~ Chapter 5 ~

Time moved slow when you had no sun to keep track of. He had no idea what day or time of the day it was when he woke up. The only thing he knew was that yet another tray had been dropped inside his cell, spoiling his food. It had to be a rather long time ago because the bread had been half eaten by the rats.

With effort and a painful groan, Loki forced his body to sit up. He couldn't allow himself to remain in the same position to long. His joint would become stiff and awkward while he healed. When he had his breathing under control, he looked inside to see if any of his magical power had returned, not that he was disappointed when he found none.

With the long absent of anything to drink or eat, the tricksters stomach cramped painfully. He knew he couldn't let pride dictate his life anymore. That had already happened once, and look where that got him. Pushing himself up to his feet, he walked over to the dirty puddle with aching steps. Falling to his knees he bent down until he could suck on the water. It was gross and disgusting but he got liquid inside his body. Next he did the same with the remains of the broth on the tray and the remains of his bread.

Despite being cold, and no doubt having been sampled by the rats, it was the best Loki had tasted. It did little to lift his aching stomach but it settled for now.

A rat ran across the room to grab a crumb before giving him a deadly look and ran back to its nest.

"Back at you." Loki looked around the room and spotted his other cup. He put both of them under the dripping water, one in the middle of the room, the other in the corner where he found another leak.

When he was finished with his work, he sat back on the bench and began to meditate. He would find a way to escape this jail. He would get his answers from Thor.

At the same time, above ground, Asgard was sitting down for their midday meal. The room was filled with people, even some extra guards was present. At the top of the table sat Odin, his one eye keeping track of the whole room. To his right sat Frigga who looked pale and uninterested in talking with others. Asgard held no grudge against the Goddess. She had lived through a lot in the last few days. Not to mention that justice was still being served in the dungeons.

To Odin's left sat Thor. The normally talkative and radiant thunder God was sitting solemnly with his meal. He hadn't even finished one goblet of mead. Next to him sat Lady Sif and her companions.

It was no longer any secret of what had happened. Many thanked Lady Sif for breaking an evil circle and bringing justice to evil. She had been the one to drag Thor to Odin to confess the evil doings of his younger brother. Rape was so vile among the Asgardians that they didn't want to say the word in the presence of the royal family.

All other Gods felt proud of Thor for surviving something so horrible. He had their respect for handling it as good as he did. Many of them didn't know what they would have done if they had been the victim.

Curses of the criminal were voiced. Many exclaimed how Loki's magic was a heathen power. How they had always known it would never be any good from it.

Frigga excused herself and left the room. Unable to handle the talk of her people.

Sif was busy basking in the glory of her actions. She now and then hanged of Thor's shoulder and asked him questions of his well being.

Thor on the other side, was eating minimal of the feast before him. His appetite gone every time his blue eyes strayed to the empty hole where Loki's chair should have been next to Frigga's.

His father's first action after throwing Loki into the dungeons was to take away and burn everything that belonged to Loki. It had been a grand fire where people had come with objects that probably Loki had only touched. Like goblets and books. Even the wallpaper in his rooms had been torn down and burned.

Unable to handle the meal anymore, Thor also excused himself and left swiftly. His eyes unconsciously searching for the lithe black haired man in the hall. The form that should be walking around the corner and allow him to suck in the glorious sight of the other.

What he hadn't expected however was his mother waiting for him around the corner. Her pained eyes pierced his and he felt guilt in being the reason for it.

"My son," she said softly. "Please tell me what happened. I find it hard to believe Loki capable of such crimes. A trickster he is. A man with a bright mind and quick tongue. A silver talker sometimes and even childish in his manners, but I can not believe he could be a rapist."

It was hard to listen to his mothers words. He couldn't face her and reverted his eyes. "It's true." his throat was dry. His lips felt patched. "He forced himself on me." Memories of his own actions that morning haunted him at his lie.

Frigga covered her hands over her mouth, trying to hide her sob. Tears spilled from her eyes and it became to much for her. She turned away and ran, leaving her oldest son with guilt eating away in his body.

The week that had passed since that morning had been surreal. That morning when he ran into Sif, he had been so distraught by his own actions toward Loki that his half confession had come out sounding like Loki had been the one in his place. That had made Sif held onto his words and once he realized what she was asking him to confirm he had been unable to change the misunderstanding. He couldn't face his father and confess that for months he had been stalking his younger brother, almost forced himself on him, played with the other to his own twisted desire. He couldn't say it.

What he hadn't expected was for Sif to drag him to Odin and confess the lie. Shortly after, Loki had been dragged in front of their family and he had been unable to face Loki as the lie expanded and Loki was the one facing the consequences. Sif and his friends, the warriors three, had tried to comfort him the best they could with their presence. Frigga had been there also but not able to understand how her precious child could do something so horrible.

He had just stood there when Loki was sentenced to the dungeon and he hadn't seen him since. Thor didn't have the guts to go down to him, face his actions once more. What was more, Odin had shortly after the trial made his own confession to Loki's parentage.

That had made Thor's head spin even more. To learn he and Loki wasn't blood related, but what was harder to come to terms with was that Odin had used Loki's origin as part of the reason for the crime. It was absurd that Odin didn't know his own son. To think him capable of such ruthless prejudice.

But it had been his words. His own words and actions that had torn their family apart.

He was a coward. He was the reason their mother cried right now. He was the reason his little brother, and secret desire, was in the dungeon. It was all his fault and there was nothing he could do about it. He was completely powerless.

Completely...

Utterly...

Helpless...

TBC