Chapter Text
The Realm Eternal - in all its eternalness - hadn’t changed a bit since Loki had last laid eyes on it a year ago. Then again, not much in Asgard ever seemed to change on the surface. He had barely put himself to rights after coming through the Bifrost when a swarm of well wishers pushed themselves into his periphery. The Warriors Three and Lady Sif had come to greet Thor, knowing well he would be saddened after having to say farewell to Jane, while Sigyn’s sisters had all come to greet her. Idunn was fresh from the garden in her gardening apron with pruning gloves in the pocket while Nanna was in her healers uniform. Idis would be at her lessons at this time of day, so she was not there by Syn and Snotra immediately began bombarding Sigyn with questions about Midgard similar to the one’s Idis would have asked while Var stood unhappily off to the side. Amid the fray, Loki heard Heimdall’s voice behind him.
“You have developed a newfound appreciation for Midgard as well,” Heimdall said to Loki.
“Yes,” Loki admitted, not wanting to show that Heimdall’s all-seeingness always managed to unnerve him a bit. “Funny, isn’t it, that Thor and I have gained admiration for the realm at the same time Odin seems to have lost all memory of his own.” If Heimdall had any borderline treasonous thoughts about the Allfather’s stance toward Midgard he kept them to himself and only gave Loki a knowing smile. Loki decided not to point this out. “I always find it strange how little Asgard seems to change, no matter how long I’ve been away.
“It is the Realm Eternal,” Heimdall smirked. “Strange, is it not, how a place that isn’t where you are from can easily become your home.” Loki knew Heimdall knew of his own inner battle over where his home actually was. Loki hardly expected to ever be welcomed with open arms in Jotunheim, yet Asgard had never completely. But if Heimdall could keep secrets, Loki decided he could as well.
“I sometimes forget that you aren’t Asgardian,” Loki mentioned to Heimdall. “Is it very hard that your posting here prevents you from going back to Vanaheim?”
“No,” Heimdall admitted. “I came to Asgard because I felt there was nothing left for me in Vanaheim. Besides, I do check in on the place from time to time.”
“Of course,” Loki snorted.
“Well, well, well, as I live and breathe,” Volstagg said, sidling up to Loki. “You look a lot better than the last time you came back from Midgard.”
“I feel much better than I did the last time I came back from Midgard,” Loki admitted.
“Good to hear,” Volstagg said, putting a comforting arm on Loki’s shoulders. “The missus looks good as well. I’m sure she has a horde of new Midgardian friends and admirers.”
“Naturally,” Loki rolled his eyes.
“Loki does as well,” Thor mentioned.
“I’m not surprised,” Fandral snorted. “Loki and Sigyn could charm the spots off a goat if they put their minds to it.”
“You’re one to talk,” Loki snorted. “How many fights with cuckolded lovers have Volstagg and Hogunn had to break up for you since I left? Any less than a dozen and I’d think you’d grow lazy.”
“If they were wise they might let him get pulverized a time or two,” Sif snorted. “Maybe then he’d learn his lesson.”
“Hello, Sif,” Loki said. “Sigyn is back in one piece, but I’m sure you’ll check her over yourself as you can’t take my word at anything.”
“I think her sisters have already done that well enough,” SIf shrugged. “Besides, she tends to get on to me if I’m too harsh with you. It’s almost as if she enjoys your company.”
“Sif!” Sigyn squealed before rushing forward and embracing her friend. “I have so much to tell you!”
“And I you!” Sif laughed.
“You know,” Idunn said to Loki, “I suppose I should be rather cross with you with all of the treats you sneaked Idis from Midgard.”
“They were the least I could do after all the clever and creative cards she sent us,” Loki shrugged. “And it would be a terrible blow to my reputation if I didn’t keep up some kind of rascality, even when in exile.”
“You best be glad Bragi took some of those chocolates as well,” Idunn said. “Otherwise, I might be more cross with you.”
“Hasn’t he written some of his soulful lyrics to win back your favor yet?” Loki asked with a raised brow. Idunn rolled her eyes but smiled in spite of herself.
“I will say that Idis has performed admirably in her lessons and kept her room rather clean since your departure,” Idunn said. “If I had known the prospect of her Aunt Sigyn and Uncle Loki bringing her a present from Midgard in exchange for good behavior would actually work, I might have employed it more often.”
“She’s much smarter than Thor or I,” Loki said. “Even the promise of entertaining goods from throughout the realms never stopped us from nearly burning down the palace or flooding the throne room.”
“We’ve got so many questions about Midgard,” Syn butted in.
“You and Sigyn are going to have to tell us everything,” Snotra agreed.
“In due time,” Idunn cautioned her younger sisters. “I think there is a more pressing appointment with the Allfather that must first be attended to.”
“Right you are Idunn,” Thor agreed. “I suppose we should make our way to our audience before we tell any more of our travels.”
“It appears our escort awaits,” Loki gestured to his brother. Thor spied the contingent of rjóðrhaukar, the Red Hawk guard specially assigned to protect and do battle with the crown prince of Asgard, as well as a contingent of einherjar.
“Apparently, Father wishes this to be a formal occasion,” Thor huffed.
“Well, lead on, fearless brother,” Loki gestured to Thor, “and make sure to order them to not stick any spears in my back this time.”
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Loki had nearly forgotten how ostentatious the main throne room of the palace was in his absence. Nearly.
There were some hard things to forget about the throne room, such as how everything was covered in gold and the looming statues of Buri and Bor that stood like twin pillars toward the entrance. The plan was that each of Asgard’s rulers would have their statue put in succession. One day, Odin’s would stand next to his father and probably Thor’s next to that one when the time came. After making himself king, Buri had put his face everywhere he could in the kingdom, and then upon his own ascension, Bor had tried to one-up his father but putting his face everywhere else. Odin had also remodeled much of the palace and some of the surrounding city in his own image. Loki thought idly that by the time Thor ever came to the throne there would be nowhere left for his visage to appear, if Thor kept up the family tradition of vanity via architecture.
Any pictures and statues of Loki would probably be relegated to the seldom used, barely dusted gallery that held all the images of Odin’s younger brother and Princess Valdís, King Bor’s elder sister. Deep down, Loki always knew he would probably be relegated to the gallery for lesser and embarrassing members of the royal family. Now, Loki just hoped that his portrait wasn’t put anywhere near the creepy one of Great-Aunt Valdís whose eyes seemed to follow you about the room. As children, Thor had convinced him that Great-Aunt Valdís was actually trapped inside the painting and her eyes were actually following you around, hoping someone would realize the truth and break her curse. Which had made Loki really terrified when Great-Aunt Valdís came for a visit about a year later. It had taken all of the motherly tricks in Frigga’s arsenal to convince Loki that the woman before him was in fact his great aunt and not some wizened old crone who had cursed her and taken her place.
Sigyn’s hand slipped into his as they continued their walk toward the throne, surrounded by a retinue of guards, Sigyn’s sisters, and Thor’s friends. While Loki was about ninety percent sure the Allfather wasn’t luring them into a trap where he would suddenly renege his offer of returning Loki’s seiðr and general freedom and then summarily order either Loki’s execution or eternal imprisonment, it was still comforting to know he had Sigyn by his side. Of course, Loki had a feeling his wife’s sudden desire to hang onto him was more about her personal fears than providing him with assurance, but he wasn’t about to let Sigyn think for an instant he held any fear in his heart. That would only give her more fear of her own.
He could now see Frigga and Odin on their thrones. Frigga was grinning brightly, dressed in one of her favorite yellow dresses and radiating general happiness that all of her family were once again under the same roof. Odin, naturally, was every as bit subdued as Frigga appeared ecstatic. Poised on his throne in full regalia, Gungnir gripped firmly in his hands, Odin always seemed to have the same stoic expression whether he was dealing with two farmers arguing over possession of a sheep or his two sons returned from months of absence. At one point in his life, Loki had admired Odin’s ability to stay regal and emotionless in all situations, but now he was beginning to wonder if perhaps a good leader ought to show at least some emotion, especially when ruling on things that others seemed to be rather emotionally invested in.
“Thor,” Odin said, addressing his eldest first as always, “we will speak of matters later.”
“If these ‘matters’ involve my relationship with the Lady Jane and my desire to return to Midgard as one of its protectors, my mind has not and will not be changed,” Thor informed his father. “In this, I am resolute.” Loki wasn’t sure what impressed him more: the fact that Thor had so openly defied the Allfather or that he had used the word “resolute” correctly in a sentence.
“Be that as it may,” Odin gruffed, “we still must speak. Now, as to the greater matter of my secondborn…” Loki was taken aback by the fact that Odin was still publicly acknowledging him as his son. Of course, Loki couldn’t let himself be thrown off for more than a moment and executed a perfectly flourished bow before the throne.
“Allfather,” Loki gestured.
“I have received glowing reports of your behavior on Midgard from all who have seen you there,” Odin said. “I know you have learned a great deal from your time there, and you have exhibited a great compassion and understanding for others, particularly those with which it would seem you have nothing in common. You have shown that you know how to use your unique abilities for the betterment of others, even those to whom you owe no debts.”
“And for this, we are very proud of you,” Frigga interjected.
“Yes,” Odin said, seeming to struggle a bit with the admission.
“You have behaved admirably and just as a true prince of Asgard should,” Frigga praised before glancing at her husband, prompting him to say something.
“The Allmother is correct,” Odin agreed. “You have represented Asgard, the royal family, and yourself well in your time on Midgard.”
“I…” Loki said, searching for one of the sarcastic remarks he would usually inject at this juncture. “... thank you…” Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Sigyn positively beaming beside him.
“I admit that putting your life on the chopping block when others who have behaved similarly to you were not under such threat was perhaps not the best method of handling your situation,” Odin sighed. Loki did his best to try and not look smug at this admission of a mistake while Frigga seemed to openly beam that her husband was at least somewhat apologizing for something. “I suppose it is in a parents’ nature to sometimes respond to extreme behavior with extreme consequences. I may have failed to realize that children are sometimes like young colts in that they will respond to the yanking of their reigns by pulling against them harder. My own father tried the same tactic with me. I should have learned then it would not work.”
“Yes, well,” Loki said, clearing his throat and not sure how to react to some genuine-in-public admissions of fault from Odin.
“But that is not why we are here today,” Odin said, finally standing up from his throne. I wish it to be known across the realms that Loki Odinson has fulfilled the terms of his sentence.” Loki coughed a bit, still not entirely sure how he felt about Odin still insisting on being his father. “As these terms have been met, he shall be restored to his full powers and titles. Henceforth, let none among us say that Loki Odinson has not atoned for his past.” From Gungnir rippled the sparkly green essence of Loki’s seiðr back into his body. Loki let out a sigh, feeling complete for the first time in a while.
“Thank you, Allfather,” Loki said quietly.
“I am due no thanks. Your accomplishments are yours alone,” Odin replied to his son before returning to his full volume to address the court. “I also wish it to be known of our pride in the accomplishments of Princess Sigyn during her tenure in Midgard. Like her husband, she has proven a good and worthy ambassador of our realm and used her gifts and knowledge to benefit others. Her sense of loyalty to her husband during his time of crisis can also be seen as a lesson to us all.”
“Thank you, Allfather,” Sigyn said, blushing as she curtseyed. Loki took Sigyn’s hand into his own and kissed it as she rose from the ground.
“Being reunited with our family is a great time of joy and therefore should be celebrated accordingly,” Odin announced. “Tonight, we shall have a feast celebrating the return of my sons and daughter-in-law.” The crowd let out the general whoops associated with the proclamation of a royal feast. Sigyn happily leaned into her husband.
“A feast in your honor,” Sigyn grinned to him.
“Yours as well,” Loki smiled back.
Odin adjourned the court and then motioned for the members of his family to follow him into the more private antechamber so they may speak alone. Sif and the Warriors Three gave Thor and Loki hopeful glances while Sigyn’s sisters gave her kisses and hugs before returning to what duties they had to complete before the evening feast. Loki himself couldn’t help but notice the odd twist of fate as he walked with Sigyn into the smaller throne room used as a more private audience chamber, typically for family matters when Odin still wanted to keep the impression that he was in charge of things. Usually Loki was the one with a sour expression trying to figure out his punishment while Thor walked into the room jovially as if all would be right. This time, Loki couldn’t help but feel optimistic about what the Allfather wanted while Thor looked very thunderous indeed.
“I hope we can get this over with quickly.” Thor grumbled. “I wanted to be back this afternoon. Now there is to be a feast?”
“You love feasts. And when was the last time you had an entire stag leg to eat yourself?” Loki pointed out. Thor grimaced at him. “At least make an appearance for Mother’s sake. She will worry…”
“Why are the words I normally say coming out of your mouth?” Thor said, finally letting out a hint of a smile.
“I know,” Loki grimaced himself, “it feel strange hearing them said in my voice.”
“Come along boys,” Frigga called her sons.
“Well,” Thor sighed, “into the breach.”
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Sometimes it was hard to tell what was worse: being forced to have an audience with Odin where everyone in the Asgardian court could see though Odin held his tongue in their presence or having a private audience where no one else knew what was going on and Odin could talk freely. His concerns about what Odin wanted to say to them in private were only muted by the fact that Odin and Thor were obviously in a tiff, which would probably take the focus of the meeting. All the classic signs were there. Neither man was looking each other in the eye, both had a grimace on their face whenever they happened to glance upon the other, Odin was holding tightly to Gungnir while Thor was resting his hand on his hammer, and Frigga was glancing between the two in a mixture of concern and a desire to just through in the towel. It was funny how similarly the two men tended to behave, but as Frigga often said, Odin and Thor were cut from the same cloth and therefore could easily rub each other the wrong way.
As always, it was Frigga who did her best to diffuse the situation. She motioned for Odin to sit on his smaller throne and then, to make it to where Odin wasn’t staring down from his throne like a king over his sons, magically waved in a table and chairs for the rest of them to sit. A small little collection of nibbles and drink then appeared on the table with Frigga passing the plates around to make sure everyone got something to eat. Odin and Thor both waved the food off while Sigyn and Frigga chatted happily about some of the Asgardian dishes she had missed and how fun it had been to cook on Midgard. Loki filled his plate up with food. No doubt watching whatever tiff was about to boil over between Odin and Thor would be entertaining. But instead of addressing the obvious tension in the room with Thor, Odin turned to Loki instead.
“Well, Loki, now that you have returned to Asgard, what are your next steps?” Odin asked.
“Oh, I do hope you will stay a while,” Frigga said, placing her hand on her son’s arm.
“We will,” Loki said. “After all, there is much we have to catch up on.”
“Then afterwards?” Odin prompted.
“We are planning to take some time to visit with Sigyn’s family,” Loki said, “first in Niðavellir and then in Vanaheim.”
“I had thought I could go to Folkvangr while Loki could head on to my grandfather’s court,” Sigyn suggested.
“Yes, that would probably be best,” Odin agreed. “Freyja has been in one of her moods again. Well, she's been in one of her moods ever since I’ve known her…”
“Odin,” Frigga cautioned.
“It’s the truth,” Odin shrugged before turning back to his son. “I’m sure I can cough up some kind of diplomatic excuse to help you avoid Folkvangr. I hear your cousin Yngvi is getting close to his graduation and the chancery is working on some project. Perhaps Loki could be sent there as a consultant.”
“Oh, they do love him there,” Frigga smiled.
“I’m sure only because you were their greatest pupil,” Loki replied to his mother with a grin.
“I have missed your flattery,” Frigga laughed.
“It isn’t flattery if it’s true,” Loki replied.
“I think some traveling would be good for you and Sigyn both,” Odin said. “I must admit, I don’t think I have been putting your skills to their full and best usage, and perhaps my unwillingness to let you showcase your talents is why you have often manifested this talents in… other ways…”
“You mean troublesome ways,” Loki corrected.
“Yes, perhaps,” Odin acquiesced. “In your absence, your mother has helped me see how not encouraging you to use your gifts to their full, proper potential may have been harmful to all of us. In truth, I suppose a part of me has held both you and Thor back because it is easier to protect ones children when they have a limited range. But you cannot keep things chained and expect them to flourish.”
“I’m sure hiding my true identity fits somewhere into that as well,” Loki huffed. Odin let out a long sigh and briefly massaged his temples.
“I thought, in my foolishness, what I was doing was right because it was protecting you,” Odin said.
“And so you told me all of those terrible stories about how evil and nasty frost giants are to protect me?” Loki said.
“Your skill with seiðr was advancing rapidly and I feared it would only be a short time before you drew on that natural ability,” Odin admitted. “And in my arrogance and fear, I thought that if I made you fear such things it would prevent you from accessing them. I also convinced your mother this would be the best course of action. What if you had accidentally revealed your true form in a place where we couldn’t protect you? Among people who would hurt you? And then, once we were made fully aware - beyond a doubt - that you were Laufey’s son there was renewed fear… that he might come for you and…”
“...and kill me,” Loki surmised.
“You were found in the temple,” Odin said. “It is a Jotnar custom that children who are seen as inferior are taken into the mountains and exposed, left to die. But the royal family and those in great power do not wish others to know they have born inferior children. It is a sign of weakness, a sign that they can be overpowered. So they often have them spirited away to the temples for others to do their dirty work. And how could I leave a helpless child to die?”
“As you slaughtered his people?” Loki pointed out.
“Not children. Not innocents. Not anyone who did not raise a weapon in kind,” Odin shook his head. “Besides, it seemed like the Nornir themselves had planned it. I had a wife who had lost a child and here was a child that had no parents. And a very talented one who was already able to shapeshift at a few hours old. It was like you were Frigga’s son already. And well… you were…”
“What your father is trying to say is that you were an adorable baby,” Frigga said. “Cheerful and sweet. Hardly ever cried. Now, Thor could throw temper tantrums that could shake Yggdrasil, but you Loki were always my sweet boy.”
“Funny how much that’s changed,” Thor smirked. Loki kicked him under the table and Frigga rolled her eyes.
“Your mother is right,” Odin admitted to Loki. “You were a sweet child. Always eager to be held, always ready for affection. And very clever, too. Once you could talk it seemed you were always asking questions, always hunting for knowledge. Even from an early age you had the ability to ask questions that befuddled me, pose questions I had never thought of. My mother was probably the only one who truly had you pegged. Even though you were so young, she told me that it would be no use keeping secrets from you. That you would find them out anyway.”
“Allmother Bestla always had a good sense of people,” Frigga sighed fondly.
“Well, I suppose we should give you both some time to unpack and rest before the festivities tonight,” Odin said, standing up from the table.
“Wait,” Thor said, standing up angrily. “I thought we were going to talk about Jane and…”
“We can address those things tomorrow,” Odin said, waving Thor off.
“But…” Thor began.
“We are welcoming Loki and Sigyn home this evening and the end of his sentence,” Odin said. “I think it would best to leave matters that might seem unpleasant until afterwards. No need in casting a cloud over the festivities. Now, I believe I have some troops to inspect. Frigga, my love, I will see you for luncheon.” Odin made a speedy retreat out of the room, leaving Thor flabbergasted and angry.
“I think that’s the first time in my entire life that he’s used me as an excuse to get out of talking with Thor,” Loki said to no one in particular. “Oh, it’s been the the other way around several times…”
“Mother, is he under some kind of enchantment?” Thor asked, not sure what to make of the recent turn of events.
“In a manner of speaking,” Frigga shrugged. “I may have threatened severe punishment as well as my own withdrawal to Vanaheim for the foreseeable future if he didn’t allow at least one day and night to pass without a fight with either of his sons. After all, Thor, we do want to celebrate the end of Loki’s sentence properly, without any family fights. I’m sure you can set aside your issues with your Father for one evening so we can have a nice family event. For Loki. And for me.”
“Alright, Mother,” Thor sighed, bending down and kissing her check. He moved to walk away but Frigga quickly wrapped her arm around his.
“Now,” Frigga said, “you are going to escort me to your rooms where I will show you the damage caused by your recent lack of care for your chambers and together, we will devise a plan to ensure your quarters stay clean in the future.”
“Yes, Mother,” Thor sighed as they exited the room.
“Well, what do you make of that?” Sigyn asked her husband once they were the only two left in the room.
“I would agree with Thor’s assessment that Odin is bewitched,” Loki admitted, “save for one thing. I am the only person who would even attempt to enchant him to be so kind to me, and I know I have not placed any such spell on him.”
“Loki,” Sigyn sighed, “perhaps he is trying to change his ways. After all, he’s had to live without both of his sons for several months and the threat of having to live without your mother as well would definitely break him.
“I suppose,” Loki shrugged.
“Come, husband,” Sigyn laughed. “We have unpacking to do.”
Upon returning to their rooms, Loki decided his first exercise of his newly restored seiðr should be unpacking the trunk, which allowed Sigyn to take Fen out into their little garden area and play a rousing game of fetch with him. By the time Loki had finished the unpacking, inspected the rooms, and done a few bits of housekeeping work, Sigyn had thoroughly exhausted Fenrir who then took to lazing on his pillow in the parlor chamber. Their rooms set to rights and having a few hours to themselves until their required appearance that evening, Loki then decided to do what he did best and proceeded to seduce his wife on every possible surface of their shared chambers. After all, it had been a while since they had a chance to fully utilize their chambers in such a way.
Now, spent and surrounded in silken sheets with Fen snoring slightly in the foreroom and Sigyn naked and cuddled up to his side, occasionally emitting snores of her own, Loki finally felt at peace for the first time in a long while. He knew there were still some in Asgard who hadn’t forgiven him for what he had done, who might never forgive him for what he had done. And he knew that there were some issues with Odin that would need to be worked out, perhaps some that never would work out. But now that he had set foot back on Asgard, both his return and his experience in Midgard had taught Loki some lessons he hadn’t imagined before and now, there were certain things he was more sure of than ever.
He knew that, as loathe as he still was to admit it sometimes, that Asgard was his home and there were those who work hard to ensure that he felt welcome there. And he knew he had a family in Sigyn, Frigga, Thor and even Odin - though the acceptance of Odin has part of his family came with the knowledge that family members didn’t always get along or even have like each other but still felt a bond of love that surpassed their differences. It was enough to make him feel more stable. Loki found himself, for the first time in a while, looking forward to whatever adventures next awaited him and life. And he knew, no matter what they were, he would have the woman currently at his side to share them with.