It was a strange sight, Loki though as he looked around the feasting hall. No doubt he was not the only one in awe of the bizzarity of tonight's celebratory feast, it was first for all in the halls. Never had he expected to live to see the day Æsir, Jotnar and Midgardians would all share a table in Asgard's palace's great hall. Most surprising was the lack of argument and fighting, everyone was being mostly civil considering just a few days ago none would have accepted a mortal or Jotun at a major celebration. Then again most of Asgard was too tired from the fight to do anything but eat, drink and enjoy their victory.
The battle may have ended just before dawn that morning but most of those involved did not get to rest afterwards. While most of his and his brother's Midgardian friends had got an hour or two of sleep between the fight and the feast they too had helped the many other Asgardians in clean up. While the city would take some time to be repaired, fires had been extinguished and temporary sites with food and shelter had been organised for those who had lost homes. Preparations had been made for all those lost in the fight so that love ones may get proper sendings. Meanwhile Asgard and Jotunheim's kings had spent the majority of the day drawing up new treaties and agreements for their newly allied realms.
His father had agreed to return the Casket to it's rightful people on a trial, if the Jotun can prove to be responsible with it over the next year they will get to keep it. After Laufey had used it as a weapon of war to try and conquer other realms, his son's were understanding of the Allfather's worry. Though they promised it would be used purely for good.
He wasn't fool enough to believe it would last however, this calm between Æsir and Jotnar, it would take time before both realms found true peace in the newly forged alliance. Their realms had been at war for far to long for everyone to just bury grudges at the blink of an eye, there would be many on both sides who will stand stubborn to their beliefs and ill feelings to those they had scorned for so long. Even now looking around the table Loki could spot those sending those from the ice realm unwelcoming looks and side glances, though none dare speak out at such a gathering. A few were even thrown his way, suspicious glances and wary looks, one or two even openly showing their disgust as he glanced there way. Those who had seen or heard who/what he truly was and suddenly he wasn't so sure revealing his Jotun skin was such a wise idea.
Or perhaps some where angered by the fact he had brought Thanos to Asgard in the first place, that he was the reason so many buildings in the city now needed repair. He had brought destruction upon Jotunheim and Midgard and now his own realm, his home. He had given the people even more reason to hate him.
"Loki, are you well?" Thor questioned, concern clear on his face as he broke from his conversation with Helblindi -no doubt trying to out brag one another. Helblindi! Thor and a Jotun sharing mead and conversing merrily this surely was a night for oddities.
"I am fine."He replied giving a small smile that didn't quite reach as high as he'd intended. "I'm just tired and my hands sting."
It wasn't a lie, he was tired and his burnt hands still hurt and being burns caused by raw magic, healing would be much slower. He just wasn't telling Thor what was actually troubling his mind, like the fact he wanted to return to his room to retire for the night but after realising how much more fuel he had now fed those who already thought ill of him he was half afraid to venture out into the dark halls alone.
His brother seemed to somehow sense that he wanted to leave, it seemed, as Thor stood up from his seat and moved to Loki's side. "Perhaps it would be wise if you retire for the night and got some rest. Come I'll help you with the doors."
There was a knock on the door the following morning, followed by his brother's voice as he asked permission to enter. The Jotnar had just left with the casket in hand back to Jotunheim, he did not see them off however as he had to have his hands re-bandaged. Healer Eir could be as fierce as war general Tyr and she did not tolerate 'trouble' patients, though she was use to dealing with his 'episodes' as she called it. He could not help it though, as poor Bruce had found out after helping bandage his back after his lashing all those weeks ago. When he was really ill or in great pain despite how well he might hide it from others as soon as he was being treated safely out of view of all but the healers. All his calm and bravado seemed to flee leaving in its place venom and snark.
And what ever balm it was that Eir was using on his burns felt like a thousand bee stings all at once when it was first applied, in his defence there had only been a little name calling and only one threat. The spine chilling glare he had received in return for calling her a bumbling bristled hag when she had been a little rough on a particularly tender spot may have had a lot to do with that. He had apologised of course he always did once the pain died down a bit and his defences wound down once more. It is not like he actually meant any of what he said it was the pain talking. He then found himself wondering if he had grown out of it, perhaps he had more control over it when he was older.
"You may come in, Healer Eir just left." Loki replied, from where he sat on one of the daybeds.
"The Jotnar have left, Byleistr has extended an invitation for you to visit their realm and learn more of Jotunheim's history and it's people. I think he would really like to get to know you better." Thor informed.
"One big brother was bad enough I don't know how I'll handle three." He joked back, though his brother saw straight through it. Thor had grown better at seeing past his masks of late and he wasn't entirely sure if he liked that or not.
"You do not have to decide right away Loki, it will take time to get use to all these changes I understand that, as do they. If you do decide to accept the offer though I would be more than willing to go with you, it would probably do me good to learn more about our realm's newest allies. You may be Asgardian by heart, but you are Jotun by blood and you can not possibly tell me you are not interested in learning more about our new found brothers and their culture." He grinned, he did not want his brother feeling like learning more of his Jotun side would somehow distance him from his family.
"Y-you really want to learn more about the Jotnar?" Loki asked and Thor chuckled in reply.
"Me actually wanting to learn, I know its shocking right."
"I suppose there is a first for everything." He laughed back before something else his brother had said hit him. "Wait did you say our new brothers?"
Thor smiled at this placing a comforting hand on his brother's back. "Loki you are my brother and they are your brothers, which makes them my half brothers."
"I never though of it like that. It actually makes this a whole less scary."
He had been so worried over hurting his family, that they might fear loosing him to his newly discovered birth family. He hadn't even stopped to consider that since the two Jotun were his family by blood that his true family might actually consider thinking Byleistr and Helblindi somewhat as family too.
"That's good to hear, though speaking of scary, father actually sent me to fetch you. He wants to talk and he doesn't look particularly cheerful either, though he may just be tired."
This was the part of today that Loki saw coming and had not been looking forward to.
He was a little surprised to find Thor did not leave his side as they entered the throne room, even more so to find that as they entered everyone else in the room bar their mother were asked to exit. Leaving only the royal family inside. There was usually an audience of at least the guards to witness whenever he or his brother were in trouble. His Father looked half way between angered and impressed and Loki wasn't entirely sure how things were about to pan out. He knew he'd be facing the music for sneaking out and off realm, he just expected Odin to look a lot more mad then he seemed to be.
Odin let out a heavy sigh as he looked down at his youngest and Loki shifted in his spot.
"You disobeyed my orders, something it seems you have become quite proficient at. You and your brother both." The Allfather cast a quick glance Thor's way, though Loki new he was sole one in trouble this time around.
"You were ordered by your father and king not to leave the palace walls and expressly forbidden from joining the battle. To hear in the midst of battle that not only had my youngest slipped unnoticed through shadows and out of the palace, talking the mortal warriors in aiding his schemes but he had also decided to jump realms. To Jotunheim at that, of all the realms to go to you pick the one that held most grudge, forcing the gatekeeper to activate the Bifrost to send a mortal after you. Not only did you risk your life by entering the frozen realm but too did you endanger the man of iron, Stark."
His father wasn't finished though, far from it.
"As if you had not disobeyed enough you then upon return engaged in battle with Thanos himself." Odin growled out letting out a soft sigh before stating. "Though I do commend you on your courage in fighting to defend your mother. You are lucky you got away with only what little injuries you've obtained, you could have been hurt far worse, killed even. Of all in this realms in recent time you alone boast the most reason for the Jotnar's scorn, you had attacked their realm, killed their previous king. They could have had you executed, tortured or locked away as a hostage, had king Laufey still lived he'd likely have..."
Odin stopped himself there, he should not be suggesting such things. Loki didn't need to be thinking that his birth father could possibly hate him to such an extent. Besides he had no right to be speaking for the fallen Jotun king, he knew not how Laufey had grown to feel about his lost son over the years. For all he knew the Jotun may have grown to regret his decision to leave the babe for dead all that time ago. They would never know how Laufey might have reacted if he had found out the babe had lived, that Loki was his.
He was glad that path had never had to be crossed, though had the Jotun found out Loki was the babe he'd left for dead and demanded his return. Odin knew with out a shred of doubt he would have sent the entire realm to war before ever considering handing over his son.
"The realm was already preoccupied standing against the enemy army your brought onto our door step. Had you fallen to trouble we'd have had no men to spare to send to your aid. Honestly boy you cause endless worry to both your mother and I and I am greatly displeased and disappointed by the fact you have disobeyed me yet again..."
And this was it, Loki thought, this was were his father told him how his actions had caused such ruin yet again. That this was his fault as though he did not already realise that all the damage that befell Asgard was thanks to him giving Thanos means of getting there. He had just started rebuilding relations with his father things were going good for once and now he had ruined it all.
"And yet I cannot help but feel pride in all you have done." Odin spoke as some of the anger faded from his face and Loki could not believe his ears. He knew he'd be in trouble for going against Odin's wishes but never had he expected this. He can't say he had ever heard his father claim pride in any while disciplining their wrong doings before.
"Lives were lost and the realm suffered damage during the Mad Titan's attack as is expected in any battle of such size and though you hide it neither your mother nor I are ignorant to the guilt you hold over it all. Yes you brought a war to your home but it was the best course of action and good judgement. Despite the damage we have obtained Asgard was well prepared to face this enemy in battle, had Thanos led his Chitauri upon Midgard the destruction and loss would have been far greater. I do not think the Avenger's home city would have survived the battle and thousands if not more lives could have been lost."
Odin said standing and stepping down off the throne and walking over to his son, placing a hand on his shoulder as he continued.
"You have also managed not only to convince the Jotnar who have shared bad blood with Asgard for over a thousand years to aid us in the fight against Thanos but thanks to you our relations with the realm are the strongest it has been since even before the Jotun-Asgard war. You have given both realms hope that our people may once again stand as allies and though it will take time, both sides will work to mend the rift that has built between us. "
"You truly are amazing brother of all still alive on Asgard you were probably one they held most anger towards and yet you still approached them with Stark of all people by your side, I'm sure none would have thought it possible. Yet you still managed to get them on side." Thor complemented from his side, giving him a slap on the back. It was probably for the best Tony was not in the room to hear that, as Loki was fairly certain he would not appreciate being referred to as a handicap.
"Your mother informs me that it was she who gave the Jotun the casket and granted them permission to use it." Odin stated looking back at his queen as she stepped forwards, adding with a small smirk. "Though I'm a little sceptical."
"I hold firm to what I have said." Frigga replied in a cunning tone, giving Loki a warm smile.
"Aye and even a king knows at times it is unwise to argue his queens words." The king chuckled before turning to Loki once more.
"Do not think this means you will go unpunished for going against my orders. For putting yourself in danger and worrying your family by sneaking of to Jotunheim. You will spend the next three months with a limiter to your magic, you will be fitted with a charm that will grant you access to only one third of your power. You are also to be confined within the palace walls until further notice and are not to leave the palace grounds for any reason, whether accompanied or not. The only exception to this will be visits to the tower the Avengers reside in."
"I think that is a fair punishment." He nodded in agreement, he certainly could not argue it he was expecting worse. His face falling in concern as he contemplated his father's words. "I take it some are not pleased at finding out their prince is a Jotun. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have reviled my Jotun skin so openly."
"No." Odin stated firmly. "No, you should not have to hide, it is I who is at fault I should never have kept such secretes in the first place. I should have been open from the start, I could have avoided so much if only I had been honest. Yes there are those who are not pleased with this revelation and part of your confinement is for your safety as I cannot know if any might try something, but I will work things out. I will make amends and make sure everyone understands that this changes nothing nor does it change who you are or where your loyalties lie. But it may take time and your mother and I would rather stand on the side of caution until that time."
His mother embraced him then wrapping her arms around him as she said."There is much to fix but no matter what, we want you to feel safe. No matter what you choose for the future, whether you take to your Jotun skin or continue in your Æsir skin. We want you to be comfortable and happy with who you are."
"Thanks." Breathed back tears gathering in his eyes as Thor too snaked an arm around him. His father gave him a warm smile before letting out a breath.
"Now, about your missing memories. The master mages think they have found away to return them."
