Chapter One
Loki excused himself from the grand dinner his father had organised to honour Thor's impending ascent to the throne. However, instead of the predicted storm out that Odin would have anticipated in the past his adopted son instead politely excused himself and withdrew from the dinning hall in a quiet and collected manner. Thor was so proud of his brother, in only a few months he had managed to completely turn his behaviour around. He had become a model citizen of Asgard and once again a valued and loved member of the royal family.
Since their return Thor had often wondered what had happened to Loki in the Underground. He knew their experiences had differed greatly but Loki would barely talk to Thor about it, simply stating that it had been an adventure he wished to forget and move on from. Whatever had happened to his brother it seemed as though it had changed him for the best and for that Thor was truly grateful. For the first time in a number of years Thor felt as though getting back the brother he had loved and shared his childhood with was almost within his grasp.
Thor watched Loki retreat with big blue eyes, he wanted so badly for them to get back to the way things were and in the last few days he had truly felt as though that was a real possibility. Odin watched from the far end of the banquet table as his adopted son slid almost unnoticed from the grand hall, unnoticed except for Thor and himself.
Odin had observed a change in Loki since he had returned from the Underground, though he had only watched his sons from afar Odin now believed he had made the right decision to stand up to his council and defend his son. He had truly hoped Loki could change and he was almost certain he was on the path to redemption. However he had left the decision with Thor, thinking it was a way for the two to repair their relationship as well as an opportunity for Thor to experience some of the responsibilities and burdens that come with ruling a kingdom.
It was late by the time the last of the royal guests filtered out of the great dinning hall, leaving only Odin and Thor seated at the long banquet table. Thor looked up from the meal he had barely touched as his father took the seat beside him.
"Something troubles you my son?"
"I'm fine father, nothing troubles me." Thor forced a tiny smile to his lips but Odin saw right through it and fixed him with a concerned look.
"Come now. You have barely touched your food and for the entirety of the banquet I was able to speak freely to most of my guests without having to bellow over your boisterous laughter."
Thor smiled involuntarily at his father's comments before his features fell back into a look of deep thought. Odin placed a rough, battle hardened hand on his son's shoulder.
"Tell me what troubles you Thor. You must learn to share these feelings with the ones you love and respect if you are to make a good ruler. It does you no good to keep these things bottle up my son."
Thor sighed heavily before turning his head to look his father in the eye.
"I'm worried about Loki. He still sneaks off early to his chambers at night; he's been doing so since we returned from the Underground. He says it's because he has trouble sleeping, that he wakes in the night troubled by memories of the things he saw and did in the Underground."
"Oh I wouldn't worry too much about that my boy. I imagine Loki had quite a troubling time there, that and he is likely to still be coming to terms with his past actions. The nightmares will pass; they are just his troubled mind trying to sort out his inner most feelings. There will come a time when Loki's mind has come to terms with everything, then he will sleep soundly again."
Thor didn't respond for a few moments before he finally nodded slowly.
"Now… is there anything else you wished to speak with me about?" Odin probed.
Thor paused before looking his father in his one good eye and speaking calmly and clearly.
"I think Loki deserves his powers back."
"Oh?"
"It has been many months since our return and Loki has spent that time assisting me with everything from the most mundane of tasks through to representing me at events that require my presence but I have been unable to attend for one reason or another. He hasn't gotten himself into any further trouble and he has even apologised for his past misdeeds."
Thor was right. Loki had gone out of his way to be helpful to not only Thor but also himself and Frigga. He had even volunteered to make a public apology to the people of Asgard for his misdeeds, which Odin had insisted was not necessary and instead accepted his apology on behalf of his subjects. It was true that his adopted son had also recently refrained from getting up to the usual mischief he was so famous for but Odin was not entirely convinced that the time was right for Loki's powers to be returned to him. However, he had entrusted this decision to Thor, the future ruler of Asgard, and he had to learn to trust his son's judgement, or at the very least allow the boy to make his own mistakes so that he may learn from them and become a wiser ruler for it.
"Very well Thor. If you believe Loki has redeemed himself then his powers shall be returned to him."
Silence followed as Thor thought long and hard about his answer. He didn't want to make the wrong decision but a part of him was also eager for Loki to truly forgive him for whatever grudge he originally harboured against him.
"I want you to reinstate Loki's powers. In my eyes he has earned the right to have them returned to him."
Odin smiled at his eldest son, gently rubbing his hand across the back of Thor's shoulders.
"Very well my boy. Tomorrow we will call Loki to my throne room and his powers shall be restored."
Loki found himself standing at the back of his father's throne room, close to the door, while Odin argued heatedly with his council. Frigga stood by him but respectfully off to the side while Thor stood at his side, occasionally going to bat for Loki when Odin found himself pended in by his advisors.
The corner of Loki's mouth tugged up in a tiny snarl of disdain at the thought of Thor having to fight this battle for him, however even he was not too proud to admit that in this case his words alone would not return his powers to him, he needed Thor's seal of approval before his magic was restored to him.
Thor cast a glance Loki's way, his brother gazed off to the side and looked as though he were bored with the whole scenario; in reality, even Thor knew Loki was feigning disinterest so as not to show how deeply he cared about the outcome of the debate. He wanted so badly for Loki to be happy, he wanted his brother back and not just physically, he wanted things back the way they were when they would fight together and talk together and set out on adventures together. He could only hope that showing Loki that he had redeemed himself and thus could be trusted and deserved to have his powers returned to him would be enough to bring his brother back to him.
"We will have no part of this Odin. This decision rests squarely with you, along with all of its consequences."
With that the head of Odin's advisory council stormed from the throne room, casting a venomous look at Loki on his way out. The other's followed him quickly but cast their gaze to the floor as they ushered themselves from the room.
Loki looked up at his adoptive father and their eyes met briefly before the younger man looked away and returned to his look of nonchalance.
"The decision is yours Thor." Odin looked wisely at his son who looked from him to Loki and back again.
Frigga stood to the side, eyes shinning with hope and hands clasped together before her.
"Loki is ready father." Thor spoke softly but without any hesitation in his voice. "He should have his power returned to him."
Loki glanced sideways at Thor and Odin, standing atop the platform upon which Odin's throne sat, the throne he had once coveted, sat upon, the throne that a small part of him still coveted.
Odin nodded slowly and then motioned with his hand for Loki to step forward.
"Come, my son."
Loki sighed quietly as he pushed himself away from the wall against which he had been leaning and slowly approached Odin. He paused at the foot of the steps to Asgard's throne and waited, bold green eyes locked with Odin's fierce eye that seemed to bore straight through to the depth of his soul.
Odin raised his sceptre and quietly uttered a spell in an ancient text that Thor could not understand but Loki quickly attempted to memorise. Loki breathed in sharply as he felt the cool rush of his magic flowing through him, he let his head fall back as he bathed in the overwhelming feeling of being a true God once again.
"Use it wisely my son." Odin advised as he descended the stairs until he was level with Loki.
He placed a comforting hand on his adopted son's shoulder and squeezed gently. Loki looked him in the eye and Odin was sure something in him had changed. He wasn't entirely convinced that his son had discarded all of the jealously and rage that had driven him to the unthinkable acts he had committed, but he hoped he was at least on the path to moving past it.
Loki felt Odin release his grip on his shoulder and make his way from the throne room. Frigga quickly followed, her long flowing dress rustling as her quick steps carried her from the room, leaving Thor and Loki alone in their father's throne room.
"How do you feel?" Thor asked as he took a few slow steps towards his brother.
Loki's attention was not focused on him though, he was busy looking at his hands, turning them over slowly and then back again, a soft green glow enveloping his fingertips.
"Loki?" Thor prompted cautiously.
Loki looked up at Thor, his eyes not quite focused but he quickly snapped back to clarity, the green glow surrounding his fingers dissipating the moment he blinked his eyes.
"Better… I feel better."
"Do you need anything?" Thor asked, concern creeping into his voice as he held a hand out toward Loki.
"No… I think I might just go lay down for a bit." Loki said quietly as he looked up at Thor. "I will see you at dinner brother."
With that Loki quietly left the room, closing the heavy gilded doors behind him, leaving Thor alone in the vast expanse of the throne room.
The God of Thunder sat heavily upon the edge of the stairs leading up to his father's throne. With his elbow perched on his knee he cupped his sculpted chin with a large rough hand. He had hoped he would get a more enthusiastic reaction from Loki when he finally had his powers returned to him but his brother had just seemed vacant, almost disinterested in the return of his magic. Thor was confused and a little hurt, he had hoped his brother would be grateful and that they would mend their strained relationship, bonding over what they had gone through together.
Thor sighed heavily. Perhaps he was just being selfish, after all it was Loki who had lost his powers and been banished to the Underground, there was no way that he could even begin to understand what his brother had been through, how it had made him feel and how it had changed him. Maybe Loki was just overwhelmed, overwhelmed and tired.
Thor decided to pause his thoughts on the subject for the moment and catch a quick nap before dinner himself. Perhaps his brother would more responsive at dinner. Thor decided that they could talk then.