She held the book close to her body as if she was scared if would disappear. Loki smiled back and threw one last look on the book. He had to say… it had hurt when he'd decided to hand it to Frigga. This book had been the last physical memory of his mother, but the young king knew his mother had wanted it this way. Her knowledge, her legacy had to be passed on.

"I'll teach you everything you want to know, Frigga. Trust me: if you are as strong and gifted as you've already proven to be, then you won't need that shield or a sword or a wolf at your side to protect yourself!"

Loki smiled, winked, whispered "Happy Birthday" and got back to his feet.

The rest of the evening Frigga showed all her presents to her new friends. Especially Prince seemed very popular. The adults kept drinking. At one point Fandral fell with his face down on the table while he was trying to woo a couple of girls, to the delight of the kids and the other warriors.

Loki smiled from his spot in the corner. He'd always enjoyed watching his friends instead of partying at their side. Who else would come with the embarrassing stories the day afterwards…

"Typical right…" a voice sounded next to him. Loki looked down and found, to his surprise, Arya standing next to him. The young Captain was obviously drunk. Clumsily she pointed to a spot next to Fandral. "He is way too drunk!" she said.

Loki sniggered. "Aren't we all…" he answered.

Arya laughed a little too loud.

"Perhaps…" she eventually admitted while taking another gulp from her goblet. It stayed silent for a couple of seconds and Loki found himself speechless for the first time ever. The young king looked at his full goblet and shook his head. He'd had too much…

"That was a very nice gift…" Arya suddenly started. "The book I mean… very nice…"

"Yeah…" Loki answered, wondering what had happened to his normally fluent tongue. "So was the dog…" he quickly added. "I mean, the wolf… Prince…"

"Yeah… he's very cute…"

Loki nodded vaguely. "So… you found him together with Fandral?" he asked after another short, awkward silence.

Arya nodded. "Yes.." she said while taking another gulp. "In the Ironwoods… I remember it was freezing… although I didn't have much time to think about that with Fandral's constant jokes."

Loki's eyes turned dark for a second. "He's not that funny…" he answered shortly. After all… he was the God of Mischief. He made the jokes.

"Oh… he can be… in his own way I guess…" Arya answered vaguely. "Anyway, it's a good thing we found Prince. Fandral was asking me what to get for Frigga. He was planning to give her a goblet of Asgard's best wine…"

Arya laughed and shook her head.

"That's absurd…" Loki said harshly.

"He really needs woman around him!" Arya added with smile while waving around her goblet.

Loki's jaw tightened. He didn't really like the subject, but for some reason he just had to answer.

"Someone like you, you mean?"

Arya, who just took another gulp of wine, almost choked.

"Me?" she asked in surprise with a cough.

Loki raised his shoulder. He took his cup back and drank from his wine.

"Well, it's obvious he likes you…" he said dryly. Arya laughed.

"I pity the woman who ends up with him…" she said with a smile. "Fandral's fun alright, but only as a friend! Not me, thank you… By the way… he's not my type."

Loki smiled shortly. "Oh really… what is your type?" he asked immediately wondering why he'd asked that, but Arya was too drunk to notice.

"I don't know… someone who doesn't need that much attention, I guess…" Arya answered while a slight blush coloured her cheeks.

"I agree…" Loki quickly answered. "Women deserve that attention…"

Arya turned bright red and Loki mentally praised himself. He'd always been one for flattery, but it never seemed to work with girls because his brother was around.

"What off you?" Arya suddenly asked after taken an encouraging gulp of wine. She'd finished her cup…

Loki blinked in surprise. "What off me?"

"Don't you fancy someone?" Arya asked rather darkly. Loki swallowed and wanted to drink from his cup, before noticing it had been emptied as well…

When did that happen? the young king thought, but his tipsy mind didn't spend too much time on it. From a passing tray he picked two full goblets and handed one to his thirsty Captain. They hit their goblets together and drank.

"So… Anyone?" Arya asked again. Loki had hoped she would drop the subject.

"No… Not exactly!" Loki answered after a short silence. "Women don't really fancy me… I guess it has something to do with Thor…"

Arya sniggered. "Gibberish!" she answered before she could stop herself.

Loki frowned in surprise and watched his Captain turn bright red once more.

"I mean… Girls do fancy you…"

"They do?"

Arya pulled up her shoulders and felt herself and her drunk mind falling deeper and deeper.

"Well… you don't look… bad…."

"Not bad?" Loki asked, wondering why he even cared.

"You're cute enough…" Arya quickly added, immediately regretting every word she'd said so far.

Loki raised his eyebrows, while Arya struggled to find the next, least embarrassing way to get herself out of this.

"Well.. cute as in, all right… looking… good looking… Not bad…"

Loki was really starting to feel uncomfortable.

"Like dark…" Arya stuttered on, cursing herself while she did. Why couldn't her drunk mind just shut up! "You have something dark… something that Thor doesn't have…. That's cute… nice, I mean… Good dark, of course… It's interesting…"

Arya suddenly had the great desire to start hitting her head against the wall.

"Good dark?" Loki slowly repeated. "Dark is good?"

"No, dark is bad!" Arya immediately answered. "But not with you… you have nice darkness…"

"Right…"

"Right…"

"Nice darkness…"

"Yeah…" Arya stuttered. "No… Yes… Sort off… yes…"

Loki nodded and cleared his throat while he felt the blood raise to his cheeks. It had been a while since he'd last felt this embarrassed. Most of the time, he was the one embarrassing others.

Arya turned away. "I'm sorry, my lord. I guess I had a little too much…" she said hoarsely.

Loki nodded vaguely. A weird thought had just crossed his mind. And although every fibre in his body warned him to ignore it, the young king couldn't resist to ask. He just needed to know.

"What's bad darkness then?" he said.

Arya looked up and swallowed. Why was he asking this of her? Loki knew she'd just embarrassed herself! Why was he dragging her even further down?

"Eer… bad darkness?" she stuttered. "Eer… like those sorcerers… or the Dark Elves… they do bad things!"

Loki smirked and wondered why he was being this mean. To Thor it wouldn't be such a surprise, but to Arya?

"I sucked the soul out of my father's body…" he bit back.

Arya felt her mouth go dry… "Well…" she started awkwardly. "I… I … I don't like my father that much either…"

The young Captain had never felt more stupid. What kind of comparison was that? Loki didn't seem satisfied, so Arya quickly tried to change the subject.

"My point is that you are not all bad… The Dark Elves are, just like those sorcerers… Or... or take the Frost Giants for instance. I don't see how they could ever do good…"

For some reason Loki froze. His eyes turned dark. The young Captain stared back in confusion. What had she said wrong?

Loki's jaw clenched. "Right.." he said dryly while he felt his heart shrink to its minimum when he was reminded of his true parentage and the fact that only Thor knew the truth. Loki put down his half full goblet and smiled shortly, yet his normal charisma was missing.

"Trust me, Arya. There is no such thing as nice darkness…" he said darkly. His light grey eyes pierced into Arya's emerald once. For a moment, the young Captain lost sight of her surroundings, the party and the location of her legs. Luckily Loki suddenly broke eye contact and walked off. Arya blinked confusedly. What did she say wrong?

Loki marched out the room. The light feeling in his head had turned into a sickening feeling his stomach. Loki kept walking and suddenly found himself on one of the highest balconies of the palace. Automatically he walked into the cold night air and climbed on the balustrade. Without trouble, the young king climbed further up the roof until he reached his familiar, flat spot. Loki sank down and let his feet dangle of the edge of the roof. No one but his mother and brother knew of this secret hide out. Loki had spent so much time up here in the past that he'd lost count. Yet the last time, his mother had joined him… now he was alone.

Feeling frustrated, the young king looked down at his hands, remembering the cold blue colour creeping over his skin when that Frost Giant had touched him.

The young king sniggered.

Nice darkness… Don't make me laugh…

Loki let his head rest in his hands and looked up at the stars which suddenly looked a lot colder than they'd done in the past.

What did you think? I have to warn you: while editing I found a remarkable amount of mistakes... I was a bit tired when I wrote this chapter. So sorry if I mist some...

Anyway! Thank you for reading!

Please review!

Rumple x

PS: I'm going on a summer camp tomorrow (1 week). I wont be able to write there... so sorry!