Chapter 14
"What?"
"I would like if we were to cease, actually what am I saying, I am telling you that I do not wish to bear a child. The very idea of one at present disgusts and repulses me." She stated clearly, looking him straight in the eye.
"Kari, I know we have been stressing greatly about this, and now with everything that has happened, but that is all the more reason to…"
"This has nothing in the nothing in the Nine Realms to do with our stresses or indeed Loki; this is solely based on the fact that your father thinks it acceptable to dictate my life in such a manner. I could not love a child born in such a circumstance. How cruel a creature would subject a child to such a fate?" She snapped, causing for Thor, a considerably taller being to cower back slightly in fear.
"Very well." He conceded, clearly heartbroken by her decision. "As I stated previously, I would never force you to Kari." He looked sheepishly at her. "Does your being here now mean you are intending to return to staying here?"
Kari thought for a moment, her staying away from Thor and Loki's return could arouse suspicion so she gave a small nod, her face still stern. "I am going to Eir in a while, I am going to instruct her to concoct a draft to ensure nothing your father tries causes me to become with child. I have also called upon Freya myself, and I will be speaking with her with regards all that has transpired." She stated factually.
Still upset at her declaration, Thor simply nodded again in return. "Of course, you are queen and Allmother now, it is very much your right to do so." She gave him a small smile. "I am sorry Kari, I really am."
She held up her hand. "I will speak no further of it; do not forget we are required in the throne room soon and I need to get dried and dressed."
"Of course." Thor looked around. "Kari, where are our staff?"
"I sent them for something to eat." She replied, walking to her dressing table to comb her hair.
Thor walked over behind her, causing her to look at him in the mirror as he rubbed her shoulders. "What?" She asked, noticing the grin on his face.
"So that is why you were…"
"Were you watching me in the bath?"
"I came here to freshen up before going to the throne room, thinking I would only meet with our staff, I was not expecting you at all, much less you pleasing yourself in our bath."
"No, I would imagine not." She conceded leaning back into his touch. "I assume by that grin, you enjoyed the show?"
"Very much so, do you do such often?"
"Wouldn't you wish to know? As pleasurable as this is, we best get ready." She sighed.
"You are right." Thor conceded. "Would you like me to join you with Eir after?"
"No, I think you will not be able to, I would wager you will be needed somewhere else after you are finished."
"Again, you are probably right. I am sorry Kari."
"So you keep saying."
Thor walked into the bathroom and washed up before joining his wife again, who had dressed and was finishing readying her hair. "How are you feeling?" He asked, Kari turned to look at him. "You know, with Loki and everything."
Kari shifted slightly. "Honestly, I feel confused, hurt, angry, happy, relieved, infuriated, and about forty other emotions simultaneously. When he left I was heartbroken, I felt as though he abandoned me to this half life, one he knew I had not wanted. I tried to forget him, with him back I am forced to deal with everything, I tried to ignore. But I am also elated that he has returned safe and well. Then your father went and did what he did and now I am just enraged I want him to suffer, I want him to have his second eye pecked out by his beloved Huginn and Muninn." Thor's eyes widened at Kari's hate filled words. "Not what you wanted to hear dear husband?"
"Kari, my father has done some wrongs against you, I understand that, but those words are not necessary." Thor admonished.
She rose to her feet. "My feelings are 'not necessary'? Really?"
"You are taking my words wrong Kari." Thor backtracked.
"You asked me how I was feeling, and have now told me those feelings are not necessary. It is you taking my words wrong I fear husband," She snarled. "I suggest we make our way to the throne room before I say something I might later regret."
Thor realised he again said the wrong thing, so rather than anger Kari further he said nothing more. They walked together to the throne room in silence. Just before they entered Thor held his arm out for Kari to take, she pursed her lips before taking it.
They walked up the room with false smiles on their face, Kari taking her place near Thor at the top of the room as he sat on the throne. Not two moments later, the doors to the throne room opened again and an audible gasp was emitted by the realms people as Loki strutted up the hall in his full leather and metal armour, grinning widely. Thor watched carefully as his brother approached the throne before he halted, looking to Kari and Frigga with smiled before giving his father a cold stare.
"As all can see, my brother has returned to us finally, and we welcome him back." Thor declared.
Kari could sense people looking at her, but she stared at the far wall of the throne room, waiting for whatever hell was coming to just end.
"Touching brother." Loki grinned, bowing slightly, arms outstretched and palms to the sky. "It is good to be back, don't let me delay the rest of your day. I'll just stand here next to mother." She grinned walking to Frigga and stood silently, smiling over at his father, who glared angrily at him, knowing he could do nothing about the situation.
The afternoon dragged, it was dull and uninteresting, and with Loki in the room, Kari could neither look at her the object of her desire, nor could she look too often at Thor, because she did not wish to upset Loki unnecessarily either. It should have been a longer day, but Thor called it short, promising to continue tomorrow afternoon though there was not supposed to be public requests on that day.
"You would be better served doing it all now." Odin commented when the room thinned again.
"I am tired father, there is time enough for it tomorrow. There is nothing important on." Thor rubbed his face in his hands.
"You are an idiot." Loki scoffed, laughing and shaking his head as he looking at the floor. "Nothing important? I think you forget tomorrow is the anniversary of your mother and father in laws passing."
Thor realised his error and looked to his wife, who was chewing on her cheeks, forcing herself to remain silent. "Kari…"
"I best go do what I needed to get done this evening." Kari stated coldly before turning to walk out of the room towards Eir's rooms.
"I knew that bit of information from Alfheim, what is your excuse?" Loki laughed again.
"ENOUGH!" Odin bellowed. "Know your place boy."
"I think you have forgotten that you have stepped down from yours, we are on equal footing now father."
"Loki is right father. I should never have forgotten such a thing." Thor conceded. "Norn's can I get any of this right?"
"The ruling of a realm is not easy my son." Frigga stated. "But you are doing well so far, it will become easier."
"I was referring to regarding Kari, but thank you for that mother."
"You are selfish, you can't help it." Loki shrugged.
"Don't start Loki." Thor warned.
"Where is the lie?"
"Loki." Frigga shook her head in warning.
Loki shrugged and walked off toward the same door Kari walked out of. "Where are you going?" Odin demanded.
"I am going to Eir to deal with a wound I got on my travels, I was with her this morning with regards it, and she wanted me back this evening, so I am going to go before dinner." He explained.
"Leave it a short time." Thor ordered.
"Why? Oh, I see, your wife is there. Can I ask, am I ever going to be permitted in her company? We were friends when we were suitors, and our personalities are similar, am I to be permitted to converse with her at any stage of the next say, four thousand years?" He asked, his tone nonchalant.
"She is your brother's wife." Odin snarled. "What reason have you to talk with her?"
"Odd, when she was my betrothed, none, including I, worried of Thor speaking with her." Loki retorted. "I enjoy talking poetry and her art with her, so I was hoping to continue that, but apparently we are not even permitted to be around Eir and her healers at the same time for fear of what exactly, I am curious to know." He grinned; thinking of their actions the night before and that morning, knowing full well his brother had much to fear.
"None are suggesting anything untoward Loki." Frigga tried to placate, his brow raised sceptically at her. "It is just that she is very upset at late."
"And have I caused any of that? I was under the impression that that was father and Thor's doing, not yours or mine. Is he always this controlling of who is around her? Is this why I have yet to even hear of her having company and ladies-in-waiting?"
"I do not control her." Thor growled.
"Then where are those to stave her boredom? From what I see, she has none to confide in."
"I don't know. She has not taken any."
"And none of you think it odd? Has she been given opportunity to?" None answered him. "Wow, how fulfilled a life she must live, I can see now why she seems to be so withdrawn. If I am not even permitted to be in the same room with her without supervision, then why don't you come with me brother and you make up for what seems to be yet another fuck up on your behalf while I get seen to by Eir? Maybe we can all be in one another's company for more than a few moments without you screwing up. I'll do as I always did and kick your foot when you are threading thin ice."
Odin barked a cold sharp laugh. "You would do everything to try and sabotage his marriage Loki, and well you know."
"And pray tell what would that achieve?" Loki asked snidely. "What would I gain from that?"
"Your brothers misery."
"No, I leave that sort of thing to you father, you are the most proficient at that, I would look amateur in your shadow." Loki walked towards the door again.
Thor was conflicted about following, he did not wish to imply he did not trust Kari, but having Loki there may break her coldness to him since he forgot her parents' deaths. He looked to his father who indicated for him to follow, but then he looked to his mother who shook her head.
"Frigga, he could…"
"Prove his point perfectly. Loki is right, Eir and her healers will be in the room with them, what do you think he is going to do? Suggest to her to run away to Jötunheim and elope, be reasonable Odin."
"Have you started a search for a spouse?" Thor asked.
"Of course, there are many women, both of Asgard and Vanaheim that would be very suitable. I need only find one to his liking, and who knows, that may be the company that Kari so desperately requires also."
"I never stopped her from having ladies-in-waiting." Thor stated emphatically.
"I know, but none of us have encouraged her to have them either, again Loki is right."
"Cease saying that." Odin grumbled.
"We are stating it because it is true, Kari is becoming withdrawn and it is clear she is very lonely. We need to remedy that immediately." Frigga added.
"Mother?" Thor asked.
"Of course." She smiled as she went to walk off. "And here was I dreading being bored as dowager."
Thor sighed in relief and walked towards the other end of the hall. "You are not going after him?" Odin asked in disbelief.
"I do not wish to prove him right, and given what I did regarding Kari's parents, I now need to come up with a way to make it up to her."
"Get yourself together and fill her with child."
"If you mention that again father, do you know why she is gone to Eir? It is because of you. Because she dies not want you to dictate when she has a child. She is demanding we no longer try for a child."
"That is not right, it is her duty."
"Mother was near three thousand years when I was born, Kari is barely over a thousand, she has plenty time to get with child, and don't try anything with Freya either, she has called her to the palace to deal with your idea too. You have evoked Kari's wrath father, I fear that you have forgotten that she is now Allmother as well as Queen, none will cross her."
"You need to get a handle on this boy."
"You mean Your Majesty." Thor corrected. "I am not your puppet king father. I want your advice and experience, but remember that I am king now, not you. When you gave Gungnir to me, you knew that you would no longer call the shots. Remember father, I am not to be crossed either."
"Threats to me, and not to him."
"If Loki earns my wrath then more the fool him, until then, I can only watch and wait."