Thor had celebrated with his friends that night the most that he could. Each little thing reminded him of Jane. He could not stay by them. He then went to visit with Heimdal to see how she was. Unbeknownst to him, Jane was discovering the Aether hidden in the portals of Midgard.
Malekith's plans stopped to find the Twin Flame. He didn't need her to find the Aether. The most prized possession of his entire race had been found. He just needed to find the woman who had taken apart of it.
Thor retrieved Jane from Earth to give her to the healers. Odin had intervened and found out that the Aether had been found. They soon discussed what exactly the Aether was and what it was for. Odin never thought it would be found.
Meanwhile, Sigyn sifted through the memories, hers and Frigga's. She reminisced about the marriage between her and Loki. She curled tighter into the beast with a smile on her face and a tear tried to run down but got soaked up in the grey cloth.
The beast finally stopped next to a giant tree. A ladder carved into the tree went all the way up to a small hole. Sigyn grasped around the tree until she finally found it. There she climbed all the way up into the hole. She crawled on the floor into the bundles of fur. There she snuggled in them, hiding her scent.
She remembered the kisses, the passionate hunger he had for her. She felt her fingertips graze her lips. Sigyn cuddled into a dark black fur pelt. The whole plan of disguising himself to get to her gave a chill down her spine.
That mischievous fool of a husband, she relaxed, drifting off into slumber. Hmm. And he is mine. She found the ring hidden in her dress. Sigyn put it on and fiddled with it. Frigga thought we would never see one another again. She may be right. We haven't even compensated our marriage. Odin must have annulled us by now. I wonder how Theoric is doing. If he ever knew the truth, I don't know what would hurt him worse, the devastation of being stolen from him or the truth that I was wanting to marry Loki all along. What did the Midguardians say 'You cannot have your cake and eat it too?' Thank you for the memories Allmother.
Sigyn dived into one of Frigga's memories.
The Bifrost opened up, and troops came out by the dozens. She was about to run down to him, but remembered she couldn't. She didn't want the news of her stillborn child to be found out just yet. She waited for Odin in his chamber.
She heard him come in and rushed over to greet him, as fast as her body would let her.
"Your eye?!" She grazed her hand around it.
"A small loss to keeping the Nine Realms safe again," Odin sighed. He looked her over. His eyes reached hers. Tears started to pool into them. "What of our child?"
She swallowed back the tears before speaking, "A stillborn."
Odin looked away then back to her. "I am sorry. This news should might lessen the pain." He did away his cape to reveal a newborn baby in his arms. She took him away quite quickly. Her face full of surprise and concern. "I found him in the temple, abandoned, and left to die. He is too small and frail. I believe that is why he was left there."
The baby stared up at her, smiling and reaching for her. She reached down and kissed his hand. The baby laughed and kicked. She looked up to him while swaying back and forth. "Do they believe he is dead?"
"Yes," Odin took off his helmet. "I know he isn't from your loins nor mine."
"He's perfect," she kissed his little hands. "Loki." She cooed. "My son, Loki. My sweet, little, darling, baby boy."
"Loki Odinson," Odin walked over to her and kissed her on the lips. He then kissed the top of his son's forehead. "I must go to fix my eye."
She smiled at him before he left. Loki looked around and cried. "Sh-sh-sh." She felt the cloth diaper and it was still dry and clinging to him. She figured out next that he was hungry. She sat down on a nearby chair and began feeding him.
Sigyn let the memory drift away. A smile was on her face as she fell asleep.
The next morning, the howl of the beast woke her in a startle. It always had. She placed her ring in her hidden pocket and started down the ladder down on the back of the beast. The beast ran back to the cave below the palace. Sigyn slid off the back and onto the tower. She went down the tower, through the beasts, and up the treacherous long stairs into the group of giantesses waiting for.
Sigyn bathed and got dressed with the help of the women. They escorted her to her chamber, food and drink was placed on a tabled by her bed. Grundroth did not call on her. Though she knew something was amidst.
In Asgard, Thor showed Jane around the realm. Her eyes filled with wonder. He made her give back the ball she had found that belonged to some of the kids. Jane was dressed in Asgardian garbs. She fit in well, but her fascination with everything gave her away.
The strolled around talking about Asgard and the other realms. They strolled around the waterfront at the edge of the palace.
"When you came to me," Jane was thinking about the time he had found her. "You knew I was in trouble." She had stopped.
Thor took her hand. "When Heimdall lost sight of you, you were no longer on Earth."
Jane was taken aback. "Well, how is that possible?"
Thor almost laughed. "I believe you were and weren't." He grabbed her hand as he explained on. He pressed their palms together. "The Nine Realms travel within Yggdrasil, orbiting Midgard in much the way your planet orbits the sun. Every five thousand years the worlds align perfectly, we call this the Convergence. During this time the borders between worlds become blurred. It's possible you found one of these points. We are lucky that it remained open. Once the worlds pass out of alignment, the connection is lost." He then shifted his hand to symbolize the breaking of the alignment between worlds. He then leaned in to kiss Jane.
She smiled. "I like the way you explain things. What will happen to me?"
Thor looked into her eyes and spoke with sincere truth. "I'll find a way to save you, Jane."
"Your father said there was-," Jane started to worry.
"My father doesn't know anything," Thor smiled again.
Frigga had watched them come by and took this as her cue in. "Don't let him hear you say that." She smiled as she got closer. Frigga was happy that her other son had found love as well. Things were moving along well in a way.
Thor and Jane turn. She was surprised by Frigga's approach. Frigga had watched their recent kiss.
Thor introduced them to one another. "Jane Foster, please meet Frigga, Queen of Asgard, my mother."
Jane becomes startled, she drops Thor's hands, distances herself from him embarrassed. She didn't know to curtsy or bow or shake her hand. "Hi."
"The pleasure is all mine, Jane," Frigga smiled. She talked to the both of them about how each other met.
Meanwhile, more rogues and marauders were being brought into the prisons by the guards. The guards settled back.
Loki was laying on his bed, staring up into the air, throwing the cup up flipping and catching it. It was a tranquil setting for him to think.
After my illustrious escape, they will be thinking I will try to take the throne, Thor will be headed over right after my escape is known. Odin will know I will go to the Weapons vault, and mother will believe the same but knows better. I will disguise myself as a guard, hmm, again. A nudge of smile peaked through his thin lips. I will make sure the rest of my friends are out as well. Then, I wait.
The cup ringed as he caught it. He was about to think of another way to escape, as he had several opportunities too, but cries for help had piqued his interests. He rose from the bed and strode over to see what the commotion was.
Guards picked up their swords and ran to the commotion. Prisoners were escaping once Algrim, a dark elf accursed, broke the walls by a prisoner's head. This had set off an alarm throughout the palace.
Thor took off from his mother and girlfriend to go make sure Loki did not get far from his intentional escape. Frigga and Jane were left alone.
Loki grabbed a book quickly, he smirked at the title The Count of Monte Cristo. It was a book he had started reading on Midgard. He could not take it with him, but Sigyn somehow managed away to get him a copy. He switched to the page he left off and lounged next to gold cell wall. He multitasked by reading and keeping a watchful eye on the fight.
He stood up after seeing the one who started it, made his way over to the entry. Algrim had opened up some of the cells and Loki thought he may do the same. Algrim stopped and stared at Loki, who stared back at him in a predator stare off. Algrim blinked and almost backed away quickly. Loki raised his chin and hid his smile. Algrim believed if he let this one out, the trouble and destruction would be grand and might askew the plan.
Algrim started to walk off. Loki thought this brute might be a good challenge for Thor. Though Thor would be coming to him. This would be a good challenge for his father who was probably in his chambers. He usually was at this time. His mother was out in the garden, on the daily stroll, so she should be headed to palace to one of the safe rooms.
"You might want to take the stairs to the left," Loki gave him the advice. Algrim took the stairs to the left.
He then went back to reading his book. Loki sat back in his spot. He caught site of Thor being his brawny, ignorant self and taking the prisoners back into the cells.
Right on cue, as expected, Loki glanced at him.
Odin led a squadron of guards and was giving orders to their commander. "Send a squadron to the weapons vault, defend it all costs. Seal the dungeon." Loki must not get out!
"Odin," Frigga looked at him with Jane on her side.
"Frigga," Odin replied. He looked to the commander awaiting dismissal. "Go!" He then looked to Frigga. "It's a skirmish. Nothing to fear." He tried to settle any worry.
"You've never been a very good liar," she smiled at him.
"Take her to your chambers," Odin commanded. "I'll come for you when it's safe."
Soldiers marched on behind Odin. Jane looks over to see Lady Sif, who glared at her while she passed on by.
"Take care," Frigga said to her husband.
"Despite all I have survived, my Queen still worries for me," Odin could have chuckled. He reached for his wife affectionately.
"It's only because I worry over you that you have survived," Frigga smiled.
They walked away from one another. As Jane tried to keep up with Frigga walking briskly by more soldiers, Frigga took a short sword from the scabbard of a passing soldier.
"Listen to me now," Frigga lowered her voice. "I want you to do everything I ask- no questions."
"Yes, ma'am," Jane didn't even think about disrespecting her.
The two walked into the royal chambers. There they closed the doors.
"He wants you since you have the Aether," Frigga quickly explained. "They can sense it. The Aether is a part of them. Malekith will come soon and take the Aether from you, then killing you after he is done." Jane's eyes grew wide. "I will not let that happen. You will hide in our chamber, there is a secret weapons vault. Stay in there until it is safe to come out. Under no circumstances of any kind shall you come out earlier."
"Why are you doing this?" Jane asked. "I mean you said no questions, but I have the Aether and it will be easier if and can save a lot of lives if I just went with him."
Frigga smiled. "Why else, my dear? To save your life. I will be in the parlor of the chamber with a version of you. I cannot let my other son lose the one that he loves, can I?" Jane could see the sincerity in her eyes. "If this goes well, we will find a way to get the Aether out of you, safely."
"Thank you," Jane replied.
"Now go," Frigga commanded. Jane ran into the chamber and hid into the small vault. Frigga heard the door shut. She then created an image of Jane and waited for Malekith. She looked out the window and saw the dome rising up around the palace. It also connected but it collapses. Algrim had destroyed the replica in one of the parlors that was near the throne room.
Thor finally got the rest of the prisoners back in. He then moved up the stairs and noticed the dark elves were attacking.
Sigyn was eating a fruit that was traded from the trolls and light elves of the other realms. She felt the death toll in Asgard rising. The fruit dropped from her hand as her whole body pulsed. Sigyn got off the bed and headed over to the balcony but got stopped by the pulse. The pulses were the deaths of those who prayed to her.
She heard the flaps of wings. Two sets. It was her horses. She stumbled as she ran into the light. The two horses touched down. They whinnied at her. She touched one, and it snorted and backed away. She forgot her skin burned them. She picked up her dress and headed back to her bed. She pulled a cover off of it and placed the back of a horse. The horse kneeled down while she climbed on. She made sure the fabric covered where she touched. The horse took off instantly as she kicked her to go, the other followed. She figured that she was riding the palomino and the jet black horse followed.
Sigyn heard the screams of angry Jotuns and the whizzing of ice spears. The horses took off faster and she used part of her Valkyrior power to be invisible. The horses flew to the pathways of the souls of the worthy headed to Valhalla.
Malekith approached Frigga's chambers. The fake Jane looked scared and Frigga went to stand in front of her. Malekith faced Frigga as Jane snuck away into the background.
"Stand down, creature, and you may still survive this," Frigga stared him down.
"I have survived worse," Malekith responded.
"Who are you?" Frigga had never seen him in person.
"I am Malekith," he stood his ground. "And I would have what was mine." He approached Frigga. She glanced back to Jane, making it seem that she knew what he wanted. Jane scuttles away. Malekith
drew closer, but Frigga drew her sword and slashed across his face. He withdrew his own sword and they began to fight.
She fought with great skill. It was clear for those to see that this is where Loki learned how to fight. She was like a snake striking and retracting with force and grace. Frigga even fought dirty. She disarmed him and put him beneath her with her sword to his throat. At that moment, Algrim comes up from behind by disarming her, lifting her in the air. He presses her sword against her back in warning. Malekith then approached Jane.
"You have something, child. Give it back," Malekith reaches out to Jane, but as he grabs at her, she dissolves. He then realized that she was a projection and turned to Frigga.
Frigga smirked.
"Witch!" Malekith came back towards her. "Where is the Aether?!"
"I'll never tell," Frigga stood her ground.
"I believe you," Malekith narrowed his eyes. He was not one to mess around with.
Kurse then slides the sword into her back. Thor's anguished cry could be heard as he arrived to see the devastation. He sends a burst of lightning from his hammer that stuck the side of Malekith's face. It instantly blacked one side. Malekith and Algrim run to the balcony while Thor threw his hammer at them, knocking them over the edge. He ran forward to keep attacking them. Though a harrow ship flew up and past, out of even Thor's hammer range. They escaped as Thor raged. He turned around to view upon his mother. Odin had arrived with his staff ready to attack.
"Frigga," he stared in shock and grief before he laid down beside her, holding her body close to him.
Jane came from her hiding as she heard Thor coming in. She viewed upon the scene with shock and despair. Thor had retrieved his hammer and walked slowly down the stairs to the couple. Odin cupped her face towards him, hoping that there was still life left in her.
A pain stabbed all of the Valkyries. Their cries could be heard from those who died or those in touch with the afterlife. A bright soul flourished as it headed to Valhalla. Sigyn and a couple other Eternals flew to the sides of her.
Sigyn drew in closer. "Milady," her voiced cracked. She reached out to her.
Frigga glowed, as she flew up to Valhalla. "Sigyn," she comforted. She gasped at the sight of her. "What happened?"
"I could ask the same," Sigyn retracted her hand.
Frigga grimaced. "I failed one son, I could not fail the other. Jane has found the Aether and was taken to Asgard. I could not let the realms be taken into darkness without a fight."
"Did you suffer?" Sigyn kept steady by her.
"For a bit," Frigga pondered. "It was swift by the sword I had taken from one of the soldiers. Algrim had turned into Kurse. They had one shard left."
"I will break away from the Jotuns and-," Sigyn started to begin.
"Sigyn, you have been through so much," She touched Sigyn's cheek. "I could not ask you to do more. He has asked about you."
"How is he?" Sigyn sensed they were getting closer to the entrance.
"I believe at the brink of sanity," Frigga teared. "He may be past it now. He's lost us both."
"After I break free from these chains, avenge you," Sigyn chuckled. "I shall return to him." They were at the gates. "Milady, this is where we part. I welcome you to Valhalla, where the worthy are chosen to be allowed in. One day, you will be called upon again to fight for the realms during the prophesied Ragnarock. Rest now, Queen of the Valkyries."
Frigga touched down on the steps leading up to the gates. Several Valkyries were telling the same to those entering as well. She looked to Sigyn. "I once was Queen, Allmother, but now I shall rest and await with the others who had come before me. You shall make a fine Queen." With the last word from her lips, she entered Valhalla, only to be greeted again but those who were worthy just like her.
Sigyn was lost at the moment. She was trying to figure out what that really meant for her. As she did, she felt a pulse. It was a follower of her. Sigyn heard a gasp.
"You?!" Theoric was shocked. He thought for a few seconds. "Sigyn!" She cocked her head towards his voice. "What have I done? I never meant to treat like that. I did not know that was you. I am sorry. I now see why you chose Loki over me. You're not a monster Sigyn, even though I treated you as such." He came closer to her. "What have they done to you?"
She told the mantra to him. He was about to speak again until she cut him off. "I forgive you. There is a far greater story between Loki and I that only a few really know. You just happened to help tear us apart without knowing."
Sadness formed in his eyes and voice. "I still love you, even if you do not love me. Be strong, my Lady Sigyn. You have given us courage to fight, take from it and battle your way out." He touched her hand before he went into Valhalla.
She had a few more pulses. Sigyn flew down to help them and the others reach Valhalla safely.
Frigga's body had been taken with the rest to set for the funeral that night. Odin was sitting on his throne in morose. He was trying to think of a way to tell his son, Loki that his mother died. He knew that he had sent him to a lifelong imprisonment for several reasons, but for the most it was for Frigga.
Odin was fond of Loki. He did not want him to follow in his steps. At times Odin would wonder if he had made the right call. He had always wanted everything precise and according to his intentions. His sons had followed each action as he did. Odin should have been proud but where Thor excelled Loki lacked and vice versa. He had always pictured Thor as king and Loki a trusty advisor.
A guard came by for Odin to pass along a message. He sighed and ignored the path his two sons are journeying on. Two paths that did not follow the preciseness he was wanting. "Tell Loki, his mother is dead," he looked down to the ground. The guard bowed and turned away quickly to deliver the news.
Several rafts were fetched. Bodies of the fallen were dressed in their best, weapons, jewelry, and offerings were placed beside them. Frigga was at the foremost.
Sigyn wanted to leave and to listen to Loki before she had to go back. She didn't have to, but she knew the Jotuns would come looking for her. The risk was too great. Sigyn knew if she heard him, she would never go back. She would break him out of the cell somehow. Sigyn could not risk bringing the Jotuns into the war. She was a peacekeeper and no matter what she will uphold her end of the bargain. Even if meant never being next to her love again.
She kicked the horse to leave. "Take me back to where you found me." She whispered quickly, before her sisters could come follow her. They were sworn not to interfere, though she knew some would.
The guard approached Loki sitting down reading a book. The guard did not feel smug nor anger in telling the Loki the message. They all had lost those close around them. Loki did not care for the guard as he came up to the cell. Though the news struck him. He kept his demeanor calm as he nodded to the guard. The guard walked away. Loki looked off into the room. He lost interest in his book. He sat up, as he placed the book down on the foot stool. He started towards the back wall. He clenched his fists in anger sending power, sending whatever was closest to him into the cell wall shattering it. His rage and anger then ensued.
Glowing orbs were held by the people. The boats separated the mass and drifted into the open waters. Frigga's boat led the rest. Rose petals swirled to the ground. Her body was upon a bed surrounded by soft pink and yellow petals. Her head was upon a plush, white pillow. A reddish pink veil covered her face. A sword was placed upon her, with her hands enclosing it. Odin and the rest watched as hers was set on fire by a flaming arrow. Several more flaming arrows hit all of their targets. As Frigga's reached the falls, Odin tapped his staff and bodies burned into a glowing blue dust that flew up to Valhalla. The circular lanterns were then released into the sky.
Sigyn made it back before the funeral ceremony. She touched down, and pulled the cloth with her. "Leave me, at once!" She shooed. "Go! Save yourself." Her horses whinnied as they flew their fastest to get away. She knew that once she stopped being around them, she would be visible again.
Grundroth heard the clamoring of hooves and a voice shouting. It could only be her. He chuckled as guards followed him. Sigyn heard their thunderous footsteps. She kneeled down in her slave position for him.
"You think you can venture off," Grundroth walked in front of her. Sigyn kept silent. She knew better than to respond. It would only make it worse. "Dark elves have attacked Asgard." He looked down at her with a smirk. "But you already knew that. I forgot that you are a Valkyior." He reached down and gripped the rings. He yanked her up. She grabbed the chains in pain. "How many Asgardians?"
She gritted her teeth as she struggled to break free. Grundroth pulled her up farther. He repeated the question. "Hundreds, mostly all guards and innocent bystanders, but most of all the loss of our Queen."
Grundroth laughed. "Odin is losing his ground. The fall of Asgard, the death of his queen, sending one of his prized possessions to keep peace, and now Malekith shall bring all of his father's achievements to ruins." He shook her in anger as he growled. She screamed in pain. "Malekith was close to you. He could have taken you away again."
"That would not have happened," Sigyn struggled to respond. "A Midgardian found the Aether." She felt the blood trickle down from her forehead and eyes. "Thor brought her to Asgard. They are lovers." Grundroth laughed even more. "I will not leave again."
"I will see to it that you don't," he dropped her to the ground. She tried to raise up from her hands and knees. He then encased his fingers in iced and sliced up her back. "This will not go without punishment." She tried to clench her jaw to muffle the screams. Her back gave way as he sliced it up. He then left her there to bleed upon the floor.