Loki: Storm of Swords

Chapter 94 - Happy Contemplations

Loki leaned against a pillar in the banquet hall and watched as Helbindi and Daenerys drank to their alliance. Thor had to go back with Odin as the All-Father had been in a sour mood, and the straw that broke the camel's back was Hogun informing him that Vanaheim now had an alliance with Dorne through his upcoming political marriage to Tyene Sand, soon to be Martell. Loki had taken Thor aside and the two men had looked at each other. 

"I'm glad that you summoned me. This whole experience has been something I will speak of fondly for ages to come," Thor admitted. Loki grinned a little as he put his back against the wall and folded his arms across his chest. 

"Glad to know you enjoyed the killing, violence, chaos, and potential danger to the royal family of Westeros," Loki commented with a hint of a smile on his face. Thor shook his head and stepped up to Loki, placing a hand on his arm and looking him in the eyes. 

"It was not the violence or anything of that ilk. It was spending time here and seeing you in your element. I loved meeting your wife and your children. Loki, I know that was most certainly not a very good elder brother to you. But... I would like to think I can be a good friend to you," Thor suggested and Loki felt a piece of his heart melt. While there was that small portion of him that wanted to stay angry at Thor, he could not hate the Golden Prince of Asgard.

"I would like to think that as well, Thor. Being enemies is rather tiring, and I find myself exhausted in my old age," Loki stated, and Thor threw back his head, laughing.

"Your old age?! More like too much sex with your beautiful-!"

"Cease to speak, or you will cease to exist," Loki cut in quickly. Thor still chuckled before he pulled Loki into his embrace. Loki paused for an instant before wrapping his arms around his friend.

"I don't know if Rhaenar and Ragna will remember me, but-" Thor started to say before Loki interrupted him again.

"How could they forget you?"

"But, if they might... please remind them of me? I entertain the thought that I might be like an uncle to them," Thor informed Loki. 

"An uncle? Hmmm... I'll have to run that by them. You'll definitely need Ragna's stamp of approval," Loki said and Thor rolled his eyes.

"I can't tell if she's more like you or Sansa with how headstrong and difficult to please she is," he pointed out. 

"We shall find out. Sansa says me and I say her. We agree to disagree," Loki responded. That was when Odin banged Gungnir on the ground to get Thor's attention. The two men parted but Thor clasped Loki's hands in his.

"Know that I always love you and will forever call you brother," Thor told him.

"Know that I think that of you and will bear some sentiment born of several centuries of watching your back for you," Loki rejoined. Thor smiled and a tear appeared in the corner of his eye. "Oh! Don't cry, you buffoon! Don't want to look weak in front of the All-Father," Loki scolded.

"I'll look however I want!" Thor retorted before he hugged Loki once more and left to return to Asgard. 

That was the previous day when Loki had said goodbye to Thor. Volstagg had been the only one to go with him. Fandral would stay at High Garden till after Loras' funeral, Sif wanted to spend some more time with the children and Sansa before going (as well as Sandor [Loki was not an idiot]), and Hogun had to finalize some minute details with Doran and Oberyn Martell with regards to his alliance to Dorne and his marriage to Tyene. Even though Loki knew he would enjoy the peace and quiet when things settled down again, he realized that he would miss Thor, Sif, and the Warriors Three. Even though the latter four had not really been a sentimental attachment, their presence over the last several weeks had been rather a comfort to him. And Thor... Loki smiled as he contemplated meeting and working with his former brother. Fighting alongside him. Showing him the world he had helped to forge. Having him see his family. Loki looked to where Sansa was standing with Arya, Daenerys and Missandei. They stopped chatting when Helbindi walked up and presented his wife. Seeing her out of her furs and thick robes, Loki admitted that his brother had also picked a stunner. She had the typical willowy grace of the elven race, pale golden hair, and her silvery blue eyes. 

"Your graces, allow me to introduce my wife, Queen Opal of Jotunheim, daughter of King Elgrid of Alfheim."

"Your graces," Queen Opal said with a slight curtsy.

"An elf! Please forgive my awe, your grace," Daenerys apologized as she admired the pointy ears, "We speak of your kind in myths and I never imagined to see an elf in the flesh." Opal smiled at Daenerys' wonder.

"And I would have never thought I would see dragons again. Dragons never existed on Alfheim and were hunted into extinction on Asgard, Vanaheim, Muspelhiem, and Jotunheim. Westeros is the only place where they are allowed to live and roam free," Opal responded. Loki just observed Sansa as she studied Opal up and down before looking at Helbindi. The King of Jotunheim grinned at his sister-in-law and walked over to her, whispering something in her ear. Sansa laughed. If Loki had not been so certain in his position with his wife, and Helbindi's devotion to his own bride, he would have been angered. However, he smiled as he watched his younger brother converse with the woman he loved and he sighed.  It was the metallic clatter of cups that made Loki glance down and see the King of Westeros standing before him. Loki stopped leaning against the pillar and uncrossed his arms. 

"Ah! The king comes to speak to the former disgraced. What to say... what to say indeed," Loki teased mildly.

"Yes, well... ahem! Thought we might as well patch things up," Tyrion responded.

"As eloquent as ever," Loki pointed out as he took the second cup and placed the golden rim to his lips.

"I find it very difficult... to do this. Daenerys pushed me and Jon made some valid points," the dwarf admitted. Loki raised his eyebrow and gave him another look. "He said that we are likely to be living very closely for the next several decades. You are now a member of the royal family by blood. As is Jon. Daenerys wants an official ceremony to acknowledge your new position. Loki-"

"Tyrion," the Hand interrupted, looking down at the dwarf. "I know this is awkward for the both of us and maybe it's for the better if we don't try to force it. Maybe... I did do wrong in having your brother executed, but the difference between you and I is that I've seen war. I've seen more war than anybody else in this realm combined. I had seen men in his position before. Your brother was living on borrowed time," Loki explained and Tyrion looked up at him. "He was slated for execution, the Starks just needed a reason; and I gave them one."

"They already had one. My brother killed the son of Rickard Karstark. You just gave them a good public excuse for killing him," Tyrion rejoined. The dwarf saw Loki's face, saw how he did not bat an eyelash or show any remorse. He was not expecting it. But, what he definitely did not expect was for Loki to kneel down in front of him and pull him into his embrace. 

"I am sorry I didn't speak to you about it, Tyrion. I just felt it would harm our friendship and I didn't want to lose that. I can count on one hand how many friends I have," Loki admitted.

"What about family?" Tyrion queried. Loki pulled away from him and there was a genuine smile on his face. 

"I've got plenty of that. Didn't you hear? It recently got extended," Loki answered as he fondly looked at Daenerys, Helbindi, and Jon. Tyrion saw the direction of his gaze and nodded his head.

"Indeed. And it keeps on growing. Rhaenar and Ragna must be very excited about the news," the dwarf said.

"Well, Ragna's actually more excited about having Fenris around than anything else. Says he'll be her mount when she grows up," Loki commented, and Tyrion raised an eyebrow.

"She wants to ride a wolf?"

"I ride a dragon."

"Touche." The two men stood there, sipping their wine and watching the feast take place around them. 

"You know, Ragna also told me something else that had me wondering," Loki said before he leaned down and whispered something in Tyrion's ear. The dwarf blinked once, twice, his mouth dropped open, and he glanced up at Loki in shock. The Hand nodded his head to confirm whatever it was he had just told Tyrion.

"Your child is insane!"

"Eh, maybe she does takes after me more. But, her story got me thinking. I think it's time for the old lion to be put down," Loki said and Tyrion's mouth crimped up a little.

"Would you do the honors?" he posed, and Loki shook his head.

"I would be stealing from you. That right is yours and yours alone."