A/N: just so people are aware, i will be posting everyday if i can.

Frost Giants

As a young child, I had always been told tales about the monsters of the Nine Realms—the beings we should kill and be afraid of—and to Thor and most others, tales is what they were. Stories, fiction to make small children be afraid of what's out there, to entertain them, to make them better fighters. But I knew better. I knew the truth of what parents told as "tales" and I was well aware that they were true. Instead of playing and fighting outside like "normal" children, I read, I studied, I learned about the true monsters of the Realms, and I knew what was out there, and what I should be afraid of. And all of this started when Father told us about Frost Giants.

"From a realm of frozen darkness, came the Frost Giants," he would tell us—Thor and I—as young children. He had told us that they were a race of giant humanoid beings, that inhabit the land of Jotunheim; a cold, dark, barren wasteland of ice and misery. The Frost Giants, or Jötuns, were ruled by King Laufey, the strongest, largest, and reportedly most frightening Jötunn of them all.

They had tried to infiltrate Tønsberg, in a Midgardian place called Norway, in attempts to take over the planet and force it into another ice age, using their signature weapon called the Casket of Ancient Winters. At the time, I had thought it was a very dramatic and over the top name for such a small thing, but, at the time, I had little knowledge on what it was capable of. I didn't mention anything of the sort to Thor or my father that day—I had learnt earlier on that in the presence of Father and the favourite child, my opinion on these things didn't matter in the slightest.

Father went on to explain that he himself intervened with an army of Asgardians and helpfully started a war between the two races, forcing the Frost Giants back to their home. It ended with mass slaughter on both sides, but in the end Odin, of course, prevailed and ended the war, taking the Casket and bringing it back to Asgard as a trophy.

To this day this story is still pointlessly told to children at night to scare them into thinking that that was a Jötunn hiding under their bed. In that moment with my father when he was explaining the story, I had foolishly asked if the Frost Giants still lived, and Father had said yes, which successfully made me more fearful of them. Thor, being his brave and energetic self, proclaimed that he would hunt all of the Jötuns down and kill them all. It didn't help comfort me, but it did reassure me that my older brother was more courageous than I was, and the likelihood of him actually doing that was far greater than it was for me.

After that, Odin had held both of our hands and started the great lie that both of us were born to be Kings one day. I didn't really understand how the hierarchy worked, but I truly—stupidly—believed that it would happen for me one day, and that I had just as equal rights to my brother. Boy was I wrong.

Anyway, the main thing I took away from that story was that Frost Giants were evil, ugly, vile beings, and that I should hate them for taking my father's eye, which I did. But this tale started a whole childhood of curiosity about what really lies within the Nine Realms, which was probably the best and worst thing that could've happened.

As it turns out, three Frost Giants had broken into Odin's regal treasury, but before they could take back their precious Casket, the Destroyer killed them—I know, I know, where does Father come up with these names? It was an Asgardian automaton enchanted to serve the will of any King who wields Gungnir. It is specifically used to protect the weapons vault—or treasury, it had many names—well, at least in Odin's rule anyway.

Thor was outraged at the Jötuns attempt to steal the Casket, yet strangely, Odin remained calm. "They must pay for what they have done!" Thor was yelling as the three of us gathered at the scene.

"They have paid, with their lives," Odin replied. "The Destroyer did its work."

I stayed quite, watching them, trying not to show how amused I was, knowing that they wouldn't care for what I had to say anyway.

"But this was an act of war!" Thor protested, gesturing at he room. Three Giants laid dead, askew around the floor, ice covering the area. I crept a little closer to them, studying them. Until now, I had never actually seen one and was forced to use drawings and my imagination to think of what these beings actually looked like. Surprisingly, I wasn't that far off. There were big, at least a few feet taller than me, blue skin—which was now coloured black from the fiery work of the Destroyer—and red eyes, ice spears still clutched in their hands.

"It was an act of but a few, doomed to fail," Odin continued calmly as I focused back on their conversation. I looked at my brother's enraged face—now he really reminded me of when we were kids. All defensive and ready to fight his way through every problem. It was stupid, and impulsive, and I got the feeling it was one of the only things our father didn't like about him.

"Look how far they got!" Thor exclaimed, gesturing again to the dead Frost Giants on the floor. Odin followed his hands and stared at the Giants, seemingly lost in thought. I wanted to roll my eyes at Thor. Did he really think that war was the best option here? When Father made no reply, brother scoffed and continued.

"As King of Asgard—"

"But you're not King!" Odin yelled, losing his patience. "Not yet." I looked at Thor. Oh, my Gods, the look on his face was hysterical! He was obviously outraged, but he had nothing to say. The poor spoiled prince finally being told he wasn't what he thought it was. This day was going way better than I had expected.

Thor, after opening and closing his mouth like a fish for a few minutes, stormed off in rage, his footsteps echoing as he made his way back to the Palace. I stood still, studying Odin for a few moments before leaving too, following my brother in his wake.

Thor had made his way up to the dining hall, where three aggressively long feasting tables were, filled head to toe with different foods. This was where the people of the Palace should be right now, had I not intervened, feasting and getting full for the rest of the day and through the night. In his fury, he picked up one of the tables and tipped it over with a roar, causing all the things neatly placed on it to go flying off, basically making a right mess of everything like a child. I watched this from behind a pillar. Why must Thor always throw temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way? Really, it's exhausting, I was thinking. Welcome to almost every day of my life brother: where your opinions don't matter even if you are right.

Obviously, he was an imbecile and shouldn't be trying to mess with affairs he doesn't understand, but he didn't have to know I thought that. I could be the comforting brother, who always takes his side. I internally rolled my eyes and took a deep breath before stepping out from behind the pillar and approaching Thor.

He was sat on the clean golden stairs that lead down to the tables, and heard me approach, moving away from me slightly as I sat next to him. "It is unwise to be in my company now, brother," he said, staring straight ahead. Why he never wanted to look at me directly, I'll never know, but it made all the more easier to lie.

"This was to be my day of triumph," he started, not that I had asked him to talk or anything. I watched him intently, finding myself feeling rather proud that I had successfully managed to ruin it, with the help of my Frost Giant allies of course. Somehow managing to feign a look of sympathy, I spoke.

"It'll come," I said, my voice soft and quiet, as usual. Still, he didn't look at me, and I felt a plan forming in my head. "In time," I added, not wanting him to think he could get it soon, after all this.

"What's this?" a voice said as it walked around the corner to see the mess my brother had made. It was Volstagg, the rest of the Warriors Three, Fandral and Hogun, and Lady Sif, all still dressed in their glamorous armours. Honestly, a small part of me would have liked to be their friends, but just about everyone except Thor knew that I wasn't—apart from Fandral and Sif, but that's a… different situation. Anyway, all four of them looked at the scene in confusion, seeing Thor and I sitting there.

I took a breath and looked away from them, focusing my attention on my brother. "If it's any consolation, I think you're right." Woah, that was hard to say. But if I could get him to act out… maybe Odin would get mad and maybe he might have to chose someone else to be King. I know I was grasping at lose ends there, but I was getting desperate at this point. I continued, speaking softly so that the other would hear.

"Your right, about the Frost Giants, about Laufey, about everything." Feeling Thor's friends' gaze on me, I forced myself to continue. "If they found a way to penetrate Asgard's defences once, who's to say they wont try it again, maybe with an army."

"Exactly!" Thor said, not quite being as quiet as I had hoped. But it didn't matter.

"There is nothing you can do without defying Father," I said, choosing my words carefully. Thor looked at me, a look that said, "I know what I can do," and I knew what that meant, which is precisely what I said as he stood up.

"No, no, no, no, I know what you're thinking," I spoke quickly, standing up as well. Gods, he was so easy to manipulate.

"It's the only way to certainly ensure the safety of our borders!"

"Thor, its madness," I said, raising my voice higher than I wanted to. Volstagg, who was slicing up a big block of cheese that had been knocked over, heard me and spoke up.

"Madness? What madness?"

Which then prompted Thor to say, "We are going to Jotunheim." I swallowed, visually looking uncomfortable. Honestly, how much more stupid could he get?

"This isn't like a trip to Earth, Thor, where you summon a little lightning and thunder and the mortals worship you as their God," Fandral protested, continuing to be the only intelligent one out of the Warriors Three. "This isJotunheim."

"My father fought his way into Jotunheim defeated all of their armies and stole the Casket!" Thor argued. I exhaled through my mouth and covered my face with my right hand. It was honestly embarrassing that he thought this was a good plan. But it worked. Odin would be furious that he went behind his back, and he would have no choice other than to punish Thor by taking away the throne. Then, there was only one person left to step in—me.

"We would only be looking for answers," he tried to reason. Sif stepped forward, looking stern.

"It is forbidden!"

Thor chuckled and walked towards her. He started to give them a speech, complimenting them, and taking credit for their achievements. I was a littler impressed that he was able to think of a smart way to convince them like that. Again, only a little. One by one, each of his friends agreed, and I was still stood on the stairs. They all looked at me expectantly. What, they wanted me to come too? I… wasn't expecting that. I couldn't do that, could I? Did they really think I was capable of fighting against Frost Giants? I mean, I was, but it felt oddly nice that they would want to include me. Maybe they just wanted more help—dammit I was overthinking this.

"Come now, Loki," Thor said, grinning and facing all of us. "We are going to Jotunheim."