fossilised | Jotunheimr

"You are far too small for me to want to share your furs, Odinson. Be thankful that I desire peace more than I desire your death, and do not test my patience by making my aid more difficult to issue."

Farbauti, for it was the King's consort and Loki's sire, spoke with all the anger and contempt that most of a certain age felt for the Aesir and, worse, one of Odin's get. She understood why Laufey had agreed to allow Frigga and the All-Father to exile their son here, she understood that it could lead to a mending their realm greatly needed, but such crimes were not so easily forgotten.

"Were I to have my way, you would never lay eyes upon any of my sons again, but it is not my way that prevails here. Loki has gone to fetch you some food from the kitchens, he will return shortly."

Thor vaguely remembered this giant from the throne room, vaguely remembered the way she had looked when he called the name of her son to be his guide, and felt an odd mixture of shame and pride to have her be his attendant. He imagined his own mother would behave this way as well to an enemy, even one who was innocent of his father’s crimes.

Thor was silent for a few moments before he lifted his eyes to her again. She was not attractive by any stretch of the word but Thor found her fascinating, like an icicle but delicate and deadly.

“I have come to question what I have always been told about your people and my father’s hand in your subjugation. I know little of what I may do but... your son will help me find the truth.” She pressed hard to his skin again and Thor let out a yelp he did not know he was capable of making. It caused him to fall silent, eyes turned towards the door of his room to wait for the more bitter tongued yet far more gentle Loki to return.

Farbauti would have sneered still more if he knew that Thor thought of him as a woman. All Jotnar were male, they simply possessed the ability to both sire and bear children, yet all were brothers and none were daughters. He also had little faith in the Odinson's words, Odin himself had often told honeyed lies, and he did not believe that the get of so cruel a conqueror would be so peaceable or ignorant.

Luckily she was saved from having to reply other than to soothe his wounds, for Loki chose that moment to reenter the room, looking miniature next to his sire, carrying a tray with salted meat, fish, bread, and cheeses. He cast an affectionate look at Farbauti, which was returned wholeheartedly, before he turned his attention to Thor.

"Do not be afeared, Odinson, I have made sure that all on this tray is already well dead, so even a hunter of your-- prowess-- need not fear from it."

There went the right jaw again, but given what he was dealing with now, including the wound to his pride, Thor was not able to do much more. “You... aye. Thank you,” he said tightly. His manners were not much improved but the large frost giant was not exactly being kind to him despite her actions and he did not wish to anger her when her strength was sapped.

Farbauti finished his work, fingers long but skilled at tying off the bandages around a murderer’s son. He brought his own son, when the tray was placed down, to the doorway and crouched with some effort to wrap those long fingers around his shoulders.

Their words were in the tongue of ice and All-Speak did not translate it well. “My darling. Take care. He has been rendered weak but a wound to his pride could wound our people. This is sensitive. I know Laufey has spoken with you on this but let me beseach you again to take pity on our people and not anger the get of the Spearbreaker.”

Loki loved his family deeply, his sire as well as his dam, but he was a creature of chaos and he had always gone his own way regardless of politics or consequences. He smiled, the very picture of innocence, and answered in a demure manner that would surely have Farbauti all the more worried. "I would not dream of angering him, my sire, you can trust me."

He slipped free of Farbauti's hold after that and moved to sit on the edge of Thor's bed, looking oddly as though he fitted there for the way they were of a muchness in size, rather than two among a world of giants.

"It was a truly glorious battle, Odinson, you lasted a whole second. Tell me, is that how you usually fare in the hunt?"

“He has rendered me useless,” Thor said with the sound of a heart breaking. He did not look at Loki, nor at the meal, though he hungered for it greatly. “He did not intend for me to return to Asgard. He wanted me to die here. My bones have broken. My blood had spilled. Neither had occurred to me in my entire life. He rendered me mortal, Loki, not to learn of the people he has wronged, but to have me die with them.”

He’d done the same to his sister, hadn’t he?

“I have two brothers,” Thor said with a worrying sureness of what was happening now. “One has just turned the age I had been when my sister was exiled to Hel.”

He looked almost like he might cry, though there was no shame in tears of frustration.

“I am to be murdered here. We must find Mjolnir and we must find my sister and we must... we must... I wish not to go against my father, Loki.”

This was a turning point.

Loki could so easily fall in line with this way of thinking, assist the heir in finding Hela and revenging himself on his father, destroying Asgard in the process. He teetered on the edge for a few moments; perhaps in another time and if he had not been raised with such devotion on Jotunheim, he might have taken that path. But instead he chose to shake his head with a light sigh.

"You have such hysterical dramatics that you make small children look level headed enough to rule kingdoms. If the All-Father wanted you dead, he need only to kill you, why leave you with enough of your magic to survive our cold and send the All-Mother to barter for your safety from the Jotnar? Perhaps he has left you weak to teach you that not all might needs to be in your arm."

It was a lesson that Loki had learned as a babe; he would never be as physically adept as his Kyn, but he was powerful in a way that they could never be.

If not for Loki’s words, Thor would have indeed done all and more. Strange to have the eldest son of the people wronged talk him out of it but he would eventually be grateful. Now, he was just hurt and angry and feeling mostly like the child Loki had accused him several times of being. Thor’s sigh rattled throat his chest, though the healing salves made him feel better the longer they sat upon his skin.

Reaching for the tray, he sat it upon his lap and tried Jotun cuisine. It was bland, but not terrible, and he was hungry enough to down the entire thing.

“If I am not meant to be made worthy by reaching the hammer, what then would you have me do? I do not care for reading. Your people despise me. There are few lessons to be learned here.”

Thor should not be grateful for too long, Loki still intended to turn Odin into a cat's paw against his father, but all out war within Asgard would benefit nobody. No, he needed to turn Thor into a staunch defender of the Jotnar, and willing cohort to take back the Casket, by force if necessary.

That meant some kindness had to be shown, some wisdom, some solidarity.

"Why do you ask what I would have you do? Do I define your worth now? I do not know what the All-Father hoped to achieve by sending you here, of all realms, but I know that you are not what I would consider a worthy heir. Why do you not cease to fight to return to a place you are not yet ready to reside, and instead take this opportunity to learn of one of the other realms of Yggdrasil?"

Thor did not roll his eyes but he looked as if he could at any moment. He wasn’t entirely thrilled with this line of learning. He took his duties hand on hand and while Loki had pointed out that there were other ways, he did not relish them.

A frown came to his lips as he finished his tray of food. His appetite at least was still healthy.

“I ask because my own inclination has not worked. You are a Guide, are you not? Guide me.” It might have been the stupidest thing that Thor could have ever said. Or the smartest. Jotunheim May well thrive with Loki whispering in the ear of the All-Father and surely the one that did that would indeed be worthy of becoming king himself.

Thor pushes the tray away and gingerly touched his wrappings.

“I would like to see more of this Realm. Upon my own feet, this time. Surely there is more than a single tower.”

Loki already had his own plans for becoming King, and contingency plans for if either of his brothers should be chosen. At the moment he felt that it was between Bylestir and himself; the Jotnar were tired of war and death, they wanted a gentler King and Bylestir embodied that, but Loki was obvious the most intelligent of the brothers by far and his ability to wield Seidr set him ahead.

While Helblindi had his supporters, they were few and concentrated in small pockets, the ones still angry who wanted to rise up again in violence no matter the cost. Revenge was a dangerous ploy to use for Kingship, but Helblindi knew little different.

Should he get the ear of Thor, though? Perhaps even make him love him as a consort, he could be King of Jotunheim and All-Mother of Asgard, he would be immensely powerful, and that was a tempting thing indeed. After a moment or two, he smiled, long and slow and seductive.

"To journey Jotunheim will take many weeks, are you sure that this is how you want to spend you time? You will be alone with me for much of it."

Unaware of Loki’s thoughts, Thor presses his lips together as he watched the Jotun at his side. “I feel as though to answer may be a trick,” he says, though the corners of his mouth give away the mirth he truly feels and he can not help but chuckle. That, in turn, causes his wounds to ache and he wraps one arm around himself for the reminder that he is not yet the Thunderer once more and has much to learn to become worthy of the title again...or, if not, much to learn about what his place might be here on Jotunheim. “A jest. You have proven yourself to be my protector. I can think of no other to make the journey with. Perhaps we should bring with us provisions so that we aren’t forced to rely upon my hunting skills.”

Once again, it’s just a little bit of self depreciation, mostly to make Loki laugh again. He can’t place why he finds it to be so pleasant, but oh... oh it truly is.

They are on their way not long after, Bylestir walking slowly with Thor as Loki leads the way down the corridor to the Tower gates. “I caution you to take care,” the giant says.

That makes Thor laugh. “Do not worry! I am much healed.” There’s misunderstanding there. Bylestir wants nothing more than to shield Thor from danger and his brother, as much as he loves him, is danger.

Loki found only amusement in hearing the words of his brother float forward, he was not so obtuse as the Aesir and he understood that Bylestir warned his new friend against becoming entangled in Loki's webs. It was flattering that his brother saw in him the threat that he truly posed, and he was pleased far more than offended, even as he turned to give Bylestir a wink.

"You worry too much, little sibb, I will care for the Odinson as though he were my very own."

Bylestir made a rumbling noise that was half fond amusement and half concern. "That is what frightens me, eldsibb, I have seen how you care for the things you own. I wish only to see my brother returned safe, and the All-Father's son treated with respect. Too long have we been broken, bonds of peace could be forged here."

"You speak the obvious, Bylestir. Go and bother Helblindi, the Odinson and I have many miles to travel, we go to Utgard."

"...of course you do." Bylestir sounded resigned, before he nodded respectfully to Thor. "Until you return, then."

Thor pounded the boy on the back, though what he could reach was more like the back of a thigh. It was the gesture that counted though, a friendly sort of thing, which likely would worry Bylestir too. Thor Odinson was genial and outwardly unaware and that made him an easy manipulation. He could not know exactly what Loki planned, just that Loki planned something.

His eldsibb always did.

They were off to little fanfare, though Farbauti-Consort and Laufey-King both watched from above, both unsure if they would be bringing down the wrath of Odin with Loki’s tricks or if they might find prosperity. Loki was always a difficult one to nail down if not impossible and his motivations were chaos.

Out of sight of the castle, Thor made a small observation to Loki, half chuckling. “How is it you get so much warning? Do you intend to eat me after all?”

It had been a very long time since Loki had walked any amount of distance like a commoner. Usually he rode a sniva or, if he were truly going on his own, he might dance the paths of the Void or shapeshift to make his passage easier. This would be an odd time, and he might show himself up for being unfit for long range walks.

"Perhaps."

He laughed, a genuine sound that was carried off by the wind as his intricate plaits danced behind him.

"I cannot deny that I have wanted to get my lips around you since the moment you arrived, Bylestir likely fears for your innocence."

Thor had tangled several times in his furs, he was not a stranger to that sort of thing, but for crimson eyed Loki to have interest in him, an oppressor, had to have been a joke and Thor responded accordingly.

“None would ever speak with you again and your very lips may be sewn shut for having touched any part of me. That may well go for eating too.”

He enjoyed his laughed, long legs taking him many strides without difficulty. Thor still had his stamina and much of his resilience thankfully, but he knew not the distances that they might have to travel to find a hamlet or a village for him to ingratiate himself with its people.

“My innocence is one thing no one need worry of.”

"Is that so? Your parents must be truly proud to have such a virtuous son, above dallying in the carnal."

He was not offended, he hardly expected Thor to light up with lust at his first proposition and tumble with him in the snow drifts. He knew that he would have to work on seducing him, making Thor decide that he wanted Loki and then drive him wild with lust before finally allowing him to rut.

"Tell me, is this how you intend to travel all the way to Utgard? You are of Odin and Frigga's get, are you not, that means seidr must run in your blood."

Though Loki again made him laugh with how forward and condescending he was. He'd come quickly to learn that the quick wit was not entirely made to shame and with only the two of them there, Thor found no reason to defend himself. Those he had enjoyed had also enjoyed him. Thoroughly. However he preferred to expend himself in other ways.

Battle being one of them.

The secondary topic, however, gave him pause and slowed his stride. "I am more of my father than my mother. Frigga All-Mother did not birth me. My father bedded once a Valkyrie and I am the product of that union. Warrior more than sorcerer. Whatever innate touch I might have had to Yggdrassil was striped from me wholly, as you have seen."

But he had once had it. His mood could influence the weather, sadness could bring the rain, anger could call up the fury of storm. He did not see that much as magic but rather proof to his worthiness of Mjolnir, which gave him much of the same sort of ability. He told none of this to Loki. Not yet. They were not close enough.

"Magic cannot be stripped from you, it is a part of your soul. Your ability to wield the Star-Hammer is gone, that much is true, but you are still Thor Odinson of Asgard. Odin possesses magic of his own, or he could not hold the power that he does, and you cannot deny the truth of your blood."

It was strange to him that in Asgard it was the father's blood who mattered more, that he had been taken and given to another mother, when it Jotunheim it was the dam who mattered much more than the sire.

"I feel it still within you, like electricity under your skin."

He held Thor's gaze for a moment and then slumped, overly dramatic in his disgust at all this walking.

"I have no intention of trudging all the way to Utgard, even if you do."

For that moment, when crimson met with sea storm blue, Thor felt a hint of that electricity Loki spoke of running through him, making the hair on his arms and the back of his neck stand on end with static. The moment was the second sincere connection he had felt to this runt of a giant, but it passed a moment later as Loki complained about his own athletic prowess.

"I suppose the strides of your siblings make it easier for them to travel. The nature of this Realm disposes me as much as her people, Loki. You've seen the way even beasts of burden refuse to carry me. I doubt I have choice unless you possess some alternative means to travel. I did not see skiffs nor air chariots at your disposal."

Ah, arrogance. Thor couldn't help himself with that remark. He wasn't teasing, he was trying to get over that easy uneasiness that Loki had just given him, like the other could slip into his skin and wear him.

He didn't care for it.

Once upon a time they had possessed things similar to skiffs, though the means to keep them powered had been linked to the Casket, as so much within their realm was. It was why Loki planned to take Thor to Utgard, to what had once been the capital of Jotunheim and where the Casket used to reside. None could look upon the wasteland of what it had become and deny that taking such a thing had doomed this realm to a slow death. It was a cruel thing, not just a means to keep a potential enemy under control.

But it was a long journey.

"I have many ways to get where I wish to go, and if you ask me in a way that shows you actually possess more manners than a drunken ox, perhaps I will help in getting you there faster as well."

"What difference does our speed make? The journey is meant to be something as well, is it not? We have plenty to sustain us and--". And Loki could not make this journey on foot, Thor realised mid-speech. His body was not made for the physical, it was why he was so small and not a giant at all. His body was a vessel for seidr only.

Thor decided to acquiesce. He even decided to show a bit of chivalry, as if Loki's early flirting was a joke to be carried on for the foreseeable future. He took to a knee, not in supplication, but in chivalry, grasping Loki's delicate hand.

"Oh fyri," he said with a lofty, silly voice, "will you bestow upon my traveling party a way to reach our destination more quickly? There is only so much pickled fish I can take and I would enjoy a bed to a bedroll on the roads." Teenagers, no matter their culture, we're all the same.

What a fool, but a fool that was amusing, and Loki found himself smiling even at the idiocy of that sort of gesture. It was astounding, though, to see the Aesir take to a knee even in jest, such a thing was not done on Jotunheim, it was always an act of supplication and never anything else.

It pleased him to see.

"I suppose that I might see my way to assisting with your needs, I would hate to see you suffer needlessly again. Tell me, Odinson, do you prefer to gallop or fly?"

"For travel, I would rather fly. One day I shall take you with me when I reclaim Mjolnir. It is a ride like no other." Thor rose back to his feet, the tight packed snow not even bothering to cling to his knee. It took a moment more for him to drop Loki's hand, not because he was finding it difficult to let go, but because he did not think to do it. He did, however, kiss the knuckles first. The magic left to him protected his skin but his lips still burned from the ice for several long moments.

There was a magnetism there, but Thor wondered if that was just his mind. Loki's deep red eyes were impossible to see anything but mirth in and so it was all likely in his own head.

"How do you propose to fly us to Utgard?"

Loki felt his seidr resonate with Thor, but he imagined that it was just a reaction to the great power that Thor held within his skin and pretended that he did not. He was the storm incarnate, he could almost taste the lightning whenever Thor looked at him, and it bothered him that such a power was fettered.

Oh, what he could do with that.

He raised his eyebrows when Thor kissed his knuckles and then took a step back. He was engulfed in green for a long moment before a hawk stood where Loki had been. But this was no ordinary hawk, this was a gryfhawk, of the type seen in Jotunheim's mountain range, with a wingspan of fifty feet and a body almost as large as Thor himself.

Loki cawed and offered one large-taloned foot, an offer to carry Thor and fly, as promised.

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