Loki and Ingrid #6

Hey! This one is a direct-follow up to the last one. Basically, Loki and Ingrid are still bed-bound and Thor wants to teach Sif a lesson. We'll be heading into Thor 1 territory soon! I need to rewatch first though. Enjoy! :).

Crown Prince by Sarah B. Priest

“Ingrid? Ingrid! How’s your head?” Sif is pouncing on me now, leaning over the edge of the bed, hard.

          “Ow. Back off, Sif!”

          “Thor’s an idiot, isn’t he?”

          “I didn’t—”

          “She’s right, he is.”

          Sif jerks up. “Loki? You’re awake!”

          “Don’t pounce him, too!” I whine as she dashes through the room.

          “And I think you’re the one who’s the idiot, Sif,” Loki smiles weakly at Sif as she shoves open the window, books and papers flying. “Sif!”

          “Sorry. I just wanted to smell Asgard this morning!”

          “She’s in a good mood.”

          “Yeah,” I sigh and try to sit up. “My head would be better if you’d stop shouting, Sif.”

          “I’m not shouting!” yells Sif from across the room.

          “Yes, you are, Sif,” says Loki, annoyed, “Can you just go?  Leave or I’ll make you!”

          “You can’t make me—”

          “Well, you’re the one who stabbed me, Sif. I think I’m entitled to not have visitors at this time.”

          “You’re the one who lunged at me and grabbed the sword!”

          “You’re the one who said I would never be king!” Loki’s face is flushed with rage as Sif begins to reach for her bag.

          “STOP!” The ceiling crashes down as Thor lands in the middle of the room, spinning Mjolnir rapidly.    

          “The noise!” shouts Sif, angrily, “She has a concussion, you dumb-witted—”

          THUD.

          “What did you just do, brother?”

          “I hit her over the head. With the hammer!”

          “THOR! ODINSON!”

          “That would be Father, sighs Thor, quickly setting Mjolnir down and turning to revive Sif.

          “Send her to a separate ward, healers,” I can hear Thor instructing angrily. He turns back to Loki, dismayed. “Mother wants to see me.”

          “Mother?”

          “I don’t want to have these little talks about my hammer again, MOTHER!” roars Thor.

          “I’ll talk to her, brother.”

          “Loki! Don’t get out of bed! You might—I might—oh, all right, I’d best be going,” Thor storms off angrily, dragging Mjolnir behind him.

***

(Many years earlier …)

          “Loki? Loookiii?” Thor sticks his head around the door, whining impatiently, “Sneak to the kitchens with me?”

          Loki looks up from the book he’s struggling to read as it is far beyond his level, and stares at his brother’s bedhead, suspectingly.

          “C’mon, Loki! It’ll just be the once!”

          Loki looks up slowly, then decides to follow his brother to the kitchens. Sneaking off would be fun, and besides, he might find some sweets.

          “Look, Loki! It’s a big basket of fruit!” Thor points at the basket, perched precariously on the table.

          “I’ll get it!”

          “No, WAIT!”

          But it’s too late; Loki is already on top of the table, stuffing his mouth with grapes.

          “Don’t eat all that, Loki, you’ll get sick!” Says Thor looking up at his brother.

          “Come up here, brother, you can see everything!” Loki gestures towards one of the dungeons below the kitchens. “War prisoners!”

          Thor stands up in his hair and follows Loki’s finger. Sure enough, there are a lot of war prisoners in the dungeons.

          “I wonder what they did to get in the dungeons, Thor?”

          “I don’t know. Some commit treason. Some try to take over entire realms.”

          Loki looks at his brother, curiously, “Really?”

          “Yes. And they’re suffering for it.”

          “I want to take over a realm!”

          “No, you don’t, Loki. You’ll get in trouble!”

          “Okay, then, I’ll stick to being king of Asgard.”

          “No, that’s my job!”

          “Is not!”

          “Is too!”

          “Is not!”

          One of the maids approaches now, looking at the arguing brothers with scorn. “Shoo!”She waves her broom at them, “You should be getting back to your studies! I have a feast to cook!”

          “Okay, fine,” sighs Thor, swiping another handful of biscuits before he leaves the kitchens, Loki trailing behind, still thinking about the dungeons under the palace.

***

“You really sat on a table eating grapes!” I’m laughing uncontrollably, as Loki finishes the story.

          “Yeah. I was about six at the time. I think Thor was eight? I don’t remember. It feels so long ago, now.”

          “Six and eight, really?”

          “Well, in Midgardian years. I never understood Asgardian years the same way. I have deep respect for their method.”

          “Really, so much from a lesser realm?”

          Loki laughs, “Yeah, I know. I always thought they were incredibly stupid.”

          “I don’t think so. Everyone has their own gifts.”

          “Well, they are certainly no match for I, Loki Odinson, Prince of Asgard!”

          “Sif is recovering,” sighs Thor.

          “When did you get here?”

          “I flew on the wings of the dawn, brother. No, really, I walked.”

          “You didn’t answer my question! How long have you been spying on me?”

          “That’s not important. What’s important,” sighs Thor, “Is that I have lost my hammer privileges until further notice from father, WHO IS VERY BUSY AT THE MOMENT!”

          “Keep it down, brother, she has a headache!”

          “Now, you sound like Sif—”

          “You didn’t have to do that, really.”   

          “Yes, I did. Sif may be a great warrior, and a great friend, but anyone who lays a hand on my brother—”

          “It’s fine, really,” Loki winces in pain as he tries to sit up again.

          “It’s not fine, Loki! Stop lying!”

          “It was my fault, really. I just don’t know how to do combat, that’s all.”

          “AND SIF KNOWS THAT!”

          “Thor, please,” my head is throbbing.

          “Oh, Ingrid. You were so quiet I forgot you were here.”

          “Yes, of course she’s here,” says Loki, annoyed.

          “No, really it’s fine. And you two need to stop arguing!”

          “I WAS TRYING TO PROTECT—”

          “It was my fault for not knowing—”

          “SIF KNOWS EVERYTHING!”

          “Thor—”

          “I’LL HAVE TO TALK TO HER ONCE SHE RECOVERS! IF SHE LAYS A HAND ON YOU AGAIN—”

          “I think you’re overreacting, brother.”

          Thor sobers, “Does it hurt?”     

          “They estimate two to three weeks for recovery—”

          “DOES IT HURT?”

          “Only when you yell like that, brother.”

          “Yes,” I answer quietly, “At least it did, last night.”

          “SIF COULD HAVE KILLED HIM!”

          “Oh, defense charms, really, they’re quite simple. And besides, she didn’t.”

          The silence that ensues is uncomfortable as Thor quietly paces the room, thoughtfully, probably reflecting on his hammer-less soul. “It was worth it,” he says finally, “It was worth it to hit Sif. Make her pay—”

          “You sound like me, brother. If I were feeling better, I might have hit her myself.”

          “Then you would’ve just gotten into more trouble.”

          “Seriously, don’t bother Sif. I got angry over what she said—”

          “What did she say?”

          “That I would never be King…”

          Another long silence follows as Thor’s eyes meet mine. I try to tell him that I still have no idea what he was talking about.

          “Well, we’re both far too young and immature to be kings yet,” sighs Thor, “Long live Odin.”

          “You, immature, brother? You can’t be serious?”

          “Your fears are warranted, Loki. But I am the eldest. That is tradition.”

          “He said—”

          “I know what he said. But really, it was always me.”

---

“I’m sorry, Loki. I can’t begin to imagine what that feels like. To be told one thing, and—”

          “Stop. You don’t have to be nice. It’s worse if you’re nice, Ingrid.”

          “Okay,” I whisper, “I won’t be nice.”

          “Don’t be, then.”

          “It’s okay. Maybe there are other great things in your future—”

          “Like ruling a realm? I don’t know, Vanaheim? Midgard? Xandar?”

          “No, you don’t have to—”

          “BUT I WAS BORN TO BE A KING!” his voice echoes throughout the chambers, “IT WAS MY BIRTHRIGHT.”

          “As it was Thor’s. Only one can rule—”

          “BUT WHY HIM? HAVE YOU SEEN HIM?”

          “I’m right here, Loki.” Thor is standing in the doorway, still dissatisfied with the disappearance of Mjolnir.

          Loki pales. “Oh. I am terribly sorry, I was only—”

          “It’s alright. Better to let it out, I suppose. I did hear you from down the hall.”

          Loki remains silent as Thor goes over and sits on the bed, opening one of Loki’s rejected books. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, I was just trying to protect you.”

          “Don’t worry, I’m just fine. I don’t need protecting, and I especially need you to not go around hitting my sparring partners with hammers. And about the whole crown thing, you know I always suspected it. Thor?” Loki’s arms are reaching for Thor’s waist now, slightly out of reach.

          “I thought we don’t do hugs,” says Thor, almost casually leaning into it.

          “Only on my command, brother. I still hate you.”

          “Don’t worry, I’m sure it’s mutual. Don’t you think, Ingrid.”

          “Yes,” I sigh, “It’s mutual.”