"Put the princess down and surrender, monster."
Loki turned slowly to see the captain of the guards and four other guards standing behind him. "I didn't…" Loki began, but the guard cut him off.
"I said to put her down, monster." The guard growled.
Loki stood frozen and then realized that he was in his Jotun form. He tried to change back to his Aesir form, but couldn't for some reason. The guards surrounded him and forcefully removed Ava from his arms. The next thing he knew, he was being bound in chains and Ava was being carried away to the healing room.
The remaining guards led Loki away, still bound in the chains. Loki kept trying to take his Aesir form again, but he just couldn't. He then thought back to the words the other giant had spoken. He must have put some kind of spell on me to keep me from taking my Aesir form. Loki thought dismally. He was led to the throne room, where Thor and Odin were waiting, along with another group of guards.
Odin and Thor both turned as the guards approached. They both looked surprised. "Loki?" Thor asked.
"We've found this Jotun. He had the princess and she was badly injured." The captain explained.
Another group of guards entered the room just then. "We captured one of the intruders and interrogated him just before he died. He confessed to us that Loki is the son of Laufey and has been gaining the princess's trust over the years so that he could get closer to getting the casket back and helping his father get revenge on you, my king."
"That is not true!" Loki protested.
"Quiet you." The guard captain growled at Loki.
"Take him to the dungeon to await his punishment." Odin commanded.
The guards obeyed and led Loki to the dungeon. He was thrown in a cell, still bound in the chains. "I didn't do what they claim!" Loki protested. "I would never hurt Ava!"
"That's Princess Ava to you, monster." The captain said. "And be quiet." He then turned on the energy shield and walked away, leaving Loki completely alone.
Loki laid on the floor of his cell and felt an overwhelming sadness take over him. He knew that no one would believe him and that they were likely to turn Ava against him when she woke up. He knew there was no hope for him and that he was likely never to see his Ava again. He felt the tears stinging his eyes at the hopelessness of the situation.
Back in the throne room...
Odin and Thor stood with the guards, discussing the business of what to do with Loki. "He has deceived us all." Thor said, angrier than any of the others. Of course that was because he had helped to protect Ava and Loki's secret for so long. "He tricked us all into thinking he was one of us and that he loved Ava. He made us like him. All the while he was really trying to get to the casket."
"It is a truly terrible crime." Odin agreed. He knew that they had been betrayed and he knew that Loki had to be acting under the orders of his own father. It appeared a war would be unavoidable with the Jotunheim. "We've been betrayed and because of this betrayal, several warriors, good men, have died today...Loki must pay for his crimes."
"And how do you propose we do that your majesty?" One of the guards inquired.
Odin debated internally with himself for a moment. One of the healers had come and given him the news that Ava would recover just fine, but it would take her a few days. "We will execute him at sundown." He declared.
Little did they know, Vinius and Nessa were standing off to the side listening to them. They knew the truth about Loki and Ava, since Ava had told Vinius two years ago and then he had told Nessa. "We have to stop them." Nessa whispered to Vinius.
"Ava is the only one who could possibly hope to convince the Allfather to stop this." Vinius replied.
"Perhaps my healing abilities can help her so that she'll be able to stop this." Nessa suggested.
Vinius nodded. "Let us go."