Chapter 4
They arrived in Jotunheim, the harsh cold hitting them like a hammer. Loki quickly shifted into his Jotun form, Frigga had no time to bring her fur coat to stave off the biting cold, Loki quickly cast a warming spell on her.
With haste, Loki activated his magic, conjuring a path through the snowy terrain to lead them to the most likely location of Thor and his friends. They followed the magical trail, their steps muffled by the snow.
As they ventured deeper into the realm, Loki couldn't help but worry, if something happens to anyone in Jotunheim he will never stop blaming himself, because he should have been here protecting his family instead of being in that stupid celebration party.
At this moment he felt anger towards Thor, if not for his stupidity, if Thor thought before acting once in his life! Loki doesn't think he will ever forgive the oaf if he hurts anyone from his home.
As they trudged on, Loki finally spotted figures through the blizzard. It was unmistakably Thor, surrounded by the Warriors Three and Sif.
Loki and Frigga ran towards them in hopes that there’s still time, Loki freezes when he sees the scene closer, they were fighting a couple of Jotun warriors, two to be more specific and they were his siblings, Byleistr and Helblindi looked ready to pass out, Byleistr, with wounds on his body, fought valiantly, even as his strength waned. Blood ran down his skin, mingling with the azure hue of his Jotun form. Loki's heart clenched at the sight of his older brother's injuries.
Thor, wielding Mjolnir, raised it high, prepared to deliver a potentially fatal blow to Byleistr. His eyes blazed with righteous fury, a fierce determination to protect Asgard driving him forward. The air crackled with the electricity of a thunderstorm about to unleash its full force, the Jotun was already too weak from the fight, this would certainly kill him.
Loki didn’t think straight, in an instant, he teleported himself to his brother's side, forcefully shoving Byleistr out of harm's way and taking the brunt of the blow. The pain that followed was excruciating, but it mercifully faded quickly amidst Thor's shock at the sudden appearance of another Jotun breaking his concentration. Crumpled on the ground, Loki's body spasmed, his breath coming in labored gasps.
“Brodhir!” Both of his Jotun siblings, Byleistr and Helblindi, exclaimed his name in a chorus of horror. Byleistr got up from where he was pushed to and limped towards his little brother in a hurry, Helblindi, his eyes wide with panic, cradled Loki's shivering spasming form in his arms.
“Loki!” His mother screamed his name walking past the warriors three to his side ignoring a baffled Thor who finally recognized Loki on his Jotun form.
“Brother? Why do you look like this?” The man asked, confused. “What trickery is this?”
Thor took in his form, he still looked like his brother, but he was blue and had horns, he looked a lot like those two Jotun at his side, he felt confused, why would Loki shapeshift into a frost giant? Why would he take the blow for one of these monsters? Had he really betrayed them all? The lack of answers only fueled Thor's frustration.
"Brother, cease with your tricks immediately!" Thor demanded, his voice laced with irritation and suspicion.
"Shut up, Odinson!" Helblindi snarled, tears glistening in his eyes.
Thor's anger only intensified, the audacity of this Frost Giant, speaking to him, the future King of Asgard, in such a manner. He raised his hammer once more, only for it to become inexplicably heavy, nearly causing him to stumble and fall.
A collective gasp escaped Thor's friends, all of them taken aback by Mjolnir's unexpected behavior.…what could Thor have done to be considered unworthy?!
"It must be Loki's doing," Sif declared with an air of certainty, oblivious to the suffering that Loki was enduring. "He's one of those beasts. Loki must have tampered with Mjolnir somehow. Quick, Thor, quick, while he's vulnerable, finish hi-"
Frigga's voice resounded like thunder, her anger erupting with a fierce intensity. "Enough!" she thundered, her fury directed at Sif. "You shall not lay a finger on my son."
“Mother?” Thor, his voice hushed in fear, whispered “Mjolnir…Loki did something to it, can y-”
“Do you even care that you hurt him at all?” Asked one of the frost giants, the one crying as he held the smaller Jotun with Loki’s face. “You’re supposed to be his brother! You hurt him and all you care about is the damn stupid hammer?!”
Thor grappled with a mixture of offense and internal conflict. Should he truly feel remorse for harming a monster who, apparently, was never really his brother? He didn't realize he spoke that out loud until he heard the growls coming from the frost giants.
“Listen here you beast! Don’t talk to our king like this!” Sif exclaimed, determined to defend Thor, raised her sword, ready to confront the Frost Giant who dared speak so boldly. But her weapon was blasted from her grasp, and she let out a cry of pain as her hand smoldered. She looked up in shock, realizing that the spell was cast by Frigga.
"I've had enough of you, Sif!" Frigga admonished, her patience worn thin. "You were tasked with bringing them back, not instigating a fight."
"My queen, we merely sought to bring justice to Asgard-" Hogun began, trying to justify their actions.
Frigga's anger flared anew. "The intruders were not even Jotun, you foolish ones! This is knowledge you would have possessed had you not left without learning the truth."
“What?” Fandral asked, confused.
“They were Kree, how Sif confused them for Jotun is beyond me!” Frigga fixed her glare on Sif, disappointment and anger etched in her eyes. "Odin had ordered you to bring them back to Asgard. Yet, what did I find? Five individuals, supposedly defenders of our realm, recklessly assaulting innocent people."
Thor, his voice laden with innocence and naivety, questioned, "But they're just beasts, Mother. Why are you so angry?"
Her response was nothing short of a venomous glare. "I will have a talk with you later, Thor Odinson-" she seethed, her use of his full name underscoring the depth of her anger.
Thor flinched at that, she was really angry if she was calling him that.
"-for now," she continued, her voice carrying a weight of authority, "You will heed my instructions, if you wish to avoid the possibility of execution upon our return to Asgard!"
Horror flashed across Thor's widened eyes at her words. Could she truly be considering such a drastic measure?
“Moth-!”
"Silence! And it's 'Allmother' when addressing me," She snarled, her tone laced with firmness.
Thor looks at her with hurt in his eyes but shut his mouth, looking down in defeat.
Frigga turned her attention to the three Jotun, her expression bearing an apology. "Swiftly take my son for healing," she instructed them. "I will deal with Odin for the time being. We shall discuss today's events at a later time."
"They will pay for this, witch," Byleistr muttered through clenched teeth, his anger palpable. "An unprovoked attack on our people violates the treaties."
Thor growled at the Jotun for referring to his mother in such a derogatory manner, but he was met with her stern glare and chose to remain silent.
"Laufey and Odin will address this issue in due course," She replied, a tinge of sorrow in her voice, "but right now, I must return those fools to Asgard, and you have a wounded brother to attend to." She wanted to stay, to hold her baby boy, but she could not, not right now.
“Just go” He mutters looking back at his little brother with pained eyes.
Summoning Heimdall, she instructed him to open the Bifrost, and together, they were transported back to Asgard, leaving Byleistr and Helblindi behind, cradling their wounded sibling in their arms.
"You departed without my consent, attacked the Frost Giants while our investigation into the vault's intruders was incomplete. I expected better judgment from you!" Odin's voice boomed with anger, echoing through the grand hall.
"We only engaged with two of those beasts, and Loki stopped Thor from killing one…" Volstagg attempted to explain, but his words were met with a withering glare from the king.
"You've incited a conflict! The other realms will not overlook this, you imbeciles! You've violated the treaty! I ought to have you all executed!"
"Father, perhaps we can find a way to resolve this?" Thor interjected, his tone remarkably casual, as if oblivious to the mounting tension.
"Do not presume to lecture me, you ignorant fool! Not only did you provoke Jotunheim, but you also almost killed both of Laufey's heirs!" Odin's irritation was palpable as he massaged the bridge of his nose, his patience wearing thin in the face of such recklessness.
"Let us not forget Sif's groundless accusations earlier, husband," Frigga added, her gaze sharp and disapproving as she fixed her eyes on the female warrior. "It is peculiar that she disappeared for a substantial duration during the celebration, only to return with the news of intruders in the vault."
Sif's face drained of color as she comprehended the implications of the Queen's words. "I would never betray you, my king!" She pleaded desperately.
"Do you possess evidence to support your innocence?" Frigga inquired coldly.
Thor rushed to Sif's defense. "Mother, Sif would never betray Asgard."
Frigga's gaze remained unyielding. "Curious, that conviction was absent when she accused your brother," she remarked, her tone heavy with bitterness.
Thor flinched at that. “He…he is not even my brother, though” He mutters and immediately regrets it at seeing the disappointed look on his mother’s face.
"Yes! Allfather, Loki is one of those Frost Giant beasts! He has been masquerading as an Aesir all this time, deceiving us! Surely—" Sif began, only to be silenced by a piercing glare from Odin.
"Enough! Do you think me a fool? I have always known what he is! I had plans for him, which you have now disrupted!"
Thor looked at his father, confusion etched on his face. He had known about Loki's true heritage? Why hadn't he shared that knowledge? It left Thor grappling with a sense of betrayal.
"Father… I can no longer wield Mjolnir," Thor admitted, his desperation evident as he sought to change the topic. "I left it with those beasts I—"
"Good, because you are certainly unworthy of wielding it right now," his father declared with a cold, unyielding tone.
"W-What?" the baffled prince stammered in shock.
"I am banishing all of you to Midgard, stripped of your hammer, immortality, and privileges. You have breached my trust, instigated a war that could jeopardize Asgard! You should be grateful that banishment is the extent of your punishment, for I could have justifiably ordered your execution."
"Father, you can't do this! I am the future king! I will not be cast off to some barbaric planet!" Thor rose to his feet, his voice trembling with the belief that his father would recognize the injustice of such treatment toward his son.
The Allfather looked like he wanted to smite him right here and now. "I can, and I shall! I am still the king, boy; show respect."
He then turned his attention to Sif, who appeared visibly shaken. "As for you, Frigga's accusation was accurate. I have received reports from guards who observed your absence during the celebration party. Speak the truth now, or I will take it upon myself to execute you"
Sif’s eyes wined, she looked at Thor with pleading eyes.
"Father, I am certain she was only—"
"I did not address you, Thor. Sif, respond."
“I…” She looked down in defeat, maybe saying the truth would ease her sentence. “Yes…I left the Kree inside the vault, we have discussed this plan when I noticed Loki’s unusual absence these past few weeks”
The warriors three and Thor looked at her in betrayal, Frigga just watched in silence, she knew the woman hated her son, but to betray Asgard just to get to him? That was pathetic.
“Sif…you…it’s okay, you don’t need to lie my friend” Thor tried.
Sif remained silent, refusing to meet Thor's gaze, her shame evident. "It is the truth, my prince."
“Why did the Kree want the Tesseract?” Odin asks urgently.
“I do not know, they just said they wanted something from the vault for their master, they never said his name either, I allowed them inside, but I never intended to let them steal anything! I took them down before they coul-”
“Enough, you are not being banished along with them, you will be facing punishment here on Asgard” He stated coldly “You shall have your mouth sewn shut for your lies-”
The female warrior’s hands went to her mouth, she didn’t dare to utter a word, but the tears uncontrollably falling down her cheeks made her feelings on the matter clear.
“Father!” Thor tried.
“-and you will starve in the cells until I feel like like freeing you once again and banish you to Midgard as well”
“This is too much, father!”
“She betrayed not only me but Asgard herself, Thor, I think this punishment fits well” He continues, glaring at his son.
"I dare say she received a lenient sentence," Frigga muttered softly, her disapproval evident.
Odin raised his hand and called Mjolnir, the hammer appeared with a thunder in his hand.
"You will regain the right to wield Mjolnir when I am convinced you have learned your lesson on Midgard," Odin declared, shifting his attention to the Warriors Three. "However, for you, the gates of Asgard shall forever remain closed."
“Father please! We may have got it wrong, but the frost giants are just beasts! We can take them!” Thor exclaimed. “We can’t just be cowards!”
Odin shook his head in disappointment, he didn’t respond to his son’s idiotic words.
"Through your arrogance and reckless actions, you have shattered the peace in these realms and placed Asgard in jeopardy of war," Odin intoned, advancing upon Thor and his companions. "You have proven unworthy of these realms, unworthy of your title, unworthy of the trust you betrayed." His voice carried the weight of finality. "I hereby strip you of your powers, the name of my father, and his father before him... As the Allfather, I cast you out!"
The bifrost opens, sending the warriors three and an emotionally hurt Thor to Midgard, leaving only Sif who was trying to control her sobs.
After a few minutes of heavy silence, the Allfather summoned the guards. His voice seethed with anger as he issued his command, "Take this wench to the dungeons and see to it that her mouth is sewn shut!"
The guards followed the order, forcibly escorting the weeping woman whose cries reverberated throughout the palace.
They stay in silence for a long time before the king turns to his wife, expression blank.
"You've been visiting Jotunheim with Loki," Odin declared in a stern tone. "You've shared with him the truth about his heritage..."
Frigga met her husband's gaze with unwavering composure. "Indeed, I have," she confessed calmly.
"I should hold a trial for your act of betrayal, Frigga," Odin threatened, his patience wearing thin.
She shrugged nonchalantly, seemingly undisturbed by his veiled menace. "But you won't. Our son's initiation of a war with Jotunheim is embarrassment enough for you."
Odin sighed heavily, exasperated by her defiance. "I suppose we must now engage in the task of determining how to address this situation... my queen."
Their eyes locked in a silent, tense exchange. "I suppose we must," she replied, her tone unwavering.
Loki's convulsions had subsided somewhat after they had brought him to the healer, but he still writhed in pain and struggled to form words. The jagged lightning-like scars on his body from the attack made Byleistr wince whenever he glanced at them, it should have been him, he was the one destined to that blow, it would have killed him but at least his brother wouldn’t have been scarred neither in pain right now.
Laufey's fury was palpable when they returned to the palace. He paced the room like a wild beast whose offspring had been slaughtered before its eyes.
"How dare he!? To enter my realm, my home, and attack my sons!" Laufey's heavy, enraged steps seemed to freeze the very ground beneath him.
“They accused us of invading their vault…” Said Byleistr who hissed as the healer tried to heal his broken ribs. “But the witch said the female warrior somehow confused the Kree intruders with our kind”
"We don't even resemble each other! Even if she mistook them for runts, it's still absurd," Helblindi muttered, casting a worried glance over his shoulder at his younger sibling.
Loki whimpered, and it immediately drew all of their attention and had them all at his side in a second, the small Jotun’s eyes fluttered open slightly, and he winced when he tried to sit up. Laufey gently pushed him back down.
“Shhh, brodhir, take it easy” Helblindi whispered soothingly.
“‘m sorry, ‘s my fault” Loki mumbled, his words nearly incoherent.
Laufey knelt beside his son, his expression filled with concern. "What are you apologizing for, my son?"
Loki took some time to speak again, the healing made him dizzy but he did his best to slur his words. “Sif…she probably let the Kree in, she did it to blame it on me, because of me you were attacked” He looked away in shame.
"Oh, Loki, that's not your fault. If there's blame to be placed, it's on Sif for her actions," Helblindi reassured his younger brother.
"What you should be sorry for is taking the blow for me, you idiot!" Byleistr scolded, his anger masking a deeper concern. "Why did you do that?"
Loki, exhausted, replied, "You were at the brink of death, Byl... You would have died."
Byleistr glared at Loki, though it wasn't truly directed at him; it was more a manifestation of his own guilt and worry. Tears welled up in his eyes, and he couldn't help but feel responsible for Loki's reckless sacrifice.
"As much as I'm grateful you saved your brother's life, please don't do something like that again, my son," Laufey pleaded.
"I won't make any promises," Loki said with a tired smile, and they all sighed, understanding that they couldn't rein in the young Jotun's independent spirit.
The healers had completed their work, but the lightning scars on Loki's body remained. They would be permanent reminders of this fateful day. Loki couldn't help but feel betrayed; Thor, his once-beloved brother, had called him a beast without a second thought. Thor seemed devoid of any remorse for hurting him, and it was as if their years of inseparable brotherhood meant nothing. To Thor, Loki was just a monster, a stranger with no significance.
"Rest, my son," Laufey whispered, caressing Loki's cheek with care. "I won't let any harm come to you again." He made a solemn promise.
The small Jotun closed his eyes, unable to stop thinking, how could Thor turn on him so quickly? He believed Sif’s accusations in a heartbeat, didn’t even try to ask Loki if it was really true, or try to get his side of things and now, he doesn’t even see him as his brother...
It shouldn’t hurt him this much when he has been avoiding the man for the past ten years.
But it still did.