"Brother!" shouted Thor, barging into Loki's bedroom, "Let us play a game!"

"Not right now, Thor. Mother wants me to read." Loki turned the page of his thick book without even a glance at his older brother.

"Oh come on!" pleaded Thor, "Reading is for grownups!" He snatched the book from him and held it up over his head.

"Hey!" shouted the small boy, "Give it back! Or I will tell Mother!" He leapt off the bed and jumped up and down, trying to reach the book; but Thor was taller and stronger than he.

"Only if you play with me!"

Loki considered. He would like to play for a few minutes, but he had no desire to get in trouble with their mother. It was a really good book that he'd been reading. Who knew what Thor could do to it if he refused. "Fine, but if we get caught, you forced me."

"Wonderful! What shall we play?" Thor tossed the book to the table. It landed with a loud thump that made Loki cringe. He sat for a moment, thinking. "Oh! We could play frost giants!"

"Alright! I'll be the hero!" Loki squeezed his eyes shut and thought hard about what image he wanted. When he opened them, a shiny gold breastplate covered his chest. It flickered a little bit, but then stayed.

"No!" exclaimed Thor, " I want to be the mighty hero! You be the frost giant!" He pulled out his toy sword. It was identical to Heimdall's, only much smaller. The boys looked up to the keeper of the bifrost; they loved to go with their father to the gate and watch when he left for battle.

"But you always get to be the good guy!" The sparkling armor faded and disappeared as Loki's expression dropped in disappointment.

"Yes, but you play the Jotun very well!" said Thor.

"Fine." Loki imagined a jagged ice weapon around his hand. Then he thought, 'Why don't I try the whole thing this time?" He shut his eyes tight. This would take extreme focus. He thought about the pictures that he had seen in his storybooks, and of all the tales that Odin, their father, had told of times of war.

Frost Giants were huge, pale blue brutes with bulging muscles and perpetual scowls. Hearts of stone and eyes full of fire. Thick fur hanging about their legs and blades of hard ice clenched in their gnarled hands. He shivered as he remembered the detailed descriptions.

His head started to hurt. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. He tried harder. He heard his brother gasp and he knew it was working. He opened his eyes and looked at his arms. They were blue! He ran to the gold framed mirror. He couldn't believe it. His coal black hair was hidden by the illusion. His eyes were deep crimson and from his hand hung a huge icicle. He was shirtless and big blue muscles showed. Just like a miniature Jotun.

"How did you do that?" exclaimed Thor.

"It's just magic." Loki turned around, his eyes sparkling with delight. "Come, you Asgardian scum, and fight me!" He roared in the scariest voice he could muster, which still came out squeaky.

Thor placed his shining helm on his head and charged at Loki. He roared too. "Go back to Jotunheim!"

The duel ended with the brothers wrestling on the floor. Thor had Loki pinned, and they were laughing heartily.

"Alright! Alright! You win!" giggled Loki when Thor began to tickle him. They both lay on the floor of Loki's room, laughing and staring at the exquisitely painted ceiling.

After they had caught their breath, Thor sat up and said, "Loki! You must show mother your illusion! It's sure to give her maids a fright!" They jumped up and raced to Queen Frigga's chambers.

"Mother! Mother, look!" called Loki as Thor pounded on the door. One of the maidservants opened it. The boys came in. "Mother, look!" repeated Loki.

Frigga turned. Her face paled and she screamed in horror. "Oh no!" She turned to the servant, who also had a look of pure shock on her face, and said, "Go. Summon the King."

Loki stood waiting, knowing that it was very impolite to interrupt. He smiled broadly. Once the queen turned back to him he exclaimed, "I fooled you mother!" and removed the image. "I can make better illusions now!"

"What?" Frigga sighed in realization. "Oh... That's wonderful, Loki!" Her voice was still shaky. She glided gracefully to him. Kneeling, she wrapped her arms around him. He smelled her sweet perfume. "You really frightened me! That was very good!"

He smiled. "Do you want me to do it again?" He closed his eyes.

"No," he opened them, "That's alright dear." Frigga stood and ruffled his dark hair. "You can go play now."

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Odin entered the chamber just as the boys left. "Where is he?"

"It's alright," Frigga sighed and sat on her soft couch, "He was just playing with images."

"Oh." Odin was turning to leave when Frigga stopped him.

"AllFather?" He turned back to her. "You must tell him."

"No," He came and sat beside her, "It would be better if he never found out."

"And if he does? It could be the cause of bitterness."

"He will not. I must go. We will deal with this later." He left the room and went back to his work.

He never got a chance to tell his son the truth. He pushed it off, thinking it didn't matter, until it was too late.