One evening, as they were getting into bed, Loki seemed distant.
"What's on your mind tonight, troublemaker?" Asta asked.
"It's difficult to explain," he replied.
"Well, give it a try. I'll help as much as I can."
He paused. "In all your years and research, have you ever heard of a god or goddess changing their title?"
"Well, no. But that's not to say that it hasn't been done, or can't be done. Why are you asking?
He took a deep breath. "I feel as though I no longer am the god of mischief. It doesn't suit me. It doesn't feel right. It hasn't felt right in some time, but only now am I able to vocalize it to you."
"Oh Loki, I wish you wouldn't have suffered alone with this. What do you feel you are?"
"I don't know. I haven't been able to focus in on that."
She placed a hand on his cheek. "Sleep on it, love. Perhaps a dream will aid you."
He leaned into her touch, always grateful for it. "Yes, perhaps. Now that I have opened up to you, maybe my mind will allow an answer."
Asta wanted to scold him for once again keeping his troubles from her, but it wasn't the right time. For now she only hoped that he would find his answers soon.
Instead, she smiled and kissed him gently. "I love you, my king. May dreams give you comfort."
Loki smiled. "I love you more, my beautiful queen. Good night."
That night, a dream did come to Loki, but it was broken and hard to keep up with. First, he saw the willow tree that he and Asta hid under, then a book, then Loki spinning tales and lies to prank Thor and the Warriors, then the willow tree again, then Loki and Asta watching movies with Morgan, then Frigga reading to little Loki, then Loki reading to Morgan and to Fredrik, then back to the willow tree but much closer to Loki and Asta talking and laughing and acting out stories.
Suddenly, Loki sat up and gasped.
Asta followed. "Loki! What's wrong?"
Loki's eyes were still focused straight ahead. "It's not what's wrong. It's what right. I know now. I know what it is, what I am." He turned to her. "God of stories."
Asta smiled knowingly.
Loki raised an eyebrow. "Did you know?"
"No, I didn't know specifically. But I know you. And that doesn't surprise me in the least. I know your heart and your love of stories. I can vividly remember you spinning all sorts of tales as we sat under the piletre (willow tree)."
"I saw that in my dream! Also the stories my mother would tell, or the ones I would read to Morgan and Fredrik. And maybe also some of those⦠fabrications I would tell to Thor and the others."
Asta laughed. "'Fabrications'?"
"Yes, I'm sticking with that."
"Very well then. But yes, all of those things make me confident that if you believe that is your new purpose, then that is it."
"What if it's more than just telling stories? What if I can, I don't know, rewrite them? Rewrite many things?"
"Like a person's actual story? That would take an incredible amount of power, Loki. Is that something you believe you can do?"
"I believe the possibility is real."
"Then I believe it's possible. Perhaps this is a discussion to have with your mother? If anyone will have knowledge about it, it's Frigga."
"Yes, I think you're right about that. Do you suppose she already knows?"
Asta grinned. "I believe the possibility is real," she said with a wink.
"Using my own words back at me? Some days I think you could be turning into the goddess of mischief."
"Over a thousand years in your presence, my love. That'll influence anyone!"
Loki chuckled. "I have no remorse." He placed a kiss on her forehead. "For now, we should get back to sleep. I'm sorry I woke you, darling."
"Think nothing of it. I want to know these things, Loki."
"I know, I know."
Asta sighed. This would never get resolved. He would always want to protect her from his own mind. "All right, let's sleep. Hopefully you can get more answers in the morning."
He pulled her close and down to their pillows. "Very well, my love." He kissed again and avoided any more lectures on his avoidance.
The next morning, after convincing Asta to stay with Fredrik and not leave him with Odin, Loki headed to the gardens in the hopes of finding his mother.
"Loki! My dear one, I was just thinking about you," Frigga exclaimed as he approached her.
"Hello, Mother. I'm glad to have found you," Loki replied as they embraced.
"And to what do I owe this visit?" she asked, pulling back and resuming her inspection of the roses.
"Well, I have a rather odd question. Do you know of a god or goddess that changed their title?"
"Changed their title? As in their role as a god?"
"Yes."
Frigga paused. "I can't say I have ever heard of that. My son, are you asking for yourself?"
"I'm afraid so. I just don't feel right as the god of mischief anymore."
"I'm not entirely surprised. You have matured now. How long have you felt like this?"
"Likely since my coronation."
"Loki! That was almost 3 years ago! Why haven't you said something sooner?"
"There was always something. Asta mentioned starting a family, and then her pregnancy, then Fredrik was born, and then we reconciled with Laufey and Jotunheim, I told the kingdom of my true heritage, and now that things have settled a bit, I'm feeling it stronger."
Frigga nodded. "Of course. After you were crowned as King of Asgard , your powers naturally grew. Asta's has as well. So now, what do you feel instead?"
"God of stories."
She beamed. "Yes, I think that is a much better fit. The question is, what do you want to do about it?"
"What do I do about it? Is there a formality? Does it matter at all because I am the Allfather now? I'm at a loss for where to go now."
"Is Asta still a healer in spite of being the Allmother now?"
"Well, of course."
"Do you still have a love of stories and weaving tales?"
"Yes."
"Then I believe you have answered your own question."
"But I still need to know what to do? Is there a ceremony? A declaration?"
"What do you want?"
"Mostly for you to stop answering my questions with other questions," Loki said with a sigh.
Frigga raised a chastising finger. "God of backtalk."
"Beklager, mor." (Sorry, Mother)
She smiled. "Very well. Loki, I think all of this is completely up to you. No ceremony or declaration needs to take place unless you wish it."
"Well, perhaps it does need to be announced somehow, but a spectacle is not needed. As long as I get to keep my horns." He wanted to show a cocky smirk there, but failed with a worried tone.
"Of course, my son. The horns on your helmet denote your seidr, not your mischief."
Loki nodded, unsure of what to say next.
"Go back to Asta. Talk more with her about this. And don't worry about it like I know you are. Also, don't wait years to ask for help with things like this. You might be the king of Asgard now, but even kings need assistance."
"I know. I am sorry for that. I should apologize to my wife as well."
"Yes, you probably should. But for now, go and learn what this change means. I highly doubt your mischievous side is gone now, but guardian to stories is an exciting new role!"
"It is. And a heavy one at that."
"And you are more than strong enough for it." She pushed gently on his shoulder for him to bend for a kiss to the cheek. "You are fulfilling every role beautifully. I love you, dear one."
"I love you too, Mum. Thank you."
Frigga smiled as Loki turned to leave. She couldn't be more proud.
Loki arrived back to the royal chambers and found Asta reading. She quickly put the book down. "Well?" she asked. "Any answers?"
"Not particularly. Mostly just however I want to handle it is the proper way," he said with a shrug as he fell into a chair.
Asta sat on the arm of the chair and squeezed his shoulders. "Well, how do you want to handle it?"
"Barely anything. I suppose a declaration will need to be made soon, just for correct naming. But I don't think a ceremony is necessary. I think you're the only one with the status to crown the Allfather anyway."
Asta tilted her head for a moment and shrugged. "Well, then why don't I?"
Loki looked up at her.
"No, I'm serious," his wife said. Just then Fredrik began to call for them. Asta held up a finger. "Hold that thought."
She went to the nursery and got their son. When they returned, she smiled. "And now we have someone to bear witness."
Loki laughed. "Well, I'm not sure a 2 year old counts, but I welcome him anyway."
"Hey, this kid can literally read the room. It's fine." She sat him in a chair and turned back to Loki. "Ok, what's the attire for this? Formal?"
"Gods no!" Loki turned his hand and Asta was wearing a flowing dress much like a Greek goddess. It was a deep green color with gold trim.
She spun as she looked at it. "I like this! A bit darker than our usual, but I'll take it. And yours?"
The king thought for a moment and then turned his other hand. Suddenly his tunic became layered in swaths of the same green fabric he used on Asta's gown.
"Oh wait," Loki said. And with a snap and a green flash, a long, green cape appeared behind him. "Pageantry for my bride."
Asta rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine. And your crown?"
He held his hands out and his usual ceremonial horned crown appeared, but this time there were barely visibly green lines twirled around and the gold seemed a slightly darker shade.
The queen smiled. "I like it. The swirls seem to represent the weaving and spinning of stories. And our young witness?"
He looked to Fredrik and suddenly the little one was dressed almost exactly like his father.
Asta beamed. "Oh, I'll need a picture of that! Ok, on to business." She looked directly into Loki's eyes and sternly said, "Kneel."
Loki raised an eyebrow and smirked. Her tone had him making plans for that evening. He handed the crown to Asta then dutifully went to his knees.
"Loki Allfather, do you accept all the responsibilities that come with being the god of stories?"
He bowed his head. "I do."
"And will you continue to uphold your duty both as Allfather and guardian to the realms as well as their stories?"
"I will."
Asta smiled. "And will you still have that same mischievous side?"
He turned his eyes up to her. "My queen, I do so vow it."
"Very well then. I declare you to be the god of stories." She placed the crown on his head. "Rise. And continue to do the great works you have already been doing."
Loki stood and a wave of power was felt by everyone in the room.
"Well," Asta said with a smile. "I believe that means you made the right choice."
"Yes, I would agree to that. Now, let's take those pictures."
Loki made his phone appear and levitated it in front of them in various royal and more casual poses.
And that night, when Loki asked Asta to drop the contraceptive spell, she gladly agreed.
