The Beginning

Odin Borson was the Allfather, protector of the Nine Realms, King of Asgard and the Æsir and he had been for millennia. A king inherits his kingdom from his father. But to become the ruler of the of the surrounding realms, one does not simply inherit that much power; it must be won. And once it is taken, one must do everything they can to hold onto it. By any means necessary. Of course, Odin was strong, a fierce warrior, and imbued with the powerful magic of Asgard, but he was also highly intelligent and cunning, a brilliant negotiator, and a shrewd tactician. If Odin wanted anything at all, it was guaranteed to be his, either by brute force, intimidation, or ruthless bargaining.

As was the case with the loyalty of a nobleman in The King's service, an astute man desperate to raise his status. Viggo Erikson had risen through the ranks of Odin's army very quickly, performing the more undesirable tasks that his King wanted to keep from becoming public knowledge, making himself an inimitable asset, and earning a place at his King's side. Odin called on Viggo when problems needed to be solved quickly, quietly, and permanently. All the while, the good people of Asgard remained blissfully ignorant of what measures were being taken to keep the peace and the realm's good fortune.

Viggo looked every inch a warrior. Tall, broad, battle-worn, and strong. He had blue eyes and chest-length, dark blonde hair that he always kept braided down the middle. Large hands that have choked the life out of many an enemy and a gnarly burn on his forearm from a narrow escape from one of Surtur's minions.

As intimidating as Viggo looked up close, from afar he looked like any other member of Odin's court. Well dressed in the finest Asgardian leather, carrying himself with a dignified poise and speaking with genteel language in a soft voice. He had an icy demeanor, concealing the red-hot rage that bubbled just beneath the surface.

Over centuries, the secrets they shared had made them close allies, and Viggo used that friendship to earn precious gifts from The King. Lands and a title, a beautiful wife of noble birth, and Viggo's most prized gift: the betrothal of his first-born girl to the Crown Prince, Thor, ensuring his daughter be the future Queen of Asgard, and his grandchild the future King.

The Viscount Lord Viggo and his wife, the stunning Lady Agda, welcomed their first baby, a girl they named Finna, in the sleepy predawn hours of a brisk winter day. And, that same day, at the ripe old age of seven hours, tiny Finna was engaged to be married to the toddling Prince Thor of Asgard in a lavish betrothal ceremony followed by a feast that lasted long into the night.

Viggo was at Odin's side years later when he returned home from the war on Jötenheim with the Casket of Ancient Winters as well as a small bundle secured to his chest and hidden under his thick fur cloak. A foundling, the newly born son of the Frost Giant King, Laufey, was left to die alone on a stone altar in a temple because of his unfavorably small size. At least, that was the story he told his Queen, Frigga.

Using magic to alter the baby's appearance to look Asgardian, Odin brought the tiny infant home to be raised, under a solemn vow of secrecy, as his son, a prince of Asgard, with the hopes of one day uniting the two realms in an eventual and permanent peace.

Frigga was instantly enamored with the babe and agreed to raise him as their own. Odin gave him the name Loki. She set to work immediately to create a potion that would allow her to produce milk again and feed the poor child from her own body. It took several weeks, but once she was sure Loki would survive and thrive, she brought Thor in to meet his baby brother.

The meeting went as well as could be expected. Thor showed very little interest in the tiny, shrieking bundle of blankets with a face and asked when his brother would be going back to wherever it was he came from, none too pleased that he was taking away more of his parent's precious attention from him. But as Loki grew, Thor's affection for him grew as well, and they fell into a typical brotherly relationship.

Loki, unknowingly carrying Odin's magic, began wielding seidr at a very young age, resulting in immediate and comprehensive lessons from Frigga to prevent any magical accidents and to ensure that his transformation would hold. Convinced that he was no longer in danger of hurting himself or others and that using his magic would not disrupt his appearance, she allowed him to start schooling with the other children.

The two princes grew up together, playing together and fighting together as brothers do. That is, until adolescence, when the boys began having interests outside of school and sports...

oOXOo

The warm Asgardian sun shone brightly down onto the south lawn of the palace. The sounds of laughter could be heard as a handful of children were chasing each other through the grass, tumbling and playing games.

The Queen was sitting in the shade enjoying tea with a few of her ladies from court, a baby perched on her lap. They were enjoying a pleasant conversation when the peace was broken by the sound of girls shrieking, panic-stricken.

"Snake!" A girl named Willa shrieked, "He has a snake!" The younger girls ran over to where their mothers were sitting with the Queen. They were followed by a tall boy, with a large green serpent in his hands.

"Loki," his mother chastised, "stop scaring the girls."

"Aw, we were just having a bit of fun. Weren't we girls?" Loki said as he came to a stop in front of the Queen. The snake dematerialized with a flash of green light as he bowed to her.

"No!" a few of the little girls exclaimed as they took off running out onto the lawn again.

"Well, at least Eisa thought it was funny. Didn't you, Eisa?" He picked up her chubby arm and gave it a little shake as a wide smile broke across her face, exposing her two freshly erupted bottom teeth. She squealed with delight and made grabby hands at him.

"She wants you to hold her."

He gave her a thin smile and clasped his hands behind his back as he looked down at the baby, her hands and face covered in drool. "That is where I draw the line. I have never held a baby and I do not wish to break that streak anytime soon. I was just passing by on my way to meet Thor and the others for archery lessons."

"I will take her back, Your Majesty." Eisa's mother, the Viscount's wife, Agda, took her from the Queen with a smile. "How are your studies coming along, My Prince?"

"Very well, Lady Agda. I am getting extremely high marks. But I am trying to convince my parents to let me study abroad this season. I hear the girls on Vanaheim are much more generous with their kisses."

All the gathered ladies broke out in titters of laughter, except for the Queen.

"Loki Odinson."

"What!?"

"Your Highness, the tutors here are the finest in the Nine. You will get no better education anywhere else." Lady Agda said as she returned to her seat and gave her baby a rattle to play with.

"I guess that depends on the type of education one is seeking," Loki replied with a mischievous grin on his face.

"Oooh!" The ladies' scandalized laughs were even louder this round.

Frigga bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. "Norns help me. Find your brother and stay out of trouble."

"Of course." He gave his mother a wide smile as he bowed to her. "Good afternoon, Mother. I will see you at dinner. Ladies." He gave the gathered ladies a wink before he walked over to Eisa. "Baby Eisa." He crossed his eyes and blew a raspberry at her. A sound she quickly imitated. Pleased with himself, he took his leave.

"Oh, you have your hands full with that one, Your Majesty."

Lady Agda laughed as she tucked a piece of her deep brown hair behind her ear, "Adolescence is being kind to him. Is he as tall as Thor now?"

"Almost. The doctor predicts that if he keeps growing at this rate, he will surpass him by a few inches."

"Goodness me." One of the ladies exclaimed.

"Tall, smart, and handsome? I am surprised you have not betrothed him yet," another one said.

"We have been considering a few offers." Frigga said, "It will be hard to find someone that will keep him occupied intellectually."

"And physically, from the sounds of it." More titters passed through the group.

"It will take a very special girl to win his heart, Your Majesty," Agda said as Eisa continued to blow raspberries and slap her chubby hands on the table.

Loki started heading in the direction of the archery range and decided to take a shortcut through the equine area when he heard noises coming from the stable where Thor kept his blonde mare. Curious, he snuck in quietly and followed the sounds. When he got to the last stall he was greeted by the sight of his brother's bare ass. His trousers pushed down his thighs and Finna's legs wrapped around his waist.

"Loki!" she shrieked, pushing Thor away and covering her naked body with her discarded dress.

"Norns! Loki what are you doing here?" He fumbled to get his clothes back in their proper place.

A wide smile broke across his face, "We were supposed to meet at the archery range after school. What are you doing here?" He was trying to peer around Thor to get another look at Finna.

"Listen, Loki. You need to forget what you saw here today."

"Forget?!" Loki laughed, "Are you joking?"

"Loki. Please. Anything you want. I will give you anything you want. Just please do not tell anyone."

He was thoughtful for a minute, "Anything I want?"

"Yes! Anything!" Thor held up a finger to him, "If it is in my power to give it to you," he amended.

"Hmmm. I think I should like Finna to uncover herself."

"What!? No!" She yelled.

"What if it had not been me who caught you in here rutting like beasts? I think it is a fair price. Father will have your hide if he finds out and Mother would be gutted. Not to mention what her father would do to you."

"Finna and I are betrothed and in love. We will be doing this all the time when we are married."

"Perhaps, but I am pretty sure you are supposed to finish secondary school before you start making babies with your girlfriend."

"Loki, please. Please, please, please." Thor was begging now. "If you have any love for me, you will please not tell a soul what you saw today."

"It is going to cost you."

"Loki..."

"Ten seconds!" Loki looked to Finna, "Let me see you naked for ten seconds and no one will ever know how you let my brother breed you like a mare in a stable."

"You are such a little creep." She glared at him, her blue eyes full of disgust.

Loki laughed, "That is my price." He crossed his arms over his chest.

Thor gave her an apologetic look.

"You cannot be serious?!"

"It's only a few seconds. I will count them off myself." Thor pleaded with her.

"What if the little shit goes back on his word? My reputation will be ruined, and he will be remembering me naked while he wanks his little prick."

"It is not little!" Loki protested.

"She has a point. How do we know we can trust you?"

"That is the risk you took when you picked a terrible place to hump each other."

"Ugh! You are so crude!"

"Says the girl who was just getting pounded on a bed of straw in a stable. Did the smell of horse shit get you so hot you just couldn't wait?"

"Thor!" She looked at him infuriated. "Do something!"

Loki feigned indifference, inspecting his fingernails. "Our mothers are having tea on the south lawn. If I run fast, I can be back there in one minute." He raised an eyebrow at his brother.

"Or I could break your jaw." Thor grabbed Loki by the back of the neck. "Then you would not be able to tell anyone anything for a very long time."

"Really, Brother?" Loki shrugged out of his grip, "I am not scared of you. Your empty threats do not work on me like they did when I was a kid."

"You are still a kid!"

"And you are a man now? Just because you got your dick wet?" Loki huffed. "You cannot even grow a proper beard."

Thor self-consciously ran his hand over his fine, patchy facial hair. "It is coming in."

Loki looked between the pair, "Do we have a deal?"

"Fine!" Finna yelled as she stood, her dress still clutched tightly to her body, pieces of straw sticking to her blonde hair. "Ten seconds, you little pervert, and you do not breathe a word of this to anyone. Agreed?"

"Agreed." Loki smiled widely.

She steeled herself, took a deep breath, then passed her dress to Thor.

Loki's eyebrows shot up as his gaze drifted up and down her body, "Whoa..."

"...eight, nine, ten!" Thor quickly stood in front of Finna and covered her with her dress. "Now get out of here, Loki!"

"Finna," Loki gave her a little bow, "always a pleasure seeing you. Brother, I think I am going to skip archery this afternoon." He leveled Finna with one final mischievous grin before turning on his heel and running to his bed chamber.

"So...." Thor raised his eyes to her expectantly.

"Ugh! You cannot be serious?!" She slipped her dress back on and started pulling straw out of her hair as she stormed away from him.

"Finna, wait!" he chased after her, "I was just kidding. That is unless you wanted to find somewhere else..."

"Ugh!" she screamed and pushed him away from her.

"Kidding! I was just kidding! Finna! Finna! Come back! I am sorry!"

oOXOo

Loki had kept up his end of the bargain and not told anyone what he had stumbled upon that day. In fact, Thor had enlisted Loki to cover for him on numerous occasions so he and Finna could meet up for romantic interludes. The price for Loki's loyalty increased with each instance and Thor always paid up. Loki never demanded anything material, instead, he earned many favors from his brother, including setting him up with Finna's next youngest sister, Anina, for vigorous make-out sessions that quickly led to his very first handjob.

The younger prince benefited from their arrangement exponentially. Anina bragged to all her friends at school about Loki's kissing talent, earning him a flock of would-be paramours following him about and trying to catch his eye. This did not go unnoticed by the Queen, she made him sit and listen while she and Odin talked endlessly about abstinence, protocol, and decorum. Loki almost laughed aloud when his mother used Thor as an example of how a young gentleman should behave around young ladies.

It was only half a year after that lecture that Loki lost his virginity to a girl in the grade above him while she sat astride him completely nude in a secluded corner of his mother's garden. Despite his young age, he quickly garnered a reputation for his sexual endeavors. He did not shy away from any particular act, experimenting with a myriad of partners, both male and female. Where Thor was a natural-born warrior, Loki, it seemed, was a natural-born lover. He used his words and piercing eyes to seduce and break hearts all throughout the capital. The words of seduction seemed to come to him unimpeded; the verses he strung together had the targets of his affection swooning and willing to follow him wherever he wished with promises of glorious pleasure.

One afternoon, years after he first discovered Thor and Finna in the stable, Loki was sitting with Anina under a tree near the south lawn with his hand down her bodice and his mouth on her neck, when her youngest sister, Eisa, came toddling over to them as fast as her tiny little legs would carry her.

"Eisa!" Anina gasped, surprised to see her baby sister wandering alone. "What are you doing here? Where is Mother?"

"Eh." She pointed a chubby finger in the direction she had just come.

"Norns! What time is it? Mother must be having tea with the Queen while the girls play."

Despite Lord Viggo and Lady Agda's many attempts for a male heir, the Norns saw fit to bless them with a baby girl each time. While he considered it a blessing the first time, as Finna was soon betrothed to Thor, after their third daughter was born, Viggo was adamant he was cursed. Luckily, Agda was a patient and loving mother and did not mind the growing brood of girls, even after their latest baby, Eisa, brought the total up to six. A boorish number of children by Asgardian standards.

"She must have wandered away while Mother was distracted."

"Go ahead and take her back. I will wait here for you," Loki offered.

"I cannot! I am supposed to be on the other side of the palace right now. My piano lesson started at four. You distracted me and made me lose track of the time." She slapped him on the back of his hand.

He gave her a devilish grin, "We were just getting to the good stuff."

"Loki!" she hissed. "We have to get her back up there before my mother comes looking for her."

"Hi, Woki." Eisa hopped in front of Loki and gave him a wide smile.

"You may address me as Your Highness or My Prince, little Eisa." Loki stood and brushed the grass from his clothes.

"Woki!" She giggled loudly and hopped from one foot to the other. "Waki, Woki, Waki, Woki!"

"Shhh! Eisa, please be quiet for Sissy."

"Sissy! Woki!" She squealed, incredibly pleased with herself.

"Loki, please, will you take her back? Please? I do not need my mother asking questions."

Loki looked down at the toddler, her strawberry curls bounced as she danced around in her soft yellow dress. He looked back to Anina, "You will owe me one."

"I will give you two! Just go! I will be eternally grateful, and I will meet you in the orchard after dinner."

"Fair enough." Loki straightened his clothes and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I am looking forward to dessert."

She rolled her eyes and squatted down to Eisa's level, "The Prince is going to take you back to Mother. Be a good girl for His Highness." She kissed her cheek. "Bye-bye."

"Byeee." Eisa waved to her sister as she took off in the opposite direction.

"Come along, child." She reached up and took his outstretched hand as he started walking her in the direction of the lawn where the rest of her sisters would be playing with the other children from court. "You really mustn't wander off, little one." She blew a long raspberry at him. He could not stop the smile that broke across his face; he had taught her that rude noise.

"It would serve you well to be more gracious in the presence of royalty." He looked down at her, she must have gotten bored of walking and started bounding forward with both feet. "Oh, come now, you can jump farther than that. Show your prince how the froggies move."

She giggled as she crouched down and started frog-hopping away from him. "Wibbit...wibbit...wibbit..."

"Oh dear, it seems little Eisa has been transformed into a toad! Whatever shall we do?"

She stood up, "No, me Eeesaa!" she laughed as she patted her chest.

"How right you are. Very good. Let us get you back to your mother."

"Up," she raised her hands to him.

"No, you can walk."

"Up!" she demanded as she stomped her foot.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Up, Woki! Up!"

Bending over to make his face more level with hers, "I will not be ordered around by someone who does not even know how to use a toilet. You walked away from your mother; you can walk back."

Her face turned red, and her bottom lip started quivering.

"Oh no, do not cry." Loki was suddenly terrified. What if someone heard her crying and thought he hurt her? "Do not cry, Eisa. Woki will carry you. I was just teasing."

She immediately broke out into a wide smile and raised her arms to him again.

"Why do I have the feeling I have just been played?" He asked her as he lifted her off the ground. "I must say, I am impressed." She wrapped her arms around his neck and grinned at him.

"Woki," she hugged him tightly, "my Woki."

He patted her back as he took long strides back to the south lawn. Maybe this was better. He could finish this task much quicker now that she was not slowing him down.

When his mother and the other ladies came into view, he could see them all fanned out, searching for the little runaway.

"Here, Lady Agda! Eisa is here." Loki called to her.

She turned abruptly and swayed where she stood. "Oh, thank the Norns..." She covered her heart with both hands.

"Hi, Muma." She waved to her mother as Loki set her down.

"Goodness Eisa, you had us all worried sick." The Queen made her way over to them. "Where did you find her?"

"She was wandering in that direction." Loki motioned behind him. "I think she was headed to the topiary garden."

"Eisa!" Lady Agda exclaimed as she picked her up, "That was very naughty."

"Sissy! Woki!"

Loki patted the top of her head, "Yes, I brought you back to your sisters, you cheeky monkey."

"Woki, Sissy Na Na. My Woki."

Shut up, kid. Loki was glad she could not pronounce Anina, but Na Na was close enough. The Queen narrowed her eyes in his direction.

"Eisa! Will you show the Queen how the froggies move?" Loki said, "She did this for me on our way back up here. It is quite adorable."

Eisa clapped her hands and wiggled out of her mother's arms. She then proceeded to frog-hop away toward the rest of the children.

"Adorable, indeed." Frigga followed Eisa, but not before giving Loki the once over with her motherly gaze.

"Thank you, My Prince." Lady Agda, curtsied, stumbling a little on her way back up.

"It was no trouble. Are you unwell, My Lady?" He held her elbow to steady her.

She looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was listening, "Truth be told, Your Highness, I am expecting again."

"Oh my," Loki could not hide his surprise, "lucky number seven?"

She wrapped her arms around her slim waist, "No one knows yet. So, if you could keep this between us for now."

"Of course, your secret is safe with me. Come, you should sit."

She waved him off, "This will pass momentarily." She took a deep breath to steady herself. "It is much too early to tell, but I think this one will be our boy. This pregnancy is so much different than my others." She closed her eyes and placed her hand on her forehead. "Perhaps I should sit down for a moment."

Loki led her over to the table where tea had been set up. "Should I call for a nurse?"

"You are too sweet, My Prince. I think I will be fine." She patted the back of his hand. "This is all part of becoming a mother. Fathers get to have all the fun; mothers get the aches of pregnancy and the pain of childbirth."

Loki chuckled as he poured her tea, "That hardly seems fair."

"No." She shook her head, "Just remember, when your wife is expecting your heirs, be extra sweet and doting. She is doing all the work."

"Thank you for the advice, Lady Agda, but I do not think I am cut out for fatherhood. Norns willing, I will remain a bachelor my entire life."

"Oh, you are still young. No one your age should be thinking about parenthood." She gave him a sidelong glance, "Or behaving in a way that may bring about parenthood."

Loki nearly choked on his tea, "My parents have already given me that lecture, My Lady."

"Good." She smiled at him, the sparkle coming back to her amber eyes "You are at that age; temptation lurking on the lips of every young maiden you see."

If she only knew what her two oldest daughters were getting up to...

It was then that Eisa came back their way, the Queen close behind her. "Eisa has decided to bring you a bouquet, Agda."

"Oh, thank you, sweetheart." She held her arms out to her daughter.

"No, Muma." She walked past her mother's outstretched arms to where Loki was sitting. "Woki." She handed him the bouquet of dandelions with a big smile on her face.

"Oh... thank you?" He stiffly patted the top of her head as he accepted his token.

"She must have wanted to thank her rescuer."

"Up!" She attempted to crawl up onto his lap.

"Not this again. What did I tell you earlier? You cannot walk around making demands of your prince."

"Up, Woki!" she shrieked.

He rolled his eyes, scooped her up, and set her on his knees. Your sister is always trying to get into my lap too. "There. Are you happy now?"

She scooted so that her back was to his chest. "Nake!" She waved her hands around manically.

"What is she doing?" Loki's eyebrows knitted together as he watched her.

"Nake, Woki! Ssssssssss." She mimicked Loki's hand gestures. "Nake!"

"Oh, snake. You want to see the snake?"

She clapped her hands, "Nake, pees, Woki."

"At least you said please... I think." Loki swirled his hands together in front of her and a large green serpent manifested in his palms.

"Ooooh... nake..." Eisa reached out tentatively with her index finger and gently stroked the snake along its back.

"She seems fearless."

"With five older sisters, she has to be."

"Be careful, Eisa, the King may recruit you for his army." Loki let her pet the snake for a few minutes before he sent it back to where he pulled it from.

"What do you say to the Prince, Eisa?"

She blew a raspberry at him.

"No. Say 'Thank you, My Prince,'" her mother encouraged.

"Dangoo merplish."

"Close enough." The Queen smiled and gave Eisa's cheek a little pinch.

"My Woki, Muma." She patted his arm with her small hand.

"It looks like you have another admirer," Frigga laughed as she took a sip of tea.

Loki pulled a disgusted face. "I prefer my women taller." She giggled and curled up against his arm. "And toilet trained." She blew a raspberry before yawning widely and resting her head against his chest.

Loki finished his tea as he carried on a congenial conversation with his mother and her ladies as the little girl dozed off and on in his lap.

"Could someone please come get this off me? It is starting to drool." Loki raised his hands in surrender as Agda retrieved her daughter.

"Many thanks." Loki stood and smoothed out his tunic. "If you will excuse me, I need to get as far away from here as I can before someone sees me and tells everyone I was babysitting and taking tea like a Lady of court. I think I will go spar at the training grounds."

Frigga rolled her eyes, "We ladies thank you for blessing us with your presence."

Loki placed a kiss on her cheek and bowed, "Until dinner, Mother. Ladies, good evening."

Anina owes me more than two for this. Loki grinned widely as he made his way to the training grounds thinking of all the ways she could repay this favor.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Baby Eisa:

Toddler Eisa:

Viggo:

Agda:

Finna:

Anina: