Needing her Romeo was one thing, but trying to find him proved difficult. She began her search in his chambers. Eldrid hadn't seen them since she left for Alfheim, they'd aged with their host. Growing more mature and secluded amongst the shadows by the years. Loki's chambers proved fruitless other than a small snake charm El picked up and pocketed. She needed something of his if she were to find him using a spell.

But she wanted to try finding him without magic first.

Her second location was the library, she looked in all the spots she could remember that were his favorites, even the small seating area within the walls behind some large bookshelves. Loki and El both had many memories reading in front of the fireplaces and drinking warm cider on winter nights. Thor would join them when they were younger, but as they grew, so did the things they did together. It grew to be less and less as they aged. Loki studying his spells and magic, playing to his strengths with knives and daggers rather than a large sword or obnoxious hammer or ax. He preferred going about ways more subtly, unseen and heard. Keeping his cards close to his chest rather than exposing them all and leaving himself open and defenseless.

El took to diplomacy as if she had known it her entire life. She watched with intent as she sat under the diplomats that came and went Asgard. Her sword skills were second to none, and she improved both skills on Alfheim with little struggle. She had to regain her strength and agility after she had woken from her coma. She picked up Alfheim magic which was rare for an Asgardian to be able to do. She could give blessings and create peace without lifting a finger.

Thor was the golden child according to Loki. The one everyone strived to please and adore. He wasn't just his looks and charms though. He was well versed in battle in both fighting on the field and strategizing. He could look at an army and find its weak points with ease. And being the holder of Mjolnir was a sight to be seen. When he conducted lightning it was frightful but exhilarating all at once. Adrenaline ran through you just by watching it unfold. Thor was a force to be reckoned with when his temper didn't get the better of them.

That was a fault all three of the siblings held. Their tempers would rile them up and cause disruption amongst themselves or the public.

After looking around the Library once more, El decided that Loki wasn't there. Even if he had cloaked himself from the public's eye, she could tell if he was there. She always knew.

So her third and final stop before using her spell was their mother's gardens. Specifically the large tree that would hold the both of them for hours upon hours some days. Reading something of their choice or Frigga's. The fountain was going, lights danced in the starlit sky as Eldrid continued her search. The gardens led to no avail so it was down to her charm. She held the small snake charm in the palm of her hand as it began to glow light blue with her magic, "dnif ot kees i eno eht ot em daeL." Lead me to the one i seek to find. She whispers to the charm and then tosses it into the air. El watched it hover for a moment before leading the way to where Loki was.

"I'm coming, Darling." She whispers to Loki although he cannot hear her. It was her prayer to him, telling him that she would be there for him starting now. She was tired of the back and forth they were playing ever since she returned home. She needed to be in his arms once again. They both felt it on Jotunheim. Whether Loki tries to deny it, Eldrid didn't know. But he protected her as if her dying would kill his soul and body.

When the charm stopped in front of the Vault's doors, Eldrid didn't know why Loki would be there. She didn't know if she should be concerned or relieved to have found him now. She heard voices in the Vault and pressed herself against the doors to listen better.

"You're my son." She hears the voice of her father. Eldrid gasped softly, knowing for a fact now that he was talking to Loki.

"What more than that?" Loki asked, his voice was deeper than normal, as if he was demanding an answer. What had been said before she arrived at the doors? "The Casket wasn't the only thing you took from Jotunheim that day, was it?"

"What?" Eldrid whispered to herself in confusion. The three of them all grew up hearing their father regail the story of Asgard's triumph over Jotunheim. So what was there to add? What had been left out?

"No." Odin responds calmly. "In the aftermath of the battle, i went to the temple and i found a baby." He begins his addition to the already known story. Eldrid made herself quick on her feet as she teleported herself to a hidden area of the Vault. She peaked around a pillar and saw Loki standing at the bottom of the steps, Odin standing above him on the stairs. "Small... for a giant's offspring. Abandoned... suffering... left to die." Odin continues and all Eldrid sees is Loki's composure crumbling after every word is spoken. His life, a lie. "Laufey's son." Odin states and Eldrid's eyes are wide, as are Loki's.

"Laufey's... son...?" Loki repeats, learning his whole life, he had been lied to about his parentage. That he and Eldrid are not actually related, merely childhood friends that grew up together now. He had no claim on the throne, his parents weren't his true parents. Frigga was not his mother. The woman he loved... could possibly be his. His mind was running in multiple directions.

"Yes." Odin responds, his voice barely above a whisper.

Loki's green eyes dart around, trying to take in what's been said. But now that it was out in the open, he wanted answers. Tears filled his eyes as he looked back at Odin, "Why? You were knee deep in Jotun blood, why would you take me" Loki asks.

"You were an innocent child." Odin says but Loki can see through the lies now. Afterall, he was the god of lies.

"No. You took me for a purpose. What was it?" Loki demands, tears falling from his eyes with every breath he took. And when Odin doesn't respond, Loki gets angry. "TELL ME!" He shouts loudly in pain.

"I thought we could unite our kingdoms one day. Through marriage." Odin answers finally. Eldrid's eyes widen shock once again, she backs herself against the wall behind her silently. "And when Frigga birthed Eldrid some years later, we knew that could be our chance to bring about an alliance, bring about permanent peace. Through the two of you." Odin explains.

Eldrid slides down against the wall as tears fall from her eyes. Her entire life was to become a pawn in her father's chess game.

"What?" Loki and Eldrid whisper in shock simultaneously.

"But those plans no longer matter." Odin states abruptly. "They changed the moment we decided to raise you as our own."

Loki breathes out heavily in shock, tears falling onto the floor in front of him. "So... I- I- I'm no more than another stolen relic, locked up in here until you might have use of me."

"Why do you twist my words?" Odin asks harshly.

"You could have told me what i was from the beginning, why didn't you?!" Loki shouts in anger, confusion and betrayal.

"You're my son." Odin says. "I wanted only to protect you from the truth."

"But why? I love Eldrid with every fiber of my being! I would die for her! I would gladly give her the air in my lungs so she could live." Loki shouts, his voice laced with hurt. Eldrid snaps her head up in shock as she hears Loki's confession. "Had you just told me when i was old enough to comprehend it, your initial plan would have worked!"

"You know her greatest fear." Odin responds softly and Loki reels backwards, his jaw clenches and his hands close into fists. Because it was true, Eldrid's greatest fear was frost giants. "It could never be."

"Wh- because... I-I.. I'm the monster parents tells their children about at night?" Loki stammers. His temper and emotions getting the better of him.

"No.." Odin whispers.

But Loki doesn't hear Odin anymore. All he hears is that his love for Eldrid would never work so he was cast aside. "You know, it all makes sense now! Why you favored Thor all. These. Years!" He shouts as he begins to move up the stairs towards where Odin is. "Gave Eldrid everything she desired except me! Because no matter how much you claim to love me! You could never have a frost giant sitting on the throne of Asgard!" Loki snaps venomously at Odin as the Allfather cripples slowly on the steps, the Odin Sleep taking hold of him finally at the worst possible moment.

When Loki's anger begins to dissipate, he sees not the bloodthirsty king of the nine realms that stole him from his home realm. But the father that raised him. Loki kneels down beside Odin slowly, in shock still of what's been aired. His hands hover over Odin, struggling to think of what to do.

Before he can speak, his head whips around to the bottom of the stairs and his eyes widen in grief and his chest aches. Eldrid stands at the bottom, looking between Odin and Loki, tears falling from her blue eyes. "Father?!" Eldrid exclaims, lifting her skirts up slightly to rush up the stairs. "Guards!" She shouts in fear and then looks at Loki. "Guards, please, help!" She shouts as loudly as she can.

When the guards enter the Vault, they quickly make their way to the Allfather. Loki swiftly moves over to Eldrid and pulls her away so they can lift the king off the stairs. Eldrid wanted to go with her father, she knew they guards would take care of him, especially when Frigga would be made aware of what's happened. There was nothing she didn't know already. It hurt that Frigga would keep something as big as Loki being Laufey's son a secret from Eldrid and Loki himself. Frigga was the only person that knew aside from Heimdall about their secret love affair. Why wouldn't she tell them then? Or when they were children. Why would Frigga keep this from them.

Eldrid clings to Loki as she watches the Guards carry Odin out of the Vault and then looks at Loki. Her beloved. His own green eyes slowly look away from the Vault doors down to Eldrid's awaiting blue eyes. He was terrified of what she overheard before stepping out from the shadows of wherever she was. "How much... How much did you hear...?" He asks shakily.

Eldrid breathed out shakily, trying to calm herself enough to speak. It was hard, forming words when your mind was jumbled with emotions. "Enough... enough to know that you are not my brother." She whispers. "And that i was a pawn." Eldrid whimpers, "We both were." She felt as if out of the two of them, Loki was the one that had been played as a pawn the most. Eldrid was merely a princess. As was tradition and customs in most places for the princess to be married off for diplomatic reasons and relations. She would have been for it, marrying Loki was something she always thought was a dream and never something that could be a reality.

Loki is taken aback by her words, he expected Eldrid to fear him like she did his true father or Jotuns. But she clung to him as if he was her life force. And he held her as tightly as he possibly could. His breathing was shaky. "You... were not a pawn..." Loki breathes out slowly.

"It does not matter if i am... or am not." Eldrid says, lifting her hand and moving some hair from Loki's face. His emerald eyes staring at her in wonderment and shock. "What matters is the truth."

"And... what do you make of this truth..." Loki asks, his voice shaky. He was ready for her to reject him, push him away and call him a monster like he already knew he was. "Do you not fear me?"

"I have never feared you." Eldrid responds softly. Her tone is gentle, as is what was needed for Loki in the moment. "You may not be my brother. And that is fine." She begins and Loki simply lets her speak. "I am not your sister. In part, that is a silent wish that has come true." She whispers. "You being Laufey's son... it does not matter to me. I fear the Frost Giants because of what they have done... not because of what they look like." Eldrid explains, "Those that do harm to others who cannot defend themselves are the true monsters."

"And..."

"And i care not about what anyone says about you. I have loved you for hundreds of years. And i will love you for a thousand more." Eldrid tells Loki and he smiles breathlessly.

His hand gently cups her cheek. He finally takes notice of how warm she is to his cold touch. Suppose it now makes sense as to why that was. "You are truly my angel. Sent from the heavens of Valhalla to rescue me... because... i do not know what i would do without you by my side."

"You'll never be without me again." Eldrid vows with her whole being.

She knew they both needed to tell each other what went on during the time she was in her coma from the poison. She knew they needed to air out the past and overcome the present. Thor was still banished, Eldrid's father now in the Odinsleep. The kingdom and realms did not know Loki was not of Odin and Frigga's blood. They would have to work around that and keep up appearances. Loki knew that he and El would still have to keep themselves a secret.

But Loki didn't care. He had Eldrid, his plans were forming even with the revelation of his true parentage. And with Eldrid by his side, he felt as if he could conquer the Nine Realms. Which was his exact plan.