The universe was cold and calm as the people of Asgard watched sadly as a member of their royal family was escorted through the kingdom in a floating cube. Loki glared down at the shackles that chafed his wrists, biting into his skin as he awaited the verdict that was to be placed upon his crimes, none of which he could deny having committed. Over a hundred humans dead, promising Earth to the highest bidder, trying to destroy the land of the Ice Giants, and many other nameless projects. Loki glanced around himself, trying to ignore the metal muzzle that was nearly built into his jaw, and took in instead the cell around him. Six crystal-like slabs contained him into a area, he could hardly attempt to look menacing as he sat on a chair, not unlike the walls. He couldn't see out of his cell, nor could anyone see inside as he was told. Loki didn't believe they would grant him that kindness, even if it was the people who had raised him from infancy and claimed that they treated him as a son. Looking back all he could see was Thor getting everything, Thor being treated like the mightiest man alive. And, up until nearly two years ago, Loki had believed it too. He had loved his brother and looked up to him, hoping that someday he could find a way to be his brother's equal.
That day never came. The day that did come for Loki was reality. The day he had found out who he truly was. Loki's fists clenched as anger, hurt, and betrayal surged through out his body. Finding out that he was a vile Ice Giant had been the wake up call he wished that he could forget. Loki never could compare to Thor, who had been banished for attacking the Ice Giants in the first place. Then, becoming a king shortly after, was nothing that Loki ever wanted. He only wanted to be Thor's equal. To prove to everyone that he was just as good as Thor. Loki shook his head and pushed the memory away, realizing that the shackles were close to cutting into his flesh.
Without warning the walls of his tiny cell slowly opened, laying themselves on the floor, while the ceiling floated higher up until it was placed back into its original spot on the ceiling of the courtroom. Sitting in the throne that Loki himself had once occupied was Odin, the only man Loki would ever know as father. Beside him stood Thor, who looked worriedly at Loki. Loki pointedly looked away only to see his mother weeping into a piece of clothe. Loki averted his gaze back to his father, finding that he would rather see anger than tears only to find his father's remaining eye full of an emotion Loki refused to acknowledge. Instead he allowed his gaze to flicker lazily over the entire court before flexing his fingers in one fluid moment, enjoying how it caused more than half of the witnesses to draw back.

ﾓLoki, son of Odin.ﾔ Loki didn't bother looking around to locate the deep disembodied voice at echoed through out the entire room. ﾓYour crimes have been against all laws set down thousands of years before your birth. You have betrayed your people, attempted to destroy another race, enslave earth, and have ended a great many lives. As I have listed your crimes, I must also list reason as to why you should be spared. Inside every man there is good, a point that has been proven over and over again since the dawn of time.ﾔ

Loki glared up at the ceiling, fighting the haunting memory of flashing pale blue eyes. Those hauntingly beautiful pale blue eyes. The eyes Loki had been hiding in the catacombs of his brain for years. The last pair of eyes to ever see who he truly was. Loki could hear the court continue with their findings on his crimes and why he should or should not be given a second chance knowing that no matter how long they drone on about his life or how many claim that he had lost his mind these would be his last moments, his last breathes, and his last memory. Without a second thought Loki allowed himself to plunge into a memory that he had tried not to remember since he was fifteen.

It had been a bright, sunny day when a special, royal guest was to arrive. Or at least that's what Loki had been told, barely even fifteen. Thor had been busy, training and than several hours of being primped to meet the royal guest. Loki, on the other hand, had finished studying a day prior and had been decked out in his entire formal garb after breaking his fast, to his mother's delight. He had been ridding around the kingdom when he saw her. She was sitting sidesaddle a top of a pure silver mare, her light hair glinting in the light reviling its odd strawberry tint against her ivory complexion and red traveling dress. Loki couldn't pull his eyes away from her image, something about her captivated him, and when she turned her head and their eyes met he felt something that he couldn't remember ever feeling before. His heart had taken off beating rapidly against his ribs and he felt his lungs constrict. Her pale blue eyes were bright and her following smile was warm, it lit up the gloom that Loki, until that moment, hadn't noticed lurking all around him.
Without a thought Loki found himself steering his black stallion in her direction, within a few rapid and pailful heartbeats he found himself face to face with the young woman. Nether of them had broken their locked gaze. Loki slowly bowed his head, his eyes still locked on hers, unable to bite back the smile magically appeared on his face as her smile grew and she inclined her head, her long curls bouncing and twirling in the light breeze.

ﾓHello.ﾔ Loki's heart skipped a beat as he remembered that beautiful, lyrical voice. At the time he had been nearly struck dumb by her entire being. Nearly.

ﾓGreetings, my lady.ﾔ Loki raised his head, his smile still on his lips. ﾓMight I ask what brings you to Asgard?ﾔ

ﾓMy father has sent me here.ﾔ The young woman tilted her head slightly to the side. ﾓMight I ask your name?ﾔ

ﾓI am Loki-ﾔ

ﾓOdin's second son.ﾔ An old woman ridding the horse besides the young woman. Loki's left eye twitched as the old woman went back to watching Loki's people stroll around working, doing chores, and playing.

ﾓLoki.ﾔ The way she said his name nearly caused his heart to burst, she sound almost as if she were caressing it. ﾓI am Amica, second daughter of Amadeus, King of Vanaheimr."

The rest of the conversation was blur after being hidden away for so long in the depths of his mind and the rest was too painful to remember, yet he couldn't stop the memory's from flooding. The way that they had spent most of the day racing around Asgard on their horses, her nurse left behind after a moment of two, leaving them alone for a few hours. Loki could remember how she had smiled and laughed and how she swore up and down that they had never met before, which he knew was a lie. His heart tore as the last of the memory's hit him. Her pale blue eyes expressionless as her betrothal to Thor was announced that night at the feast. The empty rooms that Loki's mother had set aside for royal guests filled with the belongings that Amica's oldest brother, Cato, had brought during his visit. Loki skipped over the rest of the memory's, leaving the last one to wrench his heart out. Amica's arms wrapped tightly around his neck and the soundless sobs that wracked through her body, the flash of light gold, red and pale blue. She was gone.

Amica.

"-are there an objections?" Loki opened his eyes and looked up to see all of Odin's advisers standing in a small clump a few feet away. "Does anyone have any reason as to why this man should not be severely punished?"

Loki closed his eyes again, trying to tune out the angry tones of the 'impartial' court. Instead he tried to remember Amica. Her personality, her laugh, the way she would try to make him laugh, how she had smiled, what her favorite color was, what she had wanted to name her children, anything and everything that he had ever learned about her he ran through his head. Amica, no matter how horribly array it had gone, had been the only woman who had ever gotten to him. She was the only woman he had ever thought about, and at that moment he couldn't get her sweet sent out of his head. Cloves, vanilla, lavender, the sweet smell of the air after the rain, and the smell of books.

"I have an objection!" Loki's eyes snapped open as the entire court quieted down immediately. Thor had finally stood and was walking towards Loki with purpose. "Loki is the son of the King of Asgard. As such the laws state he can not be severely punished by anyone."

"Then what are we to-"

"The only option we had is to rehabilitate him." Thor looked around at the court, meeting everyone's gaze as he continued. "Place Loki in my care and allow me to help he return to his old ways. What say you, father?"

All eyes were on Odin.