The Queen of Jotunheim

Chapter 3: The Queen of Jotunheim

Chapter 3: 
The First meeting with
The Queen of Jotunheim

A shocked gasp went through the group at Nix's introduction. They all looked at each other, sharing their shocked expressions as they tried to comprehend what they had just heard. Sif and the warrior three were frozen close enough to each other to whisper between them.

The whole group seemed stunned and confused, looking around bewildered. All except for Odin and Thor. Odin because he kept his eyes on Nix and Laufey, and Thor because he was consumed by his rage and mostly frozen, so he could not turn to look at his companions behind him.

Queen?! From all their knowledge Jotunheim did not have a queen, but a King! That being Laufey himself, and to their knowledge, he did not have a wife! At least not anymore! Loki's thoughts went back to his analyses of Laufey and the woman he now knew was named Nix. They were not married, and if she was not his child, it could only mean one thing.

If Nix was truly the Queen of Jotunheim, then Laufey was no longer King, either by choice or force. She could have inherited the crown somehow, but there could also have been a possible coup. With that knowledge in mind, all their gazes turned back to Laufey, seeking confirmation and possible answers from him.

Laufey looked reluctant, an expression that was almost shameful, but not quite, as he gave Odin a confirming nod before bowing his head in respect to Nix and backing away. Leaving her in a position of power, showing that she was indeed the ruler of this land.

From the way he had reacted to being forced to confirm that Nix was indeed the new ruler of this land, Loki could not imagine that Laufey gave the throne up willingly, but him standing by her side so easily and having been the one to greet them meant he had not been completely overthrown. Possibly, Nix was just so powerful that Laufey had no other choice but to hand her the crown and stand by her side.

"I did not realize Jotunheim had gotten a new ruler," Odin said, clearly being caught off guard as he was trying to recover his composure. Loki looked at his father in shock at that. Odin was supposed to know all, so any knowledge he did not possess was alarming.

Loki had thought that surely his father would have known this was happening and either never bothered to mention it or kept it secret for a good reason. His father always knew what was going on and had a plan... At least that is what he has been told time and time again by his mother. 'There is always a purpose to everything your father does.'

"And I did not realize you wanted war Allfather," Nix replies, bringing Loki back to the current moment as she turns her head slightly toward his brother and nods in his direction, pointing without using her hands which were still neatly folded in front of her in a truly regal pose. "Your boy is clearly seeking it out." Her eyes never left Odin as she spoke, staying alert and wary of the Allfather.

Odin frowned his eye, and for a fleeting second turned to look at his son, frozen more and more in enchanted ice, before looking back at Nix as he quickly collected himself. "You're right. These are the actions of a boy, treat them as such." He looked serious. "We can end this here and now, before there is further bloodshed."

Nix nodded again, turning her body and looked toward the group she had captured in her enchanted ice, gazing at each of them while she answered. "I too do not wish for there to be more bloodshed."

Loki felt himself relax as there was a big sigh of relief from the group as they realized the fight was truly over now. The Allfather might have been here, but with them all frozen to the ground they would still have been at Nix's mercy.

The Queen of the land they invaded could have declared war based on their actions and surely killed them swiftly if needed, if she wished so. So they were all relieved that she too seemed to not want a war to start. All except for Thor, but he was almost completely frozen at this point, so there was not much he could do about it.