"It does not sit well with me, Frigga."
She touched his arm, "He will not hurt me," she said. "He can't."
Odin's face remained blank and hard. An expression more, to her experienced eye, of worry than callousness. "He has changed," he said, "much, since last you beheld him."
Her smile was soft and her eyes gentle. His arm was strong under her hand. Glancing up, he met her eyes. "Nevertheless," she said.
Odin bowed his head with a long exhale.
Then he straightened again. He pressed the back of her shoulder. "My queen," he said. "How is it that I cannot refuse you?"
"They do not call you wise, for nothing."
A barely perceptible flash of wry amusement colored his face.
She gentled, "I will do what I can for our son."
"Little as that may be,"
Looking at him more nearly, she asked, "Is this something you have seen? Or felt?"
Gently, holding her arms, he shook his head, "It is merely my fear, my queen. I fear that he should strike you, and you be hurt when it might have been avoided."
"I am his mother," she promised softly. "First and last. He will not hurt me."
"That is precisely both why," Odin released her, turning away, "and how he might."
Frigga stood straight and resolute behind him. "Did we not hurt him, Odin, in the same way, when we withheld the truth?"
Odin stiffened. "We took him as our son. It was our right to withhold that knowledge from him. It only ever would have brought him grief, as you see it has brought all of us now."
"Perhaps," she allowed, very slowly. "But secrets have never held good place within the family. The truth will fly free with time," then, more softly still, "Do you not remember?"
Odin watched her without turning. "You were kinder than most, when you forgave me my duplicity."
"And you showed wisdom then," she said carefully, "allowing me the space for my anger. You did not expect to be forgiven."
Turning to face her, "Nor do I now. Though now," he gave a scoffing laugh, "I have done no wrong."
"See it as he must," she ventured. "If your father –"
He put out one hand to stop her, "I would not be compared to my father."
Pressing her lips she shook her head, "Then how can you help him, if you will not see as he sees?"
Odin watched her from a long moment. Then he said, "Our son sees inaccurately. But there is yet a hope for him. Go to him. I give you my leave."