As Loki had reassured her, Sigyn's confinement passed quickly. Friends visited her on a daily basis. Brynja came to be her closest confidante. Reading and writing lessons with Loki and making clothes for her sons, indeed kept her quite busy. She also grew rapidly, and to quite an alarmingly large size in Loki's view.
"Are you sure there's only two in there?" he asked Frigga one day. Frigga had taken over Sigyn's care when she'd entered her confinement, claiming that it was important to have an experienced hand when it came to the more delicate and difficult cases.
"Yes, there are just the two," Frigga said with a smile. "They just need a lot of space, that's all."
With Sigyn beginning her seventh month of pregnancy, she was even more uncomfortable with being bed-ridden. "It is awful, Loki," she complained one night. "I have stared at the trees outside the window for so many days that I think I can tell you exactly how many leaves are on each one. And I wish to prepare the room the boys shall sleep in, but I cannot!"
"Would you like for me to do it?" Loki offered. "You can tell me exactly where you want things to be placed." Their kin, friends, and well-wishers of the kingdom had begun showering them with gifts for their sons. They now had intricately-carved cradles, hobby-horses, and wooden swords, along with many other toys for the children to enjoy when they were older. There were also nappies and clothing enough to last well into their first year of life without needing to do any washing. "And do you not think they should stay right here for their first few months at least? You shall have to be up feeding them in the night so often…"
"I suppose the cradles and clothes ought to be set up in here," Sigyn conceded after a moment's thought. "But all of the toys can go into their room for when they're older."
Loki spent most of the evening moving items into their sleeping chamber, and then moving them around countless times as Sigyn changed her mind over where things should be placed. "Perhaps they should go on my side of the bed since I will be doing their feedings," she said to Loki, referring to the cradles. He had already moved them around four times, and had no more energy to spare. He used a spell to lift and move them over to where she was pointing. He spent the rest of the night collapsed on the bed next to her, levitating things around the room until she was thoroughly satisfied.
Sigyn wrapped her arms around Loki that night as they went to sleep. "You are so attentive, my love," she whispered before kissing his cheek. Loki leaned his head against her chest and closed his eyes. He fell asleep before he could even reply.
By the end of Sigyn's seventh month, Frigga began to thoroughly explain the birthing process that would take place soon. Loki insisted on being present to hear about it. "I do not think you have much time left, my dear," she said while placing her hands on Sigyn's stomach. One baby's foot pressed against her palm. "There simply isn't any room left for them to grow."
When Loki looked alarmed to hear this, Frigga waved him off. "You needn't fear, my son," she said reassuringly. "With my magic, they shall continue to grow just fine outside the womb. They will grow big and strong as boys should." When he calmed down again, she frowned and continued to speak. "This is why men aren't allowed in the birthing room. Men grow alarmed over the simplest things. They can slay dozens of men and lose limbs in war and go about stoically, but to see their wife in pain and distress sends them jumping about like mad things. It is simpler to have them out of the way. You'll stay out in the dining halls with your father and brother where you belong." Loki had already asked her if he could be present for the births. "The rituals must be done properly. You'll mind your place or I'll have Odin restrain you."
"Mother, I will not make a fool of myself; you needn't worry," Loki said calmly.
"You'd best see that you don't," Frigga replied. "You're going to see images from Sigyn's mind and feel her pain, something most husbands aren't privy to. I don't want you running through the halls and interrupting our work. The magic I'll be doing isn't for your eyes. This is women's magic."
Loki sighed and held up his hands in surrender. "I will force myself not to join Sigyn's mind while she labors," he promised. "I shall be content to wait patiently, and calmly, like every other expectant father before me." With that, he left the sleeping chambers, knowing that Frigga didn't believe a word he said.
(SCENE)
Loki's test arrived two weeks later. Sigyn was in their bed, with Brynja brushing her hair. Sif was paying a visit, telling of her latest competition in which she had bested four male warriors in a test of swords, when Sigyn felt warm liquid drench her thighs. She gasped, thinking she'd had an accident, and felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. "Oh!" she cried while hunching over in agony.
Sif and Brynja jumped up at the same time and looked at each other. "My lady, what has happened?" Brynja asked, kneeling down before her mistress.
"My water, is has broken, I think…" Sigyn gasped.
Sif paled and her eyes grew very wide. She inched towards the door. "I shall alert Frigga and Loki," she said quietly before opening the door and running out.
Brynja helped Sigyn sit up and dressed her so they could leave the room. The birthing room was located in the healing rooms. Sigyn was very weak on her legs, for she had not stood in many months. Brynja supported her and helped her walk out of the room. Frigga was to meet them there with her apprentices she had chosen for the task.
Sigyn had never felt such pain before. She knew the Sjalsfrande had hurt very much, but she had no real memory of it. Her own mother had perished during this process, giving birth to her. The fear and weight of the situation hit her suddenly and the pain drove her into a panic. "Loki! I need my husband!" she cried while they walked slowly through the halls.
"My lady, Loki cannot be a part of this," Brynja replied while trying to steer Sigyn towards the healing rooms.
They had made it halfway there when they heard loud footsteps approaching them. Loki appeared on Sigyn's other side. He put his arm around her waist and helped her walk. "Oh Loki, you're here," she sighed, resting her head on his shoulder as they walked.
"I had to come," he replied. "I couldn't let you go through this alone…"
Another set of footsteps approached them. Sif ran up to Loki, looking very unhappy. "You are not supposed to do this," she growled. "Frigga told me to keep you in the dining hall with the menfolk!" She crossed her arms and marched along with them. "She will be very cross to see you and will probably yell at you."
"I care not!" Loki growled back, glaring at Sif.
They made it to the healing rooms a few minutes later, and Frigga met them at the door to the birthing room. "Loki! You are not allowed in here!" she cried in greeting.
"I tried to stop him, my lady, but he used his tricks…" Sif said apologetically.
"Loki, return to the dining hall with Sif at once," Frigga commanded. "No tricks, no magic, just patience, as you promised. Say your farewells to your wife and be off with you."
Loki had never known such anxiety before. He was helpless to do anything for Sigyn, and wasn't even allowed to be present for the births of his own children. Unable to do anything else, he threw his arms around Sigyn's shoulders and kissed her. "I love you so much," he said into her mind. "You will be fine. My mother shall see to it."
"I love you too, Loki," was her response. They held onto each other until Sif grabbed Loki by the arm and pulled him away.
"Come on, let's go find the Allfather and Thor," Sif said as Loki reluctantly walked away with her. As they walked through the hallways towards the dining room, Loki sighed. He wanted to be with his wife.
Sif put her arm around Loki's shoulders. "Fear not, Loki. All shall be well," she said encouragingly. "We shall find your kin, and then we shall drink ale until the babies are born. It will be great fun."
As they walked into the dining hall, Thor saw them and noticed how despondent Loki was. He hurried over to them. "What is wrong?" he asked.
"Sigyn's birthing time has arrived and Loki is distraught," Sif explained.
"What good news!" Thor cried, leaning down to hug his brother. "Let us drink and feast until your sons are presented to you." He called Odin over to tell him the news.
Odin smiled and patted Loki's arm. "The waiting will all be worth it in the end," he reassured his son.
Thor's friends joined them at the table, and soon the entire dining hall knew what was happening. Cheers erupted and serving girls began to fill tankards of ale for everyone.
Loki sat at a table with his kinsmen and listened to tales of fatherhood as the minutes slowly turned into hours. Volstagg regaled him with many stories of sleepless nights, childhood sicknesses, and fighting amongst siblings. "I will just advise you, young lad, if one of your wee ones says he feels like he's going to be ill, do not pick him up…It will not end well for you…" he concluded at the end of his talk. It all left Loki feeling uncertain as to whether or not he was truly suited for the task, though it was too late now to do anything about it.
This would become the night Loki regarded as the longest in his short life.
(SCENE)
Frigga shut the door on her son's face and turned to Sigyn with a reassuring smile on her face. "My dear, I know you are fearful now, but do not trouble yourself. You will be well cared for," she said soothingly as she walked up to her. "First, let's get you undressed so I can examine you." She gestured to two of the attendants, who stepped forward and began to help Sigyn out of her clothes. Brynja folded her mistress's clothes and looked to Frigga for direction.
"You have been Sigyn's faithful servant these last few months. Will you stay and help?" Frigga asked.
"Yes, my lady," Brynja replied.
"Help her onto the birthing stool so that I might examine her," Frigga said.
Brynja placed a hand on Sigyn's shoulder. "Come, my lady, sit down," she said.
Sigyn, now fully unclothed, took a step towards the stool and doubled over in pain. She cried out in pain and her knees began to buckle. Brynja grabbed her tightly and kept her from falling over. Sigyn gasped for air and after a minute, the wave of pain dissipated.
"Your contractions are strong," Frigga commented as she walked over to help Sigyn. "Let us hope the births are fast." Once Sigyn was seated on the stool, Frigga stepped away and took time to pull her hair back into a knot. She also removed her dress and replaced it with a clean black gown reserved for her midwifery duties. An attendant cleansed her hands and arms for her before she returned to Sigyn. After kneeling down in front of her and placing her hands on the girl's knees, she called over two attendants, and they came to stand on either side of Sigyn. "If you feel a contraction, they will hold onto you. Just concentrate on breathing."
Frigga parted Sigyn's legs and began her examination. Sigyn shut her eyes and tried to remain calm. She felt vulnerable and exposed before all the other women. She could feel Frigga touching her and it felt uncomfortable, yet was unable to do anything about it. It only lasted a few minutes before she was finished.
"You are coming along nicely, but only about halfway ready to begin pushing. Let us stand you up and help you pace the floor of the room. The movement will help you progress faster."
Brynja insisted on helping Sigyn, and together, they walked arm-in-arm around the room, over and over again. Every once in a while, Sigyn would have a contraction, and an attendant would appear to help hold her upright through the pain.
One of the other attendants began to chant, words Sigyn did not understand, but she felt invigorated by them somehow. It gave her strength to keep pacing.
After an hour, Frigga examined her again. "Good progress, but not enough. Continue pacing."
Another long hour was spent walking around the room, and Sigyn's contractions became stronger and more frequent. One of the other attendants took over chanting to give the first one a respite.
Near the end of the hour, Sigyn had a contraction that was so strong and powerful, that in spite of Brynja and the attendant's help, she still buckled under and collapsed to the floor. Frigga rushed over and helped her into a seated position. A quick examination showed that Sigyn had progressed far enough to begin pushing.
Attendants helped her into a kneeling position on the floor. One stood on either side and held onto a shoulder tightly. She leaned into them when a contraction started, crying out in pain. Frigga knelt before her and placed her hands on the girl's chin, holding it up and looking into her eyes. "Sigyn, you are doing well. I want you to begin pushing when you feel your next contraction. Take a deep breath and work with the pain."
Sigyn tried to remain calm, and when a contraction began a minute later, she took a deep breath and pushed as hard as she could, leaning into the attendants as she did. Once it was over, Frigga checked for signs of progress. "It is a good start, but you have a long way to go, my dear," she said calmly. "Continue to push with the contractions."
It took nearly an hour of pushing before Frigga declared she could see the head crowning. Sigyn's knees were in a lot of pain by now, so they brought the birthing stool to her and set her on it for the last part. Frigga guided the baby's head gently as it emerged. "Very good, Sigyn, keep pushing!"
Sigyn gave one last great push, her entire body straining, a scream ripping out of her throat. She felt something pass between her legs and then relief as the pain subsided. She threw herself back with a gasp of breath and the attendants caught her, keeping her from toppling over.
The baby fell into Frigga's ready hands. Frigga deftly produced a small dagger that she used to cut the cord connecting the child to his mother. When it was done, she smiled and stood up quickly, taking the infant over to the table to clean him up and make sure all was well.
Sigyn moaned and rocked back and forth. "I want to see him," she murmured. "I want to see my son."
"My lady, the child is blue!" One of the attendants cried while assisting Frigga.
"What? Is he all right?" Sigyn cried, trying to stand up, but she was restrained by her helpers.
"Nobody needs to panic," Frigga said calmly. "He merely needs to pink up a little." After quickly cleaning the baby off, and clearing out his mouth and nostrils, she held him up and slapped his backside gently. The baby began to scream and Sigyn thought it was the most beautiful sound she had ever heard. She relaxed a little. Frigga chanted spells over the infant's body and swaddled him a moment later.
"I have given him protections from that which could harm him, and given him the strength to continue growing, even though he is no longer in the womb. Your son will be strong," she declared.
Frigga left the baby on the table and turned to look at her daughter-in-law. "Do you feel signs of any more contractions?" When Sigyn shook her head, she continued. "Your second water has not yet broken. It could be some time before it does. I shall present the boy to Loki now. Then you will be able to see and feed the baby when I return." She nodded to the attendants. "Help deliver the afterbirth, and begin to rub her back so the milk will drop. I shall return shortly."
Sigyn hated this part. She wanted so badly to hold her child and begin to love him, but she couldn't. Not until Loki fulfilled his part of the ritual. Custom dictated that a child be presented to his father for approval upon being born. If the father accepted him, he named the child, declaring him as his own, and the mother would be allowed to feed the baby. If the father rejected the child, it was left out in the elements to die of exposure, and the mother was never allowed to see him. It was said that it was easier for her to go on with life if she had never formed a bond with him. She knew of course that Loki wouldn't reject their children, but the wait to see her child made her anxious nonetheless. The rubbing on her back felt good, though, comforting. She closed her eyes and waited.
(SCENE)
Loki stayed true to his word and did not glimpse into Sigyn's mind during the next several hours. He was still privy to some of her pain, however. He could feel a couple of her stronger contractions, and had to take a few deep breaths to calm down. When Thor asked what was happening, Loki explained. "I hope I never experience Sjalsfrande," was Thor's response.
The pain passed, much to Loki's relief, and he was able to rejoin the conversation. A short time later, the door to the dining hall was opened by a servant, and Frigga entered, bearing a small bundle in her arms. He looked over and his heart began to pound. He took a deep breath and tried to remain calm. The entire hall grew quiet, until they could all hear the sound of her footsteps approaching her son's table. Loki thought the footsteps sounded like his heartbeats.
Frigga stopped before Loki, and he stood up, looking at her. "There is only one," he said, sounding panicked.
"The other is not quite ready yet, but you needn't worry. That is common with twins," Frigga replied. She smiled and held the bundle in her arms out to him. "Loki Odinson, I present to you, your wife's son."
Loki took the child and set him on the table. Frigga helped unwrap the baby's swaddling, and Loki performed the customary inspection. The baby seemed impossibly small, and delicate. He had the bluest eyes, and Loki could make out Sigyn's mouth, and his own nose. His heart swelled to look into his own son's face finally. Tears prickled his eyes and he spoke into his son's mind. "Which one are you?" he asked.
And a voice, one that he had heard countless times before now, answered back. "I am Nari," he said.
Odin handed Loki a bowl of warmed water, and Loki sprinkled it over his son's body. The water made the baby scream and Loki's heart hurt to hear it. He wanted to scoop up the tiny child, hold him to his heart and tell him nothing would ever upset him again if he could help it. Frigga quickly produced dry wrappings and swaddled the baby once again. She placed him back in Loki's arms.
As Loki held his son, he heard scraps of the boy's thoughts. "Wet…cold…hungry…"
Loki turned to the crowd and held the bundle out to them all. "I present to you, Nari Lokison, my eldest!" he cried triumphantly.
Thor and Odin leaned in for a closer look as the crowd cheered and toasted Loki's good fortune. "Look how small he is," Thor said while reaching a hand out to pet the cheek of his newest kinsman. "He has hair as dark as yours."
They all marveled over Nari for a couple minutes until his screams grew louder and more insistent. Loki turned to Frigga and placed Nari in her arms. "Please return my son to his mother. He needs feeding right away."
Frigga nodded and quickly left the dining hall, to return to the healing room. Loki sat back on the bench and wondered at what had just taken place. He had a son! And soon he would have a second! "My dear girl," he sent out a message to Sigyn's mind, "you have done well so far this night. I most highly approve of my firstborn, but I anxiously await my second-born…"
"I am working on it, my love," came her response a minute later. "He does not seem as eager to arrive as his brother was…" Sigyn entered his mind again several minutes later. "I wish for you to be present for this," she said before he saw an image of what she was experiencing, as if seeing it through her eyes.
Frigga held Nari out to Sigyn, and she took him in her arms for the first time. He could feel Sigyn's joyful tears as though they were falling onto his own cheeks. She petted her child and kissed him many times before Frigga assisted her with feeding him. Sigyn held him to her breast, and Frigga showed her how to guide her nipple into the boy's mouth. Within seconds, Nari was tentatively suckling at his mother's breast. "He will learn with time," Loki said to her. "He is a good, strong boy."
Nari ate for a long time before falling asleep in Sigyn's arms. "Nari, my son, you must tell your brother to come out soon, before all the good milk is gone," Loki whispered into his tiny child's mind.
As if on cue, a minute later, Sigyn felt fluid gush down her legs, and a contraction began. Loki watched as Brynja took Nari in her arms and Sigyn stood up. "I shall leave you to your important work, my love," he said before detaching his mind from hers. He hoped it wouldn't take too long before his second son was born.
(SCENE)
Sigyn and her attendants began the long, painful task of pacing the room once again while the chanters droned on. It took several more hours of pacing before she was ready to push, and she was exhausted before it even began. In the middle of walking, Nari screamed again, demanding to be fed, so she walked, with Nari at her breast, and attendants held onto her, ready to catch either her or the baby, should they fall. But Sigyn found that she was stronger than she first thought and paced continuously, holding Nari all the while. She only handed him back when Frigga decided it might be time for laboring.
Frigga frowned upon examining her for the last time. "Your son is not only stubborn, but a troublemaker," she declared before placing her hand on Sigyn's belly. "He is turned the wrong way, and that simply will not do." She whispered words that had no meaning to Sigyn, and a moment later, she felt a strange moving sensation inside herself.
"What did you do?" she gasped.
"I merely told him to turn around, and he did," Frigga explained with a smile. "And now my dear, you and he are ready."
Sigyn knelt down on the floor, once again flanked by her attendants. It took two hours of pushing before Frigga noticed any progress. "He is coming out at his own pace…"
Nari started to shriek once again, and tears streamed down Sigyn's face, for she could do nothing to help him. Her labor pains were overwhelming, and with one final push, using every muscle she had, she pushed her second son out. Her screams joined Nari's, until the pain subsided and Frigga cut the cord. Sigyn lay on the floor, panting and exhausted, as Frigga cleaned the other baby.
"He is blue too," the attendant at Frigga's side marveled. "But he's pinking up already."
A smaller wave of pain washed over Sigyn, and one of the attendants helped her to deliver the afterbirth. When it was over, she fell back to the floor again. It was done. Her sons were born. With a sigh, the world around her faded to black, and she knew no more.
(SCENE)
Loki was pacing the floor of the dining hall impatiently, nervously. What was taking so long? He would be able to sense if there were complications, but there had been none. His son was simply dawdling, that was all.
"What could be taking so long?" he asked Thor for the hundredth time that night, when the doors to the dining hall opened and once again, Frigga entered the room. The crowd hushed again as Loki acted out the acceptance ritual a second time.
Loki's youngest son looked nothing like Nari. He had a tuft of wispy white blonde hair, like Sigyn's, on top of his head. Only his blue eyes matched Nari's. This child had Loki's nose and mouth, but his mother's cheekbones and chin. "I know who you are," he whispered into the boy's mind. "You are the one who completes our family." He poured water gently over his son's body and Frigga wrapped the baby up once again when it was done.
Loki took his son from her and him out before the crowd. "I present to you, Vali Lokison, my second-born!" The crowd cheered and raised their tankards of ale in celebration.
"Where is Sigyn now?" Loki asked Frigga, while still holding tightly onto Vali.
"She was overwrought and could stay awake no longer. We bathed her, and now she sleeps in the healing ward with Nari at her side.
Loki nodded his head. "I shall take Vali there myself," he declared.
"Loki, this is not acceptable. This is women's work," Frigga protested.
"Mother, you might as well permit it, he's going to do it anyway," Thor commented while gazing down at Vali.
"Oh, very well," Frigga said, sounding resigned to the idea. "But I shall go with you."
Loki marched triumphantly out of the dining hall a minute later, proudly bearing his tiny boy in his arms. He walked all the way into the healing rooms and quickly found Sigyn in one of the beds. She was propped up with pillows, yet still asleep, and Nari was at her side.
Loki didn't want to wake her, but knew Vali needed feeding. He opened Sigyn's nightclothes and with Frigga's assistance, got Vali to feed from Sigyn's breast. When he had been satisfied, Loki set him down next to Nari. "I shall stay with them, mother," he announced while unashamedly climbing into Sigyn's bed and moving next to his sons. He wrapped an arm around Sigyn's waist and settled down so his head was next to his sleeping sons.
Frigga shook her head in wonderment and turned to leave the room. "Mother…thank you…" Loki called out to her as she left.
"You are most welcome, my son," she replied.
Loki closed his eyes and listened to the sound of Nari and Vali sleeping. Their shallow breathing created a rhythm that soothed him. He inhaled their freshly-washed and milk-fed scent, and memorized it as he drifted off to sleep. He smiled at the thought that at long last, his family had been reunited. He felt complete. He felt happy. It was all he needed, for now at least.
End Part One
A/N: I will be taking about a month off from posting so that I can work on the next section of this story and take the new Thor film into account as I plot out future storylines. Keep an eye out for Thanksgiving weekend, hopefully I'll have something ready by then! Thank you for reading this story and I'd love to hear what you think of it. Any thoughts or ideas of what you'd like to see in the future? I have been known to take other's opinions into account…