Loki refused to leave Thor's side. Odin had long since returned to his duties, and that had left Frigga and Otnoa to stay with Loki in the healing room. Frigga had brought Loki his schoolwork to finish, and a book to read once that was done. Loki was so absorbed in the old tome that he did not hear Frigga calling him until she put a hand on his cheek. His gaze jolted to her.

"It's time for bed, Loki," she said. Loki frowned.

"Can I sleep here? You need someone to watch over him in case he wakes, anyhow," he said. Frigga looked to Otnoa as if for her permission, and Otnoa shrugged.

"All right. I will bring you a change of clothes for bed," Frigga said. "And if he does wake, you send for me and Otnoa immediately. Do you understand?"

Loki nodded. Frigga brought him the clothes from his room and he changed into them, feeling rather drowsy despite the early hour from the exhausting day. He thought about reading some more but his eyelids were drooping and he did not think he would be able to focus on it, so he lay down, curling up on his side and wrapping one arm carefully over Thor, laying there until he fell asleep.

Loki slept soundly for a couple of hours, but he woke when he felt Thor stirring beneath his arm. Thor groaned, and Loki sat up, wincing as his back protested at the movement.

"Thor?" Thor's eyes fluttered open.

"Wha—Loki?" Thor drawled, squinting up at him. One hand drifted towards his head clumsily, and Loki grabbed his brother's wrist.

"Don't touch," he said. "You'll hurt your head more."

"My head…?"

"Yes." Loki spoke slowly. Thor's eyes were glassy, and it looked like he was having trouble focusing. "We were cleaning the stables, remember? The horse was spooked and it bucked and kicked your head."

"How long has it been?" Thor murmured. His eyes were closed, but he had not gone back to sleep so soon.

"Half a day. I will go get Otnoa—she wanted to check on you when you woke up." He released Thor's wrist and padded over to the door. He asked the guard outside to send for Otnoa and to tell Frigga that Thor was awake, for that was what they had instructed him to do, despite the late hour.

"Do you want some water?" Loki asked when he returned to Thor's side. Thor began to nod but then winced and spoke instead.

"Yes," he said. Loki gave him a look.

"Yes, please," Thor tried again, and Loki smiled. He took a glass and the jug from the bedside table and very carefully poured Thor a cup.

"Here." He held it out. Thor's hands were steady, which Loki thought was a good sign. He climbed back into the bed and snuggled into Thor's side again, deciding that his injured head would not prevent him from having a hug.

Thor smiled. He had never been very physically affectionate, but he never rejected Loki when he wished for closeness.

"You have to stay awake until Otnoa and Mother come," Loki said. "Okay?"

"Okay," Thor said. He wrapped one arm awkwardly around Loki, and Loki breathed a sigh of relief as by chance he avoided touching the bruise on his back.

"I love you, brother," Loki said, smiling shyly up at Thor, ever in awe of him. Thor chuckled, reaching to brush a strand of silky black hair away from Loki's eyes.

"I love you too, Loki."

A/N: Sorry for the year long delay before the posting of this final chapter! Please leave a review if you enjoyed this story.