Thor frowned when he turned the corner and saw only his father's guard standing outside the Óðinnsleep chamber. His mother's were absent, which meant this was one of the breaks Lady Eir insisted on her taking. He briefly debated trying to find her, but he did not know whether she would be in her chambers or out in the gardens now, so he decided to wait here as he knew she would be back shortly.
"I wish to be alone with my father," Thor told both sets of guards. "Please ask my mother to come in alone when she returns."
"Of course, my... uh, Thor," one of the Einherjar replied.
The man followed him in, signaled for the other guards to leave, and then Thor was alone with his father. He stood looking at Father in his golden cocoon for a moment, simply wondering what the Óðinnsleep was like. It had always scared him as a child and now it did so once more, the knowledge he would be trapped thus, for days on end, completely helpless and unable to do anything, frightening him badly. The knowledge both of his parents would be there at the beginning helped.
As did, surprisingly, the knowledge Loki would still be around even after their parents passed. For all of his brother's many faults and all of their fights, Loki had always been there when Thor had needed him the most. Perhaps not always as he might have expected or hoped, but there nonetheless. Not to mention the fact that his brother's suspicious nature could be quite comforting and soothing whilst he was so very helpless and vulnerable. Little managed to get past his brother, which would help to ensure his safety even if it might come at the expense of being his brother's, quite literal, captive audience.
"Hello, Father," Thor finally greeted as he approached the bed and took a seat on the side not used by Mother. "I hope you are feeling better today. I am told you are slowly coming more and more awake, which pleases me to hear."
Thor lapsed into silence as he thought of what to say next. While he would have liked not to mention his earlier fight with Loki, the simple fact was his father had probably witnessed it all firsthand.
"I have erred again, exactly how I erred with you," Thor began, wincing as he thought of both situations.
Though the cause was very different, his response had been the same. And 'twas a response he was now heartily ashamed of.
"I realize it now and know you will probably be angrier with me for the second instance than the first, even if 'twas an argument with Loki instead of you."
Thor paused, not quite certain what to say.
"I am sorry for what I said and how I acted with you, Father," he finally settled on, though it hardly seemed enough. "And I am aware I owe Loki an apology as well."
He nearly groaned at the thought. Thor hated apologizing to his brother as he could well recall how caustically and snidely Loki could respond to an apology from centuries past.
Though 'twas not how his brother had reacted to the ones he had given recently. Thor frowned as he thought of it again. Nay, Loki had seemed genuinely shocked and caught off-guard at the fact he had done so. Thor had also sensed something disingenuous in his brother's facial expression when he had pointed out he had little need to apologize. 'Twas another error in judgment, Thor was starting to realize.
Of course, Loki would have caught the other times Thor had felt he had managed to escape without doing so. 'Twas not like his brother missed much, but Thor had oft felt embarrassed or guilty and it had been simpler not to do so.
It merely added to his shame now.
"How by the Norns do I even begin to apologize to Loki?" Thor wondered aloud.
"It seems I have arrived at exactly the right time."
"Mother!" Thor exclaimed, turning to look at her in relief. "I need your aid."
"Aye, so I heard," Mother replied, approaching him. "I dread to ask."
Thor winced but forced himself to look at her as he responded. "We argued again. Nay, 'tis not correct, I argued with him."
Rather than replying, Mother merely looked at him, face pursed. It made him want to hunch up on himself. Mother had always been able to make him feel small when he had behaved ill and now was no different, though she did not know what had transpired.
Or at least, Thor hoped she did not. They did not need word of what had occurred spreading, not now after all which had already transpired.
"Did Loki see you?" Thor asked as the thought came to him.
Loki and Mother were close and, with Father asleep, she was the only other person his brother could truly speak with regarding the issue.
"Nay, I have not yet had the chance to see your brother today," Mother replied. "He told me yesterday he would be in meetings for most of the day as Lord Aðalgrímr was to have a draft of the treaty ready for inspection."
Oh, had that been what he had interrupted?
"So, what happened?" Mother asked.
"I... reacted poorly," Thor began.
"To what?"
'Twas one of the reasons he hated having these conversations with his mother. She would not allow him the luxury of evasions or delays, but rather than getting frustrated with him as Loki or Father would, she remained calm and patient, slowly drawing it out of him. It never failed to make Thor feel worse, and her lack of anger kept his own from growing in response as it would to Father or Loki's own anger or behavior.
"To being told I cannot have my own command again without first undergoing remedial training," Thor informed her, fighting not to clench his fists at the memory.
"Oh," Mother uttered, looking startled.
The reaction gave Thor hope. Perhaps he had not been quite so at fault as he had feared. Then Mother's face cleared.
"Aye, I suppose I can understand the logic of that."
"Mother!"
"Well, you did command four of the traitors, dear," Mother replied. "I can see why this may raise some concerns." A frown. "Did Loki tell you this?"
"Nay."
"General Týr then."
"Aye."
"And?"
Thor sighed. "And what?"
"Did he pull you aside and come out with that or did he lead up to it?"
How did she always know?
"He asked me all manner of questions about the chain of command first, but it does not matter," Thor protested.
"I think it does as that might be how he settled on his decision," Mother argued.
"Nay," Thor countered, spinning around to pace back and forth. "Loki already knew about Týr's decision when I- ah."
The way Mother closed her eyes and lowered her head made Thor feel like a child once more, and he longed not to be such a continuous disappointment to her. It seemed to be all he was, ever since his failed coronation.
"Thor," Mother breathed. "What did you do?"
"I- interrupted Loki's meeting with Lords Aðalgrímr and Ragnvaldr."
"Without permission?"
"Aye."
"Did you at least ask to speak with your brother privately?"
The thought had not even occurred to him, he had been so furious. But the thought of saying even more to disappoint his mother was unbearable, so Thor merely shook his head.
"I see," Mother's face was stern now, her lips pursed, and Thor could not help but think how similar Loki had looked earlier. "So you stormed into a very important meeting Loki was holding with two key Council members, both of whom you will need to work with in the future, and you challenged your brother's authority before them and General Týr. Is that correct?"
"Aye," Thor confirmed, looking at the floor.
"Are you trying to make things more difficult for your brother than they already are?" Mother demanded.
"What? Nay, of course not!" Thor protested.
"Then are you attempting to sabotage things so badly you will never be able to be king?"
"What?"
"You challenged your brother before half the High Council, and not the familial half! How are they supposed to respect your command and authority as king in the future with that?"
Thor could only stare at his mother in shock. 'Twas something he had not even considered, only viewing it in light of how it madeLokiand his brother's authority appear. Now he thought about it, though, he had a vague recollection of Lord Ragnvaldr's horrified face as the man looked first at him and then at something behind him. General Týr, he realized dully. The latter had chased him into the king's study and so had been present for all of it as well.
Thor groaned and dropped his head into his hands as he contemplated this new thought. Was he truly incapable of doing the right thing? It seemed so at present, and he wondered at how he could ever have thought himself ready for Hliðskjálf.
"Thor," Mother said, a hand settling on his shoulder. "You need to apologize."
"I know," Thor replied through his fingers. "I will find Loki and-"
"Nay."
"Mother?" Thor asked, looking up at her.
"You cannot apologize to only Loki."
"Why not?"
"Because your fight was witnessed. With all which has already transpired lately, this type of fight between the two of you will have caused a lot of alarm. The others need to see your apology as well."
"But Mother-"
"Nay. They must witness it, Thor. Or do you wish for them to wonder if you will be the next to move against your brother?"
"Nay, of course not!" Thor replied, horrified. "I would never!"
"Most of us had thought the same of Heimdallr," Mother reminded him. "After that, we no longer have the luxury of assuming anyone is safe, especially not those in a position to gain so much from doing so."
The mere thought made Thor feel ill. To move against his brother thus... 'Twas inconceivable even if he could ever condone moving against Ásgarðr itself in such a measure. Which he could not, but that would come sooner than betraying his brother. He could only hope Loki knew it.
"You should have seen him, Mother," Thor said, thinking back on the confrontation. "Loki, he... I have never witnessed him thus before."
"Like what?"
"So powerful and..." Thor struggled for another word. "Authoritative, I guess. He did Father proud."
"After you have apologized, when you are in private, tell Loki that," Mother said. "'Tis something your brother can do with hearing."
"'Twas not simply his appearance, though, 'twas the seiðr."
"Seiðr? He used it?"
Thor snorted. "He did not have to. The whole chamber was charged with it, making the hair on my arms stand up. If I had not been so unreasonably angry, I would have been worried. I- I have never felt anything like it before. Loki has never put his power on display thus before. I do not know if 'tis because of the Óðinnforce or because of his position now, but if I had been in my right mind, I would have thought twice about defying him."
The more he thought of it now, the more Thor could not help but wonder how much of that display had been Loki's newfound power and how much of it his brother had always possessed but simply never displayed. He knew Loki did not oft speak of his seiðr anymore and, on many an occasion, Thor had only learned his brother capable of a particular feat when they had need for it. It all went back to Loki's penchant for secrets. The fact even their mother seemed surprised now merely proved it.
"I will speak with Lord Aðalgrímr of it as I know he has seen some of your brother's previous displays of power while on diplomatic missions to Álfheimr," Mother said.
Aye, of course, they viewed that as a true sign of strength.
"Now, as for the remedial training you have been requested to take," Mother began, making Thor groan. "Do you wish to speak of it?"
The very thought made Thor flush once more. To speak of his faults with his mother? Nay, of course he did not wish it.
"Mother," Thor began, not certain how to phrase it.
"Very well, but promise me you will consider General Týr's words carefully. He is a very experienced military leader and I know you used to admire him greatly."
"I know and I still do respect him, 'tis simply..."
"Hard when your pride has been wounded?" Mother offered. "'Tis a problem you and your brother both share, learned from your father, no doubt."
Thor looked at his mother, wide-eyed, but she was now gazing at Father in his bed. Whether Father would have words with her later for that or not, Thor did not know, but 'twas a bold thing to say before Óðinn All-Father.
Although Thor had noticed what Mother had spoken of Loki possessing this flaw more than once, 'twas still very difficult to know he was guilty of the same as well.
"I will do my best," Thor promised.
'Twas all he could truly say as he knew it would be difficult. But he would try, both due to his own conclusions and what Mother had said about the implications for his own ability to rule later.
"Good," Mother said, moving to take her usual place at Father's bedside.
They sat in silence for a little while as Thor tried to think over everything which had happened since he had entered General Týr's study with a clearer head. The more he did so, the more ashamed he became, but he was also beginning to see why he had reacted so adversely as well.
"How do you cope with it, Mother?" Thor finally asked, needing to know.
She had been so calm and collected the whole time since he had been back, except for when he had mentioned Heimdallr's regicide attempt. 'Twas almost as if having Loki as king did not affect her at all.
"Cope with what?" Mother asked.
"Having Loki be able to order you around?"
"Oh, it has not come up."
"Not come up? You have not found you need to ask his permission for doing some of what you wish?"
"Thor, most of my time has been spent here, helping Lady Eir look after your father," Mother replied. "If Loki had need for me as queen, then of course I would do so, but most of our conversations and interactions have been no different from before even if now he could command me."
"Oh."
So why were his own interactions with his brother so different? Even during the ones which did not revolve around his friends, they had been fraught and tense with the knowledge of Loki's new position and authority.
"You view it differently now even when interacting with him outside of the trial," Mother stated.
"Aye."
"And is it due to how he acts, or how you perceive the situation?"
"I do not understand."
"Is Loki truly treating you differently, or are you simply hyperaware of his being king because you had thought you would be by now?" Mother clarified. "Or perhaps due to your current status as a mortal?"
"He is different," Thor stated decisively, after a moment of thought. "While before he might make a show of deference at times-"
"Deference? Thor, did you make your brother act his position even in private?" Mother questioned in dismay.
"But you just said I had to listen to General Týr when he spoke of always respecting the chain of command!" Thor protested, leaping to his feet in pure frustration.
Why was no one being consistent or making sense? Surely if he could not have friends due to the chain of command, then his little brother of all people should have to respect it too!
"With your command! We are speaking of your brother, Thor, and how you act in private," Mother retorted, voice rising. "You know how your father and I act differently when 'tis just the four of us."
'Twas true, and Thor had never truly thought of it as it seemed normal and natural to him. But...
"Loki does not always do so in public either," Thor told her.
"Is this in circumstances where General Týr's concern may apply?"
"Probably."
Mother nodded once. "As I was not there, I cannot pretend to know what happened or what your brother may be thinking, Thor, but it may behoove you to consider whether your brother may have felt it the only way to be heard."
"What do you mean?"
"Think of the trial this morning and what was said."
"You were there?"
"Nay, but I heard enough of it," Mother replied, face darkening. "From what I can surmise, they did not truly listen to Loki, which would have made him all the more reliant onyoudoing so for his voice to be heard."
Thor swallowed thickly at the thought.
"And," Mother continued. "If you chafe and react so poorly to Loki's authority now, then how must your brother feel if you pursue it in private rather than allowing him to treat you as purely his brother? Your positions isolate you enough as 'tis, Thor, and you know Loki does not make friends as easily as you do. If you will not allow him to be himself when 'tis just the two of you, then who will?"
All of his guilt from earlier was back and Thor could not help but wonder now how he would feel if Loki had not at least acted normally when they were out on the balcony, alone, or having dinner together. Or at least had been before he had ruined that as well.
"I will apologize before the start of the High Council meeting tomorrow," Thor promised.
"Good. But remember, you will need to prove all you say with actions as well as words," Mother stated.
"I will."
And he would, of that Thor was absolutely determined. He had just lost all of his friends, he would not all but lose his brother as well.
If he had not already done so.
The mere thought hurt more than Thor could bear, but he knew he would not be terribly forgiving if Loki had treated him how he had his brother today. Not after all of the other trouble he had already caused both Loki and all of Ásgarðr lately.
"Do you know what training is taking place this afternoon?" Loki asked his head of guard as they left his personal chambers.
He had needed to change out of the ceremonial outfit he been wearing and had wanted to wear one of the outfits he normally would for training, none of which he had in his pocket dimension. Not only would they emphasize his position as a warrior, but he knew how politicians in their fancy clothes could be viewed as they came to observe the warriors. Besides, Gungnir was all the status symbol he needed with them.
"Aye, General Týr said he was going to perform several live action battle scenarios today," Lieutenant-General Yngvarr replied, before his lips twitched. "I believe he has even asked in some seiðkonur to help simulate the sudden temperature extremes both the jötnar and the múspellsmegir are capable of creating."
Loki's eyebrows shot up in surprise at that.
"Truly? Well, that should be interesting to witness."
For as the lieutenant-general had pointed out earlier, there was no way Loki could go to the training fields as king at a time like this and merely practice himself. Nay, he would be required to watch and view the progress made, and the overall preparedness of his army. Not that he minded per se, but 'twas not a choice.
Since the training fields were on one side of the palace, they were quickly there, and Loki stopped just out of sight for a few moments to observe the veritable hive of activity before his presence altered it. He had rarely ever witnessed it quite so busy, only on the odd big celebratory event or tournament Óðinn and Thor put on, but even then 'twas a drastically different type of atmosphere from this.
Then the pattern of activity changed and Loki decided to reveal himself as it looked likely one of the scenarios Lieutenant-General Yngvarr had mentioned was about to commence. While there was something to be said for his observing without his presence being realized, he thought the additional stress of knowing the king was watching might not be a bad thing for the warriors now. It would happen in battle and he did not wish to be caught here all day. If he observed one from the shadows first, then he would have to view a second one openly.
"Your Majesty."
Loki should not truly have been surprised by how quickly General Týr materialized by his side, but he had still expected it to take longer given how busy the man must be.
"General Týr," Loki greeted, eyes sweeping the field. "What scenario are you simulating now?"
"Open battle with various... uh, elemental, I believe they call it, elements."
Loki allowed a pleased smile to cross his lips, though he kept back the desire to say he had warned the man they needed more training which included magical opponents or elements.
"Wind, fire, ice, dust, water and the like?"
"Aye, mixed up to be unpredictable and to disguise our true intentions, as discussed. Though I was informed the fire would be quite limited as 'tis most difficult to control and they feared injuring my men accidentally," General Týr replied.
Of course, they did. Loki resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the sentiment. For all he respected and admired his fellow seiðr users at times, there were always instances such as these where he could not help but wonder how stupid they were. 'Twas hardly surprising they found it hard to control fire, since they kept trying to contain its natural chaos rather than merely seeking to redirect it.
Suddenly, General Týr's eyes narrowed and the man turned to appraise him.
"Problem, General?" Loki inquired, curious.
"Nay, I was simply recollecting your minor majority."
Ah, aye, of course.
"King Óðinn spoke of your gift for fire, much as he spoke of Thor's for lightning when 'twas your brother's minor majority."
"Hmm," Loki replied. "I do have a particular affinity for it."
"Would you like to participate in this scenario?"
A smile crept over Loki's face as he thought of it. Not only would it allow him to utilize his seiðr on the training fields, but it would give him a chance to create some chaos as he had been longing to do for days now.
"The seiðkonur are over there," General Týr indicated, seeing his expression.
Rather than inquire as to the plan, Loki moved off with his guard. It would not be pure chaos if 'twas too structured after all.
"Your Majesty," the seiðkonur echoed each other as they bowed at his approach.
"Ladies," Loki greeted, glancing from one to the next.
Though not particularly close to each, he did recognize all of them.
"Have you come to partake in today's unique opportunity, my King?" Lady Nanna inquired.
She was the eldest of the group and one of several seiðkonur tutors he had gone through in relatively rapid succession when first learning seiðr beyond his mother's specialty. Loki remembered some of their lessons rather fondly, and her advice had always been particularly astute, especially on how to approach some of the other masters of seiðr within the Nine.
"I had come to observe," Loki replied. "But I have been told you are missing a good source for fire."
"And 'tis too good of an opportunity to pass up," she teased.
"As you say. You will utilize air, I suppose?"
"Aye, the dirt of the field should create a good substance for it."
"And you, Lady Sól, will you bring night to day?" Loki asked.
'Twas a trick he was not as good at, only managing to shroud an area in twilight when he tried. Shadows, however, responded far better to him and, if 'twas a small enough area, he could make that suffice.
"Oh, nay, 'twas not asked for, I thought to do water," Lady Sól replied.
"Seiðr is not the general's forte," Loki stated. "Thus, simply because he did not think to ask for it, does not mean it would not be beneficial. These training scenarios are meant to prepare the warriors for any unexpected and different situations they may face in battle. Correct, Lieutenant-General?"
"Aye," Yngvarr confirmed, looking intrigued. "Jötunheimr is far darker than Ásgarðr, so it would be good for them to have some experience with how it reduces visibility on the battlefield."
"Very well," Lady Sól nodded. "I shall shroud the area significantly once battle has commenced."
Loki stepped forward a little and allowed his eyes to sweep the area General Týr had set up to act as the field of battle. Each 'army' stood preparing at either end while the middle was strewn with boulders and debris of various sizes as well as other small features, dips and rises to simulate, as much as possible, a true battle area. He selected a few opportune spots to target and reached within for the seiðr to set the necessary spark so he could alight them at will. He tapped into Ásgarðr to check his power levels and was surprised at how much she seemed to want him to reduce them.
That done, he stood back and simply observed the remainder of their preparations while being drawn into conversation with the seiðkonur. He could easily sense their excitement at having thekingabout to do such public seiðr with them, and he found it infectious, well aware word of this would spread. He wondered what the reaction would be as 'twas seiðr, but 'twas being done in aid of the warriors, thus the reactions could go either way.
The sounding of the horn silenced their conversation and Loki was pleased to see how seriously the seiðkonur were taking this. 'Twas quite the singular opportunity for them, and a chance to help improve the status of seiðr within Ásgarðr and the warrior ranks. He allowed some of the others to commence the process, before triggering the first of his fire traps with a rather spectacular fireball which threw a few warriors back, though he had been careful to ensure it would not injure them. The dramatic nature of fire helped make a great impression and Loki couldfeelhow some of the more inexperienced men were reacting far more chaotically than desired. Hence the reason for these drills.
Then the whole area darkened dramatically, reducing the overall visibility and making the flames of his fire stand out all the more starkly. 'Twas already clear to Loki which of the units had the more experienced or promising leaders, as a few stood out in dealing with the unexpected situations better than others. Loki allowed a few of the others to use their seiðr, subtly enhancing their power through increasing the seiðr accessible to them by following Ásgarðr's prompting. Then he triggered two more of his fire traps, allowing one to run rapidly along a line which bisected a large part of the battlefield, though he did not allow all of it to keep burning, making it act more like true, unguided fire would.
"Majesty," Lieutenant-General Yngvarr said, appearing at his side.
"Hmm?"
"Would it be possible to cause an event towards the rearguard of the defending army?"
Curious, Loki glanced over, unable to spot what may have drawn his protector's attention.
"Lady Rán, can we have some ice to the right of Lady Nanna's dust devil?" Loki requested, knowing they would not know enough of battle tactics to know what area General Týr's second-in-command meant.
"Certainly, my King," Lady Rán stated.
Seconds later, the area in question began to frost over and Loki hesitated a second before following Mother Winter's eager prompting andpushingat the ice, causing it to spike up as the jötnar who had attacked Fandral had done. The ease with which he achieved it thrilled Loki, but it did not prevent him from noticing how the head of that particular unit reacted. Loki had caused some of the wooden debris there to burst into flame earlier and the man in question quickly utilized his obstacle to overcome Lady Rán's.
"Creative," Loki observed.
"Aye, particularly for a tier three warrior," Lieutenant-General Yngvarr commented.
"Not for long mayhap," Loki smiled.
The interested expression on his guard's face was one Loki was quite familiar with from having witnessed the man deal with new warrior recruits over the course of the centuries he had been training.
The battle lasted a while longer, neither side prepared to admit defeat and Loki was certain his presence was affecting their determination, but 'twas good and Loki was pleased with how well the army was shaping up. Hopefully they would not be needed, but if they were, he knew they would do Ásgarðr proud. Once 'twas over, Loki moved over to the training field closer to Iðavöllr as he knew General Týr would be busy dealing with the more immediate outcome of the training exercise. This training field was the one Thor and his friends had essentially claimed as 'theirs' for so long, and which had probably always been the royal one as it had been where they had been trained from childhood.
Loki could not help but think of his former tormentors down in their cells as he was up here about to do what they loved most. 'Twas a wonderful feeling and he savored it to the fullest as he moved to the center of the field.
Once he had, though, Loki carefully pushed it aside and focused on his current task. Not only did he truly wish to partake of the physical exercise, but should the peace treaty fail for some reason, he would be required to fight with Gungnir and 'twas actually rather irresponsible of him that he had not at least thought to acquaint himself better with the King's Spear in a combat situation. There had been so much to do, though, all of which had been important, but now he would focus fully on this one task.
