Chapter 26

Maria's back ached as she lay back on the semi-reclined bed and she pulled a face as she stretched her body to lift her shirt. Those babies were getting a lot heavier on her body than she remembered before.

"The joys of pregnancy." Frigga's eyes sparkled as she caught Maria's uncomfortable expression, rubbing her hands together to warm them up and rolling up the long white sleeves of her dress. "Men don't understand what we go through for them."

Letting her head fall back, Maria let the air leave her lungs through lightly clenched teeth, settling into the bed. "You got that right."

Once she was still and as comfortable as she was going to get, Frigga stepped up to her side and gently placed her hands over Maria's bump. Ever so tenderly, she flexed her hands so the pads of her fingers pressed into Maria's stomach, feeling the babies from the outside.

Maria just lay back and closed her eyes, letting her head rest against the soft pillow. Her body was really aching lately, and her headaches didn't help.

"Lavender might help."

Maria blinked her eyes open at the Queen's words and frowned softly in confusion.

"For the sleep." Frigga smiled gently, glancing up from her working hands for a moment. "You look tired."

With a heavy sigh, Maria let her head fall back again. "I just can't seem to get comfortable anymore." She mumbled. "Everything is just starting to ache while it's not that bad I can still just feel it. It keeps me up a bit."

The Queen's hands gently probed Maria's stomach in motions that she herself was well familiar with. She recognised the padding along the side of her belly, feeling for the babies' spines and the way Frigga gently jiggled her hands at the top and bottom of Maria's bump, trying to identify the heads.

"A good soak would probably do you some good." The Queen went on. "We have some lovely oils here and some beautiful scented candles. They make for a most relaxing bath."

Maria just nodded, making a mental note to do that later. It would be nice to unwind – without Thor. Gods knew she loved him, but a little time to herself instead of him fussing over her would be nice for a change. A little bit of quiet time to soothe her headache…

Subtly, she flexed her hips from side to side, loosening them up. Her whole body just felt heavy and stretched lately. She knew it was normal, just her body expanding with the two children it carried, but the reassurance didn't make it more comfortable. Thor did everything he could to help her, but really there wasn't much that could be done.

She brushed her hair out of her face as a few strands strayed loose. She hadn't had the energy to style her hair much today, just stringing it in a loose braid from the mess it had been in from when she woke up.

"How's Loki?" she asked absentminded.

Frigga's hands moved faultlessly around her belly, smooth and gentle, flowing like water. Maria could hear her smile in her voice.

"He is well." The Queen replied. Maria knew that Frigga was a frequent visitor. She brought him books, Maria thought, expanding his small library. "He is much happier to have more space and more comfortable quarters."

He had seemed happier, Maria remembered from her visit. At first he had been a bit awkward, but once he had gotten over his trepidation about seeing Maria again after everything that had changed, they had had a nice conversation. He had shown her a little of his magic – which naturally his guards knew nothing about. It had been fascinating watching him morph so perfectly into other people, almost unnerving. In the end, she had left laughing.

She was just glad to see him better; in clean clothes, well fed, amused and rested…he looked so much better for it. And obviously, he felt better because of it.

"He's very grateful, you know." Frigga said, glancing up with a sparkling eye. "I know Loki may not be the best person to express his emotions, but he is thankful, even if he does not say it."

Oh, Maria knew. That apology… she hadn't expected it at all. Not that she had ever sought an apology from Loki, that was not why she had done what she did. She had simply done it because it was the right thing. Seeing how much it had helped him was reward enough for her.

A smile stretched on Maria's lips as she remembered. "I know." She breathed. "I daresay he'll get tired of that room soon though."

"Knowing my son, yes." Frigga agreed.

"Would Odin ever allow that?"

Sure, Odin had granted Loki his new chambers, but she could not forget that at the end of the day he was still a prisoner. For a very serious set of crimes. There would still be limit to what he could do.

Frigga didn't answer immediately and Maria watched her expression set softly. "There is always a purpose to everything Odin does." Frigga smiled knowingly. "He would not have relented on Loki's sentence if he had not seen hope for Loki's future. He may walk among us yet."

Good, Maria thought, satisfied. They couldn't change the world overnight, but over time...perhaps things really could go back to how they had been before.

"And that is all thanks to you."

Glancing up, Maria noticed Frigga's hands had stopped and she had turned to face her fully, a thankful smile on her lips as she gazed fondly over her daughter-in-law. Maria reached up and clasped the Queen's hand, squeezing it sweetly. She did not need the Queen's thanks, though she appreciated it. She only asked for her approval and blessings, for her patience and wisdom as she still grew accustomed to this new world.

Frigga was always kind to her. She was truly like a mother to Maria and she was ever so thankful for the Queen's benevolence. Not every mother-in-law was so tender.

She was always there for Maria; for company and advice, for wisdom with her pregnancy and Asgardian life. Maria was thankful that she would have Frigga with her when she gave birth. She felt safe in the goddess's hands – if she was to have anyone in Asgard helping her birth twins in this strange land, she was glad it was Frigga.

The Queen's hand rested back on Maria's stomach. "They're head up for now. Both of them."

Maria grimaced – that had been exactly what she'd been dreading.

Her eyes lifted and caught Frigga's gaze though, the goddess leaning forward and clasping Maria's hand encouragingly. Her eyes shone warmly. "They have time." was all she said.

Time to turn around, was what she meant. To turn and be head down. That would make birth so much simpler, so much safer…

Maria just sighed as she rolled her shirt down and eased herself upright into a sitting position. Her frown was well etched into her features. Smoothing down her white shirt over her bump, she lifted her gaze to the goddess.

Frigga was like an angel, truly. Around her peaceful face, her golden hair hung in tight little ringlets, twisted up at the back into an elaborate style. Her gown was of cream and soft gold, elegant and grand at the same time with simple jewellery adorning her person. Her kind eyes and gentle smile only completed her angelic appearance.

Thor had adopted her kind heart and strength. Alas, her patience had bypassed him somehow.

The thoughts lingered in her head for a moment. What did she want from a father to her children? Kind? Caring? Providing? Thor was all of those things. She had no doubt he would love their children perfectly.

There was something inside her though that felt compelled to ask all the same. "What do you think Thor will be like?" she asked quietly. "As a father?"

For a moment, Frigga's eyes rolled away as she obviously carefully thought about the question. "I think he will be loving and fair, as he will be when he rules one day." She began, eye still diverted in contemplation. "I fear he will inherit his father's quality of bringing his Kingship home with him however. I hope that when he is with you and the children, he will be naught but Thor, your husband, and not Thor, the Prince or King of Asgard. That will be important."

Maria drank in the information with a thoughtful nod. She could imagine that. When Thor would one day inherit all that power and responsibility… could he turn that off when he got home?

Could she help him?

That was her duty as a wife. To help Thor in his own duty, and help him relax when his work was done.

A gentle hand reached down and cupped her cheek and Maria glanced up into the tranquil orbs of her mother-in-law. "Don't fret." Frigga breathed in a mesmerising voice. "Things will come together in time."

Maria didn't really feel like smiling but she forced it anyway and covered Frigga's hand with her own. "Thank you."

She was not sure what else to say. In truth, she dreaded the day when Thor would become king. When all that responsibility would come raining down on him and Maria feared she would not be able to hold that back from him enough to keep him happy. She feared she would lose her husband.

All the same, she shook her head clear of those thoughts for now. They were worries for another day.

At least, she tried.

Hours later though, wondering through the palace, she found they were still lingering in her head, impossible to shed.

Her eyes were glazed as she walked slow, aimless steps. Her hand rested over her bump, her gaze distant with thought. Soft echoes of her footsteps bounced gently around the corridors, but Maria barely heard them. There was no one else to hear them either.

She wasn't sure where abouts in the palace she was, but it didn't matter. Thor was busy today and Frigga had other matters to attend to after checking her over. As far as she knew, Sigyn would be with Loki and she did not want to disturb their time together. She needed to get some friends in this realm, she knew, but for now she was content with her thoughts.

How could she help Thor? When the time came and he was thrust into power, how could she help Thor stay himself? For her sake, for their children's sake…for his own sake.

She was so lost in her own thoughts that she didn't notice the door to her side peek open, nor the gentle wizened eye that looked out.

"Maria."

That snapped her out of it.

Maria blinked herself back into the palace and spun around. Odin stood in the doorway, arm resting against the frame with a kind smile on his face.

He chuckled at Maria's startled expression, standing up straight from the door. Her own lips settled into a smile from their surprised 'o', and she breathed out her gasp smoothly. A touch of a blush caught her cheeks.

"You looked in a realm of your own." The Alfather smiled as she wondered towards him, eyes sparkling.

She smiled at the floor shyly. "That I was."

She didn't jump this time when Odin's gentle hand reached up and cupped her cheek, easing her gaze up again from the ground. His wizened blue eye scoured over her face carefully, his other shielded from view by his golden patch. "You spend too much time there, for one so young." He murmured.

Maria's heart skipped a beat and her eyes flittered away again, nudging her cheek free of Odin's hand. He could tell? Of course he could…

"I know." She breathed, wrapping her arms around herself instinctively. "Bad habit."

Odin's lips twitched but there wasn't any humour in his sad smile. "Come." He said simply, stepping back from the doorway and extending a welcoming arm. "I have something for you."

That piqued Maria's interest; her eyes brightened and darted up curiously, peeking into the room beyond. There wasn't much she could see as she walked in, nothing special at least. The room wasn't large by the palaces standards but still roomy, the walls lined with bookshelves along one side, the opposite one lined with tall, thin rectangular windows that let bright sunlight stream through. A large wooden round table sat in the middle and chairs lay scattered around it, a single, small box sat atop the table.

She had not seen this room before…

"This is my study." Odin explained, catching her wandering eyes. "This is where I gather my thoughts or when I need some quiet. Your husband drove me in her many a time when he was a youngster…"

Maria couldn't help but chuckle at that. She could imagine it. A hot head young Thor getting into all sorts of trouble that Odin would have had to clear up, how maddening it must have been to raise someone as boundless as Thor. She commended Odin and Frigga; she knew her husband could be a handful.

But why was she here though? Why was Odin bringing her to this private, tranquil place?

Turning her gaze to him questioningly, the King merely gestured to the table, to the small box. "This was what I wanted to show you." He said, walking over to the tableside and taking the lid off the box.

Maria followed curiously.

The old but strong hands gently picked out a thin red stream of material from the box, the cloth flowing like water from his fingertips as he held it up.

It looked so soft and delicate, Maria's fingers twitched to touch it, but she kept her hand at her side. It was beautiful though, mesmerising. Though it looked thin, Maria had learned not to be deceived. Asgardian materials often looked as delicate as silk but were as strong as chainmail. For as thin as it looked too, Maria was willing to bet it would keep her as warm as half a dozen jumpers from Earth.

A warm smile washed over Odin's face as he gazed upon it. "This was Thor's." he said softly. "From when he was a child."

Thor's baby blanket?! Maria's eyes widened and a subtle gasp shot through her, surprised. She had not been expecting that. And yet the blanket looked as fresh and gentle as if it had been made only last week. How old must it be?

Yet, it was Thor's. She could see just by looking at it. The blood red of the blanket matched that of his cape now.

He'd been destined to be great, even from a child.

Maria wondered forward slowly, just imagining tiny, baby Thor wrapped in his little red blanket. It brought an adoring smile to her lips, and this time she didn't resist the urge to touch it.

Her hand reached out and her fingers gently stroked down the line of the material; it was the softest thing she had ever touched. It ran through her fingers like water, as light as air. It was perfect for clutching in tiny little hands.

"I want you to have it." Odin said kindly, gathering the blanket back in the box. "As a gift from me and Frigga. For the babies."

They would look so perfect in that blanket. And knowing it was their fathers… that just made it all the more special.

The smile curved on Maria's lips as she stared down at the blanket in the box, thankful. She couldn't wait to put them to good use, clothing her children in the same colour as their father.

Then she noticed s change of colour in the corner of the box, where the red blanket had crumpled aside. Gently, her fingers peeled the red cape back and when she saw what was underneath, she only beamed more: an emerald green blanket lay underneath.

"That was Loki's." Odin chuckled softly. "We had one made for him too."

Maria chuckled too, but left the blanket in the box; it looked so beautiful, so neatly folded. "This is a wonderful gift."

She could just imagine her own children when they were born, one draped in red in her arms and one draped in green in Thor's, their tiny fists gripping the material as they wriggled in their slumber. They would be so beautiful, so perfect…

Smile on her face, Maria put the lid back over the box and sealed those dreams away for today. As soon as the box was closed, her hand travelled over to Odin's and gripped his firmly.

Her glistening eyes met his, watering slightly. "Thank you." She breathed.

Odin smiled warmly and squeezed Maria's fingers fondly, guiding her with slow steps back to the door.

"Does Thor know you still have them?" she asked curiously as Odin held the door open for her. He followed her through with a chuckle, and closed it gently behind him.

"No." he grinned secretly to himself. "Frigga kept them all this time, to remember fonder days. It was much easier with those too before they could wield their weapons."

Maria giggled. "I can imagine." She could just picture Thor and Loki fighting as soon as they had the strength, in the way siblings always did.

Those times were probably distant memories to Loki. He'd cast away so much good influence the last few months, she wondered what was left. Did he remember any of the goodness of those days before he knew he was a Frost Giant? Maria hadn't been there then, but she couldn't imagine Odin and Frigga treating him as anything less than their flesh and blood.

Even after everything he had done, they still loved him as their son. You would have to be blind not to see it. They had kept his baby blanket for heavens sake!

"I think he could help us."

It slipped out of her mouth before she could even think of the words, but cursed herself when they did. Reckless…

Odin paused in his steps. "How so?" he asked quietly, eyes staring ahead in a suddenly serious gaze.

Maria took a deep breath. "He knows how the Frost Giants are getting into Asgard." She told him. "Not like that!" she cut in quickly, knowing how what she had just said sounded – as if Loki was the one letting them in! "I thought the only way the Frost Giants could be getting in was through the secret passages into Asgard that they had used before. Loki still remembers them…perhaps he could show us where we need to defend."

For a moment, Odin said nothing. "I cannot think of any other way they could breach our defences so readily." He murmured, more to himself than to Maria. "These pathways – can they be closed?"

"I'm not sure." Maria frowned, unsure. She hadn't even thought about that. "But if anyone knows, it would be Loki."

She hadn't thought to ask that. She had only considered that they could defend them, but then again, she knew nothing of these pathways. Maybe Loki did know a way to close them; if anyone did, it would be Loki. He was their best hope for defending their bordered, in any case.

"He could help." slipped from her lips again.

Slowly, Odin gave a solemn nod. "I will consider it."

XXX

Maria's hand cupped and gently probed into the woman's abdomen, feeling something firm like a cricket ball in her lower abdomen.

"Your uterus is nicely involuted, Joruun." She smiled softly. "It's nice and firm, just how we need it."

Maria smiled into the young woman's face as she took her hands away and Joruun brushed her dress back over herself, sitting up from her bed. "What does that mean, my Lady?" she asked, her bright green orbs sparkling curiously.

"It means your body is returning back to normal." Maria explained simply with a kind smile to the young woman.

Joruun was only young, like herself. And she had had her first baby, just five days ago. Her stomach was still soft and showed the signs of having born a child, but it was quickly returning to normal, everything shrinking and firming up to how it had been before.

She was a sweet girl, Maria thought as she wondered over to the mass of blankets where the baby lay; a little baby girl. Joruun was small and quiet, but pretty, with long dark hair and an open, honest face. Maria had liked her instantly. She wore simple clothes and lived in a simple house. She was married to a simple solider, Maria believed.

The blankets were draped around the little baby, with some piled up either side to stop her rolling far from her mother's watchful eye. She was fast asleep.

"Have you decided what to call her?" Maria asked, smiling down at the tiny baby lovingly.

Joruun wrapped her arms around herself and beamed down at her daughter beside the princess. "We have not decided yet. Keld is not home often for us to discuss it."

Maria heard the sadness in the girls voice; Keld must be one of the soldiers on call for when the Frost Giants broke through into the realm. With all the breaches lately, no wonder he had not been home much. Had he even met his first born child yet? Her smile slipped away at the thought.

Not much progress had been made in the way of the Frost Giants advances. Nearly every day there was a new break in that Thor sent troops to deal with, and every day he grew more and more concerned.

She was here now, she reminded herself though. With Joruun – she was her to support her.

"What would you like to call her?" Maria asked, staring down at the baby.

She could hear the love in the girl's voice, knowing she was staring down at the child with absolute adoration. "I would like to call her Inger." Joruun breathed.

Maria's smile widened. "That's a beautiful name."

Her own children were still nameless. She and Thor had still been unable to come to a consensus, but then again, Thor didn't have much time for such things lately. Not while there was such a pestering threat to the realm. That had to come first. While Maria understood, it did make her sad.

Sad and nervous – the thought of birth still terrified her. The idea of pushing out two babies without any of the security of Earth procedures …she was afraid. All she had was Frigga's wisdom. And Frigga had never given birth to twins.

"You must be expecting soon yourself, my Lady?" Joruun probed gently. "If it's not too bold for me to say."

Maria smiled fondly as Joruun cut through her thoughts, bringing her fears to the forefront. "Yes." She giggled, though she felt absolutely no joy whatsoever by it. "I have about 10 weeks to go, although we're not sure exactly. It's difficult with twins."

It wasn't easy to judge how far along she was, so it was difficult to predict how much longer she had to bear her children for before they would be due. All the same, she tried not to think about it too much, if it was possible. It would only freak her out further. Thor was as optimistic as ever, of course, trusting in fate.

"Twins…" Joruun breathed in wonder. "It will be a glorious day when they are born. So historic for Asgard. May blessings be upon you and your family."

Out of the corner of her eye, Maria saw Joruun touch her hand to her left breast in a gesture Maria had come to know in Asgard of one of goodwill. She smiled gratefully, but her eyes stayed locked on the baby. A glorious day for Asgard perhaps; one she both anticipated and dreaded.

That was why she had come here; to see women who had gone through birth and come out the other side. She knew it wasn't the same but she had hoped it would reassure her somewhat.

So far, it wasn't working. Her head swam just thinking about it…

"My Lady, are you alright?"

Maria hadn't noticed herself bending over, hand on her knees and one draped over her pregnant stomach. Suddenly, she became aware of the sharp breaths forcing themselves in and out of her lungs, tearing harshly through her airways. When had this happened? What was happening?

Distantly, she heard Joruun call for Garik and heard the door bang loudly as he burst in. Maria cursed in her head. Luckily, the baby stirred unhappily, but didn't wake.

Garik's strong hand cupped at her shoulder and shook firmly. "My Lady!" Garik barked in her ear, bringing Maria sharply back to reality.

Screwing her eyes shut, her hand gently touched Garik's to reassure him she was okay and she focussed on breathing normally. In and out, she murmured to herself in her head. She rested her hands on her knees until her breathing was back to normal, and when she peeled her eyes open, the world was steady.

"I'm sorry, Joruun." Maria said breathlessly as she slowly straightened up. "But I fear I must cut our visit short."

If Joruun said anything in reply, she didn't hear it in Garik's hurry to whisk her away. The cool evening air hit her sharply and she gasped, tugging her shawl firmer around her shoulders. Since when had it gotten so late? It wasn't quite dark yet, but from the low light, it couldn't be far away.

"This was a foolish idea." Garik grumbled, as Maria wondered to the wall and rested her shoulder against it.

She felt her knees weak beneath her she her weight leaned against the solid weight of the house. Her head was surprisingly light with every passing moment. This was not good…

"We should go back to the palace." Garik went on insistently. "The prince would not like you being so far from the palace, especially here."

Maria screwed her eyes shut and tried to compose her temper. God, that guard really did rile her sometimes….she had come out her for herself, not for Thor. He would be busy anyway. She had just wanted to reassure herself – was that so wrong?

Gritting her teeth, she pushed herself away from the wall and steeled her gaze ahead. She walked clean past Garik.

"What happened here?" she barked behind her.

It looked like any other street to her. A little far from the edges of the city perhaps, but other than that…

"Frost Giants have been spotted near here."

Maria swore in her head and slowed her steps, casting her eyes around. Her eyes narrowed. Suddenly, every shadow looked like a threat, like a monster in disguise…no, Thor would not like her here.

Then again, she didn't like her here either, as she reached out a hand for another wall. Her brow furrowed in concern.

What was happening? This was not like her. She leaned heavily against the wall and stopped walking, feeling her head swim sickeningly. Her knees felt shaky, feeling her fingers trembling against the harsh surface of the wall. The wave of dizziness from inside the house crashed back and she felt her mind sway realms away from her body. Her lips gasped apart, fighting for air.

She straightened up from the wall, her unsteady fingers lingering on the wall. If she could get back to Garik…

As soon as she took a step though, the world caved in.

"Garik!"

It was the last thing she gasped before her eyes rolled back in her head and she fell back into Garik's arms.

A/N

Remember, there is still time to pick the names, guys. Poll is still up! If you haven't already then vote for your favourite baby names on the poll and/or leave a review with your choices. I will be listening!