"So, where is the real Odin?" Hermione asked.
Frigga sighed softly, lowering her voice.
"Odin... doesn't have much time left."
Even the All-Father would one day succumb to age.
Hermione understood. As Odin's power waned, many things would change with it.
"The Odinforce within him is rapidly fading," Frigga continued. "This isn't merely a matter of him growing old. It also means... he will soon be unable to keep Hela suppressed."
Hela, the Goddess of Death and Odin's eldest daughter-Frigga had finally spoken her name. Hermione understood what this meant for Asgard.
Frigga's tone was heavy. "Rather than have him exhaust the last of his strength maintaining a crumbling illusion, it would be better to..."
She turned, meeting Hermione's eyes frankly. "I didn't follow your suggestion and have Loki deceive him with magic. I spoke to Odin directly and asked him to lay down the burden of Asgard and spend his final days in peace. He agreed."
Hermione was a little surprised. Clearly, Frigga understood Odin better than she did.
This queen was the most resilient and farsighted person in Asgard.
Faced with her husband's approaching death and her eldest daughter's impending escape, she had chosen to support the adopted son who seemed the least dependable, yet might well be her only option.
"Loki may... have many faults," Frigga said, her gaze complicated, "but he truly does have the ambition to rule, and he is willing to learn how to be a king. With me guiding him, that is better than making Thor shoulder all of this when the boy has no desire for the throne."
Hermione agreed.
Thor had courage to spare, but he was too simple-minded and had no interest in power. Asking him to govern the Nine Realms really was a stretch.
Loki might be scheming and