The more Loki spoke to Frigga and revealed his past and his feelings, the most Frigga felt for the child. She was honestly happy that this young prince had come to be betrothed to her son, because here he would be treated well and would get what he was looking forward to.
Frigga had not much to say when Loki spoke of the way the Frost Giants treated each other. Frigga knew Loki, by what he had said, tried to fool himself by thinking the brutal beatings were for a good cause; for ensuring that all Jotun's would be strong. To her, it was neither punishment nor for survival, it was down right cruelty, but Frigga did not say so to Loki.
"You my dear, will get the finest. It is not tradition for royal to wear mediocre things," Frigga stated and directed Loki toward the bathing room. It was across Frigga's chambers, behind yet another large door, just as elaborate and beautifully carved as the others throughout the kingdom. Frigga opened them for Loki and stepped aside so that Loki may enter first, and what was revealed was just as breath taking as everything else in Asgard.
The room was massive, definitely as large as Frigga's bed-chambers. The floor was black marble, polished to shinning, as the walls were the same, but with etching. The bath itself was large, like a pond or a Asgardian made pool that held thousands at once. It was stationed in the far side of the room, forming out of the wall, and was elevated by the same black marble of the floor. Water that was heated, flowed ever constantly into it from the waterfall cascading from the wall the tub was built against. Pillars formed around the tub, holding a roof above that shown natural sunshine upon the bath, bringing the water from the falls glittering in its light.
Frigga chuckled and smiled at Loki, taking the compliment to heart. "Thank you dear, I have raised my child as best as I could. And I would hope my son was a fair and decent man, I would not settle for him being anything but. Though I do know his temper, he gets that from his father," Frigga had paused for a moment, thinking of how Loki confessed to calling himself as such. It made her heart sad, Loki was beautiful and did not need to be the type. But Frigga found happiness in Thor's actions to reprimand Loki for calling himself as such.
"I am glad, it pleases me that you both seem to connect very well, and that my son is making you happy." The mention of children, though it was so very soon, delighted Frigga, and she was unable to keep her comments to herself. "You will be a wonderful mother, I see it in your future. Your child will come to be great, and it will be because of your guidance.
Frigga could not help her smile, but could not help when Loki warned her of his scars, for her smile to lessen and became serious. "No my dear, they are of the past, we do not need to dwell on them and you will get no pity from me," Frigga stated only to reassure Loki, though she knew she would feel pain for the young prince when they were revealed, but Frigga would honor his wishes and show him no pity.
Frigga helped Loki with his dress, loosening the corset-like middle and slipping it from his shoulders. She let it drop and pool around the prince's feet, but paid little attention, as her eyes were set upon those scars Loki had warned about. They made her want to gasp and hold the poor child, but she could not, she promised no pity.
She did however touch them gently, a way of comforting Loki, but did not linger long on them, for she did not want Loki to think she was pitying him at all. So Frigga smiled again quickly and ushered Loki into the bath with her hand gently against his back, nudging toward the grand pool of warm water.
Loki listened to the promise of fine jewelry, and he felt slightly spoiled. He found it difficult slightly to even be here. Everything was so grand and perfect and inviting. He was raised in a purely grey castle made of stone with sparse rugs, much colder than even he could stand.
"-I really don't mind mediocre things. They'll still be lovely. I assure you, ma'am, it doesn't take much money to make me smile."
He was shocked even in the bathroom. He looked over things for a moment, his eyes flickering back and forth over the grand ornaments and warmth that resounded. It was appeasing to his cold flesh, actually, and slight steam rolled from his body.
"Well, I don't even mind his anger. I have my own, of course. And I welcome it. I am not marrying a emotionally null man that cannot pleasure me or keep me smiling. I am marrying an Asgardian that is going to keep me alive and feeling for all." He knew Thor would do that; he knew that Thor and he were going to be a perfect match. They actually already were.
Then came the subject of his scars, and he dutifully warned the queen that she might be repulsed but that he'd be grateful if she'd not show it.
After he listened to Frigga's reply he sighed, "It's much easier to deny giving pity rather than to actually not give pity." And with that, the dress slipped from his dainty shoulders and fell to his feet.
He looked down at his toes, counting them as an attempt to not focus on Frigga's reaction. Even though the woman tried, Loki still heard her breath intake sharpen and wobble slightly in surprise.
He sighed softly and glanced back at her as she touched his healed but showing wounds, sighing in a happy and content retort, "You truly are a befitting Queen. How shall I ever live up to your legacy?" Loki spoke with awe in his voice as he stepped into the warm water, feeling it lap and steam at his cold body. It made him purr softly; yes, purr, in pleasure and content.
Frigga gave a hearty laugh that came from deep within her breast. "No need to call me such," Frigga found Loki to be sweet and quite adorable. It was no wonder why her son fell so very quickly for this one. "It is a very good thing you do not value gold and materialistic things so highly, but do not devalue yourself in thinking you do not deserve the best."
Frigga was patient with the boy, waiting for him to be done his sight seeing and being ready to step into the water. The poor child had never seen anything as grand as this; his palace must have been unimpressive.
Frigga hummed at Loki comments about Thor's emotions and she agreed, but she had witnessed Thor's anger and at times it got far out of hand (not to the point where he would hurt his own, but would go headlong into a battle without thought). "I think perhaps that Thor is the lucky one. After all, he can be like a child sometimes and needs someone to spank his bottom when he has his tantrums," She jokingly responded, chuckling and smiling widely at Loki.
Frigga was quite unready for the scars of Loki's body, for there were many and they were from head to toe, but Frigga quickened her comfort-ability with them, and in stead focused on helping Loki into the water.
Frigga shook her head, but smiled gently at Loki. "No my love, you do not live up to anyone's legacy, you make your own. And I know my dear, that yours will be one that will be remembered." Frigga pulled up her dress slightly and sat at the side of the tub. She let Loki relax as she picked up a pitcher and dipping it into the water to fill it, before poring it out onto Loki's shoulders.
Loki nodded at the kind words he received, smiling softly before frowning at something. He turned to face Frigga;
"What if people don't respect me or don't trust me as queen? I'm a Jotunheim; a Frost Giant. I'm cold, I can lie about your birth and make you believe it be true, I can even do this."
And with that, he shifted to look like Frigga. He and the woman were identical, and he mirrored every move that she made before shifting back with a sigh,
"You would not trust a person who you never saw fully. They might not believe that this is me. They might think I'm lying." The more Loki spoke, the more hopeless he felt, and the more he wanted to curl up under the water and never come up.
Frigga gave Loki a sympathetic look and a gentle touch on the shoulder to comfort him, but was not able to speak a word. Loki changing into a look alike of her, Frigga was in absolute awe and shock.
"What an extraordinary gift," Frigga barely whispered in absolute stun as she stared back at herself; reaching out to gently touch her own cheek.
She drew her hand back once Loki changed back to his normal look, and she could not help but smile at Loki with absolute fondness. "Do not think this a curse child, we all have our own unique abilities, and yours is one of amazing beauty and talent."
Frigga had not seen anything like this, but now she fully understood Loki's concerns. "Trust and respect comes to everyone with time. Where Thor will force our people to trust you, it is you whom can only really make so happen. You must find your own way to show and prove to our people that you are someone worthy of their trust and respect, and in turn a most rightfully picked Queen."
Loki smiled softly after turning back, unable to hide his amused smile at her awed reaction. He gently touched her cheek; a comforting and almost loving gesture.
"I will try, Frigga. I will try and allow them to trust me. Thank you." He wore a small smile while running his fingers through the water. He liked how it looked; the clear liquid slipping past his blue finger tips to once more be united with the rest of it's kind.
Loki didn't know why, but he liked that thought. Every bit of water was the same, and even separated it returned at one point. Even dirty water or dyed water was allowed back. Juices and mead mixed easily with water.
He almost wanted to be water here. He wanted to be water with Thor. He wanted to be with him, always, and wanted Thor to want to be with him always. He pledged in that moment to make his whole family water.
Always forgiving, and always together.
Frigga allowed Loki to gently brush her cheek and she in-turn placed a gentle hand upon his. She felt much of a connection and appreciation in the simple gesture, and smiled a little deeper at it. She closed her eyes and gave a bow with her head, a silent but very much a proper welcome to Loki's gratitude for her words and wisdom.
"If you would not mind my dear, it is time to wash," Frigga had noticed how adoringly Loki looked at the water around him, but unfortunately had to move things along.
"You may have your pick," Frigga motioned to the many carts that were being wheeled in by servants, whom left them closely beside the bath before bowing to both Frigga and Loki, then leaving without a word. The carts were plain, but held many bottles of body wash, shampoo and conditioner. All were rather magnificent (as most everything in Asgard was). Some were short bottles, some were round, some were in the shape and form of women with feminine curves all in the right places. Some were sprinkled in gold and others in silver. Some had flowers floating in the concoction, while others had sparkling jewels and gems.
Frigga picked up a cloth from a stack upon one or the carts and gently handed it to Loki. She did not want to make the young prince uncomfortable, so she had handed him the cloth simply so he may wash himself, while she got his back. Frigga took a moment and let Loki decide, while she pilled the basin with water and gently poured it over Loki's shoulders again.
Loki looked back at the soaps and smiled slightly at Frigga before standing and walking over to the cart, and examining the soaps that were on it.
He agreed with her mentally, they needed to get on with this if Loki and Thor were to ever be married together. So, he picked out three red, femininely curved bottles that smelt of cherries and lavender. One was shampoo, one was conditioner, and one was body wash. He returned to the water and sat back down, now with his soap and with his rag.
He closed his eyes after squeezing some shampoo into his hand, and started to work it through his hair, into his scalp. He was humming, and shamelessly thinking about Thor.
Frigga sat and waited patiently, watching every movement Loki made. She smiled more when finally Loki made a decision and returned to the water with Three bottles of his choice. "Very good my dear," She hummed and took up her own cloth.
She dipped it again in the water just to be sure it was wet, and took up the bottle of body wash. She opened and squeezed a generous amount onto the cloth, then placed it in Loki's reach and started on the Jotun's back.
(o0o0)~(0o0o)
As Loki bathed, Thor was doing something very similar with his father. Odin was very pleased with the news, that he clocked his son on the shoulder and praised him. The All-father took Thor into a back room to preparing him how he was prepared for his own matrimony, just as Frigga was doing for Prince Loki.
However, Thor was not bathing and instead was searching. It was tradition that he get his consort a gift, something special to represent them and their love, and though Thor would gift Loki with many fine jewelry, this gift was to be the most special.
So Thor turned to the only people he knew were the finest craftsmen in all nine realms. He rode to the Bifrost fast, knowing there was little time, but having faith in the people of Nidavellir.
They were a stouted people, whom lived under ground in caves and mountains; a rough and rugged people, with no fairness to them. But despite no beauty in their looks, they made the most finest and most beautiful things.
Thor dropped from his horse in mid-gallop and quickly stepped to Heimdall. "Nidavellir, quickly!" Thor did not mean to be harsh in words or un-mannered, but he was frantic. The time was coming close and he was sure his mother had his beloved already bathed and beautiful.
Heimdall did not question Thor and simply stepped into the Bifrost, opening the portal to Thor's desired destination. Thor did not hesitate, he walked right through and allowed the pull of the Bifrost to send him to the Dwarven Realm.
Loki used the rag and washed his front side gently, slightly zoning out in the water as he thought of Thor and of what was to come.
Loki had no gift for Thor. Well, he had a gift, but it wasn't something in a box. He was the gift. Well, more precisely his body was.
The Jotuns do not give jewelry or coats or perfumes. They gave sex and intimacy. Whether it be sweet and gentle, which was uncommon, or if it's rough and desirable, that is what they gave.
After the ceremony, Loki had one more outfit to don, in hopes that Thor might tear it from his cold flesh with heat and lust in his eyes.
It was golden and blue, covering his nipples and his cock with fabric while lacy trim hung down from the fabric. It was lingerie, hand crafted.