Chapter 25
The first thing he noticed was a dull, pounding headache. He fought to open his eyelids and winced at the too bright light above him. A soft hand caressed his brow and his cheek.
"Easy now," Freyja's soft voice felt like a balm. "You must rest."
He tried to speak, but he could barely articulate a word.
"The poison was very potent," his cousin explained. "It nearly killed you, but Thor brought you here just in time. You have been sleeping for many days."
Loki turned his head towards the voice. Something pressed around his throat, heavy and metallic. He tried moving his arms, but the same feeling weighted his hands down. A whimper escaped his lips as he panicked, but Freyja's hand was again on his brow.
"Sleep, dear cousin. Sleep."
xxxxXX-0-XXxxxx
During his brother's convalescence, Thor had been working tirelessly at Odin's side to repair the damage the Svartálfar had caused. The row they had before the Allfather fell into the Odinsleep still echoed in the Prince's mind, but his father seemed not to care, nor he wanted to mention anything about Loki. It was one afternoon, while Odin surveyed the city from one of the Palace's balconies, that Thor dared to broach the subject.
"All as been said," Odin stated, Huginn sitting in his arm, Muninn walking along the railing. "And all has been saved."
"That's to be seen."
The Allfather scratched Huginn in the neck.
"Hadn't it been for your intervention, Loki would still be in Midgard, and we could have defended our home, regardless. I only needed time to rest."
"Malekith would have destroyed us all," Thor said.
"Nonsense."
"King Laufey followed us to Midgard and-"
"I know what happened there," his father interrupted him. "I have been sleeping, but not idling."
Huginn cawed.
"I have eyes and ears wherever I need them," Odin continued. "No matter how much your mother and yourself might try to soften what Loki tried to do, I know the truth."
"You don't know all there is to know."
The Allfather was silent for a moment, as if weighting his words.
"He planned to take over Midgard and govern it for however long he had to live as one of them, knowing full well what a tyrant must do attain power, to preserve it, and what happens when he's no longer alive. This is the truth that I know, and the truth is what the Law cares about."
"Loki fought bravely," Thor insisted. "He killed Laufey when he went on a rampage on Midgard, he helped me master the Odinforce and have Gungnir accept me, and he was almost killed by Malekith. Does none of that mitigate whatever he might have done in the past?"
Odin turned his face to look at him, but Thor didn't regret his passionate defense of his brother. The Allfather's blue eye gazed at him, as if it could read his soul. Then he whispered something to his ravens and the birds took off towards the evening sky.
"You inherited your mother's kindness," he said, looking at his ravens flying away. "That always made you an easy prey for his manipulation."
"This is not manipulation," he insisted. "If you are all-seeing, you will also know that he didn't want to come back, that breaking the seal wasn't his intention but the result of an act of bravery. Twice he has risked his life for others, won't that count? Doesn't he deserve something better than manacles and sealing runes?"
The Allfather didn't answer. Thor was about to turn away and leave when the King finally spoke.
"When you sit on that throne," he said softly. "You will have to carry an enormous weight on your shoulders. Nine Realms, together with their political intrigues, and all the menaces coming from outside Yggdrasil. The death of Laufey is a great loss, especially for his own people."
Thor couldn't argue against that; bereft of any leadership, the Jötnar Vidar's men captured in the forest acted like mere outlaws, seeming more keen to die than to surrender. Thor had to convince them that their king was dead, but that they would be offered safe passage to their realm if they promised to never ally themselves with the enemies of Asgard. They were finally returned to their home planet, their fate as species uncertain.
"Jotunheim faces a civil war," Odin elaborated. "Laufey kept all the warlords at bay with an iron hand. Now the Jötnar will split again in tribal factions and they will massacre each other, condemning their race to a slow and painful process of extinction. Balance had been achieved, but now it's lost," he turned to his son. "While commendable when displayed by a lowborn, a soft heart won't let you see the implications of your actions, and the threats that might arise, especially from within. Your brother's actions in Midgard speak of an endless thirst for power that, sadly, I'm no stranger to. I don't have the strength to seal his powers anymore, and I fear he can become Asgard's undoing if left unchecked."
"Loki's not-"
"I have spoken," Odin said, raising his hand.
Thor pursed his lips in frustration, but obeyed his king and went away.
xxxxXX-0-XXxxxx
His heavy footsteps echoed through the Palace's halls. Servants and guards crossed paths with him; all bowed as he walked by and he made sure to acknowledge each gesture.
After the initial chaos, the whole kingdom had entered into a different dynamic as its inhabitants tried to reconstruct and regroup. Those who could, had taken in their family members who had been left without a home, and food had been rationed for the time being. No one complained; there was a silent fury boiling among the populace, a hurt pride that would be difficult to heal except with swift retribution.
Word had come from the other Realms, and things looked grim: Following the attack from the Svartálfar, the other worlds had imposed martial law and were on high alert. Even Surtur from Muspellheim, instead of taking advantage, had imposed the same planetary lockdown as his neighbors.
Only Midgard seemed blissfully unaware of what had happened. For the time being.
"Thor?"
He looked up. Sif waited for him a few paces ahead.
"You look distracted today," she smiled at him, despite the signs of tiredness in her own face.
He joked back at her, as usual, although it was more out of habit than actual feeling. Lately everything had lost its shine to him.
"Back from the infirmary?" she asked, walking alongside him.
Thor nodded. Loki was receiving the best medical attention, and he seemed to be improving, despite nearly dying, as Thor said.
Sif didn't answer to that at first. When she spoke, it sounded like the start of an apology.
"I know you never liked him much," Thor interrupted her. "So I thank you for asking about him."
"I never trusted him," she said, pursing her lips.
"You are still angry at him for that business with your hair," Thor pointed out, keeping his voice even when he saw her cheeks reddening. "But he solved it right after that. He made a spell that made your hair grow instantly."
"That's not enough compensation," she snapped, but caught herself.
"I remember your mane growing until it reached your calves," Thor continued. "And now it's thicker and shinier than before. It suits you."
Sif blushed deeper; she quickly changed the subject.
They spoke about the new shipments of material from Nidavellir, and how Asgard lacked a proper fleet to travel between worlds.
"We should have developed more warships," she commented. "Cargo and normal ships are good as they are, but we need weapons out there."
"Any word from the Svartálfar?"
"None. They have vanished," she sighed. "And I don't know which one I prefer. I feared they would go on a rampage through all Yggdrasil, but not knowing their whereabouts is worse."
They were now near the training grounds, where Sif was supposed to have been. She had wandered away on a break when she bumped into Thor, she explained before parting ways, but before she did, she told Thor this:
"I hated him," she confessed. "I hate his deceitful ways. He wouldn't stop mocking me when we were children, finding every hurtful thing to say to me until I would beat him into silence. As we grew up it worsened, and at times I feared for you, who never saw anything bad in anyone."
"Do you think he was manipulating me?" he asked.
Sif looked away, not because she wanted to avoid Thor's gaze, but more like she was thinking how to answer.
"Each time he did it in the past he would throw you to the wolves," she finally said. "But not this time," she turned to him, a wry smile in her face. "You didn't ride with me that morning. Am I wrong?"
Thor opened his mouth to excuse himself, but he stammered, which made her laugh.
"You two fooled us with that weapons dealer," she said. "But you have never been one for such level of improvisation."
"Do the others know?"
She shook her head.
"The trick was useful, I have to admit," she sighed. "I knew for certain it wasn't you the moment I hear you talking back at the Elves instead of punching them."
Thor chuckled, despite himself.
"You always see the best in everyone," she continued. "I only judge what I see for myself, and I saw your brother standing at your side and nearly dying for it. Twice. One single deed doesn't clean a life full of duplicity but..." she paused. "I hope I explained myself."
"You did," he smiled at her. "Thank you."
xxxxXX-0-XXxxxx
Her mother's chambers smelled of Vanaheim lilies, her favorites.
A maid was doing the Queen's hair, braiding the golden tresses in an intricate pattern. Frigga sat with her eyes closed, waiting patiently. In the morning light, Thor could see the signs of tiredness in her mother's face.
The strain was taking a toll on her, yet she couldn't say a word to anyone. The kingdom needed its King, but they also needed its Queen. She had been working without pause to ease her subjects' needs, but at the same time she had a son fighting for his life, and her family threatened to tear at the seams. Yet none of her subjects could see her falter or stumble.
She finally opened her eyes and saw him through the mirror. She smiled sweetly, as she always did, but waited for her maid to finish her task, then she gave her permission to go away.
Once they were alone, Thor tried to speak, but her mother got up and put a finger on her lips. She then tiptoed towards the curtains and thrust her arm outside. There was a squeak and a rustle of feathers, and her mother brought inside a very perplexed and a very scared raven.
"Did your master send you?" she asked in a low voice to the bird she was holding by the neck. The bird in question had abandoned all attempt to escape, seemingly realizing the Queen's iron grip was too powerful for him to break. "If I ever see you or your brother near my windows ever again I'll have both of you roasted and served to the King, have I made myself clear?"
The raven emitted a weak, whimpering sound that Frigga considered as a valid answer, and she brought the bird to the window, releasing it.
"I'm sorry, my dear," she excused herself to her son. "Lack of sleep is starting to affect me."
He didn't speak, instead he came closer and embraced her. She seemed surprised for an instant, but after a heartbeat she threw her arms around her son.
Then she wept.
Thor caressed her golden hair. He had never been too good with words, but he knew his mother felt she still had to be a bulwark for her subjects, despite what would happen to her, and he could only guess how lonely she must have felt during those few days she had to keep the shield standing.
"I'm sorry I left you alone, Mother," he said softly.
She stepped back, wiping her tears away.
"You did what you had to do," she answered, smiling again despite her teary eyes. "You saved Asgard. All is well."
He took her hand and shook his head. She looked at him for a moment, before sitting down again at her dressing table.
"When your father brought Loki from Jotunheim," she started with a sad smile. "I felt horrified, for I thought the baby was intended to be a hostage, a way to ensure Laufey would never attack Midgard again. But your father told me they had left him to die, and that we could raise him as our own, to them put him in Jotunheim's throne and make that Realm an ally. I wasn't sure at first, but then your brother looked at me and smiled, the same way you did at that age. I didn't think it could be possible, but I loved him as much as I loved you. I never cared about your father's political intrigues and, as time went by and you two grew up, I thought he had forgotten about it. You took so much after Odin: you were the strong one, and the brave, and the one the other children followed. I saw how Loki trailed behind you at first but couldn't follow your steps, no matter how hard he tried. Thus I taught him magic, so he didn't think less of himself. And I prayed that he would never have to bear the burden of a kingdom far from Asgard."
Tears rolled down her cheeks while she spoke, her green eyes lost in the distance.
"But then he did what he always did. He wanted to prank you, nothing more. Then your father intervened and..." she covered her eyes with a trembling hand for a moment, to compose herself. "I have spent all these days wondering how it has come to this."
Thor had come to her chambers to ask a question, but now he didn't have the heart to drive a bigger wedge between his parents. She felt torn and she didn't need more suffering.
"Mother," he squeezed her hand, which he hadn't let go of yet. "I know times are grim, but you know our saying: The sun will shine on us again."
She chuckled, more to humor him than out of actual optimism.
"Last night I visited Loki," Thor continued. "His fever has gone down. They say it's a good sign."
Frigga nodded and sighed.
"You must forgive your mother," she said, standing up. "I'm afraid I might not be as strong as I pretend."
He kissed her hand.
"You are the strongest person I know."
"What about your father?" she asked with a playful smile.
Thor shook his head.
"It's you. After all, you were the one who had to deal with the two of us growing up."
Her mother laughed briefly. She looked up at him, her strength returned, and kissed his son on the cheek.
"What would I do without any of you?"
"Not losing so much sleep."