Can Love Triumph?

Chapter 3

  All of Asgard was gathered in the Great Hall, awaiting the arrival of their prince who was to take the throne. But he was a bit late due to him just returning from one of the other realms. He strolled in and was greeted by Loki who stood in full armor and helmet with a small smile on his face.

   When the two stood side-by-side did Loki speak, "Nervous, brother?"

   Thor bellowed out a laugh, "When have you ever known me to be nervous?"

   "There was that time in Nornheim."

   "That was not nerves, brother. That was the rage of battle. How else could I have forged my way through a hundred warriors and get us out alive?" the blonde rebuked.

   "As I recall, I was the one who veiled is in smoke to ease our escape." Loki argued calmly and received another laugh from his brother.

   "Yes. Some do battle, others just do tricks."

   A servant who had approached with a goblet chuckled at Thor's comment, frustrating Loki to the point that he turned the wine into snakes causing the servant to drop the goblet to the floor.

   The trickster chuckled as the warrior groaned, "Loki, that was just a waste of good wine."

   "Oh it was just a bit of fun." When the servant retreated, a soldier stepped up and offered Thor his helmet, "Nice feathers."

   Thor smirked and turned to his brother, "You don't want to start this again, do you, cow?" he mocked towards the horns of gold on Loki's head.

   "I was being sincere."

   "You are incapable of sincerity."

   "Am I?"

   "Yes."

   Loki smiled genuinely, "I have looked forward to this day as long as you have. My brother, my friend. Sometimes I am envious. But never doubt I love you."

   The warrior was moved by his words and gently patted his face, "Thank you."

  "Now give us a kiss." The sorcerer joked making them both laugh for a moment before becoming serious again.

   "Really, how do I look?" Thor asked.

   Loki looked at his brother for a moment and answered, "Like a king."

   Moments later the celebration began as Thor walked down the expanse of the Great Hall to kneel before Odin's throne. He flashed a wink at his mother who did her best not to smile, and another at Ashryn who stood at his father's side in a regal gown of blue as the crowd cheered.

   The room grew silent as the Allfather stood and banged his javelin staff once, "Thor Odinson, my heir, my firstborn. So long entrusted with the mighty hammer Mjolnir, forged in the heart of a dying star, its power has no equal, as a weapon to destroy, or as a tool to build. 'Tis a fit companion for a king. I have defended Asgard and the lives of the innocent across the Nine Realms from the time of the great beginning. Do you swear to guard the Nine Realms?"

   "I swear."

   "Do you swear to preserve the peace?"

   "I swear."

   "Do you swear to cast aside all selfish ambition and pledge yourself only to the good of the realm?"

   "I swear!"

   "And, do you swear to pledge your loyalty to this woman," Odin reached a hand out to Ashryn who took it and allowed herself to be led down the steps to stand before Thor, "for as long as the Nine Realms shall stand."