Chapter 5

An Heir

At long last, the king had chosen on heir.

Odin had called the elders and jarls of Asgard to moot and announced that Thor, his firstborn, would succeed him on the throne. Thor was well-liked; the decision was met with hearty approval and satisfaction, and no small amount of money changed hands behind Odin's back. It had long been a matter of debate which of the twin princes was the legal inheritor.

Frigga had arranged a quiet dinner for family only that night. There would be feasts aplenty in the days to come, and it would soon be a rare occasion when they would all be together in peace. The transfer of power was not to take place for a decade or more, but Thor and Odin surely would be kept busy with the preparations. Even now they were engaged, Odin closeted with his advisers, Thor moving about the city accepting congratulations from his soon-to-be-subjects. Frigga had assumed that Loki had gone with him, as usual. So she was surprised when she came across him in a room off the banquet hall, seated on the edge of the hearth, staring absently into the heart of the fire. So lost was he in thought that he failed to notice his mother in the room until she called his name. Then he scrambled to his feet and bowed, respectfully and a little stiffly.

"Loki," she asked, "why didn't you go out with your brother? Are you feeling ill?"

Loki looked like he wanted to say something but restrained himself. "I'm fine," he said with a rather forced smile. "I was just... tired, that's all."

Frigga took a seat in a chair and Loki returned to his place by the fire and his thousand-yard stare. He was troubled about something, Frigga knew. She was about to ask him what was on his mind when the crash of doors flung open and a peel of off-key song heralded Thor's return.

"Ah," said Frigga, rising. "Your brother is home. Come, Loki. It is time to eat."

Supper that night was held in a small dining room in the royal family's private quarters. Odin and Thor took up most of the conversation with talk of politics and preparations, and Odin wanted to hear again about his sons' latest adventure. Thor was more than happy to oblige, and launched with great detail into an account of the quest that had led him and his companions into the heart of Nornheim, and of the daring feats which had brought them back. For her part, Frigga could have gone without hearing the story again; after months of worry she was just glad to have her sons back in one piece. Odin, however, was still thrilled to hear it. It was the main factor that had made up his mind in regard to choosing an heir. Thor's conduct in the Battle of Nornheim had so impressed him that after the princes' return a week ago there had no longer been any doubt in his mind who the next king of Asgard would be.

Thor motioned grandly as he described the various dangers he and his friends had faced. He loved to tell this story. So had Loki, until two days ago. Now, though, he brooded, hardly speaking through the meal, picking at his food, and turning his wine into a snake which slithered in circles around his plate until a look from his mother made him return it to his cup. Finally he got up and took his leave. Frigga watched him go before excusing herself to follow him.

He hadn't gone far when she caught up to him.

"Loki, what's wrong? Why didn't you finish your supper?"

"I wasn't hungry," he said, turning slightly. "I was just tired." He had composed himself, but Frigga could see it was an act.

"Loki," she said, laying a hand on his shoulder. "The truth." She marveled at how much he'd grown. When had her fretful little boy become this handsome, clever young man? He was a full six inches taller than her, and the eyes that had once been the color of the bottom of the ocean had long since darkened to grey-green. "Tell me what troubles you."

Loki's frown deepened and he seemed to hesitate. He opened his mouth and for a moment he seemed ready to confide in his mother. Then the door slammed open and he was cut short.

"Hullo, brother!" boomed Thor. "What's wrong with you tonight?"

Loki's face darkened immediately. "I'm well," he said with acid courtesy. "Leave me alone."

Thor blinked. "I was just trying to be polite."

Loki said nothing, but his look was venomous and he turned away. Thor shrugged.

"Come on, come back to the table. I was just getting to the part about the dragon and –" Loki whirled on him.

"Oh, dry up! You think you were the only one at Nornheim? You think you were the only one who risked his life?"

"Well, alright, if you want to tell it..."

Loki glowered at him. Frigga decided to step in before things got out of hand.

"That's not what this is about, is it?" she asked. Loki hesitated. Whatever he had to say, he didn't want to say it in front of his brother. In the meantime, a light flickered on behind Thor's eyes.

"You've been in a sulk all day," he said. "Ever since Father's announcement. You're not jealous, are you?"

"Thor, please," Frigga said.

"No, of course not," Loki snapped. "Why would I ever be jealous of you?" He turned, stalked to the bench at the end of the room and sat down. Frigga joined him.

"I think I know how it is," she said. "Loki, the kingship isn't something to be envied. It's a heavy burden and hard to bear. Soon your brother will learn this, and so will you. Besides," she said, thinking there might be more to the matter, "Thor isn't receiving this title because he's better than you or more loved. He's the firstborn, and by law he must inherit the throne." But Loki was shaking his head.

"What does it matter that he's the firstborn? We're twins! If we're exactly the same age, what difference can it make who came out first?"

Frigga had to bite her tongue to hold back the real explanation. It's not fair to him! something inside her cried out. Oh my love, we should have told him long ago. "Loki..." she said, as Thor sat down on her other side.

"It's just chance, I suppose," he offered. "Like a coin toss. 'Winner gets the throne.' Or maybe like Mother said, 'Loser gets the throne.'"

"You're already a loser," Loki said with a weak smile.

"Ah, shut up, Bookworm!" Thor laughed, flopping down with his head in his mother's lap. It was an age old jest, and even Loki had to smile at it.

"You know, I used to think there couldn't be a firstborn where twins were concerned," Loki said as he eased himself down, laying his head next to Thor's "I used to think we'd both be kings at the same time."

Frigga smiled. She remembered those days, when Loki sat at her feet, babbling out his boyish dreams. "When we're kings," he had said. Thor had said it, too, so long ago.

"Well," said Thor, "when I'm king, the first thing I'll do is make you my royal vizier. You'll be in charge of everything..."

"Great," muttered Loki. "Don't do me any favors."

"Well, alright, we can both be kings. We can't divide up Asgard, Father wouldn't be too happy about that. Tell you what," he motioned grandly with Mjolnir. "When I'm king, we'll go out, you and me, and conquer some new realm and you can be king there."

"Just as long as I don't have to pay you tribute."

"Never!" Thor laughed.

Frigga smiled, brushing back a lock of Thor's hair and laying a comforting hand on Loki's shoulder. It's just like when they were boys, she thought. Things would be different in the future, and there would be difficulties, as there always were at the transfer of power. But it will be alright, she told herself. Everything will be alright.

Author's note:
For the drawings that inspired this scene and the one in the last chapter, see the triad of sketches towards the bottom of this picture: gallery/?offset=24#/d3hhrm8