Chapter 1.
The Watchman Heimdall removed his sword from the mechanism in the Bifrost as Loki appeared before him. The Dark Prince had indeed changed a lot since Heimdall had last seen him. Gone was his healthy glow only to be replaced by pale skin, too pale for Loki and gone was the mischief that twinkled in his eyes only to be replaced dark circles, emptiness and fear.
Glaring down at the Fallen Prince Heimdall noticed Jane Foster unconscious and wounded in his arms and said "bringing this mortal here to Asgard will not convince me or the All Father that you have changed Loki".
Loki looked at Heimdall knowing it would be hard to convince the Watcher but taking a deep breath he whispered loud enough for Heimdall to hear "please Heimdall send for the All Father. Jane Foster is badly injured and she needs help".
"Why should I listen to you, you who put the Nine Realms in danger and tried to have the All Father assassinated. The All Mother may look past your lies but I will not Trickster" growled Heimdall as he alerted a Palace Guard to summon the All Father.
While they waited Heimdall watched Loki carefully and seeing the All Father enter the Observatory with five Palace Guards he stepped closer to Loki fearing this could be another trick. Odin glared at Loki but his expression softened when he saw Jane Foster in his son's arms. Seeing her wound he turned to a Palace Guard and ordered "take this woman to the Healers immediately". The Palace Guard approached Loki and gently took Jane from his arms before rushing her to the Healers.
Tightening his grip on Gungnir Odin returned the glare back to Loki and asked "do you think by bringing this mortal here will make me forget about the crimes you have committed against the Nine Realms?".
Hardening his mouth Loki met Odin's glare and replied "her healers would not have been able to save her so I brought her here in hope that the All Father would let her be cared for". Seeing his Mother Frigga enter the Observatory Loki added "Jane Foster may be a mortal but she once helped Thor so please save her".
Frigga approached her youngest son and seeing the emptiness in his eyes she hugged him gently before saying "welcome home my son". Looking back at Odin she said "I'm going to the Healing Rooms, I will speak to you both later".
Odin watched his wife leave before beckoning two Prison Guards who had just arrived to come forward. Looking at Loki he asked "you could have escaped, why risk your freedom for a mortal woman injured by your own actions?".
Feeling restraints being placed on his wrists Loki replied "I could have gone back to Master and accepted my punishment but Master would not have helped her and if I had left her, no one would have found her in that abandoned building".
Odin listened to the son he had lost and let him finish his ramblings before asking "tell me Loki who is this Master you speak of?"
Loki shifted nervously on his feet and tried to hide the fear that was evident in his eyes before replying "Master plucked me from the Void. He tortured me until I obeyed him and when I didn't I was given to the Chitauri as a play thing".
Odin could tell his son was speaking the truth and was horrified to see how broken this Master had made him. Turning to the Prison and Palace Guards he ordered "my son's words are not to leave this room and take my son to the Healing Rooms at once". Obeying their king the two Prison Guards escorted Loki to the Healing Rooms. Odin watched them go before mounting Sleipnir and racing back to the palace.
The walk to the Healing Rooms was long to Loki but his mind kept drifting back to the many times he had been there when he was young. He had always been getting injured when he was a child, of course these injuries wouldn't have happened if Thor had realised that his younger brother was not able to do what he could do. Loki snapped out of his memories when he realised Odin was leading him into a Healing Room where the Head Healer Eir stood. Turning to the Prison Guards Odin said "remove my son's restraints and place the bracelet on his wrist, it will stop him from using any magic against us. Then you will leave and stand guard outside the door". The Prison Guards did as they were told and left the Healing Room to stand watch.
Bowing at the All Father Eir smiled at Loki surprised to see him alive after his fall from the Bifrost. Taking his arm gently she hoped the Fallen Prince would remember all the times she had shown him kindness in the past as she led him over to the examination table. "Take your coat and tunic off Loki so I may inspect any physical damage you may have received" said Eir quietly.
Loki sat on the bed and not wanting to do what she asked he smirked and said "I'm fine Eir there is no physical damage caused by those idiotic Avengers from Midgard". Noticing Odin give him a pointed look Loki nodded and removed his coat and tunic revealing his chest, torso and back to Odin and Eir who were left speechless at what they saw. Loki's back was covered with angry red welts no doubt caused by a whip and his torso and chest was littered with strange angry claw marks.
Feeling a sudden pang of guilt for not trying to find his son sooner Odin came closer to Loki and placing a hand on his shoulder to which Loki shied away from and said "they can't hurt you any more my son. You are safe here on Asgard".
Loki shook his head and curled into a ball on the examination table sobbing before he whispered "it doesn't matter what you say, I belong to him now, I'm his stolen relic and he won't let me go until I'm dead".
Odin looked upon his son seeing how broken and tormented he had become. Sitting beside Loki he took him in a fatherly embrace and said "Loki you are not a stolen relic. You are my son and I will do everything within my power to ensure that you are well again and when you are strong again we will face this creature you call Master and make him pay for what he has done to the Prince of Asgard". Not getting any response Odin looked down at Loki and saw that he had fallen asleep. Setting Loki down carefully on the examination table Odin turned to Eir and commanded "heal my son's wounds while he sleeps but summon me the minute he wakes up".
Eir nodded her head and said "of course my king" and watched him leave the room before summoning her magic to heal Loki's physical wounds. The mental wounds would take longer and it was going to be interesting to find out how Thor would react to his youngest brother rescuing Jane Foster.
