Jack Frost (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
nippinatyournose) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fossilised2016-03-10 03:04 pm
nippinatyournose) wrote in fossilised2016-03-10 03:04 pm
Entry tags:
PSL for throneenvy
Colorful. That was the first word that came to Jack's mind as the delegation from Jotunheim stepped into the golden observatory after their trip through the Bifrost.
Asgard was unbelievably colorful.
Perhaps he should have been more concerned about the cautious looks and glares he and the others received from the 'greeting' party of guards, and he might have been if his eyes hadn't caught on the sunny blue sky and the beauty of the Rainbow Bridge up ahead.
This was the first time most of them had ever left Jotunheim for any reason. Thanks to the ancient war between the ice realm and the one which controlled the Bifrost, inter-dimensional travel had been effectively cut off for hundreds of years. None of Jotunheim's princes had ever stepped foot on another planet, and the only contact they had with outsiders came from those who chose to visit them.
Jack himself was the result of one of those rare visits, so he'd been told all of his life. The King had relations with a woman visiting from another realm, and months later the delegation returned with a baby and the sad news that the mother had not survived its birth. The baby clearly inherited its appearance from its mother, though it could also claim cold resistance and a natural affinity for ice magic from its father. Laufey had no choice but to keep this child, unlike the other runt he'd given up for dead many years back. He could risk trouble with the other realm if he did not.
And so Jack grew up in a world of giants.
Although he never reached 6' tall, nor did he have any chance at becoming a warrior, Jack proved he had some worth in the magical arts. With a wooden crook he'd claimed as a staff, he was able to work wonders with ice that other Jotuns found impressive in its own right. These powers, as well as his vastly different appearance, helped gain him a spot in the party sent to Asgard for the next few weeks.
He was absolutely thrilled to learn he'd be accompanying his father and a few of his brothers on the trip to help negotiate better terms with the golden realm. Not because he had any interest in sitting in on long, boring discussions, but because he might be able to meet the Jotun prince who was taken away to Asgard as a baby.
Sure, most people said it was just a legend. Don't listen to that nonsense, they would say. But was there really no truth to the matter? Jack began to believe with greater certainty when he found an old journal of his father's, sneakily flipping through the pages. There was mention of an abandoned baby, and also a note that the body had not been found. Jotuns who took part in the war spread old rumors that they'd seen the baby taken away by Odin Allfather himself.
Jack had to know if the stories were true. Did he really have an older brother who was small like him? Who didn't even know his true family? As difficult as it was to contain his excitement, Jack had no choice but to be patient as the guards led the delegation down the Rainbow Bridge and toward the palace. There would be a welcome feast that evening, and they would be able to meet the King, Queen, and both of the royal princes. Soon, very soon, he could set to work playing detective.
Asgard was unbelievably colorful.
Perhaps he should have been more concerned about the cautious looks and glares he and the others received from the 'greeting' party of guards, and he might have been if his eyes hadn't caught on the sunny blue sky and the beauty of the Rainbow Bridge up ahead.
This was the first time most of them had ever left Jotunheim for any reason. Thanks to the ancient war between the ice realm and the one which controlled the Bifrost, inter-dimensional travel had been effectively cut off for hundreds of years. None of Jotunheim's princes had ever stepped foot on another planet, and the only contact they had with outsiders came from those who chose to visit them.
Jack himself was the result of one of those rare visits, so he'd been told all of his life. The King had relations with a woman visiting from another realm, and months later the delegation returned with a baby and the sad news that the mother had not survived its birth. The baby clearly inherited its appearance from its mother, though it could also claim cold resistance and a natural affinity for ice magic from its father. Laufey had no choice but to keep this child, unlike the other runt he'd given up for dead many years back. He could risk trouble with the other realm if he did not.
And so Jack grew up in a world of giants.
Although he never reached 6' tall, nor did he have any chance at becoming a warrior, Jack proved he had some worth in the magical arts. With a wooden crook he'd claimed as a staff, he was able to work wonders with ice that other Jotuns found impressive in its own right. These powers, as well as his vastly different appearance, helped gain him a spot in the party sent to Asgard for the next few weeks.
He was absolutely thrilled to learn he'd be accompanying his father and a few of his brothers on the trip to help negotiate better terms with the golden realm. Not because he had any interest in sitting in on long, boring discussions, but because he might be able to meet the Jotun prince who was taken away to Asgard as a baby.
Sure, most people said it was just a legend. Don't listen to that nonsense, they would say. But was there really no truth to the matter? Jack began to believe with greater certainty when he found an old journal of his father's, sneakily flipping through the pages. There was mention of an abandoned baby, and also a note that the body had not been found. Jotuns who took part in the war spread old rumors that they'd seen the baby taken away by Odin Allfather himself.
Jack had to know if the stories were true. Did he really have an older brother who was small like him? Who didn't even know his true family? As difficult as it was to contain his excitement, Jack had no choice but to be patient as the guards led the delegation down the Rainbow Bridge and toward the palace. There would be a welcome feast that evening, and they would be able to meet the King, Queen, and both of the royal princes. Soon, very soon, he could set to work playing detective.
no subject
He had not known that the Jotun monarch had been saddled with a half breed son, and he clearly did not enjoy the matter. A small child, even because of half breed blood, was anathema in the harsh environment of Jotunheim, an indicator of weakness in the bloodline. So why should Laufey display his shame so openly to bring this bastard son with him?
Sentiment? No, surely not.
That meant the boy, Jackson, had use beyond what his stature and low ranking position in the entourage suggested. He would be worth keeping a close watch on.
"I am afraid the All-Father has many pressing calls to his time. Asgard commands many realms and is needed to oversee all, I am certain you understand." Loki smiled as if his words had been meant with the politeness he spoke them, rather than the veiled insult that they were both too unimportant for Odin and that Laufey had so little to do as King in his own realm that he should dance attendance on Odin.
He led the Jotuns into the main palace and through the glittering golden ornamentation of the main corridors, down to a set of guest chambers all connected to one another.
"These shall be yours for the duration of your visit. You are invited to a feast to welcome your delegation this eve, otherwise please take this opportunity to rest and bathe. Do you have need of anything?"
no subject
The delegation thus followed behind the prince without comment, their footsteps echoing through the vast palace hallways. Even the two elder sons who had never been to Asgard before appeared only mildly interested in their surroundings, while Jack...
They had reached the guest chambers, and his bastard son was no where to be found. Laufey closed to his eyes and sighed, long-suffering. The boy had already disobeyed him, and they'd barely set foot inside the palace?
But no- Jack turned the corner shortly after the others. He was clearly distracted, however, running over to various ornaments to poke at them, or run his hand over this golden decoration or that. A few servants who had been passing by stared at him askance while Laufey clenched his teeth and Byleistr and Helblindi looked like they were trying not to laugh.
"Jackson." The Jotun king's voice rumbled through the corridor, and Jack froze in place. Oops. He hastily went to join the others, only to feel two heavy hands settle on his shoulders. His brothers attempting to keep him in check, of course.
That settled, Laufey once again turned his attention to the younger Odinson. "I shall let you know if any need arises. Until then, we will meet again at the feast."
no subject
It had been a tactic used by himself many times in the past to gain access to places he should not have been.
This Jackson must be intended as a spy. Bring one who looks Aesir so as not to arise suspicion from those he must blend in with, gain him a reputation for being nothing more than an amenable wanderer with insatiable curiosity, and then have him 'accidentally' stumble upon items of politic significance. Perhaps they even thought to steal back the Casket of Ancient Winters and turn this truce into war.
"As you wish." His eyes flicked once to Jackson and then back to Laufey-King as he took a step backwards and issued a warning in his mildest tone of voice. "There are many here who remain nervous of strangers and protective of Asgard, to wander alone is to invite trouble. I am certain none of us wish for anything that may ruin these talks."
And with that, he slipped out of the room and closed the doors behind him.
His own chambers were only a short distance away and the guards posted outside those chambers given to the delegation from Jotunheim were instructed to direct any who wished help to him. So that was where he retired to prepare himself for the feast later and think on all he had learned so far.