Prologue
Prince becomes Prisoner
Loki was reading when the shadow of the guard fell upon his cell.
He looked up from the tome he read and looked with vague interest. It was not a meal time, and he had not summoned anyone.
As he lifted his head, the guard was holding a pair of shackles.
Loki raised an eyebrow and turned slowly, putting the book down carefully after keeping his place with the leather bookmark.
"…Am I…traveling?" he asked carefully.
The guard squeezed the shackles slightly before looking up at Loki. It was no secret that he disliked his charge of dealing with the prisoner who was once prince to the throne of Asgard.
"The Allfather requests your presence."
Loki's carefully held visage dropped perceptibly.
"…Odin?"
"The Allfather requests your presence." growled the guard again, making it clear he was not about to repeat himself again.
Loki's curiosity overcame his desire to irk the guard and he got to his feet before making his way to the door. He presented his wrists for binding as a show of assent.
"One false move…" he warned. "…and you are back in your cell."
Loki nodded and presented his wrists more forcefully.
The guard opened the cell door and snapped the shackles on his wrist again immediately.
Loki had not felt them since his judgement.
When Odin had condemned him to indefinite imprisonment. He had called him a 'menace' to Asgard and unfitting to be in line to the throne for his crimes against his own kingdom and to the realm of Midgard.
His mother had stood next to the throne as Thor watched from the side, his face a mix of grief and a desire to see justice done. His mother staring sadly at him. The same stare he had received as Thor brought him home using the Tesseract's power.
For some reason, the defiant stare he had given Thor and Odin he could not show to his mother. Even though she was no longer his mother.
Frigga had raised her sons chin, to lift his gaze from the floor of the ruined Bifrost to see if anything of the 'old Loki' remained in him, her gaze of pity turned to one of fear as she met the eyes of a man who had almost brought Midgard to its fragile knees.
She had not said any more to him, but simply gazed at him with sadness, a handkerchief in her grasp. As Odin pronounced his banishment from the kingdom, Thor stepped forwards and asked for clemency and with a cunning Loki did not realize his brother possessed, stated that Loki was a danger outside of the Kingdom, even when imprisoned as the Chitauri may be looking for him still and that other kingdoms may use his silver tongue and sorcery to their advantage.
Odin thought on this, and demanded that Loki be taken as far as he could be, inside the realm, locked in a magic-proof prison, and be attended to by a deaf-mute servant who could not tricked by his words.
Loki was taken to a glass cell, handed peasant clothing-albeit in his colours, and given the simplest of things, although with a selection of books that would be changed regularly for his sanities sake.
And here he had rotted ever since…
But why now did Odin wish to see him?
As the Guard walked Loki through the underground passage way towards the castle, he knew he would not be seen by the subjects of his fathers kingdom. They had been told he had been banished for their safety, he was the dirty secret of Asgard once more…
He welcome the smell of different air. Not fresh air. No…the air down here was fetid and warm, but a welcome change from that of his cell. His senses seemed to be reawakening, and he could feel the connection to things around him again.
Despite the binds on his wrist providing a dulling sensation to his sorcery, he could still feel things. He could feel the hatred oozing from the guard, and far above, the very vague emotions of the citizens of Asgard.
"…am I to ask why Odin has summoned me?" Loki asked, barely turning his head to the Guard behind who followed with a staff.
The Guard did not respond. Perhaps this was as Odin had instructed. Warned him not to speak to the man with the silver tongue. Did he perhaps think that a solitary word from the Guard would prompt him to shed his shackles and leave?
"I see…Well, you are certainly more thrilling company than that wench you had serve me." he began airly. "She was a real conversation starter…I could barely get her to be quiet. Couldn't get a word in edgewise."
The guards mood changed subtly and Loki felt it.
"…I'm sorry, was she a family member?" he asked, a small smile playing on his face. "…Have I offended?"
The guard increased his pace slightly which made Loki increase his. He decided not to press the issue, he did not want to be impaled on that staff without his Sorcery as back up.
As they began to climb the stone steps towards the dungeon entrance of the palace, Loki found that with his hands bound he was not as agile as normal and had to slow his pace to ensure he did not fall. He was certain that the guard would not be willing to catch him should he fall.
"Not so athletic without your magic tricks, are you?" The Guard sneered.
"I don't know…" Loki muttered. "Put down your staff and let us see how you do without it…"
Loki felt the staff's sharper end prod him in the lower back.
The dull pain did not hurt so much as it wounded his pride. Not so long ago Loki would have ordered this man to perform debilitating acts and he would have done it with a smile on his face.
As they reached the upper gate. The guard leaned forwards, pushing Loki against the wall in the narrow tunnel. He called out.
"Kappi! Open up, I have the prisoner. He is bound."
"I hear you." called another voice and there was a soft padding of foot steps, the other guard, groomed to perfection compared to the grizzled creature that pressed Loki against the wall now, opened the lock with a ring of keys attached to his belt.
Kappi opened the gate and stood aside.
The guard grabbed Loki by the arm roughly and pushed him through before following on behind.
Loki was walked the way he was familiar with. The place he had walked in his dreams. In captivity he was still free to roam the palace of Asgard, his childhood home in his dreams. But now, he remembered it differently.
Even the sound of his boots on the floor were different. Perhaps he carried more weight now…or less….Perhaps it was his boots. They were different. Perhaps it was the way he walked, no longer a prince…but a prisoner.
He advanced up the candle lit corridor and decided that it was perhaps evening from the fresher scent in the warm air from the floral gardens just outside of the palace windows. The delicate blooms his mother…That Frigga loved so dearly.
As he came up to the large golden doors, the Guard tapped his staff on the door three times.
Loki turned to the guard, unable to stop himself.
"…Do you know, that one day, I shall redeem myself of this…and you will once again be at the mercy of my whims." he hissed.
"…And until that day, Prisoner. You will do as I instruct. Oh…and the 'wench' maid who served you. That was my sister, Hilja." The guard snapped and pushed open the doors before thrusting Loki in.
Loki staggered forwards and looked around and found the throne room unchanged from last he had seen it.
Ahead, Odin sat on the throne. Not much changed. Perhaps his hair a little whiter. To his right, Frigga. Stood, unchanged by time as always. And to her left. Thor, a look of triumph on his face.
What happy event had caused this?
Loki walked up towards the throne, stopping short of the staircase before bowing formally.
"…Come." came Odin's voice.
Loki looked up again, and walked up the first set of stairs, pausing before the second. He did not plan on getting too close for comfort. Although he no longer held any real respect for Odin, he knew his foster father had quite a temper and would not hesitate to lash out in rage and perhaps turn him into some form of plant.
"Loki…" began Odin carefully, keeping a measured calm in his voice. "You have been brought from your cell for a chance to commute your sentence."
Loki's eyes widened slightly.
"I believed my sentence was indefinite."
"It is. But I present you with the opportunity to at least shorten it, or at least cap it." Odin continued. "A form of penance, if you would entertain the idea."
Loki looked to Thor who gave a firm nod.
"…May I ask what it is?"
Odin looked at him with something short of tethered impatience.
"Regardless of whether you like it or not, you will choose it or face something close to eternity in your cell."
Loki nodded, to show he understood, he looked around slowly, wondering if he were to try and beat some creature of Odin's creation to show his strength. Perform a feat of impossible sorcery to show his power. Perhaps figure out a riddle to show his intelligence.
"It has been decided, that you should go to Midgard." Odin began.
"…Midgard. But I am banished from there." Loki began, a weak smile on his face. "Especially after what I have done, the leader of the team 'Avengers' would never permit another Asgardian to walk on Midgard."
"You will not go as an Asgardian." Odin declared. "Your Asgardian aspects will be stripped from you."
"…And what am I to do on Midgard?" Loki asked, an edge of disbelief in his voice.
"You will atone for your wickedness. You will prove yourself worthy of this kingdom again. And if I have decided after a fortnight that you have successfully done this, you will return, and we shall judge you again."
"…I am being paroled, to be a Midgardian?" Loki pronounced with disgust. He rolled his eyes and turned to Thor to protest but to his surprise, Thor was not looking at him, he was looking to the floor.
"…Besides, how would I even get there. You would not waste dark energy on me to send me to a place just so that I can perform good deeds to clear my name, and you would not trust me with the Tesseract again…"
"The Bifrost has been mended." Odin continued.
"…Am I to be its test subject?" Loki sneered. "I find this laughable. Whose idea was this? To send me to Midgard to prove my worth, it reeks of sentimen-"
He looked to Thor.
"…I might have realized. This sentimental rubbish has been born of your Midgardian affair with that wench you call 'Jane'…" Loki spat.
"You will speak with care when you say her name, brother!" Thor boomed, starting forwards. But Frigg placed her hand on his arm to stop him.
"You will go to Midgard without your talents or you will waste in your cell, do you understand me, Loki?!" Odin barked.
"…I understand. Odin." Loki began, swallowing back bile. "But tell me, how am I to exist in Midgard without use of my mouth?"
Odin's thin lips wavered into a smile.
"Your tongue will not be much talent to you down there without any sorcery to back it up. Try your luck, and misbehave and you will pay with your years…"
"…That is, if he accepts." Thor began, folding his arms.
"Do you accept, Loki?" Odin asked.
Loki quickly weighed up his options. Be a prisoner for near enough his own life span, or go to Midgard for two weeks, keep his head low and wait for his father to return him?
He had lived near enough as a Midgardian for the last few months, could he live as Thor had done on Midgard? Could he stand it? Could he trust himself to keep out of trouble.
"Will I be as mortal as they?"
"Yes." Thor responded. "…and do well to remember that there are many things that could cause you harm down there, brother."
"…I suppose that I would choose the lesser of two evils, and decide to go to Midgard." he muttered. "…Even if it is under protest."
Odin nodded and nodded to the guard who stood sentry to his right in the wings.
"Prepare the Bifrost."
"…Am I to go tonight?" Loki asked incredulously.
"You will have time to gather your things. You will be told what to expect from someone who has had dealings with these things…"
Loki looked up to see Thor smile at him.
"…Perhaps my cell is not too bad…." he muttered.
Loki was silently packing his things into a rough-looking, cloth rucksack. He was forbidden to take anything that had Asgardian based enchantments on it and anything he may have enchanted prior to his imprisonment had been removed by Odin.
His chambers were empty, but clean. At least the servants had some respect for him still.
Thor was stood over him, given the task of ensuring he did not attempt to escape the palace, commanded by Odin to carry Mjolnir to prevent his brother from leaving or using his magic.
"…You must understand that Midgard is not so much different from Asgard, apart from the difference in anatomy. Midgardians seem a great deal more fragile than we are."
"…You forget, Thor." began Loki, folding a tunic and placing it carefully in the haversack. "I spent time on Midgard myself. I am aware of it, I do not need the Tourists guide."
Thor folded his arms defensively.
"I am simply trying to make your time there easier." He continued. "You will be expected to look after yourself, brother. There will be no servants to pick up your clothes for you after you have discarded them. You will have to fend for yourself, find your own food and your own lodgings."
Loki paused and looked at his brother.
"You mean that I am to be cast out like an unwanted pet? To become a stray for a fortnight?" he asked. "To be sent to Midgard without provision, or currency? I knew that Odin could be cruel, but not this cruel." Loki sneered.
"Do not speak Fathers name so. You must show him respect. There were calls for your execution, you realise?"
"It would have benefited us all. You could be uncontested Prince of Asgard, Odin could hold his head high in court again, and mot-." Loki paused and looked to Thor. "Frigga could forget that she even showed kindness to me."
"I wish you would not speak like that." muttered Thor. "When mother revealed you were alive-"
"Mother told you…?" Loki asked, then paused and gave a dark laugh. "Of course, her all seeing eyes. Frigga always could sense when I was around…"
"…I am surprised your sorcery did not cloak you." Thor replied coolly, toying with Mjolnir.
"Perhaps I was not sure if I could be found where I was." Loki continued, placing a book on top of his clothing.
Thor picked up the book from the sack and flicked through its pages idly, looking for anything contraband as Loki rolled his eyes.
"Perhaps you desired to be found?" Thor continued before tossing the book back into the bag.
"Your sentiment is sickening." Loki snapped as he pulled the draw string to the bag and fastened it. "…If that is all, I am ready for my journey."
Thor took his brother by the shoulder and looked into his eyes.
"Brother. I must ask you, not to cause any harm on Midgard."
Loki scoffed.
"Worried I will run into your precious 'Jane'?"
"I worry for your freedom. I want for you to be back by my side like an Asgardian Prince, not condemned to a life in captivity like a common criminal."
"Which is what I am." Loki continued, looking back into his brothers gaze with a hardness that had been born of solitude and a lack of fear. "…I am a common criminal. Murderer, thief, and liar."
Thor shook his head.
"No, you are my brother and I will not let you condemn yourself to eternal solitude in that cell."
"…You are in no position to barter seeing as I am going to Midgard and you are not." Loki took the satchel over his shoulder and inclined his head. "…Relax. At least this means that you will one day see your Midgardian woman…If I survive the journey."
Loki was stood, still in his prison garb with his rucksack over his shoulder as Thor flanked him on one side, and Heimdall on the other. Odin was stood next to the Bifrost's control panel. He looked to his wife who stood beside him.
"Has the Prisoner been prepared?" asked Odin to Thor.
"He has father. He carries only that which will be safe for him to use on Midgard. I have instructed him in their ways, and have given him advice on what to expect. He is prepared." Thor declared.
Loki looked to Odin, then to Frigga who was wringing her hands slightly, a nervous expression on her face.
"Loki Odinson." Odin began. "You have been brought here to prove your worth on Midgard, to atone for your crimes by express order of your ruler. Do you understand?"
Loki nodded once.
"I understand."
"And is it your wish to do this, freely, of your own will?"
Loki nodded. "To commute my sentence. It is."
"And are you in agreement to have your Asgardian gifts stripped of you for the period you spend on Midgard?"
"…If it necessary." Loki replied.
"And your magical talents?" Odin continued.
Loki nodded.
Odin drove his staff into the disc they stood on, and electrical energy sprang from its peak.
"I now take from you, your Asgardian gifts!"
Loki felt a cold sweat spread over him, that sprouted from his skin and drove itself into his muscles, and the bones beneath them, turning warm as it spread outwards, out through his skin.
It did not hurt. He had expected it to hurt, but it instead it left a great weakness in its wake. He felt his knees buckle but he did not permit himself to fall, he forced the strength that remained into locking them, and he managed to catch himself in a stagger.
"…and now, for your magic."
Odin reached forwards and ripped open the neck of his rough woven shirt, ripping it so that his chest was exposed.
"…what are-?" he began, panic in his eyes.
"Father?"
"Odin!"
"May this brand bind your magic within you…" Odin hissed in Loki's ear.
Unimaginable pain began to sear itself into the pale flesh of Loki's chest.
Over his heart. It felt like a red hot blade carving its way through his tender skin.
He was bleeding.
He HAD to be bleeding.
He was cut, he was maimed…
Burning…
Burning…
Odin pulled his hand away from his chest and stood back as Loki looked down breathlessly to see a brand. Freshly seared into his pale flesh.
Odin had branded him with a binding rune.
He felt an unfamiliar feeling spreading through the muscle of his chest…
No, not unfamiliar.
Unwelcome.
Loki looked down and saw a faint blue tinge to his skin around the red wound.
His Jotunn heritage was protesting at the mark.
He looked up to Odin, his eyes tinted red.
"…A burn…?"
The last thing that Loki saw was Odin pointing at him, and a blinding white light.
