Chapter Text
Frigga's life was nearing its end. Most people would have been distressed by that knowledge, but she had known it was coming for a long time now. Once, when she'd been learning to scry as a child, she had decided to look for the moment of her death.
The instant the vision materialised, she'd regretted it. Nevertheless, she had been unable to tear her gaze away. Over the centuries, she had reconciled herself with what she'd seen, but she had never been able to forget it.
It wasn't much — all she knew was what she was wearing, what the Dark Elf who killed her looked like, and that a woman whom she now recognised as Jane Foster was present for it. As soon as Jane had arrived, followed by Odin's warning about the coming of Malekith, she'd known that the flash she'd seen so long before was rapidly approaching.
Frigga had made peace with her death, but there were things she had to do first.
Glancing over her shoulder to make sure nobody was following her, she took a sharp turn to the right and, picking up her pace, hastened to the room where Loki was being held prisoner. As the queen, it was her right to go where she wished, but Odin had insisted it was dangerous for Loki to receive unaccompanied visitors lest he manipulate them into freeing him. If anyone saw her, she would be unable to carry out her true intentions for this visit.
As she rounded the last corner, she let out a slow breath. Loki was alone, standing in the middle of the cell with a book in his hands. He glanced up at her approach and his eyebrows rose in surprise. 'Frigga.'
The furniture in the cell was ornate but minimalistic, with a single bed, table, and seating set spread out across the room. Loki's hair and clothes were as neat as ever, if less opulent. It looked like he had been taking care of himself.
He had always been a proud man, determined never to show weakness.
'Drop the illusion,' Frigga said, using the no-nonsense tone that had broken up many an argument between the boys when they were children.
Loki didn't argue. Within seconds, the scene of modest luxury had been replaced by a picture of destruction. The furniture was broken and overturned, marks dotted the floor and walls, and Loki...
Loki's hair was loose and tangled, as if it hadn't been brushed in months, and he was garbed in clothing that was as drab as any she had ever seen on him. He was still holding a book, but even it hadn't escaped his battering tirade.
The sight pulled at her heart, and she yearned to go in and comfort him — or, better yet, to release him. But the former would alert Odin to her presence, and the latter would only help Loki in the short-term.
'It pains me to see you like this, son.'
'I'm not your son,' Loki snapped. 'I never was.'
'You will always be my son.'
His shoulders remained tense, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes, and he set the book down on the bed. 'How much longer must I stay here like this?'
'Odin hasn't set a timeframe,' she said, letting a hint of frustration seep into her voice. She disagreed with her husband's decision on this matter, but it was her job as queen to support him, even if she disagreed as a wife and a mother.
She didn't try referring to Odin as his father; while Loki might soften in his animosity towards her, that would be pushing her luck. 'He intends for you to remain here until he deems you sufficiently repentant.'
'Forever, then.'
'Or mere hours. Loki, you have the power to end this now. Did I raise you to be someone who kills dozens without remorse? Is repentance that unachievable a concept?'
His expression was obstinate. 'I refuse to reward his childish power play.'
Frigga shook her head, saddened. 'Whether to do good or evil is something you decide for yourself; it should not be based on somebody else's actions or perceived failings.'
'I wish I could give you a different answer, Mother,' Loki said, honesty ringing through in his words, 'but you have always been able to tell when I lie.'
'Very well.' Driven by the knowledge that this could be their last conversation, she added, 'Just know that I love you. No matter what you may think, nothing could ever change that.'
Seconds ticked by as Loki seemed to struggle over his words. 'You have always been my favourite person,' he finally said.
Frigga nodded. 'I know.'
He wasn't ready to let go of the hurt yet — and by the time he was, she would no longer be around to see it.
Telling him that now would do more harm than good, but she needed to make sure this conversation didn't become yet another wound. 'One day, you will be ready to face what happened. Promise me that when you are, you'll forgive yourself.'
'There's nothing to forgive myself for.'
A sad smile spread across her face. Even now, he was so determined to put up a hard, uncaring front. She wished she could make this better for him, but he would have to put in the work himself.
Opening the food access slot, she pulled her journals from the folds of her dress and held them through the gap. She had been planning to give them to him for a long time now, but she had hoped he would be further along by then. 'Read these from cover to cover, and do not let anyone know you have them.'
Loki walked forward and took the bundle from her, holding it cautiously. 'Not even Thor?'
'Not until you have read them yourself and learned all you can.'
'Not even the Allfather?' he asked, a mocking lilt to his voice.
'Never him.'
-x-
After leaving Loki's prison, Frigga sought out Thor. The pressure had lessened somewhat now that she had completed the hardest part of her mission; this time, at least, she could be open about where she was going. She eventually found him standing by the Fountain of Kings in their family's private garden, watching the water crash over the side of the delicate metal. Strings of crystals dangled from each tier, glittering in the sunlight.
Thor's forehead was lined with worry.
'What troubles you?' she asked as she approached. 'Is it Jane?'
When he met her gaze, his eyes were haunted. 'The Allfather doesn't believe she will survive this, but I can't lose her. She has to make it through.'
Despite her wishes, Frigga hadn't spent much time with Jane since her arrival. 'Tell me about her.'
'Jane is… Jane is amazing. She's brilliant and driven, and she's curious about everything. If she could, she would stay on Asgard as long as we let her, but it would not be for power; it would be for knowledge. She's a good person. She makes me laugh.'
Frigga nodded slowly. Jane was not the kind of person she had imagined her warrior-son loving, but perhaps that was for the better. The kind of woman she'd pictured — loud, brave to the point of recklessness, bawdy — would have brought out the worst parts of Thor, not the best. 'What of her interests? Does she have any family?'
Sheepishness overtook his face. 'I do not know. I was only on Midgard for three days, and we were in danger for most of that time. She has friends who are like family to her, but we did not speak about our interests outside of those that related to the issue.'
'That is understandable.'
'I intend to fix that when this is over,' Thor said. 'The Allfather will not like it, but I am hoping to split my time between Asgard and Midgard.'
'He will not like your divided loyalty, but I believe he will humour it. He knows you became a better person while you were there.'
'Humour it, perhaps, but not forever.' Thor turned from the fountain to face her, the light of the crystals reflecting on his face. 'I doubt this is what you came to talk to me about, Mother.'
'You know me well. I have a gift for you.' Pulling out a pouch from her pocket, she held it out to him.
Gingerly, he took it, tugging the strings open and letting the medallion fall out into the palm of his hand. The chain sprawled out after it.
'It is a powerful magical artefact that I have been working on for decades now,' Frigga explained before briefly describing what it was and how it worked.
The spells and enchantments were not yet where she wanted them to be, but they would suffice. If she survived Malekith after all, she could always take it back to perfect it later. But she did not want the hope of a reconciliation between her sons to die with her.
'Do not give up on your brother,' she concluded. 'There is hope for him; he is still redeemable.'
'How can you be so certain?'
The first answer that came to mind was that Odin had done far worse and come back from it. But she couldn't say that when she didn't even remember it herself. Instead, she settled for saying, 'Because I know him, and because I know you know it, too.'
-x-
Her tasks complete, Frigga returned to where her friends and ladies' maids were gathered in the main courtyard. They visibly relaxed when they saw her approach; she'd known they weren't comfortable with her wandering off unguarded with a threat on the horizon, but they'd refrained from openly questioning their queen.
'Should we return inside?' Jytelle, one of her maids, asked as she peered up at the sun overhead. 'We will burn if we are not careful.'
'It is a lovely day today,' Frigga said smoothly as she rejoined their ranks, not wanting to concern them further. Although the sun was shining, it was far from overbearing, especially for their sturdy Asgardian skin. Nevertheless, she recognised the hidden meaning behind Jytelle's words; her concern was not for their skin but for their wandering queen. 'Perhaps you are right. Have I told you about the new edict I plan to implement?'
She knew very well that she hadn't, but it served as a good distraction. Before long, they were discussing and debating the logistics of the edict. The conversation lasted all the way to the library, where they came across Jane marvelling over the index technology, an intense expression on her face.
'Lady Jane.' Frigga glanced over at her friends. 'Please excuse me.' Concern flitted across their faces, and she gave them a wry smile. 'Do not worry; I will endeavour to stay indoors so I do not risk overexposure to the sun.'
Leaving them, she approached Jane, who had taken her hands away from the index sheepishly. 'I'm sorry. I shouldn't be wandering around; the king…'
'You are welcome to explore as you please,' Frigga replied. If Jane were to be Thor's bride, she would eventually have full access to the palace and its surrounds. 'However, I would advise that you remain with Thor or one of his friends for safety. Unfortunately, some Asgardians would feel… uneasy at the thought of a Midgardian among us.'
Jane scoffed. 'It's not as if I could do anything to hurt them.'
'Perhaps not, but my people are traditional to a fault. Change does not come easily to us.'
'That seems to be an issue everywhere,' Jane said wryly before turning back to the index. A sense of wonder filled her voice as she asked, 'How does this work? It is like nothing we have on Earth.'
Frigga smiled, drawn in by the young woman's obvious awe. It lit up her face, animating and transforming her. In that moment, she could understand her son's attachment to her. As they discussed the technology, Jane asking questions about every aspect of it, Frigga was struck anew by how delightful she was.
'What do you think of Asgard?' Frigga asked once they had exhausted the topic.
Jane hesitated.
'Please do not hesitate to be honest. I am not easily offended.'
'It's stunning,' Jane said, glancing at Frigga as if to make sure she had been truthful about wanting honesty, 'but it feels... untouchable. The people do, too, apart from you and Thor. And everything is overwhelmingly opulent.'
Her words pulled a laugh from Frigga. What an accurate assessment that was; stunning but untouchable indeed. 'There is much that you have yet to see,' she said, wanting to support her son. 'You may find some of it is easier to connect to.'
Nevertheless, Jane's words gave her something to contemplate. She had long since wondered whether Asgard had faltered in isolating itself so fully from the other realms, but it had only ever been curious pondering. Perhaps it warranted more consideration.
What was life like on Midgard? It must be so different. Their time was incredibly limited; how did they decide what to do with it? Each second and decision had to have so much more weight and meaning.
Loud explosions erupted outside, and a small jet zipped past the library window. Frigga stiffened at the sound. It could only mean one thing.
Asgard was being invaded; Malekith had arrived.
Jane ran towards the window, but Frigga shot forward and grabbed her arm. 'No! You must not risk being seen.'
Her entourage must have been waiting outside, for they burst back into the library with exclamations of fear and horror.
'Asgard's defences have not been breached in millennia!' Jytelle exclaimed.
This might be the day Frigga died, but it would not be the day they did — nor the day Jane did. If she could take them to someplace more defensible, she might be able to hold their position long enough for Thor or Odin to save the others.
'Follow me.'