The Long Road

11

Odin knows it is him the minute he enters the throne room. Loki keeps his disguise as long as he is in public, but as soon as the All-Father asks to speak to him in private, he knows things are going to go badly.

"Drop the illusion, Loki. I know it is you. How is it that you escape Svartalfheim while your brother yet fights for this realm and all others? Do you know he places his life in danger this very moment?"

"My body healed from a wound I thought was mortal. I know nothing about my own anatomy."

"You are a creature of ice. That is all you need to know." Odin sits behind his vast desk.

Loki remains standing, feeling small, but also incredibly angry, "You let her die."

"There was no 'let', Loki."

"I could have helped. I could have fought with her. She wanted me to stay with her. Had I not been in the dungeon-"

"You would both be dead and I would be mourning the loss of my son and my wife both."

Loki is stunned to silence for a few moments, "You would mourn me?"

"Your mother was right. About many things. But also that I should not have sent you away."

"Would it sound too petty to insist that Thor started it?"

"Perhaps. But it would at least be a familiar pettiness." There is a small smile at the corner of his lips.

"Thor did not answer when I asked. Did she suffer?"

"No."

"At least there is that blessing."

"Yes." Odin studies Loki's face. He is hiding something, "Drop the illusion. You are still wearing one. A very good one, but still, an illusion yet."

Loki does as he is asked and appears blue, "Is this how you prefer me? The monster?"

"Frigga would say you are yet our son, colour makes no difference."

"And you?" Odin hesitates and Loki's face falls.

"I will learn to live by her example. For her. A last gift."

Loki is shaking as he nods. This conversation is frightening, but it is not in the way he had thought. He had imagined quite a lot more yelling and possibly a beating. Instead he feels naked, exposed, and vulnerable. He always has in the presence of the All-Father. It is because of this that he elevated his storytelling and lies to an art so fine that even Odin doubted which brother was telling the truth and even when he knew Loki's tale to be false, he could not quite put his finger on why.

"So you are not going to return me to the dungeon?"

"No. Unless you earn it. And, of course, if Malekith succeeds at the Convergence, it will not matter."

"I will seek out Thor and Jane."

"No. You are needed here. The people of Asgard have not seen their younger prince in quite some time. With the fall of their Queen, they need to know the rest of the family lives and is well. The loss of one of their princes would be devastating."

"What ought I do?"

"What would she have done?"

"Pardon?"

"What would your mother have done? The city is in chaos, pieces of it are falling in. There has been an invasion of a long-believed-dead enemy. What would she have done to bring people peace?"

Loki cannot believe what he is hearing, "Months ago you sought to let me die in Jotunheim. Then you caged me so that I might simply disappear from the memories of the Aesir. And now you ask me to take on the things she would have done? How can you honour me so?"