Months had passed since Jotunheim's invasion of Asgard and Astrid was in between stages in her life right now. She knew Loki was planning a grand proposal for her hand in marriage but her head was elsewhere. Laufey's words about her father Frode's monstrous nature bothered her and wondered if there had to be truth in them. Odin did corroborate with Laufey that low rank Asgrdian women were being abducted months before her birth but did it align with Frode's 'experiments'. Before she was to wed, she needed to know the truth.

She was currently at Vanaheim visiting her mother since she vowed never to step foot in Asgard unless by Frigga's invitation. Tove's treatment took eleven long, grueling, and painful months for all the poison to be drained from her body from Egil's potion work. Aunt Thyra and some of her strongest students and friends helped in Tove's rehab and it was only because of that the treatment took months and not years to reverse decades of abuse. Astrid was happy to see her mother full of life and energy again; but she felt her stomach churn knowing she would need to see Egil for that. If Frode was truly like Laufey expressed; he would for sure have to have hid it from her mother. She didn't want to ruin her mother's memories of her lover; that would break her completely.

"Loki truly is taking his time isn't he? I thought he would have had a glorious plan once Odin told you both you could marry?" her mother asked sweetly.

Astrid cracked a smile and managed to laugh softly.

"He and I have been waiting for sure, but he truly wants to make it a moment we won't forget. Loki truly wants to give his soul into his proposal and I want him to."

Tove smiled and tapped her hand on hers. Equal parts concern but pride were in her eyes.

"Have both of you decided where you shall live? It would truly be a good idea for you to remain in Vanaheim and develop a family in the house Frode and I were to have with you."

Astrid sighed. If her father was a complex, complicated, and dastardly scientist; would living in their home taint the times she had with Loki already. Plus; she had to think of Thor and what her duties should be.

"I know mother…but Loki is Thor's brother and we may want to be at his side for advice and to better the Nine Realms. You should have seen Thor's hurt face when Loki told him that we might leave for Vanaheim; it was crushing to him."

Tove sighed but nodded in agreement.

"Though you picked your man to marry, both men are going to keep you in Asgard it may seem. Just….please be sure the ceremony of marriage takes place in Vanaheim and to visit? I want my future grandchildren to know their Vanir roots sooner than you had to."

Astrid hugged her mother somewhat tightly and lingered on her thoughts. She felt her mother stroking her head and Tove asked,

"You're a much better woman than I am already…just never lose sight about what makes you who you are."

"I won't mother and I will visit you soon; maybe with the news you and Thyra have been waiting on." Astrid mentioned with a smile.

They pulled away and Astrid looked up to the sky.

"Alright Heimdall, bring me back. I'm ready to return to Asgard."

Astrid was taken in by a bright light and soon was back in the foyer of the Bifrost Bridge. She glanced over to Hiemdall, who was still very foreboding and stoic in his stance.

"You haven't told her your plans to see Egil?" Heimdall questioned.

Astrid sighed.

"The man poisoned her for years and it's clear she will forever have a hatred for him. If my mother knew I was to see him and he's to slander Frode's name…she would bring her wrath to Asgard and strike him down. For what I want to hear, I need him alive."

"Yet you've stalled to see him. Why?"

Astrid wondered that herself. Perhaps she wanted to explore on her own and look into Frode judgment free. Yet it was clear she was biased and thought the world of her deceased father who she never met. She wanted to preserve that memory of him but she's seen some eerie coincidences that had to have connections.

"Heimdall…please my heart is already torn; you know why." she stressed.

"And yet you've even been about this on your own. I do see all and you haven't told Thor much about this. He would be there to support you and he would extend a hand to your aid if you asked. Loki even doesn't know all the research and trips to Vanaheim you've been making nor does he know you've been in the seedy parts of Asgard too."

Astrid sighed deeper and nodded.

"I need to hear from Egil and perhaps have him point me in a direction to go. Once that's done; I will gather Thor, Loki, and maybe Sif if she'd forgiven me yet."

Sif and her were still at odds ever since Astrid's masquerade as Allister was exposed. It truly pained Sif and Astrid knew she was completely at fault for Sif's current pain. She just hoped Sif could find it in her heart to forgive her and perhaps be at her side when Astrid is to be wed.

"I'm sure Lady Sif will forgive you. Despite all these years and differences; she truly is one of your only lady friends as you are one of her only ones too."

Astrid cracked a smile but she wondered something but she probably knew the answer.

"Hiemdall; with your sight; have you seen my father Frode do such acts that Laufey claimed?"

Heimdall gripped his sword tighter in disdain. He deep down hated magic and sorcerers that could impede his sight. Astrid and Loki have been known to do this; but Frode was leagues above the lovers.

"Frode was a smart Vanir and was able to hide himself so much that at times I thought him to be a phantom or myth. He made yours and Loki's concealment magic look like parlor tricks. I wish I could give you the truth Astrid, but Frode was truly a man of powerful magic and a man of secrets. However...do be careful with Egil. He and Frode share complex and deceptive natures."

Astrid sighed and nodded in agreement. She might have hated the man, but he was the only one who could have an idea on what might have been going on and forthcoming...perhaps not but he at least wouldn't be kissing Frode's late ass like the council would.


Astrid made her way to the prison within Asgard's palace and the guards were somewhat alarmed by Astrid's request to see Egil at first. They didn't question her and she was one of the only few who had clearance to see the disgraced warrior. Odin lessened the severity of his sentence since returning to the throne and thus Egil wasn't being brutalized by the guards. However, he was still in solitary and had very few visitors. Not even Odin visits him since it would be a conflict of interest for him. He had few comforts in his cell, like a bed and decent lights, but he was very much a prisoner. Egil knew Frigga protested to Odin to send him back to Vanaheim to serve his sentence but something or someone must have influenced Odin to keep him in Asgard. Egil knew it had to be Astrid but he still wondered why.

Egil was in his cell, back turned to the windows and was reading a book. Astrid approached the cell and saw that Egil was reading. She didn't remember him ever reading unless it was reviewing battle plans. It intrigued her but she wasn't here for a pleasant visit. Still she had to keep her focus, and that focus was about Frode.

"When did you get a library here? I never saw you read much aside battle plans?" Astrid stated in a cold tone.

Egil heard the voice and he was caught off guard. Astrid, visiting him? Now this was something special since she'd pretty much renounced him. Still he was oddly moved that she was here. He turned to her, smiling, and a light shine of warmth was in his eyes.

"Not true. Who read you bedtime stories when you were just knee high? I haven't forgotten those moments." Egil mentioned.

Astrid scoffed yet a small part looked back fondly at that. No, she needed to focus and not see this man as anything but a man with information and not a father figure.

"Those were children's books, easy to read. What you're reading is more less a light novel.. Anyway, I need to talk to you about your brother…my father." Astrid stated.

Egil felt a bit angered by this request but still laughed it off.

"Always to the point in your later years I see. You're not going to question why I have such minor luxuries as a prisoner? I wouldn't be surprised if the last you heard I was being assaulted by the guards because of the false king's punishment. Glad Odin is back in charge, he sees reason."

Astrid rolled her eyes. She knew Odin was going to accommodate a friend even with Egil committing severe crimes against magic. It was something she didn't have to bother to ask.

"I am going to cut to the chase. Do you know anything about Frode experimenting with interspecies mating? Odin alerted me that you were watching and spying on him ever since Asgardian women were being abducted before my birth. I know you must have some information." Astrid asked in a serious tone.

Egil sighed and shut his book. So it was to be out there; he really didn't want it. He ruined Astrid's perception of him and he didn't want to ruin anymore for her.

"Astrid…you should really quit while you're behind. Nothing you learn is going to make you happy. What brought this on even? You saw the world of my brother even though I was the one to be there for you. I know I murdered him…but it was more than just him getting your mother pregnant. Please stand down and just keep the memories and feelings you had intact."

Egil was oddly being sincere and very concerned with what Astrid was asking. The months in jail forced him to think about his actions and his actions did troubled him. Astrid sighed. She saw Egil was being stubborn but unlike their previous exchanges...he was being somewhat fatherly and concerned for her.

" Look I'm not here to fight you for once. I'm asking because someone who knew about the experiments told me. I want to hear from you. You owe me that much." Astrid expressed firmly, though no anger was in her voice for once.

Egil shook his head. For someone so smart, Astrid was being a bit unwise with what she was doing at this moment.

"Someone being Laufey, you don't have to withhold information. He's the only one outside the council who would know about it. I only knew because of months of recon and observing. But you won't believe me no matter what I tell you and I'll understand that. Our relationship is all but hanging by the thinnest of threads. Last thing I want is to destroy what's left with the truth." Egil professed.

" Just tell me. I already know you're kind of shady, but it's harder to learn Frode was like that. If you wont tell me then tell me where I can learn about it myself since you're probably right that I won't believe you. I need to know about my whole family in order to move forward, that means I need to know the crap Frode did as well." Astrid state calmly.

Egil sighed. He didn't want to cause anymore harm to anyone else. His actions destroyed the heart and soul of the woman he loved and the girl he would call his daughter. Staring into Astrid's eyes he only saw the meek little four year old who needed her 'papa' to 'slay monsters' under her bed.

"Did you pick up a bit of a mouth from your Midgard trips? I doubt Thor or Loki would be that crass in tongue around you." he asked with a chuckle.

Astrid chuckled despite herself since she was still speaking with Egil. However he did make a slight point that was funny.

" Midgard is very much a fun place to be. I know it's not where we will live when we marry but I do plan to frequent it. Their music is simply sensational." Astrid mused.

Egil raised an eyebrow but he wasn't shocked and very well knew who had her hand.

"You and Loki. He hasn't proposed yet has he?"

Egil was defeated but yet oddly calm and accepting that it was Loki. Sure he was the prince he longed to protest against and Loki had guards whip him senselessly until Odin stopped it; but he couldn't deny what Astrid wanted.

"He's been busy as was I in repairing Asgard and his duties as prince. Also, he wants to make sure it's a proposal worthy of how much I mean to him so naturally he's probably been planning for months just how to say the words themselves, let alone the grand gesture." Astrid stated calmly

Egil cracked a tiny smile despite the pain he had; the pain of hurting his daughter all these years.

"I will admit…I out of everyone should have sympathized with him about being out of place within society…yet I was just so consumed with what would make myself proud and Asgard happy…I neglected what mattered…what you wanted. I just wanted to show Vanahiem as well that I won, that my daughter was going to be queen and married to a fine warrior…but that wasn't going to happen no matter if I had raised you or Frode. Some things are just set in the stars and fate…by Norns perhaps I should have just listened to them."

" Who are you talking about?" Astrid asked raising her eyebrow

Egil was stunned about Astrid's lack of knowledge and cleared his throat.

"The Norns of course. The deities that control our destiny. They have a pool deep in a cave in Midgard's Norway that can make beings have visions with a blood price. I'm sure my brother went there to see his fate just as I went to see mine and yours. Course I was fighting tooth and nail with what I saw with you but…"

Egil didn't finish his thoughts since the memory somewhat haunted him. The Norns gave him a vision that no matter what he was to do to impede and alter Astrid's upbringing, her path in some ways would always lead to Loki. He even saw a flash of Astrid being with a Jotun which Egil concluded someway it had to be Loki. Astrid sighed, since Egil did make mistakes but he did raise her and she did love him, before he started deciding who she should wed and whole deals on what her purpose should have been.

" If you knew what Frode did with experiments and all, why haven't you ever told mother?"

Egil's eyes darted away from her gaze since he knew why.

"This is if you chose to believe me…but I haven't told her since I would have had to tell her everything…including my own frustrations, failures, and moments of weakness and shame. Frode took women of Asgard, women who needed to support their families and babies without fathers, the lowest class of women. They worked in brothels…ones where I nursed mead to heal my pain and…"

Egil was too disgusted to share what came next but Astrid would be smart enough to connect the thoughts. Astrid crinkled her nose in disgust since Egil was just as flawed in his fidelity as her own mother had been. Still she would hear him out.

"Besides all that, I know she truly loved him and…I didn't want to break her anymore by sharing the truth about her true love. She was a strong woman but being with me did make her weak in some instances. I didn't want to ruin her more by having the man she clung to deep down be revealed as a monster too."

Astrid was caught off guard by what Egil was saying. He cared for her? Funny way he showed it and it caused her to scoff with a tinge of a hateful glare in her eyes.

" Mother deserved to know and deserved her own free will to make her own choices. Why did you still insist on giving her that disgusting tea?

If you'd just treated her better, she would have been yours despite Frode's advances. She wouldn't have cheated if you just supported her as well?" Astrid asked.

Egil shook his head.

"She hasn't ever been mine since the day she met my brother. I saw it in her eyes…a look she never gave me despite her affections. She settled for me; nothing more to say about that. That's why I gave her the tea…to hopefully have more love and affection but it was always bittersweet to me…but we aren't here about her. We're here about my brother and whether he truly did the acts and how you can confirm it….correct?"

"Yes, that's right. Be honest with me. While I am still angry with you, I need to know my biological father's past as well."

Egil sighed and nodded in agreement.

"I knew Frode was very interested in other races for quite a long time. He still saw Vanirs as the ideal perfection with Asgardians being a close second. When he first met the Jotuns…everything changed. He was engrossed in their culture, their customs, and really felt for their miserable plight of them producing runts. He wanted to prevent runts to be born and if they were, find a use in their society. Frode became a blood brother to Laufey and wanted to help him while also fueling his darker interests in interspecies relations. Word has it he convinced all but Volund in his research for Vanirs and Jotun relations; but only the criminal and lowly of their own people. Male prisoners were converted by magic to be women for the experiments and women prisoners would 'be freed' if they gave their services but tragically that agreement sealed their fate. He was craftier when getting Asgardians and he tricked and manipulated them with his mischievous words, magic, and charm. I can name at least five Asgardian women he took that I knew that suffered painful ruts and had to carry those bastard jotun offspring before being slaughtered like pigs….but again, you won't believe me even if my words are true."

Astrid felt sick with Egil's passing words. There had to be a reason...but she couldn't find one. Still Frode couldn't answer himself and yet something about Egil's words had essences of truth that sent chills down her spine.

"So Frode never himself mated with Jotuns? Or you don't know if he had?" Astrid asked inquisitively. She felt a sense of betrayal and disgust of her biological father.. That man she thought was amazing.. To be involved in something so horrifying.

Egil scoffed.

"Frode was as vain as the rest of the magical gifted elite. He might have found some charm in female Jotuns but he never laid with them. His focus was the male Jotuns being able to have big children and not pleasuring the females with more runts to bear. I asked him that night but he was disgusted at the notion. All he fucked was Tove and said it as much in our duel that night."

"You did not discuss that. I saw you two fight before you killed him. You were talking about how pissed you were that he stole the only woman you said nothing about experiments or only laying with mother" Astrid stated, showing the red ice crystal.

Egil looked at the crystal and laughed in disgust and disdain. Like his brother, he too studied different cultures out of necessity and not science or desire. He was too familiar with this and this was flawed.

"You're not familiar with ice crystal preservation. It's incomplete and Laufey must have bound it true; but Frode made a mistake or rather he implanted false memories or left some out. True frost crystal memories even with on last moments; would never be preserved so red. The crystals vary from ice white, periwinkle blue, or last moments violet…never red. Frode in his arrogance wanted to be sure this made me look worse and him saintly. You would need the magic user who made the memory to fix it or undo the deception. But he's dead so that won't work. Still I could just be lying to you just to ruin Frode for you. Ever think about that?"

" Trust me I know you could be lying, I wouldn't put it past you. Are there any records about what you have said?" she asked.

Egil nodded.

"There might be, but you know my handwriting…always the horrid sort. However…you could just ask the Norns yourself. They can't lie about destiny or on what has occurred." Egil said with a slight grin.

" You know where it is since you've been there… and you want me to ask Odin to release you so you can take me there?" Astrid asked somewhat perturbed.

"Aye yes. Maybe I will get a somewhat decent Midgard meal while down there and can take in fresh air…though I know I will be chained still but it will be the breaks. I do suggest taking backup in case I may decide to flee…"

Of course Astrid thought. She didn't know if he was kidding or not but she didn't want him released.

"Yea… that isn't happening. I'm not stupid. I don't believe you, so I will do my own research, and if this cave in Norway exists I will go there with Loki." Astrid stated

"Bring Thor too, just in case you and Loki are troubled by the truth. Don't want you to be passed out in Norway and have the mortals think 'Sigyn' and Loki are having arendezvous . It would be racy for the mortals for sure." Egil joked.

Astrid glared at him since she and Loki had more class than that.

"I was actually starting to feel some form of forgiveness towards you, but you decided to mess that up. Enjoy your library.. That's likely all you will have for a long time." Astrid said

Egil placed his hand on the glass with a sad yet gentle look.

"Astrid…tread carefully. I might have been an awful man and a worse father…but it will still hurt me to have your heart break. I am truly sorry and I just hope no matter what you see…you can get through it. If you can trust anything in me…trust that when this all ends…you will be happier. I can promise you that." Astrid sighed as she walked away. She turned one last time

" For what its worth, it's better for my heart that you're here, not in Vanaheim. What they intended for you… you would end your life in a cell just to never experience it… at least here, you have luxuries which are more than you deserve. As much as I hate you I also don't want to believe you're entirely evil. Loki told me once, no one bad is ever truly bad and no one good is ever truly good." Astrid said with a slight smile before she turned and walked away.


As Astrid spent the rest of her day in the library to research the Norns and their sacred spots to see if there was such a cave with a pool that Egil described. In her search, she uncovered the location known as The Water of Sight. It was a bit off from Egil's description and it was more of a pool with water spirits to access dreams. Legends didn't fare so well for ones who dipped in the water; perhaps that could explain her father and Egil's cursed natures. Perhaps they mistook them for the Norns and were given false futures. There was also a sacred well Urdr in a hall in Asgard that could house the Norns but that was a place forbidden by most to go to. Astrid rubbed her head in annoyance and cursed under her breath.

"There has to be somewhere I can go to get what I seek that won't be endangering or risky. Come on..." Astrid muttered as she got more books with her magic.

She could hear soft footsteps from behind her; a pair of footsteps and caught a slight glance before sighing.

"I will be fine; no need to worry yourselves." she protested.

"But we are worried. Hiemdall mentioned you have been to see Egil and that in turn worries me Astrid my dear." Loki professed in a concerned tone.

Astrid sighed as she slammed a book shut.

"I just want answers! Before we wed Loki I need to know the truth. If there's any blood that is caked on my father's hands, I must know so I can atone in some ways. I just...I just want to know." Astrid protested.

Thor crossed his arms in concern.

"Astrid; you have father's blessing and mother has already blessed yours and Loki's union. No need to make yourself crazy about this." Thor expressed.

"And you need to understand that it will haunt my mind if I don't know the truth and that will hinder everyone, including you. But as of yet, all the options I've seen are risky and not given answers to find the truth."

Thor thought for a moment and he looked at Loki.

"Would Astrid's aunt know?" Thor questioned.

"I don't think she would. Their only connection was Astrid's mother and their fields of study differed." Loki expressed.

Astrid nodded in agreement as she got down another tome. Thor thought a bit more and asked,

"Why not go see this Volund fellow? He was an ally to this Frode right? If he would trust anyone aside Laufey...it would be him right?"

Astrid thought for a moment and Thor did make a good point. Besides, Volund must have dealt with treating Frode's body and magical energies so maybe he preserved the darkest moments truthfully.

"It's worth a shot. Plus I would feel better coming with Loki and I to Vanahiem than the Water of Sight since if I went to the latter, I would be without um...clothes in the water." Astrid expressed with a faint redness in her cheeks.

Loki nodded in agreement and Thor chuckled.

"To be fair..."

"Do not mention or bring up that incident with the dwarves and their bathing pools! One where you clearly misread the signs of the baths and caught more than you should have seen!" Astrid exclaimed.

"Yes, let's not bring that up or I'll stab you." Loki hissed.

Thor dropped the matter but he did open his arms up for Astrid.

"All that aside, Loki and I will be at your side and hope Volund will be forthcoming. If he's to maintain a good relationship with you, he should tell you what you seek." Thor mentioned.

Astrid nodded and both the brothers hugged her. The truth may not be what she wants to see but what she has to see. If there was any person in the Nine Realms that would know her father and his ordeals...Volund would be the only one left to tell her the darker tales of Frode.