Chapter 55.

Spring came early to Asgard, and with it a girl who bloomed into Motherhood. Her belly growing larger, and her beauty shining through as her heavy, winter dresses of rich velvet gave way to lighter silks and cottons. She did not hide away as most women in her condition did, making appearances on public and smiling brightly at her growing stomach. Everyone she passed on her daily walks, would give her blessings as to the health of the baby and her person.

One day, Loki found her laying on the bed to relax and gazing out the window. Her eyes were fixed on the passing clouds, and she was singing softly to their child. He did not want to disturb her, but the vision of her bathed in sunlight and dressed in blushing peach was intoxicating to him. Her soft form, and her sweet nature making the scene perfect to him. He watched her, her hand rubbing the swell and her soft song gentle and soothing. He smiled at her, leaning again against the doorframe and watched until she finished her song. He walked over then, laying his hand on her stomach and kissing it. She blushed, smiling at him and he put his arms around her so that she could lay on her side with his back to her.

"What are you thinking?" She asked him and he cradled the belly with his hands and smiled.

"I am thinking of what a beautiful singer our child will have for a mother." He said and she laughed. Her hands covered His, and he felt the soft stirrings of life inside her.

"I will sing to all our children then." She said and he felt a strong cramp build, she hissed in pain and he calmed her. Her breathing returning to normal and she sitting up, her hand covering the belly.

"What is it?" He asked and ahe moaned again in pain. "Floria, What is wrong?"

"I think it is time for the child to be born, I have been having these pains since midnight." She said and he sat up next to her. She looked at him, his hands holding hers as he another pain took her and he knew that soon they would be holding their child.

"I will fetch the Midwives Princess." Sari said, running from the rooms and Loki had her lay back with him.

"Rest for now, you will need your strength later. I will stay as long as I am permitted Nightengale." He said and kissed her.

"I love you Loki." She said and lay calmly on the bed and waited for the excitement and flurry of activity to begin around her and her baby.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Loki paced the halls, his concern growing as he heard cries of pain through the doors. One opened, and he saw a Maid carrying bloodied sheets past, Floria screaming in pain again and he wanting to barge in and scream at the four Healers to do something to ease her sufffering. He looked up, watching the sun set and he felt his heart drop in anguish.

She had been delivering the child for nine hours, and there was no sign of end. If it went on much longer, he could loose both Floria and the baby.

"Save her." He said to no one in particular, his hands gripping each other and he placed again.

How easily joy could become tragedy.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"You have to cut her, she has suffered for too long!" Velora shouted, Floria whimpering and gasping in pain at the lack of progression in her delivery. Frigga held her hand, using a cloth to wipe sweat away from her brow and soothing the suffering girl. Floria cried out, the Maids lighting the room and all of them saying silent prayers that it would be over soon. Floria cried out with another pain, her chest rising and falling as she gripped the sheets under her and screamed. She wanted her child, and worried so much that she was killing it with her efforts.

"She is growing too weak, she will die by the procedure." The Healer said and crossed her arms. "I will not be responsible for the death of a Princess or a Royal Heir. If she does not start pushing, she will not be guaranteed to live."

"Is there nothing you can give her to progress the delivery? No potion or herb?" Frigga demanded, Floria crying out again in pain with another contraction. She lay against the pillows, her body shaking with exhaustion and the Midwife shaking her head. Frigga looked at the girl, the shift stained with blood and sweat and her hands shook in anger. She was known for being so very calm, but these women were testing her limits.

"All we can do now is wait for her to progress on her own. It is now about keeping the girl calm, she should have expected this after breeding with a Jotun." The Midwife replied and Frigga held Floria's hand tighter. Frigga wanted to strike the arrogant woman, and decided that she would have her dismissed as soon as her grandchild was born.

"Water... I beg you." Floria said and Frigga gave her the cup, she looked at the two women and began to weep. "I am going to die with my child, please... save the baby... I don't want it to die."

"No. No Dear, you will have the baby soon and hold it in your arms. Don't weep, for you will not be lost and this pain will soon be over." Frigga said, wiping her brow and kissed her hand. Velora sat on the other side of her daughter and held her other hand, noticing how pale and weak she had become.

"I can do the procedure." Velora whispered and looked at Frigga. Her mouth became a set line, and Frigga nodded.

"If she is not over her pains by morning, we will throw those awful women out and set to it ourselves." Frigga said and took Velora's free hand. "We will not loose out daughter Lady Velora, nor will we loose our grandchild."

"Please... do it now. Save the child!" Floria begged, screaming again with the pain and trembling at the long contraction. Frigga and Velora held her hands, watching the poor girl struggle to push her child into the world and the Healers stood by. Frigga moved to the bottom of the bed, lifting her shift and motioned to Velora.

"It is starting to come, get her on her knees. Thor was a stubborn baby, and from what I can see, this child is ready to be born. I will hold her up, and you catch should the child start to emerge." Frigga said, kneeling in the blood covered sheets and looked at Floria.

"My Queen! What are you doing?" The Midwife said, not hiding her shock at the display. The two women sat Floria up and Frigga put the girl's shaking hands on her shoulders, Velora tearing her daughter's shift up the back to help her see what was happening.

"She is saving our children you awful bitch." Velora said and put her hands between Floria's thighs.

"This is not the way women give birth! She should be on her back!" The Midwife protested and Floria screamed with another contraction, they ignored the protests and concentrated on Floria instead. Frigga felt the girls fingers dig into her shoulders and she cried out, tears in her eyes as she pushed and and gritted her teeth.

"Push Dear. Use the painful times to aid you. If you must, scream with it and be quite angry, that is how babies are born." Frigga said and Floria bore down during the contraction. Velora looked at Frigga, her eyes going wide.

"I have the head! Keep pushing Floria, It is coming and soon you will have your baby to hold!" She shouted and Floria cried out in pain again, her heart going into bringing her child into the world.

"One more time Floria! And get very angry at Loki for not suffering with you. I cursed Odin for my pains, and now it is your right." Frigga shouted and Floria screamed, collapsing forward and the world going black around her.

The last sound she heard, was the cries of a baby.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Loki entered, the silent room and nearly fell over at the sight of the woman on the bed. She sat, a robe of plush emerald velvet around her and a baby cradled in her arms. She smiled at him, and he walked to her and moved the blanket on the bundle aside to look at the face of his child. She surrendered the baby to him, and he smiled at his child and laughed at the small features.

"She is strong, healthy, and I call her Alarea." Floria said and Loki chuckled at the name. The tiny baby wiggled, stretching her tiny hands out and she let him cradle the baby close to him.

"The Alfar word for Stubborn." He said and smiled as the baby yawned. Frigga, Velora, and Sari all smiled at him, their eyes filled with tears of joy and he sat next to Floria.

"The Healers that nearly botched the birth and caused her suffering have been dismissed." Frigga said, folding her hands as he regarded them. He returned his eyes to the child he held and saw how pale Floria really was after her ordeal.

"You are weakened by the birth." Loki said, leaning forward and touching her face. "I knew it went on too long, that she should have been aided. I am pleased they are gone and shall never work again."

"Queen Frigga and Mother did help me. After they stepped in, she came very quickly." Floria said and he nodded at her. Sari left, clearing the blood and sweat soaked shift away with the sheets and vanished down the servants hall.

"We will take our leave, I am so happy for the both of you." Frigga said and kissed Floria's cheek. Loki remained silent, his eyes locked on the baby in his arms.

"Rest Daughter, I will tell your Father he has a granddaughter in the morning." Velora whispered, kissing her daughter and Floria lay back on the pillows. Loki waited, the ladies leaving and he lay the sleeping infant in the cradle. He stood over the sleeping child, noticing the black curls of hair and covered the baby's head.

"Does she please you? I am sorry she is not a boy." Floria said and he walked over to help her remove the robe. He smiled, hiding his worry about her and he set the garment aside.

"I adore her, but her Mother needs to rest now. She needs her strong and healthy, so she can grow up knowing you." He said, covering her gently and she snuggled under the blankets. He watched her, her eyes scanning him and he wanted to keep her from ever suffering any pain like that again. Her hand found his and he looked down at her, her face soft as she stared up at him.

"I love Alarea, and I will be a very good mother to her." She said and he smiled, a soft laugh coming from him and he kissed her cheek.

"I know, you do not have it in you to be cruel." He said and she nodded silently, her eyes drifting closed as she lay quietly.

He sat in his chair by the fire, keeping watch over them both. His mind a flurry of everything that happened over the last day, his eyes falling on the cradle where his Daughter slept and he sighed as he thought. He could never cause her that much suffering again, but he could not deny his affections for her as well. The horrible reality of loosing her to another birth, the biggest weight on his shoulders.