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The morning was calm and silent. Well, apart from the few birds that were signing outside of his chambers, in the gardens. But they did not bother Thor at all. In his sleep that he had awaken from just a little, for he was still sleepy and maybe still a bit in his dreams, he could hear from afar servants running and talking. But again it was too far away to really disrupt his torpor. And his blankets were so warm, his bed so comfy. Really, it could not have been a more peaceful and pleasant morning.
It was at least what Thor thought before Loki barged into his chambers.
Loki was usually not the type of person to be noisy. He even had more tendency to be quiet, and to make himself discreet. But this time, Thor did not know why, he heard his brother opened his door with quite brutality and come abruptly on his bed.
He winced. He hoped it was something serious. Thor hated being waked up so suddenly, and even more for a stupid reason.
Before he could say anything, Loki climbed up on him, and exclaimed with some excitement Thor rarely heard from him, "Look! It snowed!"
It took a few seconds for Thor to cope with his little brother's words. His face still sleepy, he lazily raised an eyebrow.
"What...? But it rarely snows on Asgard..."
"But it is true, look!"
Thor groaned. Was it another lie from Loki? It was absolutely not the first time his little brother woke him up at the sole purpose of pulling a prank on him. With suspicion, he straightened up a little, just as to see through the window.
And it was true. It was not snowing anymore, but the gardens were covered by a white blanket.
Thor could even see, from where he was, some domestics and gardeners clearing the larger pathway of the gardens, that led to the palace.
However, the trees still had their bright green leaves and the flowers were still blooming under the snow they were covered with. That was quite strange, even if it was not the strangest thing Thor had ever seen.
"It's so odd," Loki began, "Last night I dreamt it had snowed, and when I woke up it was the case! In my dream we had so much fun, we did snowballs battles with everyone, I even landed one on father and he was pissed, and you and mother were laughing, and after we even did ice skating on the lake! And Fandral fell many times, and you laughed again! And after that, we played only between us, I made a snake out of snow and you reproduced Mjölnir with snow!"
Thor couldn't help but laugh. "Well that's precise. It seems you had a lot of fun in your dream."
"I did. But then I woke up, and I was sad because it was not real."
"It could be true. See," Thor showed him the snow outside with his chin.
"Can we go play outside then?" Loki said excitingly.
"Yes, but not right now, please. Let me wake up properly first," Thor yawned.
Too happy to just wait next to him, Loki lifted up the warm blanket and slipped himself under it. He turned to his brother and looked at him with a bright smile.
"I never saw snow for real ! Only in books and in the other realms' tales father told us about. I'm so happy. I want it to be just like my dream!"
"We'll try", Thor simply said, his eyes closed and still a little tired. Since when was Loki so talkative?
"I think I had that dream because of the book I read last night. I found it in the library, on the shelves of the very old books we don't have the right to read - but I was curious. It was a book about the Jotuns, but not like the ones father gave us, this time it didn't talk about wars or their barbaric manners, it was about all that they made with the ice they have on Jotunheim. It had pictures of beautiful ice decorations in palace, and sculptures, and even fountains. And it also talked about how they have a lot of snow on their mountains and how children would go play on it, like they would take their parents' shield and they would slip down all the mountain on it!"
"That's stupid..." Thor groaned.
Loki's smile faded. "But it must be amusing... it goes really fast, you know! That's what the book told."
"And did it also said the Jotuns had ice skating? That's so ridiculous."
"Well, no..." Loki said, not picking up the mockery. "But they did have other games!"
"Why would you even take interest in this anyway?"
"I don't know, I just find it interesting," Loki pouted, frustrated as not to see his brother share his new infatuation.
"Jotuns are uncivilised creatures, just like the dark elves or the midgardians. Everyone thinks so. Plus there have been a war between our realms, so they are bad."
"Perhaps it just a few of them! There are bad asgardians too," Loki objected, "Like Sif, she has a horrible temperament! And maybe there are uncivilised but they make pretty decorations anyway. It would be great if father installed an ice fountain in the middle of the gardens! Don't you think?"
Thor just shrugged his shoulders. In fact he didn't care about all of this. It's true it made him happy to see Loki so cheerful, but he really didn't have any interest in the Jotuns apart from the perspective of fighting them.
"You could ask him, I guess. Father is wise and he likes art, he always appreciates to decorate the palace with gold and paintings, so I think he would find your idea very interesting", Thor said with honesty.
Loki's smile fade again, not because of Thor's words this time but because of his own thoughts. "But for the ice fountain to not melt, it would have to stay cold. And it's not that cold on Asgard. Apart from today."
"Yes, I can even feel it..."
"Then you have to put some more layers on! Come on, let's get dressed and go play in the snow!"
"You're the worst brother," Thor groaned. He just wanted to sleep again.
"But I don't want to go play alone. Come on!"
Thor had no choice but to capitulate. He yawned again and slowly got off his bed, not noticing his brother doing the same.
When he approached his wardrobe, he didn't know what to put on. The warmest clothes he had was simples shirts, of all colors and decorations possible. But not really suited for a tough winter.
He decided to put a few on, thinking that many layers, even thin ones, would keep him warm. However, he had no trouble finding thick pants and solid boots.
When he turned around to him, he noticed Loki didn't had anything warm on him neither. He had consistent boots too, but was wearing just a simple green vest. He wanted to ask him if he wouldn't be cold, but he cut him before he could speak.
"Are you ready? Can we go now?"
"Yes, yes. You're so impatient. That's my job usually."
"I'm just curious as to see how snow really is! See, I waited for you."
"That's nice of you. Thank you."
As Thor opened his door, he saw a servant passing fast in front of him. There was another one further, because they started talking. They seemed panicked, and their voice were shaking. Maybe that's why they were running before.
"It hasn't snowed as much in Asgard for centuries!" Began one of them. "It must be the Jotuns! There is no other explaination!"
"By the Norns," continued the other who seemed even more scared, "You must be right! Are they really here? Or is it just a warning?"
"I heard one of the cooks said that when she woke up early this morning to prepare the princes' bread, when it was still night outside, she saw that there was already snow everywhere. It must be a warning only, for if they were here, they would already have attacked."
"But what if this warning means they are planning to attack?"
Thor wanted to interrupt them, but stopped opening the door when he saw their mother coming and stepping between the two young servants. She seemed nervous, but not afraid like them. More like she was troubled by something.
He and Loki looked from the gap of the door with curiosity, eyeing and listening to the three of them.
"Stop being so worried, dears," Frigga said. "We can hear you through all the corridor."
"We are so sorry, my queen," apologized the youngest of them with embarrassment, his hands trembling from it and from the fear. "It is just that we heard this snow could have been caused by the Jotuns."
"Do not listen to these hearsays. The Bifrost is heavily guarded and the Jotuns cannot pass through it. And even if they succeed so, the Allfather is wise and mighty enough as to not let them come any close to the city and the palace."
The two servants nodded, somewhat reassured. Frigga wasn't though.
She bit her lip. The girl was right a moment ago. It was true the last time it snowed on Asgard, at least that much, it was centuries ago, and it was not in a era of peace. But right now, what could it be? It could not be the Jotuns. They were silent since centuries, why manifest now without reason? And they would clearly not manifest their presence this way. Then what could it be?
The meteorologists she went to see were clear, it was not a natural phenomenon. No clouds in the sky could have prevent this, and even yesterday it was hot like in summer. Then what was it? A miracle? Magic? She twisted her fingers in her reflexion. If it was magic, it was not her own. And only few people were capable of such tricks, so complete and with a long duration and large area, here on Asgard. Or maybe...
Her finger's movements stopped. Could it be...?
Of course it could be. She had already taught him a bit of magic that he learnt fast, and he was a Jotun after all.
She didn't know if her conclusion was terrifying or reassuring.
She must find Loki. Now. It was still early in the morning, he should be in his bedchambers, sleeping peacefully.
She had to understand all of this. She turned around and with rapid steps, left the servants as fast as she had joined them.
Seeing she was going away, the two children waited for the young servants to do the same, and went in the opposite direction, trying not to be seen. If they were, the servants would probably tell them to stay in their bedchambers for safety. And they just wanted to sneak out. They weren't afraid after all, Loki was too curious to be scared and Thor was persuaded he could fight the Jotuns if they dared to come.
A few minutes after, they were outside. Fortunately, there was no guard at the tiny door to the gardens they had choose to go through. In fact, there was not a lot of people in the gardens. Just the few ones clearing the principal pathway further away, and in a corner, a gardener seeming troubled and asking himself if he had to water the flowers or not.
With a wide smile, Loki ran to the snowy grass, sparkles in his eyes. Thor followed him, hands in his pockets, not less marvelled - though he was showing it less. It was true he had never seen snow neither. But even if he found it quite pretty, he didn't find it that beautiful. He preferred way more the gardens in the summer's colors.
"I thought snow was more solid and tough!" Loki exclaimed as he felt the tiny ice crackling underneath his footsteps.
"Maybe it depends of were it is, or of its consistence."
"Snow is a really specific subject then. Maybe in Jotunheim there are snow experts. It is a shame father is in conflict with them, we could have ask them questions otherwise."
"Stop thinking about those vile creatures," Thor rolled his eyes, not understanding his brother's curiosity.
"But I want to know more about the snow! And they may know about it. They could even help us built the ice fountain."
"As speaking of this... it seems the water in the fountain is frozen," Thor remarked as he saw the state of the tiny stone fountain - there was a large bigger one in marble on the garden's center.
Loki gasped and ran to look at it. He opened his eyes wide.
"It is as solid and transparent as ice! And look, the fishes, they seem frozen too! They are not moving."
"Who first decided to put fishes in a so tiny fountain?" Thor raised an eyebrow, not impressed by it.
"We should free them. We have to melt the ice."
Loki looked at his brother, as if he was waiting for an answer, or an action. Thor looked at him in return, making an obvious face.
"Why are you looking at me while saying this? I am the god of thunder, not of fire or volcanos or something."
Loki showed him puppy eyes. "But your thunderbolts are hot, can't they melt ice?"
"I wouldn't try. I could electrocute the poor animals. Can't you make water hot with your magic?"
"I know how to do it, but only from cold water. Not from ice! It changes state so it is a more difficult spell."
"Do it from snow then. It is cold water."
Loki said no more, and sat on his knees. Even if he was but a little child, he didn't doubt on the bit of magic he had learn.
He put his hand on the top of the snow, and concentrate. A glowing green began to appear around his hand. Thor observed it, clearly stunned. His brother's magic was as impressing as
their mother's.
Loki continued to cast his spell, his hand not moving. The snow under it began to melt. He continued until it became a puddle. But then he stopped.
"I can't do more. I don't think I did the spell I intended to do..."
"It doesn't matter," Thor sighed. "I wouldn't want you to be tired from using your magic too much. We have to find another solution."
Loki stood up, a bit annoyed to have failed.
"You're right. But if we go to the kitchens to make hot water, servants will see us, and they will tell us to go back to our room..."
"Because they think the Jotuns did this and that they are coming, yes."
Loki looked at his brother with honesty. He already had forgotten the frozen fishes.
"Do you think it is the case?" he asked.
"I don't think so. It is strange they would come unannounced. And even if they did, Father is strong, he will pushed them away and they will not even have the time to cross the rainbow bridge! And even if they did, I will slay them immediately!" He exclaimed proudly.
"But what if they come here to let their children play with the snow, like in the book?"
"Why would they come here? They already have plenty of snow where they live."
"Maybe it is not the same snow. I am sure this one is more beautiful," Loki smiled as he observed sparkles on the white ground beneath him.
"It may be beautiful, but it still is too cold", Thor shivered.
"Really?" Loki asked, intrigued. "I don't feel anything."
Thor raised an eyebrow. Well that was curious.
"You mean you don't feel the cold air? The icy snow?"
Now it was Loki who looked confused. He sat again on his knees, on the white grass, and took a handful of snow before standing up.
"Well it is a bit solid. But that's all."
"Yet you feel the cold of the bath water and the rain, don't you? Then why not the snow's one? Is it some kind of spell you casted?"
Loki looked elsewhere. He did feel those cold sensations, but they never bothered him. Was it bad?
"Maybe... by inadvertence, perhaps."
He didn't want to bother Thor. Maybe his brother was just more chilly than him. Thor looked brave but he couldn't handle a bath too cold or too hot or a too-tight clothing. So maybe comparing their reactions to sensations was not the most reliable thing.
"You're so strong and skilled," Thor smiled. "I'm so proud to have a brother who can use magic!"
"I do am skilled," Loki affirmed with pride - he resembled to his brother on that way -, "But I don't know a lot of spells yet. Mother only told me the basic ones. But I am looking forward to learn more. I'll become the best sorcerer in the universe!" He exclaimed happily.
"I have no doubt you are capable of it. But you must train, as I do with fighting."
"I am ready for it! But first, I want to play in the snow and see more of it."
As he said those words, it began to snow again. Loki's eyes widened as thin snowflakes fell in abundance.
"It is snowing again!" He exclaimed, his hands raised and flat, as if his brother didn't see it.
"Indeed."
"It is just like in the pictures I saw! The snow was falling just like that in the palace's gardens of Jotunheim. And it was so beautiful with the ice fountain! I can't wait to ask father to make one. I would like so much to have one just now!"
Thor jumped a bit as he saw snow raising itself in front on them. In began to have a form, and then the snow vanished to reveal a tiny ice fountain. Thor's eyes widened even more. What did just happen?
Loki was also speechless. He stared at the new object. It was a little fountain, simple and round, without a statue or any exuberance, a contrary to all the ones he had seen in pictures.
It was at this moment Thor realised. "It is you, Loki! You created this! And... and the snow too! It was when you wanted it to snow that it did!"
"You... you think so? But I don't know how..."
"Maybe you even made it snow here first! In your dreams! That's a wonerful trick, you're even stronger than I thought!"
Loki smiled at the praise. Although he was still surprised by what he had provoked. His eyes were on the sky, contemplating the falling snowflakes.
"I didn't know I could do that...!"
"Maybe you are much stronger that you thought."
"And maybe I can make other things made of snow and ice!" He said excitingly.
With obvious joy, he squatted on the snowed grass, and put his hand above it. But this time, as he concentrate, no glowing green appeared. Instead, a blooming snowdrop grew, which quickly gained its white petals. Marvelled by his own making, Loki continued to pass his hands over the ground, where other snowdrops materialized one after the other.
It was at this moment Frigga stepped out of the corridor to enter the gardens. She stared at them and walk rapidly to them.
"My dear children, you are here!" she exclaimed with worry. "Could you not- "
She stopped as she saw the snowdrops at the knees of his younger son. It could not be...
"Loki, did you... did you make these?"
Not sensing his mother's trouble, the boy smiled proudly at her.
"Yes, with my magic! It was even more easier than I thought. Usually when I try magic I have to concentrate, but with snow it is not at all difficult!"
Thanks Norns he didn't realized the reason behind it. She was also so relieved he hadn't turned blue. Otherwise she would not have known how to explain it to them. Fortunately, all of this was only snow and tricks coming from a child fantasies', and as it was not purely ice nor a touch from a Jotun, it surely didn't suffice to make his true form appear.
"You have indeed improve your use of magic, my dear child. One day you'll even surpass me," she said with a laugh to hide his worries. "But please, when there is an uncertain situation like this one on Asgard, do stay in your bedchambers. And this also applies to you, Thor," she added while looking at him. "Didn't I asked you many times to protect your little brother? It does not seem anyone is attacking our kingdom right know, but what would have happened if they did?"
"I would have cut them in half!" Thor affirmed.
"Thor..." Frigga sighed.
"I'm sorry," he then admitted. "But I would have had protected Loki anyway!"
"I don't need to be protected!" The little boy pouted. "I can defend myself on my own! If an enemy try to scare me, I'll use my magic against him!"
"Loki," Frigga began seriously, "magic does not always have the mean of a somber use, and should not be used with levity."
"Then why can Thor fight with his weapons and I can't with my magic?"
"It is a difficult subject. We will discuss it another day."
She did not have the courage to continue this serious conversation. She was still a bit worried, although her panick had disappeared. It was not only the perspective of an external attack that had her worried, but also, and particulary, the one of Loki not being able to control his powers, or having his Jotun origins revealed. Fortunately everything seemed to be right, and the boy even seemed to be happier than usual. He had a bright smile on his face, until it was replaced by a more curious yet still naive expression.
"Mother, say, why don't I feel the snow's cold?"
Frigga looked at him, speechless. She couldn't tell him the truth. Not yet.
She smiled at him. "It is only that you are born not sensitive to cold, my dear son. In that way you ressembles your father. He could fight glorious wars in the rough conditions of Jotuheim and Nifleim and yet not be bothered at all."
She wasn't directly lying, for all she had said was the truth.
Of course, Loki believed her, for he always trusted his mother. "Then I am proud! Thor always brags about having inherited father's strength. Now I can say to him I inherited of his cold resistance!"
Frigga rolled his eyes, but it was of amusement. "You two don't need to fight on those subjects. You both are perfect in you own way and we love you equally as much." She stroked his hair with a little smile. "But anyway, I greatly think you will also have your father's wisdom, and remember that it can often be more useful than a sword."
"And this snow is not a Jotun attack, mother, but Loki's powerful magic!" Thor exclaimed, not jealous about his words, like he was so proud of his little brother.
"Well that is impressive," she smiled.
"I want to show it to father!" Loki exclaimed with joy. "I want to show him how strong I am, and
how I can defy snow like him!"
Frigga kept his smile, but inwardly it faded away. The Allfather would not be happy if he heard his son was using his Jotuns powers in the very palace. He could even see him as a treat. No, for once Frigga had to lie.
"Your father is busy with the council for now. Maybe you could show him later. But snow isn't that important, is it? You know, I can teach you even more beautiful and useful magic."
"Really?"
"I assure it to you."
"I want to learn it, but first I want to play with Thor! Like in my dream."
She didn't have the time to ask him more about the dream in question. With a laugh, Loki took his brother's hand and carried him away farther.
Frigga looked at them running with a little smile. She was so proud of his sons. Yet she still hoped Loki would forget about this kind of magic to concentrate on the one she will teach him. A better one, in the views of many.