#open loki starter

Loki woke up in chains with no recollection of how he got there. Last thing he remember was storming off after having a fight with Thor. “What in the 9 realms is going on?!” He yelled irritated and tried standing up but he was stuck in a hunched position between sitting and standing.

. 

Sitting along the sidelines, Iris waited as Loki was escorted into the throne room of Asgard. Immediately she recognized his green suit, long black hair...piercing eyes. She couldn’t look away from him - she never could. But Loki didn’t notice her today. He was focussed on Odin, sitting at the front of the room. Iris felt pity fill her heart at the sight of her betrothed in chains, followed by armed guards, and soldiers at the ready. He didn’t deserve this. He couldn’t deserve this. 

The people of Asgard, even the nobility, were kept mostly in the dark about “the crimes of Loki”, but there were whispers. There always were. The same happened when the prince Thor was banished and cast out of Asgard. But Loki had been at Odin’s side through everything since that moment. Iris didn’t understand...what could he have done?

Glancing at Frigga for a moment, standing beside the throne, Iris’ heart reached out to the Queen. The woman stepped forward, but Iris couldn’t make out the words between mother and son. She could only see the pain on Frigga’s face, and mentally reminded herself to offer grievances later. Frigga and her mother had always been close. It was Iris’ duty to be by at the Queen’s aid in this time, especially after...

Iris broke that train of thought. She didn’t want to think of those moments from her past. Her gaze returned to Loki. Watching him in chains broke her heart, hearing Odin refer to his son as “the prisoner”. Though she knew he wouldn’t want her pity. He was too sure of himself, too full of pride. It was his weakness. Even now, he laughed towards Odin, “I really don’t see what all the fuss is about.”

Odin spoke, his voice so serious. “Wherever you go there is war, ruin, and death.” Iris’ head shook ever so slightly. That wasn’t Loki, not...not her Loki. He was a prankster, yes, never taking anything too seriously...not even their relationship...but he wasn’t bad. But then Loki was speaking, about ruling Midgard as a god. That couldn’t be right...but here he was admitting it. 

“All because Loki wanted a throne.” 

Loki’s voice raised, “It is my birthright.”

And then Odin yelled, his voice thundering in the halls, “Your birthright...was to die!”

She was shaking, Iris realized. She couldn’t remember the last time her heart was beating this fast. It felt as though the court were watching an intimate moment between family that should have been behind closed doors. And all she wanted to do was run down there and stand beside him...to hold his hand as she used to. A memory flashed in her mind - she and Loki, running through the white fields, his smile...

She glanced back at Loki. He had been listening to Odin’s words, along with the rest of the hall, so she snapped back. And then he spoke, telling his father to “just swing it.” Iris gasped. No...Loki, stop. Her mind blanked out as fear swept through her. 

Finally, Odin spoke his sentence. Life. In the dungeons. His own son? Iris felt herself stand, though she did not remember deciding to. A hand tugged on her arm, pulling her back to the plush seat. The guards were pulled Loki back using the chains, then grabbed him and escorted him away. Thor was to be king of Asgard following Odin. And Loki...was he truly lost to her forever. 

Iris didn’t know how she kept the tears in, but she found herself standing once more as Loki was escorted from the hall. This time, no hands tried to pull her back. As the large doors shut, she turned and looked back at her King, at Odin. All he did was shake his head and then look away from her. Iris stepped down from the court seating. She heard whispered as she passed - undoubtedly murmurs of pity for her, Loki’s scorned betrothal...but she would not cry in front of them. Holding her head high, forcing the tears back to burn in her throat, Iris left the hall. She didn’t even know where she was going...