Silver and Scales
Chapter Eighteen: End of Discussion
The throne awaited Loki's presence, once occupied by Odin All-Father just two days ago.
Through the corridor, flanked by two body guards, Loki strode with Gungnir in hand; he was dressed in his proper armor—a beautiful array of gold, green, leather, and metal—and he wore his horned ceremonial headdress. As he walked, he held a prominent smirk on his handsome face. Vyperia strode beside him, her arm threaded through the one that did not grasp Gungnir proudly in his hand. Vyperia was dressed in royal robes—her signature blue and white was now replaced with shimmering canary yellow trim and a sleek, green petticoat beneath a well-dressed corset. Her new appearance donned her reputation as a living snake very accurate—and it only made her reputation mysteriously elegant.
The guards that flanked them wore apathetic, stony expressions upon their faces as they walked on either side of Vyperia and Loki, escorting them into the great hall.
The guards separated and stood on the lower steps away from the throne, whereas they would be close enough to protect the king if harm should come onto him; but they wouldn't be within earshot of Vyperia and Loki's conversation.
Loki sat, sprawled, on his father's throne. Vyperia sat down beside him on a side-by-side throne—where often an advisor would sit when it was necessary to advise the king on matters that others should not hear. Loki's arms set along the curling branches of the throne, clearly relishing the moment. It was like a heady drug.
He may not have wanted the throne at first; but this became a subtle drug. The power, the authority—the seat of the highest order—belonged to him. Vyperia stared at him, awe-struck. He looked ever more regal and elegant upon the throne. His expression was of one who was soaking in a wordless glory, as if he was on a euphoric drug.
From the silence came the loud, demanding voice of Lady Sif—she was flanked on either side by the Warriors Three whom all walked with purpose.
"All-Father! We must speak with you urgently!"
Their heads were bowed as they approached the throne; but when they raised their gazes expecting to see Odin, their faces flickered with shock and astonishment as they looked upon Loki. Vyperia straightened in her seat, ready for the confrontation that she had been anticipating since Thor's exile.
"What is this?" Volstagg gasped.
They approached slowly, all shocked by the apparition of Loki. Loki's voice came as a smug drawl, though donned with a king's authoritative tone,
"My friends…you haven't heard? I am now Ruler of Asgard."
Fandral glanced between the faces of Loki and Vyperia, confused. His eyes centered on Vyperia's tiara that glinted in the hovering light's reflection. His hands fidgeted uncomfortably, knowing very well that a reputation of Loki and Vyperia on the throne would throw the kingdom out of sorts. It was hard enough to have the maidens of Asgard regard Vyperia with enough respect to hinder their mocking retorts; but this would cause a rebellion among the prettiest of Asgardian beauties.
Hogun the Grim remained silent; his stunned spell quickly faded to one of obvious dislike.
Vyperia's light eyes fell upon Lady Sif, the main focus of her anxiety. The Goddess of War had always been one to argue, especially if her opinion was head-strong and ever standing. Sif had always suspected Loki of said treachery; and now it was apparent upon the goddess's face that she felt that she was proven right. Sif and Vyperia exchanged cold looks—the other goddess seeing the other for what she was.
The tension in the room was hot and built upon a foundation of distrust and uneasiness.
Only Fandral seemed to be the one who would remain calm during such an awkward moment.
"Where is Odin?" asked Fandral quietly. His question was pointed toward either majesty.
"Father's fallen into the Odinsleep," Loki said. His voice was carefully etched with care and gentle precaution; though his expression was one of obvious liking.
To an uninitiated speaker, it would have fooled everyone. Vyperia could see it easily.
"Mother fears that he may never awaken again," Loki continued lightly.
"We would speak with her," Sif said firmly.
Sif and the Warriors Three exchanged a look. Their expression didn't miss Loki; he noticed right away the small signs of apprehension upon their brave faces. Vyperia watched with bated breath; a delicious course of apprehension, anticipation, and delight battled in her stomach as she waited to see how Loki would handle the four potential traitors.
"She," said Loki, countering Sif's demand, "has refused to leave my father's bedside. Mother has passed the title of queen onto whom I deem worthy enough to hold it in her hands." He cocked his head to the side to indicate Vyperia, whose suppression of a proud smirk was unsuccessful.
"You can bring your… 'urgent'…matter to me," Loki told her. Loki rose from his thrown to stand before the party. "Your king."
His delicate emphasis of Sif's turn of phrase coaxed an uncertain glimpse on Sif's face.
When they did nothing but stare at Loki, he lowered his eyes affirmatively. The look was demanding. Vyperia remained silent, stroked by his authority over his old friends. They looked at him as if they had all been slapped in the face. However, one by one, they slowly knelt to before Loki. Fandral was the first to bow, his face cautious and wary. Volstagg followed suit then Hogun. Lady Sif was the last to lower herself to the floor; though she made a mocked smile at Loki, obviously hating this.
Vyperia's hand fidgeted with in her palm, wrapped up in the scene.
"My King," Sif said with the most forceful of polite voices the goddess could muster, "we would ask you to end Thor's banishment."
Obviously, this wasn't the plea that the Warriors Three had in mind to mention. They had intended to expose Loki for his treachery; but that plan was out the window. Loki looked at them all with scrutiny. He turned his head and glanced at Vyperia.
Their exchanged glances were proper; and there was no mistake of the message that was conversed wordlessly between them.
They lie.
Loki turned back to look at them. He strode toward them with Gungnir tight in his hand.
"My first command cannot be to undo the Allfather's last. We're on the brink of war with Jotunheim. Our people must have a sense of continuity in order to feel safe in these difficult times. All of us," said Loki clearly, his gaze lingering on Sif longer than it did on anybody else, "must stand together…for the good of Asgard."
Lady Sif rose to her feet automatically; Hogun and Fandral reached for arms and restrained her from any movement that would have been made. Loki and Sif exchanged challenging looks, eyeing the other with this cold, bitter resentment.
"Of course," Fandral said gently, attempting to steady the air. He glanced at Vyperia. "I congratulate the two of you on your union…"
Loki stared at him with narrowed eyes.
"It's not every day," said Fandral, slowly rising to his feet, "that there is a happy marriage in the nine realms…especially in this difficult time. Many happy returns..."
Vyperia made a small smile at Fandral.
"Thank you," she said tenderly.
Volstagg spoke as if to conceal a chuckle, finding the situation too ludicrous to comprehend,
"If I may, heh heh, beg the indulgence of Your Majesty…"
Loki looked away from Fandral to cast an apathetic look upon the heartiest of the four.
"Perhaps," Volstagg suggested, "if you were to reconsider—"
"We're done."
The air became tense and ominous as Volstagg looked at Loki with a sudden turn of surprise. The friends who had all fought together now became separated by the rule of Asgard. Volstagg, Hogun, and Fandral rose to their feet—they stared at Loki, taken aback by such authority that Loki now had over them. Vyperia and Lady Sif met eyes once more. Sif, apparently, waited for Vyperia to speak up; however, when it did not happen, she turned to Loki. Silent anger burned in Sif's eyes.
Fandral, Hogun, and Volstagg turned to exit. Sif stayed her place.
When she did not leave, Loki stared her down with a frightening penetration in his eyes. Lady Sif turned to follow her companions out of the hall. Vyperia's tight sensation in her stomach eased when the hall emptied, and Loki and Vyperia were left alone with the two guards that flanked them.
"You were right, dear," said Loki, turning to her to sit down on in his chair.
"I wish that I wasn't," Vyperia returned honestly.
Loki looked at her from his visage.
"Oh?"
"They were our dear friends, you should recall." Vyperia reminded him calmly. "They see us now as officials. It's a pity, too. They were very nice."
"Has your memory wiped out the past?"
She looked at him upon his question.
"How many times have you argued with Sif?" said Loki incredulously.
"She and I disagree on many things; but she was always a suitable sparring partner."
"If you could call it sparring," he added nonchalantly.
Vyperia's eyes smoldered. Loki noticed.
"You have a talent in archery, Vyperia; but you lack the skill to fight in close range. That is where you are weakest; and never have you tried to improve in that area."
"And you must be the greatest teacher to perfect that art," remarked Vyperia hotly.
"I certainly have perfected it," he told her quietly, looking ahead.
She stared at him, annoyed.
Always the one to have the last word…