HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Thank you to everybody who has followed, reviewed and favourited this story! Reviews inspire me to continue my stories :)

Loki lay sprawled across the rock that he'd been chained to for who knows how long. The serpent venom had affected his mind and ability to think properly. He hadn't had much time to think when he was going through the pure torture of his punishment. In fact, the only time he was able to think properly and concentrate was when Sigyn held the bucket over his head, trapping the venom.

Another horrible way that he had been effected was that he had hardly any control over his actions. He hadn't meant to snap at Sigyn earlier today, it just came out of him. The pain had full control over him and he hated it. He hoped that Sigyn would return soon. Half because the bucket was half way full and it was hurting his head, and half because he wanted to apologize for what he said to her this morning. He thought to himself what he could say to gain her forgiveness. Apologizing did not come easily to him, he never did it at his own will. This was so unlike him. Usually when he was younger and he'd done something wrong he would be forced by his parents to apologize. Before sending him off, his mother would scold him and give him an example of what to say to the people he had offended. Loki always ended up just copying his mother's exact words instead of giving a sincere apology. He sure could make them believe that he was sorry though, nobody ever caught him out on what he did.

He let out a sigh of utter boredom. He'd been chained to a rock for what seemed like forever and all he wanted to do was some magic and at least walk around for a bit. His muscles were torn and strained and it hurt him to move. He would constantly try to stretch out the knots but it only made them worse, adding to his additional pain. That was only his physical pain, his emotional pain ran far deeper. His biological father never wanted him, his adoptive father would never love him and never did, he had never been praised by Odin and he was sure that Frigga would be disappointed in him. Loki adored Frigga and he was always hurt to see her upset, especially when he was the cause. The only person he had ever been sincere with his apologies to was Frigga. Sigyn would be the second person ever to receive a wholehearted apology from the Prince of Lies. Then there was Thor, the favourite. He was always number one to Odin, to all of Asgard. Thor. He who claimed that he loved Loki even though they were not legitimately brothers had not even bothered to make one visit to Loki whilst he was suffering. Loki just scoffed at the thought. His eyes widened as he heard footsteps by the cave entrance.

"Sigyn?" He asked as his head jerked up, spilling the venom all over him once again. He screamed, the bucket hitting the floor and rolling behind the giant boulder.

"Guards." A voice replied after the screaming subsided. "We have been sent by the All-Father to bring you to court."

Loki couldn't believe it, finally his release had arrived. Had it been six months already? Loki had sworn that he still had a week or so left.

"Unchain me then," Loki demanded. "Odin would not like to be kept waiting."

The guard came forward, followed by another and they both removed the chains from Loki's wrists and ankles. Loki sighed at the relief and was quick to jump off of the rock. He suddenly felt an immense pain in his head. He stared down at his stinging wrists and ankles and noticed blisters caused by the chains. He could heal them later, he was just glad to be free. He stood up straight and threw his arms up in the air, stretching properly. The knots in his back still hurt, but not as much as they did when he was bound to the rock. He'd still have to order a massage when he got the chance though. Possibly even pay a visit to Eir, the palace's most prized healer.

Loki was lead out of the cave by the guards. Before he left he took one last look at the serpent, giving it his coldest glare. The serpent replied with a mocking hiss. Loki grinned and followed the guards out of the cave. The bright sunlight stung his eyes but he didn't mind, he was just glad to be able to see it again. He'd missed the sunlight after being stuck in a dark and gloomy cave, flaming torches as his only source of light. The cool wind blew. It blew through his hair, on his face, on his…

"I am no longer under punishment, I demand clothing." Loki ordered. One of the guards nodded his head and passed Loki some folded clothing. It wasn't his usual leather, wool and armor. This was just a pile of pathetic cotton. He reluctantly dressed in a peasant's shirt and trousers and entered the city. He crossed the market first, which was overly crowded with commoners who had heard of his release, from Thor no doubt. He then walked through the palace gardens, filled with roses of all the colors of the rainbow bridge. Past Idunn's apple trees, through the medical quarters where Eir worked and up to the main corridors of the palace. Eventually he came to the throne room where the people of the court awaited his arrival. The golden doors swung open and Loki squinted. Had his home always been so bright?

"Brother!" Thor boomed. Loki sighed. "It is good to finally see you out and about." Loki opened his mouth to make a snarky comment but instead found himself thanking Thor after realizing that insulting him would be pointless. Loki looked at the people around him as Thor pointed them out to him. Freya, Idunn, Nanna, Bragi, Odin, Frigga and countless others. Loki froze as he saw Svienn enter the throne room, his new enemy.

"How dare he show his face?" Loki sneered as he threw Svienn an icy glare.

"Loki, he-"

"No, no." Loki frowned. "I know what you are going to say. 'He meant well, brother.' Well you needn't say a thing."

"I was going to agree with you." Thor said frowning, which took Loki completely by surprise. He shook it off and continued to look around. He looked back to where Freya stood, dressed in pale pink silk as usual. What was unusual was that she didn't have any of her daughters with her. It was quite rare to see Freya alone, even if she was without her daughters she would be accompanied by her father, Njord, who was nowhere to be seen. Loki hoped that Sigyn was just out of his sight and being blocked by the Aesir that towered over her, but moments turned to minutes and he was still unable to spot her.

Eventually the people of the court began to take their seats and Odin sat on his throne. The room fell quiet as Odin banged Gugnir on the golden floor and announced that the court was now in session. It started out quite well. Loki remained calm through out the beginning where his offences were once again listed and he didn't even snap his correct surname when he was referred to as Odinson. Most people assumed it was because he had learned his lesson, but the true reason was because he was completely drained of energy. The first hour or so of freedom had hit him hard and all he wanted to do was run around, but after another hour all he wanted to do was sleep and remain that way for the next century.

"Loki Odinson," Odin began, once again Loki remained silent at the incorrect surname. "We have ended your punishment a week early, but that does not mean that we will not put you back under that snake for the next seven days if you fail to take your oaths."

Loki sat on the floor where he was last time, as that was a rule of the court. Any offender of any sort of crime, even the pettiest, must sit on the floor as a sign of being degraded. Loki gave a quick nod to his adoptive father, who continued.

"Do you swear to never commit such crimes again?"

Loki took a deep breath. "I swear."

"Do you swear that you have undergone the full torture of your punishment, without any rest, apart from the moments of rest assigned?"

Loki tried his best to mask his grin. "I swear."

"Then I, Odin All-Father, King of Asgard, declare your punishment complete and shall return your magic to you at once."

He used some of his own magic to summon a small, golden chest which he then unlocked. A green mist began to rise from the opened chest and wandered over to Loki. Loki felt calmness and relaxation wash over him as his magic returned to it's rightful home. He sighed in relief. He'd finally felt whole, knowing that he had his own mind back and his magic returned. His magic had been torn from him the moment he stepped foot in Asgard. His mind on the other hand had been lost for a long time. First with discovering his true heritage, which still made him feel a deep sadness, then with the tesseract having full control over him, and then the serpent.

Loki snapped out of his calming phase and began to look around him immediately, people were leaving the throne room and he still couldn't spot Sigyn. He came to the conclusion that she hadn't bothered to show up, causing sadness and anger to fight within him.

"How dare she?" He hissed to himself.

Once the large hall was empty, save for his family, he was approached by Frigga.

"Loki, oh I've missed you." She smiled as a single tear fell down the side of her face. Loki immediately stood and embraced the woman who had mothered him since he was a baby, unlike Laufey and Farbuati. His attitude towards the situation had changed dramatically. First from resenting the family of Odin and now to resenting the family of Laufey. He'd come to the realization that Frigga and Thor and possibly even Odin were the only souls in the nine realms who did not despise him, besides Sigyn of course, if you wish to count fondness.

All Loki wanted to do was speak with his family, have them catch him up on what he had missed and just spend time with him. He had been chained in that cave for nearly six months, alone with only a serpent to keep him company, save Sigyn, who came every single day even when she was not permitted to. It had been years since Loki had actually talked to Sigyn like he used to. The only things he had spoken to her about recently were his punishment and how stupid she was for forgetting to empty the bucket over night. He felt a tinge of guilt at the fresh memory.

"Loki, now that you have your magic back why don't you test it?" Frigga asked with a smile. With a frown, she then added "Something small."

Loki cupped his hands and concentrated. He allowed the magic to take over his mind, to wash through his body and to his palms where he had conjured a small golden rose for his mother. He handed it to her and gently kissed her hand. Frigga smiled and thanked him.

"Loki, my son, what is the matter?" She'd asked him a few moments later when she noticed that he was shaking. Thor and Odin leaned forward, as if inspecting Loki. Loki's head started pounding, his eyesight fading and blurring and he felt a tremendous dose of lightheadedness as he found himself staring at the ceiling before his mind went blank.

samsyrra: Thank you so much for your review! I'm glad you're enjoying it. Sorry about not updating, I've been full on with school but I'm going to make time each day to write more and hopefully update as much as possible. I'm definitely not abandoning this story, it's only just begun and there is so much more of this story that needs to be told :) x