A/N: Hello everyone! A very merry Christmas to you all. And an advanced Happy New Year wrapped in loads of love and warm wishes. I was hoping to post this story as a new year gift to all my lovely readers and fellow-writers, but I found myself too impatient to wait that long. So here it is. Do read and let me know what you think. I will post the next chapter based on your approval.

Love,

Fairyflights.

Disclaimer: All original characters and scenes from the movie 'Thor' are express property of Marvel. I only own the story.

Enjoy!

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Chapter One

The two boys clattered down the passage, giggling in excitement and racing each other to the Throne Room. They were ecstatic. Today was an extremely special day. Today they were going to visit and explore the renowned and legendary Weapons' Vault. With Father.

'What do you reckon they keep there?' asked Loki, the younger of the two, his feet keeping pace with his brother's.

Thor grinned, thrilled at the possibilities, 'I don't know. Bet there would be dangerous and wicked looking swords and spears and stuff.'

'I can't wait to see!'

'As do I!'

Loki grinned puckishly. 'Last one to the Throne Room is a sloghump!' he yelled, streaking past his brother.

Thor laughed, 'Get ready to be the sloghump!'

'Hah! Catch me if you can, Brother!'

They darted forward, eager to reach Father, their chatter echoing across the long deserted corridors like a mountain brook rushing and gurgling over pebbles on its way down.

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The Allfather pointed at the ornately carved hammer displayed on the plinth. 'And that is Mjolnir. It is the only relic that was not won in a war.'

'What does it do?' Thor asked, his eyes lit with eagerness. Loki looked up at his father, keen to hear about the famous weapon.

'That, my son, depends upon the person who wields it,' Odin smiled. 'It gives you a choice. Ask it to knock down and destroy – it would do so at your command. However, ask it to build and forge and there is none in the Nine Realms that can do so better than Mjolnir.'

'Where did you find it, Father?'

Odin turned to his younger son. More inquisitive and cautious of the two, Loki showed signs of a level-headedness which Thor lacked. Where Thor was rash, Loki trod with care. Odin laced his fingers and looked into those bright emerald eyes in the flickering lights of the torches lining the walls.

'It was forged from the heart of a dying star, by those renowned Dwarves of Nidalvellir that you have read and heard about in stories and legends. They presented it to Asgard as a gift for bringing peace to the Nine Realms. It is a weapon worthy of a king.'

'Then why don't you wield it, Father?'

Odin chuckled. 'I don't choose to. Gungnir is worthy enough for me. However,' his eyes twinkled, 'the two of you are free to wield it should you choose to do so.'

'Really?' two young voices gasped at him.

'Yes, but not yet.' Odin stepped away, turning to the last relic in the vault.

The two boys continued to gaze at the intrinsically designed knots on the border of the heavy hammer, fascination and awe pouring out from their eyes. It was some time later that they turned and realized that Odin was no longer standing behind them. With one last look at the magnificent weapon they hurried forward to join their father.

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Loki watched his brother grunt and clench his jaws in an effort to swing Mjolnir around. It was heavy. How he could lift the hammer when even Thor was finding it difficult was something beyond him. He swallowed nervously and watched, praying that he would not disappoint Father in the practice ring.

With a mighty roar, Thor clutched the handle and swung it across the field. The hammer flew some distance and landed with a loud thud near Loki's feet. Odin nodded in approval.

Thor paraded proudly towards Loki, sweat soaked and panting. 'Do your best, Brother,' he said, grinning and clapping his back with a calloused hand.

Loki drew in a fortifying breath, closed his eyes and grabbed Mjolnir. It hummed, vibrations travelling through his arms to reverberate in his chest. Its ribbed, solid handle dug into his delicate palms. With all the strength he could master, Loki heaved it upwards. It almost dragged his arms to the ground. Panting with exertion, he made another effort, this time managing to swing it some distance towards Father. Odin nodded again.

'Both of you did well,' he said in his deep rumbling voice. 'But it is enough for one day.'

Thor looked like he wanted to protest, but kept quiet.

Loki blew out a breath of relief in private.

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'Watch this, Father!' Thor's excited voice rang out across the deserted tiltyard. Loki stood beside Odin, his left hand stroking his right arm, his green eyes fixed on his brother.

'I'm watching,' smiled Odin.

Thor screwed up his face in concentration, his arms outstretched as if to catch something in front of him.

For some time nothing happened.

And then slowly a sound like the wind howling during a storm reached their ears. Loki craned his neck to look better only to see Mjolnir flying towards them, rushing into Thor's outstretched fingers. The momentum dragged Thor backyards a few paces, almost toppling him over in the process.

'I did it!' Thor turned his exuberant eyes towards Odin. 'Did you see that, Father?'

'Well done, my son.' Odin clapped, his eyes lighting up in excitement for his eldest. Thor puffed up his chest and grinned, proud of his achievement.

'Father, may I?'

Odin turned at the timid voice. Loki was looking at him expectantly.

'How is your arm?'

Loki flexed his wrist, trying hard to hide a wince. But it had not gone unnoticed.

Odin put his heavy arm on the boy's head. 'It is alright, Loki. You will get plenty of time to practise. Meanwhile, give it time to heal, my son. Or else, your mother would have my head.' His eyes crinkled at the corners.

Thor laughed, throwing his arm around his brother's shoulder. 'C'mon Brother,' he teased, still basking in his success, 'You need some heavy sustenance to gather more strength. Let us go raid the larder. I am starved.'

Loki turned to gaze back at the retreating figure of his father. He had so wanted to show Father how much he had progressed. If only he hadn't slipped and twisted his arm. And now Mother had forbade him to task his injury too much.

Loki exhaled dejectedly and followed his brother inside.

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'Father was saying I've become quite an expert in handling Mjolnir,' boasted Thor in his lofty voice. It boomed through the deathly silent chamber.

'Did he?' Loki casually flicked a page of the book he was reading.

'Yes, now that I can make it come to me without faltering and can fly with its help, perhaps he might even allow me to keep it.'

Loki's eyes stilled mid-sentence. His head came around. 'Did he say that?'

Thor shrugged, giving Loki his signature dazzling grin. 'As good as.'

Loki looked at his brother. His eyes travelled from the tip of that golden mane slowly to the broad expanse of chest right down to the muscled legs. With such a tall and sturdy physique, Thor exuded strength and confidence. The hammer would suit him indeed.

Yes, Loki mused. It would suit Thor rather well.

Loki flashed his brother a quick grin and returned to his book.

'Come now, Brother. Leave all this studying all day and come with us.'

'Where?'

'We are going hunting in the North Mountains. All five of us – Sif, the Warriors Three and I. If you come, it would be like old times again.'

'The Warriors Three?' snorted Loki.

Thor frowned. 'What?'

'Who gave them that name? It sounds funny.'

'I did.' Thor sounded petulant. They kept quiet.

'So are you coming?'

Loki paused in the middle of turning a page, pondered something, decided against the thought and then turned the page over.

'What?' Thor asked again.

'I can't, Brother. I'm busy.'

'Oh come now, Loki,' Thor's voice turned wheedling. 'You have been buried in these boring tomes ever since you returned from Alfheim.'

Loki gave his brother a crooked smile. 'That is because I am serious about my future, dear Brother. Besides, not everyone is the Crown Prince and would be pardoned for neglecting their studies. By the way, aren't we all forbidden to go near the North Mountains?'

'If only they find out.' Thor winked. 'Suit yourself,' he said resignedly, getting up and striding towards the Library doors. 'You are not fun at all.'

Loki waited till the sound of Thor's footsteps faded into the silence. Then he shut the book with a snap and started pacing.

So Father had been following Thor's progress. And he definitely approved of it. Otherwise, Thor would not have so confidently announced that Father would be passing down Mjolnir to him soon.

It didn't mean anything, Loki told himself.

It was just a hammer.

It didn't mean Father was showing favouritism. It could be simply because Thor could handle it better than him. Loki had never denied the fact that Thor had always been the stronger of the two.

Besides what was so special about this weapon? Smashing and knocking down opponents was not his style. That was Thor's.

No. Loki would use subtler means to fight. His strength had always been swiftness and precision.

And moreover, he did not need a stupid hammer to fly. He had his seidhr for that. His seidhr was more powerful and useful than any weapon in the Realm. Surely Father realized that.

It didn't mean anything, he reassured himself.

It was just a hammer.

Nothing more.

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Loki looked down at his newly polished ceremonial armour. It glimmered like a jewel in the flickering light of the torches hung around the chamber. He had chosen this bright emerald fabric for the cloak as it was the same colour as his eyes. The detailing in gold was a tribute to his mother. The glitter of this precious metal reminded him of her golden brown tresses that glistened as they caught the daylight in their depths.

He tugged at the sleeve of his tunic and paced the small antechamber. What if it all went wrong? What if all his well-led plans went astray? Norns, it wouldn't do to lose focus and bungle everything now that he had come this far.

He knew he was acting nervous. And it was Thor's big day. Where was his brother anyway? Loki looked up expectantly at the chamber doors. His brother ought to be here soon.

There was a loud bang as the doors leading to the antechamber burst open. Thor strode forward, grabbing a chalice of wine from a waiting bearer. He downed the drink in a single gulp and smashed it onto the blazing fire lit in the middle, crying in his stentorian voice, 'Another!'

Loki smirked. Trust Thor to make a dramatic entrance.

He silently stepped forward, turning to face the stairs in front as Thor came to a stop beside him, the legendary Mjolnir clutched in his hands. Beyond the stairs the kingdom awaited Thor.

The kingdom and a crown.

'Nervous, Brother?'

Thor laughed arrogantly, trying to hide the fact. 'Have you ever,' he said, turning to face Loki, 'known me to be nervous?'

'Well…there was the time in Nornheim…'

Thor cut across Loki's quip, 'That was not nerves, Brother. That was the rage of battle.'

'Ah yes of course,' murmured Loki teasingly. Such friendly banter was common between the two brothers. Loki savoured every moment of it. It might as well be the last if ever Thor found out what he had done.

No, Loki chastised himself. No, he was doing it for the ultimate wellbeing of the Realm. Thor would understand.

Eventually.

He would need to. He must.

Because Loki could not imagine a life without his brother.

'How else can I have fought a hundred warriors and pulled us out of there?' Thor was arguing.

Loki snapped out of his reverie. Pretending to think, he replied, 'As far as I recall, I was the one who veiled us in smoke to ease our escape.'

Thor scoffed. 'Yes,' he muttered snidely, as another bearer stepped forward with a goblet of wine, 'Some do battles, others do tricks.'

The bearer snorted.

Loki's eyes flashed in anger. Being goodnaturedly picked on by his brother was one thing. Being mocked by a servant, another.

With a quick twist of his fingers he murmured the spell and waited.

The look of puzzlement on the bearer's face soon turned to horror as he watched the wine turn into slithering black snakes. He yelped in fear, dropping the tray in the process.

It clanged to the ground. The goblet clattered away, broken at the stem, spilling its contents on to the polished marble surface where they continued to crawl near their feet.

Norns, but the trick never failed to amuse, Loki laughed maliciously as the bearer turned his horrified eyes towards him. Good, he thought, that would teach him to laugh at a prince.

'Loki,' said Thor, sighing, 'that was just a waste of good wine.'

'Oh it was just a bit of fun. Right, my friend?' his eyes fixed on the bearer momentarily. With a quiet movement of his hand, the slithering creatures vanished.

The bearer, now thoroughly sober, collected the plate and scurried away hastily, throwing furtive looks at the younger prince.

Still laughing at the silliness of the incident, they slowly turned to face the front again. A guard strode forward briskly, held out Thor's ceremonial helmet and then stepped back.

Thor turned the headgear in his hands and swallowed quietly. He was nervous even though he denied the fact, thought Loki. His eyes fell on the helmet. Loki smirked, remembering the millions of times he had teased Thor about it, followed by Thor chasing him through the whole kingdom. It had never ceased to entertain.

'Oooh,' he drawled, sending his brother a sideways glance. 'Nice feathers.'

There was another tight laugh from Thor. 'You don't really want to start this again, do you, cow?' His eyes flicked to the two backwards curled wicked looking horns on Loki's helmet.

'I was being sincere!'

'You are incapable of sincerity.'

'Am I?'

'Yes!'

Loki paused, gazing at his brother's radiant face. Despite his blustering, despite his arrogance and highhandedness, Thor had never ceased being a brother to him.

A brother and a friend. And Loki felt his heart twinge with guilt at what he had set into motion.

Yet, it needed to be done, and he must be the one to do it. For the good of all. Someday, Loki consoled himself, someday Thor would understand.

Someday, his brother would understand and perhaps forgive him. Not that he needed to know at all. Loki smiled slightly, mustering enough courage to meet those cornflower blue eyes.

'I have looked forward to this day as long as you have,' he said, his voice bearing the sincerity he was accused of lacking, guilt rendering it low and soft. 'My brother. My friend.'

Thor's gaze softened. He turned towards Loki.

'Sometimes I'm envious,' Loki continued quietly, 'but never doubt that I love you.' Never doubt that I want whatever is good for you. Never doubt, even though it seems I am against you. Because I am not. I only wound to heal.

Thor stepped forward and grabbed his brother's neck affectionately, just as he used to do when they were children. His eyes betrayed how much he was affected by his brother's confession.

'Thank you,' he said, a small smile playing on his lips.

They continued to gaze at each other, noting the changes that time had wrought on their faces and their natures. Each gazed into the eyes of the other, marveling how, despite all that, despite the few millennia, the spirit of the young boys still lingered in their depths.

Then the moment was broken. Loki grinned.

'Now give us a kiss,' he joked.

Thor relaxed, laughing lightheartedly at his brother's teasing. 'Stop it!'

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The Asbru Bridge sang under the galloping hooves of the horses, flashing in the multiple colours of the spectrum wherever they touched. The faces of the six riders were grim. They were on a mission. A serious, treasonous mission.

Loki was still reeling under the shock of finding his brother as reckless and foolish as he had been as a boy. He had not expected Thor to propose such a harebrained plan that could not only threaten the peace of the Realm but also be fatal to their lives. And what was more shocking was that Thor did not seem bothered by the fact that he was putting all his friends' lives in danger.

To march off to Jotunheim was not a sport. As Sif had argued and Fandral had agreed, it was forbidden and dangerous. It was not Midgard, where those weak people feared and worshipped them as Gods. It was Jotunheim. The greatest enemy of Asgard.

Loki gulped back the panic rising in his throat and urged his horse faster, pinning all his hopes on the guard he had ordered to notify the Allfather. With any luck, their trip would be called off even before they reached their destination.

They sped across the narrow bridge, the six riders with Thor at the head, galloping towards the Observatory. The vast ocean surged and foamed beneath them. The seagulls glided over the waves, their calls mingling with the roar of the ocean and the sigh of the wind. They could see the Observatory now, standing sentinel at the very edge of the Realm, its golden walls glistening in the light from the North.

Thor disembarked from his snow-white mount, intent on being on his way. Loki saw danger. He leapt from his horse, hurrying to catch up with his brother.

'You leave this to me,' he said, touching his brother's hand lightly.

Thor did not protest.

Heartened, Loki strode forward to face the legendary sword wielding gate-keeper of Asgard, Heimdall. It was rumoured that his golden eyes missed nothing that occurred in the Nine Realms. He could even look into a person's mind. Which was why he was feared by many.

'Good Heimdall,' began Loki, but was cut off by the gate-keeper.

'You are not dressed warmly enough,' Heimdall said, his sharp eyes seemed to be looking straight through Loki.

'Sorry?'

'Do you think you can deceive me?' Heimdall uttered, his low, rumbling voice sounding more threatening and fearful than any battle cry.

Loki faltered, unsure how to continue. 'You must be mistaken, I – '

'Enough,' Thor boomed. Loki fell silent immediately.

His brother stomped forward, as arrogant was only he could be. 'Heimdall, may we pass?'

Loki dreaded this moment, even though he looked upon Heimdall to slow them down. He was hoping that the gatekeeper would detain them long enough for the Allfather to find them. However, the next words from the gatekeeper's mouth shocked him.

'Never,' Heimdall declared, 'has an enemy slipped my watch until this day.' His eyes flicked momentarily towards Loki, as if x-raying his very thoughts. 'I wish to know how that happened.'

Loki drew in a sharp breath. It would not do to be caught now. He needed to shroud his thoughts a little while longer. He did not want to, but revealing his thoughts to the gatekeeper now, now that he was under suspicion could lead to dangerous consequences. Only a little while longer. Then he would reveal everything to the Allfather.

He willed himself to calm down. He was doing it for the good of Asgard.

Loki watched Thor as he requested Heimdall not to reveal their whereabouts till they returned. He prayed the guard would hurry. The fate of the six warriors and the entire realm rested on the guard's shoulders alone.

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The journey back was all a blank. As he stumbled across the threshold of the warm Observatory, Loki blinked, trying to figure out what he had witnessed, what he had felt. Everything was still spinning. It was an illusion, he told himself. It was all a trick of his eyes. It was the battle-rage speaking. And yet it seemed to clear many things that he had found hard to explain himself. He flexed his left hand once again and looked up.

The rest of the group had hurtled forward into the polished floor. Fandral was being half dragged, half carried by Volstagg and Hogan as Sif followed them anxiously.

'Why did you bring us back?' thundered the voice of Thor, as the prince himself strode into the chamber, his grim face intent on the Allfather.

Odin whirled round, his eyes blazing with an anger they had seldom seen in his face. Only a fool like Thor would stand in front of him, arguing, wondered Loki.

'Do you realize what you've done?' Odin spoke in a low, menacing voice. 'What you have started?'

'I was protecting my home,' growled Thor.

'You cannot even protect your friends! How can you hope to protect your kingdom! Get him to the healing room! Now!' he shouted to the other three, indicating an injured and bleeding Fandral. The gatekeeper withdrew, standing guard outside the Observatory.

Thor did not relent. 'There won't be a kingdom to protect if you're afraid to act. The Jotuns must learn to fear me, just as they once feared you.'

Loki gulped, his face ashen. His brother was making everything ten times worse. Nothing seemed to have changed since they were children.

'…and here we remain as a beacon of hope to the universe.' Odin stepped towards the casket full of swirling blue light. He paused and turned to the two eager faces looking up at him, 'But the day will come when one of you will have to defend that peace.'

'Do the Frost Giants still live?' the younger boy asked, his voice laced with fear.

'When I am king,' his brother looked at him, 'I'll hunt the monsters down and slay them all.' He slashed his hands brashly through the air. 'Just as you did, Father.' His face bore the proud expression of someone who had gotten his answer right.

Their father peered down at them with his one good eye. 'A wise king never seeks out war. But,' he paused momentarily, 'he must always be ready for it…'

The memory stood fresh on Loki's mind, like a scar. Nothing had changed. Thor was still the arrogant, vain ass he used to be when he was younger. He had not heeded the advice and teachings that had been given him all through the centuries. The oaf hardly ever listened. He let his emotions and impulses govern him. Which had seen him plunge headlong into danger and trouble more often than not. And Father had been blinded by his love for his eldest son to see what he was becoming.

Loki swallowed again, trying hard to dislodge the lump that blocked his throat and clawed at his heart.

Thor and Odin were still arguing.

'You are a vain, greedy, cruel boy!' shouted Odin.

'And you are an old man and a fool!'

Time stood suspended.

Thor blinked, realizing too late what he had just said. Loki's eyes swivelled from one to the other.

'Yes,' said Odin quietly, his shoulders suddenly sagging, as if all the weight of the kingdom had become too heavy for him. As if he had just realized something dreadful. 'I was a fool – to think you were ready.'

Loki's heart slammed into his chest. This was not part of the plan! This was not what he had set out to achieve when he had concocted the entire scheme. He stepped forward, wanting to make Odin see reason.

'Father – '

'Hggggnnnnnggghhh,' yelled Odin, arresting Loki on his tracks. He was too livid to be interrupted. He was beyond seeing reason now.

'Thor Odinson,' the Allfather thundered in his imperial voice. He was not father anymore; his voice was that of the Allfather, the king of Asgard, the supreme ruler of the Nine Realms. And there was no mercy in that voice. 'You have betrayed the express command of your king. Through your arrogance and stupidity, you have opened these peaceful realms and innocent lives to the horrors and desolation of war!'

He climbed down the steps, yanking off the seal of honour from Thor's armour. 'You are unworthy of the realms!'

He tore away the red cape in a frenzy of fury. 'You are unworthy of your titles! You are unworthy!' he roared into his son's face, 'Of the loved ones you have betrayed.'

They looked into each other's eyes, old into young. Then with a sharp movement Odin turned away, disappointment evident in his wizened face. He climbed the steps to the portal opener again. With a yank he slid Gungnir into it. It began to emit sparks as the chamber walls began to revolve again.

'I now take from you your power,' he pronounced. Immediately Mjolnir flew out of Thor's clutches. Loki could not stop the gasp that slipped out of his mouth. No no no no no, he thought fervently, this is not happening, this is not happening.

But it was.

'In the name of my father, and his father before – ' with a jingling, clinking sound, Thor's armour began to disappear. The scales fell away. The plate on his arms vanished.

'– I, Odin, Allfather, cast you out.' Loki lurched forward, shock and terror flitting across his face as Thor was blasted from his feet and flung through the Bifrost, disappearing to realms unknown.

Rage and guilt warred within Loki. This was not how it should have been. How could Odin be so cruel and harsh when it was all partly his fault?

Loki had tried to warn him multiple times, but the Allfather never had time for the spare. He was too content in his own world, watching his Eldest through rose tinted glasses, blind to all his faults. And now that very arrogance that had dragged Thor to Jotunheim had compelled the Allfather to take a rash decision and exile his own heir.

Odin brought Mjolnir to his lips, almost kissing it, and whispered, 'Whoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall posses the power of Thor.' Then with a mighty fling he sent it hurtling after the banished son.

Loki watched the hammer disappear the same way as his brother had gone, flung into space and speeding towards a fate as yet unknown to all. He felt adrift, like his anchor had been cut loose. The Realm was in the brink of war, possibly with Jotunheim. And now his brother had been banished, who knows where, disgraced in the eyes of the Allfather and stripped of his strength. And he had been left confused as to who he really was.

Loki prayed that Thor would survive wherever he had been exiled, even as his horror-struck eyes swivelled to fix on the Allfather.

He had a score to settle.

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To be continued…

A/N: In hindsight, I think it wouldn't do to start the new year with tears *am so sorry*