A/N: So, I'm a bit of an artist, ergo an appreciator of good art. There is a lot of sub-par work out there, but there is also some very breath-taking stuff when you dig around to find it. I'm new to the whole social media thing (with the exception of Facebook), and Tumblr is still a bit of a question for me, but I have certainly learned to poke around for pictures on it, and have I found some! There is an artist that signs their work "WantsToBelieve". You should check them out. We have a couple of scenes inspired by this artist, and some that we had discussed for the future of this fic that we found she had done fantastic work that reminded us of the scenes we have yet to write, but have discussed happening. I'd like to claim great minds and all that, but I feel I should say I am not worthy because I'm so taken back by this person's art work. While I suggest that you take a look at all of their art (do be warned, this artist does appear to ship Thorki, which Gabrielle Day and I tend to stay away from, but I still say it's worth poking through the gallery) I'm going to post links to the pictures that either inspired scenes or just seemed to fit. Seriously, though, go check out all of the work. It's worth your time.

This picture: 24 . media . tumblr tumblr _ lyawbjCvM41qb0gmwo1 _ r1 _ 500 . jpg (of course without spaces) was certainly something we looked at with the first chapter. We had been planning on the scene, but it just fit so well.

Loki paused at the door to the king and queen's chambers. The guards opened it without question and he nodded to them briefly as he entered. "You called for me."

Odin was sitting on the edge of the bed he had shared with Frigga since they had married. He watched his youngest son hesitate inside the doorway, the green eyes as watchful as always. Odin admitted only to himself that he had not thought about the ramifications for his family when he had brought the baby back from Jotunheim. He knew the child had been Laufey's only son and that he might secure a peaceful future for his own son's rule by raising him as a child of Asgard. Thor had been but a babe himself when he brought Loki to Frigga. His stunned wife had fallen in love instantly, but still had refused to speak with him for many days even as she cooed over their new addition. Frigga loved him. Thor loved him. The truth of who he might have been had become less important in Odin's mind than the truth of who he had become. He had not considered that that particular truth would not be less important to Loki. That failing had almost cost them everything.

"I'm glad you are here." Odin said. "Come and sit with me."

Loki obeyed silently, pursing his lips together in an old habit that was reminiscent of his younger days. Before he'd known. He sank to the edge of the bed and felt the weight of silence until Odin spoke. "Word has already been sent from Jotunheim. They wish for war."

Loki shifted. "Why tell me? Shouldn't Thor be here to -"

His father sighed heavily, effectively quieting him. Exhaustion was evident in his features. He looked as old as he did that horrible day in the vaults when Loki had cried out to him, demanded and begged for answers. "Laufey's own sister has taken the throne and she places the blame on Asgard for her brother's death."

"I am to blame," his younger son whispered, feeling the weight of his confession and his shoulders slumped slightly.

"Thor believes you did what you thought best for our world," Odin answered. "Your saving grace in this is that Lifa does not know you are responsible for luring Laufey in and killing him."

"What will happen?"

"We will meet upon the bridge in a few hours and attempt to find a way to avoid further bloodshed."

Loki watched him carefully, taking everything in. In the end, everything was his fault. They waged war because he had wanted to disrupt his brother's coronation and then used everything that followed to take vengeance on a creature that probably never knew his son had survived. Now Odin was in no place to fight a war. "Can't we put it off? To give you more time?"

"Only if we can come to terms," his father murmured. "How do you fair?"

"Well enough."

"Good. I would like both of my sons by my side when the time comes."

Loki's mind raced. This would allow him some time. It wouldn't be much, but he would have to think of something. "Yes, Father." he said. Odin smiled. "Will you tell your brother? I do not think I shall leave this room until absolutely necessary."

Loki stood. "Of course. I'll find Thor and we will be there with you." Odin nodded. Loki made it to the door, his fingers closing around the handle when he turned suddenly, expression unreadable. Odin looked up at him. "Loki?"

It took several long seconds for Loki to force the words from his brain to his tongue, and from there past his lips. "I...Thank you." he said, voice barely above a whisper.

Odin had no time to make a reply as his son was gone as swiftly as the words had left him. Perhaps there was hope for their little family after all, the king mused.

Loki stormed down the halls to the vaults. He had found his mother still in the stables, but no sign of his brother. His mother only said that Thor had wished to make certain the new destroyer was working correctly. Fear and anger twisted for dominance in his mind. If Thor had gone into the tunnels and gotten himself killed before they could meet on the bridge, he'd have Odin bring him back just so Loki could kill him again.

Thor was speaking to a guard, both looking at the remaining patches of ice against one of the furthest corners. They were deep in conversation when Loki approached and the younger prince had to clear his throat to be noticed. "Good thing I'm not here to kill you," Loki said with a sly grin at his brother's startled expression.

It only made the guard look very nervous.

"I would have heard an enemy's approach," Thor argued gruffly. "How is Father?"

Loki's green eyes shifted to the guard and with a small nod dismissed him. "He looks very worn down," the trickster conceded once they were alone. "We are to go with him to discuss possible terms with the Frost Giants."

"Then war can be averted?"

"He did not seem so hopeful in that it would, but it might."

"Surely there's a way. You're clever, brother, have you thought of anything?"

"Not yet, but I'm working on it."

Thor nodded, gaze still surveying the vault. Loki resisted the urge to hit him, knowing it would not feel as satisfactory in action as it did in thought. "You only didn't go into the tunnels because there was a guard here when you arrived. Isn't that so?" Loki challenged.

Thor could not conceal his surprise. "What makes you say so?" Loki's expression darkened. "You said you would wait. What of all your talk of things that lurk there even now waiting to strike at a prince of Asgard? Or does that only apply to your weaker, magic-wielding sibling?" Thor tried not to smile and failed miserably. "I said I would not go into the unknown. These tunnels are not unknown to either of us."

For a split second, a murderous glint flickered through Loki's green eyes that his brother had used one of his own most common tactics against him.

Thor's smile grew. "And you say that I can never learn. Do you sense anything here now?"

The switch to reliance on his capabilities silenced Loki's scathing analysis of his brother's learning abilities. He shook his head. "I do not." Thor sighed. "I shall have to answer for my follies once again."

"Follies?" Loki murmured, eyes drifting to the many artifacts that rested in the vaults. The Casket of Winters stood only a few yards away from the Tesseract and a very familiar staff glowing much in the same way. He gave an involuntary shudder when he thought of what the Frost Giants might do with such unlimited power. Unlimited power that they could never hope to control. This war must be averted at all costs.

"My thoughtless actions in Jotunheim," Thor answered sadly. "If only I'd listened to you and Father, we might not be in this place. None of this would have happened, not even your leaving. You would never have known anything different than how we were raised and-"

"And you would still be the same thick-skulled buffoon that you in our youthful days," Loki snapped.

"I may have learned much since those days, but the responsibility for this is still mine."

A thought struck the younger brother. "Your responsibility?" he whispered.

"Yes." Thor answered. "I will not allow our family to be pulled apart again."

Loki remained silent, still staring at the Tesseract. He did not know what terms the Jotuns might seek upon their meeting on the bridge, but they were sure to be high. No matter how badly they all wanted to avert this war, Loki knew that it would not be wise to give away power for temporary peace and later destruction, especially now with Odin on the brink of sleep. It was a slim hope, but he did have one advantage that his brother and father did not. Fate would either be kind or unkind enough to let him use it. "Let us go away from here." he said quietly. "We have only a little bit of time before they come."

"Yes, and you should rest," Thor agreed, taking his brother's tired features in.

Loki heaved a heavy breath. "And you. You may not have been injured, but it haunts your eyes."

Thor opened his mouth to refute his brother's statement, but found that he could not. So he stayed silent and followed his brother from the vaults.

A couple hours of sleep did him more good than he would have thought. Loki stretched from his place on his own bed, knowing that the hours ahead could be more trying than the ones behind. He looked to see where his brother had fallen asleep on the bed next to him and he shook his head in fond exasperation. "Time to meet the consequences of our actions," he whispered, more to himself than to the blond.

Loki reached out to shake Thor's shoulder, but at the last second shifted and brushed a lock of blond hair away from his face. He briefly rested one finger against Thor's temple, feeling the pulse there and the weight of what was to come. His lips curved in a self-deprecating smile. Sentiment. He grabbed his brother's arm. "Thor. Thor, wake up. We must go now."

One blue eye peered grumpily up at him as Thor sighed heavily, moving from sleep to wakefulness. Loki's smile grew, remembering how he used to taunt and wake Thor from the deepest of slumbers with all sorts of illusions when they were young. "Must we?"

"Yes. This is one appointment even you daren't be late for." Loki said, knowing Thor didn't really mean it as the thunder god was already pulling himself up.

"Fear not, my brother. All will be well." Loki heard himself say softly. Thor looked back at him, hope still showing deep in his face. It was then Loki knew why he said it. With Thor, there was always hope.

"I dare say it will be," the elder prince agreed.

They found their father in the throne room, dressed for battle. Loki's magic gathered around him and his clothing shifted and his helmet appeared from nowhere. Thor accepted his own from a bowing servant and planted it firmly upon golden hair. The brothers turned to glance at each other, the long-standing jest standing between them without needing to be voiced. Frigga was in the background and she looked as if her tears were freshly dried once again. She moved forward, reaching to cup both of their cheeks, one in each hand. "Never has there been a prouder mother," she vowed. "Never will there be. You both are my joy."

"We must go," Odin acknowledged sternly, looking no better than when Loki had seen him earlier.

Both Frigga's sons kissed her cheek and with a final nod from Odin to his wife, the three men headed for their waiting horses. Both Thor and Loki noticed a significant increase of visible soldiers in the hallways as they left. Should they be attacked from within while they were meeting with the Jotuns, their mother would be well protected. Plus, Thor knew that the Warriors Three and Sif were nearby at his behest.

Odin seemed to loose his weariness as they left the horses and strode towards the bridge. "Perhaps we can keep the damn thing intact this time, boys?" he said under his breath.

Loki grinned as Thor said, "To the best of my ability, Father."

They stood together, the brothers slightly behind their father. "They are coming." Heimdall announced.

In a blur of light and whirling motion, four large Frost Giants appeared and strode forward. They were dressed in the manner that warriors might, and in their lead was a female Giant. She was thin with long dark hair and eyes that might have frozen your soul if she looked upon you too long. There were no weak maids in Jotunheim, but this was least of all. She was Lifa, Laufey's sister, and she was the one that they had chosen above all others to sit on his throne. "Odin Allfather," she greeted, her voice low and rough. "And his whelps."

Thor visibly prickled at this, but did not move from his place.

"Lifa, we have met you as you desired. Let us not linger. Asgard wishes to avoid war with Jotunheim."

"Interesting words after you lured my brother here to murder him and destroy our world."

"Laufey was here to kill me while I slept. He knew the risks to his life when he attempted as much. What happened with the Bifrost is regrettable, which is why we are here to hear your terms. Tell me what we can do to avoid further bloodshed among our people." Odin said. He held his staff firmly and stood to full height. Only his sons could tell that he had begun to lean ever so slightly on the staff for support.

Lifa's eyes flickered to the young men standing behind him before returning her cold gaze to Odin. "We wish to be recompensed for our losses. We wish to have returned to us that which was stolen so cruelly from us many years ago. If you return the relics, we will not bring forth war upon Asgard." she said.

Loki grimaced and heard Thor let out a low huff of air.

Odin stiffened. "We will not return the Casket of Winters to you."

"That is not all you stole, old man," Lifa hissed, eyes connecting with Loki very suddenly. The younger prince steeled himself to keep his expression unreadable.

Odin understood her words and his tone held barely contained rage. "If these are your terms, we have no choice but to go to war with your world. I will not give you the Casket and I will most certainly not give you my son."

"Then war it is, Allfather," she answered with a slight tilt of her head, eyes never leaving Loki.

"Father," the dark haired trickster began.

"Not here," Odin hissed, turning to walk away.

Loki looked between his father and brother and the Frost Giants. Damn sentiment. "Forgive me," he whispered very lowly and turned to the Jotuns. "Wait!"

They paused, turning to him.

"Just me. You may take just me."

"That is only half. That is not enough to divert war, little one."

"But it should be. I am responsible not only for luring Laughey here, but his death and what the Bifrost did to your world. You may take me if you will spare Asgard the horrors of another war."

"You say this freely?"

"I do."

"No!" Thor raged. "If he is responsible for all of that, then you must take me as well. I stormed into Jotunheim without a thought. I am just as-"

"Oh do shut up," Loki growled, his words harsher than he even meant for them to be. "I manipulated you into going from the beginning. You couldn't have been responsible for that feat if you had wanted to be."

Thor looked as if he had been struck across the face or in the gut. Lifa's lips turned in a cruel smile. "Perhaps you have some Laufey in you after all."

Loki turned to her, eyes dark. "Do not mistake me. I am a son of Asgard. I did what I did because my brother could not. So if you will have a relic, you may take me."

Lifa titled her head back towards her companions to hear their murmurs. After considering for a moment she nodded. "As ruler of Jotunheim I consent to these terms. We will take Loki, son of Odin back as our war prize and consider the debt settled. Come then, little prince, the frozen wasteland of Jotunheim awaits you."

Loki grit his teeth. "I would say goodbye to my family first." He turned his back on the giants leaving no room for argument. He went to Thor, forcing himself to ignore the hurt, barely concealed by rage in his brother's face. Without waiting to see if he would be accepted he wrapped his arms around him and pressed his lips against Thor's ear. "I said they could take me. I never said they could keep me. I may need you."

In an instant Thor had his arms around his little brother in return, holding him close. "How many times will I be made to lose you, Loki?" he whispered into the dark hair.

Loki closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "You will never lose me. I know you will always come through." the trickster said.

They separated, but Thor stopped him from moving away with a touch to his arm. He unclasped the red cloak that he was known for from around his neck and furled it out around his brother, clasping it to him. "We would not have you cold in Jotunheim, nor forget where you belong." Thor said quietly.

Loki nodded to wordlessly, grasping at the edges of the garment while trying to steel his expression. He could show no fear, no hesitation. This was his choice, and he could, after everything, still prove himself a worthy son of Odin.

His eyes darted to his father momentarily, not able to linger on that tired but intense gaze. The elder man showed no signs of speaking, of telling him no, nor of approving of his actions. He was entirely unreadable as he watched his adopted son.

Green eyes did not linger on the single blue gaze as Loki turned, his brother's cloak pulled firmly around his much narrower shoulders.

"Shall we go, little one?" Lifa asked with a sneer.

Loki nodded, not trusting his voice. He gave one last glance to his brother before starting towards the Bifrost machine. One of the Jotuns stooped with a pair of chains in his hands. His large fingers seemed to find it difficult to unfasten them. The younger prince of Asgard gave a grunt of irritation. "I am going of my own free will. I see no reason to chain me like an animal."

"Let him pass into our world of his own power," their queen commanded and she moved next to him. She spoke in a tone only he could hear. "You won't have it long, so I'd suggest you revel in it now."

Loki lifted his chin obstinately and the machine began to whirl, sending them through the Bifrost to Jotunheim and leaving his father and brother behind.

TBC

A/N: So, Loki's a prisoner, Thor's pissed, and you'll have to wait for the next chapter to see what Odin will do. Please feel free to review! It brightens our days, and tomorrow's Monday. It'll need a lot of brightening.