This is a combination of Norse Mythology, Marvel's Thor and my own crazy imagination. Rated M for suggestions of rape and post-partum depression, truly heavy stuff, so be warned. Anyway, this is my version of Loki's first child, Sleipnir's, birth. (Frigg is spelled without the 'a' because that is how I have always seen it spelled, I do not like the way Marvel 'feminized both Frigg's and Hel's names by adding 'a's). First story in my series about Loki and his family.
It was approaching one year. Over one year since the strange mason had appeared, offering to rebuild the wall around Asgard. Over one year since the builder, with the help of his remarkably strong stallion, Svadilfari, had the wall nearly completed within the designated six months. One year since the Aesir were almost forced to hand over Freyja, goddess of beauty, love and fertility, the Sun and the Moon over to the mason as payment for the wall. One year since Freyja, the Sun and the Moon were saved from that fate by a mysterious mare that distracted Svadilfari and lead him away to where even Heimđall could not find them. One year since the enraged builder was so infuriated that he revealed himself to be a rock-giant, one of the Aesir's enemies from Jotunheim. One year since Odin struck the giant down with Gungnir.
Lastly, it was approaching an entire year since Loki had vanished, and Thor was becoming very concerned. He had pleaded with his parents to allow him to look for his brother, but Frigg had attempted to scry for him and saw nothing. He was hidden from her gaze, and Heimđall's.
Odin had convinced Frigg that Loki could take care of himself, and there was no way of finding him if he did not wish to be found, Frigg had agreed.
Thor, however, was not so compliant. He had thrown a tantrum not at all becoming of a prince who had recently come of age. Smashing dishes and punching walls –leaving rather impressive dents- his behavior had caused his father to banish him to the training grounds to cool his head.
Gritting his teeth and savagely beating a training dummy, the prince really did try to calm himself, but it was not easy. His baby brother was Norns-knew-where and both Odin and Frigg claimed there was nothing to be done. Kindaskitr*, Thor thought angrily, there is always something that can be done.
"Goodness Thor, what did that poor dummy ever do to you?" a voice said behind him.
"I am in no mood for your jests Fandral," the prince growled without turning around.
"Then perhaps you are in need of a diversion," Sif said. Thor stopped, perhaps a distraction with his friends was exactly what he needed.
"What sort of diversion?" he asked, turning. Behind him stood three of his closest friends, Sif, Fandral and Hogun. It was Hogun who answered him.
"Volstagg says he needs our assistance with a 'mare-maiden' that has been stealing from his storehouse."
"What does he want us to do?"
"He wants us to capture her," Sif said, "Apparently, what he's seen of her doesn't look very healthy. Our task is to bring her to him so he can help her." At this, Thor raised an eyebrow. "Well, Sigrid wants to help her, Volstagg just wants her to stop taking his food."
Thor smirked, that made more sense. Sigrid was Volstagg's wife and the more likely of the two who would want to help the maiden. "Very well," he said, "I shall accompany you in this venture."
The other's grinned and they set off to Volstagg's estate.
:::Off to Volstagg's house, yay:::
When Thor and his friends arrived at Volstagg's home, they were greeted first by the family's large wolfhound, Virdingr, a toddling child second and finally by Sigrid herelf, who held an infant in her arms and a third child in her belly. She smiled warmly at them and welcomed them inside.
"I am glad you are here. I am worried about the girl. She seems to be getting more and more ill, spending less time in her mare form and more in her Aesir form. I believe she may be too tired to change," the woman said, leading them into the sitting room where her husband sat by the fire.
"Thor! Finally decided to stop sulking and join your friends in this quest?" Volstagg exclaimed, taking the infant, Friđur**, Sigrid handed to him. She then placed the toddler, four-year-old Hallkel, on a blanket surrounded by soft toys and told her husband that she would show them where to search for the mare-maiden. Volstagg looked as if he wanted to protest, glacing at his wife's very pregnant belly. One look from her, however and he changed his mind. Instead he nodded.
As she led them outside, Sigrid told the warriors, "I must apologize for not offering you refreshments, however I would like to find this girl as quickly as possible."
Flashing his winning smile, Thor assured her, "This maiden has gone much longer than one afternoon without snacks, I am sure we can survive one."
"Well, perhaps Volstagg cannot, but he isn't here," Fandral quipped making the others chuckle. They stopped at Sigrid's vegetable garden.
"The girl has been taking some of my crops as well as grain and dried goods from the storehouse. Not enough to be all that noticeable and certainly not enough to last the seven-or-so days between her visits. I can always tell though," Sigrid explained.
"Have you seen this maiden?" Thor asked. Sigrid nodded.
"Yes, though only glimpses, for she is quick. However she keeps her face shrouded. Even if I did get a better look, I would not know what she looks like. I can tell she is in bad health, for her mare form has no meat on her bones. She may be injured as well, for I have found traces of blood where she has walked."
"How do you know this girl and the mare are one and the same?" Thor asked, the others nodded as they were all thinking the same.
"Because I have seen her change," Sigrid answered, smiling as the warrior's eyes widened in wonder, "I saw her in her maiden form as I was watching from the window. Virdingr got out and the girl ran, startled. As she fled, her form shimmered and changed into that of a black horse. Even then, about a month ago, she was skinny, her coat dull and her mane and tail were tangled. She looked truly awful."
"Which way did she run?" Sif inquired, and Sigrid opened her mouth to answer when she spotted something.
"There!" she cried pointing, and the warriors spun around to see at the edge of the forest surrounding the home, was a young girl.
*Kindaskitr - sheep shit, usually used as an insult, I used it as a curse, creative license like a BAWS
**Friđur- a primitive Scandanavian name meaning 'love and peace' or 'protection and defense'.
Yep, leavin' you with a cliffy. You love it. AND FOR THE LOVE OF LOKI AND HIS BABIES, REVIEW!