The Realms United

The blue firebird had flown over the Frozen Realm and all Jotuns fell into a deep slumber. They were covered in snow and ice and dreamt in their frigid cocoons. They dreamt of days long past… of when the brilliant star was once larger and gave more warmth… of children playing in verdant fields amid the steep snowy mountains… of standing with members of the other Races of the Nine Realms and feeling mighty as they towered over the smaller beings, but not out of hubris. Rather they had helped the others of the Nine Realms… until hatred consumed them.

Then they seen the ice come and the choke hold that Laufey, their former king, had put them all into because of his obsession with power and control. He had changed them… turned their skin a deeper shade of blue from the chill of ice, reddened their eyes with rage, and turned their own rich and diverse Realm into a near frozen waste. He even incurred the wrath of Golden Asgard by attacking the Mortals and Dwarves. Their source of power and pride was taken from them at the end of that long ago war… and ever since then they have been dwindling, struggling to survive upon the precipice of utter extinction. At that thought in the dream, they hear a soft voice come floating through like the tinkling of ice as the light warms it.

“There is hope for all who wander in darkness… if they but seek the Light and follow it. Will you follow?” The voice challenges each individual and in return every Jotun… Male, Female, Young, and Old… answers for themselves. Though two struggle… still chained by their pride… the sons of Laufey. They have seen the errors of their father play out before them and they had thought him strong and hard, a mighty king to fear and respect though he was wronged.

“All fathers error in one form or another with their sons… though sons tend to be blinded by their father’s perceived glory that they miss his reality.” The voice answers specifically to Laufey’s two sons, Helblindi and Byleist.

“My father was tricked by that Asgardian runt, Loki. He was betrayed and murdered on Asgard. I will destroy them all!” Helblindi answers into the gathering darkness around him.

“If that is your Heart’s Desire… than I shall leave you frozen and buried until the Dusk of the Nine Realms… but… should you concede to learning and striving for a peaceful path of coexistence with the other Realms then Jotunheim will prosper… even thrive and grow once more.” The voice says with its melodious tone. Helblindi seethes yet he knows in his heart that he wants to see his Homeworld live and thrive, not decay and shatter into snowflakes to be caught on the chilly winds, their howling the only lament for the dead Race.

“I accept! I choose Life over Death. Life for my people! For my brother! And for myself!” Byleist says suddenly and Helblindi looks to his younger brother. He hadn’t noticed him in the darkness. Now the light shines upon him and Helblindi notes the change in his appearance… the ice upon his form falls away and short silver hair covers his head. His eyes swirl and the whites can be seen once more as the red colors the iris. His features are still sharp but now smoothed and his blue skin lightens from a deep blue to a paler shade. The ridge markings are still upon his body, the only thing left to remind him of his former appearance.

“Would you change all Jotuns so?” Helblindi asks of the Light.

“I am merely returning your Race to their original forms. The form they had before they were lost to the chill of ice and the seething of rage.” The voice answers. “It is a second chance. You are the next in line to sit the Throne of Ever-Winter, Helblindi Laufeyson. You could do as your father before you did and sulk… letting your people dwindle in number every year… or… you could set your wounded pride aside and seek alliances in the other Realms. Asgard’s King seeks to convene a Grand Council of The Realms United in a few months time. A Jotun Representative would be welcomed to a seat.” The voice then says. Helblindi is confused but takes a moment to think. Making such connections with leaders of other Realms could win trade agreements. But what does Jotunheim offer? And the Jotun Crowned Prince is baffled once more.

“Your Realm was once rich with plants of varying diversity that rivaled Midgard’s own… many types of which still thrive in gardens on Asgard, Vanaheim, and Alfheim. There are still hardy forests left in the equatorial regions of your World. Pockets of heat that have survived the freeze. Your people should still be able to traverse those lands and offer the wood logged for trade. Then there is the hunting. Great furred beasts from Midgard were brought back more than ten thousand years ago during Convergences past. They have thrived and flourished since then, but you must domesticate them so their population is managed properly and they are not lost.

“The greatest resource of your Realm lies in minerals… the volcanic soils here are rich in precious metals and rare gems that the other Realms would gladly give food, cloth, and materials for in trade. You know what your people need… learn what the other Realms can offer you before you discuss trade agreements, Helblindi.”

“You offer my people much… Who are you? I must know.” Helblindi asks after he lets the information sink in.

“I am Light Incarnate, young Jotun King. Choose Life and you shall see my face.” The voice responds. Helblindi sighs and feels his rage lessen though it simmers just beneath the surface. He looks at his large hands, thick, blue, and calloused… crusted in frost and ice on the back. He could destroy every Asgardian with these big, strong hands… or… he could rebuild Jotunheim with them.

“I choose… Life.” Helblindi answers solemnly and the light grows. It surrounds him, penetrates him, warms his skin, and brings tears to his eyes. He blinks and closes them to shut out the brilliant light when it becomes too much.

“Awaken and arise… King Helblindi Laufeyson of Jotunheim.” Comes the same voice and Helblindi opens his eyes. He is looking down at the snow and long silvery white strands fall into his field of vision. He lifts his hands and sees they look the same only now they are paler and smoother looking. The lines on his pale blue skin are still there as he looks from the backs of his hands to his bared upper arms. He then looks up from his seated position in a snowdrift to the owner of the voice.

His breath catches as he sees a small, beautiful woman… an Aesir woman… hovering in the air before him. Her skin glows as orange flames flicker off of her green, gold, and leather clad form. She smiles warmly at him as she offers a petite hand to help the Frost Giant stand. He takes it and is amazed at her strength as she grabs his thumb and pulls him to his feet.

“You… you’re Asgardian?” Helblindi asks as his eleven foot frame towers over her though she floats a foot off the ground.

“Yes, but I am so much more. I am Sigyn PhoenixSoul, Asgardian Avatar of the Phoenix Force.” Sigyn replies.

“My father spoke of you… he said you could kill Jotuns with but a touch.” Helblindi says then looks at her hand upon his. The flames flicker and he feels the heat… but they do not burn him. Her grip then releases his thumb. “So why don’t you just destroy us all and be done with Jotunheim?” He then asks as he levels a hard stare at her. He looks as though he is trying to determine what deceit she is attempting to pull on him and his people now.

“I bring no deceit… just a choice. Life or Death. It’s as simple as that, yet it shall be the most difficult challenge your Realm has ever faced… and you can’t do it alone. Heed my words and in a few months, you must go to Asgard to see the future. I will be there and I will ensure no one harms you or anyone you bring with you… so long as you promise not to harm anyone or cause trouble in return.” Sigyn says clearly.

“I must gather my people and discuss this… change… with them before I can heed your words, Phoenix.” Helblindi says and runs a hand through his new lengthy, silver tresses. He then turns from the beautiful woman and starts to walk away.

“I look forward to seeing you on Asgard, King Helblindi.” Sigyn then says and the Frost Giant stops to look over his shoulder to watch her disappear in a burst of flame. He feels somewhat saddened by her sudden absence. He sighs and turns walking away down the snow covered path along the mountain. The chilly winds bite at him as he goes. The cold affects him now in a way it hadn’t before. It isn’t life-threatening, but it isn’t pleasant either. Furs. The Phoenix Woman had mentioned furred beasts from Midgard.

He then looks up and notices the dim sun seems to be growing brighter and the land and sky are painted in shades of gold, pink, orange, blue, purple, and silver. So much color springs into view… colors the Frost Giant has never seen before. Tears come to his eyes as he beholds the beauty of these new colors mixed with familiar ones. Life. She claimed to be bringing life to Jotunheim. The Frozen Realm will thaw out and life will return and thrive once more in the Giants Homeworld. He smiles weakly and laughs to himself. His father had pushed their Realm into an eternal winter… but Winter must give way to Spring so that Life can continue.

“Brother!” Byleist yells with a smile and waves his hands as he sees his older brother walk down from the now sunbathed mountains. Before the slumber, Helblindi had went out alone on a hunt… that is forgotten now. Byleist is oddly cheerful. He has always been boisterous… but out of rage.

“You seem to be in good spirits, Little One.” Helblindi says with a small smile to his shorter brother.

“I feel alive for the first time! That woman… did you see her as well? We all did as soon as we woke.” Byleist says excitedly and others gathering ‘round voice their ‘ayes’. Helblindi raises a silvery eyebrow at that.

“Everyone saw her?” Helblindi asks curiously.

“Yes! And she spoke to each of us individually. She said we have much work to do and that we need to go to Asgard to see-”

“The future.” Helblindi finishes as he contemplates his brother’s words.

“You did see her. What did she say to you, Brother?” Byleist asks eager to know.

“She told me how we can rebuild our world and thrive.” Helblindi says and his voice is a near whisper.

“We have a chance to really live now! We can rebuild and it’ll be different. No more scraping an existence from the ice and rocks or snow covered forests. One day Jotunheim will stand equal with the other Realms.” Byleist rambles on excitedly in his fervor. Helblindi wants to hold onto his rage but it slips away as he looks around and notices the hopeful faces of every Jotun male, female, and child around him. They have a real chance to live again. They have hope.

“Then we count it a blessing that the Phoenix has given us!” Helblindi shouts to the gathered throng. They all cheer and chant their blessings to Phoenix and to King Helblindi. He then turns and places a hand upon Byleist’s shoulder. “You shall accompany me to Asgard, Little One, and we shall see this new future together.”

“Aye, Brother.” Byleist says with a grin and slaps a hand on Helblindi’s shoulder.

“But first we have to reestablish ourselves before we can leave.” Helblindi says to his eager little brother.

“Speak it and it shall be done.” Byleist says with his new smile. Helblindi decides the look fairs his little brother better than the constant scowl he used to wear.

“We need to start organizing what remains of our people and move to the south where the forests grow thick.” Helblindi says to all around him.

“We are leaving Winter-dwell forever?” Someone in the crowd asks.

“Yes, but we must never forget it. It is a ruin… a monument to the obsession of power and a symbol of what hatred has wrought upon us all.” Helblindi starts. The crowd grumbles for a moment and Helblindi raises his hands to garner their attention. “But it is not the end for us! We will build a new city with a new throne! We will give it a name worthy of the change we have all undergone and strive to make our world better, not for ourselves… but for our children and every generation yet to be born!” The people cheer their king and soon they gather up everything they can put onto sleds and carry with their hands. The young Jotun King orders what books they have be placed into their own sled for transport.

Within a day the long line of sleds and marching Jotuns moves out of the frozen city of Winter-dwell through the ruined gates known as Ymir’s Maw… Southward bound towards uncertainty and the promise of hope.

___________

“The Frost Giants have all awakened… only a few of the oldest refused my offer of Life.” Sigyn says as she blinks away the trance of gazing across the Universe to witness the new Jotun King lead his people to a new beginning.

“Excellent news indeed.” Loki says as they stand near the bar in his receiving room. He pours himself a goblet of sweet mead and another for his wife.

“Their young King has made the decision to abandon the Frost Giant Capital.” Sigyn then says as she takes her goblet.

“Then here’s to hoping they will become a benefit to The Realms United.” Loki toasts and Sigyn nods her head. She had looked into Helblindi’s heart. He had harbored anger and resentment for the entirety of his thousand year long life. She knew he was born months after the Asgardian War with Jotunheim had ended… and he grew up feeling cheated of a glorious life as a Prince of Jotunheim. He let it go though as he made his choice and she melted away that anger and resentment to heal his Heart and Soul and alter his Body. He had been overcome with a mixed sense of bafflement and curiosity… even desire when he had set his new eyes upon her.

Sigyn wants the Jotuns to feel included when they do come to Asgard to swear allegiance to The Realms United. She decides in this moment to befriend Helblindi and Byleist when they do arrive… it will help smooth things over.

“There’s some unrest on Vanaheim.” Loki suddenly says as he becomes aware of his doppelganger disguised as Odin receiving news from a guard. He then looks at his lovely wife and smiles. “You’re up, my Radiance. Try not to keep me waiting too long.” Loki says smoothly as he takes Sigyn into his arms and kisses her softly upon the lips. She kisses him back and gives him a sweet, yet sad, smile.

“I’ll be back before you can miss me.” She says after their lips part.

“Too late.” Loki quips as he smiles which she chuckles at then disappears in a burst of flame. He sighs now that he is left alone in his chambers. He really does miss his beautiful wife already. He then heads up the short stairs to his bed chamber where he makes a few waggling hand signs then dismisses his clothes and a robe appears before him. He slips it on as he heads up the next set of short stairs then turns to his lavatory. He just wants to soak in a soothing bath before bed. He has earned some rest and relaxation after all the Time-Traveling he has done recently.

“Hopefully, soon the other Realms will start sending their Representatives and my grand scheme can commence.” Loki says to himself as he removes his robe and slips down into the steamy water. He slides down until he is chin deep and he releases a contented sigh. ‘Soon I will have a diverse army pledged to my command and nothing Thanos brings will be able to wrest any of my Infinity Stones from me.’ Loki thinks as he smiles in his own self-assuredness. He has all but two Infinity Stones. What does he have to fear? …Nothing… or maybe… everything… After all he does not have the Gauntlet. No… he pinched that from the Vault when Thor was banished to Midgard during his first reign as King. Loki had then traded it to Thanos to spare his life whilst on Sanctuary. So maybe Loki has does of a shadow of doubt lingering in the back of his mind… and as he ponders this potential dilemma, Asgard’s Secret King downs a full glass of the amber honey wine.

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Additional A/N: This Prelude takes place before the events in Chapter 8 of Loki: Triumphant Part 2. Just a fun fact. Also I plan on exploring the differences in the various cultures of the Realms that are a part of The Realms United. Vanaheim, Asgard, and Nornheim are similar. The Light Elves and Dwarves share some cultural aspects with Asgard, but there will be noted differences. I am inspired by Tolkien’s work which he based largely off of the old Norse and Slavic myths, so I don’t feel too bad about ‘borrowing’ from the creator of The Lord of The Rings. You’ll see, Reader, as this story progresses and I sincerely hope you enjoy :)