Forever Yours

Chapter 4

The first time they kiss, the spring air is crisp, the fragrance of flowers fills every spare room in the palace, and no one is surprised.

Every year, the royal family goes on a camping trip into the far mountains of Asgard. For as long as the princes can remember, it has been so; their mother ushering them to pack and then heading out on the three week long journey that always proves to be an adventure of its own, whether or not there is any danger. This year, they have been told they are allowed to hunt with their father and they are both positively buzzing with the excitement.

That morning, they are both woken by their mother, a rare occurrence in of itself. It is the first sign that something important is going to happen that day. Frigga tells them both to ready themselves for their trip and they do so with eager nerves, each with grins on their faces in their separate rooms. Once they are packed, servants knock on their doors and give them the summons of the king. It would be unwise to disobey their father, and so they walk shoulder to shoulder to the throne room with nerves of a different kind.

They both enter the large room, but they are used to it and so only come to stand before their father and king, both dropping to bended knee, looking at each other out of the corner of their eyes.

“What do you think he wants?” Loki mouths to his brother, only to get a shrug and a furrowed brow in return. The younger prince just shakes his head minutely, considering, and turns his eyes fully back to the Allfather.

Odin motions for them to rise, a smile that seems both amused and fond on his lips as he does so. Thor is the first to rise, his hand dropping to his side from where it had been resting against his heart. Loki does the same moments later, always following after the older prince, and blinks wide green eyes at their lord father.

They both know it improper to speak to their king, whether he be their father matters not, and so they wisely keep their mouths sealed together, though the young thunderer obviously wants to say something.

After a moment, their father speaks. “My sons,” he starts, a warmth in his voice, “you need not seem so nervous.” Thor visibly relaxes, but Loki stays tense. With their father, he has often learned not to trust just what he says in this room. But he does not recall doing anything to earn punishment as of late, so perhaps he should not worry so. “You know well that we are journeying today.” It almost sounded like a question, so they both nodded. “And you also know that each year I go hunting. I have deemed you both ready to do so with me, if you would wish it.”

Thor beams, any hint of nervousness draining from him. “Of course, Father! And I am sure Loki feels the same?” He looks to Loki for the answer.

“…yes, I would like that,” he replies after a moment of contemplation. A grin splits his lips as well as he and Thor eye each other again, clearly going to talk about this as soon as they were out of their father’s presence. Odin looked at the both of them with a smile.

“Very good. Well, that is all. I will see you both rather soon, I should think. Unless your mother has other plans. Norns know the woman is always making them without me,” he chuckles before waving them off again, lifting himself from the throne to attend to what he has left to do in his day.

Just as they had planned, as soon as the two princes had excited the throne hall, walking in the straightest manner possible, they start chattering excitedly about the hunt. Now that they have both reached a half-way point in their training, they can join in on hunts and soon, actual missions. It seems to be the latter point that had them both teeming with joy, as they are so close to leaving their boyhood behind in favor of greater, more adventurous things.

Almost in sync, they both turn the corner to the kitchens, planning on stealing some treats for their long trip into the mountains. The road there was always half the fun of their camping, but they often got hungry while they rode. Besides, the cooks would not miss a few treats. Once they have stuffed their pockets full of pastries and candies, they head back to their rooms to grab any extra things they need, the servants already having taken their bags.