That, perhaps, he could believe. He could not undo his actions any more than he could make penance for them, so he kept his peace on that point.
Loki's question surprised him so that he did not immediately have an answer for him. They had not known the truth of the matter this time, but it was not only a problem of this time. Thor was not entirely blind to the way some eyes shifted from him to his brother, growing narrow and dark despite the pretense of cheer. Loki was not well-loved by the court, and Thor couldn't expect that the court be well-loved by Loki.
The silence stretched between them, but Thor picked his words carefully.
"Hating them will not change them, brother. It will change you." He knew enough of the world at least to understand that hatred was not a balm, but a poison that festered in every wound, and he did not wish to see Loki suffer further for this. "And they are not my only future subjects. There were those who did not cheer. There were those who wept. But I cannot pick and choose who I will rule."
Re: Three weeks later
Loki's question surprised him so that he did not immediately have an answer for him. They had not known the truth of the matter this time, but it was not only a problem of this time. Thor was not entirely blind to the way some eyes shifted from him to his brother, growing narrow and dark despite the pretense of cheer. Loki was not well-loved by the court, and Thor couldn't expect that the court be well-loved by Loki.
The silence stretched between them, but Thor picked his words carefully.
"Hating them will not change them, brother. It will change you." He knew enough of the world at least to understand that hatred was not a balm, but a poison that festered in every wound, and he did not wish to see Loki suffer further for this. "And they are not my only future subjects. There were those who did not cheer. There were those who wept. But I cannot pick and choose who I will rule."