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Chapter 7

"Is it safe for her to be here" whispered Terra after she knew what was inside the woman, part of her on guard because of the child growing inside of her. She received no response and didn't breach the subject again, not until it was too late, and the greatest tragedy had been suffered upon them. At first, Frigga and she were nearly on the sidelines, watching Thor and Jane, together; he looked happier then anyone had seen him in a while. As she watched them, Terra was happy for her brother in law, but she couldn't help it that other feelings accompanied those feelings. She couldn't help envying them, wanting to switch places with them. For in her mind that should have been them, Loki and her, but it wasn't. Because he was locked away in a cell. Even as Jane lay on her back as the healers surrounded her, Terra couldn't help what she felt. She thought no one could see it too and she was wrong. Frigga, being ever the watchful mother, saw it, understood it, and wanted to sooth it. She knew even as Terra remained silent that she was picturing Loki and her, their life outside that cell, but also that moment when she had seen their baby when he should have been there by her side as Thor was by Jane's now. Looking at her, Frigga found herself wanting that for them as well.

That was why she didn't judge Terra for it.

"Terra?" whispered Frigga taking her hand using it to instantly draw her out of her thoughts. The second their eyes met, Frigga smiled as she read her thoughts, seeing as her hand moved to rest on her growing belly.

"Thinking of Loki, my dear" whispered Frigga following her gaze to where Thor stood smiling over his beloved. Terra couldn't answer right away. She found herself overwhelm with emotion as she remembered where her husband was in that moment. Especially when in her mind he should be there with her. That fact that he wasn't made her angry and something more then heartbroken. When Frigga finally forced their gazes to meet, she saw all of that, and more in her eyes instantly understanding it as her hands held Terra by the shoulders.

"What you're feeling is what any woman would in your situation, my dear. The man you love is kept away from you and yet now, you watch Thor with his love with no barriers between them. It is understandable that you would be jealous" exclaimed Frigga wanting her words to sooth Terra as a guilt ridden look flashed across the girls face before leaving just as quickly.

"I know he put himself there, mother, but I still want him here. Loki shouldn't be in that cell…he should be here with me" exclaimed Terra the tears slipping from her eyes like water from a leaky faucet. They covered her face getting heavier until Terra felt drenched in them as Frigga's hands soothingly gripped her shoulders. Suddenly, Odin appeared between them, he towered over both women almost menacingly, and the look in his eyes held no sympathy at all.

"And he would be—if Loki hadn't tried to take over earth and proven himself an enemy to Asgard" Odin's voice came out briskly cold with no emotion present his eyes piercing her like the sharpest blades of a knife. Turning around, Terra felt Frigga's grip on her shoulders tighten as she wiped away the few tears that had escaped. Odin didn't say another word as he passed her by.

Placing her hand on her stomach, Terra found herself cradling her belly as she watched him. As she did so, she let Frigga guide her out of the room, and it wasn't until they sat in the garden that one of them broke the building silence.

"Odin is not as cold as he portrays himself—deep down he cares very deeply for both Loki and you and the child growing inside you" whispered Frigga holding Terra's hand as the other remained on her stomach watching the girl as she stared ahead failing to respond. The silence remained until Terra looked at her. Her demeanor was just as cold as Odin's had been except unlike him, Terra looked her dead in the eye, and Frigga wanted to smile. She knew and understood that look better then anyone. It was a mother's look.

"I've wore that look many times" thought Frigga recognizing the look of a woman protecting her child.

"What's going to happen when the baby's born and Loki's still in that cell. Is Odin going to treat our child with the cold distain that he does me. Because if so, that is something I will not allow" said Terra her voice firm as she rose letting go of her hand. As she did, Frigga felt something inside her break, and as she watched the girl drift away, she couldn't help feeling wounded. Terra didn't give her a chance to respond or say a word as she walked away until standing at the edge of the fountain, Terra stayed turned away as words finally left her mouth. Frigga wanted to go to her, to make her sit, so they could talk things over, but something held her back. She somehow knew that it would do no good.

"I'm sorry, mother…I just—I'm tired. I think I'll go lay down before visiting Loki. I'll visit you after" said Terra still not looking at her as she left her sight as soon as she finished speaking. Ever since Thor's banishment it had felt like their family was falling apart. Before Frigga had thought maybe someday their family could be brought together once more, but as Terra walked away, her faith in that faltered. Maybe they could never be the way they had been or even a semblance of happiness within them. It brought her the greatest sadness. Nothing she did seemed to make it any better and Odin seemed loath to fix anything at all.

That thought along with that deep sadness seemed to freeze her as she stared at the ground. When her eyes did leave the ground, they found the place where Terra had been, and Frigga smiled halfheartedly. Terra was finally starting to refer to her as her mother, something that made her happier then she knew, but the moment was bittersweet. For it had come accompanied by such cold demeanor that Frigga wasn't ready to accept them. She wanted to wait for Terra to say them again, for her to say them under much better circumstances then these. Leaving the garden as well, Frigga didn't know if speaking to Odin would do any good, but she had to try. She moved down the hall her skirts flowing around her like magic tendrils of light, and as she did she didn't know if it would do any good. She didn't know if anything she did would ever bring them together as a family again, but she had to try. She couldn't just give up and never would. That soon was pushed aside when she saw the guards securing the castle. She instantly found herself a woman, a queen preparing for war, and marching forward just as fiercely as the guards, she didn't stop until she was face to face with Odin. They approached each other swiftly in that moment not just king and queen, but husband and wife as well.

"My king?" said Frigga urgently forgetting anything she meant to say.

"Frigga—we are securing the castle—the dark elves are coming" whispered Odin his hands strong as they took hers as his tethering her to him for added strength. It brought Frigga closer her instincts as a warrior combining with those of a wife and mother. In that moment, she would have done anything to protect the one's she loved.

"I must ask you to go to your chambers, my love, there it will be secure" said Odin his voice low in a way that only she ever heard.

"Of course—Miss. Foster should join me…she'd be safer tucked away there with me then anywhere else. If anything should happen I can guard her" whispered Frigga not faltering in her strength in a way that reminded Odin why he'd fallen in love with her.

"Good thinking, yes—take her and…be safe" said Odin his eyes tender as they gazed upon her squeezing her hand as he brought it to his lips. For Frigga, the look in his eyes said more then his words.

"Be safe, my king" whispered Frigga in return releasing her hand from his only to touch his cheek.

"After all this time, my queen, still worries after me" whispered Odin with a smile.

"What kind of queen would I be if I did not" whispered Frigga sharing a smile with him. It only lasted a moment as they leaned forward until they shared a kiss. After it ended, Frigga took Jane ushering her away to her chambers. As they watched her go, no one knew what was going to happen next. Terra hadn't known those cold words she spoke would be her last to her or that she would never see her living again. Suddenly, the dark elves were descending upon the castle, and everyone within those walls felt their evil. Loki felt it as the barrier to his cell suddenly opened. Odin and Thor felt it as they faced the elves. Even Terra felt it as she hid in her chambers scared of the unknown to come. As she was hidden away, she felt the castle shake, she heard the roar of battle outside the door, but she didn't move.

Not until powerful hands were pounding at her door and a soft voice told her to come out. Opening the door, Terra saw a chamber maid standing there her face drenched with tears.

"They killed the queen" whispered the girl. Her words made Terra take flight her movements not nearly as fast as she wanted them to be. Finally though, she made it to the queen's chambers, she stopped as soon as she saw her there.

Frigga lay crumpled on the floor, she looked more fragile then Terra had ever seen her. Odin was holding her body in his arms, he too looked fragile as he held his lifeless queen in his arms, and then he did the unexpected. He looked right at Terra and for once his eyes were not cold.

"Come closer, both of you" whispered Odin and then Thor was by her side keeping her close as he guided her closer. They both fell to their knees next to them and as Terra laid her eyes on Frigga's dead form, she couldn't stop it as she burst into tears her hands covering her face. Her heart was filled with loss, but also guilt because she remembered the last words she had spoken to her, this woman, who had been the only mother she'd ever had.