Chapter 32
Thor managed to close the door without breaking the kiss.Loki had been too silent since afternoon. The romantic dinner in moonlight also failed to cheer him up. Once they finished eating suddenly he was all over Thor, not even caring about presence of servants. The flipping moods perplexed the king but he didn’t comment. He knew Loki will not open up if he didn’t want to. And his ministrations didn’t help him to focus on the thought. As soon as they were inside, he was pushed away. Thor stared in shock, all traces of lust were erased from the face of his beloved! Loki looked at him, like a deer caught in light.
“ Loki, what is the meaning of this?”
“ We need to talk!” , was all answer he got.He looked at the trickster, really looked. Loki was still thinking about something, he was still trying to find an answer to whatever question was bothering him. He had an idea what this was about.
“ What are you thinking, love? Talk to me.” , he pulled the slender man closer and sat him on the bed.
“ I ..I don’t want to kill this child, Thor. I would never forgive myself if I harm our child.” Thor beamed.
“ That is great news,love. I was hoping that you would accept our child .”
“ But I can’t bring him to this world. Not like this.” Thor knew what was this about , yet he stayed silent. He had to give Loki time to come to terms with the situation.
“ He will be child of a criminal and a bastard. Aesir will torment him for being mine.”
“ They will not dare. Our child is not a bastard ,Loki. And you are not criminal, you are innocent punished wrongly.”
“ Then prove it!”
“What?”
“We need to prove that I am not a murderer and traitor. Our child will be persecuted for my actions,Thor. He will not have any claim on the Throne for being half Jotun and for being a bastard born to convicted criminal.”
“ What are you talking about? That child in your womb is going to be my heir, is going to be next king or queen after me, whoever says otherwise will have to face my wrath!” , Thor was not going to let Loki doubt his place now.
“ I am just your concubine,Thor. Your whore to satisfy your urges…nothing more. You kept yourself available for a marriage when you damned me into this arrangement , Odin made it clear in the concubinage that any of my children will never be allowed on the throne.”
“ It will not be so, love. I will never marry other. Odin will not have any option but to accept our child.”
I don’t want him to be an option,a spare! I want him to be accepted if not loved or cherished. I don’t care about that throne but I won’t have my child persecuted for being mine.
“ Why do I think you already have thought about the plan to do this.” , Thor said caressing now plumped lip of his beloved.
“ You know I don’t care what they think about me. I am tired of proving myself over and over. But now… we don’t have any choice. I don’t know… but you have said that you would get me a pardon. You were collecting evidence… and there is eminent danger from the Titan.”
“ I didn’t want to you to be worried, so I didn’t tell you. But I had plans to go to Midgard. I have been communicating with Midgard.I was waiting for the committee on Jotunheim to give reports on returning the casket.”
“ I don’t like to be apart from you,but if you can get something to help with the potential standing of our child then I think we need to do this. And as early as possible… Promise me you will get necessary evidence and come back! Promise me that you will not be involved with their foolish endeavours! “,Loki admonished. But under all bravado Thor could see the desperation,the fear.
“ Love, I would rather stay here with you! Or we can both go…?”
“ Don’t be an oaf ,Thor. You know I am not allowed to leave Asgard. And how do you think Midgard will welcome me?” He sighed,” You know we have to do this. I want our baby to have a chance at happiness.”
Thor had no answer.
-@-@-@-@-@-
Loki came to the bifrost to say farewell. Thor kissed him in full view of the crowd. Nobody dared to comment… he supposed that the viscious threats by the king towards the well-being of anyone who dare to look wrong in the direction of his beloved were adequate to discourage them.
Thor had arranged for return of casket to Jotunheim as soon as the committee submitted the report.The council members
objected, their enraged reactions were expected, along with Allfather’s silent support to them! But Thor easily put an end to their bickering and announced his plan of visiting Midgard for ‘an important work’. He assured them that he could be reached through Heimdal if need arises, but Nobody is allowed to ask the watcher about his whereabouts.Heimdal will answer only to the king, even in his absence. Any threat will be assessed by the gatekeeper, and will be informed to the king accordingly.
Thor announced that Allfather will act as regent in his absence, but as the king is leaving for the short time, every major decision is to be held off till his return. He will not be able to gaze upon nine realms as Hildjskalf will be sealed during absence of the king.The king also announced that his beloved Loki will be staying back ,under protection of warriors three. Nobody is allowed to go near him with ill intentions and any harm done to his person will be considered a intentional insult the king..The ruling council will face the consequences for failing to protect the royal concubine. And none will be safe from the wrath of thunderer if they dared to look wrong in the direction of his lover.
Thor had not minced his words, his colourful threats had reached Loki’s ears. He was annoyed yes but he couldn’t fight the happy feelings spreading through his being. He was loved and cared for… that was enough! He had found home, built a family that was truly his and now he needs to protect that.So he will allow Thor to go and fight for them, he will stay and bear his King’s absence so that they can have a family without shadow of their past looming over them. Loki stayed long after the bifrost had taken his Thor away .
He kept on gazing at the waterfall getting lost in the void…
“Prince Loki..” , Heimdal’s voice brought him back. Loki turned to look at the gatekeeper, who looked surprisingly concerned.
“ You should come away from the edge.” If Loki had not known the man for centuries, he would have took this as concern, but he knew better.
“ Worried for my well-being, watcher? I admit it’s a rare thing…” .
“ My king worries for you, so your well being is my concern!” , Heimdal said unfazed.
Loki had no answer to that. So he narrowed his eyes and refused to speak further.