Chapter Two

Thor narrowed his eyes at Loki from across the enormous dinning table. His brother had been carrying on at dinner like nothing had happened, like everything in their lives had happily returned to normal. But then this was what Thor had wanted, so why was he so suspicious of his brother.

Loki's eye caught Thor's and he returned a mischievous smile before reengaging with his previous conversation. He knew Thor was puzzling over his behaviour. He could tell from the look in his brother's eyes and the creases in his forehead. The fact that his actions were driving Thor to distraction amused him greatly, and for this first time in a long while Thor was not dominating the dinner conversation.

Thor listened as his younger brother wove tales of the Underground to a curious Frigga who wanted to know everything about the realm beyond the Nine. Loki seemed to gladly recount the strange things and creatures he had encountered on his journey, evidently his journey had been more eventful than Thor's. It was only when Odin asked a question about the Underground's ruler that Loki seemed to shut down.

"He was as the tales described him"

Loki was then quick to change the direction of the conversation, clearly uncomfortable discussing the Goblin King for some reason.

Thor and Loki later walked in comfortable silence through the halls of the palace, on their way from the small dinning hall where dinner had been held to their chambers in a separate wing. Odin and Frigga had excused themselves early and retired to their private wing, leaving the two men to share in a drink and each other's company. The conversation had been kept superficial, Thor was not sure if Loki was ready to talk about what he had been through in the Underground and he didn't want to prompt him too soon lest he withdraw further.

They paused at the door to Loki's chambers.

"How are you sleeping?" Thor asked carefully.

"Better."

A long silence followed before Loki sighed quietly.

"I am no longer waking during the night. Thank you for your concern brother."

Loki then turned the handle of his door and stepped halfway into his room.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to try and catch up on some lost sleep."

Thor nodded before Loki disappeared into his chambers and shut the door behind him. Thor stood by the door in silence for some time, slowly mulling over the change in Loki since his return to Asgard; something didn't seem right but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Finally Thor made his way a little further down the hall to his own chambers. Their rooms were not that far from each other but right in that moment Thor had never felt a greater void between him and his brother.

Once quietly shut away within the confines of his room Loki busied himself getting ready for bed. He unclasped belts and guards, hanging them up on the wall or placing them carefully atop a broad wooden chest, and shed his heavy leather clothing to exchange it for his lighter bedclothes. Passing by his bedside table he paused to look intently at an object that sat upon it, wrapped in luxurious black cloth. Loki sat on the edge of his bed and stared down at the parcel as his sight drifted out of focus. Things were now in motion, soon it would only be a matter of time…

"Goblin King!"

Loki, angry and looking far more dishevelled than he would normally allow, watched as Jareth shook himself free of his thoughts and looked up towards him as he stood between the gates to the Goblin City.

Loki fixed Jareth with an icy stare as he observed Jareth arch an eyebrow at the sight of him. If he had of had a weapon on him he would have run the Goblin King through with it without hesitation.

"Well if it isn't the God of Mischief." Jareth flashed a sly grin at him but Loki couldn't help but detect a hint of hesitation in his voice.

"I didn't plan on you making it this far but…well…here you are."

Loki remained unresponsive merely glaring at Jareth, hoping to unnerve the Goblin King at least long enough to formulate an alternative plan if it turned out he had not made it in time. The two remained trapped in each other's gaze for several minutes before a sly smirk from Jareth finally broke the tension.

"Well congratulations on making it to the centre of my Labyrinth, few ever do. However, I'm afraid you are too late Loki."

Jareth took a long step towards Loki who had restrained himself from reacting to Jareth's words, instead holding the Goblin Kin's gaze and fixing him with a deadly look, daring him to come closer.

"You're time is up." Another long stride brought Jareth within an arm's length from his prize. "I'm afraid you have lost."

"That's impossible." Loki hissed through clenched teeth.

"It's entirely possible."

"You cheated!"

Jareth broke into laughter, tossing his head back his blond mane tousling as he shook his head from side to side.

"You call it cheating, I call it taking advantage of my position. It is not so different to some of your past tricks Liesmith."

Loki's eyes flared and Jareth winked knowingly at him, flashing pointed white teeth as he smiled.

"Yes, I know of your exploits. I know why you were sent here. We are not so different Loki, you and I. Though you appear to have a brother who cares enough about you to risk his own life to rescue you."

"What?" Loki snarled.

Jareth raised a questioning eyebrow not entirely sure which part of his comments Loki had taken offence to.

"Thor is here?" Loki bit out through clenched teeth, his words laced with frustration and barely restrained fury.

Jareth's interest picked up at the tone of Loki's voice. There seemed to be something more to the siblings' relationship than Jareth had first anticipated. He was used to the remorseful sibling desperately trying to win their brother or sister back but in his experience the sibling he held prisoner had always reciprocated, desperate for their family member to defeat the Labyrinth and win them back. Loki on the other hand… he seemed enraged at the very mention of his brother's presence in the Underground. Jareth decided to press further.

"Indeed he is. In fact he is at this very moment attempting to defeat my Labyrinth so that he may win back your freedom."

Jareth watched for Loki's reaction but the God of Mischief keep his features very careful arranged, only the tiniest tug of a lip over a tooth pulling his features into a snarl gave away how he felt on the subject of his brother battling for his freedom.

"This does not please you?"

"It is none of your business."

Jareth shrugged in an attempt to convince Loki that he didn't care either way if the God chose to share the obvious feelings of resentment he had towards his brother.

"He always does this." Loki's voice was barely above a whisper and Jareth had to take a step forward just to hear him.

"He always assumes I need his help, that I'm incapable of handling my own life and my own challenges. He acts like he is the only one who can rescue me when trouble comes my way, as though I would be lost and a failure without his help."

Loki's voice was laced with venom and Jareth was almost saddened by how much his words reminded him of how he had felt towards his own brother an eternity ago. Such a beautiful creature shouldn't be so angry but he knew only too well where that anger came from… and what it could lead to.

"Come with me." Jareth turned and began to walk in the direction of his castle at the centre of the city.

Loki glared at the Goblin king's retreating form but remained fixed to the spot.

Jareth paused but did not turn back.

"Whether you like it or not you are my prisoner until your brother either succeeds or fails against my Labyrinth. You can either follow me now or I can send you straight to my dungeons where you can wait patiently for your brother to rescue you."

Jareth's smirk was hidden from Loki as his back was to him but he knew he would have hit a nerve with his comment and if he had of turned to look at Loki he would have seen that the God of Mischief had almost turned red with rage as he held his breath in an attempt to not take the Goblin King's bait.

Jareth turned his head slightly as he felt a presence at his left shoulder. Loki stood beside him with a less than impressed look on his face.

"Very well. I will follow."

Jareth nodded and turned his head to hide his smile from Loki. The two walked in silence back to Jareth's castle. Boots connected loudly with stone stairs as they ascended through the winding corridor towards the top of the tower where Jareth's throne room had been since he was cast out to be the ruler of the Goblin Kingdom. Stepping through the doorway to Jareth's throne room Loki was immediately struck by how not all kings appeared to rule as prosperously as Odin; it would seem that there are places in the universe where a throne gets you little more than a title and long list of obligations.

Jareth sat in his throne and motioned for Loki to take a seat. Loki looked around the sparse throne room for a chair to seat himself in but found none so he perched himself on a windowsill facing Jareth and trained his eyes across the room to meet the Goblin King's gaze. The two sat in a tense silence for some time before Jareth finally spoke.

"Do you know what I did to deserve my appointment as ruler of this retched realm?"

Loki shook his head. His mother had told him tales of the Underground and it's terrifying ruler but she had never told him the story of how he came to be the King of the Goblins.

Jareth leant back in his throne and made a steeple beneath his chin with his long slender fingers.

"You and I are not so different Loki. You see, I had a brother much like you once but blinded by rage and jealousy I made a terrible decision that cost me my brother's love, my life in Asgard and ultimately my freedom."

Loki listened with interest as Jareth recounted the tale of his jealousy fuelled revenge against his brother, the King of Asgard and how his brother could not bare the punishment handed down to him by the King's Council and so had instead stripped him of his right to live his life in Asgard and cursed him to rule the Underground for eternity.

"You know your brother is dead?"

Jareth nodded slowly in acknowledgement.

Loki chewed thoughtfully on his bottom lip. Jareth waited patiently.

Loki was beginning to understand what the Goblin King was trying to do but he was still furious with him for his previous trickery. Torn, Loki decided that he could find a way to get back at Jareth later, for the moment his more important goal was to find a way out of the Underground that didn't result in Thor being hailed as a hero and his saviour.

"I will not be pitied by him anymore." Loki's voice was cold and his eyes narrowed at Jareth.

Jareth leant forward in his throne, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"I have a plan."

Loki turned sideways in the enclave of the window and leant his back against the stone, never taking his eyes off Jareth.

"I'm listening…"