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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Thor took his leave silently, though he did touch his fist to his chest, well aware that Loki would not see it, nor care. He did not spare Anthony even a look, because the Midgardian wasn’t worth it to him. Thor had changed and grown in many ways, he cared for his James and his Steven far too much, but he did not see Anthony as a warrior and therefore, he was beneath his notice. He was much too young to realise that all Midgardians have a place. It would come with time.

Once Thor left, Anthony hurried to the tent flap to secure it and then cleaned up the wine no one was actually drinking now. He just tried to keep busy, he tried not to look so shameful in this. And he tried not to think of how that false Steven might be gloating right now.

Anthony had no control over his destiny. He did his best, he served impeccably. He was thorough and loyal and he put in many, many hard and long hours perfecting his tasks.

And yet, he would be dismissed, just like that with no hope of continuing his servitude in Valhalla.

His life was over.

Anthony was a fool if he believed that Loki would ever let him be dismissed without fighting it every step of the way, or finding a way around that arrangement so that one could be found that suited him. He had meant the forbidden words that he had said before, and it would not only be Anthony's life ruined if he was dismissed.

Unfortunately for Anthony's efforts in righting all the furniture and making sure things were tidy, Loki lashed out with a snarl at the nearest table and sent it, and all on it, crashing to the ground.

"He thinks to shame us both, to send us back home as cowards with naught to show for our campaign but our tails as we flee like the dogs he thinks we are."

The words in Anthony’s mind, whispered now, were Bruce’s. Sometimes you have to sacrifice yourself to set the one you serve on the right course. Bruce never spoke with the Village colloquialisms that Anthony had never gotten away from despite his years at the palace (Steven had almost immediately but Anthony was proud of where he’d come from and Loki never demanded he conform (save for when it suited him).

A glance the table left Anthony sighing as he headed towards it to right it again. Tantrums were Loki’s nature. He’d gotten used to that almost immediately and now it was nothing to right what had been dropped.

“Prince?” It was rare he used the title in private, but he needed to create distance or his forced departure would harm Loki more. “Your brother thinks more highly of you than he does of most people.” He expected a spell or a strike to come at any moment so he didn’t pause. “I asked you not to do this. Prince Thor has made the decision to pull out of this campaign. It doesn’t have anything to do with you, no matter how you’re taking it. No one knows about this campaign save for you and him.” And the All-Father, but Anthony wasn’t invoking the name out loud. “There is no shame for you to return home knowing you’ve staved off a war.”

Perhaps it was the use of his title, so infrequently used when they had privacy, that pulled Loki up short to look directly at his Anthony. His eyes were on fire, a bright green that no mortal eyes could ever achieve, and he looked every inch the wild second son of a royal house.

"You're scared."

It wasn't a question, though it was said with a questioning tone. That Anthony was scared was something suddenly and immediately obvious, what wasn't obvious was why. Why would he be afraid? He would not feel the shame of fleeing from such inferior enemies, he would not be under rebuke for it.

There was never a reason to lie to Loki and though Anthony tried to shield the Prince from many things and often omitted his own feelings to keep them from clogging his prince’s priorities. He knew he was important. He knew very well that he was expected to help and to sway at times. All those in personal employ had told him about that small perk of his position.

Hand on the righted table, Anthony nodded. “Terrified,” he said, voice strong and eyes still wet, though the tears had thankfully been dried.

This was not the first time he’d been sure he’d be turned away. He knew all about the dread and the sick feeling in his stomach. It was painfully familiar.

“Fifty years hasn’t been enough time,” he said. “I thought I’d get a few centuries. And I’m not prepared. I don’t think I’ll even be allowed to remain on long enough to train your next Midgardian. Silly, probably. Bruce helped me and he’ll help him or her too.”

"Do not be absurd, why would you be dismissed? You have not been negligent in your duties or performed any acts of disobedience nearly severe enough to have you taken from my service."

Loki knew that Anthony sometimes got odd notions about himself, odd fears about not being good enough or being replaced, but this definitely seemed to have come out of nowhere and was confusing enough to it abated his temper somewhat as he tried to puzzle it out.

"You will be mine and mine alone until the apples no longer grant you longevity."

His master was brilliant. The man had literally no fault at all inside of his head but in this he seemed utterly and foolishly stubborn about. How could he not see it? Anthony wasn’t sure if it was better to tell him now that Loki’s willingness to go above and beyond for a short lived species, and slave race at that, would be determined detrimental to him as a person and as a prince.

If he kept mum, it would be kind to Loki now and more crushing later.

If he spoke, perhaps anger would allow Loki to do something about his predicament now, though. Anthony would rather die than be sent away.

“It was difficult for everyone to watch Prince Thor and Steven. The punishment for both was to be relieved of their relationship for a year.” Anthony grit his teeth, huge brown eyes harder than they had ever been with concentration. “This is the second time you went against the All-Father for me.”

And the All-Father had known it would be ruin. It was why he had not cared to see the son of Howard and Maria back st the palace.

The reality of what Anthony said crashed over him like ice water and he very suddenly found himself seated upon his furs, a frown of concern and denial at his brow. He would not allow this to happen, Anthony was his and he had already proven that anyone trying to take that from him would find themselves the subject of his wrath.

"This is not the same as Thor and Steven, none know that it is for you that I have defied my father. You and I have always behaved with perfect decorum, and it will be my wilfulness and stubborn selfish pride that will be blamed."

People would see it less as Loki's connection to a slave, and more his immaturity at having anything that was his stolen. Hopefully the All-Father would be wise enough to allow those rumours to be the ones believed and not risk upheaval by actually trying to dismiss his Anthony.

“He is called the All-Father for more than just a title of respect,” Anthony said, standing where he was by the uprighted table. “And there has been talk already. About your pride, yes, but questions among the slaves about what would make you react so strongly for me.”

And Anthony now knew the answer. He almost wished he hadn’t. He could no longer pretend that his love for his master was one sided and proper, as all slaves should feel. And that meant that he had failed in some very big ways here. Loki wouldn’t understand, he wasn’t a Midgardian. While he had punished Anthony before less for mistake and more for his own anger, he still wouldn’t understand the mentality of his servant. Anthony was bred to be companion and labourer and whipping boy and sexual object and cook and maid and everything anyone could ever want him to be. But he was not meant to be equal. He was no Asgardian.

And Loki was treating him as such.

“If the slaves begin to think that you are possessive, I will be taken from you to break you of the folly. If I am a crutch, I will be taken from you to cause you to walk on your own. If you love me... you know what they will do to me. And its not an honourable death, that one. I’ll go to Hel and never be with you again. But you’ll learn the lesson they want at least.”

Loki did not think that he was treating Anthony as an equal. Love him, he might, but he still expected him to adhere to the duties of a slave and did not feel guilt for making him clean or fetch or carry. He was property, well loved property, but still property. He knew that this didn't make it more acceptable in the eyes of Asgard, but it was an important distinction for him.

"I will not let them take you, Anthony, you must know this by now."

This was the ruin that the All-Father predicted. He could not make the right decision. If he took Anthony and tried to force Loki to learn the lessons of the Aesir, he would end up with a rebellion and an unstable wrath unleashed. If he allowed Loki to keep Anthony, he would risk shame and the royal household being manipulated by a Midgardian.

"You will not go to Hel, and nor will you be sold, cease your fears on both. I will not allow it."

Anthony nodded. He could see only ruin ahead, and all because of him. He could not leave Loki, his prince needed him. He could not stay with Loki, his prince was tumbling down a terrible path. “There is no one I trust more than you,” Anthony said, bending down to pick up a bowl that had been dropped when Loki turned the table over. If there was anyone in this terribly cruel and yet beautiful existance that could figure out a way to make this all look like something else, it would be Loki.

They could distract from this campaign in some way, surely. There had to be other reasons to come here….? Perhaps if they said that they needed to visit the sickness in order to close it up again, the All-Father, who was not magically gifted, would fall for the explanation and let it go?

Anthony did not voice his opinion at the moment. He had to work on making himself look less afraid. If he trusted Loki, he needed to prove it.

Anthony was not wrong, Loki needed him, more than most Aesir would ever need a loyal slave in their corner. He was so often alone and misunderstood, reckless and foolish and wise all at once, that he needed the steadying influence of someone who cared and who he could always know would be staunchly on his side.

If he lost that, he might well fall into the madness that Frigga sometimes feared for him, and then Odin's prophecies would all come to fruition.

"Then set down your work and retire, I need silence to think."

If this was a true danger then he had to find a way to mitigate it before disaster fell.

“Gladly,” Anthony said as he let the bowl alone and climbed back into bed with Loki and burrowed against him.

Tony, on the other hand, had no warm body to ease himself against. He was cold, he was miserable, and he was stuck with Steve. Today was not his best day. At all. He had finally managed to find something to bring back to the Princess, grumbling the whole way, and he and Steve were back up to see her when he saw Thor fly overhead and head into the cave. His face turned grim.

“You’d better hurry up before that asshole thinks we killed you,” Tony grunted in Steve’s direction. He wasn’t running, thank you.

Back up in the cave, however, Thor was not immediately looking for Steven. His eyes settled on the strange Jotun form of his brother’s other self while he stood in front of her. “We have accepted your suggestion to remove the ability for any world attached to this from entering the majority of Yggdrassil.”

Loki had not slept well.

She had spent the night in worry that her actions may have caused the ruin of her people, the Midgardians, and a danger to everyone else on the Tree. She had taken her first look at truly how her actions could have ramifications beyond her own welfare and it had scared her into looking at herself more closely.

This was the difference between her and the other Loki, the difference in their culture and upbringing, that allowed this Loki to have more wisdom despite her younger years. She very nearly let the relief show when Thor returned with the good news, but instead just nodded.

"I believe that the All-Mother of my universe is capable of such a task, is yours?"

“More than,” Thor boasted. “My brother fancies himself the most powerful sorcerer in Asgard but my mother is more powerful and I imagine there are others just as or with more power than she. I do not understand the terms well. I will need to visit with this version of my mother for details. Or, if you wish to do so, you can bring me the information I need. I will wait here in this Realm.”

He was being uncharacteristically diplomatic and that was only because he had fought with words enough this night and he longed to return to sleep without metal insects and female brothers waking him.

“Where then is my slave?”

Loki didn't want to give that slave back, it felt wrong, but even she knew that it would be a pointless show to refuse it, especially when Steven wanted to go back with Thor. She would just be causing war for her own sensibilities, and so she swallowed her distaste and gestured to the edge of the cave where Tony and Steven were approaching.

"I do not have the authority to allow you entry to Asgard, where the All-Mother sits, but I will take a message to her there and return here as soon as I can. I must have your word that you will remain in isolation and not attempt aggressive movements towards my people."

“I am aware of how tenuous this momentary truce is. I would prefer to stay in warmer clime, but I will not ask my brother to move.” Loki would be looking for trouble. “Do not take much time.” He did not know how long his brother would be willing to concede to his truce. Likely, not for too much longer.

He turned as Steven approached and pressed his fist to his chest. Thor did not smile at him, he merely reached for his property and headed back towards the cave entry way so he could fly them off.

That left Tony standing there, bending down to cover his head from the blast of the wind of Thor’s take off. He glanced back over his shoulder at the girl, looking old and tired, and dragged himself back into the shelter.

“I think my frostbite has frostbite.”

Even though this was far from over, things could still go wrong, Loki felt a flare of hope that they could actually get this done without anyone else needing to die. What they did to themselves once they were back in their own universe wasn't her problem, they could wipe each other out for all she cared and remove the actual infected branch.

She smiled over at Tony and reached out to take his hand, allowing her skin to bleed to paleness before she did so, and squeezed his fingers.

"Do not falter now, the home stretch is in sight and we go now to Asgard where the climate is much warmer and your body will be able to recover."

“Asgard? Sold.”

Tony wasn’t the biggest fan of the place, not without his armor, but he would rather be there than here. Loki’s magic was a boon, but he was still frozen to the core even though he wasn’t in danger of his body completely shutting down from it. One moment they were in the frozen land of Jotunheim and the next, with only a minor tug of guts and blood to his head, they were in Asgard. The warmth was immediate and Tony let the air out of his lungs, this time without the vomit.

“No offense to your Kingdom, but I like this one better,” Tony said, stepping back given her appearance.

He needed to work on that.

He was about to mention maybe finding a place to relax for a little while when two men on horseback rode up to meet them. Tony tried not to roll his eyes. “The Lady Frigga All-Mother is requesting an audience.” That was quick. Maybe someone had been watching them.

"That is only because your physiology prefers the warmth, should you care for both climates equally then I am certain you would like my realm better than Asgard."

Loki pulled herself up onto one of the horses behind the rider, as this seemed the most logical choice, and glanced over to make sure that Tony could do the same. These horses were massive, after all, but she was used to dealing with a world made for people much bigger than she was.

She had to hope that the All-Mother found merit in the decisions they had made when talking with Thor, if she had been watching, and they weren't about to be hauled in so that they could both be imprisoned for treason. She sat tall and straight, refusing to show her nerves, though Tony might be able to see them for how well he knew her now.

"Ride swiftly," she said to her particular escort. "We should not keep the All-Mother waiting."

Tony really could have done without all of the horseback riding. “I know you guys have planes. I’ve seen them. I’ve flown in then. Come on. Help a man who still has his balls out.” Evidently the Asgardians didn’t get the insult but that was just as well. They were carried to Asgard with complaining but Tony arrived without his lip bloodied. He walked a little funny, shaking his legs with each step like a spaghetti monster and frowned as they were joined by Thor.

He was younger than the last man they had seen, shorter beard and hair. He greeted Loki heartily, but did not stop her progress.

“Princess. I will accompany you to the All-Mother. She requests that we move quickly and without attention drawn to the All-Father.”

Tony rolled his eyes. How did he get mixed up in all of this all the time?

Loki had not ridden often, there were no horses that could survive the climate of Jotunheim, but she had ridden on similar beasts that were bred to endure the snow and so she did not suffer from the ride as Tony clearly had. She might have been tempted to laugh at him and tease, if she were not currently preoccupied with what the All-Mother might say.

She reached out and lightly touched Thor's cheek, a gesture of affection, though she did not slow her walk.

"Thank you, my future husband, it lifts my heart to have a friendly face by my side. You remember Tony Stark? My closest companion, and hopefully someone who will agree to come and work here in Asgard once this becomes my home."

“Work? As what?” Thor barely glanced at Tony. He was just some old human, ready to be returned to soil. That hardly seemed like a decent company for a princess. “I fear any work would end his time quickly.”

“You know what I need,” Tony snapped back, “I need you guys to stop thinking that you’re better than everyone. And yes, okay, I realize how that sounds coming from me.” Especially since neither of these people knew him before his tragedies. They had no idea how arrogant he had been. Or that he had really tamed it down a whole lot over the last year and a half.

Thor just ignored him, either wisely or because they were approaching the royal chambers.

None would be allowed entry save for Loki, which would give ample would be suitor time to glare at each other outside and for Tony to get off a few quips that Thor would not understand.

“Daughter,” Frigga said, alone in the center of the room before a glowing portal of ice and stars. “Come. Join me. I have seen all. And we have much work to do.”

Loki was vaguely aware that Tony was a little jealous of Thor, but she thought he was a fool for being so. She would marry Thor, being jealous of that was stupid, and it didn't change their relationship as friends at all. They could still bed one another after the wedding if they chose to, to be envious was silly male pride.

"I am glad you have seen it, and I must confess that the wisdom for this came from Tony. He saw that we should pretend to see their way of thinking, and it has gained us the agreement to close the rift from both sides."

She took a knee briefly in front of Frigga and then moved to join her next to the portal, her heart singing for the sense of seidr in the room.

"Tell me what it is I need to do."

“Put all others from your mind, Loki. You will need all of the concentration you can muster. But first, I will need to speak to the other you in Jotunheim. I would request that you remain silent.” She had done more than just snoop on her daughter in law to be and had been watching the tall, majestic man that Loki chose to be in the other Realm. She had heard the other version of her son call Loki ‘brother’ and determined correctly that Loki must have been adopted and not married into the family. And she would use that knowledge to speak to him.

“Loki?”

Her voice was dulcet, soft, attempting to rouse the other from sleep.

“May we have a word?” The dark hair of the young human beside him lifted but then dropped again as she used magic to soothe him back to sleep. “I am sorry to disturb your sleep, young prince.”

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