Chapter 8
Odin sat upon his great golden throne, Hildskjalf, every muscle in his body tense. He radiated anger, clearly growing more upset with each word the All-mother whispered frantically in his ear.
The king of the Nine Realms kept glancing down to where Loki stood nervously. The boy prince felt like a criminal awaiting sentencing. It did not help that Odin's cheeks above his beard were becoming more flushed the more he heard from Frigga.
Finally, after what seemed like a small eternity, the queen straightened up and peered at Loki. The All-father rose to his feet and descended the many steps of his throne, making straight for Loki. The prince kept his eyes on Odin's furious face like he promised Frigga ("No staring at the floor this time, young man. Remember that you have done nothing to be ashamed of.").
Surprisingly, Odin gently tilted Loki's face up to study the still vivid bruises. Those same rough, sword-calloused fingers softly brushed Loki's neck as if Odin wished to erase the cruel marks there. Frigga made sure the king saw the harm those ruffians had inflicted before she let Eir heal their son.
Anger flashed in Odin's watery blue eye. His jaw tightened. He stepped back and boomed out, "And where are these brigands who DARED to touch a PRINCE OF ASGARD???!!!!"
Loki's green eyes went wide. Odin was upset for Loki? Not at Loki? The prince was shocked.
Head held high, the queen descended the steps after Odin. She gestured to the jars at Loki's feet, the larger one containing three butterflies, the smaller one containing the one.
"Move away, Loki," Odin mumbled.
Loki took three giant steps back. Odin swung the spear Gungnir, striking the larger jar. There was an explosion of glass and smoke, then three criminals stood there, blinking in confusion. Odin struck the smaller jar, and Ivar was there, too.
"What...by the Norns?" the bearded man muttered. Then he got angry. "Where am I? What dark sorcery is this?!"
"Hold your tongue before I cut it from your head and hold it for you!" Odin growled.
One of the other cretins gasped. "King Odin!"
It was Egil, who appeared ready to faint. Ivar's eyes bugged out. He whirled around to face Loki.
"You!" he accused loudly. "You did this!"
"I told you the king was my father! Fool!" Loki yelled boldly.
Ivar was too stupid to be afraid. He lunged toward Loki. Odin pointed Gungnir at the man, and a thin bolt of blue lightning shot out. It struck him in the kidneys. He flopped to the floor and screeched, writhing like a trout that had been flung onto a pier. Old as he was, Odin knelt before the squirming man.
"Debaser and abuser of women and those smaller than yourself," Odin growled. "That is my son you tried to kill! My SON!"
Loki's eyes filled with happy tears. Odin was defending him! Father loved him! He wanted to cry for joy.
Odin got to his feet. He knocked the other three down with Gungnir in the same manner, watching with satisfaction as they writhed in agony at his feet.
"Which one hurt you, my boy?" Odin asked. And this time the word "boy" made Loki feel wanted and cherished. He swallowed a grateful lump in his throat.
"That one hit me," he said, pointing at Magnus, "and that one choked me."
He indicated Ivar, who had tears of pain washing down his red face.
Odin sneered at the men, watching them gasping for air.
And then Odin walked over to Loki, put an arm around his shoulders, and embraced him. Tears flowed from Loki's eyes. He threw his arms around Odin's thickening waist and buried his face in his father's tunic.
"Don't you worry, my boy," Odin said in his deep voice. "They'll never hurt you again."
Frigga smiled softly as Loki's eyes met hers. She mouthed, "Told you he loves you."
Never letting go of Odin, Loki gave a small nod.
The trial went as Frigga said it would. It was a sensation. The citizens of Asgard were scandalized. That anyone would attack a defenseless woman who had no family was outrageous. But daring to attempt to murder the little prince was beyond belief! Half the population of Asgard turned out to watch the trial and the sentencing. The execution was swift, taking place in the largest courtyard of the palace. Frigga declined to actually kill any of the men herself, her anger having cooled considerably. Odin's best axeman took care of the other three in swift order, but Odin cut Ivar's head off himself with a long, sharp sword.
Loki would never forget the horrible sight as long as he lived.
Weeks flew by. Elda settled in nicely, enjoying her new quarters and the sense of security that came with living in the palace. Thor and Loki were glad she was back. Elda had been a friend nearly all their lives. Loki thought of her like an aunt.
After a time, Elda had to talk Frigga into letting her work. She couldn't stand to be idle. So the lovely woman ended up working in the kitchens and helping organize the vast libraries in the palace. Queen Frigga made it quite plain that Elda was not a servant, and that she didn't have to work unless she wanted to. Elda was a lady of leisure, said the queen, as well as Frigga's personal hero.
One day in the fall, Loki was reading in his little corner of his mother's favorite garden. He was sitting on his usual bench, so caught up in his study of ancient runes that he did not hear Thor calling to him.
A sudden, sharp pain snapped him out of it as something struck him in the middle of his forehead. He hollered "ow!" and sat up straight. Scowling, he rubbed at the stinging spot between his eyes.
Thor and Elda were approaching, Elda giving Thor a disapproving look. The blond prince snickered at Loki.
"You threw something!" Loki accused his brother.
"Calm down, it was just an acorn," Thor chuckled.
Loki glared and slammed his book shut. "I hate you."
Thor sighed. "I know, but I was calling you and you were in your own little world again. Let me guess what you're reading about: magic."
"Shut up and go away, Thor."
"No."
"Now, my two princes," Elda said, "you shouldn't be so disrespectful of one another. You two were such good friends when I left. What happened?"
"Thor ruined it, as usual."
The blond prince pouted.
"Was whatever you think Thor did wrong truly so unforgivable, Loki?" Elda wanted to know.
The ten-year-old crossed his arms over his chest. "I dunno."
Elda sighed dramatically. "Well, I guess all those lessons I taught the two of you about diplomacy and acting princely at all times were just wasted. It's very sad to me that you used to be so close, and now..."
She let her words trail off.
"Loki knows I still want to be friends," Thor said.
"Why did you throw stuff at me and come over here?" Loki said grouchily.
"'Cause Elda said she wants to talk to us," said Thor.
"Is everything okay, Elda?" said Loki, concerned.
"Everything's just fine, my prince. I have good news. I got a new job."
"A job?" said Thor. "But you already have two jobs here."
"Well, those aren't really jobs, dear, more like hobbies. I miss working with children. I met Lord Sindri, a widower, and he needs help with his two little ones."
"Oh. That's good. You'll be doing what you love," said Loki.
"It is what I love, and it will make me very happy. Only...Lord Sindri lives on Vanaheim."
Thor and Loki's faces fell.
"You're leaving?" said Thor.
"No, you live here now," Loki objected.
Elda touched his face. "I'm sorry, love, but I really want to do this."
Loki blinked rapidly, hoping he wouldn't cry in front of his insensitive brother. "But...the queen wants you to live here."
"Queen Frigga was letting me live here. There's a difference."
Elda saw the disappointment on their faces. She clasped Thor's hand in hers, and squeezed the back of Loki's neck in a comforting manner.
"I'm sorry, boys, but I need to be useful. Please understand. I will miss you, though, so much. My handsome, sweet Thor and my little friend Loki, who saved my life."
"You saved me, too," Loki whispered.
Elda kissed his forehead. "I would have starved if you hadn't brought me food those two years. And your wonderful mother, my beloved queen, saved my life as well by letting me stay here in this beautiful place. I'll never forget her for that."
Loki threw himself at her, hugging her tightly. He backed off, wiping his tears away, ready for Thor to start making fun of him, but then he saw that Thor was crying also. Thor hugged Elda next.
"Will you ever come back?" Loki choked out.
"Of course! I'll only be gone eight years or so. That's usually the age when youngsters no longer need their nannies."
Soon the boys were watching their beloved friend walking off. She would be going to Vanaheim in less than a week. Loki sniffled loudly, drawing Thor's attention.
"Don't say anything!" Loki shouted. "She's my friend and I love her!"
"She's my friend, too, you know. I'll miss her, too."
Thor blotted at his wet face with his sleeve. They waited in awkward silence until Thor said, "I miss being your friend, Loki."
The older prince was surprised when, instead of a mean remark, Loki said, "Really?"
"Yeah. Of course I do. I was really scared when I heard about what Ivar and those others did to you."
"Oh."
Loki plucked at the spine of his book with his thumbnail. "Did you wanna...? I mean, we could do something together, I guess."
Thor brightened. "I know you don't like to hunt, but we could go out camping before it gets too cold! You like camping."
"That sounds good," Loki said with a small smile.
Just then, a bright orange butterfly appeared and cut a wobbly path through the air toward them. Loki's face darkened. He pointed a finger at the tiny creature and sent a small blast of wind at it. The butterfly careened crazily out of control as it was blown nearly six feet away. It recovered, though, and flew off drunkenly.
Thor gaped after it before turning to his brother. "Why did you do that?"
"Don't like butterflies anymore. Can you blame me?"
Thor got it. "Not at all. Want to spar with me?"
"Are your friends going to be there?"
"If they're at the field, I'll make them leave. It'll just be me and you."
Thor grinned at him. Loki got up and put his book down on the bench.
"Let's go, brother," he said as he ran off at full speed.
Thor laughed and ran to catch up.
The end.