Chapter 55: Seriously? What next?

All three ladies turned to look at Thor. Seeing his eyes locked on someone across the jousting field, they turned to look at what had caused this reaction.

"Wow!" Kate's eyes grew round with surprise. "Those are outstanding costumes. I have to say, you'll have some stiff competition."

"I have to find my brother," Thor finally spit out.

"Well, of course you do," Linda replied. "If those two are entered in the group competition your brother's costume better be as good as yours or you don't stand a chance." She sighed, staring at the couple across the way. "The detail appears awesome. I'd like to go take a closer look. Maybe we can do a group photo with them too?" she ventured.

"Ah… I… ah… I do not believe that would be a good idea," Thor sputtered. "We need to find my brother. Fast! Where was it you saw him last?"

"But they are about to start the practice round," Beth whined. "I really do not want to miss it."

Linda rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Beth. This is just the practice round. The final joust to the death is in two hours. We can come back and see that. I mean, it's not like we've never watched the practice round. I can tell you line by line what's going to be said and what is going to happen."

Beth huffed. "True, but there are sometimes gaffes they have to adjust to."

"Those are minor, you know that. Linda is right. We've seen this round at least three times this season. Let's go find that Loki and Thranduil. Imagine the photo we can get if we come back and do a photo with all them?" Kate suggested.

"Ah… right. I'm not sure that would be a good idea…"

Kate looked at him with an odd expression. "You know them? Bad blood between you or something, like a bad neighbor thing?"

"I'll bet they've lost to that group in previous competitions. You know how competitive some of these people are about the cosplay contests. Especially when the prize is pretty good," Linda added.

"Yeah," Thor answered. "Something like that. I would rather my brother see them before we go over there. Just…" He paused trying to figure out a way out of this. Damn those Norns, he cursed silently. "Let's say we don't exactly get along."

"Got it." Kate nodded. "This way to the food court. That's where we saw the Loki with Thranduil."

•§•§•

Loki heard the "pop" and looked around. Who had joined them now? "Ah, excellent!" He greeted the newest arrivals. "Did not believe they would allow us to travel without some companions."

Thranduil looked up from his pineapple. "Well, it is about time. I am almost out of champagne. I do hope you brought some."

Tauriel rolled her eyes. "I am not the keeper of the…" she stopped speaking as she realized she was holding a large picnic basket. "Well, it appears that I am."

"Do tell, did you get enough for all of us to eat?" Sif asked noticing the food upon the table.

"As long as you have champagne in the basket, we have plenty to share," Loki grinned. "Welcome to a renaissance festival."

"Ah, so that is where we are. I always wondered what one was after that…" Sif paused, not sure if bringing up that incident was a good idea.

Loki sighed. "I was mad at Odin at the time. And yes, I did take it out on Thor, but it all turned out good in the end, didn't it? I fell off the Bifröst,"

"Let go of Thor's hand, more like," Sif countered.

"Details. But things worked out."

"Really? Like when you came back to Midgard and took out New York with your new friends?" Sif countered.

"I wasn't quite myself," Loki shrugged, looking as innocent as he could. "And I ended up dying anyway saving Jane."

"You didn't save Jane, Thor did, but that's an old story. And you didn't exactly die, did you?"

"No, I suppose not. At least it appears I did not. But, let's forget about that."

Thranduil and Tauriel had watched this exchange with keen interest.

"Care to expound a bit on this?" Thranduil asked when the two seemed to have finished.

"Well," Loki thought for a second on how to explain his more recent past transgressions. "I was mad at Odin, my father. At least he told me he was my father, but I'm not really sure he is my father. My mother, who is not my real mother, always told me that he was my father and that my mother was a Frost Giant… but it could be the other way around. But that's an old story. Odin decided Thor would be a better king than me, which was a huge mistake. I made a deal with the Frost Giants to come upset the coronation ceremony for Thor. Thor got a bit mad at their disruption, like I planned, and led a group of us to Jotunheim to protest their attack. I tried to talk him out of it."

"Not too hard as I recall," Sif interjected.

"True, but I did try. Anyway, Odin found out and had to come rescue us from Jotunheim. Odin of course was mad at Thor for acting so rashly."

"As you planned," Sif slipped in.

Loki frowned at her before continuing. "Odin banished Thor to Earth without his hammer. He really loves that hammer. Odin fell into one of his long sleeps, I had to take over ruling while he slept. I was doing a good job…"

"Really?" Sif asked. "You tried to kill me and the Warriors Three as I remember with that Destroyer."

"Oh, that," Loki dismissed the incident with a wave of his hand. "You didn't die. I sent him to keep you busy for a while. You were trying to rescue Thor as I remember. I needed to show Odin I was worthy of ruling. Anyways," Loki continued. "I managed to save Odin's life, the Frost Giants showed up and tried to kill him while he was still sleeping."

"I wonder how that happened?" Sif said sarcastically.

"Do you want to tell the story?" Loki asked.

"No, go ahead. I find this fascinating," Sif smiled sweetly.

Loki frowned. "Well, Thor got his hammer back, returned to Asgard, and I fell off the Bifröst and met up with a really bad dude. He messed with my mind but promised me my own kingdom – Midgard – if I would just get this one thing for him. So, he gave me an army and I almost had it when Thor showed up and ruined everything - again. I ended up in an Asgardian prison until the Dark Elves attacked. Thor begged me to help him save his girlfriend at the time. I agreed. We went to save her, and that's when I was killed… or not killed. I am really not sure what happened after that, but I ended up in Middle Earth alive. And quite frankly, I would simply love to return there and live. Although these adventures are rather fun."

"That's your story?" Sif asked.

"Yes," Loki stated quietly. "Care to argue?" He locked eyes with Sif.

Sif sighed. "I guess not. It does more or less follow what happened."

"Fascinating," Thranduil said. "I am fortunate that these mishaps befell you or I would never have met you and claimed you as my wizard. Now that I know you wish to rule, I might be able to find some place for you to take over when we return to Middle Earth."

"That would be delightful," Loki smiled.

"Out of curiosity, where did you learn your magic? Is this something from the Frost Giants?" Thranduil asked.

"No, from my mother Frigga. You've met her on one of our adventures. She taught me everything I know. But I'm really not sure if she is my mother or not." Loki replied. Movement across the glade captured his attention. "Ah, it appears my brother has been allowed to join us today, and as usual, he is surrounded by ladies." He debated if he should attempt to catch Thor's attention, but the one of the ladies in Thor's entourage had sighted him and was excitedly pointing towards the small party.

Thor approached. "Well met, brother!" He smiled in relief.

Loki noticed Thor was slightly agitated. "What is wrong? And please, introduce us."

"Can we get our picture with you?" Kate had already whipped out her phone. "You guys look so real."

"They might just beat that couple we just saw."

Thranduil frowned. "Real?"

"I'll explain later," Thor said. "But…"

Linda cut him off. "I've got someone to take our photo, come on guys, line up!" She began organizing the group for their photo as Kate handed her phone to a lady who had agreed to take the photo.

"Quickly," Thor said. "Please?" he added as he kept darting a look in the direction he had come from.

After several attempts to get the phone to take the photo, the lady handed the phone back to Kate. "I hope these are okay. You all look so awesome. I'll be rooting for you at the contest!"

Kate flipped through the photos taken. "These are awesome! Thanks!"

"Now, what's going on?" Loki asked his brother suspiciously. "Something is not good if I am correct."

"You could say that…" Thor spoke slowly, staring past his brother. "I just saw…" he froze mid-sentence, his mouth open.

"Saw who? Or What?" Sif demanded.

"Them," Thor pointed behind Loki.

Loki turned, seeing what Thor was pointing at. "Seriously? What next?"