fossilised | I come from a land of ice and snow

I come from a land of ice and snow

Asgard sat atop the branches of Yggdrasil since time began, and little had changed in their society in the years since. Each Asgardian was long-lived into the millennia, their lands were fertile, their people brave and strong. They had their vassals, their allies, and their enemies. Yet even those who opposed them respected the might of the Golden Dias, and the royalty who sat upon it. Currently that was Odin Borson, though he grew weary more easily now and had begun to consider passing the throne to his eldest son.

He had been blessed with many children, but only two that he considered worthy of his lineage and status. His firstborn, Thor, strong and honourable and everything an Asgardian warrior should be. His second son, Loki, was not natural born, though none knew that but his wife. He was different, a creature of magic and mayhem, of sharp intelligence. Both were worthy, but together they would take Asgard to a new prosperity, he was certain of it.

Midgard, where the mortals dwelt, was a land raided every few centuries for stock. It was seen as a breeding ground, much like a corral for cattle. Mortals were lesser, short-lived and weak, they were fit only as slaves. The last raid had taken place when Loki had been but a baby, nearly a thousand years ago, but the mortals that had been taken had been bred and cared for so that a healthy slave population still thrived. Slaves were given a weakened mixture of Idunn's crop with their food, to extend their natural lives to at least a few centuries in order to make them worth the effort to train. They had no rights, but they were taught well that this was their natural position.

All slave children were raised in a central pen and taught the same when small, those that then displayed talent at cooking, riding, hunting, housework, artisan skills, or singing were then measured off to be specially trained for higher masters. Every five years those who could afford to buy a slave, or those of high enough status to simply demand them, came to the corral and chose. Those who were chosen were special, were envied, and those who were not ended up working the fields out in the far reaches of Asgard, the most menial of work.

Anthony and Steven had been friends since they were little and being raised in the large pens together. Both had excelled, Anthony at crafting and Steven at warrior's skills, but neither were chosen when they were five, nor ten, nor even fifteen. Now, at twenty, it was their final chance to be chosen before they would be assigned to one of the meanest farmers beyond the borders of the great capital. Steven woke Anthony as the dawn rose, mingled excitement and nerves on his face.

"Anthony! Wake up, I've got news! I heard the overseer talking to one of the passing guards, and Princes Thor and Loki are coming to the corral today."

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That was impressive, but it was still a foolish risk to take too often and Thor would need to learn that he was not invulnerable. Sadly, she felt that would likely be a lesson hard learned with serious injury at the end of it; or, perhaps, he would never learn it and simply end up dead for overconfidence on day.

"Yes, of course, allow me to take you to our father," Bylestir said, eager to redeem himself a bit in the eyes of his sister and future brother. It was wise of Thor not to risk offending Laufey-King for, even if he didn't really care, he might when he came face to face with the King himself for he was an imposing and impressive figure.

He looked down on Thor from a throne twice the size of the Aesir even at full height and spoke in a voice crackling with power. "Young Aesir child of the All-Father, this realm is not a safe one for playing in. Daughter of mine, you should know this."

Unfortunately, Thor was not the sort to let himself be intimidated. He had no frame of reference for it. His father intimidated him to a degree but mostly their relationship was respectful.

And Thor showed the King respect with a bow too. He might be the future ruler of the Nine Realms but Laufey was the current ruler of one and he wasn't going to risk angering him.

Not when he held the ability to remove him from Loki's side.

"I wished to meet. Your daughter has already become a favourite of my mother and it seemed only fair to meet my intended' family," he said, ever brash.

Perhaps Laufey should have been harder on his daughter and not allowed her such free reign, then she might not have come here with the crown prince of Asgard. Not that he disliked Aesir, he gave her willingly to marriage with one, but this was not a safe realm and he was sure that the All-Father would not appreciate if his son were killed on an unauthorised visit.

But he was here now, and he would not refuse hospitality to one who would become family.

"My daughter is a favourite to many, it is not always a good thing. I hope that you will be able to temper that with challenge on occasion, she is too dear to my heart for me to perform that role."

Loki rolled her eyes, but it was with fondness.

It was a similar thing that Frigga had asked of Loki, amusingly enough, but Thor had no desire to stifle anyone. "We are to rule together. We both will wear a crown. I shall be All-Father and she will be All-Mother." Thor was not being argumentative. His mother had just taught him from a very early age that his marriage was a union, a side of one coin and he would be worthless without a second half.

It was very progressive. Odin himself might arch an eyebrow at his son's forward thinking.

"It is not for myself to deny her. We will work in union to provide for all." For a prince so young, these were very strange words. But it was likely best not to overlook how incredibly smitten Thor was with Loki.

And though his visit might be unexpected and dangerous, to have Loki loved so dearly already would be a massive boon to Jotunheim.

Not only would it be a massive boon to the Jotnar, but it would also put a selfish father's heart at ease that he had not sold his daughter to a loveless or cruel union before her birth for political gain. He still would have done it, love would never conquer duty, but this way he did not have to war with his conscience over it.

"Part of a union is to bolster the weaknesses of each other, and glory in their strengths. I am pleased to host you, but I must ask that you send word to your father or mother and request their permission to remain here. I would not risk war for your childish exuberance."

Loki smiled secretly to herself, she wondered if any others had ever spoken to Thor like this, as if he were a tiny child? Her father was not one to treat even the All-Father's son much differently.

Thor thought it over for a moment. As much as he would like to stay, he wasn't here officially and this couldn't be seen as his first official visit. It would look bad and impulsive and while he rarely cared what other people thought and had been listening to the whispers and the jeers about having a giantess for a consort for ages now, Thor's sense of morality won him over.

That, and his father's forth coming anger should he ask permission after the fact.

"I would indeed enjoy your hospitality but I shall have to another time. I know the princess will need to return to her mortals and I to my home. When next I hold your audience, I shall come with better purpose." Laufey didn't unnerve him but custom said that he ought to have come with gifts and he almost felt that by impulsively not doing so, he was risking anger of the fates.

Nothing with Loki had been conventional so far, however, so perhaps this was a sign that it was all right.

Laufey was not offended at the lack of gift. If Thor had come as an official delegate of his people and failed to bring one then it would have been noted, but he did not expect much from a boy barely out of childhood acting on whim and impulse. He nodded, for it was a good decision for the Aesir to go, and gestured them to be free to leave his presence.

"Swift though it may have been," Laufey said to his daughter in the tongue of the Jotnar. "It has lifted my heart to see you. Go safely, daughter."

Loki merely smiled back at him and led Thor out before either of the could get into further issues.

"That was not unpleasant, I think he may approve of you."

"He approved of me before you were born," Thor said with typical arrogance. He might be able to show deference but he was not without his foibles. "I do not think any has refused the chance to marry into the throne of Asgard either so his approval isn't important."

These were not wise words though Thor meant them more to mean that his position was more important than his character to many people and might be viewed as an insight into whatever insecurity Thor might possess. But it also sounded as if Jotunheim was lucky to finally have a daughter chosen to consort the crowned Prince. Thor's infatuation with Loki, however, might save him his foolishness.

None, not even Laufey, could deny that having Thor wrapped around Loki's finger was a blessing.

"That does not mean that none ever will refuse."

Loki looked unimpressed at Thor's words and attitude. She was already fond of him, he obviously meant well and had good qualities, but she was not the type of person to simply swallow irritation even with those she cared about.

"Should you think the approval of my family is unimportant to our courtship, you are greatly mistaken. They are my heart, and insult to them is insult to me. I think it best that I return you to Asgard now."

Thor didn’t have too much more to say since he found himself in Loki’s presence in the hallway in Jotunheim one moment and then back in the field he had been taken from the next. The Warriors Three and Sif were there, and rushed over to him the moment he had appeared again. They had just been arguing about running off to the All-Father or perhaps even Heimdall. Luckily that hadn’t happened yet.

There was a lot going on back on Vanaheim by that point, not because much time had passed since James had returned to life, but because the three people that had seen him die had all just been informed that he was indeed breathing again.

Of all of the people to be most confused, it was Tony Stark, who kept pushing his cane against various parts of Bucky’s anatomy to test if it would pass through him or not.

“Stuff like this doesn’t happen,” Tony kept saying, mostly ingoring the festivities their small foursome were experiencing.

Bucky hadn't been out of Steve's sight since he came back, the other man had even come and sat with him in the bathroom as he showered to get all of his own blood off him and dress in clean clothing. It was almost as though his poor husband thought that he might die again if he looked away for even a moment. It was... weird, knowing he had been dead, remembering Hel.

But he was grateful to be alive, and that was the biggest surprise of all. He had believed he would welcome death when it came, a release from fighting to get himself back and the pain of what had happened, but he didn't. To know that he still wanted this fight gave him hope.

He frowned and took hold of the cane when it came at his stomach again, glaring at Tony though without any real animosity behind it. "Quit it, that's real old already."

"So is you dying. Or almost dying," Tony shot right back. "I'm tired of having your blood all over me. If you weren't a super soldier I would get really worried about all of the STDs I've probably contracted." He did like Bucky again once more for good measure, however before he set aside the cane between himself and Banner. Out of all of them, Tony looked like he had seen better days.

So far, Loki hadn't shown herself again. This worried Tony. He was pretty sure that he knew how the myths went. When you went to the land of the dead to send a soul back to life, you had to give something up.

Tony more or less liked Bucky. Sometimes more. Sometimes less. But was he worth anything Loki had to spend?

Chances were that the answer was no.

He was distracted. His eyes kept moving towards the door. He expected Loki back each passing moment but she never came. It made the worry increase. He had to stop caring about people. They always disappointed him.

Nobody else seemed to be worried about Loki.

Bucky wanted to see her and thank her, as did Steve who would probably do something stupid like fall at her feet sobbing and promise that he'd be in her debt for the rest of his life. But neither of them considered that she would be anything other than okay, and the Bruce was more concerned with testing Bucky's vitals in amazement.

Lucky for Tony, it would only be another couple of hours of torment and prodding Bucky intermittently with his cane before a familiar set of green eyes and black hair peered around the doorway, smile that could only be called positively smug at her lips.

"A sight for celebration."

Tony couldn't agree more.

Though he didn't get up, it was painful for Bruce to watch him struggle and Tony had caught that look too many times today, it was written all over his face how truly glad he was to see Loki back again. They had an odd relationship considering the face she normally wore, but he had already taken back everything he thought about not caring for people anymore. His heart was bolstered and as guilt tended to show in Banner's eyes, relief and pleasure were the emotions in Tony's.

He averted his eyes after a moment as Steve stood up immediately and marched himself over to the princess.

He didn't salute but he did offer her his hand. "Ma'am, I'm forever in your debt." Not quite the cow towing Tony imaged but close enough.

It was to Tony that Loki's eyes slid to first, lighting up in pleasure and warmth at the sight of a friend, though she also had to turn her attention fairly swiftly onto Steve and his words of thanks. She took the arm offered, clasping his forearm briefly before releasing it, and nodded.

"No debt has been incurred. That a life was taken was of my own mistake, that it should be rectified is only justice and nothing more. Now please, I would speak with Tony Stark, it has been a long and unusual day."

She found herself wishing for companionship more than compliments right then, though she could not deny that the compliments were pleasant too.

"Well, gentlemen, that's my cue. A pretty lady always wins out." He probably should have phrased that differently, considering that Bucky knew he'd slept with Loki, albeit in her older seeming form. He grunted as he stood, however, using the back of Banner's chair and then his cane for support. "Don't wait up for me."

He winked at Bruce specifically before hobbling off, more than willing to offer companionship to Loki so he didn't have to watch Steve stare obsessively at Bucky as if he might return to being a lifeless corpse.

"So, Persephone, what's Death like?"

That leg would need to be sorted out, he would not last as a companion to her on Asgard if he became truly lame, though she had none of the healing arts that many other sorcerers held as their chief talent. She would have to request assistance from another, but that would come in time.

"Helheim is no more horrible than Midgard, it is a place of contentment and family for many. I know that your mortal legends have brought such negative connotations to the word for Hel, but it is simply for those who did not die in glorious battle, not those who have committed wrongs or rights."

She led him to one of the little private rooms and waited until he had got sat down, before she draped herself over his lap carelessly.

"Though it may interest you as much as I, to learn that Hel herself is a daughter of mine in some other future."

Tony wound his arms around the girl and shifted her weight upwards so she didn't put so much pressure on his bad leg. His embrace was light, for she was a child at the moment, and no matter what Bucky thought of him, he wasn't interested in children. That didn't stop him from lightly thumbing over her back, though, likely enjoying the closeness as much as she probably needed to.

It had to be an ordeal. Even if the queen of the Realm that evidently housed them all when they died (what?!) was related to the girl he held.

"I don't think I can process that," Tony said truthfully. "I like being an atheist too much. It's comforting to think that this is it and no one is messing with our fates."

Despite of everything he had seen, he refused to believe in gods and demons and afterlives.

"What did you do? Pull the I'm your mom card?"

"Father, actually."

That didn't bother her so much; though she was female most of the time, she had not ruled out the possibility that she may father children in her future. It actually seemed odd to her sometimes to remember that most people were stuck in their one form, unable to shift and change at will.

"Whether you believe or not, you will travel to Helheim or Valhalla when you die, such is the nature of all of those bound to Yggdrasil's branches."

Her form began to change, to grow and develop into that of a woman more to Tony's tastes. She was running high on adrenaline and victory, a roll in the furs would be an excellent end to the day.

"Father?" A sorceress of many talents, Tony already understood her ability to shapeshift, but for some reason it didn't occur to him that she might also swap her gender, enough that she might actually be able to father children. That was changing the basics of who she was and he couldn't help but be curious.

"How does that work?" He absolutely preferred her this way when they were close, it made him feel less of a creeper. And she was so much softer with the extra curves too. He let his touches longer. "As a bird, you shrink-- but are you actually a bird then? Or is it just illusion?"

Because the implications were marvelous.

She could be anyone with the snap of a finger, not just look like them but actually be them. Banner would salivating right now to listen to this. The implications for medicine were insane.

"It is no illusion, I become what it is that I will, but the core of myself is always me. As I am now is truth, my breasts real, my uterus capable of bearing children. So too, if I would to mimic a cow, I would gain extra stomachs and udders, or if I were to be a fish then air would no longer be my ally for breathing."

It was hard to explain, even to those who also practised with seidr, for true shapeshifters were exceedingly rare. She knew of some, for her father had provided books and tutors once he realised what she was the only one that she knew of that lived now. The illusion and magic for fighting, that was much more common.

"Should I wish it, I could mother or father children in any form."

Which was probably where the legends for creatures like Sleipnir came from. "Why do you ask, are you wishing for kin of your own?"

"That ship has already sailed to Asgard." The thought bothered him. He'd never wanted a child, not even the half dozen people that might have had his kids over the years. He never requested a paternity test, he just had legal pay them out quietly with an NDA and note giving up all parental rights.

He'd never wanted any of that to come back at him.

But now he knew there were children out there. His children. He'd been told by a gleeful Bruce Banner doppelgänger about how well the pregnancies had all gone.

His hands moved up and over those very real breasts. He buried his thoughts of the rapes in the softness of her body.

Loki did not push him, she was beginning to see where the jagged scars in his mind were and not poke at them too much. She would have children one day, hopefully sons and daughters of Asgard's throne and perhaps others to bring her joy with people she cared for. But she did not need one now, and her first child should be with her future husband anyway.

She slid her arms around his neck and bent her head to catch his lips with hers. She would provide the comfort for him, and he could provide the closeness for her that she wished for after such a strenuous and odd sort of day.

"Then do not think on such things," she murmured, soft and warm. "There is only the joy of bedsport here, nothing more."

Tony did thoroughly enjoy his bedsport with Loki, and though his leg made many positions difficult, he was ceaseless in his attempts to please her. No one ever called his a selfish lover even if he was selfish in nearly every other way.

While one Tony was enjoying his version of Loki, another was starting to lose hope. It had been a full day. His Prince should have arrived well before now to get him. To get them all.

No one had been in to see them for a full day now. That worried Anthony. Were they going to starve them? That hardly seemed fair. They had all been really well taken care of.

It was only after slumping into the corner for a moment to get away from the states of his people that he overheard someone talking about deaths.

As careful as Steve and Bruce had been, leaks of what happened to the other captives had gotten out.

Anthony was not the only one starting to worry that they were going to be locked in here and starved, forgotten about in revenge for trying to give these other mortals meaning and purpose in their lives. Several of the lower ranking or younger slaves were sobbing by now, or even talking about trying to fight their way out and return to their masters.

Bruce came to sit beside Anthony, face grave.

"Have you heard the news? One of their people massacred the other captives without mercy or proper trial, like cattle for slaughter."

That was disgraceful, even those captured as criminals were given a proper execution so that their soul might find a better future.

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