Loki screamed loudly causing both Laufey and Fárbauti to be ripped from their sleep. Both reached for their screaming child when he suddenly blotted running right off the bed falling hard letting out a shocked gasp of pain.
"Loki!" Laufey got off the bed. "Are you hurt badly?"
Shakily panting Loki looked around slowly. "What happened?"
"You had a night terror." Laufey picked him up holding him carefully. "How is your stomach?"
"I do not know... It hurts."
Fárbauti took Loki and laid him on the bed placing his hand over his stomach concentrating his magic to see if the child was well. However he frowned. There seemed to be a spell surrounding the child.
"Loki," Fárbauti spoke seriously. "Your other children where are they?"
Suddenly Loki pushed his hand away and scrambled off the bed backing away from them looking like a cornered animal.
"Stay away from me!"
"Loki, calm yourself." Laufey spoke gently. "We just want to know if we can retrieve them for you."
"You cannot... My oldest is... is... well ... do you know of the builder?"
Fárbauti folded his arms sternly. "Loki, you do not need to fear us and we will gladly welcome your children."
Finding it hard to swallow Loki looked at them eyes dull. "Even if their beasts? And my daughter...Who is half dead?"
Laufey moved closer and careful pulled his trembling son up and held him close as he cried in the most heartbroken way sobbing out who and what had been done to his four children.
Fárbauti roared in rage and soon guards and Loki's brothers showed up running in. Helbindi ordered the guards away and Býleistr asked what had happened.
Before Laufey could answer his mate took off storming out yelling that he was going to be gone for a while. Helbindi watched than looked at Loki and than at his younger brother.
"Býleistr, bring the calming salts."
"No." Laufey's voice held pain. "No, his lain must pass. .."
"Bera, what has happened?"
Standing Laufey looked at his sons. "Odin has been taking your brother's children and turning them into beasts. Sleipnir is the eight legged horse, Jörmungandr is a serpent that was cast into the Midgardian sea, Fenrirwas lock somewhere here in Jotunnhime, and the girl... she was tossed into Helhime."
Helbindi eyes flared red in fury of the news and turned. "I shall return."
"Helbindi..." Loki's voice cried. "Helbindi... I hurt... please... the salts..."
"My sweet child..." Laufey whispered lovingly and his voice filled with heartbreak as well. "There is no healing salts to mend a broken heart."
Loki felt his heart hurting knowing it was true so he clung to Laufey, his Bera and wept until he could not anymore. Laufey held him close. His son was closer to going into insanity than he thought. All these things which a Jotun should never experience. The bonding of soul was so prsious to their kind, to be knotted with another forever, your one true soul mate.
Loki had none of that. The black markings showing just how bad his son's situation was and if they did not find a way to heal him faster than they feared the marks will only deepen.
Frigga held the book in her hands. It was a normal book for Jotunhime about growing up and mating with a soul mate, being bonded to one for eons, what should be done, how it was done, all of which she thought was how they saw a romantic thing.
To her it was horror.
According to this a Jotun could sleep with someone but to be sure not to knot the souls unless they were sure they were sould mates. Loki had become of bearing age and right away they had sent Loki to bear children. Frigga would be lying if she hadn't agreed upon it.
They had found out that Loki could bare with Eir had done a checkup and informed them that her son was a bearer. In Asgard this was a good sign, so they both agreed that Loki should be start bearing since he was the second son.
However Loki wasn't Asier, and unknowingly they were slowly killing their son. Yes, Loki had protested, but they ignored it. It was called for to insure peace. The suitors liked Loki a lot, keeping him until he was with child. They would ask for his hand and they refused. After all Loki would have to bare more.
She felt twisting guilt as she remembered when they told him.
"Please, no! I do not wish too!"
"Loki, this is your duty as the second Prince of Asgard and you can bearer."
"It will not be so bad, my son." Frigga said smiling. "You will bring peace to us. Is that not wonderful?"
"Mother, please!" Loki begged. "I don't want to! Please, please, please don't make me! I am not ready!" Loki begged. "I can feel it's not right…"
"Enough." Odin said. "You will do as you're told."
Loki fought them each time. Each time Loki fought back less and less with almost every child would end up dying. One by one Loki would come back and vanish from the gatekeeper and most of the times he came back without the child.
She couldn't pretend that she didn't approve because she had been the one to suggest it. She didn't know that it would kill her son but Loki did. The poor boy had screamed that it wasn't right. That something was wrong during and after each child. A jotun was to mate and knot only with the soul mate. To never be with another nor bear or have another's child. Loki had four children, and each with a different father.
According to the book in her hands they raised Loki completely wrong. In every single way including affection. Jotuns need to bond with the parent, especially small born. That it was the only way to ensure a stable life. That the Bera must bond within the first few hours, that Bera must never been without the new born for at least a years, and here Frigga had nurse maids around the clock. Yes, she would hold Loki but most of the times the nursemaids did.
When a Juton baby cried it meant they were in pain and the bond can ease it. Frigga thought it was fussiness and let Loki cry it out. Babies need to be around fresh no. Loki had none and was forced to bare the heat, the little thing panting as everyone tried to cool him down. Jotuns drank cold milk to build up an immune system. Loki would wail each time warm milk touched his tongue. Jutons babies need bonding time and lots of attention.
Frigga covered her mouth at the suddenly realization.
She didn't know Loki. She knew what he looked like, his name of course, his preferred colors, black and green. But what else? What did Loki do? What did he love? Who did he love? What did she really know who her son was? What had she done to him? How much pain and suffering did they cause their poor child all his life?
Or did they even have the right to claim Loki as their son after what they did to him?
"Bera… Bera… Bera…"
Laufey looked down at his son who was curled up tightly against his chest, head tucked under his head. He had been a sleep for hours after the long night of crying. Shifting him to see if Loki was awake only to see he was still sleep. Talking in his sleep calling for comfort. Something Laufey knew his small son would denied later.
Rubbing the small Jotun's back gently Laufey looked around the window eye scanning for either his mate or son. Both of which had left suddenly last night. His youngest sat on the throne taking care of the Kingdom. He was glad at least one of his family had kept calm enough to stay what with him needing to stay with Loki, the only offering comfort he could give his son was the healing of the bond.
Loki whimpered lightly shaking. The condition was bad. However it could have been worse if Odin had been able to deliver one last cruel blow to his son such as shocking news or the bearing of this new child would have surly turned Loki insane. How insane Laufey knew not but he knew it could have ended horrifyingly. Wondering vaguely the King thought of the Fates.
Curiously got to him. Just what could have happened if he had not seen Loki's arm turn back to its natural color? Turning away the window Laufey walked out of the room, heading down the long hallways, passed the royal treasure room, into the secret passage way and down, down, down, to the room where they summoned fates.
Stopping inside the room, he covered Loki up. "You know I am here. Show yourselves."
There was cackling as three voices whispered. They knew what he wanted but they wanted to be asked first.
"Please show me what could have happened to my son."
There was a bright light and Laufey witnessed all the could have transpired.
"I said… KNEEL…!"
"Is it open now?" Thor hovered over Tony.
"If it was done I would tell you point break, now get away from me! I need to try and open the portal and stop coming back! Geez, we know you love your brother but give us time to open it to a point where we won't die."
Letting out a frustrated growled Thor plopped down on the couch in there. "This blasted technology takes forever!"
"HEY! We're doing are best okay? Why do you got eat some pop tarts or something."
There was a crash and Tony groaned.
Bruce chuckled lightly. "Maybe you should changes the glass doors to metal so he knows there's something there."
"You know what green bean, I like it."
"You should not have left!"
"What do you know of where I went?!" Laufey yelled back.
Helbindi sighed as the two argued. To be honest he expected this to happen, of course not with Loki in the room but his Brother didn't seem bothered. Just stood there watching eyes calculating on what was being said and their movements.
The yelling continued as it got more heated between the two mates. Suddenly there was splash of something and everyone turned to Loki who looked down seeing a pudding between his feet. No one more for a moment until Loki spoke.
"It's coming out…"
Chaos.
The royal family covered the stillborn in a moon dust and silver blanket, wrapping him lovingly in it before setting him into a crystal box and covered it. The set the crest of their family on it and cover the box in a white blanket and bowed their heads.
The patter of feet made them look up. Loki was pulling his clothes on, securing the sash at the waist and slipping on the top to cover his chest. Throwing his wolf fur on Loki pattered right out as if he didn't even give birth to a dead baby and was once again off to wander the halls.
The wolf fur swayed a little as Loki almost lost his balance and the black marks suddenly grew to his mid back almost like fire and settled there. Helbindi went to follow Loki for a good three hours until the small Juton just passed out in the garden on the snow. Picking him up he went back inside never setting his silently suffering brother down.
Hours later the royal family gathered to discuss what should happen.
"I have an idea." Fárbauti said. "But you might not agree with me."
"Speak." Laufey said looking at his mate from the side of his eye.
"We can erase his memory."
"What?!"
"Father!"
"Listen to me… only temporally. The makings are spreading and by now they should have killed him or thrown him into insanity. I suggest that we replace them slightly just until the marks turn gray and then from there we can assure his life to be stable. He made amazing progress but you all know as well as I that that if we do not do something to help Loki heal he may die."
There was a pause in the room. They all knew it was true. What other choice did they have? None. But would Loki except the change? They would ask him if he wanted to go through with such an idea. After all their weren't like other realms where the Fathers made the choice and that was it. Although Laufey did have that power as King he would never force it on his people.
Other realms, well it was their fault for trespassing. After all they had an image to uphold.
"Don't talk about me like I'm not here…"
They all turn to Loki who was coming out of a horrible sleep tears running down his face. The poor thing didn't even know because he looked surprised when he felt his face and wiped them away trying to get them to stop but to no avail.
"My son," Fárbauti said taking him from his brother. "What you heard it to help heal you. Will you allow me to do this?"
Loki's eyes were dim. The pain and memories almost unbearable. "Yes.. I except."
A spell started to be chanted as Loki closed his eyes feeling his Father's magic surround him in a powerful yet warm light. Slowly he felt the pain, the images, the terror falling away. The memories falling like rain. How strange. They were almost like a moving picture as a bright light became brighter engulfing his vision.
Right before they all vanished a single thing came to mind.
Thor… Brother…
The skies darkened suddenly and Steve looked at the Thunderer. "Thor? Are you alright?"
Thor looked to the skies heart suddenly heavy. "…Loki?"
Something was horribly wrong.
"STARK! OPEN THE PROTAL NOW, I AM GOING TO JUTONHIM NOW!"
Tony yelled as Thor stormed his way in and slammed the button opening a blue portal that was so bright they all cover their eyes but Thor being stuibborn and hot headed roared and jumped into the blinding light and soon the god was gone.
"So who wants to tell Pirate Fury Thor just jumped into a portal to possibly find his baby brother?"
To Reader: Night lol.
To FireShenshi2: Thanks for the love! ,)
To SETO-KAIBA-LIFE: Well Odin did seem to think one could raise an Jotun like an Asier. We see how that's going. Odin is something else I tell you.
To lederra: Ah, yes, my grammer mistakes, I know. I try to catch them as often as possible, and I got over all my stories chapters like five times. Sadly I still miss some, sorry about that.
To Calen Linatasse: Loki was aborting the babies because he didn't want them to be changed into beasts and figured it was a far more less painful than let Odin get hold of them. Ah, thank you! I like them as a loving couple with spats in between :D
To fan girl 666: I agree! That image is the most adorable thing! And yes Farbauti got his chance at last! Laufey don't play games when it comes to his children. And yes he did cast him out and I thought since Laufey is King he can cast whoever he well pleases out including the All Mightly All Fahter.
To jaquelinelittle: Treated well their not sadly TToTT
To Thay-Logyn: mYou English is good my friend! And thank you for that it makes me so happy, and yes they are so cute. Hugs and Kisses too you too! : )
To Lolita Madness: All your questions will be answered in the following chapters, and yes, I get tired of that two with Loki's brothers in other stories. I like them all getting along. Not that the stories as bad I just like the refreshing sound of the unknown lives of the Frost Giants.