The two brothers stopped at the base of the throne. Thor looked at his brother, knowing that he would not yield any more than he already had. Electing to stand with his brother, he addressed the Allfather.
"Father, I have returned with my brother, as you see. Because he would not come willingly, I was forced to restrain him."
"My sons," began the Allfather, "the glad tidings of your return are tempered by the manner of it. My heart rejoices that you have returned to us, whole, Loki, but your actions are not the actions of a son of Odin. I would know from what source your power came. How did you come to command the Chitauri?"
At a gesture from Odin, Thor removed his brother's muzzle.
"At the behest of the Mad Titan. I believe you know him, father."
"I feared as much. Thor, what was the extent of the damage to Midgard?"
"Father, we were able to limit the damage to but one city. As we speak the same group of valiant Midgardians who helped me defeat my brother is rebuilding the city. I promised them that I would return to provide aid as soon as I had fulfilled my duties to Asgard, for while the damage was to but one city, the damage was extensive and will require much time to repair."
"Very well, my son, we will attend to the matter of your return later." At this, Odin stood and descended the throne to where his sons stood.
"Loki, my son, you have betrayed your family. You have betrayed your realm, your ruler, your comrades. You have created irreparable damage to three realms with your actions."
He halted a few steps above the base.
"You betrayed Asgard by bringing Frost giants into the realm when Thor was to be crowned. You brought them again to assassinate me while I lay in the Odin-sleep. You killed Laufey, thus ending the stability in Jotunheim and further endangering your own home by having completely destroyed the treaty between our two realms. And lastly, you brought war to Midgard by allowing yourself to be the pawn of Thanos. Explain your actions."
Loki addressed the Allfather without emotion: "My actions speak for themselves. I have no further explanations to offer."
Odin considered his son before he spoke again. "Very well. Your actions speak of malicious disregard for the well-being of all races in the nine realms. Such blatant malevolence and maleficence cannot go free."
Raising his voice, he pronounced, "I sentence you, Loki Odinson, to reflect upon your crimes. You will be restrained, unable to move. You will lose the freedom you attempted to carve from the other realms. In order to understand the biting, burning pain you brought upon these three realms, you will be subjected to the same - the dripping venom of a snake will provide the same suffering as you inflicted."
The only reaction Loki's face betrayed to this declaration was a slight widening of his eyes, whether due to fear or to mere surprise it was impossible to tell. Loki and Odin regarded each other stonily, neither betraying any further feelings.
Odin continued, "Take him away to the dungeon. His sentence will be carried out at first light tomorrow."
Thor reluctantly grasped his brother's arm and led him away. Frigga remained silent still, seemingly frozen, unable to call out to her sons due to the restraints of protocol. Though she was his queen, she could not question the Allfather before his court. She merely looked at her husband, resolving to speak with her sons in private later.