Feel Something

Chapter 19: Lay Me Gently in the Cold Dark Earth

It had been nearly a month since the king succumbed to the Odinsleep, and Frigga was growing increasingly worried. The longest it had ever lasted was a fortnight, and only then after the long, drawn-out war with Jotunheim.

Those days had been spent in peace and stability, Odin seeking much-needed restoration as Frigga tended to their sons. Thor had been but an adolescent and Loki was only weeks old—a small, frail thing who clung to her as if she were all that mattered in his little world. The two kept her so busy in those days, the Odinsleep passed with hardly a moment for concern.

This time, the queen of Asgard had barely left her husband's side since the brief war council with Thor. Even as she knew Thor was preparing Asgard's armies to invade Jotunheim in Odin's absence.

"My darling, how your sons need you now," Frigga whispered, gently stroking the Allfather's thinning white hair. "I know you would have me aid Thor in this time, but how to make him listen? He never heeds me as he does you. And then there's Loki...how can I abandon all thoughts of our youngest son when only you and Heimdall can truly watch over him?"

At the sound of someone entering the chamber, Frigga straightened and composed her features, donning her regality like a second skin. She relaxed when she took in Thor's tense figure approaching the other side of the bed where Odin rested.

"What news of your brother, Thor?" she whispered as if worried she might disturb Odin's rest. The only thing Thor worried about more than the conflict with Jotunheim was his younger brother, leading the God of Thunder to seek Heimdall's counsel often.

Thor sighed, collapsing into a chair near the foot of Odin's bed. "Heimdall cannot see much. Loki may be mortal now, but what power lies dormant within must be masking him from the Gatekeeper's sight. One moment Heimdall sees him clear as day, and in the next, he vanishes only to reappear in some new location. But he is well, I think. Heimdall saw him mere hours ago gallivanting across Midgard with another of those SHIELD agents and a man of metal before he disappeared again."

Frigga nodded. "With such powerful allies, our Loki will do well on Midgard. Perhaps it won't be long before he may return to us in earnest."

"Perhaps..." Thor looked troubled, "But what if he has no desire to?"

The thought grieved Frigga greatly, but she kept her sorrow buried and replied softly, "Then we shall wish him well and remind him that he always has a home and a family who love him on Asgard."

Thor exhaled heavily. "I supposed I knew you would say as much."

The silence stretched on as Frigga pondered how best to voice her concerns over Thor's current path. Though she did her best to raise Asgard's heirs to be compassionate and mindful, her eldest had much of his father in him—and Odin had not always been so wise and peace-seeking.

Before Frigga became his bride, Odin was a mighty conqueror who was infamous for his prowess in battle, and many of his victories were not in the name of justice, but from a desire for glory—a glorious purpose to be king of all, not satisfied with simply ruling Asgard. It took a great deal of pain and tragedy to humble Odin into the man he was now, and even more love and support from his stolen bride to renew in him a hope that he could be better. Do better.

So how was Frigga to instill the same lesson in Thor and save him from the pain his father had to go through? Odin's authority had not even been enough to stave Thor's pugnacity this time, and Loki had ever been the only one to actually change his elder brother's mind on anything.

Before Frigga could formulate an effective persuasion, Thor rose from his seat and rounded the bed to her side, extending a hand down to her. "Come, Mother. You know Father would not have you mourning him when he is yet living. Join me for a walk about the gardens?"