Astrid searched the palace for Loki, but couldn't find him. It wasn't until she entered the dining hall and saw the overturned table that she began to worry. Servants were cleaning the mess.

"What happened here?" she asked.

One of the head servants approached her and spoke softly.

"Prince Thor was angry. It seems he took out his frustration on the table."

She knew he was only telling her this because he believed her to still be Thor's wife.

"Was anyone with him?"

"Prince Loki and a few warriors, Miss."

"Where have they gone?"

"I couldn't say, Miss."

Astrid nodded. "Thank you."

He gave a slight bow, and returned to his work.

As Astrid left the room, an image of a dark, barren land filled her mind. She heard Loki's voice.

Get the Allfather. We are in Jotunheim. Trouble.

The image faded and Astrid ran back to the throne room. She burst through the doors and ran closer than she should have before taking a knee. A guard was near her in an instant, but stopped as Odin stood.

"Child, you have tested my generosity once today. What is the meaning of this?"

"Your sons are in Jotunheim and need help." Astrid looked to Frigga. "Loki sent me a message."

"Thor," Odin mumbled under his breath. "Get my horse!"

Astrid tried to follow him out of the room, but she heard Frigga's voice in her head.

Stay here, dear.

She watched Odin leave and felt Frigga's hand on her shoulder a moment later.

"I am worried about him," Astrid said. "Why would Thor bring Loki to Jotunheim?"

"We will get our answers when they return."

Astrid went to the balcony of the throne room, which looked out over Asgard. She would see them return. At first she saw only the warriors, and one of them looked hurt. Her heart sunk. She waited until she finally saw Odin, with Loki close behind.

She ran as fast as she could to the entry. Loki was barely off of his horse when she threw herself into his arms. He handed the reins of his horse to a stable boy, then wrapped his arms around her.

"I am fine, darling."

Astrid waited until they were alone.

"What happened?"

Loki sighed and pulled away, but took her hand. "Let's go to my chambers and talk."

Once inside Loki's chambers, Astrid kissed him. She noticed he seemed rigid at first, but he melted into her and soon returned her kiss.

"What's wrong, my love?"

Loki rested his forehead against hers for a moment before pulling away and walking toward his balcony.

"Father banished Thor."

"What?"

"He saved us in Jotunheim, and they had a terrible argument once we returned. Father stripped him of his power, and banished him."

"To where?"

"Midgard, I think."

"Loki, this is awful."

"I know, darling. I never meant for this."

Astrid looked up and stared at Loki's back.

"What do you mean you never meant this?"

Loki shoulders fell with his sigh. "I allowed the frost giants in."

"What?"

Loki turned to her. "It was a way to stop the wedding. I know how Thor hates them. I knew he would want to get revenge, but I did not think he would follow through. I was just trying to make father see that Thor does not deserve the crown... or you."

"It's treason," she whispered.

"No one knows it was me. Not even the frost giants."

"Why are you telling me this?"

Loki took her hands in his.

"Because I want you to understand. I want you to know what I am willing to do for you, my love. And I want you to know here and now that I never meant for it to turn out this way. Please, believe me."

Astrid knew he was telling the truth. She pulled him into her arms, and felt a bit of the tension leave his body.

"I believe you."

"I need to check on the others. Will you wait here for me?"

"Of course."

Loki placed a gentle kiss to her lips and left the room. Astrid lay on his bed and waited for him to come back, but hours passed and he hadn't returned, so she went looking for him. It didn't take her long to overhear the news. Odin had fallen into Odinsleep. She waited outside of the chamber that housed Odin during that time. When Loki finally emerged his eyes met hers, but he quickly looked down as he walked away.

"Loki!"

He stopped and turned to face her, but his eyes remained downcast.

"What?" he asked.

"I heard about your father. What can I do?"

"Nothing."

Loki walked away, but Astrid ran to catch up with him.

"Something's wrong. I know you."

"Everything is wrong."

"Not everything."

She took his hand, and he slowed to a stop. He stared at their joined hands before he pulled away.

"Everything."

"How can you say that? After all we have been through to be together? Just this evening you kissed me and asked me to wait for you."

"And now I am letting you go."

He walked away, but Astrid grabbed his arm.

"Unhand me."

"No! I do not understand. Something happened. What is it?"

You will hate me - she heard in her head.

"I will never hate you," she whispered.

His eyes locked onto hers. "I did not mean for you to hear that."

"Some part of you must have wanted me to hear it. Please, Loki. Tell me what has happened."

Loki took a deep breath, and let it out in a sigh. "Come with me."

Astrid followed Loki to the Vault. He wouldn't look at her the entire way. Once they were alone inside, Loki spoke.

"This is where father collapsed into the Odinsleep."

"You were with him?"

"He found me here, and we were having an argument of sorts."

"What about?"

"My true parentage."

"What?"

"I am not the son of Odin or Frigga."

He walked down the steps with a quick gait, and Astrid tried to keep up.

"I don't understand."

"When I was on Jotunheim, a frost giant grabbed my arm, and held it. It should have destroyed my arm, but it did nothing. It was as if I am immune to their touch."

Loki finally stopped at the end of the long walkway, in front of the Casket taken by Odin from the Jotuns. He picked it up.

"After I left you, I came here. This is where Odin found me."

Loki turned to face Astrid, and she watched as his skin changed to the look of a frost giant. Even his eyes changed color. She stared, mouth agape, eyes wide.

"And this is how he found me," Loki added. "He had no choice but to tell me the truth, and now you have forced me to show you. I am a frost giant... a monster."

"No," Astrid whispered as she took a step back.

"You already cower from me."

"I am not-"

"Do not lie to me!" Loki let go of the casket and waved his hands. It was magically back on its pedestal. "You want to pretend you are not afraid of me?"

"I will never be afraid of you."

Loki was beginning to fade back into his normal appearance, but Astrid put a hand to his face before it changed back completely. She took his Jotun hand and held it in hers with her fingers laced through his.

"You are still my Loki. Finding out where you came from does not change who you are."

"Yes, it does. I am not an Asgardian. I am Jotun."

Loki's appearance had fully returned.

"What did your father say?"

"That I am his son."

"And Frigga? Did you speak with her?"

Loki nodded.

"What did she say?" Astrid asked.

Tears welled up in Loki's eyes. "That I am their son, and they love me."

"They knew from the beginning where you came from, and they raised you as their own."

"And what about you?"

"I admit that it is a shock, especially the way you showed me, but I love you, Loki. As long as you are still the same man in here," she said as she laid a hand on his chest, "that love will not fade."

"But I am not who you thought I was."

"Do you wish to be a Jotun now?"

"What? No."

"Is your loyalty still to Asgard?"

He hesitated. "Yes, but..."

"But what?"

"They lied to me."

"So you would never feel like an outcast. Loki, do not let your anger cloud the fact that you are so loved."

Loki put his hand over hers on his chest, and he pulled it to his mouth. He kissed the palm of her hand.

"With father in Odinsleep, and Thor being banished, I have been made King."

"King?"

"Yes, my love."

Astrid smiled. "You can bring Thor back. End his banishment."

He shook his head. "Thor has been stripped of his power. Mother said that Father always has a reason for the things he does. Besides, I have a plan to prove myself. To my father, to Thor... to you."

"You have nothing to prove to anyone. Least of all to me."

"I want to prove that I am fit to be King. Once Thor returns, I likely won't be, but I want everyone to see that I have it in me to rule."

"Do you not see that this is exactly the kind of thinking that got Thor banished?"

"It is not the same."

"Yes, it is. Darling, do not instigate anything. Keep Asgard on the defensive in case the Jotuns attack, and keep the people calm."

"The Jotuns could never get in without my help."

"Good. My love, I do not care if you are King, Prince, or just Loki... as long as I have you. Guard the throne as King until Odin awakes, and he will be well pleased with you."

Loki wrapped his arms around Astrid's waist and rested his forehead against hers.

"Do you truly not care that I am Jotun?"

"I care only that when I am with you, my pulse races, and I feel loved and alive."

Loki's lips brushed against Astrid's before he deepened the kiss. Her hands sank into his hair and held him close.

"I wish we were married, so you could be my Queen."

Astrid pulled back to looked into his eyes, her own eyes slightly widened by surprise.

"When Father awakens, will you become my wife?"

Astrid smiled and cradled Loki's face in her hands.

"I want nothing more."