Gudrun sat on a bench in the courtyard of the palace. She wasn't royalty, but Volstagg had always done his best to make her feel like it, including arranging with Thor that she and the children could stay at the Palace when he was away fighting. It gave a certain comfort – not only because she was surrounded by beauty, after all, the palace was very aesthetically pleasing, but also because she was always one of the first to hear of any events that concerned Volstagg, the warriors three, Lady Sif or Thor and in all honesty, Volstagg spent about as much time with them as he did with her, if not more, so anything she heard about the rest of them usually applied to him too.

For example, she was among the first to find out that the Lady Sif was pregnant. It was in honour of that that she told Sif first of her new pregnancy. Gudrun had just found out that she was carrying Volstagg's fifth child, only a day or so after he had gone off to Vanaheim. Sif had been very happy to hear that Gudrun was pregnant only a few weeks later than her, as she knew that their children would find a trusted friend in each other. Sif had joked that all they needed now was for Hogun to find a woman, and that way the next generation of the warriors three would be born. When Gudrun had asked about Fandral, Sif laughed and said 'He probably has got somebody pregnant, somewhere, anyway – and if not, it won't be long before he does. He's not known for his common sense.' At that Gudrun had laughed properly, for the first time since Volstagg had left for Vanaheim.

Naturally, she was a happy woman, all smiles and giggles, but a lot of that came from the great joy she took in her family. When Volstagg was away, she always felt like he had taken part of her away with him. No, she shook her head, he didn't take a part of her away with him: He was a part of her. A part of her family, and a part of her heart, and when he was gone, she wasn't quite the same. He always came back to her, though, and that was what mattered.

She rubbed her belly. Her bump wasn't showing yet, but she could feel some marks on her skin from a previous pregnancy. She smiled as she ran her fingers over the small dents and ridges through her chiffon dress. Many women were self-conscious about those kind of marks, but not her. Of course, she had been at first, but when she revealed her concern to Volstagg, he simply smiled and kissed every single one of the lines and told her in no uncertain terms that he thought the lines were wonderful, because they represented the child she had carried for him and given him. Ever since then, she wore them as a badge of pride.

A young serving girl came into the courtyard, a little hesitantly. She remembered the young girl was called Alyssa. Not many nobility knew the staff by name, but Gudrun had always been able to get on with them well, and in turn, they respected her and always told her the snippets of news they had overheard.

"What is it, Alyssa? You know you don't have to be shy with me!" She smiled.

"My Lady-"

"Gudrun, please."

"Gudrun, ma'am. I have news on your husband. It's... not good."

Gudrun's heart froze.

"Is he...?"

"Alive, ma'am, but injured." Gudrun nodded, and took a deep breath. It was better than she had feared, worse than she had hoped.

The young girl continued. "He is to be transported back to the healers here, in perhaps a few hours, maybe a couple of days. We do not know."

"Thank you Alyssa, for telling me."

The girl gave a bow and headed back the way she had come.

Gudrun wrapped her arms around herself and the child just beginning to grow inside her, and let the tears flow freely. Of course, she should be used to this by now, after all, when she married a warrior, and not just any: one of the warriors three, the most famed in Asgard, well... she'd thought then she would have to be prepared for him to be injured, and fairly often. But, she could never quite prepare herself mentally or emotionally. Every time her beloved husband was injured, she felt her heart physically ache, as if it could actually feel the wounds inflicted on him.

But Volstagg was strong. He'd always come back to her, and this time was no different. She'd go to him in the healing room, and hold his hand when he arrived.

She would also inform him, in no uncertain terms, that he was not allowed to die before their unborn child had a chance to meet him.