Veritas
Warnings: None.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Chapter Playlist: 'Loki's Lie' from 'Thor'.
'All is fair in love and war.'
- Francis Edward Smedley
When she stepped back into the hall of Gladsheim, Jane could see it was packed to the rafters with guardsmen and courtiers once more.
Great, clearly Odin is into ritual humiliation…
Was this is his little revenge for the way she'd attacked him verbally earlier? Or against both of them? Either way, she didn't really like Odin very much. He was a being so concerned with doing the right thing that he destroyed all that should be most precious to him in the process, and often enough completely missed what was the right course, even if it was right under his nose.
She wasn't going to give him or the people massed in front of her the satisfaction of seeing her discomfort. Squaring her shoulders, setting her jaw in what was quickly becoming her trademark look, she walked forward down the long aisle created by the guardsmen, ignoring the stares and the hushed whispers, her eyes focussed only on Loki, stood where she'd left him, on that raised platform, but this time Thor stood by his side. With an encouraging smile from the Thunder God, Jane ascended the steps, taking a place beside Loki, who stood, staring disdainfully at the crowd, and did not meet her eyes.
"Jane Foster of Midgard, you have been summoned to witness the judgement of one you have both defended and been a victim of. I have taken into account your testimony," the All-Father's voice boomed out across the room, almost making Jane jump from the suddenness of it. "Do you still stand by your account of events and Loki's true role in them?"
"I do," Jane replied, in as strong and firm a voice as she could muster. "Loki committed crimes, but he also turned in our favour and fought those who attempted to destroy us. He sacrificed his freedom to bring you warning of Thanos and his power. Judgement needs to be tempered by healing and understanding."
Shocked whispers broke out at that, Jane realised she had pretty much just dictated to the All-Father. She risked a glance sideways and saw Thor staring her, open-mouthed, while Loki stared straight ahead, but she saw his eyes roll and his lips quirk upward in a momentary, exasperated smirk.
"That as may be," the All-Father replied gravely, inclining his head. "But we cannot dismiss the severity of his crimes, of treason against Asgard and the attempted conquest of another Realm."
Jane looked sideways at Loki again, but he just smirked to himself, looking completely unrepentant. For a moment, her heart sank.
"It is the judgement of this Realm that has decided your punishment, my son," the All-Father looked down on Loki sadly, with a wistful longing in his eyes. "Until you have learned the lessons you must, you will be stripped of your magic and banished from this Realm. Neither help nor succour will be granted you from the Aesir, until you have proven yourself worthy of your former status."
Silence fell in the hall, and Jane held her breath, as Loki drew himself up, all dark strength and cruelty, this time. Gone was the lover Jane had known before leaving Earth, and in his place…never had Loki seemed more like the mad, amoral creature she had known during her captivity than now.
"No need for such dramatic statements, father," he replied contemptuously. "I renounce my place as a Prince of Asgard. I am not one of you, I never was, and I have long learned I never shall be."
"Loki," Thor murmured warningly, as Loki's smile grew cold and cruel, as he swung around to face the hostile, silent crowd.
"You never told them the truth of my birth, did you, All-Father?" Loki asked, spreading his arms wide. "Well, let them see it now!"
With a strange shock, Jane saw the first tinges of blue begin at his fingertips, and spread inwards, until all of his body that was visible turned that dark, deep shade of blue, and he radiated cold like an iceberg. Strange ridges appeared on his skin, running along the length of his face, neck and hands, and when he opened his eyes, they were crimson red.
Shouts and cries of alarm raced through the crowd, as Jane looked up only to see the All-Father sigh and close his eyes, weary and sorrowful.
"My crimes against Midgard are what they are," Loki's voice, quiet and strong, disrupted the brewing chaos. "I can only say I made choices based upon the very lies and manipulations I had once excelled in. But for Asgard…I committed treason only to keep this Realm safe and destroy the remnants of the race I been taught to hate. My own race. See what your almighty and ever-wise king has wrought, and think again on why I did what I did."
Jane gasped, a strange agony filling her up, when Loki turned his back to the crowd once more, and faced them, the blue and red leaching from his skin and eyes like paint washed from a canvas. His eyes were overflowing with pain and self-loathing, with both hatred and love, as he gazed up at the All-Father.
"My last gift to you both, Father," he spat coldly, before glancing at Thor, his voice softening just a little. "Brother."
"Loki…" Jane breathed, as he at last turned to her, with a cocky smirk she knew was just a mask.
"Well, Jane? Now you know the truth of your lover, perhaps you will change your mind-" he began, with a tinge of scorn and resignation in his voice that made her so angry, she saw red. His words were cut off as she slapped him, hard, on the shoulder.
"Shut up, Loki," she growled. "I am going absolutely nowhere. Get used to it."
She could feel everyone staring, and resolutely kept her eyes fixed on Loki's, until his jaw firmed and he nodded.
"You need not follow him into exile, Lady Jane," the All-Father told her gently.
"Sorry, no. Don't go there," she replied curtly. "Where he goes, I go. Someone needs to take care of him, since you're ready just to throw him out and pretend he doesn't exist anymore."
"I don't need you take care of me, Jane-" Loki hissed, but Jane just rolled her eyes and folded her arms defiantly.
"You so do," she retorted stubbornly.
"She is right, Brother," Thor suddenly spoke up properly for the first time since Jane had come back to the hall. "You…both need each other."
"Thor, I think that's the wisest thing you've ever come out with," she stared him, wide-eyed, as he chuckled.
"Very well," the All-Father sighed wearily, before drawing himself up. "You will both be escorted from this place and kept under guard until the final preparations are made. Captain-"
"No, Father," Thor cut in. "I shall escort them. With your leave."
"Very well. Go," he nodded, gesturing them away. Thor led the way, Loki and Jane walking side by side, out of the hall, her skin crawling as she felt the wave of eyes and whispers following their backs until the doors closed heavily behind them.
"Well," she sighed. "That was dramatic."
Thor took them to a large, well-appointed room, in the royal wing of the citadel. The walls were the same soft, shining gold as the rest of the citadel, but they were draped with emerald green silks, and a few tapestries depicting battles Jane knew to be from Norse legend. Aside from the bed, a massive, fur-covered square in the centre of the room, sunk into a raised platform, there were a number of chests against a wall that Jane guessed to contain clothing, and the remaining walls were filled with books, covering the drapes and the golden walls to the ceiling. Directly opposite the bed was a large balcony, looking out over the city below.
Loki's old chambers.
"Stay here. I'll come when there is news," Thor told them kindly. "I will send up anything you may require."
"Some food and wine for Jane. I need nothing," Loki replied coolly. Thor smiled, a little sadly, then left them alone as Loki strode to the balcony and folded his arms, staring into the horizon.
Jane let him brood for a few minutes, before she joined him outside, sliding her arm around his and holding him tightly. "Why did you do that?" she asked. Loki didn't need to ask what she meant.
"I knew Odin had not told anyone of my true origins. A part of him still hopes to bring me back under his subjugation, his pet diplomatic pawn with Jotunheim. He has ruled too long, become arrogant and rigid in his ways. He passed judgement upon me; this is my judgement upon him. Thor will be King soon enough."
"I know he's done a hell of a lot of damage, but he does love you, Loki. In his own way," she breathed. He sighed, still refusing to move but he did cover her hand on his arm with his own.
"I know. But as you mortals say, we are even now," he replied quietly. "Let things play out as they will."
"You really want Thor to be King?" Jane asked, with a frown.
"Not particularly, but better him than some bureaucratic fool. Asgard must be prepared for Thanos's next move, and Thor, for all his shortcomings, will be needed. The people adore Thor, whatever they now may think of the All-Father. They will not rebel against him."
"That is exceedingly sneaky of you, Loki," she muttered, a touch disapprovingly, as Loki grinned like the proverbial Cheshire Cat.
"I had a reputation to uphold," he shrugged nonchalantly. "Still it was not…easy."
And admitting that couldn't have been easy either. Jane said nothing, just pressed herself against him, offering whatever comfort he needed from her. Thor had been right when he said they needed one another.
"I should be noble," he suddenly said, after a moment of quiet companionship. Jane glanced up at him, puzzled. His face was tense, his jaw firmed by some inward thought that caused him pain as he stared resolutely out at the city beneath them. "I should be noble and insist you remain on Asgard, or sent back to Earth. I should not drag you down with me-"
"Oh shush," Jane muttered, before stepping around him to face him, with a defiant glare. "As if you ever do things you 'should'. I don't want to hear another stupid word come out of your mouth if that's what comes out. I made my choice, nothing and no one else did it for me. Besides, once you regain your magic, there'll be nothing to hold us down."
Loki stared down at her, and she held his gaze firmly. His eyes, so piercing and cold, suddenly warmed and filled with a sweet happiness that Jane felt her heart pierced anew, as he crushed her to him, his lips against her hair.
"I was worried I was losing you for a second, back there," she admitted quietly, in his arms. "You were so…cold and cruel. The way you were when we first met."
"I almost did lose myself," he replied, so softly his words were nearly lost on the breeze. "Thanos's manipulations were not easy to throw off, and their influence lingers even now. Even before Thanos, I was not a creature of the light, Jane. I was cruel and cold at times, both in jest and in seriousness. I was a jealous, bitter creature hiding behind a mask, and a part of me will always be."
"But there's so much more in there too, Loki," she countered, not bothering to open her eyes and meet his gaze. She was far too comfortable nestled in his arms. "Only you can decide which part of you will rule you and your future, though."
"My foolish, hopeful little mortal," he whispered. "Whatever am I to do with you?"
"Easy," Jane replied, raising her head at that and meeting his eyes fiercely. "Don't make me regret this."
"I can promise I will at least try," he said after a moment's silence. "I can't guarantee that I won't fall, at times, back into my old moods and thoughts. I am sorry you will have to deal with that side of me."
"I'm not," Jane shrugged. "I'll pull you back out of it again, somehow, and then give you hell for it. I am pretty stubborn, you know."
Loki's answering smirk was rueful and warm, as Jane grinned, pleased that she'd managed to elicit that reaction from him. She lowered her head to his chest and closed her eyes again, sinking back into their slight, tiny moment of peace before they were cast into the unknown again.
It was nearly sunset by the time anyone came for them, and Jane was stood on the balcony, watching with enraptured eyes as the sun sank beneath the azure line of the ocean's horizon, in an explosion of colour.
Loki had seen the sunset a million times in his life, and he could afford not to watch it now. Instead, he watched Jane, her wonder; her gasp of appreciation at the beauty of Asgard, the sun's dying rays casting a golden glow over her features, turning her caramel hair to burnished copper.
Once more, he marvelled at her strength, her tenacity and her determination in coming to Asgard with him, standing resolutely by his side and refusing to back down, to take the easy way out and return home where he knew there were others waiting for her, others that loved her and missed her. But she was his.
It was a selfish, dark thought, but he could not help it. Since coming here, she had only confirmed it, again and again, and now she was following him into exile. She had refused to draw away when he revealed the darkest aspect of his true nature, and showed no fear when he tore away the mask the All-Father had placed upon him since infancy, and revealed the truth to Asgard.
No doubt, Chaos would ensue, but then that was always his way. Thanos had truly blinded him to his nature, by playing on his fears and his ambitions, so that he almost forgot who he really was.
Jane had brought him back. And she was his.
The thought comforted him, made him stronger as he watched her watching the sunset, but when she looked back to him, eyes wide and sparkling with the last of the light, the guarded remnants of his heart swelled and he had to admit he was as much hers as she was his.
He stood, needing to join her, to bask in the light with her if only temporarily before the darkness pulled him back to the shadows, but he was stopped as the door to his chambers opened, and both Frigg and Thor swept in. He could see guardsmen waiting for them outside.
"You are to be banished to Alfheim," Thor announced without preamble. "All the preparations have been made. You leave now."
Frigg stepped forward as Jane came to his side, a shapeless length of fabric in her arms. "I thought this might suit you," she held it out to Jane, and as the mortal took it, he could see it was a cloak. And if he was not mistaken, one crafted by Frigg's own hand, and interwoven with spells of protection and warmth. It was the lightest of greys, almost white, trimmed with the fur of the snow-wolves of the Northern Mountains. Jane's eyes were wide as she took it in her arms.
"Thank you," she breathed, as Frigg smiled sadly. Her eyes drifted to Loki, and that sadness grew stronger.
"Loki," she breathed, with difficulty. She moved towards him, and Jane wondered if he would move away. He didn't, but he did not move, or relax, as she pressed a kiss to his forehead, brushing back his hair. When she drew back, Frigg eyed him with mock-severity. "If we had more time, I would cut that unruly hair of yours."
That statement, so incongruous and just so Mom-ish, made Jane laugh even as her eyes welled. She slipped the cloak on, and instantly felt a sensation of warmth wash over her, too warm for Asgard's mild climate.
"It is cold, on Alfheim during winter, and although their raiment is well-made, this is ensorcelled to always keep you warm and safe," Frigg explained, turning away from her adopted son, as Jane nodded gratefully. "I wish you both great happiness and peace, until you can return to us."
"Thank you…Mother," Loki replied awkwardly, and for a second Jane thought Frigg really would embrace him and Loki really would flee this time, but Frigg just nodded, her eyes awash with tears. Thor led them out, leaving the graceful, willowy figure of the Queen behind them. As Jane turned away, she heard her soft voice in her head.
Good luck, my child…
The streets were deserted when they were escorted through them, on horseback once more, but Jane felt the tension of the calm before the storm. Loki's actions would have far-reaching repercussions, she was sure of it.
Change was in the air.
A part of her was sad to leave Asgard so soon, but the future was unknown. Perhaps they would return here, one day, when old pains were dimmed with time and healing. As it was, the rest of her was excited by the prospect of another world. She suspected she should have been nervous, or frightened, but she wasn't. Oh well, just more confirmation she was crazy.
The Observatory was empty but for Heimdall and the All-Father. Jane tensed on seeing him, as Thor's hand crept around her wrist, holding her back as Loki halted right in front of him, atop the podium, looking up at him defiantly and proudly.
"You have inflicted much damage today, Loki Odinson," he intoned and Loki smirked.
"No more than you did to me, All-Father. Judgement is served," he replied coldly, as the All-Father bristled.
"You will not return to Asgard until you have learned the error of your past and regained your power. Nor will any from Asgard seek you out to aid or succour you. I take from you, Loki Odinson, your power!" he cried out, and Jane lunged forward as a great spike of energy leapt from the tip of Gungnir and struck Loki in the chest, and he grit his teeth, falling to his knees, as the very essence of his magic was drained from him. No torture could rival this.
"I, Odin All-Father, son of Bor, cast you out!" with that last shout, it was over and Loki slumped forward. Thor released her and Jane rushed to him, supporting him against her much slighter frame, as he gasped and panted. She glared fiercely up at the All-Father, as he walked down to them, placing a trembling hand on Loki's wavy black hair. "My son, forgive me."
Loki heaved himself upright, with a baleful glare at his adopted parent, forcing himself to stand tall and unbowed, despite the pain racking his form. He felt weak and cold without the heat of his magic within him, but was not surprised that when he glanced down to his hands, one on Jane's arm, they were still pale and stark against the black leather of his surcoat.
He pushed Jane away gently, and she took the hint, letting him stand without her, but she stood by his side, radiating defiance and dislike for the man stood before them, as the All-Father's eye turned to her.
"Look after him, Jane Foster. Succeed where I failed," he told her gravely. "For all our sakes."
Behind them, the Bifrost whirred into life, and Heimdall gestured to them to step into it without a word. The All-Father turned away, and left, surrounded by his guardsmen, not blind to the surreptitious glances they sent his way when they believed him not looking.
Thor remained behind, pained and uncertain. Finally, he stepped forward. "Jane, good luck," he told her. "Loki…I do not care what Father says. Mother and I will find some way to come to you."
"Careful, Thor. That sounds like treason," Loki replied mockingly, but there was a warmth in his eyes that had been missing before, when he looked at Thor. Thor grasped his shoulder in farewell, before he stepped back.
"Hey, Thor," Jane suddenly called. "Little tip: try talking to Sif. You might surprise each other."
Thor's brows rose in bemusement, as Jane smiled and stepped back, turning as Loki did, to face the roaring Bifrost.
"Ready?" Loki asked.
"As I'll ever be," she replied serenely, as she felt the familiar drag and pull of the Bifrost, as she was yanked into space-time once more.
To be continued...
