His Queen | Book 1

Thirty Nine: Journey's

Thor stands in the empty banquet hall. It held all the signs of festivities and celebration but the food and drink are untouched. With what should be brimming with his friends; it is empty. The afternoon hour passes and Thor was still not crowned prince heir to the throne. The All-Father deemed the Frost Giants a greater problem in dealing with the breach.

The god of thunder stands alone.

He approached the long table. He looked at all the food.

In one quick motion his hands grip the table and he upends all the food. Everything spills across the polished golden floor. The dishes clang to the ground. The cutlery and chalices slide away and all the food lay in a messy disarray.

Thor sighed and seated himself on the steps to the balcony. Hands clenched tight, elbows on his knees, chin to his hands. His brows pulled together. Jaw wound tight. Eyes focused on the floor in front of him.

A lean figure reveals himself behind Thor, stepping out from the pillar. He approached his brother with soft feet to alert him that he was there.

Thor glanced to his brother. "It is unwise to be in my company right now, brother." he warned.

Loki took the first step down. "Who said I was wise?" he asked.

"This was supposed to be my day of triumph." Thor spit. He moved his hands between his knees.

"It will come..." Loki sits himself next to his brother. He wore his casual attire with less shiny gold, no cape or large shoulders. "In time." he assured. He can understand the frustration he was feeling as he experienced this many times before. The let down.

The sound of several people came hurrying into the hall with urgency. The first to enter is Sigyn. She see's the mess and stops. "What happened here?" she looked to her husband, and Thor who kept his eyes straight.

"What's this?!" exclaimed Volstagg, pushing past Princess Sigyn to mourn the food scattered across the floor. Fandral, Hogun and Lady Sif behind him. They weren't very shoaled by this tantrum. Sigyn circled the overturned table and food to make her way around to the brothers.

"If its any consolation, I think you're right." Loki softly said. "About the Frost Giants. About Laufey. Everything. If a few of them could penetrate the defences of Asgard once who's to say they won't try again. Next time with an army."

"Exactly!" Thor exclaimed, bitterly.

"But there is nothing you can do without defying father." Thor gave his brother a look as if he was just hit with a brilliant idea. Thor rose to his feet. "No." Loki said. "No, no, no, no." he stammered with a finger, jumping to his feet. "I know that look."

"This is the only way to ensure the safety of our borders." argued Thor.

"Thor, it's madness."

"Madness?" called Volstagg from across the hall. "What sort of madness."

"Don't encourage them." Sigyn replied to him.

Then Thor announced. "We're going to Jotunheim." Sigyn's eyes turn wide. She remembers once where she and Loki took a secret passage to Jotunheim. The cold. The winter storms and desolation of that land. She remembers hunkering down by a mountain of ice to get a glance at the giants. She remembers the chill.

Volstagg laughed. "What?"

Fandral then scoffed. "This isn't like a journey to Midgard where you summon a little lightening and thunder and the mortals worship you as a god!" he tried to explain to his friend. The fear in his voice is prominent, but he tried to cover it up with his charming voice. "This is Jotunheim." he emphasised.