"Have you ever told Astrid?" Zanida asked her brother, and to her amazement Loki shook his head.
"She knew, but never asked. I can tell you never told Fitz."
"Why should I? He wouldn't understand, he wasn't born here, or raised here. He doesn't understand the lies we both grew with." Zanida sounded angry at the word lies.
"It may have worked differently, sister, if Thor was not so arrogant and battle hungry. We may have ended up married, king and queen of this realm." The memory of the battle in Jotunheim flashed between the two, both laughing when their father Laufey called Thor "little princess" and wincing when Odin came down.
"Little did I know that would change everything." Loki said quietly. He held up a watch, Vana's watch. Zanida rolled her eyes.
"Did you have to pay?"
"Pay? I asked nicely and Vana happily obliged." Loki gave Zanida a look and suddenly Zanida really did not want to know what he really did to get that watch. Loki took his sister's hand.
"I promise you, you will enjoy this." He murmured, turning back the clock, taking them back to the day of Thor's banishment.
*************
Zanida looked up, hearing Frigga yelling, not a very good sign. The queen hardly raised her voice, let alone to Odin. Still, better him then anyone else. Suddenly footsteps echoed, and Loki ran into Zanida's room, his face betrayed the shock, excitement, and fear he was experiencing. Zanida rose and ran up to him, taking his hand. He still was cold, she knew he had gone to Jotunheim with Thor.
"What happened?" She demanded.
"Thor was banished. Father was furious after I asked Heimdall to tell him where we had gone, the others are in the healing room." Loki seemed to be excited about this, but was trying to hide it for Zanida.
"Frigga is yelling at him, for that." She muttered then smiled,
"You could be king, Loki! If Odin dies or...something, the throne falls to you. We may actually survive."
"If I am king, no doubt we will survive." Loki said, already picturing himself king. He pulled Zanida closer to him, holding her. She was one of the few people able to read through his emotions, but also one of the few women he had grown close to in a romantic way, despite being cousins, as that little thing did not matter, for those of the royal family. After a while he let go of her.
"I want to check on the others, I will be back later, I promise." He kissed her hand, and left, heading to where he heard Sif's voice. He stayed standing, letting the others talk. He had more important matters anyway.
**********
"What do you mean you're king?" Zanida asked again, as Loki had just said the words himself.
"Father has fallen into the Odinsleep" He said. Zanida finally nodded and hugged him. As she let go, Loki spoke, softer, like he usually is around her.
"I promised you answers, many times. Do you trust me?"
"Yes."
"Can I trust you, to stay silent about what I do, no matter what?" He would know if Zanida lied, and he would have to lie too, if that were the case.
"Yes, of course." He listened, and found nothing but the truth in her words. He took her hand and led her to the weapons vault. Zanida was growing nervous, few warriors went here. It was almost forbidden. He neared the Casket, and let go of Zanida.
"Watch." He commanded, touching the Casket. Zanida watched his skin turn blue, and eyes red. Speechless. He let go, letting his skin and eyes return to normal.
"I am not your cousin, nor have I ever been. I was stolen from Jotunheim, by Odin. He told me before he fell into Odinsleep, and I intend to make him suffer." Zanida went back to Loki, and held him close.
"He deserves to suffer, and I'll gladly help in any way I can." She vowed, and Loki smiled, he had a plan, and with Zanida beside him, he could do well.
*********
Zanida watched, hearing Odin sentence Loki. She felt her hands shake, furious at the All-Father. When the guards led Loki away, Odin's voice nearly scared her.
"Come out, Zanida. You never did well with hiding yourself." Reluctantly she left her hiding spot, she was furious, but remembered to kneel before him, not of any respect at this point.
"How could you sentence him like that?" She exploded, letting her anger show in her voice. "He was lied to all his life did you truly expect him to take it well?!"
"No. I expected Loki to be upset, not try and rule Midgard, attempt to kill Thor and fake his own death while killing people on Midgard." Odin stayed calm, Zanida far from it.
"Oh so you think he was wrong? You shouldn't have lied, but what can I expect from the man who fathered Thor! You told both they were born to be king, you lied and lied all over. What did you think, he would shrug it off? What kind of person-"
"-Enough." Odin commanded, and Zanida fell silent. "You speak out of love for him, not from my view. Thor would never have done this, Loki did. You must understand that, who would you want to rule? A murderer or someone who knows right from wrong?"
"You mean someone who is in love with a Midgardian, over the rightful king." Zanida snapped. "You're a fool, mark my word, you'll be dead and Loki will be king. Thor has no form of intelligence in ruling, I know Loki does."
"Go, Zanida. I will not release him, especially not after what you have said." Glaring, she left, heading down to the dungeons. The guards did not bother her, she would have snapped necks otherwise.
"So you decided to come after all." Loki said, watching her approach. "Did you find the All-Father as kind as he was to me?"
"I did, and am lucky to not be in the cell with you."
"I could use the company, for all of eternity." He gestured to his cell.
"You know I gladly would break you out and kill Odin." Zanida responded, Loki laughed.
"Do try to stay out of prison. No doubt you will end up here though."
"I tried, I did."
"I know. Go live the life of a warrior, and visit me."
"I will." Zanida vowed.
*******
Zanida stood with the others, fending off Dark Elves. She was doing well, protecting Frigga, that was the goal. One elf grabbed her and she screamed in pain, being dropped to the floor. She lay there, until she saw another elf follow, their leader, Malikith. Despite protests from her body, she jumped up, going after Malikith. He had his own sword, and fought back, until he got her in the stomach. He held her against a pillar.
"Where is the Aether, Asgardian?"
"I....don't know...!" Zanida gasped, feeling the sword cut deeper.
"Pity. Perhaps you will survive to see a world reborn." He dropped her as the sword cut her deeper in several places. An elf stepped on her wrist, breaking it.
*******
Sif looked at Loki in his cell, she really had no caring to be here, but Thor had asked her to.
"Zanida was nearly killed, she is in the healing room. The All-Father found her, he knows Malikith attacked her, as she did tell him before she fainted from blood loss. No, you cannot see her." Without waiting for a reply, she left. Loki watched, and thought of the healing room, picturing himself beside Zanida. It worked. An image of him appeared near her. She was awake, and smiled at his image.
"None can see me. I knew you would live, and thank you, for nearly dying for Frigga."
*********
The two looked at each other, and smiled, now back in present day.
"Maybe we would have been together." Zanida murmured. An angry voice was heard.
"LOKI LAUFEYSON WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU WITH MY WATCH?!" Vanadis screamed, stalking towards him. Loki grinned.
"Sorry, Zan. I did steal it."
