Loki: Storm of Swords

Chapter 1 - House Frostborn

Loki brushed his hair out of his face and leaned back in his chair. He could feel the heat of the southern sun striking his back and it irritated him. He really had to get Bronn to summon a man to hang a curtain in front of his window. The wind blew through the room, but Loki's desk was shielded with a layer of magic that prevented people from stealing things (even when they were out in the open), and kept papers from blowing off the desk. Loki glanced over his shoulder and admired the view he had of Blackwater Bay. Ships came in and out daily, each one carrying new and interesting treasures from all over the world. Since Daenerys had become Queen of Westeros six years ago, the realm had enjoyed expansive and beneficial trade with other countries. They even had a few merchants from other realms like Alfheim and Vanaheim come to visit. The Westerosi were fascinated with these creatures, especially the elves of Alfheim. Loki, besides being Hand of the Queen, was the Minister of Foreign Policy. He dealt with the other Outlanders (as they were called) and traded with them for information.

At that moment, he was composing a report to the small council concerning the latest news he had gathered about the other realms. Asgard had been in disarray when the news of his location leaked out. As well as the existence of a tenth realm. Daenerys had met with envoys from other realms: Alfheim, Nornheim, Vanaheim, and even Jotunheim. The ambassador from Jotunheim, a surprisingly polite giant by the name of Byleistr, had extended the olive branch of peace to Loki; courtesy of their new king, his half-brother, Helbindi. Loki had remembered turning up his nose at the idea of making peace with those monsters. Sansa had accepted the gift on his behalf: a seeing ice crystal.

"Father! Father!" It was the calling of two cherubic voices that made Loki look up. Two, small children came bouncing into his study, followed by their heavenly mother. The Hound, the impassive Ser Sandor Clegane, closed the door once they were inside, leaving the family in peace. Loki turned his chair and caught his children in his arms, laughing as they clung to him.

"What is this? Who are these sainted creatures in my lap?" Loki queried innocently.

"Sainted? They're yours," Sansa Frostborn said as she leaned against the corner of the desk. Her hand went out and smoothed down her daughter's unruly, flaming hair. Loki grinned as he gave his son's ebony pony tail a tug.

"Father! That's not fair!" Rhaenar complained as he put his hands on his father's chest and pushed away.

"Why isn't it fair?" Loki asked with a mischievous grin on his face.

"Cause you've got longer arms then I," Rhaenar responded, and to further prove his point, he tried to reach up to grab Loki's hair, and could not even reach his ears. Loki laughed before he suddenly felt his head get yanked back.

"Ouch!" he cried before he turned and saw that Ragna had maneuvered out of his lap, up onto the arm of his chair, and had grabbed his hair from there.

"Well, your sister figured it out," Sansa commented as she walked behind Loki and brushed his hair back into place.

"She most certainly did," Loki mumbled as he put Rhaenar down and pulled Ragna back into his lap. "You're being unusually quiet. Should we be concerned?" Loki asked. Ragna shrugged her shoulder as she played with the front of her father's jerkin. "I'm afraid that's not an answer."

"Sandor won't let me start training with knives," Ragna said in a downtrodden voice. Loki's eyes popped in his head and he turned to look at his wife. Sansa just shook her head, but her lips were quirking up in a smile.

"Look, my princess," Loki said as he rearranged her on his lap, "you're only just turned six. You are still too young to be training with knives. Give it another two years."

"But you said in Asgard, you started knife and magic training at my age! Rhaenar's begun his sorcery lessons! Why can't I start knife training?!" the little girl demanded. Loki opened and closed his mouth because he did not have a good enough response for his little girl. At that instant, somebody knocked on the door.

"Enter!" Sansa called and the Hound stuck his head in again. As soon as Ragna caught a glimpse of him, her eyes narrowed and she stuck her tongue out him. "What is it, Sandor?" Sansa queried.

"Forgive me, milady... milord. But, I heard the young lady's outcry and I thought you'd better know why I turned her down," Sandor said and Loki waved his hand. Sandor stepped into the room and almost looked embarrassed. "I was watching her, along with the young lord, and I realized that I was missing both knives in my boots. I found her using them to shave the whiskers off one of the sleeping kitchen cats," Sandor elaborated. Both Loki's and Sansa's heads snapped in Ragna's direction, and the young girl all of a sudden found her little boots very fascinating.

"You swiped the Hound's knives? And shaved a cat?" Loki asked.

"She's just lucky it wasn't Alfie. He would not have liked that," Sansa commented.

"Alfie doesn't trust me. He wouldn't fall asleep knowing I was around," Ragna stated and Rhaenar snorted.

"With good reason! You almost drowned him in our tub!" the little boy reminded and Ragna hissed. She slid off Loki's legs and began to chase her brother.

"How was I to know he couldn't swim?!" she shouted. Loki and Sansa laughed while Sandor Clegane just looked tired. He reached out and caught both Frostborn children around their waists. Swinging them into his arms, he turned to their parents and awaited his orders.

"Sandor!" Loki said, wiping his eyes and finally ending his laughter, "you have my permission to teach my daughter the finer facets of knife care. The actual usage of knives... I'll have Bronn instruct her until the Sand Snakes arrive from Dorne." Sandor bowed to Loki and Ragna's little face lit up for joy.

"I love you, Father!" she called before Sandor carried them out the door. He closed it with his foot, leaving Loki and Sansa alone in his study. Loki turned and his hands sought Sansa's waist. He buried his face in her bosom and sighed.

"You knew raising them was going to be an adventure before they were born," Sansa reminded gently as she ran her fingers through his black locks.

"I know," Loki answered, his voice muffled in the fine satin of her bodice. Finally he raised his head and looked up at her. "They're only slightly easier than raising Fenris and Jormungandr for the short period I had them."

"Please tell me you didn't go running through the halls shouting 'Jormungandr'? That name is so hard to bring your tongue around," Sansa said and Loki huffed. He picked her up, causing her to squeak and set her on his desk.

"As a matter of fact, we took to calling him 'Jor' for short. It worked very nicely," Loki said, a teasing smile on his face as he slowly started to raise his wife's skirts.

"You really are evil," Sansa said as she unlaced the jerkin he was wearing. "However, aren't I sitting on that report for the small council?"

"My desk is enchanted. I think it will be fine," Loki responded before he kissed her deeply, his tongue engaging in a fencing match with hers. Sansa put her arms around his neck, her legs instantly wrapping around his hips.

"I can't remember the last time we had 'desk sex'," she commented.

"I was thinking we were overdo myself," Loki retorted before they forgot everything else except each other.