Frigga sat next to Loki's bed in silence. Everything was still such a blur in her mind. The attack had happened so fast, and the Hall of Healing was one of the first areas the Dark Elves had attacked. She thought back to the evacuation. She had been helping the healers get everyone to safety when the second wave attacked. She looked down at the blood that had dried on her dress as the memories came flooding back. She hadn't seen the third attacker. She had taken the first two down easily, but it left her wide open for an attack... an attack that would have killed her, had her son not thrown himself in the way.
She didn't strictly remember killing the last attacker but assumed she must have. The next clear memory she had was falling to her knees at her son's side and using her dress to slow the bleeding from the wound in his abdomen. She thought back to how the healers rushed to help, and how their spells all failed as they had never been trained in Jotun healing. Not knowing where Desi was or how to bring her back, she felt desperate and hopeless as tears filled her eyes. She had sent out a call begging any Jotun to come help. She didn't care who, she just couldn't face the possibility of losing her son again. It had been a full day though, and no Jotun had come. Staring at Loki's near lifeless body, she wondered if any would at all.
Thor sighed as he wiped his face with a rag while he walked into The Hall of Healing. "Has he changed at all?"
"No, but at least he isn't declining anymore." Frigga said softly. "Has there been any word of help coming?"
"Heimdall said someone has answered the call and is making arrangements. I hope they arrive soon."
"Thank the gods for that. I was starting to lose all hope." Frigga said, sounding emotionally exhausted. "What of the Dark Elves? Are they still a threat?"
"Malekith is dead. Jane is back on earth, safe, where she should be." Thor sat in a nearby chair and sighed, exhausted.
"Was the Aether removed from Jane?" She asked, trying to distract her thoughts for a moment. Keeping her focus on her sons, she didn't see a Jotun walk into the doorway, looking extremely nervous.
"Yes, Malekith actually removed it himself during battle. Fandrel is taking the artifact to The Collector," Thor explained, then glanced at the doorway to see a black-haired female Jotun. "Hello," he greeted.
"I... I was told to come here." the Jotun said timidly.
"Yes," Thor confirmed, "My brother is badly injured and needs help."
She looked around, then back to Thor with her brow furrowed. "I was told I was helping a Jotun."
Thor nodded and stood to stand at the foot of Loki's bed. "My brother is adopted."
"He looks nothing like us... he is clearly an æsir." She said, taking a step back.
"Mother... how do we prove it to her?" Thor asked.
"My son is a shapeshifter and takes on our appearance. If you will so much as touch him, you will see." Frigga told her. The Jotun woman hesitated for a moment, then walked over. She was barely halfway to the bed when Loki's appearance started to shift.
"He needs your help... or he may never meet his daughter," Thor murmured.
The woman hesitantly walked closer and placed her hand directly on Loki's chest. "He's too warm, and I can tell already he will need at least two procedures. Do you have surgeons here?" She asked them.
"We do. Anything you could ever need," Thor answered.
"Make the call for them. I will guide them, then we can make a plan based on how well he comes through the surgeons care." She said, easily able to see how bad Loki's condition was.
Frigga nodded. "Fari is our best. Thor, please go get her." She watched as Thor nodded then quickly left the room.
"I'm sorry it took so long to get here... my realm has no knowledge of a Jotun in the palace... and given the history with your King, it was ruled this must be a trap." She explained.
"It was no trap I assure you. I know our realms have barely civilized relations, I apologize for that," Frigga stated.
"All I ask is that I am allowed to return home, unharmed, once my role is done." She said truthfully. "I was forbidden to come here, but I have lost a child myself and could not stand by, knowing I might be able to prevent that pain for someone else."
Frigga smiled at the woman as she held onto Loki's hand. "Thank you for coming. I could never repay you for it." She looked over just as Thor brought Fari into the room. "Just explain to her what she needs to do, and she will get it done."
"Allowing me to return home unharmed will be payment enough." She told Frigga. "Please give us the room, I will call for you when we have finished."
Frigga took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright. I trust you with my son." She stood and bent down to kiss Loki's forehead. "We'll be right outside the door Loki." Frigga then took Thor's hand, and they left the room.
Thor closed the door behind them, feeling more worried than ever. "Are you sure about this mother? We know nothing about this woman or how qualified she may be to help."
"I read her aura and I trust her. She's strong willed and reminds me of Loki in a way," she told him.
Thor simply nodded. "I'm sorry mother, there is just so much to worry about." He sighed. "Are you certain he didn't say anything about where he sent them?" He asked for what was likely the hundredth time in the past day.
Frigga sighed and nodded as she found a bench to sit on. "He never told me Thor, no. It's likely he didn't tell us so nobody could get the information."
"I know. I'm the one who told him not to tell anyone. They should have been brought back by now... what if he can't bring them back at all..." he mumbled, feeling his worry grow.
"Thor, Loki will bring the girls home, I swear it. I also have a feeling we will see more of the Jotun woman that's in there with Loki."
"Do you think she will need to stay here, since she was forbidden from answering your call?" Thor asked curiously.
Frigga furrowed her brow. "It's possible. We may need to grant her sanctuary."
"Why else would we see her? I didn't get the impression she's comfortable here." Thor said, wanting some answers.
"I think... she is Loki's mother."
Thor's eyes went wide with shock. "What makes you think that? If his mother is even alive, she has never once tried to make contact."
"It's just a feeling I have," Frigga replied. "A connection."
"She is probably just a healer that came to help." Thor said, shaking his head. "He shifts if any Jotun is near him, not just her."
"I don't know Thor. It's just a feeling I have," she replied softly as she stared at the door.
Thor nodded then paced around the small area outside of the door. Eventually, he sat down on a bench, unable to do anything but wait.
After several hours, Fari finally appeared as she opened the door. "You can come back inside now."
Frigga sighed and stood from her spot on the bench. "How is he?"
"He still has a lot of recovering to do, but the healing went well. He even seems a little stronger now." Fari told them, then stepped aside so they could go in.
"Is he awake?" She asked as she walked into the room, knowing Thor was right behind her.
"No, not yet. Everything looks stable as far as we can tell, he just needs to gain strength now." She said, following them over to the bed.
Frigga smiled as she saw Loki again. "He looks a lot better. Thank you so much for saving him."
"Only time will tell if we were successful. I showed the lady to the shower so she could clean up... she said she would return, but she seems like she may just take off as well." Fari said with a shrug.
"How bad was he?" Frigga asked as she sat by Loki's bedside and grasped his hand.
"That blade hit several major organs. I'm honestly surprised he survived this long without the procedures. He has also lost a lot of blood, but I don't know how to even begin to find him a donor." Fari sighed.
Frigga glanced over at Thor, then looked back over at the woman. "You mentioned earlier that you had lost a son. Since I've met you, I've had a feeling and I would like to see if I am correct. Could you tell me about him?"
The Jotun woman tensed at being addressed. "There is nothing to tell... I lost him as an infant." She said, refusing to meet Frigga's eyes. "With your permission, I would like to just give what help I can. There is no need to act like there is any interest in me and I want to remain anonymous." She said, polite and truthful.
"I understand that. I just wanted to state what I feel," Frigga replied softly.
"My son was only three days old when I lost him, so there isn't much I can tell you. All I know was that he was beautiful and a happy baby." She said quietly, glancing over at Loki.
Frigga widened her eyes slightly. "My husband found Loki abandoned and our doctors guessed him to be five days old by the time he was brought to me."
"It was very kind of you and your king to open your home to a Jotun." She replied, not wanting to say anything more than she needed to.
"I've loved him as my own from day one," Frigga replied as she looked down at Loki. "He's grown to be such an amazing man."
"Since you were kind enough to accept a Jotun child, I imagine you have treated your children very well." She said softly, feeling a lump in her throat.
"We have tried. Loki has been through more than he should, as my husband wanted to keep his heritage from him until he was old enough, to keep him safe. But Loki found out in the wrong meat way," Frigga explained as a tear escaped from her eyes and ran down her cheek.
"The fact that you put out a call the way you did shows how much you care about him." She said in barely more than a whisper. Unable to help herself, she straightened Loki's blankets, unable to deny her motherly instincts.
"All of us love him very much, but I think his fiancé loves him even more," Frigga answered with a small smile. "I hope you can hear me my son," she added, "we want you to recover so you can bring your family home."
She simply nodded, then gently brushed back a stray strand of Loki's hair. "I will stay until he is stable, then I will ask that you allow me to go..."
Frigga nodded as she silently watched her movements. "Will it be safe for you to return? I would like Loki to be able to meet you once he's ready," she stated, now knowing for sure who she was.
"It should be safe for me to go home. They only said they would not send help if it was a trap." She told Frigga. "I won't be here when he wakes."
"He will look for you once he knows," Frigga replied. "He will have questions."
She shook her head, then finally looked at Frigga. "He doesn't need to know at all. Don't say anything about me, give your healers all of the credit and praise for his recovery. He doesn't need to be bothered with stories of some random Jotun helping him."
"You're not random," Frigga insisted, "I know who you are."
"No I'm not and he doesn't need to know anything about this." She said firmly.
Frigga sighed inwardly and let her shoulders slump. "Okay. That is your decision to make. We will grant your safety to return home when you wish."
"Thank you... as soon as your healers can manage without my help, I will go." She promised. "I will be outside if he needs anything." She said, then hurried out into the hall in tears.
"I didn't mean to upset her," Frigga murmured as she held onto Loki's hand.
"She really is his mother..." Thor mumbled. "Why doesn't she want anyone to know?"
Frigga shrugged and shook her head. "I don't know Thor, I wish I did."
"He at least deserves some answers... I think you should talk to her more." Thor said truthfully. "She wouldn't have come all this way to help if she carelessly abandoned him."
"I don't want her to be in danger if she were to tell us, but I agree with you. Loki deserves answers on why he was abandoned," she replied.
"I will stay with Loki if you want to go talk to her." Thor said softly.
"Do you think she will talk?" Frigga asked.
"I think she has a lot she wants to say... it's just a matter of whether she will say it or not." Thor answered truthfully.
Frigga nodded and reluctantly let go of Loki's hand before she stood. "I will try and speak with her. Keep your brother company."
"I will stay right here at his side." Thor promised, then took a seat in the chair next to the bed.
She smiled at Thor before she turned and quietly left the room. Frigga spotted the Jotun woman sitting across the hall but didn't move towards her. "I did not mean to upset you."
She looked up at Frigga, unable to stop her tears. "It's not your fault." She said softly.
Frigga pulled a kerchief from her dress pocket as she walked up to her and offered it. "I am Frigga. I am sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier."
She took it and tried to dry her eyes. "I know who you are." She said quietly. "I don't regret helping, but I still never should have come here."
"It's a mother's instinct. There is nothing wrong with you coming here to help him," she assured.
"I wanted to just help and go. I never wanted anyone to know anything about me." She said truthfully. "I didn't know it would be this hard..."
Frigga quietly sat beside her. "If I was not a seer or a sorcerer, I might have never known unless I paid close attention."
"Please don't tell him. I truly came here only to help. I have no intention of interfering with anything." She said truthfully.
"I won't tell him unless you say it is okay. But I think he has the right to know some answers about you... about what happened," Frigga murmured.
"What does he think happened?" She asked, though not sure she wanted to know.
"My husband found Loki alone, on a curved rock, crying his little heart out," Frigga replied, "So that's what we've always told him. He was found alone... abandoned."
She shook her head but was reduced to tears again. "That's not... I would never..."
Frigga reaches out and rubbed her back, trying to comfort her. "Could you tell me?"
It took a few minutes for her to calm herself, then she nodded. "He was taken from me." She told Frigga.
"Taken?" Frigga asked, her eyes wide.
She nodded again. "There was some kind of prophecy made... I don't understand that part... but it scared some of the Jotnar. When it was clear my son could be the one spoke of, I decided to not announce his birth, but they still found out and stole him."
"So that's why they left him to die. What was the prophecy?"
"I don't think they left him to die per say. They used your king's attack as a distraction and attacked that night. According to some warriors, the thieves were killed in the attacks, but they found no trace of my baby. They assumed he was also killed. I searched for any trace, but eventually came to accept he was gone... until a few years ago." She said, finally able to talk to someone who would listen.
"When Loki and Thor came to Jotunheim," Frigga answered.
"One of the soldiers in that encounter told me he saw the arm of an æsir turn blue, unharmed by the touch. It immediately made me wonder if it could be him. I tried to ask around, but no one could tell me anything. Most denied the possibility of a Jotun living with the Asgardian royalty. I tried to put it all behind me... then I heard of your call for help..." she let the sentence die there, not really sure what to say past that.
Frigga smiled and squeezed her shoulder gently. "Loki is the youngest son of the late Laufey. I have raised him as my own and I love him dearly."
"I meant it when I said I had no intention to interfere with anything. It was a very hard pregnancy for me, and I was very weak. I only saw and held him once. I just wanted to see him again..." She said, giving in to a fresh wave of tears.
"You can get to know him if you wish. Although it may not be a warm greeting in the beginning. I imagine his mind will be on Laney, his fiancé and his unborn daughter," Frigga explained.
"N-no... you are his mother and there is no place for me in his life. I know and understand that. I just had to see him again." She said, hoping Frigga would understand. "You can tell him what I told you. I don't expect it to change anything, I just want him to know that I never abandoned him."
Frigga smiled softly. "I will let him know. But he may search for you... have more questions."
"I will make sure he can't find me. I don't want to come between the two of you." She said truthfully.
"You wouldn't be. He knows who raised him... who he calls his mother. But in the end, it's your decision."
"Thank you for taking him in and raising him." She gave Frigga a soft smile. "If it's not asking too much, could you tell me a little about him?"
"What would you like to know?"
"Anything at all that you would be willing to share. I have never known anything about him." She said sadly.
"Well," Frigga began, "he loves to read and gain knowledge about anything he can get his hands on. He is a brilliant sorcerer and is very talented with his magic. Loki is also fond of animals, mostly horses, but enjoys others as well. He's brave and courageous. I know he will make an excellent father to his daughter Star."
"He's the first one in a long time to have natural magic. It's a very rare skill..." She said, trying to not sound too proud of it. "As he was raised by you, I'm sure he will be a great father."
"Loki was terrified of the news at first, but quickly warmed to it. He even studied everything he could about the subject of pregnancy," she said with a chuckle.
"He sounds highly intelligent." She said, failing to hide her pride.
Frigga grinned proudly. "He is. I am very proud of him."
"You should be. You have given him a better life than I ever could have." She said, feeling more heartache than she could bear. "If the prophecy is true, there is still a lot in store for him, I think."
Frigga furrowed her brow. "What does it entail?"
"I don't exactly know. It was very confusing, and I think that's why it had so many scared. My entire focus was on my baby... he was my everything." She said softly.
"You can still be a part of his life if you wish. Get to meet your granddaughter when she arrives," Frigga suggested. "I know how you feel, to think you have lost him forever. There was a time all of us believed Loki to be dead."
She thought about it for a moment, trying to decide what to do. "What do you feel is best for him?"
"I think he would like to know you're alive. It would be up to him if he would like to speak with you. It could take some time," she said honestly.
"I appreciate and understand that... but I didn't ask what he may want, I asked what would be best for him." She clarified.
Frigga took a long couple of breaths while she fiddled with her hands. "I think he needs to know the truth and has closure. That would be best."
She nodded and looked away. "Everything I've told you is all that I know. You can tell him and help him find the closure." She said softly. She didn't even look up when the door opened.
"Mother! I think he's waking up." Thor said, then disappeared back into the room.
Frigga quickly stood but turned back to the woman. "Thank you, again." She smiled, then walked into the healing room.
"If he needs any care, just call me." She said softly.
Inside the room, Fari was already checking Loki, who was asleep again.
"Did he say anything?" Frigga asked as she moved to sit by his side again.
"No. He was still in a daze when he came around. I need to find a way to give him blood." Fari told Frigga.
"Could you ask if the woman outside would be willing to donate?" Frigga asked.
"Only if their blood types match, but I can't see that being a high possibility." Fari said, not knowing the woman was Loki's mother.
Frigga bit her lip, then stood. "I will ask her," she stated. "See if she knows her type."
"There is no record of Loki's type either, so I will have to test them both, if she is willing." Fari told Frigga.
"Alright." Frigga walked back out into the hall and smiled when the woman looked up at her. "Loki needs blood. Would you be willing to help him?"
"I don't know if we're a match... but if we are, I'm willing." She answered Frigga.
"Fari is willing to test you both," Frigga explained as she opened the door for her. "I hope you're a match."
She walked in and took a seat where Fari told her to. After taking a quick blood sample from her and Loki, Fari hurried off to test them as fast as possible.
Frigga returned to her spot by Loki's bedside. "I hope this helps give you strength my son. You need it."
"He's never been hurt this badly before..." Thor said softly, worried for his brother.
"He will get through it Thor. Loki is strong," Frigga murmured.
"I know he is... but it feels different this time. He's actually hurt this time." Thor said, trying to get his mother to understand a feeling he couldn't put into words.
Frigga reached across Loki's bed and took Thor's hand. "I know sweetheart. But he's already doing better."
"We can't lose him again. We just can't..." Thor said, feeling heart broken. "We just got him back."
"We aren't going to lose him," Frigga replied sternly. "He will be okay; he will marry Laney and have his beautiful daughter."
Thor looked up at his mother, hoping she knew he was just worried and not trying to be difficult. "Laney should be here with him..."
"I know dear. Hopefully they will both be home soon."
"I hope so." Thor sighed.
"It's a match, he can have her blood." Fari said, walking back into the room.
Frigga grinned broadly. "That's brilliant. You may do the transfusion."
Fari nodded then set up everything for the transfusion. She had trouble getting a line into Loki's arm at first, but once she had it, she started the pump. "It will take a little while."
"Hopefully Loki will feel better soon."
"I've never done a transfusion like this before, so I can't really tell you what to expect. He really needs a Jotun healer..." Fari said, feeling bad.
"Thor's fiancé would be the best one for him. But we don't know where Loki sent the girls," Frigga explained.
"We need her here as soon as possible." Fari told Frigga.
"Loki needs to tell us where they are. Otherwise, I'm not sure how we will get them back," Frigga stated.
"I will do my best to get him strong enough to tell you, but I can't pull him through this long term." Fari said, hating to give bad news.
"I understand Fari. We don't want to harm him any worse than he is."
"I won't do anything that will worsen his condition. I just know that I'm very limited in what I can do. Without the help, I wouldn't have even been able to do the surgeries." Fari explained.
Frigga nodded as she looked over at Loki. "Do what you can."
"You have my word." Fari vowed. "I'm going to let him rest for a day or so, then we'll try to wake him."
Frigga yawned as she woke from her spot in the chair beside Loki's bed. She looked towards the windows to see the sun was just beginning to rise. It's been a very long three days.
Fari looked over when Frigga woke. "His body has rejected the transfusion. All I can do at this point is try to wake him and hope he can tell you how to bring the healer back."
"Please do so. Desi will know how to help him," Frigga answered urgently.
"You will need to be ready to question him." Fari said, then readied an adrenaline injection. "Are you ready?" She asked Frigga.
Frigga nodded as she stood and held onto Loki's hand tightly in hers. "I'm ready."
Fari gave Loki the injection directly into his heart. It only took a few seconds until his eyes shot open and he gasped for breath, starting to panic.
"Hey! Hey, you're okay, you're safe at home but we need Desi. Where are the girls Loki?" Frigga questioned.
Loki looked around in a hurry, trying to figure out where he was. As much as he tried, he physically couldn't calm down. "Can't say... until it's safe."
"You are safe. You're in Asgard in the healing room. We need Desi to help save your life, Loki. Please tell me."
"Where are my clothes? The orb was in my pocket..." Loki told Frigga, but he was already starting to drift off as the adrenaline wore off.
"I can get it. Will that bring them back?" She asked. "Stay with me son."
"Break it..." Loki trailed off, falling back into unconsciousness.
Frigga caressed the side of his head and let him fall back asleep. "Keep him stable Fari. I need his clothes he was wearing when we brought him here."
"They are in the cabinet." She pointed to the other side of the room. "His personal belongings will be in there as well, as his clothes have already been cleaned." She said, then checked his vitals. "I hope this works." she sighed to herself.
Frigga quickly walked over to the cabinet and opened it before she quickly went through Loki's things. Once she found the orb, she shut the cabinet back as she rolled it around in her hand. "He said to break it..." she murmured before she threw it to the ground and let it shatter.
Nothing happened at first, then the smoke began to billow out the glass fragments. After only a minute, it quickly cleared on its own, Laney with Star, and Desi now in its place.