Thor and his friends were bouncing with excitement. Tomorrow they started school, and better yet, began weapons training. Even the unflappable Hogun had barely been able to sit still through dinner. Tonight they would tell everyone in the main hall and truly party. But tomorrow night would be even better, tomorrow they would have places at the tables and actually eat there.

It wasn't exactly becoming an adult, but it meant they were no longer babies or toddlers, they were boys and belonged with the men rather than the women and little ones.

Loki had been left out. He was too young, he supposed, but it didn't make sense to him. Maybe he was too little for weapons training, but really, sitting in a room learning things? He could do that, probably better than Thor.

He knew Mother would agree with him, but it wasn't her decision. Only Odin could order him included in the classes. He had hired the four tutors that would teach the boys, and he had commanded the weapons trainers to accept them for training.

But still, it might be wise to consult her first. He'd observed her with Father, she knew ways to persuade him, at least sometimes. It was too early for her to be in the main hall, and he wanted to talk to her alone.

He knocked politely at the door to her rooms, and the maid let him in and announced him just as she would an adult. Loki liked that. Mother was looking at a book he recognized as a book on magic. He'd seen her consult it and others during his magic lessons.

"Mother?"

"Loki, what brings you here? Have you had your dinner?"

"Yes, Mother. I . . . I want to talk to you about school. All the other boys are starting tomorrow, but . . . they said I'm too young, but I'm not. I can read nearly as well as Thor and better than Volstagg, and I know my numbers and can do arithmetic, and I know more science than they do because you've taught me." Loki stopped to breathe.

"Come here."

He walked over to her slowly, thinking she was going to explain to him why he couldn't go with the others. At least when she told him "no" it didn't feel so bad, unlike Odin's "no" which was like have the ceiling fall on him and usually without any explanation at all.

She bent over to put her head more on the level with his. "I know you can read and do arithmetic, but the older boys know more, just because they've lived longer and been exposed to more people."

"But school is about learning. I can learn what they know plus whatever the tutors tell them."

"Then you must talk to your father about it."

"Couldn't you talk to him for me?"

"No, if you are old enough to go to school then you are old enough to speak to Odin yourself. I will go with you, but you must do all the talking. Agreed?"

Loki nodded shakily. He'd listened to Father, answered questions when Odin asked him something, but he'd never started the conversation. Children didn't do that, especially not with the King of Asgard.

Odin was on the balcony near the throne room, looking out over Asgard. Frigga hung back while Loki approached him. The Allfather paid no attention to him at first, then slowly turned and looked past Loki at Frigga. Frigga said nothing.

In a small voice Loki said, "Father?"

Odin looked down at his second son. "You wish to speak to me, Loki?"

"Yes, Father."

"Well?"

"Tomorrow Thor and his friends start school. I want to go too. I . . .I might not know as much as they do, but I like to read, and I can do arithmetic, and Mother has taught me some science. I know I can keep up; I wouldn't slow the class down or anything like that."

Odin glanced at Frigga, who gave a very small nod. He looked down at the little pale boy in front of him and considered. Loki must want it desperately to face him and ask for it. Even Thor hadn't done that yet, and Thor was the boldest of the boys, as was fitting.

"I will permit you to attempt it for ten days, and if the tutors give me a good report on you, then you may continue." He raised a hand to forestall Loki's response. "If you find it too difficult at any time, you may stop going without any shame, and try again when you are older. However, you are too young for weapons training. You must wait for that."

Loki had the biggest smile on his face his parents had ever seem. "But I could watch, couldn't I? I would learn a little that way and my size wouldn't matter."

"You may observe the weapons training if you wish; anyone is allowed to watch."

"Thank you Father. I'll make you proud."

"Just do your best."

"Yes, Father." Loki looked at Frigga, who nodded, and he literally ran off to get ready for tomorrow. Frigga remained behind.

"How is he doing at magic?" Odin asked.

"I'm giving him the simplified version of the science, and he's learning rapidly. He can make light and sparkles, and small illusions in his hand. I'm having a difficult time reining him in."

"Will he be competitive with Thor in school?"

"I'm not sure, but he will undoubtedly outdo Volstagg, so he will not be at the bottom of the class. In a year he might well be at the top."

"Good. His little brother outdoing him at anything should spur Thor to work hard. As for the magic, going to school and observing weapons training will use much of his time and attention and slow him down quite a bit. Encourage him in his schoolwork, it will be an excellent diversion."

Frigga inclined her head and smiled, and returned to her rooms to dress for dinner. Odin was right, Loki would be focused on school and weapons training. Even if he couldn't participate yet in the latter, so much time spent with Thor and his friends would cement Loki as part of their group, which would be good for him. He needed the companionship and a spur to work hard himself. He spent too much time alone, and too much came too easily to him.

The next morning Loki let the other boys thunder off down the hall to their classroom in the palace ahead of him. They might not know about his late addition, he wanted to see their faces when he walked in.

The classroom was in a remote and quiet part of the palace. The windows were placed high so they couldn't see anything but sky when seated. There were five student desks with attached chairs in two rows and a large desk, chair, and drawing board in front of them.

Thor took the center front desk with Fandral and Hogun on either side of him, with Volstagg in one of the back desks. The rows were staggered so he was between Thor and Hogun.

Loki walked in, and was pleased with the result. Thor gaped at him, and the others looked at each other in confusion.

"Good morning," he said. "Fandral, you are in my seat, please move to the back."

Thor said, "No. Fandral stay where you are. Loki, go away, you're too little for class."

"I talked to Father yesterday. He doesn't think I'm too little. That's why there are five desks, in case you didn't notice, Brother. Move, Fandral, you're bigger, you can sit in the back."

Fandral looked at Thor, who just shrugged, and then changed seats. Loki sat down and Thor said, "We'll see if you are telling the truth or not when the tutor comes in."

"Yes, we will," Loki retorted, hoping fervently that he was right and Odin had informed the tutors.

The tutor came in and they all recognized him. Nandrin was one of the Skalds that sometimes led the singing in the hall.

"Good morning, I see everyone has arrived. Let me start with the rules. When I or any of your teachers speak, you do not. If you want to say something in class, you must raise your hand and be called on. You will get a short break between classes, be sure to take care of your bodily needs during that time. All the materials you require are in your desks, the tops raise up. Take a look."

The five boys did, and found books, writing materials and other things inside each desk.

"I am going to teach you about Asgard. And no, you do not know everything about it, not yet. We will study geography, history, economics, architecture, and frankly, whatever else I think of. The other tutors will teach an overview of the other eight realms, mathematics, and Asgardian reading, writing, and literature. Take out your book on Asgard- just a clue, it's the one on top of the stack- and let us begin."

Loki loved the classes. He was astonished at how much he didn't know. Thor and Hogun stayed alert throughout the four sessions. Fandral doodled and appeared to pay no attention but always knew the answer when asked a question, so he was listening. Volstagg was subdued, not his usual boisterous self, and started raising his hand and asking questions, particularly in mathematics. Everyone could tell the big boy was struggling.

After class they went as a group to lunch. Loki started for the children's dining hall, but he was behind the others so they didn't see him swerve back as Thor led them to the main hall. Lunch was just food, no singing or partying, and the boys excitedly discussed the morning. Hogun and Loki said little, but Loki was pleased that what he did say was accepted the same as the others' comments. It was worth going to Odin after all, he was finally part of the group.

After lunch they all headed to weapons training. It was too early, but they all wanted to watch for a time before their class. Loki went along, but Thor stopped him.

"Brother, you are too little for this, you will be injured."

Simply by reflex Loki argued, "I'm as tall as Hogun."

"Hogun is a tree, you are a blade of grass. You haven't the coordination yet, nor the muscle."

Loki shrugged. "I know. Odin said I could watch though. Then I can tell you all about the mistakes you made afterwards."

Thor laughed. "Fair enough."

The first thing they would be learning were the forms, sets of movements with different weapons for defense or attack. Loki watched Hogun execute each precisely as shown. Thor was faster and stronger in doing them, but sloppier. Fandral was fairly precise but as soon as he'd done it once, he started adding flourishes. Volstagg was a bit slow in the defense moves but his strength showed in the speed and vigor of his attacks. Loki found something to praise in each of them after class as they walked back to Thor's room. He wanted very much for them to like him and truly accept him.

They lounged in Thor's room, talking, laughing, commenting on the day's activities until after their usual dinner time. Then they parted to clean up and prepare for their first dinner in the main hall.

Frigga came for them and escorted them into the hall to the head table. There, she had Thor bang for quiet, and she introduced them to everyone one by one, and each was cheered by the entire hall when introduced. After their introductions, Volstagg and Fandral both joined their families at their tables, and Hogun had a seat at the far end of the head table, being a Vanir orphan and under Odin's care. Loki and Thor were cheered the loudest and seated with their parents, Thor next to Odin and Loki next to Frigga. Loki noted the cheers for him were louder than for Thor's companions, but the cheers for Thor were the loudest and longest. He recognized that as the oldest, Thor was seated by the king and his seat was the lesser by the queen. That didn't bother him much, it would be a long time before either of them was crowned, things could change.

The head table was served first of varieties of meat, vegetables, fruits, and breads, and the boys were given their choice of wine or ale to drink. They weren't old enough for Asgardian mead, they would have to be able to grow a beard before they had access to that. Loki tried both and preferred the wine. He was surprised when Thor chose the ale and drained half a mug in his first draft. Apparently he'd been doing more during his visits to the hall than just listening to stories and singing.

When most of the eating was done, and the singing had started, Frigga leaned over to him and whispered, "You sing next."

"Me? But . . ."

"No buts, you're good. I will get everyone's attention, and you climb up on the table so everyone can see you."

Loki had a look of terror on his face. "What . . ."

"Sing the 'Full' song."

"All right," he said so quietly she could barely hear him.

Frigga rang a glass loudly while he got up on the table, and she directed a space be cleared for him. He looked down at her and she smiled and nodded to him.

"When she sings, she sings 'come home'; when she sings, she sings 'come home," he started and was glad when other voices joined in and everyone was clapping with him. But then there was the quiet part and he had to wave everyone to silence and sing by himself. The hall was silent except for his voice, and he suddenly realized he liked it. Everyone was listening to him, and he projected his voice and sang with feeling about the cranes, and the orchard, the mountain and everything. Then he started the chorus back up and waved his arms, directing the entire hall and getting everyone to finish together. The cheering and applause was deafening, noisier even that the cheering had been for Thor. He sat down and looked over at Thor to see how his brother was taking it.

Thor was laughing and clapping too! Then he raised his mug to Loki and drank. Loki raised his glass back to Thor and drank too. Sometimes it was good, having a brother.