Odin called a meeting with his war council in the ruins of the throne room. Asgard was heavily damaged after Malekith's invasion. Defense systems were down and only ten thousand troops remained alive and combat ready. Should Malekith attack again, the results would be catastrophic. His ships possessed cloaking devices which hid them from visual detection as well as from Heimdall's sight. The ships could be upon them right now and they would have no way of knowing.

"We must take Jane off-world. If we take her to Svartalfheim, it will lure Malekith away from Asgard," Thor explained to Odin. He knew it was the only way to keep the number of Asgardian casualties from growing.

"No. She shall remain here. Let Malekith come to us." Odin was still thinking in the old ways of battle. He was too proud to consider any other way. "It is the duty of Asgard to protect the Nine Realms. Every last one of us will take up arms to fight the Dark Elves."

Thor and the other members of the council knew that the Allfather's strategy would end in the complete destruction of Asgard. Only Thor was bold enough to speak out against him. "Father, if there is no Asgard left standing to protect the Realms, then what happens? Malekith will lay waste to our realm and take possession of the Aether. All of creation will be destroyed. If we take Jane to Malekith, he will remove the Aether from her. When he does, the Aether will be exposed and vulnerable, then I shall destroy it and him."

"And if you fail? Then our enemy will have the Aether. Jane Foster will stay here," said Odin firmly.

"Father, we-"

"We will stay and fight!" Odin shouted. "Every man, woman, and child! Every soldier, baker, and servant shall give their dying breath to protect Asgard!"

Thor knew that to go against his father's orders would be treason. He had to find a way to convince his father to allow Jane to go to Svartalfheim. But the more time they wasted with arguing, the more likely it was that Malekith would attack. Right about now, he wished that he had his brother's silver tongue. Ah, but he did.

"Do you honestly think Odin would listen to anything I say?" asked Loki, raising his eyes from the five open volumes of dusty tomes he had been perusing at his desk while Astrid slept in her chambers. The funeral service last night had worn her out emotionally and she needed the rest. He had taken advantage of the time alone to study his books which had been unavailable to him in the dungeon.

"Brother, you can convince nearly anyone to do anything. Please help me protect our home. And Jane," Thor pleaded.

He admitted that Thor did indeed have a solid point in his argument. If Jane was moved from Asgard, Malekith was sure to follow. The rest of his brother's plan didn't seem so sure to succeed, though. "The Aether is incredibly powerful. How can you be so certain that you can destroy it?"

"I cannot. But we must try. We cannot idly stand by and watch the universe be destroyed without attempting to prevent it. Father's tactics are sure to fail. At least mine stand a chance at success, no matter how small that possibility may be." Thor truly was desperate for his brother's help.

Loki knew Thor was right for once. If they did nothing, then failure was certain. "What is it you would have me do?"

Thor, Loki, and Frigga entered the throne room and approached Odin, who was constructing a battle plan with his generals. Upon seeing his wife and sons arrive, he dismissed the council knowing that the trio had come to confront him.

"What is the meaning of this?" a stern-faced Odin asked.

Frigga stepped forward. "I understand that you have rejected Thor's advice to take Jane to Svartalfheim. I have come to ask you why."

Odin was furious that the three of them would band together to challenge him. He was king and had made his decision. "I will not allow Jane Foster to leave Asgard. The risk of the Aether falling into enemy hands is far too great," he firmly explained to his queen.

Frigga raised one eyebrow at her stubborn husband. "It would be of no greater risk than going into battle ill-prepared with little defense. Malekith will annihilate us to take the Aether. You know that. Thor's strategy is not flawless but it makes more sense to me."

Odin huffed at his queen's remark. So after having his plan dismissed, Thor went and fetched his mother and brother. Bringing the one person whom Odin trusted most, his one weakness, and persuading her onto the opposing side was most likely that slick-worded Loki's suggestion. Odin held Frigga's wisdom and judgment in the highest regard and here she was, siding against him. Again.

Odin sat silently for a moment as he considered the stakes before him. Out of principle and necessity, he would provide no military support for them. Should Malekith return to Asgard, he would need every able-bodied individual at the ready to fight the elves and defend the realm.

"Thor. Loki. You will take Jane Foster to Svartalfheim but without the support of Asgard. The three of you will be on your own. You will have use of the Bifrost but there will be no military forces to accompany you. Asgard needs the Einherjar here. Loki, you are hereby permitted to travel with Thor and Jane to Svartalfheim but upon return, your sentence will resume. Should you attempt to flee, bear in mind that your mother's blood will be on your hands." Having sounded his decree, Odin stood from his throne, rapped Gungnir upon the marble floor, and turned away from his impertinent family.

Frigga and her sons turned to exit the throne room. The outcome of their confrontation wasn't exactly what Thor had hoped for but it was better than being forced to commit treason. It was Loki who had suggested bringing Mother into the discussion and it was an excellent maneuver. If not for his mother and brother, Thor would likely have ended up breaking his father's laws and direct decree in order to see his plan through.

Thor turned to Frigga and Loki. "I will fetch Jane and bring her to the Bifrost. Loki, I will meet you there," he said. He gave his mother a quick embrace before marching off to Jane's chambers. There wasn't much time for a long, drawn-out goodbye, even if this would likely be the last time he would see his mother.

Frigga then wrapped her arms around her youngest son. "Loki, I love you and I am so proud of you," she said before she pulled away from him.

"Thank you," he said, visibly touched by his mother's words. "Will you please look after Astrid for me?" He knew she would be upset and he didn't want her to stay in her chambers, alone and worrying.

Frigga smiled with a tear in her eye. "Of course. But you should go tell her of the plan yourself."

He nodded. "Goodbye, Mother," he said as he turned and strode off to Astrid's chambers.

Astrid woke up starving and feeling a bit out of sorts. She thought perhaps she just needed something to eat. With no idea how long she had been asleep, it was likely that she had missed breakfast. She spied a bowl of yellow pears on the dining table in the corner of her sitting room. 'Oh, thank god they aren't apples,' she thought. She chose one and took a big bite, wiping the juice from her lips as she munched. Just as she was planning to finish her pear and do a little bit of quiet meditation on the balcony before going to see Loki, she heard a knock at her chamber door shortly before it was abruptly opened.

She twisted around to see that Loki had entered and his face was very grim. She sat her half-eaten pear on the table and walked towards him. "What's wrong?" she asked, still unable to sense anything from him.

"I do not have much time. I came to tell you that Thor and I are taking Jane to Svartalfheim. We will lure the Elves away from Asgard and attempt to destroy the Aether as Malekith pulls it from Jane. It may not work. In fact, the likelihood of success is... very slim."

Astrid's heart fell to her toes. He had come to say goodbye and he wasn't expecting to come back home. They could all die, every living being in the universe could be killed.

He stepped closer to her. "I wanted to tell you… if I don't return, I want you to know that…"

Tears were brimming in Astrid's eyes. Her breathing was quick and shallow; her lips quivered.

He continued, "That you are…" His silver tongue was failing him. "That I… I do not deserve what you feel for me. I am not worthy of such devotion and I cannot fathom what it is that I have done to be awarded such a prize," he said, clutching her hands in his. "You are indeed a rare jewel, Astrid. One that surely demands to be treasured and cherished. So, no matter what happens this day, I need you to know with absolute certainty just how extraordinary a woman you are. I am truly and honestly indebted to you, and should my brother and I succeed and return home, I will endeavor to prove myself worthy of your affections. But as a favorable outcome is far from guaranteed, I can offer you nothing more."

Astrid shook as she sobbed into his chest. She desperately clung to him, not wanting to let him go. Not now, not ever. She wanted to tell him that he was wrong, that he was worthy even if he didn't believe it. Her love was hers to give and she chose to give it to him. But she couldn't form any words.

He gently placed his fingers under her chin and lifted her face up to his. "I must leave now. But before I do... may I kiss my wife at least one time?" he asked hesitantly. He could feel her heart race even through his armor and his own heart pounded to keep rhythm with hers.

"Yes," she whispered shakily, desperately trying not think that she was sending him off to his death with a kiss.

His hand caressed the side of her face as her fingers tenderly wrapped around the back of his neck. He slowly leaned his face down towards hers, their eyes closing as his soft lips met hers. As she realized that this may be the one and only kiss they ever share, she rose up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips harder to his with a sense of urgency. He inhaled deeply in response, drawing in the scent of pears on her mouth. His hand slid to the back of her head and tightened in her hair, his arm cinched hard around her waist as their lips and bodies passionately embraced.

She felt that her heart would burst with the intensity of the flame that ignited within her. "Loki," she said breathlessly into his lips. "I love you…"

He cradled her face in his hands, his green eyes pierced into hers. "Say that again."

Tears spilled from her eyes and flowed down her face as she emphatically told him, "I love you. With all that I have and all that I am."

He drew his face to hers for a last small kiss. As their lips parted, his eyes once again locked with hers. He knew he had to go now. Thor and Jane were waiting for him. He took her hands and squeezed them gently as he backed towards the door. He reluctantly released his grip and turned to leave her chambers.

He couldn't look back. Thor needed him and the universe needed them both. They could fail and Malekith could unleash the power of the Aether, extinguishing every living soul. But he was going to try his damnedest not to let that happen. He had to protect Astrid, his mother, his brother…their love gave him a purpose which he had lacked for so long.

Loki arrived at the Bifrost later than he should have, judging by the expressions on Thor's and Jane's face. Heimdall, though, seemed considerably less irritated. In fact, he seemed to be grinning.

"What took you so long, brother?" Thor asked, slightly annoyed. "I thought you were right behind me."

"I was kissing my wife goodbye," Loki answered while nonchalantly adjusting the vambrace on his left forearm.

Jane's jaw hit the floor upon hearing that someone had actually married Loki. Thor clapped his hand on Loki's shoulder and squeezed, hoping he would be able to return his brother safely to his wife. "Heimdall, I believe we are ready now," he said.

Astrid stood on her balcony and watched Loki ride across the rainbow bridge on a large, black horse. She saw him dismount, send the horse thundering back to the palace, and stride into the Bifrost. As she finished a heavy sigh, there was a soft knock at her door.

Wearing a sympathetic expression, Frigga walked out onto the balcony to join Astrid. As the Bifrost began to spin, Astrid held her breath and the two women watched a beam of light streak from the rotating sphere and out across space transporting Loki, Thor, and Jane to Svartalfheim.

"And now we wait," said the queen. "This is always the hardest part."

Astrid nodded and began to tremble. She had an awful feeling about all this. She could feel Frigga's concern and anxiety; although, the queen's calm demeanor showed nothing other than confidence in the success of her sons' mission.

"Please come sit, child." Frigga ushered her shuddering daughter-in-law to sit on the sofa. "We must believe that they will succeed. It is the only way to keep from worrying ourselves ill."

Astrid replied in a shaky voice, "I don't think that's going to help."

Frigga was all too familiar with this situation. For many millennia she had been sending her loved ones off to battle in another realm, not knowing if they would return home or be escorted by the Valkyries into Valhalla. But she understood that this was new to Astrid and was glad she could be here to offer company to her new daughter-in-law. The very first time Thor and Loki had joined Odin in battle she was a nervous wreck and very alone. She had no one to help quell her fears. For once she had someone to share this moment with who needed her as much as anything. She and Astrid could wait this out together.

Lines of thought creased Astrid's brow. "May I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"At the trial, you said you had a vision. Did you know any of this would happen?" she asked the queen.

Frigga smiled. "No. All I saw was that someone like you would change his life. There are things about Loki that you do not know. Some I can share; others, it is not my place. What I can tell you is that you met him at his absolute lowest. He was not always that way. For a thousand years he was mischievous, cunning, and manipulative but also very quiet, reserved, and even playful. When he was a boy, he always looked up to Thor but they were so different. Thor was very much his father's son: strong, boisterous, and outgoing. I taught Loki magic to even things up, to give him an advantage. Unfortunately, my husband used this to create a false sense of competition between the boys. I never thought Odin was quite fair to Loki and I assumed it was because Loki was not his blood."

Not Odin's blood? "Is that why he's...different?" asked Astrid.

"Yes. We adopted Loki as an infant," Frigga explained. "We never told him. He discovered it on his own and that was the beginning of his downward spiral."

The identity crisis Astrid felt during the purge: that's where it came from. She sensed that Frigga was holding back something big, given the flash of caution that emanated from the queen, and assumed that maybe it had something to do with Loki's change in appearance. He had acted like it was something she should be frightened of. "Why does he have... blue skin?" she asked delicately.

Frigga's eyebrows raised. Astrid was already privy to such an intimate detail of her son's life. "How do you know about his true form?" she asked.

"He.. he showed me. Before the three of us had dinner together," she replied.

"And…?" Frigga was curious to know how Astrid had reacted. Perhaps that was the reason for his sullen mood that evening.

Astrid smiled as she recalled his cobalt skin and bright red eyes. "I told him he was beautiful."

Her answer brought a tear to Frigga's eye. Astrid had reacted to his reveal not out of fear but acceptance. "You do understand what he is, do you not?"

Astrid shook her head. "No. I don't"

"He is Jotun- a Frost Giant, perhaps only partly so. We are certain that Laufey, the Jotun king, was his father but we know nothing of his birth mother. My husband found him after a bloody battle on Jotunheim. He had been abandoned out in the freezing cold and left to die, most likely because he was so much smaller than an average Jotun child. We raised him as an Aesir, as one of us, and he learned to detest Jotuns and view them as barbaric monsters."

Astrid was absolutely horrified. "Who in their right fu…" she started, then bit her lip to keep from swearing in front of the queen. "...in their right mind would do that to him? Teach him to hate what he is when he didn't even know? That's disgusting," she said, hoping that it was not Frigga.

The queen's face turned sour. "My husband and everyone else in this realm," she answered. "I agree with you wholeheartedly. Loki was unaware of his heritage as was everyone save for Odin and me, and I was forbidden to divulge anything to him or to intervene in any way."

Astrid's eyes narrowed and her blood boiled. She couldn't think of any curse words insulting enough for how she felt about Odin now. "You're saying that he didn't tell Loki he was adopted, that he was different, and he wouldn't let you say anything about it either?!" she asked in disbelief.

"That is precisely what I mean," Frigga answered, attempting to mask her disgust at her husband's actions. "It is no small shock that Loki did not handle it well when he made the discovery on his own."

Astrid was appalled at how Loki had been treated by his own family. It certainly explained a lot of what she felt during the purge and it also explained why she never heard him refer to Odin as 'father.' What she didn't understand was why Frigga kept quiet about it for all those centuries. "Why didn't you just tell him anyway? You're his mother…"

Frigga firmly replied, "Because I was expressly forbidden to do so."

The queen's answer shocked Astrid. "So? It was in his best interest that he know this. Why did you let some one-eyed old fart tell you how to parent your own children?" Shit. She immediately regretted spouting off. "I'm so sorry…" she whispered as she covered her mouth with her hand.

Frigga bristled and stiffened. "I have only recently come to realize that I should have taken that exact course of action."

Astrid felt like the biggest bitch, snapping at Frigga. The kindly queen was not the true target for her anger. It was Odin that she now despised. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that."

"But you did and I understand why. Believe me when I tell you that it is not anything I have not repeatedly told myself. My son- both of my sons have been wronged and I am doing my best to make it right." Frigga paused for a moment before continuing, "Everyone is quick to judge Loki for his actions and misdeeds but he is not solely to blame. He is responsible, yes, but it is not completely his fault. You have been so caring and accepting of him. I believe that you have shown him the path that leads back to his true self."

Astrid silently considered Frigga's words. She could only imagine the conflict and torment that the queen had experienced all these years in knowing that her responsibility as a mother was to do right by her children, yet she was banned from doing so. "I shouldn't have said such awful things to you. I'm so sorry," she said, feeling that she could not apologize enough for being so harsh and disrespectful.

Frigga's face hardened as she replied, "No, you should not speak to me in such a manner. You are now of Asgard and I am your queen. However-" her face grew soft as she continued, "-I do appreciate your candor and I am glad that you feel comfortable enough to speak freely with me. You've no idea how refreshing it is to converse with another woman who is not interested only in gaining royal favor. But please understand that you must refrain from speaking so candidly while we are not among family. Privately though, I am your husband's mother and I should hope that I would also be seen as a friend."

Astrid smiled warmly as she thought about how fortunate she was to have Frigga as her mother-in-law. Not everyone is so lucky. Of course, not everyone married into a family of gods and goddesses, either.

Astrid sat on her sofa next to Frigga, cradling a cup of tea in her hands. She stared into the steaming pool of liquid contained within and was filled with a sense of dread. Something was wrong- horribly wrong. She felt a tremendous pain in her chest, like her heart was being torn out. She cried out as the teacup fell from her hands and shattered on the floor.

"Astrid?" the queen asked. "What's wrong?" Frigga's face was a mixture of worry and fear.

Astrid gasped and sobbed with her hands clutched to her chest. "Something's happened! It's… it's…" She couldn't articulate what she felt. She was overwrought with pain and anguish. It felt as if her soul was being ripped apart.

Both women turned their heads as they heard the distinct sound of the Bifrost spinning. Astrid's eyes grew wide as both she and Frigga jumped from their seats and ran out onto the balcony. Someone was arriving. A flying boat sped out to the gold sphere. Healers ran inside holding a stretcher.

"No!" Astrid whispered in horror, still clutching her chest. She helplessly watched as the healers brought someone out and placed them in the boat. The Bifrost spun again and sent someone back out. Astrid's eyes couldn't make out who was on the stretcher until the boat flew closer to the palace. When she finally saw the patient, she screamed at the top of her lungs and collapsed to her knees.

Frigga's shaking hands lifted her up and pulled her towards the door. "Quickly- to the healing room." she ordered.

Astrid gathered up her skirt and sprinted as fast she could; faster than during the elves' attack and faster than when she and Loki were being chased by the guards. She wasn't running for her life, she was running for Loki's. She was outrunning the queen, who was shouting out directions from a few short paces behind.

"Left!" Frigga called out. "Down the stairs!"

As the two women burst into the healing room, Loki was prone in a soul forge, his armor removed to reveal the gaping hole in his chest. A holographic image of his injury and vital signs were displayed above him. He was barely breathing and healers were scrambling around him, wielding medical devices that Astrid didn't recognize. She covered her mouth and cried, unable to look at the wound.

Frigga approached her son on his right, Astrid on his left. They tried to stay as close to him as possible without impeding the work of the healers. Loki's eyes were closed; he had lost consciousness and his skin was a dark, mottled grey.

"He's grey! Why is he grey?" Astrid demanded to know.

Frigga whispered with tears streaming down her cheeks, "He's dying."

"No…" Astrid sobbed as she gently stroked his cool cheek. "No, no, no…" She remembered being told when her grandmother was dying that the sense of hearing is the last to shut down. She hoped that was true and that he could hear her. "I love you," she whispered closely to his ear.

Odin marched in, his face made of stone. He didn't say a word. He just stood, watching his wife weep over her son. He placed his hand on her shoulder but his face and energy remained stoic. If he felt anything at all, he did not let it show.

"My son…" Frigga bent over and kissed Loki's forehead as his Jotun markings began to take shape on his darkened skin.

Alarms on the soul forge sounded as Loki exhaled one final, ragged breath. Astrid held her own breath and watched for his chest to rise again. It didn't. "No… No! Breathe, please breathe!" she pleaded. His heart beat three more times and then stopped.

Frigga buried her face into Loki's shoulder and cried. Her son had come so far, and now this. This wasn't supposed to happen. It wasn't supposed to be this way.

Astrid and Frigga both broke down sobbing inconsolably. Eir, the head healer, approached the queen. "I am so sorry for your loss."

Loki opened his eyes and found himself standing in a dark stone room. The only light was from a fireplace on the far wall. Black curtains hung over the dark windows and a large black velvet armchair sat in front of the fire. He slowly approached and stood beside the chair, resting his hand on the ebony of the high back. A tall, slender figure draped in a black feathered cloak rose from her seat in the chair and turned to face him. Her pale blue skin seemed lit from within, her raven-black hair flowed in gentle waves down to the middle of her back. Her emerald-green eyes settled on Loki as a smile spread across her lips.

"Hello, Father."