We All Did [Thor]

We All Did

It was an unfortunate side effect of being queen that Frigga was often the last to know of her husband's actions. Especially when those actions took place off world. She was in hiding on Vanaheim when she received the news that the war was over. Laufey and his army had been defeated after a series of long and bloody battles. The news came to her by soldiers stopping off at Vanaheim on their way from Jotunheim to Asgard, and they brought half a dozen different versions of what had happened. There would be a great deal of things to do in the days to come--moving back into the palace on Asgard, seeing support troops settled back into their homes and jobs, searching for prisoners, tending to the wounded, assessing damages, and drawing up treaties. For the moment, however, she allowed herself to simply be happy with Thor at the idea that Odin was finally coming home.

Her son was so excited that getting him to sleep was proving very difficult. In the end, Frigga allowed Thor to stay awake as long as he could manage. He was sound asleep within the hour, curled up next to her with his head on her leg. Frigga sat with him, stroking his hair gently, until the sound of armored movement and quiet voices from outside caught her attention.

Frigga gently eased Thor aside enough to stand without disturbing him. She picked up the knife she kept on the table, holding it in a stabbing grip and stealing toward the window to peer out. It had been a long war, and some habits would take a long time to unlearn.

Her fears, however, were finally for nothing. It was only her husband outside, dismissing the last of his escort. "If a Frost Giant attacks me between here and the front door, we will all have bigger problems," he was saying sternly. "I would see my wife, and I would not have company while I do. Go and sleep. Tomorrow will bring more complicated matters for us all."

They obeyed, of course, bidding him good night with all the respect due the All-Father--their general. With a clatter of armor, the Einherjar turned and walked down the road and back into the night. Odin watched them go for a long while, until the sound of Frigga opening the front door drew him back to reality and he turned to face her.

Frigga sucked in a breath sharply, one hand moving unconsciously to cover her mouth. Not for the first time, although as always only in her head, she cursed the fact that she was so often the last to know of some things. Like the presence of the thick white dressing covering Odin's eye, visible beneath his helmet.

"Don't," Odin said gently, drawing nearer. There were so many things to talk about. So many things to be done. Frigga allowed herself a moment, just to focus on the state of her husband instead. A moment to stop being strong and to just grieve for the state of him, even as he carefully and gently pried her hand away from her mouth long enough to kiss her. "A fine price to pay for peace. I will heal."

"You always do," she murmured softly in reply. Then, drawing upon centuries of practice, Frigga made herself smile. It wasn't as though she didn't have anything to be happy about. Odin could certainly have returned in a far sorrier state than this. What was an eye, to one who could see all things from his throne? "Welcome home, dear." She allowed herself the familiarity that could only come with solitude, and was gratified when doing so made him smile just a bit. "Thor has missed you."

"And I him." He chuckled, the sound fond and warm and all the sweeter for being so much missed. "I am amazed you were able to get him to sleep at all, the news being what it is."

"He has a willing spirit, but his flesh still needs a while to catch up." She laughed with him, feeling her heart swell with love for her child. It was true that going into hiding had been a lonely existence, for all its necessity. It had only made her more grateful for Thor's presence to brighten her long days.