Chapter Text
Epilogue
Loki stood alone by the River of the Long Sleep. The servants had placed a bed of flowers for Laufey’s body to lie on. Tomorrow the old King would be laid to his rest and King Puluk would be crowned by his four oldest siblings, as was tradition.
For now though, Loki was alone.
Laufey had been older than him, he had always known that one day he would say goodbye and be left alone for the last five thousand or so years of his life. There had been occasional times during their marriage when he had held on to that thought, but there had been many more times when he had tried to push it away.
He stood there staring at the flowers and remembered.
He remembered the times they had spent on the Great Hunts together, getting drunk and listening to the stories.
He remembered Býleistr’s first hunt as a driver and how proud Thrym and Goupr had been.
He remembered the way Laufey would always watch sadly as he left for Asgard and adventure, and the way he would pull Loki into his arms every time he returned.
He remembered the time one of the quests had gone on far longer than he’d thought and Thor had to fly him back to the Bifrost at great speed so that he didn’t miss the Darkening.
He remembered the year the Great Hunt killed no Draphts and Odin sent enough food from Asgard to see the Jotun through the Darkening.
He remembered the year Asgard was attacked by creatures from the sky and Laufey sent the Jotun army to help defend it.
He remembered the year he came to Jotunheim with the casket in his arms and no conditions attached.
He remembered Laufey teaching him to climb once his feet were properly healed.
He remembered going to visit Puluk a century after he saved Laufey’s life and delighting in watching the man walk and talk with only a slight slur to his speech.
He remembered setting up the healer exchange program, and the trader agreement, and the joint army missions.
He remembered the nights he spent working out each detail with Laufey before going to try and convince Odin of its merits.
He remembered the way Laufey worshiped his body, nipping and scratching down his sides until he was ready to peak from caresses alone.
He remembered attending Thor’s coronation, with Laufey at his side.
He remembered when the seventh day of the Celebrations became Visitor’s Day.
He remembered the look on Thor’s face the first time he saw Utgard with its metaphorical hair down.
He remembered the day Thrym died, old and ready.
He remembered laying Goupr down beside him less than a year later.
He remembered holding Laufey at night when the old King’s grief threatened to overwhelm him.
He remembered their laughter and their tears.
He remembered everything.
A noise behind him caused him to turn. It was Helblindi. Truth be told they were not that far apart in age and had grown to be great friends as the years passed by. Helblindi had become a gardener. He specialised in flowering plants and took frequent trips to Asgard to consult with the gardeners there. He was well known as an expert in his field.
Looking at him now, Loki was grateful he had never known his Uncle’s plans for him.
“He was a good King.” Helblindi said with a smile. “And a good uncle.”
“He was.” Loki said, turning back to the River.
From where he was standing he could just see where Thrym and Goupr lay. Helblindi came to stand beside him.
“King Puluk will be a good one too. He’s got a lot of ideas.”
“I know. He’s seen two Realms growing up and he is a mixture of both, all the children are.” Loki said.
He was proud to know that the next royal court of Jotunheim secretly thought that their parent’s generation was, well, a little bit silly for believing in that whole ‘ice maiden’ thing. King Puluk and his siblings were going to be making some changes.
Helblindi looked at the flower display in front of them.
“They shouldn’t have put the fradders next to the Loki-blossoms, the colours clash.” He said.
Loki smiled.
“I won’t tell if you want to fix it.” He said.
Helblindi carefully stepped down onto the glacier and made his way to the flower display.
“I did this for my parents.” He said, moving the fradders to the edge. “Usually only Kings get flowers but I wanted to do something for them.”
“I know. Laufey thought it was beautiful, and very fitting.” Loki said from the edge.
Helblindi made his way back and climbed up to stand beside Loki.
“When the time comes, do you want to be laid here beside him?” He asked.
Loki shook his head.
In all the years he had been the queen of Jotunheim, there was one thing he could not do. He had forgiven Laufey, he had talked to him, argued with him, joked with him and laughed with him.
He had never loved him.
But he had learnt to live with him, as Thrym had suggested such a long time ago.
“I have been Loki, Queen of Jotunheim for many years, but tomorrow there will be a new King and a new Queen. I will be Loki of Asgard once more. I have done my duty.” He said. “And I will go home and be an adviser to my brother, King Thor. When the time comes, I will go to the last world in a blaze of fire.”
“In doing your duty you have somehow changed the whole of the nine realms.” Helblindi said.
Loki smiled.
“Of course. I am Loki of Asgard, I do what I want.”