Summary: The war between Jotunheim and Asgard draws to a close, but thanks to a horrible twist of Fate (or perhaps not), the nameless runt of Laufey-King is not discovered by Odin and so begins a remarkable journey of life that should not have been. Jotun!Loki AU. Set pre-/during-/after Thor/Avengers Assemble. MCU-verse only.
Warnings: ANGST! Loki-whump! Language, adult situations, violence, child abuse, dub-con, sexual assault (also of a minor), substance abuse, one abortion scene (sort of), slavery, sex trade (maybe), some mild original character/Loki M/M pairings.
Comments: This is not a slash fic. Sorry. It's Loki-centric, although I definitely show the rest of the Avengers and etc. Please review! Constructive criticism welcome.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avengers. Marvel owns it. I do not get paid for this piece of work. Sadly, but understandably. LOL.
I apologize for the wait, guys. Life has been crazy.
Firstly, work has ramped up a bit. I teach 18 hours and tutor around 22... and that's not including travel time or prep time... so yeah. TIREDNESS!
Secondly, have been doing more writing in hopes that I can create enough buffer to continue updating through November during which time I will have stopped writing as I take part in the annual NaNoWriMo. If you guys wanna cheer me on for that, be sure to check in with my original fic account. I may post what I write there. XD More info on that later. If I don't buffer enough, I may end up only updating twice in November. Sorreee!
Thirdly, loss of energy thanks to cold which is still hanging about. SIGH.
Fourthly, general depression and sadness as I miss home a bit more this year than usual and as Hiddles continues to trample on my heart with his perfect face and killer dance moves and attempts at speaking Chinese and Korean. Excuse me while I contemplate my Hiddles-less existence.
At any rate, thank you to all for hanging in there! I appreciate the love and thoughts that go into your reviews! Thanks to: CrazyRayRay113, Anarane Oronra, ClaMiAl, soupcan, Chiharu-angel, acidburned, The King In White, wbss21, chukaliteluver, and the Psychotic Queen!
Of course, as you know, I'm on tumblr in a big way - dappled-things, hiddlesayings and kakashidiot. If you are following me, let me know and I'll friend you back! Tell me your tumblr name in your tag. XD
And up ahead... an action-packed adventure chapter. Heh heh. But... PLOT HAPPENS!
I just wanna thank those reviewers out there who really pushed me in new directions with their constructive comments/criticism/questions and this chapter just became... better... I think and became more than what I hoped. Thank you guys! You know who you are! You rock!
Let me know what you think.
Distortions In Time
[Bitter Desolation, Incandescent Harmony]
Chapter 46
Early Bird Gets the Worm
Returning to Vanaheim, Loki double-checked his time, knowing that if he was late for his second millenia Day of Birthing feast, the Queen – Lady Frigga – Mother would be most displeased. She has been planning this for sometime, no doubt, he smiled fondly at the memory of Thor's own second millenia Day of Birthing Feast, which had turned out to be an affair all unto its own. If I miss it... He hesitated and then shook his head. I won't miss it... I'll get home – in time.
Home. The word gave him pause and then, a slow smile graced his sharp features. Home. Somehow Asgard had found a place in his heart after all – inconsistencies and annoyances and everything else which combined to make one glorious Realm. The shat heap of the stable-yard. His home.
Yet, I cannot return without some answers, Loki sighed. Since that day... since that fateful day, Malekith's words have lingered – like festering sores, suspicion take root, like weeds taking hold of fertile soil, the imagination. So many questions... and no adventure in Svartalfheim has answered them – only raising more.
How does Malekith hint at something which the Vanir or the Elves do not know, which even Asgard has forgotten? And the matter of the Marauders... Were they holding some kind of pact with the Dark Elves? In some kind of collusion? And if so, why would they take hostage the son, the second son, of a well-known Dark Elf chief? Were they rogue Marauders? Really? It appeared so – yet... and yet... I have a feeling there was more going on there than met the eye... Loki recalled Palin – young, brash and inexperienced. The perfect pawn... He shuddered. To be a pawn... a mere pawn, so easily disposed of – Palin, the second son... Someone you must never become. Never a pawn, always a player...
With that thought, Loki left his allotted guest quarters and went in search of Lord Frey to ask his opinion on the Marauders. Frey, King of Vanaheim and older brother to Frigga, had been rather delighted to find himself gifted with such a talented young man for a nephew. Vanaheim, he had said, would always welcome such a son of Odin.
Such a son, Loki had smirked, amused and his eyebrow had risen sardonically at Frey's choice of words. Such a son... indeed...
Loki found his way to the King's Great Hall – a stylish, harmonious rectangular room with airy, well-carved columns and sparse, yet delicately wrought gold inlay. A smaller, yet more appealing version of Gladsheim, Odin's Hall. Upon arrival, he was greeted by a rather unwelcome sight – the tall, well-muscled, tan figure of Thor in armour, clearly out on some adventure. Beside him, his ever loyal companions stood about with other Vanir nobles, looking grave and a little attentive – hiding their boredom well as Frey rambled on about something with his usual subdued animation.
"Ah!" Frey's face lit up at the sight of Loki striding down the red carpet to meet them. "But here, the hero of the hour comes himself! Loki – we just heard word from Alfheim – why did you say nothing of what you achieved this past week?"
"It was nothing, Uncle," Loki shook his head, trying to force down a rising blush to his pale cheeks.
"Such modesty! You saved a fair maiden, out-thought every bandit about you and stood up to three companies of Dark Elves led by the Lords Malo and Cathor themselves! We would have thrown a feast in your honour had we but known!"
"You slew three companies of Dark Elves as well as bandits?" Thor asked, pride and respect shining from his bright eyes. "As any great warrior of Asgard should – although Father may not be pleased."
"There was no slaying of anyone – by my hand at any rate," Loki replied coolly trying not to allow himself to be too rattled from Thor's usual lung-crushing embrace.
"Loki, you jest-"
"Even better!" Lord Frey raised a hand to clap Loki heartily on the back after the younger Prince had managed to untangle himself from Thor's arms. "To win by wits as well as strength is a great day indeed. Peace will be upheld after all. Svartalfheim is a dangerous place and yet, you appear to have an affinity for dealing with such as them... admirable!"
"You did not even slay one bandit?" Volstagg looked openly disappointed.
"It was a band of Marauders trespassing on Dark Elf soil – so, no - I did not. The Dark Elves did."
"Interesting," Fandral mused. "Making others do your dirty work – as usual, Loki? Was the fair maiden impressed nonetheless?" A pause. "How fair was she?"
Sif smacked Fandral about the head with her leather glove.
"She was fair – and pleasing-" Loki grinned then, a slow, lecherous look which he knew would answer them with what they wished to hear and held nothing of the more sensitive truth. "-and pleased and pleasurable as well."
"Ohohoho – that is my boy- OW! Sif! What was that for?"
"You were about to ask for details! I know you, Fandral!"
"A gentleman does not kiss and tell, Sif," Loki said primly.
"Indeed," Sif's lips thinned. "Then speak no more of it. Restrain yourself, Fandral."
"Restraint is a word missing from his vocabulary," Hogun murmured.
"As always," Volstagg rumbled.
"Speak for yourself," Sif rolled her eyes.
"All of you," Loki added, trying to subdue a rising swell of annoyance as he usually felt when spending time too long in their presence. "What are you up to now, Thor?" He switched the subject swiftly.
"Ah. Yes," Thor's smile grew wider, if possible. "We are on a quest for treasure – and adventure in which we shall brave the dread beast Nidhoggr to regain a treasure of unimaginable worth!"
Frey's eyebrows rose comically at Thor's words and Loki grimaced, resisting the urge to smack himself on the face at the sheer idiocy of what Thor was proposing. The small group of Vanir nobles, who had also grouped about, stood, slack-jawed in astonishment at Thor's cheerful proclamation. Loki understood their incredulity for Thor had just proposed one of the most dangerous ventures of all time – to accost a Dragon Sire in his lair.
-0-0-0-
In the Nine Realms and beyond, it is universally acknowledged that the dragon is, without doubt, one of the most dangerous beasts to roam the lands which they inhabit. Varying in size, magical ability, physical prowess and sentience, the Drakka Thyod, the Dragon Race as they are often called, have time and again proved themselves a threat against all other living things. To battle a dragon and live to tell the tale – particularly when one battled the Eldest, the more experienced and thus more powerful beasts.
Of the Drakka Thyod, tales say, the most powerful were the Great Sires – the Eldest – who had been born with the other creatures when Time was uncounted. They lived on, many believed, in the Nine Realms close to the more powerful magicks. Nine there were – nine for each Realm – or was it ten? Depending on the story, the names of the Great Sires go thusly: Fafnir, Gesta, Goinn and Moinn, Ofnir, Nidhoggr, Iormangund, Grafvitnir, Graback and Svafnir.
Tales tell of battles lost and a few won. For certain, no dragons live on Alfheim, Asgard, Nornheim or Vanaheim – but Dragonfolk thrive in the wilds of Niflheim and Muspelheim and only the Norns know what ancient horrors thrive in Helheim. As for Svartalfheim and Jotunheim, who knew? The mysteries of the deep, beneath ice and stone, remained hidden and undisturbed. At any rate, of all the Dragon-Sires, Nidhoggr remained the most active, siring dragons which left for other Realms by their own secret Ways. Treasures of great price remained in his grasp for hundreds of thousands of millenia until even their names were forgotten. Thus dragons were named the Time-Keeprs, the Treasure-Watchers and the Word-Seers.
[...those who Time forgot...]
[...stand guard over good and evil...]
[...the Dragon's words are honeyed...]
[...their wisdom deep...]
[...seek only death within the Dragon's den...]
"Thor," Loki declared, once he had sequestered his brother down a small corridor, a little ways away from King Frey's court hall. "This is madness. You cannot go to Niflheim."
"Cannot go?" Thor asked puzzled. "Cannot go? And why not?"
"Because – because-" Loki repeated also befuddled by Thor's apparent lack of realization of what he was really saying. "This is – this is Nidhoggr – which – which well, we do not know if he lives on – and – and – and why is that? What is that, Thor? It is because no one who goes to that place lives to return to tell the tale – and if they do, they are, they are not the same…"
Clasping Thor's shoulder, leaning close, Loki's green eyes flashed with worry and annoyance mixed together in equal parts. His brow wrinkled, Thor saw, a sure sign of Loki's troubled feelings. As always, he worries. As always, he is thinking too much on such simple matters. Thor smiled at his brother, clasped him in his familiar way at the neck, firming the younger man and reminding Loki of how much they had survived together – how much he had survived before they had met.
"Loki," Thor then said, "you worry too much. Surely in this matter you take too much after Mother-"
"Does she know?"
"Does who know?"
"Does Mother know?" Loki asked, exasperated at Thor's obvious obstinacy.
"Well, no… but that is no cause for concern-"
"No cause for conc- Thor – Mother would never give you leave to poke about a dragon's den much less a mythic one holding one of the Grand Sires, Nidhoggr, the Dragon Sire of Niflheim, the Seer of all Seers and the-"
"I know all about the Grand Sires," Thor cut off his younger brother impatiently. "And Nidhoggr as well, Loki. What do you think of me? I did read books, you know, once upon a time. When I was young, I studied such things and if they are true – and surely, there must be at least a grain of veracity to the tale – then this is a great thing to accomplish. A true test of the sons of Odin, our courage and our-"
"'Sons of Odin'?" Loki's voice rose several octaves while falling into a harsh whisper. "'Our'? Thor, there is no 'we' in this matter – I cannot go."
"Why not?" Thor found it impossible to keep the disappointment out of his voice. "Of course you may come. You are always welcome, Loki-"
"It is not a matter of feeling welcome, dou'ma. It is a matter of – of being rational. Discretion before valour-"
"Cowardice is-"
"If you say one word about being a coward, I will call you out now," Loki replied coldly, a long finger poking Thor in the chest with great emphasis. "This is beyond insanity, Thor. You cannot go."
"Oh ho! So you tell me what I can and cannot do now? As if you can order about your older brother! I will go if I wish to. I wish to and so I will go," Thor said, stubbornly. "Do not even think of trying to stop me, Loki. It will be done. I shall return to Asgard with a treasure of great price and all of the Nine Realms and beyond will know the power of our Realm and-"
"I cannot believe you are actually going to do this-"
"I cannot believe you are unable to even pretend to do your duty."
"What do you mean?" asked Loki, voice dangerously soft.
"I am not speaking of it anymore," Thor replied stiffly and stalked off, red cape snapping behind him.
-0-0-0-
Meanwhile, listening to the echoes of the two brothers quarrelling down the side-passage off the Great Hall, Frey and the others waited uncomfortably in silence. Politely, the other nobles had drifted off to deal with various duties assigned them for the day, leaving the Royals in peace. It was best not to meddle in the affairs of the royalty, particularly those of Asgard. After all, everyone knew that to step in the way of Loki's sharp tongue was only asking for public verbal flogging and Thor's fist often flew before he thought.
"They will make amends," King Frey said comfortingly to his wife who looked on, worriedly. "That is what brothers do."
"They are hardly brothers!" Sif frowned. "At the best of times, they are hardly friends, I think."
"That is your understanding?" Frey asked, eyebrow rising. "How limited it must be – but surely not. You must know the truth as shield mate to my hot-tempered nephews."
"The truth?" Fandral asked, curiously.
"They were born to be brothers," Frey replied calmly. "They will learn," he added after a moment's thought.
"Well, I cannot see it," Fandral sniffed.
Sif rolled her eyes, "Well, that is no mystery considering you are too busy looking in a mirror."
"She got you there, friend," chuckled Volstagg.
"I do not like it," Hogun said in his usual understated way.
"It makes me nervous too," Frey's wife, Sylmae, agreed. "They should not be fighting so."
"Fighting is important," Frey shook his head.
"That is true," Hogun replied evenly. "However, as brothers, they are but newly bonded – and having no real understanding of family, may not know the proper way to fight."
"The proper way to fight with one's siblings?" Fandral blinked. As the only boy of a family with five girls, Fandral had always wondered how one usually conducted oneself with one's siblings. His memories of growing up involved scratching, biting and underhanded combat he was ashamed to admit to this very day. "How so?"
"Ah, I should say, they may know how to fight, but to apologize, to make amends... that is a difficult thing indeed. Perhaps they do not know it as well as we may think."
"Very perceptive, young Hogun," Frey mused. "You may have a point there... well, if they show no signs of letting up within the hour, I will go speak with them."
-0-0-0-
"You cannot walk away from this!"
"Ah! So speaks the one who is so adept at running," Thor turned to glare at now rather annoying younger brother.
"Running? When have I run away?"
"How about that time I had planned that quest just after your adoption ceremony – and you disappeared to who knows where… without a word."
"I spoke to Mother and everyone who was listening to me at the feast knew I was headed for Vanaheim, which is why I thought you had come here – nevermind – that was ages ago. And I was not running away."
"You ran away-"
"I did not. I was merely trying deter you from another witless scheme-"
"As if your absence could stop me-"
"And?"
"And?"
"How did it go?" Loki asked, knowingly.
"How did what go?"
Loki rolled his eyes at his brother's recalcitrant response.
"Uxor IV."
"Oh. It went well enough-"
"Well enough? Well enough? Thor, we heard that you ended up destroying an entire herd of-"
"You heard!" Thor bellowed. "You were not there – how can you judge when you were absent? Once again, Loki, you make judgement on something that you have no right to – since you were hiding in your books. As usual."
"Where else would I be? At your side risking life and limb for some foolish venture only to be forgotten when it comes time to tell tales. Tales which end up as nothing more than hour long sagas praising your heroic deeds!"
"Hour – hour long?" Thor's voice was now rising in might and power as he attempted to loom over his slighter younger brother. "Hour long? Is this what it is all about? You are jealous about the fact that I earn my praise and take it where it is due?"
"I – what – Thor... No..." Loki shuffled his feet and add grudgingly. "I am not jealous – about that – not about that at all." A pause, then a halting admittance. "Not entirely jealous. I am annoyed, perhaps."
"I thought brothers were supposed to support each other-"
"Do. Not. Dare," Loki hissed, drawing back, suddenly wishing he hadn't shown his guilt the moment before. "This has nothing to do with-"
"It has everything to do with being brothers. As my brother, you should be there for me," Thor sighed. "Do you know nothing of family?"
Before he could stop himself, Loki lashed out, hitting Thor rather suddenly and quickly in the chest, driving the air out of the taller, muscular god momentarily and moving him back a foot or two until his back hit the grey stone wall. For a moment, there was nothing but silence as Loki stood there, panting heavily, eyes wild and angry – and distant – as though he were seeing something. Thor's gut tightened – and for the first time ever, the impetuous god regretted his actions.
"Loki," Thor said softly, finding his voice again and then stepping forward to clasp Loki's shoulder.
Shock was settling now on the younger god's face as Loki realized what he had done and Thor worried that he would jerk away. Yet Loki stayed, jaw tense and eyes downcast. Thor found himself unsure of what to say next. This Loki, he thought, I can never understand. I do not like this Loki. If only Mother were here... Uncertain of what to say next, Thor considered what kind of words would bring his brother around.
"Loki," he said, "I am sure you have your reasons, but they have no sense to them. You should have faith in your brother – and yourself. We can gain the treasure easily enough and-"
Loki only stiffened further, drawing back and shaking his head.
"No, Thor," he whispered. "I will not go with you. Not this time." The green-eyed warrior-mage glanced at Thor then. "But... but next time," here, Loki smiled painfully, "I will go. I promise."
"Very well," Thor's voice hardened. "We will go alone."
"Thor, look I-"
"No, Loki."
Fighting to keep further rough words down and less honourable actions from spilling forth, Thor found his way back to the main hall. Turning slightly, he caught a glimpse of Loki's still figure standing there in the half-light of the small corridor, face half cast into shadow. Then, he swivelled on his heels with finality and continued onward, feeling as though the chasm between them was wider than ever. What could I say? Sighing, he contemplated Loki's words. As usual, he disagrees and never gives us a chance to prove ourselves. Always he thinks he will fail, he thinks we will fail – why can he not have hope? Why can he not have faith? In us? In himself? Thor bit his lip, shook his head and banished the frightened, anxious look on Loki's face from his mind.
"We are going," he said to the others tersely.
"And Loki?" asked Fandral looking about curiously for the dark-haired Prince. "Where is the rascal?"
"He is staying," Hogun said with quiet disapproval.
"Rather wield a pen than a sword, as usual, hm," grumbled Volstagg. "That is our Silvertongue for you..."
"It matters not," Thor shrugged. "We go tonight."
And so, they left. In silence, the dark-haired, slender, second son of Odin took position on the castle walls, ignoring the guards mutterings as he looked out. Loki, watching from the northern ramparts of Lord Frey's castle, trained his far-sighted eyes upon the five warriors until they and their mounts were nothing but blurs in the fast falling twilight. Without a word, he spun on his heel and, coat swirling on the night breeze, disappeared inside the castle. In twenty minutes, Loki found his uncle holding state with his wife in their private parlour.
"So he went," Frey said heavily. "Heimdall retrieved them?"
"Yes, and guessing what has happened based on past experience, they should be camping down for the night in Niflheim."
"If they stray too close to the borders of Helheim, they may end up distracted by the Undead Hoarde," Queen Sylmae shuddered. "Unsavoury but a sight lot better than Nidhoggr himself."
"Thor has no interest in seeking combat with Helheim's Army. He had already attempted that before he had met me," Loki rubbed his eyes, pacing back and forth by the open window which carried a soothingly cool breeze. "No, he will go straight to the mythic sight of Nidhoggr's lair – the Hall of Dwinbbelherest."
A heavy silence ensued at the dread name – the Hall of Dwinbbelherest, the site of an ancient battle between the power-hungry race of Ancient Dwarves and the Grand Sire Nidhoggr himself. The site of a massacre wherein, the Saga-Vefr said, the bodies of the dead piled as high as mountains and the cold rivers ran with blood, freezing vivid red for a thousand winters afterwards. The Hall of Dwinbbeleherest, a place so beautiful, tales said, men would go mad at the sight and remaining there, would find death amongst the treasures they sought. The Hall of Dwinbbeleherest, in many circles was also called the Hall of the Dead and its proximity to Helheim a dark portent of what must be.
"I must go after them – or before them," Loki sighed. "Alone, might will not save them – and I would be able to pull them temporarily away if their need becmes dire."
"He will not be happy with you," Queen Sylmae sighed, "but it is what must be... and it shows to me what a true brother you are."
"True brothers do not spoil each others fun-"
"True brothers do what they must, even if it must hurt the ones they love – and themselves in the process," King Frey smiled, rising to approach Loki. "But Nidhoggr is a treacherous beast and even if you were able to pull them away, who is to say he will not follow-"
"If he lives, if he exists," Loki said, fingers fiddling nervously as he ran various scenarios through his head, all of them not ending well for him.
"Tales of the Ancient Elves and Ancient Dwarves do not lie, Loki. This you know. Deep down, you know... This is not something you can face either."
"You must send word to Asgard – to – to Father, to the All-Father," Loki said, raising his head and meeting his uncle's eyes firmly. "Have him prepare three companies at the ready on the Bifrost – so that we will have some to aid us should the need be great. Let Heimdall watch and be on guard for such an eventuality. Can you – can you do this... Uncle?"
"Of course," Frey smiled, glancing at his wife with ill-concealed worry. "This very evening, I shall send word. I would not let my nephews disappear into the wild beyond without telling their father."
"Thank you," Loki smiled then quickly and sharply.
"Forget your father," Sylmae rose then, "think of what your mother would say."
Both Frey and Loki shuddered, caught each other's sharp flinching motion and then chuckled at the realization that both feared the ferocious mother who was Frigga.
"Yes, Mother will not... will not be pleased," sighed Loki, "but I must go." He looked at them seeking understanding. "He is my... my brother."
With that, he left. In their turn, Frey and Sylmae watched the young Prince set out – this time on foot – and then wink out of existence as he delved into the intricate, dangerous, yet speedy Ways through the Void.
"They are so close," Sylmae sighed, shaking her head ruefully. "Even adopted, their bonds bind them together so tightly... I can only hope our boys learn such a lesson."
"This is no lesson to be learned, Sylmae, beloved," Frey gathered his wife to his side and pensively looked toward the north. "This is Fate's working-"
"The Norns wish to send them to their death?"
"Death does not always come to those who deserve it," Frey turned away with her still drawn close and they made their slow way around the top of the walls, surveying the large city which spread out to the south, west and east sides of their fortress. "And oft times shows mercy to the undeserving... No, I fear other things. For if Nidhoggr sleeps as he often does, or if he is indeed dead, then there is none to secure his treasures – those things which are better left undiscovered..."
The Queen shivered and they said no more on the matter. They could only hope.
[...Niflheim is a mysterious Realm...]
[...hanging as it does, some say, by the roots of Yggdrasil itself...]
Niflheim, the sister Realm of Muspelheim, is its opposite in every way. Where Muspelheim is hot, Niflheim freezes. Where Muspelheim is a glorious world of red and yellow and oranges, Niflheim is a shadowy world of black and grey and blue. So juxtaposed, they revolve around each other and feed the other Realms above, as they always have since the Dawn of Time.
And how different they are! Muspelheim is a living place, filled with strange creatures who thrive amongst the fiery fields of lava and slow-moving magma which pushed up through its pitted surface. Here, the Fire Giants grow, strong and proud, creating a prosperous kingdom for themselves. Niflheim, however, is mainly empty. The nomadic tribes of the Dragonfolk pass to and fro over the empty lands, traversing the Spaces Between Muspelheim and Niflheim as need drives them. Alongside, they cart the smaller more easily domesticated dragon-kind and other scavengings from a variety of Dragon breeds which they peddle to those who desire such rare items. There also dwell the Dark Dwarves, who do not interact well with the rest of the Realm including their own kin on Svartalfheim. Not much is made of that people, the bitter folk who remained in the shadow of their greatness. Other than those who rarely see the light of day, there is little life to be found in the dense thick brush, dead tree groves and barren mountainsides of Niflheim. It is a wasteland, the ruins of an ancient race of Dwarves – and the perfect place for a Dragon's treasure hall.
And within the famed Hall of Dwinbbeleherest, the Hall of Death, they say, there are laid many dark things best left alone, forgotten by time. All, all these fall into myth and their names are forgotten...
Yet some, yet some who read long and read deep and who heed the call of the Norns are drawn to hidden knowledge and they know – they know the truth of what lies in Niflheim within the Hall of Dwinbbeleherest. They unknowingly become its keepers, those who stumbled on the truth unwarily and so must bear the burden which Time itself forgot.
[...long ago, before Time was measured by any being...]
[...this ancient Realm spawned life out of primordial darkness...]
[...combined with the fires of Muspelheim and the magic of Asgard...]
[...so they say – and so it remains...]
[...an empty, dead place – cold and remote...]
Loki knew – he knew without a shadow of a doubt. The mantra remained stuck in his mind like a minstrel's everlasting round.
Thor must not enter the Hall.
Following his own paths, seeking a chance to arrive at the Grand Sire's lair before Thor arrived. Quieter than the larger warrior and less prone to hot-headed battle, Loki was the perfect scout and could walk as quietly as any mouse and as invisibly as the wind. He could enter the Hall of Dwinbbeleherest and ensure the truth of the matter for himself.
For... Thor must not enter the Hall, must not take or seize the greatest treasure...
This was Niflheim, this was the Hall of Dwinbbeleherest, the Hall of Death and Nidhoggr dwelt therein – and guarded the treasure, as was his duty.
[...an empty, dead place...]
[...but let us not forget...]
[...the heart of creation at the Dawn of Time...]
[...the heart of many things remains there...]
[...let them stay...]
"Some days, I cannot understand him," Thor sighed as he and his companions continued their journey through the southern wastelands of Niflheim, far from the northern border which fronted on the cursed Realm of Helheim.
"Who? Loki?" asked Fandral.
"Yes, he would not come – for the danger of it. Yet, how many times have we caught him up to some mischief? You know what they say of him - Loki is the Trickster and Maker of all Mischief... and yet... given this chance, he declined! It makes no sense!"
"Well, Loki never did well on the battlefield-"
"That is not true," Thor shook his head, disagreeing with Volstagg's mumbled remark, "and you know it. He may not share the strength of our people naturally, but he has his own abilities... and... Loki does well with what nature offered him. I think... I mean, sometimes, I wish he would try harder – but... this was different..."
"You are having second thoughts?" Hogun said softly, trying to ignore the wind which blew cuttingly into their faces as they rode toward the blackened sides of the too silent mountains ahead.
...you should not be here...
...travellers from Beyond...
...those simpletons who are unwary...
...come to these shores...
...and never return...
"No," Thor said quickly, giving Fandral and Sif a hard look, daring them to say anything. Sif shut her mouth with a snap. "I just wonder why he must overthink these things."
"Loki always loved plans," Sif shrugged. "It is his way. His way to control things, to compensate for his lack of natural strength. As you said," she added hastily in case Thor decided to suddenly take umbrage.
Thor sighed and shook his head.
"It is not as if we wish to slay the beast – if the tales are aright concerning the sleep of the Grand Sires, it will be a simple matter of walking in and taking what is ours."
"What is it exactly that we seek?"
"A glorious box made by my Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather Virs – all covered with red blood-stones and gold filigree-"
"I hope there are not too many red-and-gold boxes in that place," mumbled Fandral. "If the legends are true, we could be there forever..."
"It is on a pillar and is especially guarded by Nidhoggr. According to this picture-" Here, Thor wrestled out a page depicting a grand dragon within a large stately hall thousands of spans high, "it is by Nidhoggr's head."
"It would be," sighed Sif.
"A box the span of two hands on a pillar by a dragon's head," Hogun said dead-pan voice drawing his horse closer so he could get a good look at the page. "Thor – this is not torn from some book in the library, is it?"
"And if it is?" Thor blustered, turning red. "It is practically my book!"
"Thor," Sif glared at the Prince, "that is – that is not going to go over well with Loki or your mother."
"Nothing goes over well with Loki these days," Thor said darkly. He continued on, stuffing the paper back unceremoniously inside his leather jerkin. "At any rate, this will be a simple matter and if there are any young dragons about, those will be easily disposed of."
"Hmmm... sounds like a plan," Fandral stroked his newest attempt at a moustache. "What part did Loki not like?"
"All of it."
"'Discretion before valour', I suppose," Hogun mused aloud.
"That is exactly what he said!"
"Sounds sensible to me," Sif shivered and snapped the reins and drove her horse onward even more quickly. "Let us get this over and done with. This place... does not seem so welcoming..."
...you should not be here...
...come to these shores...
...and never return...
-0-0-0-
Upon arrival at the largest mountain, following another map which Hogun had brought along, the small company arrived at a broad paved road which stretched into the mountains – wide and smooth with the occasional pothole and cracked stone. An ancient road, Hogun said, once marched upon by armies of the Third People, the Dwarven Folk who woke within these very mountains and therein built a grand civilization supposed to outshine the Elves and other Races altogether. It was not to be, for the Grand Sires had the Norns on their side and a cunning not found in any other beast. The proud race was cast down – small play for the Fates who say naught but play their mysterious games within the halls of Life itself – and Nidhoggr now ruled the ancient halls of the Dwarves.
On either side, in various stages of damage and decay, pillars rose – some cracked, some broken, clustered in rows like stunted white trees and some, untouched, remained as pictures of a glorious age – even rows of detailed symmetrical decoration running up their sides and then spreading out to march in severe lines around the square capitals and bases.
Down the wide colonnade, the five riders trotted and as they drew closer into the mountain city – the windows and shafts and vents and hall doors now empty like vacant eyes and empty, hungry mouths –
...you should not be here...
And the silence. It ate at one, feeding off the growing nerves of the travellers, the interlopers, and the horses shied and whinnied nervously, the sound of their hoofs echoing weirdly around the empty caverns of the mountain halls. When two young dragons flew in, relief fell upon the warriors, for the heavy quiet was shattered with the ring of metal, the roar and bellow of Asgardian and dragon alike and the blast of fire. It took a good half hour to slay the two dragons – and when the heads rested on the backs of Hogun's and Thor's saddles, everyone was just a bit out of breath. Lunch was taken at Volstagg's insistence and another half hour was spent awkwardly, as the group attempted to eat as fast as they could and keep up some rambling chatter in order to combat the dead stillness of the Dwarven mountain city.
"Do you know the name of this place?" Fandral asked at one point. "I do not."
"And thus, he easily admits to his own ignorance," Sif rolled her eyes.
"And thus, you sound like Loki," Fandral retorted.
"Ooohhh... he got you there, Sif," Volstagg chuckled around a leg of mutton, eyes twinkling.
"It is true! Everyone should know the name of this place," Sif protested, trying to ignore the men's chuckles.
"I know it," Thor said equably. "Dwinbbeleherest is the city's name – so named after the first King of Dwarves of the Ancient Dwarven Folk – that is, Dwin. King Dwin. I do not know how beleherest came to be added to it."
"He was a grandiose Dwarf," Hogun said. "My tutor said he gave himself that name... to lengthen the title for his city."
"Nonsense," snorted Sif.
"Sounds like a Dwarf to me," Volstagg shrugged.
"Sounds like a man."
"Ooohhh... she got you there, Volstagg," Fandral chortled.
So, they continued to banter as they made their way down the rest of the wide road – but as they began to approach smashed statues and, dismounting, pick their way around large boulders and the remains of ancient carvings and pieces of fallen houses and columns, their words dried up. Finally, they reached what they presumed would have been gigantic doors – if the iron and wood had remained intact over the millenia. Tying their skittish mounts to a stake, easily embedded by Mjolnir into a broken column, the group left the horses behind and entered through the vast doorway which could easily have allowed thirty Fire Giants in side by side. Along its sides, marching upward, much rusted iron hinges still hung askew – half torn away as they had been on the day Nidhoggr had taken the hall.
Within, they passed various vestibules, each easily the size of Frey's main hall in Vanaheim. Thor found himself hard pressed not to be impressed. How many words could be used to describe the vastness of this place, he thought. I can only think of 'big', 'huge', 'impressive' and 'vast'... I am sure Loki could make more of this place... he would find this fascinating... He should have been here, Thor thought with heavy heart. Still, he pressed onward without saying a single word.
Instead, the five kept up a swift pace, necks turning in awe at the amount of decor and detail which swooped upward to a ceiling so high they could not see it in the late afternoon dimness. As with Asgard, gold and silver seemed to line everything in sight. Mounds of metal, gold, silver and bejeweled cups and necklaces and goblets and plates and armour pieces and shields and swords and trimmings and other nameless ancient things lay piled everywhere – intermingled with ancient skeletons both old and new.
Relatively new, Thor noted absently, nudging aside a desiccated corpse with his foot before continuing on. Those dragons are most likely not the only ones here... Nodding at his friends, Thor gave them the signal for 'look out' and continued onward. Now the mounds were beginning to converge into one large mountain of gold and silver and gems. Years later, Thor averred he saw an entire wall made of gold ingots stacked up – and the air literally felt thick with gold dust.
Then they saw him. It. Him. The dragon. Nidhoggr, if the tales were true. It was hard to say – since the creature was, happily, asleep upon its pile. And as the book had shown, there were several pillars by its head each holding various strange artifacts. At his second signal, the warriors spread out by the main door and Thor ventured onward alone, approaching the head of the ancient creature.
It was as he had imagined it – and yet not. There was no obvious warmth emanating from the beast. If its diamond and stone-studded flanks did not move up and down slightly and if there was no rumble emanating from its slightly gaping jaws, Thor would not have guessed it to be alive. The skin along its back appeared to have the quality of stone or iron plating – as though the dragon, the Grand Sire Nidhoggr, had been less organic and more of a mechanical thing itself. Himself. This is confusing, Thor thought, edging about the columns and peering at the various things stored there. If Nidhoggr is a 'he', how is it that he sires so many dragons – or do mates come to seek his favour? Thor wondered what dragon mating looked like – for all of five seconds before abandoning the notion as somewhere between undesirable and dull. That is more of Loki's domain, he shook his head, picking up three flashing diamonds the size of his hands and pocketing them in his satchel. And... and perhaps... perhaps when one spends so much time in a place like this, one begins to taken on the characteristics of what one treasures...
Speaking of treasures, Thor frowned, where is Great-Great-Great-Great-Grandfather Virs's box? It should be here... He paused and glared down at one empty column which held nothing on it's broken, jagged top. Well... this necklace would look lovely on Mother. With that, Thor picked up the necklace, turned to stow it away in his satchel and accidentally knocked a goblet off another column behind him.
Several things happened at once.
Nidhoggr woke up. Thor bellowed – rather wildly – and scrambled across the room, running after the others who had darted out the room at the flickering of Nidhoggr's eyelids. Nidhoggr roared – growling something in ancient Dragon-tongue, which Thor could barely understand, except for one word, which he knew was not for polite company.
They were racing out the doors – and beyond the wide doors, they could see the horses rearing and whinnying, eyes white and rolling with panic. Jerking the reins away roughly, Thor mounted his horse swiftly and smoothly, forcing his stallion ahead when it threatened to revolt and began to race down the road, followed hard by the others. As they galloped down the road, Nidhoggr's furious roar could be heard and the ground shook as he lumbered after them, squeezing out the main door.
"He will catch up with us in no time, Thor!" Sif yelled at the laughing, blond prince. "We must turn and fight."
"Ignore Sif!" Fandral bellowed, all sense of propriety and decorum now thrown out the window as he panicked with his horse. "She is speaking no sense."
"We will be fine!" laughed Thor.
"Are you insane?" Volstagg glared at the Prince as well.
Thor only laughed again and pointed ahead.
"He came! He came!"
The other four stared ahead and gaped as a familiar black figure came into focus down at the far end of the long road. Loki. On foot, looking alarmed and annoyed and furious and mischievous, as was his wont when Thor and he were on some particularly dangerous venture together. Suddenly, he blinked out of sight and reappeared closer. His left arm cut up and then downward sharply in a familiar signal.
"When we reach him, we are to stop."
"WHAT?" hollered Sif, Volstagg and Fandral all together. Even Hogun did not look to pleased.
"It will be fine!"
"Thor – are you sure that Loki can just – just fix this? This is Nidhoggr we are speaking about – who is, I might add, taking to the skies and it is a matter of time–"
"He comes! Bring your horses to a halt at my signal..." Thor ignored Sif and Loki winked out of sight again and then reappeared even closer. "NOW!" And all four horses halted around Loki in a mass of confusion and skittishness. Then, the white-grey world of Niflheim blurred oddly.
"Calm yourselves and gather around," Loki said sharply, his face even paler than usual. "Rein your horses in and pull them closer. There is a barrier of invisibility about us – but you must keep close – or our presence will be revealed."
"Our scent-"
"Is still easily discovered," Loki replied. "Silence. Be silent - and let me move us back to Heimdall's Bifrost marking."
"You can do that with all of us?" Fandral said disbelievingly.
"With silence and less questions, yes." Loki etched invisible sigils on the horses and the backs of their hands, then stopped in the middle. "Join yourselves and the horses in a circle."
Without further word, Sif and Hogun arranged the others, while Fandral muttered and Volstagg harrumphed uneasily.
"I just hope that we all show up," Fandral mumbled to Thor over his horse's withers. "All of us show up with all of our parts intact."
Loki opened an eye and glared at Fandral before resuming his stance between Thor and Sif's horse.
"Brace yourselves," he murmured and without warning the entire group was jerked away and found itself breathless, dizzy and slightly nauseous above the familiar circular symbol which denoted the mark of the Bifrost. No sooner did they set foot on the ground then a blinding pillar of light hit them, jerking them upwards and home to safety. Looking down as they tore away to the stars, they could see the large sinuous body of Nidhoggr making his way toward them.
Thor thought he had never seen anything more terrifying – and beautiful. However, there was no time to savour the moment as the group soared back to Asgard. No sooner had they landed breathless and panting in the Observatory than Loki disappeared again, leaving behind a stunned group of Warriors and an unusually monosyllabic Heimdall.
"Loki?" Thor asked bewildered.
Yet, there was no sign anywhere of his brother. Like a ghost, he was gone.
And Loki saves the day... and then...
DUN DUN DUN!
A Vault Scene talk up ahead... and more build up for plot stuff. And of course, this was a long chapter - right? So, um, hopefully you'll forgive me if there is a bit of a wait for the next update. 6-8 days. Um, hopefully I'll get 5 chapters written in the next 2 weeks so that November will be more or less covered while I am busy with Nanowrimo. Let's hope!
Reviews are my writing-carbs~! Thanks in advance for reading!
Talk to you all later!
-KI
OK. A couple things, I just wanna talk about what I'm attempting here - and you let me know if you got that feeling too. If you didn't please be honest and tell me b/c I really wanna be clear and I'll go back and redo things if I have to.
1st: I want to show that Thor means well and isn't just a dumb-ass jock. He does know things - he just tends to underestimate stuff and kinda just goes along with what Asgard teaches... which 8/10 works but there are those odd occasions where it's just not good. Also he is proud and thinks he's immortal (which he isn't) (typical teenage/young adult beliefs) and as a result takes unhealthy risks.
2nd: I want to show that Loki and Thor find it difficult to apologize to each other - and both are capable of hurting each other.
3rd: I want to show that Loki is moving closer to the Thor!Loki we know (and love) - and that means he's bottling up stuff until he explodes. He has his own agenda. He feels the incredible pressure to "be in his place" and be what Asgard wants him to be... but at the same time, he wants to be free to be himself and pursue his own interests.
4th: "True brothers do what they must, even if it must hurt the ones they love – and themselves in the process". Frey's words solidify something that Loki believes and this justifies future actions we see in Thor.
5th: Despite all this, Thor and Loki have a strong bond and believe in each other and care for each other.
Other Author's Notes:
On Jotunn physiology: Well, making the Jotunn neither/both male/female is rather standard in fanon (and I do have respect for sensible fanon)... and it makes for interesting social dynamics and I believe that Norse Myth has hermaphroditic Jotunn. Not sure... but I just like the idea of something beyond our knowledge that is totally alien to us... and it would help them with their difficult environs to continue existing. However, unlike the more erotic Jotun!Loki fic out there, I'm not going to be succumbing to describing private parts anytime soon. Haha.
On Loki's Names (in response to a question about when Loki will be named God of Mischief): In my story, as many of you know, Norse Myth is really side-lined. Um. I really try to break away (as MCU-verse does) from Norse Myth. I don't see Loki as a god but as a space alien. His magic is just another form of science (as Jane and Thor put it)... and as a result, Loki just happens to be chronically mischievous and is known for it... but he won't have any particular abilities for lying or mischief above normal. I hope that makes sense... So he may not get the title per se, or if he does, it won't have the weight that Lokeans or Norse Myth-loving fanfic writers give it.
If it's any consolation, I don't think in my story anyone will refer to Thor as the God of Thunder except the humans (or aliens) who have stories about him/Mjolnir. Odin and Frigga also will not be named their various monikers either. In Thor (the movie), none of the Asgardians refer to actually refer to each other as gods because they know they aren't gods. In fact, I think it is Fandral who says 'this is not like when we go to Midgard where you show your thunder and people pronounce you a god, this is Jotunheim'. So, in my story, if anyone is going to get titles it'll only be within in the context of humans... (aka Selvig going "Oh! Loki! The God of Mischief!") and as such, I don't think it has much weight. I definitely did not know that Odin and Frigga had various god names either and hope to forget them because they definitely won't get their names named in this story. I'm sure the "God of Thunder" and "God of Mischief" will show up - but only when we get to Earth and Odin and Frigga aren't gonna even be mentioned, which I think is fair to Loki because Thor won't get special treatment as a character. If Thor is referred to the God of Thunder in the narrative it is no doubt because thanks to his quests as a young dude he got a name for himself in the Nine Realms and Beyond. Loki, in his defense, hasn't had that amount of time iin this fic to even start building a name for himself realistically and I definitely don't think the Asgardians actually set about naming themselves as Gods of such and such. So as I say, there will be mentions of those titles up ahead at some point, but there will be no weight to it.
If you want to hear more on this topic, head over to my kakashidiot tumblr and I'll put up some discussion points there. XD
Alien Glossary:
'auzha – fucker
Dou'ma – idiot
r'senk'ne – a kind of deer/cow hybrid
n'ch'nka – a kind of cow
chi'iano – a radioactive piece of rock similar to uranium
cho'ai - lover
kol-sava'atha – a titanium-rich ore
Morning-star - a mace.
oma'auzha – mother-effer
oto'oa - big sister
udji'oo – a drug, like opium
Asgardian Glossary:
bikkja – bitch
Brenna-Fir – the Immolation
Drakka Thyod – Dragon Race
ergi - womanly, weak, "gay"
Fiendfyre – a phoenix-firebird
Flauguna – flying feet/teleportation
Ginnung – the Void
Hiti-mothr – Flame Fury (also known as Lachruth)
Kaesia-Seithr – Spirit-Spear style
Koma a Aldr – Coming of Age
Kveykva-herklaethi – Light Armoured style
Laegja – the Immersion
Ofolr Leith – Dark Paths, Other Ways (crossing the Void)
Ominni-tith - the Forgotten Times
Rikr-Hringraevi – Grand Cycles of Time
Runa a Fyrsta – Rites of Initiation
Runa a Kelda – Rites of Spring
Runa'a'vetr – Winter Solstice
Saga-Vefr – Story-weavers
seithr - magic
seithrmaster - mage, sorceror
Skjald-borhyrr – Wall of Flame
Skipa – the Infusion
Skokkr-a-Mir – concealment skills, Box of Mirrors (also known as Col'ca-cenedril)
stormerki – mysteria
Tveir-Andlit – illusionary skills, Double Face
Velspara-Speki – the Well (of Wisdom)
Elvish Glossary:
skreyppa – slippery one
gargani – snake
fintalenir – trickster
vanwa – defeated one, impolite term for "loser"
caitahto – liar
curunar – fiery one
Lachruth – Flame Fury
Col'ca-cenedril – Box of Mirrors
Cebir-Gondlug – Spike-Stone Dragon
Am'loce Norie – Dragon Race