Sorry about the incredibly long wait! I've had so many ideas going through my head for later chapters that this one suffered a wait because of it. FYI, I'm posting this a year after I officially began Your Equal. I cannot thank you enough for the support. Please review! And as usual, Charlotte is the only thing I own.

After Thor left, I had a fitful night of sleep, which is to say that I didn't sleep at all. I could see in the mirrors the next morning that I had circles under my eyes the size of saucers. Why didn't I bring any makeup? Whatever, at this point it was clear I knew that the Asgardians had my number. They were going to have to deal with me.

Two women showed up and finally, I forced myself to accept that this all hadn't been a terrible dream. They poured a basin of water for me to bathe in while I had some bread and honey and fruit for my breakfast. The women obviously intended to steer clear of me and I finally snapped. "Look, I'm not dangerous so you can all stop hiding in the shadows. I'm not here to break into the weapons vault. I'm here as a favor to Thor," I said between bites of bread. "So I would appreciate it if ya'll would stop treating me like I'm some kind of fugitive. I get that enough at home." The last sentence I said more to myself than anything else. I drank the goblet of water they'd brought me and I was so thankful it wasn't wine, I almost rejoiced.

When I felt a girl's hand on my shoulders, I knew they were expecting me to take a bath. "You don't need to chaperone me with this," I said as the nightgown was stripped off of me. Thank goodness I still had on underwear. I'd brought several pair. "Well, obviously no one listens to a word I say… and I never was the most modest person." Of course, the other times I'd been near naked in front of people other than my mom was during medical emergencies and I wouldn't have cared what they saw as long as I was helped.

"The water is likely cold by now," one of them muttered. I twisted my head fiercely after covering my breasts. The one who'd spoken froze, like she was scared of what I'd do to her.

"Makes no mind to me," I responded and I stepped into the tub slowly. The water wasn't freezing by any means, certainly not compared to the ice baths Tony had made for me. "Oh, I've had much worse." I sank into the water slowly, still not compromising my underwear.

"You are accustomed to cold water?" the girl who'd spoken before asked. I nodded.

"When I train physically, ice water helps stall swelling in any of my muscles. It's a neat trick." The girl froze again. Maybe I shouldn't have used the term 'trick.'

"What was on your hip?" the other girl asked. I knew exactly what she'd been referring to but I looked at my left side anyway.

"It's a scar. I got cut pretty badly." This one wasn't deterred.

"How did it happen?" I started smiling. Maybe I was growing on them.

"I was trying to prevent Loki from doing something and I tripped. I'm kinda clumsy. I would've fallen to my death if he hadn't grabbed me." I noticed the two girls exchange a look. I practically rolled my eyes. What was it now?

"You fell?"

"Yeah, I did."

That was the last anyone said for a while. They insisted on washing my hair for me, which actually wasn't a chore to allow them to do. It felt amazing and I blocked my mind to their memories. After that, they set to helping me get into another gown. This one was a deep purple and I was given a copper choker to wear. The metal and the color set me apart from either brother and I figured, during the trial, that might be needed. After my hair had been set, it fell in finger wave curls that made my stomach churn. Normally, it was a style I might do every once in a while because I knew it looked good on me but today, I only saw someone else in the mirror.

Bucky had compared me to Peggy Carter, even said that I reminded him of her. I didn't know enough of the woman to know whether our personalities meshed but I had seen her picture. I wasn't as pretty as her but with my hair touching my shoulders and styled this way, I almost saw it. But she had smaller and daintier lips and higher cheekbones. She probably had a better skin complexion too, if I was to be totally honest. And there was no way I could pull off a service uniform and red lipstick. But body-wise, we also were fairly similar. I might've been shorter than her and that always allowed for some curves but I didn't look as confident as she was. What the hell am I doing? Comparing myself to her could take all damn day and I could do that on my own time.

I mentally regretted having no makeup again but I stood and sucked it up. The gown was long enough to cover the fact that I was still wearing combat boots. I hope that didn't matter to anyone like everything else I did seemed to do. "Thanks for helping me this morning!" I said cheerfully to the two girls who'd been silent since the beginning of my bath. They'd seen basically every part of my body and they hadn't even told me their names. But at this comment, they both seemed to perk up. Maybe it was my quaint Midgardian manners.

As they left, Thor and Jane showed up. No doubt they'd had breakfast together. Jane was wearing a pink gown and her hair was braided back. "Are you ready for this?" she asked timidly. I shrugged.

"No but I was never going to be," I said.

"As I told you," began Thor, "all of this will go spectacularly for you. Speaking is something you are terribly good at and if you are just honest, I have no doubt the people will listen." But it was obvious Thor had slept as little as I had last night. He felt bad about Loki wanting me to go home, I could tell. In fact, I was practically sure he was contemplating doing it.

"I'm not going back on this but you have to keep your word on explaining everything tonight." He nodded.

"I will. You, Jane, the Lady Sif, the Warriors Three, and myself shall dine together in my rooms tonight. Any questions you have shall be answered."

"That's good enough for me." And it was. Anything to keep my mind occupied.

The three of us began walking to the throne room again and my hands started shaking. The only pep talk I could give myself was that I knew Loki needed this help and that he would never have asked for it. But I owed Thor even more than I owed Loki. And I knew Tony and Bruce were right. I couldn't start having these feelings for Loki again. I'd finally gotten back to some semblance of normal before being yanked up and taken here. But if what Thor wanted actually came to pass, I didn't know how I'd react. Loki being on Earth indefinitely would be a hard pill to swallow for any of the Avengers.

I pretended I wasn't sweating bullets when we arrived. The huge doors were wide open, seemingly waiting for the three of us to enter. When they closed behind us, I knew they had been and I gulped. As many people as had been there yesterday when I entered were there now. I saw Sif and the Warriors Three and I nodded at them.

We walked the length of the middle aisle again and I briefly recalled Frigga's memory of Thor's coronation day. This room wouldn't hold that kind of celebration for a while. When we reached the bottom of the small staircase leading to Odin's throne and Frigga sitting beside it, Thor dropped to one knee and put his right fist over his heart. Being the pleasing person she was, I watched as Jane did the same. I, noticeably, did not.

My eyes fixed on Loki, who was seated to the left at the front of the room. Behind the muzzle, he might've been smiling. His eyes were just lit up like they used to do when he found something interesting. "Prince Thor, Lady Jane, please take a seat," said Odin. His booming voice sent chills down my spine. "It is the Lady Charlotte with whom I must speak and we all must hear." Thor clapped me on the back and I smiled at him. He and Jane sat down beside Sif. "Are you familiar with any Asgardian custom, Lady Charlotte? As I recall, you remembered the proper bow yesterday." I gulped. But by the way Odin was looking at me, I could tell he wasn't mad that I wasn't reverent. Instead, he seemed intrigued.

"It was my first guess to guarantee my safety," I said. The strength of my voice surprised me. Maybe there was something about the room that made it seem louder. "But all due respect, Allfather, you're not my king so I'm not gonna bow." Loki's eyes lit up again and I bit my lip to keep from smiling. Maybe the idea of my being here was growing on him.

"I would never have asked you to since you are of Midgard. Heimdall also gave me some hint of your personality." Again, he seemed almost curious about me but it wasn't the kind of curiosity that was nice. I felt like he was looking at me like a freak. "But you are here under grave matters and though I wish it were not so, I digress." I nodded.

"I'll tell you everything I can."

"How did you come to find my son?" Frigga had leaned forward in her chair and I noticed Thor, out of the corner of my eye, lean forward too. Did they truly not know?

"My company, S.H.I.E.L.D., was in the area where Thor was banished because we curious about him and what had happened." This was going to be easier than I anticipated. "The house I was staying in was the closest to the… to the Bifrost point. I heard a loud boom one night, maybe two days after Thor had returned here, and I thought it was Thor so I drove out to the spot. I suspect you know about the Avengers?" Odin nodded but his face showed nothing else. "I didn't want Thor to be harassed about it automatically when he didn't know anything about them so my original plan had been to brief Thor on what my company would want. I didn't anticipate Loki. It clicked in my head who he was when I saw him and I set to helping him. He wasn't happy about it but it was clear he had no one else. He told me the Bifrost was broken and he sassed me a lot but I sassed him right back and I took him to my house. I got him Midgardian clothes and fed him and we just… became friends."

"Did you know of the Destroyer?" I nodded.

"Yeah, I did. I mean, people warned me that Loki was the one who'd done it. That was entire reason I even figured out who he was when I found him in the desert. It was the way the story was told to me, I guess, that made me not fully believe it. I heard it secondhand and from reading some statement Jane had made. None of it clicked with me. It just sounded like they needed a scapegoat and the poor misunderstood, wronged younger brother was the perfect one. I told Loki as much when I met him. I didn't think it was on him for a long, long time." Odin didn't seem to appreciate that I thought Loki was the one wronged. I braced myself for whatever came next.

"What did he tell you about Asgard?" Odin seemed hardened by the information I'd given him already. "Why did you consider him wronged?"

"I, uh, he told me that he had problems with Thor… and he told me his true parentage." Odin pressed his lips together in a harsh line and I heard people gasp. He didn't want the Frost Giant thing brought up in public. "He said that the people here judged him for his use of magic and his silver tongue. He said he'd always felt different."

"We never wanted him to feel different," said Frigga. I didn't doubt that. I knew the reasoning behind it.

"At any rate, Loki told me that Asgard knew he was a monster long before he did."

"He is not a monster," said Odin. I took a step back at his tone but I kept going. I'd waited for this moment for at least eight months.

"I know but isn't that what you taught him and Thor as children? That the Frost Giants couldn't be trusted? That they were monsters? I just don't get that if you knew from the beginning why you didn't approach it better. He could've just known and this all could've been avoided." Loki was staring at me like he couldn't understand how I knew what to say.

"You think to question my authority on these matters?" Again I felt the need to take a step back but this time, I didn't. At first, I'd simply been going to explain things slowly but it was clear that Odin really didn't trust me. He didn't understand that I empathized with Loki. He might even have thought I was in on it.

"Yeah, I do because I think it's obvious it could've been prevented if you'd talked to him."

"Of course, it could have been prevented. Everything can be prevented. But with the respect you are due for protecting Loki, you seem to know nothing about him or the events that led him to your world. He chose to fall into an abyss and he came out on the other side a different person and that is the person you took care of. He fooled you much like he has fooled many a person. As I am told, that is a gift you have as well." So there it was. He thought he knew me from what Heimdall saw. I didn't understand that though because as far as I knew, Heimdall liked me. Besides, what could he have seen that would've been so incriminating?

"No, I think the biggest gift I have is figuring other people out. In fact, that's in my job description. And I can tell you for a fact that while I may have been fooled for a few months, there were things that happened that Loki couldn't have been lying about. He showed me his skin as it turned blue. As far as I'm aware, that's not something you can fake. He wasn't lying when he tried to hide tears when Thor begged him to come home. He'll deny it but he loves you and the rest of his family. It doesn't make up for what he did to my planet and I know that but he does deserve your sympathy. He was hurt when I found him because he was searching for your approval and couldn't find it. That doesn't absolve him of any sins but it is true that you favored Thor. It's easy to see why. I love him as much as you do. But Loki was left alone and I don't think it's a wonder that he ended up the way he did. I would've been the same."

Odin appeared calm and he even briefly smiled before responding. "I found Loki as a baby on Jotunheim, left to die in the cold because he was too small. I did hope to one day bring about a peace between our two realms through him. It is true that I was in the wrong." My heart pounded loudly and I was afraid everyone in the room could hear it. "One thing I have always valued about the Midgardians is something you embody well, Lady Charlotte, and that is your courage. I have heard tales of you from my son and from his accounts, you seem to be quite the hero. Indeed, you seem to be willing to sacrifice yourself for a cause. I value that. Your love for my sons is completely unheralded and I hope they both know how lucky they are to have won the affections of someone so completely honest with themselves and everyone around them." I felt like gasping. How he took what I'd said so well, I didn't know. I was hotheaded and a total rambler but he'd almost expected it. It didn't make me feel like I belonged but it was a step closer to being understood. "Now could you tell me of your involvement in Loki's plans to conquer Midgard or what you knew of them?" I shrugged and tried to calm myself down.

"Uh, I truly didn't know much until after the fact. I spent a lot of my time trying to stop him with the Avengers. But Loki did try to convince me to join him and I told him no but I figured out from that conversation that he'd gone out and made a deal with someone for the army and whatever else. I mean, I knew he hadn't had that scepter the entire time."

"The scepter?" asked Frigga, leaning forward again.

"Yeah, um, it was this long thing with a glowing blue light at the end. I'm certain it was connected to the tesseract. I mean, it's what closed the portal between Earth and wherever the Chitauri are from."

"Do you have the scepter in your possession on Midgard?" asked Odin.

"I don't personally but it is with my company and I can assure you it's under total lock and key. It's just been in our labs to be analyzed. It's got a weird possessive quality about it and when it's in the same building as me, it's all I can think about. We wanted to see what was making it that way but we haven't found anything. Besides, even though the cube's here, the light on the end of the spear is just as bright as can be." This seemed to disconcert Odin and Frigga and when I turned to look at Thor, he even seemed a little confused.

The rest of the day passed menially with me explaining everything that had happened since Loki had been in my care. I lashed out a couple of times when it was insinuated that I didn't know things that had gone down but other than that, I kept my head on straight. But it was clear that Thor had a lot of explaining to do.

When Odin told us that our time that day was over, I strode forward and up the steps to formally apologize. "I'm so sorry for the way I've acted," I began. "I am a guest here and I know that but with what Loki told me and my personality, it was bound to happen at some point. I'm not fond of the way things between you and your family are and that's none of my business but you needed to know."

Odin gave me another smile which I expected was just his normal reaction to someone like me. "I think that having Thor explain the things Loki did not tell you will answer quite a few of your questions," he responded. "I was told you that you and Loki were a great deal alike, so much so that Thor considered you a lost sister, but I see now that where Loki hides his pain and his animosity, you tell it. I find that admirable and one day, it will take you very far. But the empathy you feel for what Loki has done is unfathomable and that is where I see the two of you being compatible. Do not hurt Thor the way Loki has done, Lady Charlotte. That is all I ask of you. Do not make him regret considering you a sister." I gulped and nodded, backing off. I never expected to get that kind of lecture.

They escorted Loki out first, as per usual. I stuck to Thor and Jane. Jane exchanged a look with me and I knew she felt bad for what I'd been put through today. It was only beginning. Odin said a few words that formally dismissed everyone and I followed Sif, the Warriors Three, Thor, and Jane back to Thor's living quarters.

His rooms were just as lavish as mine had been and covered in red but I had expected that. I heard Volstagg make some mention of food and I realized I was actually hungry. Thor had had dinner be ready for all of us before we returned from the day at "court."

"I am sorry for what you had to be put through today, Charlotte," said Thor. I shrugged.

"The whole situation was something I'd expected so don't be sorry. It was only a matter of time," I responded. "I hope that whatever I said sunk in for them." But I didn't believe anything I'd mentioned had made a true difference.

"Well, let's eat," mentioned Jane.

"Thank you, Lady Jane!" I heard Volstagg say before sitting at the table in Thor's room and digging in. Hogun and Fandral laughed while Sif did an Asgardian version of a face-palm. I sat beside Jane and ate some bread and cheese and a fruit that Volstagg highly recommended.

"So today was brutal," said Jane.

"You can say that again," I said, eating another piece of bread. "Although not as badly as it might have been."

"I thought you were wonderful," said Fandral. "Who knew the Midgardians had such gall?" I mustered a laugh.

"I don't have a brain to mouth filter, that much is obvious." When they didn't understand the expression, Jane and I laughed. "I mean, that when I think something, I just say it and don't stop to wonder what the repercussions will be."

"I kind of think it made Odin like you," said Jane. I snorted.

"You didn't hear the lecture I got then." Thor made a face like he disapproved.

"What did my father say to you?" he demanded.

"He warned me not to hurt you. I think that was the lesson at hand."

"That is not a valid concern," he responded. "You are here to aid my brother and you are one of my greatest friends. I cannot understand why he would wish to insult you like that. I will have words with him." Thor moved to get up but Sif scolded him.

"Thor, you are being rash," she said.

"Yeah, you are," I said. He made a face again. "Only a little bit. I thought it was fine that he said it. I just thought he wanted to tell me that I was ungrateful and rude and I might've been a bit of both today." Thor sank back into his chair and he turned to look at me. "Your father also said that it might be beneficial if you explain everything to me." Thor nodded. "So why were you banished in the first place?" Jane turned to look at Thor now and seemed curious. Was it possible that she knew as little as I did?

"At the time none of us knew that my coronation was ended due to Loki," said Thor. "Frost Giants entered the Allfather's treasure room and sought to regain their power casket that my father had taken from them once they were defeated. Before I was crowned, they drew our attention and I grew angry at the thought that they had broken into our stronghold."

"All of us were," said Sif.

"Loki seemed to agree that something needed to be done when my father said for there to be no actions taken. We decided to march on Jotunheim."

"Just the six of you?" I asked. "Surely, you knew that wasn't a good idea." Thor only shrugged.

"Loki tried to tell us once there but I was angry and I started a fight that none of us could have won. In the end, the Allfather had to come stop the fighting."

"Rather humiliating at the time," said Volstagg, "but I have learned to be grateful for it."

"Loki told a guard before we left where we going so it was only a matter of time before someone showed up," said Fandral. "He seemed to think we should never have made it to even speak with Laufey." I rumpled my brow.

"So he sorta egged you on and then claimed he'd always thought it was a bad idea?" I asked. All of them nodded.

"We were furious," said Hogun.

"But didn't he actually save your lives by doing that?" Fandral nodded.

"It was all a show to make it seem like Thor was unfit for the throne," said Sif.

"Once we returned, the Allfather banished me to your realm without my powers," said Thor grimly. "Once there, I met Jane, Darcy, and Erik. Jane helped me try to reclaim Mjolnir but I was not worthy yet and was taken by your company." I nodded. That was something I knew. Phil had interrogated him and came up with nothing. Originally Thor was thought to be nothing more than a glorified mercenary. When the Destroyer arrived, it became clear he was something else. "While there, Loki visited me."

"What?" I asked.

"How could he do that?" asked Jane.

"Loki is clever and has ways to travel between realms that are not through Heimdall or the Bifrost. He came to Midgard to tell me that my father had died and that continued peace with Jotunheim was conditional upon my banishment." I opened my mouth to say something but I couldn't think of the right words. Odin clearly wasn't dead. How could Loki make Thor believe something like that?

"I- I don't think I understand," I said.

"The Allfather had fallen into an Odinsleep," said Sif, "so the throne rested on Loki's shoulders in Thor's absence. He continually made excuses as to why he could not bring Thor home."

"So all of you snuck out and with Heimdall's help, ended up on Earth?" I asked. They nodded.

"After we reached Midgard and explained everything to Thor, that is when Loki sent the Destroyer," said Fandral. I knew everything about the incident with the Destroyer now from Jane. How Thor had given himself up in turn for the safety of Earth and that is when he became worthy of Mjolnir and his power again.

"He sent it when he realized you left?" Fandral nodded.

"We did not know when we left but Loki had made a deal with the Frost Giants to guide them into Asgard and kill Odin when he could not fight back," said Sif. "It was another show so that Loki could kill Laufey and become the treasured son. That façade was broken when we returned and Thor fought him."

"Loki had set the Bifrost open on Jotunheim," said Thor. "When that happens, the Bifrost begins to rip a world apart. Loki wanted to destroy the Frost Giants once and for all. In order to stop him, I hammered down on the Rainbow Bridge until the Bifrost fell." I covered my mouth with my hand. They were giving me a dumbed down version of the events and I didn't get why. Maybe it upset Thor to talk about it. I made a note to touch him later and see if I could fish for a specific memory. Before the Bifrost was broken was what I really wanted to know. "The shock from the blow threw Loki and I over the side. My father grabbed hold of me and when Loki tried for my father's affections again, he brushed them off and Loki let go." My heart pounded and I looked down at the table in front of me. None of it was out of the ordinary for Loki but I only began feeling bad for him again.

"If Loki fell into a portal opened by the Bifrost, why wouldn't he have gone through to Jotunheim instead of Earth?" asked Jane. The scientist in her needed to know these things. Thor's brow furrowed as he began thinking.

"He targeted Midgard because of my love for it and it's people. My guess is that he used his powers to get him there, whether he willingly acknowledged it or not."

"So I found him right after you fought?" I asked. Thor nodded. "And everyone thought Loki was dead when he fell?" That's when my conversation with those serving girls clicked. They associated me falling with Loki falling. No matter what, I wouldn't have let go in that situation. Loki had some kind of courage to fall and not really know where he'd end up.

"We mourned him, Charlotte," said Thor. "That was no lie." I shook my head.

"That's not what I'm saying. Of course you were upset. I would never accuse you of not being sad about it. But Heimdall kept his watch on Jane for you. It wouldn't have been hard to figure out that Loki was holed up with me. Heimdall can see anything." Thor began smiling and I noticed the Warriors Three exchange a few looks. Sif again seemed like she wanted to roll her eyes. What the hell was going on?

"He can," said Hogun, "but Loki has abilities very few Asgardians have." I raised my eyebrows.

"He can disguise himself?"

"Yes," said Sif. "Heimdall remarked that he had no reckoning of Loki's plan for letting the Frost Giants in that last time because when he turned his gaze on him, he could not see anything."

"So while he was on Earth, he hid himself? How did you ever know to come at all?"

"Because of you," said Thor. "I am sorry I was not completely truthful with you about things on Asgard at first. I was not sure you could be trusted. I lied about a new Bifrost, I lied about knowing who you were, and I lied about knowing where Loki was."

"Why?" I asked. I had wanted the answer to why he had lied about Asgard for a long time but I knew he couldn't have completely trusted me. That would've been stupid. "Wait a minute… are you saying you knew who I was before I ever met you?" Thor nodded. "How? What the hell's going on?" Jane beside me looked confused.

"Heimdall had seen you before once when you encountered Jane a little while after I had returned to Asgard. From then on, he did not see you and it was not something anyone paid attention to, given you were not working with Jane. Later on, it was known that when Loki hid himself, he hid you too."

"How is that possible?" asked Jane. "The energy it probably took just to cover himself… and on top of that, he protected Charlotte? Even when she wasn't in her house with him?" Thor nodded, smiling further.

"Why would he bother with that?" I asked. "I wasn't recognizable to Heimdall so why on Earth would he bother?"

"I asked him when we returned after what he did to your realm and he said it was instinctual. He thought he could use you to his advantage."

"So from that, you thought I was working with him?"

"Originally, yes and I apologize for thinking so badly of you. You would protect Midgard at all costs and I know that now." I nodded.

"Apology accepted. But you still haven't told me how you knew to come at all. Did Loki somehow slip up?"

"You could say that," said Fandral. Volstagg knocked him with his elbow so I turned back to Thor curiously. What the hell had happened?

"He let his guard down one night when he was with you and Heimdall saw him for however short a time it was," said Thor.

"Well, when?" I asked. Now they had hooked me. I needed to know now.

"It was once when he kissed you." I thought my heart would stop and I felt Jane touch my arm.

"I don't- I just don't understand. We were in a relationship. We kissed a bunch of times. How could he have let his guard down?"

"Emotions were probably clouding his head and I should not have to remind you that Loki has never been close with a woman before."

"Oh, my God," I said, letting it sink in.

"It might've been when he began to view you as something more than an ally," said Jane. "It might be when he knew you were genuine."

"Wow. Just wow," I said. Thor nodded, grinning.

"My brother does truly care for you, Charlotte. So your conscience is clean when you think of helping him," said Thor. I nodded.

"Well, thanks for telling me everything." Thor nodded.

"I will tell my father of our idea of banishing Loki to Midgard on the morrow. For now, we must all sleep." I nodded and rose out of my chair.

After Sif and the Warriors Three left, Thor and Jane turned to me. "You would seriously consider letting Loki come back to Earth?" asked Jane.

"It wasn't my idea," I muttered.

"It is a fine plan and it is punishment enough for Loki," said Thor.

"You mean punishment enough for the Avengers? Not a single one of them will condone this, Thor. I don't condone this."

"If I come, he will constantly be under my supervision."

"You're not a glorified babysitter, Thor. You're a prince! A prince with responsibilities who is bound to take this throne fairly soon. None of us would ask you to give that up."

"I wish to come to Earth."

"There are better reasons," said Jane.

"That's for sure," I said. "Loki is dangerous. Powers or no powers, the Avengers won't be taking any chances."

"Do you not want him there, Charlotte?" asked Thor. He gave me a look that was brokenhearted enough to put Loki to shame.

"I don't know what I want, Thor. I wanna be able to work through my emotional problems without having to worry about Loki tearing the city apart. I do still have a moral compass, you know. It may not seem like it at times but I have to think about my job now and Fury will kick me out if I let my emotions get in the way. It's not that I don't want Loki to have a lesser punishment, it's that I'm worried that this is more of a punishment for Earth than it would be for him."

"Whatever my father chooses cannot be rebuked, Charlotte. If banishment is chosen, I would prefer for him to be on Midgard and closer to you than on Alfheim or any other realm." I nodded.

"Let me think on it and I'll decide whether I'm for it or against it in the morning."

a