Odin's eye widened in shock at the silver ring on Loki's finger. He couldn't seem to comprehend that the Norns had chosen Loki as the next Allfather. You saw the disbelief cross his eye again and again as he tried to figure out how this could have happened, what went wrong with his plan, and how to get out of it.

Odin looked to Thor to confirm the story and Thor nodded, unable to find words for himself. A nod was all Odin needed to see there was no getting out of it.

There was no choice. Odin had made his decision to let the Norns decide the next Allfather. He hadn't wanted to appear the bad guy in front of Frigga by playing favorites between his sons.

Odin looked to Thor to confirm the story and Thor nodded, unable to find words for himself.

Except it had backfired on him.

Thor wasn't chosen as the next Allfather.

Loki was.

And Odin still couldn't believe it. Still couldn't believe his adopted son, his adopted Jotun son was chosen as the next Allfather.

Even Odin couldn't go against the wishes of the Norns.

You saw the resignation register in his sole eye, saw it in his expression. He nodded his agreement. There was nothing else he could do. He was hamstrung by his own hubris and stupidity. If he'd wanted Thor to be the next Allfather, he should've just named him as such. Instead, he'd left it up to the Norns. You all knew that Loki would make the better king. Thor just wasn't suited to the throne.

Even though Thor was hurt now, you knew he'd realize it was the right decision soon. It was just hard on him when he'd been trained his entire life to take over the throne. He'd cleared been the favored child, the golden child. But he was a hot-head and without a diplomatic bone in his body.

Asgard didn't need war and violence, they needed a leader who could rule them through peace and diplomacy.

The realms needed Loki on the throne.

Frigga was smiling proudly and even Thor was getting over his feelings quickly at the realization that Loki would be the better king.

Odin was the last to accept it, though he had no choice. "Very well. The coronation will be tomorrow morning," he said. Of course, it had already been arranged, whoever had been chosen would be coronated the next day. Odin was stepping down as active king and staying on as advisor.

He swept from the room and you were finally able to take Loki back to his room to rest. Loki still looked like Hel warmed over. "Are you alright? What did they do to you?" you asked when you got him safely tucked into bed.

Loki hesitated, shuddering at the memory. "They tested us, physically, mentally, emotionally, gave us tests of strength and decision making. They searched through our minds, our memories, every fiber of our beings," he shuddered and you held him in your arms until he calmed again. He looked up at you with wide, frightened eyes. "I'm going to be king tomorrow," he told you softly.

It had been what he'd wanted his entire life, to be Thor's equal, to be acknowledged. Now he was and the poor dear didn't know how to deal with it.

You kissed his forehead. "And what a wonderful king you'll make," you told him warmly.

"Really?" he asked hopefully.

You nodded. "Yes, Lohk. And I'll be with you every step of the way." Loki sighed in relief remembering that he would have you as advisor and guard for all of his days. He would never face the throne alone, not with you as his queen.

*

The next morning, you found yourself waiting with Loki before the double-doors of the throne room in your formal white valkyrie armor. Loki was in his formal best, horned helmet on his head and green cape for the event. The court and your family was waiting for you inside. You were both just waiting for your cue for the ceremony to begin. You could feel Loki's nerves as he stood beside you and you squeezed his hand reassuringly. You were at his side to give him the strength he needed to face this day and every day to come.

The doors opened and you saw Odin sitting on his throne with Frigga at his side. Thor was standing on the stairs to the throne. The throne room was packed as the crowning of a new king was a realms wide event. Your friends from Midgard had even come for the event.

Odin nodded and the procession began. Loki strode forward with you matching his stride. You knew the pair of you made a stunning sight in your formal best, your wings on display. Loki's spine was straight and his stride exuded a confidence you knew he didn't feel.

The crowd watched as you made your way to the stairs, passing between guards of Einherjar and Valkyrie. You knew there was surprise from most of the realms since Thor had been groomed to be king, but they all accepted the Norns' decision.

There was no arguing with the Norns.

You made it to the front of the room and Loki stopped before the stairs to the throne as tradition decreed. He dropped to one knee at the steps to the throne, removing his helmet as he did and setting it carefully beside him. Each movement was proscribed, part of the ritual of this ceremony. You dropped to one knee beside him, laying your dragonfang blade naked in front of you. Your part in this was also proscribed, though you didn't have to speak.

Thank the Norns for small favors.

Odin banged his staff to call the crowd to order, to start the coronation. The crowd silenced instantly. "Today we gather to celebrate a new era for Asgard as your new king takes his rightful place, as decreed by the Norns," he started. There was a pause as the crowd took in his words. You glanced at Thor and saw that he had finally accepted Odin's decision and was glad for his brother, glad Asgard would be in Loki's capable hands. You were glad that the realms seemed to accept the decision as well.

There was some unspoken signal and Loki looked up at Odin, ready to swear his oaths. Odin continued speaking when Loki looked up at him. "Today I entrust you with the greatest honor in all the Nine Realms. The crown of Asgard. I have sacrificed much to achieve peace. So, too, must a new generation sacrifice to maintain that peace. Responsibility, duty, honor. These are not merely virtues to which we must aspire. They are essential to every King," he turned his attention solely on Loki. Solely on his son. And you realized, that finally, after all these centuries, finally Odin saw Loki as his son. Not a pawn. Not an adopted child. Not lesser. But his true son and heir.

Frigga must have spoken to him, or he had seen something after the Norns had made their decision. That pride hadn't been there yesterday, but it was there now.

Odin actually had pride in his eye when he spoke to Loki. "Loki Odinson do you swear to guard the Nine Realms?"

"I swear," Loki replied in a firm, clear voice.

"Do you swear to preserve the peace?"

"I swear,"

"Do you swear to cast aside all selfish ambition and pledge yourself only to the good of all the realms?" Odin was more forceful on the last and most important of the oaths.

Loki didn't hesitate before his replied with his "I swear." You could see the smile he was trying to contain at the actual pride on his father's face. It was his dream come true.

"Then I, Odin Allfather, on this day, proclaim you King of Asgard," he announced and banged Gungnir again to make the proclamation official. Loki was allowed to stand then and take the stairs, meeting Odin halfway. You rose with him automatically, your blade sheathed again in an instant. Odin handed Gungnir over to Loki and the transfer of power was official. Loki was shocked to be holding the staff for a moment before he schooled his expression. His court mask was back in place before he turned to the gathered crowd and they all roared in applause.

Pride was evident on all of your faces at Loki's accomplishment, though Odin's was the one Loki most appreciated in that moment.

"Congratulations, my son," Odin told Loki while the crowd was cheering.

"Thank you, Father," Loki replied before Frigga, then you, then Thor hugged him.

Odin stepped aside to stand next to Frigga as you and Loki took the final steps up to the throne. Loki sat on it then, his horned helm reappearing on his head while you took your place at his side, advisor, guard, friend, lover, equal, and now queen.

For this day and every day to come.