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A month after King Einar sent a letter to Jotunheim, a response arrived. Queen Farbauti was inviting Loki and Sigyn to meet with her upon her realm.
Loki was, of course, nervous. But with Sigyn at his side he felt the smallest amount of confidence.
“I understand that they are not as I have been raised,” Loki murmured as they prepared for travel. “But you must understand that I will not hesitate to protect you.”
“I know,” Sigyn murmured, clothing in a lavender dress with thick fur sleeves and cape, long hair piled up atop her head. She reached out and took Loki’s hand, her fiance dressed in little more than the armor he used to wear upon Asgard.
The same armor he had worn upon Midgard.
Together, they headed to Jotunheim.
…………………
Queen Farbauti sat tall in the throne in front of them, staring down with piercing crimson eyes and instinct had Loki wanting to cower away, call for Heimdall, beg for mercy. But he forced himself to remember Sigyn at his side as he clutched his hand.
“Thank you for meeting with us, Queen Farbauti,” Loki began.
“I will admit, King Einar’s letter was…interesting,” she drawled. “He claims that you are one of us.”
Loki swallowed thickly. “I am.”
She gestured for one of the other Jotnar to approach. “So allow us to prove it.”
Loki took a small breath before nodding, removing the armor off of his forearm and rolling up his sleeve before placing his arm in the Jotnar’s palm. They all watched as his skin shifted and changed.
Silence fell through the cold, icy palace before Farbauti murmured, “There is no trick?”
The Jotunn drew back and Loki returned his skin to normal, rolling his sleeve down and returning his armor to place.
“No trick, your majesty,” the Jotunn replied. “He is genuine.”
“That is not possible,” Queen Farbauti declared. “No other bears those markings but for…” Her red eyes narrowed on to Loki. “Where were you born?”
“Jotunheim, your majesty,” Loki replied.
“But your skin is that of the Aesir.”
“I was taken from the temple by King Odin,” Loki replied, fighting to ignore the ripple of growls that went through the room. “I was raised in a lie upon Asgard.”
Queen Farbauti was silent. “My husband and I had only one child. Prince Loptr. He vanished along with the Winter Casket at the end of the war, after our defeat by the All-Father.”
“King Odin took the casket and myself,” Loki told her.
She stared. “You claim to be my Loptr?” she asked softly.
“I only claim no trick,” LOki replied. “I know little of your realm, of your people. Only the lies that Asgard has taught me.” When Sigyn’s hand slipped into his own, he gave it a squeeze.
“Loptr was our only child,” Farbauti explained. “Sick and weak at birth. Laufey was forced to rush to the battle and so I hid Loptr with the Winter Casket. It was meant to protect him. But when I returned, both were gone.” She shifted again. “There is no doubt that you are my son, returned after so many centuries away.”
Loki glanced at Sigyn before speaking up, “Your majesty, I was the one who killed Laufey. I was the one who attempted to destroy Jotunheim. I was the one who-”
“Was twisted, manipulated, and lied to by the golden realm,” Farbauti cut in. “No one holds you accountable for those actions.”
“I should be.”
Farbauti gave him a gentle smile. “How poorly must Odin have treated you, that you stand before your mother now and all but beg for death?”
Loki swallowed thickly. “There is no greater apology I can give.”
“There is one ,” Farbauti told him. “You can be returned to our family. Reinstated as the true heir to the throne of your birth realm.” She smiled. “If you would like.”
Loki stared at Sigyn who nodded encouragingly. “Your majesty-” he began.
“There is no rush to decide, my son,” she assured. “We are here whenever you are ready.”
Loki stood there, speechless, so Sigyn spoke up. “Thank you, your majesty. We will not forget your kindness.”
“It is I who should be thanking you, Princess Sigyn,” Farbauti told her. “For returning my son to me after all this time.”
Informally dismissed, Sigyn and Loki turned and returned to Vanaheim.
…………………..
“Are you alright?” Sigyn asked softly, the two of them walking through the gardens of Vanaheim.
“I am…not sure,” Loki replied. “I thought she would be enraged, furious. In truth, she looked tempted to hug me.”
“She is your birth mother,” Sigyn replied. “And you were taken from here.”
Loki nodded silently for a moment before speaking again. “I think…I think I would like to return to my blood,” he decided.
“Crown Prince Loki of Jotunheim,” Sigyn stated, giving Loki’s arm a squeeze. “I like it.”
“I do not need to be crowned prince,” Loki said. “But I think…I think it’s time I accepted who I am.”
“There’s no rush,” Sigyn said. “But I am proud of you nonetheless.”
Loki smiled. “Thank you for supporting me, Sigyn.”
“I will support you for as long as I am alive.”
“And I you. To the Norns I swear it.”