Time For the Wedding
Shit.
That was all Fandral could think as he watched Loki Laufeyson, third prince of Jotunheim and future Prince Consort of Asgard, make his way towards Thor who was looking at Loki quite stunned. No doubt also being caught off guard by Loki's size and his sheer beauty, and the graceful way he moved.
Once Loki stood in front of Thor, a tentative smile on his lips, Fandral had to resist the urge to drag Loki into his arms as Thor placed an equally tentative kiss onto his blue knuckles.
"Prince Loki," Thor said as he looked at Loki's face, taking in every detail and sharp curve, "it's a pleasure to meet you."
Loki smiled widened a little and he looked up at Thor under those long, dark, lashes of his. "The pleasure is all mine, Prince Thor." Loki answered, leaving his hand in Thor's still.
Did he not notice Fandral just standing a few feet behind Thor? Did he not remember the night they spent in that cave? Or... or was that nothing but a dream?
Though Fandral had indeed been woken up by Loki in that cave, and he had helped him find the others, Loki had given him no reason to believe that they had shared more then their body heat that night. Perhaps Fandral had simply dreamt all that. Perhaps he never got a chance to kiss those soft lips. To trace those lines. To hear all those breathy moans and cries. To feel the tight warmth...
But no, that couldn't be true. The Jotun, Prince Loki, had kissed him. He had touched his face, ran his fingers through his hair, and he had said that Fandral would find his pleasure somewhere else.
He had looked sad.
Because it didn't matter what they had shared together in that cave, Loki was a prince and he was marrying Thor, Fandral's friend and Crown Prince of Asgard. And Fandral... he couldn't let anyone know that he had shared a night with the Jotun Prince. Loki was certainly acting like he didn't know or recognize him.
"Loki," Laufey interrupted as he addressed his youngest son and Fandral and the other's noticed Loki throwing his father a glare before turning to face him fully, "are you packed and ready to go?"
"Yes, father." Loki answered dully, avoiding looking into his father's eyes.
Laufey didn't seem to care much about the cold attitude he was receiving and merely waved a large blue hand. "It is time to say our farewells then, Asgardians. We hope with this marriage we can finally establish a permanent peace between our two realms."
"My father and I hope so as well, Laufey King." Thor said as he gave the Jotun king a slight bow before turning to Loki with his arm held out. "Prince Loki." He gave him a soft smile that Loki returned as he linked his arm with Thor's and they all made their way back to the Bifrost sight where Heimdall will be waiting for them, Loki's things having already been fetched and sent to his rooms back in Asgard.
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Sif and the warriors three hung back as the two princes got to know each other as they made their way forward.
"Well," Volstagg said with a cheery grin, "Thor seems to already be quite taken with his betrothed. And such a small sized Jotun as well! Everything seems to be turning out quite well."
"Yes, who knew that the third Prince was a runt. Perhaps that was why no one had heard of him but it makes a marriage between the two much easier." Sif agreed.
Fandral said nothing. He was still reeling from the fact that he had spent such an intimate moment with the young prince, though he suspected he knew full well why he was in Jotunheim in the first place. Surely he knew that he was traveling with Thor so they could all escort him to Asgard. And yet he still engaged an act with him. Was it perhaps he wanted a last intimate moment as a free, unmarried, Prince.
It stung a little. The thought. Though Fandral knew what truly bothered him was that he had never expected to see that Jotun again, and now he was to watch over him as he married Thor and became the mother to whatever children they had. All while keeping it hidden from all that he had ever shared such a moment with the young Jotun prince.
"You're awfully quiet." Hogun's observations interrupted his musings and Fandral jumped slightly, turning around yo face Hogun who was watching him carefully.
"You are," Sif agreed, "usually you would have had something idiotic to say by now."
Fandral brought a hand up to his chest and attempted to look wounded while not letting anyone know what was clearly on his mind. "You wound me Lady Sif. What exactly is there to say. Thor's betrothed has turned out to be quite lovely and the perfect size for him as well. It is all turning out in Thor's favor and all there is to do is escort him home where he will get to know Asgard and Thor much better." He said the last part a bit tightly and sincerely hoped no one realized.
"Why does it sound like that part bothers you?" Sif asked.
Damn. They had noticed.
"Isn't it obvious?" Volstagg said and Fandral started to get slightly nervous as he slapped a meaty hand I've this shoulder and said, "Fandral's envious that such an exquisite creature is off limits to him as he dares not attempt to seduce the Jotun prince. He is merely sulking, isn't that right Fandral?"
Fandral gave Volstagg a cheeky smile as he said, "You know me well, my good friend. But, worry not, I will treat the young Jotun prince with the utmost respect."
And no one needs to know at all about what happened in the cave, Fandral thought to himself as they finally made it to the Bifrost site and Thor immediately called out to Heimdall and left the frigid cold of Jotunheim to land back in the grand and golden splendor that was Asgard.
"Welcome back Prince Thor, Lady Sif, and warriors three. And welcome to Asgard, Prince Loki." Heimdall's deep baritone voice greeted them and they all bowed to the fame gatekeeper, all except for Thor and Loki who merely bowed their heads.
"Hello Heimdall, were all of Prince Loki's things sent to his new chamber?" Thor asked.
"They have and the chambers should be more then ready for him once you return to the palace." Heimdall confirmed.
"Let us go then." Thor said as he offered Loki his arm was once again and together they made their way to the castle with the others trailing behind only to separate once they got to the palace to go prepare for the feast that was to take place later tonight. But also to give the princes a chance to get to know each other.
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Once Thor had taken Loki to meet and greet his parents he showed Loki the way to his rooms. Loki was mostly quiet as he looked over the rooms, making sure that all of his belongings had safely made their way here and replacing them where he wanted them. Thor merely stayed silent as he watched him, trying to find a way to start a conversation with Loki when he took matters into his own hands.
"Are you going to stand there all night?"
Thor blinked a few times before answering, "Ah, no. I'll have to leave to prepare soon for the feast we are having tonight. I can leave you to get ready as well if you wanted to bathe or change into something else."
Loki smiled up at him and said, "That'll be nice. Will you be escorting me to the feast as well?"
"Of course. It'll give us time to get better acquainted with one another. I, I don't want to be in a lifeless marriage and I suspect you don't either. We don't know much about each other, I hadn't even known you existed until recently."
Loki face soured at that and he turned away from Thor and made his way towards the balcony. "Yes, well, Laufey was in no hurry to announce that he had sired a runt like me. Better to keep his shame hidden until he will need use of him one day." Loki sneered.
Thor instantly felt as if he had landed in unwanted territory and tried to find a way to salvage this. But Loki spotted something of interest over the balcony and excused himself, pretending he wanted to bathe and prepare for the feast so that Thor would leave him. Thor did, rather reluctantly, and Loki waited until he was gone before carefully, and quietly, climbing down the balcony where he landed right behind Fandral, the warrior he had spent that night with.
"Hello." Loki laughed when Fandral whirled around to face him, a hand on his sword.
"P-Prince Loki?" He stammered and Loki was pleased to see a hint of blush creeping up his neck.
"Just Loki is fine." Loki said as he trailed a cool finger along Fandral's neck, soothing away the blush.
"Umm," Fandral grabbed Loki's hand and pushed it away from him before saying, "I can't. It's far too friendly for me to call you as such."
"What? After that night in the cave?" Loki jeered, leaning close towards Fandral but careful not to touch him as he merely wanted to toy with him.
"I didn't know you were a prince, the prince set to marry Thor." Fandral took a step back and did his best to avoid looking at Loki which caused him to frown deeply.
"If I had told you who I were you wouldn't have touched me." Loki huffed, he had hoped that Fandral wouldn't have turned out to be so noble after finding out who he was, noble people were frustrating.
"You're right, I wouldn't have."
Loki narrowed his red eyes at the man before he broke into a smile. "You're hurt, aren't you?" He asked and smiled when he noticed Fandral's hand twitch and he let out a laugh. "So you are! Tell me, how many have you led to your bed only to leave them the next day, never to see or talk to them again as you already had your fun with them?"
Fandral finally turned to look at Loki, a deep scowl on his face. He couldn't deny what Loki said though and they both knew it.
"It must hurt, for the tables to be turned and for you to be the one to be used instead, oh dashing warrior." Loki mocked and trailed a hand down Fandral's chest, his grin widening when he saw the way Fandral reacted towards his touch. "Don't feel so hurt, I might want use of you again."
Fandral stepped away from Loki's touch again. "I won't knowingly betray Thor."
Loki merely shrugged at the declaration as he made to head back to his rooms and actually prepare himself for the feast. "If you insist. So long, Fandral."
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The next couple of weeks were some of the most worst and unnerving for Fandral as he watched Thor and Loki interact with one another.
There was still some awkwardness around them, it was easy to tell, but it was also obvious that Thor was falling more for Prince Loki with every passing day and Fandral was unsure about how to feel. On the one hand he, like Sif and the others, was glad that Thor was growing fond of the person he was to spend the rest of his life with and genuinely seemed to like and even care for him. But Fandral also hated it. He hated seeing Thor growing closer to Prince Loki while he merely stayed in the past, an unspeakable past.
It also irritated him how after the feast was done and over with Prince Loki acted like Fandral didn't exist. He had stayed close to Thor's side the entire time and made friendly conversation with everyone, everyone but him. When Thor had noticed this as well and asked Loki about it he had clearly, and loudly, said, "Oh, no real reason. Just some rumors I've heard about him."
They all had laughed while Fandral had given Prince Loki a halfhearted glare and Loki had merely smirked at him, though Fandral had also noticed Thor giving him a look that he chose not to comment on.
Since then Prince Loki hadn't spoken to Fandral.
And now the wedding was upon them all.
All of Asgard was in a flurry as they all prepared for the royal wedding of the century, they also looked forward to the huge party at the end that was to last for days.
All but Fandral. He felt miserable and ridiculous.
He had spent one damn night with the Jotun Prince, that was all. It meant absolutely nothing.
And yet he still felt miserable as he stood by Thor's side alongside Volstagg and Hogun as they all waited for Prince Loki to approach. Once he did appear Fandral felt all his breath leaving him as he stared at the vision that was Prince Loki. He was dressed in a pure white loincloth that fell all the way to his feet with slits on the thighs to still be able to show off those shapely blue thighs of his that was held up with a delicate belt of gold chains wrapped around his waist. There was also a pure white fur cloak wrapped delicately around his shoulders that fell to his waist. His wrist were covered in golden bracelets that clinked together with every step and move he made and golden armbands wrapped tightly around his lean biceps as well as a few golden necklaces. His horns were also wrapped with fine golden chains, and there even seemed to be some gold braided throughout his hair that still fell loose. He wore golden anklets as well and, if Fandral wasn't mistaken, his nipples were both pierced with tiny golden hoops. His eyes were bright and his smile soft, he was the most stunning creature Fandral ever saw... and he was grabbing Thor's offered hand who was beaming at him and absolutely smitten with the Jotun Prince.
Fandral clenched his hands tightly and tried to pretend that he was truly happy for his friend as he watched him marry Prince Loki and that seeing them kiss, sealing their union together, didn't cause him a pain he had never known before. This was how it was supposed to be.
The celebration and feast passed in a blur for Fandral as he spent most of it drinking and avoiding both Thor and Loki for as long as he could. He knew that as one of Thor's closest friends he would eventually have to go up to the newly married couple and congratulate them, especially if he didn't want Sif or the others to question him. He really didn't want to though. He kept thinking back to that cave. To Prince Loki telling him that he might want to use him again...
He quickly took another drink of mead, trying to drown out that thought. He couldn't do that to Thor. Couldn't even indulge in that fantasy. It was one thing having shared an intimate moment with Prince Loki before knowing who he was and while he was still unmarried. But now, when he was married, and to Thor, he couldn't do it. Couldn't even fantasize about it.
Fandral spotted Thor and Loki close by, and alone, and begrudgingly stood up to approach him.
"Congratulations Thor! Your husband is quite the stunner." Fandral cried out as he quickly hugged Thor.
"Thank you, Fandral. I was wondering where you had disappeared to." Thor rumbled as he quickly returned the hug, only to pull back and wrap a possessive arm around Loki's shoulders who wasn't paying either of them any attention.
"Oh you know me, Thor. I was trying my luck and using my natural charms on some very lucky maidens." Fandral said with a laugh, even though he hadn't actually paid any of the maidens any amount of attention. He should once Thor and Loki moved on or it will rouse suspicion.
"You never do change, Fandral." Thor laughed as well and Fandral wasn't sure if he was imagining it, but it seemed as if Prince Loki was frowning slightly. Interesting.
"Well I think I'll leave the newly wed couple alone now and find myself a bed companion for the night." Fandral announced and slipped by them, grabbing another drink with every intention to try and woo a few maidens and taking them to bed with him, at least those who were slim and had long black hair and who slightly resembled a certain Jotun Prince. Perhaps that will help his bruised heart to move on.
It seemed to be working. He was talking to one of the oldest daughters of some baker who had black hair like Prince Loki's. It was much shorter and not nearly as silky or soft or shiny as his and it smelled of yeast rather then lilies and fallen snow. But she was also pale and quite slender with wider hips. Perhaps if he took her from behind he could pretend...
His musings were cut short as he heard loud and rambunctious cheering and looked up to see Thor leading Prince Loki out.... to their new chambers no doubt to spend their wedding night as a newly united couple.
Fandral hated the way his throat threatened to close up or the slight stinging in his eyes as he held back his tears. Thor was his friend and Prince Loki was nothing to him. Was not even his and never will be and he needed to remind himself of that. With a very forced smile he turned back to the baker's daughter. He will definitely be taking her from behind.
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Thor was already down at the training rings by the time Fandral managed to drag himself over there. Thor seemed to be both well rested and well sated and he was laughing at something Volstagg had just said, nothing but pure happiness in his face.
"Look who finally managed to tear himself away from whoever he led to his bed last night." Sif called out, drawing everyone's attention to him. Fandral waved away all their focus on him as he said, "Please, I wasn't the one who got married last night." He then laughed while also wanting to kick himself. He didn't want to hear about that, please don't let Thor talk about that.
Thor laughed as he, blessedly, said, "I'm afraid I cannot share what happened between me and Loki last night, it would be disrespectful to him if I did."
"Where is Prince Loki?" Hogun asked as Fandral started looking through the practice swords for their usual sparring sessions.
"He's resting at the moment." Thor said and Fandral quickly caught the slight blush to his cheeks and smug grin.
Ah. So they consummated their marriage last night after all.
Fandral had to remind himself that he had no right to feel upset, Prince Loki wasn't his.
"Shall we start?" Sif asked as she held up her own practice sword.
"Let's." Thor said as he moved into the ring.
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They were forced to end their training short as Thor received word that his father wanted him in the throne room immediately. Hogun and Sif decided to head home for the day while Volstagg was called over to help train some new warriors and Fandral stayed behind to train on his own, trying to get out all this pent up resentment out of him.
It was just one damn night. Why couldn't he stop thinking about it?
"How long have you been out here?" A smooth, silky purr drifted towards him and Fandral spun sharply around, his eyes landing on Prince Loki. He was dressed in a simple, and shorter, red loincloth and he had his long hair braided back behind him.
Fandral turned slightly away from him as he answered, "A while."
Loki scrunched his nose in slight disgust as he cocked his hip slightly. "I was hoping to find you less sweaty."
"Find me...?"
"Don't play dumb, Fandral. It doesn't suit you."
"Prince Loki-"
"Loki."
"I don't know what you expect from me, but it can't happen."
Loki merely smirked at this and moved towards Fandral who didn't even try to back away as Loki ran a hand over his chest and shoulders, leaning far too close to be allowed, yet he still didn't move away.
"I don't expect nothing from you that you aren't wanting as well and just as much as I do." Loki whispered seductively and Fandral already felt his resolve waver.
This was Thor's, his closest friend's, husband. He couldn't. He couldn't.
Loki ran his cool, blue, hands over Fandral's slightly overheated and flushed face and it felt so good. "I've seen how you've watched me. How your eyes always trail towards me whenever you catch sight of me. I know how you must yearn for me, how much you want to hold me again and kiss me and claim me completely, Fandral, I do. And you know something? I want that too, Fandral. I want you. I want to have what we had in that cave again but more."
Fandral felt his hands twitch, fighting the urge to place them on Loki's cool body, to pull him close to him. He couldn't. He couldn't.
"I want more with you, Fandral, and I know you do too. And we can finally have that again, Thor claimed my maidenhead. I no longer have to remain pure for him for he already deflowered me last night. And now you can claim me as your own, now and forever. You want that, don't you Fandral?" Loki looked up into Fandral's eyes with hooded eyes filled with nothing but want for him and only him.
And Fandral wanted him too! More then anything or anyone one and he didn't hesitate in tightly wrapping his arms around Loki, prince consort of Thor, and pulling his roughly against his overheated body as he claimed his lips with his own in a downright possessive and fierce kiss that spoke of nothing but their want and hunger for each other.
Loki was his.