Loki, much to his chagrin, focused on his brother, Thor.
"Loki, you are to dine with us." Stated Thor.
"We..." Thor looked to his parents and quickly changed the grammatical error their eyes pointed out.
"I... have some things to discuss with you." Said Thor.
The mysterious woman made her way over to a chair at the table, pulled it out, but did not sit until Thor took the seat just to the left of her.
Loki knew how seating was arranged. The royal family sat together at one end of the table, while the remaining spaces were available for guests such as guards, servants, and warriors.
Loki's eyebrows lowered as he looked around at all of the company. He saw people that had once trusted him, new faces that he did not recognize, and his family. He did not want to be in this place, but he was trapped, like a caged bird.
Loki spotted Odin, making his way from the furthermost end of the room to the end closer, where the royals sit. Loki's glare loosened, but his chin raised a bit, and he settled into a numb mood. He noticed his mother, Frigga, following Odin, not too far behind. At the sight of her, he relaxed the smallest bit.
When Odin arrived at his seat, he looked to his wife who was present at his side. He began to pull out the chair next to his own for her to be seated, but came to a stop when he seemed to have sensed Loki's presence. With his hand still grasping the back of his wife's chair, he turned his head until his eyes met with Loki's.
Loki saw the deep sorrow in his father's eyes. This was the first time he was present near his father since long before being brought back from earth as a prisoner. Odin stared for a short while, with dull eyes. Then, removing his hand from the back of his wife's chair, turned his gaze to the table before him, and began to seat himself at the touch of his wife's hand on his shoulder. Frigga gave her husband a light, reassuring smile, and graciously accepted the seat he had pulled out for her, next to his own.
Frigga looked longingly towards Loki, for a moment, before seating herself.
At this, Loki's eyes softened and his mouth opened slightly.
Loki remained standing, along with several servants tending to the flow of food and drink. In this moment, he felt something within his heart. It's upper half tightened, and emotion began charring a line from it's top to it's bottom. His eyes became like the formation of clouds before a storm.
Thor's gaze turned upon Loki, who he gestured for to be seated.
Loki blinked and began walking towards the seat left for him, across from Thor, and diagonal to his parents.
The guests ate, drank and gossiped.
The royal family picked at their food, an unsettling scene.
It would be fitting... for the King of Asgard... to break this silence." Advised Odin. He extended his head beyond Frigga's to make eye contact with Thor, as she sat between the two of them.
"Let us have faith in our son. He has a plan. For the good of Asgard, we should be patient and wait for his word." Spoke Frigga.
Thor smiled at his mother and began searching for the words she presumed he had.
Few times he opened his mouth to speak, but found no words. Each time, he would look down, laugh, or shrug his shoulders, all out of embarrassment.
His parents exchanged distraught looks.
Loki lowered his eyes to his food. Then settled his gaze upon the empty space just above his dish.
Loki was annoyed, but he did not make it obvious to those around him.
"So... Loki..." Thor smiled towards Loki and leaned into the table on which his forearms lay.
Loki slowly lifted his head, his dense eyes meeting with those of Thor, which were sparkling and already staring in his direction. He thought the look to be ridiculous.
Thor's eyes repeatedly alternated between Loki and his parents. His upper body expanded as a prelude to a sigh. His fingers fidgeted. His smile faded in and out.
With the tip of his left hand's thumb, Loki drew a full circle on the pad of the neighboring index finger. He lowered his eyes to his food, and then to his lap.
Thor's shoulders rose. Both his sigh and his eyes shot in the direction of his guests.
"Y... ar... t..." Said Thor inaudibly.
His parents looked up from their food and drink. Their expressions read of uncertainty.
Loki's eyes rose again to Thor, but his expression remained sober.
"You... are... to..." Repeated Thor, swallowing between words.
His parents gave hopeful smiles.
"You!" Shouted Thor in Loki's direction.
Loki's jaw dropped slightly. His eyebrows rose.
His parents' expressions appeared likewise.
His guests giggled at his outburst.
"OBTAIN A BRIDE!" Thor sputtered.
Silence fell over the room as though their king had commanded it. All eyes brushed Thor, and flew towards Loki. Mouths were either sewn shut, or gaping.
Loki blinked profusely before his enlarged eyes froze on the spot above his plate. Heat pulsated in his face, and he was caught in between sheer laughter and utter disgust.
"W...What?" He quipped as he pointed a sharp eye in Thor's direction.
Thor was white. He leaned into his chair and arched his back. He straightened his shoulders, and looked around the table. First, to the right, at his guests, and circled around to his family at his left.
Loki rolled his eyes and buried his right hand into the hair on his head. He let out a sigh and closed his eyes. His nascent groan merged into laughter and his grin grew wide.
His mother held her worry possessed eyes on Thor.
His father was silent.
