Hello! Welcome back to the next instalment, I won't keep you any longer so enjoy!

Shout Outs!:

Stardust333

I won't! Keep reading and see ;)

OminousAnonymousAnomaly

He really doesn't :'(

CHSHiccstrid

Sorry, not in this story. Thank you. Can any of us?

SmolAvidReader

I'm sorry! It killed me, it really did. We all scream in agony anyway, go ahead. Oh, I don't like her and she does need to go. Just give it a little time. Thank you!

Journal 2, Entry 2: "Nothing Breaks like a Heart"

Loki walked solemnly into the golden room. Odin sat on his throne, staring down his youngest with a look of utter disappointment—and it didn't faze Loki one bit. He'd just as soon get this over with and to wherever his prison happened to be so he could grieve in peace.

He did note the baffled gaze of Thor, his half-burnt beard and drying, bloodied nose being quite the sight for the usually untouchable prince. He also had to look quite a sight, his usually immaculate clothing was utterly disheveled. His hair was near matted and sticking out in every direction in a rather unflattering way, his clothes and armor were torn and damaged—thank you Grimmel—and he was doing his best to hide the limp forming in his injured leg. Thankfully, they only bound his hands.

Frigga stood near Odin, concern her dominant expression as she felt his pain radiate through the air—not to mention the state he was in. "Loki? What troubles you? hy have you done this?"

He looked away, staring at one of the many windows—his tongue dry. He couldn't tell her. He could hardly stand to tell it to himself.

Odin frowned, leaning forward so he could lean on an elbow that was resting on this throne. "Have you nothing to say? You sneak out of Asgard to murder thousands! What kind of child have I raised?"

Loki's lips twisted, anger rising from too many sources. All he managed to snarl was, "They deserved fates far worse than the swift deaths they received."

Frigga's eyes widened. She had never heard her youngest speak with such venom.

Odin scowled, about to berate him when Thor stepped forward looking more troubled than either of his parents had ever seen him. "Father, Mother, please—Hiccup is dead."

Frigga's breath stuttered, bringing a hand to her mouth to hide it opened in shock.

Odin frowned in confusion. "Hiccup? Who or what is Hiccup?"

Thor started to answer but Loki snapped at him. "Be silent, Thor, and remember your oath."

Odin's shadowed eye darkened at both his sons.

Thor set a hand on Loki's shoulder. "Brother, there is no use for it anymore. Father can do nothing to keep you two a part now. Tell him and he will understand your crimes…I'm sure he himself would have done nothing less."

Loki snorted but said nothing, refusing to look anyone in the eyes.

Odin's eyebrows arched. "Well, do I get to know who this person is? Why his death justifies the blood of thousands?"

Thor's shoulders fell and finally answered. "He i-was Loki's Chosen. Hiccup was an heir of a Midgardian tribe of Vikings. We met them by accident a few years back—he and Loki had an instant connection. He has cared for him like his own child ever since."

Odin sat back in shock, eye wide, and for once at a loss of words.

Thor continued, alternating looking between his Father and Mother—the latter of which seemed to be going into shock and only had eyes for Loki. "He was murdered, I-I presume…I actually don't know how…?"

Loki clenched his hands, nails digging into his palms again—one of the first sensations he'd felt in almost twenty-four hours now. He had so much to say, so much he wanted to say.

He wanted to condemn Amora, for it was her knife—he knew it could be no others—and it was not there by happenstance, but he had no solid proof of that. And the death was only that of a mortal—cherished as it might be by the youngest prince. But hearsay could not condemn an Asgardian, especially not one as high ranking as Karnilla's apprentice, when it was set against a mortal.

And, oh how he wanted to expose Grimmel—but that would mean alerting his continued existence to Odin and he would have him hunted down while Loki was receiving his punishment. He refused to be denied that man's blood and he would claim it with his own hands

He finally said, seething eyes still boring into the floor. "Someone wanted something of me, something I could not give. And I was not strong enough to protect my child."

Odin tilted his head, rarely having heard Loki speak so vaguely. "And who or what was it?"

Loki's teeth flashed at the floor but he did not answer.

Odin sighed. "I assume and hope then that these Midgardians you killed were his army?"

He nodded. "They were. They brought Hiccup's existence to him, asked his help to capture Hi-Hiccup's familiar for their own gains, and delivered to him the weapon that killed my child."

Odin spun Gungnir between his fingers to keep himself from rubbing his remaining eye. After a bit of thought he turned to Heimdall who'd followed them in. "You see all...Was his death worth the price Loki deemed?"

Loki shot Heimdall a pleading look, Odin knew at that moment Heimdall knew something about the situation Loki did not want revealed. Heimdall turned to Odin after a moment. "I believe so. Everyone who entered the Barbaric Archipelago knew Hiccup was Claimed by Asgard, by her prince. To do harm to a Chosen lawfully demands equal retribution."

Odin nodded, sighing quietly. "What of his life? Did he live and die to deserve Valhalla?"

Loki's eyes widened a fraction, gaze dancing from Heimdall to Odin.

Heimdall nodded. "As a boy, he killed a Red Death, a dragon that would not fit in this castle, nevertheless this room. He fought nobly and honorably for his tribe and dragons. A year ago," he paused, looking Odin in the eye and scaring Loki that he would reveal the secret Odin thought he'd hidden so well, "he and his familiar fought against a Dýrsvell and the madman it let become its commander, and won. And now he has died protecting his tribe. Any of these I believe are deserving of Valhalla, notwithstanding his Chosen status."

Odin nodded, returning his gaze to Loki. "For his noble life and death, I grant Hiccup, Loki's Chosen, to Valhalla."

Loki silently stuttered—for Hiccup, his child to be given that privilege…He looked back up at Odin, wondering what price he would have to pay.

Odin stared at Loki for a time longer, only breaking his gaze away when Frigga touched his arm with a pointed look—her eyes radiating near the same pain and heartbreak as their son. He took a deep breath before speaking. "Your actions, while justifiable, cannot be allowed to remain unpunished."

Loki almost snorted, the hypocrisy. He could only imagine what would befall the Realm responsible for Thor's untimely death.

Odin continued, ignoring the look on Loki's face. "Be that as it may, you are forbidden from leaving Asgard for a year."

Loki stared at Odin in shock. Odin's face remained emotionless but his eyebrow did twitch. Ah yes, I should be thanking him for his leniency. "Thank you, my gracious Father, for your generosity." His tongue curled as he spoke and he couldn't help his eyebrows pinching together in near disdain.

Odin nodded and gestured for the guards to remove the bindings.

They did so and Loki ripped his wrists away from the accursed metal, glaring at them as they were taken away. He nodded once to Odin out of decorum before dipping his head at his mother with far more warmth. He turned on his heel and left, a guard already holding the door open for him.

Thor's heavy and quick footsteps rushed to catch up and he proceeded to ignore him. "Brother! Brother, wait!"

He did not. He didn't quicken his pace but also did not acknowledge Thor at all.

Thor huffed in annoyance but caught up to him easily. "Loki, please. I-"

Loki's nose wrinkled, barely glancing at Thor. "I wish to be left alone. Surely even a blind man could see that. Go tend to your beard and nose. You look awful."

Thor's steps faltered but quickly shook off his remark and stamped down the mild indignation that Loki was the one to ruin his beard. "If I look awful then you look as though you've walked through Helheim."

Loki stumbled, catching himself rather ungracefully, eyes burning in fury before he said quietly, "It would have been preferable."

Thor looked up in exasperation. "Loki, it is still early. Come to the healers with me then have some breakfast with mother."

"I am anything but hungry and want to be alone. Good day, Thor."

Thor caught his arm and Loki whirled around with a fury in his eyes that made him question the move. "Brother, it cannot be good to block everyone out like this and shut down. Hiccup would not want you-"

Loki's face twisted into an ugly snarl. "You know nothing of what Hiccup would want and you know nothing of what I want or need. So unless you are here to tell me you can somehow rewind time—leave me be to grieve alone. Haven't you done enough?"

Thor stopped, guilt racking his heart. He watched Loki walk away with measured steps, wondering if he would have chosen differently the other night if he knew Hiccup truly was to die the next morning. He was ashamed to say he didn't know.

Loki entered his room and shut the door with normal decorum before standing in the middle of the main chamber for several minutes—his mind entirely blank, and his chin trembling. He turned his gaze around the room, eyes landing the runes carved along his wall and unbiddingly bringing forth memories from not long ago when another had shared his rooms…

A tear slid down his cheek as he remembered that day, both of them terrified Hiccup would be discovered only for it to turn to mortification as the night continued. Like a broken floodgate, memories of Hiccup surged—from their very first meeting to the worst memory of them all.

He finally broke, in the safety of his chambers where no one could witness. His magics lashed out, shaking the walls and his Jötunn coating them in a thick layer of ice. Anything that stood in the way was left with a long, horizontal spike facing the wall.

In need of another outlet for his rage, the furniture became his next target since Grimmel's blood had been denied to him—or at least postponed. Within half an hour, nothing was left intact. Even his books that he'd always cherished and adored laid scattered and torn.

Finally, unable to stand any longer and his rage fading way for utter anguish to wrack his body, he slid down a wall—the red stained daggers slipping from his hands. He curled up with his knees to his eyes and cried.

*O*

Thor, after overcoming his guilt ridden shock, began to chase after Loki and had just come close enough to hear his brother's door close. He started to reach out for the handle, intending on barging in and refusing to let him be as he had so ineloquently asked for. Surely it is not good to go through such sadness alone!?

A slender hand gently grabbed his arm and stayed his larger one. He looked up in mild surprise at his mother but she shook her head. "He needs time to be alone and grieve, Thor. I will come and check on him later. Besides, I doubt even you with your strength could enter through that door."

Thor huffed quietly but agreed. This would not be the first time Loki had shut everybody out of his rooms. One time it took mother days to break his wards, only to find him near death from pushing his magic too far. Thor had always felt bad about that incident. It had been because he'd drug them out on a grand adventure and were woefully unprepared for what they were to meet that made Loki push himself so far.

He turned reluctantly and left, leaving Frigga to stand outside her youngest's door, heart aching for him and her grandson. She felt his magic permeate from within the walls. She bowed her head and left as well. She'd come back in a few hours when he'd worn himself out and was more ready for a listening ear and silent shoulder. Norns knows she'd like one right about now.

Her throat constricted thinking about her grandson. Mortal though he'd been, he'd been hers. She could remember the eagerness he held to learn anything magic, his hesitancy to ask and then his delight to learn about healing magic—though they regrettably never progressed that far. He looked so much like Loki when he'd been young and new to the arts…

She made way for her gardens, the only place of peace on this Realm that just grew cold.

*O*

A time later, Loki could not be sure how long it was—the sun was still out so it couldn't have been terribly long, a knock resounded from his door.

"Loki?" Frigga asked, her voice laced with grief but not pity. "May I enter?"

He was tempted to say nothing and send her on her way, but misery loves company and she was the only company on Asgard who would understand and not pity him. So he let the locking spell drop.

She entered quietly as soon as the spell faded and carefully walked across the ice rink of a floor, shutting and locking the door herself. She sat down next to Loki on the floor, ignoring the state of the room.

He still sat with his knees drawn but he now had a parchment clasped delicately in his hands, staring at its contents and never blinking.

She could see what it was once she had sat down with their shoulders touching. It was a picture of Loki, Hiccup, his familiar, the twins that adored Loki, and their dragon poking its head into the moment. It was beautifully drawn out and amazingly life-like. "He was quite talented in many things."

Loki blinked and managed a tiny nod, eyes never leaving the image of Hiccup in the drawing, his voice barely a whisper. "He wanted to learn how to make the pictures 'come to life' like how he'd seen in these halls…I did not know the spell—I had never had use for it. I told him I would learn it then teach it to him…I never got the chance…I never even got the chance to find the book containing the spell…"

Frigga wrapped an arm around him, resting her head on his shoulder, staring at the picture as well.

Loki shook his head, carefully repositioning the paper so he wouldn't crinkle it. "He drew everything he saw…there was even a picture of me and Thor. But almost never himself—this was the only one except one he drew of himself and his betrothed. He would have been the force to change Midgard all on his own, had I never interfered." He grew quiet before whispering. "He would still be alive if he hadn't met me."

Frigga's eyes darkened. "My son, you listen to me and you listen well. You gave him a life, joys and experiences he could never have had, nay, dreamed of if he never met you. When he spoke of you his face lit up like it did when speaking of his familiar. I have heard the stories the villagers told and even from the riders of the dragons themselves—he would have been dead a dozen times over without you or the gift you gave him.

"Do not, for one second, think it would have been best otherwise. Would you wish for him to fight off Johann or Viggo alone?"

Loki's spine stiffened just slightly at their mention and the memories of all the horrors they put his Chosen through… "No, I would not."

"What about the Dýrsvell?"

He did shudder at that. It was bad enough to face that beast with magic and a familiar bond…he couldn't imagine how the battle would have fared without it. "No…"

Frigga's eyes were hard but not from lack of love. "Then do not ever tell yourself otherwise. To do so will only taint his memory."

"His memory," Loki quietly spat. "He should not be a memory."

Frigga gripped him a little tighter. "No, he should not. But there is little to do about it now—except live and ensure you do not squander what he has given you, my son."

Loki finally looked away from the image, tearful eyes staring at hers. "I will not let that happen."

Frigga nodded. "Good."

He leaned over and kissed her forehead in thank you and she remained there in silence.

She eventually left but he remained on the floor until his entire body became numb. How long that was, he did not know nor care. But eventually he stood and took in the sorry condition of his room. He felt a little upset that he let himself lash out at objects like this. It was such a Thor way of taking aggression out…

He closed his eyes and took a breath before turning and retiring for the night. The feathers of the shredded bed tickled his nose and skin but he ignored them. That was the price one pays for going on a rampage in one's own room.

He blissfully felt nothing for the moment. It wasn't apathy but having crossed the threshold of how much sorrow and pain one can feel in a day. Give him a moment to rest and he was sure his mind and magic would grieve again tomorrow. But for now, he'd sleep and dream that Hiccup was not gone. That he was on Asgard pretending to be a new lady to the court named Sigyn and that she had one overprotective hawk familiar…

He spent the next week aimlessly in his rooms. He had no desire to leave and interact with others but despite their talk, he couldn't yet pull himself out of his deep morning during that time. After that week, however, the sting finally lessened, giving way to simmering anger that had been temporarily suppressed after Thor dragged him back to Asgard.

He rose out of bed that morning and dressed properly for the first time, finally taking in the condition of his rooms. His nose wrinkled at their state, feeling slightly annoyed that he'd given into his fury like Thor. He sighed after a second and picked up a chair, magically repairing it, then set out to clean and sort out the rest of his chambers.

This was typically a job for the servants and it would not have been the first time they'd had to clean such a mess—from Thor, not him. His own messes tended to come from clutter that built up over a time of intense study and he'd become too preoccupied to keep tidy like he normally would have.

But he did not call them to clean this. He did not wish for anyone but his mother, who could truly understand his pain, to see him and what he'd caused in that state. Besides, it gave him something to do besides sit around and stare at the image of Hiccup that his precious Chosen had drawn with his own hands.

He cleaned off his desk and carefully set it in his personal note book, placing a preservation charm on it. He stared at it for a while before realizing he couldn't close the book—it would make it too permanent, like he was officially closing Hiccup's chapter in his life and walking away from him. So it remained open.

Unfortunately, the task he set for himself of cleaning his rooms himself and repairing everything to their original state took far less time than he'd hoped, and by the end of that day they looked normal again and he was back to square one.

He sat on the long chair that Hiccup had once offered to sleep on until the sun was long since down. He eventually stood and opened his door for the first time in a week, peeking out into the corridor and found no one.

Quietly he made his way down the familiar path, but this time there was no rush in his steps. They fell evenly and slowly—his mind lost in the past. Eventually he came out to the garden with the tree. He easily made his way through the maze again and stopped at its trunk, staring up at the Apple.

He half expected for Thor to appear again, but he did not, so he reached up for the same Apple he'd tried to pick a week ago. He plucked it easily and no one came.

His knees weakened and he slid down the tree, holding the Apple close and blinking back the tears.

Thor spotted Loki in the garden, sitting under the tree. He didn't approach him. He couldn't bring himself to, not after the last time they fought in this garden. He cast his eyes down. Had he been right to deny Loki the Apple? Hiccup was his child after all, mortal as he may be. He had believed that Hiccup would hate an Asgardian lifespan…but he also was trying to protect Loki from Odin's anger when he eventually found out. Apples were only supposed to be given out to non-royalty by the All-Father personally.

He turned away, clenching Mjolnir. No matter his noble intentions, he felt as though he screwed up—like he wronged Loki. But why didn't Loki just tell him in simple and plain words? He would have helped protect Hiccup if only he'd known…

It mattered little now. Even the greatest sorcerers could not time travel. All he could do now was help Loki continue on. Tomorrow.

*O*

Loki wandered back to his rooms before the sun could rise and expose his exploits outside. He set the Apple down next to the picture and turned to his bedroom, sitting at the edge of his bed. He was not tired but felt as though he had little strength.

He laid there for hours until a gentle knocking at his door prompted him to finally speak to another. He didn't look up, his voice just loud enough to be heard. "Go away. I am not hungry, and if you are Thor I do not wish to see you now or for the next month."

The voice that drifted through the door was equally as soft but reached his ears easily. "I doubt Thor would have knocked but even if you are not hungry I would like some company for breakfast."

He slowly stood, then trudged over to his door. He fixed his posture to be proper before opening it and revealing his mother. She wasn't smiling, her eyes clearly spoke of her own mourning, but she was somber as she addressed him. "Come and eat with me, my son. I could do with some like-minded company, and I'm sure you could as well."

Loki bowed his head, wanting to object but did not dare to. He followed her out to her gardens to the same table he and Hiccup had enjoyed a breakfast with her once before. He wanted to turn back, but she grabbed his arm and brought him closer until he was forced to sit.

A servant brought out a light breakfast and he finally ate something out of decorum, only to realize he was actually quite hungry—the back of his mind wondered if that was part of the reason he felt so physically worn and that it wasn't just from his grief. He pushed that thought out and focused on his meal.

No words were spoken between them as they ate, simply taking the small pleasure of shared misery. Eventually, the food was gone and Loki excused himself. Frigga bade him a pleasant day, or as pleasant as it could be, and let him leave.

He wandered the halls back to his chambers, they were in sight when a large arm threw itself over his shoulder. "Brother!"

Loki scowled and threw the arm off. "Leave me be, Thor."

Thor rolled his eyes and grabbed Loki's arm, dragging him away from his chambers. "No. You've locked yourself away for long enough, come! Let us do something fun, raid the kitchens perhaps?"

Loki shot him a flat and unimpressed look. "We are not children anymore, Thor, and for your information—I just had breakfast with mother. I wish to be alone now and not anywhere in your presence."

Thor's eyebrows twitched at the jab but brushed it off. It was only natural for Loki to be cross with him. "Then let's meet the others and spar for a bit."

Loki's eyes darkened. "I do not wish to be around people, I want to be alone. Are you so incapable of understanding that?"

Thor's grip on his brother's arm tightened when he tried to pull away. "No, I understand it perfectly well. But it is not healthy to lock yourself away, especially in grieving. I want to be here for you Loki. I-I wronged you and nothing I could do can make up for my blunder but I can try and help you through it. I want to be here for you, brother."

Loki's lips curled, wanting to snarl at the blonde moron but, deep down, was moved by his confession. He was correct. He made a horrid mistake and nothing he could do would bring Hiccup back. And he knew Thor was not going back down either. For as hard headed as he could be, if he finally admitted to a mistake, he would do everything in his power to fix or set it right. And helping Loki through his grieving, unfortunately, was the way he decided would be the best way to set it right.

Finally he huffed in resigned acceptance. "Fine. But please spare me the bother of your imbecilic friends."

Thor smiled but his nose wrinkled in disapproval. "They are your friends as well, Loki."

"They tolerate me because I am your brother," He shot back without thinking, then couldn't be bothered to bring himself to care that he openly admitted that to Thor. "I have no friends, not anymore."

Thor sighed and started dragging him out to the stables. "Come, you still enjoy riding, yes?"

Loki raised an eyebrow. "Do you know your brother so little?"

Thor grinned and patted his back. "Nay! But I did not know if it would still be enjoyable after you've tasted the wonders of flight!"

Loki rolled his eyes, barely restraining the freshly scraped memories of flying with Hiccup. "I have flown for centuries."

Thor laughed. "As a bird. You've never beaten me in the air on your own. Not until—come! There are our steads. We may not be able to leave Asgard, but we can enjoy her forests again…it has been some time since I last spent time in them."

Loki glared at the dunderhead when he nearly spoke too far, only his mother had permission to speak of those times. But he allowed the distraction and followed him out of the palace and into the forest.

Thor filled the air with his wild tales that Loki knew were exaggerated or made up so focused on the scenery, lost again in memories of Hiccup's time here…

*O*

They returned to the palace at dusk, Thor having thought ahead for once and had the horses packed with food so he would not have to socialize unnecessarily. Loki was amazed with his thoughtfulness. Maybe he truly feels bad about it after all…

They walked through the corridors for their rooms. Loki was happy to let Thor babble and mostly ignore him.

"Loki. It is wonderful to finally see you again."

Loki froze mid-step, his sorrows instantly forgotten with fresh rage.

Amora approached from the side hallway, thinking his pause was an invitation.

Thor scowled at the witch. His dislike of her grew as he saw Loki tense through the corner of his eye. Silently, he was pleased that Loki finally disliked the presence of the woman. Something had just never been right with her and oddly he was the one to see it and not Loki. Or at least, Loki tolerated it.

Amora smiled sweetly with false sympathy in her eyes—and it made Loki's blood freeze.

Thor frowned when the temperature around them started dropping, looking around for the cause but saw no reason for it.

Amora stopped a few paces away. "I heard you lost a Chosen. That is a terrible thing to go through. If there is anything I can do to help, l-"

Loki saw red and launched at the traitorous blonde. "You can die!"

She gasped when Loki tackled her unexpectedly and held her down by her throat.

Loki did not see anything but the murderer under his hands. He did not notice the air growing colder, he didn't notice his green eyes turn red or his pale pink skin change into blue, he was blind to the ice forming in his empty hand—he was oblivious to it all. All he could see was Amora, her knife protruding from Hiccup's stomach, the wound glowing venomously when he tried to heal Hiccup and failed…

Amora's eyes widened in fear as Loki pinned her and his grip grew freezing, his eyes burning with fury. She couldn't scream for help or even gasp as the chill seeped from his hand in painful waves, she barely saw a crude dagger of ice form in his hand.

Thor stood in shock as his brother's wrath so unexpectedly turned onto Amora then remained rooted in place in horror as his brother changed. He was too surprised and a little fearful as the monsters their father told them about when they were little kneeled over Amora, choking the life out of her, taking on his brother's form.

Ice cracked in Loki's raised hand as the cruel icicle-dagger formed, finally spurring him into action. "Loki! No!"

He snatched the hand and wrapped an arm around his middle, yanking him off of Amora. He hissed as the unnatural cold bit into his skin but he didn't dare release Loki lest he do something irreparable…more irreparable than this? His mind still spun to catch up with what was happening.

Loki roared in frustration and fury, seeing in the same red as his eyes, as Amora rolled over—coughing through the cold and gently touching the frostbitten skin.

Feet ran down the hallway and drew short by a few steps.

Thor turned in horror as Odin, Frigga, Heimdall and a few guards ran into the corridor and drew just shy of the scene. Frigga gasped while Odin stared on in dread, his face falling and his mouth ran dry. The guards readied their weapons, unsure of how to react with the revelation of the Jötunn that appeared as their youngest prince, and Heimdall gripped his sword but eyed the guards.

Loki thrashed again in Thor's grip, snarling at Amora.

Amora eyed him and scooted back, struggling to stand with her nerves shaking so badly and her throat aching.

Loki stilled in Thor's grasp long enough to ask, "What have I ever done to anger you!?"

She shook her head in confusion but internally, she began to panic. She had made sure to choose a dagger that was unmarked. How had he traced it back? She made sure not to leave it long enough for him to do so after she felt its magic activate.

Loki seethed at her denial. Of course she would deny it! "I know it was you, cur! It was your dagger that killed him! I was the one to put the nick on that blade!"

Thor hissed as Loki's ire grew and ice began spreading under his feet. He yelled and released Loki, holding his hand close as cold, misty air rose from his frozen hand and met with the warmer air.

Loki leapt forward, unaware of what he'd just done to Thor—Amora holding his whole attention, he did not even know that Odin and Frigga were present—and instinctually formed another dagger of ice.

Odin finally snapped out of his shock at Thor's yell, eye instantly drawn down to his son's frostbitten hand. He started to shout at Loki to stop his attack, but to his horror Frigga ran in-between his enraged son and Karnilla's apprentice.

Frigga stood in front of Amora, calmly but sternly staring Loki down.

Loki stumbled and stared at his mother's sudden appearance, subconsciously dropping the dagger. He flinched when he heard it shatter. Terror replaced anger as he looked down to confirm it had been ice that had fallen and stared in growing fear at the ice sheet underfoot and his blue hand. He looked back up, meeting his mother's worried eyes and seeing Amora's terrified face.

Someone shifted to his right. He looked over and felt his fear compound at the sight of Odin. Norns, he knows. He knows I know. His breath trembled and he backed away, all anger at Amora forgotten in favor of fear of what Odin would do now that he knew something he should never have known. Was he going to be sent back to Jötunheim? Might actually be a preferable idea. Or was he going to be kept locked away on Asgard, forever unable to leave? Dozens of other ideas raced through his mind. Yes he knew, and before he was just fearful that Hiccup would have to pay the price of being the one to inadvertently show him the truth but now…?

Thor grunted as a guard tried to tend to the wound, Loki flinched at the sight of what he's done.

"Loki-" Frigga said gently, reaching out to touch his still blue hand.

Thor panicked. "Mother, no!"

Loki jumped back at the sudden shout and the remaining guards drew their weapons and pointed them at him, prompting Heimdall to draw his sword and point it at them. He turned and ran to his chambers, slamming the door shut and locking it with every spell he knew. He tried to shift back to his Asgardian form but it remained out of reach because of his panic, which only grew when he could not shift back.

He trembled as he paced around the large room. The doors rattled as someone pounded on them. His breath quickened, this is it…I'm going to be hunted like a dog. Ice cracked and spread rapidly throughout the room. He eyed it before focusing on the door, managing to guide it and add several layers of thick ice to reinforce the door, muffling the shouting coming through it—he was in too much of an alarm to recognize whose it was.

He tried to think of a plan…he needed to get off of Asgard. Anywhere on the planetoid not asking for death or certain imprisonment would be preferable, but leaving was going to be near impossible. He was condemned to remain on Asgard as previous punishment, so Heimdall was forbidden to open the Bifrost to him because of the punishment; and Yggdrasil was now closed to him. It was an infuriating power of the All-Father. He knew little to nothing of the Tree and its branches and paths but he had the power to close them off if an individual was prohibited from leaving Asgard—in fact, it was automatic once the sentence was pronounced.

He stopped pacing as it hit him. He was dead. He had no way to run and it was impossible for him to hide forever on Asgard. He fell to his knees, heedless of the iced ground and buried his face in his hands. I will see you soon Hiccup…or I hope I will be permitted to. His stomach turned as he realized Odin would have to permit him into Valhalla with Hiccup, and now…I won't ever see you again…Liten Listig, I am so sorry.

*O*

Frigga watched in dismay as her son ran away in fear.

Thor tried to follow him but was held back by the guard still tending to his freezing hand. He turned to his father, face twisted in confusion, anger and sorrow. "What was that?! What happened to Loki? What trickery is this!?"

Odin looked at Frigga who sent a seething glare at him. "Frigga-"

"I told you!" She snapped, face red in anger.

His shock slowed morphed into anger at her anger. "It was to-"

"Spare me and him your lies," She hissed, hands fisted, barely restraining her magic that swirled with her fury. "If it was to protect him you would have told him the truth from the beginning and found a way to teach him to control it. You wanted to control him and make sure he relied on you when you eventually decided his path."

Odin's face darkened. "You know as well as I what the end goal of the Asgard-Jötunheim war was to be, especially once I took him in."

Her face twisted. "And how did you expect him to be their king if he had no knowledge of his own kind, let alone how to control their magic!?"

"It was supposed to be centuries at least before-"

"And he would have grown more and more bitter and resentful of you as you continued to reject him as a proper son for reasons he knew not!" She argued.

Thor could only watch in fascination and dismay as Odin's face grew red. "He is my son! I took him in when he was abandoned! I provided for him and made him a prince to Asgard while raising him to one day become a king!"

"You favored Thor outright and despised his magic and thus him while knowing it was in his very nature to be strong in it! You made him despise you as a father. And now he is terrified for his very life!"

Odin's anger faded and stared down the hallway to the door of Loki's room, frost seeping around the edges of the door. "I never intended-"

Frigga's face contorted. "Did you not think there was a reason he Chose a mortal? He was the first person to accept Loki! Loki saw so much of himself in that boy. He hid Hiccup from you and me in fear of what you would do if you found out that he knew of his heritage."

She stormed away from them towards Loki's chambers but said evenly but with venom in her voice, "You better fix this, Odin Borson, or Norns help me, I will make Hela look tame."

Odin paled, knowing that she would hold true to her word.

Thor forgot about the pain in his hand as he witnessed the scene between his parents unfold, questions running like a stampede through his head. "Father?"

Odin turned to him, more tired than Thor had ever seen him. He sighed and resisted the urge to rub his good eye. "Go see lady Eir, your hand needs tending. It is not a terrible frostbite but will be damaged if left untended."

Thor nodded and slowly left, desperately wanting answers but knew he would not get them now.

Odin glared at Amora, unsure what exactly she'd done to earn Loki's ire but he didn't particularly care. "Go tend to yourself," He said gruffly and she scurried away to the healers.

The guards stood awkwardly, glancing at Odin and Loki's door. He waved them away which they did so with some confused reluctance. Odin gripped Gungnir and turned to Heimdall, eye tired. "Did you know?"

Heimdall looked away in some shame. "I did…but he was not a threat to Asgard and I did not have orders to tell you if he ever learned."

Odin sighed. "No, I suppose you did not."

Heimdall looked up, sheathing his sword. "My king."

Odin met his eye, keeping his descent to questioning at bay. "Yes, my friend?"

Heimdall took a breath. "It may interest you to know that Loki shared that half of his magic as well with his Chosen."

Odin nodded. "I figured."

Heimdall continued, asking even though he knew the answer. "Did you know that the Dýrsvell offered his Chosen the opportunity to be his Commander?"

Odin's eye widened. "And he refused?"

Heimdall nodded. "He did and fought him off, nearly losing himself in the process. Loki left Asgard to tend to him, piecing back together his fractured magics." He paused, looking hard at Odin. "I know your reasonings on why you never told him the truth but your fears were never warranted nor are they justified now. You should have known when you found him, abandoned because he was a runt, that he would not hold the same beliefs as the rest of his people."

Odin said nothing as he watched the Gatekeeper walk away before leaving for his own chambers, exhaustion creeping up on him after all… this.

*O*

Loki jumped when someone appeared in front of him. He staggered back a few steps until he recognized them as Frigga—her projection, at that. He stared at her, unable to speak.

Her already soft eyes pinched in dismay. "Oh my son…"

"Am I still that?" He barely whispered, staring at the door, expecting Odin to come barging through.

Her lips drew thin. "Yes, always. Odin could disown you, but you would never stop being my son."

"Could? He has not already?" Loki asked in some surprise.

"No." She shook her head and stepped towards him, her intangible hands reaching out for his. "Loki, I know you have many problems with Odin, and many of them are justified—but when he adopted you, he out of anyone, knew what and who you were. He will not disown you on your heritage alone."

His nerves calmed somewhat. "So, I won't be hunted and killed like the monsters I spawn from."

Her mouth opened in alarm, one hand grabbing his arm and the other touching his cheek even though neither was actually making contact. "No, why would you think that?"

Loki snorted and looked away. "I hurt, nay, tried to kill an Æsir while in my Jötunn form…Odin spent so long drilling it into our heads that Jötunns were little more than monsters, I naturally just assumed-"

Frigga's heart broke and internally she raged. Odin would have much to answer for and she would see to it that he did—he may fear any man or race but he would fear her. "May I come in now?"

He blinked and looked at the door, cheeks flushing with a purple hue. "I—Uh, yes…Give me a moment."

He struggled to remove the ice. Creating fire or any warmth while in his Jötunn form was extremely difficult and to his horror, he seemed to be stuck in the form, meaning he had to rely on brute force and well placed blades to fracture the ice. He opened the door and Frigga greeted him with a warm smile, immediately taking him in her arms.

Her hair covered his face when he dipped his head to return her hug and he felt his anger and fear slowly dissipate. They eventually broke apart but she still held his forearms and to his relief, his skin reverted back to pink from the place of her touch and his magics settled with her familiar and loving magic caressing his. For now, he was safe.

Well, that happened. Leave your thoughts and I can't wait to see you next chapter!