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Do you remember the tale of how your father captured the Cask of Winters? How it can boost a Frost Giant's power...When the time comes you know where to find me.

Sigyn's words pounded through Loki's temples as he stalked through the palace, barely able to contain his rage. His father and mother had not just sent Kenna away from him, they had sold her. Like she was nothing. And no matter how hard he tried he couldn't reach for her.

The icy power that had turned his skin blue, and turned him into a monster was tingling at his finger tips. He didn't have enough control to contain it and it crackled around him. It didn't matter though, even with that power he was helpless to save Kenna from the treachery of Odin and Frigga.

More Power. He needed more power if he was to save Kenna. Sigyn's words echoed in his mind again and it was like he could hear her laugh in his head. He shook away the eerie feeling, but his mind was made up. The Casket of Ancient Winters was power.

He moved through the palace in a daze. His rage and terror pounding in his ears until he found himself in the vault. His father had brought he and Thor here so many times when they were young and told them stories of his great deeds. It had always been a place of happiness and excitement.

He stepped up to the Casket of Ancient Winters. Remembering his father's tale of defeating Laufey and the Frost Giants and taking the source of their magic. Telling him and his brother that now he had power over them. He claimed that the Frost Giants would never risk the destruction of the source of their magic. It was a small thing, barely wider than his palm, but even from across the room Loki could feel it's magic. He frowned, the swirling blue power contained within called to him.

He stepped closer to the Casket, staring deep into it's swirling blue depths. All his thoughts and memories drifting away as though it begged him to touch it. He never remembered it's siren call like this. When he was young it was nothing more than a pretty rock sitting on a pedestal. Now that icy magic tingled and sang across his skin, calling out like to like.

Unable to resist, he reached out for the handles on either side. He slid his hands over them and wrapped his fists around them. As soon as he touched it, the icy magic swept through him, turning his skin blue in it's wake. It flowed through his body as though it had always been there. He felt it rise in his chest, ready to do his bidding. He wrapped himself in it, opening himself. The icy magic wound through his body and settled in his heart. But he already felt empty, so the cold didn't touch him. He took all of the power of the Frost Giants and reached for her.

But he found nothing.

He sagged in defeat, hanging his head. Whatever they had done, she was far beyond his reach.

"Stop!" Odin's powerful voice called from across the room.

Loki kept his back to his father as he stared down at where his hands touched the casket. They looked like the hands of someone else. The deep blue skin was covered with swirling designs. He remembered how Kenna had touched him despite the ugliness that lived inside of him. He pinched his eyes closed as a fresh wave of pain surged through him.

"Was it a curse?" he asked, unable to keep the hurt from his voice.

"No," Odin denied quickly.

Loki lowered his hands, still gripping the Casket as he felt it's effects race through him. It was power, but it wasn't be enough to save Kenna. "Then what am I?" he demanded.

"You're my son," Odin said sharply.

Loki set the Casket back down, but the power didn't recede, not at first. He turned to face his father and watched the disgust on his father's face as he took in the deep blue skin of Loki's face and his red eyes. Revulsion colored the All Father's features until Loki's skin returned to normal.

"What more than that?" Loki demanded. His father had already proven he was a liar. Loki refused to accept any more half truths. "The casket wasn't the only thing you took from Jotunheim that day, was it?" he demanded. He stalked down the passage way back towards his father. His magic danced across his skin, rising in the air as his rage grew.

Odin stood above him, staring down at him as he tightened his jaw. "No," Odin said simply. "In the aftermath of the battle I went to the temple and I found a baby. Small for a giant's offspring. Abandoned...suffering...left to die...Laufey's son."

"Laufey's son," Loki gasped looking away as his thoughts raced. It couldn't be true. He should have known. He had stood before Laufey just yesterday and there had been no recognition there. "Kenna was not the only other king's child you took," he said bitterly as he swallowed.

"Yes," Odin admitted as though the words were wrenched from him.

"Why?" Loki demanded, his thoughts racing, it didn't make sense. "You were knee deep in Jotun blood that day, why take me?"

"You were an innocent child," Odin told him, his voice softening.

Loki's jaw tightened and he scoffed. He was the god of mischief and lies. He couldn't be lied to, not even by Odin. Odin should know that and still he attempted to deceive.  "No, you took me for a purpose, what was it?" Loki demanded, his skin prickled and his magic made the air thick.

Odin didn't move.

"Tell me!" Loki shouted, his whole body shaking as his world crashed down around him. He lost Thor, Kenna and now his family, all in one day.

"I thought we could unite our kingdoms one day. Bring about an alliance, bring about a permanent peace. Through you."

Loki shook his head. "What?" he asked not understanding.

"But those plans no longer matter," Odin said coldly.

"So I am no more than another stolen relic?" Loki demanded. "Locked up here until you might have use for me?" Loki asked gesturing to the room behind him. He belonged down here more than he belonged upstairs.

"Why do you twist my words?" Odin asked with a pained grimace.

"You could have told me what I was from the beginning, why didn't you?" Loki's voice broke with pain and emotion.

Odin's eye softened with sympathy. "You're my son, I only wanted to protect you from the truth."

Loki looked away as tears burned in his eyes. "Why? B-because I'm the monster parents tell their children about at night?" he asked.

"No, no," Odin said shaking his head. His heart ached in his chest for his sons. He had somehow failed them both. Pain flared and he tried to push past it.

Loki looked up with a snarl, hating the sight of pity on the All Father's face. He didn't want his pity. "You know, it all makes sense now! Why you favored Thor all those years!"

Odin looked behind him and dropped down onto the steps, exhaustion gripped his chest as he stared in the raging eyes of his boy. He remembered when Loki had been so studious, wanted so badly to please. Where had it all gone wrong?

"Because no matter how much you claim to love me, you could never have a frost giant sitting on the throne of Asgard!" Loki raged.

Odin collapsed back, reaching for his sons arm. Loki jerked away, unable to reason past the rage pounding in his ears.

"Is that why you sent Kenna away? It is isn't it? You sent her away to honor your word and protect her, from me. From the monster I am!" Loki bellowed and Odin collapsed back, unconscious.

Loki froze, staring down at the man who had scared and tormented him for years. He looked so weak and frail all of a sudden.

"Father?" Loki gasped, he crouched over his father's prone form. Odin's chest rose and fell. Loki reached out to touch him but hesitated, afraid his touch would hurt his father as the frost giant's had hurt Volstaag.

"Guards!" he shouted, wrapping his arms around himself so he wouldn't be tempted to touch him. "Guards please help!" he begged.

The guards hurried in and with Loki's guidance they brought the unconscious King out of the vault.

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When Kenna woke she was locked in a cage. She scrambled up from her side but she couldn't stand. The ceiling of the cage was so low she could only crouch or sit. She frowned. She was wearing a skimpy silver dress the same color as her hair that showed off most of her caramel elvish skin. A heavy collar rested around her neck. She shifted it, grimacing as pain flared through it.

She had no memory of who she was or why she was here. She looked around and could just make out the other cages within her line of sight. Everything from weapons to books to living creatures like her. All put on display. She was to be another piece of art in his Collection.

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Loki had the guards bring Odin to his mother and father's chambers. He sent another guard to fetch the healers. Loki stood over the bed, staring down at his father. It seemed impossible that just hours before they had been fighting in this very room and his father had seemed so powerful, so untouchable. Now he could barely stand to look at him he seemed so weak and pitiful, locked in the Odin sleep.

"I asked him to be honest with you from the beginning," Frigga said gently after she and Loki had sat together in silence. She knew how much pain her beloved son was in and she wished there was something she could do. "There should be no secrets in the family," she said.

Loki's eyes narrowed. "Kenna?" he prompted.

Frigga tightened her jaw and looked away from him. "I know not where he has sent her," she said and Loki could taste the truth of her words. "He kept the truth of your birth from you so you would never feel different. You are our son Loki, and we your family. You must know that..." when she saw she was not getting through to him she looked down at Odin and reached down to lay her hand over his. "You can speak to him. He can see and hear us even now," she said changing the subject.

Not wanting to hurt his mother, Loki followed the conversation. "How long will it last?" Loki asked.

"I don't know," Frigga said, tears sparkling in her eyes. "This time it's different. We were unprepared."

"I'll never get used to seeing him like this," Loki said turning back to his father. "The most powerful being in the nine realms, laying helpless until his body is restored."

"He's put it off for so long now that I fear..." Frigga looked away. "You are a good son, we mustn't lose hope that your father will return to us. And your brother," she added.

Loki cocked his head to the side as he stared into his mother's eyes. He couldn't help feeling like he was being manipulated somehow. He would let the subject of Kenna drop, for now. "What hope is there for Thor?" he asked.

"There's always a purpose to everything your father does. Thor may yet find a way home," Frigga said cryptically.

Loki drew in a shaky breath and stood to leave. He approached the door and it swung open, revealing a group of guards. They all bowed as the high priest came into the room holding his father's spear, Gungnir. The high priest dropped to his knees and presented the spear to Loki.

Loki frowned in confusion and glanced over his shoulder to his mother.

"Thor is banished," she said powerfully, rising from her seat. Gone was his gentle mother and in her place was the Queen of Asgard. "The line of succession falls to you," she said lifting her chin imperiously.

Loki shook his head in confusion as he looked down at the spear and back to his mother.

"Until Odin awakens, Asgard is your's."

Loki turned back to the spear. The high priest lifted it up, presenting it to him. Loki reached out with shaky and hands and wrapped his grip around the smooth metal. He could feel magic flowing through it, but not enough to help him in his quest. He turned around slowly to face his mother.

"Make your father proud," she pushed and she bowed her head. "My king."

The priests fell to their knees in supplication.

Loki took Gungnir and left the room, unable to stay with his mother and the priests staring at him. He closed his eyes and his feet took him to the throne room. He walked up on the dias, and stared down at his father's throne. No, Odin's throne. It represented so much. So much he had never felt worthy of and now it all made sense. His father had never intended him to rise to the throne, not when he could never trust that his Frost Giant of a son would remain loyal to Asgard.

Loki tightened his grip on Gungnir and sank down onto the throne. He would prove to them all wrong. He would ensure they would never have reason to doubt his resolve or his loyalty to Asgard. He would do what needed to be done to protect Asgard. Just as he would do what needed to be done to protect Kenna.

The door at the other end of the hall opened and a voice called out. "All Father we must speak to you-" Sif's voice came from behind him.

Loki turned around to see Sif and the Warriors three approaching the throne. They hesitated when they found him on the throne.

"My friends," he greeted, still feeling uncertain of his place and his subjects acceptance of his rule. He swallowed and repeated his mother's words in his head. Asgard was his. He didn't need their acceptance. Not anymore.

"Where's Odin?" Sif demanded.

Loki shook his head mournfully. "Father has fallen into the Odinsleep. Mother fears he may never wake again." He stared down at Sif and the warriors three wondering why they were all wearing battle armor.

"Then we would speak with her," Sif demanded petulantly.

"She refuses to leave his bedside," Loki said with a sad shake of his head. "You can bring your urgent matter to me," he said and he rose to stand powerfully before them. Not only were they wearing armor, they looked weary, as though they too hadn't slept.

Loki's jaw tightened. If his mother didn't know where Odin had sent Kenna. Then who would Odin trust to see his will done?

Loki leveled his gaze on his supposed friends. Had they been the ones to take her from him? Had they tortured her? "Your King," he added with a push of power in his tone.

Volstaag and Fandral immediately lowered their heads and dropped to a knee. Hogun and Sif however exchanged a look before they complied more slowly.

"My King," Sif began immediately. "We would ask that you lift Thor's banishment."

Loki chuckled darkly. Now that he had put the pieces together he was sure they were responsible. They knew where Kenna was and they had come to bargain with him for Thor.

"My friends," he ground out the word friend like a blade on stone. It tasted like ash in his mouth. He couldn't believe he would ever wish to befriend ones who would torture an innocent woman. "My first act as King cannot be to undo Odin's last..." he dragged off and he turned back to them. "We are on the brink of war with Jotunheim, my only bargaining chip is the knowledge that Thor has been banished as punishment for his betrayal."

"His betrayal?" Sif echoed and Loki turned, his shrewd green eyes landing on her.

"Unless..." he dragged off meaningfully. He idly turned Gungnir, staring at the metal as though the play of light interested him far more than this conversation.

Sif perked up. She had always known Loki was selfish and in it for himself, but if there was something they could do to bring Thor home they would do it. They had to. For Asgard.

"Unless?" she asked carefully. She had known Loki long enough not to trust him.

"Unless any of you would happen to know..." he dragged off and turned away from them. It was difficult to remain casual when it felt like Kenna was so close. Almost in his grasp. 

"Know what, my king?" Volstaag asked, unable to handle the tension.

"Odin recently sold a slave," he said, "I would like to know who he sold her to. If perhaps we could find a way to bring her home, it may be possible to bring my brother home as well."

It was the only bargaining chip he had. Loki hated that he wasn't able to bring more power to the negotiation. But he couldn't risk an outright coup from such famous warriors. If they were seen disrespecting him, the commoners might not respect his rule either. Self doubt crept up Loki's throat.

Fandral opened his mouth, but Sif shot him a warning look. "We know nothing of any slave," she said.

Loki narrowed his eyes, wondering why she thought she would be able to lie to him. Sif knew where Kenna had been taken. She had to.  He tightened his jaw, but forced his body to remain relaxed. He couldn't let them know what she meant to him, what finding out her location meant to him.

"That's too bad, as it stands, our people need continuity to feel safe in these difficult times. All of us must stand together, for the good of Asgard."

Sif leapt to her feet, unable to contain her rage any longer. Hugun and Fandral grabbed her arms, holding her back from attacking him.

"Yes of course," Fandral said submissively.

"Good, if you happen to find the slaves location...if somehow your memory is...jogged. We can address this subject then."

"If I may, beg the indulgence of your majesty to perhaps reconsider-" Volstaag began.

Loki's temper snapped. His magic rose in the room around him like static electricity in the air. The Warrior's Three all took measured steps back.

"Where is Kenna?" Loki demanded, his eyes flaring dangerously.

Volstaag looked away.

"Then we're done," Loki commanded and he turned away dismissively to return to the throne.

If the warriors three and sif wouldn't talk, and his mother didn't know, then he had only one other option if he was going to find her.

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Loki watched as the Midgardian attempted to question his brother. It was surprising the feeble Midgardian's had managed to capture Thor. Odin's curse must truly have stripped Thor not only of his power but also his Asgardian strength. His brother was mortal.

Loki had never seen Thor look so defeated. His powerful brother was bound to a chair with his head hanging in defeat. Loki waited until the agent in charge stepped away before he appeared.

He had donned Midgardian clothing to blend in just in case he was spotted. He wore a suit and overcoat, with a green scarf around his neck.

"Loki," Thor greeted in shock. "What are you doing here?" he asked his brother with a frown.

"I had to see you," Loki said.

"What's happened?" Thor asked desperately. "Tell me, is it Jotunheim?"

Loki looked away from the desperation in his brother's eyes, unable to stand it. He hated to see his brother in so much pain, but he had to find Kenna. He was growing desperate, and if manipulating Thor was the only way then so be it. Thor was powerful in his own right. Kenna was dangerously vulnerable. His chest ached with the memory of her pain. 

"Let me explain to father," Thor gasped.

"Father is gone," Loki said simply.

Thor's face was a mask of shock and horror. "What?" he gasped.

"Your banishment, the threat of a new war, it was too much for him to bear...You mustn't blame yourself. I know that you loved him. I tried to tell him so, but he wouldn't listen. It was so cruel for him to put the hammer within your reach, knowing you could never lift it..." Loki dragged off knowing his words would be like a knife in his brother's chest.

He could see the anguish in his brother's features and he dripped his chin to catch Thor's eyes. He just needed to push a little harder. "Father has...did...something cruel to me as well, brother," Loki said. "He has wronged someone else and I seek to put it to rights, just as I seek to put your misguided actions to the Jotuns right. But I need your help brother," Loki said, fighting back the real desperation in his voice. 

Thor looked up at Loki with tears burning in his eyes. "What?" Thor asked. "Anything for you brother."

Loki drew in a shaky breath, his emotions were spiraling out of control. He needed to rein himself in. He was no use to Kenna if he couldn't control himself to manipulate the situation. He would need all his cunning.

"He has sold Kenna," Loki said brokenly.

Thor frowned. "He-" he started to say but stopped, confusion darkening his blue eyes.

"Who...where?" Loki asked desperately. His brother was his last hope.

Thor looked down and shook his head. "I wish I could tell you. I don't know where he would have sent her."

"Your friends, Sif, the others, they know, they took her, but they won't tell me..."

Thor shook his head. "I-" and he stopped with a frown. "If Father sent her away than perhaps..."

Loki's jaw tightened, unwilling to listen. He shoved himself back and rose to his full height to tower over Thor as he realized his brother would never side with him. Thor was just as against him being with Kenna as everyone else. Had he not been banished at the time no doubt he would have been the one to take her away. It was difficult for Loki to take a full breath, it was as though the hole in his heart was now a fist.

"The burden of the throne has fallen to me now," he growled, fighting to stand tall and proud before his brother.

"Can-can I come home?" Thor asked pleadingly.

Loki scowled unwilling to be moved by his brother's pain when it was so clear his brother cared not for his. "The truce with Jotunheim is conditional upon your exile."

"Yes but, couldn't we find a way?" Thor begged.

"And mother, well...She believes Father did what he did for good reason. I'm afraid this is goodbye brother...I'm so sorry," Loki said after a moment, although he felt nothing but cold and dead inside. His last opportunity to final Kenna and it was a dead end.

"No," Thor said sniffling. "I am sorry. Thank you for coming here."

"Farewell," Loki said and he disappeared from sight.

He slipped through the midgardian compound to the center of the site where Mjolnir was sitting. Thor's hammer was one of the most powerful artifacts in existence. Perhaps if he gathered enough power he would be able to find her.

He stepped up to it and wrapped his hand around the handle. He had heard the spell his father had woven around the enchanted hammer, even if his father had not realized it was magick he wielded. Whoever was deemed worthy by Odin could wield the power of Thor. Loki pulled but the hammer wouldn't move. He tightened his jaw and grabbed it with two hands, but it wouldn't budge.

He wasn't worthy. He had never been worthy in Odin's eyes. He would show them. He would show them all. He would be worthy in his father's eyes and then he could command enough power to keep those he loved safe.

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