A true king is neither husband nor father; he considers his throne and nothing else.

Pierre Corneille

The people of earth due to their small mortal lives had forgotten a few details over the centuries since they last worked with the warriors of Asgard. Important details. But sometimes, Asgardians forgot important little details too … like what a major player Loki was in Asgard's ruling body.

Odin's private council consisted of members from some of the oldest and most respected families in Asgard. His sons also had held seats in the council from the time they had come of age. Together these warriors of Asgard had advised Odin through some of Asgard's most challenging seasons. They had fielded diplomatic missions, war, and peace for the good of the realm. Other nations had looked to them over the years as a guiding force in Yggdrasil.

Today, the council was in complete and utter chaos.

Odin sat in silence at the head of the chamber looking over the table as the other twelve nobles argued amongst themselves. On his right sat Thor. In the past it would not have been uncommon to hear the thunderous tone of his son voicing his opinion to the others. Normally, only the aggravated admonishments of his younger brother could silence him. But today he sat silent and pensive as he gazed out at his father's council. Loki's seat at Thor's side remained empty and cold.

In Thor's silence he was able to catch snatches of the councilmen's' concerns. Trade was down twenty percent in two of the nine realms (not a major concern, but still a new situation). The bifrost needed to be rebuilt to ensure Asgards superiority in the nine realms. Asgard was having an abnormally cold winter (Valhalla forbid they see snow for more than few hours a year). Diplomatic envoys to Álfar were going badly (a much bigger concern in the long run). For Asgard's normally flawless rule, things were taking an ill turn indeed. And of course, there were the internal concerns regarding the throne of Asgard. Odin was ageing and Thor wasn't the guaranteed successor all had thought he would be. It had taken the council much longer than the rest of court to finally air their concerns about the security of Odin's heirs.

Thor spent more time on Midgard than he did in his own home these days. He was courting a mortal that no one had met. He was fighting mighty battles, but not for the glory and honor of his realm. It was really unacceptable and twelve angry warriors were finally voicing that opinion.

"We need Loki released." Mimir was the first to utter the shocking statement to his fellow men.

Thor almost broke his silence but managed to wait and see how Mimir's statement would be taken.

Odin spoke for the first time since the council had been opened this day.

"Loki has not even been tried or sentenced for the crimes charged against him. You would have him released before justice has been served, Mimir?"

"With all respect Allfather, his current imprisonment is part of his reparation for his crimes against Asgard. His alleged crimes on Midgard could be review now and in the context of our noble Asgard's history with Midgard. He should not suddenly be held accountable to another realms laws and customs. After all, Midgardians can barely handle their own affairs." Mimir spoke clearly to his King. Years of advising Odin made his tongue a little freer than others. "If Midgard wasn't so divided the Prince would be able to attend his duties here and not in a foreign world."

His words brought on a new onslaught of arguments and rising tempers.

Both Odin and Thor frowned at Mimir's rebuke but neither made a move to call him out on his statement. Instead both were more concerned about the situation in regards to Loki.

"Silence!" Odin's command rang through the chamber. When the men settled grudgingly down, he continued. "I must deliberate on these matter's my lords. I will call upon your council again tomorrow." He rose from his chair at the head of the table and waited the briefest second before Thor rose to follow him out of the room.

When the father and son entered into the private royal wing Thor broke his silence. "I have something I wish to speak with you about."

"Indeed? Continue, Thor."

The Queen's private gardens were renowned for their beauty and peacefulness throughout Asgard. It was common for Frigga in her son's youth to find Loki hiding out beneath one of the trees with his books and parchments. It had been a safe haven away from the loud noises of the halls and the clashing of the practice courts. Often he would be sprawled out on the grass in a casualness she never saw elsewhere.

She couldn't remember the last time she had seen Thor wandering it's paths alone and under his own free will. The few times her eldest son had ventured into her garden had been to either drag his young brother out for weapons practice or other similar activities. Thor's personality did not lend himself for quiet contemplation. If he was stressed or frustrated he turned to the practice courts and took any welcome challenge to him in battle. So to see her eldest now pacing amongst the paths in her garden was something of a shock.

"Thor, dearest?" she called out softly from behind her son. He turned swiftly and bowed to his mother with a small smile that soon disappeared.

"Mother." He said and moved closer to embrace her. When he pulled away he offered her his arm which she accepted. Mother and son moved along the stone path keeping their own quiet thoughts for several minutes before Frigga broke the silence.

"You're needed here at home, Thor. Your father and I need you here. I don't wish to take you from your battles on Midgard…"

Thor cut in more aggressively than he would have liked. "I only came back for my brother. I will stand for him at trial and I will return to Midgard. I made a promise and I have not upheld my end to the Lady Jane."

Frigga smiled and ignored his forceful tone. "Tell me more of this Lady Jane that has you so very captivated. I must say, Thor I have never seen you so impressed by a woman before. And yet, I still know so little of the woman my son is now courting so fervently…and so far away."

"I wish I could bring her here."

"Then do so, it really would make things simpler for you. Go speak to your father if you truly wish to bring her to your home and kin. If she's as intelligent as you claim, between your father, Heimdall and your Jane we will be able to bridge the gap between our realms to bring her here."

Thor frowned at her statement and Frigga could feel the tension in his arms build under her hand. He was learning control over his actions but it did not come easily to him.

"I have already spoken with father." His words were restrained and forced.

Frigga looked at her eldest in surprise. Surely, Odin had not refused his heir in this matter?

"His council is that I should wait longer before bringing the Lady Jane to Asgard."

Frigga's expression grew pensive at Thor's statement. Odin had never willing broached the topic of the mortal woman Jane with Frigga and the few times she had mentioned the mortal, Odin had been indifferent. She assumed that her husband thought the dalliance would fade as many of Thor's Midgardian forays had in the past. Just the fact that Thor spoke of her often and with respect pointed in a very different direction than his father's assumptions-or hopes.

"Thor, my son, that was not a refusal." Her smile had a hint of mischief in it.

Thor gave a short unamused laugh that would have suited his younger brother much better. "Even I don't need Loki whispering in my ear to know that Father disapproves of my courting a mortal woman. It is her skill in connecting our realms without a full bifrost that keeps him curbing his words when I speak of Jane with him."

Frigga mulled over her son's words as he led her down a shaded path that was her favorite part of the garden. Asgard was approaching its spring season and trees all had new green leaves blocking the heat of the midday sun from them. She had intended to sew awhile on one of the benches here, but Thor was restless enough only walking. If she was to continue their conversation keeping her son moving was the best way to do it.

"If you are serious about courting this woman-" Thor opened his mouth to protest or argue, but she waved him silent. She intended to speak her mind, he would hear her out on this. "Then arrange for her to visit. Remember Thor, you are to be king one day. If Lady Jane cannot withstand some disapproval now, do you think she could stand by your side during the trials you will face as king? Her responsibilities to this realm as its future queen?" She stopped walking and turned to face Thor. "A woman needs more than the ideal of love to stand fast at times." She smiled up at him and kissed his cheek. "I have never had the honor of seeing my son in love. I wish to meet her, Thor."

Thor relaxed a miniscule amount and flashed his mother his normal open and easy grin.

"Of course, my Queen." He gave a formal bow and a much less formal embrace before taking his leave of her.