Fic: A Traitor in the House of Odin (7/14)

[bookishwench]

Peter followed behind Loki through the maze of corridors, trying to keep track of where he was and failing spectacularly. He supposed the confusing layout was probably done on purpose to disorient any invading warriors, but at the moment all it was doing was making him a little dizzy. When they finally came to the main staircase, Peter quietly exhaled in relief since he was fairly sure he knew his way from there to the gardens, but to his surprise, Loki turned abruptly into another room and shut the door.

Loki lifted a warning finger to his lips, and Peter immediately abandoned the question he was about to ask. Instead, he listened intently, as Loki was doing, straining to hear whatever it was he had missed.

Several minutes passed. Eventually, Loki shook his head and opened the door, looking in both directions, but the hallway was deserted.

“Someone was following us,” Loki said.

“Who?”

“I don’t know. Did you hear them?”

Peter shook his head.

“It was very subtle, so I’m not surprised. One of the steps on the second staircase we took creaks a little. Thor and I have always skipped that step since childhood because it alerted our governesses that we were out of bed at night and heading for the kitchens for a midnight snack,” Loki said.

“Someone walked on the step?”

“Yes, exactly three paces behind you.”

“But I didn’t see anyone.”

“Nor did I, which is what troubles me,” Loki said, frowning. “I also heard someone walk past this door while we were hidden. I chose this particular route because of the carpets. Anyone walking on them leaves faint footsteps because they’re so plush. There, see?”

He pointed at a spot that Peter probably wouldn’t have noticed, but after he saw it, it was hard to ignore. The steps went on down the hallway, heading in the direction of the garden.

“Why didn’t I get that tingling thing?” Peter asked.

“Tingling thing? Oh, yes, your precognition! I would guess for the same reason neither of us saw them.”

“Magic?” Peter asked, sounding a little frightened.

“Quite. Thankfully, we weren’t supposed to meet Mother in the garden, so whoever it was is going the wrong way. Luncheon is being served in her sitting room. Come on.”

Less than a minute later, they arrived outside Frigga’s apartments. She was standing at the door, and while she was smiling, there was tension in her expression.

“Perfect timing. The food has only just arrived, and Thor as well,” she said.

“A usual combination,” Loki said with a sigh, but followed her inside.

A surprisingly large table was set up in the center of the room, and Thor was already sitting at one of the four sides, scooping something that appeared to be some kind of salad onto a plate. The delicate pinks, greens, blues, and yellows of the flower-patterned walls were broken up by windows that looked out over the forest beyond. It was a lovely room, and it put Peter at ease.

He also noticed that Loki shut the door with a snap, and then a crackle of magic.

“Trouble?” Thor asked.

“We were followed,” Loki said.

“By whom?” Frigga asked.

“No idea. They were invisible,” Loki said, sitting at the table. “We were able to slip away, but they obviously have a very high level of magic. Even Peter couldn’t sense whoever it was.”

Thor frowned as he shoved salad into his mouth with a utensil that looked only slightly smaller than a pitchfork. Frigga took her seat opposite Loki, with Peter on her right and Thor on her left, and began filling everyone’s glasses from a large pitcher.

“Is this milk?” Peter asked, squinting at the liquid that was so brilliantly white it appeared to be glowing.

“Yes,” Frigga said, smiling again, “straight from the udder of Audumla herself. I think you will find it particularly refreshing.”

Peter took a sip, then had to stop himself from rudely gulping down the rest of it immediately.

“Wow,” he managed.

Loki chuckled.

“Don’t be surprised if you grow an inch or so off that,” Frigga said, and Peter couldn’t tell if she was joking. “I hate to spoil our meal with unpleasant talk, but I’m afraid I must.”

“No apologies needed, Mother,” Thor said. “What did you find out?”

“That’s just it. Nothing,” Frigga said. “Both my sources and my spells show no one at all who could be doing this. Most magic leaves traces. This leaves nothing at all.”

“Are we absolutely sure it’s magic?” Peter asked.

“What else could it be?” Thor said, tearing into a leg of something Peter couldn’t identify.

“I don’t know,” Peter said. “Could your technology do anything like this?”

Loki hummed thoughtfully as he stirred a huge amount of honey into his milk before saying, “Nothing I’m aware of, but other worlds have technology that we don’t.”

“Are any of those worlds angry with Asgard?” Peter asked.

“It is often more difficult to find those that are not,” Loki said, “but there are a few that are always especially happy to see us suffer.”

‘Jotunheim, for example,” Thor said, then at Peter’s frown and pointed look at Loki, added, “no offense meant.”

“None taken,” Loki said in a voice that suggested the opposite. “After all, you’re the one who started it with that ridiculously ill-advised attempt to invade them a few years ago.”

“Well, I didn’t train the Bifrost on them to try to blow up the whole place!” Thor said. “I just hit a few things with my hammer!”

“There’s no ‘just’ about it! You make Mjolnir sound like something from a Midgardian home improvement store,” Loki shot back.

“Boys,” Frigga said with a warning note in her voice, “you are being ill-mannered in front of our guest.”

“Peter is used to us,” Loki said, waving his hand as though he were brushing off flies. “However, as you are displeased, I am willing to halt the topic for now.”

“As am I,” Thor growled, sounding like he was planning on re-starting the conversation at the earliest opportunity.

“So… this whole Jotunheim thing,” Peter said carefully. “I’m guessing they’re still pretty angry about what happened?”

“You would be correct,” Frigga said.

“Would their magic leave traces too?” Peter asked.

“Yes, but the signature might be slightly different,” Frigga said. “I would need to do further research.”

“Do we honestly think a rogue invisible Jotun infiltrated the palace in order to besmirch Peter’s name?” Thor said.

“It does sound rather unlikely,” Frigga admitted.

“Unless that’s the point,” Loki said. “What if this is a diversion meant to keep us looking one way while something much worse is happening elsewhere?”

“It’s certainly possible,” Thor agreed, rubbing his beard. “Perhaps Heimdall should keep an especially sharp lookout for anything strange.”

“A wise suggestion,” Frigga agreed. She hesitated for a moment, then flinched as she set down the pitcher, which she had just been using to refill Peter’s cup. “I did find out one other thing, and I am sorry to say it is unpleasant news.”

The three others all waited as she chose her words carefully.

“I’m afraid public opinion of Peter is distinctly. . . unfavorable,” she said. “During your welcome feast, you won over a good many Aesir, but the incident with the horses has somehow leaked out to the general population, and the majority of them seem to think you are guilty.”

“Poppycock!” Thor yelled, looking livid.

“Such language,” Loki said, raising an eyebrow in mock-surprise and putting a hand to his heart as though clutching pearls.

“But that is an outrage!” Thor bellowed, not lowering his voice in the least.

“It would have been worse if anyone had found out about the crown,” Frigga pointed out. “Thankfully, that seems to have been averted.”

“Thank the Norns,” Thor said.

“Yes, I’m sure you wouldn’t want anyone to suffer the ill feeling of all Asgard, particularly a child, someone you were supposedly fond of, over an unsubstantiated accusation of criminal activity” Loki said, glaring at him.

“I am not even certain which time you are referring to,” Thor growled. “There have been so many.”

“What about that ridiculous charge of arson!”

“Loki, I realize you were only a small child, but you really did burn down the town hall,” Thor said.

“I did not!”

“Did so!”

“Prove it!”

“We found you standing next to the blaze with a half-empty pack of matches, laughing uproariously and clapping,” Thor said, folding his arms.

Loki looked vaguely uncomfortable, then shrugged and took another swallow of milk. Frigga took a long sip of her drink, which Peter thought suddenly looked a lot less like milk and a lot more like something much stronger.

“In any case,” Loki said, changing the topic, “the Warriors Three and Sif have invited Peter on a camping trip into the wilderness. Thor will obviously be going along.”

“Wait, you’re not going?” Peter asked.

Loki wrinkled his nose.

“I’m not seeing many advantages: poor food, cold ground to sleep on, and Volstagg’s Wagnerian snoring,” Loki said. “Believe me, my presence will not be missed.”

“Yes, it will,” Peter said simply. “Your choice, though. No guilt.”

Loki glanced at his mother, who raised an eyebrow at him meaningfully. At length, he sighed.

“Fine,” he said, throwing his spoon a bit too forcefully onto his plate. “I’ll attend their outdoor misery session. A bit more protection wouldn’t go awry.”

“Perhaps we can make s’mores!” Thor suggested jovially.

“Darling, did you forget someone fed Peter’s chocolate to the horses and that’s what started this whole mess?” Frigga said, taking another sip of her drink and giving a rather forced smile.

“Oh, right,” Thor said, his shoulder dropping dejectedly. “I had forgotten.”

Loki’s jaw dropped open as he stared at his brother. Then he shook his head and popped three slices of bread into his mouth at once. Peter supposed that was for the best; at least he couldn’t say anything that way. Frigga took another long sip of the not-milk before continuing.

“Peter, you have tonight, tomorrow, and tomorrow evening on Asgard before you return home,” she said. “Is there anything else you would like to see while you are here?”

“I don’t really know,” Peter said, shrugging. “Everything is interesting. Do any of you have a suggestion?”

“We probably won’t arrive back until late morning. Why not a trip into town tomorrow afternoon?” Thor said. “The markets will be open, and dancing is always going on in the town square.”

“Not bad,” Loki said, though it sounded like he still had at least half a slice of bread stuck in his cheek. “I may be able to arrange for some fireworks over the waterfall in the evening.”

“A lovely idea!” Frigga said. “Peter, what say you?”

“It sounds like fun,” he said, smiling.

“Very well, then,” she said. “I’m sure you will want to pack some things for your time in the wilderness. Are you staying in the Emerald Suite or the Garnet Room?”

“Kind of both,” he said sheepishly, quickly explaining what had happened the night before.

Frigga sighed, then said, “Spying in the palace. It certainly isn’t the first time that’s happened here, but I don’t believe I’ve ever been so embarrassed over the treatment of a guest. And after how gracious the Bartons were with all of us at their home! I’m ashamed.”

“No, don’t be! I’m really having a great time!” Peter said. “Everything is incredible. I’d invite you guys to our apartment in Queens for a return visit, but it’d be pretty cramped.”

“The thought, dear heart, is appreciated,” Frigga said, patting his cheek fondly. “I look forward to seeing you on the morrow. I must be about a few duties now, though.”

She rose, and so did all three of the others in a show of politeness as she left the room.

“That will undoubtedly be the only civilized conversation you can count on until after our return to tomorrow,” Loki said with a grimace.

“Civilization is overrated, brother,” Thor said, clapping an arm around his shoulders as Loki gritted his teeth. “Come! We shall pack a few essentials and be on our way.”

“Right,” Loki said, starting to count on his fingers. “Ear plugs, bilgesnipe repellent, possibly some cyanide capsules—”

Thor flicked his brother on the head with his fingernail and ordered, “No dying on our camping trip! You are making far too much of a habit of it.”

“Ow,” Loki said, rubbing his forehead pointedly. “Fine. I’ll go, but let whatever happens be on your head if I become too bored. I hadn’t intended the capsules for myself.”

“Don’t carry on so! We shall have a jolly time together!” Thor said, still looking utterly convinced of his own words. “Oh, and Peter, bring some extra socks. The night air tends to be quite damp here. I would not want your aunt to accuse us of putting you in danger of catching a cold.”

“Okay,” Peter agreed as he followed them back towards the guest rooms.

However, when he opened the door of the Garnet Room, it was obvious someone else had been there first.