Odin regarded his son, himself inscrutable. The playful young princeling he remembered bore little resemblance to the malevolent man before him. Much had happened since the fateful day on Jotunheim to effect such great changes in his son in such little time.
Odin's steely blue eye unfocused as he continued to reminisce about t eh young princes, f air and dark, cavorting together, causing no end of mischief in their youth. Sighing, he shook his head and readied himself to speak to Loki.
"You are wondering why I am here, - " he began.
Loki interjected bitterly. "You do always state the obvious, All-Father."
"You do not have the power to address me with contempt. I have seen to that, as you are aware. As king of Asgard, I have sentenced you to a long stay in utter misery. Your actions have shown that drastic measures must be taken."
Odin paused. "But all of this you had already anticipated long ago. I come to you now as your father. No, do not interrupt with your claims to the contrary. No matter who sired you, I raised you. It is I who has made you into what you are now. I must also take responsibility for my actions. My errors so plainly visible in retrospection eat at me for what they have done to you. As such, I offer you a chance to make changes in yourself."
"How generous," Loki sneered, "that an old man should seek to assuage his own guilt."
"Yes, my motives are selfish. I wish my son happiness, for, failing that, the prevention of further harm to my family."
"Either way, should I accept or not, you will win this round. I am locked up, where all of Asgard desires me to be, untrustworthy mage that I am. Or, you will have the false peace of mind which will enable you to absolve yourself of your treatment of me. Clever indeed, old man. I would expect no less from a mind as devious as yours. And it is I they call twisted."
Odin continued evenly, the edge in his voice keen, "I lay this choice before you and no other. You may withstand the torture - great fortitude resides within you - though you will certainly remain forever the twisted, hateful outcast reviled by all. If you wish to change your fate, you may take another path and risk reformation and rebirth, allowing you to let go of your hatred. "
Loki laughed, his hollow face animated in mocking laughter. The uncanny sound cut Odin to the quick, though he did not show it. After several moments, Loki's laughter ceased, leaving the echoes to fade away when Odin spoke again.
"You need not choose now. I will tell you what you need to know for this second life, then you may decide at any point during your imprisonment to act on the knowledge. Listen carefully, my son. You are not to repeat what follows to anyone, your mother, your brother, no one. This if for you only."
*****
Thor returned with Frigga, her usual composure stripped by the recent events. He could not recall seeing his mother so deeply shaken. No even when Loki had fallen into darkness had she been so disturbed. She had mourned, and deeply. An air of that loss had remained with her since his disappearance. When news of the Tesseract and Loki's reappearance reached them, she had brightened again for a moment, although her malaise had returned tenfold at the news of his intentions and actions.
"Mother, I wish to return as quickly as possible. Perhaps there is some way to sway father to a less extreme sentence."
"No, my son," she replied, "This is his decree to the court, to all of Asgard. Want what you will, but you must know that naught may sway the All-Father when he is resolved."
"Loki has done much ill, but he is still my brother. I will not let him come to harm through inaction."
Frigga smiled and halted, clasping her son in a tight embrace.
"Thor, you make me proud in your devotion. I appreciate your sentiments - they are admirable desires, but an impossible goal does no good, only harm. Your father will not change his mind."
"How can you abandon him to this unfathomable fate? Who could hope to withstand such punishment, such torture? Loki already is not himself - this will only make permanent his insanity!"
Thor's eyes flashed and he unconsciously grasped Mjolnir in his fervor, its solidity adding to his resolve.
The next words were so soft Frigga barely heard them.
"I will not abandon him to such a fate."
"I have given him all I can, my son. All we can do is allow him to make his own choices. That is the curse of parenthood - you cannot choose for your children. You shape them, impart love, reason, and whatever tools you may to enable them to shape their own futures. You hope that intemperate youths grow to find that the fire of their tempestuous natures banked by the wisdom of experience. No more can be done. As for Loki, he is strong, much stronger than many. You of all people should not underestimate his endurance. He will withstand whatever your father may devise, and find a way to thrive in spite of the adversity. He has always been such."
"Mother, I did not mean..." Thor said, chagrined.
"It is no matter. Go to your brother, provide him what support you can, but do not expect him to accept or even acknowledge your presence with more than contempt."
"Thank you, Mother. I shall stay there for the rest of the night." Thor kissed his mother good night, then returned with all haste to the dungeon.
"My sons…" Her voice trailed off. Swallowing, she watched as Thor ran to his brother's side.
*****
Thor rounded the corner, slowing to a walk as he neared the cell that held his brother. As he approached, he heard his father say, "Think on it well. Remember, you fate is your own doing."
The door swung open and the All-Father emerged, exuding enduring strength tainted by weariness.
"Father, I must speak with you urgently," Thor demanded. "I cannot let this lie."
"Very well. Walk with me - I would return to my chambers as soon as possible."
The two men walked together back toward the dungeon entrance, Thor unconsciously mirroring his father's form as he had for so many years.
"Father, I must ask that you reconsider your sentence. Non one could withstand such torture, nor should we expect it of anyone. I fear for my brother. He will not survive such an ordeal intact."
"My decision is final. You may not question my decree."
"But, Father -" he did not finish.
"I am King of Asgard. My word is law. You will support my decree as a prince of the realm and as my heir. I will permit nothing less."
The two men stared heatedly at each other, their features twisted in pain and anger. Thor clenched his fists at his side and relented. "Yes, All-Father. I will do as you command." He uttered the words begrudgingly, bowing stiffly in deference. "I will return to my brother now. It is there that you will find me tomorrow morning."
Thor whirled, returning down the dank corridor, leaving Odin to stare after him a moment longer before returning to his chambers.
