Chapter Text
Loki felt Frigga's warm hand on his shoulder and looked up to meet her gaze. She wore a gentle smile, but her eyes spoke of the importance of what she was to tell him.
“Our peace with the Vanir is still young, my son, and as you know so well youthfulness does not grant stability.”
He was in slight awe of her ability to see herself so firmly Aesir, given she was herself Vanir by birth. Her love for Odin was truly of enough strength to win even over that of her kin. He could only hope to experience that kind of devotion someday.
“It may seem like a given peace for you, my child, but I still remember when the Aesir and Vanir were once the fiercest of enemies.”
Loki nodded, Frigga would never speak of such worries to Thor, for to him she only spoke of the Vanir warmly, so his hotheaded nature did not cause conflict. She trusted him to be better. It made him feel warm.
“We are moving to make the Vanir a more independent power once again, we need it to go gently, so as our realms will not fall to bloodshed once again.”
Loki was well aware of the history. A great war, Asier and Vanir clashing, ending with Odin beheading the Vanir king, and, to bring in an era of peace, wedding his daughter Frigga. Since, they had for a time been ruled as one kingdom, but as the peace grew firmer, and their kinds more intermingled...
“We want to nip any forces,” Her grip grew the tiniest bit firmer “Disruptive, forces, in the bud.”
“Any weapons, means of defense, magic, anything hidden they might use to gain more power than we can trust them to have, it could all be quite disastrous.” There was a dangerous undercurrent to her voice now, and Loki listened more carefully for it.
“Some of the most important ruling councilmen will be here, they might be looser lipped around a child, or when they think no one is listening in.”
Her weighted gaze met his. “I trust you, Loki.”
If Loki never grew taller than Thor, he would find the Norns themselves and slay them. The blonde oaf was currently using his temporary greater height to use Loki´s head as an armrest. Since the Vanir were about to arrive, he could not retaliate as it would lead to a tussle. He wanted to meet his mother's kin with some dignity, since last time they had visited he´d just traded crawling for walking, and thus he had a lot of in dignities to make up for.
“Freya!” A voice boomed so loudly that both Loki and Thor startled. A handsome man with braided auburn hair, the same shade as Frigga's, approached with his arms open in an invitation of a hug. Behind him a company of persons dressed in Vanir fashions followed. Frigga gasped in delight.
“Freyr!” The dignified queen rushed forward and met his embrace.
Loki caught Odin´s face souring, but he smoothed it out quickly and went to greet the Vanir. Thor was already on his father's heels, ready to make his usual boisterous but begrudgingly charismatic impression. Loki walked after them slowly, and took is time studying the Vanir, remembering his mission.
There was the man Frigga greeted, who was her brother Freyr, and to his side was a fair man also dressed in royal robes. There was a cluster of old looking men behind them, wearing clothing that spoke of some rank, and having heard his mother's tales of the court he guessed they were parts of the Vanir council. Several armored men where around them as well, dressed in Armour much more decorative and impractical than what Loki was used to. A maiden with golden hair, carrying a basket, stood half-hidden behind one of these guards.
When Loki had made his way over to stand beside Thor, Odin's hand clasped his shoulder, and he pushed his sons in front of him.
“It has been long since you visited, my friend, but you must remember Thor and Loki.”
Freyr's eyes fell onto the boys, and he gave both Odin and Frigga bright grins.
“Aye! They have grown much, Thor already has the markings of a mighty warrior!”
Thor, the daft oaf, glowed under the praise and brought his arm forth to show Freyr his muscles.
“I am the best among my age in combat, no one can defeat the might Thor!”
Loki was diplomatic enough to recognize sneering at his brother in front of the Vanir would get him into more trouble with Frigga and Odin than he could argue his way out of, so he valiantly held his tounge. The fair Aesir beside Frey gave a mighty laugh at Thor´s boasting.
“Well young Thor I will have to see these battle skills for myself.”
This was going to be tedious, Thor would be encouraged beyond humility. Loki would have to employ some carefully schemed humiliation to bring his ego down to size.
“This is the great Balder, my sister has surely told you of him.” Frey said.
She had indeed, Frigga often got letters from her brother, and many were filled with tales of Baldur, his son. Thors eyes grew as wide as dinnerplates, and he gaped at the man.
“You´re Balder ,” he squeaked.
“Mother has told us of your tales! Balder the un-slayable!”
The Vanir looked slightly bashful in the face of Thor´s admiration.
“I must also introduce the lady Idun.” Frey intervened.
The lady with the basked had a look of slight mortification at being called upon, yet walked steadily up to the Aesir. She did not quite manage to meet Odin´s gaze, however, but she held out her basket in offering.
“I am Idun,” she said, “I bring gifts from my Orchards, the magic apples of Idun.”
She took the covering of the basket and it revealed shimmering, golden apples. Frigga's eyes grew wide and Loki knew she could also see the magic radiating from the apples.
“Ah, greetings, fair Idun!” Thor was distracted from his hero at the introduction of the maiden.
He put his hand upon hers atop the basket and took it to his mouth, giving it a kiss. Her face grew red and all she got out was. “G-greetings.”
She fled his eyes and her fingers twitched in an urge to fidget, the one Thor had kissed remained hovering midair. Thor grinned as if he had already won. Frigga practically dragged Loki to stand in front of Idun.
“This is young Loki.” She didn´t even try to hide the sharp glare at her eldest son.
“He is a very promising sedirman.” Loki felt the red of Idun´s face spread to his ears. Already his mother had revealed his unmanly interest in seidir, truly mortifying.
Thor and Balder really were kindred spirits, they left the party for the training grounds as soon as they could. A servant relieved Idun of her gift, and The councilmen went with the queen, her brother, and the king to have a discussion Loki would love to eavesdrop on. He would also love to see if he could get Thor to embarrass himself in front of Baldur, but then something even more interesting got his attention.
“So, young Loki.” Idun said. Despite seeming too shy to talk with his brother, her voice was devoid of nervousness when addressing him. Loki felt as if he should resent it, but Idun and Thor were about the same age, and Loki was quite a bit younger, so it did make sense she would be more bashful before him. He still might still resent it a little.
“Are you to show me around the palace, young prince?”
Her smile was gentle and she held out her palm, posture slightly hunched to reach down to his height. She looked at him as if he were a kitten or pup. It was utterly humiliating. But eyes on the mission, she was Vanir nobility and keeper of magic apples. She might prove useful. And, it was quite nice to have the attention of a fair older maiden, even if she seemed to view him as a toddling. He still might find a way to rub her attention in Thor´s face, at the very least.
“I'd be honored.” He gave his most charming grin.
“I'll show you our great library, and our mothers garden, you who grow such fine apples must know much about gardens.” He grabbed ger hand to lead her, and she gave a gentle smile.
“Oh yes, I do love my orchards back home, but it is always nice to enjoy the work of another gardener, especially one as famed as your mother.”
“The gardens are indeed quite famed, but perhaps tomorrow, if you find the time, I can show you the wild slåtebjeller. They have some wonderous magic properties.” By the look she gave him, she seemed interested, but after hearing her gush about the gardens for the better part of the evening, it seemed more so for the sake of the flowers rather than spending time with Loki.
During the welcoming feast for the Vanir, Loki was seated next to a man of the council. He snuck some glances at where Idun sat, seated between Baldur and Thor. She looked truly put upon, and Loki could sympathize. Baldur and Thor were leaning over the table, occasionally breaking in to swordfights with their cutlery. After telling the councilman of his supposed aspirations of being an advisor to his brother, and convincing him to trade the Vanir's wine for some of the stronger Aesir Mead, he made himself such a constant shadow to the man that he seemed not to notice when he snuck in with him to the common room adjourning the visiting councilmen´s chambers.
They all had a stumble in their step, and one was hiccupping without abandon. They seated themselves in the chambers, and Loki let himself fade into the background as the councilmen spoke. And it didn't take long until he was sure they had completely forgotten him, for they started talking of things they would not be eager to divulge in Aesir company.
“Poor young Idun!” One said. “How terrifying for a young maiden to be asked to wed a giant.” The other answered.
The one who seemed the biggest drunkard, who was sloped on the floor against a chair perked up. “The horror Thialfi has promised to have her no matter the trials!” His face grew red with rage as he continued. “Poor girl, how scared she must be, knowing that fearsome beast is hunting her, her apples may be divine, but to endure such torments for their secrets!”
“The new wall will surely keep such beasts out!” Another tried to reason. “Councilman Skold said the builder claimed it shall be impenetrable, built with scared runes on each stone.” After some time spent discussing this Skold, and a heated debate on the case of his wife´s fidelity, complete with come tasteless anecdotes, they returned to more interesting subjects. “The hammer commissioned by the great Njord, may his spirit drink well in Valhalla, those treacherous dwarves still have its materials do they not?”
Loki perked up. This had been a great plan indeed, with just a little mead gossip flowed as if a damn had been broken. And Loki was there to fish out all the secrets.
Loki looked upon Idun as they broke their fast. Even tough this meal was less ceremonial, and therefore the seating arrangements less strict, she still sat between the two great oafs Thor and Balder, just as she had the night before. Was she sent her because her parents wanted her to wed Thor, as to seek protection from the harassing monster? It would perhaps explain why she grew so flustered around him, although she was hardly the only maiden who reacted in such a way. Maybe she was simply sent her to keep her hidden for a while, or to be courted by some other Aesir.
If her goal truly was to wed Thor, it seemed she had abandoned it after yesterday's feast. Baldur and Thor had made no attempt to include her, and, according to the scolding Frigga gave Thor while Loki was listening in, he had knocked over his glass of mead so it fell in her lap and ruined her dress. Twice.
Today, she seemed in a sad mood.
“Now, I will show you where the slåttebjeller grow!” he nudged her.
Her somber warmed a bit. Loki felt hope swell, but then she pat him on the head and ruffled his hair. So much for that. They went hand in hand into the forest, Idun was quiet at first but after Loki spent most of the way prattling on about flowers uses in magic, she started telling him about the plants and their uses in turn. As the sun rose higher Idun answered Loki´s flood of questions about Vanir culture. They even gossiped some, and if Idun didn´t join in on making fun of Thor she didn't seem opposed to listening to Loki do so. A falcon seemed to circle the air above them, sometimes they caught glimpses of him between the foliage.
“See! Here they are!” At last, they finally reached the mountainside where the flowers grew. They where larger and bluer than what was normal, their subtle magic aura so clear to Loki he was sure even a mortal could see it. Idun made a sound of delight and kneeled among the flowers.
“You are right, they are quite wonderous.” Loki felt the corners of his mouth rise without his control at her kind gaze.
A loud crunch was heard among the undergrowth, Loki's head snapped round at the sound. Idun seemed enthralled by the flowers, which she was touching with a gentle finger, as if petting them.
“Did you hear that?” He heard another crunch.
“Perhaps it is a deer?” She looked up at him.
The sounds continued and increased. Not a deer, then. Loki helped Idun up, but no sooner was she standing was the maker of the sounds upon them.
The trees at the forest edge where uprooted and fell to the ground as if they where twigs. There stood a giant, grey skin and sparse leather clothing covering bulging muscles and a great bloated belly. He looked upon Loki and Idun, who both shirked at an equally high pitch. They took off, into the forest, Loki first and Idun hot on his heels. For such a large creature, the giant was fast as a mare, for just as they reached the forest Idun´s screaming was abruptly cut off. It took Loki a couple of heartbeats of cowardice before he stopped and looked behind her, seeing the giant with the young maiden in his grasp.
“Idun!” He ran towards where she was caught in a fruitless struggle against the giant, kicking and clawing at him. Loki gave a shout and ran towards the giant, who only gave him a blank look.
Loki reached the giant, but before he could join Idun in clawing at him he felt the breath leave his body as a large foot hit his stomach. He was flung to the ground, gasping for breath. The giant walked towards him, slowly and unbothered, he held onto the screaming Idun with one hand and janked a tree up, roots and all, with the other.
Loki barley mustered the strength to toll out of the way of the worst of it, escaping death by tree crushing but still getting pinned by the roots of the tree. Lucky for him, the giant did not notice this, and simply turned around, throwing his price across his shoulder.
The giant carried Idun away while Loki was struggling from under the tree roots. The steps grew quieter by the second, and where long gone by the time he had hacked himself free.
Frigga had trusted him. She had. And Idun was, he well, he was fond of her. A noblewoman kidnapped while a quest of the Aesir did not bode well for ensuing peace. Not at all. Loki had to fix this, he just had to. No one could know how bad he had messed up, for what was he thinking! He knew a giant hunted Idun, Thialfi was that him? It had to be, it would just be too nonsensical if she was chased by two giants. Loki grimaced at the thought of Idun in that monsters' arms.
That creature, Thialfi, was truly depraved, to think he could have Idun. How would that even work? Loki shook his head from the disturbing train of thought. He could see the giants' footsteps in the dirt, but they would soon be disturbed, and the giant was fast. If Loki was to catch up, he would need to be something more agile. He knew of just the thing, as long as he could return it with Frigga being none the wiser, he needn't even alert anyone to his decimal maiden-protection skills.
After a blissfully undetected detour back to Asgard´s palace, he had what he needed. Holding his mother´s feather cloak, he stood where the giants' footsteps where. Donning the cloak, he felt his body grow smaller, lighter, and was coated in the feathers. Soon he was a small bird, and could now travel at great speed after the giant and rescue Idun.
He followed Thilafi´s trail all day to where he had taken to rest for the night. If he was lucky, Asgard would assume Loki was showing Idun the city and would be out late. Or they were all too drunk at this point to care, as the second night of having visitors was of course also a day of feast in Asgard.
If the giant lived at the borders of Vanaheim Loki truly had no clue of how he meant to reach his home. But it seemed the giant had a home of sorts here, for the trail stopped at a small hut that looked lived in. He removed his cloak, stuffing it in a satchel and peeked through the windows of the hut. They had no glass, so they were simply holes in the wall. If Loki were to guess, he´d say the giant had simply punched them into the wall when he one day decided he found the hut too dark.
Inside, the giant was sleeping on a great heap of pelts, beside him lay a large flint axe. In the corner behind him, Idun stood. He felt relieved. She looked spooked, but unhurt. And all her clothes looked as he had last seen them. If the giant were to try to remove them, his clumsy hands would surely have broken the delicate clasps and ornations of her dress. He hadn´t really considered this a worry before now, but now he cursed his own thoughtlessness. She could truly have been hurt, and here he was worrying about his own skin. There was another crude window close by her corner, so Loki went to it and whispered to catch only her attention, not the Giants.
“Idun! Your hero has arrived!” Idun´s eyes widened.
“Loki! You´re not here alone, are you?”
How she managed evoke motherly disapproval while being a giant's hostage, he would never know.
“This really dangerous you shoud´ve-” Loki muffled her whit his hand, gesturing to Thilafi with his head. The giant made a loud grumble in protest of the sound, but remained asleep.
“Let´s get out of here.” he whispered.
“I would´ve if I could." Idun matches his low tone and gestured to a chain around her foot linking her to a matching one on the giant. Loki gave her a grin. “Call me the god of locks,” He grabbed a rosette of her dress and used its´s needle to start lockpicking. It was truly a very pretty one, golden, but it looked old, and the needle tip was slightly brittle. In his haste to free Idun, he took the risk that it would hold. After tinkering a while he stilled.
"Loki?"
His gaze as he met Idun´s was full of dread.
"The needle broke. It's jamming the lock." He shook.
"Don't panic, I have a hairpin, it's about the same shape." Idun put a hand on his shoulder to calm him, sending a wary glance at the sleeping giant.
And then Loki was moving towards him. Idun made an aborted sound.
"The needle point is stuck in yours, its´s jammed."
Loki carefully went for the lock at the giants foot. "I can't- I can't pick yours."
He ket his eyes on the giant´s end of the chain, fighting to keep his hands steady.
The giant´s skin was carved with jagged lines, that Loki could see now that he was forced to be this close. Did he carve these out on his own skin, or where they from some kind of battle? While at first glance they seemed crude, they were quite uniform, and the patterns followed some sort of flow, they reminded the young Asgardian of the patterns of a leaf.
The giant grew more restless, groaning in his sleep. Loki froze as he lifted his hand, but Thalafi only shifted to lay on his side.
Idun shook with tension, then she hard a faint click, and Loki flashed her a toothy grin, holding up the now loose end of the chain. Not spending a minute longer In Thalifi´s company than necessary, them carefully climbed out the window-hole and escaped into the darkening forest.
They had just reached a rocky mountainside surrounded by yellow dry grass when they heard him. This monster truly had expert tracking skills. Loki wondered if he sniffed them out like a hound.
The club of the flint axe against the mountain was so mighty it made sparks in the air. They glinted as they showered the foliage below.
Idun gasped and grabbed Loki's hand as the dry grass that coated the mountainside was caught ablaze. The giant paid it no mind, even if he could not see the flames, he must have felt the heat, but perhaps the heat of battle rage overshadowed that of the fire. The flames grew at suck a quick speed, casting harsh shadows over Thalaifi´s towering form. Loki stood transfixed as he stared at the blaze.
“-Loki LOKI!” Idun ´s frantic shouting drew him out of his transfixion, and she yanked him sharply after him. He forced his feet to run after her, having a hard time keeping up with her longer legs. The giant roared after them, Loki heard the axe swinging, he thunk of it connecting to the ground, but he had no sense of how close he was. All his senses were taken by smoke and heat.
The fire ravaged the grass and spread to the pine trees, devouring them with a gluttony unmatched. It seemed to spread around them at all sides, heat growing more intense. The air was becoming painful to force into his strained lungs. Thialfi suddenly seemed less a threat.
Idun glanced back at him, the whites of her eyes tinged pink by the light of fire, and tried shouting something, but her voice was caught by a hacking cough. Mid-cough she dragged him down sharply to the left, and not a heartbeat after they fell to a heap on the ground a mighty thunk sounded beside them, just where they had been standing a moment before.
Loki's wide eyes fell on the fallen giant Thialfi, his body ablaze, he had fallen and even his cries of pain were drowned by the roar of the flames. They seemed to go on forever towards the sky at all sides.
He felt Idun clutch his hand in an iron grip, and he met her eyes. She looked terrified, and he had no doubt he was a mirror. In a brief flash, Loki imagined himself donning his mothers´s cloak, flying to safety. He saw himself joining the other Aseir in searching for the missing Vanir Idun. All the while, he would know her to be torched next to her would-be-husband kidnapper on this miserable patch of earth.
“Idun!” His voice was almost lost in the flames, but her eyes grew more intense. He grabbed his cloak from his bag and threw it to her. She didn´t question him, just put in on in great haste. She turned into the greatest seabird Loki had ever seen. Loki only gave himself a heartbeat to ponder why the nature of the bird changed for each wearer. Thalafi´s chain slipped off her bird´s foot and she looked upwards. Her eyes cleared, and for a moment he was sure she would take to the skies without him, but her talons grabbed him and struggling all the way, she took flight. The flames licked at her wings and Loki shirked as he felt an unbearable heat at his foot. He was not even sure they were flying towards the sky, for all he saw was flame and smoke.