Chapter 12

Loki sighed, he hated having to argue with his mother, they had always been so close, but she had known he reminded himself, she knew about Odin's plan and she did not tell them, she was culpable too. He spat that at her, and he knew it hurt, but he had to say it, his misery was because of her as much as it was Odin.

Odin had little time for Loki as he was growing up, and even less so now, clearly. He was livid of his return, perhaps Kari was right, and he would put a finish to the old fool. That particular thought put a grin on his face. And Odin's attitude to Kari was almost as bad as hers to him, getting under his skin was going to be both easy and fun, but he had to be careful not to anger Thor too greatly, he did not want him around him too often.

Thor, that low lying snake had actually been in love with Kari the entire time. How had he been so blind? He knew how, he was so happy with Kari, he never noticed. Was there truth to his accusation he wondered? Had Thor asked his father to give him Kari instead? That was when Kari left the room, Thor had not noticed but he had, her face showed that she too now wondered the same. He laughed to himself, how much trouble had he just brought to the farce of a marriage.

And Kari, so beautiful, more beautiful than she had been before, and the relief in her face when she realised it was him in the throne room sent a surge of glee through him. But he swallowed back the bile in his throat. He had silently passed by her and Thor's chambers during the night only to hear her and Thor…he shook his head violently, he did not want to think about it. The kiss she had given him, it was one filled of passion and love. She was obedient, she would give his idiot brother an heir because she had to, even if she did not wish to.

Frigga had finally left his rooms, upset but glad that he was home. After the initial war of words, her unfaltering love for him had made her accept her part to play in what had happened. All he wanted was understanding of his anger, and she had given it, it was always her who did. She asked him if he was being honest when he said he wanted a wife, when he confirmed, she swore to find him one that would make him happy. He scoffed internally, none could make him happy sadly, but so long as she was tolerable she would suffice, and he would endure, so long as he could be around Kari again.

The sound of his outer chambers door bursting open told him who was coming, with a deep breathe he awaited his 'visitor', the thunderous sounds of footfalls matched the thunder outside the palace, telling one and all, the new king was in somewhat peeved. Loki wondered if his faithful friends would run to the palace to soothe their comrade.

Not even knocking, Thor exploded into the chambers, his face filled with fury. "Now, as I have the same parents as you, I know you were taught to knock, so I must ask, is it your new title as king that makes you think that you are immune to the use of social etiquette?"

"Why are you really here Loki?"

"I wanted to come home."

"Why did you stare at Kari throughout dinner?"

"Why would you be concerned if your marriage is as sturdy as the realm believes? I wanted to annoy you, and clearly it has worked stupendously." Loki grinned.

"Is it to punish me? I had nothing to do with father's decision that day, I never wanted to see you both hurt."

"But interestingly, the decision that happened benefitted you even if it hurt everyone else."

"Kari is settled now Loki, why come back?"

"You mean that after long enough of convincing, she will just accept her fate and will endure it and carry your child."

"What is with you and thinking I would force her to do that, I never would. The only reason we are trying for a child is under her suggestion." Thor roared.

Loki flinched. He had convinced himself that any children Kari would have carried by Thor would have been because of his brother, not because she wanted one with him. He recalled her repulsion of the idea the night she pleaded with him to take her, their final time together, yet their first time together.

"Loki please." Thor beseeched. "I did not want my feeling for her to impede on your combined happiness. You were so happy together, I never thought I would compare, I haven't. I do not think she has ever been as happy with me as she had been you."

"So you wish for me to leave, and what, you will forget about me again?" Loki snapped though he felt as though his heart was pulled from his chest.

"You stated tonight you want a wife, if that is true then there is no reason for you to leave."

"I just want happiness again, I am sick of not having what I once was promised."

"Mother will find you a wife, smart of mind, and most likely mouth to endure your acid tongue." Loki gave the glare he kept aside for Thor, causing the older to chuckle. "Brother, I am sorry for all that has happened, but there is nothing can be done to change it. Earlier when you said you were back so you could see which way to run, I miss that brother, I miss you."

"You miss the truths of the God of Lies? You are a sentimental fool."

"What can I say; I am my own worst enemy. I need you here Loki, you were sometimes the voice of reason."

"Sometimes? Thor I was the only voice of reason." Loki scoffed. "You think that you can come in here, or should I say barge in here, and make a half assed apology and hope I will forget everything. I accept that Kari is your wife, but accept that I am not happy how that came to be."

"I do brother."

"And stop calling me brother, brothers do not do what you have done to me. Now get out."

"Between you and Kari, I am being blamed for everything Odin has done."

"Well if she is still as intelligent as she was, perhaps there is something of note in that. Though I am curious, why would she blame you for his actions, there is clearly no love lost between them."

Thor sighed. "She is telling me that listening to him is all but him making me a puppet king, but he is the one with knowledge of what to do, and other issues, and why am I telling you this?"

"Because I have a funny feeling your poor wife is usually the one forced to endure your snivelling and she is currently not talking to you over what you just said, so instead my curiosity has cost me about thirty seconds of my life I will never get back and now has me wondering how you turned from an over arrogant idiot into a snivelling child?" Loki looked at Thor in disbelief. "Have you any idea how pathetic you sound. You are the king of Asgard and you are going around trying to be 'daddy's little man' instead. I am actually embarrassed for you. No wonder you're here, I would wager Kari has kicked you out of your chambers and I do not blame her."

"She did not kick me out!" Thor barked indignantly.

"So she left then?" Thor's silence was his answer. "Oh you pathetic fool. Go to bed and see if you magically grow a pair somehow tonight. Who knows, then you may get her to have the heir you want so badly."

Irate again by Loki's words, Thor stormed from the room. Loki scoffed, but replaying Thor's words, he became angered. Her idea, a child was her idea. That hurt more than he could express. Though he did take solace in knowing that clearly there was now a rift between her and Thor, and no doubt, he was very much a large part of it.

Waiting a few minutes for Thor to be gone from the hallway, he walked out of his rooms. "I wonder." He pondered aloud as he looked to the doorway to his left. He opened it gently and walked in.

Kari's old rooms were different, her belongings long gone so to be with her in her chambers with Thor. He pushed that idea from his mind. The beam of light from through the bedroom door, the same door he walked through just a hundred years before with her still sleeping as he left Asgard and her behind. He pushed it open to see her curled up in the bed tossing, anxiously. When she turned again and saw him she shrieked and jumped, falling out of the far side of the bed with a loud thud in the process.

"Kari." He ran over to her to help her up.

"Loki, why? How did you know I was here?"

"I had a visitor a few minutes ago." Kari frowned, knowing who he was referring to. "So when he told me a few of his woes, I figured he was in the proverbial dog house and that you would be found elsewhere."

"He told you his woes?"

"Yes, and assuming you are the usual listener, how the Hel do you drown him out?"

"I get him to play chess with me, that way I can fixate on the game."

"You never played chess with me."

"I did not know how, you and I had enough in common not to need such pursuits." Loki chuckled. "So what did he say?"

"He demanded to know why I returned."

"You have not really enlightened anyone to that."

"I got lonely."

"I know that feeling."

"Are you not usually surrounded by people?"

"That Loki, is often the loneliest place to be."

"So I thought to return and see if I too can find happiness." Kari winced. "You seem to be doing okay, so I thought why not have a spouse too."

"I think it best if I go now." Kari pulled her hand from Loki's grasp.

"These are the rooms you were sleeping in." She cursed. "Do you wish for me to leave." Kari nodded. "So you having a husband, my brother is not supposed to anger me, but you are permitted to be annoyed at me wanting similar?"

"You can be whatever you wish to be Loki."

"So no trying for a child tonight?" Kari's face paled. "Yes, Thor made it clear the child was your idea."

"You were right, I am nothing more than a broodmare to them."

"Them?"

"Odin has called for Freya to concoct an elixir, he wanted Thor to give it to me without my knowing. He said he wouldn't but…" She took a deep breathe and looked to Loki, who was both shocked and seething. "Do you think he could have done what you thought?"

"Got Odin to change…" Kari nodded. "He seems honest about it, but I do not know, and now this elixir thing." He wanted to be angrier at her, but with her distress and what his father had planned, he couldn't.

"I just don't know." Kari sat on the bed, her head in her hands. "I just want to disappear, not one day has went by that I did not wish you had brought me with you."

"We would have been caught."

"I rather be sent to Jötunheim than endure this, yes I know of what he said. Thor has a big mouth."

"I could not risk it."

"You never gave me a choice." Kari spat back. "I cannot trust anyone."

Loki looked to the floor. "Why not me?"

"Because you left."

"I had to."

"No, you did not." Kari declared as she got back to her feet.

"Would you rather I have stayed, what would that have achieved?"

"Just leave Loki, you're good at that." Loki curled one side of his mouth at Kari's comment and stood directly in front of her so that she was forced to look up at his. When he saw the anger leave her eyes, he leant down and kissed her. After a moment she pulled back. "This is wrong, I shouldn't."

"Perhaps I should leave then." Loki responded sadly.

"I don't want you to."

"You cannot have it everyway Kari, if I stay, I will not be able to keep from you. Lead me not to temptation and expect me to behave."

"Loki." This time it was Kari who grabbed his tunic and pulled him to her. "Please, Loki."

"Please what?" He grinned, licking his top lip.

"I need you."

"You have me my darling."

That was all Kari heard before her lust took over. As with their kiss the night before, it sparked something within her, something she was all too willing to give in to. She nipped at his lip as she pulled his tunic up. "Lock the doors." She whispered.

"Already done." He smirked in return. "My beautiful Kari."

"Loki." Kari heard Thor's voice in her mind saying those words to her also, but she forced them back, they held little gravity in comparison to when they were uttered by his younger brother. "Norns." She could not resist as she pulled herself to him, clawing at his sides as she tried to drag the tunic higher.

As Loki lifted his arms to let her removed the garment, he cursed and whispered. "I have to go."

"What? Why?"

"My mother is using her seidr to unlock the doors." He kissed her lightly. "Until later my dove."

"Promise?" Loki nodded. "Swear it."

"I swear it." Convinced, Kari let go of him.

Just as he used his seidr to leave the room, Frigga knocked on her chambers door. "Kari, may I speak with you?"

Kari knew she looked flushed, but if Frigga said anything, the tossed bed sheets and telling her of her husband's plans would surely explain that. She walked to the door and unlocked it. "I am not in the mood to see anyone at present Frigga."

"I heard. Thor told me." She entered as she spoke. "I had no idea of what Odin had planned sweetheart, I swear. I can speak with Freya and not…"

"Will everyone cease trying to speak with Freya on my behalf. I am the Allmother, I can call forth any being I require and speak with them myself."

Frigga gave a proud smile. "Spoken like a true Queen."

"I…today is beyond difficult. I just want to get some rest."

"That is not going well I see." Frigga indicated to both her and the bed.

"No, I slept little last night, and I think I will sleep even less tonight, so I am angered, and upset and I just want to be left in peace, so with all due respect Frigga, and you know I love out time around one another, but I just wish to be left alone at present, hence my not being around my husband."

"That is something I wished to speak to you about, Thor is very upset at what Odin planned also, and he swore not to have you given anything without your consent. He is confused and upset too Kari, he needs you by his side."

"And I need to be alone. I know it is easy for you all to forget, but when Loki left, I was broken, I have scraped what little of me was still recognisable back together and tried to get on with my life, so for him to be here again means I have to deal with things I tried to ignore for so long. Thor, Odin, and even you need to respect that." Frigga looked at her almost wounded. "I am not attacking you, I swear, you have tried to show compassion in all of this, but I need to just have one night where I am not surrounded by people, where my mind can be as it needs to be."

"I understand."

"You always do." Kari smiled sadly. "Tell Thor I will speak with him when I see him tomorrow."

"So you will speak with him?"

"I have little choice, we are to meet with the Warrior's Three and Lady Sif and their families."

"Very well. Try and get some sleep Kari."

"Try being the operative word there."

"We are all reeling from Loki's return, but as you stated, you and he are the ones whose lives were so drastically altered. I understand having to be near one another again will be difficult for you both."

"Indeed. Goodnight Frigga."

"Goodnight."

Frigga walked out to the hallway and looked to Loki's chambers next door.

"Looking for me were you?" Loki called from behind her.

"I thought you would be in your rooms."

"I had to get some water. Apparently the king." There was no denying the acid filled tone as he referred to Thor's new title. "Has not okayed any staff for me."

"I will see that it is dealt with."

"Do not worry yourself, I have done so already." Loki dismissed. "Why are you coming out of those rooms."

"I was looking for something from when Kari used stay there."

"I see, well I hope you found it. Goodnight mother." Loki walked into his rooms without waiting for a response.

Somewhat baffled by Loki's manner, Frigga went to Thor. On seeing his mother he looked to her in hope. "What did she say?"

"That she will talk to you tomorrow."

"She is still angry."

"Can you blame her Thor? Think of how she must feel, first Loki's return, then his words of her being a broodmare, only to then be told that Odin planned to…Norn's, it is like the issues the Alfheim royal family with the drama here today."

"Mother, what do I do? Father's actions any other time would be bad enough on their own, but at present, well it is definitely not the best time."

"No, be there for her Thor, show her you are not forcing her into anything."

"It was she who suggested it to begin with." He shouted in exasperation.

Frigga silenced him with a glare. "Accept her anger my son, and allow her to process Loki's return as she needs to. We forget the bond they shared." Thor winced visibly as he recalled the love between his brother and his wife. "She will come around, and then all will be fine."

"I hope so mother. I really do."

Loki scoffed to himself as he listened to his pathetic brother and his mother talk. Looking around the main area of Thor and Kari's shared quarters, he noticed something unusual. On Thor's study table was a picture of Yggdrasil done in charcoal, but other than that, there was no sign of any art. With a small glance back at the doors through which Frigga was trying to placate Thor, he teleported himself back to Kari's old chambers.

He crawled up the bed as he made his way to her, her smiling and wrapping her hands around his neck as he did so. "Now my darling, where were we?" He grinned as he locked the doors with his seidr, knowing none would disturb then again that evening and began to kiss her passionately.