Then he looked toward the Casket of Winters.
"But it seems the universe had other plans."
Loki followed his gaze to the casket, then looked at his own hands—now back to their normal pale tone.
"Can I… can I transform back? Into a Jotun?"
"I think so," Vidar replied. "Your Asgardian form seems to be a spell placed on you when you were a baby. Most likely by Frigga. But your true form is Jotun."
Loki closed his eyes, breathing deeply.
"I don't know who I am anymore."
"You are who you choose to be," Vidar said. "That is the only truth that matters."
They remained in silence for several minutes. Finally, Loki spoke again, his voice firmer.
"You said Laufey abandoned me."
"Yes."
"Did you see him? When you went to Jotunheim?"
Vidar admitted it.
"Yes. He is the King of Jotunheim. He tried to attack us when I proposed peace."
Loki clenched his jaw.
"Of course he did. The Jotun are savages. Monsters who—" he stopped, realizing what he was saying. "Who… I am as well."
"You are not a monster, Loki," Vidar said firmly. "And not all Jotun are savages. They are angry, yes. Wounded by centuries of Asgard's oppression. But they are not inherently evil."
Loki glanced at him sideways.
"You speak as if you understand them."
"I understand the pain of being judged for something you cannot control," Vidar replied. "I understand what it is to be different and not fit into what others expect of you."
Loki studied his brother with new curiosity.
"You have always been different, Vidar. Cold. Distant. Powerful in strange ways. I never understood why."
Vidar smiled faintly.
"We all have our secrets, brother."
Loki nodded slowly, accepting that.
After another moment of silence, Loki spoke, his voice more controlled now.
"Vidar… I…" he paused, choosing his words carefully. "I have always wanted to rule. I have always felt that I should have a throne of my own, not live in Thor's shadow."
He looked directly at Vidar.
"You know that, don't you? You've seen my ambition. You probably see it as weakness."
"It is not weakness," Vidar said. "Ambition is not bad in itself. It is what you do with it that matters."
He stood, offering his hand to help Loki up. Loki took it.
"In fact," Vidar continued, "I have a proposal for you."
Loki raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite his emotional state.
"A proposal?"
Vidar nodded.
"Laufey rejected my offer of alliance. Jotunheim will remain neutral for now, but without a strong ally, they will remain vulnerable. And Laufey…" he paused meaningfully, "Laufey is old. Weak. He will not last much longer as king."
Loki's eyes sharpened, his strategic mind beginning to work even through the emotional pain.
"Are you suggesting…?"
"I am suggesting," Vidar said carefully, "that Jotunheim will eventually need a new leader. Someone who understands both Jotunheim and Asgard. Someone who can build bridges between both realms."
He turned to look directly at Loki.
"Someone who is the son of both worlds."
Loki gasped, fully understanding what Vidar was proposing.
"You want me to… to rule Jotunheim?"
"When the time comes, yes," Vidar confirmed. "Not now. Laufey still lives, and although he abandoned his son, he is still the rightful king. But when he falls…"