The Unthinkable Offering (A Loki FanFic)

The Seed of Doubt

Years later...

"You are closer to the King than any of us, what is he thinking?"

Viggo sat in a large leather armchair in his private study, swirling his scotch in his glass as he stared at the crackling wood in his fireplace. "That is what is troubling. I do not know what brought this about."

After dinner, when the sun had well and truly set, Viggo ushered the other five members of Odin's council through the back entrance of his manor for a private meeting. That morning, the King had announced his retirement, declaring Thor would take his place as King and be crowned before the year's end.

"The golden prince is barely a man. A veritable beast on the battlefield, to be sure, but there is more to ruling than brawn."

"I agree." Viggo furrowed his brow in concentration as he thought. "The boy needs more time to mature and observe."

"I do not understand the timing. Do you think the King is in poor health? Why else would he rush the coronation?"

Viggo shook his head, "Not that I know of. He seems to be as fit as can be for a man his age." He took a sip from his glass.

"Do you still have a spy working in the healing rooms, Viggo? Perhaps they have seen something."

Viggo shot the counselor an irritated look, "Do you believe the King travels to the doctor when he needs healing? No. They go to him, you twit."

"Right. You are right, My Lord," he stammered. "I was not thinking."

Viggo scoffed, "Was that not the point of us gathering here tonight? To think this situation through? Or are you just here to drink my thousand-year-old scotch?" He stood and rested a hand on his mantel as he stared into the fire once again. "Odin's witch of a wife has their chambers warded and her private servants are extremely loyal. It would be nearly impossible to sneak in to search for anything."

"What if we did not have to sneak in?" One of the counselors stood and started pacing. Viggo turned to him and waited for him to work his thoughts out in his mind. "The dark prince... Perhaps we could bring him over to our side? The brothers have barely been speaking lately. His intellect is unparalleled. Perhaps he is as against this coronation as the rest of us. Perhaps he would bring us the information we desire."

Viggo was intrigued, "Perhaps..." he tapped his finger against his glass, deep in thought. "That is one option. Can anyone think of another reason for Odin's sudden abdication?"

The crackling fire was the only sound in the room for a few minutes.

"His Queen." Another man spoke up. "What if it is not Odin whose health is failing, but his Queen?"

Viggo's first instinct was to dismiss the idea, but he let him continue.

"If you had to name one weakness of Odin the Allfather, what would it be? Hmmm?" He stood and looked around at the men, "The love of his Queen! Have any of you ever seen his eye wander? Pat a random bottom? Take a post-battle whore? I know I have not. Not since the day he met Frigga." He paused and looked around at the disbelieving men in the room. "Not all of you remember Odin when he was with Hela's mother. He would fuck anyone who caught his eye. Who knows how many unclaimed bastards he has all over the Nine."

Another counselor waved him off dismissively, "Chalk that up to youth. We all sowed our wild oats."

"Yes, and most of us are still sowing them." The man put his hand over his heart. "I love my wife, yet I still am supporting two mistresses."

"Only two? Amateur." The men laughed.

"My point is, Odin could afford to have a harem, yet he remains faithful to Frigga. Perhaps it is her health that wanes, and Odin is stepping down to spend more time with her before she passes on to Valhalla?"