It was now 2 days later. Loki had slept for an entire day and Thor only left his side when it was necessary. Frigga too had spent a majority of her time with Loki as he slept. When Loki woke up, Odin informed them that the trial would be set for the next day, to give Loki a chance to completely rest. Loki spent most of his time eating and reading to regain his strength and Thor stayed by his side. It was finally time for the trial. Loki and Thor stood out front of the throne room waiting for the trial to begin. Loki was fidgeting with a piece of his armor.
"Are you sure you want to be here brother? We don't have to go in if you don't want to. We can ask Father to delay for another day and you can give your report to him personally." Thor assured.
"No. I need to be here, I want to see justice served. I'm just…." Loki trailed off.
"There is no shame in being scared brother, no one here will judge you."
"I'm not scared!" Loki lashed out.
Thor became quiet.
"I'm sorry Thor. I know you are just trying to help, but I'm not scared. I just…..I don't know how I feel. I just want this to be over."
"It will be soon brother. Once we are done here, you and I shall we return to your chambers for the rest of the day if you choose."
Loki nodded and when the doors opened he followed Thor into the throne room. The room was filled with citizens of Asgard. Odin sat upon his throne with Frigga by his side and the council standing nearby. Thor and Loki both bowed before their father. The Cree warriors stood off to the side with 5 guards standing by holding the chains to their restraints to ensure they would not try anything. The leader of the Cree warriors stared Loki down the entire time. It made Loki feel uncomfortable. Thor noticed this and gently brushed his fingers over the back of Loki's hand. Loki gave a small smile of gratitude as they looked up to their father waiting for instructions. Odin stood.
"Loki Odinson, these four Cree warriors are standing trial accused of kidnapping and torturing you and for entering our realm without permission. Will you please give your account of everything that has happened."
Loki started to recount everything from the past couple of weeks. Every once in awhile he would have to stop and regain his composure, but he eventually finished with how the Cree tried to kill them at the lake. Thor tried to put a hand to Loki's shoulder during his recount, but Loki would shrug it off not wanting appear weak. During his recount he kept reassuring his Father and the council that he never gave the Cree warriors any information about the realm or the weapon's vault. He was finally done and if Loki was being honest, he was absolutely exhausted. He didn't know it was going to be so draining.
"Let the council acknowledge that Loki did in fact not reveal any information about our realm or the weapon's vault during his capture and any attempt by Cree Warriors to say otherwise should be disregarded. The sentence will be announced tomorrow. Until then this trial is in recess."
The guards started to escort the Cree warriors out of the throne room when their leader started yelling.
"Just remember trickster, you are a monster and you will always be a monster!"
Thor went to yell back but Loki put a hand to his chest.
"Just leave it."
"But…"
"Please brother, can we just leave?"
Thor threw one more dangerous look back to the Cree warrior before putting a hand on Loki's back, guiding him out of the throne room and back to his chambers. Once back in his chambers Loki collapsed on to a chaise lounger and threw an arm over his eyes letting out a big sigh. He was aware that Thor was in the room, but at this point he didn't care who saw him like this.
"Brother, are you ok?"
"Yes Thor, just very exhausted. I didn't expected that to be so draining."
"It's over now Loki. The warriors will be sentenced and charged to the highest extent and you will never have to worry about them again."
"I know, I'm just tired."
"Would you like me to leave so that you may rest?"
"No. Will you please stay? I don't want to be alone for now."
"Of course brother."
The brothers spent the rest of the afternoon together talking. When it came time for supper hour, Loki didn't really feel like leaving his chambers, but Frigga came and convinced him to join the family for dinner. They royal family usually ate dinner alone in a private dining chamber. Odin and Frigga sat at the ends of the table with the boys on either side. They sat in silence for a little while before Odin broke it.
"Loki I want to commend you for your courage today during the trial."
"Thank you Father. Have you decided a sentence yet?"
"Let us not dwell on that now, I simply wanted to say how proud I am of you. For now let us enjoy each other's company and be happy that you are here and in good health again." Odin stated putting a hand on top of Loki's and giving it a gentle squeeze as he spoke.
Loki smiled softly and squeezed his father's hand in return. The dinner carried on like normal from there. They had regular conversations and Loki even smiled a bit as Thor once again attempted to talk with his mouth full. At the end of dinner, Thor walked with Loki back to his chambers.
"Will you stay here a little longer? Until I fall asleep for the night?"
"Of course Loki."
The brothers spent the evening enjoying each others company. The moon rose over Asgard quickly. As the night drone on, Loki found himself becoming tired and he eventually laid on his bed, using his magic to change into more comfortable clothes. He eventually fell asleep while Thor was talking to him about one of their past adventures. Thor smiled softly and pulled the blankets up to Loki's chin.
"Goodnight brother."
Thor went over to the chaise lounger by the fireplace taking a blanket with him. He took off his chest armor and stripped himself down to his tunic and leggings. He laid on the lounger and threw the blanket over him, falling asleep easily.
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Thor woke up from the slight doze he was in. He could hear Loki shifting and whimpering in his sleep. He opened his eyes and sat up. Loki was tossing and turning in his bed and was mumbling to himself. Thor sighed he had hoped the nightmares would go away with the fever, but he was wrong. Thor sat there watching Loki.
"No…please stop. Please. Thor please help me, please brother make it stop."
Thor got up and was going to go wake Loki, when Loki let out a blood curling screaming with his back arching off of the bed. Thor rushed over and grabbed Loki by the shoulders as he sat bolt up right gasping for breath.
"Easy Loki, it's ok. It's ok. Your safe, your ok. I'm here brother, I'm here. Your safe I promise. Just relax."
Loki's breathing calmed down a little bit, but he was still taking deep gasping breaths, his chest heaving up and down as he leaned heavily on Thor. Thor wrapped his arms tightly around Loki and pulled him close to his chest.
"Shhhhhhh….it's ok Loki. I'm here, I've got you. Your safe now, it was just a nightmare."
At that moment, the door burst open and several guards came in ready to fight. Odin and Frigga followed them looking as if they just came out of bed.
"Is everything alright? The guards say they heard a scream and feared an attack."
"No mother, everything is fine. Loki just had a nightmare. He is fine now."
Loki wrapped his arms tighter around Thor and buried his head into Thor's shoulder. He was too embarrassed to face the audience in the room.
"Are you sure my son?"
"Yes father. Everything is fine, I can handle this if you two wish to return to your chambers."
"Ok my dear. We will leave you two alone." Frigga stated as Odin and the guards started to leave.
Frigga went over and placed a kiss to Loki's temple and pulled a blanket up to his shoulders when she noticed how bad he was shaking. She then left the chambers pulling the doors close behind her. Thor sat there quietly for a few more minutes before finally speaking.
"Loki? Brother, they are gone now. Do you wish to talk about it?"
"Not yet. Can we go outside? I need some fresh air."
"Of course."
Thor stood up and helped Loki stand. He wrapped the blanket around Loki's shoulders and together they walked outside to the balacony attached to Loki's chambers. Loki walked to the very edge, keeping the blanket wrapped around him and stared off into the city. Thor sat in lounger behind him and watched him closely.
"Brother, are you sure your alright? That was a very intense nightmare."
"I'm fine Thor, I do not wish to discuss it yet."
"Perhaps it will make you feel better if you did. It's just me brother, you can tell me anything."
"Thor I said I did not wish to discuss it now leave it alone!"
Tense silence hung between the brothers. That was the second time in one day that Loki had snapped at Thor. Normally Loki did convey all his nightmares to Thor, but now Loki seemed distant. Thor just wanted to help his brother, but he couldn't do it if Loki wouldn't talk to him.
"It was when they carved into me."
Thor's head shot up from where it was hanging down. Loki had his arm out was tracing where the words had been carved.
"I begged them to stop, but they had gagged me and couldn't hear what I was saying. I couldn't scream. I tried calling out for you so many times." Loki mumbled trying to hold back the tears.
Thor stood up from where he sat and walked over to Loki. He placed a hand on Loki's shoulder turning him to towards himself.
"I'm sorry I couldn't hear you brother, I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you." Thor whispered brushing his knuckles against Loki's cheek in an attempt to sooth him smiling a bit when Loki nuzzled his hand, "and I promise you, we are going to find some way of getting that off of you."
"It was done with a cursed knife Thor, that much I remember. And I am pretty sure I have heard Eir saying there may not be away to reverse it." Loki turned away from Thor again pulling away from his comforting touch as he wrapped the blanket tighter around his shoulders.
"We will find away. Both mother and Eir are very powerful in the magical arts, they will find away and I will help them. I will not rest until we find something that can be done for you." Thor reassured placing a hand on Loki's shoulder again.
"Don't worry about it Thor. I can learn to live with it." Loki stated.
The brothers sunk into silence once again before Thor spoke.
"Hey how about we sneak down to the kitchens and get some of the good chocolate?"
"It's late in the night Thor, the kitchens are closed. We are not allowed to go down to the kitchens at night, Father has told us that many times." Loki reminded.
"One we are the princes of Asgard, no one is going to say anything. Two, where is your sense of adventure?" Thor asked.
Loki couldn't suppress the smile that came over his face.
"Okay fine, but do me a favor and actually be quite. You are always horrible about actually sneaking around." Loki warned.
The brothers laughed and off they were to the kitchens.
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Thor and Loki were summoned to the throne room the next day. They both dressed formally and walked together to the throne room. Once they arrived and walked up to the throne, they both knelt on one knee in front of their father. Their mother was there as well standing beside Odin.
"You asked to see us father?" Thor asked.
"Yes. I wanted to inform you that the Cree warriors are to be sentenced to death for their actions. I knew that was going to be the decision but I didn't want to announce that day. I wanted to give Loki a chance to fully recover from giving his statement before I announced the decision and I wanted to tell you both first." Odin informed.
"Yes Father." They both answered.
Odin then rose from his throne and walked down the steps to stand in front of Loki.
"Loki I want to commend you for your actions. Despite being in the face of torture and death you remained loyal to me and to Asgard. I know this was difficult for you, but you faced like a warrior would and you have made me and all of Asgard proud. There will be a great celebration in your honor the next week."
"Thank you father."
Odin put a hand to Loki's face.
"I also want you to know how truly sorry I am that this happened and I promise to do everything in my power to keep it from ever happening again. I love you my son." Odin stated.
"And I you Father." Loki reached up and squeezed Odin's wrist.
Odin squeezed Loki's shoulder in reassurance.
"You both may go, I will let you know when the sentence is to be carried out if you wish to attend." Odin dismissed.
Thor and Loki both rose, bowed and turned to leave when Odin stopped them.
"Oh and next time you both sneak down to the kitchens for a midnight snack make sure the lid to chocolate jar gets back on properly." Odin smiled.
They both stopped and stared at each other with big eyes and trying to hide smirks before walking very quickly out of the throne room and back to Loki's chambers.
"I told you the lid wasn't put back all the way." Loki chastised.
"I thought it was and the guards were coming on their patrol we had to get out of there or we would have been caught," Thor argued.
"We should count ourselves lucky that Father didn't tear into us like he has done in the past." Loki reminded.
Thor nodded his agreement and the brother's lapsed into silence as they sat in front of Loki's fire place.
"I'm glad this is all finally over." Loki stated.
"Me too brother, and I promise nothing like this will ever happen to you again." Thor promised as he slipped an arm over Loki's shoulders.
"You can't always be there to protect me Thor."
"No, but I am going to try." Thor reassured.
The brother's sat together for the rest of the day enjoying each other's company and silently vowing to always protect each other.
The End.
Author's note: Sorry for the crappy ending, I am always bad about summing things up. I hope you all have loved this story and please feel free to leave comments! Thanks for sticking with me!