Loki had moved a chair beside the one in which his mother Frigga sat at Frida's bedside, Thor standing behind them. Odin had moved to stand on the other side of the bed, as if overseeing an event, which of course as King of Asgard, he often was charged to do.

"Do you remember….how you told me...when your father took you and Thor to Midgard for the first time as children….you turned your brother into a frog?" Frida asked Loki in a weak voice, chuckling. Loki couldn't help but grin at the memory.

"Of course I remember. I knew you would find it amusing. I couldn't wait until I saw you again to tell you of it." Loki replied. He then thought of how his grandmother had inspired him to become the prankster he was through her own propensity for the activity.

"Amusing? It was hilarious! I only wish I had been there…" Frida said.

"I'm afraid I did not find the experience to be quite as humorous." Thor said.

"Of course you didn't. You will need a sense of humor as king as you will have dealings with more than enough fools," Frida told him. "I'm sorry I will not be there to see you ascend the throne." Loki's grin faded as Frida's words reminded him of Thor's new position as heir apparent.

"You will be there…" Thor said inferring that she would be present in spirit, in the hearts and memories of those that now surrounded her.

"Perhaps…" Frida replied. Her tone now became more serious as she looked to both Loki and Thor. "You will both need each other, Asgard will need both of you in the years that are to come. Come what may, never forget you are brothers." Frida then turned her eyes to Frigga who continued to grasp her hand, her voice weakening, fading as she continued. "You have raised two fine men. You should be proud, as I am proud of you, my daughter."

As her last word escaped her lips, Frida's eyes closed as life fled her worn, aged body.

"I love you, mother." Frigga said, raising her mother's lifeless hand to her lips. All those who had just witnessed Frida's passing now sat in silence, their expressions mournful, until Odin reached out, putting his palm to Frida's forehead.

"Frida, mother of my Queen, I bid you to take your place in the halls of Valhalla, where the brave live forever. Nor shall we mourn but rejoice." Odin recited the appropriate version of the ancient blessing for the dead. Loki thought to himself how he had always felt it to be at least partly nonsense. Who rejoiced at the death of anyone but an enemy? Though Asgardians knew there was an existence after, it wasn't merely a belief or faith,what that existence entailed was still mysterious and for the most part unknown and unknowns almost always engender anxiety and fear. It still involved separation, and for Asgardians with their lengthy lifespans it could be for many a very, very long one. However, as much as he now mourned her loss, he was glad that her struggles and pain were now over.

Loki rose and leaned past Frigga, over Frida's body, putting his lips to her forehead. He could already sense her skin cooling. Straightening, he turned and moved towards the door, Thor stepping into the place Loki had vacated and doing the same as Loki had done. Loki felt some satisfaction that the last memory and one of the very last things Frida had spoken of concerned him and one of the many pranks he had pulled on his brother. He was amazed actually that she still recalled it. He had pulled off so many more after that one which he had related to her over the years since yet for whatever reason, that particular one had stuck in her mind.

Loki, exiting the bedroom, walked across the front room of the cottage to the cabinet containing the few bottles of wine Frida had still possessed, one fewer since the night he had shared one of them with Revna, and opened it. Removing a bottle he turned to see Thor standing across the room facing him.

"Would you like some? We're supposed to be rejoicing, after all." Loki said.

"Yes, thank you." Thor answered. Loki removed the cork from the bottle and took a glass from the cabinet, filling it and holding it out as Thor crossed the room and took it from him. Loki then procured another glass and filled it for himself. Carrying his glass and the bottle to the low set table, he sat the bottle on the table and seated himself in the same chair in which he had sat that night as he conversed with Revna. Thor followed, sitting on the chaise in the same spot Revna had sat.

"To the end of an era and the beginning of a new." Loki said holding his glass away from him towards Thor.

"To what new era do you refer?" Thor asked.

"To your reign, of course." Loki said. He wondered to himself how clueless the future king of Asgard could possibly be.

"Oh, yes." Thor said, clinking his glass against Loki's before drawing it back and taking a drink from it, Loki following suit.

"Will she be taken from here?" Loki asked, then decided after Thor's earlier lack of understanding that he should clarify, "I'm assuming mother already had decided on arrangements for this day before now."

"No, she will remain here. She voiced the preference to mother long ago. We will build the pyre. We should begin soon. Only those closest to her, all of us that are now here, will attend. She wished it to be kept simple, for there to be no pomp or fuss." Thor answered.

Thor's answer came as no surprise to Loki. It was the one glaring difference between Frida and her fellow prankster and master of Asgardian magic grandson. He reveled in "pomp and fuss"...grand ceremonies, monuments... though he knew he would not do so a few weeks hence. It was evident in the gown he had chosen for Revna. He thought to himself how grand he would have made certain his coronation would have been had he been chosen.

"I expected as much." Loki replied. Finishing his glass of wine, Loki sat it on the table and rose. "I promised Revna I would tell her of the arrangements. We'll begin to construct Amma's bier upon my return...and afterwards finish 'rejoicing.'" Loki said, indicating the half full bottle of wine. Loki stood silently for a moment, still looking at the bottle. Though Frida had been gone but for a short time, her physical body still present, the cottage already felt different, empty, as if it too had a soul of its own that had fled. Though before his visit he had not seen his grandmother in a very long time, had not even thought of her much at all in all that time, after the days he had spent with her, he now regretted that he hadn't spent more. It was the one place where, since he was a child, he had always felt himself to be the favored one.

Loki turned from Thor and crossed to the door, exiting the cottage and taking the trail into the forest. As hard as he fought, he could not stop his vision from becoming blurred by the tears that welled in his eyes. It was not just to inform Revna of Frida's funeral arrangements that had led him to depart the dwelling and his brother's company. As the images Frida had placed in Revna's mind had flashed one after another within her brain, so now did Loki's memories of his grandmother, centuries of them. Now sure that he had progressed deeply enough into the forest's cover to avoid being seen or heard, he stepped off the path to seat himself on the mossy ground, his back against the thick trunk of a towering tree and wept.

Revna had moved into the washroom, wishing to avoid being seen through the window, standing against the stone wall next to the doorway, clutching the sword. As all Asgardian children, male or female, though far from all went on to become warriors, she had been trained in the basics of its use along with other offensive and defensive skills. However, it had been some time since those days and she had had few opportunities to use them over the years.

She could hear the creature outside her dwelling continue to snarl and growl as it seemed to be pacing outside the door before it circled the structure then returned to the entrance. Suddenly a most unwelcome thought crossed her mind. Loki had said he would come to her after Frida had finally passed to inform her of it and the funeral arrangements. She knew Loki was well capable of defending himself but the last thing he would be expecting would be to cross paths with the monster outside her door. Being caught off guard could put him at a disadvantage.

All of a sudden she noticed that everything was now quiet and still. The old Midgardian saying about being able to hear a pin drop would have proven true. Cautiously, Revna exited the washroom, slowly and stealthily making her way across the front room to stand against the wall by the window and peeked out. Scanning all she could see, she saw no sign of the creature. Of course it could have circled her abode once again and not be visible. She waited but the silence continued.

Revna stood beside the window for what felt like hours and was probably at least half of one. As she began to finally relax, though she knew she would still be far from comfortable stepping outside, she was startled by a rapping on the door. She knew well who the visitor most likely was and the monster was unlikely to knock. Almost sprinting to the door, sword still in hand, she lifted the iron bar from across it with her other and opened it to see her assumption had been correct. Loki soon noticed the sword in her hand.

"Did you believe me to be a marauder-" he began to ask jokingly before Revna pulled him hastily inside, closing the door and throwing the iron bar back over it. Loki looked at her curiously, uneasy due to the weapon in her grasp and her frightened, panicked demeanor. "What's going on?"

"Was that you?" she asked.

"Was what me?" Loki asked, more confused now and doubly concerned.

"Was it one of your conjurations? The beast?" she asked, frantic. Loki noticed for the first time she was shaking.

"I've seen no beast." Loki said, puzzled.

"There was a creature...it chased me from the forest!"

"Can you describe it? What did it look like?" Loki asked, hoping to identify what it was that had struck such fear into Revna.

"Like nothing I've seen before! Large...grey...or sort of blue...it was similar to the one you conjured."

"My illusion was of a beast of Jotunheim. You would not find its like here." Loki said.

"There is a portal to Jotunheim nearby. Could it have crossed through it?" Revna asked.

"It's unlikely. How do you know of it?" Loki questioned, surprised at her knowledge of the portal's existence.

"My father...he knew of it. He showed me its location long ago." Revna answered. Loki then remembered her father had played a part in negotiations with Jotunheim after the war.

"It's been a difficult day, perhaps your mind was playing tricks-" Loki was not sure what to think. Perhaps there had been something,there were many creatures who made their home in the forest, large and small, though it seemed unlikely she would misidentify any of them having lived there so long, but then her demeanor could also point to a woman suffering a mental collapse. Knowing now what his mother had told him coupled with the events of the day the possibility was there. If there were some sort of ravenous beast outside, would it not have sensed his approach even if it had retreated into the forest and come for him?

"I'm not mad! It was trying to get in! I could hear it! It was right outside the door!" Revna said, seeming to read Loki's thoughts in his eyes which she now noticed were tinged with a touch of pinkish-red.

"I didn't say you were." Loki said, attempting to soothe her. He held out his hand. "May I?" he asked, indicating the sword. To be on the safe side, Loki thought it best not to leave her wielding it. Revna looked down at the sword in her hand and held it out to him. He took hold of the hilt and examined it as if admiring it was the true purpose of taking it from her.

"It was my father's. He was wielding it when he fell." she told him, though Loki had already suspected as much.

"It's a handsome sword. Any beast would be loath to find themselves on the wrong end of it and yourself on the right one." Loki told her, attempting a grin. "I think we're safe for the moment." Loki said, noticing the case on the bed and crossing the room to it, replacing the sword in it. Revna easily perceived that his grin was a weak imitation of his genuine one she was now familiar with and recalled what she had seen in his eyes.

"Frida…?" Revna asked, though she knew that was the most likely reason he had come calling, as he had told her he would after her passing. Loki's face became sullen and grim as he turned from the bed to face her.

"She has joined her ancestors and my grandfather in Valhalla." Revna approached him, taking his hand comfortingly. "It was an easy death."

"I'm glad of it." Revna paused for a moment before continuing, "You grieved for her alone. There was no need to do so."

"It has been my way for some time." Loki told her. Releasing his hand she embraced him. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her as if she was a sort of anchor. He relished the feeling of her arms about him, yet a part of him seemed to be warning him that it was not something he should become accustomed to, to allow himself to ever need.

Pulling out of the embrace, a thought crossed Revna's mind as Frida's last words to her replayed in her head.

"Your plans for your brother...seeing him there has led me to reconsider. Perhaps it's necessary. Even if it changes nothing, it may be a fine lesson for a newly minted king to learn." Revna said. Loki appeared confused at her vacillation on the subject. She had been so adamant, desperate to discourage him from his plan after it was she herself that had planted the seed. Now the pendulum had swung again back the other way. Loki again considered the possibility that she was suffering from an unstable mind. Yet he was pleased hearing her words, to feel once again that he had an ally. That feeling overrode his concern for her mental state.

"My thoughts as well." Loki said.

"Tell me of your plan." Revna asked, though she was sure she was already aware of the significant details of it. Loki hesitated. He wanted to share it with her, as one that has heard a good joke is eager to repeat it to another, yet he knew it was dangerous. What if it was a ruse to get him to divulge it so that she could go to Frigga or Thor or even Odin and expose him in order to put an end to the plot?

"I don't believe that would be wise." Loki responded.

"Before you can ever say you love me, you must trust me. I will tell no one. I swear it. I know if I did I would surely lose you. I couldn't bear another such loss." Revna said. Loki considered her statement. It was true, if she did give it away to another, she most definitely would lose him from her life and permanently. As of late that seemed to be her greatest fear. It seemed unlikely she would risk it. Perhaps running it past another would be beneficial. Maybe she would identify a potential flaw he had not considered or she may even have ideas as to how to improve it, though he was quite sure it was as near to perfect as any plan could be.

"It's simple really. I have met with Laufey, the King of the Jotunheim. He wishes to reclaim the Casket of Ancient Winters from my father's vault. On the day of the coronation, I will assist a few of his people into the vault undetected. They will believe the way is clear for them but they will be walking into a trap. They will not leave Asgard with their lives. Of course, this will disrupt my brother's big moment. Denied his glory, he will not react well. My father will finally see for himself what I have known for some time." Loki explained. Revna looked concerned.

"Will Laufey not be angry at being betrayed? Do you not fear he will reveal to your father your part in it?" Revna asked. Revna thought back to her visions, originally Frida's, of Loki in chains, Loki locked away in the dungeon. That would be the most likely outcome if her fears were realized.

"Laufey does not know of my involvement. I met with him under another guise." Loki explained.

"Are you sure of that?" Revna asked. She knew that Laufey did indeed know, that in fact the idea, minus the trap Loki meant to set, had originally been his. It had been her job to pass the plan onto Loki in a way that would lead him to believe it was his own. Laufey had been waiting for some time for Loki to seek him out, he had said he knew the day would come, though Revna was not sure why. For Loki to be unaware that Laufey did indeed know his identity was dangerous, yet if she were to enlighten Loki to the fact, she would give her own part in the scheme away which would lead to the very thing she dreaded most.

"Quite sure. He would never suspect a son of Odin himself to be involved in a plot against the throne. As far as Laufey knows we're all one big, happy family."