Chapter Text
The complicated thing about visiting other realms, was that they were often wildly different from asgard. Thor knew this well. He and his brother were often sent to other realms to explore, and too see what new things had developed over the last century.
“You know father only sends us away because he wants some quiet, right?” Loki had said incredulously one of the days their father had sent them off to Alfheim. “These realms have been explored. Father doesn’t actually think we’re going to find anything.”
Thor disagreed. Though most often their adventures only served to prove Loki right, every now and again he and his brother found or learned something new. Something that made it all very worth it. (And even if it was small, it was one of the few things that both he and loki were exited by.)
So regardless of whatever the motivations may be, Thor enjoyed their journeys.
And then, the news came.
The world tree, Yggdrasil, had grown a new branch.
The news itself had been shocking; the tree had not grown a new branch in nearly a millennia. The implications of the new branch, however, were even more so.
“A new realm…” Loki had whispered in an empty hallway, with a spark of wonder in his eyes that Thor had only seen when Loki first began practicing magic.
Thor’s reaction had been much less tame.
There were many council meetings after the news. So many, that it was a full day and a half before Thor was able to speak with his father.
He had thrown open the doors to the throne room and strode in with confidence, and loki trailing behind uncertainly. Loki had told him to wait. To watch his father, and ask at a time when he was calm and rested. Happy.
“It may be that it is our only chance of success.” Loki had tried to reason.
Thor couldn’t possibly wait though. Not for this. So now he was here.
“My sons.” Odin greeted.
“Father.” Thor returned. Loki nodded.
Thor strode forward before Loki could speak. Loki shot him a surprised, maybe panicked expression that he ignored. Thor was planning on leading this conversation. Neither he, nor his father were one for flowery words, so Thor cut straight to the point. “Father, I wish to visit this new world, and learn of it’s inhabitants!”
Odin’s expression became stern, and Thor realized a bit too late that maybe there was some reason to what Loki had said.
Seeing their father’s expression, Loki hurried to turn the conversation around.
“We would not go alone.” He hastily added, walking up to stand beside Thor. “The warriors three and Lady Sif have agreed to go with us, should you permit it.” Loki paused, clearly trying to read their father. “We’ll proceed with the utmost caution. I’ve heard tell that there is a race similar to the Midgardians there. Who better than the Princes of Asgaurd to make first contact?”
Thor thanked the world tree that his brother was better with words than he was. Odin’s face had gone from Stern Denial to contemplative.
“Oh, let them go.” Frigga said with a motherly sigh. “They’ve been doing this since they were children you know. It would do them good to get out again.”
Thor saw his brother’s mouth twitch upwards, and couldn’t help from smiling himself. Their father had a weakness when it came to their mother. Their chances had just gone up significantly.
Odin frowned deeply and turned back to the brothers. Thor found himself straightening his back ever so slightly under his father’s gaze.
“I permit it-“
Thor laughed in triumph, raising mijilnir above his head. Loki gave him a sharp look. Odin was frowning at him, deep exasperation in his expression and posture.
Oh. His father had not been done speaking.
Thor muttered a hasty apology, and lowered mijilnir. His mother smiled and shook her head.
Odin sighed. “I permit it,” he continued, meeting Thor’s eyes sternly, “If you go with Kalnar.”
“Kalnar?!” Thor began, outraged. “But-!”
“Thank you, father.” Loki cut in sharply, bowing and shooting a withering glare at Thor. Thor grumbled, but copied him, bowing.
Kalnar was the captain of Odin’s personal guard, and it was not hard to see why. He was strict and followed the rules religiously. Thor had trained under the captain for a short while, and found him completely insufferable. He did not want him on this trip.
“At least we’re going.” Loki had told him later, annoyance very clear. “Though, perhaps if you had listened to me, we could have gone on our own terms.”
Thor sighed.