Chapter 8: Pregnant?
Shay woke up this morning like she had many days that month, queasy. Her stomach turning over again and again but today was different. Today she was worried and nervous. She had set aside her morning to visit the medic and there was only one thing on her mind.
Usually Shay took a potion within 24 hours of having been with Loki but there had been that one day she had forgotten. It had been a very busy day. By the time she'd remembered there had been a small window of two hours that she could have gotten pregnant. At the time she had pushed the worry aside convincing herself the window was too small and unlikely. Because of this she had not told Loki. Now she worried she'd been wrong and she might just be carrying Loki's child.
She worried how Loki would react and she worried how his wife might feel and then there was Odin. She feared Odin and what he might do. He could banish her and her bastard child forever. Shay hoped it was not to early to tell if she was or not. She hoped she just had a bug. Over the past month she'd been making excuses not to have Loki sleep in her room and so he was back and forth between his room with his wife and her. In a way it was a good thing. As a friend she believed Loki needed to be with his wife but also as a friend she hated to abandoned him and his needs. Until Loki saw that having a wife wasn't such a bad thing she couldn't bring herself to just deny him and yet there was the issue of his wife.
Loki didn't know it but every time he came to her to complain about Cephera, Shay felt all the more guilty as nothing Loki ever complained about spoke of a heinous bitch of a wife but a soft caring and sentimental one. It was easy to forget Loki had a wife when he didn't speak of her and Shay didn't see her but when she got reminded she felt bad. However her ties to Loki outweighed those feelings mostly.
Today was one of those days she felt guilt. More so for the fact that if she was pregnant she was taking something else from his wife by being the first to give Loki a child, bastard or not. It was clear that his wife wanted life to work out for them and Shay couldn't help but wonder how she would react to the news if she was actually pregnant. Shay knew if rolls were switched she'd plead to Odin to have her banished forever.
With many thoughts rolling around in her mind she quickly made her way to the medics.
XxX
Shay had been in her room sewing when a knock sounded on her door. Answering it she found a guard waiting outside. "The All Father wishes to see you." He said sternly. Shay instantly felt a jolt of fear. She followed silently thinking this was it. Half way there another guard joined them and Loki was with them. They both exchanged looks. Loki looked more annoyed than worried which wasn't surprising.
As they entered the large throne room Shay noticed it hadn't been just her and Loki who had been called there but his wife as well. Shay knew this could not be a good sign. Perhaps Odin was finally stepping in to end Loki's illicit affair and force him to his wife's bed instead. The thought bothered Shay only because she knew forcing Loki to do anything would only cause a bad outcome and solve nothing. Loki was her dearest friend since a young age and it was not just his bed she sought. If he discontinued to visit her chambers or seek out intimacy with her she was ok with that. It's not like she hadn't tried to convince him to give his wife a chance.
Shay felt awkward in the girls presence. She was a pretty woman. Young looking and small everywhere. She was nothing like Shay in body but Shay knew Loki had a vast taste in women and that he didn't find her unappealing. As they bowed to the king, Loki a little stiffly, they waited for him to speak as no one had a clue why they were there.
"It has come to my attention that you, Shay, are showing signs of pregnancy." Odin began looking at her sternly. Shay felt her stomach hit rock bottom. She hadn't even told Loki that. She had only been to see the medic that mourning. Of all the things that went through he mind coming here that wasn't one of them. The medic said it was to soon to tell. And she certainly hadn't expected Odin to know. She opened her mouth to answer and could feel the tension in the room from both Loki and his wife. "Speak woman." He said after a moment startling her.
"It's true I have been feeling ill this past month but I have been to see the medic and he told me it is yet to soon to tell...but it is the most likely conclusion." She finally said chewing at the inside of her jaw. She could almost feel Loki's piercing glare. He hated being caught off guard by anything. He didn't like surprises such as this.
"This is unacceptable." Odin glared this time at Loki. "Not only have you made a mockery of your marriage but now you've get your mistress pregnant before you have even had the decency to consummate the marriage to your wife!" Odin was seething a little and the more he spoke his voice got an octave louder.
"A marriage I did not want and still do not want." Loki growled in return.
"Nevertheless you have been bringing continuous dishonour upon your name and that of your wife. Shay will be sent away to give birth to this child and if she wishes to return to the palace the child will be raised by another family or she can stay banished to care for the child herself. No bastard child will come into this palace to a ungrateful son such as you." Odin declared his voice booming.
"No please don't." Shay froze as it was Cephera who spoke. Shay expected to be sent away as most woman were to give birth to royal bastard children so she had no plans to argue but she hadn't expected Loki's wife to say anything. In fact she almost expected to see her smiling triumphantly. "Has your son not been through enough harsh punishments by you. You take an innocent child and tear that child from their rightful family simply to save face. Do not do that. Let her stay. I'll take care of her, I'll accept the child so that they may stay with both parents but do not separate them." Shay felt her throat go dry and if her heart could have stopped it would have.
She chanced a glance at Loki and he looked dumbfounded. Shay had never seen him so shocked in his life. So much so he couldn't even hide it like he did with most emotion. "You would rather keep a bastard child, raise it as your own knowing the child would grow up knowing their mother is not you and their father does not care for you. To watch your husband raise a child next to another woman while still ignoring you." Odin said putting the idea in a different light. Shay knew Odin was testing her resolve.
"Yes. That's what I am saying." She answered her head held high and her face held no signs of second thoughts. Odin stared at her almost as surprised as the rest of them.
"In a months time you will be seen to by the medic and if you are pregnant I will make a final decision then." Odin told them. "Until such a time this affair ends and if you are not pregnant then perhaps it's time someone put their head on straight and think of the selfless woman in this room willing to give everything to save two people who has given her nothing." Odin's words were dismissive. "Cephera, you are to stay behind. I have more to speak to you about." Odin said as everyone had begun to leave. Shay couldn't help but look back at her as she exited the room, a bevy of mixed emotions running over her.
(Loki)
Once outside the room loki grabbed Shay harshly by her upper arms giving her a shake. "You stupid woman how could this be!" He said referring to her possible pregnancy. Ever since they had started their tryst centuries ago she had been careful to always take her potion to avoid such mishaps. Loki was fuming.
"I don't know." Shay insisted.
"You've no idea of even one time you might have forgotten your potion?" He said eyeing her suspiciously. He knew by the change in her features she knew damn well a time.
"There was...I took it I was just a little late remembering it. It should have worked still." She said shaking her head. Loki scowled and pushed her back.
"Do you know what kind of mayhem this could cause. I've no desire for a bastard child." Loki hissed pacing the floor.
"I'm sorry. There is a chance I could be wrong." She pleaded. Loki felt no compassion for the hopeful tone she spoke in. She got herself into this mess. All she had to do was remember to take one potion within 24 hours of having lain with him and she had failed.
"How did Odin come to know this?" Loki growled turning to her once more. "Did you tell him? Do you plot behind my back in an attempt to push me to my wife?" Loki knew he was acting crazy but he had such a jumble of emotions running through him he just wanted to throw something.
"What?! Loki no! I was to see the medic this morning for my continued illness, they must have told Odin." Loki was looking directly into her face as she spoke and he knew she spoke the truth. His shoulder relaxed as nothing more could be done for the situation at hand. Yelling and arguing would get them nowhere. Loki gave off a growl and left promptly. He had enough problems in his life without this to add to it.
(Cephera)
Once the doors to the room had closed Odin had began to speak. "What punishments do you think I have put Loki through?" He asked her first.
"This marriage." Cephera answered honestly. Loki had once said he saw it as a punishment and at the time she was slightly insulted but after thinking about it she could see his line of reasoning.
"I set up this marriage because after some research into you I believed you would be a woman who could soothe him and calm him. Who could help him stray from his path of destruction. I believed you could bring him happiness." Odin told her but he didn't sound angry.
"Yes but you took from him the one thing important to most people." She said and Odin gave her a curious look. "Choice. You made all the decisions for him regarding the one thing in his life that might have been the most important. Forcing on him a wife he doesn't love. Taking away his chance at finding love and marrying a woman he loved."
"But you agreed to it." Odin said.
"I'm afraid my father agreed to it in fear I would never find a husband and he wanted to see me cared for. He wanted to give me a life he never thought I'd get because I'm different. I know now it was somewhat selfish of me to not have fought for my own choices harder or for those of Loki. Because I didn't fight he's stuck with me and clearly that's going nowhere. I just didn't think of how all this would effect us in depth and now it's too late." Cephera was shaking her head.
"You remind me of my own wife. Always concerned about those around her; putting them first." Odin said. "Your sacrifice to take in that child is a prime example of the kind of woman you are. Women like you are rare and Loki doesn't know it yet but my initial thoughts still stand. I think you will do him a world of good."
Cephera was dismissed shortly after and left to go to the one place that brought her inner peace. The beach.
Wahoo! Keep the reviews coming. They are so awesome and motivating. You guys are so great!
- Twifan 1987: she is indeed though it's not really her plan. She just tends to speak her mind.
- Lightning and Ice: it was bound to come to light at some point. Lol
- Loki's Dreamer: haha. He will if he doesn't start getting to know her.
- Doctor Loki Love: I haven't had Frigga or Odin intervene because Loki and Cephera need to learn to deal with each other on their own. Getting Loki to like and talk to her on her own will make the union stronger. If Loki is guilted into it or made to spend time with her he'd more than likely feel resentment and push him further away.
- Luna Conspiracy 365: yay. I feel the love.
- Ellize Avalon: I couldn't wait to write that part with Cephera being more open with her words. And yeah Loki's still being Loki. Happy you're not hating Shay.
- Shattered Soul 37: maybe...
- Poodle Warriors: :) wonderful!
- Reneemm: I love a good cheer!
- Akera Writer of the Night: well Shay had no reason to hate Cephera. And Shay had known Loki a long time so she knows it's true. Lol
Thanks for the bday wishes! I had a great day!
