Chapter 38
When he heard that he would have to appear before the Thing, Loki was paralysed with anxiety. Thor tried to calm him down and succeeded somewhat once they started talking preparation.It was Helblindi who gave him some ideas before he left to Jotunheim. He had done his part well and Odin had not brought up bifrost incident. It was a good point to underline Loki’s destructive tendencies,but he seemed to be distracted enough to forget it after mention of Thanos.So Helblindi was not required to take the stand as witness. He left Byleistr back to support Loki, after instructions about all foreseeable situations. Thor had went to meet and greet his midgardian friends after Loki refused to see them. He understood that it was rude to refuse a visit, but he really was not in mental state to face his former enemies who have graciously agreed to help him. He requested that he would meet them after his statement to the Thing.
N’jord and Freyr could not mingle with them while acting as jury. Same with Sif. So when Thor came back, He found Byliestr and Loki still in receiving rooms. Loki was talking animatedly about something,while Byliestr was laughing his ass off. Thor was sure that the tale was about him and the humour was at his expense judging by the way way room fell silent on his arrival.
“What’s so interesting , tell me too?”, Thor bend down to kiss Loki on cheeks who smiled at the affection.
“ Nothing. I was just telling him how brave you were when we visited Muspelheim for the first time.” , he said. Thor’s eyes widened.
“ You didn’t!”
“ It’s all good ,Thor King.We all have had fair share of embarrassment in our childhood. I just wanted to keep my sweskin’s mind away from the stressful situation. I take your leave now. Have a pleasant night “ , Byliestr stood up and bowed to Thor.
“ Thank you for taking care of him” , Thor answered as Loki moved to hug his brother goodbye.
Later as they layed in the bed talking about their day’s activities Thor told him about his midgardian friends and how awed they were with Asgard. He was still assuring Loki that everything would go smoothly tomorrow when he felt the younger was already asleep on his chest. He sighed and joined his beloved in the slumber.
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If Loki was nervous, Thor was ball of nerves. There was no way to know what will happen today. Their future depends on todays witness. Yet Loki, who was so meticulously prepared for every negotiation had no idea what to do.
So when he stood In the light in front of jury of all realms ,he was trembling with nerves. Thor came forward and tried to assure him with his eyes.
“ So Loki, can you tell us about why did you attack Midgard “
“ I can.. but it’s not a happy memory… “ Loki tried to speak clearly but he was out of practice.
“ You can say however much you want… we can wait!” Thor assured.
“ I was with the titan, they said I am their ally. They wanted something from Midgard and told me if I get it for him, I would rule Midgard. I was not interested in ruling but wanted to get away. So I decided to take the chance. I attacked Midgard as per their directions and got caught intentionally . I wanted to explain everything to Thor, but by the time my mind cleared ,my mouth was sealed shut.” Loki told as briefly as he could.
“ So, you were not given any chance to explain your actions.”
“No”
“ During your trial in front of Allfather, why did you not defend yourself?”
“ There was no trial. And I was restrained vocally “
“ By asgardian collar?”
“Yes”
“ Who did put it on you?”
“ You , my king.”
“ Did I follow standard procedure for using the collar “
“ You did what you deemed necessary… I don’t remember exactly how it went. I was in pain.”
“ No I didn’t Loki. You were screaming profanities at my shield brothers. But I should have warned you about the coller before using it.”
“ You are known to act impulsively. I must have been horrid to youto do that..”, Loki defended him. Thor smiled.
“ You said you were in pain .why?”,
“ Your friend hulk did a number on me. His beating did help to throw the control he had on my mind… cranial recaliberation. “:
“ Was it only the fight on Midgard that caused you pain.”, Thor asked unwillingly.
Loki sighed forcing an answer. “No.”
“ Can you tell us what happened to you ,Loki?”
“ I can, but it’s not easy. After I fell into the abyss I was ready to accept the end but it never came. I kept falling , I don’t know how long,it felt like months to me. Finally when I collided with a rock I was in no condition to get up and find out where I was. I had already lost the will to live and was waiting for death. But death is not gracious to me ,never had Been! I was dragged to a dark place by chittori and their leader. They kept me confined in a cell ,to see if I survive or not. By the time they came back I had lost my patience to wait. I was desperate for even a cup of water. They gave me some sustainance and took me to a place,Where I was experimented on. I don’t know exactly why, but it was…. It terrifies me still! “
“Can you elaborate what they did?”, Thor asked softly. They couldn’t hold each other, but he could give strength to his beloved through his gestures.
“ I think I can? They checked my body’s reaction to different temperatures… extreme heat and cold. I think the hallucinations started when my body was cooked alive”, he giggled nervously. He didn’t want to discuss his ordeal with others but he had to. There was no way around it. So he continued, “ I was really in hopeless situation. They cut me open and studied me like an animal and then painfully put me back. Once my body’s strength was determined,they moved to my brain. They injected something,I don’t know what happened exactly. My memory is hazy but I know that they found my deepest secrets and altered my memories. I think they put new thing in my mind so that my already sad mind turned vengeful! I had some patches where I could understand what was happening, but my situation was so hopeless that by the time other presented me to..to his master, I was ready to anything to get out of there. So I pushed my true feelings aside, accepted the alliance and took charge of the army to attack Midgard.”
“ So you did it to get out of his clutches”, Thor asked
“ There was no other way!” Loki whispered
“ My lords, I want to state that even though he is called silvertongue,it is clear that he has not lied under spell. He attacked Midgard yes, but not by his own choice. Loki, love I want to recount what happened after you came to Midgard.”
“ I don’t remember much of the battle. I thought I would be free of the control once I leave their ship but I didn’t know they will have a leash on me… the sceptre contained mindstone. The other was still pulling the reins from far away. I didn’t understand it then, but he did contact me frequently and told me how to get it done.”
“ So you were controlled by Thanos through the whole time when you were fighting with us on Midgard.”
“ No, he did that through Other. I… I did have little control. I used it to minimise the damage and protect your band of warriors. I took control of the hawk’s brain and got all information I could, but I hid it from other.I conspired to ensure that the hulk faced me. As I predicted he reacted violently and I got my head banged on the floor and by the time I gained consciousness I was free of their clutches.”
“ Then, why did you not tell that afterwards?”
“ I couldn’t! You snapped my mouth before I could get any coherent words out. And the device was not removed till I was thrown into the dungeon with a sentence of lifetime.”
“ So you didn’t get chance to clear your side during the trial?”
“ There was no trial! I was paraded around in chains and the punishment was announced.” , Loki said bitterly
Thor concluded the witness repeating how Loki had attacked Midgard under Other’s control and did what he could to protect himself and others. He was a victim and not a villain… He should have never been punished.
As the herald announced for the cross examination, Odin stood up reluctantly. He looked uncomfortable and deep in thought. Thor thought maybe now that he knows the truth , he regrets the incidents that had brought them here. But he couldn’t trust his heart or his father’s in this matter. He was here to fight for his Loki’s future and fight he would.