Thor was sent for immediately. As they awaiting his return, Loki considered sending someone to Svartálfheim to see if there was any chance of remaining peace, but in his heart he knew, whomever he would be sending, he would be sending to their death. He had not slept much since the news of Ásvaldr's demise the week previous; instead he had taken to pacing when Maebh and the children slept.

"You need to eat Loki." Maebh stated, getting somewhat angsty herself from watching him go to and fro in their living area. "You need to rest."

"War is coming." He replied.

"We do not know that for certain yet." She did everything she could to ensure her voice was calm and soothing for her exhausted husband.

"For Valhalla's sake, of course it is, use your head you silly woman." He snapped back. Maebh's eyes widened at the manner in which he spoke to her. Silently she rose from the table, looking at anything other than her husband and wrapped a pelt around the steadily growing Vali and walked outside.

Loki watched her leave, regret marring his face. His hands went to the back of his head as he cursed himself for losing his temper with her, his wife, who without fail did everything in her power to alleviate his woes. He caught sight of a startled and gobsmacked Gertrude staring at him, her mouth agape, adding to his guilt, cursing himself again he followed after his wife.

He found her in the stables, humming to Vali as the young child focused on the horses. "Maebh." He tried to convey his remorse in his tone. "My darling Maebh, you did not deserve that." He began. Maebh continued to hum to their son, but he could tell she was listening. "I am so very sorry my love, for saying something so inexcusable to you. My exhaustion and lack of appetite concern you and you do everything in your power to try and ensure my wellbeing, and then I speak to you in such a deplorable manner, I am so sorry." She remained silent. "Please, say something."

"What is it you wish for me to say? That I forgive you, that I accept your apology, and that I did not take it to heart because I understand that you are tired?" Her voice was emotionless and quiet, and she had failed to look at him yet, instead she focused on looking at Vali. "Or that Nafi came from his bed chambers just in time to hear his father speak such a manner, and went back in with tears in his eyes, because he does not know his father to be a man to speak like that to his family."

Loki looked back to the house, sure enough; he could see Nafi in the doorway, looking over to the stables. "Norn's what am I becoming?" He felt like weeping. "Maebh, please, I need you." He looked over at her to see her eyeing him, their smaller son looking innocently at his father while chewing on his little fist. "Please, I beg you to forgive me darling Maebh. I should not have acted in such a manner."

"You had best make right with your son. Remember, how he sees you treat women is how he will think it appropriate to treat them." She stated, bouncing Vali around slightly as the infant became slightly fussy.

"I can take him." Loki offered, but he pulled his arms back in when he saw the look on her face. "I will talk to Nafi." He left, the building and walked over to the house, where Nafi had swiftly shut the door on hearing his father's approach. Loki walked in and walked straight to Nafi's room, knocking once before entering. "Nafi, may I speak with you?"

"Are you going to yell?" The boy's face was somewhat fearful.

The look on his young face stabbed Loki as painfully as the knife in Svartálfheim had. "No my son, I am not. Though I wish to speak to you about that."

"Mother just told you to eat."

"I know, and I acted terribly towards her, in a manner utterly inexcusable."

"You never speak to her like that."

"I know, and I wish I never had."

"You only used to be like that before." Loki looked up. "With Her."

Loki swallowed, Nafi remembered the many fights with Aslaug, the ones he did everything possible to avoid, the ones that meant Nafi and after a while Maebh used leave the house in all weathers, including the rain to evade. "I should never have spoken to Maebh like that."

"Do you not love her anymore?"

If Loki thought he had felt pain before, the sad tone and his son's words proved him wrong. "Nafi, I love Maebh more than my own life, I will only ever love her in this life, and I will love her for all of it."

"Then why be so mean?"

"I cannot give an excuse, for that implies there is a good reason for acting such a manner. Your mother is such a strong woman; I fear I have disappointed her with my behaviour."

"Did you say sorry?"

"It was the fist thing I did after."

"And did you promise not to do it again?"

"It's not that simple Nafi."

"So you will do it again?" The boy looked at him in shock.

"No, I am not going to speak like that to Maebh again, at least I pray I will not, and I will do everything in my power not to, but how I acted, it has caused Maebh to be upset, more so than I wish for her to be, and I do not think she will forgive me that easily." He sighed. "I do not know what to do Nafi."

"I'd do what mother tells you to do." Loki frowned at him. "She told you to eat and sleep, do that and show her you are listening."

Loki chuckled. "You are so clever, you know that?"

"You have taught me a lot father." The boy grinned. "I better get my breakfast, lessons are getting more intense."

"What are you onto?"

"Training to fight as a unit."

"That is complex."

"Especially when some idiots are not paying attention."

"They tend to be the first to die on raids I fear." Loki stated.

"Yes, but how many good fighters will they take with them?"

Loki stared at the boy. "You are so astute to the greater picture Nafi, I cannot commend you enough." He grinned, ruffling his hair.

When they went back into the kitchen area, there was only the cook and Gertrude present. Loki wished to find Maebh and apologise to her again, but he knew it would be best to eat first. The father and son ate in content silence, and when Nafi finished, he bid farewell to his father and went to training. Loki, though he felt full, had eaten very little, and decided it best to try and get some sleep. He walked into the bedroom and stopped for a moment.

Maebh was lying on her side on the bed, Vali feeding from her, and her back to him. He took off all but his undergarments silently and got into the bed behind her. She did not acknowledge his presence in any way and after winding their son, she went to put him in his basket. "Leave him between us, please." She turned to look at him, her eyes still angry and cold, but she nodded and gently placed the small child between them as Vali looked at his father and kicked his little legs in glee. "He has your eyes." Loki couldn't help but grin, looking at the how the blue was turning steel grey, just like his mothers.

"There is some green tinting around the edges." Maebh informed him plainly. "Did you speak with Nafi?"

"I did. I apologised to him, I stated my behaviour was unacceptable and he agreed, he…he thought I did not love you any longer?" Loki swallowed as he tried to say the words.

"I can see where he would get that notion." Her voice remained cold.

"Maebh."

"Get some sleep." She got out of the bed and tied up her dress before reaching to take Vali.

"Please, leave him with me." He pleaded, and giving a small nod, she placed him closer his father and placed pelts under the ones on the bed to ensure he would not roll off.

"Do not leave him under the larger pelts, he could suffocate." She instructed.

Loki knew all of this already, but rather than saying that, he nodded and watched her leave. "I am sorry." He whispered after she left. "I fear I may have messed up royally Vali." The infant gurgled back at him. "I do not deserve her forgiveness yet, but I will earn it, wait and see." Vali chirped his replied.

Maebh excused the staff from their duties for the morning, though she knew there was work to be done, Loki getting rest was far more important. She was still angered by his manner, but she knew behind it all, he never meant it and that he regretted it deeply. She busied herself by mending a tunic Nafi had torn the week previous in training and simply sat for a short period. On finishing the mending, she went to the room to take Vali to the living area, away from his resting father so he could sleep longer. A large smile came to her face as she saw both father and son sleeping identically on the bed. She lifted Vali up and he whimpered, causing Loki to begin to stir and look around, he relaxed slightly when he saw his wife. "Rest, I am just taking him out." She explained.

"Maebh…"

"I know." She leant down and kissed him. "Now rest."

"I love you, you know that, don't you? I love you more than anything, you and our sons."

"I know, now rest." She gave him another kiss as he turned over and soon drifted off again, more settled looking than before.

Not wanting Vali to wake his father, she left instructions for the staff to begin their quieter work once more after their lunches, and went to the village to check on Sif and Frigga.

She hummed the same song she always did to her son as she went, causing him to fall off to sleep again very quickly, her movements cradling him as she did. Soon after she arrived and was met by general talk of concern with regards the news from Svartálfheim, with some realms people watched her go by, wondering what she thought of the situation. They felt she would surely want little to do with those that almost cost Loki his life. Others spoke of her generosity to the farmer that had come in search of aid, and the manner she dealt with the much loathed Lord Randúlfr. Not paying much heed to the mutterings around her, she entered Frigga's home, and waited to be announced to her.

"Maebh sweetheart." Frigga smiled warmly. "Where is Loki?"

"Getting some well needed rest, he has been exhausted of late, so he is under strict instruction to sleep." Maebh informed her.

"Heavy is the head that bears a crown." Frigga replied solemnly. "My little Vali." She gave the infant a kiss on his head. "I see him so often, yet his growth still astounds me every time."

"He is truly an Aesir boy."

"How are you Maebh, you looked troubled?"

"Aren't we all at present, war looming, no one could ever want such a thing."

"It will right itself, I sense it." Frigga smiled.

"I pray you right, I really do. Where is Sif?"

"Dealing with her own home, she yearns for Thor's return."

"I know that feeling." Maebh sympathised.

"It is one we all know and loath. Sit and keep me company a while Maebh, I have yearned so much to talk."

"Of course Dowager." She grinned.

"My, such words you have, why do you insist on calling me such?"

"It is the term for the king's mother, and you are she."

"I find it peculiar I do admit." They were about to begin speaking of other matters when Heimdall burst in the door. "Whatever is the matter Heimdall?" Frigga asked looking at his concerned face.

"Forgive my intrusion but there is a man here, with a woman and young child and a baby, they wish to speak with Prince Loki or Prince Thor immediately and none other."

"Well Thor is not on realm and Loki is not fit to see any at present, they will have to wait." Maebh answered.

"You do not understand your Highness, the man, well he claims to be…"

"Claims to be whom Heimdall?"

"Ásvaldr."