Cold wind blasted the sharp crags of Jotunheim. Snow covered the mountains, and ice smothered the lakes. A lone figure walked alone. Her long black hair whipped in her face, and her pale skin seemed unaccustomed to the sun. Emerald eyes scanned the horizon, looking for something. For an hour, she stumbled against the wind, searching, always searching. Eventually she sighed, closed her eyes and vanished. The mountains stood alone once again.

Estrid sat now on a large rock, legs crossed. She opened her eyes, and smoothly slipped to the ground, a sad, worried look on her face. She started walking away, when she looked up and saw a ship very close overhead, flying towards her home. A look of distressed apprehension crossed her face, and she started running. When she cleared the forest, she saw the ship parked in front of her house, and she stopped. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, forcing herself to appear calm. Composed, she strode quickly, but not too quickly, to her open front door. She paused at the door, bracing herself. She entered to see a blond man with an eyepatch standing by her mother, who sat at the table, face in hands and shoulders shaking. The blond man glanced up as Estrid entered. A look of realization, and he stepped forward. He looked about to say something, but Estrid interrupted.

"I know." The man paused, a look of sadness on his face. "Oh, mother," she said, and crossed to her. She collapsed by her mother's side, dry faced but stricken. "I didn't want to tell you, I hoped I was wrong, but I hadn't been able to reach him." The blond man cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry, child. I-" Estrid looked up angrily.

"Don't call me that," she said, her voice dangerously low. "I'm not a child." She turned back to her mother. The blond man cleared his throat again awkwardly. Estrid rolled her eyes to herself and stood up, facing the man.

"Estrid?" She nodded coldly. "I'm your uncle, Thor." She raised an eyebrow.

"I gathered that. Now, if you have something important to say, I think mother would like some time alone. Let's go outside." They went out the door.

"Estrid?"

"Yes, 'Uncle Thor', I think we've established that my name is, in fact. Estrid."

"Um, well, may I talk to you about something?"

"It seems you already are." Thor sighed, exasperated, then smiled.

"You are definitely Loki's daughter. Should I just get to the point?"

"Oh, please."

"Alright. Loki wanted you to come to Asgard if he died." Silence. "He wanted you to have a chance at a better life. He knew if he was dead, the people may be a little more accepting of his daughter."

"More accepting? If your people would judge me by my parentage, why should I want their acceptance?"

"That is a fair point, child, but-"

"DON'T call me child."

"Er-sorry. As I was saying, he still wanted you to be able to have friends. It's lonely being-er-disliked." She raised her eyebrows. "Oh, and if I happened to die without a successor, you would be next in line for the throne." Her eyebrows went higher, this time with a little smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Thor chuckled to himself. She was interested now. But then her smile turned to a concerned frown.

"What about Mother?" Thor hadn't thought about that.

"I suppose she could go too…"

"No, that's not what I meant. Father offered to hide us in Asgard where he could visit us a little more, but she refused. I don't know why, maybe she would relent if she knew I was going."

"You want to go then?" She ignored him.

"I should go talk to her if she's feeling a little better…" Her face took on a completely different look, and she looked back at the house, worried. In that moment, Thor could see how badly she was affected by Loki's death. She looked exhausted. He thought he should give her and her mother some time alone.

"It may be better if I'm not there while you talk to her," he said.

"That goes unsaid."

"I guess I'll go back and check on the ship then." Without a word, Estrid turned and walked back to her house. Thor looked after her, concerned. She reminded him so much of Loki. He hoped she would maybe fit in a little better, as she was the current heir to the throne of Asgard. He winced slightly at the thought.

Inside, Estrid cautiously approached her mother. She had calmed a little, and was straightening the already perfect kitchen in order to distract herself.

"Mother?" She started. "Can I talk to you?" She nodded and sat at the table, blank faced. "Hey," she started gently, "A while ago, Father asked Thor to bring me to Asgard in case of his death. I need to go, but I'd love it if you came too. It will be relaxing, you'll get some alone time, and you won't have to do anything." Estrid looked down. "I might need someone I know. Just, for support, I guess." She looked back up to see her mother looking at her sadly.

"Estrid, you know I can't. I hate the thought of you being alone on Asgard, but Loki and I-" she choked on the words, and paused. Then she started again. "We discussed this possibility, and as much as it hurts to lose you both, you have to go, and I can't."

"You and father talked about this?"

"He knew it was going to happen someday." Painful silence.

"I'm sorry, Mother," Estrid said. She stood up and walked to the door, then turned to see her mother with her head in her hands. "I love you," she whispered. She walked out the door, shutting it to the life she was leaving behind.