Night settled over Asgard, bathing the palace in soft starlight.
Within the royal observatory, Odin and Frigga stood alone.
Between them, the city slept.
Above them, the stars burned.
Below them—
Yggdrasil breathed.
A Quiet Concern
Odin broke the silence first.
"The World Tree shifted today," he said, voice low. "Not in warning. In… adjustment."
Frigga did not look surprised.
"I felt it," she replied. "Like the realms moved aside for something."
Odin turned to her, his expression grave.
"It centered on Alexander."
Frigga's fingers tightened slightly around the railing.
"I know."
A Mother's Truth
She finally looked at him.
"I did not mean to place wards on him," Frigga said softly. "They simply… formed."
Odin studied her carefully.
"You wove concealment stronger than our throne wards," he said. "Do you know what that means?"
Frigga nodded.
"That I am afraid."
The word lingered between them.
Not fear of the child.
Fear for him.
The All-Father's Doubt
"I have ruled realms," Odin said quietly. "Fought Celestials. Bargained with Death. Yet when I look upon Alexander, I cannot see the end of his path."
Frigga closed her eyes briefly.
"Neither can I."
Odin's jaw tightened.
"Yggdrasil does not shield lightly," he continued. "Today… it bent its roots around him."
Frigga's breath caught.
"Shielding?"
"Yes," Odin confirmed. "Not hiding. Protecting."
Beyond the Stars
Far beyond Asgard, in the cold expanse between galaxies, vast awarenesses drifted.
Celestial minds.
Ancient cosmic entities.
Normally, such beings could sense disturbances—new powers, rising anomalies.
But when their attention brushed toward Asgard—
Their perception slid away.
Not blocked.
Redirected.
As if the World Tree itself whispered:
Not yet.
Yggdrasil's branches arched subtly, weaving a barrier not of force—but of permission.
Alexander Ashborn Odinson was excluded from cosmic notice.
For now.
A Promise Between Gods
Frigga turned to Odin, her voice firm despite the softness.
"Whatever he becomes," she said, "he is our son first."
Odin placed his hand over hers.
"Then Asgard will stand between him and the cosmos," Odin replied. "Even if fate itself must be challenged."
They stood together in silence—
two gods,
one child,
and a universe beginning to take notice…
only to be gently turned away by the roots of creation itself.