Chapter 3
Decisions, decisions
While Odin finalised his judgment and decided on a suitable punishment for Loki, he blocked his power so he could not escape or fool anyone with his lies.
During the next few days he took his time to fully gage Loki's response to his answers.
He had made intelligent observations of Thor and of himself so he clearly was not delusional. That would imply that he was completely aware of what he he had done. But he could not ignore the fact that as a father, an adoptive one at that, he had paid less attention to Loki and focused most of his free time to making Thor the best he could be.
And as Loki had pointed out, Thor had still grown into an arrogant, young fool but with the power soon to become king.
He thought of banishment; obviously Midgard and Jotunheim were not ideal. They would force him to see his faults head on. Instead he wanted him to be able to spot his own flaws within himself gradually. It would be easy to see where he did not comply to a regular society if he were forced to realise his mistakes on his own.
He needed a place to send him, a situation that demanded that would make Loki understand his own madness, his own failings, and change them.
Odin himself accepted that his past decisions surrounding Loki had been wrong so he decided to change his tactic.
Instead of outright torture and physical pain, he chose to start on his mind.
He would exclude him from large crowds entirely and limit his interaction to a small selection of people.
Even though Frigga had always been a person that Loki felt comfortable to be around, he felt that her company would be too soft. As a mother she had pretended that he would blossom into the strong minded, intelligent and kind man he had grown up to call father. Her presence would only remind Loki that he had the ability to twist others minds and project a false image; a false reality that he had been living in.
His relationship with Thor, much as it had been with his father was better when he was younger. They had both known from an early age that Thor was older and therefore was heir to the throne after Odin. But not until he started giving Thor lectures and detailed tours of the kingdom did Loki realise the true difference it made.
Their lessons changed; Thor would concentrate on building physical strength, while Loki would prefer to sit alone and learn the history of other realms and spells. Knowledge fascinated him because it held a truth that no one could deny.
They both exceeded their tutors expectations and decided to train together, so that they would have a basic knowledge of the others strengths. It was then that Loki first saw Thor in a new light.
He saw that he hadn't learnt of Asgards and other realms mistakes in battle. He saw the past reflected in his brothers' eyes when he celebrated his physical superiority over Loki despite the fact that Loki excelled overall more than Thor.
Odin decided that Thor's presence would help Loki understand why Thor acted the way he did. Although he thought it best to keep their subjects of discussion limited to family and friends and not how good their past had been compared to the recent altercations between Midgard and Jotunheim.
After much deliberation, Odin called Thor and Loki to the throne room to inform them of his sentence.
They entered the room together, side by side, with two guards standing behind them. As they got closer to the throne, they realised Heimdall was standing next to Odin.
When they stopped in front of the throne, Odin got up and walked down the steps. He wasn't as intimidating to them but he still showed his superiority by standing head on in front of his sons.
"I have decided."
Loki wearily glanced over to Heimdall. He was emotionless as usual.
"Since Loki has upset three realms, I deem it necessary to deliver three different punishments.
For the attempted annihilation of Jotunheim, you are banishment from there. They have disowned you and no longer claim you heir to their realm.
For the carnage you brought down on Midgard, I have sworn that you will not be allowed to go there without express permission from S.H.I.E.L.D. I have also decided to help them with defending their world from possible invasion, should the Chitauri or any other realm decide to try their luck.
And for the stress you have put on Asgard, your family, friends, and all the people that ever trusted you, you will be put through your own personal hell.
You lie to make yourself more powerful in others eyes, to get your own way and to deceive innocent people into doing things they would otherwise never do.
We cannot hold your tongue forever so you will go somewhere where your lies cannot be heard.
From now until Heimdall deems you suitable, you will spend your existence on the Isle of Silence. From there no one will be disturbed by your twisted mind. However you will not be forgotten.
Once there no creature, not even yourself will be able to hear your lies."
Loki was now staring directly at Odin with all fury of a kicked puppy. He dropped his stare shortly afterwards since Odin was more menacing than he could ever be.
Odin now directly questioned Loki. "Do you think these conditions are just?"
If there was one thing Loki hated more than failing, it was being forced to admit that his plan had been anything but flawless.
Odin had truly seen through Loki all this time since he was turning him into something what he feared most. A failure.
Loki shifted his feet. He felt Odin's glare go right through him.
He straightened his back and hoped his voice wouldn't show how broken he was.
"I do."
"Very well. I have decided to honor your condition as well. I will make sure Asgard continues to have a deserving king and that this realm will remain in good hands when Thor is crowned."
This time Odin changed his stance. He couldn't possibly be nervous, could he?
He knew that Thor was not yet fit to rule but he wasn't as stupid as Loki perceived him to be. He could learn and pay more attention to Odin and study Asgards history much as Loki had when he was younger.
Odin continued. "This brings me to my final statement in front of you both this day.
If you may remember, while you two were fighting on the Bifrost, I was in my annual rest period. You however broke the cycle when you tried to kill each other; because of this I now have to restart the cycle soon.
I recommend to you Thor that you go and finish any business you have on Midgard and be back here ready to start your training within one of their months.
As for you Loki, you will be called for either when your stay on the Isle of Silence has served its' purpose or when your presence is required. For now, follow Heimdall to the observatory and prepare to be transported."
Odin turned to walk back up the steps to his thrown while Thor and Loki bowed their heads and made their exit; Heimdall followed after bowing to the Allfather.
The three of them walked in silence, Thor in front closely followed by Loki with Heimdall keeping his distance.
When they reached the golden gates Thor stopped, took Loki to one side and turned him so he could address Loki and make him listen.
"Brother, I still do not understand what I have done to wrong you. I will not pretend to understand how you felt when we were younger, but trust me when I say I understand you more now."
Loki had been trying to keep his focus off Thor but now he willingly stared into Thor's strained eyes. Clearly he felt something for his brother.
"You cannot possibly feel what I have these past few months. Letting go of that bridge was at the time, what I considered my only way out. I had done what I thought was right and failed to see how I had wronged you.
If I were truly his son I guess I could have stayed, but because I' am one of Asgards' most distrusted, I did not see how a little father to son chat could turn out in my favour. He would have treated me as a frost giant, as one...", Thor cut him off.
"No he wouldn't have. Do you think he punished you any differently than me when we played tricks we shouldn't have? Despite the fact that we only recently discovered your true past, he had known all along. If he thought you to be a monster by nature, he would have been less kind when we were younger. The only thing that has changed since then is that your recent knowledge is fooling your mind into seeing hatred where there is none.
What he does now, he does for the good of Asgard," Loki scoffed and ducked his head, "and his son, my brother."
Loki turned his head back towards Thor. This time his face seemed disbelieving. As if he had never heard Thor speak of him as his brother.
"You still call me your brother after I tried to murder you and your loved ones?"
"Of course I do. Never think that because we are not blood brothers, I don't feel the bond we had when we were young and foolish."
Loki stared into Thor eyes, looking for any sign of deceit.
Unlike Loki, Thor had always been a poor liar. He always gave himself away by twitching his eyes or looking away. This time he kept his gaze. He didn't look angry, frustrated or mad, but he seemed to plead with his eyes, to try and reach his brothers good side.
"Thank you." Loki's voice sounded heavy and strained like he's been holding his breath through Thor's speech.
After steadying himself and looking at Thor, he saw that his brother looked relieved that he hadn't taken his words as a joke.
He stepped towards Thor and hugged him.
Thor momentarily paused, a little taken aback from Loki's actions but since he hadn't been stabbed by anything he decided that this was Loki's way of apologising or accepting him. He returned the hug and held his brother tightly.
For once in a long time, he felt that Loki wasn't holding any of his feeling back. Even though Loki didn't verbally confess that he loved his brother, Thor felt that he was finally letting his harsh barrier down and accepting that he had been wrong and that he was truly loved.
They let go of each other and Thor smiled at Loki as he saw his brother's face relax. He had been so tense beforehand; whether if it was because of the dreaded silence while they walked to his prison, or if he didn't know what to say as his last words for possibly hundreds of years, he did not know. But it was a pleasant change from Loki's near constant look of distress and anger.
Thor gestured for Loki to stand next to him while they walked the rest of the journey to the observatory.
Heimdall had of course seen everything that had gone on but had not intentionally heard what had been said.
Loki's emotional state did not concern him personally but he would make a note of mentioning it should Odin wish to hear of his son's actions.
At last they strode side by side, as equals across the remaining section of the rainbow bridge. As they approached the end, it became clear where an extra section had been added on to support Heimdall's new observatory.
Loki opened his mouth slightly as if to speak but thought better of it.
Thor and Loki walked to the opposite side of the entrance inside the dome and Heimdall took his place near the centre. He withdrew his sword and stood in a strong stance with it balanced upright on the tip, steadying it with his hands.
Thor walk with Loki to the portal. He looked into the emptiness for a second before turning to face Loki. He gripped his arms and gave him a weary smile. After Loki returned the gesture, Thor moved to take his place next to Heimdall.
He got a few feet away before turning around and said, "Again, I' am truly sorry for any harm I may have caused you. Please do not think of me when you're alone, you do not have to apologise to me for anything."
Loki's lips turned up in a half smile and he nodded gently. Thor continued to stride towards the centre console and spun to look at his brother who was now facing the portal with his back turned towards them.
Heimdall glanced over at the thunderer. Thor nodded and Heimdall raised his sword and inserted it into the console.
The exterior of the observatory began to revolve and large lightening spikes headed from the centre of the dome to the interior designs on the walls. As the sound of the mechanics got louder, Thor was only just able to make out a few broken words.
"I' am sorry also, brother."
Loki didn't turn round, he didn't have time to. He was pulled through the portal in a flash of brilliant blue light. Within seconds, there was no evidence that he had ever been standing mere meters from Thor.
Heimdall took his sword from the console and retook his stance again. His eyes turned to Thor as he readied himself.
Thor exhaled and felt his shoulders tremble. He then walked past Heimdall and headed to the same spot Loki had just been standing.
Facing the empty expanse in front of him he said, "Do it."
Heimdall lifted his sword once again and within another flash of blue light, Thor was pulled through the portal towards Midgard.
