Visitation

by kalimecat

Loki has returned to Asgard and is imprisoned for his crimes. While in prison he has the occasional visitor, will the love of others bring back the fallen prince or is he truly too far gone?

7. Chapter 7

A/N: Hello Readers,

Once again I thank you for all your thoughtful reviews and all the feedback you all give weather it be from reviews, favorites, or follows. Your guys rock!This was a tricky chapter to write, but I think it is a crucial transitioning point in the story. Hopefully it is one you all enjoy as well. Well Happy reads and God bless!

A team of a dozen palace soldiers abruptly barged into Prince Loki quarters. It had been so long since the room was in use that the guards scarcely knew which direction to trace the frantic cry to. They nearly knocked down the gilded door that was intertwined to obsidian stone. For the most part the chamber looked untouched. The bed was unmade and the quilts and comforters seemed sloppily kicked about atop the plush mattress. There was a tub filled with water and few bottles of ointments and salves placed on top of the mahogany nightstand by the once prince's bed, but nothing that seemed to identify the crash that was heard followed shortly by the dramatic call for their presence.

Then the guards eyes all seemed to fall on the curio cabinet that was tilted and falling to the side, the glass shattered on the green and gold carpet. The 24 eyes shifted down only to notice the queen's unmoving body sprawled out on the floor. Her exquisite face that was always unmarred and poised now painted with a bright ruby streak that dribbled from her nostril and down to her gaping mouth.

"The Queen!" one soldier shouted and pointed. They followed his finger and then they noticed a thin, sickly looking figure hovering over the female monarch's still body. Long, limp, wild-looking black locks dangled over the person's face obscuring the features. The ridges in the man's spine showed through lumpy and hideous like a the spikes on a bilgeschnipe's back. It was easy to identify such a monster.

"Stand back!" the elder guard of the 12 yelled. His voice outraged as the gaunt figure's shaking milky colored fingers fumbled to make contact with the royal woman's flesh.

"Unhand her!" another hollered storming toward the foul creature who did this horrible act.

Loki couldn't detect their raised voices barking out commands as he looked on at Frigga, still and bleeding. Her warm blood collecting on his cold skin. "Mother!" he lightly shook her calling loudly.

"To your feet!" another order was given as a blade was drawn. Loki didn't react to the words he kept shaking his head muttering to himself. Instantly, strong hands coated with leather and brass gloves wrapped tightly around the raven haired man's thin forearms. They snatched him to his feet, hoisting him away from the queen and he fought and struggled against the restraining hands. He felt more of the soldiers come and accost him.

"Mother, mother! No, no..." he muttered pitifully pulling hard to go back to her side. "Mummy please!" he wailed frantically like a child, "Wake up," he begged in a whisper, finally managing to free one arm to reach back out for her. In order to subdue the villain the guards quickly kneed Loki in a stomach. He doubled over in pain. But the pain from the hit was nothing in comparison to the though of the horrendous act he had just committed. He would have fallen to the floor except that the guards held him up roughly slamming him back against the wall.

The head guard rushed over to Frigga's fallen body. "That monster murdered the queen!" He shouted noting the trails of blood coming from her body.

"No," Loki gasped his vivid green eyes big and scared. He shook his head and his whole body followed suit. "No, no, no," he mumbled.

The soldier leaned down beside the queen. "Majesty?" the young soldier asked, gaining no response. The guard's eye's started to mist, as he gingerly scooped the fragile looking queen up into his arms.

Soon Odin came in. The king had strode quickly down the hall though he hadn't all out broken into a sprint. He feared the worse. Frigga had been by Loki's side since Thor had carried the young man back to the palace in his arms. He was so ill and injured and Odin had eaten himself up for it. He hadn't expect for Loki to be beaten so savagely. He hadn't expected the torture to last more than a few minutes. A stripe or two to crack on the his back was all Odin had thought it would take to get Loki to yield. He hadn't expected the flogging to carry on for nearly and hour, he hadn't expected the scaffold to be painted red by Loki's cold blood. Since he'd been in recovery Frigga had reported how the he'd suffered from such terrible fever and nightmares. Loki had a tendency to have troubled sleep. As a boy there had been many a time when he'd walked around the palace lost in his night terrors. Perhaps he'd gotten up out of bed and hurt himself in his feverish sleep. "What's happened?' The king demanded of the guards as he came in the room. The room was large, it took his one eye a minute to scan the perimeter.

Thor had quickly dashed down the hall when he heard the loud crash. His chamber and Loki's were not far apart he had just come to his own domicile after being in the palace sauna with the warriors. "Father!" he called breathlessly after the great king. He strode in standing right behind Odin who stood stalk still as he scanned Loki's old chambers. The crown prince gripped his proud and regal father's silver tunic. "I heard a crash..." he began. His mind swirled about with the thoughts of what could have taken place. So many people were still upset about what had taken place after the flogging. Olaf and a few of his friends insisted that the punishment hadn't been severe enough. He had tried to rally a claim that Prince Thor had broken the protocol of their ancestors. That Loki was not to be released from the scaffold until he cried for mercy and if Loki was too stubborn to cry for mercy to save his own skin than so be it. He had taken lives, countless had been ruthlessly slaughtered by his hand, his death was no injustice. He ranted on and on demanding that the peace between their two worlds depended upon the Rite of Substitution. To appease the petty official, King Odin had privately offered him land. Good farm land, from the low-lying valley of Chibron, also known as the Fruited Plain. In debt that he thought he was owed should have been settled with the crops that could be yielded. If Olaf Dirkson was still unsatisfied after such acts, if he dare tried to obtain more blood debt from Loki's back while he was injured and incapacitated, Thor was determined that Olaf would substitute his own life where he wanted Loki's. Thor was certain to see evidence of some type of struggle in the room, where Loki had been attacked while he was weak and virtually harmless.

His mouth fell open as his blonde-haired head swiveled and his blue eyes fell in the same direction and met his father's gaze. He felt his test clench tight and his breath be drawn from his lungs as he noted the trusted palace worker with a familiar form cradled gently in his arms. A woman with honeycomb gold hair that cascaded down her back like flowing water from a fountain. Thor noted the way her golden hair was highlighted with a darker hue, thick and deep in color like a rose. Blood. Her head lulled back against the palace guards biceps. Her gown slightly falling from her warm colored shoulders. He looked on at her figure. It was pale and unstirring. He bit his lip to keep from screaming in horror as he saw the thick trail of crimson oozing out her nostril. Her pretty mouth and soft pink lips only managed to catch the blood allowing it to stain them like a sick form of lipstick. "Mother?" Thor asked perplexed by this twisted vision. It was like something from a nightmare. Never had he seen her so battered and pale. He looked around the room desperate to find answers. His blue eyes that were so much like hers scanned and surveyed endlessly for the culprit, for the fiend responsible for this foul happening. His teeth were bared like an animal ready to bite and strike. He was ready to tear flesh for her. Who was the villain dare attack Asgard's queen...Odin's wife...His mother? His eyes swiped to the side and there in the corner he detected the guards roughly pulling and fighting with some thin and straggly waif, that seemed to want to shrink from sight. But the guards pushed him forward so that his sharp little features could be shown to the royals. His features were of little importance, it was his hands, his bony, long fingers dripped with red. "Loki?' Thor asked his voice trembling as he pieced things together.

"What has happened here!" Asgard's kind demanded, his eye never leaving his wife as the guard slowly brought her body forward. "What has happened?' he shouted. The answers were coming to slow.

"Your Majesty," the eldest guard who was carrying the unconscious queen came forward presenting the injured woman to the king. "We came in to find, Loki hovering over Queen Frigga's body," He spat as he rolled his head and eyes gesturing toward the man now brought to his knees by the forceful hands of the four guards who had restrained him. Two of the golden armored men pushed Loki's slender shoulders down low so that he was nearly folded over on himself. The two other flashed their gleaming sabers and brought them around forming a triangle over Loki long pale neck limiting his movement as much as possible. He wriggled like a snake caught in a trap, but he couldn't alter his position. "It is obvious that he tried to take Queen Frigga's life," the guard informed.

Thor's eyes widened dread filling his entire being as he saw his mother dangling listlessly in the patrol's sturdy arms. "No," he uttered without thought shaking his head. No. That just couldn't be true. Even Loki mad as he was. Twisted and jaded, corrupt as he was couldn't have been capable of something this abominable. Thor's face contorted into a bitter scowl. Tears welled in his sapphire blue eyes. He rushed to the guards side and gently taking Frigga's sweet, gentle face in between his massive palms. Her face so slacked and pale, her flesh barely warm. "Mother, no," he cried his callous thumb smoothing over her cheek. "NO," he muttered bitterly fearing the worst when she didn't respond in the slightest to his touch. "Mother!" he called madly only to find her still and battered looking. One tear dripped against the queen's brow as Thor managed to bring his forehead down to meet hers.

The mighty king stood gaping at the listless form of his beloved queen. His face stricken as he gazed upon her prone form flapping in the arms of the trusted guards. "Frigga?" the uttered. His voice barely audible it was caught in his chest. "Frigga," he choked out again his voice coming out of his throat with more forcefulness now as if he would summon her to wakefulness by royal decree, but his regal tone didn't make the queen wake. The king took faltering steps toward his wife for more than a millennium. His large and withered hands came and carefully swiped her soft honeycomb curls. Delicately the guard poured the lithe body of the matriarch of Asgard into the stately arms of her husband. Odin's gray-blue eye reflected with glistening water as he wrapped her tightly, protectively and firmly in his embrace. His face could not find the right position to hold. He wanted to remain stoic and calm impassive. She was so light, her body so dainty and fragile. He recalled the last time he held her in his arms this way. He had just returned from the Last Great War.

"F-Frigga?" Odin sighed as he plodded slowly, wearily into one of the queen's recreational sewing rooms. He had inspected ever inch of the palace for her at last he had come to find her. He leaned heavily on the door, he was exhausted and beaten, but he had to see her face. Tomorrow their victory would be announced to the realm. The Nine Realms would know peace, joy would spread throughout Asgard, there would feasting, and merrymaking, there would be loud and jubilant celebration for weeks to come, trumpets would play songs would be sung, dancing throughout the streets would ensue, but for now, in that moment the only peace he sought to find was in her arms. The only joy he longed to see was in her sweet cornflower colored eyes. He wished simply to feast upon nothing but her magnificent beauty, he'd make merry only with her this night. Her sweet voice in his ear the only song of celebration he needed to hear. He would hold her in his arms and dance with her til the morrow as he had done when they were much younger.

"Odin! You have returned!" she cried, flinging herself from the chair by her great loom, she practically knocked the loom over the large tapestry she had busied herself with falling to the floor, she kicked aside the balls of yarn and spools of thread. Her arms outstretched as she ran to greet the weary warrior. "My love! My love!" she cried gathering him to herself and folding him in a tight hug so that she thought she could never let go. He smelt of war. He smelt of carnage, of clashing metal. He smelt of sulfur of snow and ice. He smelt wonderful. He folded his arms back around her. Feeling her lovely form inhaling her more than pleasant scents. She smelt of lilacs and plums. She was fresh as a daisy, she smelt of heaven and earth, his melted into the embrace of his queen. He pulled his face back to look at her only to find her sweet pink mouth pecking out his lips showering him with longing kisses.

"Oh Frigga," he moaned breaking from her.

"Odin, Odin," she whispered feeling the tattered material of his rumpled tunics. "I feared...I feared..." she shook her head tears spilling from her liquid eyes like rain from the heavens. "It had been so long... been so long since I'd heard any news on your whereabouts on the fighting...I knew not...I knew not what to think," she blubbered pressing her now damp cheek on his shoulder.

"I had to keep you in the dark Frigga to protect you...you and Thor and all of Asgard," he explained breathlessly.

"Yes, yes" she sighed understandingly as she sniffled.

"The fighting is over now," he promised her stroking her golden mane.

"Peace?" she gasped her face filling with hope and joy.

Odin nodded her returned a half-hearted smile to her elated expression. "Peace at a great cost," he explained. She now noted the patch that Odin wore. It was golden and glistening, but it was no less a patch... it had not been there before.

"And what has it cost you, my love?' she questioned joy draining from her features, concern and hurt replacing it. She gazed at the golden patch shaking her head almost angrily. "Your very eye?" she questioned her voice trembling as she brought her hand up to trace the rim of the eyepatch. She mashed her lips together hard and tight stifling a sob thinking of her husband without one of his heavenly gray/blue eyes.

"Frigga, no," he stated weakly as he did his best to pull her silken fingers from feeling the area, he could deny her though nothing at this point. He grasped her hand but when she continued her allowed her to slowly remove the patch made of precious metal. "Men have lost worse Frigga," he explained feeling as the spokes of the patch were peeled from his socket. "Men have given far more than ever I," he confessed with a shudder. He thought of the bodies of the warriors of Asgard. The finest soldiers in all the realm. He thought of the countless battalions of the Einherjar that lay slaughtered in pools, their limbs ripped and severed, their bodies so mangled that they had to leave them on the froze fields of Jotunheim, not to return to their families. It would be to painful for any to see such atrocities. The Valkyries who had come to aid on the battlefield tenacious women who had devoted themselves to the study of war, they were as formidable as the men and they too shed their blood all to preserve Asgard for future generations and to keep the realms for all time. "Our troops gave their lives," he whispered as he felt her loving hand trace over the hideous stitch that now stood in place of his left eye

"They shall be honored. Valhalla shall rejoice in their coming," she reminded him firmly. "There sacrifices shall never be forgotten, we shall build grand statues and stadiums to remember their valiant deeds," she decreed bringing her soft lips to demurely kiss his new scar.

"The Frost Giants have lost their Cube," Odin told her feeling hot from her butterfly kisses. "The men and women of Asgard did not sacrifice in vain Jotunheim shall not rise again. He shook his head and set his face hard as flint as he stared down at her resolutely.

"The Casket of 1000 Winters, here? In Asgard?' her soprano voice puzzled with horror, his strong hands were still wrapped securely around her waist and he felt how the quivering overtook her. It was such an evil weapon. Such a horrid device. Winter and ice were not in and of themselves bad, no in times they could bring great joy, but the Frost Giants had never used their power for good, merely for evil merely to wipe and destroy life. She thought of the mortal villages that Laufey's forces had wrecked havoc upon, they were no more than lambs for the slaughter in the wake of the merciless ice king. She didn't want that tool for destruction in the palace, her home where her child played.

"it will be safe in the weapons vault," Odin assured her as if he read her worried thoughts. "It had to be taken to ensure peace, Frigga," he went on holding her firmly and looking her in the eye with the only one that he had. "All that has been done has been done to ensure peace," he qualified, his look careful and pensive.

"All? What has been done?" she questioned sweetly.

"Not now," the great warrior shook his head. "Not now, not yet or tonight." he went on. "What's done is done." he confirmed. "It cannot be undone now," he explained his eye gazing distantly beyond her.

The lovely queen nodded. "You are home, you are safe and the battle has been won," she stated. "That is all that truly matters," she admitted. He smiled affectionately down at her. "Come," she tugged his hand gently, "Thor, Thor...your son he will want to see you!" she exclaimed. "he has missed you so!" she told him.

"And I have missed him," he smiled. Thor his beautiful child. His perfect heir. Could the squealing blue creature he found ever truly belong? He followed behind Frigga for a moment before catching her by her slender shoulder. "Is the child sleep?" he asked slight smirk on his face.

"Yes, I suppose so, but he'll wake up right away," she insisted.

"let the child lie," Odin said eying her lustily. He swung his arm down and round and scooped her up under her knees. He had carried so many wounded men off the battlefield, he had held the lifeless body of many a fallen soldier, it was so good to hold someone alive and vibrant and beautiful. She laughed with delight and she wrapped her hands about his neck. He rushed her to their chamber. He kicked open the door as a conquer should. He laid her down upon the golden sheets of the canopy bed. "And let me Lie with you," he whispered in her ear peeling away her outer garments as her hands shamelessly followed suit fluttering over the muscular contours in his back. He found her grooves, familiar happy paths he'd longed to take while he was at war. "I love you Frigga," he whispered bowing his head and feeling her gentle lips on his stitched up eye socket once again.

"And I you, Odin," she purred stretching her body so that he got a good look at what he had missed in his absence. She languidly reached her hand out to pull the curtains on the canopy bed closed.

"You!" Thor roared turning his head away from unconscious Frigga and toward the man crumpled on the floor under the weight of the guard's boots and held in place by their sharpened blades that surrounded his neck on all sides. "You did this?' Thor questioned his voice cracking as he stared down at Loki with disbelief. He let his mother's face fall from his mallet wielding hands and to his side. He took shaking strides to stand in front of Loki. The green-eyed once prince's narrow tipped nose was pointed to the floor and Thor could see how sobs caused the thin young man's body to tremble. "You did this?" the beautiful blonde questioned once again with the confusion of a child. Thor thought he saw a slight bob of head, but he was unsure of whether the gesture was an answer or merely an involuntary reaction. He needed to hear it. If Loki told him he didn't do it. Than he would believe him. He would never believe that Loki was the type of animal that would attack his mother. It was the most unnatural thing he could imagine. It made him cringe to that his brother could descend so far into utter madness. "What happened here, Loki?" Thor voiced inquired with quivering. His shiny leather black boot now was all Loki's eyes could take in. "Tell me brother," Thor urged trying to hold his calm. He pressed the toe of his boot up and under Loki's thin chin and brought it up so that he could look Loki in the emerald eye. Loki had always been able to lie well. He was master of deception. Thor had never been able to decipher Loki's fact and fiction well, but Loki dare not lie about something this grave, this despicable and awful. Loki remained tight-lipped. His face damp and his mouth trembling despite the way he held it shut. "ANSWER ME!" Thor hollered bitterly he slammed his eyes shut hot fresh tears seeping through sunny eyes lashes and cascading down his cheeks like snow off of a mountain side. "Answer me!" shouted once more in violent eruption as his vibrant blue eyes opened and stared with horror at the criminal before.

Thor stooped to his knees, his fist trembling as he curled his knuckles around the hilt of the hammer so much so the his bronzed fingers turned pink. "Hold your tongue any longer and I shall rip it out and melt that cursed muzzle to your mouth and you shall never again utter a word for the rest of your days! Do you understand!" Thor threatened, his voice as foreboding as thunder rolling in the distance. His lips snarled and bared like a dog. It was a terrible thing to say to his brother. He almost instantly regretted it although the words were not idle. Mother had never allowed them to say such things to one another growing up. One time he had been angry at Loki as a child. They were young boys. Fighting over a game something very petty. He told Loki he was going to punch him in the face. Mother over heard... Father tried to keep her from mediating between the boys much. He favored that they settle their disputes independently, but mother had intervened that time. She looked between the two boys, Thor looming over the smaller child his fist poised to strike. Loki's eyes wide and watery. "Thor!" Frigga's voice shrieked. "What did you just say?" she asked coming away from talking with her handmaidens and marching over to him, her always smiling face now stern and set. The blonde tyke started to open his lips and repeat the phrase his hands still pinned around his brother tunic collar. "No!" she held up her hand silencing him. "I don't want to ever hear you say that again! That's your brother! Apologize immediately!" she commanded.

"But mother," he rebutted .

"Not another word!" the queen shushed. "You boys never speak of hurting each other," she stated to both. "Never!" she chided them both.

"Yes, Mother," the two princes chorused.

But now...Now, mother was bleeding from the back of her head and nose. She who had championed and defended Loki all his life. She who had sat by him as he recovered barely taking time to nourish herself now lied still and if it be by Loki's hand...Thor would remove all sense of guilt he felt from his terrible threat. His stubby nails dug into his calloused palms as he squeezed his mammoth hands so tight that he thought they'd bleed.

"Answer me!" the blonde prince demanded once more as he gripped Loki by his messy and lengthy midnight hair. He pulled it back with a tight yank making Loki wince. He twisted it forcing Loki's head to turn to the side at a sharp angle where his alabaster neck pressed against the sharp edge of the sword. Loki hissed as the weapon tore into his pale flesh. "Did you do it?" Thor asked harshly, still unyielding even when he saw bright red trickle from the near his brother's jugular.

"Y-Y-Yes" Loki stuttered his voice low and hushed with a breathless sigh of confession. His jade eyes watering and his face wet with tears. He gasped as he felt his hair being yanked once more. Immediately his hair was released. Thor's muscular fingers glided away from Loki's long black locks in slow motion. He blinked rapidly as if he was waking up from some strange, heavy, spell induced slumber. His blues looked as if he'd been stabbed in his rippling pecked stomach. Thor's mouth hung open. He made his way from the crouched position to standing upright. His great shoulders heaving. He didn't know whether he wanted to throw Loki out of the window that hovered a hundred feet over the city or just break down and cry. He shook his head unable to comprehend the simple word that had squeaked from his brother's raspy voice. His legs faltered as he staggered backwards as if the sight of the pale midnight locked man was so dreadful he could not bear it. He looked at Loki as if he didn't know who he was. He looked at him as if he was beholding some strange creature that crawled out some swamp.

"Wh-Wh-What?" The blonde found his tongue as he looked down at the raven locked man crouched over like an animal at his feet. Loki managed to pulling his unsteady hands up from out under his knees. He turned the palms toward Thor showing the terrible red. "W-why?" The great blonde asked his deep baritone voice sounding helpless with confusion.

"We must get her to the healing room!" Odin decreed. He huddled Frigga's flimsy feeling body close to his breast plate he watched as her sweet breath staggered and made a fog on his solid gold breast plate. "Thor come!" Odin bellowed as he dashed from Loki's chamber. Loki's emerald eyes rolled up to look at Odin. He looked up to see the hatred and horror that would loom in the king's eyes, like what he had seen in Thor's but Odin never even cast him a glance.

Prince Thor immediately moved away from Loki to follow behind his father needing to see his mother in proper care.

"Sire!" The guard called as he watched Thor's royal red cape flutter behind him as he rushed behind his heir to tend to the queen. He froze in his tracks upon the words. "What of Loki?" The guard questioned with a snarl kicking the once prince again. Loki groaned.

Thor's eyes fell upon the prisoner with nothing but disgust. He looked at him as if he was rat that had scuttled its way into the palace. No not a rat for even a rat would not do something so apprehensible as what Loki at him. Thor's piercing blue eyes scrutinized Loki. He looked him skinny and slimy, flat on his belly writhing and twisting. He saw him for what he was. A snake. A soulless, spineless, coldblooded creature spewing venom, and coiling around innocent prey and squeezing the life out of it. For a moment he thought back to a time when and Loki and the warriors had journeyed to the far coast. Apparently the fishermen were scared to go out to sea, rumors of a great seaserpent sucking down the ships was being spread. They sailed for a day until the nasty and vile snake reared its head from the depths. They fought the animal tooth and nail for what seemed like hours stabbing it a drawing blood, but the beast lived. Loki told him to cut off its head. That was the only way to stop it from killing them all. He was right. For a moment Thor saw himself pulling one of the swords from the sheaves on the guards belt, and watching his brother's head roll across the ground. The thought scared him. Made him shutter and draw back but the burning indignation and wrath that pulsated through every fiber of his being was no less real. Thor slammed his eyes shut. Liquid leaked; boiling anger, swirling confusion and unfiltered heartache matched with the unprecedented horror at his own thoughts cause his body to emit a physical response. He dared open his eyes. He dared make himself look at the creature on the ground. He looked at him as if he never knew him. "LOCK THAT MADMAN UP" the future king ordered. "Take him down to the bowel!I DON"T WANT TO SEE HIS SLIMY FACE!" Thor twisted away. Remove that slithering serpent from my sight!" Thor commanded. Shaking his head as as he stared into Loki's gleaming jade eyes.

"Wait!" Loki called pushing and pulling trying to rip himself away from the hands that bound him. He pulled and twisted so forcefully that he caused himself to fall back on the ground. He almost dislocated his arm with his jagged writhing as he threw out his arm trying to catch them. "Wait!" he cried as he was pulled and pried from the room only to watch his mother being carried away "it was an acc-" he started to shout,

"Quiet beast!" one of the soldiers barked, before Loki could respond he a hard metallic bar hit him against the back of his head. Tiny stars twinkled before his eyes after the intense blow. "deeenn" his tongue slurred as he lapsed into blackness, his body falling forward for the guards to catch.

---

An emergency convening of The Council was called with the recent development. Queen Frigga lie comatose for nearly three nights now. The news had spread like wildfire through the kingdom. The citizens of Asgard flocked around the palace in the night burning candles in vigil for the queen's speedy recovery. They filled the palace yard with sunflowers representing they wanted new healthy and vitality to come to their female ruler. They brought incense and oils and fruits to the palace all as omens of good faith and to show their concern for the all-mother. They sung songs and played instruments outside her bedchamber window, hoping to provide comfort to the queen and rouse her from her dreadful slumber. The young children of Asgard wrote letters and drew pictures for the Queen Frigga, the palace servants dutifully collected the art work and well wishes from the youngsters and even the oldest citizens of Asgard as they faithfully maid rounds to the palace to send their beloved queen their thoughts, prayers and well wishes.

The peaceful vigil was thrown into chaos. The gentle well wishers soon became a vicious mob of baying hounds outside the palace walls. The sweet songs of comfort and love instantly turned to shouts and chants of blood. Merciless cries for death rang out from the golden gates of the palace. Hands that held simple flowers or sweet-smelling candles were now filled with torches and pitchforks, swords were raised high into the air begging for an execution to take place.

New had leaked of what had happened. Of who had caused Queen Frigga's injury and now all the Imperial City was in revolt clamoring, demanding and protesting for judgment to be rendered and for their queen to be avenged.

"It has gone too far Your majesty!" a regally dressed official of Odin's court called out among the commotion in amongst the delegates. Tongues and fist wagged simultaneously in fits of anger and horror for all that had occurred.

"The populace is in a state of upheaval!" shrieked one finally dressed noblewoman I feared for my life traveling through the city to get to the palace," She insisted.

"How have the citizens of Asgard become privy to such private matters?" Algrim questioned seriously eyeing around the intimate council chamber.

"Lord Algrim your questioning is absurd!" barked a nobleman of high rank by the name of Arik. "It should be public knowledge when the Queen's life has been put in jeopardy," he insisted.

"Not at the cost of inciting a riot!" protested a guard by the name of Euan he was a young and strapping brunette guard, a recently promoted Lieutenant of Palace security. He slammed the large wooden door behind him. He leaned heavily on the door nearly loosing his balance and sliding to the floor as he panted holding his stomach and head. His armor was dented and dirty from being out amongst the crowd of citizens all in an uproar over what had occurred.

"Lieutenant Euan, report!" Prince Thor ordered standing at his father's side on the podium.

The young guard put his fist to his heart making a clanking sound over his armor. He dropped to his knee, "My liege," he began formally. "The citizens have been clamoring at the gates since early morning, shouting and chanting 'Long live Queen Frigga! And 'We are the Queen's Avengers' waving banners and flags. We did our best to quell the rioters but they demand justice they pushed through the outer gate and now are rioting on the yard of the out court. We've had to enlist the aid of the warriors, The Warriors Three and Lady Sif, just to keep things at this level now, but I fear they will demand until justice is served," Lieutenant Euan explained. "The people fear for their lives they feel unsafe while Loki is uncontrolled."

"Loki is being contained," the blonde prince started.

"You may say so your majesty, but it is obvious he is not!" insisted a distinguished gentlewoman. "From the beginning the people of Asgard have been lead to believe that Loki was contained and restricted..."

"Loki is in confinement now. He's sedated and we have posted a triple guard around his cell," The Crown Prince explained to the court.

"Even in prison he caused mischief and mayhem! How long before those guards are dead or mad or turned to stone?" questioned an old naval officer. "I'm sorry young highness, but your measures do not assure me of safety," he shook his head his long bushy white beard swaying to and fro with him like a curtain.

"None of Asgard is safe with that maniac alive!" the gentlewoman yelled. She stood up and slammed her hand down on the desk in front of her. The crowd of delegates and nobles was immediately stirred. The regally dressed lords and ladies of the court rallied behind the woman the gave hearty shouts and "here heres!"

"The queen must be avenged!" exclaimed one of the queens ladies in waiting, Ilima. Ilima was a woman a few years older than Queen Frigga, she had been by the royal woman's side since the day that Odin proposed to her. She had been there as a royal consultant helping a young Frigga in her grooming for her role as Princess of Asgard and soon to be queen. All and all Frigga hadn't been in need of much grooming. She was a delicate and poised woman of nobility. Her looks had won her favor in court, making her preferred above her older sisters and able to move into the inner circles and become close to Prince Odin at the time, but her wisdom and good heart would undoubtedly win her favor amongst the people. Ilima and Frigga became fast friends during her first few months of engagement to Odin.

"No one is taking the matter lightly, Lady Ilima," Prince Thor address his mother's close confidant. "Loki will be dealt with for this villainous act. Some of the finest healers and mystics throughout the land our prepared to render a magic extraction for Loki," Thor explained. The nobles hushed for a moment. Thor heard them suck in their breath with surprise. Magic Extraction was so rare, so dangerous.

While most of the assembly waited with bated breath to hear more details of the cruel and unusual punishment that Loki would receive one merciless, scoffing guffaw rose up through the silence. "How many acts of treason is Loki going to be allowed to commit and live?" another stood up and questioned before the assembly of elders and delegates. His face hot and red as he screamed and pointed a condemning finger at the sovereign of the golden realm

"Calm yourself, Cousin," Prince Thor attempted to quell the lord.

"Tell me not to be calm!" the angered noble shot back at the Crown Prince. His blue eyes glaring pins and needles at the blonde-haired man.

"Mind your tongue Thram, or you will be removed from this court!" Odin warned his voice stern and not phased by the emotional outburst from his kinsman of Frigga's side. Thram was the son of Frigga's elder brother, Broderick, Broderick long since had went to the halls of Valhalla, he died a warriors death fighting on the high seas even though his skin had wrinkled and weathered and his hands were gnarled and beard gray. Thram was now the eldest male of their clan, he took his protection of their family name seriously,

"You tell me to be still my king, while my aunt, your wife," He looked at Odin with narrow light blue eyes. Those eyes ran in Frigga's family. "Your mother," Thram turned to Thor. Thram was many years Thor's senior, he was more of an uncle than a cousin, if truth be told. He scrutinized Thor and the might mallet wielder shifted under the stare. "Asgard's Queen was assaulted within the palace walls by that filthy thing?" he questioned wildly causing all the rally behind him. The crowd broke out into pandemonium. They shouted and ranted, clamored and demanded recompense for the attack of the queen.

"Order! Order! Councilors councilors!" Algrim, the Elfin official of the court called the members of Asgard's Royal Council, "You must come to order!" his thin elderly voice tried to holler over the crowd of noisy Viking lords.

"It is unheard of!" Thram continued shouting at the King of Asgard. The warrior and leader of the clan was over come with emotion. "Loki should have been put to death! Soulless vagabond that he is!After all that he has done. All the vile crimes he has committed. His acts of treason...his murders... his conspiracy and his unprovoked lust for blood on Midgard...yet he is left alive...only to come and show no remorse... no repentance, he only grows more wicked and evil, still even now as the Queen suffers at his hand as she lapses into coma, you are unwilling to sentence him to death?" The relative questioned with bewilderment. "WHY?" he demanded. He looked at Odin briefly, but he gazed in at Thor. His eyes narrow and squinted as he met the thunderer's gaze. Thor turned to the assembly turning his back toward his royal family members and now addressing the delegates of Asgard solely. "How many sheep does a dog have to kill before a shepherd," he turned around every so slightly his light blue eyes, so like Frigga's, glaring at Odin's one grayish blue pupil, "realize it must be put down!" he demanded of the council.

"Thram speaks truth! Thram speaks truth!" a few of Thrams friends amongst the nobles of Asgard began to cheer.

"This court will remain in order!" Algrim qualified as the assembly started to get rowdier.

"If a dragon sets fire to our fields do we not find the creature?" Thram continued. He raised his fist causing the warriors amongst them to raise their first back in a affirmative response. "Would we not kill the monster before it destroys us all?" he questioned making even more of the delegates rally behind his words. "He is like Bilgeschnipe that wanders from the wild and into our midst. It cannot live among the people. It must die!" The Thram roared. He raised a sword that was still caked with blood high into the air in the hall. Other weapons were raised in unison all the daggers, clubs, swords, and bows ready to deal the final blow on the traitor.

"Loki must be executed!" Brunhilde, General of the Valkyrie shouted raising her fist as if giving a battle cry over the boisterous bunch of delegates. The crowd settled listening to the wizened Valkyrie's word's. "If any other had made an attempt on the queen's life would they not have immediately been lead to the gallows?' she prompted. "That is the penalty for an assassination attempt"

"We don't know that it was an assassination attempt," Prince Thor reminded those present.

"Do not know, do not know," the shield maiden scoffed. "Queen Frigga lies in a coma!" the female warrior pointed out yet you claim you do not know?" she persisted further.

"Your words are well taken, Friend Brunhilde," Odin spoke nodding as he thought about the words carefully. "We need no more substantial evidence to see Loki's intent," he stated.

"Father," Thor whispered quickly looking toward the king, "Perhaps something else...occurred..." Odin raised his hand to his heir, silencing him.

Prince Thor's golden eyebrows knit together, he growled. "Even if what Loki did was an assassination...attempt," He began his voice this as if his tongue was refusing to formulate the words. He shook his head. No, Loki couldn't. Loki couldn't be so far removed from his senses that he would have actually, purposefully tried to harm Mother. His mouth stretched into a thick frown. When he'd first returned from earth, Loki had plotted to kill Odin, his father, only to really kill Laufey, his biological father. Loki had sent the destroyer after him and shot a blast from Gungnir at his as well, he had certainly been intent on harming him if not outright killing him, but mother...Loki never made any threat against Mother in all that time. He ran up to her, hugged her protectively. When Thor had told mother quickly about the horrors Loki had done, Loki turned away unable to meet her gaze before he carried out his plans of wrath. "Even if that is the case..." Thor said his massive shoulders slumping in a despondent sigh at the reality of such a hideous truth, "there is no protocol for if a member of the royal family attempts on the life of another member of the royal family," he explained to the delegates.

"Loki is not a member of the royal family any longer!" declared a noble. "He is not even worthy to be counted as a citizen of Asgard! He is a criminal! HE'S A MONSTER!" The noble shouted. " He deserves death!" he pronounced cruelly. "he has no place here amongst us!"

"These acts of savagery must be put to an end!" Algrim, the chief adviser to King Odin stated. "Loki's attack on Her Majesty, Queen Frigga, is nearly unspeakable," Algrim confessed with a shudder. "It must be dealt with sire." The counselors aid giving a respectful bow. "If Queen Frigga's condition doesn't improve... if it worsened rather," the elderly counselor began in a hushed tone. "There would be but one way to proceed."

---

"The document is finished. Sire" said the royal scribe, coming in and holding a scroll. "All it needs is your seal of approval," the scribe stated as he placed the scroll on behemoth sized writing desk. The desk was made of jasper stones interspersed with with black pearl an engraving written in ancient rune script was written across the front of the desk. The scribe looked quite pleased. He had taken great pride in being the recording the words of Lord Algrim after the emergency council meeting had concluded. It was fine work. He had been precise in quoting the chief adviser's exact words. He had even interjected a term or two himself just for clarification. He could not have been happier than to hear the decree. It was about time. He had been a scribe since for nearly 700 years. He'd taken down dictations for political speeches and he'd written amendments and laws. He'd processed many official documents. He'd jotted down notes from court hearings, He's spent tedious hours pouring over old scrolls and parchments transcribing old documents written in languages no longer used throughout the realm so that the ancient works could be preserved in the royal library for all time. He'd done much, but never had he been as satisfied as in writing this death sentence. The scribe had to admit he'd been almost hysterical when he'd finally dotted the last letters to Loki's death sentence. The work of a scribe was in no way the work of a warrior. It was a respectable position in court, but of course he was no Einherjar, but in someway writing the document had made him feel as though he had actually participated in some great bilgeschnipe hunt. It was as if he was doing his part to help rid Asgard of the disgusting creature.

"Would you like me to read it to you, Your Majesty?" the scribe asked as he glowed with pride while he unraveled the scroll. The parchment reached the floor when it was unbound from the silk string.

King Odin looked up from his opulent desk his face tired and warn. The great king merely nodded at the request. With exceeding confidence and joy the scribe began read. His voice was loud and commanding as if he pictured himself reading it allowed in front of all of Asgard as they assembled in the Arena to hear the declaration of and watch as a noose would be slipped around the monster's long, slender, bloodless white neck. That had been Lord Algrim's suggestion, although the scribe wasn't quite convinced it was the best way for a savage to go... it was too neat and tidy. That wicked animal didn't deserve such a dignified death. There was always something to be said for a boiling oil or beheading. "It is for these reasons that it has been decreed that Loki Jarl Odinson, second son of their Imperial Majesties: His Excellency King Odin and our Beloved Queen Frigga the Benevolent, High Chancellor of the Court of universities, Master Mage of the realm former Prince of Asgard, shall be hereby sentenced to death and executed for his most sinister and vile crimes against Asgard and the realms of Midgard and Jotunhiem proper and the remaining realms. His most egregious of transgressions to be reiterated for all to know: Conspiracy against the Crown, War Crimes on Three Realms, Harnessing unlawful power sources, attacking an innocent realm, dishonoring a warrior of Asgard, killing a warrior of Asgard, assaulting the Ambassador of Vanaheim, attempting to murder our Beloved Queen Frigga the Benevolent.

For these outrageous crimes the High Council of Elders, Crown Prince Thor and King Odin All-father The aforementioned monster to Death, to be hung by the neck until dead." The scribed finished breathlessly with glee. The scribe beamed. His grin stretching from ear to ear waiting to hear praise from his king. He was only met with weary mixed gray and blue eyes as the ruler rose to his feet. His face impassive, impossible to read. It was resolute and firm, hardened and determined. The great king's only eye rolled over his desk, his weathered hands twitched as he leaned down and pressed his finger tips into of the jasper drawers of the desk. His eye landed on an old tattered leather-bound book. The binding was burgundy in color and the edges of the parchment was dipped in gold. Odin's might hand slid across the table timidly touching the edges of the book. His fingers traced along the engraving of Yggdrasil on the front. The ruler of Asgard bit his lip ever so slightly as he whipped back the front cover of the book, like a child ripping a bandage from his scraped knee. He read the words written there. "Most Honored Father, I hope that this book can impart to you even a dew drop of wisdom of what you have poured into me over years. I look forward to our discussion about it in the future. Your loving son, Loki."

Odin felt something prick behind his eye that had lines around it crinkled with age. He squeezed the eye shut tightly refusing to let the liquid had sent it him so many years ago when he had been way for a season in Nornheim. The Nornish King, Federich had grown very old and had regretted his decision isolating the Norns from much contact with the other realms. He knew his time was drawing closer and he had but one child. A young daughter. He knew that the child queen's rule would be challenged if he passed. He feared that his daughter would lose the realm. He feared that other realms would simply attack Nornheim seeking the secrets which the Norns kept hidden in the Catacombs of Time. In an effort to preserve his daughter's throne and preserve the enigma's of time from falling into the wrong hands King Federich reached out to the All-father. If an alliance was made with Asgard once again than none would think to challenge his little daughter's young reign, knowing that this would only mean that the full force of the Asgardian army would be unleashed upon them. Of course it would have seemed highly irregular for the Nornish King to send a request of a permanent alliance between the two kingdoms. Rather, he requested that his daughter come under the tutelage of one of Asgard's Sages. He expressed how young his young daughter, Wryd, in need of an instructor as she began to study in prophecy. Odin had offered for Mistress Sigrid, one of Asgard's most revered wise women to go to the Nornish court. Mistress Sigrid had spent much time abroad teaching the ways of the mystic to the people of the realms, but she had grown old a frail and her own family feared for her health making such an arduous journey. It was Mistress Sigrid who suggested that her most accomplished student...Prince Loki go the Nornheim. His power by now well exceeded her own and it would seem as a gesture of good will on the part of the House of Odin

One day, during his time tutoring the little princess, he'd had a chance to browse through the Nornish king's ancient library called the Trove of History. "Go on Little Wryd," Loki announced to the child as they entered into this room of ancient knowledge. "I want you to go and find an old manuscript to copy down while we are here. I want you to write it in Old Rune script," Loki instructed the child.

Princess Wryd, a brown skin, curly-haired girl curled up her lip at the request. "Why do I have to learn all of these old dialects?" she grumbled kicking her feet on the carpet.

Loki gave the child a stern glance. "Those old dialects were the languages of the ancient men and women of study. They wrote them down in their time, but language like science and time is ever progressing, so it has changed, but these dialects still have value and meaning," he admonished her.

"I don't see how they can have meaning if nobody speaks that way anymore," the princess grumbled.

"You will see when you are able to execute your enchantments properly...Go" he ordered pointing his finger.

"When are we going to do something fun?' The little princess persisted turning around walking backwards and asking her teacher.

"We went star-gazing last week, you stayed up late and had way too much sugar...was that not fun?" Loki posed cheeky little smirk tracing it's way across his face.

"Well it would have been if you didn't make me recite all the constellations and zodiacs and copy my own star chart and then make me start over if one star was not in the right quadrant," The little child protested patting her foot and poking out a pouting lower lip.

The Asgardian threw back his head and laughed. "Well perhaps I will find something fun and educational for you to read to take back to your room, tonight," Loki explained with a wink.

"My father says that what is in here must remain in here," Thr princess pointed out somewhat shamefacedly and she dragged her shoe over the carpet.

"I see." the black haired prince nodded back to her Then perhaps I will pick out something fun for us to read in here," the youngest prince of the Aesir qualified, blowing out a somewhat annoyed breath out the side of his mouth

"fairytale from Asgard?" she clapped her warm colored hands.

"I think you have exhausted my repertoire of folklore, little princess..." Loki gave an exasperated sigh. "Go to your work now Wryd. If you never get your work done then there will be no treat..." he shooed her off quickly.

He was searching for something. It was something he'd recently become fascinated in. He had a few books that he'd found in Asgard that briefly touched upon the subject, but none that gave him the knowledge he desired. None that would teach him how to do that which was deemed impossible. If there was an answer if, if there was away it would be Norn's were the keepers of time, the watchers of fate and along with time they kept the secrets of the past. That's when he'd come across the very old book. "Dimensional Travel?" he mouthed to himself. It had been buried in the back of the library, discarded on the floor to collect dust for so many centuries oh but this was a rare treasure that had waited for millenniums to pass so that it could be unearthed. Loki's eyes green eyes glowed with glee as his bony fingers dusted off the ancient book.

"Prince Loki," Princess Wryd's little voice interrupted her tutor as he smiled giddily with what he found.

"Little Wryd," Loki exclaimed slightly startled by the child's presence he tucked the book behind his back.

"I'm done," the child explained waving a piece of parchment in the prince's face and holding up the scroll she had copied from.

"Very good," the tutor replied his wide and happy green eyes turning from the young fate and returning to the book of power within his grasp. He speed read through the pages quickly becoming so excited that he nearly snorted when he landed on one very captivating page.

"EWWW!" the tiny brown skinned girl squealed with disgust.

Loki felt himself grow slightly warm with embarrassment just as he did when his brother would catch him indulging in the pleasure of a good book and becoming so engrossed and filled with glee that he guffawed like a sow. "Hand your paper here, child," Loki instructed reaching out his hand for the paper. "Go play now... I will discuss it with you tonight after dinner," He dismissed the lass.

"What's that book you have there?' the amber eyed princess inquired curiously smiling at him.

'Book? What book?' Loki asked playfully devilish smirk on his face. Wyrd darted behind the skinny Asgardian's back her amber eyes searching for the old book she had just seen. She ran around him in circles then huffed being that she found no signs of evidence of what she had just seen

"My father says we aren't to take things from the from the trove," The child admonished her teacher wagging her finger at the dark-haired man.

"Does he now?" Loki asked squatting down to the chocolate haired princess' eye level and gazing straight into her wide open amber pupils. His eyes swirling in an entrancing green spiral as he did so.

"Uh-huh?" the child replied dully nodding as her own eyes started rotating in the same pattern as Loki's.

"Oh?" Loki arched his snake like ink colored and smirked sweetly at the little girl, "Even a book of Midgardian fairytales," he asked grinning producing a pink and purple book with a crown on it and flashing it before the child bright grin on his face. Wryd followed suit allowing a beam to stretch across her face. Her caramel hands reaching up to grab the book. "Then perhaps this can be out little secret," Loki expressed still smiling fondly at her before pursing his thin lips and bringing his finger them. The little princess mirrored his gestured and bobbed her head excitedly. Loki nodded smuggly and stood up right, tapping the child on the head and starting to walk away.

The Nornish King daughter batted her eyes and shook her head coming out of her trance watching as her tutor started to exit the room. "W-will you read it to me?" she asked as she stumbled to catch up to him.

Loki smiled at her then looked down into a pocket inside the fold of his out tunic. His running the tip of his finger around the edges of the dusty book stored there. "This is something I am most excited to read," the Asgardian assured her with a wink.

Prince Loki readily sent the gift backed to Asgard. He knew that his father had been eager to reopen their relationship with the Norns to again have access to some of the secrets of time. He was most sure that Odin would be quite pleased with the recent acquisition.

Sometime later, perhaps it had been a few days after Loki had arrived back from the Nornish king's court Loki decided to go see his father about the matter. Timidly, he wrapped on the stone door of his father's private study in the wee hours of the night.

"Enter," Odin stated to the knocker. He was hunched over his large desk burning the midnight oil. He had several scrolls spread out over his desk. And the oil lamps had almost completely burned out making the room look dim and cautiously approached his father's working table. "Father," he breathed.

'Loki, my son," the king greeted. His forehead was creased with worry and his one eye slightly drooped from weariness. "Is there something you wish to discuss?" The king asked. He sighed. Then managed to offer the young magician a small tired grin.

"I...I" Loki started. "I see you are incredibly busy Father," the raven-haired prince stated observantly as he looked through the study. The way the chairs were drawn out and the way that the place seemed overturned. It was obvious that Odin had been hard at some very important matter. "I can come back later...It is something that can be discussed at another time of course," the green-eyed youth insisted. He started to turn on his heels and leave the chamber.

"There is no time like the present, Loki," Odin cautioned his son. Making the young raven haired man stop in his tracks. "It is obvious that this is something on your mind. It is something of great concern to you, or else I'm sure you would not have sought conference with me over the issue at so late an hour," the wizened ruler, gently stated he waved his hand out beckoning his scrawny son to take a seat. Loki did as requested looking more eager and apt to talk once again. "Now what is it?" Odin asked his tone gentle he nodded and implied that he was ready to talk. He even pushed the sprawled out parchments to the side clearing the center of the desk so that nothing stood between him and Loki.

"Well Father," Loki began. There were so few times when he held conference alone with the king. Thor always seemed to monopolize the private moments that Odin had to spare. If Loki could find a moment alone with his father it was normally to be scolded for his mischievous antics. He so wanted a chance to bond with Odin over something. Odin was always so proud of Thor for his bravery and gallantry, for his prowess with blade and ax. Loki had often heard the two of them walking through the halls together planning some battle strategy to run with the troops. Odin would often spar with Thor, just a simple work out to keep the kings weary bones from getting rusty. A few times after Thor and Odin had had a particularly challenging round, Loki would ask Odin if he'd wish to spar with magic. Odin would smile and wipe his brow with a towel. Then he'd politely tell Loki that he was exhausted after his bout with Thor, but perhaps they could have a go round the next day. The next day never seemed to come. After awhile Loki had stopped trying. There had been times when he'd come out of the library only to find his elder brother and father chatting fireside and sharing a goblet or two as if they were no more than two comrades reminiscing about old times. Thor would regale father with a story of his latest conquest and then Odin would share one from the glory days and they'd go back and forth, forth and back. They'd laugh with each other. One time Loki stood and listened for an hour or more. He'd been in the back of the room, he'd made himself invisible with his magic for a little while silently listening. He'd listened for his name to be mentioned in the conversation. Surely his brother could not tell a story of an adventure and not include him, since he was constantly by Thor's side in the heat of battle, but amazingly enough his name never came up."I...I had just been wondering," Loki began feeling nervous and jumpy with anticipation. He felt a lump in his throat and he could feel his porcelain cheeks flushing like a tomato. "If...if by chance, you'd had the opportunity to finish reading the book I had given you for your birthday," Loki asked his eyes fluttered up from glancing down at his fidgety porcelain fingers and back at Odin's chiseled graying face. "I...I was not home at the time, but I did remember your birthday celebration father, I sent the book along with some other items from the Nornish Court," Loki offered noting that the king truly looked perplexed.

The book? The book? The great king puzzled for a moment. He was very tired, he could scarcely remember the documents that had been handed to him by the scribes and chamberlains this afternoon let alone recall the a gift given to him over a season ago. He thought back to his birthday celebration. He'd received several astounding presents from his closest advisers and friends. Frigga had given him a new carriage, Thor had bestowed upon him a exquisite new relic to add to his collection, but what had Loki given him? Ah yes, now he remembered. "Oh Loki, yes..." The king Odin started "Yes, the book you gave me..." the great ruler went on and he started to lazily run his chiseled fingers over his full gray beard. "My boy, surely you are aware that I am exceedingly busy," the king started.

"Yes, Father...I am...I...only had hoped that perhaps you had found..."

"I have many matters of state to concern myself with. The tax season swiftly approaches and there are many things that have to be settled. We must raise taxes this year. It is the first time in 50 years that we have had to increase taxes," Odin explained his calm face forming a frown. "The delegates and I have been working on a proposal to find the best way to introduce this to the populace without making too much of a stir, without it becoming a hardship to the people of Asgard," Odin explained.

"I am aware, Father, I was sorry to hear of how the dyke broke in the City of Cirt and caused much damage, but..."

" It is a very pressing issue, my son. The season has been lean for many of the farmers in the Northern Dale provinces and we do not wish to pull our revenues out of the other realms. It has been of great concern and surely you can understand how that must take precedence over a leisurely reading of ancient epics and classics..." Odin stated, his tone somewhat annoyed that Loki would bother him with such trifles about books at the height of the tax season.

"Father you are mistaken," Loki went on his earnest smile never faltering as he shook his head desperate to share his new findings with his father, "this isn't a work of literature," he expressed taking a deep breath before he continued to reveal what he was referring to, "rather," he paused once again releasing the nervous tension that was building. He felt like a small boy again, ecstatic for the times when his father would spy him in the library huddled in the corner engrossed in the written word and by chance Odin would ask what he was reading so diligently and he'd get a chance to share about a new story he'd discovered or some fascinating fact he'd come across. "it is a most intriguing study, about travel throughout the realms... there are bridges between the worlds..."

"The Bifrost, does have a lengthy and elaborately woven history Loki, but I am very knowledgeable of those details." the king explained as he leaned his elbow down on the table and rested his forehead in his palm. "As are you, surely you've read and studied about this..."

"No, Father I'm not talking about the Bifrost... there are paths...paths between the worlds... ancient and forgotten paths. They used to be used long ago by the ancient wizards and enchanters of Asgard and Vanaheim. The seekers and ancient group of mystics among the Vanir were some of the first to travel outside of their realm of course our mages of Asgard perfected the technique...But"

"Loki," Odin interjected softly as he started to massage his sore temples.

"but could you imagine what opening up such gateways could do...there may even be more realms to explore," The young prince continued he explained flamboyantly gesturing with his hands.

"Loki," the king repeated trying to quiet his son, he had a splitting headache.

"The realms of ancient times that were said to be destroyed may still be in existence!" Loki explained eagerly.

"Loki!" Odin finally barked out. His voice was deep, but no less it was sharp and exasperated. Loki's green eyes went wide his back got rigid as he managed to stifle his mouth. "These are nothing but old theories and conjectures,"

"Father, the ancient wizards who constructed the Bifrost must have constructed based on principles of dimensional travel that were already set in place."

"Loki those ancient pathways collapsed millenniums before even I was born," Odin tried to explain.

"Perhaps they can be opened up again..."

"Loki the Bifrost..."

"Is but one gateway, Father. Should we not even try to open up the other passage ways?"

"Loki I do not even think such things are plausible my son, and there is no need, the Bifrost has been the sole bridge for eons," Odin insisted. "Have you considered that perhaps these paths collapsed for a reason?"

The scholarly prince shook his head, dismissing the king's logic. "And if the Bifrost breaks...if our enemies destroy it... Surely, Father you can see how it would be in the best interest of Asgard to look for other means of travel throughout the realms?'

"Loki, these are stimulating matters of debate for your classes, but the practical applications of such theories are questionable," Odin said with a sigh.

"Father, theory is meant to be questioned and tried so that it may be proven into fact. Honestly the mechanics of it our not so far fetched. It isn't so different than teleportation enchantments," Loki expressed. He looked into Odin's eyes, his own green gems shining full of hope. He could see how wary his father was growing the more he talked although he couldn't quite understand why.

"Loki one gateway is enough," Odin insisted. "It allows for one path in and one path out. It is safer that way. The Bifrost is the only means which any beings have to travel throughout the realms opening all the realms up to travel sounds like an unstable idea that could have damaging repercussions. Do not forget the story I told you and your brother as lads...about the Frost Giants attacking Midgard..."

"Father, I can see why you would be skeptical, but allow me to use to atleast began to work on a project with some other mages and scholars of Asgard. Just to see if it is possible. It would only be one portal. If necessary we could collaspse it again I'm sure. For the sake of learning, father is it not at least worth an attempt?" Loki pleaded his case.

"And how do you intend to go about this project Loki?" Odin asked the golden king couldn't help but allow a small and curious smile to trickle across his face between his beard and mustache. Loki was such a scholar. He was always endeavoring on a new project always trying to test the limits of his magic. He was always pushing himself to the brink trying to prove and expand himself. Odin had always been a bit soft and indulgent on his boys for the most part. He never liked to deny them anything.

"With the Tesseract," Loki finally announced with confidence. He grinned noting that his father seemed to be more intrigued by the promise of the alternative pathways.

"The Tesseract!" Odin balked at his son's utterance his proud look immediately faded to a look of dismay and almost horror. The king looked as if he nearly choked allowing the name of the desired object to role off his tongue.

" Yes, Father, the Tesseract has great potential..."

"I know of its potential, Loki," King Odin reminded the young prince his tone now hushed and concerned. He looked back at Loki and noticed the gleam in the boy's eye. Loki had always taken an interest in the Tesseract. One that had never pleased his father. The Tesseract was not a stable device. It had many capabilities too many capabilities. It had been used by too many to awaken destruction and Odin would not see such things happen again. "Its potential is..."

"Unlimited, untapped, unharnessed power." Loki went on eyes wild and gleaming. "For so long such power has been kept at bay...hidden from being put to good use. Why? Why, Father?' Loki questioned good naturedly. "Why should such ancient power be kept dormant for all time, should it not be reawakened for all the universe to see?" Loki posed. "Father I...I humbly request that you grant me access to the Tesseract...only for..."

"No Loki," the great king responded his voice somewhat quiet, but no less it sliced through Loki's words and cut through his dreams like a two edged balde.

"What?" Loki asked baffled. He blinked, batting his milky white lids over glistening emerald irises as if he was disoriented from a blow to the head. He shook his head as if to clear. His pointed features quirked as the wheels of his sharp mind turned trying to piece together the crushing words that had just been spoken. His lips curled for a moment. He was so stymied by his father's response that he had trouble formulating his next thought. "Father," he weakly started to protest.

"I said, NO Loki," the ruler of the eternal realm repeated firmly. His jaw set tight and his eye scrutinizing the dark-haired thin built prince who set before him

Loki still looked as if he was in a daze from the negative response. "Father...I...I...Please...I" He sputtered trying to collect himself from Odin's rejection of his idea.

"My answer remains," Odin stated stoically. "Now is there anything else Loki, I must get back to these dealing..." Odin reminded the prince as he picked up a scroll that was filled with numbers on the tax report data collected at the beginning of the week.

Loki collected himself from his reeling disillusionment at how Odin had disapproved of request. His abrupt and immediate response of 'NO' stung, but the way he dismissed him made Loki seethe. He just moved on as if Loki had asked him what was for dinner. "Yes Father there is else," Loki spoke up.

"What is it then Loki?' The king conceded with nonchalance as his thick bronzed hands rolled over the scroll.

"Why?" the raven-haired prince demanded. His tone like a growling beast in the night.

"I'm sorry," Odin said still not looking up from the scroll of tax reports.

"Why?" the scholarly prince shot back once more his voice quivering with the question. He made sure that his jade eyes glared into Odin's cool gray blue one. His jaw was set tight and he balled up his hands forming white knuckled fist before he stood and slammed his fist down on Odin's desk. "WHY?" he hollered in his father's face.

Odin bristled at Loki's demanding inquiry further into the decision. He squared his shoulders and reached for Gungnir by his side. To remind his son just who was king of Asgard. He rose to his feet, his mighty scepter in hand. Loki didn't back down though his shrew green pupils continued burrowing into Odin and even the great king began to feel uncomfortable with his son's scrutinizing and unforgiving gaze. The king dropped his head and turned it to the side unable to meet the look in Loki's trembling, eyes anymore."The Tesseract is dangerous Loki," He explained Odin's tone was soft and patronizing as if explaining this fact to a little child. His anger instantly diminishing as he looked at Loki's glistening emerald eyes. They reminded him of when his sons had been very small. Thor and Loki had been playing in his bedchamber. It had been a long day and the king had absentmindedly left his great scepter lying about on the day bed. Odin had caught the Loki reaching for his scepter. He grabbed the scepter just in time before Loki, little pale fingers could tap the sharp tip of Gungnir. With Gungnir secured in his strong left hand, his right hand reached out to scold Loki. He smacked the little prince hard on the back of the hand. Loki drew his tiny hand back toward himself after seeing his father flint faced with anger at the gesture. Perhaps the pop had been too hard, Loki was such a fragile and delicate little lad. His ivory skin immediately flared red after the warrior king had tapped him in correction. The child quivered, his eyes already tearful at the physical correction. His bottom lip started to tremble Odin's heart instantly softened. He scooted down to his younger son's level and wrapped his in a tender fatherly embrace, Loki snuggled close to him sniffling trying to keep himself from crying. Although comfort was provided the answer never faltered. Odin had explained to him just as simply then that the desired prize was too dangerous.

"You would never tell Thor that if he came to you wanting something!" Loki retorted his voice turning into an angry snarl.

"Watch your tone Loki," Odin reminded his son giving him a stern look.

"You would have granted him any relic he craved!" Loki insisted condemningly. He turned away from his father feeling his frustration reach a boiling point. His whole body trembled as jealously coursed through his veins.

"Loki that is not true," Odin countered allowing his voice to fall softer as he saw Loki thin shivering shoulders from behind.

"When Thor told you that he desired Mjolnir,"Loki began his tone rumbling and angry. "You did not deny him." the youngest prince of Asgard reminded the king. "You did not tell him NO!" Loki shouted whirling back around to meet Odin's eyed gaze.

"I did not simply hand the relic over to him Loki," Odin corrected. "I tested him...I tried him...I made him prove his mettle, prove that he was worthy of wielding such great power," Odin explained pointing his finger in Loki's face.

"Then test me! TRY ME!" Loki nearly begged thumping his white fist on the green surcoat that he wore. "I'm worthy father...I...I can handle the power...I...I... Don't you think me worthy?" he asked breathlessly, his jewel colored eyes glistening.

"Loki," Odin put up both hands silencing his upset son. "This is not about worth or merit...you are a tremendous enchanter I am aware, but the Tesseract Loki is a power that should not be tapped into again...it is too risky...if it were to fall into the wrong hands...you don't understand the type of chaos it could unleash..."

"It wouldn't be in the wrong hands...it would be in my hands," Loki expressed his agitation with his father's reasoning increasing. He displayed his pale palms before Odin. "A Master Mage of the Realm, a Prince of Asgard, Your son!" Loki ranted as his breath became ragged with fury. "Don't you trust me to handle..."

"Loki enough of this," Odin stated in a composed tone seeing that Loki was becoming incredibly worked up his whole face flushing crimson. "Just enough!" Odin insisted. "You are acting like no more than a spoiled child!" Odin insulted. "Only seeking a new toy just so you can say you have it! You know not of what the Tesseract could unleash..."

"Path ways to new worlds!" Loki retorted.

"I need not your attitude right now Loki," The king warned.

"I'm trying to do this for the glory of Asgard," Loki explained best he could whipping his head back and for the furiously.

"What you seek to do is foolishness," Odin stated.

The prince's mouth hung open with disbelief. " foolishness" he questioned, "H-how can you...This is something that could better all of our lives... this is something that could expand us... why is that foolishness?"

"Because," Odin began.

"Because I'm not going out with sword and lance trying the conquer some new territory?"

"Loki calm down," Odin tried to explain seeing as his normally fair skinned son was turning bright crimson.

"Be-be-because I'm not leading a war party to ransack and enemy camp?" Loki stammered feeling so flustered and bitter.

"This conversation is over!" the king decreed pounding Gungnir to the ground. The loud clank of the metal meeting the floor echoed off the dome ceiling. "OVER!" Odin growled toward Loki. Loki grew stiff. He drew in a sharp breath and his mouth instantly snapped shut shame washed over him as he felt like no more than a rebuked lad once more. "Over." Odin repeated still as staunch as before but not quite as loud and belittling. "I don't want to hear anymore of this talk about you using the Tesseract Loki," He told him warningly. "It is an unlawful tool. Forbidden!" the parent barked. "Do you understand?" The king asked. For a minute Loki didn't respond he looked back at his father his eyes swelling with so many emotions that he surely thought they would burst forth like a fountain, but he managed to quell his feelings, of indignation, shame, hurt and confusion. He glared back at the great king and the only emotion that the wise ruler could register was insolence. "Do you understand?" Odin repeated snappily at the prince.

Loki's glaring eyes dropped to the floor, he looked at his boots, his head bowed as he inhaled, he managed to lift his head back up, his green eyes cooled from their fury and he met his father's stare with a humbled look. "Yes, sir" the younger prince replied.

Odin gave a snort of approval his own flint face falling as his shoulders slumped in a sigh. "It is late Loki, perhaps we should both retire for the evening." the king suggested relaxing his hold on his mighty staff and trying to offer a faint smile to his crestfallen son.

The green-eyed mage nodded. "Yes, Father you are right of course. Perhaps the lateness of the hour is what cause me to speak so childishly..." Loki posed and was able to return a small smile on his lips awell.

"You are no doubt tired, my son," Odin replied. "You have only been back home a few days now and you have been busy with the feast we held for the Norns who arrived. You have not had time to rest properly," Odin stated tenderly. He noted the dark circles that had formed under Loki's eyes since his arrival back to the palace. He stepped from behind the great desk and managed to bridge the gap between he and Loki. He reached out his coppertone leathery feeling hand and touched Loki's smooth, hairless cheek. "You need to rest Loki," he admonished the young wizard. "I want you to get some sleep."

"Yes, quite," Loki said stretching his hand toward his mouth to cover it as he yawned and started to walk toward the door, "I am...I am tired," he went on. "Father," Loki called over his shoulder pausing only a few feet from the door post. "Might I...might I have the book back? If you are not going to read it I shall just add it to my collection. I did not finish reading it myself and I...well you know how I am with my studies I never leave a book unfinished...it'll plague me for nights on end not knowing the conclusion to the study," he shrugged keeping his back to the king.

Odin heaved an exasperated breath from his lips, "That would be fine Loki," he conceded. "I believe it is in my chamber...stop by and grab it whenever you like." The king granted as he watched the thin young man start to leave once again. "Oh Loki!" the gray beared king called. Loki paused just as his foot reached the threshold of the door. "I've been wanting to commend you on the work you did in Nornheim, with the Nornish King's little daughter," Odin expressed his tone a bit perkier. "It has opened up our relations with the Norns once again my son. The Nornish King was very pleased with the work you did and what you taught his daughter. Princess Wryd seems to have become very fond of you..."

"Thank you father..." Loki said feeling a knot form in his stomach. "I wished to do good for Asgard, to bring honor to my people and family," he expressed.

"You have done that Loki, but I expect no less from you." Odin assured his youngest.

"Well if that is all, father," Loki added quickly.

"Loki I will look into your research about this matter," Odin promised. "in time," the king qualified.

"All things in good time," Loki stated. "Well goodnight, father..."

"Goodnight my son" Odin whispered as Loki slinked out the door.

King Odin dismissed the court scribe with a simple wave of the hand. The king of the golden realm cringed as his fingers reached and clutched hard at the spine of the book. He hadn't been much of a man of his word. He was always stressing to his boys that a kings's word was his bond, but he had lied to Loki...it hadn't been the first time. He hadn't looked into his youngest son's research until it was too late. Loki never broached the subject with him again and Loki never returned the book after he'd taken it back. The conversation became an after thought...out of sightand out of mind.

It wasn't until after he watched his child fall into a blackhole that he became intrigued with the thought of portals to other dimensions. It took him several moths after Loki's funeral, before he was able to bring himself to venture into Loki's private laboratory in the Southern Tower. Loki was always a secretive young man. He could lock himself away in the quarter forever. Odin chuckled as he stepped into the room. The door squeaked rusty from disuse now. The King of Asgard half-way expected to find Loki in there. He expected to fine him manipulating the elements in exotic patterns and fashions by the glow of the moon. His shoulder's slumped when he looked over at the large green chair and found no one sitting there. He pressed on despite the pain, the grief and guilt he made himself enter the lair.

It was immaculately kept, the marble floor shined and all the books were neatly tucked always filed alphabetically, volume by volume. There were odd little knick knacks and bobbles that lined the crystal shelves. Magic lamps and vials containing, fairy dust and dragon tears, Loki had several model flying machines that he'd worked on. Neat little toys that he'd collected since childhood. Loki liked to tinker as a boy. He imagined he'd needed to move his collection. Thor always ended up smashing his toys, but Loki always kept his toys and games in mint condition. Sometimes Loki would let one of his flying contraptions loose around the palace. It would terrify the working maids they'd think it a bat or some ghastly big beadle. Thor would try to chase after the model and he'd catch it but at a great cost to the little model. Thor was a strong child. As a lad Thor was goodnatured and playful, but he didn't know his own strength it often ended in Loki's things ending up smashed or broken. Odin smiled glad that Loki had found a proper place to hide his little treasures. The King continued to walk around. Loki had several chess sets about. He imagined Loki played against himself most of the time. He had a Signet set as well Loki was champion Signet player. Odin sifted through many of Loki's belongings, magic carpets, atlases, brews and tonics he'd concocted himself no doubt. Odin looked through Loki's things. Many of the objects he found made him smile. Pieces of Loki still left. Remnants of his precious son not lost. He came cross a small chest that was filled with small dusty snow globes. When he shook them he saw images of Thor and Loki playing happily like brother's should in their boyhood. He kept that with him, but his eye continued to scan the room. Nothing here pointed to the destruction and madness that Loki had displayed in the days before his death. Was Loki's mental lapse really just an overnight occurrence? Finally, he found it. One book simply resting out of place. Odin's only grew wide. He recognized this book. He picked up and padded his way slowly to Loki's green high back chair.

The dimensional travel. Loki had found the other portals without the help of the Tesseract. It had been Loki who let the Frost Giants into Asgard using these hidden paths. If he would have done as he said and looked into Loki's research he would have known such an occurrence was possible. He could have corrected Loki for his misconduct. It was merely a childish prank of Loki's in it's inception. It had not necessarily been a sinister ploy or plot to seize power. If he could have confronted Loki about what he had done...how dangerous it was then Thor Thor would never had thought he needed to go to Jotunheim to defend the borders of Asgard from invaders. If Thor and the Warriors Three and Lady Sif would have never left Asgar then Loki would have never learned he was a Frost Giant. Loki would have never been consumed with this hurt and rage and madness. Loki would still be sane. Loki wouldn't have tried to rid the universe of the race that sired him, thus never falling into the abyss... never leading to his meeting of Chitauri and his attack on Midgard. Had he only just looked into Loki's research Loki wouldn't be a monster and he wouldn't have his hand looming over signing his son's death sentence.

The great king took a deep breath. It was the undeniable will of the council and of the people Asgard that Loki should be dealt with to the full extent of the law. That he should die slowly and painfully, mercilessly and publicly for his attack on Queen Frigga. There was no denying it. It was justice. It was what needed to be done. It was what must be done simply for the good of was the only way to ensure everyone's safety. Loki could not be trusted and could not be contained. He was merely a rabid animal. It was time to put such a foul and tainted creature be put out it's misery. Perhaps it was an act of mercy for Loki. How long would he let his son wallow and grind in that prison. How long could he allow Loki's mind to fester and slip slowly into the madness and descend to the darkest depths imaginable. It was justice. It was necessary and it...was...mercy?

The wizened soverign reached for a quill. His hand quickly dabbed at the black ink. He brought his hand down over the royal parchment. Odin's never faltering hand slightly shook as he dotted the page with the feathered quill beginning to make the first strokes of his name. He paused. Tried to relax his hand tried to get the quaking from taking place, but he couldn't. He released the quill before he made his other hand come and massage the tensing muscles in his writing fingers. He thought better if it. He didn't need to sign his name first. Odin... the name that he had given Loki...Prince Loki of the House of Odin...Loki Odinson...son. He could simply use his seal. Hedipped his seal in the bright blood red ink as he looked over the parchment that had just been given to him by the head scribe that would serve as the paper for Loki's death sentence.

"Father t...It's mother... Father, Eir...She says...We need to see mother now," Thor announced breathlessly water pouring down his cheeks.

************************************************** ********************************* The new The new facility that the assaulter of the Queen was moved to was almost more wretched than the grimy, squalid subterranean cell he'd been imprisoned in for so long mere days before. The Queen's attacker almost wished to be back there. It was a cage unfit for animal, but even such an atrocious place proved more bearable than the glass trap they'd boxed him into. He longed to back in the dungeon buried down deep bellow the palace locked away in an obscure holding shrouded in darkness. It would be so dark that he would be scarcely able to detect the crimson color that stained his palms. In the dungeon his vision had been limited and maybe he wouldn't be able to see the horrid red on his pale flesh. Maybe he would be able to pretend that warm sticky substance on his hands was mud or slime and not Asgard's Queen's blood... Frigga's blood...Mother's...Frigga's...Mother's blood. Mother's blood he shook his head and bit down on his lip, he'd spilled his mother's blood. What had she done? What had she said that had provoked him so? He couldn't recall he could only recall anger and bitterness, resentment and fear making him lash out. Yes perhaps in the blackness of his dungeon dwelling he could block out the blood on his hands.

But in this snowy walled glass caged room the bright, ruby liquid on his fingertips was inescapable. It was the only color in the room and it was everywhere. It looked like flames and his hands were on fire. He couldn't make the blood disappear. He close his hands, ball his fingers into tight bony, white knuckled fist and it was as if the light coating of red would ooze though his bare knuckles and run through his fingers. Here, in the clean room, the red was everywhere, he sought to rid himself of it, he rubbed his hands on the ground, but their the blood stains were loud a blaring. Loki's green eyes stared appalled and horrified he backed away from the garish red marks. He pressed his hands on the white wall sinking to his knees. When he looked up there it was the dead red smears and smatters of his mother's life juices on the wall. He turned away not wanting to look at the scarlet hands prints mocked him, tormented him, reminded him of all the terrible things he'd said and done to sweet mummy. He bit his lip to stop it from quivering. He ran toward the glass wall. He banged violently on it. He was desperate to escape he had to get away from the crimson paintings. He wanted to scream. He banged and banged, beat and pounded and carried on, but the glass didn't break. This double enforced magic proof glass wall didn't budge or break. So unlike the glass that Frigga had smashed her head against. It was fragile easy to break and shatter... easy to hurt...so much like Mother...Frigga...Mother. The ex-prince's face formed an incredible frown. He sniffled allowing his hand to slide the glass wall. The the red line scratching across the transparent surface looked like bars of a prison cell. If only he could wash his hands free of the blood.

He longed for his dungeon cell. In his cell he could sink his fingers into the mud and the grime and filth and by chance it would rid him of the evidence of what he had done. There was so much blood there. Blood from prisoner's who had come before him, blood from his own body, he would not be able to distinguish the difference. If he was left there long enough eventually all the blood would mingle and look the same. He wouldn't be able to tell... he wouldn't be able to tell which blood was that of the innocent... the innocent, loving woman who cared for her all his life.

Thunderous footsteps plodded toward Loki's stark white confine. Loki was sitting on his knees his blood covered hands placed open palmed, his emerald eyes cast down. "Thor?" Loki asked excitedly his wide gem-colored eyes looking up glistening at the clad amour draped golden prince. Thor's face was set like flint. It was harsh and firm look so unlike Thor's normally jovial, trusting visage. He'd been in this barren waiting room for quite some time. They'd cuffed him, sedated him and dragged him to this tortuously white place without a word. Without a word of what had happened. He waited patiently looking for someone to arrive with some word. "Thor," Loki repeated clambering to his feet. And placing his palms against the glass. Reddened palms pressing into the shield. "How is Mo-"

"Don't utter it!" Thor barked his voice booming and making the glass quake. "Don't you dare call her that now!" he yelled. "Was she your mother when you decided to attack her?" The blonde prince questioned ruthlessly. He stomped closer to the shriveled looking creatures cage. Loki flinched noting that the bigger Asgardian loomed just beyond the glass. "Was she your mother when you decided to split her skull?' Thor demanded so boisterously and angrily that Loki took a gulp shaking his head.

"I..." the pale once prince began.

"BE SILENT!" Thor commanded. Loki's downcast eyes darted back up at attention to the order. He thought of a retort but the foreboding look that Thor's eyes bore. That ireful, storm cloud darkened glance that roamed over normally sunny day bright eyes, pinned the silver tongues mouth shut. He still stared back at Thor. His eyes unblinking. "Never refer to her as your mother as long as you live," Thor ground out taking his glance away from the caged green-eyed beast that stared so emotionlessly back at him. The great warrior clenched his hand around the hilt of the magnificent weapon he bore at all times."She's not your mother," Thor expressed in a hoarse breath. He began to pace his rage palpable. It pulsated through his entire being, Loki watched how the muscles and veins on his brother's arm bulged with tension. His bronzed skin turned red as an apple and heated fury surfaced in him. "You told her that!" the thunderer pointed out with condemnation in his voice. He jutted forth his strong and beefy finger and pressed it toward the glass. The glass creaked under the power of even his finger. His shoulder's heaved as he started marching once again he dare not look such a sick villain in the eye for too long."That was the last thing you said to her," the son of Odin continued his breathing ragged."Those were the last words she heard you utter, were they not?" Thor posed collecting himself momentarily before bringing his eyes to look back at the bare chested man before him. "WERE THEY NOT!" he yelled at Loki's nonchalant silence.

"Yes," Loki confessed with regret.

"Then leave it at that!" Thor growled. "You wretched animal! You deserve not to have a mother. You worthless savage! let all of Asgard think that you were sired out from some cursed pit in Nilfheim for all I care," Thor swore. "Better yet perhaps I should tell them what you really are and let them come in here and rip you limb from limb!" Thor declared.

"I...I..." Loki stuttered, he saw once again the way mother's body lied still and pale on the green carpet. The glass broken in tiny bits all around her. The trail of blood trickling from her nostril's and in to her gaping mouth. He shook his head trying to remove the dreadful image from his mind, but it was embedded there permanently. He was like a monster from a nightmare. He was so twisted and unnatural. In the natural sometimes sons would turn against fathers. There were animals who tried to take over their father's packs or prides. Sibling rivalry was as old as time itself but not any creature attacked its own mother. He wrung his sweaty scarlett hands. He shook his head. "I didn't mean it!" he shouted in his own defense. It was a flimsy and pathetic excuse, but it was truth. Truth was never eloquent, truth was always guttural, and simple.

"Oh come come now silvertongue you have never been anything less than precise with your words,: Thor reminded him cruelly.

"Stop it!" Loki demanded of the crown prince. He turned his head away staring down at the stark white floor at his bare feet anything but those unforgiving blue eyes... Mother's eyes. "It was an accident," he whispered his voice shaking like a leaf in a whirlwind.

"An accident!" Thor rumbled. His blue eyes brimming with tears and full of rage. "An accident?' Thor chuckled with pain as a tear slipped from his eyes.

"Yes...I" Loki started his head bowed.

"BE QUIET!" Thor roared back at him. He picked up his mighty hammer and hurled it toward the glass encasement. The glass split and Loki took a step back shielding his face thinking that the glass would fly off and cut him in the face. "Be quiet," Thor reiterated sternly. His shoulders heaving after he the toss of the mallet. "Hold your lying tongue before I rip it from your mouth," Thor warned him.

"How is Mother?" Loki ground out impatiently barely allowing his lips to move.

"Do you truly wish to never speak again or has your time in hear robbed you of all sense? I said DO NOT CALL HER THAT!" the muscular man bellowed.

"Then how is she?" Loki qualified with a sneer. "How is the queen?" Loki asked in exasperation. He growled back at Thor bearing his teeth and slamming his thin fist against the red-smudged class. "Did you come down here merely to play word games with me?' Loki demanded his breathing uneven.

"I thought you liked those," Thor answered smugly.

"I tire of this game," Loki roared. "ANSWER ME!"

"Or what?" Thor shot back. "I could have your head severed from your neck right now if I I wished and you would die with out the answers you seek your soul...if you even possess one will wander through the afterlife in suspense," Thor declared looking into Loki's defiant and glistening eyes.

The criminal managed to drop his gazed. "Pray tell sire, what news of my lady?" he asked. "please."

Thor scoffed."My Mother," Thor started his voice shaking. "IS DEAD!"

The youngest son of Odin's emerald eyes bulged from their sockets. His mouth hung open like a gaping cod fish. He stood there for a long moment like that. Time still. His heart thrumming in his chest; loud and wild as if it would burst. He felt it beating all the way up to his eardrums. His breath hitched and then stopped his was no longer breathing. He wheezed. His head reeled. His whole body started to tremble like a leaf, he could hear his bones banging against each other. His blood covered palms sweated and chill engulfed him. His tongue was numb, his brain was numb. All numb. Everything numb. He was numb. He stood blinking his bright colored eyes at Thor like he was speaking some strange language that he could not begin to comprehend. He could not begin to fathom. His legs felt weak like rubber. He unthinkingly brought his crimson marred hands to this head. He raked the terrible blood painted hands through his long ebony locks. He shook his head. He shook it vigorously so hard that he thought he's rattle his brain and that was honestly what he wanted. "Wh-wh-wh-wh-what?' Loki managed to find the ability to work the muscle in between the roof of his mouth and his jaw.

"She's dead!" Thor repeated mercilessly. His face frowning deep his eyes spewing heated, mournful tears for his mother. "By your hand!" Thor shouted back twisting and

"What? No. NO! That's imposs...I couldn't have...how...how can that?' Loki sputtered still shaking his head and backing himself up into the corner of the cell. He hugged himself tight. He looked back up at Thor his eyes that of a frightened child. "Mother?' Loki choked out looking down at his trembling hands covered with his own mother's blood. He bit his lip wishing to taste his own "you're lying," Loki whispered. "You're lying!" he stated stronger now. "YOU'RE LYING!" he ranted running back toward Thor and banging a fist on the glass encasement. Thor didn't flinch as he watched Loki's tirade. "Think you that you can deceive me?" the trapped man shouted, his fist still curled in a tight ball against the glass. The blonde on the opposite side of glass bit his lip but said nothing. "Think that you can decieve me Loki, master of lies" He continued a wild look taking over his emerald eyes and coming across his face in a wide grin that was on the verge of cracking.

"I'm not lying," the eldest son of Odin stated simply as he let out a sigh.

"You-You-you're just trying to get me back?" Loki asked wildly his eyes roving around the room his breath hitching as to no more than a wheeze. "Trying to get me back for when I told you about father?' he asked nodding to himself rubbing his crimson sullied palms together.

"I have never been one to lie Loki," Thor said releasing a pent up sigh. His massive shoulder blades rolled into a defeated sigh. "Unlike you," he uttered coldly allowing his sky blue eyes to roll up and stared at Loki sorrowfully. "I would never take something as our parents lives as a mattered to be false about," he confessed shaking his head as he heard Loki holler and looked on at the way the blood vessels threatened to bust around his temples.

"Mother's not dead Thor," Loki expressed his breathing getting ragged as he refused to see truth. Thor looked back at him pityingly. "She's not dead...no...no...no...she can't be dead," he muttered to himself in a frantic anxious whisper. He rubbed his crimson tinted palms together, they sweated profusely but the blood never faltered, it never left his hands. "No, no, no. She's fine, she's alright," the prisoner repeated to himself.

"Loki," Thor called through the glass that separated them. He watched Loki march about. He paced and fidgeted still speaking to himself. The blonde-haired prince's lips pursed, his forehead creased as he looked at the prisoner pace about.

"Nononono," Loki continued. "It...It couldn't be...it couldn't be...I...I...I didn't hit her that hard" Loki said to himself counting on his thin fingers as if figuring an equation with variables. "I didn't hit her that hard!" Loki screamed out. His vivid gem colored eyes brimming with water. "I...I didn't hit her that hard... I wasn't trying to...I..."

" Then maybe she died of a broken heart," Prince Thor spat. Loki turned back around to face Thor, his face pained and twisted the tears slowly starting to trickle from his eyes liquid ducts. "maybe knowing that the young man she reared as a prince of Asgard is no more than some savage animal...maybe it was just too much for her to take," Thor stressed.

"No," Loki uttered the realization that his mother was gone sinking in more so than the older man's words. "I..." Loki started but found himself unable to complete the sentence. His always nimble tongue was heavy as lead in his mouth. "I...I...I didn't mean it," was all that shaggy, bare-backed raven haired prisoner was able to articulate.

Prince Thor's golden eyebrows knitted together in a straight line. His bronzed face turned bright red, he growled like a bilgeschnipe ready to charge. His might hand that shook with fury raise Mjolnir high and slammed it against the triple thick magic reinforced glass sealing that Loki looked out. Loki took a step black. The clash of glass and steel rippled like thunder. Thor's face housed more pain and rage than he'd ever seen his brother have. His teeth showing and gnashing as if he was set so that if the glass wasn't there he would bite and tear Loki limb from limb. "YOU DIDN'T MEAN IT!" he roared furiously, "You didn't mean it when you told her you had no mother?" Thor questioned with unbridled outrage. "Those were the last words she heard before she died. The last moments she spent in the world of the living was with no more than a monster like you who didn't even have enough decency to respect her for the kindness she showed you. She should have disposed of you like the disgusting Jotun scum that you are!" Thor raged the more.

"No," Loki mumbled miserably as he looked into Thor terrifying face. He took another step back racking his clean fingers through his wild mane. His hands were clean because his mother had cleaned him. She'd bathed him when he was filthy. She'd allowed her perfect skin to come in contact with him when he was no more than some gruesome Jotun. She's comforted him when he even as an adult had acted like no more than a fitful child crying in his sleep.

"Yes." Thor pronounced stoically. "You never belonged in the house of Odin." He reported harshly, "You weren't even worthy to be brought up in the lowliest of of peasant homes here in Asgard. Perhaps it is simply the way of the Frost Giant to repay kindness with evil..."

"SHUT UP!" Loki screamed back grabbing his ears and shaking his head. Thoughts, words and feelings swirled about inside him like a cyclone threatening to rip him from the inside out. "IT'S NOT TRUE! IT'S NOT TRUE!" he wailed loud and and mournfully as his heart crumpled along with his face. Streams of water crashed down his cheeks unabashed and he found himself unable to stand. His knees buckled and he started to fall to floor. He felt muscular arms come and catch him underneath his arms, steadying him and trying to keep him on his feet. He leaned in heavily on his brother for support allowing the side of his face to rest against Thor's clean tunics. They smelt of mother: lilacs and plums. Perhaps hisother had been with her when she died. Perhaps he had held her hand or stroked her hair as she took her last breaths. Perhaps he had cradled her now lifeless body in his arms. Loki sank down deeper continuing to cling to the fabric that smelt of his beloved mother. He blubbered like a baby and had Thor slapped him for his sniveling behavior he wouldn't have been able to fault him, rather Thor wrapped him tight in an embrace and ran his warn hands over his head. "No, no no it's not true...It's not true" the once prince kept muttering to himself.

"It's true Loki, it's true," he admitted once again his own chest tight. He lowered them both down to the pristine white tile floor. Loki peeled his face away from Thor's chest, his emerald eyes now red and swollen with the tears. He took a deep breath collecting himself as best he could. His green eyes batted back blearily and trustingly at the older man. He did his best to swallow the lump in his throat. He nodded numbly taking in Thor's words. They were more devastating than any he had ever heard. "Mother...is gone,"

"When is the funeral?" Loki asked quietly like a child as he wiped trembling hand under leaking green eyes.

"Mother's funeral will be in a fortnights time," Thor continued his voice still shaken. Loki swallowed as he listened intently. "Father has placed her in a crystal encasement in the family crypt," Thor went on. "The people may come and view her...pay homage to their queen until the day of the funeral," the blonde prince explained with a shudder. "Her the funeral will be public... we will move her body to Temple Shifron" he shook his head long golden lashes batting back the tears.

"You will have the Minstrels of Baldr come and sing for her will you not?' Loki asked in earnest snapping his head back around to look at the blue eyed man intently. "She did so...she did so enjoy them," Loki said a watery smile tracing across his face. "She was always singing their old war ballads around the palace..." Loki went on. "You remember?" he asked nodding for Thor before the blonde hand a chance to respond. "Mother had such a pretty voice..." Loki said his voice off as the words slid off his tongue. Had. Mother's voice no longer existed. She had sung so sweetly to him while he was ill. The lullaby she'd sung for him when he was very small. He'd never hear her voice again and his own rage had done that. He shook himself from his thoughts and continued speaking. "One time...One time...while you were away...some training camp I believe..." Loki started his voiced hushed as he reminisced. "She and I we went, we went to hear them at the Musical Academy," Loki smiled thoroughly. "She was like a school girl then, swooning over the music and lyrics..." he laughed seeing his mother the great queen of Asgard clutch her chest as she listened to the balladeers. "She kept expressing how they were the greatest minstrels in all of Asgard and how she had not heard them since she was a young maiden," he shook his head. "They were very good," Loki went on absently. "For her birthday that year I got her several music boxes of their songs...I...I think she was quite pleased." he talked more to himself than it seemed like Thor. "And harps...yes Mother she loves harps. Surely you'll have the court Maestro compose something glorious for her with a 50 harp ensemble," Loki rambled on. "Lady Estrecan could sing she is an excellent Bard..." Loki continued. "Lilacs..." Loki went on wildly. "Mother's pyre should have lots of lilac," Loki explained. He gestured his hands wildly as if he was arranging the bouquets right away. "Lavendar as well, the gardeners should go to the fields and pick fresh lavender. Mother always said how as a girl she loved to roll in the lavender hills just outside the city borders," he looked at Thor nodding for the Prince to remember the tales mother would tell about her girlhood. "She will of course need her jewels and...and...and"

"Loki," Thor's voice was hollow and commanding calling his brother from his funeral planning. He held out his hand halting Loki's lips from moving further. "Those are good recommendations and I will run them by Father," Thor expressed steadily. "Father, myself and others very close to mother will give her the last rights in private so that she may depart in peace to Valhalla before her cremation," Thor explained

"And me?' Loki asked his voice hushed and concerned his eyes quivering and still glassy with water.

Thor squared his shoulders, he took a deep breath and rose to his feet leaving Loki still sitting on the cold, stark white tile floor with his hand loosely clasped in his lap like a small boy. "It is the decision of the council" Thor began his voice heavy with seriousness, he straightened his tunics rumpled from when Loki's fingers were clinging to the fringes of the smooth, polished fabric. "That you...you...you not attend," Thor managed to say.

The scraggly looking magician stared mouth gaping, head wagging, eyes batting with bewilderment at his brother. "Wh-wh-"

"Father thinks it is best," Thor added quickly.

Loki growled clenching his loosely held fingers into tight balls in his lap and slammed his porcelain eyelids over his forest colored irises. "Father thinks it best?"Loki repeated his voice so dark that it was barely audible. His bright, gleaming green eyes came back out and he glared up at Thor. "Or do you?" he questioned his voice laced with a cobra's venom. Thor turned away from the fallen prince's piercing gaze. Thor averted his sapphire eyes.

"The people will not want you there Loki," Thor tried to explain.

"I only wish to..."

"The decision will not change Loki," Thor replied he started to turn on his heels.

"Then why did you come?' Loki demanded as he saw the heavy black boots start to trek across the clean ground. Thor ignored him and made his way to the glass wall where he pressed his hand against the white encasement and it started to allow himself to push open. "Why did you come? WHY DID YOU COME!" Loki screamed as he saw Thor leave.

"I wasn't going to come," Thor said as he rose to his feet and dusted off his pants. "But I wanted to know were you satisfied now that she's dead...Has the monster's vengeance been appeased. But isn't this what you wanted Ragnorok, blood and death?" Thor snarled.

"Brother, please...I" Loki faltered.

"You dare call me brother after what you have done?" Thor scoffed. "After you have left Asgard without a queen, after you have left Odin without a consort and after you have left me without a mother?" Thor shook his head the angry laughter echoing from his mouth. "I wanted to look into your eyes one last time and see what you are..." Thor cut off his laughter immediately and stared straight at Loki. Thor noted Loki's mouth started to turn as if he were to formulate a word. "YOU ARE A MONSTER!" Thor shouted and pushed his face away from Loki's as he left the cell.

Loki scuttled toward the glass window that was his only view out. The only view he would ever see for a long time now. He pressed his hands and face on the glass "Thor! Thor please!" Loki started to beg as he watched Thor slowly trudge away. "THOR!" he cried the voice tearing from his throat making it feel as though it would bleed. Thor stopped in his tracks. Loki panted noting that he had gotten the blonde's attention. Thor didn't turn around. "Thor please...Let me go to Mo-Thor let me say goodbye! Let me say goodbye!" Loki begged and he pounded on the glass shield. "Bring me there, bound, chained. I'll stand in the back!" He offered desperately. "Yes. Yes." Loki nodded still keeping his nose flattened on the pane. "Muzzle me, hmm?" He prompted speaking in a hurried voice. "Just let me go, please Thor, please," Loki whimpered. He watched as Thor's image disappeared from sight. "THOR SHE'S MY MOTHER! LET ME SAY GOODBYE!" Loki screamed to no one. He screamed for a long while, but his cries were met with only silence. He slipped down to the ground sobbing miserably. He laid down on the cold floor and pulled his knees up to his chest in the fetal position. "Let me say goodbye, let me say goodbye," he sobbed as he hugged himself rocking back and forth in the tiny ball.

Loki still lied curled up like a child on the floor knees pulled tight against his chest as he huddled for warmth. He heard heavy foot steps approach. He'd always been a light sleeper. The footsteps were steady and even. He knew them. Thor? Perhaps Thor was coming back, perhaps he'd at least let him see mother's body...Thor had always been soft hearted, sympathetic. "Thor?" Loki asked groggily rubbing his eyes noting the pair of high black boots the now stood over his form. He thought he heard a pitiless snort. "Brother?" Loki asked half-lidded emerald eyes glancing up with a sleepy smile on his angular face. Haze instantly faded as he looked into a large distorted plum colored face with gleaming gold eyes and sickeningly straight smile full of thick yellow teeth. "NO!" Loki gasped.

"Did you miss me Loki?" the cold voice asked as powerful hands wrapped around his milky throat and squeezed so hard that Loki couldn't even offer a squeak of a scream.

Emerald eyes popped open,"THANOS!" the green-eyed ex tried to scream, but was surprised to wake up and find he was unable to being that his mouth was imprisoned in that despicable contraption. His body so gaunt that one could nearly see his insanely beating heart poking through his chest. His weeping eyes finally batted back away the confusion and he looked around. He was not contained inside some little glass box like a relic on display. He was not lying on his side scrunched up like a frightened little hedgehog. He was not surrounded by harsh and unforgiving sterile whiteness. No rather his encompassing was bleak and dismal. No light to enter his abyss. His skinny wrist tied up high about his head as strong fetters roped his like some raging bilgeschnipe in the arena. His thin ankles bound with ball and chain he couldn't move if he tried. His neck held in a metal collar that kept his neck snapped back against the wall. He wasn't even able to wiggle his head. The familiar and awful taste of gritty iron on his tongue was once again his. He shook best he could trying to find any bit of freedom, but there was none. He painted and grunted behind the evil mask. Tears slid down his face and rained down on the metal enough that he feared it would rust he cared not he couldn't stop himself from weeping...wishing hoping, praying he still had a mother whose arms he could run into as his fears engul