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.
So, first off, I just want to apologize to everyone. The waits for this fic have become super disgusting. I'm still at home in Canada, chilling with family - and that means that a lot is going about to distract me. It sucks! I'm sorry! GOMEN NASAI!
Plus, serious sadness has hit my family with the unfortunate miscarriage of my brother's and sister-in-law's 22-week-year-old baby. It was their first one - a girl... so this week, my parents are going up to be with them for the small funeral (only the parents are going) and I'll be babysitting my younger siblings (the ones still at home).
Secondly, some people reading this fic are wondering what Loki is going to be doing for this Thor section. I want to really impress on you that there is a sense of distortion in my work. That means the events in the Thor film aren't going to be exactly the same - but they aren't going to be super different either. It will turn out to be a believable mish-mash of what I've wrought and what is in the canon. Because there are moments in the canon that I LOVE. You will see them happen. So. I'm sorry. Yes. Jotunns are part of Loki's plan... but other things will be massively different and things won't turn out the same way - because others around Loki will also be a bit different. Hope this helps you guys! I'm sorry to disappoint in advance, but I really need to stick to my aesthetics and personal vision... which I hope some of you guys can come to understand over time.
On the other hand, I am tweaking a bit of my ideas to make everything seem a bit more do-able and less crazy. We'll see how it turns out.
Finally, a few of you have expressed mourning/grief over the loss of the original worlds and et cetera... and I hope that I can continue to still bring that descriptive styled stuff to these upcoming chapters as I embroider on what I've seen in the films... I really want it to be as if Marvel has commissioned me to write a partial-AU and I am adding all those itty-bitty cultural facts that give dimension to the story. Let's hope. XD
Thank you guys so much!
So... thank you to: acidburned, DragonsFlame117, IvySnowe, wbss21, Double-Gemini, ClaMiAl, christy68, Chiharu-Angel, zippy zany, cecid and Guests. Your support has been so amazing... I hope I can reply to your comments soon!
Distortions In Time
[Bitter Desolation, Incandescent Harmony]
Chapter 56
Wheels Turn II
"Byla."
"'Blindi?"
At the sound of his brother's voice, the younger Jotunn turned and stared into the gloom of late dusk which had fallen around Gastropnir. Helblindi, emerging from the shadowed stairway, frowned as Byleistr looked back out over the broad plains running away to the east. Far far away, they knew, lay the great Lake Gnottvatn, one of the largest lakes in Jotunheim, they said, vastly deep and teeming with life. On its banks grew the wealthy merchant town of Griotunagardar, which gained much bounty from not only the Lake, but also the caravans always passing through from the Kaldrfjall Mountains and beyond.
And beyond... Helblindi mused. Beyond this hills lie other towns and other plains and other lakes and other mountain ranges and vast wildernesses from which come all manner of things – visitors and merchants and Slavers and wolves... and all the troubles of Jotunheim... including Him...
"You still come up here still, I see."
"I cannot give up hope-"
"Hope?" Helblindi asked harshly, then he lowered his voice to a furious whisper as four guards sauntered past stolidly. "What kind of hope can you have – after such a length of time – for such a creature? He – it – will not return... and if it does... if it does..."
"It?" Byleistr drew back sharply, eyes hardening. "His name is Ulfrbarn-"
"-and if it does, it will bring nothing but ruin, smar'brothir-"
"-he will not!"
"End this delusion of yours, Byla, there is nothing in its dark heart but hatred for Jotunheim-"
"Not true!"
"Byla – Byla-" Helblindi turned around, braced himself against the wall and glared out into the gathering dark. "Trust me on this..."
"I trust my heart," Byla said stoutly. Softly, yet firmly. "As I always have."
"It will be the death of you," Helblindi sighed.
"Maybe... maybe... but... at least I have made my choice. I refuse to follow meaningless edicts or misinformed, stale tradition – I am doing what I know to be right."
"As always."
"As always," promised Byla.
Helblindi said nothing more, but he stayed with Byleistr until the last glimmer of cold blue rays from the suns faltered and disappeared as the Great Frozen Giants of Day fell below the forbidding horizon. He held his peace and turned the conversation to other topics – their recent hunt, the movements of the grarulfr, the upcoming annual trip of their Father, Laufey-King, to Utgard and Byleistr's newest studies in crystal mining methodologies.
There is nothing more I can say, Helblindi decided. Time will tell – and show me for the right.
[...time passes...]
[...those prepare who must...]
[...the great and the small...]
[...for the fulfilment of prophecy...]
[...and what must be...]
[...must come to pass...]
The air was flame and the bitter taste of ash and soot and burning flesh lingered upon his tongue as he turned about and about, green eyes wide, overlooking an expanse of devastation. Asgard's indestructible shield had fallen – inexplicably – and the air buzzed with the fury of a thousand blasting ships – Asgardian battleships and alien space vessels, shooting at each other, wending their way across a blue sky. Several, now shot, in wild corkscrews fell into the city below.
Loki, from his position high up in a tower on the north side, looked down in horror as various columns and towers began to collapse downward under the force of falling ships and higher towers. He could see one ship already crashing into the main palace – shot straight like an arrow into the heart of the golden kingdom.
"No! Thor! Thor!" Hands shaking, he found his way down the tower's stairs, only to find that the bridge which should have connected his building to the next over had disappeared. Stranded, Loki had no option but to detour and take the longer way around, closer to the ground.
Harsh panting, Loki's breath hoarse and heavy filled his ear. Hearing nothing but his own heart beating and his own breath, the young Prince ran and he ran; yet he seemed to go nowhere. It was impossible. He wouldn't be able to get there in time. Who's fault was this? What had Thor brought on them? Where was Odin? Where was Frigga?
Loki did not know, but the feeling nagged persistently – the need to find Frigga. He needed to find her. He needed to find her.
Where are you? Mother!? Where are you?
His call was drowned out by a large explosion, there was light and fire and -
Loki woke, gasping and calling out Frigga's name. For a moment, he lay there, half propped up as he fought to regain his breath and his equilibrium. He could still feel the heat of the falling flaming bits of stone and canvas and metal. He could still taste the bitter air and hear the frantic cries of the scattering city folk and the loud explosions and repetitive fire of weapons. He could still feel the lingering sensation of grit beneath his feet as he ran along the walkways.
In. Out.
YOU ARE MINE...
No. No. No.
In. Out.
He took a deep breath and let it go, let all the memories go...
...AND I HAVE HEARD YOUR CALL IN THE DEEP...
Never. Never. No. Never.
In. Out.
Pushing the images of horror down, Loki laid back and evened out his breath slowly but surely.
In. Out.
Whatever that was... Loki closed his eyes and forced himself to turn his mind's eye away from the dream. It should never come to pass. It never will... if I have my way... if all my plans go as they should. Nevertheless, despite his best efforts to reassure himself, Loki found himself a little darker in mood that morning and, of course, at his usual breakfast with his mother, Frigga noticed right away.
"It is nothing," Loki was quick to reply when Frigga quietly asked him as to why he was so 'thoughtful' (as she diplomatically put it) that morning. "Just a – a dream."
"A dream?" Frigga leaned forward to pour her quieter-than-usual son a cup of tea.
"It was nothing."
"You have dreams quite often. Such is the way of many gifted with the sight or magicks in general. Being tied so closely to the stream of life itself, some nights the secrets of Yggdrasil and the Norns themselves spill over-"
"Nothing so exciting," Loki lied, knowing that Frigga would have him bundled off to the Healing Halls in a trice if she felt that Loki's sleep was endangered. "Just a dream. As a-" A pause.
As a child, I often dreamed such things...
"As a mage, I have learned to tell the difference," he amended his words carefully. "Nothing to worry over, mother."
"Hm," Frigga gave her secretive son a look. "I hope so. Although," and here she smiled a little, "it does bode well."
"How so?"
"It means that your abilities have returned," Frigga pointed out. "Your magick was so low for such a long while... and now it is obviously returned. You pushed yourself too far with that one quest."
"That was a good year or two ago," grunted Loki. "My magick was normal within a few months."
"Really." Another look from Frigga.
"I just have not taken the time to go out and quest as usual what with all of the preparations for the, ah, you know, coronation..."
"Well," said Frigga. "As long as you don't push yourself too hard."
"I will not," Loki replied calmly. "That was a – a one time thing."
"Hm, yes, dear."
Frigga let Loki change the conversation, he was sure of it later, when their talk meandered to other topics. I wonder, he thought uneasily, if she guesses. Mother is, after all, quite adept at her own magicks... and she was blessed with the gift of second sight... so Mother could have discovered what transpired on Jotunheim.
Loki watched his mother carefully over the fruits and toast and teapot and other various delicious dishes which had been brought for their breakfast, but Frigga looked as she usually did every morning – as fair and bright and cheerful as ever. There was no tension within her, neither was there any watchfulness.
She cannot know, he told himself with relief. She would never guess... and all will turn out as planned.
All would turn out as planned.
-0-0-0-
Only a few years had passed since his last fateful visit to Jotunheim, but already Loki could see the toll of time wrecking even more desolation upon the Realm. Looking about cautiously from a crumbling wall section overlooking Utgard's western side – down to the encroaching Eybjarg, the warrior mage couldn't help but notice how the city looked even more desolate and empty than usual. The south and western side had definitely been left to ravages of ice and wind and snow and time. Shifting shadows of the slighter, yet vicious grarulfr wavered over the white as the slender hunters searched for any signs of life hiding within the ruins. In the dim light of the late afternoon, the world seemed to be dowsed in blues and greys. Close by, a bit of arch and column collapsed inward in a long rumble, falling to the hard white ground in a rain of rubble as the weakened foundations crumbled. Echoes returned eerily and the vibrations set off a responding tiny avalanche of snow off a tipsy tower which also slid down several inches – before tipping off the edge of the thick wall below and then then smashing into large bits further down on the hard ground.
Falling into ruin before our eyes. Falling to the Void, giving ground... everyday. Not that I care, Loki told himself quickly, yet it is alarming how essential the Spirit of a Realm is to its general well-being. Ah... yes – and it was Helblindi who had the great dream to raise Utgard from its ashes. Byleistr was not too hopeful – and I can see why...
Loki smirked to himself and disappeared in a flurry of green to arrive on the topmost tower of the Gothahus. Looking down and around at the heart of the city, which, judging by the muted bustle, was attempting to forge onward in the face of extinction, Loki searched for any sign of the usual retinue that followed a royalty about in Jotunheim - the scribe, the page boy, the courtiers, the guards and other sycophants.
A small train heading on the North Road to the North Gate, Loki presumed, looked promising. In a flash of green, the warrior-mage once again disappeared, this time to arrive on the tallest tower overlooking the gate. The black stone and jarnvithr tiles and carved stone was older now – crumbling at the edges, buried more thickly in the encroaching ice and looking at little less cared for. This was my favourite spot, Loki recalled, the place from which I watched the death of that... beast...
The memory of Opna turned his stomach and in an effort to forget, Loki shook his head and fixed his gaze downward. Just as he had hoped, Helblindi appeared to be arriving at the North Gate for some inspection of outgoing goods, no doubt bound for Dagaheim, judging by the accented dialects of the merchants and their rounded, steel caps famous in that northern city. As the Crown Prince of Jotunheim finished preparation, Loki double-checked his own disguise – his wolf's skin cloak, leather breeches, black boots, throwing knives and the security of his other hidden items. When Helblindi climbed up onto the outer wall to watch the caravan wend its slow way north, Loki knew it was time.
The stage was set.
The play had started.
The game had begun.
-0-0-0-
When the abomination appeared on the closest embrasure to Helblindi, the Crown Prince's flinch was quickly covered up by a scowl and a half-roar of displeasure.
"Ulfrbarn!"
At the Crown Prince's words, the rest of those gathered about began to raise a hue and cry amongst themselves, a thundering babble. In consternation, the guards and courtiers and merchants and citizens drew closer together, a tight knit group banding against the force of evil which they had feared all their long lives.
"The ulfrbarn?!"
"The ulfrbarn!"
"It is the vaetki!"
"You remember, Hafva? Well, you were young-"
"The abomination has returned to Utgard-"
"Surely the Prince will not-"
"You remember last time-"
"SILENCE!"
Helblindi's command silenced the gathering crowd of guards, courtiers, merchants and citizens.
"You will leave us," Helblindi said with finality. "We must talk."
"Should we summon Laufey-King-"
"Leave. Now."
The red-eyed glare of Helblindi was fierce indeed, so with great speed, the group scattered, leaving only a few guards to station themselves back at their spots on either end of that portion of the wall between the two towers. For a moment, there was silence as Helblindi scowled out over the white plains of snow at the dwindling speck of the long, black caterpillar that was the caravan.
"Opinionated bunch," the creature's voice finally broke the silence with a sniff and a raised eyebrow.
Supercilious and condescending as always, Helblindi thought crossly. The worst kind. I do not see, for the life of me, what Byleistr finds within the creature...
"They fear what they cannot understand – it is the law of those who sleep with desperation, those who lay their head on the brink of extinction-"
"-who eat the loaf of poverty and fruitless labour."
"You have read the Annals. Of course," sighed Helblindi, refusing to meet the creature's – his younger brother's – the creature's sharp gaze. "Of course you would have read them."
A pause.
"Why are you here?"
"No 'welcome brother'?" asked the light mocking voice, floating up at him in sarcastic enquiry. "No royal welcome? Hm. I suppose you thought me – you wished me – dead."
"That was our supposition when you did not return."
"Well," the slender creature's voice seemed to fill with vindictive glee, "I am sorry for the disappointment. It would take more than a pesky snowstorm to get rid of me."
"Noted," Helblindi shrugged.
"Wolves did not work either."
"Hm, yes, I was remembering that," Helblindi replied thoughtfully, remembering the small patch of purple-black blood on the snow and the flurry of howling wolves. "You bear the grace of Jotunheim. Our Realm holds you close to its bosom, Fylgja said..."
"You do not believe Faetha?"
"Luck, perhaps. Fate..." Helblindi sighed. "Fate is a cold thing."
"A machine," agreed the Ulfrbarn. "I have fought it for a long time."
"So why did you return then? Surely this land has no interest for you – neither love for you, nor love from you..."
"You are so certain that I do not care for Jotunheim..." The Ulfrbarn tipped its black head, ran long blue fingers through the dishevelled hair while frowning just a little. "Why?"
"I do not see love of Jotunheim within those blood-red eyes of yours, little one. I see only..." A pause. "...a great, frightening blankness... and what is behind it... perhaps there is only rage and fear?"
"Rage... maybe," conceded the younger Jotunn. "Fear, perhaps... I fear being misunderstood, being rejected. Understandable, do you not think?"
"True."
"So what can I do for Prince Helblindi to prove my loyalty to his throne and kingship and to this country which so sorely needs my aid?"
"There is nothing you can do."
"Such a quick answer."
"A true one."
"Not well thought out."
"I am not arguing with you over this."
"But you are," was the smooth reply. "You must. Your heart will always question... will always... will always wonder... what if... what if I had asked, what if I could have chosen. Deep down, there is a dream within you that you would see fulfilled. What is it?"
"My dream," Helblindi stared down then at the red gaze which was trained on him.
Those red eyes which look so certain, he thought, so strong and so severe and so hard and so mysterious. Like Father... a giant who keeps his counsel and plans a great future... two players on a giant game board, these two are. I cannot stand between them, played as a pawn... and what he offers me may in the end allow me to catapult myself into that higher playing field... or not. What he offers me may in the end only bring destruction...
"My dream, lagreinn," Helblindi repeated absently, "is to see our country young again, growing again, alive... once again... and to see our family and people thriving. Yet, you cannot achieve this, smar'brothir. You cannot achieve this. Only the return of the Casket-"
...se m...
...th...oice...f...e...an...ar...g...ow...
Helblindi stopped blinked and looked around before glancing down at the blank face before him.
"Did you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"A whisper... a whisper of something... I could not understand... yet a whisper nonetheless..."
"The voice of the Heimsrsal," the Ulfrbarn shivered, it's dark head and fierce red eyes turning away to look over the harsh land, bleakly. "Can you hear it? It is dying. It is Death."
"No. No. I cannot hear it clearly... but it is true. We are all dying. We need the Casket," Helblindi's fist clenched and he hit the merlon on his left suddenly and viciously. "Yet those wretched, abominable, arrogant bastard race of Asgardians keep it away and watch us with glee as we fall to our Doom."
"The Casket," the Ulfrbarn. "The Kero Fornvetr, as the tales say... It is within the Vaults of Asgard's Palace, is it not? Surely you could go there yourself and retrieve it."
"And an eel may fly to the stars," snapped Helblindi.
"Well, with magick, it might, as its ancestor, the great Iormungand, did before it," was the calm, reflective reply. "With magick and cunning and a well-conceived plan, anything is possible."
"You would attempt such a thing? There is a creature in that Vault, like no Jotunn has ever seen nor any beast or man has known. They say those who entered there in secret and for their own dire plans never left... it is indestructible and lives immortal within the Vault neither needing sunlight nor moonlight nor food nor water. The Farbjothr."
"Hm. A lot of tales for something no one has survived... still, if I retrieved such a thing for you – would you then accept my goodwill? It will be a token of my good faith."
"You are mad."
"Possibly," shrugged the Ulfrbarn. "What have I to lose?"
"Well..." Helblindi frowned, his gaze sliding away from the arched black eyebrow, the knowing red eyes, the wolfish grin and the confident stance of the one creature he now knew to fear. "You have a point there," he admitted slowly. "Yet..."
Yet, why would he suggest such a thing? It is impossible? But is it impossible? After all, he survived so many things and the grace of Jotunheim goes with him. Perhaps the Casket would help him. Ah! And there is the catch. In having the Casket – would he so easily hand it over to me – and would I be able to use it at any rate? Or would he use it for me... perhaps we could share in this together. We are brothers after all – and he appears to care for Byleistr to some degree... perhaps... perhaps...
The small creature waited patiently, sitting back in a slouched, lounging position, one leg hanging off the edge of the wall and swinging back and forth, while the Ulfrbarn picked at his black fingernails with a small throwing dagger. After a long while, Helblindi finally let forth a great sigh.
"Very well," he leaned forward to catch the narrow chin between two of his fingers. "I look forward to seeing what you can bring for Jotunheim's glory... and if you betray us..." Here, Helblindi's fingers tightened a little, bruising the paler blue skin. "If you betray us, you will find what the full force of my anger is. Do you understand?"
"Of course," the runt jerked back and glared up at its older sibling. "I understand. Very well.
"Just so that we are clear," repeated Helblindi. "You will get us the Casket and in doing so, will gain my trust – the trust of the future King of Jotunheim. Do not fail us in this. Our land and our people depend on this."
"I know," the Ulfrbarn's face smoothed out blankly and his eyes, rising to meet Helblindi's, were knowing. "More than you can ever know... I know."
With that, in a flash of green smoke and silver and gold sparks, the Ulfrbarn was gone, leaving Helblind alone with the incomprehensible wind which whispered in its unintelligible hush until it died down and fell silent.
[...silence fell...]
[...again...]
[...on Jotunheim...]
[...the words are heard but who can understand...]
...use me...
...the voices of the nothing are growing...
...the voices of the wind are dying...
...I am here...
...everywhere...
...use me...
[...the one who would hear...]
[...is gone...]
No sooner had the Ulfrbarn disappeared, Helblindi strode over to the stairs and stumbled down them, breathing hard as though he had just run a great race against the thurblakulfr. Sightlessly, he made his way down the North Road back to the main square and the Gothahus and the King's Hall further east. Helblindi found his father, Laufey-King, in the middle of some conference with two of the city council's members over a map of a silvrstone mine. Raising his head, Laufey caught the look on Helblindi's face and immediately straightened, gave the two council's a few more instructions and concluded the meeting with a few concise words. Turning to his son, Laufey took Helblindi by the elbow and led him down a side hall to his personal study, where the elder rooted for and found his private stash of Black Dwarf ale which he then served to Helblindi who accepted the mug blindly and took a pull before coughing and sputtering as the fiery liquid ran down his throat.
"Talk," Laufey said simply.
"He came – it came... he – it – it is alive... it survived."
"I heard."
"Yes. Of course," Helblindi said nodding while staring into his mug. "They would tell you right away. You did not come though."
"There is nothing I could say to it – nothing of consequence at any rate," Laufey shrugged. "What trouble does it have brewing now?"
"It came to ask after us, I suppose. I told him, I mean... whatever, I mean, I said it should not have come. It wasn't welcome... You know, he was injured or maybe not. Hard to say – but it asked what it could do to show its good faith..."
"Hm. Smart move..." Laufey leaned back and served himself a mug of the dark ale, taking a sip before continuing. "What did it offer?"
"To do anything – to attempt any task I would put before him. Madness. Utter lunacy," Helblindi shook his head. "What was I thinking? What was he thinking?"
"What did you say to it, Helblindi?" Laufey leaned forward, eyes suddenly serious and sharp.
"I said – I said," Helblindi shook his head helplessly, eyes far away. "I said that we needed the Kero Fornvetr."
Kero Fornvetr. The two words sunk like stones into the quiet of the king's study like monstrous stones in a still pond. Kero Fornvetr. It was so small, held in his hands, Laufey remembered. So small and yet so powerful... a beautiful thing, a dangerous thing, a thing of magick. A think of life – and eath.
"We do need it," Helblindi went on. "He said – it said it would get it. Get the Casket. From Asgard. Madness! Impossible! And yet... and yet..."
"And yet..." echoed Laufey, old eyes focused on the weak flames which flickered within his study's fireplace. "If anyone could defy the impossible... it would be that one..."
"That was my thought... but... still..."
"Hm."
"It would solve all of our problems-"
"Yes."
"-or it would bring upon us our final destruction..."
"Indeed."
"And the Ulfrbarn may just be playing with us. On the other hand, if it was planned well – we would only sacrifice a few for a great cause."
"Hm."
A silence.
"You will not go of course," Laufey finally said. "Summon three of the Gnaefki-Seggr and we shall plan thus – three of ours and some of the Ulfrbarn's compatriots – if it has any – shall infiltrate Asgard and then the Vault. With knowledge of the Casket, how it appears and how to use it, they will be able to defend themselves once they get their hands upon the weapon."
"Yes," Helblindi nodded.
"We must also consider the role of the creature. How does it know of Asgard? How will it know the way to the Vault? What magickal aid will it offer us? Helblindi... have care when you deal with this creature," Laufey stared moodily into the fire – then shifted his gaze to pin his eldest son with a hard look. "It is as cunning as the snow-fox and as vicious as the wolf. It lies as naturally as the snow falls and works towards obfuscation, not revelation, of the truth, I think. It is hiding something, a plan, a second strategy. Yes, for it has ambition, however hidden or submerged, and you will be its target, Helblindi, if indeed its ambition stretches to Jotunheim."
"You think it wants Jotunheim? The throne?" Helblindi blinked, eyes wide.
"Well," Laufey amended, "maybe not. It is hard to say – and since its motivations are difficult to ascertain, better to be twice as careful. Send others to retrieve the Casket. We shall see, how it shall all fall out."
"Very well, Faetha."
"If we gain this great treasure," Laufey-King finished off his mug of ale and leaned back further with a sigh. "Our land will be renewed, our pride will be regained and our lives will be revivified. A great day, a glorious day, for Jotunheim."
Thus, under the watchful eye of Laufey-King, the plotting commenced between the Jotunn and Ulfrbarn. It began with small things – with Helblindi's choice for the three warriors who would go, the introduction of the other specialists who would aid them in their travels (a hot-headed Skrull and a monosyllabic Dark Elf), an underhanded investigation on the part of Laufey concerning his taboo offspring, and several long-winded discussions with Mages on conflicting theories concerning the Casket. There was also some conferencing with Laufey on the Casket's properties which he knew of from his experiences during the Lengi Ofrithr. All of these activities finally culminated with the Ulfrbarn's arrival, maps in hand, and a fairly straightforward plan as to how they would access the Vault and the Casket within.
"The Prince of Asgard, Thor," the Ulfrbarn said as it laid out own map, setting small stones down on the sides to keep the edges from uncurling. "He is taking upon the mantle of Kingship within a few month's time. A coronation the like of which we have never seen, if you believe the rumours of the merchants at the docks. Hmmm," the runt shook its head. "We shall see."
"An arrogant display of wealth and power for an arrogant, powerful Prince soon to be King..." Helblindi spat.
"Sounds like someone I know."
"Silence, brat," Laufey glared down at the small head which bobbed by his knee as the map was flattened down. "Explain this."
"It is a map," was the careful reply, but there was an undercurrent of sarcasm there too. A pause as Laufey just stared at the runt with expectation, knowing that silence was the best way to deflate the rebellious one's attitude. "A map of the lower portion of the palace," was the finally gritted out response to Laufey's hard stare.
"How did you get this?" asked Laufey sharply.
"From the Archives within Asgard."
"How did you get into the Archives?"
"I was careful. I have my ways..." Here, the runt gave Laufey a hard look.
"Hmmm..." Laufey held his peace, yet once again he felt as though there was some gigantic, hidden truth within the matter.
Something we cannot comprehend, perhaps, he thought. Or something so simple or impossible, we would never think of it...
Quashing rising suspicions, Laufey continued on with the conference, as the group of them discussed what paths they would take. As each eventuality was dealt with, as each obstacle was overcome, Laufey could see that Helblindi was becoming more excited. It is obvious that this was very much his idea, Laufey mused, and so he wishes for it to succeed. And in succeeding, Helblindi's position will be assured. A cunning plan... Yet, much could go wrong, particularly if the lagreinn has betrayed us. Well, Laufey smirked to himself, even if we do not get the Casket, at the very least, we will have brought chaos to their splendid, self-congratulatory celebration. Odin will look a fool and all of the Realms will laugh. That would be enough, perhaps.
And so Laufey planned, so Helblindi plotted, so the others prepared.
And the Ulfrbarn smiled, red eyes glittering.
Well, there you have it. More Jotunheim. Jotunheim plays a larger role in this story. Hm. Yes. Surprisingly larger than I thought. But that's fine since it's a cool place.
If anyone wants to chat with me as to why I chose to have Loki go back to Jotunheim, be sure to PM me or you can find me on Tumblr under 'kakashidiot' or on my wordpress writing account. XD
This chapter was cut in half when I got to 15 pages with no end in sight when I looked at what I had planned to put in the chapter. Realizing that I would lose a lot of little details and it could fatigue readers, I cut the chapter in half. I'm sorry for that and hopefully I'll get all I need to get written within a week or so. Or not.
Thanks so much!Reviews are like gas in my engine, so it's great to hear from you~!
See ya soon!
-KI
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
fotr'ro - footstool
Ginnung – the Void
harhvila - high bed
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
raudhaust – high bed
Jotunheim Glossary:
Aldinn Stathr – Ancient Place
Almror'ganga - Long Range Weapon Contest
Arlang'leith – the Annual Caravan
Atfirth – energies
ausa'songr fugl - flow-songbirds
blakkrbjorr – black beer
Blakkrbjorn – black bear
blakkrgras – black grass
blargras – blue grass
blar'iss hros - black ice horse
Blaufe'irsteinn - blue fire stone
Brandr'ganga - Unarmed Combat
Dagaheim
Dauthr'ganga - Death Duel
dvegr – dwarf
dyrspeki – zoologist
Eybjarg (Chasms of Forever)
Faetha'snaer - "Mother", "who births the snow"
Farbjothr – the Destroyer
fauld – a part of armour around the lower midsection
Fjor'fylgja – Life Mate
Flara River – Treacherous River
For-Eldra – Ancestors
Forn Vegr – Old Ways
Frothleikr'ganga - Battle of Magick
Fylgja'snaer - "Father", "who aids the snow"
Gastropnir
Glima'ganga - Battle of Swords
Gnaefki-Seggr – High Guard
Gnottvatn (Lake of Abundance)
Gothahus – temple
Grarfjall – Grey Mountains
grarulfr – grey wolves
Griotunagardar
hafnathr – sea serpents
heillgrjot – healing stones
Heimsrsal – Soul of the Realm
heithrsker – crystal flowers
hjarr'veithr - rabbit chaser (a kind of eagle)
Holdra River – Hero's River
holkimurtr – small flat fish
Holkn Vollr – Flat Plains
holmganga – a method of ending feuds/disagreements
hota-eik – white oak
hvaeta – wheat
hvitr'steinn - white fire stone
Innaheim – Inner Realm
iss'hona'by - ice honey bee
jarnkottr – iron cat (beast which Laufey released in Thor)
jarnvithr – iron wood
Kaldrfjall (Cold Mountains)
kalo – a kind of purple-red fruit, similar to a pomegranate or dragonfruit
Kero Fornvetr – Casket of Ancient Winters
kostrboth – a method of proving virility for the purpose of marriage
lagreinn – small one (epithet)
lagr'hyggr – fool
Lengi Ofrithr – Long War
luthrblom – trumpet flower
manisilfr – moonsilver
Meir'brothir – Older Brother
melrakki – white fox
Myrkr Skogr – shadow forest
Nattura – spirits
Northri Stjarna – North Star
rjothr'auga haukr - red-eyed hawk
silvralmr – silver elm
silvrfiskr – silver fish
Sithr Efingi – True Heir
Skalldi
skordyr – Jotunheim goat
Smar'brothir – Younger Brother
snaerharra – snow rabbit
snjarlang'hvartha - snow camel
Storrholl – Great Hall
thurblakulfr – giant black wolves
tunglbom (moonflower)
Utanheim – Outer Realm
Utgard
vaetki – nothing
ventrmellin – winter melon
villrkyr – wild ox
Virtha Aevi – Coming of Age
Vit'ganga - Battle of Wits