Coterie
By: Shadow Chaser
Disclaimer:
All Marvel characters do not belong to me, they belong to Marvel Entertainment and Marvel Comics. Liberties were taken with the Norse myths.
Story:
Chapter 14
The gardens were supposed to be for the royal family only, a sanctuary of sorts that Loki had long loved to hide away in and not be bothered. The library was another place as well as his own rooms with his experiments littering the area. But Eir had insisted that the outdoors of Asgard would do his health some good and so Loki had found himself in the gardens, tome in hand as he sat on a leafy branch in one of the large trees. So when he heard the distant sound of Thor's boisterous voice followed by the pattering of what had to be a herd of sorts, or just several people, he looked up from his tome to see his brother gesturing around the veranda that led out into the gardens as he walked past several of the narrow windows.
Flashes of color, most dark, a few bright, followed by the distinctive look of Midgardian clothing soured Loki's stomach as he realized Thor had brought his friends up from Midgard. He was apparently showing them what was supposed to be a private sanctuary of all things.
He grimaced, knowing that he could easily cast a cloaking spell so that he would not be noticed in the next few seconds before Thor exited the veranda and out into the gardens with his friends, but also took heed of Eir's advice not to cast any magick. He vaguely remembered returning to Asgard a week ago with Hel in tow, or led the details were hazy, before immediately taken to the Healing Halls. Everything for the next two days was a blur as he vaguely recalled Thor's visage explaining something to Eir and even to Frigga as they stood by his bedside.
Clarity came to him only five days ago with Eir telling him in no certain terms would he cast any drop of magick because he tried to use Jormungandr's unconverted remains upon himself and it needed time to settle into his core. She would conduct a daily check upon his core to ensure that no one would rip it from him like Fenrir had and had stared at him with disapproval before allowing him to leave with his injured arm bandaged, but healing. Loki had considered disobeying Eir's orders, but at the same time knew that the healer was right. Even though whatever was left of Jormungandr's magick that he had taken from him, had been ripped out by Fenrir, there were still jagged pieces, rough edges, splinters left in him. That type of magick could easily manifest itself again and attack him from within, it was a form of blood magick after all.
For the last five days he had wandered the halls of the palace, only attending the Allfather once to find out that Hel and Jormungandr were awaiting their fates in the lower level cells. The whispers of why the two had not been prosecuted and sentenced had spread through the Court, but there was also the equal rumor that the Midgardians were finally attempting to join the other eight realms. Odin had been silent on the matter, even with the prodding of his other advisors before they realized that he would not speak of the matter unless it was prudent.
So hearing that the Avengers were following Thor, as he apparently was giving a tour of the palace and surrounding areas, made Loki aware that the Allfather had finally considered allowing the mortals to join the other eight realms. At least Thor seemed happy.
He had barely seen his brother since he had left the Healing Halls and figured that Thor was perhaps busy trying to negotiate the Midgardians access to Asgard by petitioning the Allfather. At the same time he had probably spent time on Midgard hopefully teaching the Midgardians the customs and rights of opening a treatise or even negotiations with Asgard. At least that was what Loki hoped – for all he knew Thor was more than likely dense and thought it a great opportunity to ensure that his friends were accepted amongst the Court.
Which was far likelier than getting his own coterie accepted, but that was beside the point.
The Midgardians had proved that they were warriors first and foremost and at least the Court would be impressed by it. Judging by how awed most were of the green monster, the Hulk, and how they had fought only a year ago against Thanos, the Court would accept them more than if the coterie had been in their place. But the fact that the Midgardians were trying to open negotiations in the first place...it had to be Director Fury spearheading the campaign. The fact that he had convinced Thor to bring the matter to the Allfather and push for it meant that Fury was completely serious that Midgard, or rather, Earth, was ready for a higher form of war.
Considering how much chaos and destruction he and the Chitauri had wrought a little over a year ago in one of their major cities, Loki had a very low opinion that Midgard or the mortals for that matter, was ready for the galactic politics of the other eight realms. One Muspelheim fire demon or even a bligesnipe would easily wreck a path of destruction and only three mages had just recently proven that the Avengers could not contain the fires of war and chaos. Perhaps Fury had other plans and this was more a symbolic gesture – it would seem prudent for what he knew and saw of the mortal leader of SHIELD and Avengers. But in less than a century, he would be replaced and things would change.
In a hundred years, perhaps the mortals would be destroyed back to the age of fire pits and woolen furs; maybe sooner if what he had picked from Agent Barton's mind was true. Midgard had a lot of internal conflicts that more often than not ended up with loss of life amongst themselves. There was no strong leader to unite them and that had been his aim when he brought the Chitauri amongst them. Still conquest of the mayflies that were mortals did not interest him any more, though perhaps he considered revisiting the idea in another century or two. Let the Avengers and SHIELD think that they had the upper hand at the moment. It was just a blink of an eye to him.
There was the hurried sound of scuffling as Loki looked up from reading to see the gold cloak of one of the household guards hurrying into the room.
"My pardon, my Prince. I did not realize you had guests here," the guard murmured.
"It is of no consequence," Thor's voice rumbled from the narrow windows of the veranda.
"I was told that Prince Loki was here..."
The surprised silent that was only a second or two from Thor nearly made Loki snort derisively, but he restrained himself lest he give his position away in the leafy tree. His brother had not expected him to be in the private gardens, or either had forgotten that these were private gardens and not for raucous tours for friends or the like. Granted each of them had used the gardens for other purposes, but that was each their own secret.
"Perhaps he is out within the gardens..." Thor nearly stuttered before the guard's boots told him that the guard had acknowledged the words and headed out. Loki saw the armor first before the sound of boots faded as he stepped onto cut grass and dirt beds.
"Sire," the guard called out, looking around. There was a very brief moment Loki considered answering. The guard would no doubt continue to call and search, but stay well out of the deeper part of the gardens in deference to the royal family's privacy. However, there was also the possibility that Thor would be curious and his usual boisterous self to search him out, even with the Avengers around and he had no desire to interact with the Avengers.
For the brief times Loki had spied Thor in Asgard, his brother had given no indication that he had heard the secrets spilled in the hanger bay by Fenrir. Previous footage taken from the hanger bay indicated that there was no sound on the video feeds, but that did not mean that SHIELD was idiotic enough to not listen in on every single conversation. Then again, he had somewhat avoided Thor all this time – wanting some relative peace and quiet in wake of what had happened in the past two weeks.
He had not even gone to the cells where Hel and Jormungandr were awaiting their fates. The Court knew of what happened, Odin would have made sure to publicly parade both Jormungandr and Hel around, to ease fears that the coterie had risen once more. And since the Court knew, all of Asgard and the realms knew too; and all eyes had been constantly following him whenever he walked the halls. He had not feasted with the others since his return and barring the only single audience with the Allfather, had mostly kept himself out of sight.
So then, why would a guard be sent instead of a page from the Allfather or even his ravens? As if summoned by his own thoughts, the sharp, but faint caw of Muugin followed by the flap of his wings made Loki look up to see the bird coming in for a landing on his shoulder. The bird nudged him with seemingly harsh affection before adjusting its perch with its stick-thin talons, but made no other noise to announce to the others that it was here. One of its beady black eyes seemingly bore into his own as he arched an eyebrow at the bird and Loki swore there was a faint amused smirk in that beady eye – a little like his own if he was not mistaken.
"...Sire..." the voice of the guard had moved away and he peered beyond the leafy branches to see him searching deeper into the gardens, peering around bushes, tall plants, and the like to see if he was sitting or wandering anywhere.
Loki had started to consider his options once more when the sound of a very loud sneeze echoed through the veranda followed by several voices saying, "Bless you." He did not know what was to bless until Banner spoke up, voice a little muffled.
"Sorry, uh, foreign plants, allergies, probably nothing just...pollen," there was something off in Banner's voice, but Loki could not identify it.
Another sneeze followed Banner's and this time it was Rogers who spoke up, "Huh...me too...probably nothing in the air-"
"Intergalactic incident aside in case it's some kind of killer Asgard plant spore, maybe I should check with, uh, Eir, was it? Your chief healer?" Banner sounded sheepish and while Loki wanted to get closer, there was no way he wanted the others to see that he was here in the garden.
"...That may be wise," Thor sounded reluctant as Loki saw flashes of his red cloak through the narrow windows headed back towards the entrance of the veranda, "I am sorry my friends, I did not realize-"
"Eh, don't worry, you can show us the gardens later once we figure out if Bruce or Cap here is allergic to Asgard," surprisingly Stark sounded nonplussed as he seemingly herded the group out. Just as their footsteps shuffled away and Loki breathed a sigh of relief, he saw Banner approach one of the windows and look directly up at the tree he had been sitting in.
"Sorry about that. Hope you've been feeling better Loki," Banner clearly could not see him, but nonetheless had known where he was. He heard the mortal leave, the door shutting with a heavy thunk behind him. It was only then that he remembered Banner had said something about his heightened sense of smell, and Loki realized that he had even used it to identify Fenrir who had so far, fooled everyone in the hanger bay days ago.
Loki set the open book on his lap as he blinked, surprised, but at the same time irritated that it had to be Banner and more than likely Rogers who made the excuse to get Thor and the others out of there. He frowned, if Banner was soon to be expecting thanks- He huffed a sigh as Muugin adjusted its perch on his shoulder, cawing softly while preening a feather. He owed nothing to Banner nor to Rogers and certainly could have ignored them all if they had stayed.
The door to the gardens opened and closed again as the heavy boots of the guard that had been sent to fetch him decided to search elsewhere. A few minute passed in silent save for the chirping of birds, crickets, and other fauna that flourished in the gardens, before Loki looked to continue to read his tome. He was about to lift it up when Muugin hopped down from his shoulder and landed directly onto the tome itself. The raven peered up at him and adjusted his wings a little, cawing softly.
Loki only raised an eyebrow at the bird as he knew that the bird knew he wanted to read, but was directly blocking him from doing so. Muugin only stared back at him, the not-quite smirk still gleaming in its eye before reaching down and tugged at the sleeve of his tunic. The sharp beak that could tear through flesh itself barely missed his still-bandaged hand and arm, but Loki understood its point.
Muugin had been sent by the Allfather to remind him to see Eir, but the fact that it had been sent by the Allfather also meant that he was summoned to an audience before seeing to Eir. Clearly, the intelligent raven knew of his dislike and low tolerance for the Avengers and so had waited, but now that there was no one to disturb him, he was to answer those summons. He waved a hand at the bird as it hopped away to avoid being swatted and closed the tome with a heavy thunk. Setting the book on the crook of the branch, he landed lightly on the grassy ground and dusted himself of loose leaves and bits of bark as Muugin flew silently to land on his shoulder once more.
Loki briefly considered making the bird fly behind or ahead of him instead of using his shoulder as its perch, but decided against it. Having the Allfather's raven on his shoulder meant no one would bother him, not even Thor, as it was a sign that the Allfather requested an audience. Plus, as much as he loathed to admit it, he much preferred Muugin to its brother bird Huugin. Huugin squawked and cawed like it was constantly laughing at some cosmic joke, almost like Thor in ways, who would not be silent. Plus Huugin always constantly asked for shelled nuts and seemed to adopt an attitude if none were given. Muugin, at least as far as Loki knew, never asked and even when offered seemed to take a while to consider those nuts.
He headed back into the main halls of the palace, walking with assured steps, noting how the guards straightened at his presence while the courtiers pointed and whispered amongst themselves. He had no doubts as to what they were talking about, but the fact that he heard Thor's name followed by mortals that were conveyed in a somewhat scandalous tone brought a slight smile to his lips. The courtiers already knew of what transpired on Midgard regarding the coterie, but the fact that they were more concerned about Thor and his Avengers being here...
He stopped in front of the doors that led in and saw one of the guards bow his head before opening it for him. He stepped in as they closed it, signaling that it was a private audience with the Allfather and Allmother, and saw the same guard that had been looking for him kneeling. The guard was seemingly in mid-apology for not finding him before looking up and back at him.
"Ah...I- milord-"
"It is of no dire consequence, Eskil, for finding one of my wayward sons," the Allfather said, bringing the hapless guard's gaze around, but Loki had the distinct feeling that Odin was addressing him at the same time, "after all, they have had many years to ennoble themselves not to be found amongst the palace grounds if they do not want to be."
"Ah, yes sire, thank you sire," the guard apologized with a bow of his head before getting up and hurrying out through one of the side doors.
Loki let the smile curl around the edge of his lips as he approached the Allfather – it seemed the guard had been looking for him for a long time. When it had been established by the Allfather that he could not be found in a certain time period, he had sent Muugin out to summon him back. The Allfather held out a hand and Muugin immediately flew from his shoulder to land in the Allfather's hand. Loki stopped at the edges of the throne as he watched the raven converse with the Allfather – Huugin nowhere in sight.
The sight of Frigga was surprising as he thought her still occupied with the domestic court's business. But she only smiled kindly at him as she stood at her place on the Allfather's right hand side.
He saw Eir, standing near the dais, her lips pinched with irritation as she too stared at the Allfather before he glanced at her and nodded. The fact that she was here instead of in the Healing Halls was significant. Eir approached him and Loki blinked, wondering why the Allfather wanted the chief healer here to examine his core. It was not an invasion of privacy, he frankly did not care, but rather, he was puzzled as to why when he could have easily met her in the Healing Halls. Eir looked annoyed, but Loki somehow knew it was not directed at him. The chief healer almost never looked annoyed and the times that she did, she never showed it. It had to mean that she was annoyed at the Allfather, but for what he did not know.
She held her hand up to his chest and he waited patiently as she cast her spell. It was invasive, but Eir always had a touch that managed to make not so, such was her gift and skill in healing magicks. She could have been a spectacular poisoner, Loki reflected as he barely felt her touch search deeper into his core. Every mage had a 'core' so to speak, one of which was their very own, similar in ways to what the mortals described as souls. It was what made the mage a mage, akin to what made Thor a warrior at heart. To draw and take in someone else's core and convert it to their own, it was anathema and blood magick that was the most dangerous.
Every mage, every single one learned about blood magick; learned the extreme dangers, perhaps experienced them, always to their own detriment. Healers were well aware of it, hence the poisoner part of their description. It was healers who specialized in unraveling the threads of magicks that were foreign to the core, of both warriors and fellow mages, enabling them to either harm or heal the person. In ways, perhaps the most powerful of all magicks, but there was only one weakness to healers.
They needed to touch their intended targets to hurt them the most. Which was why Healers spent time making poisons and learned other spells for defensive and offensive purposes. To use their singular gift of touching people's cores, it was not worth the effort for the most part; especially since emotions tended to be so fickle.
He felt Eir's touch slowly withdraw before she lifted her hand away and let it rest at her side. She looked at him, her lined face about as old as the Allfather's, but still showing bits of her once-youthful beauty. "Foolish boy," she whispered, her voice only for him and he smiled condescendingly at her. He knew that she was furious at what he had done to himself – after all, she was the one to heal his scrapes growing up; akin to a second mother like Frigga was to him. Once, those words would have elicited guilt, but now, Loki felt nothing. Eir, like the others, did not understand, nor did he have the inclination to help her understand. He owed her nothing.
"A fool would never have survived," he replied before she turned and bowed her head at the Allfather.
"There are no traces, Allfather," Eir said before shuffling to the side. However, she did not leave as Loki had expected her to and instead, stood with her hands clasped in front of her.
Odin only inclined his head once before pinning Loki with a penetrating look, "Do you wish to speak?"
"What is there to speak of?" Loki asked, keeping his voice light and masked the confusion in it. He truly had no idea what Odin was expecting from him – was to ask why he had nearly destroyed his own core, why had the coterie escaped now, was he to plead for their guilt – all of it and any of it, he was wondering why the Allfather had asked him such a question. It hit him a second later that the Allfather wanted to know all of the questions, answers, counter-answers, everything that had flitted through his mind. The Allfather was giving him the chance to speak, not as from father to son – no that particular familial tie had long disappeared after he had nearly destroyed Jotunheim. But rather, was giving him the chance to speak, much like the private sentencing hundreds of years previous.
The Allfather had made his decision then.
"There are no words to be spoken of or for," he drew himself up and stared at the Allfather. If he was to be condemned along with Hel and Jormungandr, he was ready. Odin had not given any indication that he had believed nor denied his association with the coterie's recent actions; not even in the single audience since his return from Midgard.
"Very well," Odin replied after staring at him for a long moment and thumped Gungir on the ground, making Muugin squawk as the doors opened to the throne room and courtiers started to spill in.
For a second, Loki considered advancing up the steps to stand by the Allfather's left hand side as was his custom, but stopped himself as something within him told him that he would be better off standing on the side, next to the dais, but away from the edges of the Court itself. His presence would be acknowledged, but it would be a clear sign to everyone that he was, like the rest of the Court, an observer to whatever was to happen.
Moments later, he heard Huugin's familiar cackle as he flew in, leading Thor and his Avengers as the Court parted, whispers and murmurs flowing and ebbing like the tide. The group also included Director Fury, Agent Coulson, a flame-haired woman he vaguely remembered coming off the same quinjet as Tony Stark, and Jane Foster. Why Foster was here was beyond Loki, but he suspected that Thor more than likely decided to bring her even though she provided no significant contribution to the group. Foster and the flame-haired woman were already dressed in the fine clothing Asgard had to offer while Romanoff, to his amusement, had staunchly refused, preferring to stay in her skin-tight armor, her weapons openly displayed.
He saw more than one look flick at him - or in the case of Agent Barton, an open stare of still-seething hatred – but ignored all of that as the doors parted again and the sounds of chains all but silenced the Court. They parted rather quickly, giving ample space for the Warriors Three and Lady Sif escorting Hel and Jormungandr to walk them to the front. It was as if they were any closer, they would be considered associated with the two of them. The mortals drew to the side, but did not back away as far as the rest of the Court.
Loki noted with some interest that Hel's once pale-rose-colored curls had somewhat faded. Half of her started to look like it was decaying, the other half still alive. He had known what her true form was, but surmised that since she had not been to her realm in days; she was more than likely suffering the effects of being without her unique magicks at her disposal. She would not die, no, but the carefully crafted illusion he knew she maintained by supping the souls of the deceased in her realm, was fading. Jormungandr looked as he had when he had last left him, sullen, head bowed, presenting the image of misery. Neither took notice of him standing directly to their right, but he knew that they were sharply aware of his presence.
"Lady Hel, Healer Jormungandr, both of you have been found guilty of high treason against Asgard and its royal family. The method of punishment would have been a swift execution and a petition for a new ruler of Helheim. However, in light of a new treatise currently being drafted with Midgard, there will be a stay of execution," the Allfather intoned in, his voice seemingly a whisper, but nonetheless carried a heavy authority over everyone's ears.
"You may thank the Midgardian delegation for intervening on your behalf and lay claim to right of justice," Odin continued, "I have agreed for the first steps of this treatise, to lay down the punishment of imprisonment for life for you, Jormungandr; to be sent back to the depths of Midgard from whence you came. For you, Lady Hel, you will continue your duties as shepherd of the dead, no longer concealing your form from Heimdall. You will also recompense the mortals killed by your hand with a moment of peace for their loved ones."
The Court immediately burst into whispers and hushed murmurs as the Allfather seemingly finished with his sentencing. Out of the corner of his eye, Loki saw Director Fury, Stark's woman, and Agent Coulson nodding. The rest of the Avengers looked a little confused and even Romanoff shrugged, but seemed to accept the punishment. However, Thor, Sif, Faendral, Hogun, and Volstagg were all looking equally puzzled. Loki too was a little puzzled as to why such a light punishment was given when Odin tapped Gungir once, silencing the whispers.
"Jormungandr, for the crime of assassination against my son," Loki saw Thor tense, his hand unconsciously curling into a fist even though Mjolnir hung by his side, "and the temptation of my other son-"
Loki resolutely ignored all of the eyes that seemingly shot to him, including Thor's before they turned back to stare at his young half-bowed, half-defiant form.
"-you will be flayed of your magick-"
Loki stood very still, as some in the Court gasped. He wondered if the Court even knew what kind of punishment it was, to flay someone of their magick. Even Frigga had stared at Odin before rapidly composing herself, but Loki knew that she understood. The Warriors Three and Lady Sif had stiffened, the chains in their hands rattling a little while the Midgardians all looked confused and concerned. He could see the comprehension sweeping across their faces as they realized that this was Asgard's punishment for Jormungandr and Hel, in addition to the request they had made. Jormungandr, flayed of his magick...Loki could not believe it and it seemed neither the Court. But the Court did not know of the punishment it was...
"-before you are to live the remainder of your life as nothing but a common serpent on Midgard. That is your life imprisonment."
Flayed of magick...it was a death sentence without actually dying. It meant ripping the whole source from a person, and magick was at the very core of their being. For someone like Jormungandr...Loki knew that there was perhaps a time he would have shuddered, but now...he held himself absolutely still. He could not give anything away...and finally understood why Eir had been summoned.
The chief healer's face could have looked like it was carved from stone as she had drawn something out from the folds of her robe and held it clasped gently in her hands. Flayed of his magick...
"Imprisoned and stripped, Loki, stripped of your magicks," she hissed quietly, "the pain of having your source flayed alive from your very skin. That should be your punishment and recompense for what you did to the Jotuns, to Thor, to everyone you have wronged in the hundreds of years."
"Banished?" he narrowed his eyes a little and she jutted her chin at him, staring down at him.
"Not enough," she replied, "banishment would only serve to ferment your anger and your fantasies of revenge. Banishment and forced into another form is too kind of a punishment for you."
Loki caught Sif looking rather pale and wondered if she was remembering the conversation they had about a year ago, when she along with the others had been bidden to watch him – to guard him from Thanos' subtle magick and possession in the waking dream. She was the only one to whom he had spilled some of the secrets of the coterie's punishment; that they had been banished and forced into another form. Her words spoken a year ago only served as a reminder that she had wished there had been a harsher punishment, especially for what he had done to Thor, the Jotuns, and to Midgard. It was a little amusing to see her realize the truth of her own words.
But the amusement only lasted a mere second as Loki also knew why the Allfather had decided to enact the sentence now. Eir must have let the Allfather know of the shredded parts of Jormungandr's source within himself. If Jor's source existed within him now, the flaying would have severely affected him as well, akin to what Fenrir had done in the hanger bay of the Helicarrier.
"Lady Hel," the Allfather addressed the Queen of Helheim, "you will serve a time of one-hundred-ninety-three days in the prisons. One for each soul you and Jormungandr have taken before returning to your realm."
The Court erupted into murmurs once more, but Loki knew that this was the strictest punishment the Allfather could give short of executing Hel. They were all witness to her half-decayed form, and nearly two-hundred more days in prison meant that she would be drained of more of her powers. When she returned to Helheim in the aftermath there would be chaos in her realm. She would not be killed, Loki knew for certain because who her mother was, but she would have a bureaucratic nightmare to deal with as the various demons, lords, and other creatures that she ruled over would have tried to take her place as ruler of Helheim in the interim.
The potential for chaos like that to spill into the other realms was minimal as the creatures would have had to travel through the shadows and void like Hel did. The Midgardian conditions prevented such a thing from happening since she had to keep herself visible to Heimdall at all times and that meant no traveling into the void and spaces in between Yggdrasil.
Odin tapped Gungir, silencing the Court again as Eir approached Jormungandr who raised his head to stare at her. Gone was the misery, and sadness; his ice-blue eyes were chipped with fury, indignation, but most of all of fear. However, his body posture spoke of defiance and Loki could see so much of Fenrir within Jor as he tried to stop the small tremors of fear that shook him.
"Hey, wait-"
It was Thor who held up his hand to stop both Director Fury and Tony Stark from stepping forward and interfering. But even he too looked disturbed and disgusted as Eir raised the object in her hand to Jormungandr's chest. Only once had Loki seen a Source Extractor, and that was when he had been curious as to some of the tools Fenrir used to kill his targets as a wetworker. Part of him scoffed that Thor was finally beginning to understand some of what was happening, of the politics that guided the Court of Asgard, and of how magick was perceived – but it was too late... Far too late, too meaningless, too little-
He thought he felt the prick of when Eir's magick enveloped the Extractor and the device began to do its work. He thought he felt something leeching onto him from within, drawing from the deepest part of him, clinging like tendrils that he could not fight off. It was only the first sign of an uncomfortable worming-feeling, unlike how Thanos had pulled and tugged at the geas that was their contract, that seemed to spread from within, that he realized something was wrong. He knew he should not have been feeling a numbing sensation, one that pulled from his chest to his arms, neck, legs; a tingling sensation that was interrupted by sparks of shooting pain. It was like someone had jolted him with electricity, mild enough that he did not outright feel it, but nonetheless felt utterly uncomfortable.
At the same time Jormungandr was clearly shaking like a leaf as the Extractor glowed fiercely, the curl and tendrils of magick leeching from him to the object. His face was a mask of agony, of unfathomable pain as he tried not to scream. Loki briefly wondered if he was feeling a sympathetic-pain of sorts since he had taken some of Jor's source within him to rid himself of the poison. But as quickly as that thought had occurred to him, he dismissed it. Eir had cleared him and she would never have done that to go against her oath as a Healer. Odin had even held off the punishment for Jormungandr because of him, he knew that now, judging by the impassive look the Allfather wore on his face.
So then what was happening?
He resisted the urge to roll his shoulders or make any movement as the discomfort grew, the light sparks of pain seemingly turning his fingers cold, his feet and toes cold. His shoulder blades hurt where they met his spinal column and the shooting pain was spreading. He inwardly checked his own magicks as Jormungandr started to breathe heavily, his harsh gasps a clear sign that he was trying very hard to hold back the screams that wanted to pour forth.
He could see the Court staring at rapt attention, some of them wanting to look away, but could not. He was not surprised to see the more soldier-like of the Avengers looking like they could have been carved out of stone, their frowns expressing their displeasure at what was happening. The more civilian part of the Midgardian delegation all looked like they were about to throw up – and to his slight dismay, he could see Dr. Banner turning away, his skin a little greener than usual.
Loki wanted to laugh at the naivety of both the Midgardians and of Thor as he clearly had not realized the lengths the Allfather would go to punish the perpetrators of crimes against the House of Odin. Then again, Thor had been oblivious to the many assassination attempts over the years, at least in his opinion. Most of the time, the assassins were caught and summarily executed. Jormungandr would have been after his first attempt hundreds of years ago, except for Loki's intervention and bargain with the Allfather then.
Now, he knew that the public punishment of Jormungandr was not only for Midgard's benefit, but mostly a message from the Allfather to himself – that it could have easily been him in Jormungandr's position since he did try to kill Thor with the Destroyer before attempting genocide of the Jotuns and subjugation of the Midgardians. The fact that he had went unpunished as the Court and Midgardians had thought was only by the grace of the Allfather. Loki refused to think that his geas with Thanos had influenced the Allfather's decision.
He finished his quick scan of his own source as he could feel the pain spiking now and involuntarily clenched a fist in order to stop it. It did nothing, but at least provided a distraction of sorts as he wondered why he was feeling this sympathetic-pain from Jormungandr. He received his answer a second later as Jormungandr finally screamed, long, loud, and heartrendingly agonizing. Many in the Court flinched, and even Frigga had twitched from where she stood, but Eir kept doing her work, fully immersed in the magicks she used upon the Extractor.
But Loki was not exactly paying attention as he realized where the source of the pain was coming from. He did have a part of Jormungandr's source within him that had not been converted. It was a very, very tiny part, almost the size of the drop of blood, and it was on the tessellation he had used to create a perfect almost-double illusion of himself while he had been fighting against Fenrir. It had not been cleansed since he had returned, had not even been considered – until now.
He concentrated on keeping his breaths steady, to not show the uncomfortable pain he was feeling, and felt sweat beading and running down the back of his neck. It felt like hours until Jormungandr finally stopped screaming and slumped to the ground, his chains rattling loudly in wake of the deathly silence that filled the Court. Eir's Soul Extractor glowed, seemingly engulfing her hands in a sickening holy light, as she stepped back, her face pale, ashen, but still carved from stone.
"It is done, Allfather," Eir said, turning slightly to Odin and bowing a little before exiting through a side door. What would happen to Jormungandr's source, Loki did not know, but he had a feeling that the ancient magicks and technology that made Asgard what it was, was perhaps fueled by what she held in her hands now.
No one made a single sound as the Allfather rose from his throne and walked the steps down to where Jormungandr had crumpled to the floor. The young shapeshifter's breaths were harsh, wheezing gasps, the sound of a dying animal. Hel had not moved from where she was, but Loki saw that if it was possible, she looked almost sympathetic as she stared down at Jormungandr. He knew that she would not make any moves to help him, that was not her nature nor would she show sympathy by association by helping Jormungandr.
Odin stopped before the former mage and for a second Loki thought he saw a sorrowful expression in his eyes, a regret of sorts, but dismissed it as he leveled Gungir's point.
"Father, at least let him a moment's peace before-"
All eyes turned to Thor as he stepped forward, his expression pinched, but he had stopped talking at the icy glare Odin had leveled against him. Loki wanted to punch Thor for what he had just said as the Court whispered quietly amongst themselves. Thor, showing sympathy for an assassin that had clearly tried to kill him? How could that be? The fact that his brother was an idiot of the highest level for actually interrupting the Allfather and pleading for mercy- Loki shook his head inwardly; it had taken Thor this long to realize how much the Allfather would punish those who attacked the House of Odin. He had no doubts that it was more than likely the Midgardians, the Avengers, who had influenced him to interrupt what was happening. Idiots the lot of them.
Seeing that his son was sufficiently cowed, Odin turned back to Jormungandr and a second later, the harsh crackling sound of bones being compressed echoed in the Court. The whispers were silenced once more as all watched with horror, fascination, and a sense of righteousness as Jormungandr was forced into a smaller version of his snake-like form. The clothes he had worn had merged with his serpentine form, giving him an unusual coloring and pattern, but nonetheless, was not too significant.
"Ambassador Director Fury," Odin moved the point of Gungir away and Muugin resumed his perch on top of its point, having hopped down to the Allfather's shoulder in the interim.
"As you wish, Allfather," Fury's voice was calm and collected, but Loki could clearly sense his namesake behind the placid gaze the Director wore as he stepped forward and collected the docile Jormungandr into his hands. The fact that the Director found this punishment unjust, even for what had happened to his own people and how many lives were lost, surprised Loki.
Jormungandr only hissed weakly, still stunned and clearly hurting from having his source ripped out, and did not even try to make an attempt to bite Fury as he curled in on himself.
"Sir," Fury suddenly called out as the Allfather had turned to advance back up to his throne, "I was told that when treaties were negotiated with Asgard, there is usually gifts exchange. We appreciate this gift-"
Loki could hear the sarcasm and saw that the Allfather did too with a slight narrowing of his gaze.
"-so want to give a gift of our own."
"Oh?" clearly Odin was not in a gaming mood as he stood halfway on the stairs up to the throne.
"I know it's not customary in the middle of negotiations, but it's the least we can do for all of your generosity," Fury finished before Loki saw him turn to him and walk a few steps over to where he had been standing. The Director of SHIELD gave him a placid smile, "For you."
Loki managed to open his hand in time to receive Jormungandr's serpentine form, his surprise and shock at how bold, and underhanded the Director was in wake of what had just happened. However, a quick look at Fury's eyes showed him that the Director was well aware of what kind of game and politics he was playing at the moment and the corner of his lips turned up in a crooked smile. He had underestimated Director Fury if he was willing to play the game of politics against the Allfather.
"A gift is rather generous, Director."
"Well, call it an insurance against the geas contract we made. Jormungandr in human form and now snake form," Fury replied before stepping back and bowing slightly to Odin who acknowledged it with the barest curt nod of his head before sitting back on the throne.
He thumped the butt of Gungir down on the ground once more, signaling the end of the Court as Hel was led out and back to the dungeons, the courtiers following behind. Some had their heads together, talking and whispering to one another while others hurried with some significant pace – no doubt to spread news of what had happened. A few sneered at the Avengers and the rest of the Midgardian delegation and very few only seemed to acknowledge the significance of what Director Fury had done.
He could see Thor standing next to his friends with his head held up high, proud of what his friends had done, almost defiant, but the image was shattered with the grimacing look he wore. As the Court thinned, Loki saw Thor dropping his look to search for him across the throne and he abruptly turned and stalked away, cloaking himself in the shadows, Jormungandr curled into his hand.
It was admirable for what Fury had done, but it did not matter in the long run. Loki knew that everything that had happened was a message and a warning for him – that he had been spared of what should have been his punishment by the grace of the Allfather – and just that, the grace, not the love.
Author's Notes:
This is probably one of my favorite chapters (besides the previous one) in the two stories I've written so far only because it showcases what it truly means to be the Allfather – to not suffer any fools or foolish dealings. I think there's about one or two more chapters after this one before we're done. Also, I am going to write the backstory to the coterie, but it will not be published any time soon – Captain America: The Winter Soldier kind of made me want to go play around with Bucky's head and Steve's angst for a bit. That story has been posted and it's part of the Trickster Universe, but completely Avengers focused.
I have a cutely twisted head canon when it comes to snake!Jormungandr that I may publish as misc notes on AO3 instead of fanfiction dot net.