The moment the jötnar delegation left the hall, Loki slumped back in his chair, falling into a sprawl rather than the more regal pose he had been keeping to for the talks.
"By the Norns, I cannot believe it," General Týr exclaimed. "We have all of the makings of a peace treaty!"
The words made Loki laugh and he rolled his head to look at Lord Aðalgrímr. "Do you wish to tell him, or should I?" he asked.
"Tell me what?" General Týr demanded, looking worried.
"How long the process can still take," Lord Aðalgrímr replied. "Simply because we have a verbal agreement and confirmation does not mean everything will go smoothly, or quickly, from here on out."
"But we have agreed on all of the terms and details!"
"Tentatively and over several days, Laufey-King may decide to change his mind when he sees everything together in one document."
"I hate politics," General Týr muttered as he dropped his head into his hand.
Loki snorted. "I suppose we have to get up now?"
"Not necessarily," Lord Aðalgrímr said. "Youareking. If you decide to stay here for a few hours, no one will say anything."
Well, at least not to his face anyway. Loki had overheard enough whispered comments and criticisms of his father over the centuries to think 'twas not happening now as well.
"I fear if I do not do so now, it may well be more than a few hours," Loki stated. "And 'tis not nearly warm enough here for that."
"Hel nay!" General Týr agreed, pushing himself to his feet. "What time is the trial tomorrow?"
"Late morning," Loki replied as he too rose to his feet, pleased to find the dizziness had passed.
"Not rising early if you do not need to?" Lord Aðalgrímr teased while Loki moved to take the Casket of Ancient Winters after handing Gungnir to General Týr.
"Nay," Loki agreed, seeing no point in denying it.
His old mentor would recall his habits well enough from before.
"Shall I commence drafting missives to all of the Nine but for Miðgarðr regarding the treaty, so they are ready to be sent once we know when the signing ceremony will be?" Lord Aðalgrímr asked as they left the hall and made for the Bifröst site.
"Hmm, it will give them as much time as possible to select representatives if they wish to do so," Loki agreed. "Who do you expect will send one?"
"Vanaheimr and Álfheimr for certain, Niðavellir is also very likely-"
"If for nothing else then to ensure it actually happens and is not a ploy on our part to make our need for weapons and armor seem less urgent," General Týr interrupted.
A very good point.
"What of Múspellsheimr?" Loki asked.
Lord Aðalgrímr hesitated. "Normally I would be inclined to say nay, but given their... special relationship with Jötunheimr, I am uncertain."
"Not to mention their current tension if Huginn and Muninn are correct," General Týr added.
Loki sighed. Aye, he had almost forgotten about those reports.
"That might make it all the more important to invite them," Lord Aðalgrímr stated. "So they can see our success and realize we are not as..."
"Desperate? Weak?" Loki offered, knowing his old mentor might be hesitant to use the words.
"As you say. This is a victory to flaunt, not hide away."
Loki bit back the impulse to snark thathehad not been the one to hide away his victories and achievements.
"Will you need to make any adjustments to the Casket in order to meet the terms of the treaty?" General Týr asked.
"Only a few minor adjustments," Loki replied, and then continued before the man could ask. "I will not be in the vault alone when I do so."
"Thank you, Majesty."
The desire to roll his eyes was great, but Loki suppressed it. Any irritation Loki felt was short-lived as Mother Winter's joy and relief at the tentative agreement to a treaty were highly infectious and 'twas all Loki could do not to vibrate with it all himself. He tried batting at her in annoyance, but she merely purred and rolled with it making Loki want to moan in despair. Between her and Ásgarðr, he saw a disgusting amount of unnatural cheerfulness in his future.
Mother was going to love it.
Caught deep in the miasmic currents of Ásgarðr, the Yggdrasill and his own seiðr, Óðinn relaxed a fraction. The verbal confirmation of a peace treaty allowing him to release some of the tension he had felt since collapsing in the vault.
With it went his ability to force himself partially awake, but also what kept him from slipping into a more normal sleep.
Thor motioned for his guard to remain outside as he reached the king's study. After he had finished his task of checking over Lord Óðr's work, he had offered to bring all of the parchments to Loki's study.
The fact he had done it only partially to aid his uncle made Thor feel bad, but he knew Loki would approve of the slight deception, so he tried not to feel too bad about it. Now he was in the study, though, leaning back against the closed door, Thor felt another flush of guilt. While Father had only ever restricted access to his study for both him and Loki on a small handful of occasions, it did raise the possibility of his brother not wanting him in here for official reasons. But Thor was familiar enough with Loki's wards to know that if his brother truly wished for him, or anyone else, not to be in here, then they would not have a hope of gaining entrance.
A quick glance around the chamber and Thor was already laughing. For all that Loki was far more organized and better turned out than him, his brother never failed to make a complete and utter mess of his living or work areas. They almost never failed to be anything other than pure chaos, something Thor had oft teased his brother about to both of their amusement. Or at least it used to have been so. Thor's smile slipped and faded as he recalled a few incidents with his friends when his brother had not laughed. In fact, the look Loki had thrown him the last time tore at Thor's heart now, though he had not thought much of it at the time. But looking back at it now, he realized it had been the last time Loki's area of their camp had been anything other than strictly and rigidly organized. Like his brother's work or living areas when Loki expected company or otherwise felt he had to hide himself for the sake of appearances.
The realization was like a sword pommel to the gut.
Loki had felt unable to be himself around him and his friends?
The mere idea he had helped make his little brother feel like he had to hide himself away made Thor feel ill.
Part of him wanted to rail and demand why Loki had notsaidanything to him, but Thor already knew the answer. After all, how often had his brother once come to him with some concern about his friends which Thor had brushed off as nothing more than petty jealousy? It made him ache to think of now, and how had he never seen the growing distance between them?
Precisely how long had it been since he had simply sought out Loki merely for the pleasure of being in his company? To do nothing more than to tease and pester until he had his brother's full attention, so he could bask in being at the center of that sharp intelligence which never failed to amuse and entertain Thor? If he could not immediately think of the last such occasion, then it had clearly been far too long and he could not believe he had not noticed or felt its loss. He could easily think of thousands of instances when it had been just the two of them and he had never wished for anything more.
So when had it started to change? When he had gained his friends? Or had the process commenced before that, when Loki had begun to devote more time to his seiðr studies? Thor could definitely remember being left at odds after his brother had spurned an invitation to go hunting. Or to go sparring. Or to travel to another Realm to gain glory fighting off some beast.
Thor's mood soured as he thought of all the times Loki had not wanted to be with him and he could now recall meeting first Fandral, and then the others, when he had sought alternative companions for his endeavors. So 'twas not like his brother could complain that he had not attempted to spend time with him. Thor had, it had been Loki who had declined all of his offers. What more could he have done?
Still, the distance bothered Thor now he had noticed it and he resolved to try to bridge it once more. Loki was his brother and the mere thought of what Heimdallr had nearly done was more than enough to remind Thor of exactly how much he loved his little brother.
"Even if you do make a literal mess of things," Thor muttered fondly as he looked from the desk to the table before the sofas.
Father would have a conniption at the chaotic state, but Thor had no doubt Loki knew exactly where everything he needed was. Which left Thor with the question of where to leave the King's Funds parchments. Approaching the desk, Thor confirmed that, nay, there did not appear to be enough room free to put them in a separate pile. Rather than moving anything and risking his brother's ire (he had madethatmistake before!), he elected to place it all on top of the book which lay open to the left of Loki's chair.
Loki'schair.
It felt strange to Thor how quickly he could call it thus. For all of his life it had been Father's chair, and just a few days ago he had been preparing for it to becomehischair. So for him to now so easily think of it as his brother's, well it probably helped he had seen Loki using it. Plus the desk was so clearly his brother's right now, Thor supposed it helped too.
Still...
It irked on some level and Thor sat down in the chair in a fit of rebelliousness. After all, 'twas not like he was sitting on Hliðskjálf or being observed. At least he hoped he was not as Höðr probably would tell Loki.
The thought was enough to make Thor think of rising before he paused, his eyes having fallen on the parchments strewn immediately in front of him.
Was that a farming report? And that one on trade? Why by the Nine was Loki dealing with such mundane issues when he had peace talks to negotiate and a trial to hold? Surely all of these other matters could wait until there were no more pressing matters to see to. Or more interesting ones. 'Twas not like a delay would do the farmers any harm and 'twas good to keep a few reminders of the structure of society. He had noticed the farmers often became quite vocal when it came time for the budget, complaining at how much the warriors received. If they wished for that share of funding, they should have become warriors, nothing was more important than Ásgarðr's defense!
A quick glance at the rest of the parchments and tomes on the desk revealed they fell into three categories; mundane aspects revolving around Ásgarðr's governance, items pertaining to Jötunheimr, and what seemed to be reports on the rest of the Nine. Thor could understand the latter and he was pleased to see information on Ásgarðr's army and preparedness among the documents pertaining to Jötunheimr, but what he found odd was the preponderance of information on the jötnar. Aye, he knew Loki had to prepare for the negotiations, but this seemed to be far more than that. It was...
Thor pulled the book in question closer to check that, aye, it seemed to be on jötnar biology. Why would his brother care about their physiology? How could it affect what Loki had to do? Was it-
Hermaphrodites?!
That meant they were... right? Aye, a quick look down proved it meantexactlywhat he thought it did.
It...
Thor tried to think of any of the jötnar he had seen asbearing a child, but he could not. Nay, surely it would only be the submissive partner who would do so regardless of the fact all of them could do it. Aye, that made far more sense. He nearly chortled at the thought ofLaufeypregnant. That would be the day!
It did explain why he had not seen any female jötnar, though. Not that Thor had ever wanted to anyway, as he was certain they would be just as unsightly as the males, but it still explained the lack of sightings. Involuntarily, he wondered at how they fed their young then and, almost as if by chance, the word breasts leapt off the page and Thor could not stop himself from reading the answer with growing horror.
He had never been so pleased to be æsir his whole life!
The thought made Thor wonder who had bothered to learn enough about the monsters to write this book and he flipped to the cover, even as he heard the study door open.
Best-Grandmother?
Thor could only look at the cover in shock. Why had his grandmother written a book on the jötnar? Had she actually gone to Jötunheimr for some reason? But who would want to go there?
"Thor?"
It took a moment to realize his name had been said, but, when he did, Thor looked up to see his brother walking towards the desk, looking at him with raised eyebrows.
"I... why did Grandmother write a book on the jötnar?" Thor asked.
"Ah, aye, that," Loki said, pausing before he turned and moved towards the sofas. "Come over here."
"Why are you avoiding the question?"
"Come ov-"
"Loki."
"Thor," his brother replied, eyes flashing to him as Loki seated himself. "Come here."
Thor frowned, before he suddenly recalled where they were and precisely what seat he had taken.
Oh.
'Twas not the first time he had sat here, nor had Loki's coronation marked the first time his brother had sat at this desk. They had both used the seat to scribble missives to Father when the man was not around, but Thor did not need to be told why this could be viewed differently.
"Sorry," Thor said, rising to his feet and moving to join his brother.
Loki waved it off and waited for him before giving him a tight smile. "Father and Uncles Vili and Vé neglected to tell us something while growing up."
"Huh?"
"About Bestla."
"Oh, what?"
Loki hesitated and it made Thor nervous. His little brother normally seemed to almost relish giving bad news to people. 'Twas a trait Thor himself had never quite understood.
"Loki," Thor implored.
"Bestla was jötunn."
Thor blinked, not quite certain what he had just heard. Had his brother truly said what he thought Loki had?
Nay, it could not be.
"'Tis not funny, Loki," Thor scowled.
"'Twas not meant to be," Loki replied. "I was dead serious."
"Bestla wasnotjötunn!"
"Aye, she was."
"Grandfather would not have married a frost giant!" Thor declared, rising to his feet and beginning to pace.
It could not be true! It would mean that Father was-
Nay!
"Thor!" Loki scolded. "Jötunn or jötnar, not frost giant."
"What do you care anyway?" Thor demanded, turning to glare at his brother. "Why this newfound love for the frost giants?"
Because he was watching his little brother, Thor caught the way Loki flinched. 'Twas minute, most of his brother's true reactions these days were, but 'twas definitely there and it confused Thor.
Why would his words bother his brother so much?
"'Tis not about love, Thor, but basic good manners," Loki snapped back before Thor could question it. "Besides, do you realize how much damage you of all people could do diplomatically by using such a slur?"
Of course Loki would think ofthat. Did his brother not realize all of the other implications of this?
"But... how?" Thor asked. "And if... Bestla was, then..."
"Then what? We both have jötnar blood? Aye, Thor, we do," Loki stated. "Does that make you hate yourself? Hate Father?"
"What? Nay! I simply... cannot believe it. Why did Grandfather..."
"Marry Bestla? Love, I suppose, though it could have been an arranged marriage, I do not know."
Thor could not understand how his brother could be so calm about all of this, seeming to shrug it off without a care in the world. This was their family!
Their very species and blood.
Speaking of which, Thor had to sit down again as another thought occurred to him.
"I cannot believe Father is half jötunn," Thor said dumbly.
"'Twas a surprise," Loki admitted.
"You have a gift for understatement, Brother," Thor snorted. "It will take some adjusting to, knowing Father is half jötunn. Though it does explain why his temper can be so foul."
His laughter died almost unvoiced as, instead of joining in his mirth, Loki actually flinched as if hit.
"Loki?" Thor asked, leaning closer to his brother.
"I... Father is not the only one with jötunn blood, Thor."
Ah, aye, of course. Loki was worried about what it meant for them.
"We are only a quarter jötunn, I am certain the effects are diluted by the æsir blood we possess," Thor reassured his brother.
"Vanir."
"What?"
His brother's frown gave nothing away when Thor glanced over at Loki. 'Twas rather odd.
"The word you are looking for is vanir, Thor," Loki explained. "You are more vanir than either æsir or jötnar, which you are in equal parts."
His first impulse was to protest that, but the words died on Thor's lips as he realized that, of course, 'twas true. Mother was vanir. But that meant he was only a quarter áss.
It...
Thor felt as if the rug had been pulled out from under him. He had always thought of himself as áss; æsir. So to find out he really was not... 'twas truly disturbing.
"When did you find out?" Thor finally asked, rubbing his hands over his face before he looked back at his brother.
"The first night," Loki replied. "Grandmother's was the first book I looked at."
"Norns, so you had your whole sense of self upended right after losing me and Father collapsing on you!" Thor realized.
The look which crossed Loki's face at the words worried Thor even before his brother threw his head back and laughed. But 'twas not a pleasant sound, instead 'twas an awful sound, and he cringed away from it instinctively. Or at least he wanted to, but Thor was far too worried about his brother to fully do so.
"Loki?" he asked worriedly, glancing over at Lieutenant-General Yngvarr.
The man seemed as perplexed as Thor, so he moved closer and reached out to touch his brother's shoulder. The look Loki gave him did nothing to comfort him. Wanting to pull his brother closer, to muffle that horrible sound if nothing else, he reached up and plucked Loki's new cow horns off. He glanced at the piece briefly, liking the new style, before he deposited it on the parchment strewn table.
Before he could turn back and pull his brother close, Loki had already dropped his head onto his shoulder. Thor raised his hand and placed it at his brother's neck even as he tilted his head so he could rest his cheek against Loki's head. The horrible laughter had died down but Loki was still breathing oddly, taking in sharp, almost gasping breaths. His brother's hands were also fisted in his clothes in a way which reminded Thor far too much of how Loki would come to him in tears when they were very young, clearly upset about something.
'Twas all the more unnerving now as Thor did not know what to do to make it better. Loki was normally the calm one, always in control of himself.
"Loki?" Thor tried again.
Though his brother did not respond verbally, Loki made that odd humming sound deep in his throat which Thor had never quite been able to replicate, though he had tried as a child. He tightened his fingers on the back of Loki's neck in response.
Any anger Thor had felt earlier at some of the choices his brother had made about the allocation of the King's Funds had vanished. He also started to feel the first stirrings of anger at his friends. They were partially responsible for this; for all of the stress and pressure which Loki now faced. Though he still did not want to doubt their intentions, he was starting to resent the fact they had simply assumed his brother would fail or handle things ill. Aye, he would admit to himself he had his own doubts, in the beginning, but he was proud of the fact he had refused to act when they had urged him to. He had enough to regret and make up for as 'twas, he did not need what would no doubt have seemed like an attempt to usurp Hliðskjálf on top of everything else.
"I am sorry," Thor finally whispered, unable to keep it all in.
This was all his fault.Hehad been the one to insist they go to Jötunheimr despite his brother's protests for him not to.Hehad been the one who had thrown aggressive words at Laufey and then his hammer at that jötunn. If he had not done all of that, then Loki would not be in the position he was now.
"Sorry?" Loki asked, the words muffled against his clothing.
"Aye," Thor said. "For not listening to you about not going to Jötunheimr. For starting this war."
His brother took a deep breath before pulling back. Part of Thor wanted to resist the movement and keep Loki close, but he reluctantly let his brother go. Because he had moved so close earlier, though, they were still very near with little space between them.
Loki used the opportunity to peer closely at him. "You mean it," his brother finally said.
"Aye, of course," Thor replied, confused. "Why would I not be honest?"
"Besides the fact you hardly ever apologize and I have now had two in rapid succession? How about the fact you have always wanted to go to war with the jötnar?"
Thor laughed before he could stop himself at the memory which immediately surfaced. Loki's reminder of his old words in this very chamber recently had brought it all back to him more than once lately. Despite the current situation, he could not help but look back on that situation fondly. It had been quite an exciting day and the exhilaration of it had caused him and Loki to go romping about afterwards, resulting in Mother reprimanding them for being far too raucous and rambunctious.
Loki's face now, though, quickly sobered Thor.
"Sorry, I was only remembering what we did after on that day, while playing."
It at least served to make his brother smile, and Thor felt victorious at achieving that at least.
Could he now turn it into a laugh?
"Do we have to go to the High Council meeting today?" Thor asked. "We could simply skip it."
His brother laughed. Victory.
"Nay, Thor, the king cannot skip the meeting."
"Pity, I was hoping to repeat the kitchen raid we did that one time."
"When Father tanned our hides?"
Now Thor laughed. "Aye, but he is asleep right now."
"And, what, you do not think I could step in to match?"
Thor could tell from Loki's tone his brother was teasing, so he rose to the challenge, leaning back enough to properly appraise Loki before raising an unimpressed eyebrow. Right on cue, his brother flared his hand, making green seiðr spark along his long fingers.
The familiarity and comfort of the routine served to make Thor feel better. Right up until Loki opened his mouth anyway.
"Not that I would need seiðr at the moment, not with the condition you are in."
"You could not help but ruin it," Thor protested with a scowl.
"I am sorry, did you expect me to fight fair?"
'Twas a familiar retort and part of another exchange they had countless times before, but now, suddenly, Thor was aware of the bitterness coloring Loki's words.
Had it always been there?
"But why do we need the meeting today? Why can we not have it tomorrow?" Thor asked, instead.
"Because there is too much to do, and we have the trial tomorrow as well," Loki replied, watching him as he reached for his cow horns.
Thor winced at the reminder of his friends' predicament and, while the urge to argue with his brother about the trial rose up within him, the way Loki had been clutching at him earlier made him pause and think for a moment.
"Do you know what you will do with them?" Thor finally asked instead, trying to be neutral.
He knew he would not be able to keep quiet if his brother was thinking of executing them.
"You mean if they have no good excuse for their actions?" Loki asked.
"Even Father does not hold trials lightly and you would be even less inclined to do so," Thor retorted, giving his brother a look.
Loki met his eyes head on. "I will listen."
"I did not say you would not."
"I have an idea which I have run past Lord Ragnvaldr and he seems to like it, though he has warned me not executing any of the... those who have committed treason could be viewed as a weakness."
Both Loki's near slip and the words themselves made Thor wince. He could understand the sentiment and he knew himself well enough to know that if he did not know Lady Sif and the Warriors Three so well, he might agree with it. The realization and thought pained him. It also forcibly reminded him of one of the warnings Father had given him during one of their many sessions together.
"There will be times, my son, where you will have no good options available to you. Where no matter what you do, you will be condemned or criticized by someone for your actions."
Thor could honestly say he had not fully understood the implication of those words until now.
He found he did not envy Loki his position all of a sudden.
"Imprisonment, then?" Thor asked quietly as they rose.
"Not entirely," Loki replied. "They will still be of service to Ásgarðr, though I doubt they will view it as such."
With those cryptic words, his brother donned his horns and moved away, leaving Thor to ponder their meaning with a light degree of hope. Surely the ability to leave the dungeons would be welcomed by his friends.
