After Loki's lost bet with Thor, D.B. Cooper causes chaos on Midgard, and a war with Vanaheim rises in the East, so Odin proposes a wager of his own to his youngest son:
An arranged marriage, one for the public. If the terms of the deal are honored...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Word count: 5639
Warnings: assassination attempts, smoking, knives, angst, terror
Summary: Loki and Adora have an uncomfortable run-in with Vali. Later, they formally introduce Milja to the public at the last feast before their wedding... and an unexpected guest arrives.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"But I wanna play with Hodur!" Milja sobbed into Loki's shoulder.
They were walking back from the stables to the palace, but the moment they left the poor girl broke out into a round of tears that made Loki's heart shatter in his chest.
He'd never heard her cry before, and he hated it even more than when Adora did. It was worse than Adora's tears. At least she cried quietly and tried to hide it, Milja's sadness was loud and made him feel like a monster.
She wriggled in his arms, reaching her hands out toward the stables over his shoulder, "He's my friend!"
Loki gave Adora a pleading look, one that said good Norns, please help me. She sighed and clicked her teeth.
"Loki, I don't think she knows our little secret," she said, pretending to whisper.
He brightened gratefully. She was letting Milja keep his gift, and she smiled sweetly up at him.
"No, sweetheart, I don't think she does," he whispered loudly back, leaning toward Adora like he was trying to hide as well.
Milja hiccuped and rubbed her tear stained cheeks with the back of her hand as she sat up to look at them, "What secret?"
Her little lip jutted out in a pout as she watched them with her chin wobbling, and Loki tapped the pad of his finger against it but she didn't smile so he said, "Our secret about Hodur."
"Yes, it's very good, little one," Adora agreed.
"Will you tell me the secret?" she asked politely, her little voice wavering and her eyes big and red rimmed.
