I apologize for the big time-skip in this chapter but I wanted to get to Thor's coronation. I'll do flashbacks of Rai spending time with Loki's kids and some fluffy flashbacks of Rai and Loki. Also, thank you for the reviews remember any suggestions or comments are always welcome ^^
~Three years later ~
"Come now Fenrir! I taught you better than this!" Thor let out a booming laugh as Fenrir hit the hard, cold floor on his back. He stood up slowly and carefully as he glared at his uncle. The thunder-god was now 22 and it was a typical day at the palace. Sif and the warriors three watched as Thor instructed Fenrir in the art of war as usual. The only one seemingly able to match the golden sons' strength and love of battle was Fenrir. He would train hours on end with his uncle Thor, never wavering, never denying a challenge. If he had blond hair, one would mistake him for Thor's son not Loki's.
Fenrir was now 17 due to Angrboda's time spell. Thankfully the spell ceased for him at this age and he was now aging at a normal rate. He had grown up to be a very strong, powerful, well-built, and arrogant boy. Always seeking the thrill of battle just like his uncle Thor. Fenrir was very handsome. Many girls at his birthday parties would try to seduce him or have him court them. But that's where the similarities of him and Thor ended. Whereas Thor loved to take women to his chambers and make them his, Fenrir never seemed to have time for that sort of thing. Perhaps it was thanks to Rai's influence and how she brought him up that drove him away from women. Sure he had kissed a woman before, and even bedded one once, and only once because when Rai found out…well let's say she scared him straight.
Eventually the whole kingdom found out about Loki's children. Odin made sure everyone knew about Angrboda's tragic 'accidental' death. Rai was thankful she no longer had the difficult task of hiding them from everyone. They of course were treated like royalty. They were somewhat feared as all the people knew they were the 'brewed of Loki,' as some called them. But those words never got under the children's skin, they just dismissed it.
Fenrir and Thor kept sparring with Sif and the warriors three cheering them on. Silently watching on the sidelines, as usual, was Jormungand, he was now 16. The spell had stopped causing him to be one year younger than Fenrir not two. Just like his brother, he was now growing at a normal rate. Jormungand was almost Loki's double. Quiet, calculating, cunning, mischievous, and patient, were the usual words he was described as. Unlike his brother Fenrir, Jormungand remained slender and pale. He usually avoided conflict but was no stranger to battle. Jormungand only resembled Loki with looks, demeanor, and intelligence. He could not use magic like him. He was also very handsome and had many admirers. No one really knew if Jormungand had been with a woman or even kissed one, except Rai. Fenrir would often tease him saying the only woman who would ever like him was Rai, for it was her who Jormungand spent most of his time with. If Jormungand could not be found in the library, he would most often be with her. He trained with her in combat almost every day and she enjoyed his company.
Jormungand was a worthy opponent to Thor. It seemed that he was the only one who could tie with him in battle. Something Fenrir could not do. Everyone always thought it was the strangest thing. Jormungand could go toe-to-toe with the golden thunder-god, for he was faster and smarter than Fenrir, and end the battle with a tie. Whereas Fenrir, the stronger, fiercer, and overall powerhouse of the three siblings, could not. Jormungand had never been able to best Fenrir but Fenrir never came close to a tie with Thor. It bothered the older brother more than he'd like to admit.
Jormungand carefully closed the book he was reading and slowly made his way to Fenrir, who was dusting himself off being once again defeated by Thor. Fenrir saw his younger brother approaching him and scoffed. Jormungand just stared at him earning an angry "What?!" and glare from his older sibling.
"Must you always be so…loud brother?" he answered and gave the older brother a soft, uncaring look. "Shut up…" He replied angrily. Thor was now approaching the two and placed a strong hand on each of the brother's shoulders.
"Come nephews! Join Sif, the warriors three, and I to dinner!" Thor had his usual grin on and patted Fenrir's back. "Perhaps next time you will give me a decent fight Fenrir!" he laughed and Fenrir glared at him annoyed.
"Thank you uncle, we shall join you for dinner. I do believe we are a tad late and we mustn't keep the others waiting." Jormungand glanced over at Fenrir who just nodded and started to walk into the palace with everyone following behind.
~With the others at dinner~
Rai sighed. 'Late again' she muttered as she took her seat across from Loki at the dinner table. Rai was now 20 and an experienced warrior. She retained her mid-length, curly, brown hair, letting it flow freely for dinner tonight. Her honey brown eyes still laced with sadness as the day Loki, now 21, found her at the market place. Eyes laced with sadness because over the years Loki seemed to have grown more serious, cold and distant. Though they raised the children together, Loki had taken her as his secret lover, though she hoped for more. She didn't like it but she loved him, so she didn't complain. He would sometimes show her affection by giving her flowers or taking her on a stroll around Asgard with the horses. He never showed how much he loved her in public. She wanted to confront him about it but could never work up the courage to do so. She thought at first it was all the pressure of the children. She eventually figured out it wasn't that, so she gave up. If he would have her as his secret lover…then so be it…at least he wanted her. Who was she to question him anyway? She was the one who would spend most of the time with the children and she loved it, but wished to be with Loki more. They were her family now, aside from her maid and guard friends. They were her real family since she spent almost every waking moment with them. Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard a soft whisper next to her.
"My brothers have yet to arrive?" The sweet, small voice of Hella was what tore Rai from her day-dreaming. She was now 14 and was the epitome of beauty. Again, like her brothers, the aging spell had ceased and she was growing normally. Her hair was long, golden, and curly. People would complement her all the time how she was the sun incarnate. Her radiant smile filled anyone who saw it with warmth and kindness. Her eyes retained that blood-red color that contrasted her beautiful, soft, pale skin beautifully.
Rai shook her head no, and Hella softly and silently sat next to her left. Hella was the one who spent almost every waking moment with Loki. She was the only one of the three that could use magic, so naturally she would be honing her skills with her father. Though Fenrir and Jormungand sometimes felt jealous, or left out, because Loki would be with Hella all the time, they loved their sister and wouldn't bother her with it. She was a skilled sorceress, especially when it came to the dead. She could control and manipulate the deceased to do anything and everything she wanted. Though she could do many other spells and incantations, she was most skilled with things involving death and the deceased. She was perhaps the one that took all of Rai's wise words to heart the most. In her demeanor and way of treating people, Hella resembled Rai almost perfectly.
She was a kind child. Always looking after her siblings and caring for those less fortunate than her. She had a tendency to give up what she had to those that had nothing. It once earned her a scolding from her father. She had given all the gold coins Loki had given her as a gift for her birthday once, to a little boy she found at the market place. She explained to her father that the boy was in great need of the money and she gave him everything she had. Loki was happy his daughter's heart was in the right place but to give up all her money, he thought was a little too much. Loki never had the heart to really punish or yell at her though; since she was his little girl, she was a bit spoiled by Loki.
Finally with a loud 'BOOM', the doors to the dining hall were abruptly swung open and in strutted Thor with Fenrir next to him. Trailing behind, were Sif and the warriors three and behind them, almost invisible, was Jormungand. Loki looked over at his sons and brother with an exasperated glare. 'Must they always be so loud?' He thought.
Thor took his seat on Loki's right and Fenrir sat on his father's left. Jormungand sat on Rai's right and Sif sat across Thor. Volstagg, to Fenrir's disappointment, sat on Fenrir's left followed by Frandall and lastly Hogun.
"Well it seems we are all here now." Odin motioned for the maids to start serving dinner. To no one's surprise, Thor, Fenrir, and Volstagg were eating like animals until Frigga put a hand on Thor's shoulder and said. "Honestly Thor, did I not teach you manners?" He blushed in embarrassment and tried to eat properly. Loki glanced over at Fenrir and he immediately started to eat properly as well. Sif tried to hint Volstagg to relax and chew his food but to no avail.
It was an awkward dinner. No one really said anything and the All-Father kept staring at Rai for some reason. It made her very uncomfortable. Finally, once dessert was being served, Odin stood up, cleared his throat, and asked for everyone's attention. They all looked up at him and he began, "Rien my dear, my wife and I have been discussing a rather intimate subject about you and Loki…" Rai was taking sips of water and was confused on what he was trying to say. "Well how can I put this…?" Odin started to stroke his beard and looked pensive. Frigga was getting slightly annoyed and decided to ask Rai directly.
"My dear what the All-Father is trying to say is…well, are you and Loki…having intimate relations?" Loki choked on his ice-cream, Rai spilled some water on her lap, Sif looked astonished, Thor was just staring at his brother, Frandall and Hogun were staring at Rai, Volstagg kept eating, and Loki's kids looked away pretending to know nothing.
"No, no my queen! Why do you ask?" Rai was blushing madly and slightly stuttered, still trying to get over the shock of the question. Frigga seemed a little disappointed and Odin had a big smile on his face.
"Wonderful! In that case," Odin continued, "Everyone is aware of Thor's coronation being in two weeks yes?" everyone nodded and Loki was glaring down at his ice-cream, clearly un-happy with the news. "Now Rien, since you have no one courting you at the moment, I would like my eldest son, Thor to do so." Odin sat back down happily and Rai was in utter shock.
Loki felt his heart sink. This had to be some terrible joke right? "Father, why Rien? After all, she is not of noble blood, and if you are looking for Thor to marry someone for his coronation, I believe courting should be longer than two weeks, yes?" Loki had to stop this from happening somehow and even if it meant putting Rai down a little, he would do so. He figured he would suffer the consequences with her later.
"All that is true Loki, however, Thor and Rien have known each other for quite some time now. Everyone in the kingdom knows how fond of Rien Thor is," Sif was glaring daggers at Rai and she just looked down embarrassed and confusion. Odin continued, "Rien is one of the best warriors in all of Asgard. She has proven herself to be worthy of Thor time and time again. I believe she would make a wonderful queen someday….Unless Thor wishes to court someone else?" The All-Father looked over at his golden son. Thor smiled whole-heartedly at Rai.
"I would Love to court Rien father, if she would allow me?" Everyone's eyes were now fixated on Rai. She did not do well under pressure. She wanted to bury a whole and just hide in there until this all blew over. She had to reply…sooner or later…'Damit Rai say something!' she inwardly screamed at herself. "Uh well…." She started.