Scene 56, Angrboda's house

"It's been a while," Angrboda says when she hands Loki his bow.

"You've kept it for me?"

"How else are you supposed to hunt?" She tilts her head to one side. "Or would you rather go in wolf form?"

He considers for a moment but then he takes the bow from her.

"This form is fine. Thank you. Where will we meet Fenris?"

"I'm sure he'll find us."

She checks her gear one last time and opens the front door.

"He'll be so happy to see you. He's grown a lot by the way."

They disappear into the woods together, and it doesn't take long for Angrboda to find the first deer tracks. They've been following the tracks for almost an hour when Angrboda suddenly drops to a crouch. Loki instinctively does the same. When he looks at her she nods at a little clearing in front of them—a deer is grazing on the other side of it, and behind it in the woods there's a pair of glowing eyes. Angrboda sits down without a sound and puts her bow down. Loki starts to smile. He closes his eyes and reaches out to his son. It takes a while for the connection to establish, probably because Fenris is so focused on his prey, but then Loki can hear his voice in his head:

Father! I'm glad to see you!

So am I, son. Your mother is here, too.

I know. I do have a nose.

Loki presses his lips together to keep from chuckling.

Sorry. Human mistake. Do you want our help or should we retreat?

Fenris looks straight at Loki over the distance. Loki shrugs.

It's your prey.

There's no verbal message, but Fenris is projecting a plan of attack that involves himself, Angrboda—and Loki in wolf form.

Snob, Loki answers over their connection. Are you implying wolves are better hunters than humans?

Fenris doesn't answer him, but Loki can almost see him snarl. After a while Fenris does answer:

Fancy words. Still true.

Loki grins and signals to Angrboda what Fenris has in mind. She nods once. Loki shifts to wolf form and signals readiness to Fenris, and then they attack.

A few minutes later the deer is dead. Angrboda stands over it, bow in hand, while the wolves topple over each other in a cheerful family reunion. Their playful little fight ends with Loki on his back. Fenris starts licking his father's nose and face, all excited cub even though he's almost fully grown. Loki wiggles free and shifts to human form, ruffling the fur behind Fenris' ears. Angrboda watches them with affection for a moment, but then she pulls out her knife.

"If you boys don't mind—we should cut up the prey."

Loki straightens and draws his own knife.

"You're right."

While they work side by side Fenris keeps snapping at the deer.

"Fenris!" Angrboda scolds him when she finally has enough.

The young wolf presses his body flat on the ground and looks up at his mother with his tail waggling weakly.

"You'll get your share! I wonder who you get that impatience from."

Loki just chuckles.

"He's hungry. He's still growing."

Angrboda raises her eyebrows.

"Is this your first kill today son?"

Fenris looks down and then up through his lashes. When his mother keeps her stern expression he slowly shakes his head. Angrboda turns to Loki with the patented I-told-you-so look of long time spouses. Loki grins and holds up his hands.

"I desist from parenting your son."

Scene 57

On their way back to Angrboda's house Fenris starts snarling all of a sudden as if there was a threat nearby. His parents drop their quarry and fall into fight position immediately, back to back, bows raised, arrows nocked. Fenris takes position on their side, his snarls getting more and more aggressive. And then out of nowhere Frigga, queen of Asgard, is standing amongst the trees. Loki lowers his bow. Angrboda follows his example after a brief moment, stroking Fenris' head.

"It's all right, Fenris, she's an ally."

"And she's not really here," Loki adds, taking a step towards Frigga.

Frigga nods her head to Angrboda in a small bow, gives Fenris a smile and then turns to Loki.

"Loki. I have to talk to you."

"I'm not sure I have to listen."

She averts her eyes for a moment, but then she looks straight at him.

"Breka tells me you don't want to come home."

"It's not home," he hisses.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh spare me the wide-eyed look. I know what I am. I know why Odin took me."

Frigga looks like she has to steady herself. She takes a deep, uneven breath.

"So you found out."

"I did."

"Your father—"

"He is not my father! Unless you're referring to Laufey of Jotunheim, your majesty."

Frigga sighs.

"I mean it, Loki. Listen to me. Do—" Her gaze flickers over his companions. "Do your family know why you left the palace?"

"In this family we actually communicate, so yes, they do."

Frigga nods.

"Good. Your—Odin found you when you were a helpless child."

"Oh and he 'saved' me because he's such a benevolent warm-hearted person! Do you mean to tell me there weren't hundreds of my brethren killed that day, or left to die after their parents were slain? How convenient that Odin 'found' me, the prince. And how convenient that we only have his word for it. I think it's more likely he stole me, abducted me, ripped me from my mother's arms. He saw his chance, and he wasn't sure yet whether I'd be more useful dead or alive so he took me, to be kept alive and held hostage, or to be smothered if that was more convenient to the realm."

Loki clenches his fists. Frigga looks really pained now, but she's willing herself to say what she came to say, her voice deliberately calm:

"Here in the palace nobody knows about your heritage. As far as I am concerned you are still a prince of Asgard. The only one currently on Asgard. The line of succession—"

"Falls to me, yes, I know. I don't care for that damned line. You want your realm ruled? Rule it. I have nothing more to say to you."

And with a motion of his hand, cutting right through the illusion, he disperses it, and Frigga is gone.