The next morning she woke early after a dream riddle sleep. She was use to the minimum hours of sleep, the dreams however seemed to shock and set the fear into her bones. Last night was no exception, she had the flash backs being strapped to a table as the mob leader started injecting her with different substances which cause pain to cause through her body. She still trembled when she remember the laughter going through the mob as she twisted and turned in pain.
She managed to get a decent run before the rest of Asgard had even woken. She was in her uniform and had started reading the books of the Asgardian history which Thor had left her when a maid came in with her breakfast. She had to say the food was definitely better than in any of the SHEILD bases she had been to. She loved the variety of new and interesting fruits which she ate each morning.
She continued to read the books in front of her while slowly picking away at the fruit. She loved books there were a source of information unlocked a lot of secrets and answers to questions. She knew she needed to have a better understanding of Asgardians, there history and how things worked before she faced Loki for real in his prison cell. The morning passed with no interruptions from any one, which suited her, as she was able to place her full concentration into research. She had moved from her desk to the window, were the fresh air rolled in and the glorious view pf Asgard before her. She lay across the window, only moving when she had to turn a page. There was a knock at the door which followed to it opening. Leah looked over to see Queen Frigga standing in her open doorway.
"May I enter?" She asked smiling at her.
Leah just dropped the book standing up and looking at the woman in front of her before bowing. She never expected to have the queen of Asgard enter her quarters especially considering they only met yesterday.
"Sorry I didn't hear you." Leah apologized before getting up and bowing at the Queen.
"You are reading our history." The queen smiled as she shut the door behind her moving further into the room before looking at the book which lay on the floor. "Your reading our history. How are you finding it?" The queen beant down picking up the book looking at it before she handed it back Leah.
"It is detailed and fascinating your highness." Leah replied standing up straight staring at the queen as she took the book off of her before placing it on a side table. "Its a little complicated in places but I think I am beginning to understand parts."
"May I join you?" The queen frowned. All Leah could do was nod, she was not expecting the Queen of Asgard to come to her room or look for her company. The Queen sat herself on the ledge before looking out at the view. "Thor has explained to me why you have come here. He believes what he is doing is the best for Loki and I understand why your people want reassurance that he will not commit these heinous crimes again."
"But you don't believe this is the best for Loki?" Leah muttered sitting down beside the queen, she understood if she didn't, she was Loki's mother, even if he was adopted. She was the woman who raised both sons. Leah would do anything to have that sort of maternal figure in her life. Her mother couldn't even been bothered to care or try and love Clint and her as children. She couldn't even remember a time where she was around enough for her to even notice them.
"Both my sons have always been different, what Loki did to your home is vile but you must understand his actions may have been caused because of reasons you do not truly know about." The queen began looking a little awkward in explaining. "Loki isn't blood related."
"Thor mentioned he was adopted when they were on earth, just before the attack." Leah remembered Thor trying to do defend Loki till he knew the true extent of Loki's actions. She just glanced the Queen who just smiled slightly nodding with her.
"That may be one way of describing it, I begged Odin their father to tell him when he was old enough to understand. I thought it would be better for him, he may understand then why he was different to Thor. That he would see how much still that we loved him even though he was well." The Queen sighed looking down at her lap. Leah could see the pain seep out of her. She felt sorry for her, to see her son in a cell daily within her palace must not be easy. However it did not change Leah's mind that he deserved to be anywhere else at the moment. Leah believed in giving people chances but only to people who deserved to have a chance and Loki hadn't proved that he deserved that privilege. "Thor has always been a warrior; Loki was not blessed with strength however instead he possessed his magic. But I could see Loki was always in Thor's shadow, as much as I tried to push him. I believe Loki seeing his brother ascend to become king one day and then finding out the truth of his heritage was too much. I love both my sons equally still even after what Loki did but I can't help to think what we did to him made him what he is now."
"Have you spoken to Loki?" Leah said being curious and also seeing if Loki was telling her the truth. "I mean since he has been back here on Asgard."
"He will not talk to me or any one." The Queen shook her head looking upset once again. "He won't even look at me, it's like we don't exist to him."
This shocked Leah, she didn't expect to be the first person Loki would turn too. She just looked out of the window trying to hide the astonishment of what she had just heard. She didn't understand Loki's move now at all. It made no sense for him to talk to her, someone who wanted to see him locked up at the moment, while the one person who wanted him freed had not.
"He has spoken to you though?" The Queen suddenly smiled a true smile which made Leah feel a overwhelming sense of guilt. "Hasn't he?"
"Yes." Leah nodded glancing back at the Queen not wanting to lie to a woman who obviously loved him still and wanted her son back desperately.
"You must mean something important to him." The Queen told Leah looking at her with a expression Leah could not place apart from that she was happy about something. "My Son is a complicated man but he is a man."
"No, no its nothing like that." Leah realized the hidden meaning to what the Queen was telling her. "He prefers to annoy me rather than talk to me. He tries to intimidate, embarrass and make me feel awkward more than anything. He took over my brother mind, making him disclose information about me which was meant to be a secret, that was what interested him. Apart from that I was just a normal Mirgardian and that was not of importance to him."
"Perhaps." The Queen stood up before looking at Leah. "If you ever want to know more about my Son, feel free to ask me. Unlike the others he is still my son, I still love him and I have no reason not to talk about him."
"Thank you." Leah glanced up at her watching as the Queen left her chambers.
Leah just pulled her knees up to her chest and looked out of the window. She didn't think the Queen had come to her to spin her lies or to make her feel pity for Loki. However she suddenly felt she understood him a little better. She knew what it was like to be the younger sibling in a relationship. She didn't understand though why would he speak to her, when his own mother was willing and wished that he would walk into her open arms. It actually concerned her that she was the only person he seemed to want to speak too.
The afternoon passed by before someone brought her some dinner, she didn't even bother to look at it before eating. She was still too deeply engrossed in the history book before her. She was just sipping the wine while she continued to sit at the window watching the light fall away from this world.
"Good evening." Came a voice making her jump. She just scowled at Loki who seemed to sit at her table while he looked at the open books smiling. He as back in his fine garments, obviously a look he chose to project himself. She just shook her head and ignored him looking back out of the window. "So you're reading about us." It was more a statement than a question, but Leah knew it was more than obvious what she was doing.
"It's information which may be useful." She replied still not looking back up at him. "Your mother visited me today." She commented, there was no reply which made her smile slightly. She knew she must have shocked him. "She knew you had spoken to me. She obviously misses you."
"She is a good woman." He muttered sounding closer.
She turned getting startled again seeing he was now sitting right next to her. He smiled when he saw what a fright he had given her, while she glared back at him. She moved ever so slightly so she was facing him but still trying to keep her distance.
"She came to tell me about you really." She added not looking directly at him, she knew this was a subject that he would not really be willing to talk to her. "She still loves you a lot and she feels guilty about what has happened to you."
"So she explained my true origins?" Loki drawled sounding displeased about something.
"No." Leah shook her head trying to remember what the Queen had exactly said. "Just that you were not blood related, adopted was the turn we used. She still however calls you her son. No it was more about how you were in Thors shadow as a child, not the favoured son obviously as he was going to be made king." He just glared at her down at her as she glanced up at him, she realized then this was a touchy subject. "I know how that feels trust me."
"What would you know." Loki sneered sounding a little to menacing for her liking. "I was the son they never wanted, the different one, the one that would never be king but used if needed like one of the relics captured and held in a safe."
"I was a child that was never wanted by her own parents, I was left to fend for myself with my brother till we were torn apart when I was only a small child. I was placed in a home filled with other unwanted kids before I was given to a family that I never suited. I was pushed from family to family like a mere object, never given a chance to settle. None of them truly wanting me so giving me to the next lot. I was alone till my brother found me and rescued me from that life." Leah shouted back at him looking away feeling her anger boil over. "So yeah I know what it's like."
There was a silence between them that seemed to last a age, she didn't bother looking at him. Instead she just stared out at the stars which were slowly coming out in the night sky. Loki finally spoke after some time, this time sounding a lot calmer and at ease with the conversation.
"I always knew I was different. I mean it wasn't hard to see how I was treated differently. I was not built to be a warrior of Asgard. Instead I was given the ability of magic which my Mother helped me with. However my father favoured Thor always, he was always proud of him even when he made his mistakes and showed his blatant arrogance."
"Were you happy as a child though." She turned back to look at him. Seeing he was hunched over in thought fiddling with his fingers.
"I knew no different then." Loki muttered bitterly not bothering to look at her. "My anger was only fueled when I found out my so called fathers reason to keep me. Use me like the relics won in battles, to form an alliance, for the best for Asgard. Then I knew I must prove myself as a son and rightful king."
She didn't know really what to say, she never ever expected in a million years for Loki to talk to her like this, let alone talk to her about himself. She just sat there in silence with him, she began to actually feel sorry for him. She understood how he felt only slightly but she could relate with what she went though in all those homes and then proving her capabilities to her brother. However she had never been lied to like he had been, to have his entire world shattered around him.
"What did you do." She asked seeing if he would tell her more.
Loki just looked up at her smiling slightly before shaking his head and getting up. He walked over to the centre of the room, standing tall before saying.
"Not this time little one. Perhaps I will tell you" He paused thinking a moment "one day."
He then vanished in front of her, she didn't really know what to think or make in this situation. She just stared at the spot where he stood, wondering if what he said was true. The jigsaw pieces seemed to fall in place from what he and his mother had told her. Part of her though thought if he was trying to make her pity him so he could manipulate her. She knew she wasn't going to fall that easily but part of her began to actually began to understand how he felt and the reasons behind his actions.