Alright. So I'm aching to write Thor and Loki and others and yada yada. This started out as just being part of my Avengers story, Ides of March. But the Asgardian parts were getting so large and in-depth already [and focusing so heavily on Thor/Loki's issues in great detail] that it seemed it should be it's own story. These will line up with my other story for a little bit, but then I'm going to branch this off completely and take a very different direction that doesn't likely involve the Avengers&Co but instead takes Thor and Loki through the Nine Realms [going into comic-verse and mythology alike]. This is a stand-alone story, so you don't need to read Ides of March, I'm just pointing it out. Despite the title there won't be any Thunderfrost in this story [although I do enjoy that too], unless a wellspring of demand for it pops up in the review section which I [sadly?] doubt. XD Enjoy!

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The hall was silent, filled only with Thor and his most trusted allies, the Queen Frigga, and the All-Father himself. The more public exhibition had taken place days earlier when Thor had arrived with a bound Loki in tow. At present, Loki was under lock-down in prison chambers which had been firmly bespelled against his use of powers and although his muzzle had been removed, in all that time and despite Thor's attempts, Loki had not spoken a single word. And that was the most disconcerting of all, for never had Loki fallen so silent. That was not his way, and whether it was for sheer loathing and spite, or because something had been broken inside of him, or even some plot, Thor was not sure.

"There are many who call for Loki's death." Odin said solemnly. They had spoken lightly of their topic till that point, banter about his misdeeds and the consequences, but he knew it needed to be said. And while Frigga and the others could stand to remain silent to listen to Odin, Thor had little patience for the task.

"Then they call wrongly!" Thor exclaimed. "Loki's crimes are...severe. But he does not deserve to lose his life."

"How many Midgardians, so cherished of you, lost their lives because of Loki? All of whom likely did not deserve death either. Why then should Loki be spared?" There was no judgment in Odin's tone, he merely pointed out the fact.

Thor winced internally at those words, he could not deny them. But even so, he could not in any circumstance call for his brother's life to be taken. And no matter what that stubborn trickster said, Thor and Loki were and would always be brothers. "I grieve for them, and I believe that Loki must pay the price for what he's done. But not with his life! Would you sentence your own son to death?"

Odin sighed, and it was a heavy thing, full of the tiredness of centuries and all of the sorrow that came with it. "Were it within my power, none of this would have come to pass. Loki would be owed no punishment, and you would not stand before me looking as though I have betrayed you, my son. But this is not the case. Loki has committed terrible crimes, the extent of which we are still not fully aware." Odin knew that Loki had answered to a master and made a deal for his use of the Chitauri, but who the master was and what the full deal may have been, he was uncertain. But true enough, Loki had betrayed Asgard, slaughtered the Jotuun king [and though it saved Odin, the event was still of Loki's design to begin with], slaughtered many of Midgard and allied with monstrous beings, and attempted to murder his own brother. The crimes against him were varied and each alone could merit death as penance, but all crimes together...some would argue that even death would not be enough to atone. Furthermore, Loki refused to speak, even to name his co-conspirators and warn of the possibility of future threats. If he cared nothing for the sake of his family and Asgard, and even himself, then he was a dangerous liabilty, son or not. Odin looked to Frigga. "What say you, wife?"

Frigga's eyes matched Odin's sigh for sorrow as she gazed over those in the room before she regarded Odin. "As a mother, the mention of taking Loki's life could cease the beating of my heart. As a queen...I cannot deny that his crimes are...great. It would not be unfair to call for his life..."

"Mother!" Thor had been certain that she would be on his side, but his protest fell silent as she raised a hand and continued, much to Thor's relief.

"However...if a suitable penance could be given which kept his life intact...that would be in fairness also, I believe."

Odin considered his wife's counsel before he turned to Thor's companions, Sif and the Warriors Three. They would not have typically been part of such a discussion, but for their closeness to Thor and Loki, and all that had transpired. "And you all?"

Sif had always had reason enough to mistrust Loki, but she could never have said that she hated him or believed him capable of the crimes that he had committed. Part of her agreed that Loki could not be allowed to live, but the part loyal to herself and to Thor knew that such a thing as Loki's execution was vile and impossible. "Loki's life should be spared, if only for the argument that death would not correct his wrongs and he would be better served through alternative penance. For the many wrongs he has done, Loki has done well for the kingdom also." Thor and the warriors owed their life to Loki on several occasions, and he had fought by their side to defend Asgard. While Loki's loyalty was flighty, she believed that at his core, Asgard and it's people meant something to him.

Volstagg considered the question and her input before he nodded slowly. "True enough, death seems harsh for the lad. But if he isn't killed, what's a punishment that could match what he's done? Might be worse than death for him whatever that was."

Fandral and Hogun exchanged a glance before Fandral spoke. "I side with them in not taking Loki's life. But I also think that Volstagg's right. The punishment to avoid that punishment might be worse in the end."

"So you would have my brother die to spare him the pain?" Thor saw no logic in his reasoning.

"Take his freedom, his powers, his voice...isn't that equivalent? Take everything that matters to him, but leave him his life. That's equatable for what he's done. And then he will spend the rest of his withering life hating you all, and being dead in all but body." Hogun, generally rare of words, spoke grimly.

A moment of silence past in consideration of that before Thor spoke again as he looked back at Odin. "There must be something...We know Loki best, and are closest to all that's happened. He is no great evil, and not truly a traitor to Asgard. If he could but be made to remember-"

"-The content's of his heart do not overrule the gravity of his actions." Odin interrupted. "But I find this counsel not wrong either. Perhaps to let Loki live and learn from his errors would be the best course. And yet it remains: what punishment is equatable justice for the lives he has taken and betrayed? As Hogun says, the punishment may be worse for Loki-"

"-You will have him die dishonorably, executed and cast aside like a-"

"Thor-"

"Loki does not-"

"Enough!" Odin's voice rumbled in the hall. Thor fell silent at that as Odin regarded those in the room before he rose. "I will take ten days to decide this matter."

"Father-"

Odin held up a hand. "Ten days, Thor. The decision will be mine, and I expect you to uphold that decision, whatever it may be."

"His life-"

"Thor." Odin's voice brooked no further argument. "I will decide. Await my decision until then." With that, he turned to leave with Frigga at his side, a small attempt to dissuade Thor from further argument.

"He's your son." Thor reminded him stubbornly.

Odin paused before he inclined his head. "And I am the one who made him thus." Odin took his leave then, and Thor could not decide if Odin referred to making Loki the way he was, or to making him his son. He left, and Thor felt as if hope had left with him. If Odin was not firmly on their side then Loki would be doomed. Thor had to do something, anything, but what? Thor looked over and saw that Sif awaited to speak with him, but he shook his head. "Later." he murmured, and she understood, as did his men. They always understood. This was Loki that they were talking about here.

Thor found his way to the prison chambers. They were accomodations fit for prisoners who were not so lowly as to be bound in the dungeons. Comfortable, but not luxurious, although Loki had been granted some measures of extra privacy and care than might be afforded another. The room kept him inside and his powers bound, mortal for all intents and purposes. But absent a means to look inside short of entering, it was Odin's knowledge and the fact that the food kept being eaten that reassured them that Loki was still inside. As previously stated, Loki had not spoken a word.

But that did not stop Thor from speaking to him.

"Brother..." Was it stubbornness or sheer hope that kept him addressing Loki as such? "Greetings." he tried. But after a long moment's silence, no answer came and he forged ahead and got straight to the point. "Father held counsel. He will wait ten days before he comes to a decision." But there was no need what decision was to be debated. "But whatever he decides...you will not have to worry, I will protect you."

Silence.

Thor sighed as he ran his fingers over the wooden door. He was torn between the desire to go to his brother's side, and to be firm with him as was needed. Thor had tried to reach Loki despite everything and he'd wound up with a blade in his gut for his troubles. Odin was right, Loki needed to be punished, but he could not allow it to take his brother's life from him, or to take Loki from Thor. "In such times your counsel would be most welcome, brother. But you cannot advise on your own punishment." Silence remained at those words and with a sigh, Thor pulled from the door. He was silent a moment, and he found himself hoping to hear even a stirring from inside, but there was not a sound. "Loki..." Thor felt the grainy wood beneath his fingers a moment more before he reluctantly pulled away. "Would that you could know how much your silence pains me." But he had no such method, and he was out of time. The day and what it required of him were not yet over. "I will return." he promised, before he took his leave.

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Loki lay upon his bed as he stared at his ceiling, uncertain of whether it was boredom or outrage that most disturbed him in the confines of his small prison. His powers had been robbed of him, his voice shamed, and he himself had lost everything. Loki's chance for greatness had been stripped from him, and he knew what would come next.

"Brother...Greetings..."

Loki groaned inwardly as he heard that oaf at his door. Again Thor had come to disturb his bitter rest with his unwelcome foolishness. His declarations of love and guilt that twisted Loki's heart.

"Father held counsel. He will wait ten days before he comes to a decision."

Ten days? How very generous of the old man.

"But whatever he decides, you will not have to worry, I will protect you."

Loki was no fool, he knew what implication lay in those words. Loki knew without a doubt that his life had been called for, how could it possibly have not been? And he knew what the All-Father would choose. Loki was the bastardized son of the Jotuun, adopted by Odin only to act as a pawn in later pursuits. His one satisfaction in death would be that he had thwarted Odin, since he had never lived to be truly useful to Odin, other than perhaps in keeping his fool-son alive. Loki would die no matter what protests Thor made, and in the end, Thor would continue on with his hopeless existence and forget that he had ever claimed a filthy frost-giant for a brother. He would forget the 'loyalty' and 'love' born of pity and a need for self-vindication and satisfaction. Thor would forget his precious shadow. And this was all if the 'master' that he had failed didn't get to him first.

"In such times your counsel would be most welcome, brother. But you cannot advise on your own punishment."

Loki scoffed. Would be 'welcome'? With each word his would-be brother spoke, he seemed only more the fool.

"Loki..." Thor's voice had softened then, almost a plea somehow, and Loki frowned as he cast his gaze towards his side of the door. "Would that you could know how much your silence pains me...I will return."

Don't bother. Loki thought, and he ignored the faint clench in his chest at those words and at the sound of his brother's footsteps as he left Loki to his isolated prison. Pain he said. As if Thor knew anything of pain... No good would come of Thor's visits, neither to himself, nor to Loki. Even so, Thor's words replayed in his mind as always, every nuance of his voice and change in inflection. And then something occurred to him.

"But you cannot advise on your own punishment."

Loki's eyes widened as a sudden possibility found itself way to becoming an idea and realization in Loki's mind. The idea was far-fetched, only barely feasible if at all, but if it could work...then perhaps Loki would not need the satisfaction of thwarting Odin in death, perhaps he could do so in life.

Sometimes even a fool may be a wise man. Thor had given Loki quite an idea indeed.

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Dun dun dun. Loki is plotting, that little villain. XD Reviews and verbal hugs make my world bright! Enjoy!~