Damn it all!" Cursed Odin, from his wardrobe.

"What is it, dear?" asked Frigga from her mirror, carefully pining her hair into place. On days when she had important events to attend, she had one of her handmaidens assist her. On other days, she preferred to do it herself

"What is it not?" her husband grumbled. He walked back into their bedroom and sat himself on the edge of their spacious bed. "My infernal pants will not lace and my feet do not fit into my shoes".

"Then do not lace them, dear." Said Frigga empathetically but still with a hint of mirth. Frigga walked over to his wardrobe and picked out a different tunic with a longer hemline. "Try this, it will hide that you are unlaced. You will need new clothing soon, anyway. You are fairly bloated now, and even when it goes down, you will not be able to lace your pants. They come up a little too high."

Odin took of the shirt he was wearing and put on the the burgundy tunic Frigga handed him. He didn't have a defined bump yet, but his once well-toned stomach had lost definition from the bloating.

"This is distasteful." said Odin as he once again tried to squeeze his feet into his boots without success.

"Your body is making more fluids, love. All a part of being with child. You're going to have some swelling, but drinking more water to flush some of it out helps." She explained helpfully. "We're just going to breakfast, wear your house shoes."

He gave her a preposterous look, as if going to a family breakfast in slippers was the most ridiculous thing he had ever done. After a few more tries Odin finally acquiesced and slid on the house slippers with a frown.

"Isn't that better?" she asked.

He lifted his head to face her and responded flatly "No, I feel disgusting and undignified"

He looked so forlorn, she felt bad for her earlier amusement. Frigga sidled up to him to embrace him and give him a kiss. She knew that feeling and her husband always tried his best to make her feel better. She began to massage the tenseness out of his neck and shoulders.

"I'm sorry, dear," she said "If it's any consolation, you look fine. Hopefully, this will pass soon."

They had made good on their promise to Eir last week and returned for a formal appointment. Although he had lost some weight from the severe morning sickness, which since she provided some medicine for had improved, and dealing with some swelling, everything was proceeding fairly well. Eir informed them that this severe kind of morning sickness was often indicative of multiples, but Odin insisted that there was only one. Frigga thought that was wishful thinking, as Odin has twin brothers and twins ran in his family. No matter, she was pleased that her husband and her baby (babies!) were doing well.

But the past two weeks had been tense, Frigga noted as she sat down to her morning meal with the rest of her family. Two weeks since Thor, Loki and Bestla arrived in the capital. Three since they found out about the pregnancy. And no progress on revealing anything to the children had been made.

Uncomfortable silence smothered the dining table and the clicks and scraps of utensils on plates further exaggerated the lack of conversation.

This was strange. Usually Odin and his mother would find some minor issue they were in disagreement on and could debate back and forth for hours. At first it confused her, now she knew it was simply the way they communicated. Their main problem was that they were entirely too similar people. And now, ever since she had gone to speak with him privately, they seemed to avoid each others gaze.

And it wasn't just them. Her eldest son sat in his chair with his shoulders slumped. Thor, who could usually fill any silence with cheerful chatter was uncharacteristically quiet. She dare say he was moping. In fact, she knew he was. Key indicators being his indignant expression and pouty bottom lip. Loki just seemed... uncomfortable. She had to concur with that.

Loki made a quizzical facial expression and Frigga followed his line of sight. What she saw brought a smile to her face. She watched her husband take a pitcher of molasses and pour some on his brisket and eggs. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before adding some to the herbal tea she had fixed for him earlier. The cravings had definitely kicked in, then. The air seemed to lighten, but just a little.

"Craving sugar, my son?" said Bestla with a note of disapproval in her tone.

"Indeed, mother." He countered. "And I shall eat as I please."

Finally, words! thought Frigga. All in all, it was more than a little forced. Perhaps she could speak to Odin and convince them to get over their pride and talk it out later.

Being a King required wisdom, patience and good-work ethic. This was well known. What was less well known was all the paperwork it required. To instill these values on his sons, they oft accompanied him in his office. But honestly, sometimes he just didn't want to suffer the monotony alone.

He poured over plans for some new municipal projects to take place in Asgard in the near future. New training fields and Engineering programs in the Eastern lands as well as a new establishment for training Healers in the North. Like in all lands, there is always a need for skilled workers. Although peasants in Asgard did live relatively well, it was difficult for them to take advantage of many opportunities due their location and lack of wealth that made it hard to send people off to places where the opportunities were. Which, in the end, worked to the detriment of Asgard.

"Thor," he said. "Go get the municipal map of Asgard from the shelf and set it up for me."

Thor, still unusually quiet, went over to the shelf and pulled out a small sliver object with a button. Odin watched as the boy took the projector over to his desk and activated it. Odin had taken noticed that he wasn't the only one having a rough time. Thor seemed withdrawn and his mood grew a little more so each day. He liked to have his sons solve their problems on their own if they could, but it was now apparent that he'd have to intervene soon. What else was he there for if not to guide them, he also couldn't stand the sight of him looking so down.

After Thor pressed the button, a projection of all of Asgard appeared before them.

"What are you looking to do, Father?" asked Loki, curious as always.

"To advance Asgard, my son." He responded vaguely. "As usual."

"I know that much, Father." Said Loki "But how?"

"By advancing her people." he said. "What is it that makes Asgard great? And what would make her better?"

"Our strength." Said Thor, perking up a bit. "We have the largest standing army in all the nine realms and most citizens can pick up arms if need be."

"Yes, that is one reason" said Odin, clasping his oldest son's shoulder, happy to see his mood lifting. "What else?"

"We have excellent healers and our technology is exceptional." Replied Loki. "Many of our adversaries seem to underestimate that."

"Very good," Odin said. "And that works to our advantage. My concern is that we may grow complacent. Gather 'round and tell me what you notice about this map."

Thor and Loki stood on either side of their father and waited on further instruction.

"Using the examples you gave, let's look at the map." Odin made some adjustments to the holo and each correlating spot lit up with a red mark. "This is every engineering training facility in Asgard," he made another adjustment, this time the marks were blue, "This one for training healers." A final adjustment, this time gold marks. "This one for training Warriors."

"All of the facilities are fairly centralized. That could be a problem for people who live elsewhere." Loki noted. Odin nodded.

"Those clusters are around three different cities." Thor said "Mainly here, then Gladsheim and Tønsberg, which is a major port city. These are the wealthiest parts of Asgard." Loki looked at his elder brother in shock.

"What? I'm not as stupid as you thought, brother." Said Thor heatedly.

"I do not think that you are stupid, Thor." Retorted Loki "I think that you are boorish and inattentive. Which is arguably worse."

"Boys." Said Odin, addressing his sons. They could sense the steel of warning in his voice. They quit their squabbling immediately.

They were interrupted by a knock on the door "Your Highness?" a voice called from outside of the office.

"You may enter." Spoke Odin.

The servant entered the room and bowed to his King and the princes. "King Odin, the keeper of the law requests and audience with you."

"It is granted. Please send him to my study." Commanded the King. The servant bowed once more and went to retrieve Asgard's law keeper.

A few moments later the Keeper of the Law arrived at his door. He was a bony, old man with thinning grey hair, who'd been appointed to his position near the end of King Bor's reign.

He bowed. "King Odin." He greeted.

Odin acknowledged him with a slight inclination of his head. "Law Keeper Agnar." He addressed him. "What is the urgent news."

"The matter involves the son of a rather prestigious member of your court." He said. He looked over to the two princes briefly. "This, ah, must be handled delicately."

"Very well." Said King Odin, he turned to his sons, "Loki, Thor, you may leave."

They looked a bit disappointed, both being absolutely convinced that they never were allowed to be around for any of the more exciting business. This wasn't entirely true. Whenever he sent them away, it tended to be for the things that were most burdensome. They'd have plenty of that to deal with when they were older, there was no need to start now.

He turned off the holo map and gestured to the chair in front of his desk for Agnar to take a seat. Once he could no longer hear his sons' footsteps he spoke to Law Keeper Agnar. "Please continue."

"Of course, Your highness." He acquiesced. "Lord Soren's son Erik was involved in an altercation." Ah, Odin thought. Lord Soren was a well respected member of his court and an excellent sportsman. His son, Erik, however was a ruffian. Agnar had never before come to him with any of his relatively minor transgressions.

"An altercation of what kind?" he inquired.

"He and a few of his companions went out into that commons for a night of carousing. They were quite intoxicated and harassed a local blacksmiths daughter on their way back home. Her family is making quite a bit of noise and demanding that he face repercussions."

While rude, cat-calling was hardly an offense that needed his attention and he doubted the family would make such a stir over it. Agnar's indirectness was beginning to irk him. "What do you mean by harassed, Agnar. Be precise." He said, letting some of his annoyance leak into his voice.

"It was clear that she was not completely of Aesir stock, and Erik propositioned her. She refused. They called her a few racial slurs and roughed her up quite a bit." Agnar admitted. "Lord Soren offered her family a reasonable amount of money, but you know how those mixed blooded people are. Always taking and without ever wanting to give in return."

Odin clenched his fists, but managed to hold his tongue. He needed to get more information from out of this man before he put him in his place.

"I'm afraid I do not 'know what they are like,' Agnar." Said Odin. "What where the girl's injuries? Leave nothing out."

"You don't, how fortunate. Here is the Healer's report." He pulled out the report from one of the local healers and handed it to Odin. Odin took the paper and read the extensive list. Each line he read raised his ire by a substantial degree.

"Broken femur, three fractured ribs, dislocated shoulder, extensive bruising, and a hairline fracture to her skull." Odin said venomously, through clenched teeth. "That sounds a lot worse than being 'roughed up a bit'."

Sensing his King's mood, Agnar changed his tone somewhat. "Yes my King, and this does not reflect well on us and his behavior needs to be curbed, no doubt. It would be a shame for this to ruin Erik's future. She's just some jotunn half-breed girl." He said, "With your permission, her family could be paid off…"

That was it. Rage bubbled within him and settled in his gut, to think that one of his officials thought he would approve of this utter madness. Odin stood so swiftly he got lightheaded and slammed his fist into his heavy mahogany desk, upsetting whatever laid on top of it. "Cease your prattle, you insolent fool!" he commanded as he loomed over Agnar's quaking form. "You were appointed to this position to uphold the law and you have failed me and all of Asgard."

The keeper of the law trembled in fear. He hadn't expected this, and knew well that King Odin's anger was nothing to be trifled with. "Sire, Forgive…"

"Enough!" he yelled, face red. "Remain silent. You have proven that you have nothing of importance to say. Remove yourself from these grounds and from my sight immediately. When my fury has diminished, I shall deal with you." The old man would certainly be stripped of his position and standing. Odin would think on this more once he could focus.

Odin rung for the young servant and asked him to send for one of his Einherjar. When the solider entered the room. Odin spoke brusquely, "Escort this man to his home and be discreet about it."

She bowed her head, fisted her hand over her heart in respect. They soon exited the room. The door clicked shut behind him.

It was only after the door shut that Odin slumped at his desk in exhaustion, head spinning. His anger, still there, mixed itself with melancholy and the thrice cursed pregnancy hormones threatened to send him into tears. He placed his hand on his stomach and tried to take comfort feeling the presence of the life, although at times it really did feel like two, that grew within him.

The Aesir, if not quite immortal, were certainly very long lived. They accomplish much, and yet they were very stuck in their ways. In this, not even he was immune. In some ways it was beautiful, they were constantly advancing, yet their culture would never be erased, struggles and triumphs, never forgotten. In other ways it was ugly and sinister. It stifled new ideas, potential, and people.

Although he hadn't been king for that long, he was ashamed that he hadn't done something about the hateful mindset of his people earlier. He was consumed by the thought of an attack like that on any of his children, royalty though they were, he knew well that it wouldn't be enough to protect them.

Perhaps Mother was right. Asgard hadn't changed as much as he hoped.