Loki was sitting on one of the many windowsills in the palace, enjoying a book about ice magic. It told him about Frost Giants and their ability to conjure up ice at will. I wonder if I can do that? Loki wondered, looking at his slender fingers. At eleven, his magic was basic, simple things from floating things to tossing fire. Thor always loved to watch his younger brother practice, as did their mother, Frigga.
Loki read deeper into the book, reading about how to conjur ice when, he heard a crash, a shout and running feet. Oh, what did Thor do this time? He wondered as he shut his book. Thor came racing towards him, fingers curled in each other. Loki saw a swarm of tears in each of Thor's blue eyes. "Brother, I need your help!" Thor cried, halting in front of the other boy. Loki sighed and turned to face Thor.
"What did you do this time, Thor?" Loki asked, holding his hands out. Thor held up his own hands, burn marks creating a long stripe down them. Loki sighed again, he'd seen this before on Thor. He'd been trying to pick up Mjollnir again. "Again, Brother?" Loki asked, tossing his book off his lap. Thor nodded sadly, long strands of golden hair falling over his face. Loki watched his usually happy brother turn sad. He wants to be chosen by the hammer. Loki thought, touching Thor's wrist. The other boy looked up.
"Can you heal them?" Thor asked softly. Loki nodded and read the rest of the instructions. Seems simple enough. Loki held his hands out again. Thor set his in the dark haired boy's. Loki closed his eyes and called for ice. He felt no chill sweep his body and rush his fingers. He sighed and read the passage again. "Brother, have you done this before?" Thor asked, sniffling. Loki shook his head. "What?! Brother! We must go to the healers!" Thor cried. Loki shushed him.
"I can do this, Thor." Loki snapped at his brother, glaring at him. Thor nodded slowly and waited in silence. Okay, I can do this. Loki reassured himself and tried again.
He closed his eyes and pictured ice sweeping through his body and pooling in his fingertips. He imagined it spraying out of his fingers and coating Thor's hands. He felt the chill sweep his body, all of it pooling in his fingers. Excited, he opened his blue eyes to watch the ice cover Thor's burned hands. "Don't tell Mother." Thor told his brother. Loki snorted.
"Of course not! I would never tell her of your blunders." Loki assured the other boy. He pulled his hands away and the ice slowly melted off Thor's hands. The skin beneath was pink and new, fully healed. Thor grinned at Loki and hugged the skinnier child.
"Thank you, Brother!" Thor boomed, crushing Loki in his arms. Loki hugged him back.
"You're welcome, Thor." Loki wiggled out and settled back on his windowsill. Thor dashed off, most likely to try again. Loki sighed and returned to his book, reading more about ice conjuring. He looked at his fingers again, they were a pale blue. He called ice to his fingers. Tiny ice sparks flew off, hi fingertips a dark blue. He forced the ice to sweep up his arm, like a Frost Giant's. His eyes widened and he shot off an icecicle. It shattered against the wall oppostie of him. He grinned and did it again. This time, almost hitting a servant.
"Whoah!" The woman yelped. Loki felt sheepish.
"I'm sorry." He called to her. She waved a hand and moved on. I need to be careful. He decided. He let the ice melt off his frozen arm and went to finish the book. He could hear Frigga coming towards him. His mother always knew his hiding places, like Thor. Frigga came sweeping into the hallway and smiled at her dark haired son.
"Hi Loki, what are you reading?" Frigga asked, sitting on the windowsill. Loki held up the book for her to read the spine. Frigga sighed. "Loki, just tell me."
"Ice Conjuring: A Frost Giant's Weapon." Loki rattled off. Frigga raised her eyebrows.
"Oh? Did you learn anything from it?" she asked, hoping he didn't. Loki nodded eagerly. He showed his mother the ice sparks that fell off his fingertips and the icecicles he could shoot off his arm. Frigga pasted a smile on her face. "Wonderful, Loki! Have you shown Thor yet?" She asked. Loki nodded slightly. "Well, I must be off, be careful with the ice." She kissed his forehead and swept off. Loki smiled at his mother and finished his book.