Chapter 6
Loki waited for all of the them to settle around the fire before he started his dreary tale, there was no other words for it, as it would most certainly be sad, and full of hurt and pain. Waving his hand upward, the flames of the fire sparked, and began illustrating what his words described.
Long ago, in a time few would remember, there were two boys. Brothers, they were. One, a light as the sun, the other, dark as night. The eldest, the one who's light shone upon all who saw, and his little brother, the one who none saw but in the shadows of the elder. Only a few...years...apart from each other, but their bond was unbreakable, steady, strong, and fixed. None would see the younger apart from the elder, or the elder away from the younger. Always begging for the shadow to come along on his journeys and adventures. The fun that they had together. Playing pranks, wandering realms, walking along the city, and within the castle. They even trained and studied together. It was as though nothing could possibly seperate them, no matter how hard others tried. However, once they grew older, and were in their teen years, something happened. The happy bond they had together deteriorated at a rapid pace. None could explain why, as nobody thought this could possibly happen. Yet, while the Elder brother grew more and more battle hungry, combat what he strived for, what he thrived off of, practicing in the practice grounds with any weapon he could lay his hands on, he began to change. Not so noticeable to the people of the land, but noticeable enough to his younger brother, his shadow. Instead of listening to his brother's advice he began to become impulsive, breaking rules more than bending them, willfully talking out against the King and the Queen. He began ditching his study sessions, in favor of the fighting practice. Soon, he became fully immersed within the warrior circles. He made friends among them, grew among them, and fought among them. The other brother, the younger one, the shadow if you will, was the total opposite. It was around this time that he found something that scared him...His Magical potential. Normally this would be a great thing, and if he had lived on any other land it would have been, but here, magic was condemned, hated, disliked, and even underestimated. People focused more on honing their brute strength, and giving into their impulsive actions. Magic was seen as taking the 'easy way out' or as 'weak'. As such, it was an art normally refined for females, not men. Despite all of this, the boy began to practice, secretly, and in the dead of night, fearing the condemnation of his family, of his people, should they ever find out. Instead of going out on adventures he would study, anything and everything. Magic, politics, history, geography, metal making you name it. All the books that were at his disposal.
He began to hate his brother's behaviors. He had always known that his elder brother was impressionable, but instead of acting as a well-conducted heir to the throne should, he began acting like a brute. Drinking every night, partying, skipping meetings, missing studies, disobeying the King's orders, coming late to policy meetings with other lands. The people began to wonder if perhaps the King would reprimand his son. This was the one who was the face of Asgard, and he was not acting as he should, but the King refused. It was not long before the other became nothing but a bully. He would throw around those who were weaker than himself, mock any who tried to speak reason to him. He even began to bully his own brother. The bond that they once carried, nigh nonexistent now.
The younger brother was soon the talk of land. People were wondering if perhaps the King should place him on the throne instead. It was clear that he was far more suited to it. Unlike the elder prince, he did not make impulsive decisions, he showed up to his studies, he was in attendance on time to all policy and council meetings, he was patient, careful with his words, and more than able to understand the complex things about politics. Yet, this was not the case. When the time came, and the elder came of age, the King announced that he would take the throne. Many were thrown into a panic. The Kingdom would come into ruin if the elder prince was placed on the throne. His arrogance, stubbornness, and refusal to compromise would loose the kingdom many of their allies, and likely gain many more enemies. The elder prince was more like a toddler child, not a mature adult prince, certainly not fit to be king. Many realms made the decision that if the elder prince were to ascend to the throne at that time, they would revoke their alliance with the kingdom, fearful of what would happen. Despite the shadowed brother's attempt to speak reason to the king, it was all for naught, there was no possible way to get the king to realize the folly of this plan. So the Prince did what he could, and showed the King just how hungry for blood the elder was, by allowing two of their greatest enemy, yet most tense alliance into the weapons vault, knowing they would die before they got close to anything of importance. When the King's eyes finally were opened to just how much destruction the elder prince was willing to do, he refused the crown to the elder, determined to wait until he was better suited. yet, time was not on his side. The elder prince refused to admit defeat, and traveled with a handful of people to the land of their enemy, breaking the treaty made years ago saying that none would enter the land without permission. At this, their king would be allowed to call war, yet despite the younger prince's attempt to calm his brother down long enough for him to see reason, it was in vain. The other fought, and soon the hopelessness of the situation caught up with him in the midst of his blood thirsty battle. Yet once they returned, the king did nothing to punish his wayward son. And now, they were on the brink of war. Luckily, the younger prince managed to soothe tensions, and all was well.
Loki closed his fist, the fire's flames falling back into their unsteady chaotic rhythm. He smiled at the young hobbits. "I must apologize, I am not very good at stories with happy endings, I did try." The hobbits were staring at him in awe.
"That was amazing!" They called out, stunning Loki, and making him laugh happily.
"I am glad you thought so." He said with a soft voice and a light smile. "Now it is time for you to sleep, is it not?" The hobbits groaned, but Loki just shook his head. "If you do not sleep, I cannot tell you another story tomorrow."
"Really? You mean it?"
"Yes, but only if you go to sleep now." Loki cromrpmised.
"Come on, Merry, let's sleep." Pippin said sadly.
"FIIIINNNEEE!"