Frey

-„Don't worry, I will keep you safe." Frey assured for the third time now.

-„I know. I'm not quite sure what he wanted though." Serena walked next to him on the way to the throne room.

-„What he always wants. Revenge for what my sister did to him. It's not your fault, but from now on you'll have to be careful."

-„He said his name was Alek, I had no idea - "

Frey stopped and looked at her intensely.

-„Now you do. We're lucky your handmaiden was smart enough to call for me."

The god of the sea was still as hateful as ever and Frey had been carelessly leaving Serena alone. She would have to be guarded now and kept away from him. Frey nodded towards the guard in front of the large door to the Allfather's throne room. As the door slowly opened, Frey whispered to her: „Try to stay as nice and polite you can, my lady. We want Odin to like you, and it's in our all interest you keep your opinions about Loki to yourself."

Serena

'Keep your opinions to yourself', what a nice way to put it. In other words, it meant 'don't mention you actually love this psychopath or they will arrange a cell right next to his for you'

Serena took a deep breath. The encounter with Alek or Njörd or the god of hate or whatever had been way enough for one day. Serena blamed herself for not realizing it was him all along. He hadn't been very subtle after all, but she had been too dumb to see how Freya's husband was playing with her.

The door opened and slowly Serena entered the wide hall. She felt like in a dream, it was truly astonishing. Besides a few guards, there were only Frigga and Freya standing next to the throne. Odin's eye didn't leave her out of sight as she approached. His other eye was hid behind a golden eyepatch, and his face looked rather grim. Serena felt her heart beating faster. She didn't need another Asgardian who didn't like her, who didn't want her here.

Frey followed her, a few steps behind. Serena curtsied deeply how she had learned with Freya before and bowed her head.

The seconds before the Allfather said something seemed like an eternity for her.

„Lady Serena. Welcome in Asgard."

Serena raised her head. „Thank you, Allfather. I'm honored to be here." She answered, proud her voice didn't betray any emotions.

-„As I was told you encountered Loki on Midgard. Bring him in." Odin commanded and Serena had to keep herself for turning around and running towards him.

Frey and her walked on the side, next to Freya and the Queen.

Loki was escorted by four guards, held in chains. At least, he didn't seem wounded. On the opposite, his smile was daring. He didn't even look at Serena, but at his mother, Frigga.

„Mother, are you proud of me?" He asked cruelly and Frigga frowned. „Please Loki, don't make this harder."