A light shake woke her, "Darling Astra," a hush voice. She had forgotten that she had stolen herself away to Loki's chambers. Well away from her own home. She jerked more awake, sitting quickly. Above her stood Queen Frigga, and in her mind, this was not good. The Queen, however, smiled at her. She put her finger to her lips in a motion to ensure Astra stayed silent, pointing to Loki, still sleeping. "Lets get you home, before your presence can be missed." She whispered softly extending her hand to Astra.
Astra took it without a word. She allowed the Queen to lead her from the chamber, she remained silent. She could only imagine the trouble she would be in. Her mothers predictions would come sooner than expected she thought. Once they were outside, she realized it was still dark. Her mother would not yet wake.
"I beg of your forgiveness, your majesty." She said quietly.
The queen stopped, turning Asta to face her, "The only transgression you have made is the disobedience to your mother. Grendi would be most displeased to learn of your secret adventure." Astra lowered her head. Frigga yet smiled upon the child. She and Loki had a bond she had only dreamed he would one day find. To fault the girl for needing her friend from time to time was a thought she did not dare entertain. "Which is why we must not tell her how you spent your time this night. Though we shall not make this a habit." She raised a brow at her.
Astra nodded in agreement. She knew not exactly what the Queen was saying, but she felt light knowing that trouble would not befall her today. It seemed as though Frigga would walk her all the way home. No one was out at this time. "Queen Frigga?" She garnered her attention. "Why is it that you are awake at this hour?"
The queen smiled. "You have heard of the gate keeper, yes?" Astra nodded. "Hiemdall can see and hear everything within every realm. He alerted my attention to your visit to the palace. I knew we would need to get you home before your mother could find you, or perhaps the lack of you."
Astra nodded again, slowly this time. "Queen Frigga?" She garnered her attention once more, her home drawing nearer.
"Child, if you will, please call me Frigga." She smiled upon her as she so often found herself doing.
"Frigga…" Astra pondered the word. "Will you teach me magic?"
Frigga nodded. She felt the child move happily beside her, "Of course we will have to ask your mother. The days may run long in your lessons and she may worry."
Astra slouched. Her mother would never allow such a thing. She expected that Astra would grow and take her place in the shop when she fared too old to do so. Magic would be of no concern to her. "Maybe she will let me." Astra hoped.
Frigga stopped her just short of her home. She crouched in front of her, "I will speak with your mother in the coming days. For now you shall retire to your own bed." Astra nodded at her. Her look solemn. Frigga pulled the child to her, her arms wrapping around her small body. "You always have a place among us, Lady Astra. You must also obey your mother. She does only what she feels is best for you."
Astra held to her tightly. With her words, she wondered what else Hiemdall may have told the Queen about tonight. Did she know of the things her mother had warned her of? She just hoped that Frigga could convince her mother that sorcery was just as important as their shop.
Frigga released her at last and turned away from her, walking down the row of houses. She would pretend as if she had not seen Astra. Although it may have been facetious on her part, she would ensure it to be just this once.
Astra slid into her room from her window. All was as she had left it. She closed the window and climbed into bed. She could hear nothing in the house. Her mother surly still asleep. She slipped under her covers, tiredness sweeping over her. She had slept at least a couple of hours with Loki. She wondered if he would remember in the morning. Thor came to the forefront of her mind. She wondered why he helped her, however grateful she may be, she still worried.
Such worries were unfounded. The next few days did not bring trouble her way. She had managed to stay her own bed for the better part of the week. She spent a few days helping her mother in the shop. She was waiting patiently for Frigga to speak to her mother. Days passed and she began to feel as though she had upset the Queen and she was never going to come.
"Astra!" Loki called from outside. She ran to the door of the shop. She saw Loki approaching. He was at a full run while his company, Queen Frigga, made their way toward the shop. Loki ran in first, flying to Astra, wrapping his arms tight around her. Her mother had not noticed him at first, upon a second look she faced the counter entirely. Queen Frigga strode inside eliciting Grendi to bow her head and cross her arm over her chest.
"Your majesty. I was not expecting your visit today. I hope all fairs well." Grendi stated. Her eyes darted back to Loki and her daughter. They had ended their embrace and were seated on the floor, chatting secretly to themselves.
Frigga smiled at the shopkeeper. "Everything fairs well, Grendi. I have come on other matters. I apologize for the unannounced visit. It has been several days since Loki last spent the day with your Astra. He begged repeatedly until I agreed to venture with him."
Grendi let out a long breath. "No need to apologize Your Majesty, you are always welcome here. Shall I close up and we sit for a while?"
"I wouldn't imagine to ask you to halt business." Frigga smiled. She too took a look over to the children. They were now playing with the few toys that Astra had with her. "On second thought, I have come to speak with you about the children. Perhaps closing for a short while would be best."
Grendi began to worry. As she bustled about to close the doors and change the signs, many thoughts ran through her head, none of them good. She finished and sat in a chair across from the Queen. "I would ask forgives should Astra have done anything untoward you." She rushed to get out.
Frigga placed her hand atop Grendi's. "Please good woman, calm your nerves. This is not a bad visit. I simply came to ask your permission."
Grendi looked at her. Confusion at the forefront of her features. "My permission? Of what would you need my permission."
Frigga took a long breath, truthfully, she felt nervous that Grendi may deny her request. "Since his birth, I have intended to teach Loki all of my knowledge of magic. To help him grow to his full power. I have come here today, because the time has come to begin his lessons. I feel strongly that Astra may also benefit those lessons. I did not want to begin to teach her without your permission."
Grendi blinked slowly at first. Her brows do close together. It seemed as if she were trying to understand the request. "You would like to personally teach Astra magic?" She almost didn't believe the words she had spoken.
Frigga nodded. "I would. I can feel something deep within her. It is small, but the potential is there. I feel that if I give her the lessons, help her to find her power, she may one day be a Master Sorceress." She searched Grendi for a reaction yet she saw none. "There is one other thing that I would ask." She may have been pressing her luck.
"What more? Your majesty, I do not doubt your ability, but what would the becoming of a Master Sorceress benefit for her?" Grendi looked over at her daughter, mostly unaware of the conversation that was being had. Unaware that her future could be drastically changed with any answer Grendi was to provide.
"I would ask to have her for three days every week. To stay with us, in the palace. Her studies would make some days long. I would prefer to monitor her as she learns her magic rather than having her venture home. Should this however be an issue for you, it would be something I could work around, however it is not preferred." She paused. "As far as her benefits. She could very well become an advisor to any of the realms. Her magic would be well sought after. Unlimited opened doors for her."
Grendi sighed. So much she herself could not open for her daughter. She never expected to be able to provide much. Her husband having died in battle shortly after Astra had been born. "What should happen if she cannot prevail in magic? What should happen to her then? Forgive my being curt, I just worry. We have no illusions that she belongs among you or your son, yet you both show her such kindness. I just fear that if you are unable to teach her your magic, she may be thrown to the side."
Frigga was unwavering. She understood the position in which Grendi came from. "If she is unable to learn magic, I will not turn her away." She sighed as well. This was not going well. She had not thought about the possibility of Astra not being able to learn. "I will ensure her future to be secure. She will have a place among the court. Even if she need to return here to help you, she will not have to worry as you have worried Grendi."
"Why would you do this for her?" A promise to be a member of the court was large, more than she felt the Queen should give.
"Your husband, her father, gave his life for those in Asgard all those years ago. A brave warrior, he deserves that his family be cared for. We try to give back as much as we can to those that have lost so much in battle. To honor our fighters by caring for what they so valiantly fought for. This is my way of giving to you, your family. I will not farce at the selfish reasons I have. Having her around the palace, having both my sons have a person to spend their time with and confide their secrets in, it has calmed me a great deal."
The children ran to them. Their plotting had come to a plan and they were ready to begin. "Mother." Loki spoke, raising his voice a bit to sound as though he had thoroughly thought this plan through.
"What is it you require, my son." Frigga asked, a smile playing at her lips.
"Would you be so kind, dear mother, to accompany Astra and myself to the palace to play in the gardens?" His gaze fell on Grendi. "That is of course, good lady, that you would allow her to come with me." He smiled as wide as he could at her.
Grendi looked to her daughter, hope spread over her face. Her gaze then turned to Frigga, "You have my blessing."
Frigga smiled at her brightly, "I was hoping to begin on the morrow. Everything she would need I can provide."
Grendi nodded. She knew there was now way to deny her a life better than the one she could provide. This was the best she would ever be able to give. Far be it for her to say no to such an offer. She bent to her daughter then. "Queen Frigga has bestowed upon you a most gracious offer. I have accepted her offer. When you leave here today, you will not return for three. Queen Frigga is going to begin lessons in magic and part of this offer is that you must stay at the palace for the days and nights of the lessons. I beg that you heed well the lessons I have taught you over the years."
Astra's face was frozen in shock. She had not expected to hear this, not on this day nor the next. She looked to Loki for a moment, his smile still wide. She ran to her mothers arms, hugging her as though three days would be a lifetime. "I give you all my thanks mother. I will not disappoint you."
Grendi held her close. Frigga holding her hand out for Loki's, they made their exit to await Astra outside. "I have no doubt that you will flourish daughter. For you can do anything you wish in this life. Your father would be so proud. The Queen has assured me you will be provided for while in her care. Three days a week. I will see you on your return."
Astra pulled away from her mother, hesitant to let her go just yet. She had never been away from home for more than a day and even still she would always return at night. She did not know how she felt about this any longer. The thought of leaving her mother here alone scared her, but she was so excited to begin her study of magic.
Grendi patted her on the back and rose, "The Queen is waiting for you. I shall be here when you return and tell me of all that you have learned." With their parting words, she watched Astra run from their shop to the hand of the waiting Queen.