The Blue Rose 'Chapter 1
Asgard was a beautiful place. Everything seemed to be made of flawless gold. The royal palace shone like the sun, even in the dark night.
Loki scanned the panorama with his scarlet eyes, the several thousand stars catching his eyes. The skies of Jotunheim were always covered with storm clouds; Loki had never seen the constellations before. Standing on the edge of the BiFrost, he was awestruck with all twinkling orbs that surrounded him from all sides. He wanted to find out more about them.
"My Prince." Heimdel, the Gatekeeper greeted him. "The chariots are ready."
Loki nodded. He got into the vehicle, and his escorts joined him. Curiosity took over, and he couldn't help but peer out through the dark curtains and adore the clear skies and the dazzling cities.
"Brother." Helbindi's voice interrupted him. Loki looked back at his brother, the new king of Jotunheim. He was a frost giant by all means. The dangerous scarlet eyes, the crystal blue skin, the sacred markings, the proportions, and the air around him; everything. He truly deserved to succeed his Father.
Unlike himself, Loki thought.
"Everything will be okay." His brother assured. "And if not, you tell me. You know what happens next." He whispered, threat lacing his voice.
Loki nodded. He knew his brother was very protective of him. Just like father. Loki loathed Fortune. Had his size not been his weakness, he wouldn't be treated like he was so frail! He could defend himself! But of course, no one believed that.
And that's why he was here. In Asgard. Lady Fate was playing a cruel game with his life. He had been trying to convince his father all his life that he could take care of himself. But the King had different proposals in his mind. Of course he did not want to disobey his king's orders, his father's dying wish.
And therefore he found himself being accompanied to the royal palace of Asgard, rumored to be made of pure gold from earthen elves of the deep. His heart hammered loudly in his chest. How he missed the stormy clouds of his home! He would give away anything to be in the tempest!
He had heard of the Æsir's cruelty. How they worshipped strength and beauty over wisdom and knowledge. How they liked to dive into the irrationality of mead to celebrate; how they lost control. They were loud and expressive. He was nothing like that. He knew he did not, could not belong here.
The chariot stopped.
He decided to run away, use his sorcery for his defense. His fingertips glowed with silver sparks.
He could hear the crowd cheer outside.
A few unspoken words of magic, and he could be free forever! So what if this raged the Asgardians and they triggered a war? Helbindi could manage that, right?
The charioteer pulled away the curtains, and bright light blinded the Jotun princes. Helbindi got out first. He then leaned back in, and put out a hand for his brother.
His father's dying wish.
He could not break his family's trust, the All-father's faith. The queen would succumb to grief if he disappeared right now. He represented the glory of Jotunheim right now, adorned with the kingdom's most precious jewels, and the rarest garments of his realm. He could not disgrace his kingdom's name.
Loki took his brother's hand and stepped out, and a huge cheering welcomed him to Asgard.
The atmosphere dazzled with silver and gold. They were in the King's open-air court. A huge crowd, preferably the whole of Asgard, had gathered to watch the ceremony. Slowly, but steadily, Loki moved to the King, accompanied by his brother in the front, and two Jotun soldiers behind him. The All-father stood up to greet the foreign princes. The crowd roared with each step, and Loki found himself dazed.
The place was uncomfortable, too many eyes watching him. Back at home, he never interacted with anyone but the royal family and a few of the royal chamberlains. Everything was dimmed to perfection; but Asgard shone like the brightest nebula. It was burning his eyes.
And his heart.
He dared to look up, and his eyes met the brightest set of golden eyes, looking at him from beside the King, far on the other side of the room. And for a few moments, the loud noise, the scorching brightness, the uncomfortable moist heat in the atmosphere, the overexposed skies; everything seemed to fade into the tranquility of the flawless gold in those eyes, sparkling brighter than the stars which had first captured Loki's eyes.