The chaos continued for several minutes before Frigga's intervention finally brought it under control.
Loki's clothes were torn to shreds, and he stood off to one side looking aggrieved, like a ravaged, wilted flower.
Baldr was still furious, but Thor had him locked in a tight hold from behind, leaving him unable to move.
"I am very disappointed. Why are you brothers fighting at a time like this? And in front of everyone, no less." Hera's expression remained blank, but everyone could hear from her utterly flat voice that she was completely disheartened.
For once, the God of Mischief lowered his head. He suddenly felt somewhat sorry for his mother. She had always loved him dearly, yet he had just invoked her name for his own purposes.
But he could yield in other matters—just not this one! He could not give Thor to Baldr!
"I did nothing wrong, Mother. I only wanted to compensate our elder brother for returning home. I am the All-Father; I am fully entitled to make such arrangements."
Thor, who was still holding Baldr tightly in his arms, could not help nodding. Loki was right. This was indeed the All-Father's authority: to arrange marriages for brave warriors and ensure that glorious bloodlines spread and multiply as much as possible. Odin had done the same in the past.
After his identity had been exposed, he had mentioned it while talking with Jen. She had called it Nazi eugenics, but Thor explained that Asgard had its own national circumstances.
The All-Father was also called the Highfather. He was not merely the father of Thor and his brothers, but the father of all the Aesir. When it came to marriage, one either seized whoever one fancied or obeyed one's father's arrangements.
Thor had wanted to marry Jen, but Odin