The Queen of Jotunheim

Chapter 26: Torn Apart

Chapter 26:
We were to be United, not
Torn Apart

Sif was standing in the doorways, walking across the polished floor toward the throne where only Nix and Loki stood in her way. Her cold stare was aimed at Loki. "Allfather, I know you said to not investigate the incident any further, but I have proof that Loki is the traitor who led the Jotuns into the Royal Treasury!"

Loki felt a cold shiver go up his back as he turned to gaze at Fandral, wondering if all along his friend had betrayed him, but seeing how horrified Fandral looked he knew that was not the case. He turned back to face Sif, letting go of Nix's hand only to grab her other as they both turned to face Sif.

"That is a very serious accusation," The Allfather said, sitting up straight and holding his spear tight, "you better have clear evidence when making such a claim." Loki did not know why, but he almost thought he heard a hidden layer of joy in Odin's voice, as if he had been waiting for this moment, which with a sickening feeling Loki realized might be true.

"I do, Allfather, which is why I only come to you now," Sif said, kneeling for the throne though Nix and Loki were still between her and Odin. Her fist over her heart in a clear sign of respect as she looked past the couple at The Allfather with fierce eyes. "I spend all this time gathering evidence to support my claim!"

Loki looked over his shoulder toward the throne too, first seeing his mothers shock and worry, then his fathers all too calm expression as Odin nodded to Sif, and lastly Thor's expression. Thor wore an expression of shock and outrage, but Loki realized that shockingly it was not aimed at him, but instead at Sif.

"Present said evidence then," Odin said, gesturing for Sif to raise and come closer. She sprung up with an almost smug grin as she glared at Loki and started walking toward the throne, clearly intended to walk between Nix and Loki, but she quickly found that to be impossible as both his and Nix hand tighten around the others at the same time. With a scuff that she had to step around the couple to stand in front of the Allfather.

Sif then proceeded to present her case, and Loki started realizing why he had not seen her or Hogun for a long while. Her case was strong, clearly having worked on it for a long time, but was also filled with holes. He knew it would be easy to dismiss everything as the only thing she was able to prove was that someone with great magic had found a way to sneak past Heimdale. Everything else was speculation or flimsy at best.

But the way she was presenting the case was worrisome, and Loki wondered when Sif had started hating him so much she could be so sure of her case against him. He didn't interrupt, knowing that showing any kind of rage would only strengthen her case, and instead held onto Nix's hand to keep himself calm and collected. The couple had turned again to face the Allfather, but had been quicker about switching hands so it felt like they never let go of eachother.

"This is outrageous!" Thor said, shocking Loki once again as he looked at his brother. Perhaps he had been wrong about his brother being blinded by his own glory. Could his brother really have grown. "All you have proven is that only a great mage could have done this! And my brother is not the only one with the ability to do this! And he had no reason to. No Asgardian did!" He pointed an accusing finger at Nix. "But she does."

And with that, Loki was no longer shocked. Of course that was how Thor was thinking. He had not grown a single bit, nor learned anything! He was still the war hungry fool he always had been! Loki felt the rage in his chest becoming stronger, the cool touch of Nix hand in his no longer strong enough to damper it.

"The evidence is clear, father! None of us even knew she existed before our journey to Jotunheim, proving her magic is strong enough to hide herself from Heimdale's gaze! And it was her people that tried to rob the treasury!" Thor moved closer to Nix, his step sounding like thunder. "She is the true villain of this tale!"