"My Prince, might I say you look ravishing. Marriage has found you most agreeable. Never have I seen you so content or docile." General Gunderson said.

"Docile?" Loki asked.

"Yes. Now that you know your place, you are calmer. The burden of the crown has been lifted off of your shoulders and you look lighter and happier."

"You don't say." Loki said, acerbic and flat. His scowl only grew the more Gunderson smiled. The Alpha prick knew what he was doing and he was hitting the mark well. Loki had practically bent his fork in half as his temper flared. Thor spotted Loki's angry glare from across the room and marched over to intercept the problem. His timing was terrible.

"Darling is this man giving you trouble?" Thor asked as he starred down the General. His eyes flashed a warning at the man.

"I don't need your help!" Loki snapped at his husband, and skulked off. Thor watched as all of his progress from the honeymoon evaporated in an instant.

"I don't know what you said, but you will pay for it. Maybe not today, but you will pay." Thor said. Gunderson only smirked, confident in his place in Asgard's society. Thor would need his military expertise once he became king. He couldn't discard him even if he wanted to.

"Loki. Loki please." Thor said, pulling Loki to a discreet corner of the feasting hall. Not that the entire crowd wasn't watching them both with rapt attention.

"I've dealt with these people far longer than you Thor. I don't need you to rescue me."

"He is trying to divide us. Surely you can see that. He knows how sensitive you are about…"

"I'm not sensitive." Loki said. Thor rolled his eyes; a terrible mistake.

"Oh, so you think I'm being too sensitive?"

"Yes!" Thor said, exasperated. Loki's lack of self-esteem was exhausting, and frankly, a turn-off. Loki's eyes grew large. He began muttering something under his breath and a green light glowed in his hand.

"Loki if you cast another spell on me there will be consequences." Thor said. Loki smirked and cast the spell.

"Yes, dear husband. There will be. No sex tonight. Enjoy your evening." Loki said, suddenly chipper and bright. He patted Thor's shoulder and walked away. Thor took a step to follow him, until he noticed the way his underclothing was rubbing against his skin. Thor felt an itch on his scalp and scratched it and moaned loud enough for half the hall to hear him. The explosion of relief combined with the sensual friction of cloth on his entire body, made his loins stir.

"No." Thor panicked. He didn't dare move for fear of displaying a full erection before the court. He looked around the room searching for a friendly face.

"Sif!" Thor called out. More staring followed. Thor stood there, immobile like a statue. Sif came along with Fandral and Volstagg, having sensed the distress in his voice.

"What is wrong?" Sif asked.

"Loki has done something to me." Thor said. A breeze came in through the window and Thor's eyes rolled into the back of his head. His face flushed red and his pupils dilated. His breathing became labored and it became difficult to speak.

"Why aren't you moving?" Fandral asked.

"I can't." Thor said.

"Are you in pain lad?"

"Far from it, actually. I need to make a discreet exit." Thor said, feeling embarrassment well up in his chest. Volstagg raised his hand and gestured to Hogun who joined them. The four of them crowded around Thor as he began to move. Thor made groaning noises as he walked out of the hall. Most assumed he was in pain, but his friends could see that Thor was suffering from a different kind of torment.

"We're almost to your new chambers."

"No. I cannot be near Loki in this condition. Deposit me in one of the guest rooms." Thor said. Sweat was dripping down his face and as they neared the doors to the bedchambers Thor moaned loud and trembled as he came. His face was red, not just from the carnal stimulation but also from shame. He would be furious too, if not for the distraction of his spend coating the inside of his pants. The warriors dropped planted him on the bed.

"Aside from horse whipping Loki, is there anything else we can do for you?" Fandral asked.

"No. Thank you, please go." Thor said. His friends looked concerned and angered by Loki's actions, but gave their friend his privacy. Thor laid there wide awake thinking about how make Loki realize the wrong and harm he'd done to their marriage.

XxXxXxXx

"Enter." Loki said with his back to the door. Frigga entered Loki's new bedchambers, stoned faced and eyes furrowed.

"Mother?"

"What did you do to your husband?"

"Nothing unpleasant. In fact, I think he'll enjoy himself."

"Loki."

"He deserved it."

"He did not. Thor has been fair and kind to you from the beginning, and how do you repay him? Do you want him to hate you?"

"It is only a matter of time. No sense in delaying the process."

"Do you hear yourself? Thor is a gentle and considerate man and you have spurned him at every turn. You fear he will show his 'true' colors and become the loathsome cruel Alpha you dread so much. You are creating the very thing you fear."

"Better that than letting me become the man that I fear."

"And what is that Loki?"

"A useless pretty broodmare with an empty head. It's what they all think! They took one look at me and determined that I had become content with spreading my legs and little else."

"You are a fool. You let those vulchers manipulate you. Your apprehension is your weakness. All it takes to unman you is a few carefully phrased words. That is the man they think you are, and you just proved them right!" Frigga said. Loki glared daggers at his mother, furious and yet neutered. She and Odin were the only people in the entire realm that could speak to him thusly.

"I am not sensitive!" Loki yelled like a toddler. Frigga folded her arms and gave him the same look Thor had given him.

"Are you going to bewitch me too son?"

"They're all laughing at me. The royal slut that's good for fucking and birthing babies and nothing else."

"Loki…Sweetheart, the nobles fear you. The generals fear you. They know you are a smart and cunning man, but you also wear your fragile ego on your sleeve right where they can see it. Son, if you do not figure out how to grow a thicker skin, you will be stripped of it entirely."

"And how do I do that precisely?" Loki asked. Frigga moved and sat down on his bed, patting the spot next to her. He sat beside her, feeling small and chastised. His humiliation was complete.

"You lack confidence. You and Thor were doing so well on your honeymoon. The start was rocky but I expected as much." Frigga said. Loki's eyes went wide and his lips curled into a disgusted sneer.

"And how exactly do you know that?"

"I peeked in on you both from time to time, during hours when I thought it was safe to not see too much. Thor has bent over backwards to make you feel comfortable. What have you done for your marriage?"

"I said, I do. You and father forced me into a marriage I did not want."

"Loki, you're the heir to the throne. Your marriage was always a matter of state. You've known that your whole life so spare me your feigned despair. Your life was never your own. Do you think I was thrilled when I was shipped off to marry your father? The man was frightening with his one eye missing and body covered in battle scars. Your duty to the state needn't be such a terrible burden. Your marriage is what you make of it. And of all the husbands you could have, you've been given Thor. Were it any other alpha, you would be treated in just the manner you fear. Do you want Thor to mistreat you?"

"Yes. Then he'd become unworthy of Mjolnir and I would be king."

"And he'd still be your husband, and then he'd have nothing holding him back from treating in just the way you despise. Think carefully my son. Which is more important to you? A life filled with love and shared power, or a life filled with animosity and power plays?" Frigga stood up, having spoken her peace.

"He doesn't love me."

"He wants to, but you keep denying him a reason. If I were you, I'd go and rescue my marriage before it was too late."