Odin returns briefly to Asgard to take the infant to safety, and finds he must make a slight change to his carefully-crafted plan.
Usually, Odin waited to return to Asgard with the the last of his soldiers. Today, however, he needed to make a brief trip back to Asgard before matters on Jotunheim were completed.
Heimdall said nothing as his King landed in the Observatory, and watched without a word as Odin hurried towards the palace.
Odin knew Heimdall would say nothing, regardless of what he had seen. After all, Heimdall was the Watcher, not the Speaker.
Odin swept into Frigga's room, traces of snow still clinging to his hair and his cloak.
Frigga stood, and spoke crisply to her ladies. "Leave us."
The women did not have to be told twice, and hastily bowed and made their exit.
"Odin, what is it? Are you injured?" Frigga's quiet voice masked the worry that had gnawed at her insides during her husband's absence. She was a skilled healer, but if he had been badly injured, he would need to go to the Healing Rooms.
"Frigga. My love." Odin extended his right arm, and Frigga folded herself into him.
And felt something move under his cloak.
Odin smiled, and kissed his wife. He nodded, and she pulled back the cloak which covered his left arm.
Two bright green eyes shone out from under a mass of black curls. The pale little face lit up with a smile as the baby gazed at Frigga.
The Queen looked at her husband.
Odin nodded. "We have a daughter."
Tears spilled from Frigga's eyes as she gently took the baby from Odin's arms and held it to her heart.
Losing her last child, so late in her pregnancy, had created a wound that would not heal. Now, holding this sweet babe in her arms, Frigga felt her heart regain its wholeness.
The very next moment, the Mother gave way to the Queen.
"Odin—the battle? What has happened?"
"Asgard is victorious, my Queen!" Odin's smile spoke of victory, but his voice could not disguise his weariness.
"Our troops?"
"Some casualties, but not as many as feared. But—" Odin fell silent.
"But—what? What happened, Odin?"
"Let us sit, Frigga." Odin guided her to the divan she had been sitting on when he arrived.
Odin recounted the story of walking through the Jotun Temple with Tyr, the disgraceful killings committed by the Asgardian army.
Frigga paled with anger. "War is one thing. Murder is another."
"And they shall answer for their crimes." Odin shook his head. "That will be the first order of business once all are returned home."
"But this baby?" Frigga regarded the tiny creature in her arms, resting in its fur cocoon.
"The Norns guided me." Odin finished the tale, and gazed at the baby as well.
"So, we are now guardians of Farbauti and Laufey's only child." Frigga's voice was solemn. Farbauti had survived the battle, but lost his family.
"Yes. But he does not know his daughter lives."
Frigga stared at her husband. "Odin, surely, you are not thinking—"
"A marriage alliance would bring about a permanent peace."
"Odin." Frigga looked her husband directly in the eye. "The people of Asgard would never accept a Frost Giant as Queen, any more than Farbauti's folk would accept an Aesir King."
Odin stood. "They have a thousand years to get used to the idea."
The baby stretched, and the outer wrappings fell as the baby wriggled.
Odin stared, and Frigga laughed.
"Well, my love, I believe we have just found a flaw in your matchmaking plans."
The little princess was actually a little prince.
"Hmph." Odin stared as Frigga wrapped the child back in its blankets.
Frigga cooed to the infant. "We will raise him alongside Thor. They will be brothers. They will be best friends. They will create the alliance we need to make permanent peace with Jotunheim."
Odin sighed. "It will do. Not as binding as a marriage. But it will have to do, and it means we will have to wait until they are older before we can tell Farbauti."
"Odin, we should tell Farbauti that we have the boy. We can assure him that his princeling will be raised as Thor's brother, and not a hostage. He will make peace with the idea once he realizes it means peace for the realms. If he thinks Asgard killed both his wife and his child, he will never accept peace."
Odin shook his head. "You think like a person, and not a ruler." Odin sighed. "If he knows we have the child, Farbauti will try everything to regain his son, and the wars will continue."
Frigga stared coldly at Odin. "You are wrong, my King. Farbauti is a king and a warrior, but no king can entirely forget that he is a father. We should tell him."
Odin's eye went colorless. "We shall tell him when I deem it in Asgard's best interests for him to know."
Frigga recognized that expression. "As you wish, my lord."
"The good of Asgard is our chief concern, and this will be for the best."
Unable to look at Odin without anger, Frigga had turned her attention to the child, murmuring softly. "Welcome to Asgard, little one. This is your home, and we are your family. You will be happy and safe here."
Her emotions back under control, Frigga looked back at Odin. "Does he have a name?"
Odin's voice caught in his throat. "None were alive to speak it."
"What is your name, little one?" Frigga cooed to the baby.
Two bright eyes opened, and gazed directly into Frigga's eyes without blinking. She admired how the light made the green of his eyes dance like emerald flames.
"Loki, is it then? Very well, Loki. Welcome to Asgard. I am Frigga, your mother." She leaned over, and bestowed a soft kiss on that sweet forehead. The baby cooed with delight, still gazing at Frigga.
She held him up, so he could see Odin. "And this is Odin, your Father." Loki giggled, and Odin was uncertain how to respond.
"And you have a brother, Thor. You will meet him in the morning. It's very late at night now, so he is asleep." The baby cooed again, and snuggled close.
Months had passed since Odin had seen Frigga so serene and joyful. For a moment, he let himself be a husband, and not a king. He drank in the sight of his wife, his beloved, lit up with love for this child, filled with hope for the future. He permitted his heart to be warmed by the sight, bidding his mind hold this memory forever.
The moment passed, and duty once again fell onto his shoulders. "I must go, Frigga. Much remains to be settled on Jotunheim."
She looked up from the child, and gazed lovingly at her husband. "I understand, my dear. Go, do what the King must do. Your family will be waiting when you return."
She stood, and Odin wrapped his arms around her and the baby. "Welcome, little Loki. My son. Our son."
Odin kissed his wife, and wrapping his cloak around him, strode out of the room and back to the Observatory.
