Birthright

Fate

"Don't be a baby! Jump!" The voice from below taunted her. "You're just a stupid girl!Girls can't jump or fight or ride horses properly! Baby baby baby!"

"Stoppit! Am NOT stupid! You're just a stuck-up boy. Just because you live in a golden palace doesn't make you better than me!" She stuck out her tongue and refused to move.

"Leave her alone." A small voice from the side piped up.

"Oh shut, UP Loki! Nobody wants to hear YOUR opinion. I'M going to be king one day, and I'M going to make it law that EVERYONE has to do as I say."

The blonde boy stomped off in a huff. It wasn't fair. HE was the better prince. HE was his father's blue-eyed boy. Loki just wasn't up to the job. With his 'sympathy' and his 'feelings' and his magic. Especially his magic.

Mother seemed to favour his little brother for that. But magic was for silly girls and little brothers. HE was going to be a great warrior. HE would destroy Jotunheim and all the Frostgiants. If only he was older....

Loki watched his brother stomp off with despair. One day, Thor and his arrogance would get them into serious trouble. Heaven help them if their Father had to step in. He would only take so much. Mind you, if Thor was banished.... no. He stopped himself, doing that would hurt Mother. But still, the thought of a clear run to the throne....

His thoughts were interrupted by a soft, pretty voice.

"Thank you, Prince Loki." it floated down to him from the apple tree. "I appreciate your kind words." He looked up into a pretty face with green eyes and blonde hair. She wore a shirt and trousers, not like the other girls of the town. They all wore dresses and stupid grins.

She jumped down, landing easily beside him. He laughed, and so did she. "So you could get down then?" He remarked, kicking the grass in front of him, suddenly feeling shy.

She blushed, her own boldness taking her by surprise. "Yes. I just wasn't going to let Bilgesnipes Bum tell me what to do!"

"Bwahahaha Bilgesnipe's Bum?" Loki burst out laughing. She smiled and fiddled with the lacing on her shirt. "I've seen you before, haven't I?" He said as they walked slowly towards the palace.

"Yes. My father is a groom in the stables. He looks after your mother's mount."

"What? The cats?" Loki was puzzled.

"Ehehehehe, no, silly! Her HORSE!" It was her turn to laugh. "The cats only pull the chariot. She doesn't..." she could hardly speak now, the image making her laugh so hard..."doesn't ride her cats!"

The two of them rolled around on the grass, laughing hard, their faces red, and tears rolling down their cheeks.

"When I grow up, I'm going to be a Valkyrie. I'll fight and ride a winged horse and be as brave as ANY warrior prince!"

"Oh, you can't do that! Only girls can be Valkyrie!" She laughed, and Loki blushed. He didn't care she was laughing. It wasn't a cruel laugh. It was a pretty laugh. She was a pretty girl.

They lay on the grass, looking up at the sky. "Look! That cloud looks like a horse!" She pointed up at the sky, nudging him in the ribs. He squinted to the side.

"A horse? No. It's a.... an eagle, it's got wings!" Loki grabbed her hand and pointed.

"I know! It's a Valkyrie horse!" She giggled, not taking her hand back. They looked at each other, "Will YOU be my friend Loki?" She asked shyly.

"Yes, I'd like that. We could go to the library and I'll ask my mother to..."

Suddenly, there was a shout from the path, "LOKI! LOKI WHERE ARE YOU!" It was Odin. Loki sat up, panicked.