Chapter 1
The heavy chains seemed to be made to hold back bold and strong men. Men not in control of their selves, aggressive and angry. They looked terribly archaic on the slightly smiling young God brought in by the guards. The chain around his neck, running down to his wrists, slithering around his hips and finally binding his feet made him look almost fragile beneath the heavy metal and in comparison to the guards.
In one word: Loki did not belong here. And Odin's gaze seemed like he would make sure his adoptive son would get the message this time. The rattling sound of the chain finally stilled and Odin rose to his feet.
"People of Asgard."
Ridiculous. There was hardly anyone here besides the royal family. Loki had been evading Thor's gaze the whole time. Surely Frigga had taken care that her son would not be embarrassed in front of half of Asgard. Otherwise the hall would be bursting from all seams.
"Today justice shall be brought to all of the nine realms as it is our duty. Loki Laufeyson, do you know - accept - of the crimes you have committed against the people of Midgard?"
Laufeyson. So his last actions had been enough to bring Odin to finally tell the truth about his heritage? Did he finally mess up so bad that Odin did not want him as a son anymore? Not that Loki would have been surprised, not at all. Odin had never been his real father nor had he ever behaved like one. Thor, the golden son, warrior and future king of Asgard had been the beloved one. He, Loki, had lived in his shade his whole life. Silvertounge. Trickster. Liesmith. Less charming names – if often used with genuine admiration – he had acquired over the last few years of his life and yet he felt he was proud of them.
A long moment passed until Loki felt it necessary to answer Odin's question.
"I do. What is the sense of denial?" Loki's voice echoed throughout the hall, sounding loudly even though he didn't speak loudly. He gave up on speaking loudly quite some time ago ever since he had learned that people listened so much more intently when one spoke quietly.
“I do accept all those crime you account me with since it would be ill-advised to speak against you. Would it not, All-father?” The implication lingered somewhere in the background. But neither Thor nor Frigga were too stupid to understand the accusation. And Thor and especially Frigga were probably the only people who could see what Loki hid underneath his typical arrogant, relaxed, yet wakeful posture.
His capture had been painful to begin with. That creature had shattered bones, bruised rips, opened up lacerations and torn tendons. Most of it had healed quickly, even before he had left Midgard and for a moment he had felt powerful again.
Powerful, even though he had been chained and gagged. Powerful because of it. Because it proved they feared him. Physically as well as psychologically. They feared his sharp words, his power to make them turn on one another. So he had felt powerful.
It wasn't meant to last for long.