WARNING PLEASE READ!

This chapter contains a situation that some people may find sad. Some may be able to relate to and because of it perhaps become emotional. I am sorry for any upset this may cause but you have been warned.

Doctor loki love, sorceress of the trees, max is a chick name, poodle warriors, Loki's dreamer, kat snowstorm and Sydney loves fiction: thank you all for reviewing and your continued support however none of you will be happy with me today.

Chapter 70: Tragedy

Cephera lay in a healing room bed. Her skin cool to the touch but clammy from a cold sweat. Her skin was also a pale white. Three days and she hadn't woken. Loki had lots of time to stew in the reason she was here.

{Waking up that morning four months after her reveal that she was pregnant was satisfying. Her belly was taking on a slow rounded bump which Loki slid his hand over lovingly. The children were excited as well. Diana liked to measure Cephera and each time she was a little rounder she would squeal.

"Morning." Loki said kissing her cheek as she woke. "Breakfast?" He asked her. She nodded. They climbed out of bed, dressed, fetched the kids and joined Thor, Frigga, Kat, Sif and the warriors three for breakfast. His father had already eaten and was attending kingly duties.

Cephera had a special order of pancakes. A recipe she had taught the kitchens to make with homemade syrup. When pregnant, she always tended to order separate as her tastes were very specific. Everyone else choose from the assortment of trays brought in.

The food was delicious as usual. Thor made a pig of himself with Volstagg while everyone else attempted to ignore their animalistic manners. The atmosphere was cherry at the time.

Loki turned to say something to his wife and noticed she was pushing around the leftover syrup on her plate. She looked like she was going to be sick. "Are you unwell?" He asked placing a hand to her shoulder.

"I feel strange." She said. Loki reached over and wiped blood from under her nose. She looked at his stained hand as he pulled away.

"Come." He told her helping her to stand. Her legs were shaking. She leaned against him and doubled over. She coughed blood. A lot of blood. Everyone was now on their feet. Loki didn't care about the people in the room at the moment. He teleported himself and his wife to the healing rooms main room.

She coughed again and more blood came out. Loki yelled in half panic for the physician. The healer came running in. Cephera was losing consciousness. Her eyes rolling upward and Loki had to stop her from slouching out of his grip and lay her down right where they stood.

"Back up." The healer said. Loki did so. It was only then he realized he was also shaking. He knew by the blood now painting the floor along her dress and under her legs that the baby was lost.

He feared it the moment she first spat blood even though it wasn't a common sign. Something else was wrong. He heard the others footsteps as they rushed in. He heard his mother and Kat asking if she was ok but he was unable to answer. It seemed Sif had the children brought elsewhere which was just as well right now.

He took in the scene before him terrified if the bleeding wouldn't stop. He would lose them both.

Several hours later, after being ushered out of the room and waiting outside she was moved to a bed and Loki was allowed in. Odin and his mother were also permitted.

"She is alive but weak. She in currently unconscious." The healer told them.

"The baby?" Frigga asked. Loki was already prepared for the shake of the other woman's head.

"I'm sorry. We need to talk. This was not natural. This was not an accident." Loki's face turned up.

"What do you mean?" He growled. Frigga put a hand to his shoulder in an attempt to keep him calm.

"She was poisoned. Enough to harm the child but not enough to kill her." Loki felt his face contort into rage and back to disbelief and then back to rage. "Ingested. This was planned. I've no doubt who ever did this knew exactly what they were doing." The physician held her ground despite the look on Loki face.

Loki's rage made it difficult not to strike out at anyone in reach. "I want the kitchens sealed off. Every servant to be questioned. Anyone who was near her food is to be detained." Odin barked his orders in frustration to the guards behind them. They rushed off. "This is unacceptable in my house."

Loki didn't speak. He felt if he spoke he might say something he might regret. "Will she live?" Frigga asked.

"Yes though I am unsure how long her recovery will take. When she does wake shock will set in fast. Best to not tell her of the how just yet."}

It had taken great effort for Loki not to tear through the palace and kill anyone able to do such a thing. They now knew a plant was used to create this poison. It was not something bought. Whoever had meant to cause Cephera harm had been planning it a while. Right down to the making of a special poison they could not trace.

There were no clues to who or why. Odin had hired a new cook to cater to Loki and his family only. All food sent out was to be tested first before served. It was all that could be done. The lack of clues had frustrated Loki beyond his normal capacity. He had cancelled all classes with Kat which was just as well. When he was not with Cephera Kat was there holding her hand. Frigga also kept his sleeping wife company and the children had begun sneaking into the room by teleporting to sleep with her.

Thor was Loki's biggest comfort. Thor was helpful and willing to check and recheck the stories told by the servants. To help Loki analyze the compounds of the plant used in the poison and the leftover plate it had been used in. Thor was not as smart as Loki but he listened carefully and helped with what he could.

Loki was fearful of how she would react when she woke. He felt she probably knew to some degree that before she passed out the baby was in danger. She might even have sensed the loss but the truth behind the cause was his fear.

Loki could only think of one person that had a thing against his wife but he found it hard to believe she would go that far. Cally had been a jealous, heartless bitch but poisoning an unborn child didn't seem like something she would be able to do. But still she was the only one he could think of. No one had seen her in the palace or near the palace that day. In fact she rarely left her new place of residence. Or so the servants told him when he went there to check out her whereabouts.

Cally however did have a great deal of experience were potions and spells were concerned. She could have entered the palace undetected with the use of either of those things. Heimdell only kept his eyes trained for enemies outside Asgard not inside. Unless he was watching he would not know the event about to unfold. Loki couldn't blame him for not stopping this tragedy.

Loki ran his hand over the side of Cephera's face. "Wake up." He said to her in a low whisper.

"Father." It was Diana who came running in. For once Devian was not with her. "Will Mother ever wake up?" She asked sadly. Loki picked her up and sat her in his lap.

"She will. When she's ready." He told her. He had to keep a calm face for them. They had gotten scared when they had rushed her from breakfast.

"I want her to wake now." Diana sniffled. Loki hugged his daughter to him and let her cry.