The throne room was empty, save for four figures. Golden rays of sun fell on the polished floors, their light banishing all shadow. Outside, trees stood proudly around the gardens, their arms aloft, their branches bearing multitudes of waxy green leaves. Birdsong delighted the ears of those who beheld it, and the lazy humming of bees vibrated from their hives. Most lovely of all, a thousand flower faces gazed towards the sun, warm beams dancing to and fro from grass to garden to trees and back again.

These wonders were lost to the royal family, the four figures that had gathered in the throne room.

The first was a tall, broad-shouldered warrior, who bore many badges of bravery. His eyes, though burdened with the weight of responsibility, shone with some secret hearty humour that now was hidden in a dark mist. Beside him stood a man of shorter stature, but of cunning mind and bitter heart. His green, almost shadowed eyes, stared boldly and defiantly at the man sitting upon the throne.

This man was the All-Father, the great Odin, son of Bor. Age seemed to have catched up with him, for his hair was now streaked with silver and grey. His eagle-eyes stared back at the two men, and he sighed.

Odin turned to his wife, the gentle and lovely Frigga. She bent her head, her rippling honey-gold hair concealing her expression.

"It is as you have heard, Loki," he said to the green-eyed man. "Thor shall take you to Midgard for a span of three years, in which you will learn the worth of the mortals."

Loki's eyes glittered resentfully. "The mortals are of no worth."

"That was my first assumption," replied the All-Father. "But I soon learned otherwise. Mortals, who do not live for long, are but mere shadows of the Asgardians. They have a life span of only a century, or even less, and, from what my sources tell me, they seldom spend their life in a meaningful way. Nevertheless, their bravery and resistance never fails to amaze me. It is a pity that many of them have grown… out of it."

"Bravery and resistance?" spat Loki. "They are weak, cowering creatures! They will obey any command, and they whimper at the sight of us. Why should we condescend to them? What reason is there for me to live in the midst of a people too frightened to stand?"

At every sentence, his voice rose higher. The warrior beside him turned and looked into his eyes.

"Do not underestimate the mortals, brother. They are–"

"Do not call me brother," hissed Loki.

Thor's face hardened. "I will call you brother, and not by any other name."

Odin rose from his throne.

"That is enough. Thor, by evening, you are to meet Heimdall. He will direct you and your brother to Midgard, and there you shall stay for three years. And by then, when you return–" he released his breath and sunk into his throne "– I hope Loki shall then be a changed man."

Two guards marched towards Loki, taking him by the arms, and his face paled.

"You cannot do this!" he screamed. "I will not live among the mortals as if I were on myself!"

"I am sorry, my son," said Frigga. She arose and descended the stairs. Her hand cupped his cheek and she kissed Loki's forehead gently. "I shall miss you. When you return, I shall host a feast for you."

She smiled tenderly and embraced the suddenly paralyzed god of mischief.

Odin's voice rang out over their heads.

"You shall meet the so-called Avengers and their folk, and perhaps even find love among the mortals, Loki. Your shelter will be a room within the house of Jane Foster, and every meal you eat will be spent with mortals, be it Jane Foster or any other.

"But it is far too dangerous to let you dwell in Midgard with your powers."

Loki's breathing turned shallow as he realized what Odin was saying. Streams of sweat ran down his temples, and he clenched his fists.

"No. No!"

"Loki of Asgard, I take from you your powers of illusion and magic.

"They shall stay behind in Asgard until your return."

Odin and Frigga watched as the energy seemed to drain away from their adopted son's body, leaving him limp and weak.

"Take him to his quarters," said Odin to the guards. "Be sure to stay by his door lest he try to escape. And when evening comes, Thor will take him to Heimdall. We shall not see Loki for three years."