Home

"Don't be alarmed," Frigga spoke as she and Kona walked through the halls of the palace, heading…somewhere Kona wasn't sure where. She was sure a throne room or wherever the King was wasn't meant to take ages to get to and it felt like they'd been walking forever…

And they kept passing people. She could hear them walking around her, she could hear them speaking and laughing and jesting and then suddenly fall silent, likely catching sight of her. She knew it had nothing to do with her attire, the meager clothes she'd been able to find on Earth, she knew it wasn't that…it was the fact that SHE was back, that she…a supposed Traitor to the House of Odin…had been returned. What's more it was probably because Frigga was walking beside her, her arm linked through her own.

"You are under my protection," Frigga continued, "None of them shall harm you."

"Where are we going?" she asked, turning her head in Frigga's direction slightly.

"We…I must speak to you. I need to know if there is anything, anything at all, that you remember from…before…"

"Before Thor banished me to Earth?" Kona supplied, "I am sorry, ma'am, but I don't remember anything."

Frigga frowned, she'd been hopeful that, as a seer, Kona might have been able to glimpse more than a typical Asgardian suffering the punishment of stolen memories, "Nothing at all?"

"No," she agreed, "Just…vague sensations, snippets of images. I can only tell you what I believe and that…can't qualify as what actually happened."

Frigga nodded at that, she should have expected it. Sensations and snippets were far more than any other Asgardian had managed to retain upon such a banishment. She paused as they reached a set of doors and glanced at Kona a moment before letting go of her arm to open them.

Kona frowned as she heard a door pushed open, it was…too silent on the other side for her to have been led to the throne room she knew. That hall she felt would sound hollow and like an echo, dead or some other such sound. No…this room was just…empty. There was no one there she could hear or smell it was just her and Frigga that had stepped into it. She frowned, walking forward, her hands out before her, her walking stick had been left on Earth from the shock of the Bifrost departure. She was completely without any sort of guidance and she doubted that any Asgardian, not even Frigga, would give her a stick of some sort to 'attack' with. And so she was left to stumble away from Frigga…and walked right into a sort of couch thing, like a reclining bed with a back to it. She ran her hands up and down the back of it, trying to find her way around it to continue to try and work out where she was.

Frigga smiled sadly as she watched the girl stumble and walking into things, tears in her eyes to see Kona like that. It was her room, it was the room Kona had lived in most of her life, ever since she'd become a seer. And there she was, walking into things in a way she hadn't seen the girl do since she'd first been given the room. It broke her heart to watch. When she had found out what Thor had done, that he'd banished her, she'd thought that she could talk Odin around to returning her. But when Thor had added that he'd used his right as king to strip her memories…she knew hope was lost of being able to influence the king in such a way. For Thor to have done that to the girl, well…it was not a punishment to be given lightly and was one that represented one of the worse betrayals. To Odin, Thor doing that meant that he had found unshakable evidence that the girl was a traitor and had acted in the safety of Asgard by doing so. She would NEVER be able to convince him of Kona's innocence because of it.

No, only Thor would be able to do that.

And apparently he had, or he'd been able to cast enough doubt that Odin brought the girl back to determine the truth. Even if it meant she might be banished once more and…and her memories stripped yet again, of all that had happened up to that point, at least she had a chance to explain hers and Loki's actions now. THAT had always concerned her, how little they knew about WHY Loki and Kona had done what they had. Oh the Warriors Three and Sif had insisted that Loki had wanted the throne, why else would he go to such extremes to ensure that Thor be banished? But she knew her son, she knew that all he desired wasn't a throne to sit upon…but the girl before her to be beside him. It hurt her terribly to know that…she HAD doubted them, for a brief time. She had considered that, perhaps, what the Warriors Three and Sif had said were true. She'd truly thought that they and Thor had to have had proof of their claims, that they knew, without a doubt, that the two had committed treason.

But talking with Thor had revealed that they had nothing of the sort. They had merely Loki's actions, his words, to go on. They had only taken what they knew of the situation and hadn't delved deeper to see the other side of things. THAT bothered her so much, to not know WHY Loki did it. He had asked her to trust in her son…and she had failed him by believing even for a moment that he had done what he had for the reason Thor and the others had believed. And it killed her to now that her belief in that was the final nail in the coffin in Odin's mind. For HER to have lost faith in Loki…it had to mean that Loki truly had committed the crimes he was accused of.

Talking with Thor, asking certain questions…it had seemed to get through to him as well that they truly didn't know everything that had happened. He had started to doubt as well and that, HIS doubt, was enough to make Odin consider revoking the banishment on Kona. And now she was back, the poor girl was back in a place that should be home to her, in a room that should be her sanctuary…and she looked lost as ever, she looked confused like she was trying to place the room. And she just couldn't bring herself to speak, to tell her where she was. It was a…glimmer of hope that Kona might find something in the room that might spark a memory or a sensation of one. She knew it was impossible for Kona's memories to return without the King reversing the removal of them, but…she hoped that Kona would at least appear more at ease.

She hadn't wanted to just throw the girl to the wolves and have her confront Odin having just come from the Bifrost. She could imagine it was a jarring experience, an alarming one, given the last time she'd been in it had been in her banishment. Odin would be irate as it was when he found out that Jane Foster had been brought along as well. She wanted to give both Odin time to calm down so as not to frighten Kona and give Kona a moment or two to try and acclimatize.

She watched intently as Kona felt her way around the room, she'd passed the bed, a desk, a harp, and now she'd found her bookshelf. She watched as the girl paused there, standing before it longer than she had any other object in the room, her hand trailing along the spines of the books before her eyes widened, as though surprised that the lettering was raised. She crouched down and began to trace them, gently, her finger just lightly brushing them as though she were not supposed to touch them. Frigga's small smile fell away at that, to see Kona so hesitant with the things that had been made JUST for her…

But she held back a gasp when Kona stopped at a single book, a look of…well she couldn't describe it, it appeared to be almost shock, but mixed with sorrow and familiarity. And then she saw which book it was as Kona gently pulled it out of the shelf…it was the first book Loki had had made for her, the first one she'd ever been able to start to read again. She knew Loki loved reading and reading to Kona, that he'd taught the girl to read, and when she'd been blinded Kona had cried for days because she thought it meant she'd never be able to read and discuss books with him again. He'd had those books made just for her, with the letting raised.

She watched as Kona stood up, her head bowed, the book clutched firmly to her chest as she made her way over to the small couch and sat down. Frigga stepped closer, watching over the back of it as Kona opened the book with shaking hands and traced her fingers along some of the letters. She stopped though when she got to the bottom of the page and closed her eyes, "This was from Loki...wasn't it?" she asked.

Frigga nodded behind her, before taking a breath, "Yes," she said aloud.

"I don't remember," she murmured, it was like she just KNEW some things, things she shouldn't, but she didn't know HOW she knew them, she didn't remember that event but yet she just knew about it, "I don't remember anything."

"I'm sorry," Frigga reached out to touch her shoulder, her heart breaking again when she felt Kona stiffen and tense under the touch, as though she didn't trust her…and why should she? As far as Kona knew, everyone in Asgard had probably thought Loki and her traitors to the house of Odin.

"Why did he do it?" she whispered.

"I don't know," Frigga told her, moving around the couch to sit beside her, "That is why you have been brought here. To explain to Odin what Loki…"

"Not Loki," Kona cut in, "Thor. Why did he do it? Why didn't he listen? It was supposed to make him better…"

Kona swallowed hard and closed her eyes, she'd had dreams of it, of Thor banishing her. It was odd to see, because she DID see it, as though she had sight and was watching events from the side. Him standing before a control, a swirling and powerful vortex behind her, shouting at her, aiming a staff at her, firing at her. She had seen herself standing there, shouting back at him, begging him to listen, but he'd refused. His mind had been made up and her fate had been sealed.

Frigga frowned and looked at her, reaching out to take her hand, "What do you mean 'make him better?'"

Kona let out a breath, "I don't know," she admitted, she just…felt like something about what Loki and she had apparently done…no, ALL of it…had been FOR Thor. It had been done to help him, to better him, to help him grow. She didn't know why though, or how, or what they'd done exactly, "I can't remember."

"You will," Frigga squeezed her hand, trying to be encouraging, "Soon. Odin…he shall restore your memories and discover the truth."

"The truth should not have to be discovered NOW," Kona muttered, a bitter note to her voice that Frigga while disheartened to hear, had to agree with, "It should have been determined BEFORE a banishment was given. I should not have to have my memories, MY own memories, restored just to give an account of what happened. ALL of that should have been seen to before any sort of punishment was dealt."

"I know," Frigga whispered, feeling tears in her eyes at how…right…Kona was.

Thor, despite feeling he had all the knowledge about the situation and all the evidence there was…had acted rashly. He had gotten better since then, scores better, been calmer, thought things through, listened…she had a vague idea it was because of Loki and Kona and what happened to them, what he'd done to them, that had led to this much needed change in her one son. He was realizing the consequences of his actions and what that meant when he would be king, how he had to be patient and look at every angle of things. She knew he blamed himself for the attack on New York, Loki had been there for Kona he claimed, Kona was there because of HIM, Loki had fallen to the Chitauri control because HE hadn't listened to his brother and been able to save him from falling into the abyss.

As terrible as it was to think…Kona's banishment and Loki's loss had made Thor into a truly proper King and a man so much better than he had been before…her thoughts cut off suddenly as she looked at Kona sharply. The girl had just said that 'it was supposed to make him better' and…Thor WAS better, he'd come back from his banishment changed and mature and a truly worthy king…had…had THAT been their plan? Their reason for doing what they had? She tried not to get her hopes up about it, she didn't want to be wrong and…as much as it pained her to admit, there WAS a sliver of fear that she was entirely wrong about all of this and Loki HAD just wanted the throne and pulled Kona in with him.

"But you are home now and…"

"No," Kona suddenly pulled away from her and stood, stumbling back the book falling to the floor as she tried to step away from her more, "No…I'm not home. Not yet," she swallowed and looked around the room as though she could see it, or at least imagine what it looked like from her exploration of it. She took a breath and turned her gaze to Frigga, "I want to see Loki."

~8~

Loki stood in his cell, stiffly, staring out of the glass wall at another prisoner being led into yet another cell. His hands were behind his back, his back straight, his chin up as he watched them. Frigga frowned as she stood behind him in his cell, seeing how…closed off and solemn his expression was. This was…not her Loki, he was always smiling and laughing, playing tricks on others and causing mischief…he was not the sort to be so serious. It had only gotten worse, she knew, the longer he was in that cell. He rarely smiled, hardly joked, barely spoke. He didn't look at her when she would appear the way she did, and…there was just no light in his eyes anymore. It was like he'd resigned himself to this fate.

And what broke her heart was that he wore the expression and carried himself not as a typical prisoner. No, the others were all rowdy and trying to escape and being angry and throwing things and trying to bait each other. Loki was quiet and not a contemplative one, not a one where he was trying to think of a way out, no, she knew her son. If he had truly wanted to escape and set his mind to it, he would have worked it out ages ago and been free. She'd asked him only once why he didn't escape. He was a prince of Asgard, he KNEW those cells, every inch of the palace, better than anyone, why didn't he just…escape?

His answer was what had first caused her doubt that he had done the crimes he was accused of.

He'd said that if he escaped it would just prove him the villain they all thought him to be.

And she'd been shocked, to hear him say that, to hear that he was forcing himself to stay there in the hope of garnering some sort of trust once more. Odin should have been well aware that, of anyone, he and Thor would be able to break out of those prisons easily, and yet Loki remained. It was a plea for trust, that he COULD break out but that he was choosing NOT to. That he was accepting the punishment and he didn't seem GUILTY of it. He didn't seem as broken as the other prisoners who had been there so long guilt had set in. He seemed like he knew he was innocent and that was why he was so quiet. He didn't speak because no one would believe him anymore.

"Odin continues to bring me new friends," Loki murmured, his voice deeper than Frigga remembered, but with how little he spoke now she knew it was natural for it to be like that, that and raspy as it was, "How…thoughtful."

More friends just for him, more prisoners, more traitors, more criminals…and there HE was. Odin's son, left to rot among them as though he WERE one of them. He closed his eyes and swallowed hard, trying not to think of that, if he did…he might one day start to believe that he was one of them, that he HAD done what he had for the reasons everyone thought. It was hard to keep it straight in his head, why he was there. Only the thought of Kona truly made him remember what he'd done and why. SHE would not have supported him if he'd been doing it for terrible means.

Frigga took a step forward when she noticed something lying on a small table. A stack of books, in exactly the same place they'd been set down in. His cell was stark white, with only a sort of reclining bench with a back like Kona's a chair, some small desks…but the books were a gift from her. She frowned, seeing them entirely untouched, "The books I sent…do they not interest you?"

Loki glanced back at them and she could see the sorrow in his eyes increase tenfold, "Those are Kona's books," he mumbled, "Those are the books from her room."

"Yes," she nodded, "I thought you would enjoy them more than any others."

"Or perhaps you knew they would torture me than any others," he looked at her with a sad, broken smile, "For me to read them, knowing THOSE books I have to read out loud…to think I'm reading to her and look up and see her not there?" he shook his head, laughing sadly, "That would break me mother," he let out a breath, "Is that how I'm to while away eternity reading books that break my heart?"

Frigga looked sadly at the books, different books should be brought then, "Then…perhaps a different gift would be better?"

"What gift?" he sighed, "The only thing I want is the one I can never have now."

Frigga smiled, "Don't be too certain of that Loki," she looked to her side and an image flickered in…of Kona, still dressed in her grey sweatshirt and pants, but Kona!

"Is this a trick?" Loki breathed, staring at Kona as though afraid she were merely a magic trick his mother was playing on him.

"No," Frigga whispered as Kona looked around.

"Loki?" Kona asked.

"Kona," he smiled, stepping towards her, about to touch her outstretched hand when…

"She's just an image," his mother warned, knowing that to touch the hologram would be to disperse it, "If you touch her…"

"I know," he swallowed, but didn't take his eyes off of her, "Is it really you?" he looked at her, feeling his heart tighten in his chest at the thought she was back. There was NO way Frigga could have her appear while still on Earth…which meant she was in Asgard.

"Yeah," she nodded and he could see tears in her own eyes as she smiled, "I'm in Asgard. I'm here. I'm really here…"

"But why?" he looked at Frigga, "Odin hasn't brought her back to…" to execute her?

"No," Frigga reassured him, stepping closer, "Not at all. He…"

"They want me to give testimony," Kona cut in, pulling Loki's attention back, "About what happened."

His eyes widened, "They're going to return your memories?" he could hardly dare to believe it. Not only was she BACK in Asgard but her memories might be returned as well!? If that were true then…

Then it meant that someone besides Kona had to believe he was innocent. Someone was trying to clear his name and they had brought Kona back as well. It made sense, she was the only other person who knew the entirety of his plans, as a seer having pledged herself to obey Odin, she would be honor bound to tell the truth about the events. No one would dare refuse her word, no one would deny the truth and he…he would finally be free, he could finally be with her again, and they could leave Asgard as they planned. Perhaps THAT would show everyone, how willingly and easily he would leave the Realm, that he had NEVER wanted that stupid throne in the first place.

He winced a bit, there was…still a bit of the Chitauri's manipulations and torture in his mind. Once in a while he'd hear a hissing voice like the Chitauri leader who whispered that he HAD wanted the throne, that he deserved it, but he easily shook that one off. He much preferred Kona's voice in his head reminding him of all he'd done and WHY.

"It is the only way," Frigga reminded him, smiling lightly to see him so…hopeful, see him come so alive again.

"Oh this is a cruel torture mother," he remarked, his gaze locked on Kona, "To be so close and yet be unable to express my joy," he lifted a hand to Kona's face, a hairsbreadth away from touching the hologram but…needing to at least make it seem in his mind that he was touching her.

"It's no walk in the park for me either," Kona told him with a laugh, Frigga letting out a soft breath as she saw Kona turn her head as though knowing Loki's hand was there, seeming as though she were leaning into his touch, "You can at least see me…all I have is hearing you."

"Then hear this, my heart," he swallowed, his voice shaking from how overwhelmed he was at that moment.

The one source of hope in his life, the one bright spot in the darkness that had consumed him, the one comfort he had in his solitude, was back! He felt his entire body trembling to see her returned, his hope renewed that SHE would be back as well. He loved her, yes, he loved her with or without her memories but…the Kona that remembered…she was the one he'd shared so many memories with, she was the one he'd fallen in love with, and…he wanted her back, he wanted her to remember her, and now she was.

"Kona…" he continued, "I love you," he smiled, seeing her eyes widen as she looked at him, "I love you more than life itself, and I will do everything in my power to prove my love for you, no matter what, no matter what may try to come between us or separate us, I know in my heart we shall always be together."

"Loki…" she let out a shuddering breath, tears in her eyes, "I wish I could touch you," she lifted a hand, and he did the same, his mirroring hers but not touching her, "I love you too. And I know that you're innocent," she added, "I know that they are wrong. I'll do everything I can to make them see that."

Frigga felt tears gather in her own eyes as she looked at her son. In the span of mere moments he'd just…come back to life. He was smiling and laughing and HAPPY again. And to a mother that meant the world to her. To see Kona's conviction, her firm belief that Loki was truly innocent…it cemented it for her, she knew now, without any sort of doubt at all, that her son WAS innocent. She felt horrid and wretched that she had believed even for a moment that he had not been the boy she'd raised, with Asgard in his heart, with love for the people in it in mind, and with the best hopes for the future in his soul. She was going to do whatever she could to make up for that, to help her husband realize how wrong they had all been.

Loki, she knew, was lucky to have Kona at his side, the girl…was truly able to see more than all of them could.

"Thank you," Loki whispered, unable to help himself as he leaned in, his lips brushing air though he knew Kona's lips had just been there. He pulled way, nodding to himself that he should have expected that, when Kona disappeared, fading from his sight.

"Loki…" Frigga called and he looked at her, after a moment or two of continued staring at the spoke Kona had been in, "I am so sorry…I am so very sorry that I doubted you even for a moment."

"Has Kona helped you see the truth?" he asked, and she could see a small joking smile on his face, his expression so much lighter than it had been only moments ago.

"She has," she nodded, "She's always been able to do that, make one see the truth, hasn't she?"

"I wonder," he looked back at where Kona had been standing, "Will Odin share your belief as well? After he speaks to her? Will Thor?"

"Loki…Thor was the one to convince your father to return her," Frigga told him, making him look at her in shock, "He is your brother Loki," she repeated words she'd said so long ago, "And we your family."

His smile turned sad, "I doubt Odin sees it that way anymore. Remember, my birthright was to die."

She looked at him equally as sad, all he had ever wanted was Odin's acceptance and approval, Odin's words all those years ago were terrible. She and Thor had been outside the throne room but it didn't mean they couldn't hear what was being said, "He believes that your actions are what he thinks…"

"My actions?" he smiled ruefully, "I was merely giving truth to the lie that I've been fed my entire life, over and over, the lie that I was born to be a king?" he looked at her, "I never wanted the throne mother. Do you think father will realize the truth in his own lie?"

Odin had told them both that so often growing up…he could almost understand why his father would believe that he desired a throne. He'd raised one son to believe he was the rightful king of Asgard and above the rules, until banishment made them both realize Thor wasn't ready for the throne. Why would he believe anything different about his second son? Why would he believe that he hadn't raised Loki the same way? To want the throne? Odin seemed to fail to realize that the only thing he wanted…was Kona.

"A true king admits his faults," Loki eyed her, "Doesn't he?"

"Your father is…stubborn," Frigga admitted, "And he is hurt by this betrayal he believes happened. You must understand Loki, for a father to think his son…"

"But that's just it, isn't it?" Loki whispered, "He's not my father, and I am not his son."

Frigga was silent a long while before she spoke, a small crack in her voice as she asked the question whose answer...truly frightened her, "Then am I not your mother?"

Loki just looked at her, a small smile on his face, "You misunderstood," he reached out for her, "He is not my father, and I am not his son…because I…am YOUR son," he moved as though to take her hand but hesitated, not wanting to break the hologram just yet, "YOU will always be my mother."

Frigga smiled, tears in her eyes, "Always so perceptive about everything."

"My love is a seer," he shrugged, "I see more than most because of her," he swallowed hard, "Please…keep her safe," he begged her quietly, "Odin…will not…he might…"

Frigga reached up as though to touch his cheek, "She is under MY protection Loki," she reassured him, "None shall harm her, least of all Odin. I will see her returned to you."

He smiled and nodded, letting his hand fall to hers, breaking up the hologram. He closed his eyes and took a breath, before reaching out to take one of the books on the small table, needing something to distract himself till he could see Kona again.

A/N: SO Sorry this is so late! I had a final last night that well...let's just say...if I were a cat, it took one of my lives. The entire class was begging for an extra hour (the ENTIRE class) and we managed to guilt the professor into it...I didn't get out till 11 and then sort of just curled up in a ball and went to sleep instead of editing this chapter. I'm doing it at work and my boss is literally minutes away from coming in so I want to get this posted before he gets here.

Again, SO sorry that it's late! :(

I hope you all liked the Kona/Frigga moment and Loki! He knows she's back ^-^ There will be more interaction between her and Loki to come too ;)

Some notes on reviews...

There will be a moment where Thor and Kona talk about what happened, whether it'll have a good end or not I can't say }:)

Lol, yup, the kitty was a girl :) And yup, the way he sits on the throne will be pretty important ;)

Oh, cool :) I'll have to check out the Fables :) I hope you liked the meeting with Loki :)

We'll definitely see the Warriors Three and Sif's reaction to her ;) But nope, Sif and Kona aren't sisters, they were just two girls born on the same day :) I think Heimdall might have seen what happend with Loki, but it wouldn't mean he believes Loki wasn't faking. He is a god of mischief and lies a lot ;)