A/N: This chapter was getting long, so I split it into 2 parts so you guys could get the first part early. Next chapter will also be from Frigga's pov. Also, I subscribe to the idea that Loki is, in human years, about 17 or 18, so that shows up here.

Frigga felt a great deal of the tension she had been carrying vanish once the Bifrost deposited her on Asgard. She was home.

"It is good to see you alive, my queen," Heimdall greeted, his face stoic as always. It was only a long friendship that let her see the twinkle in his eye and know that he was truly glad to see her. "I believe there is someone who wishes to see you on the Bridge."

Frigga smiled. "It is good to be home, my friend, and I thank you for your kind words."

She carefully made her way out of the Bifrost chamber, relishing each step. If she hadn't had a contingency plan, then she would have been dead in truth, never to see her home again.

Thor was waiting for her on the bridge; as soon as he saw her he swept her into a giant hug.

"I missed you, mother," he said, clutching at her tightly.

Frigga smiled against his shoulder and then pulled back slightly to look at his face, cupping his cheek. "I am so sorry I had to leave you, my son."

"No, it was not any fault of yours," Thor insisted, leaning into her hand. "The blame lies solely with Malekith; he was the one who struck you down."

Frigga marveled at the maturity Thor was showing. He had truly grown since the Allfather banished him. True, she had seen some of his maturity after his banishment, but much had occurred since then, and he had grown wiser for it.

"Shall we?" Thor asked, gesturing to the horses he had brought with him.

Frigga nodded at him and mounted up her horse, and together they rode off towards the palace.

Despite the happy reunion, she was not anticipating her homecoming to be easy. Odin would accept her return - he knew the strength of her seidr - but she doubted he would so easily accept her decision to rally the Nine Realms against Thanos, to say nothing of the rest of the galaxy.

Frigga knew something was wrong the minute she laid eyes on Odin. It was subtle, the way he held himself, the feel of his seidr, things no one would have picked up on unless they had spent thousands of years by his side. However, she let none of the unease she felt show on her face. It wouldn't do to give away her advantage.

The imposter was good, phenomenal even, to be able to fool all of Asgard, and Frigga couldn't get a good enough read on their seidr to determine anything beyond that she was familiar with them.

"We are gladdened to see that you are alive, Allmother," Odin said upon seeing her. "Tonight we shall feast in celebration!"

There was a great roar of approval from the court.

Frigga felt a great deal of confusion because the emotions behind the imposter's announcement were real. He was relieved and joyful at her return, and overall he seemed to hold love for her.

There were few beings powerful enough to be able to shield their seidr from her, fewer still who looked upon her fondly. There was only one person it could be.

Loki.

But how had he come to impersonate Odin? Last she had seen, he had still been imprisoned in the dungeons, and his sentence had not yet been finished. Additionally, where was Odin while Loki pretended to be him?

Frigga smiled graciously at the man on the throne. "I thank you, Allfather. May we speak in private? There is much that I have discovered whilst I was away that will be vital for the continued future of Asgard."

Loki nodded. "Of course, my queen."

"I shall see you at the feast, mother," Thor said, before nodding his head and retreating in the direction of his friends.

Frigga and Loki, still in his disguise as Odin, retired to one of Frigga's private sitting rooms. Handmaidens were putting the finishing touches on the room, no doubt alerted to Frigga's survival and ordered to redecorate her rooms.

"You are dismissed," Frigga said. They bowed deeply and left.

"What is it you wished to speak with me about?" Loki asked once they were alone.

Frigga raised her brows. "When were you released from the dungeons, my son? You still had another century to serve when I left."

"I do not follow," Loki said.

"You may have fooled Asgard, but you cannot fool me, Loki."

Loki stared at her for a moment, his eyes narrowed in thought, before he released the glamor. He was too thin, and there was a manic glint in his eyes, which were underscored by deep purple.

"Oh, Loki, what has happened to you?" Frigga asked, stretching out her hands and pulling him into her embrace.

"My heart leapt with joy when I heard you lived, Mother," he confessed, clinging to her. "Odin has slipped back into the Odinsleep, and Thor wishes to remain on Midgard. I was the only one who could - who knew - who -"

"You are so clever that I often forget how young you still are," Frigga said. "Fear not, I will take care of this. However, you must return to the dungeons."

"Mother, no!" Loki exclaimed, pulling away from her. "I refuse to return!"

Frigga had known he would say such, but she had hoped not to have to force the issue. "Then you refuse to take responsibility for your actions? You are young, yes, but you are not a child, Loki. You attacked Jotunheim; the remainder of your sentence must be carried out."

Any trace of emotion wiped itself from Loki's face.

Frigga sighed. "I will see if I can wake your father, and then we will speak further."

Loki said nothing as she swept out of the room.