On that morning, the suns of Asgard seemed to shine brighter, making everything in the realm gleam golden and shimmer brightly. The light shone into the window of Sigyn and Loki's bedroom, waking them with its glow and warmth. He slept with his arms wrapped around her, his hands resting on her belly. She smiled and knocked his hand away, sitting up and stretching.
"There is no rush Sigyn, he will not be crowned until noon."
"I promised to visit with Myri this morning."
"About the baby?"
"I believe she wishes to speak to me of Theoric."
"Will I ever be free of that name? Will you ever be done with him?"
"I am bound to him forever because of the condition he is in…which if I recall correctly is a resu-"
"'Result of my actions', I know, I heard the last time." He grabbed her arm and she turned to look at him "But you gave me your word."
"I have not broken my promise. I mean to meet with Myri in the city, Theoric will not be there….And have you considered that I do this for you, that if Theoric recovers we can finally move on from him."
"And if he does not recover, what will you do then? I have moved on. He was never a factor in my life. I should have killed him when I had the chance."
"I hate when you speak like that."
She said to his back as he walked into their washroom and ran the shower. She walked over to her wardrobe and looked at the long elaborate gown Frigga had chosen for her to wear to the coronation. It was her color, royal blue, and was intricately embroidered with silver thread. She was to wear her crown, encrusted with diamonds and sapphires that sparkled even in dim candlelight. Her head hurt at the very thought of putting the heavy thing on, but then she thought of Loki's helmet and grinned. She could never keep a straight face when he wore that thing. What had possessed Odin to give him a crown of long golden horns was beyond her, the only thing sillier in her mind was the winged helmet Thor had to wear. She leaned on the door of her wardrobe as she laughed at the thought of the two of them standing together in their armor, how proud and noble they would think themselves, when all she would see were two men in ridiculous, animal like headgear.
"It is going to be a long day."
She whispered to herself as she walked into the washroom and ran herself a bath.
Iwaldi walked into Odin's study and gave a small bow to his friend. He could not imagine what could be so important that the king would summon him on such a momentous day as this, but Odin was far more than his king, they were as close as brothers, and he would come whenever he was called.
"Wonderful to see you old friend, your presence always calms the frenzy."
"The frenzy for you has yet to begin. Thor's reign shall be an eventful one to say the least, and you will have the dubious task of trying to advise him."
"Loki shall be his advisor; I am to retire fully…to sleep for a while."
"Well deserved. But surely when you wake you will make Loki general and guide your son in his rule?"
"My son will guide my son, and they will mend the realms, preserve the peace, and reach glories you and I have yet to even dream of."
Iwaldi grinned and nodded, believing wholeheartedly in the capabilities of the princes who he had watched grow into exceptional men. He was as proud of them as their father, for they were as dear to him as the sons he'd never had.
"So what have you summoned me for, old friend?"
"As a matter of fact it is Loki and Sigyn, and the child she is expecting."
"She is expecting? Why, she told me just yesterday that it would still be days before she could know for sure!"
"She is under that impression because of me. I asked Myri the healer to stall her knowledge of the fact, but there is no doubt, she is with child."
"You asked the healer to stall her.…Why?" Iwaldi asked, confused and worried for his daughter, almost afraid to know Odin's reasoning behind his deception "What do you know of the child?"
"Nothing, of course. There is no precedent for this!"
"You don't think it will be…."
"Of course not! Loki has never once displayed those traits, there are times when I forget that he is anything other than Asgardian…but there is no way to be certain that the child would be normal."
"You must tell them Odin. The child could be born a," Iwaldi glanced apprehensively over his shoulder and whispered when he was certain they were alone "frost giant."
"Yes that is possible."
"They must know! Sigyn will be undone by that, and Loki….he would have every reason to believe she was unfaithful, with another species no less. It would be a disaster; the child would have to be destroyed."
"I have considered all of this, but I needed to hear your thoughts on the matter before I acted."
"What action do you consider?"
"They are very young and very much in love," Odin sank into his armchair across from his friend and closed his tired eyes "there will be many other children….According to the healer this child is developed enough now to examine and determine its species."
"What of Sigyn? How do you propose to take the child without her knowledge?"
"She will lose the child, as the mortal women sometimes do."
"The mortal women often die during that unfortunate happening; shall we risk Sigyn's life for this experiment?"
He did not need to shout or move to express his anger, his tone and his eyes revealed the emotion.
"I do what I believe to be best for all, but I can assure you of Sigyn's safety."
"You can do nothing of the kind. And what of her sadness? She will grieve the child, deeply. "
"She will never know about it. What other choice do I have?"
"Tell Loki the truth, and then he and Sigyn can make this decision for themselves."
"I intend to tell Loki everything when the time is right."
"You have had ions to tell him. You are afraid to admit your lies, and I understand that, but now you risk my daughter's life and well being to keep them quiet."
"I have lied, and am reluctant to take away everything my son has ever known or believed himself to be. But I am also the king of Asg-"
"You will cease to be king of anything at all if my daughter is harmed in this. I will bring Asgard down around your ears if necessary."
He did not make idle threats or flex his still considerable muscles. He simply stated the truth. Iwaldi was never afraid of Odin's wrath and power; he would stand between any being, man, or beast, and his honor without a thought of fear or apprehension. His courage was more than doubled now, for his daughter was at stake.
"I understand well, friend. I would have kept you ignorant of this plan if I could, but I felt you more than deserved to know, and to try and stop me."
"I beg you to consider the other way."
"This day is too important for Thor and Asgard to be overshadowed by my revelation about Loki…and the matter of the child cannot wait, for Sigyn will begin to show within days."
"You have a way of rationalizing everything. I hope you are as wise and all knowing as you believe yourself to be, for otherwise our children and our descendents will pay the price."
Iwaldi stood and left the room, forgetting all formality as he did so. He did not wait to hear anymore of the king's words or to be excused from his presence. He made his way home with a considerable weight on his shoulders and a deep sense of dread at the thought of running into his daughter at the coronation.
Sigyn dressed in her gown and rode in the royal carriage through the streets of the city. She would have loved to go meet with Myri in disguise once again, but knew her time was not her own today. She took the footman's hand and descended the steps of her carriage, walking up the path to the middle healing house with the eyes of every female patient and healer coveting her gown and the crown she carried in her hand. She made her way to the very same room she waited in during her last visit, but instead of sitting nervously on the bed, she looked around the room. There were scrolls on the desk, written in a language Sigyn did not recognize. She did however notice a group of hand drawn images that seemed to be of a deformed mutated child. She reached to examine the picture more closely just as the door to the room opened.
"That does not concern you, your majesty."
Myri said in a tone more stern than Sigyn had thought her capable of. She stepped away from the desk and turned to face Myri with the look of a guilty child on her face.
"I apologize, I did not mean to pry, I was just curious"
"You have much more important matters to contemplate, I'm sure. Especially today," she would not look in Sigyn's eyes, as she had done so effortlessly before, and it caused the young princess to worry that she had deeply offended the healer with her nosiness "will you please sit, I promise not to keep you long."
"I apologize again," she said with the utmost sincerity as she sat on the bed "I hope you are not too offended, and please take as much of my time as you need, the coronation is not until later in the day."
Myri crossed the room and prepared a kettle and tea with her back turned to Sigyn. As she crushed leaves and herbs together she sighed deeply, hesitating with each ingredient, desperate to warn the sweet young lady of what was about to be done to her.
"Sip this tea, your majesty," Myri said extending a golden teacup to Sigyn, still unable to look into those bright and trusting eyes. "And I will tell you of Yordis' idea for Theoric's treatment."
Sigyn could not resist the sweetness of the tea, it was one of the best tasting drinks she had ever had. It took much for her to sip it daintily, for she wanted to gulp it down and ask for another. She finished the cup and sat it next to her on the bed. Myri watched her drink, still standing and not speaking at all.
"What is the plan? I spoke briefly with Yordis during my visit with Theoric but I must tell you that Loki" she stopped for a moment as a sharp pain, more vivid than any pain she had ever felt before shot through her stomach, back, and thighs. It seemed to come and go quickly, but she could not shake the feeling of it, it unsettled her "Oh."
"Are you alright, your majesty?"
"No…Well, I'm not sure." She spoke slowly, unsure of how to describe what had happened "I think I'm fine, it was just so strange –"
She was again interrupted by a jolt of pain, this one longer and more sustained than the last. She felt as though her innards were on fire, and were sliding down her body. She doubled over and lost her balance, falling head first from the bed to the floor.
"Sigyn!"
"Please! Help Me!" She managed to beg between cries of pain. Tears rolled down her cheeks, as she fought to stay conscious and not go into hysterics "Help Me!"
Myri cradled the princess' head in her arms; it was the only comfort she could offer her. She was grateful beyond words when the young woman finally passed out, and as she laid her head on a pillow she wiped away her own tears. A pool of blood soaked the floor and much of the gown below Sigyn's waist, and Myri lifted the skirts of the gown to find the specimen she needed.
And there it laid, a tiny little baby, about half the size of the hand Myri used to lift it gently from the bloody mess it laid lifeless in. She looked at it more closely as she wiped it clean with a damp cloth, breaking down into loud deep sobs as the features of the child became clearer. Though it was very young it was plain to see the child had deeply black hair and the golden skin tone of an Asgardian. Myri had told herself that it would all be worth it, the lies, the deception, the complete violation of Sigyn's trust, if she could spare her the pain of having a deformed child, but now none of it seemed worth it. She resigned herself to live with the guilt as she wrapped the baby's body in clean linen cloths and placed it into a small silver box on her desk, then she cast a spell to clean up the blood and restore Sigyn's dress to its original state. No one would ever know what had happened, or that Sigyn had ever been pregnant at all, least of all Sigyn herself.
"Hunger pains? Really?"
She sat up on the bed and took the tray of fruit that the short stout nurse offered her. The nurse nodded and smiled, informing her she could leave just as soon as she finished eating.
"Myri said it is common among nobles, you often go long periods of time and forget to eat."
"I suppose, but they were so painful…will Myri come back into the room? We did not get a chance to speak."
"She is gone to attend to more serious patients, she wishes you to rest for a bit, eat, and she will speak with you on another day. Your footman and carriage await, the coronation will begin shortly.
Loki stood fully dressed in his armor and helmet waiting on the stairs of the great hall of the palace. The hall was filled with people, all gazing at the royal family and the Warriors Three, and anticipating Thor's arrival. Golden curtains wavered in the small wind that breezed through the corridor, and he sighed, unable to deny the small knot of excitement in his stomach. He was prepared to enjoy the day's festivities as best he could, and to try not to worry about all the doubts that plagued him. Thor could deny his nerves all he wanted, but Loki knew better, his older brother was beginning to understand the weight of being a king, and now he was eager to prove himself capable of bearing it. Loki's eyes scanned the hall quickly and he frowned, for Sigyn was nowhere in sight. She should have been on the stairs at his side, but he tried not to dwell on it, for the thought of her tending to Theoric instead of tending to her duties as princess made his blood boil.
The crowded hall erupted with cheers and applause as Thor burst through the doors and sauntered down the aisle, wielding Mjolnir and egging the crowd on to cheer louder as he came. Loki noticed Sigyn slip in through the side entrance and lean on a nearby column. He caught her eye and beckoned for her to come forward, she shook her head no and mouthed an apology to him. She looked tired, and her hair fell loosely around her shoulders, instead of pinned into the tight bun it had been in when she left their house. She began clap along with the rest of the crowd, but Loki noticed her lose balance a bit as she let go of the column. She leaned against it again and recovered just as Odin began to recite the Ruling Oath to Thor, who kneeled before him with a look of complete confidence across his face. Odin on the other hand looked proud, but deeply tired. Frigga looked lovingly at her son and blushed at his wink, Loki however missed the chance to meet his brother's eyes, instead focusing on Sigyn and wondering what was wrong with her. Thor was unaffected by it, but Sif noticed the disinterested look on Loki's face, and mistook it for jealousy.
In addition to the weakness she felt in her legs, Sigyn was having difficulty concentrating. With the hall so full of people her mind was inundated with their thoughts, which she wanted desperately to ignore. It took a great deal of effort to focus on anything else, but suddenly she began to hear thoughts that sounded unlike any of the others.
Yes we shall retrieve it, we are very near now
We must return the casket to our king
And reclaim our place as the most feared beings in the realms
Her mouth hung open at the idea of it, but there was no time to figure it out now. Odin stopped in mid sentence as Sigyn invaded his mind with her voice.
'Frost giants have breached the gate, they seek to steal the casket.'
Odin did not see Sigyn in the room, but looked straight ahead of him as the clarity of her voice permeated his thoughts.
"Frost giants!"
He said to no one in particular, though as soon as the words were out of his mouth a hush fell over the entire hall. Did he mean frost giants were near? Did he mean beware frost giants? Should they be concerned that his mind had wandered to such a random thought in the midst of giving Thor the oath? All these thoughts crossed the minds of the people as Odin banged his staff on the floor and beckoned for the princes to follow him as he walked away from the throne and out of the hall. Little did anyone know that far below their feet Odin's destroyer was making short work of the three unwise frost giants who had come to steal the Casket of Ancient Winters.
"Good citizens, it seems some drastic event has called our king and princes attentions away. You should all return to your homes, and the coronation will be done on another day."
Frigga smiled broadly, in the hopes of assuaging the worried looks of the people in the hall. The palace guards ushered them out, and she took a seat on the stairs.
"Are you all right, my queen?"
Sif asked, kneeling before her and taking her hand.
"I'm fine dear, only I wish we could pull off just one festivity without a calamity ensuing..."