Chapter 6 - Yule with Loki
Loki was having the time of his life, whilst Thor was trapped dealing with his princely duties, Kal was with their mother and both of his parents occupied, Loki was free.
Now officially he was supposed to be the royal host of the Alfheim delegations, which consisted of the Light Elves of that realm, but in reality, was spending most of his time planning his usual Yuletide fun. Which this year he was aided in by said guests, well namely the younger generation that had the same mischievous side as him.
Sneaking out of the party was the easy part he just suggested to the Light Elves a tour around the royal gardens and being the nature lovers that they were had readily agreed. And once outside he had cast a fairly impressive illusion of himself, to lead the elder Alfheim guests on a long-winded tour.
The only thing to decide now was where to start, he had three primary targets every year that he always had to go after namely, his brother Thor, the Palace Staff, and then his parent's Guests.
Thinking for a few moments he decided that his first target would be Thor, quickly gesturing to his mischievous new acquaintances to follow him, they quietly slipped back inside the feasting hall Sessrúmnir.
He cast a minor illusion spell on himself, and his acolytes then proceeded to weave his way through the hall to the Sovereign delegation.
'Simple enough to have a bit of fun just get him to make a fool of himself or accidentally insult one of the pompous golden idiots' Loki thought to himself with a sly grin.
However, his grin quickly turned to a frown when he noticed that Thor was not with his intended guests, he swiftly checked the area to make sure he had not missed his brother, but sure enough, there was no Thor to be found.
'Huh, okay maybe I don't need to do anything Thor is already on his way to being in trouble, the foolish oaf abandoning his guests.' He was about to scurry off to find some other fun when he heard the High Priestess speak.
"Well, I have no idea what, The Gathering of the Cups Ceremony is, but if the crown Prince has to attend it must be important." The High Priestess spoke haughtily, her nose raised into the air.
Loki's sly grin returned, 'The Gathering of the Cups Ceremony brother really? My oh my, I really should teach you to lie better.'
Casting a small illusion spell, he created the voice of a Shi'ar talking just loud enough for the High Priestess to hear.
"OH yes it will be wonderful to attend The Gathering of the Cups Ceremony it is one of their most important ceremonies. AND they only invite the true elites of cosmos to witness it."
Loki smiled as he watched the High Priestess his eyes widened and her head snap to where she believed she heard the voice. Quickly enough Loki knew his ploy had worked.
"HOW DARE THEY" The High Priestess hissed. "Someone find Queen Frigga and demand that we be allowed attend. NO one screws with the Sovereign." She commanded causing several servants to bow their heads and hurriedly rush off.
Watching the servants hurry off gave Loki another idea and quickly turned to his Light Elves followers that were grinning at his mischief. He gathered them together and quickly gave them instructions on what to do.
He stood back and watched in his pride as one of his greatest pranks started to come into existence. His new friends quickly created over 2 dozen illusions around the room all discussing one thing, The Gathering of the Cups Ceremony. And sure, enough he watched as each delegation heard about the fake ceremony, then quickly sent off a servant to find his mother to demand to be allowed to observe it.
'Ah life is good' Loki thought to himself and was about to again move on from his brother when he suddenly spotted Thor.
His brother was being dragged off by the hand by a very pretty young maiden around their age with straight black hair and a crimson dress with silver highlights. It took him a moment, but he recognised her as the girl Thor had fought at that stupid fighting field.
Oh, he couldn't resist this, he franticly made his way over to where the two was standing, just off to the side of the main groups that were occupying the hall.
Now he couldn't hear what they were saying but the girl made a clear glance over towards a group of Asgardian nobles, which Loki could tell she didn't want to overhear the conversation.
'A father, or older brother perhaps. Oh yes, I could use that maybe spread a rumour or whisper behind them that Thor has made off with a girl and when they notice she's gone, the fun can start' Loki began to scheme in his head.
Whilst he was figuring what exactly he was going to say or whisper, the Light Elves youth that was helping him returned and quickly asked what was happening.
Loki briefly explained the situation and quickly felt he had been born into the wrong people as no sooner had he explained than a dozen ideas were being floated around about to have fun at Thor's expense. Even Loki was impressed by their scheming and the deviousness of their mind.
Suddenly one tapped his shoulder and pointed to a spot just at the back of the Asgardians Nobles that were occupied by the lower nobles of Asgard. Loki quickly spotted what his new friend was pointing at, it was a stunning blonde girl, in a strapless emerald, green dress.
At first, he was transfixed by her, thinking that his friend was just pointing her out because of her looks but quickly overcame that as he realised that the girl had a deep frown on her face.
She kept glancing around the room and every time she spotted an Asgardian maiden speaking to a boy she sneered.
Loki recognised that sneer immediately for what it was, blatant jealousy mixed with resentment.
Examining the girl closer, Loki saw her dress was in fact cheap and the little jewellery she wore was second-hand. The lowest rung of the aristocracy Loki guessed, either a merchant's daughter whose father purchased a noble title or some very minor lord no one had heard of or cared about.
Unlike the girl Thor was talking to, the black-haired girl's whose dress was immaculate, brand new, tailored and although the girl clearly didn't like them her jewellery too was very expensive and new. Loki would have guessed that whoever she was the girl's family was somebody important.
Loki immediately knew what he was going to do gesturing to his new friends to watch, he cast another illusion spell this time on himself and made himself look like a minor noble's son. He quietly walked up to the girl and whilst doing so noticed that she had a small red-haired girl almost clinging to her.
"Excuse me miss?" Loki asked, causing the girl to face her.
"It's LADY. Lady Amora and who are you?" Amora's voice was a little harsh and filled with pride.
"Oh, nobody important but my friend over there asked if you could join them for a talk." Loki pointed to where Thor was currently standing talking to the black-haired girl.
Amora's eyes narrowed almost like a tiger readying itself to stalk and hunt its prey.
"You mean the tall blonde boy speaking with Sif" She spat out.
"Oh, is that her name. She seems a little plain in all honesty and my friend needs someone to go over and get rid of her he doesn't want to be rude." Loki smiled as he could see his plan working.
"Well, you have a good eye, Sif is the blandest girl alive, you know she goes around swinging swords," Amora whispered almost conspiratorially to Loki.
"NO really, a noble girl," Loki said in fake disbelief causing Amora to nod her head fanatically almost in pure exultation that someone was also disliking this Sif girl.
"Oh yeah, but nobody believes me or thinks less of her. NO, the Lady Sif Daughter of Ullr from the Plains of Ida can do no wrong." Amora spoke mockingly.
'Clearly, the two have history' Loki thought, and before he could do anything else to encourage her, the girl was already off with the little red-haired girl trailing behind her.
Loki saw that Sif was smiling broadly at something Thor had just said which he believed must have been the last push Amora needed to go over. Loki quickly dropped his illusion and scampered over to his new friends to watch the results.
It did not take long, whilst he could not hear the group converse Loki was having pure joy from the stupid look that was plastered on his brother's face. Frist being enamoured with Amora, causing Sif to frown, to Thor then becoming flustered and looking helpless whilst he was clearly stuck between the two girls.
Loki was just deciding whether he should now get Sif's male relative involved to put the icing on the cake but had no need to when he saw Kal almost appear at their elder brother's side and began talking to the fathered group.
Whatever Kal was saying Loki wished he could hear, as first Sif went red, then Thor both blushing and then Thor went pale as he began to scramble toward the Sovereign delegation, he had abandoned to go flirt.
Thor then turned back before he left the group fully and asked Kal something, whose response caused Thor to make a face that Loki was very aware of, and without missing a beat, he cast a quick spell to amplify Thor's voice.
" ….. ah Skitr!" rang clear across the whole of Sessrúmnir.
Causing every single eye in the hall to turn towards the source of the Asgardian curse and resulting in Thor going deathly pale, whilst muttering something Loki knew had to be along the lines of, Dammit LOKI.
The hall was silent for a moment before Frigga quickly moved forward and let out a very loud, very diplomatic chuckle. Which was promptly taken up by the nearby Asgardian nobles who followed their Queens lead to cover for their prince.
"My son, as silvered tongued as my husband sometimes." She joked offering a polite laugh.
Whilst, not the best recovery, it did the trick and caused the gathered guests to start laughing some out of genuine humour but most out of diplomatic niceties.
Frigga quickly wrapped an arm around Thor with an almost vice-like grip that even caused Loki to flinch, as she began pushing him back towards the Sovereign Delegation. Evidently, going to smooth out relations with the Sovereign and make sure Thor did his duty.
As she came nearer but not close enough to spot him, he heard her harshly whisper to Thor "Where is your brother?"
Loki was about to slip out when he spotted Kal who was trailing behind Frigga stop a moment directly look at him and wave.
He also had a panic attack there and then but a quick glance at their mother showed she was too busy dealing with Thor to notice Kal had spotted him. Breathing a sigh of relief he gave his brother a quick wink and wave, then bolted off.
'Thor down, two to go.' He smirked as he gathered his Light Elven acolytes.
Who next?
Next would be the Staff of the Royal Palace.
Loki didn't really have anything against the staff, they were just mere servants so mostly beneath his notice, but they were just fun to play tricks on.
It was just a question of which group this year or more accurately which group did he want to start with or focus on to make up for lack of effort for most of the year.
'Decisions, decisions' Loki hummed to himself, 'Ah yes, let's start with the guards this year.'
Having decided on his next target Loki was quick to begin his plan there was a number of ways he could have fun with the guards, he just had to settle on which one would be the most appropriate for the current setting.
He quickly decided that a bit of illusionary play would work best and started informing his new friends as to his plan and the people they should impersonate.
In all, it was quite a simple bit of fun, that he had done numerous times throughout his life.
Step one, merely impersonate a few guard captains, his mother or General Tyr, Step Two, issue conflicting and amusing orders, and Step Three, sit back and watch the chaos unfold.
Stretching his arms out before him, he began to get himself in the mindset of his first impersonation, that of General Tyr. A shimmering of green light flittered over Loki removing the pre-adolescent child with a towering battle-scarred one-handed General in immaculate golden armour.
The now concealed Loki began to walk forward with confidence doing his best to get his stride just right and hold his severed arm just as Tyr always did slightly up, close to his chest almost as if it was in an invisible sling.
As he walked a few guards noticed him and immediately tried to straighten themselves up having been lax in their duties due to it being Yule and the majority of their number being off with Odin for the wild hunt.
"STRAIGHTEN UP THERE!" Loki growled doing his best to imitate the way Tyr always growled at Loki and his brothers when they did something wrong.
He had to resist the grin that threatened to appear on his face as a number of the guards that heard him almost fell over trying to correct themselves. One in particular who had been so relaxed he had removed his helmet, and at Loki's command had tried to place the thing back on only for it to be back to front.
The now blinded guard quickly stumbled where he was and fell over causing him to crash into the guard standing next to him. Loki swiftly approached the collapsed pair and as both looked up at him he did his best to glare as Tyr always did.
"Um happy Yule sir?" spoke the guard that had just removed his incorrectly donned helmet.
"Get up and I want you to give me 1000 LAPS AROUND THE PALACE NOW!" Loki commanded.
The result was instantaneous the two collapsed guards sprang up with the skill of trained acrobats and sprinted off faster than Loki could think. However, his fun was not done yet he quickly rounded on the other nearby guards.
"WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT GO GET THE CUPS FOR THE CEREMONY!" Loki's command was instantly heeded.
Whilst he knew no one understood the order, none were brave enough to challenge their General and ask him to explain what he wanted. They did what any well-trained guard or soldier does, they obeyed rushing off in all directions to gather cups.
Many raced off towards the kitchens and he smirked wishing he could observe Andhrímnir the head servant of the kitchen when a dozen guards started raiding his kitchens for any cups they could get their hands on.
He decided his next location had to be the Palace barracks as any remaining Einherjar on Asgard not on duty would be spending their first night of Yule within its walls to celebrate with their comrades before heading home to their families.
As he rounded the corridor his blood almost froze as fast approaching was the actual General Tyr himself in his splendid armour. However, fortunately for Loki, the general had not yet noticed him his head was buried in a report as he walked.
Without missing a beat, Loki quickly changed his illusion gone was armour and battle scars instead there was high cheekbones, an elegant gown and blonde braided hair, as the Queen of Asgard marched down the hall.
"General Tyr" Loki addressed the general in the same manner his mother always did respectful, friendly yet still formally.
"My queen, forgive I did not see you there" Tyr stumbled into a quick bow stunned by his monarch's sudden appearance.
"It is quite alright; you have much on your mind given the season and that my husband is off on the annual hunt." Frigga gave an appreciative smile to the general, whose chest puffed up at the compliment.
"Indeed, I do your Majesty." Tyr let out a sigh and gave 'Frigga' an appreciative smile, but his burrow quickly furrowed, "Um your Majesty what are you doing here should you not be with our guests?"
"I have managed to slip out for a moment, and I was in fact looking for you?" Loki give a quick glance around pretending as if he was worried about being overheard. "It is about Loki."
Tyr visibly repressed a groan "What has the boy down now?"
Most people would have had to suppress discontentment at being the source of such a response, but Loki was not most people, he was suppressing a full-on grin and laugh of jubilation. Taking a quick moment to recompose himself he continued on pretending to be his concerned mother.
"Well, it appears he and some of the Alfheim children have managed to slip out of the Palace. I believe they are heading into Medina; I would have you personally bring him back." Loki commanded with the concern he knew his mother have.
This time Tyr actually groaned he knew Medina, the lower city on Asgard well, it was a place all soldiers knew well and all commanders had problems with. It was filled with pubs, taverns and other business of ill repute, a place a General often had reports about and definitely a place Loki would run off to.
"I'll bring the boy back before he causes trouble, my Queen. Though, I swear the boy is only just turned 10, fates preserve us when he gets older if this keeps up. He'll cause Ragnarök I just know it." Tyr offered as he quickly departed to gather a few men and attempt to drag Loki back.
"Be careful General and good luck," Loki called out and once the general was out of sight swiftly retook Tyr's form.
The real Loki continued onto his original destination a wide grin forming on his face that he let freely show as there was not a soul yet to observe him. He was sure that Tyr would quickly figure out that he had been duped, but by that time Loki would have had his fun and come up with an alibi as he always does.
It took him a while, but he finally reached the Palace barracks and turned his smile into a grimace and fixed the best glare he could. Mentally preparing himself for his next role which if played right would help cumulate all his actions together as well as the actions of his newfound eleven friends.
He pushed up the door and had to use a slight bit of magic to them fly open hard enough to bang as he knew Tyr would do, but he was physically unable to perform. "RIGHT, YOU BOWLEGGED SISSY'S WHY ARE YOU NOT UP THERE RIGHT NOW!"
Loki's actions had the desired effect again it caused an avalanche of motion to occur more than Loki had truly been expecting. He suspected it was a result that some of the guards present were down here shirking off their duties, inside of being outside in the freezing cold.
He watched as the Palace warriors who had been left behind on Asgard sprung into action, whilst they consisted of men either too young or too old for the Wild Hunt they still moved like a well-oiled machine. Complex ornate armour slipped on like with the ease of a slipper, weapons flew off racks and landed expertly into waiting hands, and the men so were soon in formation ready to march off at a moment's notice.
"Uh, sir, what exactly are your orders?" Loki turned to look at the soldier who had asked the question.
The soldier in question was in reality an officer, a very junior and very young one Loki guessed judging by the hesitation in the man's voice, his youthful appearance and the fact he had been left on Asgard.
"Oh, by Odin's beard. YOU are all supposed to be upstairs in the feasting hall to observe the Gathering of the Cups Ceremony!" Loki let out a very convincing grunt of frustration, exactly as Tyr always did.
"Of course sir … Um, sir what is The Gathering of the Cups Ceremony?" The young officer asked again with hesitation.
However, Loki gave his best impression of Tyr's glare he could in response and again had to refrain from smirking as the officer went pale and promptly turned around.
"RIGHT MEN! YOU HEARD HIM UP TO THE HALL NOW!" The young officer bellowed with impressive authority, causing every man present to move out in lockstep.
Loki observed each of them passing and once the barracks were empty, he dropped his illusion and let out a boyish laugh at his success. He was exhausted sweat glistened on his forehead, he had never held an illusion for that long but was proud of his success.
Now all he had to do was slip back into the hall, pretend he had been there all along and blame any of the following events on Thor for creating a fake ceremony just so that he could talk to some girl.
His trip back to the hall took longer than he liked but couldn't be helped as he was too exhausted to cast another illusion spell and so had to resort to his general abilities to sneak around to go undetected. Eventually, however, he managed to slip back into the hall just in time to watch the epoch of his machinations take place.
The hall was now packed, there was enough Einherjar warriors present Loki guessed to occupy Midgard, amongst them was his parent's guests a sea of displaced people trying to reform into groups. An in the middle of the chaos was Thor who was quickly becoming overwhelmed by dozens if not hundreds of cups that had been placed before him, in preparation for his fake ceremony.
His mother Frigga was off to one side, quietly but furiously yelling at the young officer that had led the Einherjar into the hall, whilst also trying to prevent more guards from adding cups in front of Thor.
All of which was made worse by the fact that dozens of guests had formed a semicircle near Thor to observe what they believed to be an Asgardian tradition they had never seen before led by the crown prince of Asgard.
Loki quickly abandoned trying to re-join the Alfheim delegation as mainly there was no group to join, as like many of the guests they were now disrupted all over the hall. So he opted to frankly push his way towards mother pretending to be just as confused as everyone else.
As he approached, he quickly saw Kal standing next to the girls that he had seen Thor talking to earlier who was close to his mother, evidently looking after Kal whilst Frigga tried to sort out the mess that was occurring.
He came almost stumbling over to Kal as he pushed his way between several Asgardian nobles and a few guards. "KAL! There you are what is going on?"
Kal for his part just shrugged clueless as to what was occurring, "I don't know, Thor said a bad word and then this all happened."
"AND where have you been?" Frigga's ice cold motherly voice cut through the air, almost causing Loki to flinch as it struck his ears.
"Just with the Alfheim children playing in the gardens and giving a tour you can ask them" Loki gave his best innocent smile, which his mother narrowed his eyes at.
"Right? Well, we'll see about that. I swear if you are behind this Loki, you are not coming out of your room until the Convergence" Frigga threatened before she turned to help Thor get out of the mess he was in.
"Who are the Alfheim?" Kal asked, causing his brother to chuckle and try to ruffle his brother's hair that didn't budge, due to their mother's magic.
"There the Light Elves" Loki answered, causing his brother just to respond with 'Ah' as children often do.
"Why are they called light elves?" that question took Kal and Loki by surprise as it came from the small red-haired girl who was standing next to Amora.
Amora just rolled her eyes at her little sister's question.
"Because they are related to dark elves but are strengthened by light instead of darkness and are also known for their joyful or light nature, obviously" Amora answered with a sigh of frustration at her little sister.
"And the fires" Kal casually stated whilst he was looking at one of the tree people nearby in wonder.
"What?" Loki asked looking at Kal in confusion.
"Oh, Light Elves, besides being you know all about light and mischief, they like setting things on fire. It's a cultural thing, I think?" Kal stated with a slight confusion on his face likely as he had no idea what 'cultural' actually meant being a boy of 6.
"How do you know that?" Loki asked in alarm, hoping his brother was joking or misremembering, causing Sif, Lorelei, and Amora to look at him.
"I learnt about it in a book and asked mother about it. She says it why the young ones can't go off by themselves, or else they start fires" Kal grinned, proud of himself for remembering.
Just as Loki was about to respond a huge bright light erupted from outside one of the hall's windows causing everyone's heads to turn. Before anyone else could act Loki ran quickly to the window to see what was happening, barrelling through a dozen guests whilst he did do.
Outside a dozen of the light elf children, he had 'befriended' had set fire to his father's stables that were lucky empty because of the wild hunt, and to make matters worse they emblazoned his name on the earth before the stables.
"Oh, and they mark the fires with the name of a person as a gift. To them, it's an honour" Kal added as he too walked up to the window to stand next to Loki, staring at the burning building.
Loki went quiet for a moment trying to think of a plan but soon felt the looming shadow of his mother behind him.
"…... Ah Skitr." Was all the prince could manage before he was hauled away by his mother.
Odin returned once again in triumph from the Wild Hunt.
10 glorious days of defending the Nine Realms from all manage of foul beasts that appeared annually as the Yggdrasil went through its cycles. Causing the barrier between worlds and even dimensions to become thin.
Usually, upon his return, his wife along with select members of the court would greet him at the steps of the Palace, he would then bathe greet his family and then have the final feast of Yule with his guests and family. Recounting his and his entourage's tale of that years hunt for all to hear.
However, this year he was greeted by the sight of his prized stables as a burnt out ruin with his middle son's name scorched into the soil before him.
It took Odin all of about 5 seconds to realise that Loki had obviously tried to pull one of his grand schemes, but due to his age had not worked out all of the angles resulting in something slipping his notice or getting away from him. Resulting in the calamity before him.
He simply sighed and got off his trusted stead Sleipnir, patting the horse's great main gently as he did so. A servant quickly approached his King and took Sleipnir's reins, gently leading the horse to one of the Palace's lesser stables.
Odin was quick to march up the Palace steps and once he crested the few final steps to the Palace's great doors was greeted by the vision of his wife in all her radiant elegance with a slightly relieved look upon her face.
"Are you happy to see me uninjured my love? Did you worry for me?" Odin spoke as he always did to his wife with clear love, affection and respect.
His question was met by a small snort from his beloved queen, how gave him a playful smirk. "My worry for you is the only thing keeping you alive and I am happy to see that I don't have to keep this place together all by myself. The little help you do is appreciated."
Odin let out a heartfelt chuckle at his wife's playful barbs, quickly giving her a warm hug and a deep kiss. As she unwrapped herself from her husband she kept her arms linked in his whilst she guided him inside.
"So, I saw the stables," Odin commented as they made their way towards their bedroom.
"Yes, our son decided that Light Elves of Alfheim would be the best partners in his schemes" she stated keeping her face neutral.
Odin repressed a chuckle. "AH, I take it he did not realise that they have an affinity for fire especially the young ones?"
"He did not." At his wife's simple statement Odin let out a satisfying chuckle.
"So what punishment have you concocted for him?" Odin asked.
"Well firstly he is too clean all the guard's armour BY hand, then he is writing apology addresses to the guests and he will be helping rebuild the stables next year," Frigga informed him.
"I take it he did something with the guards and the guests as well in between causing the stables to be burnt down?" Odin's humour was now gone as he rubbed his eye with his free hand in frustration.
"OH yes, I will explain all of that later." She started releasing a long-held back sigh, "Also we are annually hosting a new ceremony each year now at Yule."
Odin looked at Frigga with confusion at her last statement but simply received a look that told him all he needed to know.
'Loki what am I going to do with that boy?' He thought to himself as they reached their bedroom.
Frigga aided her husband in removing his armour and replacing it with his palace clothes, as she did so she checked for any new wound or injury for husband tried to conceal from her.
"So, Loki is under lock and key polishing armour. Where are my other sons? What have Kal and Thor been up to?" Odin asked eager to hopefully hear some positive news about his time away.
Frigga gave a wide smile that reached her eyes that piqued Odin's curiosity.
"What is it, my love?" Odin asked a smile forming on his face.
"Well, Thor has made a few friends and wanted to invite them to the Palace," She asked holding back a smirk that threaten to form on her face.
"Well, that is good is it not?" Odin asked carefully sensing there was more to come.
"Oh yes, it's very nice to see Thor starting to form real friendships with such lovely young girls. There were three in total from what I saw," Frigga smiled as Odin's eyes widen at her statements.
He released a small series of chuckles and a heavy sigh at the information.
"So, Loki is burning builds and Thor is inviting girls to the Palace now. Anything else happen whilst I was gone? Has Kal started growing scales, flying or shooting fire from his eyes?" Odin asked in exasperation.
Frigga chuckled at her husband's statement and gave him a quick warm embrace to elevate his frustrations.
"No, my love Kal is still the same sweet boy that you left, and fire from his eyes really?" She chuckled at the absurdity of such a power.
"That is good," Odin responded but quickly was concerned when he was seeing his wife bite her lip.
"Well, I almost forget there is one thing about Kal that happened whilst you were gone." Frigga seemed reluctant to talk about the topic.
"What is it my dearest?" Odin asked with concern.
"You see Kal got involved in a little contest with Princess Maxima of Almerac, which he easily won, but now the girls mother is quite driven to have Kal as her daughters future…." Frigga trailed off not wanting to finish the conversation.
Odin could only blink a few times in the shock at the news.
"Ah, well obviously that's not going to happen. Dam, another thing to juggle with them." He released a deep sigh, his burrow creasing in thought. "Anything else?"
"No, I believe that covers it." Frigga let out a chuckle, at the difficulties of the crown.
Odin spent a few more minutes getting dressed and then once ready headed out with Frigga to attend to his duties. Despite, how much he wished he could simply rest after the Wild Hunt the duties of a King waited for no man.
The rest of their day was largely spent dealing with various petitioners that had waited for Odin's return to make their appeal or else there were dealing with their various guests that would soon be departing now that Yule was soon ending.
Odin hated the final day of Yule, mainly because it involved him being swarmed by hundreds of diplomats across the known cosmos each wanting to talk to him about some alliance or something, and with the Queen of Almerac desiring his son he was having no ends of headaches this day.
He was mostly spending the day travelling across his own Palace to meet with the various delegates before they departed in the morning, making sure to see every one of them in person. Keeping old allies reassured, and old enemies on their toes, all in an effort to keep the peace.
However, despite the complexities of the day it passed swiftly and no sooner had he had time to settle back into his routine was the Grand Feast of Yule before them.
Odin sat at the high table with his family and watched with pride as the peace he had fought for was clear before him. He also found joy in watching his children, despite some of their recent lapses in judgement, each of them was starting to find their own path in life.
Thor was busy chatting away to a high noble maiden with black hair. The two conversed like old friends and had been joined by a number of other children including a tall blonde girl who was watching his son intensely. Whilst Odin knew many just wanted to be friends with a Prince he hoped it was the start of at least some true friendships his son needed and wanted.
Close by Loki had been let out from his punishment for the occasion as not to show disunity to their guests. He was busy conversing with a number of children as well, a smaller group than his brother, but still, it did Odin's old heart well to see Loki finding his place.
He guessed many were the more rebellious children of nobles or those who just wanted to be friends with the rebel Prince that had burnt down his own father's stables. Odin almost grinned, being the villain sometimes makes one popular.
All of Loki's actions however were under the close watch of his mother of course, who was discreetly nearby to keep an eye on the boy, and Odin also saw that General Tyr was also almost on top of his son. The general too was keeping a close eye on the boy.
And not two far way on the other side of the hall was Kal who was busy talking to a number of children. However, where Loki's and Thor's groups consisted of Asgardian children Kal had a variety of species around him, all clearly fascinated by each other as each was as exotic and strange to each other as the others were to them.
Kal was grinning as he tried and failed to converse with a young sapling of the Flora colossi, he was also conversing with a young Asgardian about his age that was standing next to him. All three were laughing as the two boys failed to under the sapling and the sapling in return had no idea what they were saying.
He passed the time seated at the high table, however soon found his youngest running up to him and almost jumping on him with excitement. Odin was quick to catch the boy and pull him to sit on his lap but slightly struggled, as Kal was starting to get heavy and larger and soon would be beyond his ability to lift with ease.
"Father, father look what I was given?" Kal held up a flower that the young sapling most have given him.
"That is nice, I will make sure that we give them something in return." Odin smiled at his youngest enthusiasm.
"Thank you, father, Haldor also got one," Kal said whilst smiling up at his father.
"Who is Haldor, a new friend?" Odin asked pleased his son seemed to be making friends with people his own age.
"Yes," Kal said enthusiastically and pointed to a boy seated on one of the tables reserved for nobles of about middle ranks. "Me and him have been talking to each other all Yule, he's really great."
"Well then, we best organise for him to come to the Palace at some point" Odin offered, causing Kal's eyes to beam with happiness and hug his father in thanks.
'Just need to check to make sure the boy's father is not some ambitious noble using his son to worm his way into power' Odin thought as he glanced at the boy whilst hugging his son back.
Odin was pleased his sons were making friends, he and Frigga had actually arranged for the nobles and delegates to bring more children this year, in hopes of giving their children more companions their own age. Hopefully, it would avoid them sneaking off again like they had done earlier in the year.
Odin sat watching the hall sighing in relief that all was right with the world for a few moments until he heard a loud roar of laughter as he turned to see Thor's hair had turned bright pink.
"LOKI!" Frigga's voice snapped as she quickly rushed in to deal with the situation, causing Kal to chuckle on his knee.
'Well, that lasted all of five seconds.' Odin sighed as he rose to aid his wife.
'Fates help me make it to the next Yule'
Chapter 7 – Kingship
Odin watched as his sons played with their friends, the group was currently involved in some sort of game of tag combined with hide and seek as far as he could discern. One of the group's numbers would run around the wide-open courtyard and once they found another of their numbers that child would race off to find someone else.
He smiled glad this his children were engaging more with people their own age, despite his mother's statement at the last Yule celebration Thor had been allowed to invite the girls he had met. Only after much begging and then only under the prevision that they were joined by other boys, and all were under the close watch of an adult.
The group currently consisted of mostly noble children, namely that of the Ladies, Sif, Amora and Lorelai, along with the noble's sons Volstagg, and Haldor as well as an interesting invitation of a commoner boy named Fandral, and a Vanir named Hogun.
Fandral, and Volstagg as well as all the young ladies were invitations of his eldest Thor who was fast becoming the leader of the group. The only other invitation by his other sons was given by Kal who had invited Haldor, a boy that he had met at the Yule celebration and the two were fast becoming inseparable.
Whilst Hogun had been an invitation of Frigga's design, Hogun was the son of an old Vanir friend of hers who had asked Frigga for her aid as her son was becoming melancholic and needed friends. Odin could see why Hogun was a dour and grim-faced boy, but he seemed to be joining in the game well enough.
Whilst Loki had invited no one, a fact that had not gone unnoticed by his parents. Loki was quickly becoming a recluse of their children and Frigga more often found him practising magic or in the library than with his brothers.
A large part in allowing the children to come to the palace was an effort to get Loki to interact more with others and correct some of the more troubling behaviour that was beginning to appear.
Loki's pranks were getting more brazen, he talked less to his brothers, often eat his meals alone and was starting to talk down to the servants in a manner Odin did not like.
Normally, the duty of watching the children fell to Frigga or a more reluctant Mímir when she was too busy, but today Odin was watching them as he had lessons prepared for their youngest.
Loki was casting illusions of himself across the courtyard much to the annoyance of most of the other children who lacked the ability to discern which one was real. The sole exceptions however were Amora who's magical abilities impressed even Odin and Kal who's gifts were allowing him to find his brother was ease.
"Got you!" Kal shouted smugly as he half tagged half jumped onto the real Loki.
Loki merely smiled at his little brother ruffled Kal's hair and quickly set off to find his victim which turned out to be Volstagg who's large frame failed to hide behind a rather slender tree.
Odin sighed; Loki's relationship with each of his brothers was so different.
Loki and Thor were like oil and fire, sometimes capable of great things when used correctly together but more often than not resulted in a fiery explosion he had to put out. Thor was not wholly innocent, his eldest at times could be arrogant and a show-off, casting a long shadow that Loki struggled with.
However, with Kal Loki was almost the very picture of brotherly affection and brotherhood. Where he played pranks on Thor, Loki instead entertained Kal using all of his magical abilities to make his little brother laugh.
It was perplexing, to say the least, but one thing Odin was certain of was that both his eldest sons adored Kal, and Kal in return adored them.
"Missed me!" Kal ducked under Thor's hand as he tried to tag his little brother. "HA missed me again."
Odin watched in slight amazement as Kal effortlessly dodged every single one of Thor's attempts to tag him. Kal was almost a blur of motion, he sidestepped, twisted, or bent out of the way of Thor's attempts.
"Oh, come here! I will get you litt-" Thor began to say but was cut off when he tripped over a root of a tree sending him sprawling.
"Are you alright Prince Thor?" asked Kal's friend Haldor who quickly ran over to the bigger boy lying face down on the floor.
"AH-HA!" Thor sprang up from the ground and quickly tagged Haldor.
"Hey, no fair!" Haldor called running off after Thor.
However, Odin's eyes had not left Kal who was standing still and breathing as normally as if he was taking a stroll in the garden, which should not have been the case. Kal had been sprinting around the courtyard at full speed for almost an hour and had just performed some impressive dodging, yet his breathing was calm and normal.
Odin suspected that this was more of Kal's unique development beginning to show, something they would have to keep an eye on.
His youngest son was starting to grow not only in height but also in terms of raw physical power. Every day, Kal seemed to be a little faster, a little stronger and even more durable as well, he had once seen Kal place his hand on a scolding pot by accident, but instead of pain or scarring, Kal was fine and hadn't even noticed the heat.
"Come on Haldor, you can catch him!" Kal shouted encouragement to his friend as Haldor who was still it, the boy ran after Fandral now as Thor had slipped his grasp.
"I'm trying Kal" Haldor laughed back as he took deep breathes, panting with exhaustion.
Odin was still focusing on the children when Frigga settled in next to him, planting a soft kiss on his cheek that altered him to her presence.
"How are they my love not too much trouble?" Frigga asked, whilst looking down at the children.
"No, my dear, Kal has gotten faster though" Odin stated nodding towards Kal who proved his point when almost in a blur had crossed the length of the courtyard in no time at all.
Frigga released a soft sigh "Of course he has, nothing is ever simple, is it?" she teased.
"No, it is not" Odin chuckled in response. "I take it from your arrival that it's time for the midday meal?"
Frigga nodded "Yes, I'll take over after the meal. I am assuming you want to take Kal with you."
"Yes, indeed I do" Odin stated whilst gazing thoughtfully at their son.
"Just don't be too hard with him, okay? Thor and Loki still have nightmares about their time" Frigga teased with a gentle smile on her face.
"I promise, I shall be as delicate as I can." Odin patted his wife's hand before clearing his throat to get the children's attention.
"That's enough for now, you can continue after your midday meal." Odin's commandant was met with a few groans but was still universally obeyed.
Odin and Frigga followed the children inside to a dining hall that had been prepared and sat at their own table whilst they watched the children eat. Only interceding when the children began to get too close to a food fight for comfort.
Kal and Haldor sat together, chatting away like the two had not seen each other in years despite having been together most of the day and having met every day for over a month now. Whilst Kal was fixed on either his food or his friend, Haldor's attention held a third subject, the Lady Sif who Haldor kept glancing at whenever he could.
Thor had taken his place in the centre of the table and was likewise the centre of attention he had all but shoved Loki next to him and seemed to be leading the elder children in some sort of eating contest. As food was being consumed at an almost alarming rate, pieces of meat were flying everywhere.
Amora and Loki evidently were trying their best to distance themselves from the other children's behaviour, whilst Lorelai meekly sat by her sister's side. In all the time she had visited Odin surmised the girl had spoken about 10 words in total, all to her sister.
Volstagg was the clear winner of the contest, having consumed what appeared to be almost half the table whilst Thor came in a close second.
Frigga rolled her eyes at Thor's antics and allowed the children a few more moments at the tables before she clapped her hands and announced the children would be with her for the afternoon for lessons.
A declaration that was met with a widespread groan but no one dared challenge the decision instead they all meekly rose and began the slow processes of preparing themselves for an afternoon of hard studying.
"Kal, come here please." Odin gestured to his youngest son to come over.
Kal gave a quick shrug to Haldor, who looked at him questioningly, and promptly went over to his father a hesitant look on his face.
"Yes, father?" Kal asked clearly believing he was in trouble.
"No worries my boy you are not in trouble. You and I are going to spend the rest of the day together." Odin offered Kal a warm smile.
"Really?" Kal asked in excitement a wide grin on his face.
It was rare that his father could spend a whole day with just one of his sons, usually, it was a group activity, like them going all on a trip together or going to the theatre to watch a play from the royal box. However, even then those tended to be only for a few hours and then Odin was back to work.
Now Kal thought about it, both Thor and Loki had separately spent a full day and a half with their father in the past month. Kal remembered as it was unusual and neither Thor nor Loki would tell him what it was about.
"Yes, it's time I showed you what it means to rule Asgard," Odin spoke in the solemn voice he always had when talking about important matters.
"Rule Asgard?" Kal asked with wide eyes.
Odin nodded "Yes, I did this both with Thor and Loki, just as my father once did it with me when I was little."
"So, what are we going to be doing?" Kal asked his head racing with ideas.
"Although you are still very young and have two older brothers, it's still very important you learn about the role and duties of a King. As you may one day sit upon the Throne, my boy. As such you'll be helping me rule for the rest of the day and tomorrow." Odin explained placing a comforting hand on Kal's shoulders.
Kal's mind went blank as a single thought took over 'I'm going to help run Asgard!'
His mind was a mixture of panic, excitement, and consideration. He was only 7 and had rarely actually thought about his position as a Prince, in truth he didn't do much and largely spent his time studying or playing. He had never once considered that he might end up as King one day.
When Kal thought about it, the whole concept seemed bizarre, he tried to picture himself as King and couldn't really do it. Now Thor or Loki, Kal could imagine, his brothers in his mind seemed to be each one half of their father.
Kal's head quickly conjured the image of Thor as King. His brother was now taller, shinning golden locks flowing freely, whilst in splendid armour as he powered through the ranks of Asgard enemies. He was the warrior, decisive and charismatic leader Asgard needed, the people cheered him and loved him whilst he in return basked in their admiration.
The image however was soon replaced by Loki, who instead sat regally on the throne, he was commanding, poised, projecting both power and confidence. An army of advisors surrounded him as Loki gave decisive commands to each of them, who then went of to fulfil their master grand vision. Whilst Loki joyfully sat immersed in the admiration of his subjects who were safe and protected under his watch.
"Do not be nervous my son. I am here to guide you. Let us begin." Odin offered a reassuring smile and led Kal off towards the Throne room.
Kal had learnt two things about ruling such far. One, it seemed to be a lot of waiting and listening, and two, it was not very engaging.
Kal was seated next to his father on Hlidskjalf, as he was still small enough to be nestled next to their father. He looked up at his father who had a blank expression on his face as he listened to Mímir give a very detailed report on ships to an assembly of nobles that sat below them.
Kal was trying his best to listen but in all was quickly becoming bored, when his father had stated that we going to help rule Asgard he had imagined grand decrees or listening to petitioners. Not sat for hours listening to a bunch of old people talk.
"- and as you see this results in the hull of ships becoming more worn I sugges-" Mímir voice was like a sleeping spell Kal thought, as he zoned in and out.
Kal had listened to Mímir many times but had never realised just how boring Mímir was or how monotonous and dull his voice was.
"As you can see this would improve our produ-"
As you can see. That seemed to be Mímir's favourite phrase as far as Kal could tell, the man started nearly every sentence with it, and it was beginning to irate him.
'As you can see I am very boring and like to hear myself talk.' Kal mused in his head causing him to chuckle slightly, an act his father quickly spotted.
"Is something amusing my son?" Odin asked his eye gazing at his son.
"No father nothing." Kal quickly stated going rigid as every eye of the high council of Asgard descended upon him.
"Really, you're not bored. It's not Mímir's dull voice and constant use of the phrase, As you can see?" Odin asked in a neutral voice that caught Kal out.
"Yes, I MEAN NO" Kal quickly spat out trying to make up for his truthful admission.
However, instead of shocking murmurs or disappointed looks, he heard a handful of chuckles and more than a few sincere smiles directed at him.
"I honestly thought he wouldn't make it past my report on street repairs, let alone to ships," Mímir stated to another advisor with a grin on his face.
"That was about three hours, pay up." General Tyr gestured to Grand Healer Eir who sighed and passed a handful of coins to the general.
"Father?" Kal looked confused at the interactions now occurring since his admission of boredom.
Odin let out a friendly sigh, "My son, it's okay to be bored, we are not expecting a boy of 7 to be enraptured by reports and in fact, I am quite proud that you lasted as long as you did."
"So, this was all a test? None of it was real?" Kal asked.
"Oh no this was all real, the reports, the listening to advisors, everything was real. This was just to show you" Odin stated with a kind smile on his face.
"Show me?" Kal was looking up into his father's eye that held such love and wisdom in that moment.
"To show you that ruling is not what Thor or Loki believe it is. Kingship is not rushing into things, going off to battle or scheming your way around problems. It is largely listening, waiting, thinking and only then acting once you have considered all your options." Odin explained.
"I think I get it," Kal stated unsure if he was trying to convince himself or Odin.
"Don't worry if you do not, it takes time my son. Ruling is a skill that is learnt, now see if you make it through the rest of Mímir's dull reports" Odin jested causing a small laugh to rise from the advisors below.
Kal sat straight again and tried his best to listen to Mímir's reports, and despite them still being undeniably dull, he started to pick up on a few things and started well not enjoying the session at least seeing the point of it.
Like, how the details of one report affected another report or several, how the group spoke about old solutions when problems arose or how several ideas were floated and picked apart before any decision was made.
However, what he noticed most of all was that his father listened more than he spoke but when he spoke no one else did and whatever Odin had decided was the final decision.
Kal was intrigued by that most of all when any spoke about his father they all made it seem like Odin just decided everything himself, even his brothers. Thor spoke about father boldly making choices and being swift to action and Loki talked endlessly about father's sharp mind and schemes within schemes.
Yet, what Kal was seeing was not rash action or scheming, just simple listening, thinking and then a final decision, the only bit that daunted him was that the final decision was ultimately in the hands of one man. The King.
That was the word that entered his head King, not father. Kal looking at his father now clearly saw a different man than the one he knew, before he wasn't his father Odin, the kindly man that lifted him upon his shoulders.
No, what was before him was the All-Father, King of Asgard and Protector of The Nine Realms, who decided the fates of every person that Kal knew.
Kal sat there for a while as he thought about it all, in truth he believed it was more than his seven-year-old mind was capable of thinking about but yet he did so. And what was sticking in his mind most of all was his brothers.
Kal again tried to picture them as the Kings of Asgard like he did before, but the imagines refused to from instead all that came to his mind was the throne room, the throne Hlidskjalf and the advisors waiting below.
Despite his attempts, he couldn't imagine Thor or Loki just setting on Hlidskjalf listening to people, weighing options and then making choices.
No Thor in his mind would take the first option presented, without listening to it fully and then rush off to do something fun, namely go fight someone.
Whereas he pictured Loki just dismissing all the advisors, calling them small-minded fools and then enacting some grand complex scheme to solve a very simple issue, like cracked roads.
However, despite not being able to imagine his brothers on the Throne, Kal still couldn't picture himself on it. In his head he would sit there, stroke his chin listen gravely to the problems and advice, them just say 'I have no idea what to do'.
Kal was pulled back to reality by the sound of the clattering of feet as the advisors rose and gave a quick bow before departing the chamber.
"We are stopping for the evening meal," Odin said answering Kal's questioning look. "Come now, you and I are going to eat together in my study."
Kal took his father's hand as they descended from Hlidskjalf and made their way through the Palace, with guards bowing to them as they went. All the talk of Kingship made him notice it for the first time and he realised that they bowed to him even when his parents were not around.
"So how are you finding it, my son?" Odin asked as he pushed open the door to his study their meal already waiting for them on a table.
"It's ….. Interesting." Kal decided to say after settling on the right word.
"Well, that is good to hear." Odin was very pleased with hearing that neither Loki's or Thor's response had been as good or genuine.
"It's a good thing we are only just helping out, I don't think anyone, but you could be King father." Kal said whilst eating the food before him, grinning at his father.
Whilst Odin appreciated the compliant and his son's faith in him, he nevertheless had to inform his son of the reality of the throne. Releasing a heavy sigh, he spoke to Kal gently.
"Kal one day, I will not be here," Odin stated softly.
"Oh, are we going on a trip?" Kal asked.
"No, my son. What I mean is that one day, I won't be here to help and that Thor or possibly Loki maybe even you will be King." Odin stated softly looking to see if his son understood.
"But you're the King? And I don't think we can be?" Kal was puzzled by his statement.
"I am the king, for now, my son, but I will not be forever. It is why I am doing this; you and your brothers are not yet ready it is true but given time and the right lessons you will be." Odin spoke softly and saw that Kal was beginning to understand.
They sat in silence for a while as Odin watched Kal who was clearly trying to process everything that he had just been.
Frigga and he had already taught Kal about the concept of death but watching the boy now it was clear that although Kal understood death he had never actually considered it a factor when it came to his parents.
"Father?" Kal's voice broke the silence as he glanced up at Odin.
"What is it, my boy?" Odin moved his plate out of the way and set his cup down to give Kal his undivided attention.
"When you're…. gone, Thor's going to become King, right?" Kal asked.
"Yes, that is the most likely outcome," Odin admitted.
"So, what will I do?" Kal's face was one of consideration.
"You will aid Thor and Loki, the three of you will work together," Odin said a hint of pride entering his voice as he pictured his son's bright future.
"Okay, but what will I do?" Kal asked not knowing how else to phrase his question.
Odin merely smiled and spoke in his grand voice as he provided his son with a picture of his future. "You my son will be the rock on which your brother's reign will be formed. You will be the very strength and certainty that all of Asgard will rely on."
"I will?" Kal asked with wide eyes.
"Yes. Kal you will possess strength and power that I cannot yet imagine, but I knew from the moment I first held you in my arms that you are destined for great things." Odin had moved to kneel next to his son and place a reassuring hand on Kal's shoulder.
Kal broke into a wide smile and leapt into his father giving Odin a tight hug that the Allfather returned with affection, and a proud smile when they broke apart.
"Well, that's good. I don' think I want to King anyway." Kal stated with gravity Odin had not heard before.
"Really, you don't?" Odin asked in surprise both Thor and Loki wanted the throne, they practically begged for it when he spent the day with them.
"Yeah, it seems very boring, and the Throne hurts my butt." Kal smiled at his father with a wide grin.
Causing Odin to start chuckling at his son's childish joke, "Aye it does, it hurts mine too."
Odin's admission caused Kal to start laughing as the two finished up their evening meal.
The next day saw Kal dealing with a very different situation than listening to reports and one he thought could be slightly interesting, hearing petitioners.
"My King I am clearing in the right, Berg Askelsson is a convicted liar and a thief." The speaker was a tall board shouldered middle-aged man that was dressed in fine robes.
"Your Majesty, I was once in my youth, but I swear to the fates I am innocent. I have changed my ways I swear." The man defending himself looked about the same age as the other man but was scrawny and dressed liked a farmer.
The two men quickly descended into bickering both losing their sense of place as they began to shout insults at the other, seemingly forgetting where they were standing. Odin merely raised his hand and the room fell deafly silent.
Kal was always amazed by how his father could command so much with such little action, a raised hand or a look and his father's will was done.
The current petitioners before them were by far the most interesting Kal had heard so far, most had simply been people asking a boon of their King or else were seeking the Allfathers advice on the correct course of action.
However, what was before them was a 'thing' or trail as the mortal's Midgard would call it. In all the case was not an interesting one, but it was the first one Kal had ever seen so he was enraptured by it soaking in all the details he could.
The case was simple it was a matter of theft, the nobleman, Ketill Hagison, who had brought the case before Odin claimed that the farmer a man called Berg Askelsson had stolen cattle from his land and had stated that the cattle had been found on Berg's farm. Berg had apparently been a petty thief in his youth and had spent time in Asgard's cells working as a labourer to pay for his crimes.
Berg of course denied the charge stating that he had no idea how the cattle had ended up on his land and were happy to return them, but Ketill was demanding further compensation and that Ketill be jailed for his crime.
"I have heard your testimony; however, it is for the Thing to decide upon the case. If they should find you guilty Berg Askelsson then you will be exiled from Asgard, and your land sold." Odin spoke clearly with a blank expression upon his face.
This caused the noble Ketill to smirk at his opponent, but Odin was not finished, and his gaze turned towards Ketill fixing the noble with a glare.
"However, if these charges are false, you will be found guilty of perjury before not only this Assembly but to your King, a charge most grave. If either of you wishes to concede and submit for mercy, your sentences shall be reduced." Odin's address carried clear across the throne room.
The room was again silent and Kal was watching with batted breath to see if either man would beg his father for mercy, and he watched the jury most of whom were looking disgustingly at Berg Askelsson. It was then that Kal's hearing picked up something, it was barely a whisper and without his gifts he would never have been able to hear it.
"Allfathers protect me and allow my acts to safeguard my family's honour." The whisper came from the accused Berg Askelsson, who suddenly stepped forward and knelt before his father.
"My King, I have no need of mercy for I am innocent, but I fear my past actions have robbed me of the mercy of the court. Therefore, I request a Holmgang, let my body answer the charge." Berg spoke gravely and with a sombreness to his voice.
The action caused an immediate, a Holmgang was a duel to settle a matter or dispute, usually invoked when one believed that they could not receive a fair hearing at a Thing. The other reason for the murmur was that Berg was clearly outclassed by the noble Ketill, who was nearly twice Berg's size.
"I accept of course," Ketill stated before Odin could respond, a smile spreading on his face clearly happy with the result.
Odin's eyes lingered on the kneeling Berg who seemed resigned to his fate, clearly knowing that he would not be able to defeat Ketill and that he possessed no champion who would fight for him. Berg's head sifted slightly enabling him to cast his gaze on a woman in the crowd who was clutching to small children to her waist tears in her eyes.
"That is your right before this assembly Berg Son of Askels, do you have a champion to fight you?" Odin asked ignoring Ketill's statement and obvious glee at the proposed duel.
"I have none, my King," Berg responded in resignation.
Kal caught sight of something, his father's vision briefly shifted to General Tyr who was standing just at the edge of the cleared space where the trail was occurring in front of the woman Berg had glanced at. He almost missed it, but he could see that Tyr gave a single subtle nod to his father.
"Very well, Lord Ketill you are happy to accept the challenge and face the defender of Berg Askelsson honour in a Holmgang to be held in 3 days' time?" Odin's unwavering gaze shifted to the grinning noble.
"I am my King." Ketill replied giving an arrogant bow as he did so.
"Very well, is there any here who will defend Berg Askelsson's honour and life, or shall he answer the charge himself?" Odin raised his head allowing his voice to boom across the hall.
It was clear that both Berg and Ketill expected silence, however, a powerful and strong voice answered the Allfather's question.
"I will, my King." General Tyr stepped forward causing a collective gasp to occur within the hall, and for Berg to raise and look at the general in shock.
Although onehanded now Tyr was still one of Asgard's finest warriors, Kal often heard his brother Thor speak about the General in awe and had heard some of the stories the guards whispered about the general when they thought no one was listening.
"My King, I must protest the Lord Tyr has no reason to interfe-" Ketill had gone deathly pale and was scrambling to lodge his protest.
"I have every right, by the laws of Asgard, to stand as anyone's champion." Tyr cut off Ketill's protest.
There was silence in the hall and Kal could clearly see that Ketill was trying to think of a way out of fighting the legendary General, but clearly, nothing was coming to mind as his mouth kept opening and closing.
Ketill then abruptly moved forward and threw himself to his needs before Odin. "My King, I withdraw the accusation against Berg Askelsson, it was I that planted the cattle on his land. And I ask for your mercy."
At Ketill's words Kal watched as his father rose from his seat towering over the quivering mass of the man below.
"Lord Ketill Hagison you have falsely accused another of a crime, and committed perjury before your King, such crimes would usually result in exile or death, BUT as you have admitted your guilt, I shall be lenient."
Odin's gaze swept across the hall, and with a strong hand gripped Gungnir in one hand raising the spear clear off the ground.
"I, Odin Allfather, herby strip from you all titles, lands and privileges that your rank affords you and declare that you shall be known as a liar without honour for the rest of your days."
Odin struck the ground hard as he declared his judgment causing a boom to echo that rendered the room silent except for the happy sobs of the woman and children that had broken rank to huge Berg Askelsson.
With that, the trial was over, and the former Lord Ketill was quickly dragged off by a pair of guards who were likely taking him to be held in a cell for the time being whilst his lands and titles were formally stripped from him
Kal watched his father closely trying to decipher the blank expression his father's face held as the throne room solely emptied until it was just him, his father and the usual assortment of guards under the command of General Tyr.
After the last, the assembly had left Odin's gaze turned to Kal and he gave a small smile to the boy who had a slightly puzzled look upon his face.
"I take it you have questions, my boy?"
"I don't understand, so Kettil accused Berg falsely?" Kal asked trying to fit the pieces together.
"Yes," Odin answered pleased his son had figured that much out.
"But why?"
"For land my son, Ketill has been accusing men with small holdings on the borders of properties of crimes and taking them to court. As a noble with his standing, he usually wins, thus is able to seize the land as recompense for the supposed crimes." Odin explained.
"So, he was lying so that he could steal land? If you knew that why not bring him to trial?" Kal looked at his father hoping for an explanation.
Odin sighed "It is not always that simple, sometimes the law is not always fair and can be abused. Ketill's standing made it difficult to prove and if I had accused him without proof or an admission of guilt he might have gotten away without punishment."
Kal's brow furrowed at that explanation "But you're the King, if you know he is guilty why not just convict him?"
"Because then that isn't justice my son, that is simply tyranny. If I impose my will on others even with the best intentions, it can lead to great harm and cause untold devastation. The laws of Asgard exist to bind the King as much as any common man." Odin knelt before his son so that he could look Kal in the eye.
"However, sometimes the law is unfair and can be abused, but I cannot just choose to ignore it. So as the King, I have to find a way to act that is both just and lawful." Odin placed his great hand on his son's small shoulder.
"So, you brought the case before you, knowing that Berg's past would force him to seek a Holmgang and that you could then allow Tyr to fight as his champion. Making Ketill either admit his guilt and beg for mercy or fight the general?" Kal's face was one as pure concentration as he looked up at his father to see if he was right.
"Exactly right my son." Odin gave Kal's shoulder a gentle reassuring squeeze.
"That doesn't sound very honest father," Kal said with a hint of hesitation not wanting to anger his father with his statement.
"Maybe not honest, but it was just Kal. The crown restricts me in many ways and sometimes the Law although it must be obeyed is not always fair. Remember son that one, especially a prince, must always act justly and seek to give justice to all."
Kal nodded his head as he straightened his back and puffed out his chest "I understand father."
"Good boy, I have no doubt that you will grow up to a justice and honourable man." Odin smiled down at his son.
Kal's eyes swelled with pride at his father's complaint and gave his father a quick hug that the Allfather gently returned.
"I will make you proud father I swear," Kal whispered softly into his father's great embrace.