Mending Broken Minds

Chapter 1

Rain pounded against the palace the day it happened. He was laying down on the couch which doubled as his bed, reading one of the novels Sigyn had snuck him from Vanaheim. The girl was a dear friend and she'd sat on the ledge at the edge and chatted with him through the barrier, making sure he was up to date on all the latest gossip, they talked for hours. She had brought up how the midgardian myths pictured them as husband and wife, for example, and they'd both laughed at the prospect. Sigyn then sombered up and admitted she missed his laugh.

He looked up as she came to his cell again that night, and she'd talked him to sleep. When the guards woke him gruffly his best friend was asleep, slumped against the barrier at his side, the golden Magic the only thing separating them. Looking between the guards and her, Loki sighed and tapped on the barrier. It contained his magic but didn't hurt him, the energy purely used for zapping the violenter prisoners. It had been a necessary change after the incident with the Kursed. "Sigyn. Sigyn you should probably wake before father has your head. Sigyn..!" He huffed and prodded the barrier with his magic, managing to wake her as it gave a shy excuse of a shock to both of them.

"Hmmph?" She said, eloquently as a Vanir princess can as she wakes. Loki smiles a bit.

"You should not have slept here. It could not have been comfortable." He grins at her and she grins back.

"You can talk, mister "I fall asleep on top of bookshelves.""

"That happened once!" He exclaimed indignantly.

"Aye, and you will never hear the end of it!" She giggled and stood, then brushed herself off and watched as Loki magicked himself a fresh pair of clothes.

"Such a shame, I really wanted to sneak a peek at that princely backside of yours." She faux pouted and he flushed brightly. He knows that she knows his particular gender preference and would prefer less flirting. She was a very attractive young lady and he would rather not have rumors started. Sigyn was a bit odd in coloring, pale skin, curly silver hair that was completely natural and thick and soft. She had pale blue eyes and didn't look anything like a Vanir.

"Sigyn, behave." He admonished fondly.

"Loki." Odin greeted, suddenly stood before his cell, a set of magic suppressing handcuffs in hand.

"Father." He replied with hardly as much malice as usual. "This is new, a special trial today? Finally! I never thought you'd have the nerve to do what the court wishes you to."

"Loki..." Sigyn said, sounding more than a bit horrified at the implications of that sentence. Loki watched warily as the barriers went down, stepping out and looking around. He held out his wrists automatically, shuddering. He'd never get used to that, magic suppression is cruel and unusual if you ask him. When he looked up from the offensive metal Sigyn was giving Odin a very impressive evil glare.

"All father." She said, when he turned to gaze at her. Gritting her teeth, she smiled tightly. "May I accompany Loki? I know the proceedings usually only involve the royal family and the court, but I think my prince would appreciate a friendly face."

Loki slumped his shoulders at this, knowing what his answer would be before it was given. Though, he couldn't deny that he liked the prospect of a presence which didn't neither offered pity nor malice. "Very well." The one eyed God stated.

Loki blinked, shocked, and opened his mouth before closing it again. He didn't comment for fear of him changing his mind. Sigyn smiled reassuringly, and he tried to smile back. The walk to the throne room was dull, and noisy via Loki's hand cuffs clanking together. When Odin stood on the dais, and leaned on his spear, he finally spoke. "Loki Friggason," The young gods head jerked up at that, and he swallowed audibly. He didn't expect his change of name request to be accepted. "Yes, I allowed your request. As confusing as it sometimes is, you are your mothers son. As of now, you have been obedient to the demands of the crown and even willingly put yourself in deaths path for your brother, and divulged crucial information which must have been hard to give on The Mad Titan. You composed an incantation which our healers had thought an impossibitlity, saving the Queen of Asgard from death itself. Do you reject any of these claims?"

"Well..." He went to make a snide remark but found his silver tongue had gone to lead. "No, I suppose I cannot refute them."

"Then I, Odin All-Father, pardon you of your crimes on the grounds that you return to Midgard and repair the damage done. Your magic will be dampened, but not taken away."

"What's the catch?" He asked, a wide smile on his face. "Come now, there has to be one." Odin lowered his gaze.

"The representatives of both Midgard and Jotunheim arrived a fortnight ago to decide how we would make sure your... Mental problems... Do not resurface. If you agree to this you will be reinstated as a prince of Asgard and given the position of Ambassador of Jotunheim. Then, you will establish trades with Midgard and both Asgard and Jotunheim. You would be free of all penalties and crimes."

"That's not the answer to my question, All-Father." Loki said, feeling that little spark of fear he felt at the mention of Asgardian Justice. It made him think of the tiny, unseeable pin prick scars dotting his lips, ones you only notice by touch. Made him think of Sleipnir and Fenrir and Hela and Jormungandr. He hated the feeling.

"As you know, the Norns chose a destiny for you, they have agreed to make another one in order to rectify their mistakes."

"But changing my-"

"Would result in nothing out of the ordinary. They can rework your timeline alone." Odin said, as if that would be the end of the matter. Loki sighed heavily.

"Very well, it isn't as if I'll be all that different." It's not everyday someone gets a favor from the Norns. He should take it. Maybe then he could hide from Thanos... Besides, it would obviously be Odin and Frigga re-raising him. Nothing would change. Would it?

I'll come back and proof this again, let me know of any mistakes please <3