Emerald eyes widened minimally at those words, their owner able to refrain from showing his immense shock. Rising from the bench, Loki walked to one of his mother's most treasured apple trees and placed his hand upon the bark. It was rough underneath his palm, warm from the sunlight, and strong from it's many years of growth. The similarity between he and the tree was not lost to him. Glancing over his shoulder, Loki contemplated his brother's words.