He shifted his position upon the floor to that of a more comfortable one, readjusting the book in his lap and stretching his tired body. He yawned loudly, attempting to refocus on the words in front of him. Boredom had dug in its claws, and it seemed trying to refocus upon the book was futile. He turned to gaze out of the golden glass keeping him from escaping his cell. A guard sauntered his way past, glancing in Loki's direction with a condescending look.

Loki shot a sarcastic look right back at the guard before sighing and dropping his head backward onto the wall behind him. He had been promised his release after helping his oafish brother and his Midgardian girlfriend; but here he sat, back in this stupid cell, rotting away and bored enough to smash his head through a wall.

Of course they had caught him impersonating the Allfather, and when his brother had learned of his 'undeath' he had been of course ecstatic; right before he punched Loki in the face and threw him back into prison.

Odin was still recovering, so Thor was to handle his new sentence. He had been awaiting this new sentence for almost three weeks now. He vaguely wondered what could possibly be keeping his idiot of a brother.

Loki attempted to stretch out his consciousness and find Thor, but the cell kept his magic confined; the magic golden glass assured it. He huffed frustrated, shifting his eyes back to the book his Mother had brought him right before…he shook his head to clear it of the unwanted thought; remembering the last time she had brought anything to him, she had handed him the book he held now, before speaking to him the last words he would ever hear her say.

"Always so perceptive of everyone but yourself…"

Her voice echoed in his mind, carrying with it an unwanted emotional response. Loki forcefully cleared his mind before the tears building in his eyes spilled over. He closed his eyes forcefully, inhaling a shaking breath, and exhaling it slowly. He glanced back to his book once more, fully attempting to actually read it this time. He had read it once already of course, but at the time he had been so shaken that it had only induced a fit of crying and rage. His Mother's name was neatly sewn in gold on the cover. She had written it not long before her death, and so far the only one who had received a copy, or even knew of its existence, was Loki.

He often wondered if she had seen her own death coming. He knew she had had powers that far surpassed his, and he knew there was no doubt that his Mother had held abilities she declined to teach to him. Even now, Frigga remained mostly a mystery. But there was no doubt within him that she had had some kind of knowledge of her impending death.

He opened his eyes, once more, opening the cover and beginning to read the words she had printed so neatly for him.

A long time ago, there was a kingdom in a faraway land, nestled in the heart of an ancient tree. And in this kingdom resided an ancient race of giants. These giants were the largest in the land, and they held the powers of magic and ice. They lived in their land for quite some time before they realized that something was missing.

So the race of giants created a large glacier, and once the glacier had been made, they melted and carved it, and from their creation came another race. The race they created was smaller, and just a little bit weaker, and they looked different, but it mattered not to the giants.

The giants shared with the smaller race their knowledge, skill, and magic, and together they created other realms, and a new kingdom. They raised two kings, one giant, the other small, and they ruled and lived together peacefully for a long, long time; intermarrying and ruling and living together. And things were peaceful, and people were happy.

Two generations later and two new kings were raised. Living in this land was a warrior named Orion. But alas; he was no ordinary warrior, for he was the son of Burdi, the small King, and Bella, the giant Queen. Orion was a great and valiant warrior, and he flaunted his talents for all the kingdom. With the help, love, and support of his best friend Laushi the prince of the giant King, he grew into the mightiest warrior in the land.

He did a vast many quests and good deeds, and became beloved by the people. But like every prince, ha had to prepare himself to be king; and that included finding a suitable hand for Queen

Not far away, in the very same kingdom lived a young maiden named Fexa. She was no ordinary maiden for she stood out from the rest of her friends. You see, Fexa did not like being like the other maidens, and the lifestyle was ill-suited to her. She liked training in the art of swords, right alongside the men and even the Einherjar. The more she practiced the better she became, and the more renown she grew. Pretty soon, her skills could even rival those of the most talented Einherjar.

But Fexa was an outcast. She was branded with titles such as 'witch' and 'sorceress'; for she had many a magical talents, that most of her small race did not.

Fexa loved to use her talents for good, and even for a bit of trouble, but never for evil.

Then one day in the kingdom, she caught the eye of not only the great warrior Orion, the son of the small King, but also Laushi, the son of the Giant King. It was then that the seeds of envy and hatred, which had been planted many a years ago, began to grow larger.

Loki knew this story by heart. He felt as if his Mother had written it just for him. He looked up from his book as he heard footsteps approach him. He shielded his surprise with a mask as his brother walked into view. "Brother!" Thor's voice was loud and echoed in the empty halls of the prison. "Stand."

Loki gazed at Thor for a long moment, before rolling his eyes and reluctantly setting his book aside, standing. He walked over to the glass where his brother fiddled with a panel, "Alright Brother, I'm standing. What is it?" He awaited a response but continued before he could receive any, "I was beginning to think that you had forgotten me. I was hurt honestly, but no, you're probably here too-"

"Enough, Loki." Thor cut him off, sighing, softening his gaze, and offering Loki a loving smile, "Be silent. Tis' time for your sentencing." Loki watched as Thor manipulated the panel to the side of the cell, and stepped back as the golden glass was lifted. Thor stepped forward immediately, blocking any path of escape. He pulled something from his belt, which Loki now recognized as handcuffs; a special type actually, that took and locked away one's magic. Loki shot Thor an angered look. He disliked the feeling of his magic being absent, but he stretched out his arms anyway, unwilling to anger the Thunder God.

"I am sorry Brother," Thor apologized as he assembled the cuffs onto Loki, his magic being sapped away, "I must. Tis' protocol you know this." Loki just rolled his eyes and allowed himself to be pulled just a little bit roughly through the corridors of the prison. Thor spoke up once more as they started up the steps.

"Now listen here Brother, Father shall be present for your sentencing, and I ask of you to be silent for your own good. I have already spoken, against my better judgment, on your behalf."

Loki raised his eyebrows, following Thor out into the daylight. "Of course, Thor, I shall be completely silent the whole period! Not a peep will be heard from me!" Loki gestured with his arms, a playful and maybe just a little bit sarcastic smirk playing across his face, "It will be as if I am not here."

"That!" Thor gestured toward him, "That is what I was speaking about Brother. Please, I beg of you," he lowered his voice as they entered the throne room, "refrain from that Brother. I wish not to see you rot in a cell forever."

Loki rolled his eyes but fell silent as Thor led him to the center of the room. The Allfather sat albeit a bit unsteadily on his throne, obvious exhaustion on his aging face. Loki stilled as his brother spoke, "Father, I have brought Loki before you to commence his new sentencing. I trust you remember the council we had before he arrived?"

It took Odin a moment to answer, his voice cracked and thick, "Yes my son, I do." Slowly he turned to Loki, and Loki bit his tongue and held his breath as he awaited the most likely harsh punishment. He closed his eyes as Odin spoke.

"Loki, Odinson, you are here to commence a retrial of your previous sentencing on request of your brother, Thor." Odin motioned to Thor who stood nervously beside him. "Before you arrived we held council in private, and he has indeed informed me of your deeds on Svartalfheim."

Loki opened his eyes to match the Allfather's gaze. "The things that were done on Svartalfheim were key in protecting not just Jane and Asgard, but also the other nine realms, and in doing so, you protected Midgard, the very realm you were imprisoned for trying to destroy."

Loki nodded toward the Allfather to indicate he was listening and agreeing. Odin continued, "So I ask you, my son, once again, as I asked you in the beginning, do you understand the gravity of what it was you had done on Midgard?"

Loki sighed, now that the tesseracts hold on him had finally broken, he was able to answer the Allfather honestly, "Yes, Father," The word burned his tongue, "I understand that my actions and war crimes on Midgard were terrible, and that I not only took the lives of those residing upon the realm, but I almost unleashed a war."

"And do you, Loki Odinson, regret the actions you have committed against Midgard and its people?"

"Yes, I do."

Odin seemed satisfied by his answer. "Then I have reconsidered your sentencing of life imprisonment. I shall have you released, your freedom and status restored,"

Loki's heart fluttered as Odin spoke the words he had been yearned to hear since he'd been imprisoned.

"But," Loki sighed, he should have know there would be a catch. Always was, especially with Odin, "Before I issue that, I shall have you accompany Thor on a quest that I have given him."

It was then that Loki could be silent no longer. "What?!"

"You heard what I said my son. I have given Thor a quest, and I deem you fit enough to accompany him on this delicate matter. You are after all, a son of Odin."

Loki could just feel the smirk coming from Odin. Anger bubbled within him, and he almost lost control of himself for a moment, but instead, he sighed and settled himself down. "As you wish, Father."

"Good. Until this quest is completed, I assign you to Thor's custody, and as you complete this quest he will observe and deliver me a report on whether you are worthy do have your sentence forgiven. Now be gone from here, I must rest."

Before Loki could speak another word, Thor grabbed him roughly and pulled him from the room, a hand securely clasped over Loki's mouth. Loki did not doubt that Thor knew he would have objected had he not been dragged away. Once they were away from the throne room, Thor released him, making a face and wiping Loki's saliva from his hand, a large and goofy smile plastered onto his face.

"Did I not tell you it would go well Brother!? Just think, you shall be completely released, your title restored. We will be like a family once more."

Loki deadpanned at Thor, trying to keep himself gagging at the very thought. His expression quickly morphed however, into one of anger and disgust, "A quest for freedom? Are you kidding me? I would rather be imprisoned than in your oafish custody on a quest! You would kill us both!"

Thor simply laughed, "Why do you have so little faith in me, brother?"

Loki simply gave him a why-are-you-so-stupid look. "Are you kidding me Thor? Why do I have so little faith in you? Let's see, there was the time in Jotunheim, the time in Niflheim, or the time-"

"Okay, okay, brother I understand your point," Thor laughed, and Loki could not understand how his brother could laugh off someone insulting him openly. Thor continued, "But we must do this brother, I have prepared our transport, Heimdall is awaiting us. I have your equipment waiting for us also. Father has briefed me already."

"Yes but what about-"

"Yes, Yes, Loki I will give you the information you require once we are off." Thor reached over to remove the handcuffs, and Loki gasped as he felt his magic return to him, he opened his mouth to object once more, but was dragged roughly away by Thor.

"Wait, wait, Thor!"

Thor reached to his belt, withdrawing Mjolnir and beginning to swing her round and round, a large smiling stretching across his face and he fastened his grip on Loki's robes. "I suggest you hold on brother."

"NO! No, no, no, no! Wait! Tho-"

And Thor vaulted them into the air, heading toward the Bifrost.