It was Brunhilde who came to see her when she should have been abed and not pacing the halls endlessly. Brunhilde who was a wonder to behold in combat. Brunhilde who was nearly perpetual motion of blonde braids and glints of sunlight off of steel. Long arches that made the sword an extension of her well-muscled arms. Brunhilde who pushed her to learn faster and left little room for mistakes. There was no room for excuses amongst the shieldmaidens.
For all her sternness, it was also Brunhilde who had taken her under her wing and treated her as a sister.
"Sif you should retire to your bed." Her bright blue eyes pierced Sif with a fierceness she recognised in her own reflection.
"I am a shieldmaiden of Asgard. I will not be brought to my knees by such a malady." She braced her hands against her lower back as she gazed out over the garden, bouncing with every step.
Brunhilde snorted and strode to Sif's side. "Do you think bearing children is an easy feat? As many women have died in such matters as have given their lives on the battlefield." She glanced at Sif, who's brow rose in surprise. "Men believe Valhalla only for those who have shed blood for glory. They know not the true fight of a warrior."
A single bee danced about a cluster of begonia near the large, arched window. "I do not need you to assuage my ego, Brunhilde." It flew off, it's legs covered in pollen.
"Were I trying to assuage your ego, Lady of War, I would tell you how even as clumsy and slow as you are in your current state, you are the best of the maidens here." She smiled and tilted her head. "Save myself, of course."
Sif smiled, resting her arms on the top of her protruding stomach. "Of course."
The stone of the wall was cool beneath her palm as she gritted her teeth against a contraction. She refused to lie down. If she kept moving, the contractions came more frequently, and the faster this was over the better. It seized her from her thighs to her chest, shooting pain up her spine and back again. The muscles tightened from her thighs to her chest, locking her back and making it impossible for her to suppress the whimper she let altogether.
"Would you care to go back to your bed now, lady Sif, or would you birth your child on this floor?"
"Hel's handmaid," she snarled through clenched teeth.
"Not quite, I'm afraid."
Sif turned her head down the long hallway to find Frigga, cloaked and standing in a shaft of sunlight.
"My queen?"
"Maybe I might make an acceptable substitute, my heart?" Frigga approached them, her smile benign and her eyes loving. Her long gown dragged lightly on the polished floors behind her. Green orchids wove into the coif of her hair. She slid an arm around Sif for support. "I thought we might walk this path together."
Val took up her other arm and together they took her to her room.
"I am ready to go back to my room now," she managed between labored breaths. She leaned her weight against them, and the three of them helped her back to bed.
Once settled, the queen was quick to dismiss the others from the room, save Brunhilde. They drew the curtains, and were settled no more than moments too soon. The queen swaddled the boy in a blanket before he was even severed from his mother by the cord of life. The room spun in and out of focus with her fatigue, but there was no mistaking the child whom Sif bore was blue.
"Let me see him," she whispered, her eyes wide with shock. "Let me see my son." Even as she said them, the words seemed hollow, unreal.
Frigga nodded, cradling gently as she laid him against Sif's chest.
She pulled aside the blanket and gasped. He was cool against her skin, uncomfortably so, and his wails nearly shrill. "What will I do?"
Frigga's eyes were sad and distant as she laid a hand on the boy's head, summoning magic to her fingers. There was a silver shimmer of magic, and the glamour rippled into place. His head paled to mottled red and covered with downy hair. "I know of a place where he might live and grow among the mortals of Midgard." One hand turned up Sif's chin. "He will be safe in the place they call Broxton. But my son… must not know of this. It is not time."
She turned horrified eyes up towards Frigga, understanding only now the full of everything. Of course they could not keep him. What would she even do with a child among the shieldmaidens, let alone with a giant? He would be killed on sight were he discovered. "What will you tell him?"
Frigga's face turned mournful as she turned to gaze into the curtains, seeing through them. "The child died."
Sif watched the babe against her breast, her brow furrowed. "I understand."
"Will you name him, my dear?"
She nodded, closing her eyes and handing the child off. "Ullr."
Frigga cradled him to her and nodded. "A proud name." She leaned forward and laid a kiss among her brow.
#
"Varli Lokison, you are out of bed."
Varli looked at Sif and lifted his eyebrow. "I needed a drink of water."
"Is there not sufficient water in your own apartment?"
Varli shifted his weight from foot to foot. "But father is out of bed."
Sif turned in time to see Loki, wearing the face he did what seemed a lifetime ago, frozen in place on the stairs. "Thor said I could."
"Nay." The kitchen was beginning to feel full as Thor passed his brother on the stairs, ruffling his hair good-naturedly. "I said you could have a drink of water." He flicked his eyes between Loki and Varli. "In this apartment." He sat beside Sif at the table in the Embassy kitchen and pulled her plate of cheesecake closer to himself.
Sif slapped his hand against the table, her formerly quiet midnight snack clearly a fleeting dream. "Varli your mother will string you up if she finds you out of bed. Loki, I will string you up if you do not go back to bed, and this cake of cheese is mine."
"Yes Sif. Right away, Sif." Loki scampered to the sink and filled a glass of water."
Varli stood fast in his spot.
Sif let go Thor's hand and leaned her chin on a fist. "Is there something more which you require, Varli?"
"Nori talks in his sleep. Could I stay for a story?" He widened his eyes considerably.
"Oh! Yes!" Loki bounced on the balls of his feet. "The one about Balder's birthday!"
"Please, lady Sif? I will stay quiet for the whole story and be back in my bed before mother even knows I am gone."
Thor slipped his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck. "My lady war, I believe you have a battle on your hands. Shall I follow you into it?"
Sif rolled her eyes. "Fine. All of you, up to bed." She shook her head. "It is my lot to ever be harried by the needs of men. Od's Blood."
Thor kissed her on the cheek and rose, hefting Loki over his shoulder with him and lugging him up the stairs. "We shall anxiously await thee."
Only Varli remained, inching closer and dragging a toe on the floor.
"Bees in your pillow, my heart?" Sif gestured to him to move closer.
He shook his head emphatically. He stepped into the arch of her arm and she patted his cheek, examining his face. "I really just wanted a story."
Sif embraced him tightly with a low chuckle. "You have heard this tale countless times from those who tell it better than I."
"I know," he said into her hug. "But I like the way you tell it."
She inhaled deeply and released him. "Hurry on now. I will be right up."
"Will you get uncle to do the acting?"
"He will do so or he will sleep on the sofa." She winked at him conspiratorially, watching him a little wistfully as he ran up the stairs.
