The library is deserted, just the way Loki prefers. Scanning the Magical Artefacts section, he plucks an ancient text from the shelf, and settles down in his favourite alcove, ready to devour the tome in peace. From his hiding place, Loki has an uninterrupted view of the Palace grounds. After an hour of quiet reading, the library doors are thrown wide open.
"Loki, come quickly," his brother bellows, "Mother and Father require your assistance immediately."
The God of Thunder is in distress, and Loki leaps up from the alcove. "What is it, Thor? Is Asgard in danger?"
"It may be, Brother. Lady Idunn is with child, a child which is endangering her life."
"Lady Idunn is expecting? Impossible."
"I have seen the child through the Soul Forge with my own eyes, Brother. Come now, Father needs you at once."
Lady Idunn, the Godess of Immortality is responsible for the golden apples which keep the Aesir young and powerful. Without her, the apples would be no different from regular apples. Without Idunn, the Aesir would age and die, like mortals. It was long foretold that the Lady Idunn could give life and immortality, at a price. The price of her powers was simple, to be able to give life to the Aesir meant that Lady Idunn would never be able to create life.
Entering the Healing Rooms, Thor lead Loki to the Royal Healing Room. Lady Idunn was asleep upon the large bed, the Soul Forge shimmering above her. Sure enough, the tiny foetus was in view, bursting with life, and magic. Immense power radiated from the child.
Queen Frigga was sat gracefully beside Idunn, holding her hand in comfort. At the opposite side sat Idunn's husband Bragi, Odin's most trusted advisor, and oldest friend. He was stroking her hair lovingly, occasionally placing soft kisses on her hand whilst whispering words of comfort to his wife. The Allfather sat stoically beside the Allmother, his one piercing blue eye watched his youngest son as he studied the Forge.
"The child," Loki gasped, "I have never felt such power." The King nodded solemnly, urging Loki to continue his assessment of the child. Odin himself was an exceptionally powerful seidr wielder but he knew that his sons knowledge of seidr far surpassed his own.
Once Loki finished examining the Forge, The Royals gathered together in the next room, for which Loki was thankful. His conclusion was not something he wanted to blurt out in front of the frightened parents.
"The child's seidr is draining Lady Idunn's life-force, immensely, if she continues with her pregnancy, she will die." Loki stated simply.
"If only it were that simple, Loki." Odin stated. "Lady Idunn's pregnancy was gifted by The Norns themselves. To terminate the child, is to defy The Norns."
Loki cursed under his breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. No one could go against The Norns, the three sisters controlled the past, the present, and the future. They orchestrated the destinies of all living beings within the Nine Realms, and beyond.
"There must be another way, The Norns are testing us. This child is destined for greatness, why else would The Norns risk all of our lives for the child to be born?" Frigga said in distress. "My son, you are a powerful sorcerer, perhaps the most gifted in the Nine, I believe you are paramount in this test of faith The Norns have trialed us with."
Loki nodded. His mother spoke the truth. This was a test, a difficult one at that. "Eir. Is it the child, or it's seidr that is endangering Lady Idunn?" he asked the Cheif Healer, who had entered the room. Frigga smiled softly, she had faith in her son.
"I believe it is the child's seidr, my Prince." the healer answered.
"Well then. If we can't remove the child, we remove the seidr." Loki stated simply. He would have to research every tome that mentions magical syphoning.
He knew the general theory of removing seidr, though he had never performed the spell himself, nor had he witnessed such a technique. Seidr was in a way, sentient. A part of one's soul but at the same time it was not. He would have to find a vessel to store the child's magic in so that when the child was ready, the seidr could return to it.
"How long can Lady Idunn last without magical assistance? I have an idea, but it will take time and research."
"I would estimate around six months before her condition reaches critical, my Prince." Eir replied.
"Is there anything I can do to help, Brother?" Thor asked. Loki scoffed inwardly, this needed a magical solution, and Thor had no sense of magic, apart from his ability to wield Mjolnir. Thor would be useless, unless...
"Yes, Brother, there is something you could do to help. In order to syphon the child's seidr, I would need a vessel in which to store it. The vessel cannot be just anything, it must be sturdy enough to hold the seidr, and durable enough to last until the child is older, and has been trained in the art of magic, before it is returned."
Admittedly, Thor's task was almost as difficul
tbc. also. you can take over