Hope it's ok and not too confused.

To my readers and reviewers, I love you.

Chapter 3

Slowly Loki's life fell into a pleasant monotony that was comforting to him. The panic he felt when his schedule was interrupted ensured that he was thoroughly prepared by his family whenever there was to be a foreseen interruption, though these were avoided wherever possible. Therefore every day, no matter who had stayed with him the night before, his mother always woke him in the morning and took him to breakfast once he had dressed himself. She would also stay with him during the meal as he still had a problem being around large groups of people, especially if they were all talking at once. She talked softly to him as they ate though they were often joined by Thor, however he sometimes dined with the others that sat further along the table. It didn't matter to Loki, mother was always there and the feelings of bitterness that he felt when Thor chose to sit with others were easily ignored. He would never tell anyone of them, as he still avoided upsetting anyone with his words and actions whenever he could even now.

After breakfast he was taken by either Thor or mother to the great library of Asgard, he enjoyed it there the most. He had found during one of his many walks around Asgard with Thor, that he loved the library and the books that were held there. It was one of the few things he found he actually had in common with the Loki he once was. He read whatever he could now, Odin had joked one night that at the pace Loki was getting through his books he would have read the whole collection of the library soon enough. Even so Loki couldn't make himself slow in his reading, he had found something he truly enjoyed in a world full of things that were either unfamiliar or terrifying. Thor usually complained as the morning went on, it was obvious he found sitting still dull though when asked if he wished to leave Thor would always refuse, telling Loki that he should ignore his complaining and just enjoy the time he had with the books he loved.

He often skipped lunch though this was only possible if he was accompanied by Thor alone. Thor would easily yield to his brother's wishes if Loki begged. Their mother, however was far sterner; no matter how much Loki pleaded and let tears build in his eyes, she would always make him attend the midday meal with her. There had only been one time that she had allowed him to miss the meal. He had had a very hard morning that day and she had not been able to bring herself to force him into something he did not wish to do. It was just a normal morning, Frigga accompanied Loki to the library as usual, and had sat as he wandered off to look at the books as he was want to do. He had been browsing for a new book in the histories when he heard people chatting, he had not meant to eavesdrop and he later wished he hadn't heard at all. He had heard them talking about the Loki that he used to be, and they had not been kind. He felt sick, he didn't feel like a bad person, was he truly a monster. To say it had upset him would be a gross understatement.

Frigga had stayed in one of the seats as she usually did while waiting for Loki but she stood quickly when she saw her beloved son come rushing back to her with tears in his eyes. He pushed himself into her chest so that they were pressed close, this was his usually response to situations that upset him but it made it no less distressing to his family whenever he was upset so. Though they were happy that he was always open with them when something upset him. She put her arms around him and tightened her grip on him offering what comfort she could. She knew they were drawing the attention of the other people in the library, Loki was loudly sobbing in her arms and she wouldn't have people see her son now when he was so vulnerable. She pulled out of the hug murmuring words of comfort and love, she kept up the litany of comforting words as she slipped her hand into his to lead him out of the room. Luckily her private gardens were very close to the library so she guided them there, to where they could have privacy.

Loki's tears had not stopped, or even slowed by the time the entered the gardens. She sat herself on the grass under a tree, her backed pressed against it for support. She pulled her son down so the he was sat leant against her, she silently held him and stroked his hair until he was calm enough to talk. "Oh my poor darling, tell me what has upset you so" she said softly, she wanted to know what had happened to make her son so despondent and how she could make it better. His response wasn't what she expected, "Am I evil?" His voice was small like he expected her to tell him that he was. What had happened to make him think that, "Of course not, you are no more evil than I" She leant down to him to kiss his hair before continuing, "What happened in the library Loki?" Loki told her about the people he had overheard talking and about the things they had said about him. That they had called him a monster and said that he had tried to kill Thor. That he was cruel and hated. He had left before they had finished talking, unable to bear listing to any more that they had to say but they had made their feelings on him quite clear.

Frigga had listened silently, he anger at the gossiping people of Asgard growing as her son's story unravelled. She would need to see to those people that would say such things of a Price of Asgard, she wasn't anywhere near as powerful as Odin himself but she was still the Queen of Asgard and she would find these people and make them regret the day they spoke of her son as a monster.

He had begged her not to bring him to the midday meal and she had relented easily, she wouldn't force him today. She escorted him to his rooms, keeping her arm around his waist, before asking a servant to bring them some food. She wouldn't force him to go to the dining hall to eat but she would not allow him to not eat at all. At least that is what she thought until he looked so desperately at her as she came back to him after talking to the servant. He ended up eating less than usual and still he only ate to make his mother happy, Frigga thought she could live with that for now though she would prefer that he enjoyed the food he had to eat.

Loki didn't like to think on that day though his parents and Thor had assured him often that he was loved and that he was a good person, luckily he also hadn't heard anyone talking about him again after that. His schedule had been slightly disrupted for a while after that day, he hadn't wanted to go to the library so he had asked to go to his room after breakfast. This lasted only two weeks before he couldn't resist the lure of the many books any longer, he had been nervous but Thor had been there when he had gone back and that had helped greatly. Instead of wandering off by himself as he had done before, he took Thor's hand and pulled him along behind him. He didn't want to be alone in the library after the incident and from that time on he always took his companion wherever he went in the library.

Odin and Frigga watched this with some despair, the only independence that their son had shown had been lost again. They had been so proud as Loki had begun to feel comfortable enough in the library to wander on his own, outside of the library Loki was constantly at the side of one of his family members and it could only have been a good thing that he had some independence. They had dealt with the individuals that Loki had originally overheard in the library and everyone was now aware that any slanderous talk regarding any member of the royal family would be quashed quickly and harshly.

Luckily his after lunch schedule didn't change, he still napped after lunch for an hour and a half before awakening. He would always sleep curled around his companion, this seemed to comfort him so none of his family minded the time they spent with him curled around them. When he awakened, they would always go for a walk around one of the many gardens of Asgard. Loki liked it outside, as long as the people didn't look at him.

He still tired easily so the walks were never particularly long, he spent a lot of time sitting in the gardens just enjoying them and the company of his family. After walking Loki liked to play games, he found that he enjoyed word games and people were always inclined to humour him with them. They would return to Loki's rooms after the walk and the games to pass the time would occur there. Loki never seemed to get bored of them and he had a running competition with Thor that had been ongoing for some time. Loki was winning of course, Thor had said it was only natural.

The evening meal was always larger that both the morning and mid day meals, as everyone attended it. It was the worst time of day for Loki, but he suffered through it everyday. The thought of the evening activities always cheered him, every evening was spent in the family rooms with his parents. Much like the morning meal, Thor would often be there also though he sometimes didn't join them, preferring to spend some time with his friends. Though he only did this if he had been with Loki for the majority of the day, Thor didn't want to neglect his brother but sometimes he just needed to spend some time socialising and forgetting for a time.

Even without Thor there, Loki enjoyed his time in the evening with his family as both mother and father would always be there and they would spend time with him and dote on him as he so liked. Every other day Loki would bathe in the evening and then his mother would allow him to doze against her as she dried and brushed his hair. He enjoyed having his hair brushed and would look forward to those days. Sometimes father would read to them all just as Thor said he had done when they were children and sometimes he would show Loki his magic. Loki was fascinated by the magic that Odin was able to preform, he watched the hand movements and copied them as well as he could though no magic came from him.

Odin had told him that he was a powerful sorcerer, though his magic had been drained as he had fallen. Odin was not sure if the lack of magic the Loki exhibited was permanent or if he would get his magic back. Either way Odin had made his son promise to tell him about anything strange that happened however small it might seem to him.

Even after his nap in the afternoon, Loki would still tired early. Nobody forced him to go to bed but he knew when he was tired and always told them when he wished to retire. He was always joined in his room by the rest of his family, he would ready himself for bed as his mother pulled down his covers and his father would ensure that the candles were fresh and alight. Thor had no designated role so when he was there he usually just sat in an unobtrusive place and waited for Loki to finish getting ready.

When Loki emerged from his bathroom, he would move directly to the bed and get in. He sat up as each of his family members came and hugged him to them. He then snuggled down into the pillows. One of the family members would always stay with him during the night, the others would leave with hugs as they bid everyone goodnight, leaving Loki with his night time companion. His companion would get themselves ready to sleep before slipping into the bed next to Loki, no matter how tired he was he would always stay awake until his partner was holding him. They had found that during the night, even when being held, Loki would suffer from nightmares. He never remembered the content of his dreams but the effects of them were horrible for him. Though he was comforted by the presence of the night time companion, their warmth and the candle light, and was often able to return to sleep relatively quickly.

The night time routing was different with each of the members of his family, though each of them made him feel safe and loved as he drifted into sleep. Mother was his favourite, she would sing as she held him. Songs that were not familiar but lovely all the same. Thor would talk of their shared experiences, these usually left Loki feeling more awake than anything else. The stories Thor told were exciting and humorous, he was very good at weaving his stories and Loki always enjoyed them. He also seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of them and Loki didn't think he would ever get to hear all of them. As he slept Thor would hold him close while Loki basked in the warmth of the man, Loki truly felt safe when Thor slept next to him. Father was different, he wouldn't talk to Loki as he held him. He would just hold him close and that was all Loki needed to feel safe and comforted in the man's presence. Loki remembered how he had once burst into tears, panic taking him, when he had awoken alone in his bed. Odin had rushed from the bathroom and held his distraught son as he grasped him close. Loki pressed himself as close as he could get to his father, as if needing to be as close to someone as possible to ensure he wouldn't be left again.

Odin had stayed awake with Loki, who was now too tense to go to sleep. When Loki had come to his senses again he had apologised, he should be passed his fear of being alone by now but still he had overreacted. Odin had of course disagreed, tightening his grip on his child, he assured Loki that he was doing well and that however long it took for him to get well his family would always be with him. Loki still hadn't slept that night but the tension that he had felt left and he allowed himself to feel safe again in the arms of his father.

Every day was the same for Loki, and this was how he preferred it. Of course his parents worried that they were doing more harm that good in keeping him in the same comfortable routine but the thought of scaring Loki and possible loosing him again to the unfocussed state, that had plagued him but that had not occurred for some time, was worrying. They just hoped that Loki would at some time be ready to interact with others.

Thanks for reading.