Avengers The Captain's Secret

Part 26: An Audience with King Odin

CAP POV

I watched a very stately woman come into the throne room first. Her eyes held wisdom and at the moment  looked questioning as Thor approached her. This had to be Frigga. He grasped both of her hands and whispered in her ear. Then I saw her become pale and tear up. They looked at each other, stared, and then she turned toward the throne as King Odin entered. She took her place at his side, but not before speaking to two of the guards, who departed hastily.

I had a bad feeling about that.

"What has passed to bring these mortals to our realm, Thor?" Odin demanded.

"They are Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, Father." Thor introduced. "My comrades in arms from Midgard—"

"How many times must your mother and I tell you and the people of Asgard not to meddle in Midgardian affairs?" Odin scolded.

"This is...a complicated situation, Father."

"What could have possibly--" Odin was interrupted by the rattle of chains and many guards.

I turned to see none other than Loki. He wore an almost bored expression which turned to anger when he laid eyes on us.

"What is this?" Loki asked. "A friendly visit?"

"No, Loki, it isn't." Frigga's eyes bore into him, and he lowered his own. "Thor tells me that you have a daughter from Midgard?"

Thor rolled his eyes closed. We all had hoped for a better way to break the truth, but Frigga was upset, not as a queen with her subject, but as a mother with her son.

Odin's eye widened in outrage. "No." He shook his head.

"Over twenty years ago, Loki went to Midgard, and met Kymera, a woman with powers of her own." Thor said slowly. "She had a daughter. Her name is Lesedi Evelyn Munroe."

Loki was totally attentive at this point. "I never got to meet her, Mother. I didn't know."

I saw Frigga's look soften. She was no longer queen now; she was a mother, potential grandmother. "Where is this child?"

"The Joturi have her," Thor said. "Tony Stark saw them take her against her will from Midgard. I believe they hope to breed her--"

"She's not a race horse." It came out before I could think. All turned. "She's not an animal." Odin's mouth clenched. He probably thought I had no right to speak, but I didn't care at this point. Frigga's eyebrows raised as if she knew who I was. I had to speak on Lesedi's behalf-Coulson was right, she needed someone. I was it.

"She has powers they would like to see flourish in their kingdom," Thor went on, though he did give me an apologetic look. "If anything she belongs in Asgard--"

"Or Midgard," I interjected.

"But not Jotunheim where she will be a prisoner." Thor finished.

"What say you, Loki?" Odin leaned forward. "What say you?"

"I wish to go rescue my child, of course."

"No!" I disagreed. "You're a snake, Loki." I turned to look at him. "We can't trust you."

"I agree!" Thor said angrily.

"But--" he locked eyes with his mother, the only one who might listen to him. "I am the reason they took her. She is my child, so they will feel they have a right to her. Odin took me from Jotunheim, and now they take Lesedi from Midgard. But they have to respect my bond to her. They have to!"

"Your highness?"

We all turned to Tony. He had been quiet this whole time.

"He has to cooperate," Tony reasoned. "The Avengers will hunt him down on Midgard and beyond, as will Asgard. And Her Highness, I am sure, will help rein him in with her power as he will not move against his mother...and a bit of technology."

"We have no time for a Midgardian tinkering or Asgardian sentiment—"

Tony clicked and his Iron Man suit came on, causing the guards to scramble. Frigga pushed them back with a wave of her hand, giving Thor a chance to react.

"He is exceptional, Father," Thor said, standing between Tony and his father's guards. "Truthfully, our people could learn something from him."

"And this one?" He nodded at me.

"Her father--" I stole a quick angry glance at Loki. "The man who raised her chose me--"

"Ah, betrothed."

"I am her protector, her advocate."

"You are crossing realms for her." Odin's eyebrow raised at Thor, and I realized he was looking at me. I stood my ground and waited. Tony took off his suit and it became a case again. "The honorable strong hearted soldier..." his gaze went to Thor. "You fought at his side at Midgard, did you not?"

"Yes, Father." Thor said.

Odin's gaze traveled from me to Tony. "Hmm, the Iron Knight." He was thoughtful now. "Either way, this woman needs rescue. She has been taken from her home, her realm, as a potential act against other realms and this should not be. Loki, this is your chance to earn some grace in doing right by this woman, your child or no. Your binds will be improved by Tony Stark and enhanced by Frigga's powers as you accompany Thor to Jotunheim. I will send word that you need to meet regarding a 'family matter.'" He rose, his eyes boring into Loki.  "Prodigal."

Loki lifted his chin, but when he saw Frigga's look of disappointment in him, he lowered his eyes. She affected him. She really did. Whether Loki would admit to it or not, he did consider Frigga his mother, and did not want to displease her.

"Thank you, Father." Thor bowed. Tony and I did the same, just doing as Romans do. He turned on his heel and we followed him. "I am proud you, Tony."

"For what?"

"Not speaking until the right moment."

"I do have a sense of knowing when less is more," Tony said simply. "Who knew mythology would be useful?"