Astrid clutched Thor, holding onto him with everything she had. If she didn't, she would fall to the ground, as he was the only thing that kept her knees from buckling. With eyes still full of tears, she glanced at her mother's body, the one that Odin was cradling in his arms. Odin looked up at Astrid and when their eyes met, she saw that his eyes were red and puffy.

"What was she thinking?" Odin asked quietly, his voice hoarse.

Astrid shook her head, a few tears dropping off her chin and onto the floor. "I don't know….", she muttered pathetically, looking away from the scene.

"Then find out!" Odin shouted suddenly, his pain turning to rage. Rage that he was directing at her.

Astrid's eyes widened and her mouth gaped in shock. Her shocked eyes met his, and she realized that she barely recognized the man in front of her. He was asking her to see what her mother was thinking when she died? She had done it to strangers, but never anyone she was close to. Never anyone she knew. She didn't think she would ever need to. Certainly not this soon.

Thor's grip tightened around her and he pulled her back gently, farther into his chest. "You really want to put her through that?" Thor asked softly, trying to placate the grieving man.

Astrid saw the rage swirling in her father's eyes. "It is what she is good for!" Odin shouted, making Astrid freeze completely. "If she does not do this, then what good is she?" Odin demanded. She felt Thor tense up behind her, his grip never faltering on her. Astrid felt a sharp pain inside her chest. In her heart. It felt as if it was shattered. More so than it already was.

Astrid pulled herself out of Thor's grip and headed towards her father, who was still cradling their mother in his arms. Thor grabbed her arm, pulling her to a stop. "Astrid, you do not need to do this!"

"Yes, I do. Father is right. If I can't do this, then what good am I?" she replied evenly, pulling her arm out of Thor's grasp.

She walked slowly to her mother's cold corpse and kneeled down beside her. Her unmoving body unnerved Astrid and she was afraid to touch her. She wanted to pretend that her mother was only sleeping, but the pool of blood that she had to walk around, was proof that she wasn't. She hesitantly reached out and grabbed her mother's cold hand, a shiver going down her spine at its touch. She held it between both of her hands, as if she could somehow use her own warmth to warm her mother's. She closed her eyes, and let her mother's last thoughts seep into her brain.

She saw the dark elf.

"Who are you?" her mother asked the elf.

"I am Malekith." It replied with a smile, and she felt her mother's surprise.

She saw her mother fight Malekith, and a ghost of a smile crossed her lips at her mother's bravery. She watched as she put her sword against Malekith's throat, but then the beast from the prison came and from behind. Astrid watched as she spoke her last words. She watched the sword plunge into her mother for a second time. Astrid almost dropped her hand, but didn't want to break the connection she had with her mother. The last connection she would ever have with her.

My Children… Frigga's voice seeped into her mind. I hope they are alright…. Astrid let out a soft gasp as her mother's voice filled her mind. Her final thoughts.

Astrid…

Astrid jumped in surprise when her mother spoke her name.

I know you will hear this. Please tell Odin and Thor that I love them so much. More than they will ever know.

Astrid felt a tear slip out onto her cheek, rolling down her face.

Please tell Loki that I am proud of him, and that he will always be my son. No matter what he says or believes. I hope he will one day think of me as his mother.

Astrid knew he already did think of her as his mother. He never stopped. Regardless of the news that he was adopted, Frigga never once saw him as anything other than her son.

And Astrid. My dear Astrid. I love you so much. I'm glad that even after I die, you will hear my voice one last time. I'm sorry that I could not say my goodbyes in person. I'm glad it was you who heard my final words.

Astrid let out a small sob and she felt a heavy hand placed comfortingly on her shoulder. Thor.

I don't have much time left. I feel my heart slowing. Please make sure no one blames themselves. It was no one's fault. And don't grieve for long. I will be watching you all. Always. I will always be with you. All of you.

Her voice became fainter.

I love you all… Goodbye my loves…

Her voice faded away completely.

A louder sob bubbled out of Astrid and she dropped her mother's hand completely, severing the connection. She covered her face with her hands and her body heaved with sobs. She heard her mother die. It was the worst thing she had ever experienced. It was times like this when she believed her powers were more of a curse than a gift. Thor rubbed soothing circles into her back as she cried.

"What did she say?!" Odin demanded after a moment.

"Father!" Thor exclaimed. "She just listened to mother die! Give her a moment! Can't you see how much pain she's in?!"

Odin replied back almost instantly. "She was my wife and I will never hear her voice again! At least she could hear her one more time!"

Astrid uncovered her tear-stained face and looked at Thor and Odin. "She loved you both very much. More than you will ever know. Don't blame yourselves. And don't grieve for long. She will be watching us. Always." Astrid reported, in a small voice.

Odin was silent for a moment, contemplating her words. "Did she mention Loki?" Astrid nodded.

"What did she say?" Odin asked when Astrid did not say anything.

"That is something for Loki, and Loki alone. No one else needs to know." She said quietly, remembering what Frigga said. She had to deliver him her message. Loki had to know what she said.

"I am the King! I have a right to know!" He shouted at Astrid.

Astrid didn't even flinch at his fury. "No, you don't. Not this time."

Odin's eyes widened. He was not used to someone disobeying him. Thor grabbed her arm, and pulled her back gently, away from Odin's fury. She could see her father's rage, and knew that this conversation was far from over. Thor led the way out of the room.

Everyone eventually gathered in the Throne Room, though it was dead silent. No one knew what to say. There was nothing to say. Finally, she spoke up. "I'll go tell Loki." That seemed to snap everyone out of their daze.

"No!" Thor and Odin shouted at once.

Astrid crossed her arms. "Well I know for a fact that neither of you will deliver the news."

"I will send a soldier. He can deliver the news." Odin said quickly, already turning towards a guard nearby.

"No! He will not learn that his mother is dead from a stranger. I will not allow it. I will tell him myself." Astrid said with a tone that challenged anyone to defy her. Odin looked at her as if seeing her for the first time in a long time. "You always were like your mother," he whispered softly. "She would never give up once she made a decision about something," he looked down at the ground, before sighing quietly in defeat. "If you are not back in twenty minutes, I will send someone after you." He said.

Astrid bowed her head. "Thank you, father." She tried not to spit out her words, anger still plastered across her face. Astrid turned and walked away numbly.

When she reached the prison, the prisoners that survived were back in their cells. She walked past them, not even giving them a second glance as some called out to her. A stray tear dripped out of her eye and she quickly wiped it away. She had to steel herself to see Loki again.

Finally, she came to Loki's cell at the end of the row. She stopped in front of it and looked inside. Loki was sitting on the floor, reading a book that Frigga had brought him. Astrid closed her eyes briefly, knowing this would not be easy.

He looked up at her, eyes narrowing as he saw who it was. Loki closed his book and set it aside.

"Did you finally come to see me?" he taunted. "Were you worried about me?" he questioned as he stood up and approached the barrier between them. "Oh, of course not. You wanted to make sure I was still here! That I hadn't escaped!" He shouted angrily.

"Loki, please don't do this. Not now…" His words caused her to visibly crumble, and caused more tears to slip down her face. After all she had been through, she could not handle his words as well as her father's. Her head dropped forward, as she tried to shield her face from Loki. He paused and stared at her, taking in her ragged appearance and tear-stained face.

A small sob escaped from her throat, and she felt her knees shaking with the weight of keeping her body upright. It was all becoming too much. It felt like the weight of their harsh words and her mother's death were beginning to crush her. She felt like she could suffocate at any moment.

"Astrid? What happened?" Loki asked in a softer voice, more tentative. He was afraid that if spoke too loudly, he would break her. Maybe he could.

"It's about Mother…." Astrid choked out, looking back up at him. She saw his entire body stiffen and he sucked in a breath.

"During the attack… She was…." She stopped, to collect herself, trying to force the tears away so she could speak, but it seemed that he already knew what she was going to say. His face was grave.

"She was killed." Astrid managed to say before the grief consumed her again and she started sobbing quietly, knees finally crumpling, allowing her to slip to the floor in front of Loki's cell. Loki just stared at her, his shock clearly evident.

He turned away from her and she saw a large surge of power leave his body and throw everything in the room away from him, into the barrier and walls around him. Tables shattered. Food was scattered across the room.

"Who?" She heard him ask hoarsely, his back still turned towards her, but she saw his head hanging.

Her mother's memories flashed before her eyes. "Malekith. Leader of the Dark Elves."

Loki spun around to look at her. "But they are dead! Those were stories that Mother…" He paused on the word, raw pain flashing over his entire face, "would tell us as children."

"Yes, well, Malekith did not die like we believed. The Aether was never destroyed. It is inside Jane." She realized that she forgot to tell him that Jane was here, on Asgard.

"Oh, so Thor's lover is now on Asgard with a powerful weapon inside of her. That's just great!" He spit out, throwing his hands up into the air.

"Loki, don't be like that." Astrid scolded quietly, wiping the tears away, though her mother's words still ran through her mind, causing fresh tears to fall.

Loki stopped and studied her for a moment. "Something else happened," he said softly. Loki always knew her. She couldn't hide anything from him.

"Odin forced me to see in her final thoughts." Loki stiffened, eyes flashing with anger. "I saw her die. I listened to her last thoughts. It was terrible, Loki" She gasped quietly, holding in her sobs. "She knew I would listen. She wanted me to tell you something…." Loki paused, listening intently. "She said that she was always proud of you. She always had been. She said that no matter what, you will always be her son. She hoped one day you would think of her as your mother," Astrid stopped and looked up at Loki, noticing the way his eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"She has always been a mother to me…." Astrid heard him whisper quietly, before he turned away, hiding his face from her. "Thank you, Astrid. For telling me…"

Astrid looked down at her hands that were clenched together. "You didn't deserve to have a stranger tell you." He turned around to look at her, gratitude shining in his eyes. "Thank you." Astrid knew he meant it.

He looked down, before asking. "Can I come to the ceremony?" Astrid almost forgot about the ceremony that would take place across Asgard as they mourned their queen. She hesitated. "I do not know. Father will probably not allow it, but maybe if you make a copy of yourself, then you could come." Loki nodded slowly.

"I will come to you when it is time." Astrid said. "I won't allow father to keep you away. She was your mother just as much as mine and Thor's." She wiped away another stray tear, before giving him a faint smile, and turning away.

"I'd like a word with father." He called out after her. She stopped and turned to look at him, before nodding, "I'll let him know." He nodded and turned back towards his trashed cell.

Astrid made her way back to the Throne Room. When she pushed the doors open, she saw Thor was holding Jane close. Odin seemed to have been pacing the floor. They all looked relieved when she returned.

"Loki would like to speak with you father." She reported.

Odin nodded curtly, and waved his hand in front of himself. A hologram of Loki appeared. It faded in and out, before filling in, appearing as if Loki was really standing in front of them. Their way of communicating with him without actually being down in the prisons. The hologram looked up and when he saw Odin, his eyes narrowed.

"You wanted to speak with me." Odin said, face void of any emotion.

"How dare you force Astrid to do that!" Loki shouted suddenly. Astrid gasped with surprise. Odin too was at a loss of words. "You almost broke her! Do you even understand how hard that was on her? She just lost her and you made her go through that all over again for your selfish needs!" Astrid was surprised with the intensity of his gaze and the anger in his voice.

Odin finally recovered enough to respond. "I am King. You cannot question me and my decisions." Odin's voice boomed.

Loki let out a harsh laugh. "I can when it comes to my sister." Astrid's eyes widened. That was the first time in ages that he called her his sister. Odin and Thor were both surprised at Loki's statement. Loki glared at Odin before speaking again. "I will be attending the ceremony."

Odin snorted. "Absolutely not."

Loki let out a hollow chuckle. "It will be a double. I know you won't ever let me out of this cell. I will still be in here, withering away. No need to worry," Loki spit.

"No." Odin reaffirmed.

"He has a right!" Astrid exclaimed. "He is her son too. He deserves to be there."

Odin glared at her. "He is not her son." He spit out vehemently.

Astrid took a step forward, meeting her father's gaze. "Actually, he is. According to her, he has always been her son. She told me. When you forced me to hear her final thoughts, that's what she told me." Astrid said with so much venom it surprised her.

The room went silent. Thor, Jane, and Loki all watched with surprise at her outburst. She saw the rage in her father's eyes.

"I will let him know when it is, and he will be there with us. It's what she would have wanted." Astrid said with finality before turning and walking away, without being dismissed. She was tired of her father pushing her around. It felt good to do something else for a change.