Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Marvel Universe or Disney, The Amazing Stan Lee and Joss Whedon, or anyone else involved with the movies or comics are the ones who do. I am not making any profits from this writing, it is all for the purposes of fun and creative writing
Chapter 17
It was a bright morning over the realm eternal. The sun glinted off of every metallic surface, lending an almost glittering quality to Asgard, the most resplendent being the great palace of the Allfather that stood at the heart of the city. From where he stood leaning on the crescent shaped balcony of his room, Loki Odinson gazed out at the cityscape with his green eyes bright with warmth and a small smile curving up the corners of his lips.
It had been just about a month since he had retaken his rightful place, as prince of Asgard, brother or Thor, and son of Odin and Frigga. Most days Loki found himself scarcely believing that he was back, that he was home, safe and alive after the ordeal he had been through. In the weeks since it has been a bit overwhelming to say the least. Many feasts had been held in his honor since the day of the ceremony in which he had officially retaken his place. Loki felt his smile dim somewhat as he averted his gaze and thought back on things. In all honesty it had all been very jarring, it was still jarring right now, to go from hardly being noticed other than for deeds of mischief and malice and reviled for such, to suddenly being in the forefront and looked at with respect, with praise, even with naked awe. In the days since, Loki had not really known what to do about it all, other than to be as gracious about it as he could manage. He took it all in stride and did his best not to show how disconcerting he sometimes felt about it all.
But before Loki could dwell any further on the matter and small bark caught his attention and had Loki turning to face the source that was sitting every faithfully by his side. Jarl, one of the two ice-wolves that had been appointed by the Norns to be his guards while he had pretty much been in an magically induced coma, gazed up at Loki with his bright red eyes glittering and his tail wagging behind him happily. The otherworldly creature tilted its head much like any dog would and let out a small whine. Loki felt a happy grin spread across his face as he leaned down and started scratching at Jarl's pure white ears, earning a happy grumble from his four-legged friend and protector, chuckling at the blissful look that spread across the wolf's face.
After a good few minutes of scratching, Loki spoke.
" Hey boy, lets head back inside, I'm sure Njord's missing us." The Prince said with a smile as he turned and stepped back into the adjoining bedroom.
Here was another change that had come about. Thor had personally seen to it that all of Loki's belongings and such had been cleaned and moved to a larger, grander set of rooms located directly across from his own. In the process Thor had doggedly kept Loki away from his old room, for obvious reasons. Along with his old belongings, Frigga had commissioned the best tailors to make her youngest son a new set of Asgardian finery, and added a few of her own pieces to the mix. The Allfather himself had seen to it that new furniture of the best quality, and also very much accurate to youngest son's style and preference were also made. Loki's protests that he didn't need so much new stuff fell on deaf ears, and yes it did touch him greatly that his brother and his parents wanted him to have only the best. But again, it was all a great deal overwhelming still.
Njord, the other ice-wolf looked up from the large bone he had been chewing on with great enthusiasm while he was laying on the lush black fur-rug situated at the foot of Loki's bed in time to see Loki and Jarl re-enter the main room. With a small yip, Njord gracefully rose to his feet and trotted over to the second Prince of Asgard. Loki sank to one knee before the gorgeous creature and let out a soft laugh as Njord promptly started happily bathing his face with his tongue.
" By the Nine, dog breath!" Loki cried in feigned dispair, but made no actual move to stop Njord's ministrations.
Not one to be outdone, Jarl joined in while subtly trying to shove Njord out of the way and have Loki all to himself. Loki, deciding to keep the brothers from all out fighting, smiled and summoned his magic, glowing a soft green as he conjured a copy of himself.
" You two are lucky I can make is so there is plenty of me to go around." Loki's copy said with a small chuckle before he all but tackled Njord into his arms, earning a happy yip from the wolf who started playfully nipping at the copy's fingers. Jarl all but tried to climb onto real Loki's lap and renew his lick-assault on the laughing prince's face.
Loki and his copy were so fully engrossed in rough-housing with Njord and Jarl that the Prince didn't notice when the door to his room was pushed open by a booted foot as a tall, blond individual let himself in, a large tray laden with a small mountain of food held in his hands and a mythical hammer tried to his belt. Around his neck hung a silver chain with an exact replica of the hammer with two throwing knives crossed behind it. Loki's pendant that never left his neck and was always on proud display.
" Brother." Thor called, a grin spreading across his face as he caught site of the two Loki's and two ice-wolves who very much resembled one giants pile of white fur and Asgardian Princes.
Loki startled for a moment, and it was enough to make the copy of himself disappear in a flash of greenish-gold light.
" Morning Brother." Loki said with a smile as he rose to his feet, Njord and Jarl both pawing at his legs.
" I have brought us breakfast, thought we could enjoy it here in your rooms today." Thor said, coming across as confident, but with the barest trace of hesitance in his bright blue eyes. It was as though he were unsure as to how his gesture would be received. Well, Loki would let Thor know exactly what he thought.
" Brother, I'd be delighted to share in the morning meal with you." Loki said with a bright grin of his own.
Thor practically beamed and nodded when Loki gestured to the small sitting areas he had set up by the grand fireplace across from his bed.
" Brother, do spare me a moment to cleanse my face, as you obviously saw I was getting double wolf love mere moments ago." Loki said as he started to trot off towards his bathroom.
" Not to worry, I get the feeling my turn's coming up." Thor said, laughing as Njord and Jarl converged on the Thunderer, both wolves nearly bowling Thor over as they rose to their hind-legs to get to his grinning cheeks with their tongues.
Loki let out a soft chuckle of his own before he disappeared into the bathroom to get the wolf-spit off his cheeks. Once he had hastily washed his face and hand, Loki wet a small towel and headed back out into the main bedroom. Still smiling, Loki handed the towel off to a grateful Thor, who gently pushed Njord away and gave the wolf a stern look. Njord let out an unhappy whine but obediently refrained from trying to climb all over Thor and sat quietly by Thor's side where the Thunderer sat in one of the intricately carved chairs Loki kept by the fire place. Jarl trotted over to Loki once the second Prince had sat down in the chair across from Thor, the round table of polished oak between them with the tray Thor had been carrying resting on top. Jarl nuzzled at Loki's leg, earning a happy bark when Loki reached out and rested his hand over the wolf pure white head, once more scratching at his velvety soft ears.
" I didn't know what you would have preferred this morning, so I asked the kitchens for a little bit of everything." Thor said as he wiped the wet towel over his face.
Loki's green eyes went to the tray Thor had brought, and the veritable mountain of food. Loki smiled as he noticed that the mountain was made up of mostly his favorite breakfast items.
" Well, since when did you become so considerate?" Loki said teasingly.
" Since I learned just how much of a fool I have been, and can now enjoy breakfast with the brother I thought lost to me forever." Thor replied seriously, his sincerity shining within his blue eyes.
Loki felt his eyes widen and his cheeks flush with color, slightly taken aback by his brother's humble words. Feeling a very slight burn behind his eyes which he quickly quashed down, Loki ducked his head for a moment before he looked back up, sending Thor a shy smile as he spoke.
" Thank you Thor, I really do appreciate this." Loki said before he cleared his throat and pulled out the two plates and other utensils that Thor had brought along with the food, and two goblets of fresh mead as well.
" Now, let's eat before this all grows cold." Loki said as he set a plate for himself and the other for Thor.
An so the brothers set about eating breakfast, enjoying the best from the palace kitchen and more importantly, enjoying each other's company on a warm and quiet morning over Asgard. And yes, they also enjoyed the antics of two ice-wolves, who had a particular fondness for the sausages on both Princes' plates and kept trying to pinch a couple in a very discreet way, which turned out to be about as discreet as a bull in a fine china shop.
As he had eaten his share of breakfast, Thor had done his best to be subtle in his admiring. Even though it had been weeks since he, with the help of the Avengers and the Warriors three and the Lady Sif had found Loki where the Norns had hidden him away in Muspellheim, and had then seen his brother reclaim his rightful place in Asgard, Thor could not help but find himself marveling every time he saw Loki. Even now, dressed in a simple forest green tunic, which the sleeves rolled up to his elbow, and a matching sweater-like vest coat over it (Think Loki's prison outfit) instead of the his usual bright green and black leathers and gold embellishments, Loki had this brightness about him that had not been there even before Menkos and all the horrors that had followed. Loki had forgone slicking his hair back as he usually did, opting instead to tie it in a loose ponytail today, with a few wavy, ebony strands falling free, framing either side of his face. The ring of the Norns, with its three oval-shaped jewels still remained on Loki's slender ring finger on his right hand, any and all attempts to remove it, even by Loki itself had failed to dislodge it. In the light that filled the room, the three jewels, representing the three Sisters of Fate glittered softly, an ever present reminder of whose favor Loki had won through painful battle, blood, and sheer will to live.
Not wanting to embarrass his brother, Thor caught himself and focused instead of the meal that needed to be finished, though he would steal the occasional glance or start up a conversation just to gaze upon Loki's face and hear his voice. By the end of it, the mountain of food was nothing but empty plates. Surprisingly, Loki had polished off the majority of it seeing as to how Thor had brought him several of his favorite dishes. Thor gathered up the plates and empty goblets back onto the tray and had then called for a servant. When a young maid had arrived, she had seemed a bit nervous, the obvious reason perhaps being that this was Loki's quarters and she would be facing both princes, but when her eyes had actually fallen on the second Prince and naturally lingered on him, Loki had taken the attention graciously, sending her a bright grin and a wink. Thor had watched on in silent amusement as the maiden had blushed prettily, but smiled at Loki shyly and then at him before she took the tray with thanks from them both.
Once she was gone, Thor closed the door and turned to Loki where the latter still sat by the fireplace. The brothers stared at each other for a moment before Loki bowed his head with an over-dramatic sigh and Thor broke out in hearty chuckles as he made his way back across the room. Thor came to stand beside Loki where the younger brother sat and place his large had over the back of Loki's ebony haired head, the latter looking up at him with mock annoyance, but a smile threatening to come out.
" Face it my dear brother, you are simply irresistable." Thor grinned.
To this Loki let out a snort and rolled his eyes as he replied.
" Oh come off it Thor, it's just the starry-eyed curiosity because of my circumstances, it'll pass." Loki said, already feeling his cheeks heat up a bit at his brother's words.
Thor frowned minutely at this, not liking how Loki was trying to lower himself, even if it was only through his words.
" Hey now, none of that, you were always handsome brother, you are even more so now because everyone has seen you for the true Prince and warrior that you are. There is no one who can deny your strength and your heart without coming across as nothing more than a blind fool." Thor said in all seriousness, shifting the hand he had at the back of Loki's head to cup the side of his younger brother's neck as he so often did.
Loki blinked owlishly up at Thor, his mouth slightly agape, truly stunned by Thor's words or praise and defense. It was still so unnerving, Thor being so sincere and grown-up about things instead of the brass and arrogant Prince Loki had known before everything that happened. Loki felt several powerful emotions rise up inside him the chiefs being wonder and yes, love, but he was a Prince of Asgard and a grown man on top of that, he'd keel over first before giving in to the urge to blubber. Instead, Loki reigned in his emotions, smiled up at Thor and spoke.
" Thank you for your words Brother." Loki said, proud that he had kept his voice from wavering as he reached up with his own hand and gripped Thor's wrist at his neck, giving it a firm squeezing before he lightly shook the former's hand off.
" Alright, enough with all this sentiment, allow me to get ready and then we can go down to the training grounds and see the newest recruits for the royal guard get their back ends handed to them by the Captain and his senior guard." Loki said as he stood from his seat.
" Of course brother, it's bound to be a spectacle. Perhaps after we could go riding or something. I'll be in my room." Thor said, sending Loki a brilliant smile before he headed out of Loki's chambers, beckoning Njord and Jarl to come with him. Both wolves flocked to Loki, nuzzling at his legs before they trotted off and flanked Thor on either side, Jarl playfully nipping at the Thunderer's signature red cap while Njord bounced around the tall blond Asgardian Prince as if he were still a little cub.
Loki smiled as he watched them go, Thor's warm laughter sounding through the room before he and the two wolves disappeared through the door, leaving Loki to himself. With a small shake of his head and a soft chuckle, Loki made a B-line for giant, exquisitely made four door armoire that stood at the far wall across from his bed. Made of polished mahogany with gold accents, it was a grand piece that easily served the purpose of containing the rather large new wardrobe Frigga had commissioned for her youngest. Loki still felt his face heat a up a bit at the memories of how his mother had gone well overboard, descending on him with an veritable army of eager-to-please tailors and seamstresses. Loki had taken it all graciously, seeing the joy on Frigga's face as she had doted on him made it all worth the poking and prodding. The new and very well made wardrobe was an added bonus. Loki pulled open one of the doors an reached in, pulling out one of his signature green and black Asgardian leather outfits with gold accents. He also pulled out a pair of black riding boots as well in case he and his brother actually did go riding as the latter had suggested.
With a flick of his wrist and a soft green glow, Loki magicked himself out of the dark green informal attire that he had been in and into the heavier garments. Shifting and pulling at things here and there in adjustment, Loki stepped over to the large standing mirror that stood beside the armoire and gave himself a once over. Mother and the tailors had outdone themselves, because every garment they had produced had fit him perfectly, but also kept in mind that he was no longer that slightly delicate looking and thin prince they had known. His every outfit had been tailor-made to fit broader shoulders. In addition, Loki himself had asked that his outfits be changed so that they no longer held as much resemblance to what he had been known to wear before, and also to be very different from the garments that his murderer had worn while using his skin. Loki had wanted to distance himself from that as much as possible, and understandably so. He did keep the spaulder across the shoulder though, except he had personally overseen its making with the smiths, adding his own flare to it. Now instead of whatever design Menkos had created with his own audacity while masquerading as the second prince of Asgard, the spaulder that now adorned his right shoulder gleamed golden in the light and had an intricate design of two intertwined wolf-head profiles with their jaws open wide and roaring. On the new gold gauntlets that now adorned his wrists,were etched a spear, sword, and double bladed axe in finite detail, a representation of the weapons the Norns had so fearsomely wielded when they had appeared in the great hall in all their cold fury. Njord and Jarl, obviously not being ordinary wolves, had greatly appreciated the gesture when Loki had shown them the piece of armor once it was finished. Loki had effectively found himself buried under a pile of fur and happy wolf tongues that day.
Loki smiled but quickly shook himself out his musings and turned his green-eyed gaze to his hair, and what he wanted to do with it today. Loki reached up and pulled his hair free from the leather cord he had used to half-hazardly bind it. Loki ran his long fingers through the black, wavy locks and silently weighed his options. Seeing as to how he and Thor were going down to the training arena where they would be presenting themselves to the newest recruits to enter the royal guard, Loki figured he'd compromise with looking formal like the prince he was and wanting to have his hair loose, so with his hands glowing soft gold, Loki manipulated his long black locks into a half ponytail so that he hair was away from his face save for a few strands and the rest cascaded down his back and over his shoulders. He did straighten the more unruly curls with his magic to lend himself an overall polished look. Once he was satisfied, Loki stepped away from the mirror and padded across the room towards the door.
In long strides Loki made quick work of getting across the hall to the doors to Thor's own chambers, and when he stepped inside he stopped dead in his tracks at the sight that greeted him.
" This is not a chew toy you confounded mutt!" Thor shouted in annoyance as he found himself currently in a tug of war with Jarl, the both of them gripped either end of of one Thor's boots. The crown Prince of Asgard was decked out in his usual bright silver armor and with his red cape hanging proudly at his back, but at the moment he looked every bit the bedraggled dog owner as Jarl growled and remained unrelenting as he felt the end of Thor's boot between his powerful jaws.
A few feet away, Njord sat quietly, watching the spectacle with amusement clear in his ruby-eyes. The shock quickly left Loki's face, replaced by a wide grin. As stealthily as he could, Loki made his way over to Njord, sinking down to his knees beside the ice-wolf and wrapping his arm around the beautiful creature as they both settled in to watch the match continue. It was a well known fact by now that while Njord and Jarl were well behaved most of the time, at any given moment they were prone to give in to a bit of mischief, almost alway at Thor's expense mind you. While Njord had taken to stealing a sock or shirt here and they and then burying them in mother's garden or an obscure part of the palace ground, Jarl had take a particular liking to chewing up every pair of left boot Thor had, always the left one for some reason. No amount of chastising from Thor, and even Loki at times had any effect on the two.
" Brother, that boot's a lost cause, give it up." Loki said with a laugh while Njord nuzzled his great head under the prince's chin lovingly.
" Wha!" Thor exclaimed, started as he whirled around to see his brother sitting on the floor behind him. In the process he ended up letting go of the boot he had been so desperately trying to free from the clutches of his four-legged opponent. Said opponent gave a happy grumble of triumph before he proudly sauntered off with the boot hanging from his maw.
Thor let out an annoyed sound, but them smiled and shook his head as he turned and stepped over to where Loki was sitting.
" I just don't understand why he likes to tear apart my shoes and no one else's." Thor said with a long-suffering sigh.
" Perhaps its because your feet create the most pungent odor and he wishes to destroy the item which carries the scent?" Loki replied in perfect dead-pan.
" Hey, I will have you know I have very clean feet thank you very much, and I always powder by boots after I take them off." Thor replied in mock indignation.
There was a beat of silence in which the brother had a stare-off, and then in the blink of an eye the pair were dissolving into laughter. Njord himself seemed to almost join in, his jaws hanging open in a wolf-grin with his tongue hanging out over once side. When they had sobered somewhat, Loki spoke.
" In all honesty brother, I think he just likes to irk you because he can." He explained, nodded towards Jarl who was happily chewing on the boot he had wrested from the Thunderer.
" Well irk me he does." Thor said with a smile.
Then Jarl rose to his feet, leaving the slightly tattered and utterly slobber-drenched boot on the floor before him. The beautiful creatures eyes started to glow bright while a light mist materialized and swirled in front of his nostrils and the seems of his lips, then with a deep inhale Jarl blew outward. Thor and Loki watched on, not stunned by this in the slightest as the mist Jarl had conjured engulfed the soiled boot. It swirled about for a few seconds and than disappeared, leaving behind a perfectly in-tact and dry boot in its wake. With a happy yip, Jarl delicately picked up the boot by the think heel and trotted over to Thor, depositing the repaired boot before the Prince and looked up at him expectantly.
Thor kept his face stern for all of about five seconds before he was grinning ear to ear and holding his arms open wide. With a happy bark Jarl launched himself up onto his hind-legs. Thor laughed as he was once more bathed in wolf-kisses, all the while he himself was squeezing Jarl firmly. Loki chuckled quietly at the sight while he still had his own arm around Njord shoulders. It may have been that the two ice-wolves had originally been appointed with the task of guarding Loki as he had slept, but in the weeks since the pair of wolves had proven that their loyalty and love extended to both brothers.
Once the love-fest was over, Loki and Thor headed out of the latter's bedroom with their big, white companions in tow, their destination being the training arena where morning drills would be taking place soon. As they walked side by side with Njord and Jarl following close behind, Loki bit back feeling of disconcertedness once more as the eyes of all who happened to be in the halls zeroed in on him. While the guards that stood watch along the halls bowed to both princes as they passed, their eyes lingered undoubtedly on Loki. Loki took it all in stride nodding to every guard or saying a quiet 'good morrow'. The servants they passed were a bit more awe-struck than the guards but otherwise they too merely gave short bowed to the two Princes of Asgard, many of their eyes filled with curiosity and also wonder as they beheld the man who had singlehandedly fought his way out of the realm of the dead.
As he walked with his head held high and doing his best to stay relaxed, Loki couldn't help but feel anxiety start to swirl within his chest, because while it was one thing that the eyes of servants and Guards lingered on him far longer than was normal, it was going to be a whole other thing entirely once he and Thor reached the training grounds, where no doubt many of Asgard's nobility and proletariat alike will have gathered. They did nothing to mask their stares or their whispers, except unlike before when he could hear just their malicious jeers and insults, now now it was the whispers of mostly admiration and curiosity. When they stared, they gawked at him like he was some exquisite piece of art or a spectacle to behold, some even holding a wariness in their eyes, as if they didn't know what to make of him. To Loki's astonishment and also chagrin in some cases, he found many a hungry gaze from both man and woman alike leveled his way. He did his best not to let it bother him too much, plastering on a diplomatic smile and acknowledging the attention, reasoning that sooner or later they would all lose interest, but even someone who was accustomed to being in the lime-light would have been at the very least slightly uncomfortable. Loki having never really been in the lime-light, well not for a good reason anyway, simply did not know what to do about it except take it all in stride and do his best not panic because these were the people he was Prince over afterall.
That was where Thor came in. Throughout the veritable whirlwind that had ensued in the days since Loki had reclaimed his place, Thor had been like a pit-bull basically. With just a look of warning Thor had made it clear that his brother was off-limits to anyone who did not have the best of intentions towards his brother. It was like that Midgardian song about a particular plant, you could look but you better not touch. Thor may have gone a bit overboard in the beginning, but Loki had allowed it, grateful for the protection but also seeing that Thor had a barely concealed desperate need to just be there with him. Thor had eased up in the weeks that passed, but he was still always there having Loki's back. The two rather large wolves also helped keep the unwanted attention at bay.
As the brothers neared the archway that led out into the training grounds, Loki could hear the shouts of the senior Captain of their father's royal guard, the boulder-like man no doubt already at it scaring the green men and women who had chosen to enter the service of the Asgardian royal family's guard. There was also the many voices that came from the people who had gathered around to see the pseudo-initiation of the newest warriors into the guard.
" You ready to face your adoring public brother?" Loki asked with a smile as they fast approached the archway, a light teasing tone to his voice.
" You mean your adoring public dear brother?" Thor shot back with a smirk as he watched Loki sputter and his cheeks flushed for a moment before the younger prince composed himself once more, but not before playfully punching Thor in the shoulder mind you.
The brothers both grew silent then, knowing that some formality was required. Standing up straighter, but smiling still Thor and Loki both nodded to the two armored guards that stood on either side of the archway before stepping over its threshold into the mid-morning sunlight that was bathing the main training grounds. At first Loki felt like he was being bombarded by noise, the many voices of the crowd that had gathered and the shouts of the senior guards. It was like walking into a wall of pure sound. It lasted for what seemed like hours, but was only a few moments really, and then the noise just stopped. All the voices fell silent as the crowd caught sight of the two princes of Asgard descending down the stone steps that led to the training grounds, flanked on either side by the two ice-wolves who had become somewhat of a legend in their own right after their appearance at the ceremony where Loki had retaken his place as Prince.
The crowd wordlessly parted and cleared the way to the field where the captain and the new recruits stood at attention once Thor and Loki reached the bottom of the steps. The people on either side bowed as the two brothers passed. They made a very regal pair, both princes being so tall and Thor decked out in full armor while Loki was in his green and black leathers with the gold accents. They each smiled politely and said their 'good morrows' back to anyone who addressed them, both looking calm and collected where as before Thor would undoubtedly have been preening like a peacock and hamming it up for the crowd. Now Loki could not help but still marvel at the maturity he could see in Thor in the way his older brother was carrying himself now, and once again it was jarring that so much had changed. But then again he had been gone for a long while, so things were bound to change with or without him. Loki banished the wave of melancholy that rose up inside him just as the Captain of the royal guard walked up to them and saluted, his right arm going across his chest and bowing.
" Good morrow your majesties, we are most pleased that you could join us on this day." The Captain said with a smile as he straightened up.
" Of course Captain Fryell, it is always a joy to watch you initiate the newest recruits, you just have such a way with them." Thor said with a smirk, one the Captain readily return while Loki did his best to not laugh out loud. It was true the Captain did have a way with new recruits, more specifically a very terrifying way with them.
Loki moved to follow when Thor and Captain Fryell started to to make there way towards the training field where the new recruits were standing, but there was a sudden, light tug on one of his long leather coat-tails that had him stopping mid-step. When Loki turned and looked down to see what had caused the tugging, he expected it to be Jarl once again being a nuisance, so it stunned him to no end when instead of a large white wolf, it was a tiny little girl with his coat-tail held in her delicate looking hand.
" Well hello." Loki said with a warm and curious smile as he gracefully sank to one knee before the child, taking in her fiery red hair done up in two neat little plaits and the adorable freckles that graced her alabaster cheeks. The child stared up at him with shy blue eyes and a hesitant little smile as she let go of Loki's coat-tail. Around them the crowd watched in stunned silence as the second prince knelt before the rather brave little girl dressed in a light blue frock. From where he stood Thor too was stunned, but only for a moment before he relaxed and watched on with a smile spreading across his face at the sight.
" H-Hello Prince Loki." The little girl chirped back softly as she nervously rocked back and forth.
" What is your name my lady?" Loki asked, his smile widening at the blush that spread across the child's face at his words. Averting her gaze but smiling shyly, the child spoke.
" Astrid." The child replied giggling softly at being called a lady by the Prince.
" Well, that is a very pretty name for a very pretty lady, what may I do for you Lady Astrid?" Loki said without missing a beat. He looked up in time to see a frantic looking red-haired woman step to the forefront of the crowd, first looking relieved, but then her eyes were widening comically in stunned realization as she beheld the scene that Loki and Astrid were presenting. With her mouth working and a disbelieving look on her face, the woman, no doubt the little girl's mother moved to step forward, but Loki just held up his hand and sent the woman a reassuring look before turning his attention back to Astrid who was now staring up at him with her big blue eyes.
Without saying anything Astrid lifted her other hand, revealing a tiny white blossom with a light pink center, which she held out to Loki.
" For me?" Loki said with a soft laugh as he reached out and gently took the offered gift. Astrid nodded wordlessly. Behind them there were sighs and quiet laughs from the crowd, Astrid's mother was grinning ear to ear at her daughter's absolutely adorable gift and bold move in giving it to the second prince of Asgard to begin with.
Loki smiled down at the tiny blossom he held between his fingers, twirling it for a moment before an idea of what to do with it came to mind. With a soft chuckle, Loki spoke.
" I thank you very kindly for this gift my lady, I shall wear it proudly all day in your honor." Loki declared, loving the look of wonder that spread across Astrid's face at his words. Then Loki reached out with his other hand and pulled some of his hair forward. With his fingers glowing, the section of long black hair which he had singled out floated away from his fingers and separated into three thinner sections. With a flick of his glowing fingers the three sections quickly wove together to form a neat braid, and at the very end Loki placed the blossom in by the steam and allowed it to be woven into the braid, magically securing it. By the end the blossom was on proud display from its place at the end of the braid among Loki's long ebony locks.
Loki grinned fully when he say the look of absolute delight that lit up young Astrid's face as she bounced up and down and clapped her hands in innocent glee. Around them Loki could here the laughs and see the warm smile on the faces of those who bore witness to the sweet moment. Astrid's mother looked gobsmacked but pleased at the whole thing. From where he stood, Jarl just wagged his tail and panted.
" Since you have given me such a lovely gift Lady Astrid, it is only fitting that I give you one in turn." Loki declared with a smile.
Loki brought he hands together, his palmed pressing together as they glowed a soft gold. Astrid's wide blue eyes were glued to the sight, still smiling and all but bouncing with curiosity. With a small flash of golden light, Loki pulled his palms apart, conjuring a small wreath of delicate little yellow roses and promptly placing it over Astrid's head like a crown. Astrid gasped and then beamed happily, exposing that she had one of her front teeth missing, which only added to her devastating cuteness. She reached up with her hands and touched the flowers reverently before she turned her wonder-filled eyes back to Loki.
" Do you like it my lady?" Loki asked with a smile.
" I love it, thank you!" Astrid shouted before with a happy giggle she launched herself right at Loki, who easily caught her and held her close, chuckling as he gracefully rose to his feet and stood tall.
Thor found himself barely resisting the urge to go awe as he watched his brother get thoroughly hugged by the happy five-year old red-head in his arms, and as the crown prince gazed over the crowd that was in attendance to the tender scene along with him, he grinned as he found many a young lady gazing appreciatively at his brother as the second prince of Asgard walked Astrid over to her beaming and blushing mother.
" She is a credit to you my Lady, for you have raised a wonderful and dare I say truly brave young lady." Loki said quietly to Astrid's mother as he handed the child over, albeit with a bit of reluctance.
" T-Thank you so much for your kind words, and for not taking offense your highness, she has been wanting to meet you personally ever since you returned to us." Astrid's mother said as she bowed graciously, all the while looking just a bit embarrassed.
" Well then, I am most pleased that I could fulfill your child's wish and it was no trouble at all." Loki said with a smile before he gave them a nod and stepped away, Jarl following every faithfully at his side as he made his way back to Thor where the elder brother was waiting with the Captain of the Royal guard.
" Well, shall we continue onward then? Wouldn't want to keep the new recruits waiting" Loki said, trying to come across as nonchalant as ever.
" Yes my Prince, let us proceed." Captain Fryell agreed, biting back a smile of his own as he turned and continued to lead Thor and Loki the rest of the way towards the main training field.
As they walked, Thor casually slung his arm around Loki's shoulders and pulled his brother in close so that he could speak to him quietly.
" You do realize, with that little gesture back there, you have just endeared yourself further to the many admirers you so desperately wished to quell?" Thor said with a gleeful smirk, watching as Loki gave a long-suffering roll of his eyes but then chuckled quietly before he gave Thor a playful shove, dislodging his older brother's arm from around his shoulder but the pair of them smiling at each other before they turned their gaze to the main training field they were about to step onto.
" On guard!" Captain Fryell shouted, his voice carrying over the entire field as he gazed at the new recruits who stood in formation with steely-blue eyes.
As one the new recruits, who had been standing at ease in their silver, grunt armor with helmets bare of any horns or adornments, all brought their heels together and had their arms at their sides and stood ramrod straight as commanded, all with a collective metal clank. Thor and Loki themselves grew serious as they followed after the Captain, Njord and Jarl trotting off to stand by the edge of the field where a large stone bench stood empty. Fryell led the two princes of Asgard to the head of the formation and so began the inspection of the new recruits that would be entering into the royal guard service. Thor and Loki walked behind Fryell with their faces held serious and regal, eying the new recruits with hard gazes, gaging how well each young man and woman took to being scrutinized by both the future king of Asgard, and by the Prince who was favored by the Norns themselves and had single-handedly fought his way back from death itself. For the most part the recruits maintained their stoicism, keeping their eyes front and answering any question Fryell peppered them with regarding everything from weaponry to Asgardian history. Once the inspection was over, Fryell bade the two princes to have a seat on the stone bench and enjoy the showcase of the young warriors skills. They would be performing a set of drills they had been practicing for the past couple of weeks.
Thor and Loki made their way over to the bench and took their seats as bidden by Fryell and settled in for what was bound to be a good show. No sooner had they taken their seats, two servants seemed to materialize out of thin air on either side of them baring trays that held goblets of mead and two rather large bowls of what looked like several types if smoked meat. Loki sent the man serving him a smile and took a goblet for himself. He knew this man to be the same servant who had been at the unfortunate end of one of Menkos's mean but thankfully harmless illusions, where the vile impostor had conjured live snakes to slither out of the cup of mead the man had been hold, simply because the he had chuckled along with Thor over a harmless joke. Loki had seen this in the vision he had shared with Thor and had actually sought the man out, apologizing much to the servant's astonishment, Loki had even asked the man for his name. Since then the man, Latham, had served Loki on many occasions with a smile and no trace of trepidation.
" My thanks Latham." Loki said as he held up the goblet.
" My lord." Latham replied with a nod before he turned his attention to Njord and Jarl who were both looking up at his expectantly from where they sat in from of Loki and Thor's knees.
" Don't think we forgot about you two." Latham said with a warm smile as he stepped forward set the two bowls down on the ground before the two ice-wolves. It earned Latham a warm lick on the hand from each wolf, much to his slight disgust but otherwise he gave a nod to the two princes who chuckled good-naturedly at the scene before he and the other young man who had served Thor his mead both stepped back and stood a few feet away behind where the princes sat, ready to retake the goblets and bowls later. Yet again as he drank his mead and conversed with Thor, commenting on how the newest recruits did show promise, Loki could feel eyes on his, some leering, some curious, but all of them there. He spared a moment to scan the crowd and gave Astrid and her mother a small wave and a smile when he caught site of them near the middle of the edge of the field before he turned back to a smiling Thor, who set about lightly teasing him for the flower he was still proudly wearing at the end of the braid over his shoulder.
A loud gong sounded through the air, quieting everyone of their and making them all turn their attention fully to the training field as the new recruits broke formation and took up their sparing stances, facing each other with their swords and spears at the ready. There was a moment of silence, wrought with tension, and then another loud gong sounded and the fight was on. Like clock work the first pair went through a complicated routine with one young warriors sword glowing with energy, while his opponent's spear head did the same, both men going back and forth until they returned to the basic sparing stance and bowed to each and then to Thor and Loki who nodded in acknowledgment and joined in the applause. Then the next pair went, and so on till the hour was well spent. At the end of the exhibition the warriors returned to formation, facing the two Princes who were among those they had taken solemn oaths to serve and protect, and bowed. Thor and Loki rose to their feet and stepped forward, Thor taking the lead with Loki just a step behind. As was customary, the eldest royal present would address the newest inductees of the royal guard.
" You have all done exceptionally well today, the skills you have showcased for us are but a glimpse as to what you will all be capable of once you have earned your golden armor. You are entering into a time-honored elite that has served the royal family since the days of old. On behalf of my father, my mother, my brother, and myself, I give you my thanks and wish you all success through the rest of your training, and any trials you will undoubtedly face." Thor said loudly, his voice carrying over the air.
Loki smiled and started clapping, which was the signal for everyone to join in with their own applause and cheers. The recruits all bowed once more in respect to the crowd, many of them allowing small smiles to grace their faces once they straightened up. Now that the exhibition was over, many turned to leave, but then Captain Fryell came forward and stood before the two princes of Asgard, several of the other senior guard members gathered a few feet away, an eager hope about them, as though they were waiting for something.
" Your highnesses, I do beg your pardon but several of the senior guardsmen have expressed to me a desire to spar with his majesty Prince Loki." Fryell explained, looking equal parts apologetic and perhaps even a bit hopeful himself as his eyes darted between the two brothers.
Before Thor could open his mouth to speak, most likely to shut it down, the overprotective older brother-hen rearing its head, Loki's voice sounded and effectively cut him off.
" I accept." Loki said simply, looking as nonchalant as ever, but there was a glint in his green eyes that promised trouble for the senior guardsmen.
" Brother!" Thor began to say, but Loki silence him with a stern look as he spoke.
" Thor, I have been challenged, let me meet it as honor dictates."
That crushed all of Thor's planned protests in once fell swoop. With an unhappy sigh, Thor nodded and spoke
" Show them just who it is they have challenged brother." Thor said, a smile soon forming across his originally unhappy features.
" I definitely aim to." Loki said with a calculating smiling spreading across his face before he schooled his features and stepped forward. Fryell rejoined the other senior guards as they stepped forward.
" Do pardon us if we have overstepped our bounds my prince, we simply desire to test our metal." The Captain said with a slightly sheepish smile.
" Think nothing of it, I've been looking forward to holding a sword in my hands once more, but have been unable to for obvious reasons." Loki replied, sending a knowing look Thor's way, the older brother's cheeks flushing for a moment at the implication. It was true that Thor had barred Loki from even touching heavy weaponry these last few weeks, but now there was nothing Thor could do without Loki having to lose face.
While the recruits cleared the field, Loki and the senior guardsmen all moved to the center of the field.
" One on one?" Loki asked.
" Whatever you so desire my Prince." One of the other guardsmen stated.
" One on one it is then. And don't even think of going easy on me, cause I will definitely not stand for such disregard." Loki said in clear warning before he held up his hand and summoned his magic.
" You have our solemn that we will give you only our best efforts." One of the four said in all seriousness.
The crowd, and Loki's four opponents, including Fryell all watched as Loki's hand glowed bright green, a swirling ball of light forming in his palm before it started to elongate into a definite shape. Within the span of a few second, Loki was holding a gleaming broadsword with a gold hilt in his hand.
" I assure you that this is the extent to which I will use my seidr in this match. Let us use our weapons of preference." Loki declared as he pointed his sword down, lightly burying the point in the dirt before him as he waited for the five senior guards to either draw their swords from their belts or run to get their spears from where they had left them. By the end of it, Loki would be facing two swords, one spear, and one axe. As the four guards negotiated amongst themselves who would face Loki first, Loki turned his green eyes to the new recruits who stood gathered at the other side of the field, all of them watching with interest and speaking quietly amongst themselves, excitement clear on their faces. Deciding to shake things up, Loki turned to the recruits and pointed to one of the young warriors.
" You there." Loki said. The young man in question startled and pointed at himself for confirmation, to which Loki nodded.
" Come forth, I would share words with you." Loki said.
The young man stepped forward, looking somewhat confused but otherwise composed. He came to stand before Loki and stood to attention, saluting to the Prince with his arm across his chest.
" My Prince." The young guard said.
" What is your name?" Loki asked as he eyed the young man.
" H-Hammond, my name is Hammond my lord." came the reply.
" Well Hammond, let me start by commending you on your use of the spear during the exhibition." Loki began, smiling as he watched a faint blush spread across Hammond's face as the young recruit stuttered out a quick thank you before Loki continued.
" Hammond, for this match you shall be the one to set the rules for victory, do you accept the task?" Loki asked with his bright green eyes almost glowing with mirth, enjoying the harmless chaos he was causing as he watched young Hammond gawk at him.
" Y-Your will my lord." Hammond replied once he had gotten over the shock. He glanced nervously between Loki and the five senior guards before he cleared his throat, straightened his shoulders and spoke.
" For this match, their will be four individual rounds for each challenger in single armed combat. Victory shall go to the first to disarm his opponent, no grabbing of weapons. Any such shall lead to automatic disqualification a long with any illegal or underhanded move. That is all." Hammond said, before he bowed to Loki and then to the four senior guards assembled before he turned back to Loki.
" Are these sufficient my prince, I could change them if you-" Hammond began to say but Loki held up his hand and smiled warmly at the harried young guard as he spoke.
" No need my young guard, for the rules you have set are fair. Do you four agree?" Loki said as he turned to face his opponents.
" Fair my prince." Fryell said, his sentiment echoed by the other four guards who all looked to Hammond with approval, much to the young man's relief and also surprise.
" Very well, thank you Hammond, you may rejoin your fellows and enjoy the match." Loki said with a smile.
" My lord." Hammond said with a quick bow before he hastily backed away and all but fled back to the midst of the other recruits looking both unnerved and giddy at the same time that Loki had picked him out for such an important task.
" Shall we begin?" Loki asked as the prince took his stance and raised his sword, both hands firmly gripping the hilt with the blade shining by his face.
The first challenger stepped forward with his spear in hand. It unnerved him just how calm and collected Loki seemed throughout everything from the issuance of the challenge to the declaration of the rules. Where as before everyone had known Loki for his utter detestation of the training field and face to face combat, how he had preferred throwing knives and his magic instead of the heavy weapons and brut strength. Now the Loki that stood before them stared back with the calculating eyes of a warmonger starved for far too long. That in itself was enough to have the first challenger feeling uneasy and he took his stance, but he felt the bottom of his stomach drop out when Loki did something far more terrifying.
He grinned with mirth.
From where he stood watching the match that was about to unfold with bated breath, Thor suddenly had the feeling that it was not going to be as long a bout as everyone thought it was going to be. Thor did not have any further time to dwell on it because a second later the gong sounded and the first match began.
True to Thor's foreshadowing feeling, the spear-wielder did not last very long. While the guard was indeed and expert, and got to showcase his prowess with the weapon, Loki proved to be to fast and used the length of the weapon against its wielder. When the guard had taken the spear into two hands, Loki had deftly woven his sword between the space of the man's armor covered arms, and then gripped the blade flat against his palm and then gave an almighty pull, wresting the weapon from its master. Thus the first challenger was defeated. The crowd had thunderously applauded, while Loki had handed the man back his spear and clasped arms with him in thanks and good sport. The spear wielder had bowed to his prince and then stepped away from the field, coming to stand in front of the recruits with his head held high.
The next one up was the sword wielder beside Fryell. Loki and the swordsman bowed to each other and then waited for the gong to sound, and when it did the challenger was the one to make the first move. With a yell he lashed out with a series of quick attacks. But much to the challengers chagrin but the audiences aw, Loki blocked every move against him before he went on the attack. They went back and for trading blows, each showing off some very good moves. But then Loki got it close and made a wide slashing motion that hit his opponent's blade with enough force that the man lost his grip around the hilt and found himself with Loki's blade at his neck, effectively overtaken. Loki pulled away and swiftly grabbed up the guards fallen sword, handing it to him and then clasping arms with him as well. The second defeated challenger took his place beside the spear-bearer, smiling and gracious in defeat.
The axe-wielder was next. They gaze each other the customary bow and waited for the gong. In the sparse seconds before it did, Thor had seen the way Loki's eyes had darted about as they took in his opponent, calculating the variables and possible outcomes, analyzing everything from his opponents build to the way he carried himself in his stance. It was absolutely mind-blowing to Thor as he watched his brother do this, all the while maintaining a cool composure about himself. When the gong sounded, Loki quickly ducked out of the way as his opponent swung his great battle axe. Now everyone watched as Loki ducked and weaved, his black leathers flying about him as he moved. Where his opponent was indeed by a rolling boulder, Loki was the water around the boulder. At one point the guardsman swung his axe, and Loki bent over backwards as if he had no spine, the axe blade sailing harmlessly over him, just barely missing his ear. Then Loki was lashing out an a graceful spinning move with his sword catching the place where the axe and the handle met. With a loud cry of his own, Loki swung his blade in a circular motion and send the axe flying from its wielder's hands. Thankfully the heavy weapon landed a few feet away, well out of reach of any of the spectators. As before Loki had been the one to retrieve the fallen weapon and handed it back to the person his had wrested it from amidst the thunderous applause.
" Thank you Audun, that was a truly great bout." Loki said with the barest hint of breathlessness as he held out his hand to the guardsman who was also a bit winded.
" After everything you have faced your highness, I am most fortunate to find myself still in one piece. I thank you for accepting our challenge so graciously." Audun said, looking at Loki with barely veiled awe as he reached out and clasped arms with the Prince before he too went off to join his fellow defeated yet still proud challengers.
This left Loki facing Fryell, the most experienced among the senior guardsmen, and Captain of the whole Royal Guard. An excited rumble went through the crowd, and even Thor felt his heart start to pound with excitement. Loki had been incredible in each match, and Thor felt himself swell with pride as he watched his brother now. But as he stood their, Thor could not held but feel his happiness dime a little as he remembered that this was not a change in Loki that came about simply because Loki had been interested in becoming a swordsman, this had come from day after day of fighting to stay alive with wolf and dishonored dead bombarding him without mercy. Loki had risen to the task, and now here he was showing off his hard-earned skill just for fun. As he waited for the gong to sound, Thor blinked back a tell-tale burn behind his eyes and kept his face carefully neutral as he watched on. He was a Prince of Asgard, the Crown Prince in fact, it would not do him much good to suddenly weep when this was a happy occasion, and all around him people were marveling at his brother for the Prince and warrior that he was. But even with that Thor felt a bitterness rise up inside him.
They should have always been marveling at him.
Thor quickly shook himself of his melancholy thoughts and focused instead on the final match that was about to started.
Fryell and Loki bowed to each other and took their stances with swords raised and ready. Then the gong inevitably sounded. Feeling confident in himself and having had the time to see Loki in action, Fryell went on the offensive using his own speed to send out a volley of sharp and smooth attacks. Loki met each strike with a block of his own, but the crowd let out a gasp when one of Fryell's strikes came a bit too close for comfort and would have made contact had Loki not spun out of the way. The opponents paused in the bout to eye each other, Fryell looking apologetic while Loki's face was unreadable. Then Loki grinned and stepped forward with his free hand raised palm out. Fryell was stunned for only a moment before he too smiled and stepped forward, reaching out with his free hand to meet loki's and clasping it firmly. It was a sign of mutual respect that fighters so often did during a charged bout. The gesture went over well with the crowd as they all cheered and clapped at the sportsmanship that was being displayed. Then Fryell and Loki had gone back at it, Fryell one more taking the offensive, leading Loki to show his defensive capabilities.
" He's amazing." Lady Sif said softly from where she stood at the railing within the palace, at the very back of the crowd but high enough that it offered a good view of the sparring match that was unfolding.
" I believe his highness was always skilled, we were the ones who never gave him a chance." Hogun said quietly from where he leaned on the railing beside Sif.
" And what a costly mistake it has been." Fandral sighed from where he leaned against the great stone pillar that the railing was connected to.
" Indeed. At least the second Prince is civil towards us, the Crown Prince still looks upon us with barely veiled disdain. It's more than we deserve." Volstaag said as he crossed his arms.
" He has amazing form though, you must admit." The rotund warrior added, getting noises of agreement from his fellows as they all watched Loki finally go on the offensive.
With great speed and force, Loki forced Fryell back. Fryell did his best to block the attacks, but they were brutal, each blow reverberating through his arms into his whole body. Fryell them lunged forward with a yell and Loki say his chance to end things. Their swords met with a metallic clang, and then Loki ducked under and spun his wrist, wrenching Fryell sword from his grip and coming to stand behind the seasoned captain so that the latter stood with his back to Loki's front, and the edge of the Prince's sword at his throat. He had been disarmed, and was now defeated.
There was a charged silence, the match was over. Loki had won. Before any other noise could sound, a loud singular clapping of hands filled the air, the tempo slow. All eyes turned to the source of it and Loki felt what ever breath was left in his lungs rapidly leave for their standing at the edge of the field was a familiar white haired and armor clad individual.
Odin, the Allfather himself.
Everyone from the warriors Three and the Lady Sif where they stood a good distance away, to Thor, and then to Loki and Fryell all saluted to the King of Asgard and bowed. Thor was the first to straighten and made his way to his father with Njord and Jarl following.
" Father, when did you get here?" Thor asked as he clasped arms with his father, who gazed at his eldest warmly as he spoke.
" Just in time to see my youngest best the captain of my guard." Odin said simply as he stepped forward to where Loki and Fryell were standing.
" Your Majesty." Fryell said while still bowed.
" Rise Captain Fryell, and hold your head up high for you fought well." Odin said in acknowledgement.
" My Liege." Fryell said before he straitened and backed away respectfully, joining his three fellows where they stood proudly.
Odin then turned his eye to his youngest, who met his gaze head on and still gripped his
" My son, from what I can tell you have just faced four of my most experienced guardsmen. How do you find them?" Odin asked.
Loki parted his lips to answer but stopped short when he notice Fryell's where it lay on the ground.
" Will you excuse me for a moment father?" Loki said.
" Certainly." Odin said, curious as he watched Loki trot past him.
Everyone watched as he picked up Fryell's fallen sword and then quickly made his way over to where the Captain was standing with his fellows.
" Your sword Captain, may it continue to serve you well." Loki said as he held out the weapon to its owner.
" My thanks to you, your highness." Fryell said as he retook his sword and sheathed it at his belt.
" It is I who owe thanks, for you were kind enough to offer challenge." Loki said with a smile before he reached out and gripped Fryell by the shoulder.
" My thanks to you for being a worthy opponent." The prince said.
" Only because we wished to be worthy to go up against you my Prince." Fryell replied in ernest as he reached out and gripped Loki's shoulder in turn.
Loki didn't really have a response to that, so he simply smiled and nodded to Fryell and his fellows before he drew away and quickly returned to his father.
" Forgive me father, just wanted to give him back his sword." Loki explained.
Odin gazed at his youngest warmly and nodded, having seen the exchange for himself.
" As to your earlier inquiry, I shall simply say that if those four standing their are a reflection of the royal guard, then Asgard is in safe hands Father." Loki declared.
Then he turned his green-eyes to the crowd and addressed them directly.
" Are they not warriors of Asgard?" He asked loudly.
There was a stunned silence for a spilt second before the crowd was erupting into thunderous applause and cheers. Fryell and the other three guardsmen were stunned, even more so when Hammond and his fellow recruits who were standing behind their teachers all joined in enthusiastically.
Thor and Odin both had eyes only for their youngest, Thor beaming with pride as he turned to address the crowd when the applause had died down.
" Let us not forget how my brother so graciously accepted the challenge and came out victorious in his own right." Thor boomed, reaching out and clasping a stunned Loki's shoulder and gave it a hearty shake as the crowd rumbled back up, now applauding and cheering for their second Prince.
Loki felt his cheeks heat up, but bowed to the crowd and waved, taking it all in stride. Grinning at Astrid where the little girl was all but bouncing clean out of her mother's arms, still wearing her gift from Loki and waving back at him enthusiastically. From where they stood, the warriors Three and Sif all clapped loudly, but with bittersweet looks on their faces.
After that, Odin had left the field flanked on either side by his sons, with the ice wolves faithfully following a few steps behind.
As they walked along the hallway, Thor regaled Odin with how Loki had first won the heart of every maid in the crowd with his cute encounter with the little girl Astrid, good-naturedly teasing Loki to no end until the latter threatened to turn his golden locks a lovely shade of puce where he to say one more word on the matter. After that Loki had taken over the story telling, praising the new recruits in the skills they had showcased in their exhibition. Odin listened to his sons, smiling and praising them both for their observations about the newest guards to enter the service because it really was an important matter.
Before he took leave of his sons to go to his study, Odin addressed them both.
" I suggest you two go and pay your mother a visit, she missed you at the morning meal and would be thrilled to see her boys, but do try not to mention the events that unfolded in the training field. She will undoubtedly blow her lid and call for my head." Odin said in all seriousness.
" Why would mother want your head when I was the one who partook in the sparring?" Loki asked as Thor chuckled beside him.
" Well you may have been the one who did the sparring, but I am the King who decided to watch his son show off his prowess instead of putting a stop to it. She's your mother, you both know how she worries." Odin said, while Loki and Thor both nodded in agreement.
As he turned to head for his study, Odin left his sons with some parting words.
" If I were to be honest, her worrying is what kept me alive on several occasions."
With that Odin took his leave of his sons. The princes waited until their father was out of earshot before dissolving into hearty laughter as they made their way down the hall. So it was true that every man, be him pauper or King could still be cowed by his wife.
The two Princes went to visit their mother in her chambers as Odin had suggested, and she was only too thrilled to see them and then put them to work. Thor was tasked with retrieving items from a list that Frigga had come up with from the various areas of the palace and even one shop on the other side of the city, it was no trouble seeing as to how Thor had Mjolnir, while Loki got to sit by Frigga's side and hold the threat around his hands while the queen did her weaving. She had beamed and laughed when she had asked Loki about the little white flower he was still wearing in his hair and had gotten the adorable story of how that had come to be. Once Thor returned from the errands he had been sent to complete, he took a seat on the floor across from Loki and after the cursory teasing for being relegated to serving as a living spool, both boys enjoyed a quiet conversation with their mother, regaling her with tales of the happenings of the day, naturally leaving out the part about Loki's sparring with the senior guards.
Once Frigga had finished with her weaving for the day, she insisted that her boys had lunch with her and they readily accepted. Mother and sons went to one of the queen's private gardens and had the servants bring out a simple assortment of food items. After they parted Frigga's company, the brother did go on that ride Thor had suggested, Thor on his white stallion and Loki on a chestnut mare. It reminded Loki that he would have to get a horse of his own soon so that he would not have to borrow from the stables. It had been good to see Sleipnir, the great eight-legged horse greeting both Princes warmly, though he did almost knock Thor over much to Loki's delight. They opted to ride within the palace grounds today, instead of going into the main city. Njord and Jarl ran along side the horses, the animals having come to their own understanding with each other that the two wolves would not harm the horses. Overall, the Princes on their horses with the two wolves running beside them did paint a very regal picture, with many a bystander pausing in what they were doing to take a moment and admire the royals as they rode past.
That was how the rest of the day went, with Thor and Loki being brothers, racing each other every now and then and making plans for the rest of the week. Loki would grill Thor about Jane, cackling as he made his older brother blush, but also expressing his own desire to see her and the others again soon. To this Thor had given Loki his reassurances that they would indeed, but to be patient and let things settle down a bit more first, both in Asgard and Midgard. Loki had accepted it and agreed to waiting. But he did miss that group of extraordinary missfits who fit so well together.
They managed to get back to their room with enough time before dinner to bathe and put on fresh attire. Loki plucked the little blossom from his hair and then used his magic to encase it in prism-like glass, turning the special gift into a keepsake that he placed prominently on his desk before he went about taking his bath. Afterwards Loki even spent a few minutes cleaning Njord and Jarl's paws of any dirt and grass that clung to them. Once they were ready, Thor got Loki and the mutts from the latter's room and they all went down to the smaller dinning hall where the royal family would gather along with only their closest friends and confidants when there was no formal feast to be had. The brother walked into the hall together side by side with their four legged escorts, giving their greetings to any familiar face. As he had walked, Loki was keenly aware of the fact that four familiar face were missing, and he had tried to breach that topic with his brother only to be thoroughly silenced on the matter with Thor saying that the four individuals in question were not his priority, and that all he wanted to be right now was Loki's brother. Loki hadn't really known what to do with himself after that declaration.
Now the brothers went to the head of the table where they greeted their parents, each kissing Frigga's cheek before taking their seats beside her. The night passed as such, with Loki enjoying dinner with his parents and brother, engaging in conversation and eating his fill. He also put up with both Thor and Frigga trying to pile more food onto his plate. To appease them Loki did end up eating an extra helping of mutton, but that was it. Loki smiled and laughed and enjoyed the good food and mead.
Things got even funnier when Frigga found out about the sparring match when one of Odin's advisors commended Loki for showcasing his sword skills. True to his predictions, Odin found himself at the business end of his wife's very displeased glare while Thor and Loki had half-heartedly tried to come to their father's defense, only to find themselves cowed as well. Once she calmed somewhat, Frigga did convey to Loki her pride that he did well and conducted himself like a true prince. Loki had blushed slightly at that. The rest of the dinner went by in such warm and pleasant atmosphere.
But it was several hours later, well into the night while the rest of the palace and most of Asgard slept that Loki allowed the truth to come out in the privacy of his room.
Sitting over the edge of his bed with his head bowed, dressed in a simple tunic and sleeping pants, Loki sat with his wavy black hair loose and like a curtain obscuring his face. In front of him both Jarl and Njord sat looking up at Loki anxiously, sensing that there was something wrong. With a barely suppressed sob, Loki looked up to meet the two sets of ruby eyes that were on him. His green eyes glittered with the sheen of tears as he took in a deep, rattling breath and spoke.
" Do you boys want to know a secret?" Loki asked with a shaky voice as he held out his hands to his two companions, who immediately came forward and nuzzled at his trembling fingers.
With a tear falling free and carving a glistening trail down his pale cheek, Loki revealed his secret to the two wolves.
" I'm not alright." Loki whispered before he bowed his head and gave in to his despair, crying silently in an effort to hide his pain. Njord and Jarl both made unhappy whines and did what they could to comfort their charge, licking and nuzzling at Loki's hands and knees, fall over each other as they licked at the trailed of bitter salt that rapidly staining his cheeks, but they could only do so much against such despondency.
Hide his pain Loki did, save from one person. From where he stood every faithfully at his post, Heimdall had a pained looked over his usually neutral features as he beheld the anguish of the second Prince of Asgard. The last few days, it had been like this, Heimdall seeing from afar how Loki would be regal and composed during the day, only to fall apart in the privacy of his rooms in the dead of night. There were many times that Heimdall wanted to alert the All-father as to what was going on, the despair that gripped his youngest son, but he knew that it was not his place no matter how much he wanted to do something.
However, it was his place to worry as he did now, and alert the person he was so worried about of his feelings. With this is mind, Heimdall made a note to ask Loki to come and see him at the Bifrost tomorrow, under the guise of wanting to partake in another intellectual conversation with the second prince.
That was something the Gatekeeper could do and would also allow Loki his dignity for the Norns knew, the younger Prince of Asgard had been deprived of such for long enough.
Hey guys FINAL ARE DONE! and I'm back and have three weeks off to get some stuff done. Please feel free to keep sending me suggestions, cause it was through suggestions that the interaction with Astrid came about. I hope you all like this chapter and continue to like this story. Your feedback is much appreciated. Happy Holidays everyone!