I'm so sorry this took me so long to publish :( Work's been weird lately, and I haven't had time to type anything!

The dark prince was brought back chained, muzzled, and humiliated, while the golden prince returned with the glory and the Tesseract. As all of Asgard cheered for Thor above, Loki was chained up like a monster in the dungeons, regarded as a monster by his people. No one even cared to bring him food or water, not that any of it would have made it past the muzzle anyway. The only thing he could do was sit and wait for someone to come to him. So it was that he did not look up the first time the door opened, as he felt angry and grieved and alone and hungry. No, he did not look up until he caught the scent of flowers and rain and hay and grass, and the speed with which he did so nearly snapped his neck.

Much time had passed in Asgard since his fall, and Sigyn now stood before him, still in mourning, a long black veil covering her golden curls. She seemed torn between joy and sadness upon seeing him. Thor stood behind her, only looking sad.

"Remove that device from his mouth," Sigyn told the guards.

"But, my lady, he is-"

"Do as I say! Remove the device and leave us!" she ordered harshly.

The guards did not argue again, briskly stepping forward to do as they were told. Loki said nothing when his jaw was freed, only stretched it, working it side to side. Sigyn glared after the guards until they left, shutting the door behind Thor. Then she marched forward and struck Loki hard across the face. His head whipped sideways with the force of the blow. He licked his lips, not moving his head, and whispering, "So… you hate me too, Sigyn?"

"You stupid… daft… foolish idiot!" she choked, "Why did you leave me?"

Only now did he cast his gaze to her, hissing, "You left first."

"So we could be together! It was a witch's spell I procured, hoping to fall asleep like that and prove to my father and Thialfi how much I love you and change their minds on my marriage to Theoric! I was only supposed to sleep for a few days, a week at most, but the spell was too powerful due to my despair. I never intended to leave forever! I was always going to return to you, Loki!"

It still happened, that little flutter of his heart when she said his name.

"Thor told me everything when I woke… the same day you fell," she continued, "He told me how you would sit with me and talk to me every day. He told me-"

"Did he really tell you all?" Loki asked angrily, "Did he tell you what I did to Jotunheim? To him? Did he tell you that I'm a monster?"

"Yes. He did, but I still do not think you a monster… and I never could… not unless I found you did not love me anymore."

There was a very pregnant pause, during which the dark prince contemplated lying to her. This was a silly notion. He had never been able to lie to her.

"Sigyn…" he said slowly, his voice barely above a whisper, "I will never stop loving you… never…"

She stepped forward, tears filling her eyes and her lip trembling, resting her hand on his stinging cheek; he nuzzled into her touch.

"Now then, love… you must tell me everything," she told him gently.

And he did. He spoke until his throat was raw and burning. He told her of the mind control and the torture and the pain and the promise to make him feel important as the ruler of Midgard and how all he ever wanted was to be happy and seen to be as worthy as Thor. He told her of the pain he felt upon learning his true nature and realizing instantly that none of his dreams of happiness would ever come true. He wept unashamedly in her arms, not even recalling Thor's presence until he felt a large hand rest on his head. He did not try to throw it off this time. A long while passed before Thor quietly told Loki, "We must go, brother. Father is waiting. He must decide your punishment."

"But we shall be at your side," Sigyn offered, "You will not be alone."

So Loki submitted to having the dreadful muzzle placed over his mouth once more and allowed Thor to lead him to Odin's chambers. He was pleased to see only Odin and Frigga were present. The sight of Frigga set tears in his eyes and tugged at his heart, for while he had raged at Odin for lying to him, he never hated Frigga. No, the queen had always treated him and Thor as equals, had never shown preference for one or the other. She had fully accepted him for who and what he was long before even he knew. No, he could never hate Frigga.

"Loki Odinson, prince of Asgard," Odin stated, "you have been arrested for treason, the attempted destruction of Jotunheim, and the militant invasion of Midgard. These are serious crimes. Thor, Sigyn, do either of you have anything to say for him?"

Of course, Loki would not be able to speak for himself. He expected to hear Thor's booming voice beside him.

"Odin Allfather, my great king, please allow me to speak on his behalf," Sigyn answered softly but audibly.

Odin nodded his head in acquiescence. It took her a moment to collect herself.

"Your majesty, it is true that Loki committed these crimes. We have the evidence. It is undeniable, however, he was not himself. He has told me a tale of pain and horror and mind control. An evil force took control of his mind and twisted his pain until he could control him, until he had turned him into someone even Thor and I would not recognize. My lord, they ordered him to retrieve the Tesseract and bring it to them or he would be killed. His mind was so twisted and warped by these beings that he agreed."

"You know this to be true?" Odin asked.

"Certainly. I heard it from Loki's own mouth, and he has never lied to me."

"What would you have me do, Sigyn?"

"Lord, I would have you show mercy, whatever mercy Your Grace sees fit… for I love him. Nothing can change that, not in a thousand years. I was broken when I thought I had lost him, just as he was when he thought I had gone. Please, mighty king, do not take my beloved from me."

She ducked her head, tears rolling down her cheeks. Even Odin seemed moved.

"Even with all you know, Lady Sigyn, you would still love him?"

"Yes. I would take him for my husband if I could."

"And you, Loki?"

Loki could only nod and fix Sigyn with the most loving gaze he could. Odin leaned back on his throne, processing all the information, before saying, "Loki Odinson, prince of Asgard, I shall now pronounce the punishment for your crimes. These offenses are your first, though they are grave. Normally, these offenses would carry a penalty of banishment or death. I do not mete these out, not because you are a prince or are our son, but because your deeds were not wholly your own.

"You are to have the majority of your magic taken away and your lips sewn shut for fifty years. Now, in your punishment, I give you hope. If the Lady Sigyn stays by your side through this ordeal and does not stray, I will allow the two of you to marry when it is over. This is my judgment."

Loki's heart leapt at the good news even as his knees buckled from the loss of his magic. It was true that he had loved Sigyn since they were small, for thousands of years; he could wait fifty more.

He was led from Odin's chambers to the Halls of Healing, where a Healer would carry out his punishment. He took comfort from the presence of his brother and of his beloved Sigyn. Once there, Thor carefully removed both Loki's bonds and the muzzle as a Healer approached.

"You may speak with them while I prepare, my prince," the woman said.

He only nodded, and she left. He turned to his brother and said, "Thor, I am sorry. I am so sorry."

The blonde man carefully enveloped his younger brother in his arms, pulling him close to his chest. Loki fisted his hands in Thor's tunic when he whispered, "You do not need to apologize to me, brother," and gripped him tighter. When Thor released him, Loki looked to Sigyn, who let out a small sob before throwing herself at him. She wrapped he slender arms around his neck, crying into his shoulder while he wept in his hair. After a few moments, she pulled back slightly to look at him. Her blue eyes were rimmed in angry read and were glassy and wet; he knew he looked no better.

"Sigyn, I love you."

"And I love you, Loki."

Loki tilted his head forward enough to press his lips to hers, and she pressed back with equal force. It was not long before he brought up his hands to either side of her face and kissed her more deeply. He kissed her carefully, slowly, passionately, wanting to remember this feeling forever. Every so often, he would pull away just enough to murmur, "I love you," before slotting his lips against hers once more. A good while passed before they broke apart, Sigyn planting a gentle kiss to the corner of his mouth as she let go. She laced her fingers with his and brushed the tears from his face as Thor fetched the Healer. Loki was surprised when Thor took his other hand as the Healer threaded the needle.

"Now, this will hurt, my prince. I advise you remain as still as possible."

Loki gripped their hands tightly, closed his eyes, and tried not to scream.