Mischievous: Loki's Lost Legacy

The Bath House [4]

Svan walked alongside his grandmother, his small hand tucked into hers as they ventured through the royal gardens. The late afternoon sky had begun to dim, casting a soft glow on the flowers and stone pathways, and in the distance, the elaborate structure of the royal bathhouse loomed ahead. Its grand size struck Svan with awe and disbelief. The building was vast, far more extensive than anything he had ever seen for something as simple as bathing. Warm light poured from its windows, and steam curled up from the roof, mixing with the cool evening air.

"House, a whole house just to bathe?" Svan asked, his wide eyes taking in every detail as he walked beside Frigga.

Frigga smiled softly, her heart aching with affection for the boy. His wonder at something so ordinary in Asgard reminded her just how different his life had been before arriving here. "Yes," she replied, her voice gentle. "A whole house. We call it the Vetrarnaet—the winter warmth. It's where the royal family and guests come to relax and wash away the day's troubles."

Svan blinked, clearly trying to wrap his mind around the concept. He had never known such luxury. Back home, wherever that was, there had been no grand stone buildings, no steam-filled bathhouses with walls adorned by glistening candles. The flickering flames created golden pools of light on the path ahead of them, making the royal gardens seem alive in the approaching twilight.

"I was always washed outside," Svan said quietly, almost absentmindedly, as though lost in a memory.

Frigga's brow furrowed slightly, her heart breaking a little more. "You were?" she asked, tilting her head to look down at him, her soft features bathed in the warm glow of the candlelight.

Svan nodded. "Yeah, outside. In the cold."

"Weren't you cold?" Frigga asked, her voice filled with genuine concern. The mere thought of her grandchild shivering in the freezing winds outside, unprotected, made her insides twist. She couldn't imagine any child enduring that, especially not one that carried Asgardian blood.

"Oh, yeah," Svan replied casually, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. "Sometimes I even turned blue."

Frigga stopped in her tracks, her gaze snapping to the boy's face. "Blue?" she repeated, her voice thick with disbelief and concern.

The young boy met her eyes momentarily, confused by her reaction. "Mmm-hmm," he hummed, his small face expressionless, as though this fact was nothing unusual. "It happened sometimes when it was freezing."

"Svan..." Frigga's voice wavered. She crouched down in front of him, bringing herself to his eye level, her hands gently resting on his tiny shoulders. "Do you turn blue often? When you're cold?"

"Mmm, sometimes," he replied, a slight frown creasing his brow as if he were trying to recall exactly when it happened. "It's always when I get really, really cold."

Frigga's heart dropped, her mind swirling with the implications of his words. Her thoughts shot back to her son, Loki—her other son—who, like Svan, had a secret in his blood. Loki had grown up believing he was Asgardian, but Frigga had always known the truth. He was not born of Asgard. He was Jotunn, a Frost Giant from Jotunheim. And now, Svan, a child who claimed to be Loki's son, told her he turned blue in the cold.

Her stomach churned. How could this be possible? Was it really happening again?

Frigga swallowed her mounting dread and forced herself to remain calm for the child's sake. "And when you turn blue... do you feel different? Do you notice anything else?"

Svan looked up at her, his young face innocent but curious. He shrugged. "I feel cold at first, but then I stop feeling anything after a while. Sometimes, I can see my breath like it's freezing in the air, and my skin goes all blue like ice."

Frigga closed her eyes for a brief moment, steadying herself. The similarities to Loki were undeniable. She had seen Loki transform before—his skin turning that deep shade of icy blue when his Jotunn heritage revealed itself. It had taken Loki years to come to terms with the truth and to understand who he indeed was. And now, this boy—this child—was walking the same path.

She opened her eyes again, looking at Svan with a tender resolve. "Come, let's get you inside," she said, standing up and retaking his hand. "We'll talk more about this after your bath."

Svan nodded, though he still seemed puzzled by her sudden shift in mood. Together, they approached the grand stone bathhouse, the door opening before them as they neared, revealing the warmth and comfort inside.

The bathhouse was every bit as grand on the inside as it was on the outside. The air was thick with steam, and the scent of lavender and herbs filled the space. The floors were made of smooth, polished stone, and large marble basins were filled with hot water, already prepared for Svan's arrival. Candles flickered along the walls, casting soft light that danced across the water's surface.

Frigga led Svan to a small alcove where servants had prepared fresh towels and a change of clothes. She knelt beside him, gently unbuttoning his worn, dirty tunic, her fingers working carefully.

"You'll feel much better after this, I promise," Frigga said, her voice soothing. She handed him over to one of the palace maids, who would assist him with his bath. "I'll be right here when you're done."

Svan nodded, allowing himself to be led to the bath. Frigga watched as the maid guided him to the water, the steam rising in soft clouds as the boy dipped his toes hesitantly before sinking into the warmth. His small face showed a mix of wonder and relief as the heat enveloped him, washing away the grime of his journey.

Frigga stepped back and turned away slightly, her mind racing with the revelation that Svan might carry the same Jotunn blood as Loki. But how could that be? Who was this boy's mother? Where had he come from? Was this some cruel twist of fate, or was there something larger at play, something even Odin had not foreseen?

Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft splashing of water, and she turned to see Svan in the bath, his head resting on the edge as he relaxed for the first time since his arrival in Asgard. He looked so small, so vulnerable, and Frigga's heart ached for him. She couldn't help but feel protective over him, knowing that whatever he had been through, he was now a part of her family.

She took a deep breath and steeled herself. If Svan indeed were Loki's son, then the boy would need guidance, just as Loki had. And Frigga would be there for him, just as she had always been there for her own son.

"Whatever happens," she whispered to herself, "I will protect him." 'I must speak to Odin, ' she thought. If Svan knew about this, then it wouldn't be too hard for that information to reach Loki. She couldn't let that happen.

13th spetember 2024
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