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The Queen of Asgard stood in the great palace's garden. The winds of the spring wrapped themselves around her, caressing her face with its breezy touch. "Mother?" the quiet familiar voice brought a smile to the woman's lips.

Turning Frigga smiled down at her youngest son. The bright green eyes of nine year old Loki met her own. "Yes my sweet child?"

From behind his back the young prince produced a bouquet of hand-picked flowers. "For you!" he said with a smile, the likes of which brighter than the sun itself.

Lifting the small boy into her arms Frigga hugged him close before gently taking the flowers from his hands to inspect them more closely. "They're lovely Loki thank you."

The boy beamed at his mother and she wished with all her heart that he would always be as sweet and innocent as he was in that moment. Before she could say anything there was a cough from behind her. Turning Frigga found herself face to face with the healing lady, Kataya. "Hi Kat!" the boy in her arms said cheerfully.

Kataya's returning smile was forced and tinted with worry, "Hello young prince, would I be able to speak with your mother?"

Taking in her worried expression Frigga put down Loki, kneeling down to his height, "Loki be a dear and make sure that Thor is doing his studies for me?" Loki smirked and ran off. Frigga stood and smiled at the door her son had left through before turning back to the woman. "Now Kataya, what can I help you with?"

The healing woman looked conflicted for a moment as she tried to think of the right words. Frigga waited patiently for the older woman to speak. "My Queen…there's someone you should meet."

Frigga quirked her brow in curiosity. "Lead the way."

"Her name is Magenta, she's from the realm of night, Nytanya." The healer explained. The two women now stood in the doorway of the recovery room. They were watching the sleeping form of a young girl as she tossed in her sleep. "Heimdall brought her to me three days ago. I feared she would not survive; her wounds were that bad. The beast that attacked her ripped her arms and legs to shreds. It was pure miracle that she still lives."

Frigga nodded in sympathy. "Has she said anything?"

"She spoke of her father and brother being in danger. The poor thing insisted that I return her home so she could help them. She has spirit…but I'm afraid that no amount of spirit is going to help her family." Kataya spoke sadly.

Frigga looked to the girl with sympathy. "I see, the poor girl, no child should have to go through something as horrendous as this."

"If you are going to talk about me, I would ask that you have the decency to do it elsewhere." The voice shocked the two women. Looking back to the bed Frigga saw two dark eyes watching her.

Taking on the embodiment of calm, Frigga smiled. "My apologises, we thought you were resting, you need it if you are to recover." She was grateful that she had taken a language course when she was still a student, thought her Nytanyan was rusty she could still speak it and understand it.

"I do not want to rest. I want to go home." Magenta said sadly. Frigga walked over and took a seat on the corner of the bed. She tried not to take it personally when the child shrunk away from her.

"I understand but I'm afraid that you are too injured for me to allow that." The child looked like she was about to protest so Frigga continued, "Now what do you remember? How did you get here? What attacked you?" she asked gently.

Taking a steading breath Magenta told the two women her story. "Then I woke up here." By the end of her story both women were teary eyed. Kataya stood and walked to the window. Looking down she saw the tiger that had not left her yard since Magenta was first brought here. Making up her mind she excused herself and left the room.

The queen was clearly fighting to hold back her tears so Magenta, remembering the etiquette tips her brother had taught her, reached over and held out a tissue. This seemed to break the queens resolve completely and the tears escaped her eyes. "Don't cry, Miss Frigga, it's not your fault. You didn't know." Magenta said in a tone full of childhood innocence and a sad smile.

Frigga opened her arms to the small girl, "Come here child." Magenta slowly and painfully got close enough for the queen to wrap her arms around the girl in a comforting embrace. Pulling her onto her lap Frigga noticed with alarm at how light the girl was and made a mental note to make sure that she ate. As they sat there in silence, the queen gently weeping above the girl who did her best not to move, in fear of jolting her wounds, there was the quiet sound of the door opening.

Looking up Magenta smiled broadly, "Scratches!" at the call the tiger ran and leapt forward. The queen gasped but before she had a chance to move the tiger has transformed, mid-air, into a small ginger kitten. Magenta caught the cat with a squeal of joy and hugged it to her chest.

Watching the small girl Frigga made up her mind. From this day forward she would watch over the child to assure that she grew up healthy and strong. Frigga could sense the untapped power within the girl and a warriors' spirit. Oh yes, this girl will be a force to be reckoned with…but first she had to get past the horrors of what she had experienced if she was to have a future.

A/N Ok so this is shorter than I planned but hey I did put in an adorable Loki so does that count? Anyway the next chapter should be better.