6 Interlude Frigga
Frigga knew that Eir's procedure would not be easy and could be painful for a mortal. However, Eir was a professional and certainly did everything she could to help the mortal. After all, she was an outstanding healer. She knew what to do to relieve the patient's pain. Frigga trusted Eir. She knew she would do anything to help her patients.
At least Frigga had saved this woman's life. Many were not so lucky. Odin has been lenient with Frigga lately. It was good. She didn't like her husband to be angry. The Loki case remained, but her husband noted that Loki was acting in the interests of Asgard. Ah, her clever son. He always knew how to get out of trouble. She remembered when he was small. Odin brought it to her while she was lying in bed. He already had white skin and no trace of his inheritance. Frigga wanted to tell her son about his blood. However, Odin forbade her.
"Nobody will know about his origins, Frigga. Nobody. Forget I brought him to you. You gave birth to him like you gave birth to Thor. He is your son and my son," Odin told her. Frigga held the baby close to her heart and watched him closely. Suddenly he woke up, Thor. He could crawl and walk a little now. And he always ran away from his crib despite Frigga's spells. He was so powerful. When he cried or wanted something, storm clouds would accumulate. Thor crawled out of the crib. Odin picked it up and handed it to Frigga. Little Loki was asleep, then Thor nudged him with his hand.
"Bro..bro" her son muttered. Yes, that's your new brother, Frigga wanted to say. They were family. She, Odin and her two treasures.
Frigga stared at Thor's hand. It was still healing. Frigga had used the best herbs and all her knowledge, but it was still wounded. Her firstborn son kidnapped by a monster! It's good that Odin managed to save him. The fang marks were still on her child's hand. Then Loki woke up. He was so small! How could Laufey abandon him! He was heartless. Her two sons stared into each other's eyes. Suddenly Thor grabbed Loki's little hand. Before Frigga's eyes, the wound was gone. It glowed green and disappeared.
"Bro, bro" Thor muttered happily.
Frigga was shocked. She looked at Odin. His face was impenetrable.
"Odin, did you know?" Frigga asked.
"Did I know he would heal our son? No, Frigga, I didn't it. That scar should never go away, and yet ..." Odin looked at Loki intently.
Thor's scar healed completely. She never came back. It was as if her son had not been kidnapped by a monster. Frigga herself did not know what kind of monster it was. She knew that one day she woke up in the tower in Nornheim and her baby was gone! It was so scary. She immediately sent an illusion to Odin and told him so.
"I know what a monster kidnapped him," Odin told her.
Odin returned Thor to her a week after that. Thor's hand was badly hurt. Traces of fangs, traces of some poison. And the scar that didn't go away until Thor grabbed Loki's hand.
Luckily, Odin and Frigga returned to Asgard shortly after with their two sons. And Frigga forgot about the Nornheim Tower. Nornheim was a province of Asgard. It was technically a different Realm, but Frigga didn't see it that way. It was still Asgard. Since leaving Vanaheim, she has not left Asgard. Never. Nornheim was also an Asgard.
She was placed there because of the war and being pregnant. There was one woman with her who helped her with childbirth and with Thor. Her name was Idunn. Nobody knew about the tower except her. A clever and agile girl. One of the first to not look at Frigga badly for being a Vanir. Idunn came from the noble house of Nornheim. Her family looked after golden apples, the best treats in 9 worlds. They also served as ingredients for potions and various medications. Idunn was a little younger than Frigga. Her hair was golden and always tangled, so was braided in long braids that reached the ground. She always had smiling eyes and complained about her fiancé Bragi. Frigga liked her very much.
She remembered Thor's birth. It was long and painful, but Idunn was with her. It's finally over. Little Thor screamed so hard the whole tower shook. Frigga wrapped her arms around him and kissed his head. Her son. Her firstborn son, with lightning in his blood. Odin will be so proud.
"He's beautiful. So much like you," Idunn laughed.
"Not to Odin?" Frigga asked.Her husband probably would like their son to be like him.
"He looks mostly like you. He will grow up to be a handsome god. He is his mother's son, after all," Idunn replied.
Nobody knew about Frigga's hiding place. Eventually, however, Laufey's spies found out. Nornheim's spies reported this to Idunn. Frigga sat by Thor's cradle and Idunn paced the room nervously. It was already twilight, and Idunn's purple dress was waving because of her walking. Idunn has always loved to look good. She shared this love with Frigga. Amora loved it too. She always had to look great to attract lovers to her bed.
"We have to do this. For the safety of you and the little Prince," Idunn said as Frigga stroked the newborn Thor's head.
"It's dangerous," said Frigga.
"It's my honor to protect you and Prince Thor. I just need your spells," argued Idunn.
"Let's find another way out!" Frigga was saying.
"There is no other option. Laufey's troops will kill the surrounding villages if we don't hand you over. They think you're still pregnant. They don't know about the prince's birth," Idunn said, grabbing Frigga's hands.
"Idunn, I'm begging you! Don't do this!" Frigga was saying.
"You are a mother. You want to protect your son, don't you?" Idunn was saying.
"I'll let Odin know, he'll help us. You don't have to do this," Frigga said.
"Don't do it. The fights are hardest now. You can't distract him. He has a war to win, he can't be distracted by you. And that's my duty. I have sworn to protect you and my Prince," Idunn said. Frigga just shook her head.
Frigga knew nothing of the war, so she agreed to the Idunn plan. After many her friend's insistence. She should never have listened to her. She deeply regretted the moment she had agreed to this crazy plan. She cast a spell and Idunn looked like her in pregnant. The next day, officially Idunn in the guise of Frigg was taken to General Laufey's camp. Thiazi took her. And as Frigga heard later, he took her to bed by force. Many times. This made Frigga shiver unpleasantly.
The trick was revealed.
Idunn was killed.
She also got a corner in Frigga's gardens amidst the Frigga clan of witches.
Her clan.
Clever Amora who charmed every man she saw.
Talented Karnilla with her obsession with secret books and rituals.
Silent Sigyn who was braiding wreaths and setting them on the water.
And many others.
And they all went to Valhalla, except for Frigga.
It was already dusk over Asgard. Frigga went to her chambers. Odin said he would work all night and would not show up in bed. Frigga wore a silver nightgown and a silver bathrobe. She arranged her hair into a braid. She went to bed and fell asleep.
Frigga! Frigga! Frigga!
Lots of bodies, dead eyes and blood. Blood everywhere.
Run away! He wants you!
Amora protected her with a green shield.
Karnilla made the troops sink to the ground.
Sigyn made the plants blind their eyes.
And yet it was all for nothing.
"Kill them all! Except her" Odin pointed at her.
Dead bodies instead of her living friends.
Frigga woke up. It was just a dream. Nothing more. Only dream. She had to go to Eir immediately. She needed a sleep tonic. Her clan. Oh, she still suffered from their deaths. However, she survived. She was the Queen of Asgard. She had three wonderful children and had just become a grandmother. She was a survivor. Odin loved her. Her children loved her. Everything was alright. And yet as she passed the guards, leaving her chambers, she trembled.
"Are you alright, All-Mother?" one of the guards accosted her.
Frigga managed not to scream. She could cast him to the wall with her magic. But it wasn't Vanaheim. She was not in danger. She needed to calm down. This guard was just doing his duty. He was innocent man. She couldn't attack innocent man.
"It's okay. Go away," Frigga said, and quickened her pace. She didn't want to meet the guards anymore, so she began to creep up.
It was not necessary for the Queen of Asgard. But on your journey through Vanaheim, where were you to find not only good people but bad people as well? It was badly needed. Her beloved Loki could do it too. Even better than her. Thor couldn't do it. He was just like his element. Loud and without subtlety. Frigga entered the chamber. She was the All-Mother. She had to be proud and imperious.She saw the guards surrounding The Soul Forge.
Frigga held on to the pillar, gracefully enough not to look terrified.
"All-Mother" the guards and healers bowed.
"Eir, I need you service. I hope I don't impose" Frigga managed to say, without a shaky voice.
"Of course, the patient is stagnant for now. We have to be very careful during the procedure not to damage her. Or kill her," Eir said.
Kill her.
Killed Amora. Her beautiful, blonde hair will never be caressed by a lover again.
Killed Karnilla. Her eyes are empty, they will never read any secret book again.
Killed Sigyn. Her hands will never throw the flowers on the water again.
"All-Mother? Are you okay?" Eir asked, walking up to her quickly.
"No, Eir. Please give me a sleep tonic and help me get back to my chambers," Frigga replied. Eir took a golden bottle with studs full of gems. Medicines for the royal family have always been in rich vessels. So is the food. Frigga was already used to the luxury because of her marriage. However, she once lived modestly with her clan. Eir immediately took her hand.
It was moment of weakness.
Asgard hated weakness.
Tomorrow will be better.
She would be the right Queen again.
The guards won't hurt her. She was the wife of Odin. Them wouldn't dare to do that. Her husband would be furious. However, she was once not his wife. She was just a hostage.
Vanir!
Bitch!
How dare you possess our king?
Frigga and Eir were approaching the royal wing, and there were guards there too. Frigga began to move her hands nervously. It was her nervous tic. She always did it when she was nervous. Loki learned it from her. However, as a God of Mischief, he couldn't allow himself to be so weak, and he had more control over it. And even if not, he could fool everyone. Always.
She was so proud of him. He was so strong.
Stronger than Frigga could ever be.
Her Thor too. Strong from the cradle.
Sylvie too. Frigga remembered the confrontation between Sylvie and Lady Sif.
Odin was strong. He defeated anyone who stood in his way without hesitation.
And she?
She was the weakest of the royal family.
Vanirian blood.
"I will take care of you. The Mortal Girl doesn't need my intervention yet. The Soul Forge has to separate what belongs to the Kree from what belongs to Midgard. Do you often have nightmares?" Eir asked.
"Not often. A few times in a standard Asgard month," Frigga said as she went to bed.
"But these are at least 15 nightmares!" Eir sighed in shock as she adjusted Frigga's pillow.
"I used to have more. It's really better," Frigga replied.
The sleep tonic will help her. Eir released a few drops for her. But before Frigga drank it, she shed a tear.
She smelled apples.
The apples that Idunn always smelled of.
"Oh come on Frigga, Bragi really is hopeless sometimes!" Idunn's laughing voice echoed in Frigga's head.
"You love him. That's enough," Frigga replied.
"I'll tell you the poem he wrote about me," Idunn excitedly said.
Every day and every night your hands intertwine with nothing and with plenty. I see your eyes alive:crossing boats water. And their carry song carries abot: The smell of apples and gold your curls.
Your shadow chained me with eternal shackles. And I don't know what myself who I am.Your heart like a sights and laught of colours. Let this song smoke. Know that you are the image of the living Perfection to me. And our love will last until the end of time.
Because youth and poetry are eternal.
Even when youth is dying.
And the poetry goes silent.
Idunn repeated this poem often.
Frigga kept it in her memory.
Idunn died in her defense.
Bragi wrote the last poem. And then the God of Poetry went to avenge his beloved. His always well-groomed black beard and soft black eyes changed. There was a bloodlust in the eyes, and the disheveled beard grew and became very messy. He madly hunted down his beloved's murderer. Until he found it. They clashed with a deadly duel. Bragi and Thiazi died, injuring each other. After this incident, Odin banned travel to Jotunheim. Nobody broke that order.
Until her sons' fateful journey.
Now the laughing Idunn and the gentle Bragi were in Valhalla. Frigga hoped they were happy.
Frigga fell asleep.