Chapter Twenty-Three

"But Mor, Uncle Frey wanted to take me riding! He's leaving tomorrow!"

"I am well aware of that," Freyja replied to Sigyn's wail. "I also know he wasn't going to take you riding. You were planning to go to the palace library and sneak some magic books."

Sigyn was silent as Freyja dragged her toward Idunn's house. Both were fuming.

"I've told you, you are not learning magic! You don't need it! You can do your fencing and dancing and-"

"I hate fencing and dancing!"

"You do not hate dancing."

"All I want is to learn magic! I'm good at it, Mother! I'm good-"

"Enough, Sigyn! You will not learn magic! Now stop your pouting, or Idunn won't want you to come visit." Freyja adjusted her grip on Sigyn's hand. The blonde teenager scowled but offered no more resistance.

When Freyja swept into Idunn's house, she saw that her second-oldest already had company. Lady Alti with her young daughter, Sif.

"Mother!" Idunn sprang to her feet and embraced Freyja, kissing both her cheeks. "Save me!" she whispered dramatically.

"Lady Alti, how good it is to see you!" Freyja enthused.

"And you, Lady Freyja," Alti replied, rather coolly. "Sif, say hello."

"Hello," Sif replied automatically, looking bored to tears.

"Sigyn, why don't you and Sif go play in the garden?" Freyja suggested. If she was to rescue Idunn from Alti, the ensuing conversation would not be suitable for their ears...

The girls dutifully left, though neither looked particularly thrilled at the development.

"I've heard wonderful things about your youngest daughter, Freyja," Alti started as soon as the girls were out of earshot. "So quiet and refined."

"Yes," Freyja agreed. "One would hardly believe she was related to me."

"I do wish more of my students were like her," Idunn added. "Sigyn takes her dancing so seriously. She never talks back or misses appointments..." Freyja arched a delicate brow at the bold lie while Idunn clapped her hands over her mouth, quite convincingly feigning shame. "Oh, I don't mean to infer anything about Sif! She is a very graceful girl. I am terribly sorry, Lady Alti."

"I don't blame you, Idunn," Alti replied with a sigh. "I don't know what has gotten into her lately! I fear it may take drastic action to put her back in her place."

"Oh, are you thinking of marrying her off?" Freyja asked innocently. "And at such a young age!"

"I don't believe in girls marrying before they are twenty," Alti replied coldly.

"Weren't you married when you were Sif's age?" Freyja pressed. "Fourteen?"

"I was fifteen, Freyja, and I was widowed before my honeymoon was finished."

"I sense there is more to this story than I know," Idunn said eagerly, and then added demurely. "Of course I wouldn't want to pry."

"Lady Agata married off her daughter to a wealthy man older than her grandfather-" Freyja started.

Alti interrupted. "And he was killed a week later while brawling in a brothel."

Idunn's hand flew to her mouth.

"I heard it was a tavern," Freyja said, blinking in surprise. "A brothel?"

"Yes. Apparently he did not like the fact that I did not enjoy lying with him. And if I hadn't inherited all his money at his death, my mother would have disowned me for my marriage to a Norn!" Alti took a deep breath and the look of one who had said too much came over her face.

"That's terrible," Idunn whispered.

"My mother did what was best for our family name."

Idunn sat back, thinking before she turned to Freyja. "Mor, thank you for ruining your reputation so completely that you that you couldn't marry my sisters and I off for the sake of the family name."

Alti opened her mouth to protest but stopped. "My mother did me a service, after a fashion."

Freyja's brows arched. "And how is that?"

"I'll never use Sif to further my own esteem!"

Sif and Sigyn came running back indoors then. Both their eyes were alight. Sif curtseyed gracefully and then ran to her mother. "Would you mind if Sigyn and I went for a walk? I wish to show her my favourite places in the woods, but we may be gone for some time."

Idunn clapped her hands. "What a wonderful idea!" she exclaimed, overenthusiastic. "The woods are beautiful at this time of year."

Alti glanced at Freyja, and Freyja nodded. It would be good for Sigyn to spend some time outdoors.

"Very well." Alti agreed. "Please be back by sunset, and do not get lost!"

"We won't, Mother. Thank you!"

The girls joined hands and dashed out of the house, both beaming as though they had just pulled a masterful prank.

"Well," Alti said, standing. "I had best get back home. I have a lot of work to do."

Freyja smiled pleasantly until Alti was out the door. And then she turned and raised a brow at Idunn.

"Bragi is tutoring the young Crimson Hawks with their histories. Will you stay for lunch?" Her daughter asked brightly, scurrying off to the kitchen.

"Idunn, what are you doing?" Freyja asked suspiciously, following after her daughter.

"Making lunch, Mother, just as I said."

"Idunn."

"Mother."

Freyja smirked and looked in the icebox for the fixings of a sandwich. "Why are you so eager for Sigyn to be friends with Alti's daughter?"

"Because Sigyn needs some rebellion in her life and Sif has that in spades." Idunn kissed Freyja's cheek. "Sigyn is just too docile and well-behaved!"

"Would you rather have her wild and uncontrolled?"

"Mother, the girl doesn't even climb trees. She can't always be so concerned with pleasing others that she ends up miserable."

Freyja hummed. "I suppose..."

"Which reminds me. Syn stayed here last night."

Freyja frowned. "She told me she was going to go to a party."

"She did, but she told me that she realised that she didn't really want to be there and came here. Said she didn't want to answer your questions so she didn't go home." Idunn silently put together her sandwich. "She was throwing up all morning."

Freyja's frown deepened. "You think she's pregnant?"

"She could be. You should talk to her."

"I will. Thank you for letting me know." Freyja sighed. "I will hold off a couple days, though. If she is... I would rather for her to tell me of her own prerogative."

Idunn nodded her understanding.

"Speaking of pregnancy..." Freyja prodded Idunn in the side.

"Oh, are you having another baby, Mor?"

Freyja rolled her eyes. She wasn't quite ready to let her daughters know they would have another sibling; besides, she wanted to tell them all at once. "You've been married for thirteen years, Idunn."

"And if I was pregnant, I would tell you, Mother. Did you find it helpful after Hnossa and before I was born when people kept asking you when you were going to have more children?"

Freyja winced. "I'm sorry."

Idunn sat and started to eat. "I want to have children, but Bragi isn't sure. He's worried that he won't be able to keep up with them. I don't want to pressure him. And don't tell him I said anything."

"You are going to tell him how you feel though, aren't you?" Freyja pressed.

"I'm planning a romantic getaway to bring it up." Idunn chewed in silence for a moment. "What if he just does not want children, and he's just giving excuses?"

"Then you both need to talk about it." Freyja reached over and squeezed Idunn's hand. "Just keep your paths of communication fortified."

Idunn nodded. "I'll try. But enough of that. Do you have a new dress for the upcoming festivities?"

"Always. Have you been asked to perform a routine at the royal feast again this year?"

Idunn nodded. "I have my best dancers working extra hours on the choreography. It's going to be beautiful! All the girls will be wearing blue-"

"But you have not invited Sigyn?"

"Sigyn does not have a passion for dance, Mother. If I am to have a routine shown to all of Asgard, I can only use the best of my girls."

Freyja tapped her fingers against the table. "You mean she's too busy poring over her books to bother practicing?"

"She had grace and rhythm, and she likes it well enough but she doesn't love dancing." Idunn paused. "But you know what I think she would love?"

"She is not learning magic!"

"I was going to say poetry. I think with a little encouragement she could write verse for Var, rather than all those clichéd songs she sings. It is about time Sigyn started earning a little money of her own, don't you think? She's thirteen. It will be good for her confidence. I remember when I bought my first dress with my own money... although Sigyn would probably buy a book."

"Poetry?"

"She's quite good. I've read a few of her poems, when she let me."

"She's never shown me any poems."

"She thinks she has to be perfect for you."

Freyja hummed. "I don't know what to do with her."

"I do," Idunn replied promptly. "But you don't want to hear about it."

Freyja gave her an annoyed look and changed the topic, helping her clean up after lunch. If only they knew why I can't let Sigyn learn magic...

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"Guess what?" Sigyn clamoured eagerly to Frey as they all sat around the table in his house that night. "I made a new friend. Sif. We spent all day together, and we're going to meet tomorrow again. She knows the princes and wants to be a warrior when she grows up! I don't think her parents really like that, though."

"Does Thor still throw rocks when he doesn't get his way?" Idunn asked curiously, pushing back from the table and resting her hands on her very full stomach.

Sigyn's brow furrowed. "What?"

"That's right, you're too little to remember. Mor used to watch the little prince all the time, before you were born."

Sigyn's jaw dropped. "How come nobody told me that?"

"Because Frigga and I had a terrible fight and it makes me sad to think about it," Freyja replied. She stood and began gathering plates.

"I'm sorry," Sigyn said, her eyes distressed. She bit her lip. "I can stop talking about it."

"No, you go ahead and tell your sisters all about your day while I get dessert."

"I'll help," Frey volunteered. He quickly followed her into the kitchen. "So Sigyn has made a friend?"

"Yes. And they spent the whole day together. It's good for her, I suppose. She doesn't have many friends."

"You mean she doesn't have any friends except for her sisters."

"That too."

Frey was silent as he dished out slivers of cake. "Are you still angry with me?"

"Yes." Freyja sighed. "I understand why you're leaving, though. I guess now was the best time for Sigyn to make a new friend. She'd be awfully lonely without you."

"I can't just change my mind. I have to serve out my rotation."

"I know."

Frey shook his head. "So Sigyn's new friend," he said as he and Freyja both gathered up dishes to take out to the girls. "She knows the princes?"

"Apparently."

"You don't have a problem with that?"

Freyja shrugged nonchalantly. "I have no quarrels with the boys, just their father. Just so long as neither of them start trying to seduce my baby."

"Mother!" Sigyn protested, having just joined them in the hopes of helping. Her normally pale tones flushed with embarrassment. "I'm only thirteen!"

Freyja smiled teasingly. "But you are already starting to fill in your bust."

"Freyja, leave her alone," Frey interrupted as Sigyn went redder, crossing her arms self-consciously. "Sigs is still young enough for pigtails and bare feet, aren't you?"

Sigyn grabbed Frey's hand. "I climbed a tree today!"

"You did? After all these years of me trying to convince you that it's safe? Hmmm. Sif might be a good influence on you after all!"

Sigyn rolled her eyes. Freyja and Frey both laughed affectionately and they all brought cake out to the rest of the girls. Freyja surveyed her family. Bragi was working, and so he wasn't there, Lofn and Porir lived on Alfheim, but Var was home from her latest tour, and Idunn, the triplets and Sigyn were all here.

"I have an announcement to make," Freyja said, setting down a slice of cake in front of Syn.

The girls looked up attentively.

"You are all going to have another sibling."

Idunn shook her head exasperatedly, but she was smiling. "Mor, when I suggested you have another, I was only half serious!"

Var laughed. "So you finally have your ninth!"

The triplets exchanged looks then all giggled, though Syn's seemed a little forced.

"Aren't you getting a bit old for this, Mor?" Sjofn teased. Freyja swatted at her half-heartedly.

Sigyn was grinning from ear-to-ear. "A new baby... I won't be the youngest anymore!"

Freyja smiled indulgently at her, before hesitantly looking at her twin. His brow was creased with concern.

"Are you sure you can handle this, Freyja? You'll essentially be on your own, and Sigyn is still so young..."

"I'll be fine." Freyja tossed her head haughtily.

"We'll all help, anyway." Var input gently. "Mor won't be alone."

Frey nodded. He smiled. "Well, then. Thank you for telling us before I was transferred out."

"Oh," Sigyn murmured, as though she had just remembered.

"Yes, well... let's eat our cake. Sigyn, why don't you tell us more about your day? What are you planning on doing tomorrow?"

"We're going to go riding and have a picnic. It'll be fun."

"Just don't let those princes pull anything on you," Var warned her teasingly. "Although... Just imagine, one of our sisters becoming queen someday!"

"Loki isn't going to be king though," Sigyn blurted, and then went red.

Her sisters were like sharks scenting blood. "Loki's caught your eye, has he?"

"Shall I start writing the announcements?"

"I'll help you choose your wedding dress."

"I'll have to have new shoes made..."

"Enough," Freyja chided. "Sigyn's just met the princes, nothing's going to happen for a long time yet. You have years to plan her wedding."

"Mor!" Sigyn cried, burying her face in her hands. "I can't wait for the new baby. Maybe then everybody will stop picking on me!"

"We love you, Sigs, you know that right?" Frey said seriously. "We just want to make sure you're safe."

"Well, nothing is going to happen tomorrow!"

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Freyja flung the door to Sigyn's room open, bolting in without acknowledging the triplets. She rushed to Sigyn's side and immediately pulled her into an embrace. Sigyn made a faint noise like she was about to be sick. Freyja pulled back and saw that she was a deathly shade of white, and looked as though she had been hit by a carriage.

"What happened?" the distraught mother demanded. "You were supposed to be home hours ago! I've been looking everywhere!"

Sigyn looked down at her feet and mumbled something.

Freyja frowned. She looked at the triplets – and to her surprise there weren't three girls looking at her. There were three girls and a boy. He was younger than the triplets but older than Sigyn, and wore the armour of the Crimson Hawks.

"Who are you?"

"Theoric, my lady." He bowed politely. "Lady Sigyn was taken ill at Heimdall's observatory. He sent a messenger for you, but they could not find you and so delivered the message to Lady Idunn instead. As she was busy, Lord Bragi entrusted me with escorting your daughter home."

Freyja frowned suspiciously, but nodded. "Thank you, Theoric. Now get out of her bedroom."

Theoric nodded and bowed to her, before taking Sigyn's hand. "I would like to meet you more formally, my lady, and under better conditions."

Sigyn blushed – Freyja wasn't sure if that was a good sign or a bad one – and nodded. "I would like that, too."

"I'll see you out," Syn volunteered, and led the Crimson Hawk out.

"He's a handsome one," Snotra noted when they were gone.

Freyja nodded and checked Sigyn's temperature. She wasn't unusually warm or cool. "Let me talk to your sister."

Snotra and Sjofn left, closing the door behind them.

"I'm sorry for making you worry."

"What happened? I would have thought that you could have at least stopped by to tell me you were going to be gone all day!"

Sigyn's gaze dropped again. "I didn't realise it was all day."

"So tell me what happened."

"Sif and I went to the palace, and then we met up with Thor and Loki. We decided to go riding, and went up to the little lake-pond at Lillitha that Uncle Frey likes to picnic at. We were going to eat and explore a little bit. We lost track of time."

"And?" Freyja pressed. Her daughter was lying to her.

Sigyn wrapped her arms around herself. "Loki brought some wine and mead."

Freyja blinked in surprise. "He got you drunk?!"

"Please don't shout."

It was difficult for Freyja to do, but she swallowed down her anger. Sigyn was in rough enough shape as it was. "Fine. But we're going to talk about this more later! I can't believe... I'm not sure I want you to spend time with that boy if he's getting you drunk!"

A flash of panic flew through Sigyn's eyes. "No, Mor!" she wailed. "Don't say I can't see him again. He's my friend. And Sif's always at the palace, I wouldn't be able to see her, either! They're my only friends!"

Freyja planted a kiss on her daughter's forehead. "We'll talk later. Rest. I'll bring you some toast... At least tell me you had the state of mind to keep your clothes on!"

Sigyn flushed brilliant red, but she nodded. "I didn't take my clothes off, even when I went swimming."

That was not the reassurance Freyja wanted to hear, but she decided to let it slide – for the moment. She would have time enough to scold Sigyn when she was feeling better... My baby is growing up, she thought, shaking her head. Getting drunk! Ah, well... It could be worse.