Frigga's steps rang sharply in her ears as she walked. She held her head high. She traveled in shadow, as she had so long ago trained Loki to do.

His image was fresh in her mind, as she walked, accompanying her in memory so near the surface that she could almost see him. He had been so small, so eager to learn.

She slid easily under the notice of the prisoners, and even under the eyes of the few guards.

The number of creatures within the dungeons was not great. It never had been. So widespread was Odin's campaign for peace that they had little need of such a place of confinement, here, in the Capitol.

Nearing his cell, she cast both of them in silence. Better that her words to him, or his to her, not be heard.

She had already visited him, once before, that first morning after his return. He had been just barely waking, and she had not meant to be seen by him.

This was to be different.

Loki was sitting cross-legged in the center of the floor of his cell with his eyes fixed on some point beyond the barrier. He gave no sign either of recognition or even of awareness of her presence.

That was unlike him.

He was thin, she thought, surveying him. Gaunt. His cheekbones, always defined, cast shadows on his face. In the harsh light his skin was pale and the bruises he had sustained in that last fight stood out starkly.

She remembered Odin's caution, that she tread with care.

"So," she said, after a long moment. "After all this time, you've returned," she folded her hands before her. "You're alive."

He blinked, once. His eyes found their focus and he smiled, very slowly, at her. "You'll have to send someone more ruthless than Thor if you mean to change that."

"Your brother," she said placidly, "was grieved that you would not return with him willingly."

Loki gave a breath of a laugh, "He's an idiot."

"So you've told me," she said, "many times before."

"And if only you'd listened to me we might not be here now," he smiled sweetly up at her, "Mightn't we?"

She would not be baited by him. "You are healing from your wounds?"

"Well as I might," he said, "here."

The shadows beneath his eyes were only made to look more severe as he tipped his head.

"You ought to sleep," she told him, "That would help you more than anything else."

His glib sarcasm turned to something harder. "Had you a purpose for your visit?" he demanded. "It's not customary for the queen to wander the dungeons. Unless things have changed since my time."

"I came to speak with my son."

"Ah," he tipped his chin up, mockery flashing in his green eyes.

She glanced down at the shawl that was slipping from her arm.

"Come to beg the reprobate reconsider and return home to a mother's arms?"

"Not at all," she straightened the fabric. Glancing up, she saw the surprise flash across his face. How his back straightened and the way his brows came down before he could right himself. She allowed herself something of a smile, "No," she said. "Your future lies on the path you choose, Loki. My pleading would only muddle your decision."

His eyes were hard as he watched her and his mouth twisted in a sneer, "Because clearly this," he flipped one hand to indicate the cell, "is what I'd choose."

"Well, you have, haven't you?" she chided, "Actions bear consequence in their wake." Then, more gently, "You know this."

He turned his head to one side with a little jerk, and his hands, which had lain loose and open over his knees, curled slowly to fists.

Closing his eyes, he drew a tight breath. "Was that all you came to say to me?"

She considered for a long moment, then asked him, "Will you not tell me what happened?"

"You already know what happened."

He would not turn his head or look at her.

Drawing nearer the barrier, she noticed how his hands shook, and she felt it like a pain in her breast.

"Will you not tell me?" she murmured.

He closed his eyes.

"Get out."


If you want to see that first mother/son interaction where he was still mostly asleep, check out chapter 32 of my fic 'All Rise'. (It's the Loki-centric counterpart to this fic) You don't need to read the rest of the fic for it to make sense. Just know that it starts at the very end of The Avengers.

I think these next few chapters (most of which will focus on this new phase of Frigga and Loki's relationship - though Thor and Odin WILL make prominent appearances) read better when you KNOW what's going on in Loki's head. He's not one for full-disclosure. I would recommend reading a few chapters of 'All Rise', just to fill-in-the-blanks. Chapters 32 and 33 would do it for now. I explore more of what's actually going on with him in that fic, whereas here, I just go into Frigga's speculation about it.

Then again, if you're just here for Frigga's arc, then go ahead. More power to you. ;)