Astrid Wilkes sighed heavily as she sank into a chair at the Rising Sun pub. It had not been too long ago that she had been sat giggling with her sister as they sipped their pints and took a break from exploring New Asgard, but this time Astrid was on her own. She had already gone for a walk around the harbour that morning to try and clear her head, and she was unsure how much more of a crying mother she could take. Her parents had spent most of the last few days by their eldest daughter's bedside, and Astrid had done her best to hold everyone together, but she was struggling now. They had travelled the moment they heard the news, and ever since they had arrived at least one of them had been by Freya's side. Her mother rarely left the medical centre, while Astrid and her father took turns to rest and keep both Freya and her mother distracted.

Astrid had not been too shocked to hear of Freya's actions, though she wished that she had not nearly lost her life because of them. It had been evident for weeks that Freya had needed closure from Loki, and the frustration had only grown between phone calls. The fact that her sister had finally reached breaking point had not surprised Astrid, but she wished that it had not ended like this. Not for the first time did she curse the sceptre, nor would it be the last. There were so many stories warning against translating words carved in to mysterious objects, and yet Freya's curiosity had gotten the better of her. Although it had led to an interesting career, Astrid truly wished that Freya had listened to ger family as a teenager and chosen a different topic to study, for then perhaps she would not be lying in a hospital bed… Yet Freya had been just as stubborn as her mother, and so she had gotten her way. As a result, she had found the sceptre, befriended Loki, visited Asgard, gained a career as a Norse consultant, and now she was living with the Asgardians. Astrid knew that her sister would not have had it any other way. She just wished that it had not led to Freya nearly dying.

It did not help that she was very much a stranger here either, and hardly anyone had spoken to her since her arrival. Astrid was pretty certain that it was because she was a human, and while Freya had managed to integrate herself into daily life here, it was evident that the Asgardians thought poorly of Midgardians. Not that Astrid could blame them. After all, it was humans that had attacked the settlement and protested their presence here. The group responsible had taken credit for the devastation less than a few hours after the attack, and they were determined to keep Earth purely for humans. Astrid could almost understand their cause, for aliens had done nothing but cause destruction to parts of the world and the Asgardians were responsible for the devastation of New Mexico, New York, and Greenwich. However, the last one had been over five years ago, and the residents of New Asgard just wanted a peaceful existence.

"You look like you could do with this." She was distracted from her thoughts by Ragnar, and she gave him a grateful smile as a pint of beer was placed on the table in front of her. "Mind if I join you?"

"I could do with the company." She told him as he took a seat.

"How are you doing?" He asked, and Astrid was surprised, for those she had spoken to had always asked about her sister first.

"I could be better." She replied before taking a sip of her drink. The Asgardian brew was a lot better than anything she had ever tasted, and she had felt rather guilty when she had first come here without Freya. Her sister, however, had encouraged her to go and make the most of being here. "You?"

"Likewise." He sighed, and Astrid realised just how troubled the weaver looked. She had not spent a huge amount of time with him during her first visit, but she knew that he was a good friend to Freya. Hilda had also explained what Ragnar had done during the attack, and Astrid had hoped that their paths would cross.

"You have been busy I take it?"

"I have been helping with the investigations, and then there's the repairs and the meetings… The list is never ending." He sighed. "How is your sister?"

"Alive, which is something." Astrid paused. "It will be a while before she is back to her usual self again."

"I am truly sorry for what happened. I should have…"

"Nothing and no one would have been able to stop her, Ragnar. Once Freya has set her mind on something then she will get it done." Astrid told him, having noticed just how guilty he looked. "It's a family trait I'm afraid."

"Even so, I was supposed to protect her, and I failed."

"She wouldn't be here if it were not for you." Astrid assured him. "Have you actually spoken to her since that night?" Ragnar looked rather ashamed, and took a drink before shaking his head.

"I can't quite bring myself to…"

"She will be happy to see you."

"You can't know that for certain." At this, Astrid gave him a very unimpressed expression as she raised an eyebrow.

"She is my sister. I think I know her far better than anyone here." Ragnar at least had the decency to look apologetic. "Freya does not blame you for what happened. In fact, she is grateful for what you did. If you hadn't gone looking for her then…." Astrid trailed off, trying not to think of what could have happened. "Look, go and see her. Put your mind at rest and let her have some different company. She is desperate to know what is going on work wise and only you can answer those questions."

"When would you suggest?" He asked, knowing that she was speaking sense.

"Give it twenty minutes and then you should be alright." She told him, while he looked a little confused. "It's when I was due to go."

"But…"

"It'll be a pleasant surprise." She assured him, and he knew she was right.


Seven days had passed since the attack on New Asgard, and Freya was gradually getting better. It had been touch and go for the first twenty-four hours, and she had spent most of the first three days drifting in and out of consciousness, but she was beginning to spend more time awake than asleep. She was glad of this fact, for she had been plagued with terrifying nightmares every time she closed her eyes. She saw New Asgard be devastated by flames, and saw her friends killed before her eyes. She was there as Asgard was destroyed. She was back at the fall of SHIELD, trying to get everyone out but failing. Or she was witnessing her family turn to ash. Her nightmares were ever constant, but she was certain that the nice dreams were even worse, for they tormented her with visions of what could have been. She dreamt of that day on the beach, chasing Loki around and just having fun. She dreamt of dances and feasts spent by his side, and of what could have followed had she stayed on the balcony. Her favourite dreams were of exploring Asgard all those years ago, when she had been a care free student with nothing much to worry about, and it was before she had developed any feelings towards the Trickster. Those memories were the ones that did not torment her, but they never stuck around for very long. Freya was not sure if she preferred the nightmares.

Of course, the very first thing she had done when she had woken was to undo the binding, for she had no wish to keep Loki bound to her will, and she was grateful that New Asgard had suffered no losses. She had then answered the questions thrown at her on day three of her recovery, although it all felt like a fever dream now, but today was the first day where she felt more alive. She had been able to hold a decent conversation with her parents, and she was very grateful for their company, even though she felt tremendously guilty for scaring them.

The one thing that Freya did know was that she should not be alive right now. The wound had been a fatal one, and as far as she was aware, the Asgardians had not yet had their medical equipment fully set up. No one else had even known that she had been in the gardens that night, and Ragnar had been out cold when the gun had been fired. Yet… Well, Freya's last memory was of Loki appearing by Derek's side. Had the Trickster saved her life once again? And if so, had it been because he had been bound to her wishes? Or had he decided that New Asgard needed her after all? Their argument had constantly repeated itself in her sleep, and she knew that she needed to talk to him. At the very least she wanted to apologise for using the sceptre, and she wished to know if she was really dismissed. Even though she had very nearly died because of it, Freya loved her job and she had no wish to leave New Asgard.

Yet Freya knew that the Prince would not visit. He had made himself quite clear on that fateful evening, and she knew that they would be strangers to each other from now on. Their friendship would have to remain a memory, and they would only be colleagues, if that. Despite everything though, Freya missed him, and knowing that he was just within reach made things so much worse. They had been close once, and yet she had ran from him rather than face her fears. She truly regretted her actions from that night, but she knew that he would never forgive her.

"You should get some rest love." Her father said as he got to his feet.

"Hmm?" Freya asked, somewhat unaware that her parents had been talking to her for the past five minutes or so.

"Try and get some sleep Freya. It'll do you the world of good." Her mother advised as she stroked her forehead in a soothing motion, the same way she had done ever since she was born. "I'm sure Astrid will be here to torment you soon." Freya just nodded as she shifted in bed, then winced at the pain in her abdomen. Though it hurt, the pain was nowhere near as much as she would have expected, and she was rather suspicious as to why this was.

She was not alone for long. The Goddess of Healing appeared only a moment after her parents had left, and Freya dutifully answered Eir's questions while she changed the dressing on the wound. Eir then took a few notes before adjusting the machines, and Freya watched her with interest, for she was certain that there were things that she was not being told. She knew though that now was not the time to voice her suspicions, for Eir seemed otherwise distracted.

"We will have you back to normal by Samhain from the looks of things." The Goddess assured her. "You just need to rest up."

"Good luck with that." Freya smiled. "I don't do well staying in one place for long, and I certainly don't like staying in bed for any longer than necessary." A chuckle came from the doorway at that, and Freya grinned as she saw who her visitor was. Eir did not look best pleased, but the look in Freya's eyes silenced her.

"Don't tire her out." Eir instructed, before leaving them to it. Ragnar hovered by the door, not quite sure if this was the right thing to do. He felt incredibly guilty for Freya's current state, and he could not shake the image of her dying in Loki's arms. He had sworn to protect her, but he had failed to do so, and now she was surrounded by so much medical equipment and…

"Hello Ragnar." Freya greeted warmly, and though she looked tired, she was happy to see him.

"Freya, I…" He hesitated as he stood at the foot of her bed. "I am so sorry. I… I should have…"

"If anyone is sorry, then it is me." She told him, feeling terrible for causing so much worry. "I should have told you what I was doing, and I certainly should not have gone alone. If it is any consolation though, I was never going to leave the gardens alive."

"Did you know that when you left?" He asked, somewhat shocked at this revelation.

"No." She sighed. "I knew when I saw Derek." She practically spat the name, and Ragnar realised he had never seen her look so furious. There was an anger so uncharacteristic of the woman, and he wondered what the story was between them. "I am sorry for the pain I have caused. I had no wish for you to feel responsible for…"

"I am just grateful that you are still with us." He told her.

"Me too." They shared a smile. "Though I still don't know that I will be here for long."

"What? Why?" He asked, instantly concerned.

"I was dismissed less than an hour before the garden incident." She explained.

"Loki?" He guessed, while she bowed her head. "I am certain that Hilda has already given him a piece of her mind over that decision." Freya laughed at this, though she instantly regretted it as she grimaced in pain.

"I would love to have seen that." She told him, having no doubt that the Asgardian woman would not have backed down even when facing the God of Mischief. "I take it she has also done the same to you?"

"She is fiercely protective of you." Ragnar admitted. "Although she also blames herself."

"Nothing and no one would have stopped me Ragnar. Us Wilkes' are as stubborn as they come." She told him. "Neither of you are to blame though."

"Even so…" He sighed as he sank into the chair next to her. "Just promise me that you will never do it again."

"I swear it." She assured him. "I am truly grateful for what you did though."

"What was it that you were looking for?" He asked after a moment, and Freya looked a little torn before she explained the importance of the sceptre. She knew that he deserved to know the truth, and he listened patiently, although she could see him getting frustrated.

"You would really risk your life to protect his freedom, even after his treatment of you?" He asked, a little incredulous.

"I was about to give up his freedom in order to protect the children." Freya admitted. "And, despite his actions, Loki does not deserve to be bound to anyone's will. The Treaty is already bad enough with its restrictions."

"Why do you defend him Freya? You of all people know what he has done." Freya was quiet for a moment, and Ragnar realised she was struggling to work out an answer.

"No one deserves to be stuck in one place, let alone be forbidden to do something that is as natural to them as breathing." She told him, though she was starting to feel very tired now. "But it is my nature to do so. I did not want to use the sceptre, but there was no better option, and I have undone it."

"You used it that night, didn't you?" He guessed.

"I was trying to save you." Freya admitted. "I had it in my hands when Derek threatened to kill you, and so I gave the translation. I believed that he would not be able to get it to work after that either."

"That may explain why he saved you." Ragnar mused, while Freya turned curiously as she absorbed this information.

"What?"

"Did you not know?" He asked, while she shook her head. "When I came to my senses, Derek was dead and Loki was doing everything he could to keep you from Valhalla."

"But… He hates me. Why would he…?" She trailed off. "I mean, the connection would have been weak by then, so he would not need to act on my will… Unless he has some use of me?"

"It is entirely possible." Ragnar agreed. "And it would make sense as to why he ordered me to keep you safe." Freya's head was reeling at this, for the Trickster had truly made his opinion of her known, and yet… Why would he do this after dismissing her? What possible use could he have of her?

"Have you spoken to him since?" Ragnar looked rather sheepish at this.

"I have tried to avoid him, for I have no doubt that things will not end well." He admitted.

"That's understandable." Freya stifled a yawn, and though she had so many questions, she was in more need of sleep than answers. Sensing this, Ragnar got to his feet, though he seemed a little hesitant.

"You should get some rest." He told her. "And if it's alright with you, I will be back tomorrow."

"I won't be going anywhere any time soon." She joked, and he smiled before leaving.

Freya tried to get some sleep once he had left, but as she lay in bed, her thoughts would not stop racing. She knew now who she owed her life to, but that begged even more questions. After all, he had dismissed her, and he had made it plain that she was not welcome here. If he truly hated her, then why had he asked Ragnar to protect her?

She frowned then, for she distinctly remembered the clause in the treaty regarding Loki's magic. He was only allowed to use it for New Asgard's protection, and the skirmish had been over by the time she had fallen. If Ragnar was to be believed, the Prince had used his seidr to save her, which meant that he had broken the agreement. Had she made him risk everything that they had worked so hard for just because she had used the sceptre? She truly hoped not, for she would never forgive herself if the Asgardians suffered because of her. It was bad enough knowing that she had bound Loki to herself, even if it was temporarily. Sighing, she closed her eyes and hoped that she would get her answers soon.