Prologue:
Adelaide walked into the throne room, guards flanking her sides. Odin looked down at the young woman from his throne, his face an emotionless mask. At the bottom of the stairs stood his eldest son, Thor. She bowed before Odin, staring up at him.
"What is it you wish to discuss?" Odin speaks.
She stands up. "I wish to question why a memorial has not been arranged for your son, Loki."
"That is not a matter for you to discuss," Thor says, his entire body tense. "It is a decision that we made. We have chosen our way to mourn him."
"Others have the right to mourn as well," she steps forward bravely. "We deserve to have closure. Loki-"
"Loki was seen as a traitor by Asgard." he interrupted.
"How dare you," Adelaide hisses at the warrior prince. "He was a prince of Asgard. He was your brother. If you loved him then you too would want closure."
"You claim that I do not love my brother?" Thor thunders. "I loved him dearly as any of my family. Who are you to accuse me of being heartless?"
"Enough," Odin stands up. The two bickering silenced, staring up at the king. "If the young lady would like to have a memorial for my son, then so be it. Everyone deserves a right to mourn, Thor. We had not only lost Loki, but all of Asgard has lost him as well."
"Thank you, my king." Adelaide says as she curtsies to him.
"Is this all you wish to discuss?" The king asks, wishing she would stay longer.
Shaking her head, she replies, "That is all I have to say."
"You are dismissed," Odin says with regret.
Behind the mask he wore, Loki watched as the blonde left the room. Her flowing locks blowing behind her. She looked well, he decided. It had been too long since he had last seen her. The last time had been before Thor's fall to Earth. She mourns him, he realizes. Despite their time apart, she still cared about him.
"You let the people of Asgard speak to you in this manner, father?" Thor questions after she is gone.
"Our people have the right to mourn, my son. It is wrong of us to keep them from having the closure that they seek." Odin replies. "Now, I am retiring to my bedchamber. Do not seek the woman out. She is grieving the same as we are. Remember that if you shall face her again."
With that said, Odin made his way to his chambers. Behind locked doors, Loki allowed the glamour to fade. Now he was himself, or rather the self he had known all of these years. Even after everything, he was still not comfortable with his Frost Giant skin. He still fancied himself as an Asgardian.
"Why do you want a memorial for me when I am not dead?" He asks, turning to the blonde that lay out on his bed.
Adelaide walked over to him, caressing his face. "To all of Asgard you are dead."
"Yet, they have not questioned my authority." Loki says. "Only you have stepped forward requesting a memorial."
"They are all afraid of your brother," she tells him. "But not I."
Stepping away from her, he shakes his head. "You are foolish."
"There was once a time I feared the all mighty Thor. No longer. That time ended when he returned to Asgard, softer. Then he brought his beloved here, his weakness. I no longer saw him as a warrior that strikes fear in all, but rather a man."
Loki chuckles, moving to kiss her forehead. "My beautiful Adelaide. A warrior such as my brother does not have a weakness. His Jane is a strength." Changing the subject he looks at her, staring into her pale eyes. "Now tell me. How is it that you knew I still lived?"
"For one, I know you, Loki, perhaps better than yourself. Not to mention the fact that there was a strange air about my king. Something familiar and comforting. When I gazed into your eyes, I knew that it was you and not our king. Does your brother know? Is that why he does not want a memorial?"
"Thor does not know, nor can he ever." Loki informs her.
She kisses his lips softly. "Your secret is safe with me, my king."