The day grew longer and Odin knew the time was growing near. While everyone gathered in the great hall, he took his time getting ready. Frigga watched him from the bed side, her arms crossed almost with a glare in her eyes.

"Why must you do this to him? Why can't you do this privately and …?"

Odin interrupted her with a loud bark in his voice.

"Do you not think that I would want to punish him privately? He endangered Asgard while in command! He could have led us to war. The people know what he has done and know he should be punished for it. I cannot keep this quiet."

Frigga lowered her head slowly knowing he was right; she just couldn't admit it to herself. She couldn't sit there and just wait for everything to happen; it was ripping her apart on the inside. Odin could feel the tension mounting between them. He knew it was hard for her to see this happening, even to an adoptive son. It was still a son she raised and loved.

"My dear, could you please see if Thor is ready?"

She stormed out of the room as quick as she could without answering him. Odin sighed with a heart full of sadness watching Frigga leave. She found Thor in the hall walking with Sif.

"Thor, my son, your father would like to know if you are ready and to please head to the hall."

Thor huffed with anger in his eyes. Sif bowed to the Queen with a smile, trying to be kind on a sad day. After a few moments of no answer from Thor, Sif finally elbowed him to get a reaction from the man.

"Ready? Ready to see him punish my brother, your son? How is anyone ready for that?"

She sighed with a guilty look of sorrow, shaking her head slowly.

"Thor please." Frigga sighed

"Yes, my queen, we will head there now." Sif replied being respectful. She grabbed Thor's arm, pulling him along quickly. Frigga watched them leave; she knew why Thor was so unhappy. She couldn't do anything to help him or Loki. It was all out of her hands and it didn't make her happy about any of it.

Loki was lying on his back looking up at the ceiling, trying to clear his mind of everything that was happening. All thoughts ran back to Frigga. He was a grown man but all he wanted was to be held by the one woman he called mother. He suddenly heard the door open and guards walk in. He jumped to his feet looking over at them with a glare as they held some chains out in front of them.

"You won't need those, boys."

The one guard laughed grabbing Loki's arm twisting it to force him to his knees. The other one chained his wrists together. Loki hissed in pain as his skin was pinched by the metal cuffs. The guards pulled him to his feet and yanked him along the path toward the Great Hall. Loki lowered his head as he saw all the people that showed up to witness his punishment. The embarrassment rose up in his cheeks and the cold feeling started to take over his body. He tried to control it, keeping himself in the form he was in. He didn't want the people of Asgard to fear him in his Jotun form; it would put a target on him and his brother.
As he reached the steps of the throne, he looked up to see his mother standing there with tears swelling up in her eyes. He tried to mouth some words to her but he couldn't even bring himself to do that. Glancing up, he saw Thor standing next to Sif. As his gaze watched Thor, he could see grief and anguish in his eyes. He couldn't figure out why he would feel any of those things, this was no fault of Thor's. Loki's eyes kept scanning the throne in front of him, catching the eyes of the three warriors Hogun, Volstagg, & Fandral. Their eyes burned into him like fire. He knew they were judging him. And why not, what had he done, but almost get them killed on Jotunheim. They had no reason to trust him or care what happened to him.
Loki lowered his eyes as Odin stood up giving Gungir a hard tap into the ground to let the sound echo around the Great Hall. The people of Asgard looked up to Odin waiting for him to speak.

"This day is not an easy day. We fell into darkness with the rule of my youngest son Loki. Allowing our greatest enemy into our realm and home, with the destruction of the Bifrost and attempt to take over Midgard, I now with a heavy heart must administer the one punishment I was hoping to never do."

Loki closed his eyes hearing the words of Odin echo through the Great hall. Playing with the chains around his wrists to pass the time, then it came.

"Loki, I hereby disown you from the house of Odin. You are no longer my son or part of the royal family. I take from you, your powers. You will live among the people, live as they do. You will no longer be among the privileged. You will learn to work for what you need to live. And Valhalla hopes the people show you kindness as you have not shown them."

Loki's jaw dropped as the guards took the shackles off. Odin held his hand out while Loki's scepter appeared in it. He looked up with a sigh, knowing he would never get his scepter back. He knew Odin couldn't take his Jotun abilities from him but the powers he had bestowed on him as a child, Odin took with ease.

The Guards picked Loki up to make him stand as Odin addressed him one final time.

"You will now leave this Hall, and never return. "

He slowly turned and walked down the middle of the Great Hall with all the eyes on him, watching him, judging him. He said nothing as he left the hall; he knew no words would make Odin change his mind. The moment he exited the hall his armor faded to plan peasant garb. He never looked back to see the look on his mother's face, to see the tears she shed for him, to see his brother's shock, to see his father shake in disbelief of what he had just done.

Loki's life had changed he wasn't sure if it was for the better but no matter what it had changed.

Thor slammed the door of his chambers; he couldn't believe what had just happened. Touching his helmet he slowly took it off studying it and the design of the feathers. Thinking of his brother and how he always made fun of them. The emotions seemed to swell up in him Thor throws his helmet as hard as he could breaking a window and roaring in anger.
Sif heard Thor's roar while walking past his door. It made her stop and worry about him. She questioned if she should see if he was alright, knowing he would be upset about the day's events. She finally took a deep breath puffed out her chest and walked in to Thor's chambers. She couldn't believe her eyes, clothes everywhere his bed was flipped over, and holes in the walls.

"What in Valhalla?"

She said under her breath. Shutting the door softly she moved carefully through the room looking for Thor. Glancing over to a small table, it seemed to be the only piece of furniture that hadn't been damaged. There was a pair of small gold and green bracers sitting on it. Walking over to them she softly touched them remembering they were Loki's first pair. Thor had made them for him when they were children.
A roar is heard from the balcony. Sif jerked her head around gasping as she saw Thor fall to ground with blood streaming down his forehead.

"THOR!"

She ran to his side kneeling down to him she quickly cradled his head in her arm.

"Thor, what happened?"

He turned his head away from her not wanting to say why he was acting so weak. Sif ripped some cloth from her clothes patting Thor's forehead with it to soak up the blood.

"You shouldn't be here Sif. It's not safe."

She smiled as she cleaned the blood up from his face and cheeks. She softly sighs ignoring his warning when she was getting to her feet for some water. Taking the small metal water pitcher in her hand and a goblet in the other she poured some water for him. Kneeling back down to him she lifts his head again putting the goblet to his lips. Resisting, he takes a sip Thor cringes to the unfamiliar taste of the liquid.

"Ahh, woman. What are you trying to do poison me?"

She rolled her eyes at him giving him a sarcastic tone in her voice.

"That would be much easier than dealing with your temper tantrums you like to through."

Thor quickly turned to Sif, giving her a sharp glare not responding her sarcastic remark, and standing up with a bit of trouble. He turned to walk to the ledge of the balcony, peering over the railing to the people below. His eyes softened and he sighed with a slump in his shoulders.

"I never wanted this for him. I wanted to keep him safe."

Sif knew exactly what he was talking about. Watching what happened to Loki had hurt her too. She walked up to Thor placing her hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

"Thor, I think he knows you didn't want this to happen to him. I know I shouldn't be saying this with everything that had happened in the past. Even though what he did was wrong, I did miss him. He has always been like a brother to me. Even if he has been a thorn in my side, sometimes."

Thor looked to her with a small curl in his lip, almost trying to smile. He reached up to place his hand on hers, agreeing with what she had said.

"You are right; I still cannot help that I could have done more for him. I hope where ever he is that he is alright."

"You and me both Thor."

They both gazed down at the people below. The busy city not taking a second to think that the prince was watching them from the palace balcony above.

Walking through the booths and bread carts that made their way down the stone road he was bumped from side to side by the people that were crammed into each street. Ignored by the city people, Loki was finding it hard to fit in. He didn't get any respect from them and why would he? They knew who he was and didn't want anything to do with him. Loki walked to an open seat next to the gardens. Taking the seat and sighing heavily, his head fell into his hands.

"I'm a fool. I had everything and now look at me."

A young lady was sitting not far from him with long blond hair and her legs crossed in a long black dress, reading a thick book. She slowly peered around a rose bush and smiled at him.

"I see nothing wrong with you."

The voice shocked Loki into standing up and spinning around looking for someone that might have been spying on him. After a few moments he looked down to the woman leaning on the wall reading.

"Are you spying on me? Who are you?"

She kept her smile even with Loki's harsh tone toward her.

"I'm Seren, no I wasn't spying on you. I was reading. I just happened to hear you."

His eyes moved quickly around trying to think of something to say but nothing came to mind. He was normally quick on the draw with witty and smart come backs, but the day's events have changed him and made him less willing to fight with anyone. Instead he chose to nod to her and quickly walk off into the garden. Seren thought she offended Loki with something she might have said. She got to her feet watching him trudge off to the water's edge.
Seren felt something in him, something sad that started to tug at her heart. She caught herself walking up to him, but her mind went blank. The simplest of questions had completely left her. Loki glanced over to her, stifling his shock.

"What do you want?"

He calmly said to her with a slightly scared look upon his face. He honestly didn't know how to interact with others on Asgard anymore. He had been so angry about what Odin had told him about his past that he hadn't done much more but plan his vengeance against those that betrayed him. Seren smiled at him sweetly holding her book in front of her.

"Nothing, what's your name?"

Loki was baffled she didn't know who he was. He took advantage of this and used his silver tongue ability and thought it might be wise if he gave her a false name. Maybe she wouldn't fear or hate him if she didn't know who he was.

"My name is Lynx."

Yep that was it, give her a stupid name. Loki rolled his eyes at himself; he knew she wouldn't buy it now. He gave her that sly smile he was always known, for trying to charm her. She blushed a slight shade of pink; Loki couldn't help but think it was very cute of her.

"It's very nice to meet you Lynx. I hope nothing is wrong, if there is anything I can do please tell me. You seem like a good man, and I would hate for something bad to happen to you."

Loki sighed looking out to the fading sun in the distance.

"I'm afraid it's too late for that, my dear. Too many bad things have happened in my life. I serve a punishment to which there is no end."

She slowly took her hand and ran it down to Loki's hand. The soft look in her eyes told the story of a woman that wanted to help this man. She just didn't know what she could do for him.

"Can I help you in some way? To help ease your punishment?"

He saw her hand move to his, it was a strange feeling inside his stomach. Loki didn't want to be a burden on this woman, to tell her what was going on in his life would just make things worse.

"No, I'll be fine. I will stay here for the night; tomorrow I will try to figure things out."

She couldn't help but look a bit shocked as she tightened her grip on his hand.

"Lynx, don't you have a place to stay for the night?"

Loki shook his head, not wanting to make any eye contact. He could feel her tightening grip on him. Loki didn't know why this woman would care anything for him. For all he knew, no one ever cared for him always living 5 steps behind Thor and his glory.

"Then you will stay with me tonight, my house is outside the city. It's not much but I think you'll be comfortable in the lounge."

His head quickly perked up looking toward Seren.

"I couldn't possibly accept your kindness."

She pulled him to start walking with a smile.

"I won't take no for an answer Lynx, I won't let you sleep outside. You can wallow in self-pity at my place just as easily as you can here."

Loki chuckled and started to walk with her. They made their way out of the city and over the tall grass hills. Loki had never been out this way before.

"Where are we?"

He asked being very confused. As they got to the top of the last hill, Loki saw a small shack with a chimney with a bit of smoke coming from it. He couldn't help but feel warm inside and a smile growing on his face.

"To my home, come. I have some stew that should be ready for us to eat."

She pulled Loki's hand to keep him following her. He couldn't help but feel happy for once. They entered the shack and to Loki's amazement it looked much larger on the inside. Seren released Loki's hand to go check the stew. Loki looked around at all the small potion bottles and knickknacks she had placed along the table and window ledges. She had a glass figure of Loki's son Sleipnir he couldn't help but snicker under his breath. Seren looked over at him with a smile taking the stew off the fire.

"The stew is done. Would you like some Lynx?"

Loki walked over to her sitting down at the wooden table with a smile.

"I would love some."

She scooped some of the stew out of the pot and into a wooden bowl and set it in front of him. She handed him a wooden spoon with a smile. It was odd for Loki he looked at the wooden spoon turning it in his hand to see all the angles of it. Smiling he shook his head.

"What's wrong?"

He quickly looked up to Seren with a smile.

"Nothing, I was just looking at the craftsmanship of your spoon. I have never seen anything like it before."

He started to eat as Seren chuckled scooping herself out some of the stew.

"Oh, Lynx. I have never met anyone that has never seen a wooden spoon."

She looks into the pot with a slight frown.

"I don't think we will have enough for seconds, but if you want more you can have the rest."

Loki felt bad that he was eating her food and could not give her anything in return. He had to think of something to do to repay her.

"No my dear, you have it. I'm sure this will be more than enough for me. Thank you for your kindness."

After supper Loki tried to clean the bowls with the water that was in the sink. Seren chuckled and helped him learn how to do it the right way. Showing Loki where the Lounge was Seren headed to bed. She knew there was something odd about this man she knew as Lynx. She was just happy she could help him when he needed it. Loki tried to get comfortable on the lounge that night, thinking of ways to repay this kind woman. For the first time he didn't think of the palace or of his punishment. He thought of this as a new adventure, something he liked as a child. He sighed with a smile on his face quietly saying to himself.

"I will repay her, on my family's life I will repay her. And that is no lie."