Chapter 3
“Ha ha ha!” A five year old’s happy laughter mixed with the sound of his sloppy claps of applause at a show well done. “Again! Again, Loki!~ Please?~”
Loki peered over the edge of the puppet theater box where his illusions of children's storybook characters bowed over his head at the end of his show. He smiled at his younger brother, sitting criss-cross on the small rug of their shared playroom in front of him. His golden curls hung gently around his slightly chubby face shining with a smile. If he was powerful enough, maybe he could perform a show so grand that his brother would forget about going to that stupid match. “Okay, fine, but only because you said the magic word!” He feigned defiance.
His brother giggled, already used to his older brother's antics and clapped some more as his eyes turned into crescents.
A faint fog filled the box as the characters faded and the play reset. “Once upon a time-”
“Knock, knock!~” Their mother’s voice sang from the door as she peered inside at them with a warm smile.
“Mom!” Loki stomped his foot in annoyance at the interruption.
“Mom!” His younger brother sprung up and rushed towards her, momentarily forgetting Loki’s show.
Frigga chuckled as she ruffled his brother’s curls. “Hey, Thor, is Loki done showing you his present yet?” She leaned down towards him. “You know, a little birdy told me he worked really hard on making realistic faces just for you!” She booped his nose playfully, eliciting another giggle.
Thor quickly nodded. “He’s showing it to me again!”
Frigga’s gentle, happy features turned slightly sad. “Hmm. I’m glad you two get along so well, not every sibling is so lucky, but I’m afraid we have to call the encore short.”
“What?” Thor whined, confused by what ‘encore’ means, but smart enough to pick up on her tone to know it was most likely bad that it had to end so soon.
Frigga sighed. “I know, my child, I know how much you probably enjoyed Loki’s present, but you need to get ready for your match.” She lovingly readjusted a strap of Thor’s ceremonial tunic. How young was ‘young’ according to the prophecy? Surely it wouldn’t happen today, right? You can’t have an ‘every’ without a first. No child should know marriage or death as young as five; not even twenty-five if she could help it. “Strive to make your tutors proud, because you know that we will always love you and be proud of you, no matter what.”
Thor smiled and nodded his head with a blush. “I know. I love you all too!” He swiveled his head back to Loki who had moved to stand beside the theater box, crumpling the edge in his fisted hand, his illusions long faded away.
“Wish me luck?”
Loki’s heart panged along with Frigga’s. Not today. Please, don’t let it be today.
He bowed his head and crossed a fisted hand over his heart. He wished so much more for him. “Good luck.”