SELCOUTH | prologue.
"FREYA ISN'T COMING BACK"
Asgard | 2013
ODIN STOOD SILENTLY, WATCHING THE human girl that his son was infatuated with. What was it about this Jane that made Thor want to break all the rules? She was pretty, but not extravagantly so. She was smart, but Thor had never been one to pay much attention to what was in a woman's head.
Had it been the fact that she was from Midgard? His son did seem to have a newfound affection for the planet. There was only one other god that Odin knew who had developed a fascination for the humans of Midgard.
"You seem deep in thought," Frigga states, causing Odin to look away from his son and Jane. Frigga was smiling at him and Odin knew that she wouldn't be if she knew exactly where his thoughts were drifting.
"I am," Odin tells her, "Humans, they're such weak little things."
Frigga laughs, "You're trying to understand how he could care for her."
"There is nothing special about her," Odin states, "And she's so different from the women Thor usually go for."
"Why? Because she has thoughts and isn't just a pretty face?" Frigga asks.
Odin glances at her, "That isn't what I meant. I just hate to see him distracted like this."
"You mean happy?" Frigga asks as she moves to stand beside him, her eyes darting to Jane and Thor sitting down below them, "Jane's a nice girl. She's smart and she's beautiful."
"That may be true, but she doesn't belong here, and he doesn't belong there with them," Odin retorts as he looks at Frigga. Her smile quickly slips away as she looks at Odin.
"He doesn't belong with them or she doesn't?"
Neither of them had to say her name, they both knew who Frigga was talking about.
"None of us belong amongst them," Odin decides to answer.
"Freya isn't coming back," Frigga tells him. The words lack malice or any sort of coldness. It's matter of fact. Freya had been gone for years, falling for whatever spell Thor had fallen under while he had been on Midgard.
"I know that."
"Do you?" Frigga asks, "Because it seems like you're holding out hope."
"Not for Freya," Odin states and Frigga's lips turn down in a frown.
"If not for Freya then who?" Frigga asks. Odin doesn't answer, instead turning his attention back to his son. Frigga glanced at Thor, before it clicked for her, "She was with child when she fled."
"Frigga-"
"I forgave you for your indiscretions years ago," Frigga tells him, flippantly, "However I will not forgive you for your lies. Tell me the truth Odin. Was Freya pregnant when she left Asgard?"
"Yes," Odin answers, "However I know nothing of the child. Its age, its gender, its ability. I see nothing. I hear nothing and it is frustrating."
Frigga hesitantly places a hand on her husband's shoulder, "I'm sure the child is alright. Grown. Safe. Much safer than they'd ever be on Asgard."
"And what of their power?" Odin asks, "What if they rain hell on Midgard due to lack of training and knowledge."
"The child was born on Midgard and grew up on Midgard. Perhaps they have no ability. If they had, I'm certain Thor or Loki would have sensed them."
Odin sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose, "I did not want to burden you with my trivial thoughts."
"Your thoughts aren't trivial," Frigga tells him, "You have a child that you know nothing about and no way to find them. Your frustrations are understandable."
"Do you think their paths will ever cross?" Odin wonders aloud.
"Perhaps," Frigga says as she rests her chin on Odin's shoulder. A small smile meant to comfort him crosses her lips, "You should tell Thor that he has a sibling on Midgard. I'm sure he'd be eager to find them."
"Then he'd never return to Asgard. He'd waste his time with that Jane and in search of sibling who most certainly passes for one of them."
"Tell him," Frigga urges firmly. Knowing better than to go against his wife's wishes Odin nods his head.
"I will tell him, but if our son never returns to assume his throne, I'm blaming you."
Frigga chuckles, placing a kiss to her husband's cheek, "Then I will accept the blame when the time comes."