Author's Note: I don't really have anything to say here but YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME! Seriously, you are. Mybonded I always give a shout out to my reviewers! You take the time to post a comment so I should take the time to acknowledge it :) I still can't believe I wrote chapters 65 and 66… they were just soooo unlike me! Anonymous1662 I am not sure where Loki and Sigyn are registered, but once I find out I will let you know so you can find that perfect baby gift. Invites for the baby shower should be coming out soon ;) FIRE ELF MAIDEN I am glad to see that you have enjoyed this story so far (and my other story as well). I hope you continue to enjoy it! smkyle I don't know if you are this far yet, but if you are not you will reach it eventually XD hehehe yes, you-know-who being the bad guy was a little curveball I threw in. I am happy to hear that it took you by surprise :D
A couple more weeks passed after Sigyn and Loki received the news that she was pregnant, but there still had been no public announcement of the fact. Not even Sif and the Warriors Three knew yet, since Thor had somehow managed to keep to his vow of silence. Sigyn knew it wouldn't be long before her pregnancy would be impossible to hide any longer, but it seemed a daunting task to announce the upcoming Royal birth to the Realm. In the meantime, it was rather interesting to see how the people that did know began to act differently around her. Loki, who had always leaned towards being overprotective, was micromanaging to an extreme level. He watched what she ate carefully, he didn't allow her to lift anything remotely heavy, he wouldn't even permit her to try and reach the books on the higher shelves of the library. She found Loki's protectiveness to be amusing for the most part, but every so often it would begin to feel a bit overbearing and the two would have a little tiff over it. The arguments never lasted long, and weren't particularly heated, but they did always bring out the fear that Loki kept so well buried. Sigyn's mother, Frigga, and Frida were a never-ending source of encouragement and advice. Thor always seemed to be trying his best not to let the news slip when he was around others, and he seemed to be just as excited and talkative about the upcoming birth as Siggy was when he was in the presence of the Royal Family. Even though she wasn't showing yet, Roan seemed to know something was going on. He would eye and sniff Sigyn curiously every time she went to the stables to spend some time with him, and he started to take his trotting pace slower than usual. There were only three people that knew of the pregnancy whose happiness seemed to be ever chased by a shadow of extreme concern. Halldor, Hallsteinn, and Odin. Signy had displayed some hidden fear when Sigyn had first delivered the news, but her trepidation seemed to fade away as the excitement of preparing for the child took hold. That unfortunately didn't seem to be the case with the three men. Halldor and Hallsteinn watched carefully for any sign that the pregnancy was going to end like Arnora's had, and Sigyn began to feel like they were hoping to find something wrong just to validate their fear. Odin's concern seemed to take on a different nature however. It wasn't as if he was scrutinizing her, but her certainly did keep his eye on her with a hint of foreboding. Sigyn knew why Odin was afraid, but she wasn't sure if that fear was a fear for Sigyn's well-being, or because in a few months time he would no longer be able to keep the truth of Loki's birth hidden from him. Sigyn waited in anticipation for Odin to pull her aside and warn her of the nature of her child since he wasn't aware that she already knew it. The much-anticipated conversation did finally come, and when it did, Sigyn was more than ready to speak her mind.
It was a lovely afternoon that Sigyn got the summons from the AllFather to have a little chat with him. She had been relaxing peacefully in the garden that sat under the balcony of she and Loki's bedchambers when the servant approached her. Loki was off training with Thor, and Sigyn was thankful for it. If he had been with her when she received the summons he would have demanded to come with her, or would have interrogated her about the secret meeting upon her return. That would have lead to her having to lie to him, and ultimately him detecting the lie and growing suspicious. Sigyn met with Odin in his study immediately upon receiving the summons.
"Good afternoon Sigyn." Odin greeted before indicating a chair for her to take. "I trust I am not distracting you from anything too important…"
"Of course not." She assured, while taking a seat.
"Very good… Sigyn, there are a few things that we need to discuss concerning the child you carry." Odin began. "I have been debating how to bring these subjects up with you for a few weeks now, and I have decided that the best way is to address them in a forward manner. The first thing we must discuss is what to expect should the baby be a boy."
Sigyn hid her surprise well, but this wasn't the topic she had been expecting to discuss with Odin this afternoon.
"As it stands now, your child will be third in line for the throne should it be a boy, which means that you will act as his regent should both Thor and Loki die while the child is too young to ascend the throne."
Odin paused a moment to allow that startling thought to sink in. Sigyn had not considered her child's position in regards to the line of ascension should it be a boy, and she had certainly never imagined what role she would play should such a terrible scenario unfold in the near future. After permitting Sigyn some time to think, Odin continued on.
"There is also something you must be made aware of regardless of whether your child is a boy or girl, which means you must also be made aware of something regarding Loki… something that even Loki himself is not aware of…"
Odin paused again. It seemed he was still reluctant, afraid even, to admit Loki's true heritage. Sigyn was tempted to interject that she already knew Loki was a Frost Giant to spare the AllFather the trouble of having to say it himself, but she decided not to. Odin needed to say it. Perhaps if he made the admission himself, and saw how she took it, he might see how baseless and silly his fears were.
"Loki, though my son in love, is not my son by blood. I took him in as a baby after the war with Jötunheim. His adoption is important to both you and the child you carry because… Loki is a Frost Giant."
Odin stopped to study Sigyn's face, and he seemed to be a tad surprised with the calm manner in which she was taking the news.
"Do you understand the significance of what I am telling you?" He queried.
"I understand that you are telling me my husband is a Frost Giant, and that in turn my child will be part Jötun, but I don't see why you feel the need to be so secretive with that information. I knew Loki was a Frost Giant before I married him."
Odin hid his surprise well, but Sigyn got the feeling that this was not how he had anticipated this little meeting to go.
"You knew Loki was a Frost Giant? How?"
"I discovered it on my own." Was the only answer she would grace him with.
"So Loki did not tell you? He is still unaware of his true birth?"
"No, Loki did not tell me, and as far as I can tell he does not know…yet."
"Yet?"
"I have not told him because I once swore to Frigga that I would keep the secret for her, but when he sees our child there will be no way to keep the truth hidden from him any longer."
"There are ways to hide the baby's Jötun characteristics." Odin remarked.
"The same way in which Loki's are hidden from him? You would have me hide the truth from my husband and child? How many generations must this deception be kept up?"
"Loki will know the truth one day, as will your children…"
"One day? When you are on your deathbed and no longer have to fear how he may take the news?"
"Sigyn…"
"Pardon my frustration, AllFather, but this is too much. Loki should have been told long ago what he was, and I refuse to force my child to live a lie."
"Telling Loki of his true birth is not so simple as you would have it sound." Odin noted. "You know there is little love between Asgardians and the Jötuns, knowledge of Loki's birth could have created a serious backlash against him. Not everyone would have been so accepting of him as you are."
"I am not saying you had to make it public knowledge to the entire Realm, I am saying that Loki should have been told!"
"He is Laufey's son." Odin stated seemingly out of nowhere.
Sigyn wasn't sure how to respond. She hadn't said anything even remotely related to that, and she wasn't sure why Odin felt the need to even tell her.
"Very well… he is Laufey's son… Forgive me if I don't see the importance in that." She replied.
"Because to be a Frost Giant is bad enough in the eyes of our people, but to be the son of the very giant who began a war that would kill so many of our own… do you not see the danger in that?"
"Why are you so fixated on what the Realm will think? Never once have I suggested you tell them, yet you somehow equate telling Loki with telling everyone. The longer you put off telling him the truth and the more you treat it as a dangerous secret, the worse off Loki's reaction will be when you do finally spring it on him. You are making this a big deal, and therefore he will too. If you were to just treat it as a simple fact Loki would be inclined to as well."
"You don't know that."
"No, but I believe it. Yes, he would be hurt and confused for a little while, but you could not find a better time to tell him. He is about to be a father, and he knows he has my full love and support regardless, so why not tell him now?"
"Because his birth carries heavier political significance than you could possibly understand. It is a topic that I will have to broach with him in a delicate manner when the time calls for it."
"So what if he finds out on his own? Loki is smart, he will discover the truth himself eventually, and the longer you wait to tell him the greater that risk becomes."
"Your fears on that front are needless. Loki might suspect that he is different from other Asgardians, but when would he have time to really pursue the root of that difference should he be inclined to do so?"
"Is that why you have the War Council assail him with mission after mission?" Sigyn asked coldly. "To keep him occupied so that he won't have time to accidentally stumble upon anything that could lead him to the truth about his parentage."
"I chose Loki to work for the War Council because of his talents, but it was ultimately his choice to accept that position. It is of his own volition that Loki continues to serve the Council."
"So Loki has enslaved himself to the needs of the Council in an effort to win your approval, while Thor, the soon to be king, lounges about the palace reveling in vain and childish amusements with his friends? Certainly I am not the only person in the Realm who would find that unfair!?"
"It is not a matter of fairness, Sigyn, it is a matter of necessity. The good of the Realm needs Loki's abilities now. Thor will step into his role when the time is right."
"When the time is right… is that honestly the only answer that the wisest ruler in the Nine Realms can give to every problem that arises?"
"Patience often is the correct answer. Complex problems can rarely be solved by quick solutions. Such solutions are the result of little thought, and can often lead to deeper complications."
"I do not disagree with you, but this is not a complex problem. It is the simple act of telling the truth."
"A simple act that could carry dangerous consequences. You cannot tell me that you did not question your affection for Loki, or at least come to slightly fear him, when you discovered the truth."
Sigyn rose from her seat indignantly.
"Do I seem frightened by it? I didn't love Loki for being an Asgardian, so it never altered my love for him when I discovered he wasn't one. I married Loki fully knowing he was a Frost Giant, and fully knowing that our children would share in that heritage. I love Loki regardless of it, and I will love them just as fiercely as I would have if they had been completely Asgardian."
Odin studied her closely, but did not speak as she stormed to the doors of the study. She placed her hand on one of the knobs, but turned to face the AllFather once more before leaving.
"There are only three paths that can be taken now. Either you can tell him, I can tell him, or he will find out the truth when he holds our child for the first time. Which path is to be taken is up to you."
With that, Sigyn was out the door and down the hall towards the gardens. She needed some fresh air to help clear her mind. She roamed amongst the flowers and fountains for a bit before sitting down to work through her conversation with Odin. She could hardly believe she had raised her voice at the AllFather himself, let alone given him an ultimatum before dismissing herself. If she had ever shown a lack of propriety during a conversation, it had been then. She had treated Asgard's king with a complete lack of respect, but part of her couldn't help but think that he had deserved it. Not only had he insulted her personally multiple times by indicating that she just wasn't intelligent enough to understand the importance of keeping Loki's true birth from him, but he had written off her love for Loki as being conditional. The mere recollection of the conversation set Sigyn's temper off. Odin was being ridiculous about this. Telling Loki did not mean that he had to tell anyone else. By the Norns, he didn't even have to tell Thor if he didn't want to! Sigyn had to stop her train of thought to keep her anger in check. She was pregnant; she couldn't afford to let her emotions get the best of her right now. Too much stress could harm the baby…or so the healers said, Sigyn wasn't completely sure she believed that though. She took a couple of deep breaths to cool her head, and made her way back to her bedchambers. Once inside, she went to look at the new dresses that had arrived a couple days prior. She wasn't quite showing yet, but it wouldn't be long before she would have to start wearing these gowns. She was fingering the material of one of them when she heard the door to the bedchambers open. She turned her head to see Loki looking rather sweaty and worn out from his training.
"I see they worked you hard today." Sigyn welcomed with a smile.
"They did, so I don't get a welcome home hug?" Loki asked with a sly grin.
"Not like that, no. Rinse off then we can discuss the possibility further."
Loki took her advice, and Sigyn was waiting for him on the balcony when he emerged again. He ran his hands through his wet hair as he came to lean against the railing next to her. His shirt stuck to his damp skin slightly, and she could feel the coolness of his body radiating off of him from where she stood.
"How are you today?" He asked.
"Well."
"And the baby?"
"I assume it is fine, though there isn't any way for me to really know till it starts moving."
"We need to discuss the announcement." Loki reminded her.
"Very well, let's discuss it."
"Father thinks that we should make it at the banquet tomorrow, and I can't say that I don't see the logic in that. One banquet to make all the Royal Family announcements would certainly make things simple."
"Yes, but do you really want to give our announcement the same evening that Thor's coronation date is to be announced?"
"It doesn't bother me to. We have already had the chance to tell the people that truly matter, so when the rest of the nobility is informed makes little difference to me. Do you mind sharing the evening with my brother's big announcement?"
"I don't mind if you don't mind." Sigyn assured. "So who will make it, you or Odin?"
"Odin will announce the date of Thor's coronation, then I will be given the floor to announce the pregnancy."
"So do you have some lovely little speech all worked out?" Sigyn inquired with a grin.
"No, I'll probably make it up as I go." Loki replied with a laugh.
Sigyn rolled her eyes playfully. Loki probably would make it up as he went along, and it would still probably be better than any announcement given by any other Asgardian. The two of them stood in silence on the balcony for a bit, but Sigyn could feel that Loki wanted to say something.
"Is everything all right?" She finally pried.
Loki let out a sigh.
"Not really. I spoke with the Council again today…"
"And?"
"And it looks like they have a rather interesting mission for me."
"So why are you unhappy if they are offering you a chance to participate in an interesting mission?"
"Because it will require me to be away from you for several weeks, and I just don't think I can do that, not while you are pregnant."
"I will be fine Loki, if you have to go you have to go."
Loki stroked her cheek, but his troubled expression didn't leave.
"That is the thing, I don't have to go. No one can force me to… Sigyn, I've thought long and hard about this, and I think it is time that I step down from my position with the War Council. I cannot in good conscience leave my expecting wife alone and vulnerable."
Sigyn didn't doubt that Loki could see her surprise. She knew what his work with the War Council meant to him, and yet here he was saying that he would give it up for her.
"Loki I… I appreciate that you would sacrifice something that you enjoy to do for me, but it isn't necessary…"
"But it isn't just you that I am forced to leave anymore is it? I should be here for you and our child." Loki insisted. "Besides, I have forced you to live in the shadow of danger for long enough. If I pull out now I can spare our child that danger."
Sigyn studied Loki's eyes intently. He seemed entirely at peace with this decision, and Sigyn would be lying if she didn't feel somewhat relieved by it. Loki's nightmares still worried her, and she believed that his mind could benefit from the freedom that separating himself from the War Council for a little while could bring. Still, she needed to reassure herself that this was truly Loki's desire.
"But will you not grow bored with your life?"
"Bored? How could I grow bored? Raising a child will be an adventure unlike anything I have ever experienced, and if our child is anything like your niece, we are in for a Realm of excitement."
Sigyn smiled, but inwardly she knew Loki was deceiving himself. He truly believed that he would not grow bored of a more normal lifestyle, but she knew he would. Loki needed change, he craved it. Her husband always needed a new challenge to face or puzzle to solve.
Stability?
Routine?
Predictability?
Those were all things that would drive her husband insane. Sigyn was, in a way, like her husband in that regard. She too needed stimulation. The same old routine was never enough for her either. Perhaps that was why she had fallen in love with Loki in the first place. He always kept her on her toes, and never allowed her to settle for the mundane things in life. Though Loki didn't realize it now, he would grow tired of living a normal life, and he would come to miss the thrill of the War Council's missions. Despite her harsh words to Odin about Loki "enslaving" himself to the Council and her belief that he needed to step away from the work for a while, Sigyn didn't think that giving it up entirely was the best solution either.
"Have you told the AllFather or the Council of this decision?" She inquired.
"Not yet, I promised to look over the parameters of the mission for a couple of days before deciding if I would take it or not. I intend to tell them when I refuse the mission." Loki explained.
Sigyn gave a little nod of understanding. She would allow him to step away from the War Council for now, but once the thrill of their child's first few months wore off and Loki began to feel restless she would encourage him to go back to the Council. According to what Odin had told her this morning, the War Council needed Loki's gifts so they would not be likely to turn them down should he offer them again. Sigyn gave Loki a little kiss of approval before taking his hand and leading him out the door for dinner.
The next day was spent in preparation for the banquet, and Sigyn kept a close eye on Loki. Though he wouldn't admit it, she was fairly certain he was nervous about standing in front of the entire nobility of Asgard to announce that they were expecting a child. She watched him fidget with his ceremonial armor nervously as she finished the last touches of her hair and makeup.
"Would you mind fetching my tiara, Darling?" She asked.
Loki went back into the bedchambers to go retrieve the silken box it was kept in, and then came to stand behind her. He kept his gaze locked with hers in the looking-glass as he set the crown atop her head. He ran his hands down her exposed neck, and let them rest on her upper arms before leaning down to kiss her neck.
"You look more beautiful every day, did you know that?" He asked softly before placing another quick kiss on her skin.
Sigyn rested one of her hands atop of his and smiled.
"Are you nervous?"
"Nervous? Why would I be nervous?"
"Because tonight is a big night for all of the Royal Family. Thor's coronation date is being set… you have to tell the nobles that were are to have a baby… it is just a big night."
"It is an important evening, which is why we should leave now so we won't be late for it." Loki remarked as he swept out of the bath chambers, his emerald cape flowing elegantly behind him
"You're avoiding my question." Sigyn noted as she rose and followed him out of the bath chambers.
"Perhaps I am." Loki replied before giving Sigyn a kiss on the cheek and going to open the door for her.
Sigyn folded her arms in front of her and tapped her foot.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" She pressed.
Loki's face fell, and he slouched his shoulders.
"Can't I just conveniently forget about it?" He whined.
"You could, but your Mother would force you to come back here and retrieve it even if you did." Sigyn pointed out.
Loki grudgingly returned to his wardrobe, and pulled out his helm. He stared at the item in disgust for a moment before placing it on his head.
"Are you satisfied now?" He queried.
Sigyn played with the green pendant around her neck and smiled.
"Yes, I am satisfied. It really isn't all that terrible…"
"You laughed at me the first time you saw it."
"I did no such thing! It would have been improper of me to laugh as I walked down the aisle."
"Well your eyes were laughing." Loki retorted before offering her his arm.
Sigyn took it and allowed him to lead her out of their chambers to the dining hall. Thor had managed to reach the hall before they had, and he greeted them with a bright smile.
"Ah, you're here!" Frigga stated in a relieved tone. "We need to discuss how we will greet the guests… I feel bad asking you to stand the entire time Sigyn, but if you were to sit we might give away one of the evening's surprises…"
"I believe I can manage to stand for that long, I am not that pregnant yet." Sigyn assured.
Frigga gave her a smile.
"I know darling, I just worry over you for… well obvious reasons."
Frigga's gaze landed on Loki for only a split second, but Sigyn understood her unspoken meaning. She wasn't far along enough in the pregnancy yet to really know how carrying a baby that was part Frost Giant would affect her, but Frigga had expressed some concern that it could be a less than pleasant experience. The odd geneology of the baby along with Arnora's death seemed to offer some dangerous outcomes for Sigyn's pregnancy, but as of yet there had been nothing out of the normal worthy to note.
"I will be fine." Sigyn assured once more, and Frigga gave her hand a squeeze.
"Well then you all know your places." The Queen stated before going to take hers.
The two Princes and Sigyn went to take their normal positions on the staircase. Loki slipped his arm around Sigyn's waist and let his hand rest just to the side of her abdomen. He unconsciously stroked her green and golden gown, and Sigyn had to try her best not to giggle as the first guests arrived. Acting as one of the hostesses and welcoming the guests to the banquet was a duty that Sigyn didn't normally mind, but she was rather relieved when it was completed this evening. The long period of standing had begun to tire her towards the end of it. The banquet began as any other banquet would, but Odin rose from his seat before dessert was served to indicate a pause in the meal.
"As I am sure you are all aware of, you have been invited to the palace to celebrate a rather important announcement alongside my house. In exactly one year from this feast, I will step down from my place on the throne, and will crown Thor, my eldest son, King of Asgard."
The banqueting hall burst into celebration at the pronouncement. Loki gave Thor a little playful shove on the arm and Thor gave him one right back. Sigyn didn't fight the smile that spread across her face at the brother's antics. They were five-year-olds. Despite her husband's cheery demeanour, she could sense a small amount of misgiving behind his playfulness. He still didn't believe Thor was ready for the throne. Regardless of what Loki thought on that subject however, he still needed to make their announcement. Odin took a seat, and Sigyn gave Loki's hand an encouraging squeeze. Before he could rise from his seat however, Thor did. Sigyn was a tad surprised to see Thor take the floor, and given the look on Loki's face, he was just as surprised. Sigyn eyed the elder Prince curiously as he began to speak.
"My friends, I thank you for your support, but the announcement of my coronation is not the only happy tidings we have to deliver this evening."
Sigyn's heart began to pound. Surely Thor wasn't about to do what Sigyn thought he was…
"A couple of months ago my little brother and his beautiful wife delivered the news to their families that they were expecting a child, and tonight we share the same happy announcement with you all. I hope that you will share with me in congratulating them on the newest addition to our family." Thor stated proudly.
The room burst into congratulatory shouts, and Sigyn could feel a blush creeping to her cheeks. She couldn't believe Thor had just made the announcement that Loki was supposed to make. Loki gave a nod of appreciation to Thor and the other nobles present, and Sigyn smiled rather blankly. It had taken all of her self-control to not place her head in her hands while Thor was speaking. What had he been thinking!?
Dessert was served next, and though she kept up a happy appearance, Sigyn couldn't help but feel awful for Loki. It had been his right to announce that they were expecting, and Thor had thoughtlessly taken it from him. She knew Thor hadn't meant to throw Loki in his shadow yet again, but that didn't matter. The rest of the banquet was spent dancing and accepting congratulations from friends and guests. Sif and the Warriors Three seemed quite impressed that Sigyn, Loki, and especially Thor had been able to keep the news of the baby even from them. Overall the evening was a happy one, but Sigyn simply couldn't shake her disappointment for Loki. It wasn't till she and Loki were making their way back to their wing of the palace that she was able to discuss the turn of events with him.
"I cannot believe Thor did that." She remarked.
"You can't?" Loki asked with a smirk. "It is Thor, he can hardly control himself half of the time. I'm just grateful he was able to keep the news to himself as long as he did."
"I know he lacks a good deal of self-control and subtlety, but still… surely he knew how important this was to you… to us…"
"Of course he did, but I highly doubt that he sees what he did as being disrespectful to either of us. He is happy for us, and he wanted to share that happiness with others."
"Still, he could have shared that happiness without sharing our announcement."
Loki stopped walking and looked down at Sigyn.
"Does it really bother you that much?" He pressed.
"It bothers me that he didn't even take you into consideration. You should have been the one to tell everyone. It was your right."
"Sigyn, I know where you are going with this argument… Yes, Thor should have allowed me to deliever the news of our child, but he didn't. The deed is done, and no one is really worse off for it."
"The issue I take with it is that Thor doesn't even realize what he did was wrong! He is so blinded by his own feelings that he doesn't realize when he has slighted those he cares for! How can he possibly take the throne a year from now when he can't recognize the needs or rights of others!"
"Sigyn…" Loki cooed. "I don't disagree with you, but I am used to living in Thor's shadow. Some people are just made to function best in those shadows."
Sigyn suddenly felt the need to burst into tears. It wasn't fair that Loki should always feel inferior to his brother. She wanted to protest her husband's statement, but Loki spoke before she could.
"I have you and our baby, I don't need anyone else. Let Thor have the love and attention of Asgard as long as I can have yours."
Sigyn threw her arms around Loki's chest, and he wrapped his arms around her. He would always have her love. Always.
