Okay guys. If you've watched this movie then you know…you KNOW where this is heading. And listen, as much as I would love to keep Frigga from her terrible fate….ugh I just can't guys! It's just such an important catalyst for her and Loki and I just can't change that. So…just. You know….let's all just get through this together! I'd say enjoy, but well…how about I'll meet you on the other side. Xoxo-NickyLynn
Tessa stood, staring off at the beauty of Asgard, her thoughts slowly consuming her. Thor had gone off with Odin to try and find an answer, leaving Tessa to rest, yet she felt entirely restless. She could not seem to stop the endless torment of her thoughts, though she desperately wished she could. She was trying to keep control of her emotions, but her mind would not obey and kept drifting back to the terrifying truth that every second that passed was that much closer to her end.
Movement behind her caught her attention and she turned to find Frigga walking out to her, having been told what had happened. "Oh, Tessa." Frigga said, sweeping out onto the balcony. "You should be resting." She admonished, having just come from her room, expecting to see her there.
"I think perhaps I'll be doing more resting than I would like." Tessa said sadly. "I can not bring myself to close my eyes and miss a single second." She told her honestly.
"Your father and brother will an answer to this." Frigga said, reaching forward and grabbing hold of her hand. "They always do." She said, giving her a comforting smile.
Tessa smiled back, yet the sentiment did not reach her eyes. She looked back out at Asgard as she fought to keep the tears in her eyes from falling. "It's funny. I have spent so many days having lost everything and wishing an end to my suffering, yet never dying. It's only now that I have so much to lose that death wishes to take me into it's embrace. Sometimes I think the universe holds a vendetta against me for it laughs at my misery." She said, the tears finally falling down her cheeks.
"Oh, come now." Frigga said wrapping her arms around her daughter's weeping form. "It's going to be alright, my dear." She said, running a hand down her back. "You'll see."
"I'm sorry for all the pain I have caused you." Tessa sobbed into her shoulder.
Frigga pushed Tessa back enough to stare into her face, bringing her hands to cup either side of her cheeks. "Now, you listen here. The sorrow that your absence placed upon me is but a speck in comparison to the joy your life has given me." Frigga told her, rubbing away Tessa's tears with her thumbs.
"I wish I could remember that life." Tessa said. "I wish I had but one memory of you. Just one." She cried.
"There's nothing I can do to bring back your memories." Frigga told her sadly. "But I can share one of my own with you….if you'd like."
Tessa's brows furrowed together. "You can do that?" Tessa asked, searching her mother eyes, hopefully.
"Close your eyes." Frigga commanded and Tessa did, swallowing thickly as she did. "Now, just try and relax and open your mind." She continued and Tessa tried to do that as well.
Suddenly Tessa was hit with an image of an Asgardian garden, that felt so real Tessa could feel the warm breeze as if it was blowing on her own skin. There was laughter in the air, floating around her like a soft melody. She turned and saw children running towards her through the long stretch of white flowers, all smiling and laughing as if no cares in the world held them down. The first child who rounded the corner was a blonde boy with blue eyes, running a good yard ahead of the other two. The boy and girl who chased after him were both so identical that Tessa knew it had to have been a younger her and Loki. Their black hair shimmered in the sun, Tessa's long locks flowing out behind her as she ran after a much younger Thor. They were all running towards her, their eyes shining with mirth.
Thor came crashing into her legs, smiling up to her with a smile that was so distinctly his, Tessa knew it was Thor, without having to guess. "I told you I could beat you!" he yelled happily, looking back at his two siblings who came to a stop before they made it to her, the younger her looking dejected, while Loki looked angry.
"You've cheated!" the young Loki accused. "Mother, Thor's cheated!" he said, looking up at her while pointing at Thor.
"I have not!" insisted Thor, looking up at her as well.
"Rania, tell her! Tell her how he's gone and cheated!" Loki said, spinning around to her younger self. The young Rania looked from Thor over to Loki then up to her, her mouth falling open, but not knowing what to say, caught between her feuding brothers.
"Tell you what," came Frigga's voice from her body. "Why don't you both have a new race to that tree just there and I'll watch to make sure no one cheats." She said, casting a finger out towards the large tree in the meadow, it's leaves rustling in the breeze.
"Okay!" Loki and Thor yelled out together.
"You'll see, I'll win this time!" Loki told Thor, looking determined.
"Rania, why don't you come and help me judge to make sure your brothers are on their best behavior." Frigga's voice called out.
The young Rania ran up to her mother, clinging to her leg as Thor and Loki set themselves next to each other, preparing to race again. They took off running and she found herself watching them run quickly across the meadow until they both made it to the tree so close together that it was impossible to tell the winner. The boys began arguing amongst themselves, both of them claiming to be victor, and Tessa felt a sigh escape from her chest.
"Mother." Came the same voice of Rania as she tugged on her skirts.
"Yes dear?" Frigga's voice asked as she looked down at her.
"I never win." She said sadly, looking over at Thor and Loki. "How come I never win?" she asked then, looking up at her.
Tessa found herself coming to a squat in front of the small girl, taking her hands into her own. "We can't all be the fastest, my sweet girl." Frigga's voice told her. "Thor and Loki may be quick, but they will never be as quick-witted as you." She said, bringing a finger down on her nose. "We are all made differently and have unique qualities about us that make us special. And the thing that makes you special, my dear, is not found in your legs or your muscles, it's found," she said, bringing a hand over Rania's chest. "in here. There is more love in you than anyone I've ever met, and that makes you so much stronger than you realize. Stronger than anything else in the whole Nine Realms."
"You mean it?" Rania asked, looking up at her with wide eyes. "Stronger than ever father?" she asked in wonder.
"Especially him." Frigga laughed. "So long as you hold onto that love, nobody can beat you."
Tessa was suddenly pulled from the memory and as she came back into her own body, she found that the tears had begun falling down her face again, this time for a whole new reason. "Thank you." She cried, clinging onto Frigga once again.
"I love you." Frigga told her, as she held onto her. "I loved you as Rania. I loved you as her ghost. And I love you as the woman you are now. How could I ever fault you for the pain that I have endured when you have brought me so much more love?"
The sounds of shouting began drifting up to them then, and Tessa pulled back, looking around in confusion as the yells grew louder. She swiped at her tears as she closed her eyes and listened to the words being exchanged. They snapped open again as she was able to make out a few of them. "There's something going on in the prison." She said, worriedly. "Loki-" she said, moving to brush past Frigga, only to have her latch onto her arm and stop her.
"I'm sorry, dear, but you are in no condition to fight." Frigga told her.
"But-" Tessa began wishing to help, but knew Frigga was right.
"Thor and the other warriors will handle it. Trust them." Frigga implored.
"O-okay." Tessa said. "Fine, but then at least let me get you somewhere safe."
"Come." Frigga told her, taking her by the hand. "Follow me." They moved through the palace, walking briskly through the halls. When they caught sight of Odin, moving across the hall in front of them, shouting out orders to the soldiers around him, Frigga sped up and called out to him. "Odin!"
Odin turned at the sound of her voice. Her and Tessa walked up to him as he called out Frigga's name in return. "What's happening?" Tessa asked him.
"It's a skirmish, nothing to fear." He responded.
"You've never been a very good liar." Frigga told him with a lifted brow, knowing full well there was something more serious afoot.
"You and Tessa go up to our chambers. Secure the doors. I'll come for you when it is safe." He told her.
"You take care." Frigga told him.
"Despite all that I have survived, my queen still worries over me." He said, reaching over and cupping his wife's face tenderly before dropping his hand and turning to leave.
"It's only because I've worried over you that you have survived." Frigga called to him as he walked away. "Come Tessa." She said, resuming down the hall. As they passed by a group of soldiers, Tessa watched as Frigga grabbed hold of one of the hilts of a sword from the nearest warrior, taking hold of his blade for herself. "I know you are a warrior Tessa, but I need you to do everything I say right now, no exceptions." She told her sternly.
"Yes ma'am." Tessa said, nodding obediently.
They both made it up to the royal chamber, Frigga moving with haste. They felt a tremor roll through the palace and they both knew that this was more serious than either woman had originally thought. She moved Tessa over to a corner which was hidden in the shadow of a large pillar. "Listen to me." Frigga said, pushing Tessa into the shadow. I'm going to cloak you in magic. They will not be able to find you so long as I do, even if they are right upon you. I fear this power inside you has drawn on this attack and if they find you, they find it." Frigga said seriously. "You promise me. Promise me that no matter what you will remain hidden, you will not come out no matter what, do you hear me?"
"Then you must hide yourself too!" Tessa told her, shaking her head.
"I can't." Frigga said, shaking her head. "My magic is only strong enough to hide one of us and they can not find you." She insisted.
"Then let me fight! I can protect you!" Tessa told her, panic filling her as screams of dying soldiers drifted though the walls of the palace.
"NO!" Frigga said, sternly. "I am your mother, and you will let me protect you! I will not fail to protect you! Not again!" she shouted, tears burning in her eyes. The halls outside the room had grown quiet and they knew that was either good or very bad. "You promise me Rania!" Frigga shouted, latching onto her arms. "You promise me you will stay hidden!"
"Okay." Tessa said, seeing the pain and fear in her mother's eyes. "I-I promise."
"Good." Frigga breathed out, dropping her hold and taking a step back. She lifted a hand in Tessa's direction, a shimmer appearing before her vision before she turned and crafted an illusion of Tessa. She finished the illusion just in time for the doors to bust open and a man with pale skin and dark eyes walked in, looking over at Frigga and the illusion. "Stand down creature." Frigga said, moving towards the intruder. "And you may still survive this."
"I've survived worse, woman!" the dark creature spat at her as he strode into the room.
"Who are you?" Frigga asked as she came to a stand in front of him.
"I am Malekith." He told her. "And I will have what is mine." He said, eyes moving to the illusion of Tessa. Frigga looked back at the illusion, moving it to stand behind another pillar far away from the real Tessa. Frigga's eyes landed briefly on the real Tessa before she turned back around and brought the sword in her hand up at Malekith, slashing at his face.
Malekith stumbled back with a grunt, holding his face, before he drew is own blade and thrust it at an approaching Frigga. Frigga knocked his blade from his grip with her own sword and swung out at his face again, sending him stumbling back again. Once Malekith regained his footing, he swung down on Frigga with a closed fist, and she knocked his blow away with a swing of her sword. She spun around, dropping low and bringing her sword down and slashing at his abdomen. He jumped back to avoid the blow, and Frigga refused to relent. Back on her feet, she swung down at him, managing to land a blow against his jaw with the hilt of her blade. She swung her blade a few more times, pushing him further back, before bringing it up at his throat, holding him against the wall with it.
A large creature walked into the room then and Tessa was about to yell out at her mother to warn her, but found herself drawing back as she fought against the promise she had made. Frigga had seen the monster approach out of the corner of her eye and spun around to swing her sword at her, but the large creature easily knocked her sword out of her hand and sent it skidding across the floor, out of reach. He grabbed her by the throat, lifting her into the air with a snarl. He held Frigga in the air, forcing her to watch as Malekith moved past them, heading towards the illusion.
"You have taken something child." He said, moving over to Frigga's trick. "I can sense it." Tessa's eyes landed on Frigga's and she couldn't stand it any longer. There was a part of her that had wanted to keep her promise, but she couldn't just stand by and watch her mother suffer because of her. She was about to step out of hiding, to take on Malekith for herself, but she found herself unable to move. It was like she was stuck behind an invisible barrier and no matter how hard she pushed against it, it would not budge.
"I'm sorry, Tessa." Frigga's voice called to her in her mind. "But you have a promise to keep…and so do I."
Frigga's eyes locked onto Tessa momentarily as Malekith reached out to the illusion, only for his hand to move through it. Frigga dropped the illusion and it faded away in a green blur. "WITCH!" he bellowed out, spinning around to face her. Frigga's eyes moved off Tessa and locked onto Malekith as he stormed over to her.
"NO!" Tessa screamed out, slamming her fists against the invisible wall. "I'm here!" she screamed, trying to gain Malekith's attention, only to find her voice did not seem to travel to him. "Mother no! Drop this magic! Let me out!" she yelled.
"Where is the Aether?" Malekith demanded, oblivious to Tessa's shouts.
"I'll never tell you." Frigga spit at him defiantly.
Tessa tried to teleport herself out of her prison, but found that Frigga's magic stopped her from even doing that. "FRIGGA!" Tessa pleaded, bringing her fists down on her chamber.
"I believe you." Malekith said. The glint of a sword caught Tessa's eye and she watched as the beast holding her mother in a choke hold pulled back a long blade. Tessa screamed as the blade began moving up towards her mother's side and in that moment, all the power held within her burst open in a tidal wave of energy. She let out scream as the burst of energy expanded out around her, breaking through the barrier of magic and slamming into Malekith, sending him flying back through the room with a yell of his own.
Tessa moved to attack the creature but found she had been too late. She watched helplessly as the creature dropped his hold on Frigga, sending her falling to the floor, the sword imbedded deep into her side. A roar tore from her throat as she let herself be consumed by all the rage and pain swirling within her. She gathered all that emotion into one ball and sent it flying out, directing it at the creature who was lifting Malekith from the floor. The blast hit them and sent them flying back through the air. They crashed through the balcony wall and fell through the open air below.
Tessa dropped to the ground at her mother's side, pulling her into her lap. "No, no, no, no." she muttered, holding a hand over the wound, but she knew there was no saving her. "No, Frigga, don't do this!" She pleaded, tears blurring her vision. "Mother please don't do this!" she screamed out, moving her face towards her. She found her eyes closed and her face slack. "No, wake up!" She cried in desperation. "Mother please open your eyes! You can't leave me! I've just gotten you back! YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!" She bellowed, tears steaming down her face.
Through her tears, she could see Thor burst into the room, followed by Odin and a group of soldiers. They all looked down at Tessa and to the bloody form she had cradled in her lap. Tessa's eyes landed on Thor and the look that washed over his face sent a whole new wave of tears streaming down her face. "I'M SO SORRY!" she sobbed up to him. "I tried! I tried to stop them! She wouldn't-she wouldn't let me! I couldn't stop them!" she cried out as Thor dropped down next to Tessa, pulling Frigga from her lap and into his own. "I couldn't save her!"
"NO!" Thor bellowed, looking down at her lifeless form in his arms.
Tessa looked at Thor's weeping form, to Odin, slumped against the doorframe distraughtly, and then back down to Frigga's pale face, now marred with Tessa's bloody fingerprints. She could feel the familiar darkness of despair creep into her chest, but this time…this time it had been wholly and completely her fault. This time it was not some foreign adversary who had taken away someone she loved….it have all been because of her. Because she had been foolish enough to wander into that God forsaken portal. Because she was foolish enough to bring this curse of a relic into Asgard. Because she had not been strong enough to protect her.Her mother was dead….because of her. She scrambled back away from Thor and Frigga, suddenly overcome by panic, and kept moving back until her back hit the wall. She stared wide eyes over at the scene before her, being swept under the currents of despair. "Please bring her back!" she pleaded to the universe, bringing her knees up and dragging her fingers against her scalp, desperately wishing she could wake from this terrible nightmare. "Please! It was supposed to be me not her!" she sobbed, wishing she could trade her life for Frigga's. "Oh, God! BRING HER BACK!"