Loki looked from his father to Thor, taking in his brother's expression. This, he realized, was why he had to make this decision. Because Thor plainly still did not understand, and likely never would. And that was worrying. Because while Odin was a warrior first, he was a good king because he could understand the politics. He knew the game and played it well.
And Loki now worried that Thor would never understand the game, let alone excel at playing it. He turned his gaze back to his father, wondering if Odin shared that fear. What sort of king would Thor make, if he didn't understand these sorts of decisions? What Odin thought was not obvious. This was entirely his own decision to make.
That didn't make it any easier.
"More than enough has been done, considering the giant mess this has turned into, brother," Loki said, though his gaze was still fixed on their father. "You do me no honor with your interference." His voice was flat and cold. "Father, you now have the truth of the matter."
"I do," Odin said. "And that does not make it any easier. You are my son. But you have also disobeyed my orders. Orders that I made known before the court. I cannot give you special treatment."
"I understand." Loki remained motionless, though at his sides, his hands tightened into fists. The normal penalty was a flogging. Considering that there was already such a mess he seemed to be at the center of, he doubted that he would be able to get off more lightly than that. It might even end up worse.
He didn't want this. But he would also see this matter through, which meant he had little choice. And this meant that Sif would be safe as well, with her part in the mess unknown. And Thor...
It wasn't fair. It was a childish thing to think, but it was true. In that moment he hated Thor, and hated Sif a little as well, because they had only tangled things up all over again, left another mess for him to try to clean up with their well-intentioned acts. For a moment, he wished he was the sort of man to just let them twist.
But he had said he would see this thing through. And he would. Hopefully in the future, there would be less interference with what needed to be done. That thought did nothing to ease the sick feeling that cramped his stomach.
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And Loki now worried that Thor would never understand the game, let alone excel at playing it. He turned his gaze back to his father, wondering if Odin shared that fear. What sort of king would Thor make, if he didn't understand these sorts of decisions? What Odin thought was not obvious. This was entirely his own decision to make.
That didn't make it any easier.
"More than enough has been done, considering the giant mess this has turned into, brother," Loki said, though his gaze was still fixed on their father. "You do me no honor with your interference." His voice was flat and cold. "Father, you now have the truth of the matter."
"I do," Odin said. "And that does not make it any easier. You are my son. But you have also disobeyed my orders. Orders that I made known before the court. I cannot give you special treatment."
"I understand." Loki remained motionless, though at his sides, his hands tightened into fists. The normal penalty was a flogging. Considering that there was already such a mess he seemed to be at the center of, he doubted that he would be able to get off more lightly than that. It might even end up worse.
He didn't want this. But he would also see this matter through, which meant he had little choice. And this meant that Sif would be safe as well, with her part in the mess unknown. And Thor...
It wasn't fair. It was a childish thing to think, but it was true. In that moment he hated Thor, and hated Sif a little as well, because they had only tangled things up all over again, left another mess for him to try to clean up with their well-intentioned acts. For a moment, he wished he was the sort of man to just let them twist.
But he had said he would see this thing through. And he would. Hopefully in the future, there would be less interference with what needed to be done. That thought did nothing to ease the sick feeling that cramped his stomach.