Can Love Triumph?

Chapter 2

  After that night in the garden, Ashryn stopped going to Frigga's magic lessons. Once a month had passed the queen asked Loki if he had seen the young lady but he simply replied no. She noticed the sadness in his eyes, decided not to pester him further, and began the lesson.

   Later that afternoon the queen calmly walked down the street with two soldiers on either side of her and stopped at a small cottage on the outskirts of the Weapons District. The roof seemed to be sagging a little on one side; a few of the windows were cracked or broken, and the door seemed to be hanging on one hinge. Frigga's gaze saddened a bit at the appearance of her student's home and still walked up and gingerly knocked on the door.

   "Stay out here. Let no one in until I am finished here." She ordered and looked at both soldiers who nodded in understanding.

   The door creaked open and Ashryn appeared in the doorway and curtsied, "Your Majesty...?"

   Frigga smiled, "Hello, Ashryn, may I speak with you?"

   Ashryn looked down for a moment then nodded and opened the door further. Frigga looked at her escorts and nodded as she passed the threshold, both men stationing themselves on the outside of either side of the door.

   "How can I be of assistance, Your Majesty?" the maiden asked as she closed the door and led the way to the small table, where she had been peeling potatoes, and motioned for her guest to have a seat.

   Frigga gracefully sat across from the bucket of potato skins and watched Ashryn slowly, and timidly, take her seat. The queen said nothing, observing her apprentice's hands as they trembled lightly and a faint blue light sparked across the pale skin; Ashryn was using magic.

   "Ashryn, show me what you are trying to hide." Frigga ordered serenely.

   At first the young maid was hesitant, as if she was scared that showing the queen would get her into trouble. Frigga lightly clasped her hands over Ashryn's, who jumped with a gasp, and slowly caressed the knuckles with her thumb, "Show me, young one."

   "I can't..." Ashryn answered with a shaky voice, as she tried to hold back tears.

   "Ashryn, I am your teacher. Please, show me."

  With a small sigh of surrender, a sheet of blue light cascaded down from Ashryn's head to her feet and revealed bruises covering both of her eyes, her arms, and her hands. Frigga's eyes widened as she saw the horror that was etched behind her pupil's sapphire gaze.

   "When did this begin?" she inquired.

   "After I returned home." Ashryn answered, "After... Loki and I had a falling out."

   "Some of these bruises are fresh. Who did this?" the queen asked. Now Frigga was beginning to grow angry, "Was it your father?"

   "No! No, no!" Ashryn shouted then quickly covered her mouth as a grunt came from another room; someone else was home.

   In a whisper the queen asked, "Was it Sellos?"

   The shock and terror in her apprentice's eyes confirmed her worst fears.

   Sellos, Ashryn's older brother, had been a decorated officer of the Royal Guard until he was caught taking bribes from smugglers and showing them how to export without the Allfather's knowledge. When he was dismissed from his duties, he was thrown into a rage and injured several of his fellow soldiers as they tried to apprehend him. After spending a few months in the dungeons, he was released and put under surveillance. When there were no incidents for a few months, the tailing soldiers returned to their other duties.

   Frigga knew she had to get Ashryn far from Sellos' grasp but with his connections in the smuggling world, there was no telling how far she could go that he couldn't find her.

   The queen gently took Ashryn's hands away from her mouth and whispered, "I will get you away from this, away from him."

   Tears fell from the maid's eyes as she choked back a sob, "He will find me."

   Clenching their hands together, Frigga looked into her eyes, "I will free you, Ashryn. I will speak to the Allfather. Just stay calm. I promise, as your queen, I will save you from him."

   The queen then stood and quietly headed for the door, Ashryn getting up and following quickly. They froze when they heard a cough echo from down the hall. Standing still for a moment, Frigga took Ashryn's hand in case they needed to make a hasty escape.

   Thankfully, nothing else happened as the women silently bid each other farewell.

  Upon returning to the palace, Frigga quickly made her way to the Allfather's study and entered without knocking; whatever matter he was dealing with would have to wait.

   Odin glanced up from some military reports and greeted his wife, "Was your walk pleasant, my dear?"

   "Ashryn is in danger."

   That got his attention and he raised his head up to show that he was listening intently, "How so?"

   "She and Loki had an argument and she returned home a month ago. I went to visit her today and found she was using magic to conceal the fact that she is being beaten senseless by Sellos." Frigga explained as she paced the room.

   "The disgraced soldier."

   "Yes."

   "What would you have me do?" Odin asked as he stood and came around his desk to join his wife by the large window.

   She turned and gingerly laid her palms on her husband's chest, "Bring her here."

   "We cannot simply bring a young woman into the palace."

   "Why not?! We always need more servants! And at least here she can be protected!" Frigga argued.

   Odin gently grasped her arms to calm her, "There may be one way to guarantee her safety. But it will require her consent."

   Frigga smiled widely and kissed her husband passionately, "I will send a royal invitation at once." The she dashed out of the study.

   The Allfather sighed as he watched some dark clouds begin to roll in, "Let us hope she is willing to trade one prison for another."