The last year or so had been quite trying for Frigga. Her husband, Odin, who would normally come back to their bed chambers, had stopped coming altogether. As a woman, as a wife and as a mother to their children, to have an empty bed chamber to herself was hurting her self-confidence. She often wondered if she was not doing enough for her King, or if she was lacking in bedroom experience compared to Odin's other mistresses.
Although she knew of her husband's past flings, she was the one who ultimately had a ring on her finger. Yes, she was the winner among other Gods and Celestials. So, she decided to be patient. Frigga would wait every day for her King to come back to Asgard, laying in their bed chambers hoping.
At first, Odin would only come to their bed once or twice a month to check up on her. However, Frigga had everlasting patience, which would eventually bear fruition. The Allfather would come to their bed once a fortnight, then once a week, to finally at least twice a week. She had finally regained some semblance of her maternal pride. That did not mean she stopped at just their bedroom life. Every time Odin would leave Asgard, she would secretly follow her husband to the edge and bid him a safe trip within her heart.
She waited outside of Odin's personal chamber, knowing Toreii had entered Odin Sleep just now. Tonight she wore a sleeveless, silver nightgown, embroidered with gold and ivory across her chest and down her back. Her auburn hair, normally reaching her lower back, was braided to a more manageable length just past her shoulders. Staring directly at the obsidian doors which protected her husband, Frigga's emerald colored eyes, shinier than gems themselves, never let her sight wander from its target.
The hallway she was in was empty and expansive, where the ceiling faded to darkness before any actual covering could be seen. Standing at attention with her back to the cold stone walls, she spread her fingers apart to cool the heat from her hands. As a Goddess, she knew her beauty was unmatched by other beings – even her son's wife, Lady Sif.
Frigga did not consider herself to be a woman of envy, but if she was comparing herself to Odin's past lovers, she would undeniably be the fairest of them all. Her visage was that of an older beauty, who through gaining age, also gained refinement and class. Being a God, Frigga's physical appearance had stopped changing hundreds of years ago, locking her beauty into a woman who just turned 30.
Although she was dressed for sleep, hoisted on her waist was the greatest gift the Allfather had ever given her, [Rungnir]. Originally a prize won through blood and sacrifice by Odin in a battle to the death against Surtr, her husband readily handed it to her the night before. In fact, the Allfather had stationed extra guards around the edge of the city, and even gave orders to his Valkyries to protect the castle. Even Thor and Loki were on overwatch, patrolling the skies, although she knew the brothers had a strained relationship.
Before gathering everyone last night, Toreii had equipped Frigga with a full set of armor never seen before in Asgard. The suit of armor was platinum in coloration, but was forged from unknown metals she had never heard before. Frigga knew of the Uru metal unique only to Asgard, which was used to forge [Mjӧlnir], [Gungnir], and [Rungnir]. Only the strongest beings were capable of using Uru weapons, as the metal required their users to channel their mana through in order to bond with it.
Since receiving [Rungnir], Frigga could feel the demonic and hellish magical power Surtr had poured into the sword. The blood-stained sword had eons of mana stored inside it, which fought against Frigga's will to wrestle control of true ownership of the blade. She could feel a quiet consciousness which was not her own within her mind, emboldening her to do treacherous things against her loved ones.
Frigga had been pouring her own mana into the sword, diluting the hellish presence Surtr had masterfully created, but she had only one night compared to centuries the World Ender had. If need be, she would gladly take on that title Ender herself if it meant protecting her King. In fact, thanks to the Allfather's magic, Frigga was able to hold the sword at bay and stop any corruption of her mind.
Toreii had imbued a total of 6 of her personal sigils onto Frigga's slender body in the past year. Each sigil exhausted both husband and wife, since the process required equal part of mana consumption of both parties. Frigga would always feel all of her mana was drained away, causing her to fall into a coma, lasting a week each time. Even after recovering and waking up from a long sleep, her body would fight against her wish to leave her bed.
Frigga's muscles would become sore, and if she attempted any kind of moment, the inside of her limbs would burn intensely. Born as an immortal, where her body was tougher and more magically talented, even that did not help hasten her recovery – quite the opposite, really, because it meant she was not used to the pain. Although she wanted desperately to get out of bed each time, it was also when Toreii would watch over her personally. So, Frigga resigned herself to be bedridden as a hopeless wife, soaking all the attention Toreii would give her.
Especially now, as her will clashed against Surtr's for control of [Rungnir], Frigga was grateful for the sigils, as she knew this fight was not hers alone. Through the excruciating process, Frigga gained a new power no Asgardian had wielded before. Against Surtr who could destroy entire worlds with a single swing of his sword, Frigga stood her ground, feeling the familial magic aura of her Allfather.
On her back were 4 sigils, each one acting as a 'Mana Gate' – designated North, South, East and West. The East and West gates were imprinted on her left and right shoulders, which, as she remembered, Toreii called [Tui] and [La], corresponding to the 'push' and 'pull' her physical body had to withstand. On the back of her neck and on her lower back were the North and South sigils, [Omni] and [Uni], which represents harmony of spirit and will. The 5th sigil on her abdomen, [Vita], was meant to be anti-death, as Toreii had once told her it used to belong to an archangel, Metatron. The last sigil was in the palm of her right hand, [Sephiroth], the embodiment of defiance, whose power she was using right now.
The sigils were originally black when they first appeared, but had all disappeared by the time she woke up from her week-long rest. Yet, despite not being able to see the sigils, Frigga understood the power Toreii entrusted to her. [Sephiroth], which once belonged to a fallen angel, gave her the willpower to fight against Surtr's corruption, or as Toreii had explained it, "A fight of two greater evils."
Lastly, the unknown armor she was gifted was beyond the capabilities of anything she ever saw in Asgard or in any of the other realms. Although she could feel remnants of Uru metal inside the armor, it was not the only material used. During a routine check inside of the treasury, when Frigga accompanied her husband, Toreii had given a detailed explanation of her plan to craft the armor.
First was Toreii's trip to the underground mines within Asgard to secure a plentiful amount of Uru metal, as she did not want to use the reserves stored within the treasury. Next was to get permission from someone called a 'Dev' in order to mine the remnants of two meteors which had fallen onto Midgard and the frozen tundra of Hel. The two unknown metals Frigga had never seen or heard before was 'Proto-A' and 'Anti-M'.
However, a week after implementing her plan, Toreii came storming back into their bedroom, grumbling and shaking her fist in the air, shouting a long monologue about 'how much she spends on the game' and "What do you mean that would have been too broken for the game?!" which finally ended with, "Your game is already broken!'". After an hour or so of grumbling, Toreii summoned [Gungnir] from the armory, which startled Frigga, despite being confined to bed rest.
Toreii had then walked to Frigga's side of the bed, standing with her back to their nightstand. Then, she witnessed the Allfather count her paces out loud, first 4 paces straight, then 3 paces left, 2 paces straight, 1 pace back and 10 paces diagonal. When she stopped, Toreii used her divine spear to strike at and break a stone tile within the ground. Frigga watched as her husband reach into a false bottom and took out a tiny silver chest. Ripping its lid open, Frigga could do nothing but observe the magnificent ring within the chest. She would later learn its name was [Ouroboros], but she could never forget the sacred words of power the Allfather used…
"Say 'no' to this, you shitty devs!"
A single day later, the Allfather brought back two giant meteors to Asgard, and locked herself inside the forge with them for well over a week. However, Frigga would come every day to check up on her King. Although there were Valkyries posted outside of the forge entrance, Odin had not allowed anyone to enter, save for his wife.
This past year she spent with her husband was completely different than the past centuries of their marriage. It was like Odin turned into a completely different person, as Frigga had never been treated like she was the most important person in all of Asgard. She bore witness to his benevolence and generosity, but most importantly his kindness towards her. Every day, Odin would talk with her, sometimes about small things, like a new creature he had spotted, or about strategies against other beings with the same capabilities as the Æsirs, which she learned were called 'Players'.
Frigga gently pressed her fingers against the doors separating her and her love. Looking back on the fond memories made in the past year, Frigga could not stop the small smile forming on her lips. Her vision became cloudy, the darkness of the obsidian doors blurring into the background. Warm streaks of tears ran down her cheeks, leaving a damp patch on the bosom of her night dress.
For the first time in their millennium of marriage, Frigga was happy to be so close to her husband. No longer was he as cold as the Frost Giants he slaughtered, as bloodthirsty as the dark elves he warred with, as uncaring for life as Hel was, or as much of a warmonger as Surtr. He was an adventurer who wanted to explore the unknown, a craftsman who immersed himself in his work, a good father who spoke with his children and played with them, and a loving husband who went out of his way to fight against 'shitty devs' to protect his wife.
"Good night, my love," Frigga murmured from the bottom of her heart. It was past midnight, but she had wanted to say some words to her King before bed.
The next morning was hectic, at least for Frigga. She was woken up an hour past dawn to start her day, her handmaidens bringing her wash cloths and a fresh change of clothes for the day. Today, the maids had set out a long-sleeved day gown, made from the white fleece of sheep which thrived in Niflheim's winters. Her morning routine went as expected, but she had noticed two of her maids were in distress, quietly mumbling and whispering to the head maid. Approaching them, their conversation ended quickly, but a single glance from Frigga and the two willingly told her the news.
Heimdall had stood right outside her bedroom door, waiting all night long for the Queen to wake. She was startled when she first saw him slumped against the hallway outside. Her handmaidens were of no help either, as they had tried to keep the watchful guardian away from her the same morning. However, Heimdall persisted, even as the maids had tried to block Frigga's view of his unsightly demeanor.
Heimdall had bloodshot eyes, his back hunched, and his hands trembling. He looked like a child who had gotten into trouble, but did not know how to tell their parents about the problem. However, he was also oblivious to the hateful glares the maids shot at him, as they were fuming about someone forcing their audience onto the matriarch.
Frigga waved her hand to dismiss the maids, who could only bow and enter her room to clean the bedchamber. Looking over Heimdall, the poor soul seemed like he had stayed up all night without a wink of sleep. Although she preferred to have meetings arranged in an orderly manner, the highest ranking safety officer in all of Asgard had a certain priority versus her other agendas.
"You look terrible, Heimdall. What's so important you must see me first thing in the morning?"
"Forgive me, my Queen, but may I ask for the whereabouts of the Allfather? There is a matter I must speak privately with him immediately," Heimdall somberly asked, his voice cracking midway through.
Normally, she would not disclose information about her husband, but if it was the head of the security force of Asgard asking, she had to reconsider. "Let's talk about this in a more private setting, Heimdall. A hallway is no place for people of status to have meaningful discussion."
Heimdall shook his head negatively, surprising Frigga and gaining more scornful glares from her maids. "I am afraid this is a matter which cannot wait, my Queen. I must head to the Allfather immediately. The greater good of Asgard is at stake."
"Then you should also know the Odin Sleep takes priority above everything else."
The maids behind her shrink back at her sudden shift in tone, keeping their heads low as to not incur her wraith on them as well. They had originally been distraught about Heimdall suddenly appearing and disrupting their schedule, but their displeasure could not compare to the hot ire the Queen of Asgard was wielding.
Heimdall gave a blank stare back as his only response. Frigga did not dislike him, but felt the overgrown vanguard was nothing more than Odin's personal guard dog who needed to be curbed from time to time. However, she could not deny his position was earned by his great vision which surpassed her own. If the one who watches over all needed to speak to the Allfather, then she had to take it seriously, as the Queen.
"If the matter is as urgent as you say, then the King will address it when he has recovered his strength. Be at ease, Heimdall," Frigga assured after quelling her anger, "The Allfather has always protected Asgard for the past 100 lifetimes, and he will continue to do so for another 100 more."
Heimdall only nodded in agreement before bowing and leaving to another part of the castle. The maids clicked their tongues in frustration at the clear lack of respect for their matron, but Frigga gave them a dismissive glance to forget this interaction. She had a long list of nobles she had to appease to, but that notion was thrown out for now. Today was not a peaceful day for Asgard, and she had to prepare for the worse. With a wave of her hand, the maids nodded in acknowledgement and stayed outside her bedroom doors.
Frigga made her way down to the armory. Their bedroom was on the western side of the castle, while her battle gear and Odin's chamber were in the heart of the castle where it was most guarded. With a steady stride in her step, she walked the distance down corridors and hallways, greeting servants and noblewomen alike along the way.
Many of the upper nobles were warriors who commanded battalions for Odin, which left their wives to handle the political battlefield. Some of the more outlandish noblewomen attempted to stop her and ask about her availability, but Frigga simply gave a faint smile with an apologetic glance. The less the nobles knew, the less chance rumors would spread about Heimdall's worries. At some point, several women had insisted on chatting while they all walked with Frigga to her destination.
By nodding and smiling with the other women, Frigga was able to delay a response to their flurry of questions. She had finally made it to the checkpoint where Odin's personal guards stood. A pair of Valkyries halted her and the other women, crossing their spears to a wooden door which lead down to the lower levels of the castle.
"Perhaps we can continue these wonderful discussions later, ladies," Frigga sweetly cajoled, beaming with a pleasant smile. Having bid them adieu, the Valkyries allowed her entry into the lower chambers of the castle, but not before asking if she had an escort. "No, there is no need. I am heading to wake my King," she answered. The silver knights had stoic looks on their face, like they were devoid of any purpose in life but duty.
Although she was Odin's wife, only the Allfather could give orders to the Valkyries. They were loyal only to him, not the kingdom or the people of Asgard. Among the nobles, this was a hot topic of discussion, as they feared one day Odin would point his spear to them… and the Valkyries would oblige.
Frigga had considered the possibility was very much real once upon a time, but not anymore. The husband she married became a new man overnight. Odin and his brood would confine themselves within the castle and never ventured out to meet the people he ruled before, believing himself to be above seeing the serfs who sought his strength for protection.
However, that was a thing of the past. Lately, she would find her husband had sneaked out of the castle without telling his Valkyries, to explore the city and its landmarks. Often covering for Toreii, Frigga would also sneak out with her King to explore the city. At first, Toreii had been surprised to see her outside of the castle, but did not mind leading her around the city. She became very excited during every outing, as it made her feel like a young lass sneaking off with her lover into town.
The last year was packed with fun memories Frigga deeply cherished, imprinting each moment inside her heart and mind. These were the type of emotions which fueled her fight against Surtr's will. [Rungnir] was filled with hate, resentment, and scorn for the Allfather, all which tried to overwhelm Frigga and corrupt her onto the path of vengeance against her most loved one.
The demonic sword was safely stored within its magical scabbard, an icy sheath won from Odin's war in Niflheim. The ice around the sword was a beautiful hue of blue which shone and reflected any form of light without melting the sheath. Toreii had explained to her it was forged from the first snowfall in Niflheim, compacted from the weight of 10,000 winters. True to her King's word, the hellish blade which burned hot enough to cut through a planet and sun was calmed. [Rungnir] peacefully rested inside of its sheath, its flames quelled and connection to Surtr growing weaker by the day.
Frigga finally reached her destination, just outside the obsidian double doors she was watching last night. Reaching a hand up to push a door open, she froze in place after placing her hand on the cold stone. She felt the dense stone vibrate, and through them, a magical presence which often gave her nightmares. An ever-consuming cold started to spread from her stomach, which traveled up her spine and settled slowly in her heart.
She drew in a quick breath of air and forced herself away from the doors. With her back to the wall, her knees buckled and she slowly slumped down to the ground. The pink blush on her cheek grew into a murderous red, like she was bleeding. The hallway echoed with the sounds of her panting as Frigga's breathing became more shallow, her airway becoming tighter and her throat felt dry and coarse.
As the Queen of Asgard, she was at every campaign with her husband to show her support for him. She was not a stranger to death and war, as she had once lead the Valkyries on a suicidal march against Hel's own armies. Her empathy became as cold as the harsh conditions she was forced to fight to the death in. Once upon a time, if the Allfather commanded her to fight until she dropped dead, and then keep fighting after that, she would have considered it an honor to be the one to carry out that order. Now, things were different with her one true love; at least, she witnessed evidence things were different. When Odin had marched his armies against Surtr, the World Ender only needed to swing his sword once for half of Asgard's fighting force to be wiped out. As a general in his army, she bore witness to the massacre of her people, as she watched everyone who stood between Surtr and Odin struck down, their bodies burning and their spirit engulfed in hellish agony.
The battlefield was filled with wails of screams from those who were still burning alive, but Odin did nothing as Surtr continued to curtail his people. At the start of the battle, the Æsirs were 1 million strong of able-bodied men and women who marched to their death in the name of their Allfather. Yet, Odin was indifferent to their pain, watching his people being slaughtered as if it were a chore. Only when the hell giant was face to face with Odin that he bothered to get off his makeshift throne. The scars from the battle lasted even to this day, 500 years later, as Asgard's population had started to regain its number.
Odin was not a kind king, nor was he forgiving or compassionate. At that moment in time, Frigga firmly believed that. She sensed the same destructive power her husband wielded against Surtr within his sleeping chamber. Frigga's body shivered, her sense of touch numb and her hands cold. By accident, her left hand wandered to the hilt of [Rungnir], the thing responsible for the massacre of her people.
A warmth spread from her delicate hand to her chest and then to the rest of her body. It was not an overwhelming heatwave which consumed everything, but a gentle spring breeze, like the end of winter has come and life was starting anew. Despite feeling her knees were still wobbly, Frigga forced herself up. The dainty touch on her sword from earlier became a tight, confident grasp on the handle.
[Rungnir] was evidence her King had changed for the better. The spoils of war Odin had sealed away for his own use was spread among his most trusted family members. The hellfire blade which once stood as a symbol for the downfall of Asgard was now a divine weapon which served for the protection of its people. Frigga could not forget her purpose, her role she was entrusted with when [Rungnir] was placed in her possession.
Having recovered from her un-regal position, Frigga took a moment to steady her body and her breathing. She was the Queen of Asgard, but more importantly, she was her King's shadow. If Odin was readying for battle, then so must she. If the Allfather saw fit to expel the same power he used against Surtr, then so must she. Gathering her courage, Frigga briskly made her way back up to their shared bedchamber.
The same Valkyries she passed along the way made no motion to stop her, but the ensemble of noblewomen she thought she escaped were waiting for her return. Many of them had bright smiles on their faces, but Frigga had more pressing matters. However, to keep up the facade, she returned their smiles with her own, steering the conversation as she made headway back to her room.
Although she was able to converse with the noblewomen at a leisurely pace, their attention was drawn away when they all witnessed Heimdall sprinting down the hallway. The security vanguard was adorned in full plated gold armor, which clanked as he dashed toward his destination. The smile Frigga wore turned into furrowing her brow, as she left he noblewomen behind. Just like many men with a rank in Odin's army, Heimdall lacked a certain amount of subtlety Frigga was quite scornful of.
Frigga finally made it to her bedroom, giving the handmaidens waiting outside the doors a quick glance to give them their orders. The group of noblewomen were not far behind her, as their high heels clicked on the stone floors. The maids closed the doors behind her as she heard the muffled voices of the women outside her room.
Unknowingly letting out a sigh, she signaled the other maids inside the room to head toward the door with a flick of her hand. Quickly unbuckling the belt which held her sword's scabbard, she also disrobed her day gown. Leaving herself bare in nothing but her undergarments, the chilly air of the room pricked against her warm skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps.
Without saying a single word to her maids, they watched their Queen position herself in front of a nightstand and quietly mouthing the number of her paces. When Frigga had stopped her counting, she attentively kneeled down to the ground and felt the stone tile on the cold ground. Without skipping a beat, Frigga poised her right arm and punched through the tile into the false bottom underneath.
A quick gasp came from the two maids stationed inside her room, as they jutted their hands quickly to cover their mouths. However, from the ground, they saw a liquid-like substance had taken hold of their Queen's hand, penetrating through the tough tile. What Frigga was after was the secret armor Toreii had stashed inside their room. The unknown metals her husband had used were fused with the Uru metal, which became a solid plate of armor after the week Toreii spent in the forge.
At the time, Ai had spent a pretty penny on data crystals which allowed for a quick-change effect. However, what she had failed to notice was the quick-change effect had turned the armor into liquid metal when not in use. Since she had wanted to display the armor on a nice stand by her bedside, Ai was quite disappointed when the armor would only become solid if she equipped it, thus making her stash it in her not-so-secret-anymore treasure hiding place.
The liquid metal quickly cascaded up her arm, around her chest, up her neck, then around her face, as well as completely covering her lower body. Although it was stored in the cold tile of the ground, the armor felt like a warm trickle of water was covering all of her body. After it covered the entirety of her body, the armor changed its form from the seamless metallic liquid which hugged her skin tightly to a light bronze in coloration as it hardened around her limbs and torso.
Her chest was now protected by a plated chestpiece which she felt was strong enough to protect her against Surtr himself. Frigga's hands were covered in metal as well, but instead of dulling her sensation of touch, her fingers still retained their flexibility and feeling. Below her torso, the metallic liquid solidified into sleek armored leggings with thigh guards sticking out the sides. Finally, the helm protecting her head neatly tucked her hair inside of it, as its design only allowed tiny slits for sight to be the sole connection to the outside world. Overall, it completely sealed Frigga away, isolating her from everything else.
With the base form of the armor done, the design began to set in. The armguards became jagged, as tiny fins started to protrude out of the side which continued from her wrist to her elbow. The shoulders of the armor were slender like her own, which converged to the center chestpiece. The central piece hugged her torso tightly, creating two circular breast plates which also felt tight around her ample bosom. Below her breasts, the design on her abdomen was smooth and slender, which conformed to her hourglass waistline. From her hips downward, the metal plating seamlessly stacked on top of each other, like the layers were woven together as if it was cloth. Lastly were the heels covering her feet, which thankfully were only a quarter of an inch high.
The maids stood in awe and fear of their Queen. Never before had they seen someone use this type or armor, nor the quick-change effect. All Asgardian armor were created with robustness and ease of movement in mind, but Frigga's was thick and heavy-looking, even at the joints of her limbs. Although it looked cumbersome, she actually felt lighter than before she had put the battlesuit on.
The crème de la crème of it all was the divine sword which awaited its master. Frigga gently grasped the crystal clear ice sheathing [Rungnir], looking at the faint red gleam which shone through. She would prove herself worthy to wield both the armor and weapon her beloved graciously entrusted to her.
Looking back to the star-struck maids, Frigga uttered, "My presence is still here, do you understand?" With only nods to give, the maids gave their confirmation in unison. The Queen of Asgard then opened the window from her bedroom and snuck out, like she had done hundreds of times previously.
"[Fly]!" Frigga chanted as she leaped through the window. On cue, a bluish glow engulfed her, allowing her to soar through the sky weightlessly. Exiting on the west side of her castle, Frigga flew straight upward, above the magical barrier protecting all of Asgard. The bright rays of polychromatic light all around the city lit up the black sky above her, causing the night to look like a murky blur of reflected light.
Looking down, she saw the heart of the city, her castle at the center with homes and merchant shops spiraling outward. Narrowing her vision, Frigga first looked to the eastern and western entrances, but their torch-lit paths were devoid of any activity. On the northern path, she could make out two figures in the distance. One was in a set of gold Asgardian armor she saw earlier, and the other was in a familiar garb of red and white robes.
As she flew north towards her King, the city of Asgard below her glowed, its entirety engulfed in a swirling of light. In an instant, everything was gone, the city and all of its inhabitants. Frigga could only guess the Allfather had called upon the [Bifrost] to teleport the entire city elsewhere, as all who was left was a lone figure in the distance being surrounded by dragons. Being outside of the magical barrier, she was not transported with the city.
Frigga could not afford any kind of hesitation, as she flew straight down to her King's side. Just as she made her approach, a giant hydra bellowed from below them, shaking the air with an ear-bleeding, thunderous roar. The creature was not unlike the World Serpent destined to swallow up the entire world, which made the Queen of Asgard all the more concerned that her beloved was facing the thing alone.
No, her husband was not alone. Frigga was there as well, and she was going to take a stance against all who threatened her cherished ones. Gliding in behind Toreii, she stared directly at the monster, putting herself between it and her King. Gathering all the courage in the bottom of her gut, and with all the air her lungs would give, she announced herself.
"I will have your dead body eat those words, vile serpent! No one shall besmirch the Allfather, King of Asgard, in my presence, his beloved wife, Queen of Asgard, Frigga! If Heaven and Hell cannot deny my love for my King, an inferior being like you might have the honor of becoming our carpet."
AN: Sorry for the long wait and for leaving a cliffhanger. This chapter was originally going to contain the fight as well, but I've split it into two chapters instead. Please tell me your thoughts on the view of an Asgardian NPC and their thoughts. I'll have the next chapter up soon.