
Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/457844.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Thor_(2011)
  Relationship:
      Loki/Thor
  Character:
      Thor_(Marvel), Loki_(Marvel), Odin_(Marvel), Frigga_(Marvel), Original
      Female_Character, Sif_(Marvel)
  Additional Tags:
      Alternate_Reality, Arranged_Marriage, Mpreg, Bottom!Loki, minimal_angst
  Stats:
      Published: 2012-07-12 Updated: 2013-09-11 Chapters: 19/? Words: 15716
****** Transaction ******
by EliraWinter
Summary
     AU - The young Jotun Prince, Loki, is given to Asgard as a bride for
     Thor in exchange for peace.
Notes
     Inspired by this_beautiful_piece_of_art by celestialess.
     A note about the Underage warning - there will be no huge age
     difference between Loki and Thor, and there will be no sexual
     relations under the age of 15 or so.
     ETA: If you're looking for a really angsty fic, this one's not for
     you. There is some angst in it but it's mostly relationship
     development and working-things-out and get-together.
***** Chapter 1 *****
Loki stood before his father, head respectfully bowed, and let himself be
inspected.  He was draped in white fur and soft brown leather with gold clasps
holding the finery on his small body, his long black hair braided and further
adorned with gold.  Loki knew how he looked – tiny and blue in the vast world
of ice, gleaming with riches – and he knew what he was for.  He was the item
his father was trading for peace with the Asgardians, and the restoration of
Jotunheim.
His father’s hand reached down, as large as Loki’s own torso, and he grasped
it; taking what little comfort from the cold skin that he could.  They stood at
the site of the Bifrost awaiting Odin Allfather, the Asgardian King, and the
Casket of Ancient Winters that had been promised to them with the exchange of a
peace vow and, of course, Loki.  The information Loki had been able to glean
about his role in Asgard all had something to do with the heir, Thor Odinson,
so Loki assumed that he would be a slave to the other prince.  Or, perhaps, a
bride.  Laufey let go of Loki’s hand.
Soon enough, the Bifrost bloomed through the dark sky and the Allfather
appeared with a retinue of soldiers, a young boy with bright eyes and blonde
hair by his side.  The boy was gaping at his surroundings with an expression of
wonder, before he gazed similarly at the frost giants and finally at Loki,
dwarfed at his father’s side.  The boy’s eyes were blue, a warm blue, not the
cold unfeelingness of ice, and Loki raised his small chin with a feeling of
anticipation; that was surely Thor.
“Laufey.”
“Allfather.”
“I trust your vow will hold true.  This is your son?”
“Indeed.  His name is Loki.  Small for a frost giant, but he has shown skills
of sorcery, and he will be well able to bear young.”  Odin stepped forward and
knelt in front of Loki, their eyes almost level, and the Allfather reached out
and touched his arm before Loki could protest that he would be injured. 
Instead of Odin jumping back with a bark of pain, as Loki has expected, his own
blue skin seemed to melt away and become as pale as the furs he wore.  Thor was
staring, Laufey looked unsurprised and Loki wondered whether his eyes were
still the colour of lava and blood.
“Good,” Odin said, standing up and nodding to his warriors.  Two of them
stepped forward and handed the Casket to Laufey, who received it with a sigh of
reverence and relief, not noticing when Odin took Loki’s hand and led him to
stand next to Thor.
Loki wanted to call out, wanted to run back and touch his father’s skin and
change back, wanted to say I love you, but Laufey didn’t spare him a glance.
“Let there be peace,” Laufey rumbled.
“Let there be peace,” Odin replied.
 
The Bifrost opened and sucked them up.
 
It would take a fool to think that King Laufey loved him, and Loki was no such
thing.  He was a pawn, but if pawns survived for long enough, they could become
kings.
***** Chapter 2 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Loki’s first impression of Asgard was that it was so colourful.  His world of
crumbling blue-grey ice was beautiful in its own way, but Asgard was golden and
glorious and warm on his newly-pale skin.  Loki walked close by the Allfather’s
side as they stepped past an imposing, dark skinned man who looked at Loki as
if he could see the boy’s very soul, and onto a shimmering bridge of crystal
rainbows.  It was difficult for Loki to school his expression and not gawk
openly at the vastness of space surrounding them and all the grandeur of a new
world laid out before him.
“Welcome to Asgard, Prince Loki,” Odin said, laying a hand on Loki’s shoulder.
 Loki looked up into the old face, and smiled.
“I am honoured to be here,” he replied, voice sounding far too high after
Odin’s deep tones.  The Allfather smiled, a slight twitch of his lips, and his
grip on Loki’s shoulder tightened comfortingly.
“I hope that you will be happy,” Odin said.  “Be sure that you will be
treasured and respected as a member of my own house.”  Treasured and respected
as you were not in the house of your fatherwent unsaid, but acknowledged.
“I thank you, Allfather,” Loki said, bowing his head.
They stopped before a group of large, hairy animals that Loki knew to be called
horses - he’d seen drawings in the few books that remained in his father’s
library - beasts bred to carry riders into battle and for transport.
“I take it you have not ridden a horse before?” Odin asked, and Loki shook his
head, gazing into the nearest animal’s huge eyes with trepidation.  “You shall
ride with Thor, then.”
Loki turned to the boy standing at his side.  Thor was taller than him,
probably one or two years older, already showing signs of becoming a strong,
handsome young man.  His golden hair fell past his ears and his whole face lit
up when he smiled at Loki.  Oh.  A strange warmth flooded Loki’s cheeks as he
smiled timidly back.
“Come on, this is my horse, Sigmundr.  He’s only small so I can ride him
properly, but you’re even smaller than me, so I’ll have to help you.”  Thor’s
horse was indeed smaller than the other steeds, but large still to Loki’s
eyes.  He had a dark brown coat and whickered softly when Thor rubbed a hand
along his neck.  “Here, put your left foot in the stirrup,” Thor instructed, a
steadying hand on Loki’s back.  “Now hold on to his mane and pull yourself
up.”  With Thor’s hands around his waist and lifting him, Loki scrambled
ungracefully onto the horse’s back and soon felt Thor’s body settle behind
him.  One of Thor’s hands slid around to brace on Loki’s stomach, the other
taking the reins, and Loki allowed himself to lean back.
The rocking of the horse as they moved down the rainbow bridge was soothing and
Thor’s arms were warm in an embrace around him.  Loki fisted his hands in the
horse’s mane and a small prickly feeling blossomed in his chest.
Chapter End Notes
     For those who are wondering why the chapters are so short, it's
     because this fic is part of my project to post a small drabble per
     day. Hence, each chapter is as much stuff as I can get around to
     writing in the time I have to dedicate to this Daily Drabble project.
***** Chapter 3 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
After stabling the horses – “Father says that a warrior must always care for
his horse and equipment,” Thor had said – Loki was lead through the Asgardian
palace and into what looked like a conference room.  Thor and the guards left
them there, Thor waving with a bright grin.
“There will be time to look around later,” Odin said.  “But for now, Loki, I
thought it best if we discuss your future.”  A tall, beautiful woman with
Thor’s golden hair entered the room, smiling kindly at Loki.  She looked gentle
and graceful and Loki couldn’t help feeling more comfortable.
“This is my wife and queen, Frigga,” Odin said, and Loki bowed to her.  “She
will be helping you with your studies and I hope that you may come to see her
as a mother of sorts.”  Loki jolted – he wondered if Odin knew that his own
mother passed away giving birth to him, that he had grown up without a mother’s
touch or a mother’s love, that he sometimes he dreamed of what it’d be like to
have somebody who loved him unconditionally.
“Welcome, Loki,” Frigga said with a smile, inclining her head.  “Please, take a
seat.”  The three of them settle down into the ornate wooden chairs, and Loki
feels dwarfed by the huge carvings on the backs.
“Now, Loki – we want to sort out what your…role here will be.”
“We want you to speak to us honestly; if there is something you are
uncomfortable about, please tell us.  You are young yet, and it is unfortunate
that you must grow up without your birth family, but you will receive a full
education here and you will still have your freedom,” Frigga adds, reassuring.
“Thank you, milady.  I must admit that I do not know what to expect, other than
my eventual union with Thor.”
“Ah, yes,” Frigga said, exchanging a glance with Odin.  “This is what was
intended – a binding between our land and yours, children to seal it – however,
if circumstances change as you and Thor grow up, we shall take that into
account.  Do not feel as if you are pressured to become close to Thor, Loki; I
would like for you to choose your own friends, not have your actions dictated
by this contract.  Gods, you are just a boy…” she broke off, covering her mouth
with her hand, tears glittering in her eyes.
“I remember when Thor was your age,” Odin said gruffly.  “He was much less
mature than you are.  Loki, you are brave to take the burden of your land on
your shoulders when you are so young, and Asgard is thankful for your presence
here.”
“I am grateful for the chance of peace between our races, Allfather,” Loki
said, burying his fingers in the fur of his garments.  “I will do my duty to
both Jotunheim and Asgard.”
 
--
 
Odin, Frigga and Loki discussed his education and Asgardian etiquette for a
while, deciding on the subjects Loki would study (sorcery, history and
strategy, among others) and talking about any other questions he had.  By the
end of it all, Loki felt exhausted with the effort of concentrating and not
succumbing to tears over these sudden changes in his life.
Frigga accompanied him to his new quarters, telling him amusing stories about
Thor’s shenanigans around Asgard (Thor sounded irresponsible and hot-headed and
loved) and pointing out important places around the palace.
His room turned out to be large – larger than his room on Jotunheim, anyway –
with bookshelves full of books lining the walls, a huge bed near a wall with
transparent sections like ice (glass, Loki thought with glee) and a bathing
room behind a heavy curtain.
“Thor helped decide on a few things,” Frigga said, running her fingers over the
fine wood of the bookshelves.  “When Odin mentioned you would be a sorcerer,
Thor insisted that you have books in your room and he collected a lot of
spellbooks from the library.”  Loki smiled, imagining Thor running about, hair
flying behind him as he piled books haphazardly into his arms.
“It’s lovely, thank you,” Loki told Frigga, perusing the selection of books
eagerly.  “I do love to read.  Will you thank Thor for me?”
“You may thank him yourself, he should be coming by to see how you’re doing
soon enough.  Remember that everyone will knock before they enter your room and
if you’re busy, or do not want company, feel free to refuse them.  Especially
Thor; he can be a handful sometimes.”
“I will be sure to do so,” Loki said.  “Thank you again, milady.”
“Please, call me Frigga,” she said, resting a hand against Loki’s long hair. 
“Ring the bell if you need anything, and someone will come to get you for the
feast this evening.”
Frigga left, closing the door quietly behind her, and Loki felt very alone.  He
went to his bed and laid back on the fur and skins, trailing his fingers
absently over the braids in his hair and the gold hoops through his ears. 
Asgard was still bright outside the panes of glass, and when Loki looked, he
could see himself reflected, imprinted upon its magnificence as a smudge of
pale skin, long loops of black hair, glints of gold and – oh– bright green
eyes.
Chapter End Notes
     haha I don't even know what I'm doing
     I hope it isn't too obvious that I haven't done research about peace
     treaties and negotiations and arranged marriages.
***** Chapter 4 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Loki must have fallen asleep, because a loud knocking noise startled his eyes
open and the room was much darker than he recalled.  It took a moment for him
to get his bearings – soft animal skins instead of icy furs, white skin instead
of blue, a glittering vista outside instead of dull snow.  The knocking
intensified.
“Loki?  Loki, it’s me, Thor!”  He sounded worried, so Loki heaved himself into
a sitting position and rubbed his eyes quickly.
“Come in,” Loki called, checking to see that his clothing was arranged
appropriately.  The door flung open and Thor bounded in, grinning sunnily.  He
frowned a little when he saw Loki on the bed.
“Oh, did I wake you?  I’m sorry,” Thor apologised, hesitating at the edge of
the bed before climbing up and sitting next to Loki, letting their shoulders
bump a little.  Loki repressed the urge to flinch away from Thor’s easy
physicality and relaxed into the older boy’s side instead.
“It’s alright.  The Queen told me that you helped make my room up; thank you,
it’s lovely.”
“Did you like the books I picked?  I asked for all the sorcery books, I cannot
read some of them because they are in Elvish and I haven’t learnt to read
Elvish yet, but I thought you might like them.”  Loki’s lips twitched.  He’d
taught himself to read Elvish two years ago.
“I am sure that I will enjoy them, Thor,” Loki said.  “That was very nice of
you to think of me.”
Thor abruptly sobered and fiddled with his tunic.
“Loki.  Father said that…he said that one day, we would be married.”  He looked
up and into Loki’s eyes, expression flickering between confused and fearful. 
“Is it true?  Are you here to marry me?”
“That is what both our fathers intended, for a bond between Jotunheim and
Asgard, but we are young still.  If, when it comes to that, you want a woman –
we are not yet bound together.  You need not feel any obligation to me, Thor,
it will be enough for me to live in Asgard and learn your ways.”
“Father says that kings must produce heirs.  Can you bear children?”
“I – well, I do not know for sure, but apparently I can.”  Loki looked away,
slightly embarrassed.  It was one thing to see pregnant Jotuns in his homeland,
but on Asgard, carrying children was a task that only women took on.  Loki
didn’t want to appear womanly and weak in Thor’s eyes, in anyone’s eyes; he was
able to fight and he’d learn to weave magic, he refused to be locked away like
a delicate flower.
Thor reached out a tentative hand, smoothing through Loki’s hair and touching
his cheek.
“Then, I do not see why I would need a woman.  You are beautiful.”
Chapter End Notes
     (here, have some shameless fluffy kiddy love)
     Also, none of my fics are betaread, so all mistakes/typos/horrible
     grammatical errors are my own.
***** Chapter 5 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Loki didn’t know what to expect from the Asgardian banquet – perhaps ugly looks
and awkward silences and feeling out of place, but apparently when you were
next to Thor, everything seemed alright in the world.
The feast was held in a huge hall that had one wall open to the cool night air,
the scattering of stars visible through the line of impressive pillars.  Many
long tables were set up, laden with platters and bowls and dishes of food, more
food all in the one place than Loki had seen in his whole life.  He sat on a
bench next to Thor, dressed now in a soft Asgardian style tunic and trousers,
hair still heavy with gold and watched as people flooded in.
Everybody went to the table on the raised dais to pay respects to the King and
Queen, and most moved from there to greet Thor and by association Loki.  Their
reactions to his presence were unexpected - he thought that the Asgardians
would shy away, or glare, or make not-so-subtle comments about his race – but
they seemed as friendly as Thor had been.
“You must be Loki, welcome to Asgard!”
“Look at those eyes, you’ll be so lovely when you grow up.”
Men clapped Thor on the shoulder good-naturedly and bowed to Loki, while women
would plant kisses on Thor’s smiling cheeks and exclaim over Loki’s jewellery.
“Are they always like this?” Loki asked, leaning closer to Thor’s side.
“Like what?”
“So…close, all the time.”  Everything was colder on Jotunheim, not just in
temperature.
“Of course, this is normal.  Are you uncomfortable?”  Thor’s worried face was
back, his hand steady on Loki’s arm.  “No-one would blame you if you left.  I
could go with you.”
“No, no,” Loki said, brushing his hair off his face and smiling.  “It is all so
different here, that’s all.”
“Fair enough,” Thor said, shrugging.  “Did you have these foods on Jotunheim?”
The rest of the feast passed as a happy blur of golden light and laughter, Thor
pointing out the ingredients in the vast array of dishes, telling him stories
about the palace and drawing pictures with stars in the Asgardian sky.
Chapter End Notes
     In which I have no idea how feasts work and am making everything up
     because welp.
     Apologies to people who are experts on Asgard and Thor and feasts,
     please excuse my ignorance. If I had more time I'd look up mediaeval
     feasts etc but my brain's all like NOPE at the moment!
     Sorry for the short chapter, too. Next time should probably be more
     interesting.
***** Chapter 6 *****
Chapter Notes
     In which I make up a new character and Loki has some feelings.
Loki was to meet his teacher in the large, open air room.  There was a table
with two chair set up in the centre, a pile of books waiting there.  Loki had
been led there by a guard who kept smiling at him kindly, before leaving him at
the door and wishing him a pleasant day.  The room, however, was still empty,
so Loki began to peruse the books.  Two of them were heavy tomes about sorcery,
while the other was about Jotuns; Frost Giants.  Loki bit his lip and perched
on the chair, opening the book and finding a chapter on Jotun reproduction.  He
wanted to know how it worked, since it would be his duty to one day bear
Asgard’s heirs.
“Good morning,” came a soft, musical voice from behind him.  Loki guiltily
dropped the book and spun around, peering over the back of the chair.  There
was a short woman with long grey hair, a plain white knee-length dress and dark
leather boots.  She was smiling kindly, wrinkles lining her brown eyes.
“My name is Maeva,” she said, walking towards him and bowing her head.  “I’ll
be your teacher, Prince Loki.”
“Good morning,” Loki said, standing and bowing.  “How would you like me to
address you?”
“Please sit, dear.  Let’s not have all this formality.  I shall call you Loki,
and you shall call me Maeva, yes?”
“If it pleases you, Maeva,” Loki said, twisting his hands in his lap.  “What
are you to teach me?”
“Sorcery, dear,” Maeva said, leaning forward in her chair.  “You look as if you
will be such a joy to mentor.”
“Are you a sorceress?”
“Indeed.”  Maeva closed her eyes for a moment and then someone who looked
exactly like her appeared out of thin air.  Loki gasped, eyes widening as the
doppelganger twirled and disappeared.
“Will I learn how to do that?”
“I will teach you all I know, Loki,” Maeva laughed.  “Now – tell me.  How did
you come by the Asgardian skin of yours?  I know you are Jotun born, your skin
naturally blue, your eyes red.”
“When the Allfather came to meet with Laufey, he reached out and touched me. 
My skin turned pale from the place he touched like a ripple moving over water.”
“I see.  How large are you as a giant?”
“This same size, Maeva.  I didn’t feel any different when my skin and eyes
changed, just colder in the snow.  I did not consciously change my skin.”
“Hmm.  It may be merely an illusion, but I suspect that it is your unique body
adapting to change.  You may even have some Aesir blood within you, Loki,
making your shifting to this form easier.  I’d like you to try leaving this
skin behind and becoming Jotun again.”
“How will I do that?” Loki asked.  He didn’t expect this, didn’t think that
anyone on Asgard would want to see his true form, his nature as an enemy.
“Think of everything you know of Jotunheim.  Remember how it looked through
your old eyes, the feel of the wind and sleet on your skin, the ice beneath
your feet…”  Maeva kept speaking in a soft, steady tone and Loki closed his
eyes, seeing the greying ice wavering on the back of his eyelids, the
satisfying crunch of fresh snow, his father’s huge, sharp throne and the cold
touch of his hand.
Loki opened his eyes, seeing Maeva’s expression of wonder and pride.  A tear
slipped down his cheek and he wiped it away with a small, blue hand, familiar
swirls embossed over the skin.
“You are truly extraordinary,” Maeva said quietly, touching his hand gently. 
The colour wavered for a moment before blooming back to white.
***** Chapter 7 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
In addition to his other lessons, Loki was to learn how to fight.  He’d learnt
what he could on Jotunheim, of course, watching the warriors sparring from a
safe hiding place where they wouldn’t catch a glimpse of him, but the Allfather
thought that Loki had better have some non-magical combat skills.  He was
assigned a guard to teach him; a tall, broad man with heavy brows and greying
hair named Afi.
Loki’s first lesson was in a small sparring room, the walls lined with various
weapons, all of them blunt.
“This is where Thor learnt to fight,” the Allfather had said, a proud smile
flittering across his scarred face as he reminisced.  “We gave him a wooden
staff to practise with and the next day it was in splinters.  Even then he had
such strength.”
Loki quickly learnt that Afi was a gruff man, but kind.  He’d greeted Loki with
the customary bow, before bidding Loki stand still as he walked around him,
surveying the young body as if he were a beast for purchase.  Afi had poked and
prodded and hummed and nodded and promptly proclaimed that Loki would be tall,
but would not be overly muscular in his adulthood.
“You would be best with knives, perhaps, along with your magic,” Afi said, as
he picked up a long wooden staff from the rack.  “But first, this.”
It was gruelling and made Loki’s muscles scream at him in protest, but Loki
made sure to master every skill Afi taught him.  He wanted to prove that,
though he could bear children and may be thought of as a bride, he was able to
hold his own and he could stand up for himself.
As his time in Asgard went on, many people walked past the sparring room, some
stopping to watch him fight, applauding when a particularly difficult skill was
demonstrated and mastered.  There was one young woman, however, who looked to
be about Thor’s age, who watched him almost every lesson.  She was slim and
dark haired with a pretty face and pale skin; her eyes tracked Afi’s movements
whenever he showed Loki a new movement, a parry or swing or complex footwork.
One afternoon after a light training session, Afi took his leave and Loki
stayed to practise hitting the centre of the target with throwing knives.  The
young woman was still at the door and their gazes locked.
“Hello, Prince Loki,” she said.
“Good day,” Loki replied, inclining his head.  “I am afraid I do not know your
name.”
“I am Sif,” she said, stepping into the room and walking up to Loki.  “I know
you have seen me watching you in training.  It is because I long to become a
warrior, a fine warrior of Asgard.”
“Women are not meant to fight here, are they?” Loki asked.
“No.  I have asked, but am discouraged every time.  They all say that I should
concentrate on finding a husband, learn to…to sew, and other utterly mind-
numbing tasks, but all I want to do…”
“Lady Sif,” Loki smiled, twirling a throwing knife between his fingers.  “I
have no such qualms as the other Aesir.  Would it please you to learn from
me?”  Sif smiled brightly, relieved and grateful.
“Prince, I would be honoured,” she said, laying a hand on Loki’s arm.
From that day, after Loki’s lessons, Loki would teach Sif all that he had
learnt and together they improved.  Sif proved a master of the staff while Loki
perfected his throwing knife and close combat technique, sometimes combining
his sorcery to develop his own fighting style.
Their arrangement had been going on for many months, and they were now firm
friends, confiding in each other and spending time with Thor and his best
friends Fandral, Volstagg and Hogun.  Sif learning to be a warrior was their
secret.  It was a warm day when that all changed; Loki and Sif were still
sparring together later than usual when someone rushed through the door.
“Loki, I was looking all over the palace for you…” Thor trailed off when he saw
the two, frozen guiltily with weapons outstretched.  “Loki?  Sif?  What…what
are you doing?”  Sif raised her chin defiantly.
“Loki is teaching me to fight, since nobody else around here is man enough to
do it.”
“But…fighting is for men, Sif.  A woman shouldn’t…”
“Thor,” Loki said gently, stepping forward and laying his hand on Thor’s
bicep.  Thor fell silent, immediately deferring to Loki, as he was wont to do. 
(Loki secretly thrilled in this power he had.)  “Thor, who are we to deny her? 
Shouldn’t a woman have as many choices as men do?  Would she not be safer if
she could protect herself?  One day I shall bear children, as a woman would,
yet I am allowed to fight.”  Thor glanced down at Loki’s belly and back to his
face, reaching out and smoothing back some stray locks of black hair.
“I apologise, Lady Sif,” Thor said.  “Would you allow me to repay this slight
by teaching you further?”  Sif clapped her hands excitedly, Thor gathered Loki
up in an embrace and Loki whispered thank you.
Chapter End Notes
     Many apologies for the delay, I haven't written anything in a couple
     of days. -headdesk-
***** Chapter 8 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Loki is a quick learner and Maeva delighted in showing him the nuances of
sorcery, teaching him how to close his eyes and reach inside himself to find
his glowing centre, teaching him to shift his skins and create illusions. 
Almost every sorcery lesson, Loki created a few different illusions of himself,
trying to mask them well enough so Maeva couldn’t guess which Loki was the real
one.  She began doing the same, and Loki relished the challenge of finding the
magical tells that revealed an illusion from reality.
Maeva constantly encouraged Loki to practise, so Loki took to cloaking himself
with glamours and prancing around the palace in the form of a little girl, or a
rabbit, and sometimes even a flighty mare.  In sparring practise with Sif, he’d
hide her staff and create an illusion of another one, only to have her pick it
up and make it turn into a snake.  (All his pranks on Sif made her scream and
earned him many a slap in the face if he didn’t make a swift enough escape.)
Out of Thor’s friends, Fandral was the friendliest so he often found himself
being the centre of some of Loki’s mischief-making.  Loki’s favourite prank to
play on Fandral was to hide himself somewhere and jump out in the form of a
monster.  (Fandral would squeal like a girl-child and flail around, which was
endlessly amusing.)
However, out of all the citizens of Asgard, Loki most liked to mess around with
Thor.
--
While Loki was still considered a child, only thirteen Winters old, Thor was
now sixteen Summers of age and he was taller, stronger with it.  He’d graduated
from the soft clothing of childhood and had started wearing leather with gold
and silver trimmings, had been fitted for his own helmet and armour.  Thor was
scant weeks away from going on his first quest, to kill a dangerous creature
and prove himself a man worthy to be the Allfather’s heir.  (Loki was –
secretly, deep down in his heart of hearts – worried that Thor would be hurt,
despite all Thor’s muscles and the happy reassurances that he’d be fine.)
The day before Thor was to leave, the prince was in the stables checking his
horse’s tack.  The horse was uncommonly friendly today, making little
whickering noises that sounded a little similar to the way Loki would sometimes
laugh.  Thor decided to go for a short ride, so he saddled the horse and
mounted, urging him forward and through a field.  Halfway to a stream, Thor
felt a moment of weightlessness as his horse seemed to disappear, then he was
falling to the ground to a sound of laughter.  Loki was doubled over next to
him, tears streaming from his eyes as he giggled uncontrollably.
“You should have seen your face, Thor!” he gasped.  Thor masked his own grin
and growled, pouncing on Loki and pinning him into the grass.  Loki’s laughter
abated, fading to small gasps.  His legs had fallen open to bracket Thor’s hips
and their chests were pressed together, breath fanning over each other’s
cheeks.  Thor’s blonde hair was a waterfall around their faces and Loki’s black
hair spilled onto the green of the grass as if it were ink on paper.
“I leave in the morning,” Thor whispered, searching Loki’s face.  Loki averted
his eyes, flushing slightly.
“I wish you good fortune, then,” he said.  “Though you will not need any extra
luck.”
“It can only help, Loki,” Thor smiled.  “Shall I bring you back a monster’s
fang?  Or a scale?”  Loki started at this; it was common for young men to bring
trophies of their kill back to their homes, and they tended to gift furs, teeth
and skins to the women or men they were courting.  Loki wasn’t aware that Thor…
“Oh,” he said.  “Do you…”  Thor smoothed his hand over Loki’s forehead, carding
through his hair.
“How could I not?” Thor murmured, running his lips over the flush on Loki’s
cheekbones and down to his mouth.  Loki whined and reached up, cupping the back
of Thor’s head and bringing their mouths together in an innocent kiss.  Their
lips pressed for a moment, before Thor pulled back.
“Have you ever…”
“Do you think I have, Thor?” Loki said bluntly.  “Even if I was of age to be
courted, no-one would dare approach me.  We may not be betrothed but your name
claims me as sure as if the Allfather had branded it upon my face.”
“I am sorry,” Thor said.  “I didn’t mean to…I know I may have been possessive
with you…”
“I do not mind,” Loki smiled, kissing Thor again.  “I feel as if I have always
been yours.”
“You will not fear for me, will you?” Thor asked, kissing Loki’s forehead, his
hair, his ears.
“Possibly a little,” Loki admitted, tracing Thor’s jaw with his fingertips. 
“Do not be reckless and hurt yourself.”
“Will you give me a kiss on my return?”
“If you are successful, maybe,” Loki said coyly, squeezing Thor’s hips with his
thighs before wiggling out from underneath him.  Thor made a grab for his
ankles but Loki merely danced away, laughing again.  “Come on, Thor, your
saddle will get dirty sitting in the dirt like that!”
Chapter End Notes
     jhauisdkflasd my babies are growing up!
     (Also I'm completely disregarding the fact that in mythology, they
     would take centuries to age. Sorry.)
***** Chapter 9 *****
“He should return after a few days,” Odin told Loki, as they broke their fast
with Frigga.  “Three, at most.  I was away for two days.”
“What beast did you slay?” Loki asked, and Odin looked uncomfortable.
“Not a…beast, exactly,” Odin replied shiftily.  “Things were different back
then.  I went to Jotunheim.”  Loki flinched, realising that Odin had
slaughtered one of his race.  They had been at war for centuries, millennia,
but it wasn’t a nice feeling.
“Indeed, it is all in the past,” Loki acknowledged, reaching out and taking a
bunch of grapes.  “What creature do you predict Thor shall master?  An elk,
perhaps?”
Frigga laughed.  “As his mother, I wish it were so; for how much damage may an
elk do my son?  Alas, Thor is overconfident.  He may try a serpent, perhaps a
wolf.”
“Loki, serpent scales are valuable for sorcery, are they not?” Odin asked.
“They are,” Loki said.  “I have extolled their virtues to Thor in one of my
attempts to educate him in my area.”
Odin smiled and nodded.
“A serpent, then.”
--
Loki was sure to school his expressions and tamp down his worry for Thor when
he was with company, but Sif knew him too well and called him out on it.
“Really, Loki, Thor will not be hurt.  Have you seen him lately?  He’s strong,
and large for his age.  His fighting skills are excellent.  You needn’t be
afraid for him.”
“I’m not afraid,” Loki huffed.  “I just can’t help thinking about how he is.”
“Young love,” Sif nodded sagely, and Loki elbowed her in the ribs.
“When are you going to go on a quest, then, Warrior Sif?” Loki asked.  “Don’t
tell me you weren’t thinking about doing it.”  Sif sighed and looked away.
“I’m not sure whether I am able,” she said.  “Besides, the Allfather…”
“As if you have cared what the Allfather thinks before,” Loki reminded her. 
“Imagine returning home with your spoils of battle, and prove wrong all those
who ever doubted you.”
“Your silver tongue paints a pretty picture, Prince,” Sif smiled, clapping him
on the shoulder.  “I will think on it.  Perhaps I will go after Thor returns.”
“You’d better,” Loki muttered.
--
In the mornings before his lessons and in the evenings before he retired to his
chambers, Loki went to the edges of the palace grounds at sat in the grass to
wait.  (He had the feeling that Thor would be all dramatic and ride back to
Asgard with the sun at his back, haloing his golden hair and shining off his
armour.)  Two days had gone by and Thor hadn’t yet arrived, so Loki’s evening
vigil was tense.  He trusted Thor, had faith in him, but strange monsters
turned up everywhere and who knew what kinds of horrors Thor could be up
against?
As if it were an illusion his sorcery had conjured up, Loki heard the clip-clop
of metal-shod hooves on the road and he stood up quickly.  There was Thor,
resplendent in silver and red and (just as Loki imagined) with his hair glowing
in the afternoon sun.  He caught sight of Loki and grinned, waving, nudging his
horse to a stop.
“Loki!” he yelled, dismounting.  Loki was running before his brain caught up
with him and he had a glimpse of Thor’s happy blue eyes before he was swept up
in warm, strong arms.  “Ah, Loki, how I have missed you!”
“You were away for two days, Thor, fighting monsters; I’m sure you had no time
to miss me,” Loki said, running his thumb over a small cut on Thor’s
cheekbone.  “You are well, then?”
“Of course I am, Loki,” Thor said.  “I brought you some gifts.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“Oh, I did,” Thor said, winding Loki’s plaited hair around his wrist and
tugging him closer.  “Is it not tradition for men to bring tokens for the ones
they love?”
“If you say so.  May I see?” Loki asked, but Thor shook his head.
“Before I left…I do believe we talked about a kiss.”  Thor’s confident smile
was hovering at the sides of his mouth, but behind it he looked hesitant.
“A kiss for the warrior prince, then,” Loki whispered, leaning closer to Thor
and pressing their lips together.  Thor made a little groaning noise and held
Loki tighter, one hand on the small of his back and the other cupping his head,
and his tongue slipped out to swipe over Loki’s lips.  Loki gasped and Thor
kissed him again before pulling away.
“Here,” Thor said, taking Loki’s hand and pulling him over to the horse.  He
detached a bag from the saddle and gave it to Loki.  Inside were beautiful
scales of many colours and sizes.  Serpent scales, a kingly gift which would be
of much value to his study of sorcery.
“Oh, Thor,” Loki exclaimed, flinging his arms around Thor’s neck and kissing
him again.
***** Chapter 10 *****
Chapter Notes
     Warning for sex in this chapter. (Loki is 16, Thor is 19)
     Also apologies if the smut is bad. This is my late-night writing and
     smut is hard. (hahah)
Thor fancied him a shy virgin, but Loki knew what happened behind closed doors,
what broken promises were whispered out into the night, the frantic pleas and
curses pulled from panting lips as two people found pleasure with each other.
After all, Loki had been grooming himself to be married to Thor for many years
now, even if his position as bride was not confirmed. He’d extensively
researched his possible duties in the bedroom (there were many books in the
Asgardian library that detailed sexual acts and positions, along with helpful
diagrams; Loki was certain that, whoever he ended up married to, he would not
be a disappointing lay).
He had also discovered many things about his own Jotun physiology that his
father hadn’t deigned to inform him of. Loki would sexually mature and become
able to bear children when he was about nineteen Winters old, and there would
be no need for the lubricating oil that male Aesir men used when lying with
each other. Since carrying children was natural for Jotuns, the entrance to
Loki’s womb would produce its own lubrication to ease the way. As Loki read
more and more about babies and sexual intercourse, he found himself wanting
both of them. He found himself wanting Thor, who was growing more handsome
every day, who gave Loki little smiles and caresses and kept a flame of desire
kindled in Loki’s stomach.
--
When Loki turned sixteen, after a celebratory feast, Thor made good on his
constant foreplay and took Loki to bed.
“You really did not have to wait for this long,” Loki griped as he tugged at
Thor’s ceremonial tunic. Thor merely laughed and began unlacing Loki’s
trousers.
“I did, Loki,” Thor rumbled. “It would not have done to coerce you into my bed
at such a young age. People would talk, it is unseemly.”
“Everyone knows that I am promised to you, Thor,” Loki gasped as Thor kissed
his neck, feeling the pleasurable rasp of stubble. “No-one would question the
Prince taking his future consort.”
“Humour me, beloved,” Thor said. They managed to unclothe themselves and Loki
climbed onto Thor’s huge bed, draping the braid of his long hair over the
pillows before drawing Thor down on top of him. Thor kissed Loki like he was
something precious and treasured, giving Loki everything with his hands and
tiny thrusts of his hips. Loki felt his entrance beginning to leak lubricant
and he canted his hips up with a breathy moan.
“Thor, please!”
“So impatient, little one,” Thor teased, but he trailed his hand up Loki’s leg
and eased a finger inside him. Loki let out a high pitched whine, arching his
back as he felt more slick substance gushing out. Thor was twisting his finger,
stroking every part of Loki and making his toes curl in anticipation.
“I take it we won’t require oil, then?” Thor said, eyes wide as he gazed down
at Loki.
“One would think that you would at least ask somebody what to expect before
sleeping with someone from another race,” Loki moaned. “Of course we won’t need
oil. Now, give me more.” Thor leaned down to lick over Loki’s stomach as he
added another finger, stretching Loki out and sending lightning bolts of
pleasure up his spine. He felt open and needy, now, an itch welling up inside
him that he needed Thor to scratch.
“Thor, take me, I’m ready,” he said, winding his fingers through Thor’s hair
and tugging.
“You are sure?” Thor asked as he slowly tugged at his own weeping cock,
spreading Loki’s lubricant over his impressive length and resting his other
hand on Loki’s jutting hipbone. Loki groaned and pushed Thor onto his back,
then swung a leg over Thor’s belly. He could feel his hair trailing down his
back and he tossed it over his shoulder.
“We’ll never get anywhere with you in charge, evidently,” Loki smirked. He
reached back and grasped Thor’s cock – drawing a strangled moan out of the
Aesir – then positioned it at his entrance and slowly sank down. Though much
wider than two fingers, the slide was easier than Loki expected, with very
little pain and an overwhelming sense of fullness. The slight burn only added
to his pleasure. When he opened his eyes, Thor was staring up at him as though
he were under a spell, chest heaving with huge breaths. Loki smiled softly,
giving an experimental roll of his hips which made both young men moan. Thor
placed one hand on Loki’s pale thigh and took Loki’s hair in the other, pulling
Loki down to kiss while Loki kept moving up and down. They ended up with their
cheeks pressed together, harsh huffs of breath sounding in their ears as their
bodies thrust in tandem again and again.
Loki released first, almost as soon as Thor wrapped a big hand around his
length, sobbing Thor’s name into his sun-warm skin. As Loki relaxed, boneless
after his orgasm, Thor swiftly rolled them over and thrust a few more times
into Loki’s arching body and then Loki felt his release, warm and sticky deep
within him.
“Thor,” Loki gasped, wrapping his legs around Thor’s hips to keep him inside.
“Oh. Oh.” Thor nodded, nuzzling into Loki’s neck and embracing him.
“We shouldn’t have waited for so long,” Loki sighed. “Imagine how many more
times we could have done that.” Thor laughed and kissed Loki gently on the
lips.
“I am glad we waited until now,” he whispered. “It feels better this way. I
care for you, Loki, perhaps more than anything, and I couldn’t bear to see you
hurt.” Loki smiled and pressed his face into Thor’s hair to hide it.
***** Chapter 11 *****
Loki awoke in the chilly morning with a furnace in the form of Thor wrapped
around him. The young man was still asleep, making deep rumbling sounds as he
breathed, his arm loosely draped over Loki’s hip. Loki shifted, rolling over to
face Thor, wincing slightly as he felt the evidence of last night’s coupling
between his thighs – he cleaned himself with a twitch of his fingers, and
silently thanked the fates for his gift of magic. Thor stirred, his arm flexing
around Loki and he let out a huge yawn.
“Is it morning?” he murmured, pulling Loki closer.
“It’s morning, Thor,” Loki smiled, pressing himself up against Thor’s warm
chest. “Your parents will expect us to break fast with them.”
“What if I want to keep you here forever?” Thor whispered. He clasped Loki’s
neck and kissed him on the cheek.
“We will have many millennia together and all the mornings that come with
them,” Loki said. “I am not going anywhere.” Thor’s face softened and he kissed
Loki again, but this time Loki chased his lips and deepened the kiss.
“It can’t hurt to stay abed for a little longer,” Loki grinned, pulling Thor on
top of him.
--
Thor helped Loki to comb his hair out and freshen up before they joined Odin
and Frigga in their chambers. Loki saw Frigga’s eyebrows raise briefly before
she schooled her expression – Loki had tried his best to remove evidence of his
time in bed with Thor, but Frigga knew these things – and Odin merely cleared
his throat and wished them good morning. The meal was comfortable enough, with
Odin beginning to organise another diplomatic visit to Jotunheim and Frigga
discussing last night’s celebrations. When the meal was over, Loki took his
leave (placing a chaste kiss on Thor’s cheek as he went) and left the family to
themselves.
--
When Loki was gone and the servants had cleared the table, Frigga led Thor to a
couch and sat beside him.
“Son,” she said gently. “Am I correct in my assumptions?”
“What assumptions are you making, Mother?”
“Did you and Loki spend the night with each other?”
“Thor, I only want what is best for you both.” She sighed, and took Thor’s
hand, patting it soothingly. “You are aware that he is merely sixteen?”
“Do you think I do not know that?” Thor leapt up and ran a hand through his
hair. “Do you think I have not spent the last four, five years loving him and
knowing I could not touch him because of his age? I have reined myself back for
all this time, resisted him and he didn’t make it easy for me with the way his
eyes always begged for it. He says that he wanted to, that I did not take
advantage of him, but still I feel guilt for what I have done.” Thor threw
himself back down next to his Mother, who embraced him.
“If Loki consented, then you must trust him,” Frigga said. “Remember that when
you were his age, you went to prove your manhood and brought back serpent
scales. Loki may be sixteen years in body, but his mind is far more; he has
been through many things and has grown as a result.”
“I know that, Mother…but sometimes I see him looking out towards the Bridge,
with this look in his eye, and I wonder if he’s doing it all for the father to
whom he thinks he owes his life.”
“Loki is shrewd, Thor. I have no doubt that, despite any orders from King
Laufey, Loki would twist and dance and get what he wanted in the end. It seems
that you are what he wants.”
“Should I give him time?” Thor asked, fidgeting. He knew full well that he was
more than adequate in the bedroom, but less so in matters of love. “Should I
leave him to his own devices for a few more years?”
“I cannot decide for you,” Frigga said, laying a kiss on his brow. “You must do
this on your own, Thor. Take care that you do not break his heart, or yours.”
***** Chapter 12 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
A few nights later, when Loki was nestled in his arms and their bodies slowly
cooled in the night air, Thor asked.
“Have you ever thought of being with anyone else?”
Loki snorted.  “Of course I have.”  Thor pulled back a little, jealousy curling
light lightning around his ribs, before Loki laughed and patted his cheek. 
“I’d never act on it, have no fear,” he said.  Thor hesitated, looking away for
a moment.
“Would you like to?” he asked.
“Like to do what?” Loki replied warily.
“Act on it.  Be with other people.  We’re young yet, Loki, there is no rush to
be married or…for other things.”  Thor glanced at Loki’s stomach then rolled
over, hoisting himself to his feet and picking up his robe.
“What are you saying, Thor?” Loki sat up, pulling his blankets up to cover his
sudden chill.
“I think you should have some time to be yourself, try things.  You could find
somebody you like more.”
“Thor!” Loki exclaimed.  “I’m never going to…”  His protests were cut off by
Thor pulling on his robe and leaving Loki’s chambers, the door slamming behind
him.
Loki’s silver tongue turned to lead in his mouth and he curled up in his bed,
alone, letting his skin bleed back to blue and feeling colder than ever.
--
A week passed with Loki barely seeing hide nor hair or Thor.  The Aesir prince
was either out hunting bilgesnipe with the Warriors Three, having private
lessons, sparring (in some place that wasn’t the sparring hall) or frequenting
multiple taverns outside the palace grounds.  When Loki did manage to catch
sight of Thor, he was always in the company of the warriors or a busty blonde
maiden and quickly disappeared before Loki could call out to him.
Loki felt listless and betrayed; how had Thor moved so quickly from
declarations of love and pledges of lifetimes together to this total avoidance?
“You are young, Loki,” Sif reasoned as Loki paced back and forth in their
sparring room.
“Why must everyone continue to remind me of this?” Loki fumed.  “I am not a
babe-in-arms, fit only to be coddled and cooed at.  I am a Prince, an envoy for
peace, I was meant to be betrothed by now.  Besides, I love Thor, and it is not
as if I must sleep with half of Asgard to confirm it.  I don’t wantanybody
else!”
“Have you told this to him?” Sif asked, stilling his pacing and making him sit
down.  Loki buried his face in his arms.
“I have tried,” he said.  “I thought he saw me as an equal, that he wasn’t
worried about the difference in our ages.  We’re going to live for centuries,
millennia, it doesn’t matter anyway.”  He reached up and eased his hair out of
the tight knots he kept it in for training, letting it loose to slide down his
shoulders.  “He won’t speak to me.  I’m wondering…perhaps he has forgotten my
true heritage.”  Loki looked up at Sif, his eyes flashing red, and Sif looked
back at him unflinchingly.
“Your nature only makes you more beautiful, Loki, and I’m sure that Thor would
tell you the same.”  She clapped him on the shoulder and stood up.  “I
overheard Fandral saying that they’d be down at The Golden Palace tavern
tonight.  You should go and talk to Thor.”  Loki huffed and glanced away, a
little corner of his mind protesting that Thor should come to him and explain
himself.
“Don’t give me that face,” Sif admonished.  “You know Thor; he will never get
his head together on his own, you have to give him that push over the edge.”
“If you say so,” Loki sighed, standing up and brushing off his clothing.  “I’ll
find him tonight.”
Chapter End Notes
     Apologies for the delay and the short update! I should have another
     chapter up tomorrow.
***** Chapter 13 *****
Loki stood in front of his full-length mirror, feeling much like a lovesick
maiden.  He had dressed in dark green silk and black leather edged with gold;
he knew it brought out the light in his emerald eyes and highlighted the
paleness of his skin.  He wanted Thor to notice him.  Contemplatively, Loki
shifted his skin in a blur until his face was fuller, the curves of his body
gentler, his flat chest swelled with small pert breasts.  Loki often looked at
himself in this form, wondered if Thor would like him better if he were this
way, wondered if he’d maintain it if Thor asked him to.  He turned, jutted a
hip out, fluttered his eyelashes, then sighed and shook off the female guise
like a bird shedding feathers.  He looped the braid of his hair over his arm
and left to find Thor.
--
The colourful stars above the palace began beginning to twinkle into view
against the darkening sky as Loki left his rooms, making his way down into the
city and greeting people he knew along the way.  He always made an effort to
make himself known to the general Aesir public, make enough friends so he had
people to fall back on if he lost favour with the Allfather or with Thor.  It
never hurt to be cautious.
A few of the children he knew ran up to him and clustered around his legs,
tugging gently at his hair and clothing.  They squealed and clapped when he
waggled Jotun-blue fingertips in their faces and made little sparkling lights
burst around their ears.  A few of them handed him trinkets that they’d found
during the day and Loki smiled, secreting them away in a pocket, thanking them
and kissing their little foreheads.  He liked children, he decided; it would
not be a hardship to bear and raise them himself in the future.  They scampered
off, waving goodbye happily, and Loki continued on his way.
The tavern had a rather nice exterior, all dark wood and golden lettering,
evidently one of the higher-scale carousing locales.  There was already a fair
amount of people inside, men and women, the sound of laughter and slightly
drunken singing drifting out onto the street.  Loki wrinkled his nose – he’d
never liked the easy physicality and loudness that almost all Aesir regressed
to when drunk.  Listening carefully, Loki strained his ears for the familiar
sound of Thor’s booming voice, his belly-laugh, but only heard the murmur of
unfamiliar people. He crossed to the other side of the street and sunk into the
shadows, cloaking himself in darkness as he waited.
It wasn’t too long until Thor and the Warriors Three came into view, chatting
and grinning as if they hadn’t a care in the Nine Realms.  Loki stepped out of
the darkness just as a tall, curvaceous woman with long dark hair exited the
tavern and marched straight up to Thor.  Loki froze in his tracks as Thor
hooked a casual arm around her waist and bent to let her whisper in his ear,
then pulled back and kissed her full on the mouth.
Loki may have gasped, he may have whimpered, but there were cold tears
prickling the corners of his eyes and it hurt more than he expected to see Thor
with someone else. He turned and ran, his cloak fanning out behind him, and
there was a cry of LOKIbut he was gone already.
He didn’t stop running until he was back at the palace, safe in his rooms, all
manner of spells barricading his door.  There were icy tears on his face and he
was shaking, angry at Thor and angry at himselffor being so emotionally
attached, for setting himself up to be hurt.  He took off his finery, leaving
it draped messily over a chair and crawled into bed, burying his face in a
pillow and let himself cry.
His tears washed away the smell of Thor and left him with a wet pillow and an
empty heart.
--
Loki awoke late the next morning and decided not to leave his rooms, feeling
childish and foolish about it but still appreciating the time alone.  Sif came
by at one point in the day, her voice muffled through the heavy wood of his
door, and asked tentatively if he was alright – he thanked her, assured her
that he was fine (physically) and soon after, a servant brought him a large
platter of meat, bread and fruit.  Loki got out of bed and curled up on a couch
with a book, picking at the food on the platter as he read.
Another platter came just after sundown, with hot roast beef and steaming
vegetables and a honey cake on the side.  Loki ate the cake first, relishing
the sweet stickiness that lingered on his hands, and was halfway through the
roast when a knocking sounded on his door.  He paused in the act of licking his
fingers to see if the intruder would leave, but the dull knocking continued.
“Loki!” Thor’s voice, unsteady and still so loud reached Loki’s ears and he
sighed.  “Loki!  I would talk with you!”
“Go away, Thor,” Loki said, flicking his fingers and sending a little shock of
seidr to deter Thor.  He heard Thor yelp, but he didn’t let up and went back to
pounding on the door.  Loki cursed and stood up, letting the door slide open
with a twist of his wrist.  Thor stumbled ungracefully into the room and cast
around for Loki.  Upon seeing him, Thor staggered over and enfolded Loki in his
warm arms.  Loki stood still, inhaling deeply and smelling mead on Thor’s
breath – of coursehe was drunk, why had he expected any different – then tried
to push Thor away.
“Loki, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Thor was saying, squeezing Loki tightly.  “I
shouldn’t have, I didn’t want to, but I thought…I thought that you…”
“You should know what happens when you try to think by now, Thor,” Loki
snapped, wriggling out of Thor’s hold.  “You cannot just come back and expect
forgiveness.  I am not some tavern wench to be used and cast away!”
“I didn’t know how you felt,” Thor said, sounding suddenly sober.  “I thought
that, perhaps, you were only with me for the good of our kingdoms.”
“Idiot,” Loki hissed.  “How could you think that when anybody with eyes can
tell that I love you?”  There was a moment of silence.
“You do?”  Thor looked shocked, surprised, happy, as if Loki hadn’t shared his
bed with him or kissed him or ever shown him a pinch of affection.
“How could I not?” Loki whispered.  “You are Asgard’s golden prince, a pillar
of strength…one of the first people in my life to treat me as an equal.”  Thor
stepped closer cautiously, bringing a hand find its place around Loki’s neck,
thumb stroking his jaw.
“Why have you never told this to me?” he asked.
“It is not easy to confess love,” Loki said, flushing.
“For me it is,” Thor smiled.  He kissed Loki’s cheek, then his forehead.  “I
love you, Loki.”  He pulled back, looking at Loki expectantly, cocking his head
to one side.
Loki sighed and tried to hide a grin.
“I love you, Thor.”
***** Chapter 14 *****
Chapter Notes
     Apologies for the short chapter, but I wanted to upload something!
When Thor’s kisses began to deepen and his hands wandered down Loki’s back,
Loki pushed him away with a frown.
“If you are going to pledge yourself to me and expect the same in return, you
will have to prove yourself,” Loki said.  “I am aware that many Asgardians take
other lovers during marriage, but I shall not have it.”
“Of course not, Loki, I wouldn’t,” Thor protested, leaning closer again, but
Loki turned away.
“You called me beloved, you made promises with every kiss you gave me, yet here
we are,” Loki said sharply.  “Forgive me if I do not so blindly trust you now.”
“I can prove myself to you,” Thor said quietly.  “I can be everything you
want.”
“Then prove it, Thor,” Loki said, laying a hand on his upper arm.  “Now, we
should both get some sleep.”  Thor glanced at the doorway that led to Loki’s
bed, then stepped back and nodded.
“I will see you tomorrow?” he asked.
“Yes,” Loki said, tilting his head for a goodnight kiss.  “Until then.”  Thor
kissed Loki chastely, smiled and left for his own rooms.
--
The next morning, Loki broke fast with Thor, Odin and Frigga.  At the table,
Thor passed Loki the jar of honey and cleared his throat.
“Allfather,” he said.  “I would like to make a journey to Jotunheim.”  Odin
raised an eyebrow.
“For what purpose?”
“I seek King Laufey’s blessing so that I may court his son.”  Loki had
stiffened in his chair, green eyes wide, lips slightly parted in shock.  “I
know that it is not necessary, but I feel that I must show my commitment to
this union and my acceptance of everything that Loki is.”  Odin glanced at
Loki, then at his wife.
“You shall go, then,” he said.  Thor nodded.
“Loki, would it please you to accompany me?  I know that you have not returned
to your homeland since you came to Asgard.”
“It would please me,” he said quietly.  He wasn’t sure of how warm his
reception would be, or what his father would say; but a part of him longed for
Jotunheim’s icy winds, the crunch of ice and snow under his feet, to see his
city in all its restored glory.  “Thank you, Thor.”
--
On the morning of their journey to Jotunheim, Thor came to Loki’s room and
knocked (quietly and politely, for once.  He really was making an effort.) 
Loki gestured and the door opened; Thor stepped in, a mass of fur and silk and
velvet in green, black and white draped over his arms.
“Good morning,” he said, and Loki nodded in acknowledgement.  “If you wish to
keep your Aesir form on Jotunheim, you will be cold.  I had this made for
you.”  Thor held the garment out and Loki took it from him, holding it up and
finding that it was a large, warm-looking coat in his favourite colours.
Loki recognised the courting tradition immediately – Thor was bringing him
useful things, things Loki desired or needed, to show that he could be a good
spouse and was able to provide.  It was endearing that Thor was taking time to
court him properly, in a way that befitted the future consort of a Prince.
“It is beautiful,” Loki smiled.  Thor ducked his head and helped Loki to drape
the coat around his shoulders.  It was comfortable, perfectly sized, and very
warm.
“Are you ready to depart?” Thor asked.  Loki checked himself in the mirror
again – it wouldn’t do to look any less than he was when greeting his father –
then sighed.
“Let’s go, then.”  He half expected Thor to ask him whether he was nervous
about seeing his father again, but Thor stayed silent, giving him a knowing
(and slightly sympathetic) look and clasping a comforting hand around his
neck.  Loki felt a little better.
***** Chapter 15 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Loki’s first breath of Jotunheim felt like a blow to the chest, like swallowing
shards of ice, a little bit like home.  While the Bifrost site used to be in
the middle of nowhere overlooking a bleak stretch of greying snow and sharp
rock, it was now on a platform facing a road that led to Utgard, the city where
Loki grew up.
He gasped, the sight so different to the last glimpse he’d had of his home. 
Before, the ice and stone of the city was a dull blue cloudy with resentment
and dissent; the rebuilt city was grand and glorious with stalagmite towers
reaching as high as the mountains, the ice seeming to glow an eerie aquamarine
as it thrummed with power.  Loki shivered – partly from the cold and partly
from the feeling of magic flowing over his skin.
“It has changed,” Thor said quietly, brushing his hand over Loki’s shoulder. 
“It is better now, I think.”
“It is,” Loki replied, thinking of all the Jotun children who would now grow up
knowing light and splendour instead of the shadows he had known.  “The
Allfather did a good thing when he decided to negotiate with Laufey.”  He
turned to look at Thor, finding the Aesir looking back at him, a small smile
playing across his lips.  He rested his fingertips on Loki’s cheek,
uncharacteristically gentle and soft.
“It was a very good thing.”
--
With their accompaniment of five Asgardian warriors and two large Jotun guards,
Loki and Thor made their way to the citadel and entered Laufey’s hall.  It
glimmered with light that filtered through the ice and their boots made
satisfying crunching sounds on the snow.  Loki looked around, remembering his
childhood here, remembering Laufey brooding upon his rotting throne.
“Welcome,” comes Laufey’s deep voice.  “Prince Loki and Prince Thor.”  They
halted before the throne, and Thor bowed low.
“King Laufey.  I bring regards from the Allfather.”  Laufey nodded and turned
his red eyes on Loki, who bowed his head.
“Father,” he said.
“You have grown well, my son,” Laufey remarked.  He stood.  “Now, Thor; I
believe you requested an audience with me to discuss important matters?”
“Indeed,” Thor said.  “Would it please you for Loki to accompany us?”
“I would speak to you in private,” Laufey rumbled.  “I am sure that Loki would
like to see how the palace has changed since his time here.”
Loki clenched a fist at the clear dismissal and muttered something about the
library, shared one last look with Thor and turned on his heel.
One of the Jotun guards followed him out, footsteps heavy on the ice.  Loki
still remembered where the library was; but once he got there, the guard put a
large blue hand on the door.
“Prince Loki,” he said.  Loki turned to face him and the guard knelt.  “Prince,
you gave yourself so that Jotunheim could have new life.  You brought peace
between our worlds.”  Loki stared, trying to hide his shock.  “All of us are
grateful to you.”
“Thank you,” Loki said, and his skin flowed to blue as he clasped the Jotun’s
large hand.
--
“Son of Odin,” Laufey said as the warriors moved to the back of the hall to
give them some privacy.  “You, too, have grown.”
“Such things occur over the passage of time,” Thor remarked, waiting for Laufey
to seat himself on the throne before he sat on the chair in front of it.
“Indeed, indeed,” Laufey said.  “I expect that you are here to bargain for my
son?”
“I believe that any bargaining was between you and the Allfather before Loki
came to Asgard.  By rights, he is mine.”  Laufey leaned forwards, bracing his
elbows on his knees.
“Then, Odinson, why have you come here?”
“I wish to court Loki, and I would do so with your blessing.”  Thor took the
discreet pack he’d been carrying and laid it across his knees, withdrawing two
elaborately wrought silver vambraces from their protective fur swaddling.  He
held the vambraces outstretched and knelt before Laufey.  “I present this gift
to you as a gesture of my goodwill and allegiance to your house.”
“I would be pleased to accept,” Laufey said, resting the tips of his fingers on
the silver.  “And I wish you well in your courtship.”  Laufey picked the
vambraces up and admired them, checking the fit, then he lay them on a small
table beside the throne.
“Your approval will mean a lot to Loki,” Thor said softly.  Laufey snorted.
“I doubt it,” he said.  “I feel that Loki has not been my son since the instant
he stepped into the Bifrost, the moment he saw you.  Perhaps even before that.”
“He will be happy,” Thor said.  “You will always be his father, no matter how
far apart you are, how few words you have exchanged.  He often looks across the
Bridge, towards Jotunheim, and I imagine that he is looking for you.”
Laufey turned his head, red eyes half-closed.
“Sometimes I wonder…”  He sighed.  “I will find Loki; I wish to speak to him
before you leave.”  Thor nodded and Laufey rose smoothly, clicking his
fingers.  A servant came to take the vambraces away as Laufey left in the
direction Loki had gone.  Thor hoped they would be alright.
--
Loki was looking through sorcery books with the Jotun librarian when Laufey
found him.  He tucked the book back onto the shelf carefully before turning and
bowing.
“I take it your talk with Thor went well, Father?” Loki asked.
“It did,” Laufey said.  He nodded to the librarian and the other Jotuns in the
library before gesturing to Loki.  “Walk with me.”  Laufey lead him to a
balcony overlooking the pale expanse of snow.  It was so beautiful and so cold
that Loki exhaled gustily – his Asgardian breath plumed like white fire in the
air – and he let himself go.  He doesn’t feel cold, then, and his breath didn’t
blur his view of the landscape.
“I never told you that I was proud of you, Loki,” Laufey said.  Loki looked up
at his father, their red eyes meeting with miles in between.  “Sometimes I
wonder what would have happened if…”
“Father, there is no sense in dwelling in the past,” Loki said, sliding his
hand into Laufey’s and gripping tightly.  He felt small and afraid all over
again.  “What is done has been done.  I love Asgard and I love Thor, there will
be no changing that.”
“I would not take your life from you after all that you have done for us,”
Laufey said, clutching Loki’s hand and laying a hand on his shoulder.  “You
were so young, yet you did everything I asked; more than that.”
“It was an honour, Father,” Loki reassured him.  “I have found where I want to
be.”  Laufey smiled and knelt, keeping a hold of Loki’s hand.
“Loki – I have given Thor my permission and blessing to court you.  He is
honourable and will be a good king, someday.”  Laufey reached into a pouch on
the gilded belt at his waist and drew out a chain with a large blue jewel hung
on it.  “May your days be ever happy, your sons be hale, hearty and strong,
your daughters as beautiful as the new snow on the mountains.  Please accept
this gift as a gesture of my goodwill and my love for you.”
Loki smiled, tears freezing as they left his eyelids, and took the jewel from
Laufey.  As soon as he touched it, he felt the thrum of Jotun magic.
“Thank you, Father,” he said, wrapping his arms around Laufey’s neck in an
embrace.  Laufey’s arms curled around him, tentatively, but there nevertheless.
Chapter End Notes
     Apologies, again, for the late update. The story's beginning to
     meander towards the end, so stay tuned for a few more chapters!
***** Chapter 16 *****
Chapter Notes
     Many, many apologies for not updating - I'm attempting to study for
     important exams at the moment, and my writing muse is all over the
     place, so I haven't been able to write Transaction much. Please have
     this little something to tide you over until I can actually get some
     writing done!
Laufey accompanied Loki back to the throne hall, where Thor was examining some
of the Jotun armour and statues in the wall alcoves.  When Loki approached,
Thor looked up quickly, visibly relaxing when he saw that Loki was unharmed.
 He eyed the pendant hanging proudly at Loki's breast, then gathered the
Asgardian warriors behind him with a flick of his head.
"We thank you for your hospitality, King Laufey," Thor said.
"And I thank you for your thoughtfulness, Thor Odinson."  Laufey paused,
glancing over at Loki.  "It was good to see my son again."
"If you and Loki wish, the Bifrost is open to you if you would like to visit."
"I would like that, Father," Loki said.  "We should not go so long without
seeing one another."
"I will come with you to the Bifrost," Laufey said.  "This way." 
Flanked by two more Jotun guards, the group made their way back across the
snowy path to the Bifrost site.  Loki asked his Father about the various
visible changes of the palace and Laufey discussed the reconstructions; Thor
hid a smile at the new affection in the interaction that wasn't present a few
hours ago.  He knew that Loki had always desired closeness from his Father,
closeness that he had seen in Thor's exchanges with his parents.  He looked
happier already. 
When they reached the Bifrost site, Loki changed into his Jotun form and
clasped Laufey's hand, holding on for a few moments as they smiled at each
other.  Then Loki stepped back and became Asgardian as he slipped his cold
fingers into Thor's palm, Laufey and Thor exchanged respectful nods, and the
blues and whites of Jotunheim blurred into the rainbow-gold of Asgard.  One of
Loki's hands was blue where he clutched the pendant and his green eyes were
wavering with tears.  Thor pulled Loki closer and Loki let him, burying his
face into Thor's shoulder and exhaling in little sobs. 
***** Chapter 17 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Thor didn’t cease his courtship after he had received the blessing from
Laufey.  He would visit Loki's rooms a few times a week, knocking politely on
the door and presenting him with fine gifts and a kiss on the cheek.  At first
there were new, perfectly balanced throwing knives, then cloaks and supple
leather boots, armour, and occasionally a blushing Thor presented him with a
bouquet of flowers, holding them out uncertainly as if he were unsure of his
welcome.  Loki always accepted them with a smile, fingering the silky petals
and displaying them in crystal vases next to his bed.  Sometimes he tucked a
few into his braid and wore them during the day, which always made Thor smile.
The best gift, however, came a few months after Loki's visit to Jotunheim.  He
had visited the library to do some research for Maeva, and was surprised to see
Thor at one of the long wooden tables with books, scrolls and maps strewn in
front of him.
"What are you doing here?" Loki asked.  Thor looked up, startled, unconsciously
clasping a book closer to his chest.
"Am I - am I not allowed to visit the library?" he said defensively.
"Do not jest with me, Odinson, we both know how difficult it is for me to drag
you in here.  What are you doing?"  Thor sighed, relenting.
"I am planning, if you must know.  Father told me of a settlement in a far
valley - they are overrun with bilgesnipe, and many of their crops have been
destroyed.  I offered to go with the Warriors Three to assist them, and I hoped
that you and Sif would accompany us."
Loki froze.  It was one thing for Thor and his friends to go gallivanting off
on a 'noble quest'; it was different altogether to ask Loki, the Jotun prince-
bride and Sif, a woman, to join them.  Loki had doubted that Thor would ever
initiate a conversation about letting him leave the palace and engaging in
potentially dangerous activities, so Thor's earnest, hopeful face was a
complete surprise.
"Thor," Loki smiled, sitting down next to him on the bench.  "We would both
love to come.  Thank you, so much."  Thor smiled and cupped Loki's cheek for a
moment, kissing him lightly on the corner of the mouth.  "You could have asked
me for assistance in the library, you know," Loki prodded.  "Since I know my
way around better then you do."  Thor withdrew his hand and fidgeted with a
scroll.
"I didn't want you to see me as incompetent," he said quietly.  "I wanted to be
prepared, so that I could answer your questions when we talked, so that you
would not…"
"Thor, it's alright," Loki shushed him, wrapping an arm around his waist in a
half-embrace.  "I am well aware that we all have our different strengths.  I
would be useless leading a battle.  That is what a relationship is, Thor, that
we complement each other's abilities; together we form a stronger being than
just ourselves."
"I...thank you for understanding, Loki.  I only want to be good enough for
you."
"You are a good man, Thor, and the way you treat me…" Loki trailed off, shaking
his head with a small smile on his face.  "Do not doubt my love for you."
"And know that I love you, Loki."  Thor relaxed and kissed him again.  "Will
you stay and talk with me?"
"I cannot - I must find some books for Maeva."  Loki stood and hesitated with
his hand on Thor's shoulder.  "You should come by my rooms tonight.  You can
bring the maps and tell me about bilgesnipe."  Thor flushed and grinned
elatedly.
"I will see you, then," he said, and Loki twirled a strand of his golden hair
around his finger before he walked away.
--
After his lessons, Loki met Sif in the sparring room but promptly dragged her
out to a secluded part of the palace gardens.
"Loki, what are we doing out here?" she asked, leaning against one of the huge
trees and raising an eyebrow.
"I have some news," Loki smiled slyly, barely able to contain his excitement. 
Sif only rolled her eyes.
"Are you and Thor finally betrothed, then?" she said, lips twitching.  Loki
huffed.
"No, but it has to do with Thor.  He is going with Fandral, Volstagg and Hogun
to a valley settlement harried by bilgesnipe.  He asked me if you and I would
like to go with them."
Sif's mouth fell open and her eyes widened almost comically as she made aborted
half-attempts at speech.
"What?" she finally managed, grabbing Loki by the shoulders.  "Really?  Are you
certain that is what he said?"
"I would not lie to you about this," Loki said quietly, taking her hands in his
and squeezing.  She was trembling.
"I always thought...I would have to sneak off in the dead of night to go on my
first quest," Sif said.  "I'm a woman.  And you - Loki, I can hardly believe
that Thor would…"
"It is not a question of him allowing me anything," Loki said with a tilt of
his head.  "I can do as I please, within reason.  Thor knows that he cannot
cage me up like some jewel, taken out some time to be shown off and then left
to grow dusty.  He knows that and he is coming to accept it, as he is coming to
accept you."
"Loki, I'm just so surprised that we would have this opportunity," Sif smiled,
hugging him tightly.  "I never let myself dream that this would happen."
"Even if he didn't offer, I would have talked him around eventually," Loki
smirked.  "You shouldn't worry so much.  He cares for us."
"You mean that he would do anything for you," Sif grinned, nudging him with her
shoulder as they began walking back to the palace.  Loki blushed and stayed
silent, silver tongue heavy in his mouth for once.
 
--
 
Loki took his evening meal in his rooms, absently picking at his food with a
fork while he held books open with his other hand, researching bilgesnipes and
whether they were useful for anything other than rampaging.  When he heard Thor
knocking, he quickly replaced the books on his shelf and opened the door with a
smile.  Thor himself was laden with scrolls and large maps, his bright grin
peeking out from behind a feathered quill.
"It is a fair evening, Loki," Thor said as he dropped the scrolls on Loki's
wooden desk.  "I am eager to share my knowledge with you."
"And I am eager to receive it," Loki replied.  "I talked to Sif and she is very
excited to accept your invitation."
"That is good news.  I know that she will be a worthy ally and friend.  I did
not expect her abilities to become so impressive, but she has proven herself to
be strong beyond the limitations of her gender."
"I'm sure that there would be many more like her if you allowed girls out of
their homes and let them take lessons with the boys."
"I am beginning to think that your insight would be very much welcome in regard
to Asgard's affairs, Loki."
"One day, perhaps," Loki said.  "One day.  Now - how about you tell me all
about the village we are going to help?"
Thor spoke about the village, Askival, its inhabitants and the state of their
important crops, then informed Loki about the best way to kill and skin
bilgesnipe.  Loki had found that their horns could be useful for a spell or
two, so Thor agreed to carry a few horns home with them. 
 
After Loki was satisfied with the amount of notes he'd written, Thor began
packing his books up and making moves towards the door.
"Wait, Thor," Loki said, twisting his hands in his lap nervously.  "Would you
help me with something?"
"What is it, Loki?" Thor asked, putting the papers down and coming towards
Loki, looking over his body concernedly.  "Are you hurt?"
"Oh, no, nothing like that," Loki assured him.  "I just…"  He gestured to the
long braid of hair draped over his shoulder.  "My hair is rather inconvenient
for any kind of quest.  I hoped that you would help me to cut it."
"You want me to cut your hair?" Thor said, reaching out to stroke his fingers
over it.  "You do not wish to keep it?  It is beautiful."
"Beautiful, yes, but unnecessary," Loki said with a wry twist of his mouth.  "I
could do it myself, but…"
"Of course I will help you, it is an honour," Thor said quickly.  "Though I
have never cut hair before."
"Neither have I, but I doubt that it is very difficult," Loki shrugged.  "Come
to the bathing room with me, I have scissors there."
Thor followed Loki and picked up the sleek pair of sharp scissors that lay in
front of the mirror.  Loki sat down on the edge of the bath and removed the
leather ties from his hair, letting it hang loose around his shoulders.  He
closed his eyes for a moment, memorising the silken feel of it against his
cheeks and lips, and felt Thor's tentative fingers combing through it and
massaging his scalp.  Loki sighed as Thor's hands became more confident, his
nails gently scratching behind his ears and at his nape as his fingers made
sure that the hair hung straight down his back.
"Lean back," Thor murmured, pulling at his shoulder, and Loki did as he asked
and leant his shoulders against Thor's broad chest.  "Let me, just for a
while."  Loki relaxed and trusted Thor to support him as he closed his eyes and
allowed himself to enjoy the sensation of Thor taking care of him.
Loki had lost track of time and when Thor pressed a kiss to his forehead, he
felt languid and sleepy, Thor's warmth settled all the way into his bones.
"How short would you like it?" Thor asked quietly.  Loki pointed to a spot a
little lower than his shoulder.
"Around there," he said.  "Not too short."
"Alright."  Loki pulled himself away from the comfort of Thor's body and sat
up, making sure that there was no stray hair in front of his shoulders, and
glanced behind him.  Thor was holding the scissors delicately in his big hands
and regarding Loki with earnest blue eyes.  "Are you comfortable, Loki?"
"Yes.  Just below my shoulders, remember."  Loki turned away and took a few
deep breaths as Thor moved closer and took hold of a lock of Loki's hair.
"Are you ready?" Thor asked.
"Do it," Loki said, and the scissors made a smooth snipping sound as they cut
through his hair.  Thor continued until Loki's newly short hair was brushing
his shoulder blades and curling slightly at the ends, and there was a sea of
black around his feet.  Loki felt lighter and freer, somehow, as if he was now
ready for something new.
 
Thor set the scissors aside and raked his hands through Loki's hair, removing
any lingering long hairs, then stepped back.
"What will you do with all of your hair?" he asked.  Loki turned around and
laughed at the state of the floor.
"I might keep a few strands, but I will destroy the rest.  Sweep it into a pile
for me, will you?"  Loki gathered and plaited some of the hair, curled it
around his hand and then secreted it away inside one of his chests.  Thor had
gathered the rest of the hair into a spare cloth and tied it - Loki decided to
burn it in the morning.
"You look beautiful like this, too," Thor said.  Loki went to him and looked at
himself in the mirror, revelling in the swish of his hair around his face when
his head turned, the way he didn't have to worry about a long braid trailing
around after him.  Behind him, Thor smiled and kissed his cheek.
"I shall be getting back to my rooms now," he said, stroking his hand through
Loki's hair one more time.  "The hour grows late."  Loki turned away from the
mirror and wrapped his arms around Thor's waist.
"Why don't you stay here, tonight?  Just to sleep?"  Thor's eyes lit up, and
his face transformed in a grin.
"I thank you," he said, kissing Loki again.  "I am glad that you trust me."
They disrobed, Loki pulling a loose sleep-shirt over his torso while Thor
remained bare-chested, all his golden skin on display.  Loki slipped beneath
the sheets of his bed and gestured for Thor to follow.  The room held a sense
of anticipation, of emotions not spoken but still understood.  Wordlessly,
their bodies moved towards each other until they were entwined at the centre of
the bed, their breaths mingling between them, Thor's hand running through
Loki's hair in a rhythmic caress.  They slept.
Chapter End Notes
     It's been a while since I last posted, so I hope that this chapter
     makes up for it.
***** Chapter 18 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
It was a few more weeks before Thor, Loki, Sif and the self-proclaimed
'Warriors Three' were able to leave Asgard's brightest city.  Maeva looked over
Loki's notes about bilgesnipe and taught him some strong wards that would deter
them from entering the farming fields.
"Ah, and demonstrate your silence ward for me, Loki," she said, sitting back in
her chair with a little smile tugging at the corners of her lips.  Loki raised
an eyebrow but stood up and created the ward in a circle around himself, then
yelled obscenities loudly to test it.  Maeva nodded and Loki released the spell
with a wave of his hand.
"Why did you have me do that?" he asked.
"I wanted to make sure that you were proficient," Maeva said.  "I am sure that
you will not want your friends to hear what goes on in your tent with Thor." 
Loki flushed and spluttered for a moment.
"Of course I won't be sharing with Thor, that would be improper."
"Oh, don't give me that," Maeva scoffed.  "This quest of yours will be a good
chance to have some quality time together, away from the eyes of the rest of
the court.  Do not waste it, Loki."
"I will try not to do so," Loki promised, while trying to tamp down the
anticipatory butterflies that had sprung to life in his stomach.
 
--
 
They left at midday, with the sun blazing high and bright in the sky, and many
people had taken to the streets to wish the Prince and his company good luck in
their endeavours.  Each of them were riding a horse laden with saddlebags, and
they had another smaller pony carrying supplies.  The road was wide and the
compressed earth almost glowed a burnished bronze in the golden light as Hogun,
Fandral and Volstagg begun to warm up to Sif and discuss weapon technique and
strategy with her.  Loki could see Sif smiling more and relaxing the tense set
of her armoured shoulders.
 
Thor had led the company for a while and then, deeming the Warriors Three were
adequately respectful of Sif, dropped back to ride with Loki.
"It is a good day to ride," Thor remarked.  "We should make it to Askival
within three days at this pace, two if we wake up early tomorrow."
"We'll wake up early, then.  The bilgesnipe need to be seen to sooner rather
than later."
"Of course," Thor said.  "I had hoped that you would spend some time alone with
me."  Loki glanced sideways - eed to get Thor was staring straight ahead with
his jaw set and a despondent, somewhat disappointed look on his face.  Oh.
"Why would you thing that I wouldn't want to spend time with you?  Alone?" Loki
huffed, reaching over and cuffing Thor on the back of his head.  "Don't be
ridiculous.  I merely wish to focus on the task at hand, which is dealing with
the bilgesnipe.  We have all the time in the world for...anything else.  It's
important to take care of our responsibilities before ourselves."  Thor
flushed, embarrassed, looking down at his hands on the reins.
"Mother was right.  You are wise beyond your years."
"Perhaps you are just immature," Loki teased, laughing and sending his horse
into a sideways skip to avoid Thor's playful swipe.
"Loki.  I am glad that you're coming with us."
Loki smiled over at Thor, taking in his rose-dusted cheeks, his hair already in
tangles and coming free of its braid, his bright happy eyes and lopsided half-
grin.
"There isn't anywhere I'd rather be."
Chapter End Notes
     I AM RIDDEN WITH GUILT
     SO MUCH GUILT
     Apparently my brain is unable to write fluff. And is also unable to
     focus on one plot at a time.
     I shouldn't post WIPs.
     So, here, have this little chapter in consolation. The next chapter
     should contain smut. Hurr hurr.
***** Chapter 19 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
When the sky had already bled through to pink, Thor led them down a well-worn
path to a designated rest point that soldiers and travellers used as an
overnight camp. The camp consisted of a large expanse of flat grass (some
places looking ragged from where tents had recently been pitched) and a large
fire pit with a stack of timber laid beside it. A forest lay at the edges of
the site, the leaves on the trees whispering softly in the slight breeze.
Volstagg began setting the fire up while Sif and Hogun assembled the tents.
Fandral and Thor ventured into the forest to catch some game for a meal and
Loki relieved the horses of their burdens. After tethering the horses and
giving them a quick rub-down, Loki explored the edges of the camp and cast a
few wards that would alert him if someone - or something - passed them. It
wouldn't hurt to be cautious.
"Loki!" Volstagg called. "I could use your special brand of assistance over
here!" Loki finished his final ward with a flourish of his fingers, then headed
back towards the fire pit. Volstagg had arranged the logs and smaller kindling
into a rough pyramid and was kneeling beside his creation with a winning smile.
Loki raised an eyebrow.
"It looks as though you have everything under control. What can I help with?"
"Well, I wondered if you could light the fire?"
"You're just too lazy to get up and get your tinderbox, aren't you?" Loki
huffed. Jotuns didn't have much need for fire; they ate their meat raw and
didn't require extra warmth like the Aesir, so Loki was relatively
inexperienced with sorcery concerning flame. "Alright, I'll see what I can do."
Loki knelt down next to the wood and closed his eyes, gathering his power and
focussing it on the tips of his fingers. He opened his eyes when he felt a
burning sensation and then, seeing the sparks and tiny flames licking at his
skin, transferred the fire from his hand to the kindling with a quick gust of
breath. He waited nervously, hoping that the fire would catch, and was pleased
when the crackle of burning wood started up and the fire began to grow.
Volstagg clapped him on the shoulder.
"My thanks, friend," he said. "It is a wonder to see your seidr in action."
Loki's lip twisted, but when he looked up, all he could see in Volstagg's face
was honest appreciation.
--
Thor and Fandral returned with rabbits piled into their packs, laughing and
joking and proud of their success. Thor made a beeline straight for Loki to
present his kills, rather like the hunting dogs at the palace would do, and
Loki didn't bother to suppress his urge to pet Thor on the head. Volstagg, the
designated cook, made quick work of skinning and gutting the rabbits and
beginning to cook them while the others retrieved bread, cheese and fruit from
their packs and finished arranging the tents.
Loki gathered the saddlebags with his clothes and made his way over to the tent
that Sif had claimed.
"What are you doing here?" Sif asked, nudging him with an elbow. "Aren't you
sharing with Thor?"
"I wondered if you'd be more comfortable sharing with me instead of one of the
others."
"Don't worry about me, Loki," Sif said quietly. "Hogun's nice, so I don't
mind."
"Is it proper?" Loki asked. He knew some Asgardians didn't approve of young men
and women sharing living quarters before marriage. Sif laughed.
"Since when have you cared for what's proper?" She waved him off. "Go on. I'm
already a warrior woman, I left the path of 'proper' long ago."
Sif had set Thor's tent up a bit further away from the other two, so Loki threw
his bags inside and set the silence ward around its perimeter. Anticipation for
the night ahead fluttered back to life.
--
They'd all stayed up sitting by the flickering light of the fire (and a few
glowing orbs of Loki's making) until long after the stars had twinkled to life
above them. The dinner of rabbit, bread and cheese had been very different from
the glorious feasts of the palace, but filling and satisfying nevertheless.
They had torn the rabbits apart with their fingers, distributing the meat as
they went, picking at the bones and passing morsels of cheese around the
circle. Volstagg had shown them how to make the cheese melt perfectly over the
bread. Fandral had played his pipes for them as they finished their meal with
fruit, tossing slices of pear and apple across the fire and laughing raucously.
They'd ended up sprawled around the fire; Volstagg petting his full belly,
Hogun and Sif using sticks to draw crude pictures in the dirt, Fandral nodding
off with his head on Volstagg's shoulder while Thor and Loki leant on each
other in companionable silence.
By general agreement, Loki extinguished the fire and illuminated their tents.
With soft wishes of 'goodnight', they all headed their separate ways and Loki
took Thor's hand, guiding them behind the barrier of silence around their tent.
Thor had laid their sleeping pallets and blankets out already, and their
saddlebags lay in a corner out of the way. Loki secured the entrance to the
tent behind them and turned back to Thor, who was crouched on one of the
pallets uncertainly. His hair was mussed and his cheeks flushed from the warmth
of the fire - he looked half debauched already.
Loki smiled and knelt down, crawling towards his betrothed with a sinful arch
in his spine. Thor met him halfway and their lips touched gently, sliding
together smoothly. Pushing Thor down onto his back, Loki straddled his hips and
tugged at his hair as the kiss deepened. They parted with a slick noise and
Thor let out a low groan.
"Do you want to?" Thor whispered. By the dim light of the stars, Loki could
make out the glint of his wet lips and the gleam of his blue eyes.
"I want to," Loki replied, tugging his tunic off and throwing it to the side.
"I've been looking forward to this." They undressed as quickly as they could in
the limited space, laughing when their flailing limbs collided, until they were
finally bare. Loki grinned as he pushed Thor back down, their half-hard cocks
bumping against each other and smearing wetness along their bellies. Thor's
hands wandered over Loki's nipples and over his sides, making him squirm from
the sensitivity of it and retaliate by running his thumbs over the head of
Thor's cock. Thor stifled his loud moan by biting at his wrist, batting Loki's
hands away from his cock.
"They'll hear us!" he hissed.
"No they won't," Loki smirked, undulating his hips so that his leaking entrance
rubbed up and down Thor's cock. "I put a ward up. They won't hear anything, I
promise. Now put those fingers to good use, hmm?"
Placated, Thor squeezed at Loki's rear and ran his fingers up and down his
cleft, spreading the wetness there before he dipped a fingertip inside. Loki
groaned and ground his hips down, trapping Thor's finger and forcing it deeper.
Thor obliged and added another finger which slid easily up into Loki and he
crooked them gently, pressing at the nub of pleasure which he knew would make
Loki cry out. He was rewarded with a high whine and a jerk of Loki's hips as a
spurt of slick pushed out past the plug of his fingers.
"Put your cock in me," Loki demanded, then he let out a breathy sigh as he sank
back down again. "I've missed this," he whispered, rocking gently back and
forth.
"I was stupid," Thor said, voice hoarse and strained as he made abortive
thrusts upward. "I was stupid and I'm sorry."
"You were," Loki said, smiling as he guided Thor's hand to his neglected cock.
"But now we're here. So fuck me."
Chapter End Notes
     Yes, it's been a while but hello I am here and no, this fic has not
     been abandoned.
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