Frigga and Loki were in her bedchambers where she had got Odin comfortable. Frigga knew Odin often needed to be in a deep sleep in order to regain his strength and he needed them more in his elder years. This time was different however and he'd been holding off Odin sleep for a long time now. Loki was astounded yet concerned with his father...Odin being in this state. Despite the words he had shared with his father prior, he still held care for the man he thought was his biological father.

"I can't get used to seeing him like this. You would think he was simply asleep in his bed. How long will it take before he wakes?"

Frigga touched Odin's cheek and sighed.

"I'm not sure. This time was different; we weren't prepared. It might be a while before he wakes." Frigga responded as she moved the covers over her husband.

Loki was almost looking through Odin in a way since he couldn't believe he was lied to all these years; about his origins, his purpose, everything. Frigga was aware Loki knew the truth of what he was and Frigga hated in some ways that Odin kept this from him. He deserved to know so he wouldn't have these doubts about his parents' love; her love.

"Why didn't he think to tell me mother? Didn't I deserve the truth?"

"Odin never told you because he didn't want you to feel any different. You are our son Loki, nothing will ever change how I feel about you." Frigga told him softly.

Loki sighed since he expected that from his mother. Despite this news, he still saw Frigga as his mother. She loved him and still loved him and treated her equally or perhaps better than Thor in some cases. His prowess with magic was only because his mother saw his potential and allowed him to express freely. He didn't hate Frigga and perhaps loved her even more since she knew but didn't care that he wasn't her son by blood.

" He could have told me at least that I was adopted. I always felt different, and it would have helped if I knew about it earlier." Loki expressed somewhat bitterly.

"I know it would have. It took a lot for Odin and myself to lie about how you came to be to the people of Asgard, a lie we should never have made. He could have done this differently and I truly feel sorry I didn't tell you sooner Loki. Now you must feel conflicted, hurt, confused and betrayed and I never wanted you to feel this way."

Loki scoffed since he always felt that way growing up; him being a frost giant was just the cherry to horrible sundae that was his existence. No wonder despite Odin treating him somewhat kindly and allowing him to perform duties as a prince; a prince was all he was ever going to be. A frost giant on the throne of Asgard would have been an insult to him and his precious people.

" People already see me as someone bad simply because of my magic…. And I'm not even Odin's blood. Of course he would give the throne to Thor...I was never worthy despite his claims."

"You were worthy, but he saw another equal and glorious purpose for you. Not to mention, not all people Loki see you as someone bad, or have you forgotten already in your shock?" Frigga tried to express warmly.

Loki sighed, he knew there were people who were open minded to magic. He then remembered Astrid, they did a blood ritual before he found this out and his eyes looked at his hands and they shook. He began pacing back and forth and his heart began to panic. He was a frost giant, not an Aesir and he did this life changing, irreversible ritual with Astrid not knowing his origins. He had bound Astrid to him and he wondered if he'd doomed Astrid to unhappiness and misery with this union. His stomach churned and felt like throwing up at what he had done to Astrid.

" This is bad… I should have known sooner about what I was. What have I done, oh what have we done?" Loki almost shouted the last part.

Frigga was concerned since it wasn't like her son to be this uncertain and scared. Whatever her son did, it had to be something grave and serious with Astrid.

"What do you mean Loki? What did you do?"

Loki knew he had to tell his mother as she was a woman of magic. It was impossible to reverse but he knew he had to tell his mother anyway. It wasn't just his life he put at risk, but his love's, a love that might not be fond of having a frost giant for a husband.

" Astrid and I did a bonding ritual… it required blending of our blood since...well it was a blood ritual, a very old and sacred one. We can't betray each other and must be loyal to one another. And since I'm not from Asgard… What did I do to her? Did I commit her to a life or death sentence with me mother. I should have known what I am and now she's stuck with me. What if she doesn't want to be with me now and is utterly repulsed…Norns mother what am I going to do!?"

Loki paced and he felt on edge, close to tears since he couldn't lose Astrid. She was probably the one person aside from his mother that made him feel like a person and not the self-loathing monster he was supposed to be.

Frigga listened carefully and approached her son. She motioned the palms on his hands and sure enough, there were scars. Blood rituals were not common and Frigga was concerned more so how they did it. Like Loki spoke, this was an old and sacred ritual and not to be taken lightly. While she would approve of Loki and Astrid's eventual union in marriage, this was far steeper and much more of a commitment. Even she didn't perform these types of rituals since it was costly, dangerous, and very intense on all parties. They had to have had someone else perform it, she thought.

"How did you learn of this magic Loki?" she questioned.

" Astrid's Aunt Thyra did it for us, she needed to be a third party… we did after Odin announced Thor as heir..."

"Because you knew Thor wouldn't gamble with Astrid's life if he decided out of pride to duel you. You did this just to have Astrid to yourself?" Frigga questioned.

Loki didn't even care about the fight...okay he did that's why they did it, but he truly loved Astrid and may have done this without a fight for her hand on the line. He valued Astrid and he feared that now Astrid might rather die than be with him because that was essentially the ritual; you stand by the person you performed the ritual with or die.

" It wasn't even about the duel.. So much.. It was something we both agreed on to bond ourselves for life… Egil wouldn't care if I died but if Astrid is his bargaining chip of sorts, for prestige and a better life. I wouldn't be surprised if he had this planned all along but couldn't produce his own heirs. So instead, he took Frode's child and used her. This ritual was also so he couldn't disprove my love for her and he wouldn't question it. He would argue but knew he couldn't question it." Loki said.

Frigga shook her head since she knew the man Egil was becoming.

"It wouldn't have mattered Loki. He would be stubborn and force healers to find a way to reverse the irreversible in order for the union with Thor to occur. Egil truly thinks Astrid marrying Thor would bring peace and power to Asgard and beautiful and mighty heirs. He should know better that the heart wants what it wants and your hearts wanted each other."

Loki scoffed since clearly Egil didn't care. Egil saw himself as providing Astrid with a gift to Asgard with signing her life to be married to Thor. Meanwhile he knows Astrid doesn't love Thor, but Loki and Loki were like Frode in almost every way. Loki did this ritual with Astrid to unify them, but now he fears the consequences. He truly didn't know who or what he was before performing this very sacred ritual and this scared him.

" I am a reminder of his failure in life and he wants me gone. Astrid is an amazing woman; talented and skilled and headstrong, I never did anything to force her to do anything. She made this choice on her own as well as I. I want Astrid happy." Loki expressed

Frigga saw her son was extremely upset.

"You're worried she's going to resent or fear you now aren't you? You're worried she's that vain and callous that she would leave you or die trying to leave you? You know Astrid better than anyone; is that like her at all Loki?"

"She is not vain at all, mother, but what if she never sees me the same way? What if she rather dies then wants to be with me now!" Loki expressed.

Frigga saw the pain and fear on her son's face and knew he had the right to be this way. However, Astrid wasn't just any maiden but his maiden and she loved him for his heart and not his race.

"You won't know until you tell her and you have to tell her Loki. However, you should know Astrid and she wouldn't choose death over life. She truly cares for you and this will only show your openness." Frigga expressed calmly yet firmly.

" Yes I know that mother, especially since Astrid and I planned to leave Asgard if Thor was announced as the next king. We wanted a life in Vanaheim to build a family where we won't feel like outsiders." Loki expressed.

Frigga cracked a small smile and held her son close in comfort.

"If Astrid and you had such a loving courtship...she's going to accept you. She might be startled but that would be natural...who knows….your blood might have spared her in a way."

Loki sighed since how could his blood in her veins ever have been helpful.

" Tell me mother, was the blood ritual a mistake? We both wanted to but I do wonder if it was too soon." Loki asked

"I would be more concerned if you did it as teenagers since that would be reckless."

Loki chuckled a bit but it was brought to their attention at that age by Astrid's aunt.

" Well Thyra did offer it centuries ago when we were teens and Astrid and I first started our love, but it was a large commitment so we decided not to do it then" Loki said

Frigga nodded and undid the spell to hide Loki's scars. She wondered what kind of woman would have offered this life-changing ritual to teenagers. Least Astrid and Loki knew how severe it was at their young age but they went through this ritual now. She hoped Astrid was the woman Loki and she knew and was accepting and still loving to Loki.

"If you're committed to her Loki...I'm sure she will be at your side."

As Loki was on his way out, several guards approached him. One came up to him with Odin's scepter and looked a bit confused. He turned to his mother and she gave a light nod.

"Thor is banished...the line of succession falls to you until Odin wakes." Frigga expresses as she goes to her husband's side. Loki smiled softly at mother… he had mixed feelings. One one hand it was his dream to be king as child and make a difference, but now Thor is banished Odin is in Odin sleep, he had to be king in an very unpleasant time in his and Asgard's life. Loki couldn't celebrate his short term as king as he wanted to talk to Astrid first. He was nervous and hoped Astrid wouldn't see him as the enemy or a monster. He ordered a guard to have Astrid meet him in his chambers since this was a talk he wanted private. He took the scepter with him since it was now his for the time being but sighed since he truly didn't want this.

As he waited in his bedchambers for Astrid, he was going through all the scenarios in his head on how she'd react. Would she be disgusted, angry, betrayed, upset...it was hard to tell since he didn't want her to be trapped with the monster he truly was. He would have to break the news down slowly and gently but there was no easy way. He was praying to the Norns for a miracle that Astrid would still love him and that nothing will change, a foolish wish but one Loki was hoping for.

Astrid was in her chambers when she heard a knock. She opened to see one of the guards and he informed her to go to Loki's chambers. Astrid was a bit apprehensive as to what this was about. Things have been tense since Thor was banished and now Loki was sending a guard rather than coming himself. Something awful must have happened and Astrid decided to go see what Loki wanted. Astrid walked over to his chambers and knocked to let Loki know she was outside.

"Come in." Loki spoke rather anxiously.

Astrid entered tentatively and closed the door behind her. She got a feeling something was off since Loki looked a bit panicked and scared in his normally calm eyes.

" Loki what's this about?"

Loki sighed deeply as he sat down on his recliner.

"You better sit down Astrid...this news is truly dreadful."

Loki interlocked his hands and glanced at the floor, averting her eyes. How could he have cursed her...there was no way she would want to remain but now had to be forced to. Why couldn't he have known sooner he thought, cursing Odin mentally. Astrid saw Loki's body was shaking slightly and this made her a bit fearful at what Loki had to say.

" Loki, you're making me unsettled? What is going on?" Astrid asked as she sat close to him.

Loki took a deep breath, sighing and almost shook with anger and grief.

"Odin has lied to me...I never was going to be considered for the throne or your hand. I'm not even his son at all." Loki started.

Astrid was rather concerned and wondered what would make Loki think that. Odin was his father and raised him as such. He had been a decent enough man until recently but why would Loki dare say that about himself.

"What makes you so sure?" Astrid asked.

She wasn't doubting, however she did want to know where this was coming from.

Loki laughed bitterly and looked at his hand.

"When that frost giant touched me….my hand turned blue Astrid. I demanded Odin tell me why that was the case and sure enough my worst fears were realized when I touched the casket….I'm a frost giant Astrid, a stolen runt Odin took from Jotunheim to forge peace someday. Thanks to Thor however there is no use to me and I'm just a relic to him...a frozen monstrous relic."

Astrid listened as she had a hard time believing this...She knew Loki was not lying but it was heartbreaking. It explained why he wasn't burned like Volstagg but he still looked like an Asgardian. Was it a spell...to Astrid though it didn't matter so much. Astrid stood up and approached Loki. She wrapped her arm around his shoulders to comfort Loki as he was very panicked and scared when he shouldn't be.

" You are not a monster Loki, you were never a monster to me and you never will be." Astrid expressed softly.

He was both confused and a bit angered by Astrid's reaction. He expected more panic and disgust but she was too calm about this.

"How do you know that? Odin lied to me about everything and thanks to his lies, you're stuck with me! You can't leave me or you'll die! You saw how those frost giants were and I'm really one of them Astrid! How come you're not angry?!" Loki demanded.

Astrid flinched a bit at his yelling but it was simple as to why she wasn't angry. She knew the kind of man Loki was and she had dated him all this time. He only found this truth out now and he wasn't deceiving her. To her, no matter what race, Loki was still her Loki; the person she was closest too.

"'I'm glad I am stuck with you as you frankly put it. I chose to be with you Loki and I still chose. You're still someone I love no matter what race you are. This is a revelation but it doesn't change how I feel about you." Astrid expressed

Loki knew this was only because he still looked like an Aesir to her and not what he saw in the weapons vault. He took Astrid's hand somewhat forcibly and they made their way to the weapons vault, where the casket was. He gulped a bit as he let go of her hand and approached it. She needed to see the truth, she needed to see what Odin hid, she needed to see what he really was he thought.

" Loki, what are you going to do?" Astrid asked in an unsettled tone.

His back was turned to her and took a deep breath.

"You need to see the truth since you're still blind and naïve to what you said. You need to know what you've committed to, what Odin took from Jotunhiem. You need to see that I'm not the man Odin raised."

He took the casket in his hands and let it's power shift his form. Loki, understanding what Odin did, would be able to hold his Jotun form, his true form, to show Astrid. Only then she would realize the horrors and that because of their blood ritual, she couldn't escape him. Once it enveloped him, he turned to his beloved. When Loki had turned to face Astrid, a small gasp did escape Astrid. His pale complexion changed to blue, his eyes became red and he had some symbols on his forehead and cheeks. He was still the same height but the rest of the body was different. Astrid was indeed surprised, so surprised she couldn't find the words in the moment. He truly was a frost giant, one that Odin took to raise as his own and made him take the appearance of the Aesir.

Loki saw Astrid's shocked expression and he sighed, looking over his blue flesh. Not even she was immune to be shocked at what he truly looked like, what he was supposed to look like.

"I told you this was dreadful news and now you see it. I'm a pathetic runt that was left to die and lied to by Odin about this. You're cursed because of me now and you're bound to me. If I'd known the truth, I wouldn't have allowed the blood ritual to happen. You deserve better than someone who's a disappointment to both Asgard and Jotunheim...hell even Vanaheim hates frost giants so I will be a disappointment to them too. Now I'm afraid you are bound to me and I know you'll resent me because of this." Loki spoke with a slight growl and gruff harshness to his voice.

Astrid finally snapped out of her shock. He was different but she still saw the boy she grew up with. Her best friend and the man she loved. Yes he was a frost giant, but her own father Frode saw humanity in frost giants just as Astrid saw the man behind the cold and rough exterior. She carefully approached him and wrapped her arms around him; which did startle and surprise Loki slightly.

"Astrid, did you not hear what I said? Are you blind to what you've seen?" Loki protested.

Astrid shook her head.

" My eyes are clear and I can see clearly. What I heard were lies trying to convince me that I don't love you and that I shouldn't be with you despite all we've been through. Nothing has changed between us. You are still my Loki, my best friend who I grew up with and the man I love." Astrid said softly

Loki reluctantly reciprocated the hug and was taken aback by her words. Gently, he stroked her back and breathed a sigh of relief. Astrid was a truly wonderful woman and he was either lucky or Astrid was very naïve. No, he thought, Astrid always tried to see the good in everyone and despite his revelation...she still saw him as a strong man of magic that won her heart all those years ago.

"You must truly love me if this doesn't disgust or repulse you. Frost giants were the monsters parents told children to scare them...yet you're embracing one. Monsters of destruction and brutality."

Astrid held Loki in her embrace as she listened to him and it dawned on her why she was safe when the frost giant grabbed her.

" Frost giants aren't monsters unless someone makes them out to be, they are beings trying to live their life too. If anything you're not a monster but a savior."

Loki looked confused but his eyes widened as he recalled a frost giant had grabbed her too. He looked over her carefully with his eyes and managed to crack a light smile.

"How?"

Astrid smiled softly and kissed his neck.

"The blood ritual; part of your blood courses in my veins now. It was your blood, your Jotun blood, that protected me from being frost burned by the giant brute that grabbed me. I should be thanking you for your protection and the ritual is doing it's part already; for us to protect one another."

Loki found that comforting and perhaps it explained a lot more about him. It explained how he was so gifted in ice magic and why he hardly got cold. While he saw this as a small plus, he still felt demoralized by this realization.

"It makes sense, yes but...you should perhaps not be in my company..."

"Don't even go there Loki. We love each other don't we?" Astrid asked, looking up at Loki with hopeful eyes.

She didn't have to ask that and Loki sighed as he pressed her body closer to his.

"Of course I love you...which is why I was panicking and scared that I would lose you; either in death or have you resented me because of my true heritage. You're one of the only people who truly cared for me and I thought you sharing my blood after this would make you fearful. I've lost so much with Odin's lies and this truth...losing you would have destroyed me."

Astrid gently stroking Loki's cheek. It was cooler than his Aesir form but it didn't hurt. She kissed him softly. Loki was stunned but kissed back. Her kiss felt even warmer now but it was pleasurable to Astrid. He'd found the woman in all the Nine Realms that truly was devoted and loyal to him. Not even this ugly truth was keeping her away and he truly was grateful for her. They pulled away and Astrid smiled lightly.

" You won't lose me Loki. We won't be perfect, no couple is, but we always communicate and talk to each other. I love that I have that bond with you because I love you, frost giant or not."

Loki cracked a faint smile and reverted his form to his Aesir looks. He rested his head on top of hers for a small moment, chuckling a bit to a point it was almost joyful.

"You're truly another maiden entirely...but I guess you were always an entirely different maiden weren't you?"

This made Astrid chuckle slightly as she kissed Loki's neck.

" Well yes, I wasn't born on Asgard for one and I actually value magic. Plus I do love a man in green or blue." Astrid replied a bit sarcastic with a smirk.

Loki chuckled at that and kissed her forehead.

"Let's not quip with that tongue Astrid...can you stay the night with me. I could use the company and we still need to see what your father left you."

After all that has happened, Astrid nearly forgot about the crystal. She had wanted Loki to be with her when she heard her father's message since she knew she would end up in tears. Besides after the night Loki had, he needed someone to comfort him at least for a little while.

" I will stay with you anytime Loki. I am sorry you found out this way, truly I am. I knew you were different but Odin could have told you differently and should not have hid this for so long." Astrid expressed.

Loki didn't want to dwell on this and he nodded. He took her hand in his and stroked it softly. As they returned to his chambers to settle down, Loki thanked the Norns for this miracle. Instead of losing Astrid, she doubled down in her devotion to him despite the fact he wasn't Asgardian. He was thankful that their love was one of the only truthful parts of his life and that it would continue to grow. Loki vowed to be the man he knew he could be and help Astrid in any way he could to find the truth.