Chapter Text
June 14th
To His Majesty King Laufey,
Twice now you have rebuffed my petitions for peace. Since then your people have lost six major battles. Thousands of your men have perished, and soon it will be your civilian population, to include your children. Do not make me do this. My army has advanced closer to your palace than ever before. I will press on until victory if I must. Like you, my losses are mounting. Peace will come to our peoples one way or another. Shall it be by death or by diplomacy? The choice is yours.
Sincerely,
His Majesty King Odin Borson, Allfather, and Protector of the Nine Realms
June 15th
To His Majesty King Odin Borson, Allfather, and Tyrant of the Nine Realms:
Destroying our sacred temple with that great ball of fire was an insult! May Ymir roast you in the fires of Hel!
Sincerely,
His Majesty King Laufey, Jotunnheim
August 4th
To His Majesty King Laufey of Jotunnheim,
I’ve taken the western quarter of your great city. Thousands are dead. More will die if you refuse to surrender. Capitulate now, and my father and I will be merciful. There need not be any more bloodshed here. I know that your people need the farming moons to feed your people as much as we do. A sharing agreement can be made either by deed, through a marriage alliance, or some other means that might be yet conceived. There is enough land to feed both kingdoms. Please consider your answer carefully.
Sincerely,
Thor
August 5th
To The Little Hammer,
Those moons belong to my people. You are the thieves here. The day I yield is the day I die!
Go Fuck Yourself!
Laufey
September 13th
To His Highness Prince Regent Helblindi, Steward of Jotunnheim:
Your first shipment of restitution was found wanting. It did not include the 10 tons of coal nor the 800 bushels of wheat required. Make the delivery within ten days or your people will suffer.
Sincerely,
King Odin Borson, Allfather, and Protector of the Nine Realms
September 13th
To His Royal Highness Thor, Crowned Prince of Asgard:
It has been many days since I last looked upon your face. Though you looked at me with suspicion and never spoke to me, you were respectful. I watched you as you watched me, while your father and my brother discussed our terms of surrender. After my father’s death, you had every opportunity to take what you wanted. You could’ve been cruel, but you merely showed me indifference. Considering present circumstances I choose to interpret indifference as a kindness. Or perhaps I am wrong? I pray not. I know that the shipment we are sending out today will be short. With many of our strongest warriors dead and our city in ruins, organizing the remaining labor has been difficult. Helblindi and I both have gone out with our people to shovel the coal needed to make payment. Please do not take the shortage as an insult or a ploy. I beg you, my prince, for mercy for my people. My father was too stubborn and arrogant to do so, but I am not. Please. I’ll do anything you ask as a show of good faith.
Sincerely,
Prince Loki, The Runt of Jotunnheim
September 14th
To His Royal Highness, Prince Loki of Jotunnheim:
In response to your letter, I have asked my father to extend the delivery date from 10 days to 14 days. Your letter showed more humility and forethought than anything your father ever wrote during all our months of correspondence. I look forward to working with you in the future on all diplomatic matters. Since you are a runt, as you say, perhaps your brother will see fit to designate you his official envoy for other future concerns.
Sincerely,
Thor
September 15th
To His Royal Highness Thor, Crowned Prince of Asgard:
I thank you on behalf of my people for your benevolence and mercy. I discussed the matter with my brother, and he agreed that I should act as an ambassador for all future meetings. I thank you for your assistance. You’ve been very kind.
Sincerely,
Loki
October 1st
To Ambassador Loki of Jotunnheim,
My father has ordered me to survey your southern lands. It would only take me a couple of hours to complete on my own, but I felt I might learn more about your land and people if you accompany me for the day. It will be the day after tomorrow. Please let me know if you can come.
Sincerely,
Thor
October 2nd
To His Royal Highness Thor, Crowned Prince of Asgard:
Yes, of course. I await your arrival, my prince.
Sincerely,
Loki
October 5th
To Ambassador Loki of Jotunnheim:
Dear Loki,
I found your council during my travels of your realm very helpful. On the matter of the coal mines, I have recommended to my father that the restitution total be reduced. I confess that I see your homeland with new eyes. Had you not been beside me I would never have known about all abundant animal life that lives just beneath the freshly fallen snow. Nor would I know of the great ingenuity your people possess to grow crops in such cold places. Difficult circumstances have forced your people to persevere in unexpected ways. I see the beauty of it.
My duties will keep me here in Asgard for the foreseeable future. I will need you to come to Asgard to provide regular reports on the inspections of our restitution shipments. The next is due in 27 days.
Sincerely,
Thor
October 7th
To His Royal Highness Thor, Crowned Prince of Asgard:
My prince, I write to you to report of a great snow storm that came yesterday. It did minimal damage but did slow our labors. The sky was clear today. There are few things that I’ve seen that share the same shade of sparkling blue. It is not the same shade as my skin, nor of the ice or ocean, but like a pair of eyes whose owner I cannot place.
The last of the bodies have been cleared, and the threat of cholera is no longer imminent. With this concern addressed, we now have more people available to help gather our natural resources. I join my people every day to ensure that the timetables are met. There was a time when I would have scoffed at such work. I was an arrogant child like my father. I would say that war makes men out of all children, but that isn’t true. Least of all, for my father. I eagerly await my first visit to your realm. Until then.
Sincerely,
Loki
October 10th
To Ambassador Loki,
I too have been changed by war. In my youth, I was eager for glory. My people sing of it often enough. Imagine my surprise when I found that no such thing exists. It is a lie old warriors tell themselves to keep their nightmares at bay. My countrymen drown themselves in mead and women to forget the horrors they’ve done. I cannot. I must think of the future, one where Asgard and Jotunnheim can coexist in peace. With your help, I believe it can be achieved.
The sky here is blue today.
Sincerely,
Thor
October 15th
Dear Prince Thor,
I’ve been thinking of Asgard these past few days. I have no idea what it is like there or how I will be received. Is everything covered in gold as the stories say? I am made to believe that it is so hot there that I’ll burst into flames the moment I arrive. I am also concerned about my safety; I’m ashamed to say. The wounds of war are still fresh for everyone, and even your loyal guards have a vendetta. Will I be close to you?
Sincerely,
Loki
October 17th
Dear Loki,
I understand your concerns. You will be housed in a guest room next to my chambers. For your safety, and practicality of course. It’ll be convenient and save time for us both. Contrary to what you have heard, not everything is covered in gold. The palace is, but as for the city, much of it is sandstone, that glows gold when the sun sets. It will probably be uncomfortably warm for you. I’m not sure what to do about that. I thought to inquire with one of my palace healers but feared her curious looks.
Sincerely,
Thor
October 25th
Dear Thor,
After several days of research in my palace library, I found an old book about traveling etiquette, of all things. It was a funny little tomb, and I learned a great deal about visiting other realms. It turns out the remedy is an enchanted stone, set in a ring in my family’s royal jewel collection. It is an ugly thing, and I always wondered why it was included among all the other gorgeous items my parents owned. I have since laid claim to it and now wear it every day. We are working hard to fulfill the next delivery, which should arrive on time. Until then.
Loki
November 2nd
Dear Loki,
I apologize for the cruel remarks of my countrymen. I have corrected them and let it be known that disrespecting a prince from any realm will not be tolerated. You handled their baiting remarks with far more grace than I ever could, and I commend you for it. I enjoyed our discussion about Midgardian literature and wanted to continue it, if you permit, during breakfast in the morning. My servants usually serve me promptly at nine. I hope you will join me.
Thor
November 5th
Dear Thunderwand,
I regret to inform you that your front door was open all throughout dinner. Please forgive me for asking, but my scientific curiosity will not be quenched otherwise. Do the Aesir have foreskin on their penises when they are born? Is it removed at some point or do you not know what foreskin is because your people don’t have it at all?
Loki
November 5th
Dear Curious Cat,
I’ll tell you if you show me yours.
Sincerely,
Thunderdick
November 7th
Dear Loki,
Never before have I stayed up til dawn, just talking. The starry sky usually fails to hold my attention; I am so accustomed to seeing it. You let me see it with new eyes, and now in the evening, my thoughts turn to you. Your departure from Asgard was too abrupt, and I shall endeavor to manufacture reasons for your future visits to take longer.
Thor
November 10th
Dear Thor,
My time in Asgard feels like a dream. Despite the initial rudeness of your people, the rest of my stay was very pleasant. I thank you for making that possible. After spending five days in a fully functioning palace, I now see how dilapidated my home has become. Years of war took its toll on our treasury, and basic maintenance was neglected for the sake of the war effort. The south wing is practically condemned. The rest of my world looks covered in shades of depressed gray. Your laughter was like sunshine upon my heart, and I think of it often when I need a boost in my mood. I regret, however, that even if you find a way to keep me longer in Asgard, I cannot stay. My people are already behind in the next restitution shipment. I must join them tomorrow in the coal mines.
Sincerely,
Loki