Chapter Fourteen

Frey stroked his baby niece's hair as he strolled around the marketplace looking for something that looked good for lunch. Sigyn slept soundly in the sling around his neck, the noise of the market far less than the noise of Freyja's house that she normally slept through.

"Your sister has put you on babysitting duty, I see."

Frey turned to see Tyr approaching. The warrior smiled fondly at the sleeping baby . Frey met his eyes curiously- Tyr's expression was so strange, though!

"I enjoy spending time with my nieces, and Sigyn is the easiest of the lot to watch," Frey replied. "Walk with me?"

Tyr nodded gratefully. "I have been meaning to talk with you for some time."

The two men left the marketplace, talking of mundane things, swords and whatnot, until they were reasonably assured of some privacy.

"How is Lady Freyja?" Tyr asked. "I haven't seen her since Sigyn was born..."

"She's well. Exhausted with everything that is happening. Don't take it personally, she always makes a point to ignore her lovers until her child is at least three months old."

Tyr's brow furrowed. "This isn't what I thought it would be like," he admitted. "And I am not sure who else to talk to about it."

"My ears are far more used to such talk than I once was," Frey replied, shaking his head, remembering how naive he had once been. "For a long time Freyja's greatest fun came from making me blush. It is not so common that she is able to accomplish that goal now."

"She is very direct."

"Yes, she is."

"She seems so confident, and yet..." Tyr's uncertain voice trailed off.

A blond eyebrow arched. "Yes?"

"It seems that sometimes she is afraid to be alone with me."

Frey was silent. He couldn't very well tell Tyr the reason, could he?

"Some nights it's like she can't get enough... well, you don't want the details. But it's good. Others, she'll start crying for no reason that I can see, and she won't tell me why. Other times she shudders if I touch her, and flinches if I try to kiss her." Tyr's brow was dark with confusion. "What am I doing wrong?"

"Are you waking up, Sigs?" Frey said as the baby stirred.

"She's a beautiful baby."

Frey nodded in agreement. "Freyja is going through a difficult time right now. It's not you. She flinches from me if I surprise her."

"Why? What happened?"

"I can't tell you that." Frey's eyes grew stormy. He had gotten nowhere in his search for Freyja's attacker. This man who was powerful and not of Asgard. He didn't know where to start! Perhaps, if he knew how to summon Atum, he could get aid in his search. But he didn't know how to contact Atum, and he dared not ask Gaea for her help. She was just as worried and scared of that being as Freyja was! Perhaps, after the wedding and Freyja was feeling better, he could find some excuse to visit Thoth, but what would that bird-brain be able to help him with?

"Lord Frey?"

"I apologise, I was caught in my thoughts."

Sigyn cooed, and Frey smiled at her. She was a beautiful baby. Freyja loved her as fiercely as she loved any of her daughters, despite the circumstances of her conception.

Tyr sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "I wish I could help, but I feel like if I tried she would push me away."

"She would. And if I invited your help, she would be just as mad at me. It's happened before."

"Then what can I do?"

Frey thought for a moment. "Eventually she might allow you a deeper place in her life, but I doubt that she will. What do you want, Tyr? Decide that, and go forward with it. If you want something that she doesn't, move on. If you think that you can change her mind, then leave right now."

"Freyja isn't the only blunt one."

"I've dealt with far too many angry men who thought they had a right to my sister's body not to speak my mind."

Tyr nodded once. "Perhaps I need to talk with her, then."

"That might be a good idea. An impossible one, perhaps, but a good one nonetheless." Frey shook his head. "For what it's worth, I do hope that you and she last. She needs a good man in her life."

"She has you, doesn't she?"

"I'm her brother. I have to love her."

"She told me that she's not looking for love."

"She's not. But I'd better get this squirmy worm back home. She'll be getting hungry."

Frey nodded to Tyr and turned his path towards Freyja's house. Sigyn cooed some more, her fuzzy head turning, her blue eyes taking in all the sights around her. Frey smiled at his niece, lifting her out of the sling so she could see more. She nestled warmly in his arms, and he kissed her downy head. He hadn't talked to Freyja about what she intended on telling Sigyn about her father when she was old enough to ask such questions, but Frey was certain that she would get the same story as the other girls, about the dwarfish brothers.

No-one, he thought, should ever have to wonder about being wrought of evil.

AN: I'm glad this story is receiving so many views, but if you have taken the time to read it, I would appreciate hearing what you think. Negative and positive reviews welcome! :)