Chapter 3
Chapter 3
The following days were as full of joy as exhausting. The men tried to hide their feelings as well as they could, but especially Thor had problems to remember that he wasn't allowed to call Loki "love" or give him a loving look. Thor felt so happy about their love, he wanted to let the whole world know. They had to avoid looking at eachother because otherwise their eyes would fill with passion, love and urgency. But apart from this, they tried to spend as much time together as possible. Every night Thor came over to Loki as soon as everyone was asleep. Sometimes it also worked the other way round. Whenever they were together, nothing else mattered. The only thing, Loki still was anxious about anyone finding out about their romance. Thor kept calming him down, nevertheless the doubts remained consistent and Thor's gentle touches could do little to make his worries disappear. At least not for long. Thor was desperate to ease Loki's worries, but he knew he could do little to get them out of his head. The only thing he could do was to distract him, which at least worked well most times. Another thing that remained was the snowflake, which was lying on Loki's bedside table whenever Thor came to visit him. Every time he saw it Thor lifted it, saying it was as beautiful as Loki, who never knew what to reply. There came a night, when Loki slipped into Thor's room unnoticed, lying down next to him. Thor was already awaiting him, covering him gently with the blanket.
Thor: "Everything fine? Did anyone notice?"
Loki: "I don't think. But I can't know for sure."
Thor gave him a comforting hug and placed a kiss upon his hair.
Thor: "It's fine, dear. Everything's alright as long as we're together. Believe me."
In this moment they heard someone knocking at the door. Loki didn't move, obviously in shock. Thor quickly got up, covering Loki with the blanket and walking towards the door. He gave Loki a gesture to simply stay silent, but the trickster didn't even react. Thor opened the door, attentive to not allow the visitor a glance into the room. It was Sif.
Thor: "Lady Sif? What's it that you visit me in the middle of the night?"
Sif: "The all-father wants to talk to you."
Thor cursed in his head, but didn't show any reaction.
Thor: "Fine, tell him I'll be with him in a minute."
Sif: "Good. - You should take Loki with you."
Sif walked away, leaving Thor in front of an open door. He quickly closed it, returning to Loki's side. Loki had gotten unimaginably pale while listening to the conversation and was dressing himself with trembling hands. Thor sat down on the edge of the bed.
Thor: "You heard it, Loki. I fear we have to go."
Loki looked at him with panic written in his eyes.
Loki: "He found out about us."
Thor: "Yes, probably."
Thor got up, walking to his wardrobe and changing into his usual dressing while Loki stood up as well, wiating for the prince to finish. Thor stepped next to him and took his frail hand into his own.
Thor: "Let's go, love. We'll fix this, I promise. Somehow everything will turn out right."
He pulled him close once more, kissing him passionately. Loki requitted the kiss just as passionate and then followed Thor out of the room.
Odin was sitting in his throne room as they entered. They could tell from his gaze that it was nothing pleasant they were going to talk about. Thor and Loki stepped in front of him, bowing their heads in greeting.
Thor: "Father, what is it? For what reason do you wake Loki and me in the middle of the night?"
Odin: "I brought you here now so no one notices what we're talking about. To make it short: Thor, Loki, - I'm informed about your relationship during the last time."
Thor and Loki both tensed at the same time, looking to each other with helpless and hopeless expressions in their eyes.
Odin: "I didn't yet tell anyone. Loki is not officially a traitor and because of this it would theoretically not be forbidden to have a romance with him. But we have to consider, that if the population finds out, they won't be pleased about it nevertheless. You, Thor, are prospective king. If it gets public that you have a romance with Loki, the people won't trust you either, which doesn't provide a good reputation for a king. Secondly, you'll have to get children, which isn't possible in Loki's case."
Thor: "Well father, he's still a frost giant. As I know, frost giants can get children too."
Odin: "This child would be a mixture of a god and a frost giant. It wouldn't be a possible king. Furthermore, you know how I think about such relationships. Thor, I'm giving you a choice: Either you and Loki end this relationship immediately, stay here and you'll marry someone else, or you stay together, go to Midgard and keep living there. I would then not accept you back until this relationship is over. When you are willing to marry someone else, you could of course still return and be king at your home. I'll give you one day to overthink the options. Then I want to hear a decision."
Thor nodded, knowing any word against this wouldn't be accepted. He bowed his head, then turned on his heel and led Loki out of the room, pausing in front of the door. When he turned around to look at Loki, he noticed that Loki was nearly crying. He quickly placed both hands at his waist and led him back into his chamber. As soon as the door was closed behind them, Loki fell into Thor's arms and clutched him desperately.
Loki: "Thor, no! You can't do this! You're the only thing that makes me happy! You can't leave me! Not now!"
Then he trailed off, sobbing in panic. Thor didn't respond, picking Loki up and putting him down onto the bed gently. He lay down next to him, holding his lithe body close to his chest.
Thor: "Loki, don't cry! We'll figure this out!"
Thor was troubled. Asgard was his home and he didn't want to leave. On the other hand, he knew Loki needed him and he needed Loki just as much. He couldn't leave him alone now. Odin had often told him, that a good king always puts his population above the ones he loved. Thor now knew that he'd never be able to do this because no matter whome he married, he'd never forget Loki. And so he made his decision.
Thor: "Loki, it'll be fine. We'll go to Midgard. We'll find us a home there. We'll stay together."