As Loki had expected, the guards met them just inside the gate. What he didn't expect was for Odin to be there with them.
"Apprehend him." The king ordered. "Where is my son, Trickster?" Loki unwrapped Thor and set him on his feet.
"Remember your promise to me, brother." He whispered to the boy.
"What's happening? Loki?" Thor watched as Loki was forced to his knees and bound.
"Thor, listen to Father." Loki said. Thor's eyes filled with tears.
"But where are they taking you?" Loki shook himself somewhat free of the guards and beckoned Thor closer.
"I might not get the chance to see you again. This is goodbye, brother." Thor threw his arm around Loki's neck.
"Please don't go, Loki." Thor whimpered in his ear. Why were they taking away the one person who'd cared for him the past few days? It just wasn't fair. One of the guards kicked Loki in the side. The trickster gave a pained cry. Thor charged the guard, beating his tiny fists uselessly against the armor.
"Stop it! Don't hurt my brudder!" Odin watched the unfolding scene, baffled.
"Desist, Thor. Come with me." Thor stared up at the guard, tears streaming down his face.
"But Loki…"
"Will receive his just punishment. Come, my son." Odin took Thor's tiny hand in his own and pulled the boy along with him. The guards hauled Loki back to his feet and forced him to walk forward. He was immediately taken to a cell.
He winced when he heard the door slam shut. His hands were free, and he rubbed at the new marks on his wrists, hoping to get the blood flowing again. Odin would be here soon. He heard footsteps coming down the hall towards him. Odin stood outside the cell, staring at him with a mixture of disgust, curiosity, and anger. Loki returned the stare proudly. Odin did, after all, deserve this open disdain.
"Something troubles you, All-father?" Loki heard himself saying. Odin nodded.
"What have you done to my son?" he demanded quietly. Loki shrugged.
"I know not how he came to be in his juvenile state."
"You can't undo anything?"
"If I knew what I did in the first place, I might be able to, but since I was in a bit of a rush, I don't know what went wrong." Odin nodded, obviously reigning in his temper.
"Will the spell wear off? If so, when?" Loki sat down on the hard stone bench, holding his hands palms up.
"I cannot say. It could be a couple days, or it could be longer. I really don't know."
"I need you to give me more than that, Loki." Odin growled. Loki laughed then.
"I have nothing more to give. But since when has that stopped you from taking?" Loki spat venomously. It was not taking information he spoke of. Odin knew exactly what incident he was referring to.
"Loki, you know why I did the things I did…"
"They were innocent. They had done no wrong."
"So you change my son into a child to avenge your loss upon me?" Loki laughed quietly.
"Oh, believe me, when I come for my revenge, you will know it. And no, I cannot undo the spell."
"We're done here, then." Odin turned to leave.
"Odin, you may want to hear what I say next." Odin paused in his stride.
"Yes?" he asked. Loki smiled.
"There are giants wandering the woods of your western borders. I saw them with my own eyes."
"How do I know that you did not let them into Asgard through your own arts?"
"Believe me, if I'd brought them myself, I'd be attacking your gates with an army of the monsters, and your son would be long dead. It would have been simple to dispose of him. But since I'm more civilized than that, I must be telling you the truth."
"I shall have my rangers look into it." Odin conceded. Loki nodded. "But do not think that I will let go the matter of Thor's predicament."
"The thought never crossed my mind." Loki said blithely. Odin was angry, but he was doing quite a good job of hiding it.
"Good." Odin turned to leave. Loki grasped at the iron grate.
"All-father?" he called.
"What?" Odin slowly turned around.
"How long am I to be held prisoner here?" Odin's gaze bored into him.
"As long as it takes." Loki leaned his forehead against the bars. So, forever, then. He waited until the king was gone before he punched the door with all his might. It didn't even leave a dent. Magic. He shrugged. It made sense to imbue the cell with a spell that would keep him in. Odin's power was far greater than his own. There would be no escape. He stalked over to the bench, and fell into an uneasy sleep.
A/N: The next chapter will contain triggers pertaining to losing a child.