The Origin Of Sleipnir

~ Proud And Persistent ~

. . .

"And that marks solstice number 20th hundred which means that this year's solstice will be arranged in the realm of Vanaheim," one of the royal advisers stated solemnly, his preaching about the solstice feast seeming to continue for what felt like eternities.

Although he had nothing else to attend to that couldn't just as well wait, being forced to sit through the advisers' dry speeches was probably the last thing Thor had wanted to spend his day on. It was simply nothing less, but draining.

Practically sitting as collapsed in his chair, Thor fought to keep his eyelids from sliding closed, a subtle moan of pour boredom unable to be held captured. In fact, if it hadn't been for his mother's slight cough, the young Asgardian might as well have slid down from his seat in a doze. Thanks to Frigga, he was saved from that embarrassment.

Sitting up straight only to hunch back over when his mother moved her gaze, Thor blew a stray of golden hair away from between his eyes, now resting his head in his hand. Unable to keep his focus on the matter, the god of thunder caught sight of Loki sitting on the other side of their parents, the two brothers having both Odin and Frigga separating them.

Surprisingly enough, Loki didn't seem to be nearly as bored as Thor. At least he didn't show it with the same amount of enthusiasm. A subtle tabbing of his fingernails on the armrest of his chair, was enough to indicate he had better places to be as well. Opposite to his older brother, however, Loki at least made an effort to stay upright and keep his eyes on the advisors, although his mind was most likely anywhere but in the grant council hall.

Just yet another reason to get his attention.

Trying to cover it up the best he could, Thor send a discrete cough in Loki's way, hoping not to attract anyone else's attention. Although it took a few tries, the elder Odinson lastly succeeded in getting a questioning glance in return from his brother. Suddenly feeling up to make some fun, Thor smirked back at Loki and wrinkled his brows some, hoping to get a reaction. Although it accompanied with a roll of his eyes, Loki had a small smile pull at the corner of his mouth before he returned his gaze back towards the advisers.

Finding the response pretty disappointing, Thor let his shoulders fall back down as he leaned back into his golden chair. However, just when he was about to make another attempt, a subtle flash of light made him turn his head in the opposite direction, only to be met by one of Loki's holographic copies of himself between the broad columns. Having a satisfied smile spread across his cheeks, Thor glanced back at his brother in the chair, catching his faintly smiling gaze for a brief moment before returning his own attention back towards the hologram.

Although they both fought the risk of being caught, the two brothers now began to make silly faces at each other. It was as if they had been thrown straight back into their childhood. Their tendencies to cause a scene at events like the meetings with the advisers, was probably the reason their seats had been separated in the first place. However, since Loki had gained the ability of creating holographic reflections of himself, the separation didn't make much of a difference. Now it was only a matter of who could hold back their snickering the longest.

Although it was a close run, Thor couldn't help but feel slightly triumphant when his brother's hologram began to flicker, as a sign of his concentration starting to fail him. However, the victorious smile on Thor's face faded slightly when the hologram's expression appeared uncomfortable. It made Thor frown in confusion.

The elder Asgardian barely reached to notice the change in the hologram before his attention was dragged back towards his mother. The voice of the Asgardian queen was suddenly dominated by distress."Loki?!"

Thor just reached to watch his brother tilt forward and tumble out of his chair like a limp rag doll before his mother rose from her chair. The sound of Loki's armor colliding with the floor resounded through the grant hall, and the advisers immediately froze at their queen's outburst. Even Odin's attention instantly turned towards his youngest and he joined Frigga on her knees almost immediatley.

"Loki? Loki, are you there?" Frigga repeated as calmly as possible, although her voice shook frantically while she gently patted the pale cheeks of her unconscious son.

"What is happening?" Thor asked as he rushed to his brother's side, a slight feeling of panic rushing through him all of a sudden. It always made him appear more angered than afraid.

"I don't know. He just fell over," Frigga answered without moving her eyes away from Loki beneath her.

"Summon the guards! Quickly!" Thor commanded harshly back at the advisers, who didn't even dare to hesitate obeying his sharp voice.

"There are no penetrations. It was not an act of hostility," Odin stated firmly while he examined Loki's clothing for signs of blood, his concern well-hidden for the sake of everyone around him.

"He's still not responding. What if he has been poisoned?!," Frigga asked frightened, the desperation in her voice reflecting in Thor instantly.

"Come on Loki - This is no time for mischief!" the Odinson hissed in frustration of feeling straight up useless, his strong hand now gently holding Loki's jaw to move his limp head, but there was no response. For a brief moment Thor considering if he should put a finger in his throat to make him throw up any possible poison.

However, before he could turn the thought into action, the sound of the guards' clattering armor spread through the halls as they came rushing to Loki's side, instantly beginning to examine him.

. . .

To Frigga's relief especially, Loki was proclaimed poison free. However, that didn't solve the mystery of why he had passed out in the first place. And even though he had awoken shortly after the guards' arrival (dazed but surprisingly collected), Loki had been unable to come up with a reason for his 'incident' other than simply lagging blood sugar. At least he had thereby admitted to himself that he had followed a very unusual pattern lately when it came down to eating.

But although Loki's explanation made good sense (and that he for the record refused any further examination by the royal medics), Thor was not quit convinced. After all, practicing various spells had required fasting before, and Loki always lived through that process with persistence and enduring strength, not to mention that he even in those periods would still show up to the dinners, just for the sake of simply being present. This was severely different.

The young Asgardian let his eyes raise from the shadows of the torches dancing by his feet, when his mother returned from Loki's champers. Although the act of waiting in passiveness wasn't severely enjoyed by the often so impulsive man, Thor knew how important it was to sometimes let Loki and Frigga enjoy each other's company in peace. That didn't help his restlessness, however, so when he finally met his mother's gentle eyes, he was instantly put more at ease.

"How is he?" Thor questioned somewhat lowly, since the long hallway amplified every sound.

Gently closing the door to the champers, Frigga looked back up at her eldest son with a reassuring smile. "Proud and persistent as we know him best," she spoke with a soft sigh and threw down her gaze. "But although he refuses to admit it, I can tell he is exhausted."

"Do you know why?" Thor asked and pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning against until now, but Frigga just lightly shook her head.

"For whatever reason, he feels the need to put up an act. I think the best thing we can do is simply let him rest," she said with a small smile, although the concern wasn't quit shielded in her voice.

Despite his urge for a better answer, Thor nodded silently, but then felt his mother's eyes on him once more. "But if you need to talk with him to put yourself at ease, you may," Frigga assured and took a step closer to her tall son, smiling tenderly back at him when she caught his restless eyes. "Chances are he needs it just as much as you do."

. . .

"Loki. I need to speak with you," Thor demanded when he entered his brother's champers. The large room was nearly identical to his own, with tall pillars and broad glass-less windows, neatly framing the glory of Asgard outside.

"It is very impolite not to knock before entering the champers of someone else, brother," Loki interrupted before Thor could get any further. As he sat there on his bed with his legs crossed and his eyes glued to the book in his lap, one should think the morning's events had never occurred. In fact, he was acting more like his old self than he had done the past four months. Thor knew better though.

"I'm serious Loki, we need to talk," Thor said seriously, but Loki just ignored his request and kept his eyes down.

"Your manners really has gone down-hill lately. Tell you what - Go out and try again, then we may speak," Loki demanded with a teasing wave of his hand, which only made Thor clench his fists.

Although he let out an irritated groan, the elder Odinson found it easier just to obey this one time. After all, he wanted to stay on his brother's good side for the moment, knowing that he would be impossible to talk to in any other mood. "Damn it Loki, this is just ridiculous," he muttered under his breath, but did as he was told and stomped out of the room, only to give the tall door a couple of harsh knocks.

"Who is it?" Loki practically sang, just to make things worse.

"Loki open the door!" Thor demanded, but Loki was not quit finished teasing him yet.

"I don't seem to recall anyone with that title,"

"Fine! It's Thor. Now open the damn door!"

"Be more specific, please, I am aware of a lot of people with that name," Loki grinned, only to have his brother slam his fist onto the door once more.

"Thor the God of I'll have Mjolnir crack this door to bloody pieces if you don't let me enter this instant!" Thor hissed impatiently, his strong voice clearly reaching through the heavy doors.

"Alright, alright. You may enter," Loki calmly allowed and made a casual wave of his hand, witch made the doors slide open as if the wind had carried them.

"Thank you. Now can we please speak without the presence of your trickeries?" Thor asked right away, making it clear he wasn't interested in furthermore distractions.

"Since you ask so nicely, I suppose we can," Loki sighted and closed his book, only to flicker and disappear before the eyes of Thor. When he re-appeared, it was in the other end of the room, where he casually poured some tea into a gold-platted cup. "Although I wouldn't consider open communication to be our strongest side," he let know, and took a sip of the steaming tea before meeting his brother's eyes.

"I am willing to take the risk," Thor said seriously, all trace of his annoyance suddenly burning out. "On the condition that I won't just be rambling with a silly copy," he added as he picked up a small stone from a pot and threw it at Loki's fake silhouette, causing the small object to fall right through him.

With a small nod of his head, Loki's hologram returned Thor's gaze with a small smirk. "Fair enough," he said and took another sip of his tea before gesticulating towards the balcony. "Go ahead."

As the hologram flickered and faded away, Thor followed his gesture and turned towards the balcony, the light curtains slowly waving through the open doors in the wind.

"Those things are a lot of work you know, a little more appreciation for the craft would be pleasant," The actual Loki said when Thor approached him on the balcony, but Thor refused to let the trickster twist the conversation once more.

"Loki, enough misdirection. I want a clear answer," the elder Asgardian demanded sternly and stepped up on his brother's side. The gravity in his voice actually captured Loki's attention and locked his eyes on him for a moment. "Have you fallen ill?"

Staring back at his brother, Loki considered if he should stick him another fib, but quickly came to the realization that Thor wasn't gonna let it go. "I have had my doubts to whether or not that is true," he then answered, the honesty for once shining through his voice, making Thor's expression change a little. "I admit, I have had some odd incidents lately, but on this side of it I really am feeling well," he assured sincerely and returned his gaze to the glorious view of Asgard that stretched out far before their eyes.

With a small nod of his head, Thor figured his brother had been just as confused about his recent behavior, as he had been himself. Of cause, that didn't help much with the answer to his questions, but it was a start.

"Alright. If you feel there is no need for concern, I will believe you," Thor promised and crossed his arms as he returned his gaze to Asgard as well.

"That is appreciated," Loki said, only to receive a brotherly pat on the back, that contained just enough force to make him hunch over a little.

"Of cause brother. It is good to know you are recovering," Thor said with a smile. "If there is anything you need today, just let hear."

"Really?" Loki questioned a little skeptical, but Thor's tone made him know it wasn't a joke.

"Yeah, I mean. You've had a couple of rough days so I might as well help out a little while you get back on your feet," the God of Thunder said and crossed his arms once more, unable to smile proudly at his own generosity.

Loki's smile, however, was too familiar to be anything but ominous. "Now you mention it, I might have the perfect task for you~,"

. . .