Loki walked into the sitting room, having just put Star in her crib for the evening. He sat next to Laney on the couch and nervously glanced over at her. "What do we need to talk about?" He asked softly. "You were quiet during dinner after Mother spoke to you."
Laney quietly closed the book she was reading and sat it to the side. "Your mother wants me to speak with you about something."
"Have I done something wrong?" Loki asked, feeling his anxiety rising. He instantly began searching his mind for what it could be.
"No hon. You haven't done anything wrong. It's just something that both of us feel needs discussed. It's about the letter you received about meeting with Jotunheim."
Loki sighed in relief. "What about it? I wrote them back just after I received their letter."
"I know you did. But Frigga told me they are unhappy that you will not give them the chance to speak. It has made trading with them tense."
"I simply asked them to forego a formal meeting and communicate by letter. It's still not easy for me to think about being around them." Loki said, feeling ashamed.
Laney furrowed her brow. "Frigga told me that you had refused to communicate at all. Maybe they misunderstood what you wrote?"
"They made it quite clear they wanted an in-person meeting, so I pretty much did end all communication." Loki admitted.
"Loki, darling. They just want to speak with you. I don't know what about, but maybe we could make an arrangement? Do you think they could have someone travel here?"
"No, they won't. They requested the meeting, so I have to go to them." Loki muttered.
Laney sighed. "I know you aren't comfortable with it, but your mother believes that talking to them would be good for both Asgard and Jotunheim."
"Alright, I will meet them if that keeps everyone happy." Loki sighed as he sulked back into the couch.
"Don't seem so disappointed Loki. We don't even know what they want to speak about. It could honestly be anything from trading to your family... to our family," Laney told him.
"They have no reason to question our family in any way," Loki said defensively. "I will make the arrangements and ask my brother to accompany me."
Laney nodded and reached over to squeeze his knee. "I know they don't. But I would hear them out."
Loki gave a little nod. "I want you and Star to stay with mother during that time. I need to know what they want first."
"I can do that. I don't mind," Laney assured. "We will be safe here."
"Thank you darling." Loki said with a soft smile. "I better draft that letter. The sooner this is over, the better."
"Go ahead. Would you like an evening mead? Or do you just want to go to bed when you are finished?"
"An evening mead would be very nice." Loki admitted.
Laney stood and began to walk towards their chamber doors. "Do you want anything to go with it?"
"Love and cuddles from my stunning wife." Loki said with a little grin.
"You're so sweet Loki," Laney gushed. She turned and opened the door and told one of the maids passing by what they wanted. Then she walked back over and sat on the couch.
Loki got up and walked over to the small desk, where he took a seat. As he usually sat there to respond to letters, he already had everything he needed, and so he began to write. After a half hour, he finally rolled and sealed the letter before making it vanish before he grabbed his goblet and took a sip of the mead Laney had gotten them.
Laney walked over to Loki once she noticed he had finished and bent to place a gentle kiss to his neck. She'd just finished feeding and changing Star and had put her back to bed. "Alright sweetheart?"
"I'm still not thrilled with having to attend this meeting. I just want it over with." Loki turned in his seat and gently pulled Laney into his arms.
"It will be alright," Laney said softly as she let herself settle into his lap. "I'm sure they just want to congratulate us on having Star."
"I don't know... I can't see why they would be so insistent on a formal meeting just to congratulate us." Loki said truthfully.
Laney sighed and leaned back against Loki. "I'm not sure Loki. All we can do is guess."
"It shouldn't take them long to set a date and time, so we won't have to guess for long." Loki said, holding Laney tighter.
She smiled and cuddled against him. "It'll be fine Loki."
"I have a very bad feeling about this meeting..." Loki sighed. I hope it's merely nerves.
A returning letter came to Asgard within a couple of days, agreeing to meet with Loki and Thor within the week. Thor currently stood in The Bifrost dome, holding onto Desi's hand while he waited for Loki to arrive on his horse, so they could travel to Jotunheim. "We won't be gone long Desi. Not even an entire day," he assured her.
"Just be careful, alright? Your brother has made it sound like a dangerous mission, and we need you to come back." Desi said softly, placing her hand on the slight bump she was now showing.
Thor smiled down at his fiancé and placed one hand over top of hers, on her belly. "I will be back in no time, I promise."
Desi got on her tiptoes and gave Thor a soft kiss. "We will be waiting right here for you." She promised, seeing Loki approaching from the corner of her eye.
"Just make sure to get some rest and keep Laney company. I know this has her stressed out too." Thor turned and nodded at Loki as he dismounted his horse and hitched it outside of the dome. "Are you ready brother?"
Loki nodded, looking very grim. He turned to Desi first though. "Take care of Laney and Star. You are one of the only ones I trust to care for them in my absence besides Mother." He told her.
"I will, you have my word." Desi promised. "Bring him back in one piece." She added softly, so Thor wouldn't hear. Loki nodded in agreement.
Thor placed a heavy hand on Loki's shoulder while he called for Moljinr with the other, easily catching it in his grasp as it came to him. "We will be fine brother; we won't be gone long."
"Let's go. For everyone's sake, this needs to be over with." Loki said, then stepped forward. Just as Heimdal opened the Bifrost, Desi stole one last kiss from Thor, then backed away so they could leave.
After taking a deep breath and stealing a kiss in return from Desi, Thor stepped through The Bifrost and let it take him to Jotunheim. When the shimmering light faded, he looked at the dark land around him, feeling a cold chill run up his spine. "I should have brought a cloak," he murmured.
Loki teasingly rolled his eyes and conjured a thick fur coat for his brother. "You are usually better prepared." He chuckled. "They sent us a map of how to get to the palace." Loki added, taking out the roll of parchment.
"I didn't think I would be so cold," Thor countered as he quickly pulled the coat on and sighed as he began to warm up. "Last time I was here I was angry... I guess I never felt it then."
"I still don't feel it. It feels almost warm to me." Loki shrugged. Following the map, he led Thor through the rundown city as they made their way to the palace.
Thor frowned as he spun the handle of Mjolnir in his hand while they walked. "I forget that the cold doesn't bother you sometimes." They continued to walk when they came to a road that forked in two different directions. "Which way?"
Loki pointed to the left. "That road should take us directly into the palace courtyard." He answered, then led them down the road.
"Should we expect anyone to be waiting to greet us?" Thor asked curiously. "I am wary about this meeting myself, but I know it will help trading if everything goes smoothly."
Loki shrugged. "All they gave was the time and location. I've never had a formal meeting here, so I don't know if this is normal." He explained. He was almost relieved to see a guard as they entered the courtyard.
Thor nodded to the guard in greeting as they reached the large man. "Good Eve. We are here to meet with the current ruler," he stated.
The guard eyed Thor suspiciously but didn't question him. "Right this way." He said, then turned and began walking ahead of them.
"Thank you," Thor replied politely as both of them followed the guard. Along the way, he looked at the expansive architecture made from stone and ice. This is impressive.
Loki took a couple quick glances around as they walked. He also noticed how the guard was significantly larger than he was, which made him feel more uncomfortable. He kept quiet as they were quietly led into the throne room and properly announced.
Thor stood at Loki's right side before the dias, and quietly bowed his head as the current ruler of Jotunheim addressed them.
"Loki of Jotunheim, Thor of Asgard, welcome," the large Jotun stated. "I am Dolfur, the current ruler. I understand you are here to speak about what we wrote to you about."
Loki gave a stiff bow. "Yes, we have come as requested." He replied. "Why have you summoned us here?"
"For nothing harsh, I assure you. I would like to speak about better trading, but I would also like to propose the idea of an arranged marriage for your new child."
Loki stiffened and narrowed his eyes in anger. "There will be no arranged marriages. Our daughter will be free to marry whomever she chooses." He said firmly.
Dolfur raised his hands to show he meant no harm. "It is Jotunheim's tradition. I just wanted to give you the option," he stated.
"If I have learned correctly that option is reserved for Jotun royalty, which I am not. While my answer would not change, that option is not even valid for my family." Loki said, starting to feel suspicious.
"Loki, you are the heir to this land. You may have forfeited the right to rule, but you still are royalty," Dolfur stated. "Nothing will change that."
"When exactly did I forfeit anything?" Loki asked curiously, searching his memory.
"We were told you did not want the crown," Dolfur said with a furrowed brow. "Is that not true?"
"I do not personally want it, but I cannot make that choice for my daughter." Loki said simply.
Dolfur nodded. "Just because you do not, does not put her out of contention. When she comes of age, it will be her choice."
Loki gave a little nod. "Are we free to go now?"
"If you wish, yes. I will send parchment with you that will detail about new and more thorough trading."
"That will be fine. I will review it and write back soon." Loki promised.
Dolfur leaned back in his seat with a nod. "Then you may go. Thank you for your consult."
Loki gave another stiff bow, then turned around and began walking. "Come on brother, we are done here."
Thor bowed his head, then turned and followed Loki back out of the throne room and into the open courtyard. "Well, that went... peacefully."
Loki stayed quiet while they left the palace. "Peaceful my ass. He is lucky this didn't start a war." He snapped once they reached the courtyard.
"Why do you say that?" Thor questioned. "I did not see anything that was not peaceful in the way that he spoke to you."
"He tried to place a claim to my daughter!" Loki snapped, feeling more annoyed.
Thor frowned and did his best not to roll his eyes. "He did not place a claim on Star," he replied. "Dolfur gave you the option to arrange an arranged marriage."
"Had I accepted, that would have given him a claim when she is older. It gives him that much more control. He would have married her to one of his sons, directly linking the thrones for the two realms." Loki explained, trying to calm himself.
"Yes, it would have, and it is a huge decision to make. I think Dolfur knows that." Thor continued to follow Loki as they walked back down the winding path that would take them back to the place, they could be picked up by The Bifrost.
"How could any king not know that? If I wanted the thrones so close, I would claim it myself." Loki muttered, walking at a quick pace.
Thor grimaced and decided to keep quiet as they continued their walk. Once they reached their departing point, he cleared his throat. "Heimdall? You may bring us back!" he called loudly.
Loki stood in silence as the Bifrost opened and took them home. "Thank you, brother, for accompanying me." He told Thor sincerely as the portal closed behind them.
"It was important to me. You are to be my advisor, so I want to be there for you whenever I can be," Thor replied, a smile on his face. "Shall we ride back to the palace?"
"Yes. I'm sure the ladies are eagerly awaiting our return." Loki said, feeling much calmer now that he was back on Asgard.
Thor nodded and led Loki out of the dome and to the nearby hitching post, where their horses had been left. "At least nothing bad happened while we were there. It looks like we were only gone a couple of hours at the most."
"I would have never forgiven myself if something had happened." Loki said truthfully. He unhitched and mounted his horse, then waited for his brother.
"Loki, they contacted you peacefully," Thor stated as he mounted his horse, then turned in the direction of the palace before putting his horse into a walk. "I'm glad neither of our tempers flared, that would have caused things."
Loki urged his horse to follow. "It was hard to stay calm, but I was being honest about not ruining anything for Star."
Thor nodded. "I understand. You want her to make that decision for herself and not make it for her. I wish the same for my future child."
"I may have my issues with the Jotnar, and that has nothing to do with Star. I won't let my issues negatively affect her." Loki said truthfully.
"That is wise, brother," Thor praised as they finished crossing the rainbow bridge. "IT will always be a part of her and her family, you cannot change that."
"I'm not trying to change it. She will know both sides of her heritage and can make those choices for herself." Loki sighed. "I never should have gone. I knew it was a mistake."
Thor looked over at him with a furrowed brow. "Why do you say that? I don't think it was a wrong thing to do."
"Nothing at all was achieved. He knew I would never accept." Loki muttered.
"He gave you an option to agree or disagree and we have that thick scroll about trading that we need to go through," Thor said. "I actually am curious about what it says."
"We can look over it in my chambers. I'm sure the ladies will enjoy each other's company longer." Loki said, cheering up some.
Thor grinned. "That sounds nice. We could order some food perhaps? I'm starving."
Loki nodded. "That does sound good. Should we let the ladies pick the food, or surprise them?" Loki asked as they rode through the city, towards the palace.
"I'm not picky, but Desi can be since she's expecting now," Thor replied.
"We will let her decide then." Loki agreed. His horse stopped a short way from the palace where a stable hand was waiting for them. He bowed as Loki dismounted.
"Thank you," Thor said to the stable hand as he dismounted his horse. "Make sure these two get some oats as a treat for their travels today," he added.
"Yes, your highness." The stable hand replied, bowing again. He quickly caught the coin Loki tossed him, then led the horses away.