Chapter Two
For three days, a tension filled silence fell over the house, on the fourth day, Bjórr would have to leave for training, but not one of you could think of anything to say without any conversation returning to the matter, so you all decided it was best to say nothing.
You looked at your parents as they sat across from each other at the table. For all her faults, your mother adored your father. They had fallen in love at a young age, and though they went through all sorts of difficulties, they had remained happily together. Sadly your mother had almost died birthing you, so they agreed to never have another child, meaning that though you preferred pursuits similar to your fathers', you often were forced to endure the ones she wanted with you too, even if you thoroughly despised the most of them. She looked forlornly at your father as he ate his dinner, watching as he stabbed the food with his fork, and struggled to get it to size without the ability to cut it. You watched as she walked to him and cut the meat exactly as she knew he liked it, while he sat looking up at her in adoration, even after nearly two millennia of marriage. Biting your lips together, you asked to be excused from the table, and left them to enjoy a meal together, bidding them a good night, and embracing your father tightly as you passed him.
On returning to your room, you looked at the pile of books you had studied so thoroughly and took a deep breathe. After changing into a loose fitting night dress, you waited.
Later than you expected, finally you could hear your parents go to bed, but yet you remained still, waiting for the noise of your father putting whatever book he was reading on the floor next to his side of the bed with an unceremonious thump like every other night. On hearing that, you began to move about.
Taking care not to step on the creaking board close to your bed, you rushed to the vanity table and took out a scissors you had stolen from your mothers dress making kit. Taking a moment to hold your long hair, you assessed what length was more fitting of a man, and began to cut. Long chocolate coloured strands fell over the varnished wood. Inspecting your work, you then tended to it, braiding it where necessary to keep the shorter strands off your face, as you had seen on Asgardian soldiers before.
Then you took a long length of thin cloth which you had rolled up, readying it for the next task. Taking off the night dress, you held it to your side on your ribcage and began to unwrap it carefully, but firmly around your chest, securely binding your breasts to ensure they did not stick out. Throwing on a man's tunic you bought the day before, you assessed your appearance, grateful you never tended to shape your eyebrows, much to your mother's dismay, you would pass as a man, a small built one, but one none the less you thought with some satisfaction.
Taking out the letters you had written for your parents from where you had hidden them, you put them on the table next to your butchered hair. With gentle care, you opened the door and walked into the hallway, passing your parents room as you did so, your fathers rumbling snores transmitting through the wooden door as you passed. Tears welled in your eyes as you thought of them inside safe and asleep. "I love you both." You whispered, before continuing on your journey, when you reached the front door, you paused with your hand on the door handle. "You'll help care for them, won't you boy?" you asked, before looking to the side at the large silent hound staring at you from the doorway to the living room. It whined slightly and you left, closing the door quietly behind you, and briskly making your way toward the golden city.
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Loki sighed in boredom, rolling his eyes and Odin continued to talk for what seemed like a century to the full council room.
"So Tyr, Baldr and I will take the main armies and face Malekith and Laufey on Svartalfheim. Thor, you take a legion and see if you can find out how in the nine realms Laufey has managed to be able to get his army to leave Jötunheim without a proper power source. Even if the Dark Elves are assisting them, they need a way for them to leave their realm to reach them. And Loki, you shall remain here and train the newest recruits." Odin commanded.
Thor nodded his agreement as Loki sighed heavily. To call the men he would have to endure training "recruits" was an insult. Many families sent the men they would not mourn as greatly were they not to return rather than risk their favoured sons. There was something of an irony to it that he would be training them, as he too was the lesser favoured child.
"Come now Loki, I have no doubt you too will soon enough see battle." Thor smiled punching Loki's arm.
"I prefer the art of delegation myself personally, rather than to fight brother, but when to fight is necessary, I tend to not go in search of it." Loki responded in a bored tone.
"And when you do fight, you choose to do so with magic and daggers, using your precious trick and spells." Thor teased.
"My 'tricks and spells' as you put it, have saved your pelt more times than your brute strength and precious mallet has, or do you forget such so quickly, oh mighty Thunderer?" The younger prince challenged.
"Enough, the both of you. The council has little time to listen to you two bicker like children. No battles are won by any one craft of warrior, but by the crafts of many. There are many types of warrior and one as essential as another in ensuring victory. All are necessary to make a competent army. Why else do you think there are so many types of Einharjar, we need all sorts to ensure enough diversity to defeat any and all of our foes." The king explained. Loki smirked and Thor scowled as all present agreed with the Allfather's sentiment. "Now, there is much to do, and little time to do it in, so go forth and do what needs to be done." Odin ordered as he rose from his seat. As though synchronised, all other council members mimicked the movement before heading after the king out of the room.
Thor and Loki remained in step as they made their way down the hall to their mother's chambers. "Do you think that father is right, that there is a great power source on Jötunheim that we are not aware of?" Thor asked as they walked.
"I cannot see how they could have managed what they have otherwise. Jötnar are not known to wield powerful seidr, so it is hardly possible they could use the weak points between realms to transport vast numbers through. Even I could not get as many through as they have succeeded in doing."
"Is my brother, Loki, the great God of Chaos, admitting to being unable to do something?" Thor laughed.
"If you tell anyone, I will deny it vehemently." Loki replied, earning him another laugh from the thunder god.
They spent some time with their mother, speaking with her and enjoying her company before they bid their farewells to her. She embraced them both and told them yet again, as she always had, how much she loved them before they walked to the courtyard to head their separate ways.
Thor took Loki in a one armed embrace. "Brother, we will be together again soon, I am to join you and the newest soldiers when we are done sealing Jötunheim's little leak, and we are to head together with our men to join father on Svartalfheim." Thor informed him.
"Well, until then, try not to do anything too stupid. For I will not be there to save you rear end." Loki joked in response.
"We will try and keep him from acting too brashly." Volstagg smiled from his horse as the Warrior's Three walked toward them.
"I too will try to act as a voice of reason for our dear friend." Fandral swore.
"I fear for us all if you are supposed to ever be seen as a voice of reason." Hogun commented solemnly, earning a series of laughs from all present.
"I would rather face the Jötnar and the Ice Beasts, than to deal with the miscreants I have to attempt to turn into soldiers in the next few months." Loki admitted.
"I do not envy you Silver-Tongue." Volstagg stated. "But you are by far the best man for the position. You are strict, tough and able; I will trust those you send with us when you are done. Loki cocked an eyebrow in almost disbelief at the portly man's words.
"That's all we need at this time is for Volstagg to be getting ill." Fandral joked. "But I do agree with him Loki, you are well able to deal with a few farmhands and kitchen boys."
"Ride safely brother, and we shall see each other again soon, be it in Nilfheim or Svartalfheim." Thor saluted to his younger brother as he turned his horse toward the direct of the Bifrost.
"What's the difference?" Hogun queried.
"Less Frost Giants in Nilfheim." Loki responded, bidding his brother and his friends a farewell, mounting his own steed and kicking his heels to head toward the training camp, fearing what would greet him there.