Forever Yours

Chapter 3

Thor and Loki sit side by side in the palace library while the "wisened" tutor drones on about the history of Alfheim. Her words mean little to the princes for two very different reasons. Thor, for one, has no care for them. He sees no point in burying your nose in the past when the present was what matter most. Loki, on the other hand, has already learned of the history of all the realms and the whisperings of beyond in his own time. His attention is turned elswhere, thoughts unknown to Thor flitting through his mind. His brother is still so young, but yet the eldest son cannot fathom the look of concentration on his features.

The day is a warm one and both boys are stripped down to the bare essentials meant to keep them modest. Despite their mother's protest- which Thor just smirks at as he remembers the same complaints from years ago- Loki's longer hair is tied up to keep the heat from his neck. For some reason, Frigga hadn't protested that too much, instead looking worried, but Thor pays it no mind, passing it off on her motherly instincts.

Thor nudges the smaller boy, leaning his head against Loki's so he can whisper, "Come on, brother. Let us spar. This lesson bores me. I doubt she will even notice our absence." Their attendence doesn't seem to be what she concerns herself with. Instead, the gray haired woman gives the impression that she very much enjoys the tones of her own voice.

Loki looks up from where he has been gazing out the window, preoccupied with a nest of birds that give him distraction from hearing rehashed tales, raising his brows before grinning broadly as Thor's words catch up to him. "We think too much alike," is all he says before he is gripping Thor's wrist and hiding them in a cloud of green smoke. He jumps to his feet, pulling the blond after him as he sprints for the library doors. As of yet he lacks the skill to bend shadows to his will, but he is one for tricks and illusions even now. Thor enjoys his tricks, especially when they get him out of tiresome lessons.

They are both laughing by the time they make it to the hall, Loki giggling uncontrollably. Indeed, he nearly falls to the floor from his laughter, but Thor steadies him. Though it does little to help when he is still laughing in small bursts himself.

"Ooh, Loki! You have probably shocked the poor old hag into her death bed!" That only seems to make the small mischief maker giggle even more.

"Think of it, brother. We would no longer have need to suffer through endlessly boring lessons. Ah, what a freeing life that would be." Loki is finally settling down, sighing as he rubs at his aching sides. Thor is grinning as he slaps his little brother on the back, causing him to stumble a bit. By now, he is strong enough for the eldest prince to push around a bit more, though he still bears in mind his promise from ages that evade his memory. But the queen has made sure he does not forget his vow.

"Oh, surely you cannot be so harsh, brother. At least she keeps you from having excessive amounts of fun." It doesn't work well at convincing the small boy and he merely shrugs.

"It would hardly be my fault if her heart failed to prove strong enough to withstand a simple parlor trick." But Thor hopes his brother will neverreally plan on her demise. Despite her flaws, she is a kind and a respected tutor throughout Asgard.

"Now what did you say of sparring?" he questions excitedly, the energy from his amusement now obviously on this.

Thor smiles, reaching out to ruffle Loki's hair, much to the boy's displeasure as his nose wrinkles and he bats his hand away.

"I said you are coming with me whether you like it or not." Loki only has a moment to process that before Thor is pushing him through the corridor. The smaller boy's feet drag on the marble, making an unattractive squeaking noise in the process.

"I can walk by myself!" he snaps as he firmly stamps his leather sandal on the floor, bringing them to a stop. Thor stumbles behind him, nearly knocking them both over. He has half a mind to just hoist him up and force him to go, but the other wants to apologize. Thor settles for stepping back and giving him an apologetic look Loki can't see.