"How fairs Thor?" Fandral questioned.

"He still lives" Loki replied, "you'll find him in his chambers with the ever vigilant Siv. You may as well go to him since, evidently, you are of no use here"

The three glanced at each other warily, Loki wasn't even hiding his distaste for them. And why should he? The word of his temporary kingship had already spread far enough that people were gathered in the streets outside the castle. Their cries of protest could be heard on their way in though thankfully the walls now kept the sound out.

Juno crossed her arms and waited for the three warriors to leave, "Alright. What IS your malfunction? You've been acting odd ever since I joined you on this little adventure."

He leaned on the staff, looking over the great hall and sighed, "... I have been wondering that myself. I think Ceres' little play time in Loki-land changed more than we first thought. I put all of this in motion before then but after... I honestly tried to change it" he turned his eyes to her and smirked a little, "apparently I'm just that good."

Juno shook her head, "This is stupid... I will eat my fill in the kitchen and then I will be returning to Midgud." She turned and started heading out.

"And what will you tell Ceres?" Loki called after her, his voice echoing throughout the room.

Juno stopped and her hand turning into a fist. She took a deep breath before speaking, "The truth..."

"Then perhaps you should wait around to see what the truth really ends up to be" Loki replied

"The truth? The truth?!" She turned and marched toward him, "Time and Time again my Sister has defended you, seeing the light while others only saw darkness. Even before your bond, she stood by you. She's risked her life, HER very soul to save yours and you betray her trust and disgrace her name when you continuously try and pull shit like this. Plans that NEVER work in your favor in the end and only hurt those who care for you.

She was even planning on giving you the Sword of Ambrose; and thereby making you an honorary member of her family. She wanted you to move past all this. To become the man she saw you could always be; Not a snake but a Serpent; a protector, a guardian, your rebirth..." Juno took a deep breath, feeling a bit better now that she had let it all out and turned away from Loki.

"But, you did try to stop what you had started. Perhaps your rebirth is not yet complete..." She looked down at her familar who was trying to stay awake; having changed into a small kitten to reserve energy. She scooped him up, " Brutus is tired from the long hunt. We will stay till he is well rested."

Loki merely stood there, unphased by her words with a face of indifference watching her as she ranted, "Do you feel better now?" he inquired simply, looking down at her from the stop of the stairs.

She turned her head, "hmpf." She said a firm pout on her face. Yes she felt better but she would not say it. She was usually the one who let things slide but since she had grown rather found of her friendship with the teleporting Asgardian, this whole thing hadn't sat well with her.

"Is there anything else or may I go?" She said not looking at him.

"I don't often deal in truths when it comes to other people" Loki admitted, "that sort of thing I keep to myself-at least until it's convenient. Right now however... there are two ways this plays out and I'm actually not too certain which path I will end up taking." he looked to her, "As much as my actions may have disappointed you Juno. You are the closest thing I have to an ally right now. And that might be something I'll soon require... so... try to keep an open mind."

"Even though you sometimes do stupid things, you're still a friend Loki. I just need some rest."

"Then rest. For I expect Byleistr will be here first thing tomorrow" he turned away from her.

"Hey... Stay strong." she said before taking her leave.

Loki's grip on the staff tightened as he stood next to the throne, his back still to the room. As the doors opened to let Juno leave there was a moment where the voices of thousands of Azgardians could be heard once more in their protest to Loki's return. Their voices filled the hall, echoing around the large empty walls and clashing against the trickster's ears. It wasn't until the doors closed again and he was alone before Loki let himself sink to the floor behind the throne and lean against it's back.

So many times as a young lad had he done this, sit just behind the great throne of Azgard and closed his eyes to picture himself on the other side. Now however he was picturing no such thing. He just closed his eyes and breathed, trying to memorize every ounce of feeling of what it was like to simply be home.

It was about 10 mins later when he heard the faint noise Juno makes when she teleports and looked down to see a tray of food and drink beside him.

The gesture did at least bring a smile to his face though he ate and drank only a little.

Meanwhile Siv and the warriors three were trying to figure out what they should do.

Juno appeared in the room where Thor slept and the warriors three stood. "Here, eat." She placed a giant tray onto the table along with drink. " Regain your strength. From the sounds of it, Byleistr will come tomorrow and along with him, a chance to retrieve the stone."

"Byleistr?" Fandral questioned, "King of Frost Giants is coming to Asgard? Oh that just sings trouble."

"If he has the stone then what chance do we pose against him?" Volstagg demanded, "we'll end up no better than Thor, or worse."

"Some warriors you lot are. I for now will not let Azard fall to the likes of this Frost Giant. I plan to retrieve the stone, defeat this foe and restore Thor to his old self. But for now. I'm going to sleep.... What will you do when your former friend and King needs you most?" And with that she teleported away and flomped down into the room they had given her and fell asleep.

Siv and warriors three talked late into the night before finally getting what little rest they could.

The next day came and just as Loki had said, Byleistr came. However it wasn't exactly as they had been expecting him to come, through Heimdall's portal and across the rainbow bridge with only two guards at his side.

Loki had invited him.

Juno's eye twitched as she stood a few steps lower than Loki, "Really? Really?" She mumbled, looking back at Loki but she would see how this played out.

"Loki" Byleistr greeted with a large grin on his face, "That look suits you"

Loki smiled back in like as he stepped down to meet the frost giant, "I always thought it so myself. Few seemed to share that opinion."

"A damn shame." Byliestr agreed, "I assume you have it then?"

Loki waved his hands, summoning the Bifrost to him through a simple dimension portal. "And you?"

Byliestr placed a hand on the box that one of his guards was carrying, "But first... tell me Loki. You certainly went through a lot of trouble to make Thor believe your innocence. You were there to try and stop my giants at every turn."

"And failed" Loki reminded him.

"On purpose?" Byleistr questioned.

Loki gave him a look, "We had a deal Byleistr, and it has come due. The Bifrost is more use to you than the stone is, especially without the staff to harness it's power."

"Our deal was the throne of Azgard in return for control over Midgard and Vanaheim" Byleistr replied, "you added this trade to it, and I question your motives." His red eyes looked over to Juno and the four warriors who looked about ready to leap forward and rip his head off. The Frost Giant grinned again, "you didn't tell them that part, did you?"

Juno stepped down from the stairs and over to the four warriors, "Be calm." She said softly.

The ever quiet Hodur had a very deadly look in his eyes.
"Hodur, listen to her" Siv whispered, taking hold of the man's arm firmly.

"Vanaheim is his home" Volstagg mentioned to Juno.


Byleistr chuckled, "I think you may have a revolution on your hands, Loki."

Loki glanced briefly in their direction, "I am aware of the situation."

"And you still intend to honour our deal?" the giant eyed him.

"I am." Loki replied calmly, "As King of the nine realms, I declare that Midgard and Vanaheim belong to the rule of Yodenheim now. But if you care to make them comfortable for your people, you will need this" he held up the Bifrost.

Byleistr smirked, "Agreed." he removed the stone from the box and he and Loki traded the two powerful items.

"TRAITOR" Hodur snapped, yanking his arm free of Siv he charged to attack, blade in hand.
Not to leave a friend alone in any endeavor, the other three followed suit.