The stars twinkled on the sky as the people of Asgard rejoiced at the return of their warriors. The war against the Frost giants from Jotunheim was long and hard, and took many lives. Those who remained alive to tell the tale spoke of ice and blood, of might and sacrifice.

And of victory.

But there was one person in Asgard that didn't celebrate the return of the mighty Asgardian army. Even though she had every reason to be overjoyed that her husband returned to them save and sound, although injured, there was something that troubled her.

A little Jotun infant Odin placed in her waiting arms.

A child that was left to die. A Jotun prince that will never sit on the icy throne of his true father. A baby of the race of those considered monsters, but that was pure and innocent.

The gold silk of her gown was in great contrast to the rough canvas the little boy was wrapped in so she removed the stained fabric that scratched his soft skin and used one of her silk scarves to protect him from the chill; until the chambermaid, that she sent to retrieve something more suitable for an infant, returns.

Briefly she wondered if the cold air wold make him sick but the thought was soon forgotten and Frigga had to sit down.

As always, her premonitions came suddenly.

She saw the mist clearing from his eyes and the ice spreading.

She saw the rainbow shattering and the long fall through darkness.

She saw a dungeon and burning skies.

She saw his death.

Frigga sighed and pulled the infant in her arms closer. He was a Jotun but it didn't matter to her. From the moment Odin placed him in her arms he was her son. Her little Loki. And she feared for him.

She knew his future and it was dark.

Loki's green eyes opened, as the only mother he will ever know placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. He blinked a few times and smiled.

"Frigga." Odin called her name and the queen of Asgard looked away from the child in her arms, "What have you seen?"

She was not surprised by the question; he knew her well. He knew she had a vision. But what Odin didn't know is that Frigga already started to ponder on how to influence that future. How to give her son a chance for a different life.

And she remembered the spark she saw.

A spark that could turn into an inferno and stop the ice.

But she needed to give that little spark a chance to reach her son in time.

She knew which day, which event, would put him on the path of self-destruction, and in the hands of the Mad Titan. And in a desperate attempt to save him from becoming a shell of a man and a marionette in the hands of a monster, she didn't tell Odin what she saw. Instead she gave him an advice.

"To save him you will have to take away from his what he holds most dear. It will give a child, that comes from outside of the borders of Asgard, a chance to protect him and earn his trust and love. It is what will save him. And whole Yggdrasil."

Odin nodded silently.

It wasn't often that Frigga chose to keep one of her visions a secret, but when she did he knew it was for a good reason.

Loki yawned, and returned to sleep, cocooned in warmth and surrounded by gentle smell of lilacs he will forever link to safety and love. He drifted off not knowing that in that moment the queen of Asgard brought him on a path that he never supposed to take.