oOo
Chapter 2 - Jotunheim
Thor heard the floor creek behind him.
Even with Loki's clever and sneaky attitude, nobody knew how to hide that well. Thor had been observant for the past few years, and something as easy as this was very recognizable. He knew him well enough, yet hid the fact that he actually cared more than he let on.
Loki peeked from the pillar and stared at him.
Analyzing his movements.
"What do you want, Loki?" Thor grimaced.
"How did you know I was there?" Loki wondered.
"Instincts."
"That's a lie."
"What do you want?"
"To see if you fare well." Loki said. "You left so abruptly."
"Father made clear his intentions."
"Does this mean that—?"
"He held off the coronation until he deems me worthy of it again." Thor frowned. "My sudden outburst in the vault left him to rethink my crowning. I shouldn't have acted so blindly, but I was—"
"Angry?" Loki sat beside him.
"Aye."
Thor saw Loki nod in agreement. Thor doubted Loki's actions towards him each year. His lies echoed only for him to be appreciated, and his constant coaxing left a sour taste in Thor's perception of him. Loki was changing before his eyes and Thor could do nothing to stop it. Despite their strained relationship, they still remained brothers.
Thor was still glad Loki chose to say by his side all these years.
"If it's all the same to you," Loki began as he sat next to him. "I find your words in the weapons vault to be satisfyingly accurate."
"Do enlighten me." Thor replied.
"The Frost Giants would find more than one way to penetrate Asgard's defences, and perhaps given with time and consideration, they might even find an army for themselves to try and break in. But there is nothing we can do about that unless we wish for trouble. Something I wouldn't recommend."
"There has to be something."
"Like what exactly?"
"I know not."
"Just leave it be, Thor. We can wait for your coronation for another few months or so. I don't think Father will find more reasons to postpone it. Maybe if you just—think straighter, he might reconsider?"
"Think straighter how?" Thor frowned.
"Well…"
"And do you honestly believe Father will reconsider this, Loki?" He sighed. "You know how his mind works and how little we can persuade him to changing his mind. Besides, now that he said those things, I am not even so sure if I am confident enough to—never mind. It is in the past."
"I'm sorry." Loki guiltily said.
"Why ever must you apologize?"
"Can I not sympathize?"
"Apologies matter little," Thor stood up, unsure where the conversation was headed. "For now, my mind works on ways to understand what happened hours ago. I want to know how they got here without Heimdall knowing."
"What?" Loki squeaked and followed after him. "Wait! Thor!"
"No time."
"Where are you going?"
"To seek answers."
"Answers? You mean an answer for that tragic course of event?"
"It was hardly tragic, Loki."
"Oh, then what would you call it?"
"Disruption of a good celebration."
"Thor, this is a horrible idea." Loki rolled his eyes, knowing how Thor's mind worked. "What you might be thinking is insane!"
Maybe Loki did have a point.
Before Thor could retort with something witty that might even shock the All-Father himself, Thor thought against it. He listened to Loki's plea to reconsider his thoughts, but Thor already made up his mind. He wouldn't have brought it up if he didn't have a plan in mind.
"Alright, I've heard enough." He covered Loki's mouth.
Loki glared at him.
"If you would be silent for a moment," Thor smiled. "That would be wonderful."
Loki slapped his hand away. "Ungrateful Oaf."
"Talkative loud mouth."
"This is a terribly idea, Thor."
"Trust me."
Thor pulled Loki by the wrist and the younger god didn't even bother to make it difficult for Thor. Loki followed without any question as Thor sought to find the warriors three and Sif. Loki still protested to the idea, but knew he couldn't leave Thor on his own.
Who knows what could happen?
oOo
"You want us to what?" Fandral blinked.
"No," Hogun replied.
"Honestly Thor?" Sif crossed her arms. "Out of all the things you could think of, this is the one you pick?"
"I've had my fair share of thinking." Thor said.
"Or you had your fair share of coaxing?"
"Do not look at me, Lady Sif." Loki grimaced. "I did nothing to encourage this awful idea."
"He speaks truth."
"This is a bad idea." Hogun insisted.
"Thor, this would be going against your Father's wishes." Volstagg said. "Hadn't you done enough for today?"
"Daylight is wasting," Thor argued. "I'd rather seek answers now than let them rot in my mind without any conclusion. You are more than welcome to join me if you wish, but I am not pushing this forward if none of you are willing. The choice matters on you, but I will push forward with this plan."
"What makes you think we will agree to you going alone?" Fandral wondered. "We have your back."
"And this is Jotunheim." Sif added. "Why make you the center of attention?"
"We are not given a choice." Hogun sighed.
"Then it is agreed?" Thor grinned.
Loki frowned at the back while Thor conversed with his friends. Thor noticed his brother's sudden retreat back to silence. It had been decided that they would go to Jotunheim, but leaving his brother alone to spin lies for them was as suspicious as leaving your belongings on a hunt.
"Loki, you would join us in seeking answers, yes?"
"What?" He said absently.
"You are coming with us, aren't you?"
"You want me to go with you?"
"Do you not want to?"
"I never said that." Loki stared, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I'd love to go."
oOo
It took a while for them to change their clothes into something warmer. While Thor knew where his friends had gone off to, he had momentarily lost sight of Loki. When they gathered, Loki was the last one to come, earning the complaints of every individual in the group. Thor could care less as he pushed on, allowing his friends and brother to follow him.
"Even now, you never listen to me." Thor pressed as they walked.
"I never was a good listener."
"Liar."
"Warm clothes are too warm." Loki pouted. "You out of all people should know this."
"I suppose that is true." Thor nodded. "Don't let the others hear you say that."
"Then never mention it."
"You have my word." Thor smiled inwardly.
He knew that Loki didn't need any warm clothes to go to Jotunheim. For all Thor knew, Loki would even be glad with the change of temperature. He had doubts of course. How was he supposed to know what was going on in Loki's mind? His brother was an endless puzzle that could barely be solved. Each time he was close to solving it, the puzzle would endlessly shift and change, making it difficult to figure out. Still, Thor was satisfied with whatever progress he made.
When they arrived at the bridge, Loki stayed silent.
"You know why we are here, Heimdall."
"You seek passage to a realm forbidden of entrance."
"Will you grant us passage?"
"If the Prince wishes."
Thor interrupted Heimdall before he could press any unnecessary comments that he knew Loki hated. Thor already knew that Heimdall would ask about Loki's clothes paling in comparison to theirs, but he didn't expect any words of warning come out of the gatekeeper's mouth.
"Deception is afoot." Heimdall voiced.
"There is always deception everywhere," Thor answered.
Loki flinched almost guiltily, but quickly hid it with a straight face as he pushed past Heimdall. The Warriors mocked him for his silence and Thor defending him. Loki retorted as quickly as he could. Thor hid his concern with excitement, because since when was he able to do this again and defy direct orders from his Father?
He felt free.
They all stood in front of the portal.
Thor stood proudly, and glanced at Loki, who absently stared at the floor. Thor wished that it wasn't Loki who wrecked his coronation, because what was Thor to do if it was him?
I may be envious, but never doubt that I love you.
Those words were simple.
Yet they were dripping off every emotion Loki had.
What had Thor done to earn such jealousy?
oOo
"This is a terrible mistake." Loki voiced.
They stood on top of a cold wasteland of death. The caves and icy structures were falling apart. The entire realm was crumbling apart. Without the Casket of Ancient Winters, it was now a useless realm devoid of any good memories. It was condemned to punishment of near extinction.
"It is so desolated." Fandral whistled. "And empty."
"Frost Giants still dwell here," Loki argued. "It is not desolated."
"Not yet." Sif smirked.
"This place is near death. Imagine what it could be like if it still had the Casket." Suddenly, Loki was hit with a snowball from behind, nearly toppling him over. "What in the nine realms?! Fandral!"
"That was not I!" He raised his arms.
Loki picked up a ball of snow and prepared to throw it when Thor caught his wrist.
"That is enough." He said. "We aren't here to play games."
"It's just a bit of fun."
"Fun isn't why we are here."
"Why so serious, brother?" Loki observed. "We have near plenty of time."
"I just want to seek answers. That's all."
Thor released Loki and began walking. Loki rolled his eyes and eyed the snowball on his hand. It was cold and a bit comforting. Mischief twinkled in his green eyes as he lifted the snowball and aimed at his target.
Thor was hit.
He angrily turned to all of them and hissed, "What did I just say?"
"It was him." Loki pointed accusingly.
"Fandral," Thor hissed.
"That's a lie!" Fandral said. "Your brother threw that!"
"Oh, the accusation hurts." Loki smirked, pretending to get hurt. "Such disloyalty!"
"But Prince Thor—"
"It matters not." Thor walked away. "Start walking before I start dragging one of you."
"Well done, Fandral." Sif smirked.
"Congratulations." Volstagg cheered.
Hogun merely grunted and left.
"It was Loki!" Fandral grimaced. "That was not I!"
"Keep your voice down." Sif shushed him. "We are in Jotunheim, not in the streets of Asgard."
They all followed swiftly.
Loki snickered in the background while Fandral shot him glares.
Thor eyed the destruction that was still visible after centuries of truce. The place was not only dead to Thor, but to the Jotnar as well. If Thor thought about it more, the Jotnar would do anything to restore what Jotunheim once was. However, Thor doubted if Laufey could remember who Loki was.
Or if he would ever find out that Loki was his son.
Thor wouldn't want to be there to find out. When he glanced at Loki, he could see him curiously wandering about. "Surely this must remind him of something." Thor thought, worried and plagued with fear of the unknown.
"Where are they?" Sif asked.
"Hiding," Thor felt his heart break in two. "Cowards always do."
Thor learned that Laufey was a cunning man and a very great deceiver.
He had to be careful.
"Oh my," Fandral voiced.
"Here we are." Sif mumbled. "So where are they?"
"Maybe they have disappeared?" Volstagg wondered.
"That's not it." Hogun grimaced.
"Quiet!" Loki shushed.
"You have come a long way to die, Asgardians." Laufey said upon his throne. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your surprised visit?"
They all looked up.
"Speak, I tire of waiting." The king hissed.
"I am Thor Odinson—"
"We know who you are, boy." He expressed when Thor growled. "Such an obvious contend coming from someone who had used the Bifrost. Who else would it have been, had it not been Odin himself?"
"How did your people get into Asgard?"
"Ah, we come to this."
Loki turned his gaze to the side to see Jotun's cornering them from every angle. Loki lifted his head up high and saw from the many structures of ice above, the Jotuns hid, waiting and watchful. Loki felt trapped for some reason, slightly afraid and a bit tense. He took a deep breath, eyeing them all in a struggle to compose himself.
"Asgard is full of traitors." Laufey laughed. "Namely in your Father's house."
Thor had an idea.
The only logical explanation for Heimdall's gaze to be blocked was someone who knew Seidr. And who had been practicing Seidr in the house of Odin that rivalled Odin himself? Of course Thor wouldn't accuse Loki that easily without proper evidence, but the idea stuck.
"You lie." Thor claimed.
"Do I?" Laufey shook his head. "You are the boy who is supposed to take Odin's throne? You, who knows nothing about proper politics and how the realms work, Odin laughs at all of us, doesn't he?"
"Thor, listen to me." Loki pulled at Thor's cape.
"Not now," Thor whispered.
"Your Father is nothing but a coward that hides behind power!" He muttered. "He is no more than a murderer and a thief. He pretends to bring peace to one realm and another but at what cost? He enslaves and ruins a single race and condemns them to be the poorest realm in all the nine. How utterly brilliant of him! Is that how a King should act, with sacrifice and slander?"
"You put the blame on my Father's head when it solely points at you."
"Thor—?"
"Not now." Thor hissed.
"Oh? You mean to throw this back at us?" Laufey hissed. "You are no more than a child seeking answers."
"Thor, please."
"Quiet, Loki!" Thor growled, turning back to the King. "You know not what you are saying."
"Do I?" Laufey retorted.
"You brought this upon yourselves for your crimes."
"Your Father should know better."
Thor could feel rage bottling inside of him, but how could Thor act when he knows that this is Loki's real Father before him. Thor had to speak diplomatically, or at least try. Laufey had spoken about Odin being a murderer and a thief. The murder was perhaps a little exaggerated, but the thief part made Thor worry.
Was he talking about Loki, or the Casket?
"Thor, stop." Loki blocked his view.
"What are you doing?"
"That's enough, brother. You've gotten your answers, we need to leave."
"I am not finished." He glared at Loki.
"Please, Thor." He begged. "Do not let this get worse than it already is. You and I both know that nothing good will come out of this useless squabble. Just leave it be. He eggs you on, and you return the favor. This would not end well if you continue to berate each other."
"Stay out of this, Loki." Thor said sternly.
His voice betrayed him of any kindness or regret.
"Leave us, Sons of Odin." Laufey suggested. "Take your hefty warriors with you. This argument is useless. Go, while I still allow you to hold your heads up high. You know not what you would unleash if you continue this further."
Thor remained silent.
"Thor?" Loki called.
Thor's face was contorted with disbelief.
Confusing thoughts invaded his mind of the day Odin and Frigga told him about Loki's heritage. Now that Thor looked back on those days he spent with Loki, he had realized how easy it was for Loki to get distracted and hurt. Loki was afraid and fragile. Loki feared giving his heart to another and possibly fears the entire world as well. Loki may not act like he has fears, but his eyes spoke loudly.
Now that Thor tried to focus better, he eyed Laufey one last time.
Was there regret in Laufey's voice?
"What is your answer?"
"We accept." Loki announced. "We will leave immediately."
"Wise choice."
Thor dared not look again when Loki tugged his hand.
"Come on."
Thor needed to be strong for the both of them and while he walked stiffly to his friends, he couldn't help but hear Loki's silent taunts aimed at him. He could hear Loki's faint mutters as he insulted him. Thor could care less what those words meant.
It wasn't as if their trip was useless.
It gave a lot of things meaning.
Something Thor would have a lot of time to think about.
Thor pulled away from Loki's tugging and instead dragged his brother forward. Loki eyed him in confusion as Thor walked past his friends and away from the Jotuns staring at them. Thor eyed them from the corner of his eye. And curiously, he wondered what Loki would look like if he was blue and had patterns all over his skin.
What difference would it make?
That no longer mattered though. Thor was pissed that he hadn't felt the thrill of battle. Instead, he felt nothing but the terrible feeling in the pit of his stomach. They walked out of the Palace grounds and back towards the Bifrost site where they had come from. Immediately, Loki pulled away from Thor's strong grip and started shouting at an unfazed Thor.
"What was that?" He scolded.
"What was what?" Thor grimly spoke.
"You know what I speak of, Thor. That wasn't like you."
"I had answers I needed. If it were up to me, they would all be on their knees and respecting me."
"That is not how a king should act."
"And you would know?" Thor stopped walking.
"No," Loki frowned. "But Father had never done anything like you did today. He may be a King of a realm that laid waste to another and was caught in punishment, but you shouldn't have disrespected him. He was still a king. You nearly waged war by that stunt."
"We've gotten our answers, there is no use arguing about it."
"And we should be glad it is over." Volstagg patted his stomach. "Maybe we could change the topic and decide on what to feast instead? Perhaps with this traitor amongst our ranks, we would be able to rectify everything and redo Thor's coronation, then get another celebration for it."
"That is not how it works." Loki said.
"Do you not want me to be King, Loki?" Thor asked.
"How can you say that?"
Thor looked away before Loki could even try prying an answer from him.
Loki knew better than to press him when he was angry. Thor had the tendency to go overboard with exaggeration when he didn't get what he wanted. It was merely a force of bad habit that Thor had been trying to get rid of. Too bad it stayed for a duration of time.
"Food sounds wonderful," Fandral whined. "As well as bed rest."
"We barely got any answers from this trip." Sif complained. "All we know is that there is a traitor with us."
"Keep silent." Hogun left the others behind. "There are ears everywhere."
Thor observed Loki's change of attitude when Hogun gave him a look that nearly made the Prince trip. Loki was slightly fazed by the change of tension within the group, and it made Thor even more suspicious. Loki was good at hiding and keeping secrets, but his green eyes betrayed him every time.
He wasn't stupid.
He just barely used his brain when it came to battle.
But now, something was amiss and needed to find out what.
"Afraid of wandering eyes, Loki?" Sif mocked and it snapped Thor out of his daze. "Why the strange expression? Surely you are not bothered by the Frost Giant's glares and their following after us?"
"It does not bother me the slightest." Loki hissed.
"You are a bit tense." Fandral shrugged. "But ah, a maiden such as yourself needs the protection of Lady Sif and the Warriors three! And worry not, even Thor is here!"
"Hold your tongue before I cut it for you."
Loki knew well what the insult held.
A lot of rumors had spread of him being Argr and and some called him Ergi behind his back. It was because he was too feminine, too weak, always practicing magic.
All the rumors only spread nothing but lies and deceit.
No one understood him.
"I don't even know why Thor brought you here." Sif argued in jest. "We don't necessarily need a sorcerer to fight off Frost Giants. Why do you think weapons are made?"
"You dare—!"
"Enough, we leave Jotunheim." Thor declared.
Loki was a little thankful that Thor decided to intervene, but it did not help his predicament. He always seemed to be saved by someone, despite him saving everyone else numerous times.
"Damn." Loki mumbled.
Laufey had followed them, unable to trust them to leave it all be. Those crimson eyes stared at them, but mostly at Loki. Laufey locked eyes with Loki, both of them in deep thought. Thor could tell that it was almost intimate just by glancing at them, but he hoped it was just his imagination.
"Heimdall."
The clouds above them circled and shot a burst of light that propelled them back into the Bifrost observatory.
"If only I could look into your mind, brother." Thor thought. "Perhaps then, I would understand before the darkness consumes you completely."
Thor could see it.
It was there, resting inside of Loki.
Waiting to be triggered.
oOo
Odin stood in the middle of the steps with Heimdall behind him. Heimdall pried his sword off the keyhole and walked back to his post near the entrance, turning his back on them. Odin, with his one eye, glared heavily at them. If it was even called glaring, it was more menacing than anything else.
"We're doomed." Fandral whispered.
"Hush." Sif expressed.
The All-Father stomped Gungnir on the ground and spoke with his old and witty voice.
"The rest of you may go." He declared. "Leave me and my sons alone to speak, lest you wish my wrath upon you as well. Go! I will not speak of it again!"
They simultaneously fisted their hands and placed them on their chest and took a small bow before they left.
The silence was overbearingly painful.
Thor was about to speak when Odin raised a hand to stop him.
"I was ready to appoint you as the new King of Asgard, yet you directly disobeyed me." Odin firmly shouted. "Did I not tell you that I do not wish for you and your brother to travel using the Bifrost, especially not to that realm? Did I not make it clear enough that I do not want something like this to happen? Did I not teach you enough?"
"You did." Thor replied.
"Then what did I miss that you neglected my warnings? Is it because the Frost Giants entered the vault? Is that why you needed to seek answers instead of confronting me first?"
"I meant no harm, Father." Thor spoke courageously.
Loki merely stood at the side line, listening to their angry conversation. Odin and Thor knew very well that Loki was standing right there. Odin would have ordered Loki to leave as well, but the boy needed to hear this. If Odin was to frighten Loki, he had to attack Thor first. Weaken his shield and he too, shall fall.
"I can explain my actions." Thor justified.
"Speak, and I will hear it."
oOo
TBC…
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