First off, please do not hate me. This is a very sad chapter; you may cry, you may not. I did, and I wrote it lol. So, I don't really know if I can say 'I hope you enjoy it', because of the subject matter, so I will just say 'I hope you don't find it disappointing. Please review and tell me what you think. I love all your comments!
Warning: Contains upsetting scenes and a character death.
Marvel Owns Loki and All remnants of Asgard. Leera, Loofney and Leymina are mine
….
"It is such a pleasure to have you with us this morn, my dear son." Frigga spoke over the feasting table towards her son, with a goblet in hand. Loki looked up and smiled, slowly chewing on a segment of a blood orange. Loofney has been a happy child since his father had told him he would be spending the day with him. Loofney was happy so much that he excitedly ate his breakfast at a rapid race, wanting to finish quick enough to allow more time to spend with his father, forgetting to chew and just piled up the food in his cheeks looking like a squirrel with nuts. Leera sat quiet during the meal and found herself analysing everyone. Looking over to Thor, Leera watched as the golden god placed an affectionate hand on his recent love's hand. She noticed Theyna smiling with such grace at the simple affection of the eldest son of Odin and blushed. Leera remembered the first few days she met Loki, and how they were like that with each other. Looking across the table, Lady Loki watched lady Sif chattering away in deep conversation with master Fandral. Hogun sat quietly in deep thought and Volstagg and little Loofney both sat, engrossed in their meal, and Leera noticed her son stuffing his cheeks and she gave a slight chuckle. Then, looking to her side, Leera regarded her husband's side profile. He was handsome and perfectly formed in his face. All his proportions were magnificent, and Leera fell into a deep hypnotic state as she trailed her eyes over Loki's chiselled cheek bones and long muscular neck. Looking back up to his face, Leera grinned and felt honoured that she, of all people in the universe, was married to this magnificent being, and was carrying his second child. Loki could feel eyes bearing into his head and he turned his gaze to his wife, watching her roaming her eyes over his features, smiling. Loki swallowed the orange segment and placed a hand on Leera's, underneath the table.
"My love, you're staring" Loki said quietly and Leera broke from her daze and looked into her husband's alluring eyes.
"Sorry" Leera replied, focusing her attention back to her practically full plate. Loki noticed the untouched food and frowned.
"Are you not hungry?" Loki questioned, moving towards his wife's side a little closer. Leera shook her head in agreement and placed the back of her hand against her forehead, feeling rather heated. Odin looked over at the raising limb and watched as his daughter-in-law checked her temperature, her cheeks evidently hot. "Take off your cloak my love, it may cool you down. The day is rather warm" Loki spoke, pulling at his wires cloak. Leera allowed her husband to removed said garment and watched as he placed in gently on the floor out of the way. "Would you like some water?" Loki asked, picking up the copper pitcher of water and edged it towards Leera's goblet.
"No, thank you, I might actually go back to bed, I am suddenly feeling rather odd" Leera replied and swung her legs over the bench and stood to her feet. Everyone around the table now silenced as they beheld the lady Loki, flustered with beads of sweat decorating her forehead. "Please excuse me, I am not feeling myself" Leera bowed her head to the All-Father and Queen and placed a kiss on Loki's head before turning to leave. Leera was halfway across the room when she felt a sharp pain shoot across her swollen stomach. Standing still, Leera gripped her stomach and took in a deep breath, feeling slightly light headed.
"Leera?" Theyna's concerned voice came and those with their back to the lady Loki turned and faced her, all gazing at the still, pregnant woman in the middle of the golden hall.
"My love, what is wrong?" Loki asked worriedly, standing to his feet. All was quiet for only moments until the golden hall was filled with the sound of a pain filled gasp and watched Leera bend over, placing a hand on her back. Loki's eyes widened and ran to his wife, holding her back in one arm and her arm in the other. Frigga also stood and glided over to the two dark haired beings. Leera's breathe became laboured as she clutched her swollen stomach. "Leera, what is it?" Loki spoke after hearing several footsteps approach them from behind. Leera opened her eyes and the room sound quickly. Feeling like she had no grasp on gravity, the knees of the dark haired beauty buckled and she collapsed, but Loki caught her just in time before her knees could impact with the stone floor. Dropping to his knees, Loki lowered Leera completely onto the floor, lying her body down. Stroking her face, Loki could hear panicked mumbles and gasps, and the emerald prince felt his knees suddenly dampen. Frowning, Loki leant backwards and looked to his knees. A small puddle was forming around them and Loki quickly scanned his eyes to Leera's crotch, finding a wet patch forming there through the golden fabric. Gasping Loki looked up to his mother. "Her waters have broken!" Frigga gave a look of surprise and lowered herself to her son's level, placing a hand on Leera's head.
"Leera, dear, can you hear me?..." Frigga said softly "... My sweet, it's time. You need to wake up for this dear" Leera groaned and opened her eyes, looking up at the golden queen. "My dear, it's time. Come, we must take you to the healing chambers" Leera whimpered and looked down her body, spotting her wet dress. Shaking her head from side to side Leera whimpered once more and crawled up to sit. Holding her stomach, Leera stood with help from her trickster of a husband. Leera pushed Loki's hand away and stumbled backwards, looking disorientated.
"No, not yet!" Leera cried and walked backwards, away from the crowd, spotting her son in Thor's arms. "I don't want it yet! It's too soon!"
"My dear, the child is obviously ready. It is time" Frigga chuckle and rested her hand on Loki's arm.
"No, I do not want it yet!" Leera cried once more looked fearfully into Loki's eyes. Loki noticed the look and rushed to his wife's side.
"Shhh, it's ok, I'm here. It's going to be fine. Just trust me" Loki cooed, cupping Leera's face in his hands. Leera moaned in pain and arched her back, her knees shaking once more. Loki breathed in once and with all his might, bent over and scooped her up in his arms. Looking back at the crowd that had gathered around them, Loki nodded and dashed from the room, as fast as his legs could carry him, and Frigga left in a hurry behind, telling Thor to keep Loofney away until the child was born, for it would not have been a sight for him to see.
"Not yet Loki, please, not yet" Leera cried against Loki's neck as he came closer to the healing chambers, not even stopping to relieve his aching legs
"It will be fine, my love, I am here" Loki reassured her, holding her tighter.
"I don't want it! Make it stay inside a while longer!" Leera screeched as a surge of pain shot through her being. Loki looked down quickly at his hysterical wife and felt his eyes water. This child was hurting her much, much more than Loofney, and it worried him. Bursting through the chamber door, careful not to harm Leera, Loki rushed to a spare bed at the bottom of the room and led Leera down, shooting around, eyeing the place for the nearest healer.
"You! Come here!" Loki commanded, pointing to the male healer by the desk. Obeying quickly he stood and approached the prince and his wife, looking pale at her writhing form.
"My Lord, what has happened?" He asked, looking to Loki.
"What does it look like you imbecile? Her pregnant stomach is obvious to any eye. She is ready to deliver." Loki spoke, not meaning to come across angry to the young male healer, but he was worried about his wife's pain.
"Loki…Loki…Loki" Leera repeated over and over again, reaching out, grabbing onto the sleeve of the tunic. Loki sat on the bed beside Leera's head and stroked her brow.
"I shall fetch a female healer. I believe Lady Loki will be much more comfortable with that" The healer spoke and rushed away before Loki could disagree, but in surprise, the elder came faster that Loki would ever had expected, with his mother at her side. Of course, Loki thought, Frigga must have informed said woman on her way here. The healer rushed to the bottom of the bed and looked for Loki to move away. Complying, Loki stood, holding his wife's hand in reassurance. The elder lifted Leera's legs so that her feet were flat on the bed, and her knees pointed upwards. Pushing her dress up and pooled it around Leera's waist, the elder immediately inspected for blood, as she remembered that with her previous child, she had bled during labour. Finding no evidence of blood, the elder looked up and noticed Leera breathing short puffs of air, holding her stomach, her knuckles white.
"My lady, are you having contractions by yourself?" The elder asked surprised and Leera nodded. This labour was far too quick for the elder's liking, but she knew that, when the child needed to come out, it needed to come out. "My prince, I believe that you wish to stay with your wife this time?" The elder asked.
"I do…" Loki replied and dropped Leera's hands, lifting her up into a sitting position and slid on the bed behind her. Pulling her back against his chest, Loki allowed his wife to lean against him, and he reached around and took her hands, one in each of his. Placing his head on her shoulder, Loki began to whisper into Leera's ear. Everything he had learned over the past few days were finally coming into practice. As Loki muttered words, which were inaudible to Frigga and the Elder, Leera began to relax against Loki and her breathing became more controlled.
"Arghh!" Leera suddenly screamed as something pushed against her stomach, something similar to a child kicking, but with an amazing force. Loki muttered faster and Leera moaned at the feelings in her stomach. The pain was getting worse and Leera felt like ripping out her eyes would be less painful. Squeezing Loki's hands Leera shouted out with a strained voice
"I want to try now, get the baby out now!" Loki looked up to the healer for the signal. The elder stood at the bottom of the bed and held Leera's legs open, closing her eyes, to feel the aura of the child in her womb. A burst of magic enveloped her senses, confirming to her that the child was ready to come out. Looking up at the prince, the elder nodded
"Are you ready my love? Do you trust me?" Loki whispered against Leera's ear.
"Yes Loki, just, do it" Leera cried hysterically, the pain overwhelming.
"Then push, my heart, push" Loki cooed and Leera took in a deep breath and pushed with all her might, screaming out her frustration. Loki began to utter words of his craft frantically and Leera's screams lessened, but not completely. Pushing again, Leera cried and dropped her head back onto Loki's shoulder, her eyes tightly shut.
"Arghh!" Leera yelled with the next push, and the next, and the next after that. It seemed to take forever, and Leera felt right at that moment that Death would be welcoming, to end this pain.
"My Lady, I see a head!" The elder exclaimed in glee and brought Leera out from her momentary depression. Pushing with desperation, Leera could feel the body of the child move out slowly. "More, my lady, just a few more of those" Leera growled and lifted herself up on Loki's hands, yelling in frustration. "Oh my!"
"What is it?" Frigga asked worriedly and stood next to the elder to look. It was a happy exclamation that slipped from the healer's mouth, as the baby was almost completely out. "My son, the child is almost out, do what you can for her" Frigga looked to her son and Loki nodded, speaking louder into Leera's ear and Leera felt a sudden urge on energy burst through her and Leera cried out, giving a final push, and she felt the baby's for fall from her body. The room was filled with cries; the new born child's and Lady Loki's. The elder wrapped the baby into a fresh cloth and looked up at the eager parents.
"My Lord, My Lady, you have been blessed with a daughter" Loki opened his mouth wide and let out a chuckle, tears trickling down his face at the sight of the small form squealing in the healers arms. Loki looked down to his wife to see her reaction but found that she had now closed her eyes, her breathing laboured once more. Loki frowned and spoke
"My Love, what is it? Our child is out" Leera shook her head in disagreement and let out a gasp, leaning forward and braced herself on her elbows, legs still wide and Leera felt the need to push once more, so letting out a cry, Leera pushed. "Leera, the baby is out, what are you doing?" Loki panicked.
"There…Is…Something…Else…In…Me!" Leera snapped in between harsh breaths. The elder passed the new born child to its grandmother and rushed to the foot of the bed, looking between Leera's legs and her mouth dropped open. Loki spotted the expression on the old woman's face and felt a surge of horror consume him.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Loki said quickly.
"My Lord, there is another child! You are having twins!" The elder gasped and grinned at the prince. Loki laughed and held Leera tighter, and resumed to chant his words of the arts. Leera pushed and pushed, sweat pouring from her head and body, soaking both her and Loki. "I see another head, dear lady, just a few more, just a few more" The elder encouraged. Leera clenched her hands tightly together and with one final push, mustering all the energy she had left, and with Loki's magic encouraging her, Leera pushed with an almighty scream and she felt the body of the second child fall from her. Feeling instant relief, Leera sat up, With Loki holding her, supporting her, and both looked on at the next child. The elder looked down and smiled. "It is a boy" She exclaimed but her excitement faded as the child still had not cried. So, lightly slapping the side of the child's leg to encourage it to breath normally and let out it's cry of coming into the world, the elder, never took her eyes from the baby's face. After the slap was administered, the child made no movement. Leaning forward, the elder checked to see if there was any breath of life in the baby, and there was but not much… not enough to deem healthy.
"My baby, what's wrong with my baby?" Leera said hysterically, wriggling in Loki's grasp. Loki held on tightly and just watched on with silent hurt, watching as the healer tried to bring this new born baby to life. Moving quickly over to a high table, the healer placed the baby down gently and hovered her hands over him, reading his aura. Opening her eyes sadly, the healer looked down at the tiny form, finally knowing that it was not this child's destiny to live. Her eyes watering at the sight of the feeble baby laying silent, the healer witnessed the baby's breath hitch ever so slowly and come to an end. Holding back her sorrowful tears, the healer scooped up the cold form and turned to face the dark haired pair on the bed, and Frigga lowered her gaze with tears trickling down her cheeks, for as soon as the child entered the world, she too saw its fate. "My baby? My baby?" Leera choked reaching out her arms for the healer to place the body in her arms. Bowing in respect, the healer left the prince and his lady in privacy for some moments, and ventured with Lady Frigga to the cleaning room to wash the new born daughter of Loki and Leera. Leera held the tiny form and stroked it's head shakily. "My baby, my sweet, sweet baby"
"I- I , my…." Loki tried to say words fitting for this moment but was lost in his sorrows as his gaze traced over the tiny form in his wife's arms. And he was tiny, much smaller than Loofney was, and much smaller than what his sister was. Burying his face in the back of Leera's neck, Loki did not care that he was in public, and let out a loud cry. Leera sat still, unmoving as her gaze never left the baby boy. Frigga returned without the healer, but with the baby in her arms, and she froze at the sight. Loki's head was lying against Leera's shoulder, sobbing loudly, and Leera sat like a statue, silent tears trickling down her face as she stared at the cold, unmoving baby boy In her arms.
"My darlings…" Frigga spoke, walking forward, her voice strained "I am so, so sorry. But you cannot do this to yourself. You daughter needs her mother and father right now. It is important for the new born infant to bond with its parents soon after the birth. Please, give him to me, while you see to her. I shall not take him from you. You can see him again after your daughter" Frigga said, trying to composed herself, stopping herself from trembling. Leera did not move her body, but her eyes moved over to her mother in law and dropped on the wriggling bundle in her arms.
"My son…" Was all she could say and returned her gaze to the dead body resting in her arms. Loki sniffled and lifted his gaze to his mother also, and knew she was right. Looking back at his son, Loki cried once more, but reached around and rested his hand over Leera's.
"My love…" He spoke in almost a whisper, and Leera snapped to attention and nodded, understanding. Lifting the small baby boy to her face, Leera placed a kiss on the child's head.
"I'm so sorry my son. Sleep well dear love" She choked and lowered her gaze, still holding the boy up. Loki leaned forward and kissed the child's head in the same place as his wife.
"I love you" Loki whispered and his eyes began to burn with tears once more. Walking back into the room, the elder strode over to the bed and removed the child from Leera's hands and took him to the washroom. Frigga sighed, heartbroken at the sight she had beheld and walked to her son and daughter in law, placing the bundle in Leera's arms. Closing her eyes for a moment, composing herself, Leera took a deep breath. Opening her eye moments later, Leera looked down at the breath filled baby. She was beautiful. Her eye's shone a lighter shade of green than her parents, and they were bigger, shining with awe at the new surroundings around her. Loki reached around a hand and placed one of his long fingers in the baby's small hand. "Hello little one" Loki said, trying to sound happy at the sight of his daughter, but his chest still pained. The little girl opened her mouth, yawning and baring her pink gums. Leera looked down, her soul feeling broken. She tried to smile, but it failed her and Leera felt a river of tears fall from her eyes. The little baby noticed the tears falling from her mother's eyes and her face immediately turned sad.
"Hello, sweet one" Leera managed through her tears, not bothering to stop crying, for her heart hurt too much.
"She looks like you" Loki whispered, his voice straining as he swallowed the lump in his throat.
"She is beautiful" Leera cried, her body shaking. Loki whimpered and held on to his wife tighter, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. He could not imagine how she was feeling at that moment. Yes, he was his son too, but Leera went through all that pain in birthing him. Loki could not comprehend how Leera was feeling, and it broke him to see her in such a way.
"Are you going to name her now, or will you wait until. . .you bury…" Frigga began, but could not finish, and placed a hand over her mouth, holding back a whimper.
"I, I , I don't know. Leera, my love, my heart? What do you want to do?" Loki said quietly, his face wet from tears.
"We should name her now" Leera sobbed, softly rubbing the baby's head with a forced smile.
"Do you… are you…shall I…what do you want…" Loki could not finish a sentence as he watched his wife's expression from the corner of his eye.
"I will…" Leera assured and sat for a moment, thinking and staring into the distance "...Leymina" Leera said, a genuine smile displaying on her face at the sound of the name on her mouth. She had thought back to the book she and Loki had found in the great library of Asgard of children's names that were very rarely used for gods and goddesses, and Leera found that perfect.
"Beautiful" Loki replied and looked at his daughter, his heart swelling with a mixture of sorrow and pride.
"She is…"Leera agreed "…Our little Leymina" Leera leant her head backwards, leaning it against her husbands and sighed deeply.
"Mother…" Loki began and Frigga walked forward.
"Yes, my son?"
"Could you take our daughter a moment please"
"Of course my son, you have bonded with her now"
"I wish to see my son…" Loki sniffled and slid from the bed, handing out and arm for Leera. "My love? Do you wish to come with me?" Leera nodded and slowly stood to her feet, a throbbing sensation still evident between her legs from baring two children, and took Loki's hand. Walking slowly and carefully, with Loki supporting her, Leera looked back at her daughter and smiled. The two dark haired gods walked away from the Queen and solemnly into the washroom.
("Dilenreen" - So as promised this is the sketch of Loki's gift from Odin that I made, that is described in either chapter 33 or 34 of 'Love lost in a single heartbeat'. I hope it's what you visualized.
art/Dilenreen-316324256