Thank you for the reviews!

OoOoOoO

"My lady," said Brin as I came out of Loki's cell, "what is the matter?"

I realized then I was crying. Reaching up, I scrubbed away the tears and took a steadying breath. "Nothing. Shall we go back? I need to speak with my sister and cousin."

We didn't speak as we went, but Brin shot me more than a few curious glances. I could well imagine the sort of speculation and gossip that would be going on among the servants later.

Joan and Eartha shared a room across the hall from mine. It had no balcony, but was just as grand. The two beds were made up in sheets of cream and lavender.

They wore green and yellow gowns, respectively, and were sitting by the unlit fireplace as we came in. They stood when they saw us.

"I will leave you, my lady," said Brin, "and return shortly."

"Uh, sure. Thank you."

Brin curtsied and left.

"So," I said, "how are you guys?

Eartha said, "Sig, you look like a completely different person. I almost didn't recognize you when you came in."

"Yeah. I guess I'm officially an Asgardian."

"We always knew it would be you."

My lips twisted ruefully as I walked over, sitting across from them. "Only because Fury decided to use Loki as a science fair project."

The two sat back down. "Y-you don't kn-know that," said Joan. "M-maybe you were al-already coming into it. F-Fury just h-hurried the p-p-process."

"Jo's right," said Eartha. "And the Allfather said you had come into it rightfully."

I rolled my eyes. "After his mistakes with Loki, I don't know how much stock I put in Odin's word."

"Sigrid. Everyone makes mistakes. He's no more an infallible god than you are. You're letting your bias for Loki blind you."

I remembered our passion in the cell and felt myself flush. "He kissed me."

"What?"

"I went to see Loki after I woke, and, he kissed me. More than once."

Joan asked, "D-did you wa-want him to do that?"

"He surprised me the first time but, after that, yes."

"D-do you love him?"

I nodded. "I didn't realize it until they threw me out of SHIELD." My voice sharpened. "But that doesn't invalidate anything."

"No," said Eartha. "Of course not."

"But do you think I'm right about Loki?"

"I think we trust your judgment, or otherwise, we wouldn't be here."

"R-Right," said Joan.

I smiled. "Thanks. You know we'll be dining with Queen Frigga?"

"Yes," said Eartha. "I just hope we don't embarrass ourselves."

OoOoOoO

Brin returned and took us to a small dining hall. The table could have sat twenty easily, but only four places were laid out on one end. Frigga stood from her place at the table's head.

"Good evening," she said. "My husband has already extended his welcome to Asgard. Allow me to extend my own."

She came around the table as we approached. We curtsied and after I rose, Frigga embraced me.

"Welcome home, Sigrid," she said. "Your ancestress has been deeply missed and we are so glad to see her daughter walking our halls once more. Please, come sit."

I sat in the place of honor at Frigga's left and Joan and Eartha sat across from me. A servant came bearing a horn cup and she handed it to Frigga with a bow. The queen took it and poured mead for each of us. After taking her seat, she lifted up her cup.

"To Asgard and to family," she said.

We raised our own cups and drank to her toast. The mead was sweet and delicious. It burned a path down my throat. I set my cup down, deciding to be careful of how much of that I would drink.

"How do you like Asgard so far?" she asked as servants began setting out platters of food.

"I haven't seen much of it, your Majesty," I said. "But what I have seen has been wonderful."

Eartha said, "Joan and I walked some around the halls. It is very beautiful here and everyone has been very kind."

"I'm glad to hear it," said Frigga. "Well, help yourselves."

I had expected to be served but the meal was more in the family-style as we passed plates and took what we wanted. Soon, Frigga had us laughing over stories about Thor and Loki as children.

"Thor," she said, "was convinced he was shrinking. It took us two days before we realized Loki had bewitched his eyes into seeing everything as bigger!"

We laughed. Eartha asked, "What did the Allfather do?"

"He had Loki mucking out the stables for a week."

I grinned, picturing Loki as a boy scraping horse manure.

Frigga turned to me. "My son seemed quite upset when you collapsed. I'm glad you went to see him, to let him know you're all right."

"Brin told you?"

"I hope you don't mind. I only asked her if you had gone to see him. If you hadn't, I was going to suggest it." The queen placed her hand over mine. "You were very brave today. I only hope Loki does not abuse your kindness, if the Allfather should choose to exile him."

"Do you think it likely?"

"I spoke to him, but he hasn't revealed his mind to me. Loki's choices have deeply wounded his heart and he doesn't like to talk about them."

I almost demanded to know what about Loki's heart, but I merely nodded. She smiled and took her hand back.

After dinner, she stood. "Would you like to see Sigyn's gardens?"

"Yes, your Majesty," I said, standing with the others.

"This way, then."

She took us back to Sigyn's apartments, only this time we passed our rooms to a door at the end of the hall. She put her hand on the latch.

"We have maintained it," said Frigga, "but the bees have been left to their own devices."

She opened the door to a moonlit garden. We walked out into the courtyard and I gazed in wonder. Roses with blossoms the size of my fist nodded beside open-throated lilies. Peonies and hydrangeas, camellias and snapdragons, and dozens of others wafted their perfume into the night.

A bench sat next to a gurgling fountain set in the wall, water gushing from three tilted vases. I stepped over to the bench and sat on it. I felt as if I had come home. For the third time that day, tears dripped from my eyes.

"That was her favorite place," Frigga said. "I imagine she sat there when Loki made the pact with her."

I pictured Loki in his court garb, though I had to imagine it, kneeling next to me, trying to persuade me to marry him. A sob choked my throat.

"My dear," said the queen, "what is wrong?"

"I can't bear the thought of him dying. If Odin kills him, I don't know what I'll do."

A bee landed on my arm. It was sleek and almost glowed in the moonlight. I stroked its back. One-by-one, more bees landed on me until they covered me. Their warmth felt like a hug and a kiss from a dear friend.

After a few moments, they lifted and swarmed away. Frigga sat next to me and took my hand.

"Thor told me what the man Fury did," she said. "I know you may doubt your powers, but don't. The bees wouldn't have greeted you like that if you weren't Sigyn's true heir. And if Odin does choose to execute our son, you will always have a place here."

I smiled. "Thank you, your Majesty. What is Odin going to do about Fury?"

"Canceling our alliance seems punishment enough so far. Because this is the action of one man, he doesn't wish to declare war."

"But you don't know from how far up the plan originated. Our president could have sanctioned this."

"This is the Allfather's decision." She stood. "I will leave now. You all must be tired."

I stood. "Thank you, your Majesty." I curtsied.

Smiling, she hugged me. "You are forever in my debt, for doing what you've done for my Loki."

And she left us. After the door closed, Eartha said, "Can't Frigga see the future, though she tells no one?"

"Y-yes," said Joan. "A-at least, a-c-c-cording to the old l-legends."

"What if... What if she knew all along, about Loki? About the trial? About everything? Even then, when Sigyn was leaving?"

"You mean," I said, "she gave that blessing so I would be there save him after he had made his own choices?"

"Yeah."

We stood in silence, thinking about that.