Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Loki was almost done, he just needed to put the finishing touches on and seal the work. If it worked as he intended, Thor would never be able to-

- ... do that ever again.

"Come, Brother! We are off on a Grand Adventure!

"No, Thor. I'm busy." Loki carefully stroked one finger along the runes he had just inscribed, imbuing them with delicate trickles of seidr when Thor grabbed his arm, paying no attention to his protests and jostled his desk.

The delicately balanced construction anchoring his spell shivered, and Loki watched in horror as it toppled. over. and. shattered.

He found himself looking down at ... his own face. Confused, he looked around for Thor. The oaf was nowhere to be found.

"Loki?" his own voice interrupted him. "What did you do?!?"

With sudden clarity (and horror) Loki looked down at himself... and finally found Thor. "What did I do? You blundering Oaf, you're the one who ignored a locked door, barged in here while I was working and disrupted my spell! I've told you a thousand times to knock and wait for permission before entering my workroom! This is your fault, and once again I'm the one stuck cleaning up after you, you asinine ass of an Aes!"

Using his now-superior strength, he dragged Thor through his rooms and shoved him out the door into the hallway. "Leave me alone while I try to figure out how to reverse this, and Don't damage my body in the meantime!" before slamming the door in his own face.

Thor was left staring at Loki's door. He was just enough shorter than he was used to that everything seemed slightly off-kilter. The very air shimmered slightly in his sight, too, like bare stone on a hot day. Or all of Muspelheim. (It must be some weird aftereffect of whatever that spell was.) He didn't want to admit that Loki had a point... he had been told several times not to just barge in to Loki's workroom, but it's not like there had been problems before!

er... well... not like this. He did remember the couple ... dozen ... hundred times Loki had given him the silent treatment for breaking a project or interfering with a spell he'd been working on. But surely it wasn't that big a deal. Right?

Well, with nothing to do but wait, he might as well go find their friends. The Grand Adventure was cancelled, but maybe they could spar, or something?

Sif sneered at him when he accosted her and Volstaag in the hall a few minutes later to tell her their plans had changed. "Liesmith. Thor was looking for you, but it looks like we got you first." She shoved him roughly into the wall, and held him there at sword point. "So listen up, little ergi. You're going to behave this time. None of your stupid, cheating tricks."

Thor blinked at his friends in confusion. "Sif? Why are you -"

"Enough." Volstaag interrupted, placing a hand on Sif's arm and forcing her to put her blade away. "You and your lying tongue are not welcome, Loki. We tolerate you only because Thor insists. So get your horse saddled, and don't forget the usual extra gear."

Sif shoulder-checked him roughly as she pushed past him "We want this to be fun, and you'll make sure of it. We'll go find Thor and let him know we'll be ready to go in fifteen minutes. Got that?"

His friends strode away leaving Thor staring after them, flabbergasted. Sif had never treated him Loki this way before.
...that he's seen, he realizes. Is this really how Loki is treated? No wonder he never wants to join them.

...maybe he'd better go talk with Mother and see what he can do to fix things.

Thor found Frigga in her garden, carefully clipping some shimmering blue flowers. She looked up at his approach and greeted him with a bright smile. "Loki, dear! All done with that exclusion charm, already? I'm impressed! I thought it would take at least another couple hours to get it stabilized and tested."

"um...?"

His mother's smile turned knowing, and a bit resigned. "Ah. You're not Loki. What did you do, Thor?"

He couldn't help but bristle a bit. "Why do you assume it's my fault?" Somehow, it just didn't sound as ...authoritative... without his usual booming voice.

"Are you saying it wasn't?"

Thor deflated and hung his head. "I just went to get Loki to join us on a day out."

Frigga hummed noncommittally, placing the harvested flowers into a basket at her feet. "...and just how did you go about 'getting Loki'?"

"um... went into his room."

"And..?"

"...and grabbed his arm."

"...and?"

Thor sighed. "And then suddenly I was looking at me and wearing his form."

"Nothing else? You didn't ask him first if he wanted to go with you? If he was at a safe place in his work to pause and take time to go with you? Didn't break anything he was working on? Nothing like that?"

Thor rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. (It was so weird to feel such slender, cool fingers.) How did Mother always seem to know just what he hadn't told her? "Well... he always spends so much time cooped up that it's my duty as his brother to make sure he gets out once in a while..." The eyebrow Frigga raised spoke volumes at how unimpressed she was at his excuse. "...but after he pushed me out of his rooms, I ran into Sif and... I don't think she likes him."

Frigga snorted. "That, my son, has been blatantly obvious for well over a century. Loki spends a great deal of time 'cooped up', as you put it, because your friends aren't allowed unescorted into the Royal Wing or the library. It's an easy way for him to avoid them without obviously avoiding them and starting a fight with you. He spends more time than you realize outside, he just prefers not to do so in your company because of the company you keep."

"oh..." Thor felt very small. Smaller than Loki's shorter, more slender form already made him. It wasn't a feeling he liked, but... Sif's behaviour and mother's words and Loki's (justified, he was beginning to realize) anger at him were painting a picture he didn't (want to) see before. "How can I fix this?"

"It depends what you mean by 'fix'." Frigga fixed him with the sort of piercing look only a mother could manage. "The little mishap that has caused you to wear Loki's form? You can't. Not right now. He may need your cooperation later - as in you following his instructions to the letter without hesitation, complaint or question - but right now you need to trust that he will figure it out.
"The situation with your friends? That will take more work - assuming you value a relationship with Loki, of course. Stop assuming they're his friends as well, for starters. Ask Loki if he is willing to join you instead of presuming or forcing him and learn to accept 'no' as an answer. You cannot force your friends to like your brother, Thor, but you can stop being blind to their blatant dislike. Your friends are not also Loki's, though Sif is by far the worst. Now that you have finally seen how he is treated, let them all know that you don't approve - in no uncertain terms - and that your previous blindness to their actions should have never been taken as permission for them. Cut ties with them if that's what's needed - either for a few weeks to make a point, or permanently if they refuse to take it. You will simply have to decide how and with whom you spend your time, rather than insisting they all spend time together with you at once."

Trying to do delicate work with Thor's thick fingers was an exercise in frustration. The limited amount of seidr Thor's body was able to access and channel even moreso. Gah! If it hadn't been for the fact that he just might have ended up slitting his own throat to shut Thor up if he'd let the oaf stay, it just might have been easier to work with his own body ...secondhand, so to speak.

Not that he thought Thor would have been much help at all! The blibbering idiot hadn't the slightest clue how to properly channel seidr, much less direct it to his will, and he really didn't want to suffer burn-out (again) when he got his proper body back due to Thor attempting to brute-force the needed seidr through what should be a carefully controlled process. Hopefully Thor hadn't been stupid enough to take his body for a few rounds in the sparring ring. He could only imagine the sorts of damage he'd have to deal with afterward if so.

heh... At least it would be Thor who felt the bruises and broken bones first, this time. He could even refuse to fix the situation until after Thor took his body to the Healers and sat through the pain of having bones set while enduring their usual lecture about the foolishness of a mage holding back against bullying idiots instead of demanding the proper respect his skills deserved. It would serve the fool right.

urgh... This just wasn't working; he'd need Frigga's help to unravel the magic that was lingering in the broken and twisted apparatus Thor had damaged. Thor's body just didn't have the abilities he needed to be able to even see it.

On the way to Frigga's garden, Sif greeted him brightly. "Thor! We already found Loki and he's getting ready. We should be able to leave at any time." She batted her eyes coyly.

He didn't even bother hiding his grimace. He'd always known she fancied Thor, but seeing that simpering look directed at him just ... blergh.

"Something has come up and we won't be able to go today. I'm surprised 'Loki' didn't tell you so already." How cruel should he be? Dismissive, cutting, or give her the punch she probably deserved? ...choices, choices... "Or did you foolishly dismiss his words as usual? Go ask him - nicely - to join me in Mother's garden as soon as he can. And you make sure his horse is promptly unsaddled and properly taken care of."

The way Sif's jaw dropped was mildly satisfying. She was used to Loki being tasked with such mundane work, not being ordered to do it for him.

"Now, Sif. I really don't have time."

She huffed. "Hogun, Fandral, and I would be happy to help you with whatever has happened, Thor." ew... the honey-sweet voice again.

"I appreciate the offer, but whether you can help depends on what Mother says. Go get 'Loki' immediately and don't dawdle." Thor suffering a bruise or two from her brusqueness was a price he'd pay. (Literally. With pain once he had his proper form back.) ...later.

He was surprised to find himself Thor already in the garden, seated on a bench beside their mother. "Ah. I suppose Thor filled you in on the basics of the situation, at least."

Frigga smiled at him. "Yes, dear. I would appreciate the details, though. As well as what you plan to do to fix things."

Loki snorted. "I came to ask for your help, Mother. For once, I am unable to clean up the mess he made on my own. Thor's body lacks the ability to channel seidr with the finesse I need to do much of anything. It's almost like missing my eyes, being unable to clearly see the threads he's left all in a tangle. Usually it just takes an inordinate amount of time and patience to unravel his bungling, but this time... it's like asking a blind man to sort beads by color."

It was definitely weird to glare at himself... and watch his face fall into Thor's usual expression of stubborn denial before filling with ...shame? No. Surely he must be misreading it. Thor had never in his life been ashamed of any of the calamities he caused.

meh, whatever. Maybe he was finding Loki's body as off-putting as Loki found Thor's.

hmmm... what would it be like to suddenly be able to see seidr swirling in the air and drawing patterns on every wall if you'd never been able to? (At least it didn't seem like Thor had tried to touch anything he might be seeing. That could only have ended well... not)

Chapter Text

Thor was bored, sitting for what felt like hours with nothing to do. His hands itched and his body ached with the need to DO SOMETHING. Yet here he was, in Loki's room, constrained by Frigga's magic to remain in this chair and watch her and himse- Loki work over the scattered, shattered fragments that littered the floor because -

He shied uncomfortably from his thoughts. All his thoughts were uncomfortable right now. The way Loki was treated by thei- his friends - were they truly his friends? Frigga's not-quite scathing remarks about his lack of care or concern and how the Warriors Three and Sif had taken advantage of it prickled in his memory worse than ants crawling up his legs. Loki's comments when they had come here to fix the mess he'd inadvertently made were no better.

And it was really all his fault. After his talk with Frigga, he couldn't help but ask "Can I help? Will you need me?"

Loki had snorted (and it was very strange indeed to hear his brother's usually quiet derision echo vaguely of thunder) and replied "Maybe. I will undoubtedly need my body at some point, and probably my seidr - if I can trust you with it. You will stay because

1. I might need you,
2. I don't trust your puerile friends or others who have taken your attitude as permission for various abuses to not waylay you as you mindlessly wander and harm my body,
3. boredom, for you, usually leads to sparring and - again - I don't want to deal with yet more serious injuries because you have no sense of caution or restraint. Particularly as your usual style of sparring would result in more of them than usual,
   and
4. enforced boredom is probably a better punishment for you than anything I could think of and get away with inflicting on you without Odin taking exception. He coddles your worthless, thoughtless, ignora-"

Mother had interrupted with a mild rebuke, but had not actually disagreed with Loki's words. That had stung.

Loki had rolled his eyes, and pursed his lips against whatever else he'd been going to say, but merely nodded and turned his back. He'd wanted to leave, then (not that he had the choice), but he'd stayed.

And now he was bored, watching them point out things in (on? around?) the mangled remains of Loki's ... thing... that he couldn't see beyond some hints of nameless color that seemed to swirl and change as they murmured together and made nonsensical passes with their hands. Occasionally it looked like they were pulling a loose thread or catching a frog, but for the most part...

He sat.

Helpless.

Useless.

'Did I do this with every blunder?' he wondered. His talk with Frigga suggested that, yes, he had.

Thor was 100% thoroughly bored by the time Mother and Loki had gotten to a point they agreed they at least had a good idea of what had gone wrong.

By the time they'd unraveled the mess he'd apparently made of the seidr that caused the problem, his backside was numb, his stomach was rumbling, and he felt like his brain was about to ooze out of his ears from the sheer weight of his boredom.

He'd had nothing to do ALL. DAY. but sit and listen to half-heard, murmured conversations about things he couldn't really see. And think. Thinking was the worst. Thor had never been an introspective sort, and being left to his thoughts was akin to torture. He preferred to talk to people. If he had to review what had happened, he'd rather discuss it with someone. ...preferrably his friends (but that didn't seem likely to be useful given the circumstances). Or mother. (Who was busy.)

The first attempt he'd made at starting a conversation - even just asking questions (anything to alleviate his misery. Even listening to his brother talk about seidr would be an improvement) had been received with a blunt 'don't distract Mother, Thor, unless you want to be stuck in even worse straits.'
The second (when Frigga didn't seem to be busy) resulted in a long and rather technical lecture on precisely why everything had gone pear-shaped (and he'd been wrong. Listening to his brother talk about seidr was not, actually, appreciably better.)
The third had seen Frigga glare at him and do something that prevented him from talking.

So he'd been stuck with his thoughts. Memories of past adventures and glories did not help - he had no one to share them with, no one to boast to or be lauded by, and they brought up uncomfortable questions and realizations about how the Warriors Three and Sif had subtly (and not so subtly) made their dislike of his brother known.

How often had one of them made a cutting remark after Loki had healed or helped them, only for all the rest (including himself) to chuckle and add to it?

How often had Loki been left to set camp while he and the others bathed after a hunt?

How often had Loki's face twitched in displeasure before smoothing out to a bland mask?
(And why couldn't he remember when Loki started using such a mask to cover his hurt instead of telling Thor what was wrong as he had when they were children?)

How long had it been since he'd just spent time alone with his brother?
(too long)

How long since they'd spent time together doing something Loki had suggested?
(even longer)

He could remember his brother laughing in delight... but not what that laughter had sounded like, nor what had prompted it.
(He hated that the only laughter he could remember hearing had an edge of mockery beneath its forced gaiety.)
(Why had he never noticed that before?)

And how was he going to fix it?

During the long hours he was left sitting, waiting, ignored, useless he pictured various reactions his friends might have to ... whatever he eventually decided to say.

Hogun would be stoically unreadable, of course. That was just how he reacted to anything that was not the adrenaline-fueled high of a good fight or hard-won victory.
(Victories Loki had often played a critical role in, for all they never acknowledged it.)

Volstaag... Volstaag would probably suggest going out to drink. ...whether in celebration, commiseration or just because he was hungry, Thor couldn't decide, but suggesting food and drink was definitely what Volstaag would do.

Fandral... he wasn't sure about Fandral. Fandral was the one Loki was most likely to talk with on their adventuring, and the most likely to chuckle at whatever small mischiefs Loki indulged in. Fandral was also just as ready with a quip or joke at Loki's expense as anyone, though. Of course, Fandral would also make jokes about anyone, so ... Thor managed to entertain himself for several minutes trying to imagine Fandral's reactions.

Sif, though... Thor could picture her pleased, smug little smirk all too well.
(Why had he ever thought it was merely an indication of friendly teasing?)

Chapter Text

It took two more days for everything to be set to rights. Thor had followed directions as best he could when he'd finally - finally! - been given something to do. He'd been desperate at that point, willing to even try using seidr, just for the chance to be released from that accursed chair. And it had burned, like hands that had gotten far too cold and then were heated too quickly. It had crawled under his skin and through his veins like his entire being had been filled with swarming, biting ants and squirming, writhing maggots.
(He shuddered at the mere memory, unable to comprehend why Loki would love seidrwork and was so. glad. he didn't have seidr of his own.)

But it had worked. After three days of utter hell Thor was finally back in his own body.

He and Loki had been sent to the Healing Halls to be checked for seidr exhaustion. Thor had been released fairly quickly, but Loki was still there.
(Something about his nerves being overloaded. Thor was just glad the crawling ants feeling was gone and he was permitted to leave.)

Or... he had been, until his friends found him.

He hadn't seen them for three days - had disappeared right before they were supposed to go on an adventure, in fact - and it was no secret he'd been with the Healers. Apparently, they'd decided it was all Loki's fault.
(And apparently Sif was also offended that he'd told her to take care of Loki's horse? What?)

Worse, they'd been spreading stories of Loki's dishonorable actions and underhanded tricks to everyone and anyone. Claiming he'd been a coward, afraid of facing an adventure and using sneaky means to get out of it.

And now they were clamoring for his approval of their actions.
(How had he thought they were true friends? How had he ever thought that?)

He'd been horrified, and perhaps a bit abrupt in his condemnation, but really, what did they expect? (They expected him to agree.) They were spreading tales about his brother.
(Thor deliberately didn't think about that one time on Midgard... he'd joined in on the slightly-drunken stories they'd told to the credulous mortals who'd been all too willing to accept their (somewhat disparaging) tall tales at face value.)

And even worse, people had believed them.

When he visited Loki in the Healing Halls the next morning, he was dismayed to find the stories had reached there as well.

Loki's eyeroll and rejoinder of "I fail to see why you'd think they would have done anything else." when he tried to apologize for having taken so long to speak against them that they had fully expected his apporval was disheartening. "Sif is by far the worst, but it has been a long time since any of the Warriors Three has spoken well of me, either. This is very much the norm, Thor."

He truly had been willingly blind if slander was the best Loki expected of thei- his friends. Esrtwhile friends, perhaps.

"Truly?" Thor could not stop the hint of pleading in his voice. "Surely they are not all so bad?"

Loki shrugged as he began gathering his things, ready to leave as soon as the Healers gave their consent. "Hogun says little, as usual, but none of it is in my favor. At best he grunts something noncommital and changes the subject. Fandral is pleasant enough when the others are not around to hear him, but joins them in their insults if they are. Make of that what you will, Thor, and leave me be. I do have a great deal of work to redo today, and it will take me all the longer as I have been ordered to limit my use of seidr for the next while as my channels are still slightly raw due to your inexperience."

Thor winced, but nodded. He could do that; he could give Loki the space to repair what he'd broken. "Mother suggested I cut ties with them, at least for a while, to teach them the error of their ways, but I fear it will be insufficient. I told them yesterday that I would do so if they did not cease their malicious accusations and Sif immediately accused me that you had somehow twisted my mind that I'd even consider doing so. I fear 'tis proof enough that they would learn nothing from merely distancing myself from them."

"hmmm... You could always make it a public denunciation. You're loud enough to make sure everyone hears you even if you are not formally declaring it before the Throne, you know." Loki was refusing to look at him, his back stiff, as though unwilling to risk seeing Thor refuse the mere idea.

Thor said nothing as Loki spoke with the Healer and followed his brother from the room, pondering his brother's words.

Unable to get Loki's attitude and revelations - and suggestion - out of his mind, Thor wandered aimlessly in the formal gardens, tangled in his pensive thoughts.

The sun was high when he was accosted by Mother, and he allowed her to draw him into the shade and privacy of her garden instead.

"It is unlike you to meander in silence when your thoughts trouble you instead of working through them in the sparring ring."

"I usually spar with the Warriors Three and Sif, but they are the cause of my unease and I do not think they would be as helpful as usual in dispelling these doubts."

"Hmmm. I see. Perhaps if you were to speak with them privately and individually, it might be more effective as they will have no one else's words to nod along to. There may well be more beneath the surface that you have not seen, and not just with Loki."

Thor found Hogun in the stables, as he often was when they had free time and weren't drinking or adventuring together.

"Why do you hate my brother so?"

The quiet man looked startled at the abrupt question, and paused in currying his horse to reply, "Eh, I don't hate him, Thor. I've never especially liked him, either, but if I ignore him he's willing to ignore me. I'm fine with that. I think Sif goes overboard on hostility, but s'long as it's just words, whatever."

(And yet, Thor can remember so many times they'd mocked and attacked Loki for his words. Why were Sif's so easily dismissed?)

While looking for Fandral, Thor bumped into Volstaag on his way into the city to visit his family, and asked him the same question.

"He's a liar and a brat, and a bad influence on my kids; they cause thrice the trouble on days he crosses their paths. I don't trust him, and don't want him around. I won't say I'd prefer him dead, but I won't seek him out - as long as he's not with us, it's fine. The farther away the better."

Fandral shrugged when Thor managed to speak privately with him.

"Nay, Thor. I've always been friendly toward Loki. I haven't stood up for him in centuries, but I do not hate him. He is right to not consider me his friend."

"Why?"

"Sif. Loki understands, but it doesn't change facts, Thor. I've always gotten on well enough with him, at least when it's just the two of us, but I've not truly been a friend to him in a very long time. I think I hurt him a bit when I didn't step in when Sif got really nasty that one time - but I didn't want to get stabbed in my sleep."

Thor was shocked. "Loki wouldn't do that!"

"Not Loki, Thor. Sif. She's always fancied you, you know, and I think she came to see your affection for Loki as an obstacle to gaining your love for herself. I don't have proof - she'd never admit to something so womanly as feelings - but I kinda think she figures driving Loki away will cause a rift between the two of you that she can step into. She gets pretty vicious sometimes."

Thor eyed his friend dubiously. "Aye, she has a sharp tongue. But stabbing? That is more Loki's habit."

Fandral rolled his eyes. "It's not as though only one person can have a bad habit, and Loki's perfectly happy to stab you while you're awake and watching. Sif... there's a reason Loki started Warding his tent, Thor, and a reason he won't ever stop doing so regardless of how you insist." He paused, looking at Thor expectantly. "You know as well as I that the only time he doesn't greet the dawn when we're out camping is if he was injured, and I'm sure you remember that trip a century or so ago when he didn't rise until noon."

The penny dropped. "I'll kill her myself."

"I'd hope it doesn't come to that - as I said, no proof - but at this point, I suspect standard disciplinary actions like demotion will only make her more vindictive. Sif was tolerable when we were young, but as soon as she got the status of Warrior of Asgard that she'd been fighting so hard for, she started using it to go after everyone who had ever insulted her. Even if the insult was payback for some nasty stunt she pulled first. And believe me, she pulled a lot when we were young." (Thor remembered, then, that Fandral had known Sif well before either one had first set foot into the Training Yard.) "Along the way, she's turned into a bullying bitch. Just plain mean, and she's only gotten worse since becoming part of your inner circle. Loki, though? He's hilarious."

"Even when pulling tricks?"

"Oh, yeah. Even when he was getting me back for something, he was clever about it. Loki typically aims to humble, not harm; I could see the humor - or at least the justice - once I cooled off. I'm not saying he can't be cruel - anger him sufficiently and he's implacable in his vengeance. It takes a lot to push him to that point, though, unlike Sif. She's all for destroying people; she aims to hurt and leave scars. But you're the only one she'll listen to, and you weren't saying anything, so..." He shrugged.

Thor felt as though he'd taken a heart-strike, and Fandral seemed to pick up on it, clapping Thor's shoulder and making his excuses to leave.

A few steps later, he stooped to pick something up. "Oh, here. Give this to Loki with my compliments, will you?"

"Fandral... this is a pigeon feather?"

"I know Thor. Loki will understand."

Despite Thor's demand for an explanation, Fandral just shook his head and walked away. "That's up to Loki."

Thor avoided Sif for the rest of the day*, Fandral's words circling through his mind. Surely it wasn't true.

But Hogun had said something similar, hadn't he.

And Mother had said Sif's dislike of Loki was obvious.

Perhaps...

Thor found himself before General Tyr, requesting an investigation into Sif's behaviour as the blatant rumormongering and besmirching the honor of a member of the Royal Family (least liked though Loki was) with her falsehoods was unbecoming of the Honor of a Warrior, and he had been made aware that is was neither the first, nor likely the worst, of her abuses of her position.

It took less than a day to prove she was the source of the most recent spate of rumors - Sif all but proudly announced it - and that was enough to see her publicly reprimanded and her status as a Warrior in abeyance, with warning that future abuses of her station would see her stripped completely of her title and banished. She was then sent back to training and classes on ethics and the Duty of a Warrior, and given a decade to prove herself contrite and worthy before her status would be reviewed for reinstatement.

Sif was, predictably, furious, especially that Thor didn't speak in her defense. When she confronted him, he pinned her against the wall at swordpoint, just as she had done to him while he wore Loki's form.

"And why should I speak in your defense? You took an Oath to uphold the Honor of Asgard and its rulers. I have seldom rebuked you for what I perceived as mere teasing when you insulted a Prince of the Realm and you have taken my easy going nature as permissiveness and forgotten your place, stepping far beyond the pale of Honor and Duty. Why should I not be treating you as you treat my brother? I do not know why you hold such enmity towards him, and do not care. It ceases now. I find you have even once lifted a finger against him again or induced others to do so and you will feel my full wrath.
"The punishment you have been given is not often decreed, and used only for one declared a Warrior of the Realm who has been proven Honorless and Oathbreaker after receiving such honor. You tread perilously close to that line, by the testimony of many and the words of your own mouth. Should the ongoing investigation find proof of other abuses of your station, or you fail to properly uphold the Oath and Honor of a Warrior in the future, you shall be sentenced to have your crimes inked into your skin, be stripped of your title and your sword hand, shackled like a common slave and displayed in the square for all to see before being cast out. Your shame shall be a reminder to others of why a Warrior deserves laud and what they stand to lose when they make themselves undeserving. I hope, for your sake, that your insults against my brother are the worst of what you have done, for that will mean you yet have a chance to redeem yourself."

(They weren't. Sif was required to spend a decade making restitution where possible, but it wasn't always. At least one suicide was traced back to Sif's vengeful machinations, and more than one girl who had disparaged Sif's desire to be a Warrior had found her reputation in tatters, ruining their prospects of a good marriage, because of rumors and questionable situations Sif had engineered. The sheer pettiness of her abuses of her station was considered proof of why women should not be Warriors and thrown in her face for the entirety of the time before her banishment. She was almost relieved when it was done.)