Loki (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
complicatedliar) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
marvelbox2011-12-10 09:56 pm
complicatedliar) wrote in marvelbox2011-12-10 09:56 pm
Entry tags:
Stitches
It had taken every trick in Loki's considerable repertoire to arrive in Asgard ahead of Brokk and Eitri. As he strode down the halls toward his Odin's throne room, he tucked his hands in his pockets to hide their shaking. He fought to control his breathing, to appear calm and in control. The effect was ruined by the tattered state of his coattails, by the wildness of his hair, and the vivid streak of blood that had run from his forehead and past the corner of his eye.
He would explain it, all of it to Father. Well, all that he safely could. Thor's part in the escapade, he would leave out. As much as it gave him pleasure to tweak his brother whenever possible, he owed Thor this one and he would keep his peace. But Father would understand, would no doubt see the cleverness in the plan, would appreciate the gifts he had brought back in addition to the newly-rescued Mjolnir...
The throne room was filled to the point of bursting, though that was not unusual for the day and time. The court turned to look at him, his footfalls loud and hollow, but he told himself that, too, was not unusual.
Then across the crowd of gathered Aesir, he spotted the dark, stumpy forms of the dwarven brothers. His breath caught in his throat with shock, and there was a slight stutter in his step, but otherwise his expression was well-schooled enough to not show his dismay.
Head high, he walked to the steps of the throne and dropped to one knee. "Father, I have won gifts for you, and for the Queen." With a clever movement of his hands he turned the armlet, the golden boar, from the pockets in space he'd used to hide them, and set them on the floor. Mjolnir, he still kept hidden, the titanic weight a strain on his magic that was beginning to make his head pound. He imagined that the dwarves had the common sense to not mention Mjolnir as part of the wager and spoils he had won; surely they must have kept that silent if they were playing for Odin's sympathy.
"Loki." Odin's voice rolled like thunder. It was not the tone that Loki had hoped to hear his name spoken in. "I have been told that you won these gifts dishonorably."
Loki looked up, meeting his father's eye. He saw nothing there but a mirror, that showed a pale but resolute image. "I would beg to differ. I promised them my head, but gave them no leave to touch my neck. It is no fault of mine if the good dwarves did not fully consider the terms."
Brokk cursed him; Eitri grabbed his brother's arm. "We no longer desire his head. We accept your judgment on this matter," the dwarf said.
Loki's eyebrows went up. "Judgment?"
Odin stood. "You have treated friends of Asgard falsely, Loki. It is luck for all of us that they have accepted this, and ask but a pittance in return. The people of other realms might not be so kind." Odin's voice became cold. "Words have as much power as actions, Prince. And you must consider your words, and your wagers more carefully for what they could cause."
Loki bowed his head. "Of course. I understand."
"I don't think that you do." Odin said. Loki looked up sharply to see him wave a guard over. The man held a tray, with a spool of coarse black twine and a needle. "Brokk and Eitri have proposed a punishment I find most fitting. Your words have caused much trouble, Loki. It would be best if you take time to think before speaking so glibly again." The court dissolved in an uproar.
It didn't have to be spelled out any further than that. Loki swallowed hard, but he could also see no path of escape in his father's face. And he refused to beg shamefully in front of the entire court. His head felt strange, light and far away. "I understand."
It was only then that he realized that the noise of the court was not disagreement or protest.
They were laughing.
He would explain it, all of it to Father. Well, all that he safely could. Thor's part in the escapade, he would leave out. As much as it gave him pleasure to tweak his brother whenever possible, he owed Thor this one and he would keep his peace. But Father would understand, would no doubt see the cleverness in the plan, would appreciate the gifts he had brought back in addition to the newly-rescued Mjolnir...
The throne room was filled to the point of bursting, though that was not unusual for the day and time. The court turned to look at him, his footfalls loud and hollow, but he told himself that, too, was not unusual.
Then across the crowd of gathered Aesir, he spotted the dark, stumpy forms of the dwarven brothers. His breath caught in his throat with shock, and there was a slight stutter in his step, but otherwise his expression was well-schooled enough to not show his dismay.
Head high, he walked to the steps of the throne and dropped to one knee. "Father, I have won gifts for you, and for the Queen." With a clever movement of his hands he turned the armlet, the golden boar, from the pockets in space he'd used to hide them, and set them on the floor. Mjolnir, he still kept hidden, the titanic weight a strain on his magic that was beginning to make his head pound. He imagined that the dwarves had the common sense to not mention Mjolnir as part of the wager and spoils he had won; surely they must have kept that silent if they were playing for Odin's sympathy.
"Loki." Odin's voice rolled like thunder. It was not the tone that Loki had hoped to hear his name spoken in. "I have been told that you won these gifts dishonorably."
Loki looked up, meeting his father's eye. He saw nothing there but a mirror, that showed a pale but resolute image. "I would beg to differ. I promised them my head, but gave them no leave to touch my neck. It is no fault of mine if the good dwarves did not fully consider the terms."
Brokk cursed him; Eitri grabbed his brother's arm. "We no longer desire his head. We accept your judgment on this matter," the dwarf said.
Loki's eyebrows went up. "Judgment?"
Odin stood. "You have treated friends of Asgard falsely, Loki. It is luck for all of us that they have accepted this, and ask but a pittance in return. The people of other realms might not be so kind." Odin's voice became cold. "Words have as much power as actions, Prince. And you must consider your words, and your wagers more carefully for what they could cause."
Loki bowed his head. "Of course. I understand."
"I don't think that you do." Odin said. Loki looked up sharply to see him wave a guard over. The man held a tray, with a spool of coarse black twine and a needle. "Brokk and Eitri have proposed a punishment I find most fitting. Your words have caused much trouble, Loki. It would be best if you take time to think before speaking so glibly again." The court dissolved in an uproar.
It didn't have to be spelled out any further than that. Loki swallowed hard, but he could also see no path of escape in his father's face. And he refused to beg shamefully in front of the entire court. His head felt strange, light and far away. "I understand."
It was only then that he realized that the noise of the court was not disagreement or protest.
They were laughing.
no subject
Thor threw the covers back, already leaving the bed to fetch the pieces of his armor. He couldn't be here anymore. Far from feeling rested, there was a tightness in his chest. The memory of rough twine and flesh against his fingertips was so vivid he fumbled to right his armor, as if blood still made his hands clumsy and slick. He had meant to leave before Loki woke. He should have done so.
"You're going to search for him." It fell just short of being a question. "If you find him... Stay with him. He shouldn't be alone."
She would fare better at the search without his aid.
no subject
She sat up, stretching slightly as she watched Thor scramble for his things, her expression concerned. At his words, she nodded, more than willing to obey them. But...
"What about you?" she asked softly, worried almost as much for her golden prince as she was for the dark one. Thor was upset enough that she wasn't sure he should be alone, either, but she was only one person and could not split into two directions. "What will you do?"
no subject
"Don't waste your sympathies on me, Lady Sif."
His father wouldn't have been foolish enough to begin all of this in the first place, and now Thor could barely face any of it like a man, let alone a prince. He had not thought himself such a coward that he would curry sympathy for his faults, yet he had done enough of that while his brother bled.
"I must speak with the Allfather still," He added, more quietly than he intended. "I've put it off too long already. And if he sees what we've done..." He didn't finish. He tightened his last vambrace in quick, rough motions. While there was something urgent to be done, he felt just a little less helpless, but it remained to be seen how long that would last.
No time at all, most likely, when he eventually came to face Loki as well.
no subject
She crossed to him, reaching up and giving his arm a light squeeze for a moment. "Speak with your father," she added quietly, her gaze understanding. "See what can be done. I will find your brother and make sure he is alright."
no subject
He covered her hand with his own for a moment, and made himself meet her gaze. Truthfully, he was grateful that Sif knew him so well and did not think less of him for the way he behaved, and more still that she cared so much for Loki that he could trust her to find him look after him in his stead.
"Thank you, my friend." The words carried the weight of his affection for her. He paused, swallowed once, then added, "I will find you after, if I am able."
He unlocked the door after that and slipped from the room. He still had to return to his own quarters to clean the blood from his hands and fetch Mjolnir for his audience with the Allfather.