Both were glad for the opportunity to rest before the meeting. They had been given a room within the palace, and they had been too tired to argue about sharing. Instead, Freya had decided to take the sofa, while Loki sat on the bed. Neither of them knew quite what the rest of the day had in store for them, but they were both glad to have at least reached Wakanda. The next step was talking to Thor, but Loki was adamant that his true identity be kept hidden until after the battle. Freya agreed to do her best to keep his presence a secret, but she was not sure how long she would be able to do so considering how much sorrow she had seen in Thor's eyes earlier. After all, from the sounds of things the God of Thunder currently believed that he had lost everything he loved and cared about, and yet Freya knew that this was not the case. But then she also knew that there would be harsh consequences if the Avengers realised that Loki was close by. After all, he had caused quite some damage to both New York and New Mexico, even if that had been close to a decade ago. Sighing, she let her phone charge and hoped that her courage would last just a few more hours. After all, she had come too far to fail now.
"I should say thank you." The God of Mischief said after a while. By this point Freya was feeling somewhat refreshed, and the urge to explore was growing with every minute. She did not half hate her natural curiosity at times, but she knew that the likelihood of her ever being in Wakanda again was slim so she had to seize the opportunity.
"For giving you shelter?"
"For getting us here." He said as he got to his feet. "I never knew you could be so resilient."
"I do find that people have a tendency to underestimate me." She laughed. "I am just glad I managed to persuade Wong to help us."
"The next part will be the hardest." He warned.
"I know." She sighed as she drank some water. "I am no warrior, and the fight will undoubtedly be tough."
"You don't have to fight should you wish." Loki told her, for he knew that she would probably not return home if she came with them. He knew first-hand just how tough Thanos could be, and he had no wish for the mortal woman to come to any harm.
"And let you have all the fun?" She asked, jokingly, until she saw how serious Loki looked. "I cannot just sit here and wait for you to come back. It is not in my nature."
"Freya…"
"I can't give up now." She told him. "Not when we're so close to…"
"There's a risk you'll never return home."
"I know." She sighed deeply. "But I have to at least try."
"I had almost forgotten how stubborn you can be." He said in an attempt to lighten the mood. Freya just rolled her eyes.
"I think you've also forgotten how I risked Odin's wrath to free you from that spell." She pointed out. "I may not be a warrior, but I will be damned if I just sit back and let you face him alone."
"I'll have the Avengers with me." He pointed out.
"And so will I." She looked a little smug, and Loki knew that there was no winning this argument.
"There's no changing your mind on this, is there?"
"I'm afraid not."
"Then promise me you'll do your best to stay out of harm's way. I'm not having your death on my conscience again."
"I promise." She told him, just before there was a knock on the door. Freya answered it, and was instantly awestruck as Doctor Banner stood there. He offered a friendly smile, before explaining that the meeting had been brought forwards. Within a few minutes they were standing in Wakanda's throne room to discuss ideas, and despite the seriousness of the task at hand, Freya could not help but feel a little starstruck as she was surrounded by the surviving Avengers along with a few others. The raccoon was standing next to Thor, and Freya did her best not to stare at the talking creature. Instead, her eyes fell to Steve Rogers, and she felt a little sad as she realised she could not share this with Astrid. Her younger sister had been obsessed with all things Captain America when she was a child, and this had then turned into a teenage crush. Freya had been more taken by mythical heroes than the modern ones at that age, and yet they had both been able to appreciate how handsome the American was. It was true even now, and Freya idly wondered if she would be able to get his autograph before they went on the mission.
Of course, as they swapped ideas and information, there were more eyes on her. She had noticed that Thor was mainly watching her, and she hoped that he would not remember her. After all, she had not dealt with him in a long time, for she had always done her best to avoid meeting him when she had been SHIELD's Norse mythology consultant, and she knew he still blamed her for stealing Loki away all those years ago. Though he had lost an eye and his long hair, he still looked as terrifying as ever, and she had no doubt that he would question who her friend was if he recognised her.
"This is no good! We can't just sit around debating ideas! We need to be doing something!"
"We don't have much idea where he's gone."
"Titan." Loki stated confidently. "It is his home world."
"That will take some…"
"Not if we use the Bifrost." Thor pointed out. There were a few hushed whispers, and within a few minutes it was agreed that they would travel at first light, for it would give everyone time to prepare. The meeting over, everyone went their separate ways, and Freya was desperately trying to get away before anyone could talk to her.
"I'm sure I know you from somewhere." Thor stated as he caught up with them. Loki instantly quickened his pace, while Freya shook her head.
"Our paths have not met." She lied. "Although you may know the name. I was a consultant for SHIELD and composed research about yourself and Loki after New York."
"I am certain it is not just that." He hesitated as he searched her face for something, though she did not know what it was he was looking for.
"I am sorry, but you truly must have mistaken me for someone else." She said, wanting to get away from his scrutiny. She saw Loki waiting for her a short distance away, and so she quickly made her excuses before heading for her room.
Of course, Freya found that she could not rest after that. She had spent a few hours wandering around the palace in an attempt to satisfy her curiosity and distract herself, but as she looked at a painting, she remembered the many museum visits she'd taken with her father, and how much her sister had complained at being dragged along. Even walking outside and watching the wildlife had not helped, for her mother had always loved animals and it had been a lifelong dream to go on a safari. Eventually Freya had given up and returned to her room, but Loki was nowhere to be found, and that suited her. She let her tears fall freely for a little bit, and tried to work out what to do about Thor. She had no doubt that he would realise why he knew her soon, and she prayed that he would not give her identity away. After all, if he knew her, then she had no doubt that he would see straight through Loki's disguise too, and that put all of them in danger.
It took rather a long time to fall asleep that night, for Freya had no idea of what the morning would bring. When she had eventually drifted off, she was tormented by nightmares, and eventually she had given up on the idea of sleep altogether. She was rather jealous that Loki was sleeping peacefully, but she had no wish to disturb him and so she crept from the room, hoping that a walk might help to clear her head. She met very few people on her way down the corridors, and she smiled slightly as she reached a balcony. Leaning on the railings, she looked at the clear night sky above and watched the stars for a little while. The view was beautiful, but she had never been able to forget the view from Loki's room on Asgard. It had been truly spectacular, and she had no doubt that she would never see anything like it again.
"Can't sleep?" A voice came from behind her, and Freya sighed.
"Something like that." She shrugged as the God of Thunder joined her. She was exhausted now, and she had no idea if she had the energy to keep up the pretence.
"I cannot help but think that you are lying to me, Freya Wilkes." He said calmly, and she closed her eyes.
"What makes you think that?" She asked curiously. "I mean, you seem convinced and yet we have barely spoken. I haven't worked for SHIELD for many years and..."
"I mean, it would have been many years ago, but then… well, we were told that she died."
"Then I can't be her, can I?" She pointed out, but he just shook his head. "Who was she?"
"A young mortal girl who shared your name. Somehow, she had managed to take control of my brother, and when she tried to escape my father's punishment, she was killed." He explained, and Freya was a little surprised at how well he remembered the incident. After all, so much had happened for him since then that she should have been no more than a minor detail.
"Then if that was the case, I cannot be her." They were silent for a moment, and Freya prayed for a miracle.
"It may be wistful thinking." He gave a heartfelt sigh. "I could do with a friendly face at the moment." Freya could not help but feel a pang of guilt as she saw just how grief stricken he was.
"You have lost someone too?" She asked, knowing the answer already.
"In the space of a few days I have lost an eye, my father, my hammer, my home, my brother, and at least half of my people, along with a number of my closest friends..." He trailed off, while Freya felt her heart ache at the news. "I even had the chance to avenge them. I had Thanos in my grasp. I… I wanted to make him suffer, like he had made them suffer, but… I should have…" He gave a heavy sigh. "I should have just killed him. If I had then… Then perhaps…" He bowed his head, and Freya knew that the Asgardian king was almost a broken man.
"You can still avenge them." She told him softly as she placed a comforting hand on his arm. "I am truly sorry."
"You have nothing to apologise for." He said. "I should be the one apologising." They were silent for a moment, while Freya made up her mind.
"You do know me." She admitted, while he frowned. "You turned up on my doorstep just over ten years ago and stole Loki away to Asgard."
"You're the same woman?"
"I even have the scar to prove it." She told him as she lifted her shirt a little to reveal the faded mark on her side where the blade had gone in. "I know you were told that I died, but whatever Loki did that night actually saved my life."
"I'm afraid Loki is dead." He explained sadly. "There was nothing I could do to save him. I couldn't even give him the funeral he…" A single tear fell from his eye, and Freya knew that she could not take much more of this. "He was just about to…"
"I am truly sorry Thor." Freya said as she handed him a tissue.
"You lost people too?"
"My family, and my cat. I have no idea about my friends either, as no one seems to be answering their phones." She blinked away a few tears, then turned back to looking at the stars. Her mother had always told her that deceased loved ones were visible in the night sky, and she desperately clung on to that belief, as unlikely as it was to be true.
"I'm sorry."
"That's why I'm here. To try and bring them back."
"And your friend?"
"He's a pretty good fighter." She shrugged. "But he too has lost everything, and so here we are." They were quiet for a moment, and Freya was truly debating whether to tell him the truth. "I am truly sorry to hear about Asgard. It was a beautiful place."
"Ragnarok could not be stopped." He sighed.
"I won't ask any questions, for I can see that it pains you." She told him, although she was feeling very guilty about keeping Loki's presence a secret. She knew that if she was in Thor's shoes that she would want to know that her sibling lived, but then again, Astrid was not a wanted criminal. Freya had also sworn to secrecy, and she was not one to break her word, but neither was she one to let people suffer if she could help it. She was truly torn, and she knew that either choice would have heavy consequences.
"I am truly sorry. If Ragnarok is anything like our legends… Well, they say that it is a cycle, and that Asgard will rise like a phoenix from the ashes once more."
"That sounds familiar." Thor mused. "Perhaps Loki was right…"
"Loki?" She prompted after a moment.
"His last words to me. He promised that…" He took a deep breath as sorrow threatened to overwhelm him. "That the sun would shine on us again."
"I hope he is right." She said, knowing exactly what she had to do. Loki was under the belief that Thor would not be distracted if he thought he had lost everything, and so would be a better warrior. Freya had not been so convinced, and now, seeing just how distraught the God of Thunder was, she knew it would be better if he was not alone.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" she asked softly after a few moments. "I mean, I can leave you if you'd prefer or…"
"I'm sorry Freya." He apologised. "I don't usually…"
"Even the toughest people need to break sometimes." She pointed out. "I will not ask any questions today. My curiosity can wait."
"It is good to see you again, even if our first meeting was not so friendly." He told her, and she could not help but smile. "I only wish that…"
"He believed me to be dead, didn't he?" She guessed, while he bowed his head. "I did wonder why he never visited."
"Things got complicated shortly after you went home." He explained. "I do know that he felt guilty for what happened…" The grief returned then, and Freya was desperately trying to work out how to tell him the truth without revealing it to everyone else.
"We should drink a toast to the fallen." She decided. "I mean, I'm not sure how to…. I do have some mead in my bag."
"It's a Midgardian custom, isn't it?" He asked, and she nodded. The pair started heading towards Freya's room, and she was already praying that Loki would forgive her.
"One of them." She paused. "We all cope with grief in our own way."
"And you?" He asked, and she sighed for she had hoped he would not ask that question.
"I know that I am doing everything I can to avoid it." She admitted. "Because I can't afford to break right now. If I do, then I won't be able to do anything to save my family."
"I can see why he liked you." Thor said softly, and Freya allowed herself a small smile.
"Oh, I'm as stubborn as a mule when I've set my mind on something. Once I'm determined to do it then nothing will stop me." They were nearly there, and Freya's heart was pounding. Her hands trembled as she unlocked the door, but Thor did not appear to have noticed. Freya could only hope that this would all work out for the best as she stepped inside, and she wore a charming smile as she realised that Loki was awake.
"Freya?" The Trickster asked curiously as he spotted Thor behind her. She looked incredibly apologetic, and he sighed.
"I am so sorry, but…" She apologised.
"You told him, didn't you?" He guessed, while Thor looked confused.
"Not yet."
"What do you mean?" The God of Thunder asked as the door closed behind him. Freya looked at Loki with pleading eyes, and he sighed.
"Are you sure this is wise?" Loki asked, while Freya bowed her head.
"If I was in his shoes, I would want to know, and I'm sure you would too."
"Freya, what's…?" But Thor was quiet as there was a flash of green light, and Freya's companion was replaced by a very familiar raven-haired prince.
"Am I truly the worst, brother?" The God of Mischief asked.
