Chapter 1: Father and Daughter

Days-old babies were rather uninteresting creatures. They did not play, their muscles incapable of making a smile, could not talk. Their interactions were dull; they were either sleeping or crying.

Loki had these feelings for most of his life. As the youngest child, he had limited interactions with children of lesser ages. He saw nothing special with babies; they all looked the same, not many differences between the traits of newborns.

Biases formed soon after he became a father. The first time he held Eira in his arms, he was confident that his daughter was the perfect being in the universe. She was his female clone: ebony hair and dark green eyes. Unlike him, she was utterly innocent, oblivious to the unfair circumstances and situations of the world, not a single dose of evil contained in her tiny body. Her birth skin, patchy red, developed into a pale tan. Not as snowy white as Loki's hue, but paler than the light tan of her mother.

The perfection of his daughter burgeoned after the death of Runa. Eira was now her legacy. She was the last remains Loki had of the love of his life, taken away from him and their daughter too early, now living eternity in Valhalla, where they would meet her in a few thousand years. The excitement of parenthood had washed away, the tide slow with grief. The duty of single parenthood fell upon Loki, and for the wellbeing of his daughter, he would not fail.

"She is quite quiet," Loki spoke to his mother as he held a sleepy Eira in his arms. "Her cries are loud, but she does not fuss much. She simply whines for her demands."

"Just you wait," responded Frigga, adjusting the blankets wrapped around her granddaughter. "I bet that a few weeks from now, she will be as noisy as you were at her age."

"I could not have been that loud. I'm not like that now."

"You would be surprised about how you were as a little boy."

Eira interrupted the conversation, stretching her limbs and releasing a squeak. Exhausted by her simple actions, she leaned her head further into Loki's chest, comforted by the multiple layers of padding in his shirt.

"She will be awake more once she researches two months," the queen said. "When that time comes, she will be such an energetic girl. You will have your hands full with her." She rubbed Eira's soft cheek, but the princess did not respond.

"Well then, you better become used to me asking you for help," stated Loki with a sly grin.

After his first three weeks of parenting, Loki noticed how observational his daughter was. She turned her head or cooed whenever she heard her name. Loki was the only being who cared for her at night, which made her learn his voice. According to Frigga, an infant's ability to hear was incredible, far above the capabilities of adults. Yet the reason for Eira being able to defect the voice of her father within a week was unknown. The explanation given - although it was less of a clarification and more of a guess - was that the newborn princess was smarter than most infants.

The night Eira turned nineteen days old, Loki awoke to cries originating from the middle of the room. The prince grumbled and slowly rose from his bed, rubbing his eyes and adjusting his sight to the dark interior. As he walked to where Eira laid wailing, Loki tried to determine the reason for her tears. He was beginning to recognize the various pitches of her cries. Her crying tone at the current moment described her loneliness and the desire to be held, specifically by Loki.

Laying his green eyes upon his newborn daughter, Loki saw Eira kick her legs and wave her clenched fists in the air, desperate for anyone to comfort her, relieve her of distress. The cries may have slightly diminished if she could see the face of her father above the crib, but the eyesight of newborns was weak, not fully developed.

"Shush, Eira," Loki whispered to his daughter, lifting her from the confinements of her crib. "It's alright. Daddy is here. Do not fret. I am not going anywhere."

Light pats hit the back of the young princess, the thumb of her father stroked her soft cheek, her head was against his chest, the gentle tempo of his heartbeat ran through her ears. The crying stopped completely, Eira's green eyes looked at the identical ones belonging to Loki. He gazed upon her sleepy face and smiled as he comforted her into slumber. Loki paced in his chambers, as Eira liked to feel movement while he rocked her to sleep.

Once her breathing evened, Loki put Eira back in her crib. He placed her on the mattress of the crib and moved his fingers from underneath her back. Not feeling her father nearby, she began whining. Loki's eyebrows creased in confusion. He lifted her from the crib once again, alongside it was the ceasing of her cries, her eyes still closed though it was unclear if she was awake. Loki sighed and attempted to put her in the bed for the second time, but the cycle continued. Her sobs were silent but would grow defiant if not picked up again.

"What is the matter?" Loki questioned his daughter as he embraced. "I know you are not hungry or in need of a change. What else could be wrong?"

Eira leaned her ickle head against the padding of Loki's nightwear, letting out a tired breath and a squeaky sound of content. The young father responded with another sigh.

"You will fuss immensely if I refuse to hold you for the night, is that right? Well, if it is only for one night - and just one night - then I don't see any harm. You win this time, Eira."

Loki moved to his bed with a debilitated newborn in his slender arms. One hand pulled the covers, while the other held Eira as his thumb stroked a strand of her raven hair. He settled on the king-size bed, covering himself with blankets while not disturbing a wearied Eira. His vision remained focused on his daughter as he leaned his head against the pillows. While watching Eira drowse, Loki fell into a blissful slumber.

Four hours later, Eira woke up. For a newborn, more than two hours of rest was a miracle.

Loki did not ask for aid much in the beginning. It was just him and Eira in the first three months. His daughter was with him when he was around his friends and family. The only time he was alone was when his daughter napped. During her rest, he would reflect on the past year, allowing himself to grieve for Runa without Eira witnessing the depressed state of her father.

But when Thor requested to play with his niece and Frigga offered to watch over her while Loki performed his royal duties, he realized that more help was needed. He allowed himself to be slightly vulnerable for the sake of his daughter, but Loki believed demanding too much from his family would diminish his dignity. The prince requested aid for Eira for simple things. Talking to royal officials investigating political situations, spying others (which he never confessed to, instead lying about completing another duty), he asked his allies to watch Eira while he did uncomplicated things, only assenting for his Frigga to care for his daughter while he was away from the palace or in another realm for a mission.

His first mission after the birth of Eira was a four-day trip to Alfheim, the realm of the Light Elves. Her grandmother guarded the princess while Loki was away. Eira had shown signs of attachment to her father, which made him worry about her separation anxiety. She did fuss due to the sudden disappearance of Loki, but Frigga sensed the strong perception her granddaughter had with scents. Most days were spent with Eira using a shirt belonging to her father as a blanket, content with him not being physically present so long as she could smell him.

It was late into the night when Loki and his companions had finally returned to Asgard. The prince was impatient, greeting people quickly and describing the results of the mission in simple terms so he could return to his chambers and be alone with his infant daughter.

Although the princess was asleep, Loki lifted Eira from her crib and held her in his arms. Holding her close to his chest, he sniffed her hair, breathing in her familiar scent, and stroked her small back, all while she remained in a state of slumber, unaware of her father's returning presence.

"I missed you, Eira," he whispered to the vacant head of his daughter. The statement did not disrupt her slumber. She leaned her head closer to his chest; tiny hands clenched as Loki stroked a curl of ebony hair though they remained delicately placed on her chest. Weak legs administered a single kick against his ribs, the power comparable to a pillow.

Loki laughed at her unknowing actions and continued speaking. "Adults are annoying creatures, no matter the species. I hope you never become like that. The past two days have been an absolute nightmare. Light elves can be too stubborn, which is tandem to their ignorance. They are worse than Midgardians. Perhaps their attitudes will lighten once they meet you years from now. I sense such great potential in you, little one."

Seidr was running through her veins, Loki could sense it from the day she was born. Eira had a streak for being obstinate, crying until her demands were met and whining if her needs were not reached. Mulishness was a common trait, one Loki and Runa shared. Whether it was their wants or the strong desire for truth, they would never concede. A stubborn inclination was typical for sorcerers. Eira showed adamant behavior at months old, so she was destined to master magic. After all, she was a princess, a demigoddess. Her potential was immeasurable, never to be matched.

Whatever level of power Eira attained, Loki would forever be overprotective. He would always consider her his little girl. His partial attachment to Eira strengthened over the months. She was beyond perfect, probably since she shared her genes with Loki and he was biased. Eira was all that remained of her mother. Runa died to give life to her daughter, shield her from the toxic side of her maternal family. Such a faultless child must be protected from the evils of the Nine Realms, a task only Loki could undertake.

Loki would do anything for Eira. For his daughter, he would kill, stab anyone who dares threaten or mock her and never let them take another living breath. He would make them regret uttering a single complaint against her. If it was for Eira, he would not be afraid to be ruthless.

As much as Loki wanted to hold his daughter, his exhaustion was rising. Eira would cry for her needs in an hour or two, and it was very early in the morning, so Loki would not get much sleep that night.

Sighing, Loki returned his daughter to her crib. Upon feeling her mattress, the princess stretched her limbs. Loki took Hati, her favorite plush toy, and put it in her arms. Although asleep, Eira's arm wrapped around the stuffed animal. Satisfied that his daughter was comfortable, Loki moved to his bed. He only removed his armor, too lazy to change into nightwear, and aware that his undershirt and pants were pleasant enough. As soon as his head hit his pillow, he fell asleep.

The residents of Asgard seemed uninterested with Eira after the news of her conception. Lies were made to the public, Loki was believed to have married another noblewoman in secrecy and had a child afterward. Though the ideals of Asgard had progressed over the centuries, some in the realm that clung to traditional value. The truth was hidden to protect Runa and her then-unborn child from hatred.

Though not everything could be fabricated with falsehoods, every Asgardian knew Loki's age; documents that detailed his birth had existed for over a millennium and the memories of his birthday celebrations could not be tainted.

Rumors spread that one night of sex between Loki and a noblewoman led to the creation of a child. Loki was not bothered; he knew the truth and did not care about the lies people created. If harsh words were never spoken about Eira, then he was content.

Several members of Asgardian nobility, aware of the veracity were disappointed that a prince was indifferent to having an illegitimate child. Such a disgrace to the reputation of Asgardian royalty, were thoughts not supported by his family. Odin and Frigga simply wanted their youngest son to be prepared for the responsibility of parenthood. The only desire of Thor was to play with his niece when she was old enough for light entertainment.

The stubborn nobility realized the error in their prior conceptions once they met the princess. Eira was such a cheerful baby, her smile often switching between her father's and that of her mother, depending on her mood. She enjoyed playing with her father and uncle; they simply moved objects around in an entertaining manner or put them out of her reach, which was all it took to amuse her.

Perhaps Eira loved her family too much. She only wanted them to hold her, as she was not comfortable with most of their friends and strangers. Her first words referred to her father and grandparents by their familial titles, while Thor was mentioned by his name. The only non-family member she liked was Sif, who spent occasional time with the princess.

One night, when Eira was eighteen months old, she refused to go to sleep. This behavior was not unusual behavior for Eira, as she disliked going to sleep, yet felt the same about waking up.

Since Eira was smarter than most toddlers her age, she was very observational. Whenever Loki had a mission, he would leave in the morning, before Eira woke up, and leave her in the care of her grandmother. Upon his return, he was told stories of her behavior, particularly about her reaction to the disappearance of Loki. There were tears, tantrums, and deep naps. Eira trusted Frigga, but she did not offer the same presence as Loki. Giggles and grins were the first sights Loki discerned upon when he returned to his chambers, the attitude of the little girl switching from vexation to delight when she saw her father. The schedule was uneven, breaks between missions were always uncertain, and the assignments themselves had undetermined lengths that were merely estimated. These timetables were never uniform, but Eira did what she best: observe.

She adapted to the unevenness.

"No sleep, Dada," whined Eira as she wiggled her fists into Loki's chest, protected by layers of cloth and metal padding.

"You have to sleep, Eira," pleaded a level-headed Loki. "It has been fifteen minutes, and you won't stop fussing. If this continues, you will exhaust yourself to sleep. Then you will wake up sick, and we don't that. Please, Eira, calm down for daddy. I cannot be tired tomorrow."

"No! No go, Dada!" Eira spoke with a louder tone. Loki raised his eyebrow.

"Eira, I'm not going anywhere at the moment."

"No, mis. You go for mis."

Loki sighed, understanding what she meant. She knew about the mission. Somehow, she recognized the word itself, and perhaps the behavior and conversations that usually occurred beforehand. "You don't want me to leave tomorrow. Oh, Eira. I have to go. It is my duty as a prince."

Eira shook her head and let out a sob. She leaned her entire body against her father, desperate for his embrace. Loki felt pity for his daughter, clearly not understanding his duty to protect the realms from danger and the fact that he would return after a few days. He kissed the top of her head, covered in black curls, and rubbed her back.

"You don't have to worry, little one. It is only a few days. I will not be leaving you forever. I would never do that. I love you too much for that."

The princess snuffled and looked up at her father, her face continuing to lean against his chest.

"I no wan you to go. Please, Dada. No go."

"I'm sorry, Eira, but I have to go. It will not be lengthy, and when I come back, I will go right to you. Additionally, you will have your grandmother with you. And Volstagg's daughters, Siri and Daven, they will play with you. You will be far from alone, but if you ever feel lonely, just remember that I will return and never forget you. I promise."

The tears on Loki's shirt were drying; Eira had finished crying. Her distress did not diminish completely. Tiny eyebrows till tightened in displeasure, and dainty hands clung tautly to his clothes. The worry did not disappear completely, which did not surprise Loki. Her intelligence was minuscule, sense of time nonexistent, and dependence on her father problematic. An effortless speech would not quell her anxiety.

Loki began to pace around his chambers, stroking Eira's hair to soothe her into slumber.

"Would you like to sleep in my bed tonight?" requested Loki as his chin rested on the head of his daughter. Without looking down, Loki could feel the motion of her nod. He continued slowly walking around the room, rocking Eira as her eyes began to close.

Before her eyelids shut, Eira let out a whisper: "I love you, Dada."

Loki smiled, stroking her cheek as he responded.

"I love you, too. More than anything. And I promise, I will never leave you."

Education for Eira began with magic. A few days past her third birthday and the day after she learned the slight truth about her mother, Loki taught her to activate her seidr. It was not as exciting as Eira thought, as the lesson consisted of meditation to conjure her seidr and feel it through her veins. A rather small accomplishment, but Eira knew her mother would be proud, perhaps smiling at her from Valhalla.

The meditations continued for several weeks; she needed to control her emotions and body before going further into her magical training. When she could sense the seidr flow throughout her body, her ability to activate it would be second nature, she could learn more robust skills.

Within a few months, she could concentrate the particles of her seidr to form a small shape. Little, viridescent disks would float above Eira's hands, but they soon vanished fragment by fragment. All she could muster was a few seconds before her oval apparition dusted with the wind.

It would take practice to strengthen the bond with her seidr, not just sensing it glide within her blood. Luckily, Eira was an eager and ambitious student. She trained during the day and attempted to skip sleep to do the same at night. Loki would always unmask her endeavors - they shared the room, so it was never difficult to uncover. He would lightly laugh as she pleaded for him to let her practice, then telling her she was a beyond excellent pupil and that there was always tomorrow and the day after that.

Loki was a patient teacher, much unlike his usual behavior. His daughter was the one he was training, and he was never agitated with her. He tried to mimic several teaching tactics his mother used with him while also accommodating to Eira's needs. Pride burst within his heart when Eira felt her seidr for the first time. Seeing his own flesh and blood smile each time she accomplished something new with her magic made him happier than words could describe. All the fears he had of being a terrible father swiftly faded when her laugh reached his ears.

"Before you can recreate an object," Loki said to Eira during an instruction. He was kneeling to his daughter's height level, trying not to be too intimidating while teaching her. "You have to feel it with your seidr, understand its composition. To do this, you must move the object with the magic connected to your mind, also known as telekinesis. Do you think you can do this?"

Eira, eyes wide with excitement as she listened to every word her father said, nodded. Loki smiled in return and walked backward a few steps after Eira turned around to stare intensely at the object. It was a violet rose, thornless and a majority of the stem removed.

From a short distance away, Loki advised his daughter. "Focus your vision on the rose, Eira. Forget all of your other surroundings and only see the flower. Reach your hand out, and your seidr will move what your eyes are looking at."

Eira closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to focus on her seidr. Opening her green eyes, Eira looked straight at the rose. She reached her arm out and concentrated on her magic, fingers twitching as she attempted to activate her telekinesis. Nearly a minute into the process, the amethyst flower convulsed before moving swiftly in Eira's direction. Slowing the speed so she could grab it, Eira reached for the rose and smiled as it landed in the palm of her hand.

"Daddy, look!" the princess cried out in excitement as she ran toward Loki. "I moved it with my mind, just like you said I could."

Loki stroked her raven curls with a grin on his face. "I knew you could do it. You're such a smart girl. You will be a natural sorceress, but you still have much to learn."

"I still want to learn more! I want to become as good at magic as you and grandma."

"Oh, I'm sure your skill will be beyond ours someday. As a reward for your accomplishment, why don't we go to the waterfall tomorrow? Just you and me. Does that seem like fun?"

"Yes, Daddy! Can we bring a book with us? Maybe you can teach me a few words."

Loki laughed when Eira mention learning to read. Inheriting her mother's ability as a skriver, Eira seemed to understand how to read simple determiners, such as 'the,' 'a,' and 'my.' Her skill in comprehending words was far more advanced than that of other children her age. She was incredibly smart and had a strong desire to learn as much as she could.

"Eager to learn, are we? Well, since you are learning your magic quite nicely, then I read you a book for children your age. Since dinner should be ready soon, we should go to the library and pick out a book. Would you like that? You can take the rose with you and put it in our chambers."

"Let's do that," Eira said enthusiastically.

Grabbing his daughter's tiny hand, Loki led her outside the training grounds to the hallway. On their journey to the library, Eira looked up at her father and asked him a question. "Daddy, are you excited for Uncle Thor's coordination in two months?"

Loki kept a neutral facial expression, not wanting Eira to know about his disappointment in his father's choice of heir. He was not wholly anger, though that was his primary emotion at first. He had worked so hard to earn the approval of Odin, to prove that he was mightier than Thor and a better ruler.

But then he realized that he could still denounce Thor, though it would be more complicated than before. All he had to do was demonstrate his older brother's stupidity and brutality, which would make Asgardians see him as unfit to be king. Setting an entrance for an Asgardian enemy and allowing them to ruin his coordination would surely exploit Thor's weaknesses. Afterward, the cards would fall into place, and Loki would fill the holes, became a hero in the eyes of the Nine Realms and worthy son to his father.

"Eira, I am beyond exuberant."