A/N: First time doing a Thor fanfiction. I own nothing but the plot and some side character in this story. This is AU story where Thor brother Balder still lives. Jane is adopted by a new family. Takes shortly after the frost giants invaded Midgard and loki was never found by Odin. Lokane all the way.
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" Their candles are all out.
Take thee that too.
A heavy summons lies like lead upon me.
And yet I would not sleep." ~ Macbeth, William Shakespeare
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Chapter 1: A new life.
Chapter 1: A new life.
Odin stood among the remaining ruins of the Midgardian village. His golden hair blew gentle behind him from the cold breeze pushing against his face. His shiny gold and sliver armor glittered from the rays of the sunset as it ended the daylight into the night.
The pure snow white was covered in blood of all three realms that suffered. Human-blood, Jotan-blood, and Asgardian-blood shall stain the snow in this land forever. As a new layer of snow started to fall to cover.
Burning flesh reeked through the air from the decaying corpse of the mighty warriors who have died today along with the victims. The remaining warriors were burning the dead with a viking funeral tradition but on land. It was sad, but it's a better resting place. War was always a problem in life, the innocents always were victims.
Odin sighed in disappointment. Not only this war was tough, but he had a loving family back in Asgard. His wife Frigga and only sons Thor being at the age of 4, and Balder being at the age of 3. He would like to see them one more time, just before he left to finish the 'hopefully' last battle on Jotunheim, and take their Casket of Winters. He gazed over to see his soldiers that started to leave, his royal guards; the Crimson Hawks stayed behind.
"My King," Tyr bowed to Odin. Odin looked at the black hair and brown eyed man in front of him. He was slim, and tall for his age. He was like a brother to Odin, and one of the most skilled warriors in Asgard.
"Yes Tyr, do you have anything to report about the village?" His voice was calm and gentle almost like a whisper.
"Yes my king," Tyr cleared his throat before continuing. "The remaining men have been through the Midgardian village. We found something."
"What did you find Tyr?" The king asked, he noticed then that his soldier look a little sad.
"One of the soldiers found a infant. Ten days old from the looks of it. It's a female, who was hidden in a basement of the temple while the battle rage on. Her parents are unknown, and there is no other village near-by. What would you like us to do with her, my king?" Tyr asked, after summarizing the infant discovery. A girl. What would he do? She's got no family now. When Thor was born, Frigga had secretly hoped for a female. Then she got pregnant with Balder.
Maybe adopting this infant, she'll be happy. Odin smiled at the his plan. It was better, than his other one. Which was leaving her here for the wolves, and Frigga would come down here to take her back to Asgard.
"We'll bring her to Asgard; please bring me the child before we leave." Odin commanded, as he began to stroll towards the Bifrost. He glanced back at the warrior, "we leave in half."
Tyr nodded his head, and began ordering the soldier to pack it up. Odin strolled taking in the village; most of it was laid in rumble. Fur sheets were slashed and covered in ice. It was... sad. He glanced at the sky, to see shades of purple, orange, and pink. It was a beautiful sight to see. Well for Midgard anyways.
"My king, the child you have asked for." A guard said, as he was holding a bundle a fur. Odin step towards the guard in five long steps, and took the bundle of furs. Looking inside, he fell in love with this child. Yes, she was human. But her baby face, was so adorable he couldn't leave her here. His second thought about leaving her was soon forgotten.
He glanced at the guard to dismiss him, as he took the child to the Bifrost site. He smiled down to see the child was still fast asleep. It's little chest lifted and fell at the small breaths of life. A little yawn was like a small sigh. He glanced back to the ruined village. So she can at least say good-bye to her birth place. Holding the child close to his body. He was shot up towards the sky.
Colors of the rainbow, twirled around the bodies. The speed of it, was faster than light itself. After a few minutes, Odin landed hard on the Asgardian Observatory. His cloak warped around him as he glanced at the gatekeeper.
Heimdall, stood tall and proud in his golden armor. He pulled out the sword from the center of the Observatory. The Bifrost closed down, and Heimdall step down from the center.
"I see you brought a new orphan child to raise my king," Heimdall spoke as he gazed out of the Observatory. His skin was dark chocolate color and gentle golden eyes to see everything.
"Yes Heimdall," Odin whispered lightly. He glanced down to see the child didn't even move. She was still asleep, and still breathing. "Do you know if her parents named her? and if so, what is it?"
"Her name is Jane Foster. My king."
"Thanks Heimdall," Odin gently spoke up. He slowly walked down the Bifrost bridge to his horse, mounting on the steed with Jane. "Welcome to your new home, Jane. Welcome to Asgard."
17 years later.
News started like a wild fire, through the nine realms. Seventeen years later, and Odin adopted daughter will be at the age to be married. Jane Foster Odinsdóttir acts like a princess in public and when guest are at the palace. However has been trained by Father's best guards when she's not doing anything. Her weapons of choice is a golden bow, and emerald jeweled daggers.
Her other hobbies is reading, horse-riding, and taking the time to study the stars. Spending every bit of time to have more knowledge on a realms weakness to their language. The sweet Queen Frigga, was impressed with her own knowledge. Unlike her charm but reckless brothers, who travel around the realms and get into trouble. They owe her so many things. One time she managed to sweet talk one of the realm's kings them out of even worse trouble (like their own deaths).
Today was her brother Thor's coronation ceremony, as the maids would have to spend thirty minutes to find her and get her ready. Jane glanced down to the city with her creamy chocolate eyes. Her C-32 breasts, where tightly firm from the corset. The skin has slowly started to tan. She leaned on the balcony of The astronomy room.
It was one of her favorite room's in the palace. High enough to away people interaction's and yet still at the palace. Jane chocolate hair blew in the wind as it hit the tower. Sighing she stare below the city of Asgard. The center square was filled with citizen all over. The door creaked open from inside the tower room.
"There you are Princess Jane, your mother would like to see you." A reviled sigh came from the familiar voice. Jane turned to see a short, brown hair, nerdy face in a pale blue simple dress. The female was one of her best friends Lady Darcy.
"Hey Lady Darcy," Jane acknowledge "I guess it's time for my brother coronation."
"Yes Princess," Lady Darcy bowed her head, her hands folded neat in front of her body.
"Darcy, how many times do I have to tell you just call me Jane." Smiling at her friend who smirked.
"One too many times, Jane."
"Come on, let's see my mother."
The two ladies headed down the long staircase down the tower. From half-way down they could her faint voices. Soon they reached the bottom on the tower stairs. They could hear her mother commanding servants to prepare. Stepping out towards Queen Frigga.
"Mother, you have called for me." Jane said bowing down to her foster-mom. Jane had never mind the fact she was adopted. When she heard children talk behind her back and heard the rumor. She asked both of her parents later that night. She was smart, and never asked that much. Requesting for her to find her own husband and not a arrangement one. Odin agree she'll have two years after her eighteen birthday. She knew suitors all over the nine realms would still try and claim her hand of marriage. Well expect for the Jotans and Midgardians... her own people. Two more weeks until that happens.
"Raise my dóttir, we need to prepare you for your brother's coronation ceremony. I have a dark green dress for you today." The Queen spoke as she led Jane to her chambers.
The loud sound of cheering was caused by a stupid entrance by crown-prince red cape fluttered behind him. Both brothers had sky blue eyes and golden hair. They took after their father genes. Jane rolled her eyes, as she stood on the right side of her father in the throne room. Beside her was Balder, who was grumbling under his breath. Odin had a disgusted, yet sad look in his eye.
Something was felt off to her, it seem. Her brother Balder was in very deep thought, and Thor was taking the oath of the Kings. Not really paying attention she heard her father pause. Something slipped out of his mouth like a ghostly whisper.
"…Frost Giants."
Murmuring erupted through the great crowd assembled for the coronation. Balder and Jane straightened up with a snap, as though out of a daydream. They both ought to be focused, this was impossible to have frost giants in Asgard. How was it, that they got in? Somebody must of know what today meant. This was only one on a big enough scale to disrupt the crowning of a new king.
Odin reacted exactly as his children had predicted: He raised his staff, and struck its end harshly onto the steps of his throne, commanding the destroyer to act. Gesturing to his two sons, he commanded them to follow as he rushed to the weapons vault to discover the meaning behind this incursion. Jane stood and watched her elder brothers and father leave the room.
Jane felt something else also, something more profound and powerful. It made the hair on the back of her neck stand up, to think that this was getting so far out of hand. This could become war against Jotonheim! It made Jane feel a shiver down her back. A loud bellow could be heard everywhere in castle. It echoed the empty halls. "... They got this far!"
Jane arrived too late for the feast table. Thor had thrown it over like a petulant child, smashing the feast and wasting the food. Balder, warriors three, and Lady Sif all sat on the couches looking bored.
Next thing she knows, she's with her brothers and their friends on Jotonheim. How did the time fly so badly? Jane hoped her father got the message on time.
The group trudges behind across the frozen wasteland, shielding themselves from the howling wind and cold. Jane looks around them, anxious as they where being watch. Volstagg shivers. Balder waits for something to happen. Thor, invigorated, turns back to his comrades and siblings.
"It feels good, doesn't it? To be together again, adventuring on another world?" Thor cheerful said. Jane groaned sightly.
"Adventuring? Is that what we're doing?" Fandal cheeky replied back to Thor.
"What would you call it?" Thor let the corner of his mouth turn upward.
"I don't know, how about Freezing?" Fandal golden hair poke out of the light green coat.
"Starving" Volstagg complained out to Thor. Food was one of this guys greatest passion.
"Whining" Sif mono-toned to the group. One of first female warrior on Asgard, just to prove a point that females can fight.
"Madness with your plan dear brother." The other prince called, as he gripped his spear a little tighter. The prince worn a dark blue jacket.
"How about a song to lift our spirits?" Thor bellow out, of course he had to be loud. The others groan.
"No, not that! Please don't make us sing again!" Hogun quickly replied, the last warrior three carried a mace-like weapon.
"If I have to listen to Volstagg's singing voice one more time, I'll fall on my own sword!" Fandral complained, as Volstagg gave him a mocking hurt look. Jane smiled at the two warriors.
"If we fail what we came here to do, and somehow restarted the war Thor. Dad is so going to kill us." Jane spoke up the first time since they got here. She was wearing her thick dark green winter coat. Jane hide her daggers so she would look like she got nothing to hide. In her pocket she sketched the house ruins of the frost giants. The marks of which house they came from could be identified by the king. The party reaches to the edge of the city - its ancient structures of jade and ice melting and crumbling, ravaged by warfare long ago. From the looks of it, the city was still being repaired. A temple that is big enough laid, before them, across a central plaza. Further back on a hill, a palace was half destroyed.
"Where are they?" Sif asked, as the group walked towards the temple. Thor leads the others onwards towards the central plaza. Jane reluctantly follows, looking at the house and store designs. It looked amazing.
"Hiding. As cowards always do," Thor said. They don't notice as big shadowy figures move in the shadows of the structures nearby. The party reaches the plaza. They all could sense the Frost Giants in the shadows and crevices, surrounding them now on all sides. The Asgardians reach for the hilts of their weapons all expect for Jane.
A Jotun steps forwards. His arms crossed. "What is your business here, Asgardian?" The Jotun's voice itself sounds like cracking ice.
"I speak only to your King. Not to his foot soldiers." Thor spoke with a demanding tone in his voice.
Jane sighed correcting what her brother means she stepped forward and in front of her brother. She looked at the Jotun, nodded her head as she spoke to the soldier. "What my dear brother means, is that we need to talk to your king about a issue that befall on the early morning of today. We just have a few questions, that is all."
"Then speak." The voice echoed in the plaza. Thor turns towards the source in a balcony of the temple, where Laufey and his sons sits, veiled in shadow, behind a cascading waterfall. The Jotun King is ancient, noble, powerful - too proud to reveal even a hint of the years of suffering he and his people have endured.
"I am Laufey, King of this Realm." Laufey spoke to the group of seven.
"And I am-" Thor started to speak but was cut-off by the king.
"We know who you are, Odinson. Why have you brought the stench of your blood into my world?"
"I demand answers," Thor child-like anger slowly came to show. Laufey stands, sizing up Thor, tries to piece this together. Jane gulped, taking several steps away from the group. Something was wrong here, a little voice had told her to not get involved any more.
"You 'demand?'" The king bellow out laughter and the soldiers followed in suit. Jane saw the princes smirk at the scene. She shocked her head as her brother continued.
"How did your people get into Asgard?" Thor comm-no demanded to the king.
"The house of Odin is full of traitors. Even in Asgard" The king said sadly. Sif and the Warriors Three exchange a puzzled look, disturbed by the Jotun King's words. A traitor in Asgard, that was a new thing. Might explain why the frost giants came in unseen by Heimdall.
"Do not dishonor my father's name with your lies." Thor shouted, rage started to build up.
"Your father is a murderer and a thief. He stole what was ours, and left our world in ruins. We have the right to reclaim the Casket. Yet I didn't send my men to your home to take it. I have tried to remain the peace we have." The king stood out of seat. His shadow figure was still unseen.
"Not when you'd use it to make war against other Realms." Thor stated, raising his hammer to the king.
Laufey laughs, cold, mocking. "And why have you come here? To make peace? You long for battle. You crave it. I see you for what you are, Thor Odinson. Nothing but a boy, trying to prove himself a man."
"This boy has grown tired of your mockery." Thor takes a step towards Laufey. The other Jotuns step in front of Thor, blocking his path. They finally see the Frost Giants now - terrifying, blue-skinned, standing eight feet tall. Balder moves next to his brother and quietly implores him.
"Thor, stop and think. Look around you. We are outnumbered," whispering to his brother.
"Know your place, brother..." growled Thor.
"You should listen to his counsel. You know not what your actions would unleash." Laufey steps out of the shadows. "But I do. Go now, while I still allow it."
Thor simmers. Balder speaks up. "We will accept your most gracious offer."
The others look to Thor imploringly. Thor stares Laufey down a beat - then relents. He turns to leave. His comrades breathe a sigh of relief and follow, when a Frost Giant nearby mutters under his breath. "Run back home, little princess."
Thor stops in his tracks. Jane goes white. She knows what's coming.
"Damn."
In one quick move, Thor pulls Mjolnir, swings it, and knocks the Jotun clear across the plaza. The Asgardians reluctantly draw their weapons, gather into a circle around Thor. Jane was pulled into the circle. Still not taking her weapons out, she needed to not kill anybody... yet. Volstagg looks around at the angry Jotuns approaching them.
"Silly hammer! Has a mind of its own!" Volstagg tried laugh it off hastily. Ice forms on the Jotuns' bodies, creating a frozen armor around them, extending off the ends of their arms like swords. One Giant does so directly in front of Fandral.
"I'm hoping that's just decorative." Fandral pointed out, his sword ready to attack just in case. Thor leaves the circle of Asgardians, swings at another Frost Giant. His comrades form another circle around him, separating him from the Jotuns, as he whirls his hammer around once and catches it with a cocky grin. He's enjoying this.
"Next!" Thor called and he smashed his hammer in another Jotun face.
"Thor! Balder! If we live through this, I'm going to kill both of you in Asgard for restarting a fucking war." Jane shouted towards her brothers, knocking out a Jotun with just her bare gloved hands.
"Sure sister, whatever you say..." Balder spoke as he stabbed a Jotun with his spear.
Fandral calls to Volstagg and Hogun. "What move, do you think?"
"I say we use 'The Norn's Revenge"' explained Volstagg, gripping his axe tighter.
"At this close range? I think 'The Alfheim Lunge' is a better move." Fandral smirked, as Jane place a hand on her face.
"Maybe if they were three feet tall! No! How about 'The Randy Valkyrie'?" Volstagg sounded disgusted.
"Shut up!" Yelled Hogun, as Thor takes out yet another Frost Giant out, then all hell breaks loose. The Asgardians and Jotuns begin to battle. A Jotun backs Hogun up against a wall of ice. As the Giant hurls an ice blade fist at him, the grim warrior swings his mace over his head, embedding it into the ice wall, and hoists himself up, dodging the Giant's blow and leaping over him. Hogun takes out a second approaching Frost Giant, spins back, dodges a swing from the first, then pounds the Jotun with his mace. Nearby, Sif expertly stabs one Jotun after another with her double-bladed staff. One knocks her viciously to the ground.
"If you don't treat me like a lady, I won't act like a lady!" She takes out the Jotun.
Jane sighs as she watches the rest of the group fight. Backing away from the battle, an small Jotun, watches her from the temple balcony. His two brothers watched the princess counter-attacking her opponent trying to hurt their own people as little as possible. He glanced at his brothers, who were both older.
Býleistr was the crown-prince, he had horns pretty big. While Helblindi, the middle child has very deep veins of their house ruins. Both brother where stronger and taller than Loki. He was consider the runt of the family but also a good omen. However Loki was more powerful in sorcery. He spent more time study magic than training with axes, spears, and swords. He preferred daggers and knifes, tricks and illusions over fighting battles that's not worth his time.
Staring back at the princess, he sighed. Loki wanted to chat with her about the knowledge her little mind has. The mortal Princess that was adopted by King Odin. How did that happen? They clearly remember the rumors about her. They had also all heard her speak to Gerenal Thrym was very interesting. They now have seen her fight weaponless and still knocking down their soldiers down but not killing them. Loki watched as she hit the pressure points to temporary knock them out. Defending herself from a approaching Giant sees that she's vulnerable and weaponless, swipes at her. But the Jotun's arm misses slightly before her. Seconds later she knocks down the Jotun to a frozen ground. The Giant lays there, confused, as Jane sits down in front of him.
"I am not here to kill anybody, I am using no weapons" Jane whispered to the giant. He looked at her in shocked and nodded his head.
She turns back to the battle. Two Jotuns come at Balder from either side. He lets his spear spin above his head hit the giants. Jane noticed King Laufey nodding to one of his guards - a massive Jotun Brute. The Brute leaps down from the balcony, icing himself up, then punches his giant fist into the ice beneath his feet. It's a long-range attack, causing pillars of ice to explode out in front of Hogun, sending the grim warrior flying back. Across the plaza, Thor easily dispatches some Jotuns.
"Come on! At least make it a challenge for me!" Thor shouted, seeing the Brute coming at him. The huge Jotun lands a tremendous blow, sending Thor back across the ice. Thor rises, grins. "Now that's more like it!"
He throws Mjolnir with all his strength, knocking the Brute head over heels. Thor raises his hand. Mjolnir slows in mid-air, then flies back to his grasp. "Ugly and stupid."
Sif takes out a couple of Frost Giants, but she's knocked to the ground by another. It raises its weapon above her. Hogun sees Sif in danger. He pulls a hidden knife from his sleeve and hurls it at Sif's attacker, hitting him square in the chest. The Jotun falls dead.
"I'm so glad I taught him how to do that!" Sif muttered to herself.
Volstagg grapples with a Frost Giant, getting a couple good hits in. "You may want to put some ice on that!"
The Frost Giant fights back, but Volstagg manages to grip in a headlock just as another comes up on him from behind. Volstagg fends him off, then turns the first one loose.
"You may be taller, but I'm wider!" Volstagg launches his mighty belly at the Jotun and sends him flying. Another Jotun grabs Volstagg, squeezing him tightly and sending him crashing to the ground. "It's not too late for you to surrender."
Volstagg recovers and fights on. The Jotun grabs Volstagg's bare arm. The warrior's skin begins to freeze from the Jotun's grasp, a blackness spreading from it, necrotizing Volstagg's flesh. The warrior shouts in pain. Volstagg head-butts the Frost Giant, shattering the Jotun's ice helmet and dropping him to the ground. Winded, he takes a seat upon one of the fallen Jotun's bodies to catch his breath. As the battle rages around him, he opens a secret compartment at the end of his weapon, takes out a small flask of rum. Volstagg grimaces in pain, sees his blackened skin.
He yells to his comrades "Don't let them grab hold of you!"
He takes a swig, enjoying the brief respite, then rejoins the battle. Volstagg stabs his blade in a Giant's chest, but the sword stops mid ice layer. The Giant delivers a bone-breaking blow to Volstagg's face, and the warrior drops to one knee. Sif sees Volstagg in trouble and rushes towards him. In one quick move, she leaps up and off of Volstagg's back, using her boot to plunge Volstagg's blade deep into the Giant's chest, standing atop him as he falls backwards to the ground. "Thank you, my lady. But I nearly had him!" He muttered while still on his stomach.
"Of course you did" she said smirking. Nearby, a Frost Giant forms a barrage of ice bullets, hurling them at Sif. Sif raises her shield barely in time, as the bullets go pinging and ricocheted off it. She races into the group of Frost Giants who attacked her and takes them out. Jane barely moves as the giant she took down stood near-by her. Bullets pass her as if they were ghosts.
A Frost Giant touches a pool of standing water. It flash freezes at Hogun's feet to the ground. Volstagg notices, hurries over, dispatching Jotuns as he goes.
"Hang on!" Volstagg shouted as he swings his weapon, wildly hacking at the ice around Hogun's legs to free him. Hogun looks down, suddenly worried, as Volstagg's blade cuts deep - and perilously close to hacking into Hogun's legs.
"Watch the legs!" Hogun shouted.
"Right. Sorry." Volstagg chips away at the ice more carefully, finally freeing Hogun's feet. Fandral sword fights with a Frost Giant.
"You really think your icicles are a match for Asgardian steel?" Fandral lunges at the Giant. The Jotun knocks his blade away. "Fair enough."
Fandral moves on him again, but the Giant grabs Fandral's sword and snaps it in half.
"Could we stop just a moment while I get another sword?" Fandral asked cheeky as he continued to fight the Giant with his broken sword. The Jotun then lunges at Fandral, who ducks just in time, grabs hold of the Giant's sword and redirects it, stabbing the Giant through with his own weapon. The Jotun staggers back, then reaches down and swipes at a pool of water, sending up a spray that freezes in mid-air, forming into an ice stalagmite. It impaled Fandral, rendering him helpless. Jane races towards the impaled Fandral, dodging the fight and the falling Frost Giants as she goes. She reaches the nearly unconscious warrior, when other Jotuns approaching towards them. Balder notices and takes action to protect his sister. Volstagg looks across the plaza and sees the impaled Fandral. Jane was helping to take him off and setting him down on the ground. Balder defending the two warriors as Jotun were coming at them.
"That's unfortunate" muttered Volstagg. He hurries to his wounded comrade, the princess and the prince to defend the attacks.
Thor (somehow loses his hammer), still without his hammer, continued to fight his Jotun foes mercilessly. He was a man consumed by blood lust. Balder sees the look on his brother's face - the savage thrill of the heat of battle.
"Thor, we need to leave. Fandral's been marred and needs medical attention." Balder cried as he kept fight. Volstagg grabbed Fandral and Jane ran towards the Bifrost. Jane caught the Jotun youngest prince watching her from the corner of her eye.
A high pitch sound could be heard from the distance. She faintly saw four little black things aimed towards the Royal family here. She took out the two daggers and hit two arrows that vanish into black smoke. The other two were still coming. With quick thinking she used one of Jotun back to help give the high advantage leaping in the air to take down the arrows. She took both the arrows down, as she was grabbing them like a skilled warrior. She started fall towards the ground, a fast sharp pain hit her right leg. Another arrow was shot, aimed for the king. But her leg took the damage. She landed towards her left side hardly on the ground as the left arm tried to protect her face. Breaking the arm in progress, she bit back a scream. She was far away from her comrades and badly wounded. She glanced down the arrows to see it vanish into black smoke. For where she was, she had seen her comrades leave toward the Bifrost. Her voice cracked, as she tried to speak.
"Then go!" Thor shouted.
"There are too many of them!" Called Sif, as Thor kept fighting. The Frost Giants swarm him from all sides now, as he disappears beneath a pile of blue flesh and ice. They're blasted back in a massive shockwave. The Jotuns convulse, drop dead to the ground. Jane was thrown into a building hitting her head hard. A black human-like figure ran next to her side. A male voice could be heard very faint.
"Don't die yet Princess Jane."
"...T-Thor..." utterly escaping her lips before becoming unconscious. She faintly heard commands from the person.
"... Jane... castle... healers... she... saved..."
Blackness forcefully took over her body. There was more pain and pure darkness. Her voice didn't make a sound, as she tried to call for help.
She felt lost for the first time in her life.
TBC
A/N: #2 For those who have read, or are RE-reading this. I use my cell phone to upload the chapters... which of course doesn't have Auto-correct. I fixed a lot of the miss spelled words and some unfinished sentences I missed. I am not sure if I fixed everything.
Hint for Chapter 2:
The head healer took the girl from his Princes Arms. Careful not to freeze or burn Princess Jane's body, he laid her down on the bed. Her clothes like before didn't freeze by their touch. She groan sightly as her right arm move towards her neck. She fiddled, the dragonfly necklace Queen Frigga had given her for her first adventure with her brothers at age 6.