Chapter Text
A drop of blood slid down the jötunn king's neck. Odin smirked and twisted the blade of his sword a bit more to cause another.
Laufey stared at the floor in anger, knees pounding in pain from being forced onto them. His anger faltered to dread as his three sons were roughly dragged into the throne room and shoved to the floor off to the side. Several Aesir blades kept them in place by warriors that looked hopeful for a reason to slaughter them.
Odin's smile was malicious as he watched the father fear for his sons.
"It's a pity such young blood must be wasted. The sons atoning for the sins of their father."
Fárbauti was dragged in last, pushed to kneel next to him. His spouse was stoic, refusing to show emotions. His eldest child, Býleistr was stoic as well. His second, Helblindi, not so much. He shouted insults and twisted against the hands that held him until they had to cuff him. Several warriors pinned the large frost giant face down on the ground. Laufey winced at the display. Blindi always did lack self control.
The youngest of their children, Loki, stood with a wide stance, silently watching the ground, hands clasped behind him. He seemed to be thinking rapidly, flicks of thought or emotions twitching on his face. Trust his twelve year old to try and find a way to save them. To be honest though, if anyone came up with a plan it would be him.
Odin chuckled and bent down to sneer in Laufey's face.
"What a marvelous day this is turning out to be. Here I have the frost giant royal family in it's entirety. Whatever shall I do with them? It was foolish of you to try and cross the Aesir, Laufey. To cross me. Now I must ensure that you will not rise again. I could simply slaughter all of you, placing an Aesir of my choosing on the throne. I could kill your spouse and children, leaving no way for an heir. Then place one of our own after you."
Laufey licked his lip nervously before peering up at the gloating Allfather.
"I beg of you, Allfather, please spare my children. They have done no wrongs against Asgard, nor the nine. The fault lays solely with me."
Odin clicked his tongue. "It does. But I feel you must learn that crossing me will end badly for you. I must show all of the nine what happens when you cross Asgard. I must show them your weakness. How pathetic, that you beg. That you vie for mercy. Have you no pride?"
Laufey shut his eyes in despair. It seems his words only worsen their predicament.
Odin signaled to a couple soldiers and they carried in the heart of Jötunnheim. The Casket of Ancient Winters.
Laufey's eyes grew big and desperate. "Allfather! You can not take the casket! That is what keeps our realm whole! We are already in need of livable land, which is why we sought out Midgard. If you take the casket, even Jötunnheim will not sustain us!"
The thoughtful expression in the old king was mocking.
"Are you telling me, that if I remove this from Jötunnheim, there is a chance the land and people will dwindle until inexistence without Asgard lifting another finger? I am not seeing a downside to that."
Laufey's heart dropped when his beloved surged up in anger, fighting the two soldiers holding the chains.
"How dare you! You can not simply damn us to extinction! It's genocide! You're a monster!"
The Allfather watched the outburst without emotion. He flicked a finger in gesture to a soldier and Fárbauti was run through with a long sword.
Gasping, Fárbauti fell to the ground, coughing out blood.
Laufey shouted and struggled to go to his love. Their children shouted and cried, but Laufey could barely hear anything with the rushing of blood in his ears. Fárbauti was gone... chest no longer expanding with breath. Tears ran down Laufey's cheeks, freezing along the way. Small icicles forming from his chin. Jötunns did not cry often, the fluids often not warm enough to become liquid. But strong emotions heated their face, allowing melted ice to form tears. Looking around, he noted his three children had the same. Their poor young Loki the worst. He was so young for loosing a parent. Laufey straightened and faced the Aesir king again. He would not make it two parents lost. Or worse, the lives of his children.
"You have the casket and the life of my beloved. I give my oath, no jötunn will step foot out of our realm without permission. I will abide by the laws you place upon us. You have control of Jötunnheim...my king."
Odin grinned at the fallen king. He liked the humiliation of the other addressing him as his king. He knew that he had Jötunnheim under his foot. Still.
"I know. You WILL do anything I command. But I feel you may need another reminder. Something more, to ensure your cooperation. Two of your sons shall die and one imprisoned until I say otherwise."
Laufey gasped and his gaze shot up at the king in shock.
"...no...no! You can not, I wo-"
"Allfather! If I may, I have need to address your highness. Please."
Laufey whipped his head around to silently beg his youngest to say no more. But Loki was not looking at him. He was bowing low, eyes cast down in respect.
The Allfather smirked, amused.
"Come forward, young one. Say what you wish."
Loki stepped closer, hands again clasped behind him.
"My king, I have a proposition. Take me. Take me as a warbride. I hear you have a magnificent heir. Allow us to unite our kingdoms. Our firstborn would be heir to Asgard and second to Jötunnheim, following prince Býleistr. That would place a half Aesir on the throne of Jötunnheim. Should I come to Asgard, you have control of how I am raised, and how our children will be raised. It will give you control in a way that the jötunn's can not dispute."
Odin's thoughtfulness seemed sincere this time, as he contemplated the young boy.
"That would also put a half jötunn on the throne of Asgard. But there is merit to the idea. You offer yourself as tribute? To be warbride to my son, Thor? Perhaps I shall simply take you as warprize. Or take the eldest and heir."
Loki nodded. "Yes. Of course you could. You can do anything you please, as the almighty Allfather and Aesir king. But I would suspect an uprising and rebellion. Perhaps not just by jötunn's, but other realms as well. It would seem bad form. As long as I am willingly in Asgard as warbride, they will not rebel and my father would dare not attempt any disobedience in fear of my safety. There is also the matter of size and compatibility. I have not met the almighty Prince Thor, but I suspect he may not take kindly to a frost giant of typical...stature."
The Allfather chuckled lightly. He stalked around the boy, assessing him before reaching out and caressing a finger down Loki's jaw.
"I suppose you are correct. You are far more comely than an average giant. Already pleasing to the eye, at such a young age. I dare say even my Thor may approve. What say you, Laufey?"
Laufey was proud, but sad for his youngest. As much as he wanted to deny the plan, it was a sound proposal.
"If it is what you wish. I will comply."
Odin smiled wickedly. "Yes. You will. Most excellent. Your young boy proves quite brave and as intelligent as he is appealing. I do so hope his death is not necessary in the future. Loki, you have one moon cycle before you must come to Asgard."
Loki bowed deeply, trying not panic at what he just committed himself to.