Chapter 5: Infinite Imprisonment
Feigning indifference was toilsome. The chains compact on his wrist, severely limiting the effects of his seidr. He attempted to make the situation better for himself, giving a crude, yet truthful, impression of Captain America. The Avengers did not strive to laugh at his jest. Thor was simply annoyed, grabbing a muzzle and putting it on his brother's lower face without hesitation.
He could not hide his irritation when the S.H.I.E.L.D agents approached them on the first floor of Stark Tower. The lackeys walked behind their secretary, a man he soon learned went by Pierce. They wanted Loki judged for his crimes in a jury of Midgardians. Thor stubbornly argued for his brother to return to Asgard, where their jury would deem the appropriate punishment. Even with Tony himself agreeing on Thor's behalf, Pierce and his goons did not budge. The only change in their confrontation was that Pierce's want quickly shifted into a need. The man overshadowed old, saggy skin with command; even with a god and a billionaire in front of him, he stood strong. A call from Fury confirmed that Asgard would be the place of justice. The wrinkles on Pierce's forehead became more pronounced.
The halls of the royal palace of Asgard did not change. An odd first observation for a god who committed terrorism a mere hour ago. Every entrance had guards, preventing anyone from entering or escaping. Loki sighed underneath the confinements of the muzzle. He wanted to see his daughter before his sentence. The amount of bodies he left behind, the blood and spirits he took away, surely death would be the minimum punishment in the eyes of the jury. A simple hug from Eira he considered a worthwhile goodbye.
Thor removed the muzzle and ordered the guards to take the prisoner to the All-Father for judgement. Loki stretched his mouth, testing his muscles after their painful imprisonment, which hindered his eyesight from noticing the spear in the corner transforming into a five-year-old girl.
"Daddy!" the voice echoed through the hall.
Loki turned his head, witnessing his daughter running toward him and giving his legs a hug. The guards readied their weapons, pointing them at Loki, waiting for him to arm himself.
Thor held his hand up to the guard, yet his eyes were aimed at the father and daughter duo. "Lower your weapons! Do not harm the princess!" he commanded, his hand firm on the handle of Mjolnir.
"Eira," said Loki kneeling down to face his daughter. "I missed you. I thought about you everyday. I was unaware that you were able to transform into objects. Your magic has advanced since I left."
"Yeah! Grandma has been teaching me and I've read the notes you left behind." Eira looked around the room, alarmed at the pre-violent positions of the guards. "Daddy, did I do something wrong?"
"Well, this probably was not the best time to see me. You should have realized the possible danger of your plan. I'm pleased to see you, but this could have gone much worse."
Eira stared at the chains on his wrists. "Daddy, are you in trouble."
"Don't worry yourself about me, Eira. Go to your uncle, he'll take you to your chambers. Before then, can I have a hug."
The princess did not hesitate, throwing herself onto her father, tightly wrapping her arms around his neck. Loki surrounded her tiny back with his arms, preventing her from feeling the rough texture of the chains.
"I love you, my little one," he whispered into her ear. "I love you more than anything."
"I love you too, Daddy," Eira said as she removed herself from her father's embrace.
Loki smiled and ruffled her hair. "It will be alright, I promise."
Eira nodded and swiftly walked to Thor. The god knelt and whispered something into her ear, probably informing her of the fear she caused. No scolding, the fright in Thor's eyes as he imagined the worst suppressed the anger. He grabbed her hand and guided her to her bedroom. As she walked to the exit, Eira turned her head to glance at her father. Loki smiled, ignoring the guards while they seized his chains, forcing him into the throne room to face Odin.
If he was punished by execution, he would be comforted by the embrace of his daughter.
"Loki, why does everyone think you're angry?"
Runa held onto Loki's arm, following him into his chambers after their date in the palace gardens. Loki put an arm around her shoulder.
"When did you think of that?"
"Well, an hour before we chatted, I overheard the guards talk about an argument you had with your brother. Plus, your shoulders are tense. I assume it's still bothering you."
Loki sighed. "My brother was being an arrogant buffon. We are investigating a possible problem in the realm of the Dark Elves. My suggestion of traveling to the realm and interrogating the citizens was misinterpreted. Maybe my mischievous title is not useful as I think."
Runa tilted her head. "Perhaps 'interrogate' is too brash a word. If you think your idea has good intentions, then phrase it as so. Although, the idea should be humane. Are these the difficulties you face as a prince?"
"As a royal, I have to make demanding decisions. I've learned as I have been more involved in managing the realms and politics. Even as my knowledge grows, the difficulties will continue. But I cannot succumb to my fears; if I do, I will never become king."
"You desire kinghood. I assume Thor wants the position as well. I don't know what advice I can give."
"Actually, hearing from an alternative perspective might be helpful."
Loki led her to his bed. Runa looked at her confused.
"Are you sure? My thoughts will probably be familiar. No doubt you've heard it thousands of times."
"Runa, you have such a way with words. An intelligent lady such as yourself must have ideas. Even if I've heard them, I will listen and respect them."
The servant blushed. "Well, I think you need to demonstrate your mental strengths. You're clever, apt, and ingenious. I've heard stories of you in battle, your mischief is quite useful in those situations. Some see your perversity as a negative trait, but you are intuitive, I know you are capable of making astute more affirmative. Loki, you are the smartest and bravest man I have ever met. You have the will to one day be king."
Loki smiled as he embraced her. "My mischievous nature can be positive, you really think that?"
"It is a useful trait in certain situations. You are intelligent enough to figure out how."
"I love you so much."
They kissed one another. Runa wrapped her arms around his neck. Both of their bodies slowly fell onto the bed. Loki broke the kiss and stroked her curly hair.
"Do you want to do this?"
"I think it would help me. I have not been feeling well these past few days. You know how to please me."
"Then let me serve you," he said before removing his clothes, assisting his lover in doing the same.
The couple had sex, unaware that for the past month, Runa was carrying a little being in her belly.
A life sentence.
Rather than having a sword penetrate his back, watching his blood stream onto the floor until his body exhausted itself to death, Loki was to spend the remaining 4,000 years of his life in a cell in the Asgardian prisons, observing himself age as new prisoners entered and attempted to escape, failing the moment the spears of the guards stabbed their flesh, making their souls fade away.
His saving grace was family.
As he walked through the halls to the throne room, hearing the chains move against one another, his mother spoke to him behind a pillar. Her tone contained a mixture of love and disappointment.
She could never forget the little baby Odin returned with after his journey to Jotunheim; they were not related by blood, but Frigga saw him as a son. The passion her youngest child had for magic and learning during his boyhood, his determination to become king, the boy who grew into a man and fell in love, raising his daughter in honor of his late lover. The time his heart mainly consisted of good intentions, with the mischief serving as a form of rebellion.
His confusion and hatred went untreated, manifesting into the destruction in his birthplace and Midgard, both realms he vowed to protect when he became king. Frigga heard the stories of his conquest and brutality, but her past with Loki created a difficulty to understand the truth. Even though everyone had the same stories of his actions, she had trouble imagining him willingly hurting others with his magic, declaring himself better than all humans, ending the lives of hundreds without a drop of sympathy. Did Loki truly become a man who enjoyed watching the blood continue to spill, the body turning gray, the veins becoming more visible, more blue, and the eyes slowly lose hope of their life to continue?
Although his title as a royal was removed, Eira was still regarded as a princess. She should not be punished for her father's actions, although she was his main motivation. With regards to her young and developing mind, Odin decided visits between Loki and Eira would be beneficiary. To prevent hysterical tears, Eira was allowed to visit her father's cell five times a week, but Loki knew their interactions would decrease as she aged, the power of her grandfather and uncle eventually stopping their bond.
No other family member could see him.
He would spend the rest of his life alone, only his daughter by his side.
The day after his punishment was declared, Eira visited him, escorted by guards who watched every movement Loki made. She walked into the underground prison, weaponed guard following. Standing past the entrance, she tilted her head as she scanned the room, looking for Loki's new home. Her eyes widened when she met his gaze. She looked up at the guard, asking for the key to his cell. The guard made no expression as he nodded and moved to the cell, turning the key and closing it once Eira entered.
Loki did not have time to open his arms, as Eira ran into his cell, closing her arms around his body while quiet sobs escaped. He slowly embraced his daughter, lifting her into his arms and sitting down, placing her in his lap.
"You don't have to cry, Eira," he said, ironically unable to hide his tears."I'm right here, not allowed to go anywhere else. Everything is alright."
While her cries ended, she laid her head against his chest. "I saw the chains and the angry looks of the guards and I thought something bad would happen to you. I didn't want you to leave again, even if your plan did fail."
"When I left two years ago, it pained me to see you so sad. I don't want you to feel alone again. This is not the best circumstance for us to meet, but I am happy to hold you again."
Eira, head still on his chest, looked up at her father. "Daddy, why are you crying? You said I shouldn't cry."
"Joyous tears are rare, but they do occur. I have been away for too long. I'm sorry for putting you through this."
"I'm just happy to see you again."
"So I am," Loki stroked her hair. "It's our first physical meeting in two years. Let us not waste it with sadness. Do you have any tales you want to tell me? Anything you learned?"
Eira's face brightened. "I know how to read simple sentences, but I didn't bring any books with me, and I showed you all the magic I know during our secret meetings. You probably have a lot of stories! Can you tell me about Midgard? Uncle Thor told me about some of his friends. Did you make any friends?"
Loki hid his discomfort. Barton and Selvig were his friends, if mind control and manipulation equated to camaraderie. He threw Stark out a window, definitely a friendship defining moment. He made the Black Widow reflect on her brutal past, fought Captain America after almost killing an eldery German man in front of hundreds of bystanders, and forced Barton to attack and eliminate his fellow agents. And how could he forget destroying a populous city they all lived in, murdering innocence without a second thought. What an honorable man he demonstrated himself as in these past few days.
"I interacted with a few people," spoke Loki, telling the vague truth, which was much better than describing to his five-year-old about the details of his vicious invasion of Earth. "I can describe the realm to you. It's not as pretty as Asgard, but it has its sights along with a diverse population."
"That would be wonderful!" Eira responded. She calmly settled on his lap, her face no longer red and puffy, waiting for him to begin his story.
"When I arrived on Midgard, I was in a large city called New York City. There were tall buildings, vehicles not moved by horses, and despite the dark sky, the city was bursting with life. I did not immediately stumble upon the well-known excitement, as I emerged in an underground facility run by a government. On Earth, there are several governments, as the masses of land are divided into countries, states, and cities. I met with American government officials, who often plan secret missions for the benefit of the United States. Their government was not kind, requesting a fight with me to declare demonience. I escaped and later learned of another country named Germany, where the people look similar to Americans, but their culture differs immensely."
"Is Midgard that big?" said the princess, eyes wide with wonder and interest. "It's probably bigger than Asgard, and maybe all the other realms. How are the cultures so different in every country? You have to tell me about Germany! I want to know more!"
Loki smiled and patted her head. "I love your enthusiasm for learning. It reminds me of myself when I was a child. Sorry, I am losing the focus of my story. Anyway, I went to Germany and visited an opera house, as I was interested in the country's music ..."
He had no materials to bring to Niflheim. It was an annual visit to observe any new changes and possible threats. All he needed were his eyes, yet Loki sat on his bed stool, his forehead against his clasped hands, eyes moving without purpose, waiting for nothing.
"Loki, I thought you were supposed to be at the Bifrost. Is there something wrong? Do you need anything?"
The prince lifted his head, gazing at his pregnant lover at the entrance to the washroom. Her curly strawberry blonde hair contained in a bun, though several strands managed to escape, laying near her ears and framing her diamond face. Light green eyes looked at him with concern.
"I'm fine, Runa," he responded. "Just preparing for the mission."
Runa moved from the washroom and sat next to her lover. "I thought you were good at lying. Surely preparing means searching for the necessary materials, not sitting down and contemplating life. What concerns you?"
Loki sighed and sat slightly straighter, looking down at his hands. He was unsure of how to answer her question. Runa frowned, moving her head to lay on Loki's shoulder.
"You're worried about me and the baby."
He turned to look into her eyes, filled with curiosity and perturbation. She knew he had reasons for his worrisome behavior. Just a week ago, Runa, four months pregnant, fainted during a celebration. Ordered by the healers to stay in bed for most of the day and move when imperative. Her health slowly improved, her exhaustion hindered her mobility.
Loki was by her side the entire week: helping her stand up, preparing herbal teas, rubbing her back every morning as she threw up. It pained him to see the woman he loved more than anything venture through the irritation of carrying his child. The selfish Loki felt guilty; he caused her difficult pregnancy, but he was powerless. Runa did the work while he observed.
Despite her weakened state, Runa was still beautiful. The pregnancy did not affect her smooth face and kind personality. She continued to look gorgeous in every dress she wore. Her current outfit, a dark purple while light amethyst and silver embellish. The loose silk chiffon silk did not engulf her figure, but a hint of her curved stomach was highlighted.
"I have never gone on a mission after such distress. It's not only me I have to care for, I have you and our daughter. You both are safe here, but I cannot suppress my worry. If anything happens, I don't know what I will do."
"Loki, nothing drastic will occur. Even if my health declines, I know your mothers and the healers will be by my side. You probably won't miss much. The baby will kick all night and I will wake up every hour to go to the washroom. She is active during the strangest times."
Loki smiled and kissed her forehead. "I will be back in a day and a half. Keep our daughter under control until then."
Runa giggled. "I will. Use this as a chance to impress your father. It might be easier, since Sif will be with you. You get a break from your boisterous brother."
"You have such a way with motivation," said Loki before he stood up. He adjusted his shirt and collar. He looked at Runa and smiled. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," she responded. "You can return the favor by telling me if the rumors about Niflheim are true. Is there a being trapped underneath its surface trying to escape?"
Loki huffed a light laugh. "If there was, we would have discovered it during our three thousand years of searching." He waved and left the room.
In their ten months together, Runa gave Loki the passion to demonstrate his worthiness to his father through virtue, the perfect trait for a king. In return, Loki gave Runa confidence, putting a smile on her face during the worst moments, even when he himself was nervous.
Most royal Asgardians displayed an early interest in battle and politics. At only five and a half, Eira added to her passions. The studying and practice of fighting techniques and sorcery had a new companion; the examination of the Nine Realms.
Started by her father's stories of Midgard, she requested books describing more of Earth, which later broadened into Svartalfheim, Vanaheim, and according to her most recent request, Jotunheim.
Upon speaking to the servants, Frigga learned of her granddaughter's literature request. She originally asked the servants to browse the shelves of the library to entertain Loki during his lifelong imprisonment. While she respected the decision of her husband, the All-Mother had a mischievous streak of her own.
Frigga knocked on the door to Eira's room, holding the book containing the history of Jotunheim. She heard the quiet, swift footsteps inside the chambers. The princess pushed open the door, looking left and right for a person before lifting her head up, smiling when she saw her grandmother.
"Hello, grandma! Do you need anything?"
"I have to talk with you. Do you mind if I come in?"
Eira nodded her head as she led her grandmother into her room. Frigga saw the various school books scattered on her bed, an open notebook and lead quill in the center.
"Studying so early in the morning? Quite a serious learner, I see."
Smirking, Eira sat on her bed, moving her materials to make room for Frigga to sit. "Miss Saga was upset with me for focusing on other books instead of the ones for tutoring. I like the books she gives me, but I want to read more."
"You best not upset Lady Saga," calmly said Frigga. "She is very understanding of your advanced intelligence and is patient with you while teaching you how to act like a lady. I realize you enjoy activities associated with boys, but you are a princess. You have an image to uphold."
Eira sighed. "Miss Saga is very nice and I sometimes feel bad for annoying her. She's a good teacher, but the lady lessons are so boring. I like the excitement of battle and magic. I wish I could wear more pants, most of my dresses don't match me as a person."
"It will become easier over time. Now, I have the book about Jotunheim you requested."
The face of the princess brightened. "Really? But why did you bring it to me and not the servants?"
Frigga took a deep breath. "Because I have something to tell you. About yourself."
…
Loki's face expressed indifference, hiding the eagerness in his mind. In a few moments, Eira would run into his cell. No visit occurred yesterday, as it was not scheduled for his daughter's week. Though only a day had passed, Loki knew Eira would describe every detail of her day. She was always open with him, more resistant with telling her tales to other members of her family.
No quick footsteps echoed through the prison today. Complete silence filled the open, free space between the cells. Loki's cell suddenly opened, Eira slowly walking in before the transparent opening closed once again. In a surprising burst of energy, Eira ran to her father and settled in front of where he sat. She forced her eyes to not meet his gaze. Loki worriedly brushed a strand of raven hair away from her face; no response came from the movement.
"Eira," Loki questioned, taking the hair strand and placing it behind her small ear. "Is something the matter?"
His daughter stayed still for a few moments. Loki was about to ask another question, attempting to solve her silence, but her voice freed itself.
"Why did nobody tell me that I'm also a princess of Jotunheim?"
Loki froze. Who told her the truth? Who dared tell her about her origin as a half-breed? Who told her the truth at an appropriate age? Why did they not wait until she was his age? Why did they make the correct decision with her?
"You are but … but," Loki struggled to find words. "How do you know? Did someone tell you?"
Eira shifted awkwardly. "For the past few weeks, I've been reading books about the various realms. Yesterday, I asked the librarians to find me a book about Jotunheim that was at my reading level. Instead of a servant, grandma gave the book to me and told me."
Loki lifted her into his lap, stroking her emotionless face. "Do you have any questions for me?"
Tears formed in her eyes. "Am I a monster?"
"Eira, no. Of course not. Why would you think you're a monster?"
The tears fell. "All the stories describe the Frost Giants as monsters, scary beings who like to hurt people. I don't want to be that, Daddy. I want to help people, not cause them pain!"
Loki sniffed, unable to hide his emotions. "Those stories are filled with prejudices, created to form an image of the Jotnar to cause hate. I don't know why our family felt comfortable telling us these tales, but they have learned. We can now form our own opinions."
Eira cried into his shirt. "So Uncle Thor, grandma, grandpa, are they not our family?"
He sighed inwardly. Due to recent events, he did not consider Thor and Odin as family. They had regretted him, disapproving of his real self. Frigga continued to give him motherly love, just as she always did.
But Eira did not have his feelings, his centuries of lies. They were her family.
"Even though we are not related to them by blood, they care for us, gave us a home, welcomed us despite our differences. They love you, Eira. They are your family."
The sobs stopped, but the tears did not. "I still don't know how to feel about being a half-breed."
"Eira, you should feel special. In the vast population of the universe, you are the only half-Asgardian, half-Jotun in history. You are the definition of unique. No else is like you. No one can compare to you."
Her cheeks started to dry. "Did Mommy know that you were a Frost Giant?"
"No," he disguised his bitterness. Those lies caused the death of his lover. "She never knew, and neither did I until two years ago. I'm glad they told you now. I did not have the best reaction to the news, I was much older, not wanting to discuss my feelings with others. I can help you through this. You must have a plethora of thoughts. I can guide you."
No response came from Eira. She closed her eyes slightly, tired from her tears. Loki kissed her forehead.
"Even though your mother never knew, she still would have loved you. She loved you before you were born, when she carried you in her stomach."
Eira's position on his chest did not change. "Can you tell me a story about Mommy?"
Loki smiled. "Anything for you, little one. One evening, your mother knocked on my door, her figure demonstrating nervousness. I asked her if anything was wrong, and then she smiled. She told me that she was pregnant with you…"