King Loki's First Command

Summary - Odin has fallen into the Odinsleep and Loki is made king. Instead of plotting against his brother and father, Loki establishes peace with Jotunheim and must come to terms with the lies he has been told by his 'family.' He must also decide what, if anything, he is to do about the banished God of Thunder.

"You can bring your urgent matter to me," Loki said from atop his golden throne, "Your king," he added, enjoying the look of confusion that passed between them.

He was now resplendent in rarely used, ceremonial golden armour to match his horned helmet and he stood, slowly, moving to bang Gungnir against the ground at his feet for emphasis. He looked down at the Warriors Three and Lady Sif and repressed a smile as they wordlessly agreed between them to kneel respectfully.

"My king," she began with some disgust, "We would ask that you end Thor's banishment."

With a quiet scoff, Loki took a slow step down towards them as he spoke, "My first command cannot be undo the All-Father's last. We're on the brink of war with Jotunheim, or had you forgotten that?"

"Of course not," Sif scowled, jumping to her feet with clenched fists.

"We understand," Fandral caught her arm before she could move any further while Hogun grasped her other wrist simultaneously.

"Good, then you will wait for my word."

"Erm...if I might..." Volstagg began to utmost respect, "Beg the indulgence of your majesty...to perhaps reconsider..."

"I cannot bring Thor back!" Loki cried, his voice echoing.

"You cannot leave him on Midgard..." Sif protested.

"It is what the All-Father wanted," he reminded them.

"For how long?"

"However long it takes for him to learn the error of his ways."

"While you rule as king?" Sif scoffed.

"Watch your tone, my Lady," Loki narrowed his eyes. "The All-Father's message was clear; Thor cannot return to Asgard until he is worthy of his power again, however...I am not forbidden to aid him in his struggles."

"How?" Hogan asked.

"That is something I will need to decide on once I return from Jotunheim, the threat of war is more dire than my brother's banishment," he said and they couldn't deny the truth in his words.

"Return from Jotunheim?" Fandral repeated.

"Yes," Loki sighed.

"They'll kill anyone who dares to set one foot on their world after what happened, you cannot risk..." Hogun objected.

"What he means...my king..." Volstagg glared at her before turning to Loki, "Is that perhaps there are...wiser courses available to you. You are king now, surely it is too much of a risk to..."

"If I send another, I will be ridiculed, they'll think me afraid," Loki said, shaking his head. "No, I must go, to avoid war."

"If you go, it's likely you might start one by your presence alone, my king..." Fandral replied.

"And if I don't go, there'll be war anyway. I'm not left with much of a choice."

"Then...allow me to accompany you, your majesty," Volstagg said.

"I as well," Fandral nodded.

"As you wish," Loki shrugged, "And what of you?" he asked Hogun and Sif. "I know your loyalty lies with my brother, Lady Sif," Loki sneered, "But think on this; the sooner I return, the sooner I can hasten Thor's return."

"...And what would you majesty get if Thor does return?" she asked him shrewdly, "You will be forced to forfeit the throne."

"Such words border on heresy, I advise you to stay your tongue...before I cut it out," his hissed and grit her teeth as she bowed her head. "Now, I leave soon, whether you join me or not is irrelevant, but if you do, you will follow my every command."

"Loki," Thor exclaimed, sitting up in the plastic chair, "What are you doing here?"

"I had to see you," he replied simply, appearing before the powerless god, dressed rather blandly in a dull green coat and suit. His muted, dull image matched the equally bland surroundings of the pure white room.

"What's happened? Tell me, is it Jotunheim? Let me explain to father..." Thor begged.

"Father sleeps," Loki said, stopping him before he could say more.

"...What?"

"He fell into the Odinsleep, I fear...that this was all too much for him to bear, your banishment, the threat of a new war..."

"War..."

"I am bound for Jotunheim, in fact, I'm nearing the Bifrost as we speak," Loki told him. "I don't have long. The burden of the throne has fallen to me now and I am going to do all in my power to avoid war."

"...Can I come home? I can help, please..."

"You can do nothing until you prove yourself worthy of Mjölnir and your power. I cannot undo the All-Father's command and time spent attempting to do so is time I need to avert this war. But I will try to aid you...if I can...provided that I return."

"...I understand...thank you, brother," Thor nodded, his eyes lowering.

"Farewell," Loki said after a moment, before he disappeared.

"Goodbye," the powerless god murmured just as Agent Coulson returned with a puzzled expression.

The light from the Bifrost dissipated as their feet landed on the solid frozen ground and Loki turned to them, a serious expression on his face.

"Listen to me, all of you," he began solemnly. "Do not react to what I tell Laufey, he must believe you are loyal to me. The safety of Asgard depends on it. Do not react!"

"What do you..." Fandral furrowed his brow.

"Just...this once, do as I say, if you don't, you doom us all and Thor having no home to return to will be the least of your worries," Loki replied and took off quickly, heading for the old halls of the Frost Giants with the four warriors behind him. It didn't take long for them to reach a large congregation of Giants who slowly moved to allow them through with deep scowls of hatred on their blue faces.

"Kill them," Laufey ordered, the moment that the Asgardians stood before him.

"Kill us? Really? After all I've done for you?" Loki smirked.

"So you were the one who showed us the way into Asgard," the Frost Giant sat back in his throne.

"That was just a bit of fun really," Loki shrugged, "To protect the realm from my brothers idiotic rule a while longer," he said. He heard the Warriors behind him breathe in surprise but, luckily, they said nothing.

"I will hear you," the king said to Loki who nodded once and began to stride with confidence about the room.

"I will conceal you, and a handful of your soldiers, lead you into Odin's chambers and you can slay him where he lies."

"Why not kill him yourself?"

"I suspect that the Asgardians would not take kindly to a king who had murdered his predecessor," Loki scoffed. "Once Odin is dead, I will return the Casket to you and you can return Jotunheim to all of its...glory," he finished.

Laufey had stood in his surprise and his greed, watching Loki from the height of his crumbling throne with a grin on his scarred face.

"I...accept," the giant smirked.

"What in Odin's name was that?!" Volstagg exclaimed angrily once they reached the site of the Bifrost's landing again.

"Be silent!" Loki hissed, "We are not done."

"But you just..."

"Prince of Lies," a gritty voice spoke out and the four Asgardian warrior drew their blades.

"Weapons down!" Loki hissed at them.

"What?!" Sif scoffed.

"They are here to negotiate," he said, "That is why we are here. Now for Norns sake, lower your weapons or you really will start a war."

Loki stepped in front of them and though they slowly, and with great confusion, lowered their weapons, they still held them tightly. "Helblindi," he smiled a cold, almost cruel smile.

"You offer my father a deal and now you offer me one?" one of the Giants stepped forwards to stand before the King. He was Helblindi, crown prince of Jotunheim, first born of Laufey.

"Of course," Loki smiled, "He has to think me on his side."

"I have heard your offer to my father, so what is mine?" the giant asked bluntly.

"There are rumours," Loki began as he circled, keeping a close eye on the giant. "Whispers...that you desire your father's throne," he said, "And that you have many a loyal supporter."

"What of it?"

"Of the two of you, your father and you, whose support is the greater?"

"Difficult to say, I've never tried to pit them against each other," Helblindi replied.

"And against Asgard?"

"One Frost Giant counts for ten Asgardians on the field of battle," the giant scoffed.

"Mmm-hmmm," Loki hummed, taking a step towards the giant that he now knew was his blood brother, the thought sending a shiver down his spine that had nothing to do with the cold. "Laufey wants war," he remarked, "There will be no talking him down."

"And we know how you love your words, Silvertongue," Helblindi chuckled darkly as his Giants laughed.

"Should we go to war you will lose as much as I...but...if you listen to me, we each stand to gain something."

"...I'm listening," the giant prince narrowed his eyes.

"Jotunheim, I'm told is a mere shadow of its former self, Laufey's defeat by my father's hand casts a deep darkness over this place. Perhaps...a new king...could change that."

"A new king?" Helblindi frowned, "You mean to place an Asgardian puppet on the throne that is rightfully mine?!"

"No, good prince, I mean to place you on the throne that is rightfully yours," Loki sighed.

"...You scheme against my father?"

"I do not scheme," Loki shrugged. "I only fear that Laufey may be met with...some tragic accident. Though I know that have more than once attempted his life it is true that accidents will happen," he said.

"If I do, what am I to expect from you?"

"The throne is not enough?" Loki grinned.

"What if I do this, I take the throne and I take Asgard anyway?"

"And we slaughter each other in the process. I promise you that if every Asgardian soldier falls in defence of my Realm, I will burn whatever remains before you take one step towards the throne. And my last act would be to will destroy that which is kept hidden deep inside the vaults, you will have destroyed the one thing that you and yours desire above all else. No one would praise your actions then. You would rule over two desolate, useless Realms and be king of none," the trickster sneered.

Helblindi sneered down at him in frustration and understanding, "Well played, Silvertongue."

"Laufey made a desperate bid for it most recently and it only served to emphasise your sense of loss...so how well would it look if you were the one who returned it to your people where he has failed for so long? King Helblindi of the restored Jotunheim, champion of all Jotun's, master of the Casket of his forefathers," Loki finished grandly, seeing happily, that his 'brother' was grinning greedily.

"What did you have in mind?"

"Your father will make his move against Odin soon, you will accompany him, you and your most loyal soldiers and you will stop him with me in Asgard as he makes his move."

"And then?"

"Then you surrender and 'convince' me that your people have had a change of heart."

"Then you hand over the Casket?"

"I should want something in return," Loki said. "So far this is a very one sided deal; you will have your throne, eventually, your Casket and with only one life lost in the process, meanwhile I avert war and nothing else. Surely you see that this is unfair."

"What would you ask of us?! We have little to offer that would impress an Asgardian," the giant scoffed.

"Think of it as a debt for now but you must act quickly...Double cross me, however," he began and raised his staff so that the pointed end dug into Helblindi's large jugular, "I will destroy you and this frozen rock you call home before you can draw another breath. Are we clear?"

"Perfectly, now remove that stick before I break it," the giant growled.

Loki took a step back and lowered the end of the staff to the frozen ground again, "Excellent," he smiled serenely, "I'll expect to hear from you soon then," he added and the giant nodded.

They watched the Giants retreat and a collective sigh of relief washed over the Warriors as they turned to Loki.

"What was that?!" Sif demanded finally.

"Not here," Loki said, turning to the snow filled sky, "Heimdall!" he cried, "Open the Bifrost!"

"You let those Frost Giants into Asgard!" Sif yelled once they were safely inside the warm, golden light of the Bifrost again under Hemdall's watchful eyes.

"Yes, I did," Loki said, "I did what was necessary. Father clearly agreed with me; Thor was not ready to be king. He refused to see that, so I made him see."

"And you are better suited for the throne?" Volstagg scoffed.

"Perhaps not, but I didn't intend this. I wasn't to know that father would enter the Odinsleep nor did I intend for Thor to be banished."

"And now you conspire against your own father!"

"Odin will not be harmed. The world is not as black and white as you believe," Loki rolled his eyes. "If it were, we'd all be marching to war right now for the 'honour and glory' of Asgard and thousands would die. Is that what you want?"

"Trickery and lies are not the way to win a war!" Sif yelled.

"I'm not trying to win a war, I'm trying to prevent one. Perhaps you four and Thor revelled in the tales of old glorious battles but you forget the cost. Remember the words Odin would always dread to say...'the cost was great'...how convenient for him to neglect to tell us that cost. If you Warriors read a little more, then you'd know just what that cost was, you'd know just how many lives both mortal and Asgardian were lost in that war! Every name is etched into the hall of records and I have read them all! Battle is no great thing...my friends..." he scoffed. "And you scorn my ways, will you call me weak again? Am I a coward?"

"When you put it what way..." Fandral sighed heavily, "I don't agree with what you did at the coronation. But trying to avoid war alone is as courageous as fighting in one...maybe more so...if I can help in any way...I will."

"And I," Hogun said.

"I as well," Volstagg nodded, "But, I would ask one thing..."

"What is that?"

"Let us speak to Thor, let us travel to Midgard and..."

"I have already spoken to him," Loki said.

"When?" he asked.

"Before we left for Jotunheim, an illusion only, but he knows about father and about the threat of war."

"You can project an illusion in another realm?" Hogun couldn't stop himself from asking.

"Yes," Loki met his disbelieving gaze with eyes of cold steel.

"Will you permit us to speak to Thor?" Sif reiterated after a moment and Loki sighed.

"Do as you wish, but make it quick, report back to me when you return," he told them and gave an almost imperceptible nod to Heimdall who sent them off without another word using his mighty sword and a flash of light.

"And what of you, Gatekeeper?" Loki turned to the golden eyed man once they were alone.

"You concealed those Jotun from my sight purely to cause mischief at the coronation," he stated.

"That has already been established and I did so with ease, but I assume you saw all that was said in Jotunheim, I concealed nothing this time."

"I saw," the man nodded once.

"And? Do you see me as a threat? Or am I your king?"

"You are my king and I am your loyal servant. Though many would perceive your actions as dishonourable, if you are sincere, then attempting to prevent a needless loss of life is to be commended, not scorned."

"If I am sincere?" Loki repeated with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, I can see a great many things but I cannot see into men's minds. Only time will tell if you are sincere in your actions."

Sometime later the shock of seeing the Warriors Three and Lady Sif, hadn't quite worn off on Jane, Darcy and Erik as they sat around the table which they'd only just had their breakfast at. It was a surreal situation and it was difficult now to deny the truth in Thor's words.

"...Loki is powerful and he is clever," the powerless god breathed, once his friends had spoken, "That...is good...we should not judge him, he seems to make a much better king than I would have..."

"Maybe not so clever, Thor," Sif said, "It was he who let in the Frost Giants to ruin your coronation."

"...Why?"

"He said you...weren't ready to be king..." Hogun answered.

"And he was right," Thor sighed sadly, "Even if he did let them in, what happened after all my own doing. I am responsible for this threat of war. It is because of my misguided pride...my arrogance that war looms over our heads. My brother is wise to try to avoid it."

"If he is at all," Sif said. "He's always been jealous of you. How do we know this isn't simply another trick? He's using the Allfather as bait!"

"To stop a war, I think my father would condone such an action," Thor replied.

"Well, I..." Fandral began before the doors burst open and they were stormed by one man in a suit and several in black soldier's uniforms.

"Nobody move!" Agent Coulson said, raising his arms, showing that he was unarmed, "I don't think you've been completely honest with us," he said to Thor.

"Well, this can't be good," Volstagg muttered to himself.

"They're mortal, I say we take them," Sif muttered back.

"No!" Thor yelled, "There will be no fighting...son of Coul, I will tell you all," he said.

It was the middle of the night, or as dark as Asgard was able to get, and Loki was pacing the length of the library. He'd long since discarded his cloak over a chair, his helmet was resting on a table and his golden gauntlets and shoulder pieces were scattered around as well as Gungnir which was propped up against a large bookcase.

This place was a sanctuary to Loki, it was a place he'd often found solitude as a boy when others shunned him for being different. He'd never wanted to learn to fight with weapons, rather he'd wanted to learn magic and been ridiculed for it. Thor was oftentimes ones of those who'd cruelly laughed at him for being so, but he was also the older brother who'd comforted him an equal number of times after such events.

Loki couldn't deny that living in Thor's shadow had been difficult, Odin had always compared him to his favourite, first born golden child who couldn't do anything wrong while Loki only ever disappointed him. Of course, now he knew why; Odin wasn't his father and Loki wasn't his son, he was a tool to be used and nothing more. He had a chance to destroy both of them and indeed, why shouldn't he? It would be easy, though he knew that if his plan failed and if there was outright war with Jotunheim, then he'd need Thor's brute strength to win it. If he could find a way for Thor to earn back his power, he could work it to his advantage.

"Loki?" a worried voice spoke and he turned, stopping in his tracks, "I thought I'd find you here," Frigga said, stepping forwards. It didn't the perceptiveness of a mother to see his agitation and frustration. "You need to sleep, Loki, you look exhausted," she told him.

"I don't have time for sleep, but perhaps you can help me," he said quickly.

"With what?"

"How does one prove one's worth?" he muttered.

"What?" Frigga frowned.

"How can you prove that you are worthy when you are powerless?"

"Well," she began, "Usually when people think of this, they believe that worth and power can only be shown through acts of great strength, but strength doesn't have to mean brute force. Strength shows itself is many ways. I presume...in this instance...you're talking about your brother..."

"He's not my brother!" Loki hissed.

"Then am I not your mother?" she asked quietly, standing before him now and taking his hands in hers.

Loki sighed and turned away, "Help me or leave me...please," he muttered, "I can't...I don't want to..."

"Loki, listen to me, my child," she said, taking his face in her face, forcing him to look at her. "You are my son and I love you, your father loves you and your brother loves you. You are not alone."

"Odin only took me to use me, he didn't act out of pity!" he cried.

"He took you to save your life! He did it out of love! We knew we should have told you...but we loved you so much that we couldn't bear to."

"I...I don't have time for this...for any of this," Loki shook his head and shrugged out of her gentle grasp, "Not yet."

"Loki, I..."

"My king," a guard spoke from outside the door, stopping her from speaking further.

"What?" Loki demanded.

"The Warriors have returned, your majesty, they await you in the throne room."

"Returned?" Frigga questioned her son, "From where?"

"From Midgard, they requested to see Thor," he explained.

"You..."

"They would have gone with or without my permission, even Heimdall seems to favour Thor over me, he would have found some way to send them," he shrugged.

"That is not..."

"Don't," Loki stopped her and he began to snap his golden armour back into place, piece by piece with practiced ease. "I must see to the Warriors," he said once he was done and he placed his helmet atop his head, swung his cloak around his shoulders and wrapped his fingers around the golden staff. "You should rest...Odin won't wake any quicker for you watching over him every second of his sleep," he said before he strode out of the room.

Loki teleported himself into the throne room, sitting on high as the four Warriors stood patiently waiting for his arrival and he was pleased at their reaction. He sat regally in the throne, even the two guards on either side of him glanced back in shock to see that he had appeared suddenly.

"Well?" he raised an expectant eyebrow at them and they dropped to their knees respectfully.

"Thor is well, your majesty," Fandral began, "We told him of your plan to avoid war and he approves."

"Oh, well, that is a relief, indeed, to know that he 'approves'."

"He is...changed..." Volstagg said.

"Evidently."

"There is something more," Fandral said, standing up and the others followed his lead. "There is a man, son of Coul, he works for a mortal group called S.H.I.E.L.D..."

"And what is this?"

"It is a gathering of mortal Warriors who seek to protect their world," Sif answered. "They intervened when Thor's hammer was found and when he himself was discovered. They know all now."

"Hmmm," Loki breathed, "Are they hostile?"

"Thor says not, though their methods..." Hogun said. "They claimed ownership of Mjölnir when they had no right, they stole a scholar's research..."

"Son of Coul gave his word to return it once the situation was explained," Volstagg pointed out.

"And they took custody of Thor and questioned him, kept him as prisoner..." Sif added.

"So they are cautious," Loki mused, "And clever. Are they strong?"

"For mortals, perhaps they are well armed for their new...age, but for us, no," Fandral said.

"Yes, they have evolved quickly, haven't they," he murmured.

"L...my king?" Volstagg questioned.

"So, they are Thor's allies?" Loki asked.

"Yes," Hogun nodded, "They took him and his new acquaintances to the meeting place of their agency."

"I see. And their aim is to protect Midgard, yes?"

"Yes."

"In that case I may not need to interfere at all. Thor is reckless, he'll risk his life to save another. Regardless of his pride, Odin made sure he was chivalrous."

"You'd allow him to risk his life?!" Sif demanded.

"Do calm down my lady, and think for one moment. Odin declared that Thor must prove his worth to earn back his power, what better way than to save another at the cost of your own?"

"Thor must die?" Fandral frowned.

"Thor must prove his worth, can you think of a better way for him to do so?"

"How long have you known this?" Hogun asked.

"It only recently occurred to me," Loki confessed. "Acts of great strength," he repeated his mother's words, "Regardless of what that strength is, are how we prove ourselves. So simple," he breathed. "We all know, that Thor is strong, it shouldn't take too long for him to try and prove that to the mortals. Heimdall is watching him, once his power is returned to him, the Bifrost will be open to him once again. In the meantime, I expect your full support in preventing war," he said to them.

The four of them nodded slowly and raised their fists to their chests in a gesture of respect before they turned and left.

Heimdall, under Loki's orders, had vacated the Bifrost which allowed the King to transport Laufey, his son and his soldiers, into the Realm, unchecked. Using his staff, he closed the bridge when the group of Giants stood before him.

"Welcome to Asgard," he grinned at them, "This way," he said, casting an illusion charm over them all as he lead them across the bridge.

"Good day, little Queen," Laufey chuckled, his sword drawn as he and his soldiers entered Odin's bedchamber.

Frigga pulled a sword from her sleeping husband's bedside and took down the first giant that approached with a sweeping slash across its chest but a second and third overwhelmed her and she was forced to the ground, her weapon shattered by their brute strength.

Laufey himself then stepped through the door, his eyes greedily eyeing the powerless enemy before him as his fingers tightened around his old sword. "I've waited a long time for this...old friend," he grinned and raised his weapon.

Helblindi's eyes tensely took in everyone around him until he heard a voice in his head that wasn't his own, 'do it now, you fool!' it yelled and he acted like lightning. He shoved his father aside just before his great weapon could pierce the unguarded chest of the Asgardian king and the giant landed hard against the wall, an expression of pure shock on his face.

"Enough!" Loki cried, a wave of cold energy bursting out from his staff as he advanced into the room

"You!" Laufey growled, jumping to his feet. He moved to swing his sword at the trickster but it met with the weapon of his son, the clash echoing loudly. "Traitor!" he accused his heir who said nothing.

Loki banged his staff against the floor again, seeing another wave of powerful magic with threw them all to their knees. It gave Helblindi enough time to kick his father down into his back and, without hesitation, he plunged his sword into his father's heart, killing him all but instantly. He then relinquished his hold on the hilt and stood with his palms spread open and ordered his solider to drop their weapons, which they did.

Loud clamours echoed as a handful of Asgardian soldiers took in the sight of the Giants that stood before their king, "Peace, Asgardian," Helblindi spoke, "We mean you no harm."

"Take them," Loki ordered his men and the Giants complied wordlessly.

"So, prince of Jotunheim," Loki spoke from atop his throne, loud enough for the entire court to hear his address to his 'prisoner'. "You turned traitor against your father of your own accord?"

"I did, my father could not see that a war between our peoples will gain us nothing. I do not want war. So I joined my father to stop him," Helblindi said.

"How did you get here?" Loki asked, a final test for the Frost Giant.

"The same way as the previous invaders, King Loki, an all but forgotten remnant of the Casket, it had enough power for their journey and ours."

"You will not object to a stay in my dungeons while council convenes?" Loki asked him politely over the loud protests of the court.

"To keep the peace," the prince said, "Very well."

"Enough!" Loki yelled once Helblindi and his soldiers had been lead away. "You have heard what happened and you have heard the words of the prince of the Jotuns. What say you, council?"

"It is clearly a trick!" someone yelled out.

"A trick to imprison himself in the dungeons?" Loki raised an eyebrow.

"They meant to kill the Allfather!" another cried.

"Laufey meant to kill the Allfather, his son meant to save him," a third voice said, "Why would he risk so much if he were untruthful?"

"Laufey is dead," Loki said, his voice rising above theirs, "The Allfather lives still."

"Mayhap the prince did this to save his own life. He turned on his own father the moment that you majesty and the royal guard stormed the Allfather's chamber!"

"So we should condemn him?" a strong voice in the crowd said. "Their king is dead and their prince is captured, they would wage war on those principles alone."

"Then what is there to do?!" a clamour of voices cried.

"He wants peace!"

"They want nothing but war!" the voices continued to protest but they stopped when Loki banged the staff again.

"Wars have uncertain outcomes," he said, "I do not wish to repeat the losses of the past. I will fight if necessary, but you must decide. The prince murdered his father to save mine knowing full well that he would be at the mercy of Asgard, do those actions speak of a war like mind?"

"Sire, if I might..." an old voice spoke and Loki nodded in the direction of one of Odin's most trusted advisors. "Last time there was no choice but to march to war, we have a choice now. There was been nothing but centuries of hostility between our two Realms since then. I believe this is an opportune moment to create a lasting peace."

"Peace!" many people repeated incredulously.

"There can be no peace with such monsters!"

"So you will have war?" Loki raised an eyebrow, "You will bring war on your sons and your daughters?"

"All our opinions mean little if we do nothing but argue back and forth between ourselves. What is the king's decision?" another advisor asked.

"I will speak to the son of Laufey alone," he rose gracefully from the throne, "Council will await my decision," he said, descending the stairs.

Loki strode with confidence and purpose into the dungeons which had been magically altered to allow the giants to enter and stand with ease. It was the largest congregation of cells in the entire Realm and as such it was capable of holding a number of powerful Frost Giants.

"Leave us," he told the guards who bowed and left without a word.

"So, is there chaos?" the prince of the Giants asked him as Loki turned to face him.

"Oh, yes," he chuckled, "You played your part well."

"As did you," Helblindi remarked, "One would think you genuinely cared about Odin."

"As you cared for Laufey?" Loki tilted his head and the giant laughed.

"I like you, little Asgardian," the prince grinned, "I will have peace with you."

"Then you shall have your freedom and your throne. Any internal rebellions are yours to quell but I trust you will have little difficulty."

"I can deal with anything stupid enough to oppose me. But what happens when you are king no longer. I know the tales of the Odinsleep, he will awake and you will be powerless."

"Let me worry about that when the time comes," Loki dismissed his concerned.

"As you wish," the giant shrugged, "Now, are you going to release me from this prison?"

"I've little experience with negotiating a truce, but I believe it should take longer than five minutes to convince a stubborn Frost Giant, don't you?" he replied.

Over two hours later, Loki emerged with Helblindi at his side as they entered the throne room and sent a shockwave of confusion throughout the court.

"Silence!" Loki yelled, "It is decided! Let there be no more talk of war between Asgard and Jotunheim. Let there be peace!" he said grandly and the chaos was transformed into cheer.

While Asgard celebrated and feasted the peace between the Realms, Loki stood at Odin's bedside with Frigga sitting beside her husband, her eyes full of fear as she glanced at her son. His manner spoke of repressed anger and rage and when he finally spoke, she was proven correct.

"I did exactly what he intended," he sneered. "He took me so that he could make a lasting peace and I have played into his hands! I'm nothing but his puppet just as he intended all along!"

"What you did took courage, Loki," she corrected him.

"I should have destroyed them all!"

"No..."

"Instead I have revenged myself upon the father that never wanted me and I have forged myself as a champion of a people's to whom I do not belong. Now all that remains is my revenge upon Odin for his lies."

"Then you must get your revenge on me," Frigga stood, "For I lied to you as well. I tried so many times to tell you..."

"Who else knows?"

"Heimdall and healer Asolg, that is all," she answered.

"The Gatekeeper?"

"He was there when Odin brought you here," Frigga said. "You were almost starved to death, you wouldn't stop crying...but when I held you...you stopped. I loved you the second I saw you. So did your father..."

"He's not my father!" Loki cried, his expression doing nothing to conceal his anguish.

"He has loved you these many years..."

"Then why did he not say it?! I was always second best to Thor, the golden child, Thor, the favourite child, Thor, that could do no wrong! The only words I received were, Loki, why can't you be more like Thor? Loki, you should learn to fight, like Thor! Loki, magic is for the weak, you need a weapon, like Thor!" he bellowed.

"Loki!" Frigga cried, embracing her shaking son, "Odin loves you! I love you! We did you a great wrong by keeping the truth from you..."

"You lie! You could never love a Frost Giant!" Loki hissed, pushing back from her arms.

Now that he knew it was only ever an illusion, he closed his eyes and let his blue skin emerge and it obliterated his pale complexion rapidly. When he opened his eyes, they were blood red and his skin was marked with the symbols of a Frost Giant. "Look at me! I am the monster in the old tales! I'm neither of Jotunheim nor of Asgard! It's why I was never as good as Thor! It's why everything I did never meant anything!"

"Is this truly what you believe? My son, you are no monster. The Frost Giants are not monsters any more than the Asgardians are. Any individual can be a monster but it cannot apply to an entire race..."

"Then why did you never try and dissuade Thor and I from thinking so?!"

"Did you ever hear us refer to Frost Giants as monsters?"

"That's not the point! You did nothing to contradict the stories that said they were! I grew up listening to those stories! Thor dreamt of the glory he would achieve by slaying them all when we were children! Would it have changed his opinion if he knew that his own 'brother' should have been at the receiving end of his blade?!" he raged, storming around the room.

"Enough!" Frigga exclaimed, bringing his attention back to her. "Perhaps you are right, we should have done more to discourage those thoughts...but the more time that past the easier it was to convince even myself that I had borne you. I never meant to cause you such pain."

"I'm a fool," he scoffed ruefully. "It was always clear that I was different...but I never thought..."

"We are all different, we all have our strengths and our weaknesses," she told him. "We all live and we all die. There is nothing wrong with you, you are not a monster, you are the child that your father and I raised, you are our son," she placed a gentle hand on his cheek.

"I cannot stay here..." Loki muttered, "Once Odin wakes...or when Thor returns, I will leave."

"Why?"

"I need...time...time away from this place," he answered, "Odin was 'generous' enough to let Thor leave to learn his lesson, surely he'll be glad to be rid of me under the circumstances..."

"My darling boy," she gave a sad smile, "Whatever you decide, never forget that you are loved."