Chapter 15: The Truth (Finale)

With each passing day, Eira was becoming more and more like her father. The similar physical features were obvious, but the personality traits were uncanny. Eira was sure acting like the daughter of the God of Mischief. Always looking for trouble, and it was uncertain whether she was being intentional or not. Loki was constantly preventing her from causing trouble, and now he finally understood what his own parents went through raising him (the main difference being that Loki was parenting alone.)

Her curiosity and intelligence could not be denied. Eira was constantly wanting to learn something new, so Loki spent his days keeping her entertained. It was exhausting at times, but it was worth it whenever Loki saw the smile and awe on her face. He complied with her curious needs, a task Loki was perfectly fine with. And her intelligence for a two-year-old was astounding. Eira seemed to understand everything she was told and was always asking questions and demanding answers. It made Loki wonder how she was able to process so much information. Sure, he was quite a smart kid and it continued into his adulthood, but Eira was much smarter than him when he was her age.

Loki was a selfish creature, his only goal to serve and please himself by putting others below him. The only beings he cared about more than himself were Runa and Eira. In contrast, Loki remembered Runa as incredibly selfless. Their relationship was the definition of opposites attract. With Eira, the princess definitely had her mother's selflessness. Eira seemed to enjoy aiding others. By either assisting Thor in finding his armor or by begging her father to help an injured bird, Eira was constantly caring about everyone.

Eira's stubborn behavior was an additional trait she received from Loki. Though only two, she hardly took no for an answer, not unless some exchange was mine. Tonight was a clear example of this.

"Daddy no. I no wanna bah."

Loki tried his best not to laugh at Eira's pronunciation of words.

"I'm sorry, Eira but you have to take one. You don't want to smell bad do you?"

"I no care!"

Loki sighed. "If you take one without hassle, then I will read you the entirety of Sigurd and the Dragon."

Eira stopped fidgeting and looked up at her father with wide eyes. "Really?"

"Would I lie to you?"

Eira gasped as she hugged Loki. "Thank you, daddy!"

Loki hugged his daughter back, amazed at how her emotions changed in a matter of seconds. He then carried her to the bathroom where Eira did not fuss once. He turned on the bathwater and before the bath was filled with water, he took the time to take off Eira's clothes. The princess was looking around the room in curiosity, her back facing her father. There was a birthmark close to the edge of her shoulder. She had had it since birth, it's color a light brown similar to her skin pigment.

As Eira grew older, he noticed the birthmark becoming more palpable. There seemed to be some sort of image, but Loki could never fully analyze it. But now, the birthmark was close to a deep black and Loki could see the clear image of what looked like a feather. He then remembered: Runa had the same birthmark. He saw it when they made love, but he thought it was a tattoo. Bit why was it on Eira? It had to have a meaning, some sort of nuance.

"Daddy, the tub full."

Loki turned his head and saw that his daughter was correct. The water was close to the edge of the tub, which he prevented by turning the faucet off. He shook his head; he should not have allowed himself to drift in his thoughts while around Eira.

Eira tugged at the hem of her father's hem, which caused him to look down. Her face was filled with concern.

"You okay?"

Loki lifted his daughter into his arms. "Sorry, sweetheart. I was thinking about something."

"What was it?" asked Eira as she was put into the bath.

"It was about something that occurred before you were born."

Eira nodded, surprisingly satisfied with her father's answer. The duration of the bath was filled with Eira talking about her innocent observations, with Loki either chuckling or answering her daft questions.

"Story!"

"Please quiet down, Eira," said Loki as he grabbed the children's book from the self. "You will not be able to sleep if you continue to yell."

"But why sleep? You no sleep now."

"Because I am an adult who does need as much sleep as you. Without sleep, you cannot keep up your strength. As you get older, you will not need as much sleep."

"That no fair."

"That is quite a smart statement," Loki said while handing Eira Hati, which made her squeal in delight. Without that toy wolf, Eira had difficulty sleeping through the night.

Eira relaxed her head into the pillow, snuggling Hati into her arms as he looked at her father. "I wish I older. I wanna fight and do magic like you!"

Loki let out a light laugh. "I can teach you magic soon, I was three when your grandmother taught me."

"When I three, you teach me? Please?"

"Of course I will. As soon as you turn three, I will teach you how to activate your Seidr."

Eira giggled. "I love you, Daddy."

Loki kissed Eira's forehead. "I love you too. Now, let's get to that story."

Keeping his promise, Loki read the entirety of the long story. Eira attempted her best to stay awake, desperately wanting to stay awake to hear her favorite story from beginning to end. She was close to accomplishing the feat, but near the end of the story, Loki could hear soft, even breathes. His eyes diverted from the words on the page to Eira's sleeping form. He closed the book and put it on a stand near the bed.

"Good night," said Loki before he kissed Eira's forehead. Though she was asleep, his fatherly instincts thought it would comfort Eira, or at least in her dreams.

Loki was tired and honestly did not mind going to sleep early tonight, but he had questions. Too many questions that need answers.

#

Frigga knew her youngest son had a strong liking to literature. Ever since he was a little boy, he sometimes spent the majority of a single day reading. This behavior continued as he grew into adulthood, so she was never nonplussed to see him walking into the palace library. But entering during the night, when he should have been preparing for bed.

It was so unforeseen, that even Thor noticed.

"Why is Loki in the library this late? Is he getting a book for Eira?"

Frigga shook her head. "She is two. Most certainly fast asleep by now."

"Interesting."

The All-Mother sighed. She had just wanted tonight to be simple. No drama, nothing diverting, just a quaint night. She wished she could continue her conversation with Thor, but something was amiss with Loki. And no good mother could ignore that.

"I am sorry, my son, but I need to check on your brother."

Thor nodded. "I don't blame you for doing so."

With a farewell, Frigga made her way to the library. Her footsteps echoed through the empty hallway, conveying urgency. When she reached the doors, she saw it slightly ajar. Loki must have some sort of hurry to not close it. The door made no sound as Frigga opened it further and when inside the room, she decided not to close it. It would make a rather large noise, alerting Loki to another presence and denying he was doing anything.

It took Frigga longer than she thought to find her son. He was in the history section, in the back of the library. It was a department Loki was never in; literature and its many forms were his main interest. What could he possibly be researching for in the night about Asgard's history that he could possibly not know?

"Loki? What are you doing?"

Loki attempted to shut the book, cover his tracks and create a convincing lie to tell his mother. Unfortunately for him, Frigga knew her son too well, which included his mischievous ways. Using her magic, she took the book from his hands. It soon settled into hers and she saw the page he was reading. "Ancient Asgardian and Other Worldly Symbols" That was what Loki was reading? What for?

There was no use lying to his mother. She would ask him about what he was doing and no matter what he said, she would find her way to the truth. Frigga said nothing, but Loki knew what she was thinking.

"I remember Runa having a feather-like tattoo on the back edge of her shoulder. When I gave Eira a bath, I saw the same image in the exact same place. She had it her whole life, but it was always a light brown, but this time was different. I recognize that image. I have a feeling that it has a meaning, but I cannot think of anything."

"A feather-like image," Frigga repeated. "I don't believe it. Was Runa a skriver?"

"Skriver?" asked Loki confused. "Women who can read and interpret any language just by looking at it. I thought they went extinct centuries ago."

"Most were. Their ability caused some tension with other civilizations, and so they were targetted by our enemies. I imagine some still exist but are largely scarce. I just didn't think Runa was one. She must have been scared, but why? Skrivers served the royal family, we would have protected her."

"Because if people from the outside found out, she might not have been safe. And now Eira could have been in danger."

"Eira will be fine, Loki. She is a princess, no one would dare to harm her. She has a family who will protect her at all costs. Even if she has a special ability that some do not like, she will never be hurt."

Loki did not respond. He leaned his back against a self, reflecting on this complex situation. Even though he was very close to Runa, he did not blame her for keeping secrets. They only knew one another for two years, not enough time to reveal their entire pasts. Additionally, she had many reasons for hiding her abilities as a skriver. Maybe she feared Loki would not love her if she told the truth, lose the person she trusted and cared for the most and possibly not earn her daughter the love of her father.

Suddenly, the reasons for Runa's family not fully loving her becoming more apparent. It was not just because she was a girl, it was because she was a reminder of a forgotten type. Women who were targetted and killed for their abilities. Most had no memories of these women and those who did not care. Runa's family wanted to end the skrivers and with the existence of Runa, it was ultimately unsuccessful.

"I won't tell Eira now, but I will in a few years," Loki spoke after a few moments of thinking. "I cannot keep this hidden from her. I would not be right."

Frigga nodded nervously. Loki was seemingly taking the leap she and Odin could never take, telling the truth to their children. Loki looked afraid to tell his daughter the truth about herself, but Frigga was confident that her son would do it when the time was right. Maybe now was the time. She could tell her son everything. Tell him his true parentage, race, and identity. She had kept it hidden for over a thousand years and struggled to maintain the lie. Was it best to tell him now?

"I agree with you, Loki. Tell her when you think the time is right."

#

Well, that was a lot to discover in a short period of time, thought Loki as he exited the bathroom. And I feel completely exhausted. Great.

All he wanted was sleep and felt as he would fall asleep as he was against the comfort of his bed. His eyes were aimed at his bed, but a whine diverted his attention. Loki turned his head to see Eira with an expression of discomfort on her face, hugging her plush toy for her life. Loki immediately panicked. He had never witnessed Eira behaving like this in her sleep. Thinking further, he realized Eira may have never had a nightmare before.

Loki ran to his daughter's bed, kneeling in front of her and gently shook her awake. "Eira. Eira!"

Eira's eyes shot open. Her eyes darted to her father, immediately relieved to see him. She had tears in her eyes and was desperate for some kind of comfort.

"Daddy!" yelled Eira as she jumped to Loki, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. Loki wrapped his arms around Eira as well while he rubbed her back.

"Shhhh. It's alright, Eira. I'm right here. You will be alright. I have you."

Loki paced around the room as he whispered to her. Once he could tell Eira was calming down, he sat down on his bed. He looked down at Eira, who had her head leaning against his chest while she sniffled her nose. Loki took a strand of her curly hair and wiped it away from her face.

"Did you have a bad dream?" Loki asked with a whisper. Eira simply nodded, not looking up at her father.

"Did you want to talk about it?" Eira frantically shook her head.

"If you do not talk about it, then you might have it again. I always feel better when I talk about my struggles with someone."

Eira sighed and looked up at Loki. "I had a bad dream. I was all alone. I not able to find you. It scary."

Eira was on the verge of tears once again, but Loki had a plan to prevent it from happening.

"Oh, Eira. You will never be alone. I will always be there for you. Additionally, you have your grandparents, uncle, and their many friends."

"You will never leave me?" asked Eira with wide eyes. "Promise?"

Loki smiled and kissed her forehead. "I promise. Now let's get you back to bed."

Eira rapidly shook her head and pushed it against Loki's chest. "No!"

"Eira, you have to back to sleep. If you don't, you will not feel well tomorrow."

The princess was still not convinced, hugging her father with all her might. Loki sighed. He should not have expected to calm so soon after her nightmare, her first one at that. "You can sleep in my bed with me tonight; if that will make you less scared."

Loki could feel Eira nod against his chest. He stood up and laid his daughter on the side of his bed where he didn't sleep. He sat down and pulled the covers over both of them. He laid his head on the pillow and smiled at Eira, attempting to comfort her into sleep.

"You have bad dreams?" asked Eira in a sleepy voice.

"Sometimes," Loki responded as he stroked her black hair. "They always go away because I do not fear them. They are not real and never will be. I understand why you are scared, though. But one day you will realize you have nothing to fear."

Eira lazily smiled. "You brave, daddy."

"I try my best."

Loki watched his daughter fall asleep as she cradled his arm. It was truly astounding that he helped create this beautiful creature. He never thought he would see something so perfect until Eira was born and he first laid his eyes on her. From that fateful day, he was overjoyed to watch her grow into her own person. He feared the day he would have to tell Eira about her hidden abilities and her deceased mother.

But Loki would not hide it. Eira deserved the truth. Unlike his parents, he was not afraid of secrets.

…

Even though Volstagg's twin daughters were three years older than her, Eira still enjoyed playing with them. The now three-year-old had no children of nobility near her age that she knew of and whenever she was around other children, she was always the youngest one. Siri and Daven were patient with the princess, never making fun of her for not understanding certain topics. Excluding her father, Siri and Daven were the best to play with.

The day was settling into the night, the sky a deep orange with violet streaks throughout. Eira knew her father would be coming to find her soon, as he probably finishing his dinner. The children had already eaten and were letting out their last bursts of energy before they fell asleep for the night. While Eira waited for Loki to arrive in the gardens where she was playing, the twins were convincing their mother to let them stay.

"Mommy, we want to play with Eira," whined Siri.

Their mother sighed. "You can play with Eira another day. You girls need to come home. The maid is probably wondering where we are and I don't want your brother to worry."

Daven was the one to complain this time. "But Mommy!"

As Eira watched the twins argue with their mother, she wondered about something for the first time. Did she have a mother? Well, it was not the first time she pondered on this. For the past year, she had noticed that most people had a father and mother.

Yet Eira only had a father, and she did not understand why.

There was never a time where her mother was mentioned. Her father and uncle had their mother, so she knew she had to have one. The stories Loki read to her sometimes had a mother involved in the plot. As she perceived more and more mentions of mothers, Eira became more confused about the whereabouts of her own. If anyone knew the answer, it was her father.

"Eira, are you alright?"

The princess shook her head and looked around for the source of the sound. Her eyes eventually settled on Thor, who had walked over to her and was currently kneeling down to her level. He was smiling, but it was weak. The god's eyes expressed concern. Eira realized she must have a confused expression on her face and since there was nothing unusual in the garden, it most possibly made Thor feel slightly worrisome.

"I'm fine, Uncle Thor," answered Eira timidly. "I was just thinking. Where is daddy?"

"He is speaking with your grandparents," said Thor as she rubbed the top of her head. "He will be here soon."

"Oh."

"Don't be disappointed. Trust me, I am way more entertaining than your father. He is always so serious. Can you honestly remember the last time he laughed?"

Eira formed a frown. "I like playing with him more than you. I bet you can't tell a story like him."

Thor chuckled. "Oh, I guess I have never told you about my stories and triumphs in battle. And when did you learn to be so witty?"

"It's not your concern."

"You're keeping secrets from me now."

Uncle and niece jokingly bantered back and forth, either not entirely sure about where their conversation is going. Eira smiled the whole time, enjoying some quality time with Thor. They could have continued this charade forever, but two familiar voices stopped Eira from participating.

"She has taken quite a liking to magic, at least from what I am showing Eira. I think I should start teaching her soon, do you agree."

"Certainly. She is such a smart child and her fondness for magic reminds me of you when you were her age. Now, that feels like such a long time ago. Let's just hope she is not as misbehaving as you. You found your personality, which both made me both overjoyed and vexed at the same time."

Before Loki could speak his facetious response, a yell from Eira disrupted his thoughts.

"Daddy!" Eira ran away from her now disappointed looking uncle (though an adult, Thor was a child on the inside. Taking himself too seriously, wanting everyone to like him, this list could honestly go on and on for at least twenty more pages.) Loki looked away from his mother and turned to see Eira running to him as fast as a three-year-old could. The god smiled as he knelt down and held his arms out for his daughter. When she was close enough, Eira jumped into her father's arms and put her head against his chest. Loki wrapped his arms around her, chuckling as he spoke to her.

"For it being close to your bedtime, you are surprisingly energetic."

"If I didn't have to wait for you, then I would be calmer."

"Since when did you learn to be this witty."

"She definitely did not get it from her father," remarked Frigga sarcastically.

Loki turned his attention to his mother, glaring at her but still grinning. "Let's continue our conversation, shall we?"

The All-Mother nodded. "That is a fine arrangement."

#

Eira was strangely quiet as Loki prepared her for bed. Usually was pleading for her father to allow her to stay awake. Loki would refuse to succumb to her pleas and Eira would complain, but she would become tired and fall asleep as Loki told her a story. Tonight, she was surprisingly patient. Hardly speaking to her father, looking deep into thought. As the princess laid on her bed, her head against the pillow with a slight frown on her face, Loki decided it was best to ask her.

"Is something the matter, Eira," asked Loki as he pulled the covers over his daughter. "You are unusually quiet. Is there anything wrong?"

"No," answered Eira timidly.

"Eira, if something is wrong, you need to tell me. Nothing will ever fix itself."

"I don't know. I don't think you'll like it."

"Problems are never something people like. Eira, please, if something or someone is bothering you then -"

"Do I have a mommy?"

Loki froze, not expecting that to be her problem. He thought it would be something small. The tiniest problem that could only bother a three-year-old. But about her mother, a person Loki never mentioned. But Eira was damn observational for her age. She must have noticed other kids and their parents; how they had two parents instead of one like her. The word "mom" had to have been spoken around her and Eira must have figured out what it meant.

"Daddy? Did you hear me?" asked Eira as she tapped Loki's shoulder to get his attention. Loki sighed and looked into her eyes, which were surprisingly patient that probably would not last for long.

"Umm. Why did you want to ask me that?"

Eira sighed in disappointment. "I knew you would avoid the question."

"No, Eira. It's just … I am having trouble right now." Loki did not know what to say. How was he going to tell a three-year-old the truth about her mother? Eira did not know about the concept of death and it would be far too complex to tell her at such a young age. Even though he knew Eira would ask this question at some point, but not this soon. He was not prepared, although he was not sure if he ever would.

"You're lying. Why won't you tell me?"

Eira had tears on the corners of her eyes, trying her best not to cry. All she wanted was the truth, but her father was too scared. She did not think it would be this hard for him, but she now realized it was a touchy issue. She thought there would be a simple answer, but was obviously more complex. But Eira, like her father, was too stubborn to forget her question and move on.

Loki knew the right thing to do was tell her the truth, but how would he do it? Tell his daughter the grim reality, that was an awful thing to do to a three-year-old. It was not fair to keep secrets about her family from Eira, but he could not tell her the entire truth. He would not lie, but he would exclude some facts, make easier for Eira to comprehend. He could not think of what to say right now, but his mind would guide him when the time was right (which would be in a few seconds.)

"Eira, I'm sorry," spoke Loki as he took Eira into his arms. "I'll tell you what you want to know. Why don't we do it on my bed? Does that sound like a fair arrangement?"

The princess nodded, wiping the tiny tears desiring to escape her eyes away. As Loki carried her to his bed, she put her head against his chest, content with the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Loki put her on the other side of the bed where he did not sleep. He sat down on his side, deeply inhaling and exhaling as he thought about ways to tell Eira about Runa. He lifted his head and saw Eira looking at him with wide eyes - the same wideness as Runa's. She was being patient, waiting for him to speak.

Loki sighed. If he could not do this now, then he may never be able to.

"A year and a half before you were born, I met your mother," began Loki. "Her name was Runa. She worked as a servant in the palace. I met her in the gardens and we fell in love soon after. She was an incredible woman. So selfless, patient, and understanding. When we were together, I was always happy. She was the only person who truly understood me and did my best to do the same to her. She was also stubborn; always wanting to know what concerned me. Her hair was as curly as yours and you two share a similar facial and eye shape. I know one day you will be as beautiful as she was."

Eira nodded and looked down at the bed's blankets. Processing what her father had told her, she had so many more questions but did not know what ones to ask first.

"Did mommy have a family?" was what she decided to ask first. The only family Eira knew of was related to her father. Did her mother even have a family?

"Well," said Loki. That was certainly not what he thought Eira would ask. Even Loki did not know the entire truth about Runa's family. It was a delicate topic for his lover and telling Eira about why Runa was estranged from her family might upset her. But still, she asked and Loki knew she should answer.

"Her mother's family did not like her. Her personality and interests were not favored and understood by them. So she ran away. But she would not consider them her family. Her true family is you and me. She loved you more than anything."

"That's not nice," responded Eira.

"No, it's not. But she found people who cared about her and she lived happily."

"Why is Mommy not here? Where did she go?"

Loki knew this question would arrive at some point during their conversation. He would not explain something as complex as death to Eira, but he could definitely lightly sugarcoat the situation.

"At some point during a person's life, they have to go to a place and never return called Valhalla. It usually occurs when someone is of an older age, but it can happen to people of any age, but it is not very common, so you do not need to worry.

"Your mother got sick soon after you were born and she had to go to Valhalla. She did not want to leave you, but she was forced to go. She loved and was the first person to hold you. She was content knowing you were safe. Even though she is not with us, our memories of her live on and she is happy in Valhalla knowing that you are healthy and joyful. One day, we will go there ourselves and see her, but not now. She would not like it if you did not live a happy and fulfilling life."

Eira tried her best, but she could not hide her sadness for long. She was crying, upset that she may never see her mother again and how she could not remember when they were together. When he noticed his daughter's cries, Loki immediately pulled Eira into an embrace. He rubbed her back, whispering comforting words to get her into a more tranquil.

"This isn't fair," Eira said in a muffled tone, as her face was still pressed against her father's chest. "Everyone else has a mommy. Why don't I have one?"

Loki sighed, thinking about how to answer Eira's question in an appropriate manner. "Life isn't exactly fair. There are other people who have similar situations. Not everyone has two parents. It's unfortunate, but they always have someone. You should never worry because I will never leave you."

Eira sniffled her nose as she looked up at Loki. "Promise? You really won't leave me?"

Loki smiled before he kissed her forehead. "I promise. I will always be with you."

The princess wrapped her arms around Loki, pulling him into a hug as she began crying his time, but for joy rather than sadness.

"I love you, daddy."

Loki's smiled grew bigger. "I love you too."

Eira fell asleep listening to Loki's heartbeat. Once he heard her even breathes, Loki carried Eira to the opposite side of his bed, gently laying her down and pulling the covers over her small form. Once Eira was comfortable, Loki laid his head down against his own pillow, finally allowing his body to relax.

Loki always knew that one day he would have to tell Eira about her mother, but he never thought it would be so soon. In a few more years, he probably would have been more prepared and have an easier time in his explanation. But as he thought further, maybe Loki would have never been fully ready. Telling Eira even the tiniest of details about Runa would have been difficult for him. Though it was nice to remember fond memories of her existence, it was simply a reminder of her death.

Nothing in life was easy, Loki knew that, but these last few years were his most difficult. Trying to get over the death of his lover while caring for a newborn was a duty Loki never thought he would have. But even with the rough situation he was in, Loki still enjoyed his time with Eira. He loved seeing her grow up and explore her surroundings, wanting to learn new things and never wanting to stop.

Even though she was not here, Loki knew he was doing everything Runa wanted for Eira.

…

To remember those who fell to death, Asgardians would typically turn the fallen into ash. It was the most respectful way to bury the dead in their society. Where they were buried would not be marked, as they were now part of the planet and gave life to the soil and plants.

Loki knew where Runa was buried, and it was a pleasure to know she was buried near the gardens, where they first met. He went slightly against tradition, planting Erika seeds where she was laid in the hopes that they would grow.

The morning after Loki told her the truth about her mother, Eira was additionally told where her mother was buried. The princess then waited for breakfast, making sure she finished before her father and made up an excuse to leave.

Now, she was standing where her mother's ashes were buried. Eira gulped nervously as she stared at the flowers, fully in bloom and standing at long heights. The princess kneeled down, looking at the ground while she tried to figure out something to say.

"Hi, mommy," whispered Eira. "Daddy told me about you last night. I wish you were here, but daddy said you were here, so I came to visit you. I thought it may be lonely.

"Today is an exciting day. Daddy said he would be teaching me how to activate my Seidr after lunch. I'm going to be an amazing sorceress! I thought you would be proud of that. Well, daddy will probably be looking for me soon, so I have to go. Bye, mommy. I'll do good for you."

Eira stood up and ran out of the palace garden. She had a smile on her face, excited for what the future had to offer her.