The Unthinkable Offering (A Loki FanFic)

The Beginning

Odin Borson was the Allfather, protector of the Nine Realms, King of Asgard and the Æsir and he had been for millennia. A king inherits his kingdom from his father. But to become the ruler of the of the surrounding realms, one does not simply inherit that much power; it must be won. And once it is taken, one must do everything they can to hold onto it. By any means necessary. Of course, Odin was strong, a fierce warrior, and imbued with the powerful magic of Asgard, but he was also highly intelligent and cunning, a brilliant negotiator, and a shrewd tactician. If Odin wanted anything at all, it was guaranteed to be his, either by brute force, intimidation, or ruthless bargaining.

As was the case with the loyalty of a nobleman in The King's service, an astute man desperate to raise his status. Viggo Erikson had risen through the ranks of Odin's army very quickly, performing the more undesirable tasks that his King wanted to keep from becoming public knowledge, making himself an inimitable asset, and earning a place at his King's side. Odin called on Viggo when problems needed to be solved quickly, quietly, and permanently. All the while, the good people of Asgard remained blissfully ignorant of what measures were being taken to keep the peace and the realm's good fortune.

Viggo looked every inch a warrior. Tall, broad, battle-worn, and strong. He had blue eyes and chest-length, dark blonde hair that he always kept braided down the middle. Large hands that have choked the life out of many an enemy and a gnarly burn on his forearm from a narrow escape from one of Surtur's minions.

As intimidating as Viggo looked up close, from afar he looked like any other member of Odin's court. Well dressed in the finest Asgardian leather, carrying himself with a dignified poise and speaking with genteel language in a soft voice. He had an icy demeanor, concealing the red-hot rage that bubbled just beneath the surface.

Over centuries, the secrets they shared had made them close allies, and Viggo used that friendship to earn precious gifts from The King. Lands and a title, a beautiful wife of noble birth, and Viggo's most prized gift: the betrothal of his first-born girl to the Crown Prince, Thor, ensuring his daughter be the future Queen of Asgard, and his grandchild the future King.

The Viscount Lord Viggo and his wife, the stunning Lady Agda, welcomed their first baby, a girl they named Finna, in the sleepy predawn hours of a brisk winter day. And, that same day, at the ripe old age of seven hours, tiny Finna was engaged to be married to the toddling Prince Thor of Asgard in a lavish betrothal ceremony followed by a feast that lasted long into the night.

Viggo was at Odin's side years later when he returned home from the war on Jötenheim with the Casket of Ancient Winters as well as a small bundle secured to his chest and hidden under his thick fur cloak. A foundling, the newly born son of the Frost Giant King, Laufey, was left to die alone on a stone altar in a temple because of his unfavorably small size. At least, that was the story he told his Queen, Frigga.

Using magic to alter the baby's appearance to look Asgardian, Odin brought the tiny infant home to be raised, under a solemn vow of secrecy, as his son, a prince of Asgard, with the hopes of one day uniting the two realms in an eventual and permanent peace.

Frigga was instantly enamored with the babe and agreed to raise him as their own. Odin gave him the name Loki. She set to work immediately to create a potion that would allow her to produce milk again and feed the poor child from her own body. It took several weeks, but once she was sure Loki would survive and thrive, she brought Thor in to meet his baby brother.

The meeting went as well as could be expected. Thor showed very little interest in the tiny, shrieking bundle of blankets with a face and asked when his brother would be going back to wherever it was he came from, none too pleased that he was taking away more of his parent's precious attention from him. But as Loki grew, Thor's affection for him grew as well, and they fell into a typical brotherly relationship.