Chapter 19
ASGARD
Those assembled in the throne room were just rising from their formal bows to Asgard’s new king when a silky, sarcastic voice drifted from the back of the room. “What an interesting day of celebration.” Thor looked up with a grim frown as the crowd parted, those in front looking back to see who had dared to speak and then stumbling back when the identity of the interloper was revealed. No one spoke or made a sound. No one dared. Still riding her hound, Hela approached the throne and spoke as she did, “It appears all but the people rejoice such an occasion.”
Thor knew her by sight and knew better than to not answer. He didn’t call the guards in, nor give any indications to the warriors three or Sif to act. The last thing that Asgard needed right now was a new enemy to face. “There is little to celebrate, Lady Hela.”
She hummed softly to herself and hopped gracefully off her perch. She left the magic globe she’d brought with her resting on the back of the hound and crossed the distance to the lowest stair leading to the throne. She stopped and pursed her lips thoughtfully before casting a charm over herself and floating slowly upward. She waited until they were at the same level, wanting to see the thunderer’s face as she asked curiously, “Are you not pleased to finally be Asgard’s king?”
Thor didn’t bother to hide his grimace, nor could he hide the pain in his blue eyes if he even tried. “Not at the price that I was forced to pay for it.”
She nodded slowly to herself, ticking off each one with a finger. “Hmm…I suppose so. Father, mother…and brother. Or do you not acknowledge him as--…”
Thor interrupted her immediately, his voice vehement though it quieted quickly with pain and loss, “Loki is-was my brother. He ever shall be.”
Hela refrained from grinning but the urge to do so was strong. So delightful. Not that she was delighting in his pain. Actually she was, but it wasn’t the only thing that delighted her.
“You do not belong here, witch.”
She was distracted out of her delight with that statement. Unlike Helblindi’s more respectful tone, this one was the exact opposite. With a slowly lifted eyebrow Hela turned to regard one of the many fools that were part of the king’s Advisory Council. She knew all of them at a glance and they all annoyed her. This one had caught her attention more than once, Erling Geirsson. He was an AEsir of average height and build, his grey hair pulled back and his grey beard cut neatly around his face. “You are not the first person to utter such and you shall not be the last.” Her green eyes moved over him in a sweeping gesture. He was one of the few that didn’t dress as if he were in mourning. “Besides, given the theme of the day I would say I am more appropriately dressed than yourself.”
Thor held up a halting hand slightly, speaking firmly, “We have no quarrel, Lady Hela.”
Erling was quick to protest, “To allow this creature to enter the hollowed throne room with no rebuke is an insult to your father, sire. Only a--…” He was smart enough to keep the word from escaping. But it didn’t take a genius to infer what he was about to say.
A few years ago, just the hint of someone calling Thor a coward would have sent him into a blind rage. But it was a slightly more mature man who took a single step so that he was straddling two levels of the stairs as he growled, “…I believe you were about to impugn my honor by naming me a coward.”
There was a wicked spark in Hela’s eyes as she lowered herself back to the floor and remarked dryly, “He’s done far worse in his lifetime.”
“You know nothing of honor.” Erling threw the words at Hela, offended she even had the nerve to say such things.
She reaffirmed her attention on him. “Yet you believe that you do. Why? Because you were born amongst the AEsir.”
He held himself taller as he spoke down his nose at her, “You are sovereign over the damned of Niflheim, you are as corrupt as your people.”
She didn’t laugh. But she also didn’t rage. All expression disappeared from her face as she spoke quietly, “Corrupt. You would dare to see yourself as greater than me. You?” Now she laughed, but it was a jarring, mocking sound. “Well then, let us examine this glorious life you have led and decide just who is the corrupt one.” He opened his mouth to speak, his jaw closing with a snap as she cupped his face between both of her hands and leaned in closer until their noses almost touched. “Shh…I want you to know this wasn’t my intent when I came here. But you AEsir always do things the hard way.” She leaned in closer until their lips were millimeters from one another. “2768.”
“What?” He all but whimpered the word, trying desperately to move back but unable to do so. It wasn’t clear if it was fear, magic, or something else that caused his paralysis.
Hela smirked, enjoying his discomfort, but she leaned back and spoke a little louder so that others could hear, “2768. That is the number of edicts and amendments to the law that you have either created yourself or penned into existence over the course of your lifetime that were for your own personal gain.” She turned in a slow circle as she physically released him, a rolled up parchment appearing in her hand. He still couldn’t move. She raised it for one and all to see. “I believe this one was the most delightful. Your cousin is a blacksmith. Not a very good one, he liked to cut corners and forge weapons and armor as economically as possible. This law was a contract that forced the soldiers and lower ranked guardsmen to obtain from him exclusively. A contract that he paid you handsomely for, which in turn made him very rich." A cousin that was no longer living. A cousin that had learned regret in the next life. The tossed it at the nearest warrior who just happened to be Tyr. “854. That is the number of men who died because of this arrangement when their substandard weapons and armor failed them in battle.”
Tyr stiffened at that, turning to slowly glare as he understood the significance. He wasn’t the only one. “You call yourself an AEsir?”
She didn’t pay the AEsir general any attention, focused on verbally destroying this little worm of a man. “Of the 2768 edicts, laws that Odin allowed into effect through arrogant stupidity, over the course of eight months Loki destroyed 2249 of them.” There were murmurs among those present now. Looks and whispers, not of surprise, but of satisfaction. “No doubt had he reigned longer he would have found that rest.” She bared her teeth at Erling. “That is why you feared him. At a young age it became painfully obvious which of the brothers would excel as a king…and which would excel as a general. That is why you and yours were constantly whispering in Odin’s ear, confiding to him your pride and pleasure in his first born. Odin was a prideful fool and you knew it. It was why you were trying to manipulate him into placing Thor on the throne. You knew that unlike Thor, Loki had a firm grasp of the laws and the intellect to not be led around by his nose like some monarchs who shall not be named.”
“Conjecture and lies…”
“You have no proof!”
The protests were offered by other members of the Advisory Council in the crowd. Tyr felt his mouth quirk before he spoke quietly, “Usually the most vocal denials come from liars.”
Hela gestured to the right and from above their heads a shadowy image appeared. But it moved, almost like a mortal video recording. It was slightly distorted, but the people recorded were identifiable. A recording of Erling with his peers, goblets in hand and satisfied smiles on their faces as they soundlessly toasted to one another. “And that is why upon your return to Asgard you partook in a small celebration amongst yourselves to welcome in the next king…and to celebrate the short reign of Loki. You knew that Thor would allow you to do as you willed because he has no interest in laws and politics.” Hela glanced almost boredly over her shoulder at the silent thunderer. “…too many trolls to fight, I suppose.
Thor had felt anger before but it was different this time. It wasn’t the blind, beserker rage of battle that clouded his vision in red. It was a sweeping rage that heated his blood. But unlike the times before now, it was a rage that didn’t have anything to do with him. He cared if he was seen as a weak king. But he cared even more that anyone celebrated his brother’s death. “You are all dismissed.”
“With all due respect, sire, you cannot dismiss the entire Advisory Council.” The words Erling spoke were respectful and proper, but the look in his blue eyes was not. Thor made a growling sound in the back of his throat and lightning flashed in his eyes.
There were quiet murmurs among the crowd, Anya jumping in surprise as the elf next to her spoke. “He is right.”
Thor diverted his attention to ask gruffly, “Who are you?”
Sigyn was quick to smother a smile. She was considered a delegate of Alfheim. She had also been announced before she entered the throne room. “You really are terrible at politics.” She could have been gravely offended but she chose not to be. Wars had been started for fewer reasons but she had no interest in wasting lives over a young king’s faults. “I am Et’ana Sigyn of Alfheim.”
Erling took a step, his tone dismissive, “You are a light elf, you know nothing of AEsir law.”
Thor continued to watch her curiously as she calmly retorted, “As a matter of fact I do know something of your laws.” A small smile that wasn’t quite filled with amusement crossed her face. “I travel to the different realms frequently, I find it prudent to be well versed in the laws of the land.”
The AEsir king ignored Erling sputtering and nodded in her direction. “Please continue, Lady Sigyn.”
Sigyn folded her hands loosely in front of her body. “He is correct that the Advisory Council cannot be summarily dismissed. What he has not mentioned is that a temporary council can be organized is lieu of that dismissal until permanent replacements are appointed.” Erling glared while Sif perked up. Thor’s expression turned thoughtful. “There is also no stipulation that this temporary measure need be comprised of any members from the previous Advisory Council.”
Thor’s gaze swung to the people who were the closest to him. Their relationship was still rocky at the moment, but their honor would not allow their current difficulties with him to harm Asgard or the people. Sif made sure to meet the eyes of each of them before nodding her head forward in a short bow. “We would be honored, sire.”
Thor returned to the throne that was now his and sat, speaking so that his voice boomed through the throne room as he did so, “The Advisory Council is summarily dismissed. Warrior Sif, Hogun, Volstagg, and Fandral will stand as council until permanent seats are arranged.”
Any hints of rebellion were quickly quelled when the warriors present sharpened their gazes. Erling turned to retreat with the others, spun around when Hela gestured and her magic yanked him. She leaned in to whisper in his ear, “You have lived for 3792 years. Of that time you have fought in no wars. Your status as an aristocrat by birth allowed you to move from your training among the guard directly to the Council. You have served power and profit at the expense of others. People have been maimed and have died because of you. You have carved quite the existence of luxury for yourself in this life. I assure you that you will pay the debt owed in the next life because you are known to me.” With a horrified cry he stumbled back, falling to the ground. She didn’t pursue him, watching with amusement on her face as in his panic he used his hands and feet to push himself away from her, scooting across the floor on his backside, without presenting his back to her. A truly evil smile brightened her face for a moment. “See you soon.”
With a high pitched scream that caused several to spontaneously laugh, Erling flipped over and scrambled to his feet before running. The crowd let him. Hela’s face returned to its naturally blank state, shaking her head slightly to herself. “Run as you like, coward. Death comes to you all.”
“Was there another purpose to your visit, Lady Hela?”
Hela’s gaze swept over those assembled, pausing for the slightest of moments at Anya who was staring back intensely, before returning her attention to Thor. “Well, on such a joyous day I believe that a gift between realms is appropriate.” He raised a hand as if to object and she made a tutting noise as she asked, “Do you not remember the first diplomatic rule?” His face made a different sort of grimace, remembering that diplomacy had always been Loki’s strength. “It is rude to refuse such an offer.”
She made a slight gesture behind her and Thor focused on the flamed creature for the first time, asking in halting surprise, “Is that…a hellhound?”
“Yes.”
There were gasps as well as screams. Those with weapons had them in hand now that the flamed beast was actually identified. Thor’s voice was firm, wanting no part of Niflheim in Asgard. “That creature has no place here.”
Hela huffed with a roll of her eyes, running her fingers over her pet’s head to calm the beast as the hound shifted restlessly. “I have no intention of giving you my pet. I wouldn’t even dream of it. Besides, the only way she could stay were she to feast on your commoners.” Hela wrinkled her nose slightly as if the thought was silly. “No doubt your AEsir sensibility would object.”
Thor’s hand twitched for Mjolnir but he left the hammer on his belt, demanding an honest response, “Then what do you intend?”
“To give you this.” Hela picked up the globe and slowly panned around to show one and all.
There were soft murmurs amongst the crowd, speculation as to what it was, but no one was even close. Thor was frowning as he asked, “What is it?”
“A truly powerful weapon. Enough power to rip worlds apart…or destroy an enemy like Surtur.” Clarifying the type of power that she held in her hands. “Magic. More magic than has ever been contained in a single living being…save once.”
The looks of disbelief were fewer than she expected. Again she was impressed. It appeared that Loki left more of an impression than he believed. Thor just shook his head slightly. “I would not know what to do with it.”
It was no great secret that Thor was a true AEsir warrior who would never understand magic. But for the first time in a great while she had hope that perhaps she could explain enough to help him understand. “I am well aware. So I will give you the advice that had Odin the sense to heed, the present would be very different.” Advice she’d attempted to impart as a light elf over a thousand years ago. Not an altruistic gesture, but just an attempt to at least level the playing field. But even back then Odin had been a fool. It just made his defeat even more delightful. A slight smile pulled at the flesh of her lips, her fingers lightly caressing the top of the glowing sphere as she slowly ascended the steps. “Magic is like love, my dear king. Love can be found in the oddest of places but it cannot be forced to remain. It cannot be contained. It cannot be controlled.” She met him on the platform before the throne. Anyone else would have been stopped and chastised, if not killed for such blasphemy. But this was the Goddess of the Underworld. No one dared. “And like love it can be nurtured. In the right hands it can be cared for until it changes and grows into something glorious…and in the wrong hands it will become twisted and ugly.”
Thor looked down at it and for the first time really examined the small sphere. She held out her hand and after a moment the globe leapt out of her grip and Thor was quick to catch it. It felt like glass in his hands and though it glowed there was no heat. Nothing about it was recognizable, save the color. The exact same shade of his eyes. “It’s green…”
Her eyebrow arched slightly as she replied. “Of course it is. Magic is uniquely flavored, colored if you will, by the one who wields it.” Loki was unlike any other creature in the nine. With the magic that he carried in life he was powerful. But magic was a willing slave that would not part from its master easily. She thought of his attire. “It always was his favorite color after all.”
Anya stood up a little straighter. Everyone else held their breath with that little hint. No one moved. No one dared. But every one of them was listening fiercely. Thor questioned hesitantly, fear and hope intermingled, “Why doesn’t he change back?”
“Perhaps he’s tired of the form he was born within.” Hela shrugged easily and glided down the steps. She traveled to the hellhound’s side before pausing to turn. Her voice was a strange combination of accusation and quiet dismissal. “After all, was it not your own father who once said that it is a birthright to be the son of a king but an accomplishment to be a prince?” Quiet murmurs filled the throne room as Thor slowly tore his gaze away from the sphere of magic. “Then why was he never respected for that achievement? Because he simply wasn’t big and blond enough?” Thor visibly flinched. He wasn’t the only one. “Perhaps he’s done playing with the rest of you and he will journey to Valhalla to be with his mother.”
“…our mother and father.” The correction from Thor was almost automatic.
She crossed her arms loosely over her chest, well aware she could leave it as a misunderstanding or correct him. She chose to reveal Odin’s disgrace. “I said what I meant. You assume much to presume Yggdrasil is forgiving when funeral rites are denied.” Eyes widened. Those gathered shifted in unease and a thought hovered before it settled amongst those assembled. A thought that could never be given voice, but would be remembered. That even a king as great as the All-father can act in dishonor.
Hela considered him for another moment before she stated quietly, “At the moment he sleeps…but after hearing the right words he might awaken.”
Desperation lit those blue eyes before Thor looked back down to focus on the magic he held. This could all be an elaborate trick, a torment devised by Hela. But even if this proved to do nothing more than to make him a fool he didn’t care. Not if there was even a sliver of hope that he could still have his brother back.
“…Loki?” His words were quiet, ignoring those present leaning closer to hear him. He was at a loss, unsure of what to say or do to win Loki back. His demands had a way of falling on deaf ears with Loki. His brother usually did the exact opposite just to spite him. Honesty had always been his strength. And suddenly he knew what he needed to say. “I cannot make vows for the rest of Asgard, brother, but I can promise for myself. If it is the crown that you wish you will have it. If you desire that I leave Asgard then I shall.” Eyes widened, gasps filling the space. Someone from the crowd took a step only for Sif to draw her sword with flinty determination in her gaze. The warriors three were only seconds behind her. If this was what Thor wanted then they would support him…and silently their own vows of what they would do if Loki returned were added to Thor’s words.
Thor was unaware of what was happening around him as he continued, “My only request if that is your command is that you will visit me, for I have missed your company and would spend a lifetime proving this to you.” His voice shook, unashamed of the tears that silently fell. He had lost everything to ascend to the throne, a prize that he found he didn’t want if this was the price that was taken in recompense. “Please, brother…”
Sif glanced back in surprise, never hearing Thor beg for anything before. Hela paused in her retreat to regard Asgard’s new king. The prideful prince was gone and in his place was a man who had determined what truly mattered to him. It wasn’t the thrill of victory. It wasn’t the vain feeling of accomplishment when vanquishing one’s foes. It wasn’t being king.
Family. Friendships. What mattered was the people a man surrounded himself with. It was in celebrating individuality, of the strengths and the weaknesses of others. The establishing of a legacy was important, but not if there was no one left behind to continue that legacy.
Love. In spite of AEsir perceptions love wasn’t a weakness and the thunderer finally understood that. Love would have prevented all of this from happening. Some actions and reactions were inevitable, but it would have prevented Loki’s fall. A man who was worthy to be called brother of the trickster of Asgard.
Hela smirked as she turned, holding up her hand with palm up and blew softly back in Thor’s direction. Just a little push to help the sleeping trickster to awaken. Then Loki would decide if he would stay or not.
A glittering something flew and twirled within the air, Thor oblivious as he gently held the small globe of green magic between both palms. His blue eyes widened as the sparkling swirl of wind, ash, and blood wrapped around the green globe. Ash to give him shape. Blood, the direct ties to his kin. And one extra drop to perhaps give him something that had been missing. Whispers filled the air, not from the mouths of those present but they were heard nonetheless.
Whispers in different voices of silent wishes. Whispers of unspoken hope. Thor heard Sif. He heard Hogun, Volstagg, and Fandral. He heard his own voice added to the chorus of gentle whispers. The words were different but the meaning behind it was the same. A plea for the return of Asgard’s second son. The magic globe shimmered and vibrated a second before Loki appeared in front of him.
Thor’s eyes widened, breathing his name. “Loki…”
Cries and gasps filled the air. Fandral’s jaw hit the floor, barely even noticing Sif’s sword clatter against stone as it slipped from her grasp. Volstagg stared in wonder and Hogun paled. Thor noticed none of this, focused on his brother.
Loki blinked slowly, his eyes distant and unfocused. A strange smile that didn’t quite belong spread across his face. A smile that Thor hadn’t remembered seeing since Loki had been a very small boy. A smile full of mischief and innocence. Even his voice was odd as his spoke. His tone was soft and gentle, with the faintest of lisps that young boys carry, “Thor…I had…the strangest dream…”
His green eyes rolled back in his head, his body crumpling but not impacting with the ground. Thor was quick to catch the trickster, fresh tears in his eyes as he pulled his brother into a tight embrace and held his unconscious form against his chest.
Author's Notes:
It took me waaay too long to decide how this chapter was going to cut off. This one's a smidge shorter than originally intended but I didn't want to break the flow.
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Loose ends