Natural Disaster

Thor and Loki snuck back through camp. Hogun, who was on guard outside Amora’s tent, caught them. When he recognized who they were, he merely shook his head and waved them past.

            They slipped into the tent, Loki still wringing water out of his braid. They giggled like children as Thor hopped to remove his boots- water sloshing in them.

            Thor stopped giggling when Loki removed his cloak. The Vanir silk tunic dissolved against his blue skin. It was completely soaked from where Njord had splashed them and clung to every curve. Thor turned his back to Loki.

            “I’ll give you a moment to change into sleep attire.”

            There was the wet plop of clothing hitting the ground. “There. Sleeping attire.”

            Thor turned around only to find Loki completely nude. He blushed and turned around again. “Loki, I don’t believe that is an appropriate choice of bed-wear for sleeping next to anyone other than a spouse.”

            Loki chuckled.

            The Asgardian sighed. “I’m not sure if you merely enjoy my discomfort or are trying to seduce me in some twisted way.”

            “My nudity makes you uncomfortable?”

            Thor winced. “I did not mean it as such it's just not decent.”

            Loki took a step closer. “Your sensibilities were not offended earlier in the pond.”

            “They’re my friends-”

            “And I’m not?”

            The prince turned to face the other. “You continue to twist my words.”

            Loki stepped closer again so that now their chests touched. “Is it because of my due nature or is it because of the arousal that it causes in you?”

            “It’s not like that-”

            Loki’s hands found Thor’s belt and began to undo it. He looked the Thunderer dead in the eye as he spoke. “Then explain it to me.”

            Thor reached down and grabbed Loki’s wrists. “I do want you. Yet you will be forced to marry someone else for the good of the realm. Should I allow myself to entertain such intimate relations with you, it would only make it much harder to see you married when the arrangements are made… You are so very hard not to fall in love with, Loki.”

            Loki stared at him with big red eyes as he tried to comprehend what Thor was saying. A purple blush spread across his cheeks.

            Thor placed his hand on the side of Loki’s head tilting his face up. “You have turned into a stunning sight to behold.”

            Loki gapped like a fish. It wasn’t often that something left him speechless, but Thor made Loki feel drunk on warm cider. The little Jotun decided the best course of action was to run from his feelings.

            Loki moved away from Thor and retreated to the fur bedding. He pulled the covers over him quickly. “Goodnight, Thor.”

            Thor stood there in confusing. ‘What had he said that offended Loki so. Had he offended him? or was Loki just being a tease again?

            His belt finally gave way, dropping his trousers to the ground. He continued to stand there for a moment. Pants around his ankles, gapping like a fish.

           Finally, Thor sighed and shook his head. ‘Perhaps Loki simply didn’t return his feelings.’ Thor blew out the candles and crawled under the covers. It was too hot to cover himself with the light furs that Loki had. Instead, Thor laid on top of them.

            With one layer of Vanir silk between his back and the furs and another layer of silk over him, Thor was quite cool on this humid summer night.

            Loki, on the other hand, was clearly not comfortable. He turned on his side, his back and his stomach, and then started over again. Refusing to crawl out from his furs, he was beginning to glisten with sweat.

            Thor placed his hands behind his head and smirked. Loki finally let out a growl before ripping the furs off and copying how Thor had prepared his side of the bedding.

            The blond prince chuckled at the other’s frustration.

            “Hush.”

            Thor turned over on his side and just smiled at the Jotun.

            Eventually, Loki turned on his opposite side so they lay facing each other.

            Loki finally found his silver tongue once more. “Frandal’s right you know.”

            “Bout what?”

            Loki smirked. “You would tear me apart if you entered me.”

            Thor sat up and stared down at him. “You looked!”

            The Jotun stretched out. “Oh please, as if you didn’t do the same last night. You were practically drooling over me at the banquet. I could see you imagine me not being able to accommodate your girth.”

            He mocked his own voice. “Oh, Thor. Swoon.” Loki draped a hand dramatically over his forehead. “It’s too big. Just the tip. You’ll break me.”

            “Loki” Thor barked. “You can’t say things like that.”

            Loki let out a lewd moan. “Ohhhhh, Thor, oh, a stallion would be jealous.”

            Loki grinned wickedly at Thor’s obvious displeasure.

            But his look of displeasure morphed into a smirk. “You know my friends on Midgard told me an old mortal legend about you.”

            “About how I brought the Prince of Thunder to his knees.”

            “No about how all Midgardians believe you allowed a stallion to mount you then birthed Sleipnir.”

            Loki was insulted. “I did not! I hope you corrected them!”

            Thor grinned. “Well, you did call him your baby and lead him all over the palace grounds. Besides, clearly, your fantasies involve a stallion”

            The Jotun sat up and smacked Thor onto his back again with the pillow. “You pompous ass!”

            The blond prince laughed. “Better to be an ass than a horse fucker.”

            Loki climbed astride his chest and began pelting Thor in earnest. “I should smother you right now.”

            “Who would be King?”

            Thunk! “Tyr is a fine leader.”

            “He would abdicate. He wants no spouse.”

            “Balder would make a wise one.” Thunk!

            Thor pulled the sheet over Loki’s head. “Balder wouldn’t have the iron will needed.”

            Loki fought with the fabric, which caught on his horns. “Hermod! The people adore him.”

            Thor watched the Jotun struggle with glee. “Doesn’t have the stomach for politics. He’s too caring.”

            “Vidar then!”

            “He’s still a child and father grows weary.”

            Loki gave up removing the blanket and just moved it so Thor was under it with him. “I suppose I won’t kill you then.”

            Thor grinned at him in the darkness. “You’re stuck with me, forever.”

            Loki hesitated before responding in a meek voice. “Until I’m forced to marry.” He whispered. “I’ve accepted my fate. I know marrying for love is out of the question… but sometimes I wish I could choose my fate.”

            Thor took one of Loki’s hand that was on his chest. “I promise, I will never force you to marry someone you don’t love for the sake of the realm.”

            He huffed. “You are as naive as your youngest siblings if you think you can stop that. But I appreciate the sentiment.”

            Thor awoke to find Loki asleep in his arms. They had fallen asleep whispering about plans for their kingdoms. Thor was immensely jealous of whomever Loki married.

            He and Loki would rule a kingdom together, but it wasn’t enough for Thor. He wanted to wake up with Loki like this every morning; he wanted to see Loki toiling in dilemma late at night over policies and laws, and to kiss away that stress from his face; he wanted to watch Loki parade around in his Vanir silks with his womb filled with their child. He was definitely falling in love with his advisor. Thor desperately needed a way to fend off other royal suitors.

            Loki awoke to Thor stroking the lines of his face with the pad of his thumb. Loki groaned as he stretched and pressed himself into Thor’s chest.

            He was acutely aware of their nudity. The Jotun had also never been surer of Thor’s desire for him.

            The proof dug into his thigh.

            “Good morning, your majesty.”

            “I’m still just a prince. It’s your grace formally.”

            Loki traced a finger across Thor’s chest. “You may not yet be King of Asgard but you are my King and the only one I’ll be loyal to.”

            “A silver tongue, indeed.”

Thor moved an arm down around Loki’s waist pulling him even closer. The Asir Prince’s erection pressed into his own quickly forming one. The way Thor was looking at him, made Loki’s heart race. This wasn’t part of the plan. Yet his cunt didn’t seem to care, as it began to quicken.

            Thor brushed his nose against Loki’s. “I never want to leave this tent.”

            “Me either.”

            Thor brought their lips together. Loki’s mouth was pliant but reciprocating of Thor’s movements.

            Thor moved his hand up Loki’s back and across his ribs until his big hands cover Loki’s ribs and cupped his breast.

            When Loki got a bit more confident in the kiss and nipped at Thor’s lip, Thor decided to tease him a bit. He swept a calloused thumb over Loki’s dark nipple and ground his erection into his.

            Loki let out a gasping moan.

            Thor drunk in the noise vowing to himself to be the only one to make Loki moan like that.

            It was, of course, at this moment when Sif and Hogun burst into the tent. “Thor we need-”

            The sight of the two princes stopped her in her thought. The four of them stared at one another with wide eyes.

            Thor and Loki broke apart. “It’s not as it seems!” Thor stammered.

            Loki was trembling and trying to catch his breath.

            “So you weren’t just bedding your advisor out of wedlock?” Hogun deadpanned.

            Loki blushed as Thor spoke. “Please, friends do not tell my father… or anyone for that matter.”

            Hogun just raised an eyebrow. Sif who was staring at the ground responded. “We won’t! Please, for Odin’s sake, put on some clothes. We have a situation with the witness.”

            “Care to elaborate?” Loki snatched his clothes from the side of the tent.

            “She appears to have amnesia.”

            Tyr and Odin were in the tent with Balder consoling Amora, when Thor and Loki arrived.

            She perked up instantly when she saw Thor. “My Prince-” she jumped to her feet and walked to him.

            Loki pushed between them. He raised his hands to her face. She fell unconscious. Tyr barely managed to catch her before she hit the ground.

            “Loki, was that really necessary?” Thor scoffed.

            The little Jotun scowled. “It will be much easier for me to work if she is asleep.” He directed Tyr to lay her on the bedroll.

            “I believe my brother meant, why didn’t you give us a warning,” Tyr growled.

            Loki rolled his eyes and placed his palm on Amora’s forehead. He closed his eyes in concentration.

            The three Odinsons looked to their father for guidance. Odin used Gungnir to ease himself down onto a seat. “This could take some time… and we had best not disturb him. Magic of the Mind is a fickle thing.”

            Thor pointed to a hneftafl board and Tyr nodded.

            They had grown up playing the game, as the first two sons being able to think strategically was a requirement. The only way their tutors would, occasionally, let them skip lessons was if the boys were locked in a game.

            Balder and Odin watched in silence as the Crown Prince and the Commander of the Royal Guard battled it out. Many pieces had been cleared over an hour later when Loki opened his eyes with a gasp.

            The game was forgotten; the Odinsons stood.

            Loki looked to them. “She needs to rest my sleeping spell will last a full day. She’s not deceiving us, her amnesia is genuine, but not through natural causes, but by magical attack. They knew what they were doing. She has no memory of the fire or last night.”

            “That would take immense magical skill and training.” Balder furrowed his brow.

            Loki looked surprised at Balder. He forgot that Balder was also taught the ways of Seidr. “Yes, which will help us narrow down the culprit.”

            Tyr scratched his red beard. “They would have to have stealth training to sneak past Sif and Hogun.”

            The three Seidr welders exchanged looks.

            “What do you all know that we do not?” Thor crossed his arms.

            Odin stood tall. “This conversation is not to leave this tent.” He waited for nods of agreement. “Shadow magic is a rare form of magic that allows you to move easier in the darkness. Loki, you studied it with the dark elves.”

            “Aye, but its not just moving in the darkness. Those that are Masters of it they can become the shadows, move anywhere there is darkness, exist as the darkness. It is truly rare even for the dark elves. It is a sacred ability for them.”

            “How many have this ability?” Balder asked.

            Loki shook his head. “It’s not a question of ability it’s a question of education. Because it’s sacred only nobles are allowed to achieve that mastery.”

            Thor grinned. “Wonderful, so how many nobles heads are we knocking.”

            Odin and the others shot Thor's looks of disapproval. “A mere handful, but it's not that simple, if noblemen taught a commoner, we’ll never find them.”

            Tyr nodded. “Getting Amora to the healers is the first step. I’ll ready my men.”

            The ride home was awkward, to say the least. Sif watched Loki with a clinical eye. Njord and Fandral were still irritated from the previous night and glared daggers into Loki and Thor.

            The healers met them at the palace grounds to begin working on Amora. Thor didn’t get the chance to talk about what happened that morning with Loki. Loki immediately retreated to his rooms bolting the door behind him.

            Loki slammed the door shut just to escape a confrontation with Thor. Why did he think he was capable of seducing the Golden Prince of Asgard. Him the little Jotun runt that was so over-eager with a bit of foreplay he couldn’t control himself. Why was seduction so much harder than it was in novels!

            Loki banged his head against the door and sank to the floor. He felt gross and out of control. Everything was so overwhelming.

            He needed so way of getting Thor out of his Ymir damned head.

            Karhu came over and nosed at his shoulder. The white bear was so big now he could easily snap Loki in half with his jaws. But he was always gentle with Loki. The Jotun place a blue hand under his chin and began to scratch.

            Loki needed advice. He needed to talk to Frigga and Bestla. Maybe they would understand and know how to help. But first Loki was going to change out of these sheer clothes. He didn’t feel very sexy right now, he just felt… Like he wanted to curl up with a good book.

            Loki dug through his wardrobe, tossing clothes everywhere. He finally found a tunic he deemed acceptable. It was long enough to be a short dress- probably Frigga’s intention when she picked it- but with breeches, it was exactly what he needed. Loki didn’t feel like letting anyone see his skin.

            He slid out the door before Thor could realize the sound of the lock unbolting next door. He knew exactly where the two Queens would be. The pair frequently shared midday meals on the veranda.

            Many would believe that meals shared between them were overly formal they were quite the opposite. Such meetings were the only time neither woman had to put on airs. They were able to talk freely without a hidden agenda and as equals. Often they even indulged in the messy foods they could not enjoy a feast.

            They greeted him with pleasant smiles. “Loki, I trust your trip went well and you caught the man behind the attacks?”

            “No Allmother, we did not. We do have a witness, though she is incapacitated at this time.” Loki took a seat between them.

            “Oh, the poor dear. We will make sure to have guards on you at all times, Loki.” Frigga handed him a cup of tea.

            “Thank you.” He said as he stirred in some honey.

            Bestla sipped her own tea and retired it to its saucer. “Any progression on the Thor scheme?”

            Loki adverted his gaze into his tea. “I… um... I don’t think he’s interested in me anymore. I believe he thinks me too young and inexperienced. ”

            “Damn.” Bestla sighed.

            The younger Jotun blew air into his tea to hide his discomfort with the topic at hand. It didn’t work; Frigga knew him all too well.

            She took his hand in her own. “I’m sorry you got your heartbroken.”

            Loki nodded. “It’s alright. It’s my fault.”

            “Love, what happened? I did not think you would give up this easily.”

            “We… played a prank on Thor’s friends and brothers. Njord drenched us with water. Therefore we had to sleep naked in our tent.”

            “So far this sounds like we couldn’t have planned it better.”

            Frigga rolled her eyes at her mother-in-law. “Continue Loki.”

            “In the morning we um… well, Thor kissed me and I kissed back… and then he did things and me… I finished too quickly.” Loki put his cup down and tried to hold back a sob. “Sif and Hogun burst in and Thor had the gall to deny that anything was going on while he had seed on his stomach!” He broke into tears. “I’ve never been so humiliated in my life.”

            He broke into tears.

            Frigga stroked his hand and brought him to her shoulder to sob. “You know most people, especially Queens don’t have a good first sexual experience. Perhaps you should talk to Thor.”

            Loki shook his head. “No. I can’t even look at him.”

            Frigga looked to Bestla, who shook her head. “Don’t look to me for advice by the Old Jotun traditions, they are already married.”

            That just sent Loki into another fit of crying.

            Frigga had finally gotten Loki to stop crying when in full armor Thor stormed the veranda with about ten of Tyr’s men. “Mother have you seen-”

            Loki groaned.

            “Loki! You can’t just go sneaking off like that.” Thor manhandled him from his seat.

            Loki jerked his arm from Thor’s grasp. “Let me go!”

            “No! I looked everywhere for you. I-We feared you’d been taken!” Thor growled. “You’re going to stay in your rooms or mine until we catch the man behind these attacks.”

            “The Hel I am! I’m an Ambassador. I have duties that lie beyond the confines of a bedroom.”

            “Not if I say you don’t!” Thor towered over Loki. The Einherjar suddenly became very interested in the ground. Thor was oblivious to how this fight sounded to everyone else.

            Loki was shocked. “I beg your pardon? You are not King of Asgard you don’t get to decide who is your Ambassadors!”

            “I am your King, at least I was this morning or is that your childish quest of being Queen talking.”

            Frigga stood, ready to yell at both of them to grow up. But she didn’t get the chance, because Loki snatched the teakettle from the table and threw its contents in Thor’s face before going through the door. The Einherjar moved out of the Jotun’s way.

            Thor stood in shock for a moment before thunder rattled the sky and he took off after Loki.

            The soldiers turned to their Queen for orders.

            Signing she dropped to her seat rubbing her hands together. “Go. Make sure they don’t kill each other.”

            “Or copulate in the halls.” Muttered Bestla.