Loki strode into the room with a grin, enjoying the sound of his footfalls on the marble floor. He poured himself a drink and glanced up at his wife, chuckling when he found her bent close over a scroll. He poured a second glass and set it before her, removing the pen from her hand and replacing it with the stem of the glass. "You're covered in ink."
She glanced at her hand for the first time. "More a scholar than a Queen."
"Queens must be scholars as well some days." He took the scroll from her. "It is late and you know all of Asgard's laws by heart. You know when and where and how and by whom every law was ever passed or changed."
"The meeting with the council of Asgardians is tomorrow. I cannot begin changing laws if I do not understand them,"
"You understand them more fully than everyone I've ever known, myself aside." He moved to pick up a book and lay back on the bed. "Certainly better than Thor ever did." She suddenly busied herself moving paper around as he watched her under his lashes. "I hear that you visited him."
"That was three days ago. Your guards are slow informing you."
"I knew two days ago. I was waiting to bring it up."
She stood and went to sit on the bed next to him, lacing the fingers of the hand not holding the book with hers. "Are you cross with me?"
"Only that you did not feel you could tell me. It wasn't the smartest move but it was hardly dangerous. As I understand it you made rather an impression on him. And Sif."
"I like her."
He glanced up at her and smiled. "So you would."
"I could make her part of my guard."
"She is loyal to Thor. You could not trust her."
"I wouldn't have to trust her," she said. "She is also loyal to Asgard. And in time I believe she would become loyal to me."
He put down his book to run a tender hand over her cheek. "You believe too much in people."
She turned to kiss his palm. "And you do not believe in them enough. They cannot trust you if you do not trust them." She smiled. "We balance one another." She lifted their combined hands. "Which is why I must promise to always listen to you, and you to me."
He sighed. "I shall consider it." He turned back to the book.
She turned, laying back against his chest studied the ceiling, resting their combined hands on her stomach. "Have you spoken to him? Seen him?"
"Deara, you are wise, but please do not meddle in affairs between myself and my brother. Seeing him would serve no purpose, and speaking to him less."
"Very well," she sighed.
Loki sat like that for a moment, then looked down at her. "You're very stiff in the shoulders, wife. Are you so nervous about the meeting tomorrow? The council will listen to you. They won't like it at first, but they will see your wisdom."
"It's not that."
"Then what?" When she didn't answer he craned his neck to see her face. "What troubles you?"
"I have to tell you something. I'm not at all certain how you will take it."
He set the book aside again. "Out with it then." She paused, running her thumb over his hand. "Deara, there is nothing you could do that would make me turn from you. Tell me what it is so I can put you at ease."
She met his eyes, took a deep breath, held it, then blurted out, "I am with child."
He blinked at her. Once. Twice. Looked down at their combined hands on her stomach. Finally he swallowed and said, "Is it mine?"
She sat upright, turning to stare at him, hurt gleaming in her eyes. "What have I done that would cause you to doubt me?"
"Nothing. Nothing you did," he hurried to assure her. "It's only that Asgardians do not have children so easily. It takes a thousand years of marriage at least-"
"But neither of us are Asgardian by birth." He swallowed and blinked. Sometimes he still forgot. "I should have warned you. Sheerdan women go through a period of heightened fertility when they are first joined. I'll admit it generally takes longer than this, but here we are." She squeezed his hand. "Tell me this pleases you."
"Pleases me?" He looked in her eyes. "Wife, every time I think you've given me more than anyone could, that you're more miraculous than anyone could imagine, you give me yet more. You help me secure the Asgardian throne, and now you give me heir to place upon it. If I seem incredulous it's because I could not believe such good fortune was possible."
She blushed and smiled. "Thank you for that. Although it may be a girl."
"What difference should that make?" he asked as he pulled her back into his arms, running his fingers again over her stomach.
"It wouldn't be an heir then."
"Well while you're changing laws I don't see why that shouldn't change."
She craned her neck to look at him. "Truly?"
"You were Queen to your people without a King and look how they benefited. Besides, I know something of being denied the throne through no fault of your own. I would not see my daughter carry that burden."
"Well said," she chuckled.
Loki lapsed into silence for several minutes, his book forgotten as he turned the news over in his head. Tried to cement it as real. Finally he looked down at her and found her drowsy, contented gaze on him. "If it is a girl, do you suppose we could name her Frigga?"
She smiled broadly. "I would insist, if you feel proper about bestowing the name upon her."
"And if it's a boy?"
She glanced up at him and grinned. "Thor?" His eyes widened, turning to a glare when she burst into peals of laughter.
"Horrible woman."
"I apologize. I truly couldn't resist."
"Well if the female name comes from my side of the family it only seems fair that you choose the male name from yours."
"Loki?" she suggested.
"Loki Lokison? I think not. I've never cared for that tradition. I would have my son make his own way in the world, not be constrained to mine."
She paused thoughtfully. "I had a twin brother. Bereth was his name. I hardly remember him. He died when we were very young."
"What happened?"
"Sheerdan children are fragile. A simple illness, a bad bump to the head, they disappear in a heartbeat." She gazed into the fire across the room. "I'm told when we were born I would cry every moment we weren't together. I'd scream myself hoarse, wouldn't eat if he wasn't within my sight. We slept in the same bed until his death. Mother said she imagined I had a premonition he was not long for this world and I would not be separated in the time we had."
"How did you react when he was no longer with you?"
"Mother said I was oddly calm. I seemed to understand. I became quiet for a time, withdrawn, but I'd never been that boisterous about anyone but him anyway. I grieved. And I moved on."
"So Bereth if it is a boy."
"You don't think it would be an ill omen?" she asked. "Naming it for a child that died?"
"I don't believe in such things. We make our own destiny. Something simple as a name has no bearing on it."
The council was deep in discussion, many laughing when they entered the chamber to find their Queen already seated at the head of the table, ink open before her, pen and paper in hand.
She stood when they lapsed into silence. "Good morning all," she said. "If you will take your seats, we have much to do." They sat, eyeing each other and picking up the papers before them. "I've made copies for all of you. These are a hybrid, if you will. I've combined Sheerdan law with Asgardian. You'd be surprised how much overlap there truly was. Now, this is my suggestion. I've left some as it is, despite the fact that our laws are not so, and the entries I feel especially strongly about I have changed. We can discuss of course but I encourage you to remember that as your Queen I have the final say. So first item-"
"Excuse me," one of the older gentlemen said. She looked up, leaning attentatively forward. "What do you think gives you the right to rewrite our laws?"
She shrugged. "I am your Queen."
"This is Asgard. No woman rules here."
"I see. You'll only take the word of your King then?"
"That would be convenient," one of them spoke up.
"Very well." She stood and swept toward the door.
"My Lady, where do you go?" one of them asked.
"To fetch your King," she answered, striding out of the room.
She returned minutes later, Loki following her. She stopped before the table and held her hands up toward them.
Loki threw his helmet onto the table with a resounding clang that echoed. "What is this?" he demanded. When no one spoke he glared at them with arms crossed. "Well?"
"My King, she wishes to rewrite all of Asgardian law," he said, thumping the papers before him.
Loki put his palms flat to the table and leaned toward the man in question. "Do you imagine she seeks to do anything I have not consented to? That we have not thoroughly discussed? Who do you think has been teaching her about Asgardian law? And do you imagine for a moment that I will not read the transcripts to make sure I am educated on the law? This woman," he gestured toward her, "has spent weeks studying our law exhaustively. I assure you she knows every nuance and has carefully considered every word in the document before you." He caught up his helmet. "You will consider every order she gives, every word she changes, as a directive from me. Learn to respect your Queen. She is in fact very talented in these matters. I assure you she does everything for the better of our kingdoms. Am I understood?"
"Yes my King," they murmured.
"Good. The next man that questions her will join the others in the dungeon." He strode over to his wife, kissing her on the cheek. "Have a good day darling."
