After an entire day spent either in petitions or his study, the latter with one High Council member after another as they came to see him about all manner of different issues or tasks which had been put off during the peace negotiations, Loki was more than ready for the evening feast. Even if it meant dealing with some of the ladies of court. Luckily for him, Thor's restoration to full power and his own previous disinterest served to make some of them turn their efforts towards his brother instead, much to his delight and Thor's seeming dismay. Not that Loki thought any of those ladies capable of seeing the latter, as his brother was doing his best to be gallant to them.
Aunt Ilmr was also reminding him why she was his favorite aunt, remaining at the table and thereby curbing the potential scope of any conversations said ladies may have wished to have with either him or Thor.
"What did you do today now you are fully restored, Thor?" Aunt Ilmr asked. "Did you spend time on the training fields with the army?"
"Aye, I spent the morning there," Thor confirmed. "But, after lunch, I went out to visit the villages west of the city."
"Oh? Was there something particular you required from them?"
"Nay, I was merely checking to ensure all was well."
"Of course."
"Is there much transpiring out there with all of the army in the city?" Lady Liv questioned.
"Nay, the villages are rather quiet," Thor replied. "But most are busy ensuring the current crops are well looked after, in case it becomes necessary to harvest them earlier than usual in order to help sustain the army, should it come to war."
"Oh, I had thought war unlikely now," Lady Inga said, glancing worriedly at Loki. "What with the peace negotiations."
"That we have verbal agreement from Jötunheimr on the treaty makes war far less likely," Loki reassured. "However, we must still plan for all contingencies, no matter how unlikely."
"I see."
That she seemed worried about the possibility made Loki wonder if she had a brother in the army, but he could not immediately recall who her parents were, much less her siblings. She was newer to court and was not someone he had interacted with prior to his regency. He did not even know if she had previously fawned over his brother as he had long since started ignoring the ladies around Thor, since his brother's lack of particular interest in any one lady meant he need not concern himself with any plans they may have upon either Thor or Hliðskjálf. And speaking of those with a particular eye on Hliðskjálf and all that it meant, Loki could no longer immediately spot Lady Hnoss. While he was relieved she was not attempting to capture his attention, her absence made him wonder what she was doing instead.
'Twas as he glanced about the Great Hall to check she was not simply at another table, that Loki caught sight of a palace guard making his way amongst the tables. The sight was unusual as, normally, 'twas a servant who would approach any of those present at a feast. The package held in the guard's hand was another oddity as it seemed to be wrapped in the same type of vellum he had seen the jötnar use during the negotiations on Niflheimr, and which had been used in their first communications.
"Loki?" Thor questioned, touching his arm.
"Sorry," Loki said, looking over at his brother.
"Is everything alright?"
"Hmm, I merely noticed the guard," Loki explained, motioning to the man as he reached Lord Aðalgrímr and handed him the package.
"Do you think something is amiss?"
"Nay, but I believe he may just have delivered Jötunheimr's response to the draft treaty to Lord Aðalgrímr."
"Oh," Thor pulled a face. "Will you require my presence?"
The offer touched Loki as it proved his brother truly was trying, since for Thor 'twas the equivalent to volunteering for manual labor to most.
"Nay, that will not be necessary, Brother. This will be detailed word play."
As he watched, Lord Aðalgrímr opened the outer package, examining its contents before glancing up at the high table, catching his eye. The somewhat excited look on his old mentor's face told Loki he had been correct in his guess. He acknowledged the nonverbal communication with a tilt of his head, wishing he could extricate himself from his table as easily as Lord Aðalgrímr, who hardly even had to speak with those around him before rising and leaving the Great Hall. Those days, alas, were long gone. At present, at least.
"If you will all excuse me," he said as soon as Lady Liv paused for breath in the middle of her tale. "There is some urgent business I must attend to."
"But, your Majesty, you have not even finished your meal!" Lady Inga protested. "There is still dessert to be had. Surely you can make your business wait."
"I am afraid not," Loki responded. "'Tis Jötunheimr's reply which has arrived."
"Good luck, Loki," Aunt Ilmr said, cutting off whatever Lady Inga may have said.
"Thank you," Loki answered as he rose and stepped away from the table.
"Would you still care for dessert tonight, Majesty?" Livunn inquired as she appeared by his side when he made for the back exit of the Great Hall.
"Hmm, please have it sent to my study," Loki replied. "Oh, and Lord Aðalgrímr will be joining me."
"Of course, my Liege."
With those words, Livunn vanished only to be replaced by one of the Einherjar of his personal guard.
The lack of questions from Lieutenant-General Yngvarr told Loki the head of his guard had witnessed his earlier interaction with Lord Aðalgrímr. It made him wonder if anything escaped the man's notice. The thought made him itch to test the theory, his usual penchant for mischief and mayhem chaffing under the myriad of restrictions he currently found himself.
Oh, but for the chance to be able to play but one good trick!
The way the mere thought only added to his general sense of exhaustion told Loki exactly why he could ill afford to give into this particular desire, much as he might wish to. Norns, but he was ready to hand Gungnir and Hliðskjálf back to Óðinn! Cursed things that they were.
"My King."
The voice rang out as Loki and his escort left the Great Hall and he stopped, closing his eyes to sigh for a moment. He had wondered where Lady Hnoss had vanished off to towards the end of the evening. Now he knew. And to think he had hoped she had found someone else to distract herself with.
"Majesty?" Lieutenant-General Yngvarr queried, softly.
Loki shook his head subtly before he turned to face his accoster.
"Lady Hnoss," he greeted.
She seemed disappointed he said no more as she approached, moving to stand quite close to him. Loki knew better than to say he had noticed her absence, as she was certain to misinterpret it for interest.
"Going so soon, Your Majesty?" she inquired.
"There is still much work to be done," Loki replied.
"Work?" Lady Hnoss protested as she stepped even closer, completely ignoring the presence of the Einherjar, as if they were alone and lovers. "But surely even a king needs to relax and enjoy himself from time to time."
Loki's hand shot up and he caught her wrist in an uncompromising grip as she reached out to touch his face. She winced slightly but, to her credit, she did not struggle or try to break free.
"You do not even like me," Loki admonished bluntly.
He was through being polite and silvertongued about this. He was fed up, exhausted and in pain; his patience for the hypocrisy of some of the ladies of court was gone. No one was forcing them to act so dishonestly and he was sick of it. He did not care if their feelings were hurt, 'twas their own fault for their blatant hypocrisy.
"Your Majesty, there must be some misunderstanding," Lady Hnoss tried.
"Who would possibly wish to spend time with such a dishonest, pale and dark haired seiðmadr?" Loki repeated her words from before exactly, inflection and all.
The way she flinched told Loki Lady Hnoss recollected them too. While 'twas true they had not been said directly to him, she had made no attempt to lower her voice and ensure he did not overhear them, so she could not even accuse him of having eavesdropped.
"I-" Lady Hnoss began, before trailing off as he narrowed his eyes,daringher to continue.
"I have no interest in those who seek me out merely for my current position," Loki stated plainly. "Nor do I desire to bed my brother's castoffs."
'Twas cruder than he had to be, but the memory of her words had reignited his anger and reminded him of how he had felt at the time, to be so easily and publicly criticized and humiliated.
Anger and shame flooded Lady Hnoss' face and, Loki could tell from the way she glanced around, she was now intimately aware of the Einherjar's presence, but 'twas all her own fault.
"Go," Loki ordered when she finally seemed to collect herself enough to attempt speaking again.
He emphasized his words by pushing back on her arm, making her retreat a step, before he released her. Still, she hesitated for a moment before turning tail and fleeing. A few choice words occurred to Loki as he watched her go, but he resisted muttering them. He despised vulgarity without a true purpose, and no such one existed here. Besides, they had far more effect when used if he normally did not utter them.
The subtle shift of one of his guards reminded Loki of their presence and where they were, so he turned around and headed for his study. Now she was gone, he too was acutely aware of the fact his personal guard had overheard their entire conversation. That they had been aware of Lady Hnoss' insistent attempts to gain his attention was not in doubt, but he was certain they had not been aware of their history or how hypocritical her current pursuit of him was. Looking over at the head of his guard, he could see Lieutenant-General Yngvarr seemed to be hesitating about something.
"Problem, Lieutenant-General?" Loki asked, deciding 'twas better to discuss it and move on, rather than leave it festering.
While with many, their current attitudes and concern for him and his wellbeing were quite contrived, Loki could honestly say he had never been talked down to, or dismissed, by the head of Óðinn's guard in the past. A lot of it might have had to do with the fact their paths had not crossed as often before, but the lieutenant-general had been involved in his warrior training, so 'twas not like the man had not possessed any opportunities to do so either.
"Ah, we can ensure you are not... troubled by certain people if you wish to furnish us with a list," Lieutenant-General Yngvarr stated.
While extremely tempting, Loki knew how such an action could be perceived.
"Thank you, Lieutenant-General, but I doubt it will be necessary," Loki replied as they rounded the corner in the corridor and his study doors came into view.
As Loki had expected, Lord Aðalgrímr was seated in one of the chairs situated along the opposite corridor wall from the entrance. The package the man had received was now open and, even from here, Loki could see 'twas a copy of the draft treaty they had sent to Jötunheimr due to the size of the writing. 'Twas but one of several accommodations they had made for the jötnar. He knew they were unlikely to be acknowledged, but he still thought it had been important to make them, since they would further distance him from Óðinn in Laufey's mind, and that could only be a good thing.
"My King," Lord Aðalgrímr rose at his approach.
"Good news, I hope," Loki replied, beckoning his old mentor in with him.
Instead of going to his desk, he elected to use the sofas as they would allow both of them to see the same sheet of parchment simultaneously.
"They are arguing several points, as expected," Lord Aðalgrímr replied. "But nothing which appears as if it would cause a complete breakdown of the treaty."
"Good."
Loki felt something relax within him at the words. Despite how far they had already come, a part of him still feared the whole thing would collapse and reveal itself to have been nothing but a ploy on his birth father's part to either distract them or for some other, equally nefarious, purpose.
"I believe we have Álfheimr to thank for some of it," Lord Aðalgrímr said as they seated themselves. "This is what Lord Kvasir sent us regarding what he has been able to learn of Queen Sága's proposed trade agreement with Jötunheimr."
As he said it, Loki's old mentor handed him a sheet of parchment with very familiar handwriting. Skimming it, Loki found not only the ice blossoms and gems he had expected, but also requests for perma ice in various shapes and forms, likely both for decoration and toys from the list of specifics.
"This is very good for our current purposes," Loki said. "But do we think such a large order with Jötunheimr will have an impact on their trade with other Realms?"
"I cannot see it affecting our trade and, while I deem it unlikely for the other Realms, 'tis difficult to determine without knowing the specifics of their agreements," Lord Aðalgrímr stated, before he pursed his lips. "I may be mistaken, though, if they currently acquire items of a similar decorative nature from Múspellsheimr."
"Hmm, there could be a switch from fire to ice gems and such, should trade with Jötunheimr open up once more," Loki agreed as Livunn entered the study. "If for nothing other than its relative novelty."
With her usual quiet efficiency, Livunn moved around them, bringing them each what they would have had for dessert if they had remained in the Great Hall.
"Thank you," Lord Aðalgrímr said as Loki smiled at her.
"Will there be anything else tonight, my Liege?" Livunn asked.
"Nay, and we are likely to be here quite a while," Loki replied, knowing well how Lord Aðalgrímr preferred to finish a project like this over waiting to finish in the morn. "You may retire."
"Majesty," Livunn curtsied and left.
"I am inclined to think if the only likely adverse effect of Álfheimr's trade agreement is to be with Múspellsheimr, that we need not be concerned with it," Loki said, starting his dessert.
Lord Aðalgrímr smiled. "I agree, particularly after what they attempted."
"Which reminds me, have we received the first of the zisa?"
"Aye, it arrived today."
'Twas one less thing to worry about and, while Loki had not expected Queen Sinmara to outright reject the signed trade agreement, the possibility had existed. He did doubt he would ever see Lord Hrym again, not after how he had failed so utterly, and he sincerely doubted Queen Sinmara would view herself and her own actions as culpable in the outcome.
"Which parts of the treaty does Laufey-King object to?" Loki queried, shifting his attention.
The sudden brightening of the lights in her cell woke Sif and she groaned. It felt like she had only just managed to fall asleep a few minutes ago. Not only was the ground hard and uncomfortable, but the prisoners had been returned to the other cells down the corridor and now there was a lot more noise than there had been the previous few nights, since Loki had them down here.
"It cannot possibly be morning yet," Fandral moaned from across the corridor.
"It could be any time of day, we would not know," Heimdallr commented, and Sif turned to look at him.
As she had feared, he was sat in the far corner of his cell where he had spent most of his time since they had arrived. Sif had yet to see him sleep and she wondered how he did it, or whether he slept even as she did. She was half afraid to ask, though, if he did not, then mayhap he would agree to stand guard over them as it were. 'Twas part of why she was having so much trouble sleeping, (well, beyond the inhospitable conditions though she had experienced worse ones before); the fact that she did not feel safe here. Anything could happen at any time, and she knew it.
Sif had never thought she would ever feel so unsafe while on Ásgarðr, let alone while in Iðavöllr, but then, she had never conceived of the possibility ofLokibeing king. It had been far too horrendous and atrocious a thought to have truly occurred to her. Oh, she had always known that 'twas what he desired more than anything, and what drove all of his jealousy of Thor, but she had never thought he would actually succeed in his endeavor. Not with everyone who stood in his way and who would defend Hliðskjálf from such manipulations and deceit.
More fool her for believing thus, apparently.
Even now there was a large part of Sif which could simply not believe any of this was real; that Loki was truly king. By lies and deceit, of course, but king nonetheless. Oh, how the other Realms must be laughing at them! She was certain Jötunheimr was gearing up for an assault, even as they distracted Loki and his advisors with pretty words and claims of peace. It would be so like the liesmith to fall victim to his own weapon of choice, no doubt arrogant enough to believe there would be others out there who would see the value of that which he held so dear. She could only hope he did not take down all of Ásgarðr with him.
What Sif could not understand, however, was how Thor could believe any of it. He who knewexactlywhat his brother was, and the types of dishonorable tricks and cheats Loki deemed perfectly acceptable to achieve his own ends. Had her friend been bewitched? 'Twas an ugly thought, but one they no longer had the luxury of not considering. Thor had been made mortal and stripped of all of his protections as Prince of Ásgarðr, so 'twas entirely possible that Loki, venomed whey-face that he was, had taken advantage of the situation and bespelled his brother. Who knew what manner of dark arts the trickster was capable of? Loki's tricks had been becoming progressive darker and more malicious for centuries now.
So why not something so odious and unthinkable? He had enslaved them, after all.
"As long as they bring us food, I do not care," Volstagg stated, pushing himself into a seated position.
Sif winced at the thought of how hungry her friend had to be at present. Given what he normally ate, the prison portions were hardly more than a snack for him and, soon, they would expect him, and the rest of them, to be able to perform manual labor on those rations. She had to admit, at least to herself, that Loki had managed to find the perfect punishment which would appear lenient and potentially even fair to those who heard of it, but which was nothing short of despicable and torturous in reality. Simply the mere thought of how she had been utterly unable to control her own body after Loki had enslaved her, and commanded her obedience, was enough to make her feel physically ill even now.
So, to think of being stuck thus until Óðinn woke, 'twas all but unbearable. Particularly since Thor had not been back to visit them since before Loki had carried out their sentence. Normally, she would think the second prince responsible for it, but, mayhap, it had not been anything so direct in this particular instance. Nay, the words her friend had spoken while visiting them had been indicative enough of his enchanted state, so 'twas entirely possible Thor thought his decision to stay away from them was entirely his own. She could only hope he was able to break free of his brother's magical fetters now he had regained his power. After all, Thor did not possess an enslavement collar or manacles like them, so hopefully his bewitchment was not as strong.
"At this rate, my back will not be good enough to perform whatever labor Loki wants us to," Fandral grumbled as he rose to his feet.
Sif snorted. "As if he or the prison guards will care."
"There is that," Fandral paused, a thoughtful expression on his face. "But I cannot help but think of all the times we ignored some prisoner's complaints."
"'Tis not the same," Volstagg protested. "They were guilty and deserving of their punishments."
"Not nearly as deserving as you!" a voice from beside Sif's cell called out.
"Ignore him," Sif advised when it looked like Volstagg would argue. "They are merely reacting to having us down here."
It infuriated her as well, to have those whom they had captured now imprisoned beside them and baiting them at all hours of the day and night, but responding would only encourage them. She refused to allow the situation Loki had subjected them to, to break them. She would not give him that pleasure. Nay, instead she would hold strong until Óðinn awoke and set everything right. And, if a part of her secretly hoped to see the lying, two faced bastard locked up down here for all he had done, well Sif could dream. Óðinn had never gone quite so far before as to throw his youngest into the dungeons, though she had often thought Loki deserved it, but neither had the darkling gone quite so far before either.
Surely Óðinn could not do any less for the usurpation of Hliðskjálf and the bewitching of his eldest son and heir? She was already savoring the day in her mind, well able to picture how poorly Loki would take the public humiliation. From king to prisoner, it would be quite the fall from grace and all of the Nine would know of it. Even if Óðinn ever relented to Frigga's pleas, Sif knew Loki would never fully recover from it. No matter where he would go, they would know of his shame.
The clanging of metal alerted Sif to the approaching of the cart bearing the food for them to break their fast. Her stomach growled involuntarily and she pulled a face, already heartily sick of the bland mush they called food. She knew better than to hope it would be any better today than it had been the previous few days, as she had been with Thor when he had been asked whether they should vary the prisoners' diet and he had rejected the suggestion. He had said the prisoners should have thought of that before they had committed their criminal acts and she had agreed with him, never thinking she herself would ever be one of those prisoners.
She had been too naive when it came to Loki and what he was capable of, and to think she knew him so well! 'Twas no surprise everyone else was currently being deceived by him.
"Food and a change of clothes," one of the prison guards stated as he appeared between their cells. "You will have five minutes of barrier opaqueness."
Sif sneered at how the man looked at her when he said it. Though she would never admit it to his face, she was thankful for the boundaries Loki had thought to put into place on her collar. It had not been done for her benefit, she was certain, but to ensure Thor did not kill or maim Loki should something have happened. It would have been rather difficult for him to explain, after all.
A few buttons were all the guard had to push in order to make her barrier one directional, so both her tray and new clothes could be pushed in. As soon as it turned opaque, Sif leapt forward and hurried to change into the new clothes, not trusting the guard to give her the full five minutes. The new outfit was as bland as the previous one and she pulled a face at the thought of being paraded around Ásgarðr in it.
They would stand out for all to see, which she was certain was the intent. Sif threw her old clothes at the barrier in anger at the thought. Given the restrictions Loki had placed on them via the collar, the only point of the clothes could be to further humiliate them as they would not be able to either attempt or affect an escape if that particular order was at all as effective as the one forcing her to kneel or kiss Yngvarr's boots the other day. Her face still colored in both humiliation and anger at the memory, though it shifted far more to anger at how Loki had then forced her to help subdue her friends for their own enslavement.
Despite all of that, Sif was determined to fight this every step of the way. She would not give into the dark prince so easily. She was both a warrior and lady of the court, no matter what he claimed; a member of the elite Einherjar! She would fight and she would prevail. If for nothing else than to prove herself better than Loki and his precious seiðr. He may have temporarily ensnared her with it, but she absolutely refused to believe 'twas even half as strong as he claimed it was. 'Twas nothing but seiðr, after all, hardly good for anything but healing and tricks. True, he had made some fancy displays yesterday, but that was when Loki had been present and had Gungnir nearby. She did not believe for an instant that the enslavement seiðr would be nearly so strong in his absence, especially once they had been taken from Iðavöllr.
Perhaps once that would have worked, when the dökkálfar had come to Ásgarðr to properly perform the enslavement ritual, but that had not happened here. Nay, instead Loki had displayed his usual arrogance and performed the ritual himself after decades of complaining how secretive the dökkálfar were of their seiðr. Did he truly expect for them to now believe he had somehow found a way to both learn and master it overnight, after all of that?
He truly did believe them to be simpletons.
The thought made Sif smile as she had always known the trickster's arrogance would be his undoing and she was delighted to be proven correct. With reluctance, she picked up her bowl and began eating the slop as the barrier on her cell became transparent once more. After they were out of the dungeons and away from Iðavöllr, she would inform the others of her thoughts and they could begin to test the true limits of their collars.
