It had been a long three weeks. A hunting trip with the Warriors had taken him out of the palace for two, but even when he returned, Loki had not. Thor knew that he would eventually, when he chose to, but it had not stopped him from walking on nights when he did not wish to dream and finding the empty places where his brother normally hid.

The tone of this fight had been different from all others before it, in that it felt like suddenly everything had changed, or come into a far harsher light. He was not given to thinking deeply but nights were long, and he brooded on it.

These court games... Odin too played them, and he needed no aid, no scapegoat for his foolishness. He had his father's strength, perhaps, but none of his wisdom - and that was dangerous to all that he held dear. He would have no choice but to learn more of this. A task easier thought of than accomplished.

When Loki finally returned, the distance between them seemed not to have lessened at all. They exchanged formal pleasantries on the rare chance that Thor managed to meet him in a crowd, but he was unwilling to corner his brother before the court, and Loki avoided him otherwise. It was utterly maddening, and perhaps something more sharply painful as well.

It did not take long for him to lose patience with it. After dinner one evening he followed his brother directly out into the hall, and reached to catch his arm before he could turn a corner and be gone again.

"Loki, enough." The words were sharper than he intended, but sounded like a plea all the same. "Will you avoid me until the end of days?"