An Unplanned Life

“These are the actions of a boy treat them as such.” Odin says to King Laufey. Frost Giants had stolen their way into the weapons vault, though they did not succeed in obtaining the Casket of Ancient Winters. Thor and his friends took off to Jotunnheim against Odin’s expressed instructions.
Laufey looks at Odin and Thor. This is an opportunity. His people are starving. The land is dying. Odin does not know that Jotunnheim is incapable of war at this moment. Without the Casket of Ancient Winters it will not be long before Odin will never have to worry about war with Jotunnheim ever again.
Laufey’s eldest son, Prince Loki had come to him with an outlandish idea. Loki claimed to have found a way to sneak into Asgard’s weapons vault undetected by Heimdall the gatekeeper. It was a long shot and doomed to fail, but Laufey had given his son permission to try his insane idea anyway. Loki did not go to Asgard himself, but had sent Jotunnheim’s finest warriors. However, this did not upset Laufey. His eldest runt of a son could be useful now in another way.
Loki may be the heir in line for the throne, but if he were to ever take the throne, Loki would not sit upon it long before the people of Jotunnheim rebelled and replaced him. Runts are usually killed at birth but Laufey’s mate wouldn’t allow it. Loki knows his position as heir to the throne is precarious. His younger, larger brothers are already plotting to kill and or overthrow him when the time comes. Not that any of it would matter after a time. Without the Casket of Ancient Winters, Frost Giants as a race are doomed to extinction. Loki has only survived this long because he is a powerful sorcerer and possesses a cunning mind. Thor has presented Laufey with an elegant solution to all his problems.
“If it is war you wish to avoid Allfather then listen well. Thor’s behavior shows him to be a blood thirsty child ready to strike down my people for the slightest of grievances. If there is ever to be a peace between us he must learn to live with our kind. I propose a political marriage between Thor and my eldest son Loki. Loki is small for a Frost Giant and would suit your son well I think. In exchange for giving you my first born son and heir in marriage you will give me back the Casket so that I might repair our lands. If you agree to this war will be averted and relations between our peoples can finally begin to mend. What say you?”
Thor tries to protest but Odin yells at him. “Be silent! You have done enough this day.” Odin looks at Laufey and then around at the other Frost Giants gathering on the frozen plain. Many of them look very skinny, including Laufey. Odin knows Jotunnheim is dying without the Casket. He and his council have been debating for months on whether or not to give it back to them. He does not want genocide on his conscience, but he couldn’t think of a way of giving it back to them without some kind of assurances that they would not misuse it.
“I agree to your terms King Laufey. Prepare the wedding party for the journey. This time tomorrow stand on this spot and raise your voice to Heimdall and he will take your people up in the Bifrost.” Odin says resolutely. Thor and his friends look up at Odin in dumbfounded shock. The light of the Bifrost flashes and they are all whisked away in a rainbow tunnel.
They touch down hard on the platform where Thor begins yelling at his father. “How could you agree to such terms? I cannot be wed to one of those monsters!”
“You are a greedy cruel boy and deserve more than a simple marriage of convenience as punishment. You are lucky I do not strip you of your powers and banish you!” Odin yells. Thor takes off in a huff with tears in his eyes.
The door closes quietly as King Laufey exits Loki’s room. His hands shake in rage at the realization that all his hard work, all his plotting and planning is now for naught. Loki has spent years formulating plans and cultivating political capital to secure his future reign. The timeline for the assassination of his two younger brothers is right on track. Sending Jotunnheim’s finest warriors (and his brother’s staunchest supporters) to Asgard on a suicide mission went perfectly, until the stupid oaf of a Thunder God ruined everything. And tomorrow Loki is to be traded to Asgard and wed the insolent brute. Laufey has won. Helblindi will be named the new heir, and Loki will be shipped out to Asgard to become the prince’s whore.
Loki’s shaking gives way to sobbing, which gives way to throwing and smashing things until he collapses on the floor. Loki weighs his options carefully. He considers running. He considers killing his father and brothers this very night before dawn. He considers outright refusing Thor at the altar. However, in the end Loki lets the sickening nausea of reality wash over him as he accepts that he has been beaten. The Norns are bitches. Loki eventually falls asleep with the seeds of revenge flowering in his heart.
The following morning Odin makes the announcement to the Kingdom of Thor’s postponed coronation, and immediate nuptials. The people of Asgard are ashamed of their Crowned Prince’s rash behavior and shocked at its repercussions. Asgard is going to have a Jotun for a queen.
That afternoon the envoy from Jotunheim arrives to the subdued atmosphere of Asgard. The people line the streets, not in excitement and joy, but sheer curiosity. King Laufey leads the procession followed by a contingent of guards in a circular formation with Loki hidden from view at its center.
Thor stands on the dais with his father and mother. Thor cannot see the bride. Bride. Right. All he can see are frost giants twice his height. How is he expected to bed one of these creatures? They are all very masculine broad chested warriors with ice blue skin, blood red eyes, and horns. Thor would rather be caught raping a sheep. If Odin wants to teach Thor a lesson in the consequence of disobeying his commands, he is succeeding. With each step the envoy makes towards the welcome reception, the more Thor regrets his actions, and he can’t back out of what he must do now. If Thor and Loki do not get married then Asgard will go to war with Jotunheim. He cannot fail the people of Asgard so.
The Jotuns finally make their way to the bottom of the dais and stop. King Laufey speaks. “Allfather, may I present my first born son and former heir, and the future queen of Asgard, his Royal Highness Prince Loki.”
King Laufey steps to the side and behind him is the guard detail. The two guards in front each also step to one side. Behind them at the center of the gathering is Loki. Thor stops breathing. Loki appears to be the same height as he is, possibly maybe even slightly shorter than Thor. He also has hair. Beautiful long flowing waist length raven hair with emeralds weaved through out, catching the light here and there. He is wearing a stunning gold collar and arm bracers that are also encrusted with emeralds. He is shirtless and is wearing a long floor length gold metallic skirt with high slits up each side. Like his countrymen he is barefoot, blue, and red eyed. His face is elegant, but Thor notices it is also set rigid with a tense locked jaw and defiant expression. He’s angry.
Loki looks up at Thor. So that is the stupid oaf that cost me my throne. Loki’s eyes narrow at him, making up his mind to find out Thor’s every weakness and exploit all of them, one by one.
“I welcome you and your son to Asgard King Laufey. Come. You and I have much to discuss. The wedding will be held in three days and there are some details of the ceremony that need to be addressed. My wife will see your son and his escorts to their quarters.” Odin announces.
Two of the guards break ranks and follow King Laufey, while the other four stay with Prince Loki. Frigga and Thor step forward to greet Loki personally.
“Hello Loki, I am Queen Frigga. I welcome you to Asgard and to our family. This is my son Thor, your intended.” Frigga says sweetly. She extends her hand and Loki bows over it in formal greeting.
“I thank you Queen Frigga.” Loki says politely yet quietly. He then looks at Thor; a placid expression painted on his face and says nothing.
Thor can’t bring himself to say anything. He simply nods his head in greeting. An awkward silence lingers.
“So, let us get out of this terrible heat before we all start to melt.” Frigga says lightly. Frigga escorts them down the great hall to the guest wing of the palace. Frigga asks Thor to show the two of guards around the palace, that they might acquaint themselves and the others with where they must go and what they must do while here.
Loki realizes that Frigga has drummed up an excuse to get rid of her son and is glad for it, though he is curious to know why.
“Tell me dear Prince, what are the marriage customs of your people? The texts in our libraries speak much of mating practices but not of rituals.” Frigga asks with an airy expression on her face.
“That is because my kind do not marry, as you understand it. We bond during our mating cycle. Our first heat hits us while we are still adolescents, and so often the young do not mate during their first heat. It is usually the second or third heat when a Jotun will find a lifelong mate and their first child is conceived. Adultery and divorce is unheard of among my people.” Loki answers the Queen. After the words have finished leaving his mouth Loki can’t help that he has made a grave mistake of some kind.
“And I take it you have not yet bonded with anyone?” Frigga asks pointedly.
“No my queen I have not.”
“And does that mean that your virtue is still intact?” Frigga probes.
“Yes…it is. Why do you ask?” Loki stares Frigga down in a calculating manner. She seems light and airy on the surface but Loki is not fooled. If Odin is the brawn, she is the brain of this ruling couple. Like Loki, she pulls the strings behind the scenes. It would not be wise for Loki to underestimate this woman. Loki’s virtue was only still intact because he is so small. Other Jotun are too large to breed him, and he is too small to pleasure another. No one would have him. Loki has endured 5 heats alone, shut away in his room suffering. He didn’t dare try to find anyone; they would have just laughed at him.
“I ask you these questions Loki because one of the details of the wedding that your father and my husband are currently discussing is the public bedding ceremony.” Frigga says smoothly.
There are many that think it is impossible for a frost giant to shiver, but that is exactly what Loki does. The fresh raw horror of Frigga’s statement slowly sinks in as Loki realizes he is going to have to consummate his marriage in front of a crowd.
“I thought such barbaric practices had been abandoned by the Asgardians centuries ago.” Loki nearly shouts at her.
“They were, however, given the circumstances surrounding this arranged marriage, the concern was brought forth that either you or Thor or both might not voluntarily seal your vows of your own accord.” Frigga says very diplomatically.
Odin and Frigga are afraid Loki and Thor won’t fuck each other. They have a right to be concerned about this. Loki was already working on strengthening his cloning and invisibility spells to use to fool Thor and substitute in his place. Loki’s plan of using a magical copy of himself to fuck his new husband for him has just been wiped out. Well, at least for his wedding night. That is if Thor even wants to fuck him. Loki is beginning to understand why the bedding ceremony is being discussed. Frigga is every bit as cunning and dangerous as Loki suspected. Damn.
“I see.” Is all Loki replies.

Notes