Would you mind if I killed you?

Would you mind if I tried to?

'Cause you have

Turned into my worst enemy

You carry hate that I don't feel

It's over now, what have you done?

What have you done now?

I, I've been waiting for someone like you

But now you are slipping away

What have you done now?

Why, why does fate make us suffer?

There's a curse between us, between me and you

Within Temptation - What Have You Done

"Bring in the prisoner." Odin's command rang throughout the hall and made Sigrun's body tremble. Thor grasped her hand and squeezed quickly; he was gone before the tinkling of chains reached her ears.

Loki.

The prisoner.

Her eyes caught the sight of Loki's long shadow before he turned the corner, briefly thought of following after her brother, and fixed her gaze on a spot on the marble floor.

It looked like a face.

It looked like it was laughing at her.

She felt irrationally guilty, it gnawed at her insides. She felt sick.

Feet stopped mere inches from her, but she didn't dare look up. How could she look at him?

"Loki." Frigga called to her son.

"Hello mother." Sigrun saw Loki's feet turn as he faced his mother, "Have I made you proud?"

"Please don't make this worse."

"How could this get any worse?" His voice sarcastic.

"Enough." Odin commanded, "I will speak to him alone."

Sigrun heard Frigga sweep from the room, and wondered if she should follow, but she felt rather cemented to the spot where she stood; staring at the laughing face.

She felt Loki's eyes on her, and her skin felt on fire as she felt the color rise in her cheeks. Her eyes found a particularly large speck of dust and followed its movements in the air.

Loki's feet turned back, and took a few steps to the throne where Odin sat, he stood very still for a moment, and a chuckle broke from his lips.

"I really don't see what all the fuss is about."

"You really don't see the severity of your crimes? Where ever you go there is war, ruin, and death."

"I went down to Midgard to rule as a benevolent god, just like you."

"We are not gods. We are born, we live, we die, just as humans do."

"Give or take five thousand years." Loki's voice was light.

"And all this, because Loki desires a crown."

"It is my birthright." Loki's voice became icy.

"You're birthright, was to die!" Odin yelled, spit flying from his mouth. Sigrun jumped, nearly out of her skin, and slowly raised her eyes. "As a child, cast out onto a frozen rock. If I had not taken you in, you would not be here now to hate me."

"If I am for the ax then, for Mercy's sake, just swing it. It's not that I don't love our little talks it's just…I don't love them." Loki finished quietly.

Odin stared hard at his son. It seemed he was trying to make a decision. What to do with the crazed god?

"Sigrun and Frigga are the only reason you are still alive. And you will never see them again." Loki staggered backward, as if he had been struck. "You will live out the rest of your days in the dungeons." A sob mixed a scream wrenched itself from Sigrun's lungs, she had to cover her mouth to stifle the sounds.

"What of Thor?" Loki sounded breathless,"You will make that witless oaf king while I rot in chains."

"Thor must undo the damage you have done. He will bring order to the nine realms and then yes, he will be king."

Loki took a few small steps backward.

"Take him away." Odin slumped back in the throne looking drained.

"No, no, no, no, no." Sigrun started forward toward Loki but was stopped when several pairs of strong hands held her back. Her struggles made no difference. Loki was tethered where he stood, and leaned against his chains toward her.

"Let her go." Odin's words were quiet.

The guards released her immediately. Sigrun stumbled toward Loki and fell into him.

Goosebumps sprang up on her skin when he pressed his lips against her hair.

"I'm so sorry." The words were muffled against his chest, and she breathed him in.

"Don't worry, little one, I will be quite comfortable." He replied lightly.

"I'm sorry." She repeated. Even though she knew she shouldn't be. Even though she knew this was less than he you. You did what you needed to do."

"I told you I wouldn't hold it against you. You did what you needed to do."

The guilt gnawed painfully. Sigrun just shook her head.

She felt a cool finger under her chin, tilt her head up.

"I love you, beautiful one." His voice so quiet she almost didn't hear him.

"I love you too, of course, I do." Her voice hitched as the words caught in her throat. How could she even say them?

Loki bent his face down to hers and slowly pressed his lips against hers. Sigruns cells tingled.

"Enough." Odin's voice reminded them, they were not alone, and Sigrun was hyper aware of the many pairs of eyes on them.

The guards holding onto Loki's tethers began to pull him away.

"No." Sigrun's hands reached out to grab on to him, to keep him close. Once again strong hands held her back, but only one pair this time.

"It's okay little sister." Thor's voice came from behind her. Sigrun's arms dropped and hung limply at her sides. They watched as Loki turned the corner and waited until the sound of chains was no more.