fossilised | Jotunheimr

Loki should feel a greater triumph at this, but his head was so fuzzy that he barely registered what the All-Father said. This damnable heat had seeped into his bones and begun to leech the chill from his marrow; if any had told him that this was only a mild spring day here on Asgard, he might not believe them, for this felt hotter than anything even in his wildest imaginations.

He was determined, however, not to show weakness in front of the Aesir and so he simply took a step back with a murmured and polite nonsense to thank the All-Mother and All-Father for their hospitality.

Odin gestured with a rap of Gungnir to the floor that this audience was over. He relied on his son to get through to his companions the validity of this trip and, perhaps, the presence of the Jotnar Fyri would help. He was not so large or convincingly monstrous as the outer appearance of some of his brethren, after all.

Sif was the first to rise, following Thor out of the chambers and turning to him with a pale face. "How can this be?" She sounded almost lost. "How is it that we have been lied to for so long? Tell me truly, Thor, you really do not mind being sent back to that frozen hell?"

“I have a formidable snowball throwing opponent there,” Thor boasted as Loki took up the rear. The others were looking at him, unsure what to make of the tall blue creature with the crimson eyes and white markings over his mostly bare body. None could tell immediately that he was ill and while Frigga could, she did not say a word nor offer advice to alleviate the pain.

She knew Loki to be a shapeshifter and a shapeshifter could and often did fully adjust themselves to the new form they took on. This was not mere illusion. Loki had been the creature wrapped around Thor’s waist, he did not walk beside him and make him and all believe that he was transformed.

So far, Loki had only become creatures found in cold climes. He would come to terms with himself eventually, before this day was out she hoped, that he needed to shift himself to something that could thrive here.

And if not? Well, she imagined her son would flee to her skirts and beg for help. Thor was a good boy. Silly and slow at times, but he had all the makings of a fine All-Father. And that included compassion and willingness to ask for help when needed.

Loki would not admit to any that he suffered just for the climate, if Thor could handle the colds of Jotunheim then he would damn well endure the heat of Asgard and not disgrace himself by swooning, though he felt horrendously close to it. He turned his gaze to Thor's four companions, noting that they still called his home a hell despite all they had just heard.

"This is no joke," Fandral muttered, though he tried to put a spin on it. "Still, the blue skin is quite pleasing once you become used to it. Perhaps you have found some Jotnar maids to dandle on your knee?"

"Always thinking of women," said Volstagg, smiling, for he was the most good natured and wisest of the three.

Loki snorted at the idea that there were any Jotnar maids, but his tongue seemed too clumsy to actually give the retort that he normally would. He had to content himself with rolling his eyes and wondering why the world around him was swaying.

Thor laughed. “There are no maids, my friend! Jotnar come in many shapes and sizes, most all tall and thick, but do not have a dual gender. All are fair game if they favour you but none have favoured me yet. I dare say I would do little to please them for they wish to couple with those of their own size.”

“And yet you have one here of your own size—“

“Whom you are speaking about as if he does not walk right with you,” Sif muttered under her breath. She didn’t want Thor to say he was interested in Loki. Especially because he could become a snake. And Thor just adored snakes, as did most with kind hearts. They were known as the best creatures for hugging after all.

Volstagg roared with laughed. “I could never be with someone who does not have rosy skin.”

Wisely, Thor stayed out of this conversation. He did actually find Loki to be exotically lovely, though he appeared more masculine than feminine. He glanced over his shoulder to smile at Loki, and watched him reach out to grip the wall. Could Hogun’s Blade have done more damage? Did the rock thrown harm him more? “Leave us,” he told his friends. “I will show the prince a place to change. I am dressed as the Jotnar dress. He should dress as the Asgsrdians.” Protests fell on deaf ears and when they were suitably alone, Thor reached to take Loki’s hand. “We have healers. My mother is the best and will be discrete.”

Where there had been moments before that Thor had proven himself to be pleasant company, this was the first time that Loki had thought of the Odinson as possessing any part of wisdom. Yet it took wisdom to see that Loki suffered and to send his friends away so that fewer eyes could see his shame.

The problem might be self evident when Thor reached out to take Loki's hand. Skin that would normally cause intense and fierce frostbite even to Aesir hands just on contact, only felt mildly chilly, which was the Jotnar equivalent of dangerously overheating.

"I do not need a healer, I just wish to know how it is that you bear such a summer heat."

Or a mild spring day, whatever.

"I feel that I may burst into flame at any moment."

“It is mild, Loki, and some may say that there is a chill in the air.” This worried Thor. “It must be for you here as it had been for me on Jotunheim. My mother granted me a charm to ward off the chill from my skin. We must to Hiemdall. There is no need to tarry here long. I was given until the sunsets to remain here but I have no need for it. My friends were need to come to understanding on their own.”

For a moment, Thor lifted his hand as if to call the hammer, but Mjolnir did not come. There was no tug of it nearby and he felt nothing strike within him as it answered his call. Thor ignored the sadness he felt, the embarrasment of it, and instead tried to coax Loki into becoming small again, so that he might carry him quickly to the Guardian of the bifrost.

It was an embarrassment to Loki to have admitted his weakness to Thor, so perhaps they could both bear the shame of their shortcomings for once. He allowed himself to be persuaded to change, back into the slinky and fur covered snake creature that he had been before, but he lacked the strength to hold himself on as a belt as he did before.

He had to hang limply in Thor's arms or around his neck like a scarf, and rely on the Odinson to get them to the Bifrost. This would be an issue should he truly pursue the Odinson as a consort, he would need to find a way to exist comfortably in this realm as well as his own.

Carrying a snake around in front of him would be childish and silly and so Thor draped Loki around his shoulders and ran to the stables, past the Warriors Three and Sif. “What’s the rush, Thor? Oy! Thor!” Fandral called out, but Thor more or less ignored him save to say that he would see them all again as soon as he was deemed worthy. He’d ridden fast before, but this was almost too fast, the horse straining beneath him though it did relish being released at such a pace. He called ahead to clear the way, muttering that Mjolnir made for a better ride when haste was needed, and swung off of his sweating mount as Heimdall rose with interest on his brows.

“My Prince? I was told that you were not due back to Jotunheim for many hours.”

“And plans have changed. Please open the Bifrost for us, my friend, we have little time.” Poor Loki was barely moving now, not even to hiss a little or flick his tongue at the air. What a sad state for a snake to be in, even one covered in the less-cute fur that this one was. Thankfully, Heimdall did not hesitate. The sword was thrust home and Thor stepped through the portal quickly to bring the other prince relief.

Loki flopped into the snow when they found themselves back on Jotunheim and felt the freeze of his homeland sink into his bones again, but it was still at least an hour of almost nothing before he had the strength to change back to his natural form and sit up, and even then he still looked tired and weakened.

"...thank you."

It was pointless to pretend that he had not been suffering, that would be taking pride too far into arrogant stupidity.

"I had not thought Asgard would be so warm, I have never even seen a sun like that in my wildest dreams."

“I did not think to have you craft a charm for your protection immediately upon our arrival,” Thor said, sat upon a rock looking as morose and brooding as he had after Utgard each evening. He was worried, and being worried gave him great valleys between his eyebrows. “The All-Mother gave me an infusion before I was cast out. She would have been able to create one for you as well. Should you ever wish to visit Asgard again, I will be sure to not accidentally almost kill you.”

He did offer Loki the smallest of smiles.

“I apologise for my father,” he said, almost too abruptly, finally giving Loki the satisfaction he’d been hoping from Frigga. “He did not answer the questions as well as I might have wished, but I now know the truth. It is painful to know that my family harmed your people, covered it up and… And that I have been bereft of all siblings. I envy the closeness you have with yours.”

"The fault does not lie with you, I did not think either that I would require protection against your realm and, though I do not agree with how ignorant you have allowed yourself to become, I admire your will to discover the truth and ability to change your views when presented with the evidence."

Those were likely the kindest words that Loki had spoken to Thor since they had met, but they were no less sincere than his biting wit. He truly was impressed, it took a great hearted person to truly turn their back on everything they had learned and stand up for what they had been taught were the monsters.

"Perhaps in time you could make overtures of friendship to your Kyn. I admit that it is strange for me, for Kyn is all to Jotnar, it is writ on our very bodies who shares our blood and we hold strong to those lines our whole lives."

‘I would like to, when this task is completed and Jotunheim no longer suffers so much.” Thor was not under the impression that it would be completely possible to save this Realm and all of her people, for a person’s life and deeds were for themselves to bear witness to. However, he could ease the underlying cause of suffering and he had every intention to. “For now, I believe we must speak with Laufey-King if he will grant us audience.”

He assumed that Laufey would always see his child but Thor was another matter.

“I wish his advice on how to work towards saving your people. I have been stripped of my strength,” and so much else, “but there must be something more than learning history and touring affected cities to assist with.” Bringing the Jotnar back into favour with Asgard would mean that Thor would need to make each Jotun hate his own race a little less.

And that would take time.

"I think it would be a good idea to speak to my father, but I also think you should not limit yourself to Jotunheim. Your father has exiled you from Asgard until your lesson has learned, but that is just one realm of the Nine. If you have failed to learn sufficiently about Jotunheim, perhaps your knowledge of other realms that should be under your protection is also lacking."

That was the truth, and he did think that Thor likely could use some tutoring on all realms, but it was selfish. Jotnar were not permitted travel from their realm, to do so was an act of war generally. But if he were acting in an official capacity as the Odinson's guide, then he might be free to go to other realms too. And how he longed to see them all.

"Come, we are far from Laufey-King's palace and you have much to think on, I'm sure."

“I have hunted the hills of Vanaheim many times in my youth and returned victorious from campaign against marauders on Muslelheim not long before you and I met. But I have not learned of them as I have of Jotunheim.” Loki did well in manipulating Thor without much trying. He was a trusting sort and he trusted Loki more than he likely should. If the other wanted to travel, he need only mention it a time or two more in conjunction with better Thor’s lessons and the Asgardian would take him anywhere he wished.

Frigga had been right.

Thor was a gift, from one with seidr to another. To one with potential to be more than just a child of one Realm, but of many.

They began to walk not long after that, Thor in a confusing mix of high and low spirits as he went over the conversations and revelations of the day.

His hand aches as much as his head, too, and he could only imagine how Loki felt. “Your parents will be angry with me, no doubt. Though they dislike me already. What can I do to put myself in their good graces?”

He was beginning to see what Frigga had meant.

She must see potential in this partnership, in his ability to temper and guide Thor to become a better king, if she was willing to gift the only son she had been allowed to keep to his care. It would be something that Loki would think on more as time went on, and it would give him an appreciation for the wisdom and kindness of the All-Mother, and a slight shame for how he had spoken to her.

"It is traditional for a guest to provide hearth gifts, as thanks for the hospitality shown. The more the hearth gift represents the owner of the hearth, the greater the gesture of warmth and friendship. Is this not a custom among the Aesir? Perhaps you should get hearth gifts for my dam and sire, you are lucky to have one with you who knows what they would enjoy, after all."

Thor balked slightly, eyes shifting towards Loki. “I can not ask Heimdall to return me to collect hearth gifts,” he said, “and I have little way to find them here. I do not know your currency and I doubt any artisans will allow me to purchase their wares.”

His shoulders almost dropped before he remembered what Loki said about visiting other Realms. He did not need to learn the culture of Vanaheim for his mother was Vanir, but he did have clout and credit with the Free Market for many times defending them or bringing great beasts to them for processing.

Blue eyes sparkled. “Tell me you know a way to Vanaheim?”

Loki had actually intended to take Thor to places on Jotunheim where he could find things that his dam and sire were fond of - a good fishing ground for a rare type of fish - but this was much better. He had heard and read of the Free Market of Vanaheim many times over, but of course he had never visited it.

"All of the Ways out of Jotunheim are blocked, they were blocked when the war ended to stop us from ever 'invading' another realm. But I am sure Heimdall would send us there if asked."

After all, they were not disobeying Odin's orders by going to any realm other than Asgard, right?

“It would not hurt to try,” Thor said, arms crossed in thought. His lips were pursed as he gazed upward, knowing the Guardian was there looking down at him. “Heimdall, we need a trip to the Free Markets. I have things to purchase not available on Jotunheim.”

There was a moment of silence before the Bifrost opened and sent the two tumbling through the Void to just where they had requested.

Vanaheim was well into winter and the residents bundled up against the cold. Thor was comfortable and thankfully, Loki should not suffer too much from the heat.

This time, at least, Loki was prepared for the rush of the Bifrost and the ache that it left in his soul, like a strange resonance that wanted to pull him off into different directions. It was similar to the whisper of the Casket, like Yggdrasil could sense his potential and wanted to invite him to walk Ways that had been blocked to his people for millennia.

Vanaheim was amazing.

The temperature was still too warm, but no worse than the hottest summer day on Jotunheim, and so he could bear it. But the sheer volume of people, the bustle of colour and life, it was overwhelming. Not to mention that more than one person gasped aloud at the sight of a Jotnar, where none had been permitted to exit their realm for so long.

"The pictures do not do it justice, Thor."

Thor, for the first time, not just Odinson.

At least this Jotun was not so big as to actually be a true giant, and that was probably all that kept them from running off or taking their children away with them. That, and Thor’s presence.

“It is a sight I am always pleased to see. We have nothing like this, not even during festivals in Asgard. The Free Market runs daily,” he said as though he was explaining anything at all to Loki. “If there is anything worthwhile to find for your parents, it will be here. Let me first trade in my credit.”

There was a man under a purple awning counting away coins of various amounts and stacking tokens towards the centre of the market. He looked up at the approaching two and blinked. “My prince—“

“Darik, well met!” Thor proclaimed. “My companion and I have come to seek a small amount of recompense for what has been done at the market by my hand.” Thor had never called in his credit before and the man looked a little shocked.

“Are you... in danger...?” His eyes turned towards Loki and Thor broke into laughter.

“Indeed not. If anything, I am safer with him. We will take perhaps one hundred tokens of what is owed.”

The exchanger nodded slowly and made a mark in a book before he handed over the tokens. Thor pocketed half and gave the rest to Loki. “Shall we begin?”

Loki was, at least, used to people staring. He was one of the only Fyri left, a runt in a world of giants, and so those who had not grown up with him were apt to stare. But this was a different kind of stare; the ones he was used to were usually awed, excited, or plain disbelieving. But these stares were wary and fearful, some hostile, a reminder of the stories that had been told of his people for too long now.

"One day this will not be," he murmured to Thor as he took the coins offered to him and slipped them into a pocket of his kilt. "One day there will be stalls held by Jotnar craftsmen and traders, and none will shrink from the Giants."

Loki was determined to act as though he didn't care, strolling the market as if he had every right to be out of his frozen realm.

"My dam is fond of rare texts, histories of other realms. My sire likes baubles and ornamentation, perhaps something like that." He pointed at a stall selling dresses. Gendered clothing didn't exist for Loki, and so he did not see anything odd in suggesting that his sire might enjoy a delicate silk gown.

Thor had thought of Farbauti as feminine as well, and do a frock didn’t bother him at all. “Will that be a proper size? Do you know your sire’s measurements?” Thor asked, stopping at the booth. The women circled him, giggling. It wasn’t every day Thor cake to visit after all.

“A dress for the All-Mother?”

Thor shook his head. “A queen, just the same. I was thinking that forest green. Loki? Tell these women the proper size and we can return at the end to fetch it.”

"Farbauti-Consort is not a queen, Odinson, have you listened to none of my lessons?" The chiding was not done with real ire, however, Loki was far too excited at being on Vanaheim to truly take offence at these small mistakes. "He stands at just shy of nine spans tall, with a waist roughly the circumference of Odinson's shoulders."

"Uh-- he?"

The main stallholder, an older woman, looked baffled while the women circling the Prince continued their giggling, sure that a jest was being played.

"A forest green would be a wonderful colour choice. But see here, Thor, there is one in red and gold, this would look well on you. Why do you not have one made up?"

Thor had learned plenty but his goal was to try and keep Loki’s truth to a minimum. That he was a prince and a princess was hardly the problem, but more that he was a Jotun outside of Jotunheim. Thor wasn’t intending to make waves this day but Loki could not help himself it seemed.

“Their people have no gender,” Thor clarified, to which one of the younger women snorted, proud and wild.

“Then why doesn’t everyone use ‘she?’ It’s the far better gender.”

Thor made a gesture and then laughed truthfully, reaching for the dress Loki pointed out. “I enjoy the colours and the feel of the fabric. But what would I use to cover my beard?”

"Why would you have need to cover your beard? Surely you are not so insecure that you cannot wear a garment intended for a woman?"

He actually quite liked the younger woman who had made the jest about which word to use to describe themselves, it was better than disgust or jeering. Confusion he could deal with, it meant that people could be educated.

"In fact, you may buy me one."

He would rather enjoy the people here seeing Asgard's prince doing his bidding, it would be a small but important step forward.

"And perhaps I shall grow a magnificent beard to sport with it."

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