Scene 58, the golden palace of Asgard
Frigga Fylladottir, first of her name, is crowned Queen of Asgard four weeks later in front of a cheering crowd. The people of Asgard have taken to the idea of a queen surprisingly fast and enthusiastically. Queen Frigga smiles at her people and thanks them and the members of her court, and then the feast begins and the newly crowned monarch retreats to her quarters. Her long time maid Uta takes the fur-lined coronation cloak off the queen's shoulders and helps her to change into a modest and comfortable dress.
"Is there anything my queen requires?"
"No, Uta, it's all right. You can retire for the night."
The moment the door closes behind Uta, Frigga becomes aware of a presence in the room. A very familiar presence. She turns around with a bright smile.
"My son."
"I'm not," Loki says quietly.
Frigga gives him a sad smile.
"I can't blame you if you won't consider me your mother any more. But you'll always be my son."
Loki looks at her with so much emotion that it's hard for her to hold his gaze.
"I'm sorry, mother," he whispers and crosses the room. Frigga opens her arms and pulls him close.
"There's no need. I'm glad you're here. I need you, son. If I am to rule this realm I need you at my side, your intelligence, your powers. I need your advice, and above all, I need you."
Loki withdraws from her embrace.
"I merely came to witness your big day. You're a magnificent queen and you'll be a glorious ruler. You don't need me for that."
Frigga gently traces his cheekbone.
"Please don't dismiss it right away. Stay for a while. Eat with me. Ride out with me. Take your time to come to a decision."
Loki doesn't say anything, his eyes on the floor. Frigga's expression turns from regal to motherly.
"And please talk to Breka."
Loki's head snaps up. Frigga smiles at him.
"I don't know what happened between the two of you but I can tell that you're not happy. Neither one of you."
"With all due respect, mother—"
"He's here."
"Well yes, I assume he would be."
"No, I mean he's here. Outside."
"What?! Why?"
"Because I asked him. I was hoping you'd come for the ceremony, so—"
"You set a trap for me."
"Loki," Frigga says with a sigh and caresses his cheek once more. "Are you sure you don't want to see him? Because if that's really what you want, I'll send him away."
The pain in her son's eyes is almost too much to bear.
"I can't, mother," he whispers.
"What went wrong between you, son?"
"He hates me, and he has every right to do so, and I haven't even told him the truth."
Frigga understands at once.
"It's not your fault, Loki. You didn't choose to be who you are and you can't change it."
"No, that was taken care of by a sorceress much more powerful than me," he spits.
Frigga flinches. She takes a step back.
"I don't know how to ask you for forgiveness for what we did to you. But please believe me that I've always loved you. You're my son. I desperately want you to be happy."
Loki's shoulders sag. His eyes are brimming with tears.
"There's nothing I want more than for him to forgive me," he whispers. "I miss him so much."
Smiling, Frigga steps close again.
"Why don't you start with telling him that," she suggests. She nods at him encouragingly and gives his shoulder a little squeeze.
Scene 59
Loki takes a breath and opens the door, stepping out into the hallway. Miraculously there's no guard on duty, only a familiar figure is leaning against a column. Loki's stomach clenches. When Breka sees him he pushes off the column, but stays where he is, his shoulders tense, his hands in fists at his sides. Loki swallows, desperately trying to get his heartbeat under control. For an eternity neither of them speaks. Finally Breka clears his throat.
"My lord."
It cuts right through Loki's soul.
"Breka," he answers in the same clipped tone.
"I'm surprised to see you here," Breka says, still polite, but completely neutral.
"The queen has asked me to stay. As her counsellor."
It's the only thing he can think of to say. What was Frigga thinking, throwing them together like that? Was she trying to determine if they could tolerate each other?
"Will you?"
Loki takes a deep breath and lets it out in a pained sigh. He closes his eyes and forces himself to say:
"I'm not the man you thought I was."
Belatedly he remembers to pull up a veil. When he feels it shimmer into place he locks eyes with Breka even though it's killing him.
"I 'm not an Odinson."
"So you're not royalty."
"Odin isn't my father. Frigga isn't my mother. I'm not Asgardian."
"So what are you then?"
Loki steels himself as best he can, widening his stance as if he's preparing for battle.
"I am Loki, of Jotunheim. Laufey's son."
His shoulders sag as he waits for Breka's reaction.
"I'm a frost giant, Breka."
"What?! How is that even possible?" Breka huffs out a breath. "Of course. You're a sorcerer. A shape shifter. You made me believe—to think that I—" He shivers, his lip curled up in disgust.
"I didn't know!" Loki tries to defend himself, but Breka is still looking at him as if he's about to be sick.
"I'd only just found when you told me how your family died," Loki says in an attempt to explain. Breka is clearly struggling to process. When he doesn't say anything, Loki squares his shoulders and lifts his chin.
"Anyway. I'm sorry the queen bothered you."
Loki turns to leave, hand raised to disperse the veil.
"You could have told me," Breka says, his voice still annoyingly neutral.
Loki turns back to look at him.
"What in the nine realms could I have told you, Breka? That it was my people who killed your father and sister, but since I didn't know, it didn't mean anything? That I was still Loki? Do you honestly think you could ever look at me again without seeing the face of a monster?"
"You could have trusted me to make the right decision. Hel, you could have given me a chance to even make a decision! Instead you just shut me out and ran, and when I came looking for you, waiting for you outside your lover's house, pride be damned, instead of explaining it to me then, you threw the most painful thing in my face you could possibly think of, humiliated me and fucking broke my heart. Damn you, Loki Laufeyson. I am done with you. Let me know if you intend to accept the queen's offer because no way in Hel will I stay in the palace guard if you do."