He had never seen another person move with such an elegance. Even Leiyah who was the epitome of elegance did not possess Freya's walk. He walked slightly behind her, her navigating through the castle as if she knew it.

"Where is your brother?"

"At home. He is my connection to there. One of us has to stay." Freya's voice was soft, a very feminine voice.

"I thank you, Freya. I did not know who else to ask."

"I am glad I caught you when I did." Her eyes revealed she knew where he had been heading.

"It was a last resort."

She did not answer.

"It must be something strong for Leiyah to not have noticed it. Nor Mechel. I have taught him as well."

They were coming close to Junia's rooms, where Leiyah was. No guards were around. As if reading his thoughts, the goddess answered "Seidr, Loki. No one can know I am here."

"Of course. I … I have not been as sharp witted as I used to be."

"Understandable. Ah." She halted "I can feel it."

He knocked on the door and a sleepy Junia opened the door, "You know you do not need to knock Loki. Whenever you wish to see her, just come."

Freya spoke "He is not alone."

Junia's eyes widened "Oh. Forgive me. Please."

They entered and the doors closed. A strong magic coming around them. Freya looked to the man "Show her to me."

Loki led her through the doors, Leiyah so still, the picture of the twins above her. So still. All three of them. Freya observed her, moving closer. She looked at the twins "It has been such a long time since twins were born. The last ones did not survive. Not by choice of course."

She said it with a calm anger that he had never heard before.

Freya slowly let her hands move over Leiyah. Her icy glow mixed with Leiyah's deep, muted purple. "Oh. My poor cousin." Loki's heart sank some more. He was dreading the worst.

"Is she… I mean… ?"

"Fighting? Oh yes. Very much. Let me try something." She touched her fingertips to Leiyah's temples and closed her eyes. A slow smile. "She is trying hard. She hears us. She has heard you."

"You can hear what she is thinking?"

"No. Frey would have been. But I can tell that she is not giving up."

"What of the twins? Why are they so still?"

"Fighting for her, of course. They are trying to guide her. But they are so small. They are trying to get to you. But they cannot, of course. They aren't born yet."

Loki moved to Leiyah's side to hold her hand "I love you, my starlight. I am not giving up."

He turned to Freya "Can you help?"

A smile, such a wicked smile, a smile he had seen on Leiyah before, "Of course. But first I must see your daughter, Aelinnea."

"Why?"

"Arvid has wrote to me of your suspicion of healing magic. And while Junia's is impressive. Aelinnea is Leiyah's daughter. They share blood. May I?"

"If it will help Leiyah, yes. Everything." He was uncertain. He did not want Lin to see her mother like this. But he needed Leiyah. Lin needed her mother.

"I know it is scary. Such a young child should not have to see her parents in such a way. But if she only has an ounce of either of yours blood, she is a fighter."

Pride surged in Loki. He nodded. "It is late. I do not wish to disturb her in her sleep. But if it cannot wait, then we should wake her."

"No need. We will wait till morrow. May I look around your chambers?"

Loki did not ask for a reason but nodded. "I will need to be alone for this. Do you have another room you can sleep in? Perhaps your daughter's room?"

"Yes. Let me show you. Thank you Junia. Try to sleep some more."

On their way to their chambers Loki said "I should tell Mechel."

"Let him rest as well. The morning will be here sooner than you know it."

It was the calmest sleep Loki had had in a long time. He woke up at dawn, showering, using the soaps she had gotten him, looking at her vanity which had been untouched for too long. He dressed and smiled at the wedding painting of them. Maybe today would be better. He hoped Freya would be able to help her. He re- entered his daughter's room. She was still sleeping and she looked so peaceful. Today he would rob her of that. But if it meant getting Leiyah back, Lin's mother, then he would do it. He wasn't a good man. He knew that. Thor would have found a different way. But it was too late. There was no other way anymore. Loki picked out the clothing for Lin. Something simple. The maid, Tani, knocked, "Should I fetch some breakfast?"

"Yes. Get some of princess Aelinnea's favorites."

"Some tea?"

"Yes."

He knelt down in front of Lin and gently stroked her hair "Wake up, my little gem."

She groaned and wiggled.

Loki tickled her lightly and she laughed. "Wake up. We have something important to do today."

She rolled over and when he looked into her face, his breath got stuck in his throat again. She looked so much like her mother. Those stars. Loki picked her up and brought her to the bathing chambers, to wash her and get her dressed. He tied her hair back and by the time Tani came back, they were both in the dining part of their chambers. When Lin saw the pudding she squealed excitedly.

Tani smiled, "Such a pretty princess."

Lin only smiled brighter. Tani touched the princess's hand and thought to herself that soon she would be taking care of this little princess, and her own children.

Loki took a sip of the tea, "Go to Mechel's chambers and wake him. Tell him I have urgent business to discuss with him."

"And after that?"

"Wake Calia, Marielle and Vidal. I will need them too. Then you may take the rest of the day off."

She gave a small bow. He was up to something.

Loki drank his tea and smiled as he watched his daughter eat. "Lin, today we have something important to do."

She looked up, those purple- blue eyes wide with excitement.

"We will go see mamma today." Her eyes widened. "But mamma is really sick."

"She get better?"

"Yes, my gem. And there is someone here who thinks you can help her."

"I can make mamma better?"

"Yes, maybe. But she will look different. But know that mamma is fighting really hard to be healthy again."

Tears started to form at her eyes, but she wiped them away. "Mamma fights, I fight."

That determination. "Exactly, my gem. We will fight for mamma."

After breakfast his friends entered. They all looked tired and unsure. "Lin, go play a bit more. I will get you when we are ready to leave."

Lin looked at him, unsure. She never played alone. Or hardly ever. Someone was always with her. But she complied, knowing her mamma would not want her to not listen to her dada.

He gestured for everyone to sit and took a deep breath "Last night, someone came to help. And she might have a way of helping Leiyah. But she will need Lin's help."

Calia spoke up "Absolutely not. Lin should not have to see her mother like that."

Vidal added "I agree. Whoever this is, surely, we can find another way."

"Lin is too young to show any seidr. She is not trained, nor focused. She is a child. A baby."

"And perhaps the only way to save Leiyah, Mechel." The sensual voice said. Everyone turned to the person who had entered undetected. 4 gasps at seeing Freya standing among them. "I have come to help. But you should know that something so deep and strong can only be helped by blood."

Mechel answered, "Freya, I do not feel comfortable using blood magic."

"There are many forms of blood magic. I do not mean to tether Leiyah's life to her daughter. I mean to save her. With Aelinnea's help. Every day she grows weaker."

Freya walked past Loki, halted for a second but walked to Mechel. "I will guide you every step of the way. No. I will do it with you."

Mechel started to protest but nodded.

"May I see your daughter now?"

"Yes. Let me get her." A few second later, Loki walked out with Lin. She was watching the glowing woman.

"Hello, Aelinnea. I am Freya. We are family."

Lin snuggled closer to Loki "Hello."

"I am here to help your mother. But I need your help. Do you think you can help me?"

Lin looked to her father, who gave her his secret smile, to Calia, to Vidal, and back to the glowing lady. Then she nodded. "Momma be better?"

Freya smiled her biggest smile "Yes. She will be back playing with you faster than you can eat a bowl of strawberries." Lin giggled at that.

"May I touch your hand?"

Loki gave a small nod and Lin stretched out her hand. She felt something warm traveling through her hand into her body. "Oh what a beauty you will be. Perfection."

Freya looked to Loki "I know it is hard. But I will help. I think for this, it is better to bring Leiyah back here. I already informed Junia. She is arranging everything."

Loki asked the question he had been dreading "How certain are you it will work?"

She smiled again "Very certain. Trust me."

Junia entered, and Loki shielded Lin, calming her "Remember, I said it will be a bit scary. But with our help momma will feel so much better soon."

Lin nodded and cuddled into her father's tunic.

"Alright. She is sleeping, but she can hear us."

Loki held her close and stood next to Freya who was once again touching Leiyah's temples. Lin shook, "Why is momma shiny?"

Freya answered "It is just the sickness. It will go away when she is healthy again."

"And that?" She was pointing to the projected twins.

"Those are your brother and sister. They are trying to help too."

Lin looked down to her mother "I love you momma. I make you better."

Freya smiled "She heard you." She pulled away and looked to Lin, "Ok. I will show you what to do. You are never alone. We will do it together."

Freya stepped to the side and left one hand on Leiyah's temple. "Do you see where I have my hand on your momma's head?" Lin nodded. "Put one of your hands there too." Loki conjured a chair to sit down on, not wanting to let go of Lin. "Loki you will need to keep your seidr in check. It can't interfere with Aelinnea or Leiyah."

"Now, little princess, you need to concentrate on your mother. You need to imagine a string, going from your momma's head, to your hand, into your head. Can you do that?"

"Yes. Pink string?"

A small chuckle "Any color you want. I always see mine as silver."

"Mine pink."

"Very good. Can you feel the string?"

"Yes. It is shiny too."

"Good. Now you need to think of something your momma does for you. Anything. Something that makes you happy. And when you have that, send it from your head, through the string to your momma."

Loki saw Lin's face scrunching up. "We dance to music."

"Do you like it when you do that?"

"Yes. We eat cake after."

"Very good. Send it to your momma."

Her face scrunched up more, and Loki wanted nothing more than to ease those lines, having done it so many times to Leiyah when she was concentrating hard. Freya gave a small laugh "I can feel the music. Your momma is dancing."

Loki suppressed a sob. Lin was bouncing and then said "Oh."

"What?" Loki asked.

"Momma pulled string."

Freya smiled even brighter "Very good. She found you. Now listen closely Lin. Now that she found you, you can search her. It sounds strange. But everything you feel, what your momma feels, you need to tell me."

It was silent for a while, Junia monitoring the twins, Mechel monitoring Leiyah's vitals. "I smell cake. Momma's cake. With sweet smell. The brown stuff."

Loki said "Cinnamon. Thor said Leiyah smelled of cinnamon when she is pregnant."

"Good. More, Lin."

"Happy"- "Sad." – "Dada?"

"Yes?"

"There is red. And warm. And loud noises. And stuff exploding."

Loki was puzzled but Mechel answered "Anger. Leiyah is angry. The exploding. It's how she explained her seidr when she got angry."

Freya closed her eyes "Yes. I can feel it too. Go deeper Lin. When you think of your momma what color is she? How does she smell?"

"Purple. Momma is purple. And she smells like apples and sweets."

Loki smiled at that.

"Very good. Does everything smell like that?"

"No. There is something dark here. And it smells yucky."

"What does it smell like?"

"I… I don't know. I.." She was staring to cry "I am sorry."

Loki shushed her "It is alright. You are doing so good."

Freya apologized "I am sorry, Aelinnea. Here. Let me help you. Your pink string. Can you go deeper? I will bring my silver string deeper too. When you find my string, we need to tie them together."

Still sobbing "I don't know how."

"Just tell me when you found it. I will tie it for you."

Silence. Junia gasped slightly once the twins started moving slightly. "Is this normal?"

"Yes. Leiyah is fighting. They are too."

Lin said "I found it."

Silence "There. They are tied."

Lin moved "It feels strange."

"I know. It will be over soon. Can you show me where the strange smell is?"

"Yes."

After a while Freya's face whitened "Bloodmonk."

Mechel asked "What?"

"It is Bloodmonk."

"There is no more bloodmonk. It was destroyed."

"For a reason. But it is here."

Junia said "I do not know how to cure infestation through bloodmonk."

"Frey does. I will need to call out to him."

Lin said "There is more. A smell from something warm. And hot. Like it stings."

"What?"

"Dada smells like it sometime."

All eyes turned to him. "I… I don't know."

Freya closed her eyes and searched for what Lin had found, then her eyes flew open. "Aelinnea. Do not let go. Hold the strings. I will be right back."

Freya came over to Loki and smelled him. "Open your mouth." He did. "Oh. Clever."

"What?"

Freya was back at her original place and Lin sighed. "Ok, Lin. You did so good. Do you think you can do this again?"

"To help momma?"

"Yes?"

"Yes."

"Good. I will untie the strings now. Then we will slowly leave. We need to make sure the strings are gone from your momma. Once it is in your hand, you can let go of your momma's head. Alright?"

Lin nodded, concentrating hard. "Ok. Slowly let go." After a minute, Lin let go of Leiyah and yawned.

Loki hugged her, "You did so great, my gem." He turned to Freya "Can she sleep a bit?"

"She has to. It took a lot out of her. Thank you Aelinnea. We will help your momma so fast now. All thanks to you."

Lin was already closing her eyes, so Calia took her and carried her into her room. Once she was back Mechel asked "What did you find?"

Freya started "Bloodmonk was forbidden 700 years ago. It was used as a slow death. For traitors of the realm. It would let you live for a while longer, then you would fall into a deep sleep, awake inside. Unable to do anything. Driving you insane. Before finally succumbing to madness and killing yourself from the inside out. The effects were horrendous and it was all destroyed. Or so we thought. Bloodmonk is something Leiyah should have been able to detect. Especially in her pregnant state, certain symptoms would have alerted her."

"She was sick. And her magic was not working."

"Yes. Not in itself a symptom of bloodmonk. There was something else that was interfering. Something you Loki have also been using."

Loki protested "I have not been using anything."

"I don't think you knew. When interfering with what I think we found it can create horrible effects. Instant death would be one of them."

"But she is alive."

"Whoever did this, did not know Leiyah, nor knew completely what they were doing." Freya took a deep breath, "You have been consuming red ginseng, peppermint and a small herb called whitewith."

"How, without our knowledge?"

"I smelled it on you earlier, but I could not place it. And I smelled it on the table. Tea. It was in your tea."

Marielle said "It was a new tea. It has been for months."

"Yes, that is strange."

"Why."

"Do you know what those three ingredients combined create?"

He shook his head.

Freya continued "The strongest aphrodisiac in all the realms. An intrusive question. But before Leiyah fell pregnant with the twins, have you found her more, shall we say, enticing?"

"I have always found her enticing." Loki was becoming more agitated.

"Do not take this the wrong way. But was there a different kind of, a more primal, coupling?"

He thought back to some of the nights Leiyah and he had spent together, some of the simple things Leiyah did that had him attacking her. "Thinking back on it, yes."

"The tea. Most likely also the cause for the twins. Twins are so very rare. And we all know of the difficulties of Aesir and Vanir to have children. But Aelinnea was here fast. Obviously you and Leiyah are matched perfectly. One of the children Leiyah has in her right now would have happened naturally. Perhaps even at this time. But the second one, the tea made sure Leiyah and you were a lot more fertile than usual."

"But the twins…?"

"Perfectly healthy. Many centuries ago this tea was used for people who had small chances of ever falling pregnant. Why it was used for you, one can only guess."

Calia asked "But once she was pregnant, why not stop giving them the tea?"

"A good question, one I do not know the answer to I am afraid. Because without the tea, Leiyah would not be here anymore. The tea, along with the pregnancy of twins has caused Leiyah's seidr to be blocked. Pregnancy can have the strangest effect on seidr. With twins, magic is stifled to a degree. The tea amplified this. All this magic bottled up in her. And then the bloodmonk was introduced. Mixed with the tea and Leiyah's strong seidr, it made her get severely sick, resulting in Leiyah right here, right now."

"But… forgive me, we found out Leiyah was around 6 weeks pregnant a month after her seidr stopped."

"That only shows how strong Leiyah is. She lasted two more weeks."

Vidal asked, "Surely the tea is out of her system now?"

"Of course, the bloodmonk is stopping her from waking up. Once awake and rested, her seidr should return to normal. After a release of big power."

"How do we get the bloodmonk?"

"Lin will have to guide her, and use her seidr."

Mechel asked "How? If she has not yet shown her seidr."

"We will coax it out of her. I will need to ask Frey to send me something, but any day now. Then she will rest. Leiyah will be tired, but that is perfectly normal."

Marielle stood, "I should throw out the tea."

Freya said "Wait. Perhaps you should continue accepting the tea. Not drinking it, of course, but I would love to find out who is giving it to you."

Loki thought back to the maid, the flimsy, stupid maid, "The maid. She and I had had relations before."

Calia huffed "Leiyah hated her from the beginning. We should have thought of that."

"Does this maid show any magical properties?"

"No."

Freya continued "Perhaps she is not the driving force behind this. Nevertheless, the next time she is here, I would like to conceal myself and observe her."

Loki nodded, looking over to his wife, back in their chambers where she belonged. He noticed her glow was not as prominent anymore, and slightly more pinkish. "What happened to the glow around her?"

"Yes, of course, I forgot. Leiyah noticed us, she knows we are close to a solution. The tone change is Lin, this is already her seidr showing. Leiyah is resting." Loki nodded at the explanation and sank down on the chair again, stroking Leiyah's hand. "Will she be alright?"

"After rest and releasing her pent up power, yes." Freya turned to Mechel, "I will need to discuss with you, how we go on from here. I will need a message delivered, privately and then it is only a matter of days."

Loki looked up "Leiyah was able to send a message directly into my old chambers, from Vanaheim. And these rooms are shielded from watching eyes."

Freya smiled "I see she remembered what I taught her. Good. I will send it from here. Calia, Mechel; let us discuss our next step. I will come back when the afternoon tea arrives."

Loki looked after them and then said to Vidal and Marielle "Please, continue with your house."

Vidal asked "Do you not wish for company?"

"I will go to the library with Lin once she wakes. But for now, I just need some solitude. Forgive me."

Marielle answered "Of course, if you need us, do not hesitate to ask."

They left and Loki took Leiyah's hand again "We are so close. Soon I can look into your beautiful eyes again. I am sorry it took me so long. But it will never happen again. I will make sure nobody can ever harm you, us, our family again! That is a promise Leiyah. The maid, after you are done with her I will make sure she is never within a mile of us. Keep fighting, my love. I will be right here to catch you when you wake up." As if she was trying to answer him, the glow around her brightened quickly then went down a bit again. He smiled and kissed her hand.

Three more days had passed. Frey had sent what Freya would need and she had coaxed a bit of Aelinnea's seidr out of her. Lin loved it, she loved the attention she got from all of them. Loki had started to wonder why Lin had never had any ailment or a bruise, the kind kids would get. But her seidr would explain a lot. Sooner or later she would get sick, but she was lucky. Loki had continued to talk to Leiyah and he thought she was trying to communicate with him with the glow around her.

Freya had observed Tani and tested the tea, and her suspicions had been proven correct. It was laced with the aphrodisiac. Freya was unsure why Tani still had Loki drink it, as his wife was not able to, but Loki had his suspicions. Loki had thrown the tea down the drain in the bathing rooms and he had to admit that his head felt lighter. More focused.

It was finally the day Freya had said they would wake Leiyah. Everyone was there. Loki was situated on the chair with Lin on his lap, who was eager to help. Junia was positioned so she could check on the babies. Mechel was above Leiyah's head and Freya was on the right side of her. Marielle, Vidal and Calia all stood to the side ready for any instructions.

Freya smiled "Alright. The roam is cloaked and secured. Nothing can get in or out. Aelinnea, once we start we need to find the strings again and then I will tie them together again. Can you do that?"

"Yes."

She beamed "I knew you could. You will need to hold on to that string. No matter what happens, hold it. Keep thinking of your momma and how happy you will be when she is back. Try to make her feel good." Freya had explained Lin was far too young to understand healing but she understood making someone feel good. "Then Mechel will start, and I will help but I am always holding onto that string. I won't let it slip." She looked around "Are we ready?" Everyone nodded and Lin put on her concentrating face.

Loki asked "What should I do?"

"Hold Lin, do not use your seidr, help Lin think of memories maybe, or experiences, feelings. And once Leiyah starts waking, take her hand. It will guide her. Bring her home."

"Momma come home?"

"Yes, my gem. She will be back and playing with us soon."

"Ok. For momma."

Loki echoed the sentiment.

"Alright. Let's start. Aelinnea, find the string."

A spectator would not think anything was happening, but Loki could feel the magic flowing. Could feel Freya's and Mechel's starting to warm up. But he also felt a tiny one, his daughter's. Her eyes were shut and her tongue was sticking out, but then suddenly she smiled.

"Good, we tied them. Mechel start."

Mechel started chanting and administering herbs, potions and flickers of light with his seidr. The twins started turning. Junia never lost sight of them. Lin flinched. "Hold on tight, Lin. This will feel strange. Think of your momma."

Loki started whispering in her ear "She always does the funny voices when she reads. She told me she wants you to read Kaia soon. Your favorite character. She always tells me how much you remind her of Kaia. And then we can walk to the stores again. Get new toys and books. And soon we will take you to our other home. We have a room full of toys just for you. Momma is going to be there. Listening to loud music, wanting to dance with you."

"Good, Loki. She is tight. She is doing so good."

Loki continued whispering. Leiyah started to glow more. Mechel chanted louder. "More, Mechel. More. Don't be afraid. She is not a doll. She is strong. Just like her daughter."

Leiyah suddenly gave a jolt. Freya yelled "Now, Loki. Hold her hand."

Loki did, her hand was warming up slowly and buzzing. Freya suddenly gasped. "Her necklace. We need her necklace. And the pendant I brought. We need to stabilize her magic." Loki heard shuffling and he could not tell whose hands picked up Leiyah's head lightly, and whose fastened the necklace and pendant around her neck. He kept whispering to Lin about everything Lin loved to do with her momma. She had a tear running down her cheek but Loki could not touch her skin.

"Almost! Fight Leiyah! Come back. Lin, does your momma tell you she loves you?"

Lin nodded. "Do you love your momma?"

Another nod.

"Tell her."

Lin whispered, close to sobbing "I love you momma."

Leiyah's hand turned to warm, hot almost, it triggered the Frost Giant in him, wanting to turn cold but he needed to stay Aesir. Leiyah glowed up one more time and then it stopped. The glow was gone.

But her eyes were still closed.

"What?" Calia asked. Disbelief in her voice.

Vidal continued "Did it work?"

Lin still held tight, but she was shaking now. "Don't let go Lin. Mechel, one more time. The last three lines." Mechel chanted again.

Loki said "Her hand is warm."

Freya nodded "Talk to her. I think she is close."

"Leiyah, my love, wake up. We need you. Your beautiful smile. Your warmth. I love you, more than all the realms. We need you, I need you. Lin needs you."

"Momma I love you." Lin was crying now, still holding onto the string.

It was silent, no noise, no one was breathing, Loki intently looking at Leiyah's face. Suddenly Lin's sob, that she had tried to suppress, came out. A heartbreaking sound. And the eye's of his wife opened, the starts in them swirling and immediately finding the source of the sob. Her daughter.