As morning arrived, Loki slowly found himself waking after the best sleep he had had in a very long time. However when he opened his eyes, he found that he was no longer in his cell, but rather in his chambers.
Sitting up, Loki walked around his room before dressing himself and going to investigate. The moment he stepped out of his room, servants passing down the corridor immediately bowed to him on their way.
"Good morning, sir." They murmured as they passed him. What the Trickster noted this time, however, was that their greetings were genuine, not forced as they always had been when he was still a prince of Asgard. Bowing in return, he let the servants get on with their jobs, soon coming across the Warriors seeing him, the Three grinned - all except Hogun of course - and greeted him.
"Loki! How did you sleep?" Volstagg asked him, eating a few grapes. Fandral nodded, smile on his face also. Quite surprised by their kindness, he did his best not to show it.
"Ah, quite nicely, thank you. Uh...Do you happen to know the whereabouts of Thor?" He asked. Though an idiot, he probably knew what was happening. He was to be the future king of Asgard after all...
"That traitor?! Why in all the Nine Realms would you want to speak to him?!" Fandral asked, shocked at Loki's question as Loki was shocked at Fandral's answer.
"Traitor? Forgive my forgetfulness but what exactly did he do?"
"You have forgotten? Why, he tried destroying Jotunheim and tried taking over Midgard! He's a reckless, arrogant fool. He deserves execution." Volstagg said, bitterness in his words.
"Yes. And I can assure you I will sleep much more soundly once he has been." Fandral added. Loki's gut twisted on hearing this, hands balling up into fists. Thor could never do such a thing, they must of been mistaken. It was him who had done all that, not Thor. It couldn't be Thor. At that moment, Lady Sif arrived, greeting Loki with a warm smile. One she had never given him before.
"Your father asks you come see him this afternoon. He said they have found a day in which your coronation will commence." She explained. Loki froze for a moment. He was to be king? Nothing was making sense anymore so with a quick nod, he left his friends and stalked down to the dungeons, soon finding Thor's cell.
Thor was laying on the cot, staring idly at the wall. He didn't notice his brother arrive nor enter.
"Thor, what is going on?" Loki asked, narrowing his eyes at the larger god. Looking back over his shoulder, Thor slowly sat up, facing the smaller.
"What do you mean-"
"Do not play dumb with me! Even I know you are not that foolish! You know what is going on, am I right? Now tell me!" He ordered, fists clenched still. Watching him for a moment, Thor let out a soft sigh.
"I made a deal with a sorcerer to swap our lives. You live the life I had and I live the life you had. I did say I would do all in my power to stop the execution, did I not? Now you will have everything you wanted. To be treated as my equal, to be loved, to be king and for me to be dead." Thor explained softly. Loki listened to what he said, feeling his heart turn cold at the last part.
"You...you what? Thor, do you not understand? No, of course you don't because you are such an idiot! Once you are executed there is no going back! You are gone and now that you have taken my life you will be sent straight to Hel instead of Valhalla!" Loki growled, narrowing his eyes at him.
"I have taken this into consideration, Loki. I chose this to protect you. It is all I have ever wanted and now I have it. Not to mention in the process, I was able to give you everything you wanted." Thor said in reply, watching the god with a stern gaze.
"You fool! Do you really think I want you dead?!" He hissed, fists shaking slightly before turning and walking to the door. He couldn't risk breaking down in front of Thor. Not after all those years of holding up a solid wall.
As the day went by, what Thor had told him became more and more real. He was treated just as Thor had been, served and loved, showered in glory. He wasn't quite used to it, but found he was enjoying it.
There was however, the fact of Thor being dead in less than a week. He was fearful of it, having always lived his life with Thor. Whether it be in front of him or beside him, Thor was always there and to think that soon he wouldn't be, Loki dreaded it. He had only just come to terms with his feelings for the god. Soon, he would never be able to speak them.
Ever. Because death was permanent, not temporary.