Birthright

Memories

"Get down out of that tree, Loki!" He heard her voice before he saw her face. Giggling, he covered his mouth and waited. "Loki!" As she drew nearer, he held his breath. If she discovered his hiding place, the surprise would be ruined.

The branch beneath him creaked with his weight, and he let out a little gasp. It was all she needed. Looking up into the apple tree, she saw him.

His little face shining with happiness, those beautiful green eyes glittering with mischief. He was, as usual, up to something. With a dramatic sigh, she turned away.

"Oh, where is my darling son? Has he been stolen away by the trolls? Has he run off and tried to be a Valkyrie - again?" She said in a dramatic voice.

Loki giggled again. He let go of the branch and flicked his wrist as his mother had taught him. A shower of petals fell, like pink snow. It caught in her hair, it covered her dress. She held out her hands and gathered them as they floated down.

"Oh my! A snow storm in summer. How wonderful. If only Loki were here to see it, too!" She laughed. Loki saw his moment.

Leaping from the branches, he landed at her side. "Here I am, mother!" He exclaimed, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Did you like your surprise, Mother?" He looked up at her, a picture of happiness.

"Yes, my darling. I did. You are getting so good. I can see I'm going to have to teach you more. What next?" She gently took his hand as they walked through the orchard towards the river.

"Fireworks!" He said, his little eyes glowing. "Pleeeeeeese?"

"If you promise to keep them for special occasions and people, then yes." She nodded, ruffling his hair. "I only ever show them to people I love."

"I promise to only do the same. Fireworks for people I love." He nodded solemnly.

"Come on. Time to go back, your father and Thor will be back from their hunting trip. I wonder how many Bilgesnipe have met their end today?"

"A THOUSAND!" Loki said excitedly, "Father and Thor are great hunters." He jumped up and down. "Father says a king must be a great hunter. Of Bilgesnipe and people who would threaten our realms. We must protect all of Yggdrasil's branches."

"Your father needs to remember that there are more ways to protect a realm than do battle. Remember Loki, sometimes brain wins over brawn."

Frigga closed her eyes, feeling the sunshine on her face. As she opened them again, she became aware of a noise to her right.

Looking across, she smiled as she woke from her dream. The same one she'd had many times over the last few years.

She was sitting in her chambers, waiting. Waiting for the son, she gave up in order to save his life.

Now, as the door opened, he walked in. Almost as if he had never left, he looked across at her. Frigga's heart stopped, would he remember? She'd known her presence would start to unwind the spells as soon as he walked in. His eyes told her everything she needed to know.

Loki! My son!" She held out her arms, and he ran across the room. Enveloping him in her perfumed embrace, they wept together. "Oh, my son. My son."

"Mother. I am home."

Loki felt like his heart would burst he was so happy. This, this was the feeling he had been searching for all this time. "I love you, mother. I don't know why I left you, but I love you, and I'm never leaving you again." He sobbed into her shoulder. "I don't care what Father says, I don't want to be King, I just want to be your son."

Frigga's heart, at first so full of happy emotion, now broke for Loki. He needed to know why he'd been banished and indeed why he was now back. Slowly, she released him from her arms.

"Loki, my darling boy. There is much to say and not long to say it. There are things you don't remember as yet, and it is up to me to help you. It won't be easy for you to see and hear, but we need you Loki. Your brother, your mother, your people." She stroked his cheek, and he leaned into her touch.

"I'm afraid, mother." He said softly. "I have a feeling that this is all a lovely dream." He looked at her, and she shook her head.

"No, Loki, it's not. I fear, though, that it's about to become a nightmare." She looked worried, and now he began to shake a little.

"Whatever it is, I trust you. Do what you have to." He paused. "You didn't say Father needed me?" His eyes narrowed, a creeping suspicion entering his mind. "Why? Where is he?"

Frigga sighed and took his hands, leading him "all in good time. There are things to be done first. Trust me and remember, Loki, I love you."

The voice from his dreams. Telling him she loved him. All he needed to know now, was who had the booming voice and what had they done to him?