After she had left the dungeons Anya wandered aimlessly, letting her feet take her wherever they wanted. Soon she found herself where she always did when she was frustrated. The grunts of the warriors grew louder as she approached the training grounds and she instantly began to feel calmer. As the men came into view a small smile came to her face, she watched them dancing together and a warm sense of nostalgia washed over her. Anya weaved through the different rings and returned the smiles and waves that those who recognised her offered between sequences. She hadn't realised how much she had missed this atmosphere and was glad that Fandral had convinced her to stay. Maybe she would be able to fit in a few sessions while she was here, to work out some tension. She wondered if any of the boys she had first fought with were still around or if their lives had moved on too. Her thoughts were interrupted when a large raven swooped dangerously close as it passed her. She followed its flight and her peace was shattered when she saw who it had flown to. Odin stood proud, watching over his warriors training. Just hours ago he had sentenced his son to a lifetime in the dungeons and yet here he was going on as normal, as if nothing was wrong. Her blood began to boil once more and she was just about to turn on her heel to find a ring to work out her tension but she stopped herself when she saw Thor next to his father. When he spotted her his face broke into a wide grin, which Anya returned. She broke into a run and quickly made her way up to meet him. "Lady Anya!" He cried as he held his arms open for her and she fell into his embrace, sighing his name in return, glad of another friendly face after the events of the day. He squeezed her tightly and without any words she could tell that he knew why she was here and how she was feeling. "It is good to see you Anya." He smiled down at her as he stepped back. "Although I wish it was under better circumstances."
"As do I." She smiled sadly. "But I am glad to be back in Asgard again. I hadn't realised how much I had missed it."
"Won't you stay with us a few days?" Thor asked.
"I would very much like to." She replied. "Provided my summons came with a room?" She pointed her question towards Odin.
The old man did not look at her as he pushed out his words. "Your chambers are waiting for you, Lady Anya."
She did not stop to thank either of them as she turned on her heel and walked at speed. The path from the training grounds to her chambers was one she remembered well. When Fandral had asked her to stay she had almost said no, fearing that the memories that would surface would be too painful. However she had to admit that she was feeling quite the opposite. The warm sense of nostalgia that was running through her almost helped to convince her that nothing was wrong, that everything was once as it was, that terrible things had not happened, and no time had passed. However that fantasy was broken when she stepped into her old chambers and was greeted by a young girl who was not Solveig. She jumped slightly at Anya's arrival and quickly sunk into a deep curtsy. "Lady Anya."
"It's just Anya, please." She chuckled a little as she approached the young maid.
"I'm so sorry that the room is in disarray, Lady Anya." She spoke so fast Anya almost didn't understand her and gestured around the room that looked perfectly fine to Anya, despite an unmade bed. "I was only told that you were to be staying with us an hour or so ago, everyone told me that you would not stay and that we would not need to prepare a chamber and…"
Anya swooped forward and cut her off. "Stop, please. This is fine. Now please, start again, and tell me your name." She spoke in as kind a tone as she could.
The maid looked to her with wide eyes and for a moment Anya feared that she would not speak. "Dagni, my lady." She managed to stutter out.
"Dagni." Anya repeated. "The room is just fine as it is, I do not need much, and I am more than capable of making a bed myself. And please, you do not have to use my title."
"But my lady!" Anya raised an eyebrow at Dagni, she hoped it wouldn't scare her but she wanted her to stop saying 'lady' nonetheless. "Anya." She started again. "You are the fiance of the Prince."
"Yes, but I don't think we'll be getting married anytime soon, do you?" Anya smirked and she was glad to see the young girl smile a little too. Soon the young girl became quite relaxed and the pair began to make the bed up together. Anya told her of how she and Solveig had been close, hoping that Dagni had some news of Anya's old friend, but the maid had only just been promoted to a handmaid, she had never heard of any of the other ladies. Eventually, after much reassurance that Anya intended to rest and stay in her chambers for the evening and that she would not require any more help for the day, Dagni left Anya alone. Just as she was about to begin spiralling in her thoughts a soft knock brought Anya back to reality. "Come in!" She called as she made her way in from the balcony where she had been sat watching the world go by. Anya almost screamed with joy as a young woman made her way into the room. She almost hadn't recognised her, the last Anya had seen her she would have described her as a girl but now she was most definitely a woman. Solveig simply stood beaming as Anya ran across the room to greet her. She was about to throw her arms around her old friend but stopped just short of the girl, noticing the swell of her stomach. "Solveig!" Anya squeaked.
"Anya." Solveig returned, although her voice was calm, mature and measured.
"Solveig!" Anya squealed again, this time a little lower. She stepped forward and reach out her hand, placing it gently on Solveig's bump. Anya looked back to her friend's face and they both wore matching grins. "And you are married?"
"Of course!" Solveig laughed. "And I was promoted, I now serve the Queen. At least I did before…" She gestured to the bump. Anya was amazed at how mature young Solveig sounded now.
"My goodness!" Anya exclaimed. "So much change in such a small amount of time."
"Indeed." Solveig chuckled. "And it won't be long until little Anya comes out to join us."
"Solveig." Anya whispered, tears brimming behind her eyes.
"Well with the way she kicks she is sure to be strong like you." Solveig smiled sincerely.
Anya tightly embraced the young woman and suddenly all the emotions of the day hit her at once. The tears spilled over and she could not stop the quiet sobs that escaped her lips. Solveig rubbed her back and hushed her gently. Anya laughed a little and spoke. "You will make a good mother Solveig."
Solveig pulled away from her but still rubbed her shoulders gently and looked deep into her eyes as she said. "And you will make it through this Anya. You will find a way to make it right, you always do."
Anya nodded gently and wiped the tears from her face. "I mustn't keep you Solveig. Go, get home to your husband."
Solveig giggled a little. "If he is there! He is much like you Anya; spends all his time at the training grounds." They laughed together as Anya ushered Solveig out of the chambers, promising to meet with her again before she left for Vanaheim.
And then she was alone. But she had cried all her tears and Solveig had reignited the fire in her. She had been right, Anya always found a way to get what she wanted, she just had to figure out how.
The next day she had tried to sneak down to the dungeons again to seem him, but it seemed that her little trip had not gone unnoticed. On every door she could find there stood at least two guards, and she guessed that none of them would fall for the same trick twice. The young guard must have reported her to Odin, it seemed that she was not in trouble but she was not to do it again. And so after an hour of sneaking around the lower levels of the palace she made her way back up to the grounds. She tentatively wandered into the Queen's gardens, her blood rushing as she replayed all the memories she had in this place. She reached out an gently held a flower as she remembered the way Loki had kissed her with so much passion she almost couldn't breathe. As she looked towards the large rose bush she could almost see the ghosts of herself and Loki in a loving embrace. But the image was shattered when she heard the Queen softly calling her name. Anya turned to face her and returned the small tight lipped smile Frigga offered. "How are you dear?"
Anya scoffed a little. "I don't think you have the time to hear the true answer."
Frigga paused for a moment and then spoke. "I am sorry."
"I could have gone on believing him dead. No one had to tell me. Why was I brought here?" Anya asked, almost sounding like a child. Frigga had no response. "Why am I being punished for his actions?"
The Queen hesitated for a moment and Anya could tell she was formulating her words. "Unlike my husband, I do not believe that Loki is a lost cause. I do not think that his actions on Midgard were entirely his own. I think he could be redeemed. But he will need help." Frigga took a step forward and placed a hand on Anya's arm. Anya had to fight her knee jerk reaction to pull away, standing her ground as the Queen went on. "You have already done just as I thought you would, finding a way to see him. You must continue to fight for him Anya. You must pull him out of the darkness."
Now Anya did take a step back. "So I am just part of another one of your royal schemes? It's my job to make Loki what you want him to be? And then what? He becomes Thor's adviser? He would never. If he is ever granted his freedom we will be far away from here, we will have nothing to do with Asgard or the royal family. It would be as if we never existed, I'm sure that would please Odin greatly." She spoke quietly but there was a venom in her voice.
"Anya, please." Frigga almost begged. "I just want my son, the way I knew him." For a moment Anya said nothing, looking deep into Frigga's eyes, and she saw a sincerity that she had not expected. She realised that she and the Queen wanted the same thing: for everything to be how it once had, to have the young trickster Prince back. But they both knew deep down that it could not be. If they were truly honest with themselves they knew that Loki would never be free of his cell, but they had to hold on to hope, otherwise there would be nothing left for them. Frigga reached out for Anya's hand which she hesitantly took and the Queen squeezed it tightly. "Anya, I am sorry." She spoke quietly. Anya wasn't sure if she was apologising for her actions which had hurt Anya or if she was just offering some sympathy for Anya's situation. Either way Anya took it and she felt some of the burden she had carried lift from her shoulders. The resentment she had held for Frigga all those years began to melt away. Some of it still lingered but there was room for Anya to let go. She didn't say anything in return but she nodded softly, letting Frigga know that she accepted the apology, whatever it was for. After some silence Frigga spoke again. "Thor has brought Jane Foster here to us."
"A mortal in Asgard!" Anya gasped. "I'm sure Odin is very happy about that."
Frigga chuckled. "She is unwell, she needs our healers, Asgard is the safest place for her. And of course I would like to meet the woman who has captured my sons heart."
"I would like to meet her too! The lady who has tamed the mighty Thor." Anya joked.
"Come, I am going to find them now. I'm sure she will be glad to meet another young lady like her."
They didn't have to walk far before they found the couple by the lake. The way they looked at each other warmed Anya's heart, it was as if there was no one else in the nine realms. They were so lost in each others eyes that they did not hear Frigga and Anya approach them. As they came close they heard Thor speaking. "My father does not know everything."
"Don't let him hear you say that." Frigga joked. The young couple turned to face the ladies. Anya sent a kind smile to Jane Foster, who wasn't at all what she had expected. No one had told her much about the lady who had turned Thor's head but she was much smaller that Anya had expected and though she was beautiful her face was plain. She was nothing like the girls Anya had seen Thor with before, but then maybe that was the point. He had never loved those girls, not like he loved Jane. And Anya knew that it was Jane's brilliant mind and kind nature that had truly captured Thor's heart.
"Jane Foster, please meet Lady Anya of Vanaheim," he gestured to her and Anya nodded softly in a greeting. "And Frigga, Queen of Asgard, my mother."
"Hi." Jane managed to stutter out and Anya wasn't sure if she was more stunned by the fact the she was meeting the Queen or by the fact that Thor had introduced his mother to her so casually.
Their introductions were swiftly interrupted however when sirens began ringing loud. Anya took a step towards the source of the sound, not really knowing what the sirens signalled. Frigga answered her question. "The prison."
"Loki." Thor spoke, expecting him to be the source of the trouble.
Anya looked to Thor with worry in her eyes. "Don't hurt him." She pleaded. But Thor simply looked back at her and she could tell that he couldn't promise her anything.
"Go." Frigga insisted, breaking their silence. "We will look after her." Anya nodded in support of Frigga, if the trouble were to spread Jane would be safe with them.
As Jane watch Thor go, her eyes filled with awe, Anya turned to Frigga and awaited her direction. "Come." She said as she turned on her heel to retreat into the palace. Anya placed her hand on Jane's back and encouraged her to follow Frigga, staying just a few paces behind the young mortal. Anya looked back over her shoulder to where Thor had gone and tried to shake the feeling of unease that had settled over her. Yet however much she tried to convince herself that it was just a small rebellion, contained to the dungeon, Anya could tell that something was not right.