fossilised | Jotunheimr

Loki had felt the weather change at the end of his story and it had thrilled him in a way that little else had. There was a terrible and amazing power beneath Thor's skin and he so wanted to ride the storm and harness it. He very nearly jumped Thor right then and there, electrified and delighted, but he held himself back. It was obvious that the aptly named Thunderer did not know what he did and he needed to approach this carefully.

He felt that power again when hail rained down on him outside Utgard, filthy black and sticking to their clothes and skin to turn even his cobalt blue skin a shadow of its former self.

"That is what is happening to the whole realm."

For once, for impact, his voice was not lilting or mocking. This was plain and simple truth, the suffering of his people.

"Eventually this blackness will cover the whole of Jotunheim, and all will be dead. The Heart of our home has been taken and we have no power to get it back, this is no subjugation, this is a millennia long execution. A genocide."

"The Casket of Ancient Winters. The spoils my father took to join the trophies in our armory." See? Thor listened sometimes. He could put things together in his head from time to time too. He was not entirely dull and he was even less heartless than the Jotun had initially seen him as. What he showed Loki now was not his power, though the ash of death and ruin turned his golden hair to a horrible sooty grey.

Without warning, though if one had a good read of the situation, this was inevitable, Thor took off down the hill, sliding across the dirty snow.

He didn't know what he would do down there, he didn't know how he could help the broken, or what they might do to see an Aesir here of all places, but his reasoning was morally sound. The idiot. He wanted to help. And he'd end up killed for it.

"Thor!!"

Loki shouted after the fool, but the foul wind whipped his words away. This was an act of supreme idiocy, the Jotnar who still lived in Utgard, tied to the land with twisted bodies and futile hope, would not hesitate to slaughter him... if they got the courage to do so.

The first thing that Thor would find when he got down there was a child; young, obviously, for he was only about as tall as Thor himself. He stared into blue eyes and screamed, terror stark on his face as he fled.

"SOUND THE ALARMS! THE AESIR HAVE RETURNED TO SLAUGHTER US ALL!"

“No— No, I have come to assist you—“ But Utgard has not been privy to the command of their king and even if they had, they would have still acted out of fear. There are almost none left that remembered the war but all alive now knew the aftermath. The Aesir were the demons to steal their get and destroy them all. The Aesir had come for their final reckoning.

Blood red eyes peered at him from the darkness as the hail storm ceased. He found himself surrounded by bent and misshapen Jotun, all of whom had turned their arms into icy spears with his death in mind.

Thor stood, jaw set and hands at his sides.

“I am Thor Odinson. I am Prince of Asgard. I am heir to the throne. I come unarmed. I come without guise. I come without my people. I am here to listen to you. To see you. To help you!”

A child threw a rock at him and blood burst from his skull to pour down his face as an adult raged at him in ice and horror. “Do you have the Casket? No? Then you are no help false prince!”

This would not do.

Loki had been to Utgard before. As one of the only Fyri left, he came each year to offer what healing and aid he could, and his father often sent gifts of food and clothing. None of Jotunheim were ever forgotten, so at least his face should be known as he scrambled down the snowdrifts to stand beside Thor and hold his hand out imperiously.

"Stop. I say stop, do not defy me. This Aesir is not here as our enemy, and should you kill him then you will invite Odin Kynkiller back into our midst." Probably not a name that Thor had heard for his father before. "He is a fool and he is ignorant, but he does not mean harm with his words. He is under my protection, harm against him, is harm against me, know this."

Thor’s heart already bled. A few more stabs would make no difference. He mostly tuned out any further exchanges anyway, his eyes focused on the very young that clung to their sires or to their dams, chips in the icy masses of their body as if they were malnourished or suffered disease.

Both, Thor thought to himself, his eyes growing darker. This was not something that should ever, ever happen to one of the Nine Realms. This suffering should have never been allowed to happen.

He set his hand on Loki’s bare shoulder, the cold of his skin sweeping through him, and lightly moved him aside so he could speak again. All attention, all hate and distrust, was on him.

“I will not allow this to continue. I will beseech the All-Father to return the heart of your Realm.”

“Lies,” one hissed, and more answered with a similar call.

“Call me liar if I fail, but not before I’ve tried,” Thor insisted, his grip on Loki tightening. “We must retrieve Mjolnir. And I must have counsel with Heimdall, guardian of the Bifrost.”

Loki stepped forward after Thor had moved him aside, ducking out from under that hand on his shoulder before the idiot could burn the flesh from his palm and ruin his hand for holding anything again, let alone the Star-Hammer. He moved gracefully forward to stand in front of one hulking giant and looked up at him without fear, voice low and slow and soft in the language of Ice.

"Be not afeared, I will take him far from here. Whether he lies or not, I will return as I always have when the solstice draws near and give aid to your barns. Let us go in peace now, I beseech you."

Loki tilted his head over his shoulder, red eyes commanding.

"Thor Odinson, turn around and walk back out the way you came. You are not welcome in this place, and we will speak when we are back outside its bounds."

They would speak when Loki caught up to Thor who evidently had decided to go across the great tundric planes of Jotunheim all on his own so that he could retrieve Mjolnir and seek his audience. He did not need Loki’s help in this and he knew his reasons to be right and just.

The children of this Realm were dying. It would have been less cruel to kill their parents and be done with it but it seemed as if Odin ‘Kynkiller’ wanted to draw it out and make it slow. To make it painful.

Thor has never hated anything as much as he did the actions of his father right now, for even if the rest of the story were lies told and Hela was nothing more than the rightful guardian of the dead, this was utterly unacceptable.

Luckily for Loki, he was a quick one, capable of taking flight, and overcoming the brooding prince would not be difficult.

It took Loki a while to settle the residents of Utgard to at least trust his word, as a Prince of the Realm, if not that of the Aesir. At least, in that, they had faith. He might be a trickster and a liar in many cases, but all knew that none of Laufey's Kyn would lie when lives were at stake.

Eventually, surprised at how far and fast Thor had managed to travel alone, the large gryfhawk landed before him and turned smoothly back into Loki, his embroidered kilt still soiled by the twisted wreckage of Utgard.

"Have you at least half the wit of the drunken donkey? I took you there to show you what had been wrought, not to have you make things worse. Did you not think that those who live there would never want to see another Aesir?! You absolutely arrogant and short-sighted moron."

“I was offering my assistance, why would I wish to put a suffering people through more suffering?!” Thor’s voice was a roar, proving another reason for his nickname. The ground did not shake and the lightning did not snake overhead but that was only because anger was the only emotion Thor truly had a handle on. He had been taught by Frigga to control his rages... but just barely. He turned to slam his fist into a tall standing stone and felt his knuckles bruise instantly.

The pain was intense, more than he thought it had reason to be, which made him angrier still.

“You brought me here specifically for a reason. And yet I am the fool?! What did you wish me to accomplish from high atop a hill?!”

"I wished you to see the truth of our history, and observe what the actions of the All-Father had led to, and then think on it. Surely you must be a mere babe in the eyes of Asgard still, because no child of royalty could ever be so selfish. I do not care what your impulse was, a King cannot act on impulse. What use will you be to your people if you cannot stop for even a moment and allow thought to form?"

Loki's rage was so much that he no longer cared to fetter his tongue for Odinson's sake. These were harsh truths that he felt needed to be said, because truly the Nine were in for pain if such a thing took the throne of the Realm Eternal.

"A King is not a strong arm, a King must think. He has warriors to fight for him, he has healers to give aid in his name, but he must always stand apart and think for the good of the realm. You would have been killed down there and what use would your wish for gifting assistance be then? None. Your actions would have brought about your death, and that would have brought the All-Father's wrath upon us. Because you did not think instead of acted, you might have brought death to all you claim to have wanted to help."

He spat directly in Thor's face, furious and passionate, eyes flashing and hair wild in the wind.

"You are no Prince, you are a mewling infant. And if you are allowed to take the throne, then all of the Nine Realms will suffer while you 'try to do good' without any notion of what would actually be good for them, and only what you believe good in your own heart."

It was not Loki’s desire to bait Thor, but there were ways in which the other was right and needed to hear what was being said to him. This was probably not the best way to go about it, but it could not be taken back now. Nor could Thor’s immediate gut reaction. To the spittle on his cheek, Thor raised his fist as if to strike Loki, teeth flashing white and angry.

He did not follow through, however, not because he was afraid what would happen if he gave Loki the initial go ahead to defend himself, but because he knew, immediately, that what was said to him was the truth.

Aching fist and aching pride, Thor wiped his face with his sleeve and fingers shift towards his palm and relax again.

“Do not again speak with me, Loki of Jotunheim. I am through with these lessons.”

"And there you prove yourself again unworthy."

Loki might be sorry about being so cutting later; not because his words weren't warranted or true, but because when people had taken the sharp wounds his tongue could give out, they seldom warmed to him after and he had possessed plans for the Odinson that were now likely useless.

"A worthy man, not even a King, listens to his faults and thanks the one who pointed them out so that he may work on them and fix them. Lessons are never through, not as long as breath is drawn. But by all means, have your injured silence."

The days were long. The nights were longer. Thor did not attempt to make Loki laugh. He did not ask for the fire to be made. He ate if he was given food and whenever Loki attempted to speak with him, Thor turned his shoulder away from the other.

Seven long days and nights followed and it was pure exhaustion that had Odom’s son breaking for camp with the Tower visible in the distance. He could not force himself to go the last few miles.

Thor made for a heavy shadow as he sat, Loki beside him or across from him or perched overhead, when greater shadows still trudged from the broken tree line.

Helblindi was by far the largest of the three Laufey barn and the Jotun that had come with him were not much smaller. He spoke the tongue of ice and snow to Loki alone, though his tone had Thor standing.

“We have heard all of that which happened at Utgard. It is time to put an end to Orin’s line.”

Loki did not attempt to speak to Thor at all. If he were fool enough to want his injured silence, believing himself the poor victim in this, then Loki would not try to speak to him. He was owed an apology from the Odinson and he intended to have it before he made overtures of friendship again, he had his own pride to satisfy of course.

He sighed when Helblindi and his companions, as though his brother were a child playing with fire rather than a dangerous warrior with seasoned fighters who were dedicated to their cause.

"If you do this, then you make yourself a traitor to Laufey-King, your Kyn, is that what you want? He has given guestrite to the Odinson, we have not the right to take his life unless that is rescinded. Even if it were rescinded, to spill his life's blood would only bring Odin's wrath down on us, and our whole realm will become as Utgard is now."

“We will use him, little gryfhawk, as bait and barter for that which is ours. Odin will come and your birthright will be returned to you. You will end them all with the Casket.” Helblindi was not as dumb as Loki gave him credit for. Killing Thor was one thing but Thor had brothers. Brothers that needed removal as well.

He was speaking to his brother in the wilderness away from their king because this was indeed treason. He could only hope that Loki would find the prospect more enticing than guarding a sullen prince who did not know how to even begin to rule.

“Think on this. You may well be the strongest fyri to be born to our world, my eldsibb. No other would be able to do what you will be able. We have waited since your birth for revenge. Finally we can have it.”

Oh, but it was tempting.

Helblindi might be the most warlike of his brothers, and the least intelligent to Loki's eyes, but there was still affection between them. Helblindi spoke directly to Loki's desire for power, and his certainty that the Casket was indeed his birthright. Even more so than the throne, though he wanted that too, the Casket was in his blood.

But no. No.

He wanted to be King one day, and he wanted to be King of a realm that had a place among the Nine and could rise to power, not be an outcast because of what they had tried to do.

"No, we can't." There was reluctance on his face rather than anger, a wistful desire to take up arms with Helblindi. "If we walked this path, every other realm would turn against us and we would be wiped out, even with the Casket. Asgard would call all others to arms and we would be nothing. We must achieve it through peace, it is the only way for Jotunheim to rise again. Walk away, Helblindi, I will not let you commit this treason and you are no match for me in a fight."

“There are many of us, eldsibb. There are many of us and one of you. I will not be named kynkiller, but if you attack me I will have no recourse but to—“

Helblindi was cut off by a figure only nominally taller than his elder brother. He had paused because the sight was so strange.

All knew Thor had been wounded on a hunt but a juvenile beast of little consequence. For him to be attempting to protect his brother? That was laughable. Loki was indefinitely stronger.

“What are you doing,” Helblindi asked anger in his voice though he now used All-Speak.

“I am once again following my heart. Whatever you discuss, do it without such threats towards my Guide. He is mine and I am his for the length of our journey together.”

Helblindi spoke of things much deeper than treason. To kill Kyn was the worst crime for pretty much any Jotnar, family was all to their people, though to fight one another was not unheard of as long as it didn't go too far. No matter Helblindi's words, Loki did not truly believe that his midsibb meant him any harm, there was love between them and this was not a crime worth committing for such a slim chance.

But the Jotnar that followed him...? They were different. They had the fervour of madness, of ones pressed too far beyond what they could take, and were now willing to throw everything away into one desperate push. They may well kill a Prince of this realm to get at a Prince of another, and that could not be allowed.

"Blindi," he murmured, still in the language of Ice, using the old nickname from when his brother had actually been smaller than him. He ignored the fool who stepped up beside him, other than to note he was in a better position now if Loki needed to grab him and flee should they actually attack. "For the love of me, our father, and our realm, do not do this. I will not tell Laufey-King of your words, because I know they are only born of a wish to see Jotunheim heal, if you step away now. Do not force my hand."

He would not stand and fight if they came for him, he knew the wisdom of retreat. If Helblindi didn't back off, then he would grab Thor and pull them both into the spaces in between, the pockets of Void that only he could usually travel.

“You are as cool as he,” Helblindi said in All-Speak, though it was hard to tell which of the pair he was directing that too. He placed his hand across his heart, however, and bowed low to his brother. The others followed suit before they left, long bodies casting long shadows.

The idiot Aesir stepped further between his Guide and the retreating figures, back to Loki, and shoulders tight.

“I believe I am ready to resume my lessons.” As hard as they were, he had little choice at this point. His jaw was set. The landscape between brothers had changed dramatically and Thor would not be the cause for it. “I must have you do your best to beat these lessons into me, Loki. I will not destroy your Realm more than it is.”

At least Helblindi left, though Loki knew that perhaps they would never be as close again. He could only hope that their relationship would not be permanently soured by this, and that his gambit would pay off in the end. If the Casket were returned by Loki's actions, much would be forgiven for that.

"There is your first lesson."

He turned to face away from Thor, not wanting to look at him, his voice hard and cold.

"A King sometimes must put the peace of his realm, the good of his people, above that which he desires most in his heart. To put your safety over that of my brother's reasonable wishes, that will pain me for a long time."

“You shall one day be king of this Realm,” Thor said without hesitation. “It is... it is greatly important to me that we forge a friendship now and maintain it. I believe I will be in need of your support when it comes time for me to ascend the throne of Asgard. I do not wish to reign as my father does now.”

Thor loved battle. He loved conquest. He loved to flex his muscle, but he also desired a righteous sort of peace and prosperity. It would mean more time for him to squash down those willing to harm that peace.

And he was, as most privileged young men, somewhat adverse to work.

“This is twice you have saved my life, Loki. And I will never forget this.”

"You will forget it as soon as you decide that you mislike my words again."

But at least the sincerity of the Odinson soothed away some of his anger. He had to stay the course now, or else Helblindi would find more disenfranchised Jotnar and war would be inevitable again. He wished to end this with a peace and prosperity for his realm, with affection between his Kyn, and with him being the one to achieve it.

"And there can be no peace while Asgard holds our land to ransom. By the time you become King, Jotunheim may well be dead, nothing but ash and twisted pain."

“I do not forget my friendships,” Thor bristled. He had collected many friends from many Realms. Hogun, for instance, of Vanaheim was one of his dearest friends. Why not include in that circle Loki of Jotunheim? “Nor will I ever forget you.” Loki might have turned from him but Thor stared in return, grim but firm.

He was not a liar. He likely was incapable of such things.

“And I shall never let your people suffer. There will be a kingdom for you. And for those that dwell here now. You must teach me how to judge my actions properly. Start with Utgard. What ought I have done?”

It was impossible not to hear the ring of truth in his words and, even though Thor might still be a naive fool to think it would be so easy, he clearly believed his own words. Was that not what Loki wanted, to have him eating out of the palm of his hand? Not the way he chose to do it, but plans always had to be fluid.

So, eventually, he turned back to Thor and gestured for him to sit.

"You ought to have taken a moment to think about the people who lived there, to remember who brought their suffering and to know you would not be welcome, any more than a bilgesnipe would be welcome at a village his ancestors had trampled years since. I took you there to observe what had been done, so that you could see that our words of needing the Casket are not hollow or grasping."

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