So here it is, the next chapter. I hope you like it, and im quite… well, very happy at the response of the last chapter. I was a bit worried, but I felt that Leera also needed to experience a heart wrenching pain as much as our loving Loki. I hope you did not find it too upsetting. But thank you again for your support. So, this chapter is more talking and Loki thinking than anything, so not much action, so I do hope you don't find it boring, please enjoy it! *crosses fingers and closes eye, jumping up and down on the spot*
I recently watched Shakespeare's 'The Hollow Crown' and found it epic. So, the last play 'Henry V' with Tom Hiddleston was well… I was in awe, and there was one line in there that I had to put in here, so if you spot it as think… hey that's not your words… I know haha. So the words "Your lips are witchcraft" do not belong to me, they belong to the marvellous Shakespeare! Anywho, going on…
Marvel owns Loki and all remnants of Asgard. Leera, Loofney, Leymina, Theyna and Feyńir are my creation.
….
Loki walked behind Leera, supporting her with his hand on the lower of her back. Odin, Thor and the warriors three, along with dear little Loofney walked into the room and watched with confused expressions at the solemn couple walking into the washroom. Thundering over to his mother, Thor looked down at the bundle in her arms and smiled, Odin now behind him. "pray, tell us mother, here we see a healthy new born child, so why does my brother and his lady walk away with such brokenness?" Frigga looked at the people in the room then to the wash room and back.
"My dear son, husband and friends... Our dearest Leera gave birth to not one child but two. The first, this child I hold in my arms, entered life healthy and crying, yet the sweet second child entered in silence. He had no breath in him, and did not survive the birth. My sweet Loki and Leera have retrieved to the washroom to look once more upon their silent baby boy." Frigga finished and witnessed as tears trailed down each face, bar little Loofney for he did not understand.
"This is saddening. A birth should not be solemn, it should be joyous. Not parent should have to outlive their child. Tell me, my love, how do they fare?" Odin said above a whisper, gazing at his wife with his one gloomy eye.
"Not well, husband. It took much for them both to bond with this little one..." Frigga looked into the bundle "... I fear, as expected, this has crushed their souls. To bear a child, to go through such pain, and to receive it lifeless, is something I can never imagine. I fear our Leera may become weak in her binding with this precious girl. Her eyes were weak and broken as she looked upon her daughter. We must do everything in our power to keep her strong" Frigga addressed the company at the last of her words. Thor was about to speak when Leera let out aloud cry. Everyone's attention shot to the door of the washroom. The sound of hearty sobs echoed in the room and Loki opened the door, bracing his arms on each side on the door frame, looking red eyed at the crowd. Never had anyone in the room, seen Loki in such a state. Dried tears sparkled on his cheeks and his eye were red raw, holding back more tears that threatened to fall. Dropping his head weakly to the sound of Leera crying, Loki felt his knees shake. Fandral, the nearest to the prince, jogged over and held onto one of Loki's arms. The trickster prince looked up at the welcomed support and smiled thankfully, the moved his face once more to the direction of the company, and Loki saw his young son, standing with tears in his eyes and the sight of his father crying and his mother wailing desperately.
Breaking from Fandral's grasp Loki dropped to his knees and opened his arms, willing his son to come to him. Loofney ran to his father and embraced his tightly, placing his head in his father's neck. Odin swallowed a lump in his throat at the sight before him. "Father, why are you crying? Why is mother crying?" Loofney whispered looked past Loki's shoulder, through the open door at his mother on the floor holding something he could not see.
"We are sad my love?" Loki replied feebly.
"Why?" Loofney inquired, looking sadly at his mother's shaking form. Loki bit back his tears and spoke softly.
"Remember that place I told you about where elder beings or injured beings go when they fall asleep?"
"That place where nothing hurts anymore?"
"Yes, my love. Well, your little brother has gone to sleep my love, and it saddens us"
"Already? Was he not well father? Does that mean I don't have a sibling anymore?"
"No my sweet boy, he was not, we were weak... You have a little sister my Loofney. You're going to be a big brother, just like Thor is to me. You have to take care of her now" Loki pulled back and smiled, cupping his sons face in his hands.
"Why are you sad then father? My brother is in the good place. He isn't ill anymore, so why do you cry?" Loofney asked, still confused.
"Because we did not spend much time with him my heart. It saddens us that we won't spend time with him like we have with you."
"Oh, I understand. I'm sorry father" Loofney lowered his gaze.
"My sweet boy, there is nothing to be sorry for. Come now, place a smile on that face. You are a big boy now, six year old. You have to be big now to look after your sister, and to... Make your mother happy" Loki smiled and placed a kiss on his Childs forehead, standing to his feet. Smiling sadly to his parents and brother, Loki turned and walked back into the washroom. "Leera, beloved?" Loki whispered as he closed the door behind himself. Leera looked up at the voice, her face frozen. Loki sat down besides his wife and took the child from her arms, placing him in his lap, both dark haired beings shuffling backwards to rest against the wall.
"What would you have called him?" Leera's soft voice came, resting her head on Loki's shoulder, looking down at the baby.
"I know not, and I do not seem to have it in me to name him" Loki replied quietly, stroking the baby's face.
"We should. I do not want to bury our son without a name" Leera answered. Loki sighed and closed his eyes, dropping his head backwards to rest against the wall. "Did... What were you going to call him Loki, when you thought of names if we were to have a son?"
"He was to be named Feyńir, a name fitting for a second son of Loki" Loki said heartbroken.
"It sounds perfect, Loki" Leera spoke, kissing Loki on the cheek, the taste of his salty tears tingling across her lips. Taking in a deep breath Leera nodded to herself and reached for Feyńir. Picking up her son, Leera rested him on the blankets formed on the counter by the elder. Kissing her sons head, Leera looked to Loki and he crawled to his feet. Stroking the new borns head, Loki looked at his son once more then placed a loving kiss on his forehead. Leaning over after the affectionate act, Loki grabbed a linen cloth from the towel pile on the counter and placed it over the baby, covering his body in respect. "The elder shall clean him up, ready for..." Leera began but bit her lip. Loki nodded and cast one final glance to his lost son and grabbed his wife's hand, leading her from the room. Entering the chambers, Leera stopped still at everyone looking at her with remorse. Leera calmed herself and strode to Frigga, taking her daughter into her arms and she walked back to her bed, sitting on the edge of the bed, cradling her sleeping daughter. Loki walked to his mother and placed a kiss on her cheek in gratitude but avoided the looks of everyone else in the room.
"I am deeply sorry for your loss my son" Odin apologised before Loki turned away. The emerald prince snapped his head back to face his father and opened his mouth to say something in response, but instead left for his wife. "We shall prepare. No one of royalty should have to wait longer than necessary for burial. I shall inform the guards to clear an area of grass in the king's burial garden. Shall we inform the people of Asgard to attend?" Odin said quietly, scratching his chin and eyed his son in the distance.
"No, this is personal. They will not want a crowd" Frigga answered and placed a hand on Thor's arm, moving him away slightly. "Come, let us give them privacy" Thor nodded and the company left the room with hearts filled with grief.
"I love you Leera" Loki spoke, standing in front of Leera and placed a kiss on the top of her head.
"You still love me?" Leera gasped.
"What? Of course I do. You are my whole world Leera." Loki said, kissing her head once more.
"I am so sorry" Leera whimpered, her body shaking.
"My love, it was not your fault. It was no one's fault. Please realise that. We have our daughter to think about right now. If you keep thinking it was your fault, then you will never bond with your daughter. You will hate yourself then hate your child. I know, I know it hurts. I cannot imagine the pain you went through to bear them, or what you are feeling now. But I know it hurts Leera. I feel it too. If I could must all the dark energy to bring him back I would. If I could sacrifice my soul once more for him, just as I did you, then I would without a doubt. There is nothing more we can do. But what we can do is never stop loving him in memory and to bring our daughter up with as much love as we can possibly possess" Loki replied, not realising that tears were falling down his cheeks. He found it impossible as he thought he had cried away every tear he possessed.
. . . . . . .
The ceremony had been quick. Loki and his wife had bid their respects, along with the remaining royal family and close friends to the little, still born Feyńir. As soon as the little boy was placed in a golden casket and lowered into the ground, Leera had dashed off back to her chambers, leaving little Leymina in the arms of her husband. Loki watched on as Leera left in a hurry and sighed with grief. He knew that she would not be the same, maybe not forever, but for a while. Looking across to Theyna, the golden maiden gave a sympathetic look and strode over to the prince, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "My deepest sympathies my prince" Theyna leaned over and placed a kiss on Loki's cheek.
"Thank you, dear Theyna. You must forgive me, but I shall retire this afternoon to be with my wife and daughter, she is in much need and comfort…"
"As are you my Lord. Whom can comfort you when you are busy with Lady Leera?" Theyna said sadly, dropping her hand.
"I have always got by on my own, fare Theyna. Worry not about me, for I shall be fine. Keep Leera in your heart…please" Loki reassured and left the company, after bidding farewell to his son, and leaving him with Thor; Loofney still not understanding completely as to what was happening, and was very much happy to stay with his doting uncle. As Loki walked through the palace, he watched his daughter's marvellous spearmint coloured eyes. "You will be a heartbreaker dear one. You have your mother eyes, though they are lighter than her's. You have her smile, so gracious and golden like the morning sun. Your mouth, though small and pale, shall be as voluptuous as your mother's, causing men to glance at you with desire everywhere you turn. I could not… I still cannot see your brother, Loofney's future as yet… yet it seems that when I stare into your eyes, through to your soul; I see so much. You shall become a shining light among goddesses. I can see your future so clear as you see me right this moment with bright eyes. With your mother, Lady Loki, your brother still unknown as of yet, and I your father, the God of Mischief, you shall stand in elegance and beauty as the Goddess of Hearts, for you shall steal few, break several and mould many in love and splendour with your beauty and magnificence. Many men will fall to your feet. How ironic, my sweet Leymina, the I should try my utmost to conquer the realms and command the mortals to kneel before me, yet, here you are, here you will be one day, when men and women alike will fall to your feet without question, without order or command, for you beauty will be sublime, it will be because of your face, and your dear heart that you will rule the people, and you will, my daughter. For as long as I shall live, and as long as I am Prince of Asgard, you, of royal blood, by your right in heritage, shall stand before men and women and with your voice of silk and melody shall so rule. If not on the throne occupied by the All-Father or future Thor, but by my word, you shall sit upon a chair of golden glory in one realm or the next, and shall make you father proud of the day you entered this world. For you, dearest Leymina, will be my upbringing, and your brothers . All the nine realms, until the ending of all, will learn of and shall talk tales and live in fear and trembling of the magnificence of the family of Loki, God of Mischief. There will never in history be three inseparable being such at Loki of Asgard and his children Loofney and Leymina. You warm my heart dear one, during this saddening time. I can only hope, wait even that Loofney will soon, reveal to me, as you have, his future, for I wait, dear Leymina, I wait with eagerness at your Brothers future. I have much to look forward it seems, young Goddess of Hearts. Come, we are here…" Loki stopped and looked up at his chamber door, finally arriving to his chamber, not realising that he had walked the whole length of the palace, talking to his new born daughter "… open you heart as you have done me, to your weak and weary mother, so that she may see that there is always light in the darkest of times." Loki opened the door with his lifted knee and tapped it open with his foot. Entering the chamber, Loki used his bottom to close the door and he stood, at the bottom of the bed, gazing at Leera, whom sat up against the headboard, pillow in between her arms, rocking back and forward slowly. "My sweet, it is important that you spend time with your daughter…" Loki said, climbing onto the bed expertly, without using his hands and plumped down next to his quiet wife. "Please my love, speak, look at me, and look at your daughter. Do not cut us off. I too am hurting, I pain along with you, but we must think of our children. Please, come, take your daughter in your arms and show her your love"
Leera looked across to her husband, regret evident in her eyes and she let go of the pillow. "I am so sorry. I know, my love, I know you hurt too, for it was your son as well. I have been selfish in my reaction. I thought of no one but myself, and I forgot about you… about everyone…about my daughter here, right now. I have not even been thankful that one of the two children survived! How terrible of me! I am thankful, I have a beautiful daughter. It is a miracle that she is alive, for she could have faced the same fate as young Feyńir. Give her to me, Loki" Leera spoke with guilt. Loki handed Leymina to her mother and smiled warmly. Leera looked down at the child and Leymina stared into her mother's eyes and showed her, what she had shown her father. "What was that?" Leera gasped.
"She has shown you her soul, her future. She is talented it would seem" Loki chuckled and stroked the child's head, leaning over and kissed Leera's cheek.
"She is… she will be…" Leera said in awe, looking at the marvel in her arms.
"She will be the Goddess of Heart. She is just like her mother" Loki said lovingly, using one hand to turn Leera's face towards his. "For you stole my heart. You held it in the palm of your hand, and I revelled in every attack against it. Broke my heart? No you have never, crushed it and made it yours? That dear Leera, you have. For I am yours, no matter what we go through, what happened to us, my heart will always belong to you…" Loki brought Leera's lips against his and slowly he moved his soft ones against her's, basking in her glorious touch. Sighing loudly into the embrace, Leera allowed a tear of happiness trickle down her face. She knew, that if anyone who could bring her from her all down low, her brink of depression and downright submission to grief, it was Loki. Unwillingly breaking from the kiss, Loki took a deep breath and closed his eyes, a mischievous grin across his face. "Your lips are witchcraft, woman. I become a quivering mess when my lips touch yours. You have no idea about the hold you have on me" Loki's breath was ragged and he stared lusciously into his wife's eyes. Leera blushed and looked back to her daughter and smiled.
"We will be ok wont we Loki?" Leera asked quietly.
"Of course we will my love" Loki replied and kissed his daughter's head, smiling at her warm skin against his lips, and the smell of powdered baby's skin filling his nostrils. He missed this. When Loofney was a new born, Loki could not let him go, and now his daughter had the same effect on him. Loki breathed his daughter's scent in once more and sat up, holding his wife's hand, and rested his head against her's. Both dark haired beauties sat for the remainder of the evening, watching their little Leymina sleep, talking of their precious son Loofney and of how, somehow, they would help each other through this heart wrenching sorrow.