Intertwined-Chapter 4

"Bring the accused forward."

The accused? It hadn't taken him long to forsake his fatherly title, now had it? Two guards grabbed Loki's arms and began pulling him forward, but he pulled free. He would not be dragged toward his doom, he would walk forward and embrace it. The ancient stone courtroom of Asgard was vast, it's ceiling disappearing into the heavens. The court was in raised platforms on either side of him, their red and golden robes gleaming in the sunlit as they stood, their eyes trained on him.

He could feel the stares of the courtroom. The judges, the warriors, the spectators that had crammed inside. A surprising amount of people had shown up for his trial, whether to see the traitorous Prince they had presumed dead, or, as he suspected, to see the frost giant, the son of Laufey that had hidden among them all these years. The room was silent, a deafening silence that threatened to drown him. He passed the rows of people leading up to the stand, where Sif and the warriors three stood. And After them stood Thor, and Frigga. He could see Thor stiffen as he passed, and her heard Frigga's sharp intake of breath, but he didn't turn. His eyes remained fixed on the all-father in front of him. Never blinking, his mouth devoid of any lingering grin, his eyes devoid of any pleading notion he might have thought to use. He would not be a slave to their lies any longer.

He reached the stand, behind which stood Odin, oversee-er of his trial. A chain shot up from the ground beneath him and attached the the chains that bound his hands, securing him there.

"Loki...Odinson." Loki did not miss the hesitation in his father's words. Though he could not bare the name Laufeyson, for it was no more his heritage than Asgard was, niether would he bare the name Odinson. To hear it, too remember that he was still a slave's to his father's will however hard he might try to break free, left a bitter taste in his mouth.

"You stand before this court, accused of the following crimes. Conspiracy against Asgard, consorting with her enemies, and bestowing destruction upon both Jotunhiem and Midgard— which you swore to protect—and breaking the oath you made when you were named as one of Asgard's protectors." Odin stood up, now towering even more over Loki. "In addition, you are charged with two attempts of murdering your brother, Thor, the future king of Asgard."

Loki's jaw twitched, and he found himself looking away from Odin for a brief moment. He could feel Thor's eyes on him, but he did not turn. Instead he slowly returned his gaze to Odin. Odin was staring at him intently, searching for something. A sign of guilt, and apparently he took Loki's brief moment of weakness as that sign.

"Loki, this is your last chance to speak on your own behalf, your last chance to influence your sentence." His voice was softer, almost as if he were begging Loki to take this chance.

the hard line of Loki's mouth turned toward a sneer. What did the all-father expect him to do? Grovel? Beg for mercy? Promise that he would atone for his decisions and plead that the court to show him forgiveness? Loki would take no such action. He would die before he gave them that satisfaction. He had made his choice, he had severed ties with them and to make any excuse would invalidate that action.

But a dozen bitter, biting remarks jumped the the egde of Loki's tongue. But he hesitated. He knew what to say to strike a dagger into their hearts, but he was known for his cunning, twisted way with words, and there were many present who probably expected it. The only way to truly spite them, to spite his family, was to be silent. It would be his last and final victory over those who had betrayed them.

The moment ticked onward, and Loki's gaze didn't waver from Odin's. Eventually Odin sighed, giving in. He sat back down, rubbing his hand against his forehead. When he finally removed it, loki could see though almost unnoticeable quivering in his fingertips.

"The court has already made it's decision, but as Asgard's ruler, I have chosen to override it." he stood again, his voice now echoing like thunder. "For his crimes, Loki will be sentenced to prison for an undetermined term, until this court sees it fit to review that decision." That pronouncement seemed to sap the last of his strength. He sank back down, he eyes focusing on some far distant object only he could see.
A flurry of whispers erupted around them, making it seem as though as a swarm of bees had suddenly filled the room. Necks craned, hoping to catch sight of Loki, but he didn't pay them any attention. The guards snaked their arms around him again, but this time he didn't resist, he was too focused on Odin. His sneer had disappeared, replaced by a bitter confusion. What was Odin doing? What reason had Loki given him for this interference with Asgardian justice? The guards wheeled him around and he found himself face to face with Thor, Frigga. and the others. Frigga seemed close to tears, but he eyes were dry, yet there was still something about her features that forced Loki to look away quickly, lest he forget his resolve. He passed over Sif and the Warriors three, not wanting to see their self-righteous stares and postures, but Thor... he couldn't stop himself, his eyes rested on the one he had once called brother. Thor's expression was mutinous, but, like father like son, he seemed to be searching for a sign of remorse in Loki. The difference was that he was more forceful about it. Loki gave him a small, humorless chuckle before turning away, but not before he caught Thor tightening his grip on Mjolnir, Frigga's shudder and collapse, or the way Sif's eyes suddenly blazed with fury. Their eyes followed Loki all the way out, but he scarcely gave them a second thought.