Loki sat on the uncomfortable ice throne just a little lower than Angrboda's as ambassadors from various realms filed through the court, giving gifts and congratulations to the new king and queen. Loki smiled and thanked them just as Angrboda smiled and thanked them. He was bored to tears, though... What is the point of this ceremony? Half of these realms would wipe us out in a heartbeat if they were given the chance!

Such as the fire demon party sent from Muspelheim. They approached, bowed, and put a large box down. "A gift from Lady Tanwen, for Lady Glut in congratulations on her coronation."

Loki's brows rose. He glanced up at Angrboda, who looked just as confused.

"There is no Glut here."

"This is the name that your mother gave you," the demon responded.

Angrboda's jaw dropped. Her gripped her throne tightly. After a moment of silent staring, Loki decided that he had best step in.

"Thank you for the gift," he said, inclining his head.

The demon party bowed and departed.

"Get rid of it," Angrboda immediately spat, glaring at the box.

"Angie-"

"Get rid of it!"

Silently, the box was taken out the back way of the temple. Angrboda's chin dropped to her chest for a moment and she breathed deeply. She caught Loki's glance as she looked back up, but didn't say anything.

"Send in the next well-wisher," she ordered.

It was Loki's turn to stiffen and glare. Karnilla, the Norn queen, strutted in. She had nothing with her, and wore practically nothing except the half-mask that covered her face. What could be seen was still beautiful... What couldn't be seen was scars from where Atum had melted her flesh centuries ago after she nearly killed Thor.

"Karnilla," Loki snarled, though he knew that he was not supposed to speak before Angrboda.

The Norn queen swept a bow that was bordering on mocking. "I offer my congratulations to the newly crowned king and queen of Jotunheim."

"Welcome, Norn Queen," Angrboda said, putting a hand on Loki's shoulder. "I did not expect such a dignitary to come herself."

"I thought it more personal this way," Karnilla replied smoothly. "I have come to offer more than congratulations."

"Such as what?" Loki asked icily.

Karnilla arched a dark brow. "We two once made a deal* that offered us both benefit, for a while, did we not? I simply wish to forge an alliance-"

"What sort of alliance?"

Angrboda gripped Loki's shoulder. He bit his tongue with difficulty. If Karnilla was talking about the type of alliance that he thought she was...

"Jotunheim has no love for Asgard, as far as I knew," the Norn queen said, her voice frostier than it had been. "And the rumours say that there is no love lost between Odin and his adopted son – or is "stolen" more appropriate?"

"Asgard has extended an offer of friendship to Jotunheim," Angrboda interrupted, her voice calm but severe. "If you mean to speak against our ally and my husband's father, then I must request that you leave and not return."

Karnilla's jaw dropped. Loki smirked at her dumbfounded expression. Obviously she had been expecting an easy alliance. The queen straightened her shoulders and gave them both an imperious look.

"It is not wise to dismiss the Norn queen so readily," she said haughtily, and her gaze zeroed in on Loki. "I would have thought that you would have known that, after what happened to your little friend, my 'daughter'."*

"Leave," Angrboda repeated.

Karnilla swept her dark hair behind her gleaming shoulders. She turned on her heel and marched out.

Loki took a deep breath and let it out slowly to calm himself. "Well, that was interesting."

"I don't suppose many people will expect our relations with Asgard to be friendly," Angrboda replied.

"They're in for a surprise then."

Angrboda nodded, and waved her hand to admit the next guest. Loki's face broke into a smile as Balder walked in, dressed in ceremonial armour, his horned helmet tucked under his arm. He grinned at Loki before trying to look formal and dignified. He bowed.

"I bring congratulations to the king and queen of Jotunheim from Odin Allfather of Asgard. We hope that we may open a dialogue between our realms of peace and prosperity. As a token of our sincerity, I have brought a gift from the Allfather."

He's grown up so much! Loki thought, thinking back to the little baby that used to drool over his books.

"Thank you, Lord Balder," Angrboda said seriously, inclining her head. "I hope that you will stay a day or two, so that we may discuss this opening of trade."

Balder beamed. "I was hoping you'd say that!"

Loki laughed, getting to his feet to embrace his brother. "Let's not rest on ceremony, shall we?"

Angrboda shook her head. "Are there any more visitors waiting to congratulate us?" she asked Helblindi, who stood nearby. The Jotünn wordlessly shook his head.

"Very well. Then I think that I and my husband will retire to our abode for the time being." She stood.

"My king," Helblindi said quietly. "Perhaps you may be needed to organise the distribution of Asgard's gift?"

Loki's brow furrowed. "Distribution? What did you bring, Balder?"

Balder gestured to the door. "Why don't you go see?"

"That's no way to talk to a queen," Loki joked, prodding him in the ribs. "Come. We'd better get all the official business out of the way so you can tell me everything that's happened in Asgard in the past three days."

"Good, because I've got a lot to say!" Balder agreed fervently.

The three left the temple, and once outside Loki's jaw dropped. Balder hadn't come alone. There were dozens of men still streaming in, carrying loads of crates with them. He glanced at Angrboda; her eyes were as large as her fists. Both Loki and Angrboda turned to Balder, who was beaming at them.

"What is this?"

"This is the gift from Asgard. Oh! Right, there's a coronation present in there, too."

"Alright," Loki said. "But what is it?"

"Vegetables, fruits, preserved meats. All sorts of things."

"That is very generous of Odin," Angrboda murmured.

Loki nodded, but he couldn't help but wonder, Generosity or putting us in his debt? "Balder, you'll have to stay with Angrboda so you can direct the Aesir. When you're done we can talk."

"Where are you going?"

Loki shrugged. "It's been a long day. I'd better check on Jormungand."

He wandered back to his and Angrboda's home. Jormungand was sleeping in a pile of furs, Fenrir stretched out beside him. Loki smiled at the duo. They were an odd pair, but Fenrir had taken to being very protective of the little dragon. A knock at the door made Loki turn around. Gunnlod was standing in the doorway. Loki tensed.

"What are you doing here?"

"You are the new queen of Jotunheim. As such... there is something you need to have." Gunnlod sounded as though her head was being drilled open with her own teeth. She held out a bundle of furs. "This has been passed down from queen to queen since the dawn of Jotunheim. Treat it well."

She turned without a word and left. Loki frowned suspiciously at the bundle, and then began to unwrap it. He shivered slightly as the room grew colder; he'd have to add mushrooms to the fire. Gunnlod's gift was jade, whatever it was, cold as his finger brushed against. The last of the wrappings fell away, revealing a crown. Loki stared at it. It looked like a coiled serpent, only where the single head should have been there were seven.

A seven-headed snake. Loki's heart leapt to his throat, his hand seemingly glued to the jade. Set. Chthon's brother, enemy to Atum-

A long hiss filled his brain. Put it on.

Loki fought against the way his hand clenched the crown, lifting it. I won't put it on, I won't. He who wears the serpent crown becomes the serpent.

"Loki?"

The crown slipped from his grasp, and he turned, seeing Balder in the doorway. He blinked. What had he been doing? Gunnlod had come, given him something... He began to turn but stopped. Gunnlod must have taken it back.

"What is it?"

"Atum's outside, talking with Angrboda. He's asked to speak with you."

"Atum..." Loki shook his head. Why was it so foggy? Too much sitting listening to diplomats. "I'd better go see him. Stay here. Don't touch anything."

Balder nodded, stepping in. He eyed Jormungand and Fenrir. "Will they eat me?"

"Of course not." Loki ruffled his brother's hair, earning a scowl, and then laughing left the abode.

He met Atum halfway to the temple. Silently they regarded each other and then turned out of the city. They walked a ways silently and then stopped. Loki waited for him to speak.

"I have recently run across some evidence that Set is planning something. Something huge. What, I do not yet know. Jotunheim was once a favoured world of his. Have you noticed anything out of sorts during your time here?"

"I suppose you couldn't just stop by to see how I was doing?" Loki asked, somewhat bitterly. He shook his head. "No. I've seen nothing out of order."

Atum nodded once. He hesitated. "How are you settling in?"

"Well. Jotunheim is more... beautiful than I expected. I think I will be very happy here. Angrboda and I are looking forward to a long and prosperous reign. We have a lot of ideas. I think that perhaps there might be sodium nitrates in the ice at certain places... We can find them by tracking the herds. If there is we might be able to start synthesizing fertilizers for the crop fields that we have, while we look for new ground."

"Good. I hope you do well..."

Loki contemplated Atum. His father... Farbauti loved him, he thought. I should give him her journal. But he didn't want to. He wanted to keep it for himself, for at least a little longer. "How long will you be staying?"

"I'll be leaving as soon as this conversation is over."

"Her house still stands," Loki blurted. Should he tell Atum about the presence he felt there, the help he had received in the maze? No... It was just a spell. "Will you-"

"No."

Loki didn't press the matter. "If I see or hear anything, I will let you know."

Atum nodded once. And they parted ways without saying good-bye. I should have told him... something, Loki frowned as he walked away. There was something... Ah, it must not have been important.

When he got back to his abode, Balder was sitting by the fire, murmuring incantations to form images in the flames. Loki sat down beside him, looking around... Had there been something else in the abode? No, he was just confused. Too long of a day.

"So tell me what's new."

Balder smiled at his brother. "Nanna and I are engaged."

"How did that go?"

"Wonderfully. I've never been happier in my life." He gazed into the fire. "I got my family back."

Loki put an arm around his brother. "Yes, you do."

#

Well, my sweet, it is done, the voice whispered in Gunnlod's mind. We shall have our revenge soon.

"Thank you, master," she spoke aloud, carefully winding her way down a cavern, bow and spear strapped to her back. "My beautiful Jotunheim will be restored."

I think not.

Gunnlod stopped. "What?"

Restoration? Your niece and my nephew's son would do that. No, I think that Jotunheim will melt.

Gunnlod's eyes widened. "What do you mean? Master, you promised-"

I am Set the Elder Serpent, my sweet. I do not nurture. I consume. And you have outlived your usefulness.

And with that, she felt the serpent coil in her mind. Unable to stop herself, she strode to the edge of the cavern and flung herself in. No sound came from her lips and as the wind rushed into her blood-red eyes, she realised that no-one would even mourn her; not even her son. When would they even realise she was missing?

#

Several days later, Balder returned to Asgard. He dutifully related the events on Jotunheim to his father, and then requested he be able to rest. He had a strange headache that had been plaguing him for some time. Once he was in his room, he bolted the doors and retreated to his bed, drawing the curtains closed around him.

With a silent incantation and a gesture of his hands, a crown appeared before him. Carved from jade, seven pairs of ruby snake eyes staring at him, glowing in the darkness. He was transfixed by the craftsmanship. A twinge of guilt knotted his stomach as he thought of how he had stolen it from Loki, but his brother hadn't even mentioned the crown. It couldn't have been important.

Balder lifted the crown, setting it gently on his head. Instantly he found himself in another place; the ground was hard and dry under his feet, but nearby an ocean roared. Looking closer, he saw to his horror that the water was red like blood. A hissing sounded behind him and he turned with dread.

And found himself staring into the putrid-green eyes of a seven-headed snake.

"Welcome, prinssse Balder," the snake chuckled. "I have been exssspecting you."

END

#

The story will continue in "The Gathering Storm." As Balder prepares for his wedding, Thor and Sif finally give in to their feelings for one another. But darkness lurks on the horizon as Loki and Sigyn attempt to deal with an unexpected revelation that will change them both forever, and Balder suffers from mysterious blackouts that threaten Asgard's very existence. AU, coauthored by Marvel-Tolkien fangirl. I will start uploading it sometime soon, I'm not entirely certain when. In the meantime, other stories in the series are listed below.

*Events in Marvel-Tolkien Fangirl's "Shadows and Regrets"

All the stories in the "Shadows and Regrets" series in order. ("Me" indicates that it can be found on my profile, "MTF" indicates it can be found on Marvel-Tolkien Fangirl's profile. I'd provide links but apparently that's not allowed.)

The Heart of Everything (me)

A young Freyja struggles between her arranged marriage to the Aesir prince Ve and her growing feelings for a guard, little does she know that her choice will change everything. Meanwhile, her elder brother Atum investigates a growing demonic influence in the nine realms, trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle before it's too late to stop the demon's plan.

...

Lacrimosa (MTF)

The sun-god Atum's endless battles with the demon Chthon force him to make a horrific choice, which will have a devastating effect on his sister Freyja and many others around her. Rated M for content.

...

The Shield-Maiden (MTF)

Young Sif's tale as she struggles to overcome Asgard's preconceived notions about maidens, and achieves her dream of becoming a warrior.

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Shadows and Regrets (MTF)

Thor, Loki, Sif and Sigyn's continuing adventures as they grow up in Asgard. Sequel to The Shield-Maiden, but can be read alone.

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Born to Die (MTF)

Freyja's family gather around her as her eldest child dies. Old griefs are aired, but some gulfs are too wide to breach.

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Scarlet Dawn (MTF)

Shield recruits two new candidates for the Avengers. Wanda and Pietro Maximoff have a mysterious, frightening past, and Wanda has powers that she cannot fully control and doesn't understand, powers that were responsible for the destruction of her village and her people when she was a child.

...

Winter's Fire (MTF)

Loki and Atum struggle to adjust to their new situation, while dealing with a sinister threat, and the reactions of their friends and family. It takes place shortly after Chapter Twelve of 'Scarlet Dawn' and will make more sense if you're familiar with that, and the other stories in the Shadows universe.

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Quoth the Magpie (MTF)

14-year-old Loki has an amusing encounter with his older self.

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Fire and Ice (me)

You just read it, no description necessary.

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Silver Dusk (MTF)

Six months after Wanda Maximoff encountered her brother again, the Avengers still have no idea how to restore his memories and bring him home. A deadly new threat causes loyalties to be questioned, as enemies arise from within the human race...and outside it. Sequel to 'Scarlet Dawn'.