Monster

Chapter Two: The Discovery and the Plan

Thor awoke with a headache, much like he'd been kicked my Sleipnir, the sun flitting into his room and across the bed. Thor sat up slowly, rubbing his face tiredly, and sighing softly. He'd fallen asleep worrying about Loki, plotting, planning in his head how to fix everything. Thor only craved to 'fix' Loki, to see his brother smile, and be the man he once was. Though, after much thought, Thor was beginning to doubt it was possible.
Getting up, Thor had dressed and washed up, before grabbing the key his mother had given him, making his way to the prison cells. Thor dismissed the guards, warning them not to tell anyone that he'd been to the cells, or he'd have their head, before he moved towards the barred door of Loki's cell.

What met Thor's eyes when he peered inside startled him. Loki was sleep, curled into the cold stone corner of the room, his head leaning on the stone, with the blood stained blanket draped over his shoulders. There were prominent finger shaped bruises on his jaw, several other bruises marring what skin he could see. Loki's lips were caked in drying blood, and the silver thread was easily spotted. Thor's hands trembled as he scrambled to unlock Loki's door, and slip inside, shutting the door behind him.

"Loki." Thor breathed, hoping to gently rouse his brother from his sleep, "Brother."

Loki jumped at the sound of Thor's voice, instantly awake and aware, ducking his head and pressing closer to the wall, pale green eyes flicking up to glare at Thor.

"What has happened to you? Who hurt you so?" Thor murmured his brows furrowed as he stepped closer.

Thor knelt beside Loki, reaching out to cup Loki's face in his large hands, cerulean eyes examining the stitches in his lips. Thor dropped his hands when Loki growled, and yanked his face from Thor's grasp, his eyes boring hard into Thor's. Thor sighed and reached out to push the messy hair from Loki's face, causing the smaller god to hiss and growl once more, shuffling away from Thor's hands. Thor moved back, crossing his arms over his broad chest in thought. Loki stood and yanked his thin blanket closer, moving away from Thor to sit on his bed, turning to face his back to Thor.

"Loki. I will find the meaning of this. Brother, you do not deserve this pain; this punishment was not part of the agreement." Thor insisted, standing as well, and moving towards Loki again.

Loki's head snapped back to meet Thor's eyes again, his brows furrowed angrily. Thor tried moved closer, to try and inspect Loki's injuries, and possibly try and heal them with what little magic he did know, but Loki's hands shot out and shoved Thor back, growling, before wincing at the pain the movement caused in his ribs. Thor stumbled back, having not expected the shove.

"If you so hate my presence that much, I will leave. But know this. I only came to help you brother, and if I leave now, I will not return." Thor said his voice firm.

Thor wasn't sure where the anger had welled, but he was suddenly furious that Loki was so stubborn. He was fed up with all his energy and all his love going towards fighting for his brother, and all Loki ever did was push him away and cause him more pain. Thor growled softly, and shot Loki a look, before turning and exiting the cell, locking it behind him.

"Do not expect my help, nor my return, Loki." He snapped, scowling before turning and leaving the guards to return to their posts, confused at why Thor had stormed off.

Thor's temper had gotten the better of him, and he stormed his way to the training yard once more, to find his friends there and training. Thor joined easily, his mind pushing all thoughts of Loki away.

Frigga had spent her morning as she would any morning, sipping her tea along with reading a book in the dining hall, letting her mind wander. Last night, Odin had come into their room fuming and angry, blood staining his fingers. He had immediately pushed away any remarks Frigga had, and moved into their private washroom to bathe, leaving Frigga to ponder the meaning of blood on Odin's hands. When Odin had returned, Frigga had pestered him until he spilled. He'd explained that Loki would lie no more, and told her how he had sewn the god's lips shut. Frigga had promptly gotten quite angry, her petite face growing red with frustration as she shouted at her husband. Odin had slept in a separate room that night, as Frigga had promptly kicked him out of the room, furious.

Frigga was never one to get angry, nor shout, but she knew her son did not deserve this punishment. She knew when Thor found out this, when he visited today, that it would not settle well with him. She feared how Thor would react. Perhaps he would explode with rage and go after Odin to demand that Loki's punishment be lifted. Or perhaps the thunder god would bottle it up, he would hide his rage until it burst, unleashing a force that even Odin would struggle to contain. Frigga knew Thor's strength, and knew his temper. If Thor was angered enough, he would lash out, and it would certainly not end well.

Frigga sighed, and rubbed her face, before finishing her tea, and deciding that a day tending to her garden would calm her nerves, and help her to think clearly, and devise a plan.

After four more hard swings, Thor landed a harsh blow to Fandral's side, causing him to topple backwards and cry out. Thor had been too lost in his anger to pay attention to who exactly he'd been sparring with, and he snapped out of it instantly at the sound of Fandral's cry. Thor rushed to his friend's side, and helped him up, blue eyes filled with worry.

"I am sorry, friend! I hadn't meant to hurt you." Thor said, "Are you alright?" he asked worriedly.

Fandral chuckled softly and rubbed his aching side, "I am well, friend. Worry not, it will merely bruise." Fandral assured. "Though, I can see that it is you who is not alright, Thor. Tell me, what is it, which plagues your mind?" Fandral asked, walking with Thor to a nearby bench.

Thor sat on the bench beside Fandral, sighing softly as his friend's hand pressed to his shoulder when Thor rubbed his face wearily.

"Father has gone too far with Loki's punishment." Thor began, "He has sewn Loki's lips together with the thread of Vartari. Blood caked my brother's face, and there are bruises left by my father's hands I'm sure, along his jaw. His body seems to be marred with bruises as well." Thor said, lifting his eyes to meet Fandral's.

Fandral nodded, "While I agree with Sif that Loki is a criminal, I know he is your brother, and that there may be some good left within him, this punishment does not seem fitting. It was not in the agreement you and Odin had made. Have you spoken with your father about this? Perhaps he has some reasoning behind what he's done." Fandral offered.

Thor shook his head, "I have not spoken with father. I fear if I am to go to him now, I will do something that I will regret. I need to think this through." He said.

"My brother refuses my help. When I saw him, he growled like some animal, he pushed me away when I tried to examine his injuries. I merely wished to try and heal him with the small amount of magic I do know. When he pushed me away, I grew angry, and told him I would not return when I left." Thor admitted, shaking his head, and running a calloused hand through his hair. "I must learn to control my temper if I am to help Loki recover from his ways." Thor sighed.

Fandral nodded in understanding, "Perhaps wait a day or two before seeing your father or Loki again. Think things through and decide the best way to approach the situation. I apologize to you, my friend, that I am unable to offer you further assistance in this." Fandral said, dropping his hand from Thor shoulder and moving to stand up. "I am going to visit the healers for this bruising; you should visit the gardens, or perhaps go on a hunt to clear your mind. You think best on your own." Fandral offered a reassuring smile, before turning and making his way to the healing ward, leaving Thor to think alone.