Chapter Text
Loki knew what he was. He was a runt. A prince. A sorcerer. A spoil of war, a war prize. A bargaining chip. And the future consort to Prince Thor, heir of Asgard.
Loki was sitting curled up on his bed and staring out the window one last time before he was to leave for Asgard tomorrow. He was not sure what he felt as he stared outside at the wild and frozen landscape of Jotunheim. He supposed part of him would miss it, it had been his home for centuries, but it wasn't filled with many pleasant memories. His parents and older brothers loved Loki dearly, he knew this, but the people had never accepted him as their prince for the simple fact that Loki was born a runt. Smaller then the average Frost Giants, Loki also had long black hair that reached towards his waist and curled slightly which was uncommon. Frost Giants had no hair, only runts. Loki still had the blue skin, red eyes, and markings on his skin that proved that he was indeed a royal, but no one outside his family would acknowledge him as being a Prince, save for the General and the army and servants to the palace. He was also looked upon as being untrustworthy for having studied magic and more then once Loki had heard whispers saying that he was nothing but dead weight and had nothing to contribute to the realm or the palace, being too small to even consider marrying him off to someone for there was no way he would be able to lie with anyone safely. Until now at least.
His parents hadn't want to agree to this arranged marriage between Loki and Thor, they hadn't wanted for Loki to be sent into enemy territory all on his own. But what choice did they have? This war had been going on since Loki's second brother Byliestr was but merely two centuries old and had continued on until Loki was born a century later. The morale of the Jotuns had gone significantly down after they had heard that their great and powerful king had given birth to a runt, another reason the people never accepted Loki for it was after his birth that the war shifted and it became clear that Asgard would clearly win. It was also soon after Loki's birth, after Laufey had recovered a little, that King Laufey had agreed to meet with Odin the All-Father to talk peace negotiations. It was then that Odin had proposed that in order to truly unite Asgard and Jotunheim and to make sure that war would never break out again between their realms that they arrange a marriage between Loki and Thor, who was a century older then Loki, so that their realms would be united through an heir that Loki would have to produce. Laufey and Farbauti had been understandably unwilling to agree to this marriage seeing as how Loki had only been born a week ago and there was no guarantee that this arranged marriage would even work. But they also knew that as a runt and a third prince Loki would have no true place here on Jotunheim and that his chance of making a place for himself in Asgard as well as finding happiness were far greater there. In the end they had agreed and both Thor and Loki had grown up with the knowledge that they would one day marry, though they have never met.
The wedding was not to take place until after Loki became of age, which was last week. Loki was nervous. Having known about his betrothal to Prince Thor for his entire life since he was old enough to understand it did not make it easier to accept. Especially since, for reasons unknown to him that didn't quite make sense, they had never been allowed to meet. Perhaps Odin and his parents had been too afraid that Thor would back out of the marriage once he saw the Frost Giant runt he would be forced to marry and thought it be too late for him to do so once they were standing at the altar. Loki sighed and turned away from the window, hugging his knees close to his chest. What kind of man was Prince Thor? Was he kind and caring or nothing but a selfish brute? How could Loki be expected to go through with this when he knew nothing about Thor and Thor knew nothing about Loki? This was impossible. And they had to produce an heir and Loki definitely wasn't ready for that. But he had no choice, not really, and he knew that.
There was a knock on his door that Loki ignored but he still heard his door open and shut and his brothers walked in, checking on him.
"Loki," Helblindi was getting ready to chastise him, "you're supposed to be packing. Our dame told you everything had to be packed before nightfall."
"I have magic, it'll be done in no time." Loki answered with his face hidden in his arms. He knew it was childish but he didn't want to see the worry he knew was in his brother's faces. They were never happy about Loki's betrothal to the Prince of Asgard but there was never anything they could do about it and now they had to say goodbye. But Loki kept putting it off, he was only truly happy when he was with his brothers and now he had to leave them.
"Loki?" He heard Byliestr say and then he felt the bed sink as he sat down next to him and put his arm around Loki and he couldn't help but sniff. "Everything will be okay Loki, I know you can't see that now, but it will be."
Loki let out a sad laugh at that, Byliestr was considered the wisest of the brothers, Helblindi the reckless, and Loki the mischievous. The trio of brothers had been known to cause chaos and trouble and Loki was truly going to miss them. They were, at times, very protective of Loki as how he was the youngest and smallest and they were well aware of the animosity the majority of the people, and some of the court, held against their brother. And Loki knew they worried for his safety in Asgard and what possible trouble might be waiting for him there that they couldn't protect him from. No, they had to rely on Thor to protect his new spouse, their little brother. They also knew it was for the good for the realm but that didn't make their concern over Loki lessen or Loki's anxiety to calm down.
"How can you possibly know that?" Loki mumbled, still refusing to look up at his brothers.
"Because, my clever little brother, you are far too smart to not find a place for yourself there in Asgard and you are far too use to whispers behind your back. You'll find a way to survive and to prosper there." Byliestr said and Loki had to admit that hearing that did make him feel slightly better. But...
"But what about Thor? I know nothing about him or what he's like. What if he cruel? What if he hates me? We're supposed to produce an heir together but will we even be able to lie in bed together? What if he doesn't want to bed a Frost Giant, not even a runt?" Loki worried.
"He'll be an idiot if he refuses you and if he hurts you simply let me know and I will kill the halfling for daring to do so." Helblindi snarled and Loki could hear him pacing, his brother truly was worried for him.
"You're not helping Helblindi." Byliestr snapped and then he said to Loki, "He knows the conditions of the peace treaty and knows an heir is required but neither of you have to worry about that yet, it's far too soon to worry about that. What I suggest is you try to get to know Thor and make sure he attempts to get to know you as well. Also don't let yourself be forced into bedding him but if you have no choice try not to fight him so much so it doesn't hurt more."
"You mean I might have to let him rape me!?" Loki finally looked up and his eyes were wide and fearful, he hadn't even thought of that!
"Absolutely not!" Helblindi growled.
"It might be a possibility." Byliestr said and both older brothers glared at each other while Loki now had something new to worry about. "You'll have to consummate the marriage eventually and Thor might not wait for you to be ready Loki. I'm only telling you now so you'll be prepared." Byliestr said in a much more reassuring voice.
"I hate this." Loki whined and got up and headed towards his bathing chamber to lock himself in there and hide. Eventually he heard his brothers leave but he stayed hidden in there. He didn't want to go through this.
"Loki." He heard his dame's voice and Loki stepped out of his bathing chambers to face him knowing he'd be scolded if he didn't. Laufey was sitting on his bed and he looked at the frightened look on his youngest and smallest son. "Your brothers told me that in an attempt to help your fears they may have added a new one."
Loki sniffed but refused to cry as he asked, "Do I have to let Thor rape me after the wedding?"
"I don't think you have to worry about that at all Loki." Laufey patted the spot next to him and Loki reluctantly went to sit next to him and let his dame pull him into a tight hug. "I know you're worried about Thor and whether you'll like him or if he'll like you and I also know that it worries you that neither of you have met yet. But your sire and I have met with Thor and I can promise you Loki, you have nothing to worry about. Prince Thor is not a cruel, mindless, brute and he will do nothing to hurt you or force you to do anything. And you must know that if your sire or I believed he was a danger to you we would not let you go through with this marriage."
"You and Odin already made the peace treaty." Loki pointed out and Laufey sighed.
"We could still break it if we thought Prince Thor wasn't worthy enough for you."
"I'm a runt," Loki said harshly, "I'm worthy of no one."
"Loki-"
"I have to finish packing." Loki interrupted his dame and pulled away from his embrace. He knew it was rude but he couldn't settle down. Not until he knew for sure what awaited him. Until then he couldn't trust Prince Thor not to hurt him. It was just too much trust to place on someone he didn't know but had to marry. What were the odds that they would find love together?
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Loki had fallen into an uneasy sleep once he was done packing and before he knew it he was being woken by his dame who had already sent the servants to prepare the bath for Loki. Loki sank into the water and let his hair be washed while he tried napping in the water. Once he was out and had dried himself off he quickly put on a loincloth and some of his jewelry while Laufey brushed and braided his hair carefully. Once Loki was done and ready he let himself be led out of his now empty rooms and down into the throne room where he would say his goodbyes to his family, he would be traveling to Asgard on his own but they would arrive for the wedding which was to take place in five days.
His parents both held him tightly and whispered reassurances into his hair and Loki did his best not to feel bitter or to cry as he clung to his parents. His brothers then scooped him up into hugs of their own, nearly crushing him, but Loki didn't mind. He will miss his family. And then all too soon it was time to leave towards the site where the Bifrost was to take him away to Asgard. General Thrym walked towards Loki with an even grimmer and sterner look on his face the usual before bowing and saying, "My Prince." He and a few guards were to accompany Loki to the Bifrost site.
Loki wrapped a piece of fur around his shoulders and climbed into the small carriage and lost himself in his thoughts as we was carried closer and closer to the Bifrost site. Once the carriage stopped Loki climbed out and stepped onto the Bifrost site where he was immediately enveloped in a bright and blinding light and felt himself be carried away. When he next opened his eyes he was in a large golden dome and Loki couldn't help but let his jaw drop as he looked at the golden and bright splendor that was Asgard.
"Welcome to Asgard, Third Prince Loki of Jotunheim." Greeted Heimdall, the fame gatekeeper of Asgard. Loki acknowledged him with a nod and continued to look around him at Asgard.
He would miss the ice and snow of Jotunheim.