Hello all, so a new Loki story has arrived (whoop whoop). So I understand that I am currently writing Hobbit fanfiction, but I have had this idea in my head for a while so I shall try to balance both stories should this fanfiction get a good response. I understand nothing major has happened so far in this chapter, but it is an opening chapter after all. Please please please, read and review! If you like it I will continue! Constructive criticism well received. Much love to you all! Xx
He watched on with bitterness. Ever had he lived in his shadow and ever shall he remain. Behind this golden barrier he was like an animal; caged and an object of ridicule, never able to escape captivity. For three years he had remained locked up and for three years he had gone without company, without a familiar face, save for the constant guards watching his every move and the maids delivering his food. He would rather starve that live this so called life, but he also wished to live and so he ate the food provided him begrudgingly. Today was different, today his brother had come. He stood in front of the golden barrier watching with sorrow filled eyes. Sorrow, he thought with a scoff, what did he have to be sorrowful for? He was not in prison; he had a life. Thor placed his hand upon the golden wall and gave a weak smile. Loki revealed no emotion as he was sat facing his brother on his bed. He paused a moment, drifting to past memories, fond memories of him and his brother until his hatred came back once more and quickly he turned, lying on his side with his back facing the blonde god. "Loki, will you not look at me?" Thor's strained voice sounded. Loki refused to turn to look at him and remained silent. "Brother please; look at me. I realize I have not come to see you in a long time. I am truly sorry for this, but please look at me." The god of mischief sighed loudly and slowly turned to face the blonde god once more.
"What do you want Thor?" Loki spoke, his voice strained; evidence that it was hardly used. Thor felt his hear sink on hearing the strain and more so when he looked at the dark sunken eyes and cheekbones and his very thin stature. "Have you come to remind me of my folly? Or perhaps you have come to tell me of a great victory you have won? Or maybe you have come to tell me that our Father has graciously crowned you King?"
"Do you think so little of me that I would come to visit you only to gloat and bring more pain and sorrow to you?" Thor inquired, removing his hand from the wall, feeling hurt.
"Is that not why you have come?" Loki asked, though he cared not as it showed in his bored expression.
"I come with glad tidings brother…"
"Glad tidings – oh, is father finally going to bring my death sentence to a close and end my pathetic existence" Loki inquired, surprised at how hopeful he was that that was the reason Thor was here.
"Please do not say such things. The only one who wishes death upon you is yourself. Do you think it was easy for father, for any of us to put you in prison – to see you like this?"
"Yes, I think it was a weight off all your shoulders when you locked me away in this cage." Loki shouted, taking a weak step forward to the barrier separating them both.
"Then you truly know nothing Loki. Of all your power, you knowledge, the one thing you never could see, nor understand was the true love we all held, we all hold for you. You have been blind in your broken heartedness and anger; so very blind" Thor banged his fist in fury against the stone pillar supporting the frame of the cell.
"So what ARE you here for, Thor?"
"Father has agreed, to release you from the confines of this cell to the confinement of your bed chambers within the castle. He had been conversing with Heimdall on a regular basis and both have seen a change in you"
"So I am to be taken from one prison to another? I would much rather stay here"
"Loki, listen to yourself- you are cutting off your nose to spite your face. Father is offering you the chance to live comfortable in your chambers, surrounded by your possessions and visits from Mother. Is that not worth accepting rather that this cold, sorrowful place surrounded by murderers, thieves and monsters?"
"Haven't you heard brother? I AM a monster" sneered Loki, the words he spoke stinging like a stab to the chest.
"Enough; I will not take no for an answer. Nor will I watch you fade into a pile of bones… Guards! Open the door to Prince Loki's cell" Thor shouted to a guard standing a few feet away. The guard slowly made his way toward the golden prince.
"My Lord?" He spoke, glancing between Thor and Loki.
"Is there a problem?"
"You wish to take Prince Loki into the palace?"
"Did I stutter? Odin has ordained it; obey your Kings command and open the door" Thor snapped at the guard who looked with disgust at the Prince behind bars. Loki frowned, backing into the farthest corner of his cell. He did not like the fact that Thor had ordered him around; nor was he very fond at the thought that he would be closer to Odin – nearer to him, his supposed father. The guard released the barrier locking the Prince in and with one nervous step, he entered the cell. Loki did not move. Instead, he glared at the male, and the guard's fear of him was evident in the shaking of his hands. The guard was followed by Thor, whom stood broad and proud. Loki allowed his eyes to roam over him. He was positive that muscles had grown on top of muscles if that were possible- he was huge. And much to the trickster god's annoyance, he was currently no match for his brother and so he knew that a fight and resistance was futile. "Come brother…" Thor ordered and obliging, but not without hate, Loki slumped forward uncharacteristically and walked toward the blonde god of thunder. Holding out his thinning wrists, Loki allowed his brother to place on handcuffs and as he stood, (something he found himself rarely doing in his cell) he found his legs shaking in weakness and he gave an involuntary sigh of weariness. Thor glanced down at his brother and he paused, confused. He never looked down upon his brother, for his brother was always eye level with him. It was then that he noticed the slight hunch to his brother's posture and the blood shot in his eyes. Thor suddenly felt sick. He knew that his brother needed some form of punishment for his actions; but looking upon his sorry form he realized then in that moment that his punishment had done him no good at all, and in a way they had caused him to deteriorate slightly. "… Let us leave these forsaken cells" Thor spoke then, braking from his revere. Loki simply grunted and allowed Thor to take his arm and lead him from the place. Secretly he was thankful of the aid as he found that his legs just were not complying.
Upstairs and through corridors they walked side by side past curious and surprised faces and all the while Loki had forgotten just how far away and hidden the dungeons were from the palace itself. What also surprised the trickster god was that not on one single asgardian face was a look of contempt, hate, betrayal; not a single negative expression which told him that either his actions were made to seem less serious so bringing forth no judgement and his heritage was kept from them or they all accepted him as he was and were forgiving of his actions because he acted out in rage due to being heartbroken. Loki snorted at that thought. As if they would be forgiving toward a frost giant bastard, he thought. It was more likely the former; that his actions were tamed and his sentence in the dungeons were merely disciplinary; after all he was up to mischief, living up to his name.
After some time, the dark haired prince noted the direction they were taking; it was not in the direction of the bed chambers but of the grand hall and Loki stopped in defiance. "Loki, what is it?" Thor inquired, genuinely concerned.
"You are leading me to HIM, not to my chamber" Loki stated, unimpressed. Thor sighed and decided to not entertain any complaints from his brother and merely took hold of his arm once more and pulled him along. Being as weak as he was, Loki had no choice but to embrace the fact that he was about to come eye to eye with Odin and his Mother for the first time in three years. The brothers came to a halt in front of the grand golden doors and waited as two guards pushed them open with great might. Emerald green eyes quickly scanned the large expanse of the grand hall, silently praying that there would be no large audience. Much to his relief, only Lady Sif and the Warriors three stood to the right of the Kings throne and his mother to the left. Slowly they entered, and not a moment after they stepped over the threshold did the large doors shut behind them. It felt like an age before they reached the throne and Loki kept his gaze to the ground and heard a gasp to the left; his mother.
"Father…" Thor acknowledged his father with respect and a bow of the head and let go of his brother's thin arm. Odin nodded to his eldest though his one eye remained on his youngest, roaming over his form with hidden regret.
"You have been neglecting your food…" Odin suddenly stated, his voice booming in the vast hall and Loki began to chuckle, though his face remained facing the floor. "… You find that amusing?"
"That your first words to me after three years are 'You have been neglecting your food'? Yes, I do find it amusing" answered the prince, taking deep breaths, feeling exhausted after the long trek to the hall. Odin ignored Loki's remark and remained silent for a moment, looking to his wife and to his eldest.
"Loki, look at me" Frigga spoke suddenly and the youngest son of Odin found his head slowly lifting to glance at the only one in this room whom he truly did love. Frigga's eyes watered and she took in her son and she slowly made her way over to him, despite Odin's obvious glare. As she came to stand before Loki, Frigga placed her hands on either cheek and held his face in front of hers. "My beautiful boy; why have you done this to yourself?" a tear trickled down her rosy cheeks and she gentle stroked his pale face. Loki remained silent, though he felt something strange within; a fluttering in his heart, a reminder of past fond memories of his loving time shared with his dear mother. Oh how he did crave that love, though despite himself, he so effortlessly tried to deny. Frigga stroked his cheek once more before composing herself and walked back to her place beside her husband.
"I suppose Thor has explained why you are here?" Odin questioned softly.
"Yes"
"And you accept that you shall spend your time in your chambers until I see fit?"
"Yes"
"Do you have any questions, Loki?" Odin inquired, feeling annoyed but also surprised at the lack of conversation from his youngest. He thought that he would be ready with smart and snide remarks, words of bitterness and hate, but there was none of that.
"Why do you all look upon me without distain? Even the villagers and residents of the palace hold no hint of anger in their eyes" Loki spoke, looking around at every person in the room. Odin raised his eyebrows, not expecting such a question to leave Loki's lips.
"Why would they?"
"I am a MONSTER, a MURDERER, a VILLAN; as I have been told many a time…"
"You want to be hated?" Lady Sif interrupted in surprise.
"I want to know why I am NOT" the emerald god spat at the woman, his emotions betraying him.
"Because I have not disgraced your name; no one outside this room is fully aware of the crimes you have committed, nor do they know of your parentage. You are merely a reckless prince being reprimanded…" Odin spoke with such authority and Loki nodded confusion upon his face.
"I thought as much. After all, it would not do for the great All Father to have a murderous frost giant for a son! Why would you do that, after all I have done?"
"Because that is just it Loki, you ARE our son. Because of this fact, your actions, although terrible as they may have been were FORGIVABLE. Casting you away into a dungeon was hard enough, my love. To tell the realm of the true reasons why and have them demand your execution would stop my beating heart." Frigga spoke before Odin could reply, eyes brimming with fresh tears. Loki nodded, taking the information in. feeling overwhelmed at being released, at breathing in the fresh air, at seeing his Mother and conversing with her was too much for his weakened form to cope with and not another moment later, the god of mischief was reduced to a heap upon the floor as his legs gave way under the weight of his torso. Thor rushed to his side and bent down on his knees, reaching a hand out to grab his brother's head before it could hit the floor. Odin had stood from his throne and uncharacteristically dashed to his son's side; worry evident upon his face. The god of mischief found himself sinking into the blackness and quietness of sleep and found that the last thing he looked upon was the face of the man he most despised.