Chapter 16
"I had to tell him about the past." Thor informed their parents grimly. "Not the full story, but I had to explain why our friends looked at him how they did."
"Do you think he is regaining his memory?" Odin's steepled fingers told them he was thoughtful.
"He claims not, but I wonder if being told about it will cause him to remember."
"We can't hide the past from him if he's asking questions." Frigga pointed out, "When he wants to know something, he finds a way. Remember when he got it in his head to find out if that bedtime story you used to tell the boys could have really happened?" Odin and Thor both winced.
"This has the potential for far greater consequences than accidentally turning a servant into a donkey." Odin turned to Thor. "What did you tell him?"
"That he was going mad and I wasn't sure if I'd ever really forgive any of us for letting it happen to him and not seeing what was happening and doing everything in our power to help him. That he was dangerous when he wasn't right in the head, though I think he could have guessed himself that he would be. That he tried to kill himself and we believed him successful until he showed up at the battle from which I brought him home. He does not know that he was the enemy in the battle."
"I don't know if mad is the right term, but I am no mind healer and he could certainly be described as deeply troubled. How did he respond?"
"It greatly pained him, but he looked to me for comfort instead of pushing me away as he has in recent years."
Frigga looked relieved, Odin thoughtful. "You know that if he regains his memory he will have to be punished as a war criminal. But perhaps this indicates he will show remorse if and when that happens and a lightened sentence will be possible."
"I have an idea." Thor put in, "There's something the humans do that they explained to me. Their criminals can avoid normal punishment if mind healers will testify that their actions were a result of madness or being troubled. They are put in treatment for those problems until such time as the mind healers deem them cured and reformed, whether or not they want treatment. Could we not do the same with Loki?"
Odin nodded slowly. "That would be a good starting point. Closely monitored, of course. We can reassure the people that action has been taken and deal with new developments as they come without as much scrutiny."
"I like that better than any other idea." Frigga admitted, "And nobody will question keeping a prince's punishment a fairly quiet affair. It is only expected." The two men made noises of agreement. "Who will break the news to Loki that he is to see a mind healer whether he wants to or not?"