Eyes on me (Fandral Ending)
Fandral sauntered into the throne room as if he had accidentally ended up here. Loki was sure not even Thor saw how nervous his friend was, much less their parents who actually seemed surprised to see Fandral.
“Allfather, Allmother, Prince Thor, Prince Loki”, Fandral said and kneeled down in front of them. Loki felt his heart beat wildly while Thor looked at his friend with barely concealed curiosity.
“Fandral the Dashing”, Odin greeted him. As the third son of a minor noble Fandral had no other name to go by. “What brings you here? I hope it is not another princess who has fallen for your charms and that you need rescuing from.”
“Not a princess, no”, Fandral said, “But a prince. He’s fairest of them all in the Nine Realms and beyond, no offense Thor.”
His brother laughed. “None taken, Fandral. But how can my father help you to win this prince?”
“Well, his parents may object to me on the grounds of my birth if they think I’m not serious about him.”
“And are you serious?” Odin asked with a healthy amount of scepticism.
“More than anything else in my life”, Fandral said softly and couldn’t help but take a quick look at Loki. Odin and Thor didn’t seem to notice but Frigga quickly hid a smile behind her hand. “And my prince is not the kind of man who would accept my love if he thought that I was anything less but absolutely sincere.”
“Then you should tell us the name of your prince and we can decide how we can best help you”, Frigga said with a wink in Loki’s direction.
“Your Majesty is too kind”, Fandral said and bowed to her. “I ask you to consider giving me and Loki your permission to marry.”
Loki kept his eyes on Fandral but he could feel his whole family looking at him. He and Fandral had never hid that they shared a bed but they had been less forthcoming about the rest of their relationship and its seriousness.
Thor was the first one who reacted. He laughed and slapped Loki’s back. “Well done, brother. If anyone could tame Fandral then it would be you. It seems a claim to your bed can turn into a claim for your heart after all.”
Loki had rarely been more torn between hugging Thor and turning him into a rat, so he did neither.
“These news come quite unexpectedly”, Odin said, uncertain whether he was addressing Loki, Fandral or both of them. “But if - “he looked at Frigga who nodded encouragingly.” - if it is something both of you wish then you will have my blessing.”
“Our blessing”, Frigga said. She walked down the steps from the throne and embraced Fandral warmly.
Loki felt the tension bleed from his body in an instant. Over Frigga’s shoulder Fandral smiled at him and he found himself smiling back without hesitation.
“Come, brother, that calls for a celebration”, Thor said and pulled Loki with him. Fandral followed them while Odin walked to his wife, watching them.
“What are you thinking?” Frigga asked, nudging him slightly into the ribs.
“I’m thinking that Loki may never stop surprising me.”