Loki Passage 4.1

4.

The news of Odin’ appointment to the rank of All Father was met with celebration by the Wodin Clan. Frigg, the love of Odin was busy preparing the food in the kitchen for her love’s return celebration. She was a young mother to his son, Thor. The boy was older than Loki by some years, and was seen playing outside with the others. She looked out and tried to sight her one other son; the one adopted by Odin from the lands of Jotunheim.

“Helga, have you seen Loki?” Frigg asked the lady next to her. It was her neighbor and good friend since childhood.

“I had not seen him since morning. That lad had a tendency of going off alone into the forest.” Helga replied while she looked out for her kids. She had five of her own, and they are more difficult to handle than Loki.

Frigg was concerned on the adopted one although Loki was with them for over five years then, but he had distanced 

himself from the others. He was smaller in the frame, and most times, was bed stricken when her sons were just shrugged off. She feared that if anything happened to him, Odin would feel bad. He did tell her that he overreacted in the raid. He also blamed himself for the death of Loki’ parent.

“Helga, take over the food preparation.” Frigg told her neighbor. She rushed out to look for the missing son. She knew that Loki had a few places which he would go to for his personal time. She found him, after having checked the barn, and the nearby stream. He was finally discovered at the nearby lake where he would sit there for hours to look at the water.

Loki was smaller than most child his years, and with all be bullying from them, he decided to be alone most times. He also would not speak and remained mute when questioned. His only companion was a hare he had befriended some time back. That day, Loki was seated there by the lake alone. He was wearing a simple plain tunic that reached his knees, although it would fit a boy his age. Frigg approached the boy and stood by the lake.

“Loki, the water looked fine.” Frigg found herself with difficulty to speak to him, although she did try to show him affection but he had refused to respond. So she worked on the presence of being a friend. A quiet friend most times. Just then a frog appeared on the water surface and hop onto the nearby bank. It went on hopping towards the trees.

“Look, Loki. It’s a frog. It’s going off into the forest.” Frigg told the young boy.

“Why did it leave, Frigg?” Loki asked, which caused the young mother of two own siblings smiling. She took the opportunity to sit down next to him.

“Maybe he does not belong to the lake, so he went to look for a new one.” Frigg replied. Loki looked to the lady and then he asked.

“Am I not your son, Frigg?” Loki asked her. Frigg was taken aback by the question. She paused to think of a reply, but Loki had continued on.

“Thor told me himself. We were fighting, and he told me I am not his brother.” Loki explained. “He told me I was brought in by Odin. He said I am a bastard.”

Frigg tried to hide her expression, but the young boy was quick to tell. Loki stood up so he would near level to her face. On his face, was an expression of fear.

“Frigg, please tell me the truth. I need to know. The other boys have all said the same thing about me.” Among the children, such tales would spread like wildfire. “I got the other mothers staring at me.”

It was the moment that Frigg feared most ever since she laid her eyes on Loki. She recalled the night Odin carried the baby into their home. She moved to hold the child even before the warrior explained. She had heard that most warriors had affairs outside of their homes, and at times, bring back their offspring for their rightful lover. When she had the baby wrapped in new clothing and fed with the milk from her breast, which she was still feeding Thor who was then almost three years old. Odin had later explained to her what happened, but Frigg was more concerned on the baby. She felt her attracted to the boy who was sleeping in her arms. She felt that the boy needed love.

“No, Loki….” Frigg tried to console the boy, but he intervened once again.

“Tell me the truth, Frigg. Am I not yours?” Loki eyes tear up. He leaned forward to reach for the warmth hug of her’. 

Frigg responded with the genuine warmth that she had given for the last five years. She found herself not able to lie to the boy. She told him the truth; the partial part of it, adding on Thor as the real father with his mother who was an Elf which was why he had such a smaller body.

“You lied!” Loki pulled off from the lady who had cared for him. He ran off into the forest, leaving Frigg seated there on her own. She felt so bad, but that evening, there was a celebration of an important event coming up. She got up and walked back to her kitchen. She would leave the matter to Thor. It was he who brought the boy to her life.