Chapter 8
No child was conceived, from that night or any other that Kari and Thor lay together. After four months of no success, Kari went to Eir to see if there was any physical reason for her not being able to become with child, but the healer found nothing. "Your Highness, with all the stress of the upcoming coronation and the preparations and everything, you are overstressed, that is your reason for not having conceived, nothing else. You are still quite young, and in great health, as is Prince Thor, I have little doubt that when this is all done and dusted, I will be telling you to stop having so many children in such a short frame of time." She smiled reassuringly.
"If we are stressed at present, what makes you think life will be any less stressful after the coronation? Surely that is when we will be at our most stressed." Kari argued.
"True." The healer acknowledged. "Then perhaps the Norn's are giving you a sign. The last thing a new Allfather and Allmother need is for her to be on forced bed rest at risk of losing a child." With that, Eir left Kari to her thoughts as she went to get something from another room.
"I have one duty, one, and I am failing so miserably at it." Kari murmured to herself.
She shrieked in terror when Thor's strong arms wrapped around her. "Hey, hey Kari. It is only me." He soothed. Shaking slightly, she looked around at him. "I am sorry, I did not mean to startle you."
"You didn't." Thor looked at his wife sceptically. "Well you did, only because I was in my own little world.
"Well we all have a tendency to do such a thing from time to time." He smiled down at her once she was breathing at a regular pace once more. "Why is it that you are here, are you unwell?" he smile fell from his face as he looked at his wife in concern.
"I simply wished to ask Eir something." She jumped down from the healing table she had been sitting on. "Though I should ask you the same." Thor raised his leg to show his wife the deep wound he had received to his thigh. "What in the realms?" She gasped.
"Just a simple sparring incident. It just needs to be cleaned and a healing stone put to it. I will not be left without a limb." Before he could say anything else, Kari was on her knees in front of him; removing the material on his leg that someone had placed there to stem the bleeding as he made his way to the healing rooms so that she may look at the wound. "See, it is not as deep as it could have been." He smiled as she checked it carefully.
"It does not appear to have any dirt in it, but still, you were right to come to Eir."
"I knew I would have to face your ire were I to limp back to our chambers later." Thor smiled knowingly, placing his hand on her cheek as he kissed her. "Is there another reason for you having come here today my love?"
Kari's stomach dropped. She still felt wrong for allowing herself into his touches, feeling as though it was mocking he love she had shared with Loki. His endearing words made her recall all those she had shared with his brother, and the hope in his voice as to why she was at the healers. She pulled back from him, her eyes filled with tears as she wrapped her arms around herself.
Thor then realised the meaning of the words he had half heard her mumble when he entered. He watched as she stared at the floor, unable to look at him. "Kari…"
"I'm sorry." The tears came fast and heavy. "She said there's no reason for me not to, but yet I cannot…"
"Kari, my beautiful and sweet Kari. Please, stop crying." She did not fight him as he brought her to his chest, it was the first time he had seen her cry, and it scared him. "We have not been trying for very long; these things can take some time."
"But you were so hopeful." She wept.
Thor felt guilty for having tried to broach the subject with her. "I am hopeful that we will have a child, but you are too to say that you are so upset, that is natural. But do not let that pressure you Kari, I am hopeful, but I do not want a child at the cost of your happiness." He stroked her hair. "If you'd rather, we can leave it until after the coronation."
Thor did everything in his power to keep his voice neutral, but Kari could hear the hint of disappointment in it. "No." She shook her head, causing Thor to look down at her. "We will just see what happens naturally, no pressure, no trying per se, just whatever happens happens." She looked back at him, staring into his blue eyes.
"That sounds like a good idea." He grinned back.
The more Thor behaved the supportive loving husband, the worse Kari felt. She knew she loved him, there was little denying that, but not with all of her heart. She would never love him with the intensity that he loved her, no matter how she tried. There was never a chance that she could love him as she did Loki.
The day of the coronation arrived, and even though both Kari and Thor agreed not to take too much stock in it, she had not become pregnant, making Kari feel utterly useless.
The whole realm was a din with excitement, eagerly waiting the crowning of the new king and his queen. Some may have uttered as to why after a century of marriage, there was still no heir, but most everyone assumed, given their own youthful age, there would be a child in the near future for their new monarchs.
Kari assisted Thor in putting on his armour before the ceremony. She laughed slightly as she assisted him once more with his gauntlets. "Your forearms have grown I see."
"Indeed, it seems that they have." He noted. "That means they will be even more difficult to take off later." He grimaced slightly as Kari pushed hard to get it further up his arm.
"We'll manage."
"You look so beautiful Kari." Thor smiled affectionately.
"And you look very handsome."
Thor walked over to his side of the bed and retrieved something from a drawer. "I hope you don't mind me giving you this." He walked back to her and held out a fairly large flat box. "I had it made for today."
"Thor, there was no need…"
"No, there was not, but I wished to." She silenced as Thor opened to box to show her its contents.
"Thor, I…it is beautiful." Kari looked at the ruby and diamond choker. "It is in your colour." She smiled.
"Our colour." Thor corrected, taking the choker out of the box and walking behind her to place it on her neck.
Kari grimaced slightly. Blue was always her favourite colour, followed closely by emerald green, a colour she often donned still, even after all the time since his departure. Red was never a colour that she had much interest in; she was only wearing it as it was Thor's colour, and today was his big day. She looked down at the heavy necklace after Thor put it on.
He circled her and looked at her again. "My love, you look every bit the queen you are."
"You are getting ahead of yourself Thor, the coronation has yet to happen." She laughed.
"It is only a matter of minutes before we have to leave to head to the throne room, so within the hour, you will be queen." Kari shifted nervously. "What is it my love?"
"I am worried."
"With regards to what?" he came to her, placing his hands gently on her arms.
"That I will mess up somehow, and ruin your big day."
"You keep speaking as though this all is only in reference to me Kari. You are to be queen, meaning it is your coronation also." He stated. "And when this is done, we can put all our attentions onto…" He placed his hand carefully to her stomach.
"I'm sorry."
"Kari, I am getting very tired of telling you, this is not your doing. Eir stated that you are healthy and very much able to bear child. It is just the stress of the passed few months that have impeded us. She said the same to me." Kari stared at him. "Yes, I checked with her also, in case I was at fault, but no, neither of us is, so fear not. If you are still not with child after the initial settling in of our reign, you and I will go away for a month, and that will surely assist." He beamed as he leant down and kissed her.
Kari allowed herself to kiss him back with as much passion as she could muster, allowing herself to get lost in it. Today they would be crowned, she had to accept it. Thor loved her, he was kind and caring, and she knew it would all be so much easier if she just returned it. Accepting that her inner voice was right, she placed her arms around his neck and kissed.
A knock on the door brought their attention back to the matter at hand, both finally pulled back, panting slightly. The look on Thor's face told Kari that he realised there was something different in her kiss that time. "We best not be late." She stated breathlessly. She turned around to head to the door, Thor still looking at her slightly confused. "Thor?"
"Right, late, yeah." He shook his head slightly and walked out behind her.
The ceremony was short and simple. At the end, Odin gave over Gungnir, and by extension, his reign to Thor. There were loud cheers around the hall, the now Dowager smiling next to her husband as her son and his wife stood in front of the realm, who happily embraced their new monarchs.
After the coronation came a feast to celebrate the momentous occasion. Thor was surrounded by his wife and friends, all of whom seemed happy at how the day had gone. "I hope this means that the next item on the agenda for you my friend is to give Volstagg's and Hogun's children some friends to play with." Fandral smiled as they ate. Immediately both Kari and Thor tensed, both becoming very interested in the food on their plates, something not missed by the warriors, or indeed, Odin and Frigga.
Kari rose from the table suddenly. "Excuse me a moment." She walked off before any could follow her.
Fandral looked to Thor. "I have no idea what it is in that statement that has caused such a reaction, but I sincerely apologise."
"Do not worry yourself Fandral, of late Kari has been feeling pressured with regard her own expectations of herself on that matter."
"And in doing so have prevented its occurrence." Hogun added. "That is something all too common."
"Indeed." Volstagg agreed. Thor frowned at his friends. "What? You think you and your wife are the only married couple to ever have wanted a child and for it not to happen immediately?" The burly warrior chuckled. "It is not a very exclusive club, I am sorry to tell you."
"She would be glad to hear that. Well not glad, but she would take some solace in knowing her worries are more common than she thinks." Thor smiled sadly, looking to where Kari had left.
Taking the time to right herself, Kari prepared to go back inside. She knew someone would bring up the issue of a child, but the manner in which Fandral mentioned it took her by surprise. She had not thought of it like that. Thor's friends' children being friends with his, but of course, that would be how they would think. It was a nice image, parents and children friends with one another. Kari forced herself to think of what Thor had said before they left their rooms, they would have their child, there was nothing wrong with her, and all she had to do was cease worrying about it. With one last deep breath, she prepared to re-enter the hall.
A hooded figure walking down the hallway caught her attention. She looked to see them headed for the main hallway that exited the great palace, which was noteworthy as no one would leave until at least the food ended. The manner in which the stranger walked caught her attention also; it was almost a strut, one she had seen many a time before.
Running down the hallway, the stranger did not look back; she was still over thirty feet away when they reached the door. "So that is it. You come back and watch for a few moments and just leave again? Without saying a word."
"You knew?" The hooded figure turned, their face still covered.
"The moment I saw you, my entire being knew."
The stranger pulled back his hood. "I never would have thought it so if I had not seen it with my own eyes, but you look even more ravishing than I remember, my dove." He smiled, looking down at her.
Looking at Loki, standing in front of her again, his love for her still blatant on his features, she knew she was a fool to think she could ever love another.
.