fossilised | Jotunheimr

“I was in a great rush before but now... I think I can still do some good before I return,” Thor said without reading into Loki’s words. It was foolish of him to be so readily trusting but he had known Loki only a smattering of weeks. And that was not enough time at all to learn the depths of his character.

Thor shifted his burden as they came to the massive doors in the front of the building and turned to face his Guide.

“Tomorrow I would like to discuss potential relief efforts for your people. I would ideally like to return the Casket but it is not mine to give or return. There must be other ways to help.”

More and more, Frigga’s gift to Loki revealed itself.

A true gift indeed.

Loki would need to find the key to tying Thor to him properly, though, to work out the key to the young Odinson's heart and use it so that he could get what he wanted. As of yet, he still didn't know what that would be.

"We require food more than anything else; our crops fail and our herds die now, pickings become slimmer each year. We need to be allowed to move between realms again, if we do not start to trade then we will not last much longer."

Too many had died already, Thor truly had tried to invade a world almost gone.

“You have already made friends at the Free Market. I will insist that Jotunheim once more begin their trades with Vanaheim.” And he would cash in the remainder of his credits and make sure that there were grains at least for the people here to eat. Especially those at Utgard. Thor could not allow them to starve. Especially while they feasted tonight at the palace.

He thought of these things as they were ushered into the Tower, as Bylister ran towards them and stopped before he went tumbling over.

“The Bifrost came and went many times,” the young giant said. “I thought Thor would have been taken.”

“Not yet,” Thor said and handed off his packages. “There is much to do. Deliver that to the kitchens if you would and I must prepare for an audience with your parents.”

Loki grinned and stretched up so that he could touch a hand to Bylestir's cheek in fond greeting, jingling his own bag of treasures enticingly. "Go and do as the Odinson says, and perhaps I will show you what I have procured from Vanaheim."

"You've been to Vanaheim?! But eldsibb, the Ways...!"

"Do not look at me as though I've doomed us all, it was a journey sanctioned by the All-Father for his son and his son's Guide."

Bylestir still looked a mixture of terrified and awestruck, but he eventually took the food and ran off to the kitchens, leaving Loki laughing after him. "What preparations do you need to make? We can simply go direct to the throne room, Laufey-King will know we have arrived by now and will likely be expecting us."

“I am not going into an audience covered in blood,” Thor told Loki with a smirk. “It may well invite the sort of feast I wasn’t expecting to be part of.” Thor couldn’t stop joking and he doubted that Loki would care for him to. He did hold up his hand, rags wrapped around it covered in dark maroon. He’d not healed as quickly as he ought to. The fact that he had bled at all was still mostly novel to him. His skin has always been thicker than an aubach’s and so to suddenly be confronted with this scar was both wondrous and a little unnerving.

He could not fully describe this to feeling to Loki, and so he did not even bother to try.

“And I believe I’ll wear my own clothing. It seems proper.” At least he was finally thinking like a prince.

It was a far cry from how Thor had first come into their palace, surly and arrogant and assuming them all to be monsters. He had barely shown deference to Laufey-King then, now he had returned and was concerned with his appearance. It was a good change and it would reflect well on Loki, many would see it as his influence that had caused this reversal of heart.

He set a hand on Thor's cheek, just briefly enough to leave a patch of frost behind, and stepped back.

"Then I will see you in the audience chamber, I wish to see my sire and dam as soon as possible."

A little smile was left on Thor’s face once the dumbfounded look passed. Loki would likely see both before they parted ways and Thor left to return to his chambers to dress more appropriately for an audience. And to figure out how exactly a person was meant to tend to a wound.

Laufey and Farbauti, along with Helblindi, were in the antechamber of the throne room when Loki entered and despite his usual decorum, Farbauti rushed to take their little fyri into his arms. “You had us worried. Helblindi thought you had been killed.”

Helblindi might cause a whole world of problems over this. He’d seen the Bifrost, he’d seen Asgardians approach his brother but whatever scuffle had occurred had not been long enough to allow him to approach poor Loki and aide him. That was probably for the best, considering all that had later happened.

Loki laughed as he was caught up in his sire's arms, though only for a moment before he pushed himself free. He enjoyed their affection and loved that they loved him, but he hated to be picked up and carried as though he were still a child. It belittled him, something that happened too frequently for a runt in a world of giants.

"Some of the Odinson's friends thought to 'rescue' him, entirely without permission or support. They are being punished on Asgard now, and no harm has been done."

He thought it best not to go into what he had seen and heard on Asgard itself.

"You will be pleased with the future King of Asgard, he is readying himself now to pay all respect he can to the King and Consort of Jotunheim. He has even brought hearth-gifts."

“He is three weeks late on hearth-gifts,” Loki’s sibling muttered. He didn’t like Thor. He hated Asgard as a whole but Thor really rubbed him the wrong way. “Did you put him up to this?”

He didn’t want to lose the throne to Loki. The fyri was his kin and his life but he was too chaotic and too hard to pin down. He would never sit on the throne. He would likely just make a manic mess of it.

And that includes alliances with Asgard... and who knew what else?

“Or trick him to violate the Ways?” And there was the heart of the matter. Even Laufey’s eyes turned towards his son.

"Ah, my sibb, you ever think the worst of me. We travelled to Vanaheim by Bifrost, observed by the Watcher, and with the full consent and knowledge of the All-Father. Our exile has not been violated, war is not coming upon us, I have been granted dispensation as the Odinson's Guide."

But yes, of course he had tricked Thor into going out of Jotunheim, he wanted to see the other realms and he had made it so.

"Are we not attempting to bring peace between our realms? Why question if he came on the idea of these hearth-gifts alone, or if the custom was explained to him? I think you are too ready for war, Helblindi, and should be careful."

What an amazing thing, to see Helblindi look genuinely embarrassed by Loki’s turn of phrase? He had no answer for Loki and fell silent, even as Laufey gave Loki a nod of approval.

“Asgard has wronged us, though we can not allow that to perpetuate. It is not the fault of many of the people of the Realm. The fault lies solely with Odin. We must take what we can in hopes of rebuilding Jotunheim.” He unfurled a very large hand towards his child, so Loki might touch his hand to it. So small that his eldest was, Laufey was always careful with him.

Loki was a blessing but Laufey often wished he had three normal children. No longer. He was becoming shrewd and would be a wise and wonderful leader in his own right.

“You have done well to broker this, as much as I had feared your nature would take this in another direction. Let us head to the throne room to meet the Odinson properly. Helblindi, find your younger sibb.” Laufey rose slowly and Farbauti took his arm as they left the antechamber. Thor would not be long, and with Bylestir too. They chatted amicably, much to Helblindi’s chagrin.

Loki loved Helblindi dearly, and he could see a purpose for his brother as the leader of Jotunheim's armies under a different King, one that could temper him into a blade to strike where it was needed, rather than a blunt instrument that destroyed all it touched uselessly.

He still waited until he was alone with his dam and sire before he spoke again, voice soft and light.

"Asgard still stands at the pinnacle of Yggdrasil and will for millennia, it holds too much fealty from other realms to be challenged. It will be a long road for Jotunheim to stand in its proper place again, but think how much might be gained if a Jotnar had the ear of the next All-Father. Think what it might do if the next All-Mother were to be of our realm."

He was just saying.

He had always known that he would never marry for love, if he married at all. To sell himself for the betterment of his realm was a sacrifice he was willing to make.

Thor wouldn’t know what the plan was but now that Loki’s parents had heard, they approved. It made very good sense for Loki to use his powers in this way and they wanted whatever Loki did as far as happiness. Had Loki become King... well. Offspring would have been difficult to come by from a Jotun. Bylestir might well become Loki’s heir at that point. They did not wish for the dilution of their blood, however.

Farbauti could feel his King’s annoyance and he bent to a knee to speak with Loki more closely.

“Heirs to this throne with Aesir blood? It will be unpopular,” he said for surely his son would know that it could cause him to lose the Jotnar throne. “However, though your dam will not wish to hear this, All-Mother is the higher title. And you will do much good. Perhaps even more good for this Realm as the All-Father will have Jotnar kyn.”

His hand did not brush Loki’s cheek, but nearly cupped half of his body.

“You must become pleasing to him. Your magic will allow you to look more like his lot. It will not change who you are beneath. Use your wiles.” Farbauti did not hold punches. “It will be as I was with your dam. I forced him to notice me above all others. I even had some of my sides shaved.”

Laufey laughed, snowy and like ice falling. “I noticed you before you altered yourself. You were always pleasing to me.”

"Please do not begin this march down the lanes of history, I do not know if I can escape unscathed from what you will tell me."

Perhaps that was a constant in all realms, children being embarrassed by their parents and yet loving them all the same. He knew that the two of them had a rare relationship for a political one, one full of love, and he cherished that. He might not have it himself, but he could likely become fond of Thor and he would make certain that the Odinson would live and die for him.

"Any children I bore would be more fyri than Aesir, my blood runs strong. I will not give up my claim to the throne that may be my birthright, I intend to stand for it once my dam returns to the ice, and will do so as All-Mother as well if I must."

Honest and ambitious, but not grasping. He did not eagerly await his father's death, and he would not resent Bylestir gaining the throne; or Helblindi, but only if he managed to get a check on his temper.

"I will have him find me pleasing in my true form. It will do no good to the Jotnar cause if I must wear Aesir skin and pretend to be one of them. I tell you this because you may need to approach the All-Father, a marriage of this sort of union must be brokered in the proper ways."

It was usually best not to argue with Loki, but Farbauti did tell him that an All-Mother that could not touch her people was not much of an All-Mother. The Aesir could not be fully expected to undergo enhancements to render Loki safe to them. After that, however, he made his was with the King to meet Thor the way he ought to have met them in the first place.

The golden prince stood far more regally than he had when he first arrived, a strange and small sight in the middle of the grand Jotun court. There were hearth-gifts piled high and the start of a feast in the works. Thor had burned through all of his credits at the Free Market to provide food for even those most at risk. Sacks of grain and dried fish were made as offerings.

He even bowed to Laufey as one might expect a foreign dignitary too. Helblindi was displeased, but Bylestir murmured a pleasant ‘well done’ in All-Speak.

Loki looked equally small as he stood beside his family and watched as Thor paid the correct amount of obeisance owed from one royal to another, stood at his dam's right hand as was his right for being the eldest born. The pile of gifts was rather larger than he had thought it would be, but it hardly surprised him, for the Odinson had already proven that he went whole heartedly into everything that he did.

Laufey inclined his head in return, equally respectful a gesture for a foreign prince on his lands, and then turned crimson eyes towards the many things now cluttering his throne room. His voice was the rumble of an avalanche.

"I see you, Odinson-Heir, be welcome in my court with sanctuary and guestrites. I trust my eldest has been a pleasing choice for you to have made."

“He has been an amicable and knowledge companion,” Thor agreed, words that made Farbauti smile. Or so he thought. Much if the larger Jotnar were just too difficult for him to read properly. The King-Consort was at least pleased by her frock and excused herself to try the item of clothing on. “One I hope to name as friend,” Thor concluded, giving Loki a sort of meaningful glance before he returned to hanging out presents.

There were books for Laufey, games for Bylestir and even interesting weapons for Helblindi though the Jotun was vastly larger than they were.

They might make good decoration but little else.

“He has proven to be a wise teacher. I might not have chosen well for your pwople’s concern but I am glad I did choose him.”

Bylestir was a much more gracious receiver of gifts than Helblindi; the former beamed and obviously could scarcely wait to go and test out all of these new ways to play, where the latter scowled down at the blades in his hands and murmured a barely gracious word of thanks as if it choked him to even consider thanking the Odinson.

Laufey-King looked sideways at his eldest born, considering how best to proceed knowing the plans that had been hatched. Perhaps softly would be better, make no mention of an arrangement until he had word that the Odinson would not revolt against it.

"Then perhaps you will stay for the night. It is Loki-Fyri's thousandth birth celebration, though I doubt he has told you as much, and there will be demonstrations of magic, flyting, and might."

“Today!” Thor’s eyes widened as he looked more fiercely at Loki. “No, he has told me nothing. I retract my initial words that he’s full of wisdom! I would have gifted you with more than frocks and texts at the Free Market if I had known it was such an important celebration!” He did not mention the kidnapping, but neither did Loki. Likely that was to save face, but also to keep from Laufey demanding his child not stray again.

Thor was all smiles as he, very familiarly, wrapped an arm around Loki’s shoulders as friends do and gave him a little bit of a shake.

“You are by far the best keeper of secrets.” He turned his attention then to Laufey and, clearing his throat, removed his embrace. “I must ask for more of your hospitality. My father does not believe me ready yet to return. There is much to learn yet about Jotunheim and the other Realms and I would request Loki to continue to be my Guide through my trials.”

Thor needed to have more care with what he did with his arms, he was lucky that Loki had a shawl around his shoulders which shielded Thor's skin from the burning touch of Jotnar flesh, otherwise his gesture of friendship would have ended in blackened frostbitten skin. He rolled his eyes, displeased at the fuss that was being made.

"I had hoped that such demonstrations might be put aside, though I suppose I would not object to showing my skills at flyting... if any are brave enough to face me."

Laufey-King rumbled a loud laugh, before turning his crimson gaze back to Thor. He kept what he truly thought of potentially wedding his eldest child to the barn of his greatest enemy to himself, sometimes a King must do even that which broke his heart.

"You might have noticed that Loki-Fyri listens to few, I have no power to stop him if he has decided to Guide you, even had I the will to try. You should go now and rest before the celebrations, there are hot springs beneath the palace, seldom used, that can be shown to you if you wish to bathe."

Thor’s protection from the cold and from the touch of a Jotun was still, thankfully, in place. Otherwise, he would have been burned black with frostbite a hundred times over. Odin might have taken his strength and his ability to heal (or be invulnerable), but he thankfully had not forbade Frigga from giving her son a charm that would keep him safe from the nature of the people he would be forced to stay with. To do otherwise might as well sentence Thor to accidental death and that was not at all what Odin wanted.

“Hot springs?” The thought sounded delightful. Thor had not bathed in a long time and he’d heard that multiple hot springs in various Realms had restorative properties.

His hand felt a little too warm for comfort and so he thought himself foolish to decline the offer. He did not wish for the hand that held his drinks to have difficulty in lifting cups at Loki’s feast! He’d never sampled Jotun ale and he should very well like to, even if he knew better than to assume that the feast would be much more grand than what he himself he brought from the Free Market.

Jotunheim had few resources.

“I shall accept your offer if Loki will once more Guide me in that direction…?” Ah Thor. How he played right into everything.

That was all the blessing that Loki needed.

His dam would not have suggested that they bathe together in a secluded place, an activity that often led to other activities best performed naked, if he had not intended for Loki to continue his seduction of the Odinson. The bow he gave to his dam was just low enough to show that he understood and was thankful that his plan was being trusted.

"Come, then, I have no doubt that it will take hours to clean the stench from your skin enough to be acceptable at a feast."

It was said with a grin, however, as he pulled Thor out of the throne room and out into the corridors. He took them on a winding route down below the castle, to caverns that were lit with bio-luminescence that made the water seem an almost alive entity of greens and blues. The steam that rose from it only served to add to the atmosphere, creating an artificial veil that shrouded areas of Loki as he began to disrobe.

Thor thought so very little of anything that might be occurring that he pulled off his own clothing quickly without doing much to see the place that surrounded him. He might have found it beautiful, he might have found a great many things beautiful, but right now, the idea of the water was just a good idea.

He was already splashing into it when Loki made move to join him.

“Will I be fishing you out from overheating again? Your parents will think I’ve tried to kill you.”

"The waters of Jotunheim, no matter how hot or cold, will not harm a Jotnar. They are just another form of the snow, after all, and that is connected to us through our very blood."

Loki waded into the water alongside Thor. Naked, his body was completely covered in the raised Kyn lines that marked him as Laufey's barn. He also appeared male anatomically, at least for now, because he did not wish to repulse or confuse Thor before he had become smitten.

"My muscles are weary from our travels. Tell me, what do the warriors of Asgard do to relax?"

He knew full well what they did, it was why he asked.

Thor laughed at first before his eyes narrowed ever so slightly. He wasn’t stupid. At least, he wasn’t as stupid as some people believed him to be. There was a tilt to his head and a smirk to the corners of his lips. “Why do you ask,” he drew out, as if he was aware for the first time of Loki’s intention, though he had no idea why. “You are not an Asgardian warrior. We have not been through battle.”

But Loki had been attacked. Thor had saved him from a blade and from the Vanir.

Surely that counted?

He dropped his aching hand into the water and watched Loki for a few long moments before he shrugged away his own question. “I’m sure it’s the same with all warriors. It is customary to relax by steady and controlled release of energy is it not?”

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