Round 5

[norse_kink]

Round 5 is now closed.

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Fill: Riding sky and sea (5/6)

[lunik_the_bard]

Sleipnir is dozing on his feet in his stall. He has been left for days, weeks since the Allfather had need of him, and his only company has been the other horses and their drinking trough. It's lonely, but there is little point to wishing for anything else. The honour of being proclaimed king of horses would be enough for any other beast in this stable, and if there is something in Sleipnir that bridles at the word beast even in his own head, well... That's best left in his own head.

Besides, today has been a better day than most. Less lonely.

He looks up as a jumble of sound and activity approaches his stall. "Oh, oh! There you are! Hey, little bro-dude!" Hel comes barrelling into the stall without hesitation and Sleipnir backs up, alarmed. She gasps. "Oh, look at you! What are you wearing, a bridle? Jor, they've got him in a bridle! not cool!"

She reaches in with both hands and pulls at the leather around Sleipnir's muzzle and neck. "Come on, we gotta hurry if we're gonna get you out of here!" Twisting away from her hands, Sleipnir starts to whinny in distress, dancing in place with his front four legs.

Fenrir reaches in and pulls her bodily out of the stall before Sleipnir can trample her in his growing panic. "We do have to hurry, but we're not here to scare the guy." He holds up both hands and steps in front of Sleipnir offering him a half bow. "We've not met, but you and I are blood, on our mother's side."

"Father's?" interjects Hel. Fenrir frowns.

"Oh, maybe..."

"Loki." Jormungand says firmly. "We're Loki's kids. And so are you. Which is why it's shameful that you've been kept here like you're any other animal."

Sleipnir's eyes have been following the conversation back and forth between the three of them, but he's stopped shying. He does look like he can understand what they're saying, and he tilts his head when he hears Loki's name. Jormungand regards him.

"Can't speak, huh?" he asks, and Sleipnir ducks his head, nodding. "That's okay. I don't have much of a voice in my natural form either. I can teach you to speak anyway - there's a knack to it."

Hel's hands come back to Sleipnir's neck, unfastening the bridle more carefully now. "But we can't teach you anything if we don't get out of here quick, little brother. Someone's gonna think to check here soon."

Ever practical, Fenrir starts to up a couple of horse blankets, hoof picks and brushes and slings them in a bundle over his shoulder. If all goes well they'll be on Yggdrasil's branches before they need any of that, and then home on Midgard, but it never hurts to be prepared.

Jormungand leans in close. "Sleipnir," he says. "You were born to do more than carry our grandfather on your back. Come with us?"

Sleipnir dips his head to let Hel remove the leather bridle, then when it's gone he dips his head again. Yes, I'll come with you.

He moves nervously, slowly, disobeying the Allfather for the first time since he was broken as a colt, but this suits his brothers and sister fine as they pause to listen at every corner. As go, they come across the sleeping form of their uncle, and Sleipnir stops. He bends his neck down as far as it will go to snuffle at Thor's hair and nudge his head with his nose.

Fenrir stops and watches, unreadable. "He was here visiting you." It's not quite a question, but Sleipnir looks up and nods anyway. Fenrir crouches next to their uncle. "That's... more than he ever did for the three of us."

Sleipnir looks up at the others, and Hel and Jormungand shift uncomfortably. "Let me guess," Fenrir says softly, "He started visiting after he lost Loki?"

Sleipnir nods, and Hel scoffs indignantly. "Oh, that is so not cool."

But Jormungand is looking thoughtful. "It's cooler than what he might have done."

After another second's contemplation, Fenrir unwinds his bundle and spreads one of the blankets up to Thor's chest. "I promise he'll be okay, brother," he says, touching a hand to Sleipnir's flank. "Hel's actually not terrible at magic. And he's promised to visit earth when the Bifrost is repaired, so you'll see him again."

Hel looks around nervously. "We still have to go, dudes." Reluctantly, Sleipnir allows them to lead him away from his uncle, and they make their escape from Asgard.