#wc10-50k

[bradypnoea]

The Tenth Realm | Margo_Kim | (9/9) - 21k | Dec ‘13 - Jan ‘14

Five hundred years before Thor's coronation, Sif's a lowly page who can't move up in the ranks and Loki's a Royal Academy student trying to survive his last examination. The solution to their problems may lie in the legends they heard as children of the lost Tenth Realm. Now all they have to do is actually find it.

Note: (This is one of the last of the shorter Loki works I'd queued up to read. I've a few 100k+ works I mean to get through soon, but that's between me and my mental capabilites.) This work was written as a prompt-fill gift for the annually recurring "Mischeif and Mistletoe" exchange, I'd recommend browsing those collections if you're interested in the Loki/Sif pairing. Furthermore Margo_Kim has written for a variety of fandoms since 2013 so I hope they don't mind my featuring a work from [cough] years ago. The Tenth Realm brings us along an approximately six-month pilgrimage with Sif as she and Loki attempt to prove themselves worthy in their respective "professions". In my eyes the characterisation is fantastic and the unique touches in each realm add depth and curiosity to an otherwise brief story. (The Midgard chapter is incredibly funny; if you don't already know, look up Turtle Island before reading.) Against the context of Odin's impending "Partition" of the realms, it becomes clear to Sif that the effort of making this journey will be as important as the destination.

- Author's Tumblr | @andhumanslovedstories -

“Behold, ye warriors brave,” the goblins cried As brilliant shone, from within the cave, The secret light. Here lay the realm forgotten That Lady Ash, the woman-king of Asgard Had fought so long to see. She fell and wept At the beauty. “I claim my prize at last. I look upon my home—the Tenth Realm beckons And here, forever, I rest my head and sword.” —Excerpt from the final movement of Asgard’s epic, “The First Daughter of Yggdrasil,” Sif’s favorite poem as a child, as translated from the ancient tongue by Second Form graduate, Loki Odinsson.

The King’s Library was dead silent as Sif crept in through the skylight. It was always so hushed. She’d learned more of stealth skulking here after training than she’d ever learned actually in training. The King’s Library forbade women from entering, just as the Queen’s Library forbade men, and most maesters who ran them had ears and eyes to rival Heimdall’s. Sif crept through the stacks like a hunter stalking particularly flighty prey. Her feet made no thump. Her sword never clinked. Even her breath was silent as an absence. Shadows boomed louder than her.

It was either this or set fire to every damn book around her and when the maesters came to put the flames out, she’d set fire to them as well and any other man who ever came up to her again and said, “Pardon, lady, but you belong elsewhere.” But that wasn’t really a viable option at the moment, not unless she felt like killing nearly every man in Asgard, and since she wasn’t quite there yet, creeping silently took enough skill to keep her distracted and sane.

And the look on Loki’s face when you surprised him was always worth it.

Continue reading on AO3...

[bradypnoea]

Catherine and Henry | rocksaltandroll | (15/15) - 28k | July-November 2012

Kate is Tom’s Wardrobe Assistant on The Hollow Crown.Everything was going just fine until the Battle of Agincourt, and then Kate's life takes a huge turn. Whether that turn is for better or worse remains to be seen.

Note: When the first parts of C&H were posted on THF (roughly two months after the page had been established), it garnered such excitement that rocksaltandroll decided to build it into a full multi-chapter story. It finished as  one of the most well written novellas to be found in the early TH fandom. Its shorter length belies skilful tension-building without slowing pace even from the first words. I believe it remains their only TH work, though they have published to multiple fandoms since then. This was among the first works I followed as it updated, and I'm grateful they've kept it accesible on AO3 all this time.

-Author's Tumblr | @rocksaltandroll | View on THF -

When Tom Hiddleston stepped into his trailer it was as though Henry V himself had walked in fresh from the battle of Agincort, dressed in metal plate and ring mail, dull-gold crown atop of sweat-soaked hair, mud and fake blood spattered all over his face and armour. He looked exhausted and cold but I swear he’d never looked more attractive than he did now. I damn wished that I was Catherine of Valois, about to be wooed by the King of England but alas. I was just first wardrobe assistant on the Hollow Crown set.

I moved forward to take the battered and dirt-stained shield from him and he looked up from the floor and blinked at me slowly, as though he were trying to figure out who I was and what I was doing in his trailer. It took a second for recognition to register and I was awarded with a small smile and a murmured ‘thank you’. I smiled back as I set the shield aside and waited patiently as Tom removed the leather gloves from his hands. His icy fingers briefly brushed mine as he handed them to me and I felt a pang of sympathy as I watched him slowly flex each digit in turn. He had been outside since the crack of dawn in the cold winter sunshine, filming a gruelling battle scene. Leather gloves were all well and good for protecting your hands from biting reins and glancing blows, but they did nothing to keep in the warmth. I set them aside also and waited in silence for Tom to unbuckle his belt and hand me the sword and scabbard.

He let out a long, shaky sigh as I moved around to his right side and he automatically lifted his arm so I could get to the leather straps holding the armour together. I bit my lip as I loosened the buckle. This was unusual for Tom, the quiet. Usually he was full of chat and niceties, but today he was just standing there sombrely, staring at a fixed point on the wall ahead of him. I cleared my throat as the buckles came undone.

Continue reading on AO3...

[bradypnoea]

Road to Nowhere | Lise | One Shot - 27.7k | January ‘14

When Loki turns up demanding Thor's help on a quest to retrieve the All-Mother from Valhalla, Thor isn't about to say no. But that doesn't mean he's forgotten anything, and what better time than a road trip through the backwaters of the universe for trying to talk things out?

Note: (In honour of the impending release of the Loki miniseries and my sceptical optimism for it, I'm highlighting a few canon-adjacent Loki works that can pass the time between new episodes or, if you're like me, distract from new content long enough to miss the first wave of inevitable Discourse.) AO3 counts that Loki features in 228 of 506 of Lise's works to date; though I've not read their full catalogue, it's evident the amount of care and attention they devote to digging through and understanding not only Loki's character but the dynamic between the brothers as well. No spoilers: Road to Nowhere compiles one unique, compelling scene after another, including a beautifully tense taste of psychological panic. I haven't come across a story quite like this from anyone else and I'm excited to read more from them.

- View on Author's Tumblr | @veliseraptor -

Thor woke up in the middle of the night with Loki standing over him and looking powerfully displeased. “Wake up,” he said, snappishly. “I require your assistance. Regrettably.” Thor stared at him, helplessly. Loki made an impatient noise. “Yes, yes, I’m alive, can you skip the hysterics?”

Thor swallowed. “This is no dream,” he said. Loki rolled his eyes and smiled, sharp and nasty.

“Have you been dreaming about me that much, brother?”

Thor reached out and grabbed his arm. He could feel a pulse under the skin, solid flesh under his fingers, and let go, drawing back. “You’re alive,” he said, a little hoarsely.

“I thought I said to-”

Thor hauled back and punched Loki in the face.

Continue reading on AO3...

[bradypnoea]

The Priestess | tartanroyaltea | (3/3) - 11.5k | January-March ‘14

A virgin priestess is given as a 'sacrifice' to Odin as part of a centuries long Asgardian tradition.

Note: (In honour of the impending release of the Loki miniseries and my sceptical optimism for it, I'm highlighting a few canon-adjacent Loki works that can pass the time between new episodes or, if you're like me, distract from new content long enough to miss the first wave of inevitable Discourse.) It's true that my taste favours reserved, implicit descriptions, but it can't be said that I don't enjoy a bit of PWP. Even better is when an author develops an interesting context in which to frame the scene, especially when regarding virginity. But tartanroyaltea goes above and beyond with 12k words that establish the setting, cultural circumstances, and character motivations - all within MCU canon. And in my own opinion, any work that avoids the 'obvious' ending point is always a pleasant surprise.

- Author's Tumblr (Inactive) | @tartanroyaltea | View on THF -

Every fifty years the Sacred Order of Aurvandil would sacrifice a young, pure priestess to each of the male Aesir in Asgard. It was an ancient tradition, one which had endured through the reigns of countless Kings of Asgard from time immemorial, right up to the present Odin Allfather. Many of the sisters of the Order had been certain that the tradition would be cancelled, or at the very least postponed until the next favourable star cycle, in light of the deaths of the beloved Queen Frigga, and the marginally less beloved, Prince Loki.

Yet, no messengers had come from the palace to stop the ritual. It would occur in the prosperous fiftieth year, just as it always had. The Temple was alight with activity in the days leading up to the ritual, every Sister no matter how low or high, was engaged in preparing for this momentous occasion. Excitement bubbled among the Sisters, tinged with the sharpness of quiet fear in the young virgins who were to be ‘sacrificed’. The virgin priestesses did not need to fear death, murdering one of the Aurvandilan sisters had been outlawed by Odin at the start of his reign, millennia ago. Before Odin’s kindness, many of the virgin sacrifices returned to the Order at dawn- in shrouds. Apart from killing their sacrifices, there were no rules to restrict what the Aesir could do with their sacrifices during the twelve hours between dusk and dawn; the possibilities were enough to make any girl tremble.

Continue reading on AO3...

[bradypnoea]

The Dark Inside | NyxEtoile | 3 Works - 100k | January-April 2014

He got in her way again. “You’re not afraid of me, are you?” he asked, the dangerous smile on his face. She wondered idly what the right answer was. What she would say if she could say anything but the truth. . . “You’re a force of nature. I fear you the way a fisherman fears a storm in the distance. I can’t out run you. I can’t hide from you. You may sink me. You may fill the nets with fish. You may ignore me entirely. But there’s very little I can do to influence the outcome. All I can do is brace myself and hope for the best.”

Note: (In honour of the impending release of the Loki miniseries and my sceptical optimism for it, I'm highlighting a few canon-adjacent Loki works that can pass the time between new episodes or, if you're like me, distract from new content long enough to miss the first wave of inevitable Discourse.) Advice often repeated to aspiring authors is a strong exposition and and detailed knowledge of their original characters; NyxEtoile acheives both impressively The Dark Inside series. The original Syn character is inspired by the Syn in Norse mythology, and her comprehensive backstory is cleverly explored throughout the series as events require. And if you enjoy other MCU fanfiction Nyx and their frequent collaborator @olivesawl have published an abundance of completed works to enjoy, including the Tales From The Tower series which allows canon Avengers characters to run amok.

- Author's Tumblr | @nyxetoile | Series on AO3-

There was a false king on the throne of Asgard.

And as far as Syn could tell, she was the only one who’d noticed.

She’d come to the castle of Odin as a child, working in the kitchens. She’d sliced her fingers peeling vegetables and burned her arms on pots of soup and kettles for tea. It was difficult work but she’d done it well and never complained where anyone could hear. She’d been rewarded, eventually, by becoming a handmaiden for the queen. Dresses and jewels were far less dangerous than the kitchens. She had seen a great deal of the royal family while working for the queen. She knew the king and his sons by sight and sound and even smell, though she doubted any of them would know her face.

And the man calling himself Odin the Allfather was not who he said he was.

The illusion was good, she admitted that. At times it seemed to shimmer over him, like a mirage in the heat. And certain sentences were him, through and through. Certainly he had fooled everyone else who had laid eyes on him. Thor himself had been fooled. But there wasn’t an illusion made that Syn the Truthful couldn’t see through.

Loki Laufeyson sat on the throne and no one knew but her.

Continue reading on AO3...