Choices

Chapter 20
Odin returned weak and weary. The journey had been far more tedious than he thought it would be, but thankfully there had been no trouble. Returning through the Byfrost he took in a deep breath as Hiemdall greeted him. "How fairs the kingdom?" Odin asked.
"It fairs well my king. The Queen has done an excellent job as usual, Thor and his friends stayed out of trouble and Loki has been quiet." Odin wasn't sure if the last was a good or a bad thing. It was night and in the cover of darkness he made his way back to the palace. His gift to Thor would need to remain a secret until two days when his nameday celebration would take place. In one hand he held a thick leather bound book and in the other an item wrapped in cloth, concealing its identity.
He reached the palace and was not surprised to see his wife. She wore a robe over her sleeping gown. Her hair was tousled. She had been in bed, but no doubt had been waiting for the sounds of the Byfrost to signal his return. He smiled wide at her devotion to him. Her love warmed him and he could have chosen no better wife or queen. Reaching her she hugged her arms around his shoulders kissing his thick brown beard at the cheek.
"Welcome home dear husband." She greeted her cheeks cherry with a wide beautiful smile. He titled her head up toward him after putting the book below his arm. He kissed the tip of her nose and pressed his forehead to hers a moment before stepping back.
"It's good to be home." He glanced down at the items and an excited look came over Frigga's features.
"Come, let's get you cleaned up and more comfortable. Perhaps then you can show me what you've brought home." Odin grinned knowing she was eager to see what his hard work had created. He nodded and followed her to their shared quarters.
She prepared him a bath herself instead of calling for a servant. She helped him slip out of his clothing and as he glided into the warm water she sat behind him on the side, her skirt pulled up to allow her bare feet and legs to dangle into the water. She kneaded the tense muscles along his shoulders and the back of his neck. He relaxed against her long graceful fingers.
"Did all go well?" She asked him.
"Better than expected. We managed to gain close enough access and were gone long before it exploded." He replied. He was speaking of a dying star far off in the dark reaches of the nine realms. The travel had been long and the wait even longer. He had to wait for the exact moment when the star shone it's brightest and last spark. The dwarves who had come with him went to work at that moment crafting two magnificent items. One was taken back with the Dwarves for further crafting and the second was now lying on the floor near the bath.
"I cannot wait to see Thor's face," Frigga said. She glanced over at the cloth that covered the item. "I see that you also kept Loki in your thoughts." Frigga's voice hinted at relief.
"You knew I would." Odin replied with a sigh. Loki might have caused trouble and enjoyed every moment, but he was still his son and he loved him. "Provided Loki continues to stay away from malicious acts of mischief he will receive his gift on his name day." Odin looked at the spell book he'd bartered for. It took a very precious item as a trade off to acquire such a rare book but Loki would love it and that made it worth it.
"Loki had been behaving himself accordingly." Frigga insisted. "He is a good boy, but he is young and sometimes he doesn't know how to control his rage. Thor is no different he just tends to put himself in harms way by making bad decisions." Odin grunted. He half agreed with Frigga. It was true that Thor got into trouble, mostly defying the rules and getting himself hurt, but Loki got others involved and shoved his anger onto them. Two very different boys with different problems.
Odin knew why it was hard for Loki to find his place, but he dreaded what might happen should he tell his son a truth Odin had only shared with one other, Frigga. He was worried that Loki would become angry and confused. Perhaps even afraid. Odin felt that it was best to keep it secret until he was old enough to take the truth like a man. Seeing the way Loki currently reacted to stressful situations Odin knew he wasn't ready.
Odin finished his bath and once he was robed he unwrapped Thor's gift so that Frigga could marvel at it.
(Thor)
Thor wiped hair from his face and groaned. The wound on his head was making him dizzy. Sparring sometimes had its dangerous points. Today Volstagg heaved his solid form at Thor causing him to stumble and trip. When Thor flipped in an attempt to regain better footing he hadn't expected to be so close to a weapons rack. His face and head slammed into it and down he went with the rack tumbling down on him. Several weapons collided with his face and chest. The wounds on his chest were minor but the head injury was throbbing.
He hadn't gone to the healers. He was a warrior and the physical wound was something he felt he should be able to handle. He could gain far worse in a real battle. However, he hadn't expected the head wound to effect him this much. He'd left the arena to rest. He now lay on his back half sprawled on his bed. The drapes surrounding his bed hung loose blocking out some of the midday sun.
The sound of his room doors opening caught his attention, but he waited to see who it was. He was in no mood to try and sit up. "You should be more careful brother," Loki said. Thor could hear the smirk in his tone. A distinct sound was heard of Loki biting into something. Thor half sat up and looked. Loki was wiping the juice of an apple off his jaw.
"I've never seen you enjoy those much." Thor commented.
"No, they taste much better when they belong to someone else." Loki's smirk didn't leave his face. Thor gave a questioning look to his younger brother. "The Princess Cephera was playing with it while I was trying to teach, so I took it from her and dismissed her for the remainder of the day." He gave in to Thor's curiosity.
"And how has the teaching been going?" Thor asked.
"Slow. Father has returned." Loki commented changing the subject.
"I've heard. He's been busy since his return last night." Thor was unsure he liked were this topic of conversation was going. "My sources tell me he came toting a very large concealed item." Thor's stomach sunk. He was dreading having this conversation already and it barely had begun.
"I am sure whatever it is we will see it in due time." Loki lifted a thin eyebrow at Thor's dismissive words.
"What happened to the brother that would once pull me with him to spy and search for such things?" He questioned.
"He is a little more rational and a little less impatient." Thor replied sitting up completely and pulling himself back across his sheets to lean against the massive wooden headboard.
"Thor... do you really think me a fool. I know father plans to gift you with something grand this year for your nameday." Loki finally admitted and sat on the bed at an angle. Thor sighed. "I am glad." Thor peered at his brother in shock.
"I thought you would be..." Thor began.
"Jealous?" Loki finished for him. "I was... at first, but I've come to see reason. I cannot expect to receive a gift on your nameday when I have my own to look forward to." Thor let out a wind of relief.
"I am glad you feel that way." Thor grinned wide and the brothers studied each other for some time. "And to be perfectly honest I've wanted nothing more than to take a peek at this gift." Thor chuckled and Loki joined him. "But we are no small boys able to avoid the gaze of guards and servants. I will have to wait." They sat silent again.
Thor was now enjoying this moment. It had been a while since they'd spoken this way. "Loki, what happened to the days we once told each other everything? That we did everything together?" Thor asked solemnly.
"You met your friends." Loki replied honestly.
"Our friends." Thor insisted.
"No Thor. You had much more in common with them. It is not so easy to make friends and then expect them all to accept and also befriend your baby brother when they have nothing in common with me." Loki furrowed his brow and threw away the half eaten apple.
"I miss those days Loki. I miss being your brother. I sometimes feel as though we are strangers." Thor knew he sounded like a whining child, but he spoke the truth. "Come with me tomorrow, come back to the arena to learn to fight once more." Loki's eyes narrowed and a look of frustration covered his face.
"I cannot." He breathed looking away.
"Why?"
"You know why. I am no warrior. I am weak." The words spat from his mouth like venom and Thor felt his heart sink. This was his fault. He had teased Loki when they were boys. Making fun of him when he couldn't lift the same weighted swords or bruising easily. He'd given his brother this mentality without meaning too. He'd made him feel less than a warrior.
"I'm sorry. For all the times I made you feel low and unworthy for battle. I was a boy using your downfalls as a way to create myself in a stronger image. I used you to inflate my boyish ego and I should not have done so. I regret it all now. Please Loki, you may not be the same kind of warrior as myself and the others, but you have potential of your own kind. I'm sure with practice you could find your own warrior within you." Thor pleaded leaning ahead slightly and cursing his pounding headache.
Loki looked to Thor. "No. I will not humiliate myself in front of the others. I've done that enough."
"Then meet me elsewhere and I will train you personally. Just you and me. Brothers at arms. Let me undo the wrongs I've wrought upon your own ego." There was a long pause.
"Alone?" Loki checked and Thor nodded.
"We need not tell anyone. When you are ready to face the others we will do so then but no sooner." He watched Loki swallow. He could see the temptation was there and a hope lighting in his green eyes.
"An hour before bed, we'll use the old caverns below the east wings of the palace." Loki replied the tiniest of hopeful smiles beaming across his face. His chest swelling out as he took deep breaths.
"Yes. Tonight will be the first. And when you are ready we will show the others, and together we will all go on wonderful adventures and slay many a beast." Thor attempted to throw his arm up in an excited fist pump but the movement caused him to sway. Loki was at his side and inspecting the wound.
"You need to see the healer." He insisted and Thor groaned.
"Perhaps you're right." He replied allowing Loki to pull him to his feet and helping support him they made for the room door. "So, bed any interesting temptresses lately?" Thor asked as a jest. They once would speak of such things, though the talk had died out.
Loki surveyed Thor before he actually responded. "One. Fiery little thing a few weeks back. Had an odd obsession with feet," Loki said with a laugh and Thor joined him.
"Feet!" He replied. "I do not know if I want to hear the rest." He teased and to his amusement and happiness Loki continued to share the tale.

Notes