A few months after learning about Asta's true heritage, Loki became a bit restless with his own background.
"My love, I want to meet Laufey," he said as they had just closed Fredrik's nursery door.
"Wait, what?" she replied, dumbfounded.
He quickly led her to their bed and sat down with her. "Yes, that timing was a bit off. But the fact remains. I want to know more about my family."
"Loki, you know in any other situation, I'd be backing you up wholeheartedly. But this means you would have to go to Jotunheim. And I don't mean to disparage the land that holds both of our bloodlines, but they hate Asgard! And I'm sure as king, the target on your back is the biggest of all!"
"Well, my hope is that Laufey will be able to hear reason. Surely they wouldn't murder the Asgardian king the second his foot hit the realm's snow?"
"They might!"
"They likely wouldn't risk Asgard's wrath by slaughtering me."
She closed her eyes. "Please don't say it like that!"
Loki took a deep breath. "Darling, ever since we learned about your mother's family, I've been wanting even more to know of my father's. It's not ideal, but I would love to know where I get my quirks from, if my laugh sounds more like Laufey's or Farbauti's, if I finally grew tall enough to look like I belonged."
Asta's heart sank. She never knew most of her family, so it never really occurred to her to wonder who she most resembled. She couldn't fault him for wanting this.
"I want to talk to Heimdall."
It was a simple statement. He wasn't asking, but he still needed to hear her approval.
"I know," she replied. "In two days, my parents will be here. They can watch Fredrik and we'll go to Heimdall. But you have to realize, there will be much you don't want to hear. It's already been painful to hear the truth. This will only be more of that."
He was silent for a moment. "Yes, there will be much that will be hard to hear. But I must hear it."
She put a hand on the side of his face. "Then we will go together. For now, let's go to bed. We're going to need to be rested."
"It will be a long day."
"I just meant that the Starks are coming," she said with a laugh, hoping to distract him. She tugged him down to the bed and snuggled against him. "I love you, mischief."
"And I love you, darling."
Two days later, with Fredrik safely in his Grandma's arms, Loki and Asta went down to the stables. Asta went for her own horse, but Loki stopped her.
He grabbed the largest horse in the stable. "Ride with me, my love?"
Asta nodded and allowed him to help her onto the horse. He climbed behind her and they rode to the rainbow bridge together.
When they arrived at the bifrost gate, they found Heimdall stoic as ever. Asta knew he was aware of what was coming, but probably hoping he was wrong.
"Heimdall!" Loki called as they walked to him. "I need to speak with you."
"I am here to serve, my king. But please know, what you wish to ask is a story full of anger and woe."
Loki nodded. "Yet I must know."
"May I speak as a friend?" Heimdall asked.
"Please do."
"I will tell you whatever you ask. But much will change after you hear this."
"I understand. Let's start with my brothers."
"The elder princes were skilled warriors. They fought valiantly and it took at least 7 Asgardian soldiers to bring them down."
Loki inwardly cringed. 'Another family where I likely wouldn't have been lauded for my combat skills,' he thought to himself.
"And Laufey?" he cautiously asked.
"Laufey also fought well. He was injured at the hand of Odin by an enchanted blade."
"Enchanted how?"
"The wound it inflicted would never heal. I'm not certain how he hasn't succumb to the injury yet."
Loki nodded, taking all of this in. "And… my birth mother?"
"Farbauti was a fair queen, loved by all of Jotunheim. Her cause of death was never revealed."
"When did she pass?"
Heimdall paused. He didn't want to hurt his friend. He took a deep breath. "She saw Valhalla a week after you disappeared."
"So she died of a broken heart. She lost all of her sons and was likely to lose her husband."
"That is the probable cause, yes."
"Very well. I'll be going to Jotunheim then."
"Your majesty, is that a wise decision?" Heimdall asked, his eyes shooting to Asta for help. She could only shrug in her own uncertainty.
"I must meet him. I want to know where I came from. If only to ask a few questions."
"And if they kill you just out of spite?" Asta finally spoke.
Heimdall's eyes softened. He didn't envy either of the royal couple right now. "Your majesties, go back to the palace. There has been much information given. Talk it over. There is no one right or wrong answer. Do what is best for the kingdom and especially best for your family."
Loki looked to the gatekeeper. "Yes. Thank you, my friend. I know this wasn't easy for you either."
As the couple mounted the horse, Asta knew it would be a quiet ride back to the palace. When they arrived back to their room, Asta asked her parents if they would stay with Fredrik a bit longer. Tony and Pepper recognized the same need for a private talk as when Asta learned the hard truth from Heimdall. The older couple took Morgan and Fredrik out to the gardens.
When Asta joined Loki on their bed, she waited for him to speak.
He whispered, "You know I have to go, don't you?"
"I know that you think you do."
"And why don't you?"
"Because Jotunheim abhors Asgard. I will no longer say that they are the monsters that we were taught, because obviously we know otherwise now. But it doesn't change their anger. Their justifiable fury. It wouldn't surprise me to receive your corpse back."
Loki took her hands. "My love, I have to have faith that it will all work out. What if in the end, we bring peace between the realms? Is it not worth it to make life safer for Fredrik and our future family?"
"Don't bring him into it," she growled.
"I don't mean to use him as a pawn or a talking point. But the fact remains, wouldn't one less enemy benefit him?"
Asta sighed. "Of course. But wouldn't one less parent cost him?"
"It won't. I know it won't. Deep in my heart, I feel it. This will work out. Can you trust me?"
Asta scoffed. "Don't ever ask me that. I have trusted you since day one. It's everyone else that I don't trust."
"That's fair. This won't happen until I can be certain that it's safe. I can assure you of that. And I will include you in every step along the way."
"Yes. You will," she stated matter of factly.
"There's my strong queen," he said with a grin and a nudge to her shoulder. "Are you angry with me?"
She sighed heavily. "No. I know all of this comes from your heart. But it doesn't stop me from being terrified for you."
"You're good at worrying."
"One of us has to be!"
"Indeed. And I know that comes from your heart as well. A perfect match we are. Now, shall we go find your parents and finally get to lunch?"
"Yes, I'm starving!"
Loki pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Jeg elsker deg, min beskytterdronning." (I love you, my protector queen)
"Jeg elsker deg, min store hjertekonge." (I love you, my big hearted king)