._.
Beneath
Chapter One Hundred Ninety-Four – Treaty
"If everyone would take their positions, please, it's time to begin."
Little knots of quietly conversing people broke apart and drifted to their designated areas, forming a loose circle that stretched nearly to the edges of the central open area of the Hedge Garden, the eponymous hedges to their backs. Loki's own spot – which he'd considered ignoring before deciding to stay within the rules due to Farbauti's presence – was between the Svartalf delegation, to his left, and one of the two small groups of official Aesir observers, to his right. To their right was the Aesir delegation – Thor, Odin, Frigga – and to their right was the other group of Aesir observers, which included Jane. Loki continued his sweep of the crowd, taking in each person with studied indifference, and when his gaze passed over Farbauti, hastily assigned a position between the delegations from Nidavellir and Alfheim, it was with no more interest than had a tree taken root there instead of a Frost Giant.
Loki had spotted her immediately, of course; towering over everyone but the Fire Giants, you couldn't miss her if you wanted to. Unfortunately. She'd been speaking with Thor, who was probably halfway toward being convinced to cede Asgard's throne to Jotunheim, though Bragi, half hidden behind the bulk of her body, would hopefully prevent him from actually doing anything too disastrous.
Bragi now stood at the center of everyone, next to an elevated round table on which rested a large book, while a stack of them lay perfectly aligned on a low shelf underneath it. He was giving his opening remarks – peace, harmony, concord, cooperation – bland and almost perfunctory. Everyone here knew exactly what had happened. Dragging it out again, and dragging these proceedings out with it, would serve no purpose.
The signing began. Bragi announced each person who stepped forward, starting with Thor, with Odin and Frigga in his wake. Loki allowed himself a moment to consider the significance of Thor's signature and seal going on this treaty, instead of Odin's. Perhaps the All-Father would be more reluctant to take back the throne. Perhaps he had already decided not to. Perhaps it meant nothing at all. A lawful change of rulers would not in any way invalidate a treaty signed by the previous ruler.
Thor, too, made a few remarks, even briefer than Bragi's, welcoming their esteemed visitors to Asgard, assuring them of Asgard's good will in the days and years ahead, a subtle suggestion that that good will should be returned and found among all the realms. Thor took up the pen and signed.
"Who vouches you?"
"Odin Borson and Frigga Fjorginndottir."
"Step forward."
Thor stood aside for Odin and Frigga to reach the table.
"I vouch him true," Frigga said, after looking at the signature.
"I vouch him true," Odin echoed.
"Please sign on the facing page."
"And now your seal, Your Majesty," Bragi said once Frigga and Odin had both signed and stepped back.
Thor affixed his seal, and returned to his position.
"With the signature and seal of Thor Odinson, King of Asgard, Asgard is now bound to this treaty as law, provisional to its impress of duly recognized signature and seal for each designated party."
And so it continued; Muspelheim was next. It was all rather dull, really. The same words repeated over and over, along with a few empty additional ones about a peaceful future, nothing to do but stand there and wait for his turn.
Vanaheim was slightly more interesting: Gullveig hadn't shown up. Instead his ambassador, Rikolfur, stood for him, requiring the slightly more complicated procedure of sinking a separately signed, vouched, and sealed, copy of the treaty into the main one, along with Rikolfur and his two witnesses signing, vouching, and sealing on the facing page. It took perhaps an additional sixty seconds.
Nadrith came forward with his younger brother and sister, Halith and Saltra, for Alfheim. When they returned to their positions and the dwarves started forward, Loki's eyes happened to meet Farbauti's. He felt a pressure on his chest, but forced himself to hold the gaze of those unnatural red eyes for just an instant, before shifting it to follow the dwarves.
The Dark Elves, too, had sent their ambassador in place of any of their four rulers – likely practicality rather than avoidance of some sort, Loki thought – and that necessitated several extra minutes, for each of the accumulated signatures, vouching signatures, and seals.
And then it was Loki's turn.
"Loki of Asgard," Bragi announced as Loki approached the table, where the book had now been turned to its final thick page and swiveled on the table in his direction.
"For freedom," Loki said, eyes again brushing around the circle as though everyone in it was a stranger, not even daring to let his gaze linger on Odin as he'd thought he might before Farbauti's attendance arose, "from the devastation of war." Odin would know what he meant. He picked up the pen, and signed: Loki of Asgard. It felt strange. All his life he had signed "Loki Odinson," and in a signature resided habit, in the form of muscle memory that wasn't easy to override. It lacked the flow of his usual signature. But the naturalness of his handwriting was not on trial.
"Who vouches you?"
"Aenlif Sturgadottir and Illugi Nefurson."
"Ah…and…they are…?" Bragi said, visibly flustered, as two people stepped forward from the group to the right of Loki's position in the circle.
That had, of course, been the point.
"I apologize, my prince, but as Aenlif Sturgadottir and Illugi Nefurson," Bragi continued, nodding to each in turn, "are unknown to me and thus I suspect to most of the other parties, I must ask you to describe their ability to vouch you."
"Very well. Lady Aenlif first taught me to write my name in high form; she not only knows my hand but instructed it. And Lord Illugi brings me my account every month for my signature; he surely knows its present form more than anyone else throughout the Nine Realms." He was also, as a mere junior clerk, not normally referred to as "Lord," but for these proceedings, Loki thought it suited.
"I see," Bragi said, expression carefully schooled, holding out his arm toward the book in invitation.
Lady Aenlif bent over his signature first, peering at it closely and carefully. He couldn't blame her. His signature had changed a bit since the last time she'd seen it, but she'd also just seen him write this one, and her role here less as handwriting expert and more as a symbol of transparency and integrity. "I vouch him true," she finally said, rising and extending him a warm smile.
Illugi shuffled over, obviously nervous, and stared down at the page longer than he needed to. "Yes, that's…I vouch him true."
Loki smiled and nodded to him; Illugi perceptibly relaxed.
"Please sign on the facing page."
From where he now stood, Odin, Frigga, and Thor were almost at his back, all but out of view without turning his head. In this setting, Odin and Frigga wouldn't betray any reaction, of course, but Loki still would have liked to be able to look in Odin's eye. About Thor he was idly curious. In centuries past, Thor wouldn't have been able to hold back laughter. Now? Who knew. Jane stood directly in his line of sight, but he dared not look her way; Farbauti, too, was easily within view.
As Aenlif signed, he couldn't help thinking that had that creature had her way, he wouldn't have lived long enough to write his name in either high form or low form. He'd had a good education here – an excellent education. A good, happy childhood. Would it have still been so had he known the truth? Had Thor known the truth? His tutors? Lady Aenlif? What would she think now, if she knew the child she'd made to write "Loki Odinson" until he could do so properly, smoothly, and naturally, was actually a Frost Giant, and not an Odinson at all? He'd noticed her casting a wary eye in Farbauti's direction; she had no training in diplomatic protocol to mask such reactions.
He found himself staring down at his left hand, and wishing he didn't know, that he didn't have to look back and imagine a bald blue-skinned red-eyed monster-child sitting next to Thor. It wasn't fair. But for the first time, perhaps, it didn't send him into a rage. He was angry, yes, but anger came with many flavors and this was not the burning, all-consuming rage of before. That child sitting next to Thor, laboriously writing "Loki Odinson" while his best friend and barely-older brother wrote "Thor Odinson" beside him, that was his past. Those were his memories. It had all been taken from him. His past had been stolen.
"And now your seal, Prince Loki," Bragi said.
Loki affixed his seal next to his signature.
"With the signature and seal of Loki of Asgard, all who are party to this treaty are now bound to it as law, provisional to each party's designated representative's acceptance of the official impress of its text and its duly recognized signatures and seals. Removal of your copy from this garden constitutes your acceptance of it, and your oath to abide by it, in both your personal name and that of your realm."
And that was it.
No one would have come here, gone through this entire ceremony, then refuse to accept the treaty he or she had just signed. It was a mere formality, a chance to confirm that Asgard had not inserted "and you must cede your throne to Asgard" or some other nonsense into the treaty's text, and that the transference process had worked properly, all of the signatures and seals and attestations clearly visible in their proper place. He had attended countless signings of agreements of all sorts, and never once seen a discrepancy in the text or a failure of the transference.
Loki was free.
"May peace reign," Bragi intoned.
"May peace reign," Loki echoed, along with everyone else present who'd signed. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed that Farbauti did, too. He and the others were supposed to, per protocol. Farbauti, perhaps, was intent on convincing each of the other realms of Jotunheim's newly discovered love of peace.
Let her, he thought, while accepting Lady Aenlif's greetings with half his attention. What did he care? He'd done what he could to warn that she was a scheming liar. It was no longer his responsibility. All he had to do now was leave Asgard before Odin found some additional fault in him and doled out more restrictions.
"I couldn't tell at all," he told Lady Aenlif with a reassuring smile; she'd just said something about being nervous. Instead of looking reassured, though, she appeared more nervous than she ever had during the ceremony.
Loki realized the cause at the same time as he felt the chill. Lady Aenlif's hand had been in his, for he'd just kissed it. He squeezed it tighter before forcing himself to release it.
"Was he a good pupil, your charge?" came the rumbling voice, right behind him.
He turned, careful to keep his former teacher half a step behind him.
"He…he was, Your Majesty, ah…yes."
"Obedient?"
"Ah, I suppose so, I mean, yes. Mostly so, as I recall."
"And how did he compare to King Thor?"
"Com- ah, they were both fine students, Your Majesty. Prince Loki was perhaps a little more inclined to the classroom."
"Lady Aenlif," Loki said, turning again, positioning himself to try to block out Farbauti as best he could, despite how much taller she was. "You have my sincere thanks for the service you performed today for me, and for the sake of peace. I'm sure you must be anxious to return home."
She nodded eagerly, relief plain on her face. "Thank you, my prince," she said, and with a flicker of a glance up at Farbauti, she beat a hasty retreat, nearly running into Odin on her way without even noticing. Odin, who was coming his way. Wonderful.
"I'm unsurprised that such a fine negotiator was a good student."
Loki closed his eyes, barely more than a blink, and resolutely faced Farbauti again. "My teacher, of course, would hardly report otherwise."
Farbauti laughed her inhaled laughter. "Modesty doesn't suit you, Prince."
"Your Majesty," Odin said the instant he reached Loki's side, perhaps even the instant before. "Would you do me the honor of permitting me to escort you to the Tesseract? You must be quite uncomfortable here in this heat."
"Me? I think I'm one of the least uncomfortable people here. And I'm also not quite ready to go."
"Unfortunately, we've made no further preparations for our visitors. Their mood is not a celebratory one, and most are concerned for the mood of those on their own realms."
"As am I…All-Father," she said with a glance toward Loki, who then made a conscious effort to release the tension in his shoulders. "And I assure you that I'm not attempting to overstay my welcome. However," she continued, now making a clear pivot toward Loki, "you owe me something."
Loki felt as though his blood had turned to ice in his veins, and it had nothing to do with the form he was born with. He knew it showed in his eyes, and he did not care in the slightest. "I owe you nothing."
Farbauti blinked and drew back, the movement slight but plainly visible. Something indecipherable rippled over her face, momentarily disrupting the haughty expression she seemed to almost permanently wear, and she didn't respond for several weighted seconds. He had not played the game on her terms, and it had provoked a reaction in her. This he considered a victory.
Farbauti's focus then fell briefly on someone over Loki's shoulder; Loki didn't turn to see who. "How forgetful you are. I'm even inclined to believe it's true forgetfulness, instead of the deliberate sort, which I suspect you are more prone to. You left Jotunheim with a signed document. But you promised me one as well."
Loki's expression changed instantly, and now he took a moment to assess his surroundings. Most of the visitors had indeed departed the garden already. The dwarves were still there, one of them speaking with Thor, who was furtively glancing in their direction and trying to hide his distraction. Jane was standing with Jolgeir, who was keeping them within his line of sight, never looking directly at them, while Jane didn't seem to be trying even a little to hide the true focus of her attention; he hoped Farbauti didn't notice, though Jane certainly wasn't the only one watching. A few other Einherjar and servants were still in the area, along with Bragi and Finnulfur and a couple of clerks who were binding up the original treaty book, and waiting with the only remaining primary impress they'd yet to distribute: his. It was his mother – the only one deserving of the title – who had come up behind Odin and him, and still stood there now.
"What document is that?" Odin asked, voice lowered. From Loki's reaction, and circumstances being what they were, he suspected that it involved Loki's potential right, by birth, to Jotunheim's throne.
"You know the one," she answered, still looking at Loki. "It should contain certain…assurances. I myself perceive little need of it. My sons, however, feel differently, as you can perhaps understand."
In this unexpected hitch, this document that he had indeed forgotten offering her as soon as they had an agreement in place, Loki saw an opportunity. "And how will you ensure that…this document…does not become public knowledge?"
Loki swore he could feel the cool breath of her exhale as her lips parted and spread, showing her teeth. Not the fangs of childhood imagination, but a few of them did look sharper than a person's.
"We do have a vault, too, you know. The document will be safe there. And every Jotun who knows about…the document…has sworn an oath of secrecy to me. It's in their own interests. And should anyone break the oath…I would relieve him of his head."
"In that case, I'll prepare the document immediately."
"No need. King Thor seems to think we're going to be meeting regularly. I don't share his sentiments, but I suppose we shall see each other again at some point. Have your document ready for the next time; that will suffice."
"Certainly," Loki agreed.
"Then I shall take my leave. It was…interesting. To see you all again. Your Majesties…Loki."
"And you as well, Your Majesty," Odin said, while Frigga voiced some similar polite phrase behind him.
"I thought my name was under a ban," Loki said, the sound of it on her lips sending a shiver up his spine.
Farbauti blinked heavily; it was maddening how little he was able to interpret her expressions. "Your mother pointed out that we are not on Jotunheim, and thus, perhaps, the name ban does not come into play. It seems I'm not familiar with all of the rules on name-banning, either. I shall inquire with our law scholars upon my return, but, in the meantime…I am queen, after all. I believe I have the right to make an interim ruling."
If she was making a point, Loki didn't know what it was, but the idea of Frost Giant "scholars," of the law or of any sort at all, made him want to laugh.
"If you don't mind," Farbauti said, now directing her attention to Odin, "I'd prefer for your Bragi to serve as my escort. I believe I've spent enough time in the company of the House of Odin for one day."
"Of course. If you'll join me, we'll go and get him," Odin answered.
Farbauti made to walk away, passing on Loki's left while Odin and Frigga were to his right. But then she bumped his shoulder with her arm, and leaned down, putting her mouth to his ear; Loki tensed all over, right hand forming a loose fist, ready to grasp for a knife. Mouth fixed into a harsh line, breathing heavily but steadily, his gaze first went to the place on her chest where that knife would be planted, then to her eyes.
"Farbauti. You should go now," Odin said, voice tight.
"They're protective of you," Farbauti breathed into his ear.
"I don't need protection," Loki murmured back.
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. But you have nothing to fear from me, or from Jotunheim. Not for the next seven hundred and fifty years, anyway. After that, if the restriction on the Casket isn't removed…that document will find its way out of our vault."
She straightened then and continued on her way before Loki could even think of a response.
He flinched when an arm fell on his right shoulder.
"Are you all right?"
His mother's voice. His mother's warm, kind, vibrant voice.
"Fine," he answered, every muscle wound tightly enough to rupture.
"Come with me. You need to accept your impress of the treaty."
Her arm slipped around his, and though his first movements were jerky, he was soon letting her lead him to the signing table, where Bragi was just leaving with Farbauti, and Odin and Finnulfur still stood. Finnulfur handed him the remaining book; Loki opened it perfunctorily, the minimum required of him, closed it again and nodded. Finnulfur, he thought, looked concerned, although what he could possibly be concerned about at this point, with the treaty now official, Loki didn't know and didn't care to question.
"Won't you come inside with me for a bit? I could use a break from the sun," Frigga said, smiling at Loki as though everything was just as fine as he'd said it was.
His mother's arm still in his, he didn't resist as she guided him back toward the palace, his steps automatic, his mind spinning yet somehow strangely hollow.
/
/
"Is he all right? What was all that about, with Queen Farbauti?" Finnulfur quietly asked Odin as they watched Frigga and Loki depart. Thor joined them then.
Odin let the question linger while he cast a deceptively idle gaze about. "Queen Farbauti comes from a harsh realm, and she is a harsh woman," Odin said, voice loud enough for those closest to hear, those who had also observed that last particular interaction with Loki and Farbauti and recognized it as a confrontation of some sort. "She's unhappy about the restriction Loki placed on the Ice Casket that prevents them from using it to leave Jotunheim, and she was making sure that he knew it. She tried her best to provoke him to strike out, but Loki stood firm and she failed. All in all…one of the better encounters we've had with a Jotun in a very long time."
"Indeed," Finnulfur said. "Loki is to be commended on his sober-mindedness. Few of us would have been able to maintain such control, I think. My bones may grow old, Your Majesty, but they still remember the cries to battle against the Frost Giants."
"Finnulfur," Thor said, deliberately choosing not to comment on Odin's words, for he suspected they served a purpose other than truth, "perhaps you know. Is it proper to call them Frost Giants? Or should we call them Jotuns?"
"Hm? I suppose it depends on the context. In treaties between our two realms, they are referred to as Jotuns. But we've long referred to them in casual speech as either."
"Why only 'Jotuns' in treaties?"
"I believe it's considered the more formal term."
"It's what they call themselves," Odin inserted.
"Then…perhaps it's what we should call them as well," Thor said.
Odin allowed a moment for a deep breath, then let it out while fixing his gaze on the door his wife and younger son had disappeared through. "Perhaps."
/
/
Loki noticed the book was shaking before he realized his hands were. Frigga took it from him, and placed it on the credenza. Only then did he realize where he was: her office, exactly the place he'd been after the last time he'd had to deal with Farbauti, where he'd nearly lost his wits. He wasn't going to do that again. He clenched his fists for a moment to force his hands to still, then held one out to accept the glass of water his mother was offering him. He drained the glass in a continuous series of gulps, then set it down next to the book.
"Careful, don't let it get wet," she said, taking the glass and relocating it to the little stand that held the pitcher and the rest of the glasses.
"I don't care if it gets wet," Loki said, grateful to talk about anything other than Farbauti. "I don't care if it burns."
Frigga was taken aback. "As hard as you fought for this? This is what secured you a release from judgement."
"And it's already been secured. Odin's personal oath, spoken in Finnulfur's presence, binds him to that agreement. Not the document. I can look at the original should I ever feel the need to be reminded of being treated as a war prize." An image of Farbauti flashed through his mind and his stomach gave a twist. "Again," he added.
"You were not a war prize, Loki," Frigga said, dismayed that they were back to this. "You were my child. You are my child. I never thought of you as a war prize."
"Not even when you intended me to someday return to Jotunheim as its king?"
"No. You would have been raised to be rule Jotunheim, just as Thor was to rule Asgard."
"Ah. Because Asgard and Jotunheim are entirely interchangeable. You might as well have given Asgard to me and Jotunheim to Thor, no difference, really."
Frigga shook her head, closed her eyes for a moment. "We thought…we thought you would grow up learning about Jotunheim, and wanting to rule it."
Loki laughed bitterly. "Even Farbauti is smart enough to know I'd never want that."
The next response took even longer, but she managed it. "Things were different then. We didn't realize how-"
"Oh, right, I'd forgotten. People loved Jotunheim then. Every Aesir dreamed of the chance to move there. How envious they all would have been of me!"
Loki's trembling had ceased, but Frigga now battled her own. She had no immunity against such sneering derision from Loki; it hurt, and it hurt badly. She knew where it came from – the strain of that encounter with Farbauti and his ongoing struggle with the lie they'd raised him on – but that didn't make it easy to see that viciousness on his face, to hear that contempt in his voice, and know that it was directed at her. "I'm not making excuses. I'm only telling you what we believed at the time," she said, keeping her voice steady through sheer willpower. "We were wrong. We know that now. But you spoke of being considered a war prize. You never were. You never were, Loki."
His muscles finally began to relax, after some of the boiling tension had found release through a path he hadn't intended. He'd seen the effect his words had, and for a moment, very brief but very real, it had felt good. In its wake, guilt churned. "I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. I'm sorry. I don't mean to hurt you, Mother. And…I know you didn't mean to hurt me."
"We didn't mean to. But we did. I'm sorry. I have to say it, but believe me when I also say I know such words are beyond inadequate. I can handle your anger, Loki. I won't break."
"My anger was misdirected. I couldn't…I can't say to her what I really… It was wrong of me to take it out on you. You got me out of there when I…"
"It's all right," Frigga said, wrapping her arms around him, rubbing his back with one hand. "It's all right. You did so well. No one should have to endure what you did with her here, or there, to have to wall off your own feelings and act as though all is well, as though it doesn't affect you at all. And still you did so well, Loki. I'm proud of you."
"She questioned Lady Aenlif. Asked if I was a good student. What right does she have to ask such things? What right? I can't believe I came from that woman," Loki said, disentangling himself from her arms. "And yet…" And yet. His mind slammed shut against it. But if he ever looked in a mirror and saw his other face, the one he never had, would it not look like hers? He hated her. She disgusted him. And he had begun his life inside her womb. The fabric of his being was knitted from her, and from Laufey.
"She has nothing to do with you," Frigga said, not for the first time, certain she knew what Loki was thinking. "Not with who you are."
Doesn't she? he thought, but he could not speak it aloud, couldn't even truly think it, beyond the initial ominous question and the maddening scratching at his brain right behind the words. "Sometimes I still can't believe it's true. But even if it wasn't…I can't go back to… Why couldn't you have given birth to me? You've done so much for me," he said, voice cracking. "Couldn't you have just done that one thing more?"
"You don't know what I would give for that," Frigga said. Some painful thing jumped in her throat, somewhere between a choked sob and a strangled laugh. "Not for me, though. It truly makes no difference for me, Loki. For you. To be able to take this pain from you, remove this burden. I would give anything for that."
At that he mustered a smile. "I am burdened with glorious purpose." How alive he'd felt when he proclaimed those words. It seemed much, much longer ago now than it actually was. Whatever it was he was burdened with now, it was neither a purpose nor glorious, and this was a day for celebration, not burden-bearing…even if at the moment he did not much feel like celebrating. He went over to the water pitcher and refilled his glass, drinking now in moderation. "I'll be all right," he said, and it was true, at least for the moment.
"It would do you good to find a way to release some of what's pent up inside you without…"
"Attacking anyone?" he supplied with a wry smile.
"I wasn't going to put it like that. But…yes. And without hurting yourself. That's my first concern."
"Any suggestions, then?"
"Your brother likes to head to the sparring grounds."
"I thought you said you didn't want anyone to get hurt."
"You know what I mean."
The sight of that familiar teasing smile made the burdens a little lighter already. "I suppose it's been a while since I've practiced my throwing accuracy with decent knives. It's a thought."
"Targets only, dear one."
Loki laughed. "Yes, Mother. By the way…aren't you going to ask about the two I chose to vouch me?"
"Do you want me to? I know why you chose them. And you probably shouldn't have done it, but you did, and it's over, and now the signatures of a teacher and a junior clerk grace the pages of the treaty that ended a war between the realms."
"And does peace mean any less to teachers and junior clerks than it does to kings and queens?"
Frigga rolled her eyes at him. "Such noble thoughts you had, such concern for Asgard's citizenry at large. A man of the people, my son is."
"Not really," Loki said with a shrug. "I just thought it would be a dull ceremony without a little mischief to liven it up."
Frigga laughed, and Loki felt…fine. Perhaps even a little better than fine.
It was over.
And he was free.
/
I knew I was behind on responding to reviews but I had no idea by how much! My apologies. I'll get back to you soon! Things have been a little hectic lately with travel-related stuff. In the meantime, guest reviewers..."Star": Awww, Loki thanks you. Hugs you, kisses your hand. / "Tkan7": Ha, thanks, appreciated! Re Odin walking away in the snake incident, he didn't draw that parallel at the time...but he did later. He wouldn't have seen it as the same thing (a literally innocent baby vs. a convicted murderer), but he was aware and it didn't sit easily. / "LeilaK": Well, here's at least one more! :-) Thank you *so much* for sharing that, about crying in that chapter, it's a huge compliment to know your writing has so affected someone's emotions. The Harvest Day stuff, I saw that so clearly in my head, and I'm glad it conveyed well on the page for you. "Electric," huh? I like that. :-) As for actors, to be honest I've never thought about it! I used to comb JCPenney catalogs for pictures of people that looked like the characters I had in mind - real people but 100% blank slates for them to just be my characters. When I read your list Jessica Chastain in Huntsman 2 came to mind for Maeva. Maeva predates that movie so wasn't based on her but the look and probably the attitude are similar. For the others...I'll try to think about. Anyone have nominations? Oh! Selby, maybe Anthony Edwards when he was younger, ER days? But a little "geekier." :-) And I'd forgotten but there is one I've thought of as similar to an actor: Wright, and Jonathan Frakes as Riker on Star Trek, just general similar build, really. There's something weird in my brain that doesn't really allow me to see any actor I know from any role actually being one of my characters. But Chastain in Huntsman, that's close. / "Elevenses": No worries! Glad you're enjoying it, at least up to Ch. 25/26! Thanks re Loki and Jane, that was critical to me, that their relationship arc, as well as of course Loki's (and everyone's) individual arcs are realistic, which, in my storytelling style here anyway, means slow. The moment of "the discovery" is one of my own faves, so I hope it will meet (has met I guess once you read this) your expectations. And CHUCK! Ha, I think you're the only one who ever mentioned it. We are a small but devoted group. :-) / "Star": Ha, yeah, the "Moving to Alfheim" aspect believe it or not was not intentional! Just what seemed logical to me in the story. But I may use it anyway. I get a little chuckle every time I hear Valkyrie call him "Lackey." Fantastic question about years! I was never clear on exactly *what* Asgard was meant to be, so I've left it a touch vague. (They do have seasons, BTW, just not very extreme ones.) All this is obviously just what I worked out so I had some logic to go by, but Asgard does have a sun, and whether it's all like normal Earth physics or something different, the effect is basically the same. What makes the Nine Realms the Nine Realms is being part of Yggdrasil, tied in also with this is that each of Yggdrasil's realms has 24-hour days and 365-day years, so the same rotations and orbits (albeit maybe achieved differently somehow on Asgard, maybe magic is involved). I had reasons for all this which are too long-winded to go into here. / Guest (Nov. 16): Thanks! Odin is I think constantly calculating...but here his calculating is focused on protecting Loki. I loved writing that scene and *letting* him show that protectiveness. Farbauti is a specific kind of threat to Loki that I think brings out some of that old Odin that would have kissed his toddler's skinned knees. But the trick with writing Odin IMO is restraint; the man is just not very demonstrative with his emotions (...except anger on occasion!). There is room for interpretation regarding Loki's abandonment, Farbauti's feelings, and her culture. I vaguely try to imagine actual cultures that have practiced this, see for example Wikipedia's "Child Abandonment" article, especially the History section. / "ladymouse2" (and maybe you were the Guest?): The duel, as it turns out, was brief, but hopefully intense. And yes! There's that "Moving to Alfheim" connection, ha. / "Star": Thanks! :-) Recovered now, but it's chronic and will be back...hopefully without the huge swollen eyelid though, ugh! / Guest (ch. 73/4): Glad to hear it, even that it made you cry. :-) And yeah, he is. / Guest (ch. 100/1): Thanks for sharing, awesome to hear that it was still playing through your head the next day. It's a nice interlude, the Harvest Festival chapters, from the cold and dark and isolation of the South Pole to the warm sunlight and crowds of a festival day on Asgard. And it allows some different things to come out from these two. Loki enjoyed it probably more than he would admit.
Previews for Ch. 195: The war is officially over. Everyone tries to take a deep breath and relax before the feast. Because one should really do that when one has the chance.
Excerpt: Hard to choose one for some reason! Here you go. Jane is speaking to Jolgeir.
In one corner of the tapestry a handful of musicians played, and several pairs danced nearby with one hand behind their back and one raised above their head, linked to their partner's. Jane's smile quickly contorted into a nervous grimace. This trip, in terms of preparation at least, was the exact opposite of the one to Alfheim, where Loki had prepared her for every eventuality. The hand- and especially foot-washing had been unexpected, and there was no way he could have known about Niskit's assassination conspiracy, but otherwise she'd known what to expect at every turn. Neither Loki nor Thor had ever told her anything about Asgardian dancing.
"Will there be dancing?"
"Yes, almost certainly. At some point after the dinner."
