Chapter 2
As he entered in Loki's chamber,he was greeted by dark.He knew Loki was brought to his chambers.He had ordered a bath and meal for his brother. His father wanted to bring Loki in court room and tell him his fate.How it would have gone, they both knew.SoThor had requested to do it himself,in private. so Here he was, nervous and scared out of his mind. He entered in before he could turn to leave and drop the whole thing. At first he thought Loki was in bath, so he knocked the bathing room.But seeing it empty, the hot water unused... he turned The room was immaculate as always, the only light coming from half open balcony door. He went to open it and found Loki sitting there.His back to the wall, knees pulled up with his skinny arms around the legs.He was staring at the sky. Thor was saddened by the view. " Hey, brother.You okay?" He asked softly.Loki turned towards him ,his face deathly pale in moonlight, " Its beautiful isn't it? How many days it had been?" " What.I visited you a month ago, mayhaps more.I am sorry.I have been busy" Thor explained perplexed. "No.How many days have been since I had seen the sky?" Loki said and turned towards the stars again. Thor didn't answer.He didn't know how to! He sat down with him. " Congratulations by the way" Loki said. " Loki I am happy to have you out of that place. but we need to talk." Loki turned, took in Thor's pained expression, his clenching unclenching hands,and asked " I would like to think that you have been merciful to grant me freedom but I know Odin too well.Whats the catch?" He kept tracing the seidr blocking cuffs on his wrists. It must be painful.
"Loki, brother nothing would have pleased me more than to free you, but it was no option.Your crimes are too grave to pardon.I had to take what was available"
Loki paled more, to a ghastly white shade, " What have you done?" He asked.
" I have been trying to find a solution. But this is the only way to get you out of the cell.You know Asgard's laws, The newly crowned king can announce anyone as his queen or cosort. I chose you"
Lokis eyes widened ," But I am a charged prisoner, I can't marry" Thor sighed and said, "You are to be my concubine"
" What?" Loki hissed.
"I know,you don't like it, but I couldn't let you rot in that box.I know how you value your freedom, the sky.I had this one chance, and I took it."
" You should have told me first" Loki was now gnawing his lower lip, his old nervous habit.It always caused Thor's attention to his lips. He ignored the urge and said instead,
" I know.Father was angry about the same thing."
"He won't let me go so easily.What more?" He sounded scared,shaken even.
" Your seidr will be bound to me, you will have to obey me. But don't worry Loki, I will never harm you.I will make it easy, you will be fine.I promice.."
Thor tried and failed to assure him.
" bound to you," Loki whispered to himself, a tremor ran through his body. Thor wanted to smack himself.He should have talked to his brother beforehand ,even if he didn't agree it would have been less shocking.
" Do I get a choice to refuse" Loki asked.
" You know the law," Thor said miserably. He could not refuse the king of nine realms. "Come lets get you to your bath.The water is cooling."Thor got up and offered his hand, Loki didn't accept.
" I have been called trickster, liesmith, snake, monster ,traitor and many names my king.But now that you have reduced me to be your ..plaything, I would like some dignity for this one night.Please leave." He sounded ,resigned, defeated.
Thor didn't dare to visit him again.
_@_@_@_@_@_@_@_.
Next day servants were sent to prepare Loki for the announcement. The guards fetched him in courtroom..Thor took in his appearance and instantly knew that this was not Loki's work.He was made to wear a white robe of all things! Loki who preferred dark colours was walking towards him in soft white robe with golden seamings. His long hair twisted back to make a fine crown of itself.Single gold choker adorned his long neck.He looked stunning!
Thor swallowed his anxiety and went to receive him.But was stopped short when he noticed that a guard held a dainty chain connecting cuffs on his wrists.He walked with his hands in front of him,eyes downcast.He was flushed bright red, which could be taken as shame or shyness by the people but Thor had known his brother for thousand years.Loki didn't show his emotions,he had mastered his blank mask for such events.Something was wrong. In fact everything was wrong about this, if you asked him.It must have been humiliating,to be dragged through court to.. to be this! Thor glared towards his father.This had left no doubt about Loki's position henceforth.Thor leaped down the stairs from throne. He took the chain and dismissed the guards. Immediately, he clicked the locks and removed the chains.
"Its not needed anymore." And threw the chain to guard standing nearby.Then with a gentle hand touched Loki's flushed cheek. who looked up, green eyes filled with despair.
" Its okay,Loki.It will be finished soon." He said. Loki didn't answer, didn't acknowledge.Just looked down again, his face blank.
Odin stood up and gave Thor a ring. It was an amethyst with smaller diamonds surrounding it intricately.Thor himself had chosen the ring. Odin boomed expaining to the court,
" I have enchanted the ring myself, By Yggdrasil's ancient powers, This ring will bind Loki to his king rendering him unable to disobey any command by Thor !"
Thor took Loki's hand in his left hand and slid the ring on his ring finger easily.He had always liked Lokis soft nimble hands to hold in his calloused big ones.As soon as ring was in place a tremor ran through Loki's body, He looked up eyes wide brimming with fear. Thor held his both hands and tried to support him to stand. His hands shaking in Thor's as the enchantment took place.
" It is done.Thor remove the cuffs. That will be easier for him" Allfather adviced.
But Thor knew that sudden rush of freed seidr will be too much for Loki to handle now.He had seen it when it was released in the cell. So he simply answered," Later" Loki was not in condition to even understand it.He was too numb.
" Very well" ,said Odin, " Since royal harems were not used for more than millenia, we don't have a harem master.The steward will be responsible for well being of royal concubine. He will present him to the court" Kvasir was not happy to take on the duty, it could be seen on his old face. But he stood up and came in front,
" May I " He asked Thor who nodded stupidly.
" I now present you the royal concubine ,Loki . He is bound to serve and obey our valiant king." With that he held Loki's shoulders and turned him towards crowd. The silence was chased away as slowly the claps started one by one, and then the court was filled with claps and cheers.
" May he bring you peasure ,my king" Somebody called.
" A jotun body is most beautiful treasure,use it well!" some other jeered.
Thor knew this must be hard for Loki so he only stared at him carefully.Loki didn't looked up or gave any indication that he was hurt by the things done or said about him.He was standing there as if his mind was not there. Thor turned him towards himself, Gently holding his upper arms.Then started talking to him softly.
"Loki, it is done.Its all right.We can go now.look at me brother" He touched Loki's cheek which was oddly warm. He knew they were being watched by people. But worry about Loki took precedence,
" Hey look at me,its fine now" He tapped Loki's cheek causing Loki to look up.His eyes wide with confusion.
" It's all right baby.You are ok now.Its done"He assured.
.
"Now give us a kiss!" Somebody jeered causing Loki to snap towards the voice.
Loki looked around the court as if seeing it for first time.He held his left hand up in front of his face and looked at the ring, horrified. Suddenly his knees buckeled as Thor tried to hold him in place. His face paled as white as his robe, eyes rolled back and he passed out in Thor's arms.Aesir people were going to talk about this for centuries ahead.