"What?"
"The seidr you sense from it, can you hardly think a child could inherit it so strongly from just its grandmother do you?"
"You are telling me that I am it's…"
"What would be the odds that you and I lay with one another for nights on end and not get me with child, and then one time I make it seem as though I did such with Thor, I do?" Loki frowned. "Yes, I was undressed that morning, but only to convince him."
"So you were already with child, that is why you did not drink any of the wine."
"Not long after you left, my bleeding was due, it never came, so I went to Eir, and she confirmed it. So then I was forced to make Thor think it to be his. That is the sole reason for my going to Vanaheim, that and telling you of course, though I never got to do the second part."
"Kari..."
"And you were all over Princess Caoimhe; I know it was to upset me, and it worked by the way, I hope you got from her what you wished."
"I did nothing with her, I merely offered to assist her in making Fandral desist his scandalous behaviour towards her by implying there was chance of a royal match, she was all too willing to assist."
"Fandral?"
"Well I could hardly state I wished to make my brother's wife jealous, could I? She was all too willing to put an end to his interests in her."
"So you did nothing with her, even when you left together that night?"
"Of course not, her brother would have had war were we even to imply such. And you, you did nothing with Thor?" He asked anxiously.
"He was too drunk to even undress himself; he would not have been able to even if he wished to."
Loki took her in his arms. "My devious minx." He grinned, kissing her, allowing his fingers slide over her face as she returned the gesture.
"I had to protect our child."
Loki found himself looking at her stomach, which was forcing them to remain further apart than he wished to be. Cautiously, he placed his hand on it. "Its seidr is so strong."
"Who is to blame for that?" She looked at him with a half grin and a raised brow.
"I…I'm sorry Kari, you tried to tell me, but I did not listen."
"I wanted to scream it at you. I wanted you to know. I thought to write you and tell you, but it was too dangerous, if it was to be read by any other."
Loki rubbed her stomach, his palm flat on it. A moment later, it was pushed slightly by a little movement from within. "Is that?"
"It has been doing that for a few days now, but I think it knows you here now."
"It does, I can sense its seidr flaring slightly."
Kari noticed the time. "We better go to the hall. Thor wants to…Norn's it is so wrong."
"It cannot continue Kari, you know that."
"What can I to do?"
"I am not sure yet, but we cannot allow this charade to continue. Why did you not tell me before that trick with Thor?"
"I don't know, I panicked."
"It complicates things for us now, but it does not mean we are without hope."
"Loki?"
"We will discuss it later."
"But the announcement?"
"There is nothing we can do about that my dove, it will have to go ahead. Over the next few days we will have to take considerable time to think about what we can do to rectify this."
"Rectify? Loki, I have destroyed everything."
"Darling, please, relax. Think of the child." He kissed her head before looking to her stomach. "Our child."
"You know it is yours Loki, don't you. I did nothing with him, not since you returned after the coronation, I swear."
"I know my dove, I knew all along I think, I just was hurting, I did not give you a chance to tell me."
"I should have spoken to you first."
"Well, we cannot change what has been, we can only fix it. Come, we best go to this feast. It will be interesting." Kari curled her lip in disgust. "May I say, I love your dress."
"I did not choose the colour, but when it was presented to me, I nearly laughed and cried simultaneously."
"Why?"
"Because I thought of you, and I was so sure I had lost you."
"You will never lose me, so long as we both learn from this little error and learn to talk before doing something drastic and/or stupid. I think the colour ironic."
"It is accurate though, this child is of us, and the colour, the mixing of ours also."
"As though the Norn's decided it." He agreed, kissing her one last time before they left his chambers. "My beautiful Kari, you are all the more precious to me now. Ready?"
There were cheers of joy and elation from all gathered when Thor declared that Asgard was to have an heir. The warrior's though they had been told by their friend earlier in the evening, were louder than any others. Thor looked at Kari proudly as she nodded her head and smiled, her hand placed protectively over her child, who seemed unsettled within her. The meal was filled with chitchat, mostly with Frigga asking Loki of his time on Vanaheim. Kari too listened as Loki regaled them of what happened after their departing.
"Did you get used to the young ones?" Thor asked with a smile.
"No, had I known what I would be returning to, I would have made more of an effort. A letter would not have killed you brother."
"I am not one for writing."
"Yes, I have noticed. None the less, I can sense the little ones seidr. As you are as about as proficient in that as you are in, well most everything else, it appears I will be an integral part to its rearing." He grinned.
"Of course you will Loki." Kari smiled. "From what Frigga tells me, the first few years are the hardest when it will not know how to control it itself, we will need all the help we can get."
"Indeed." Thor seemed less than impressed at the idea.
"Are you really not pleased by my being around the child Thor?"
"What happened with Princess Caoimhe dare I ask?"
"Oh, that was to get Fandral to leave her be, she asked, I obliged."
"So why remain there so long?"
"What was there waiting for me here?" Loki argued.
"Father was ill and you knew."
"You said you would inform me of any development, slowly dying is surely a noteworthy one, way to keep me in the loop brother."
"Enough, both of you, think of your mother." Kari hissed. Immediately the two brothers ceased. "If you wish to argue, do so later, away from the prying eyes of the people of the realm for Valhalla's sake."
"Indeed." Frigga agreed.
"And if you think that Loki will not have a part to play in the raising of this child, well then, I suggest you think again. He is your brother and the most powerful seidr wielder we are aware of. The child will require his assistance, so get over yourself and accept it." Thor dropped his fork and Loki stared in shock at Kari's words. "It will not be dictated to me who I will and will not have in this child's life. I am the one, who has suffered illness carrying it, and I will be the one to endure the agony birthing it, so you can be damn sure I will have a say in who I wish to have surround it. Am I understood?" Thor nodded dumbly. "Good, now let us continue with the evening in a pleasant manner. Loki, have you heard the gender of Queen Anya's child, a son, they are elated."
"I had heard from King Frederick himself actually, it's wonderful for them, they deserve such good fortunes. He was speaking with King Gaufrid while I was in Vanaheim, it was a pleasant gathering it must be said." Loki's mood was notably better.
"Wait, you got the Vanir and the Light Elves to the negotiation tables?" Thor asked in disbelief.
"No, Frederick extended the hand to Gaufrid himself after the damage his father created; I merely acted as mediator by virtue that I am of Asgard, and we are allied to both."
"I was not made aware of this." Thor seemed indignant.
"I shall revert back to my previous comments with regards sending letters."
"Do not start again." Kari warned, foreseeing the argument between them both reigniting.
"When dinner is done the warriors wish for some of your time if that is alright Kari." Thor informed her.
"Of course, I would not have expected any different." She smiled, looking to the group of Thor's friends, who were laughing and joking among themselves. "We shall head to them as soon as I finish eating."
"And not when Thor does?" Loki asked with a raised brow and a grin.
"He eats more than me in a shorter time as well you know."
"You are eating slower these days." Thor commented.
"Have you any idea what it is like to try and fill your stomach with food while there is a child pushing up against it?" Kari argued. "I don't know how I will manage soon."
"I felt the same with Thor, he is his father's son, and you are showing so greatly already, it is clear it will be a fine sized child." Frigga beamed looking at Kari's stomach, which for once fully displayed her condition now the realm knew.
"I rather not concern myself with that at present, I am only grateful that seidr protected or not, this child will not be able to prevent the power of Eir's healing stones when I birth it."
The meal ended, and surrounded by well wishers, Thor, Kari and even Loki made their way to the warriors who cheered and handed Thor a tankard of ale as they patted his back.
"Just be grateful for the Dowager being there to give her wisdom on the matter. With Gertrude's mother being on Vanaheim, the first one or two were difficult." Volstagg stated.
"And then it became all too easy, so you insisted on continuing to have more." Fandral joked.
"Gertrude and I always wanted a large brood, I refuse to apologise for that." Volstagg stated factually.
"Well I think it is safe to say, you succeeded magnificently on that quest my friend." Thor patted the burly mans shoulder.
"Quite so." Sif agreed with a laugh.
"So Loki, how is Princess Caoimhe?" Fandral queried.
"All the better without Aesir men to irritate her I would imagine." Loki replied dryly.
"So it was not just me, that is somewhat of a comfort." The blonde sat back.
Loki grinned at Thor as though gloating about the supposed truth in his reason for remaining on Vanaheim.
"So your Majesty, how are you feeling?" Sif asked, not wanting the brothers to begin an argument, which she suspected may occur if they continued.
"Round, tired and big just about sums it up, I would think." Kari smiled.
"How did you manage to hide it so long, it is so obvious to see now?"
"The trick is the best seamstress in Asgard. She is a miracle worker." Kari raised her chalice in respect.
"That's not wine or mead is it?" Thor asked in concern.
"Yes Thor, she has been drinking all evening, can you not tell?" Loki rolled his eyes, before looking at the golden liquid in the chalice and scrunching his nose in disgust. "It smells like apples."
"It is crushed apples."
"You mean like what children drink?" Thor asked in disbelief.
"Can you suggest something else I can drink?" Kari challenged. "I am working with very limited options here."
"Have you yearned for anything?" Volstagg questioned. "With Gertrude, it is always fruits. Though guessing which fruit it was she wanted on any given day was challenging, seeing as she never decided to share with me which it was."
"I have not noticed."
"Duck eggs." Thor answered immediately, earning a bewildered look from Kari. "You have had them for breakfast every day recently, and the one time you were informed the kitchen had none, you went into a rage until a servant was sent to the market."
"I was not as bad as you make out; I merely had someone go retrieve some."
"You were like a berserker, father heard you in his chambers." Loki was the only one brave enough to laugh aloud.
Kari gave her husband a glare. "Thor, for your own safety, I suggest to desist, she does not look pleased." Loki suggested.
"Listen to the voice of reason." Kari suggested through gritted teeth. Thor obeyed and said no more.
"The Dowager must be thrilled." Fandral stated. "Her reaction when it was declared was one of utter delight."
"A grandchild is something to give her hope at this hard time." Kari agreed.
"So Odin continues to worsen?"
"Aye, it will not be long now Eir thinks." Thor answered. "He will not make the child's birth, and he knows it."
"It's odd to think a man so strong being killed in such a way." Volstagg shook his head.
"In the end, the only thing stubborn enough to kill him seems to be himself." Loki commented, which earned mutters of agreement from the others.
The rest of the evening was spent speaking of more pleasant topics, mostly to do with the impending arrival of Asgard's prince or princess, with many lords, lady's and even generals coming over to congratulate the couple. After a while Loki excused himself, stating to be tired. He bowed to his brother and Kari, and saluted the others before he walked out of the hall.
"Is it true he assisted in the trade talks between Vanaheim and Alfheim?" Hogun queried.
"You were aware of it?" Thor was slightly annoyed that his friend had not told him that.
"I heard rumours, nothing more."
"Apparently so. I have sent a messenger to both Kings Frederick and Gaufrid and I await their statements."
"If what he states is so, he may well be the reason there is peace on the Nine Realms, for now at least." Kari informed them with a smile.
Thor frowned. "The God of Mischief, Lies and Chaos; a peace ambassador, who would have thought such a thing to have been possible?"
"There is little chance." Sif dismissed.
"You have always been one to give people a chance Sif, extend the same to Loki." Kari smiled as she rose to her feet. "I can barely keep my eyes open, this child is tiring me far too greatly, I will see you all tomorrow no doubt, but until then, have a pleasant evening." The warrior's bowed and she left.
When she came to the hallway, she was surprised to see Loki awaiting her. "I would have thought you would have taken longer." He grinned.
"If you thought that, why are you waiting here?"
"I may or may not have been eavesdropping on mother speaking with General Tyr."
"I see, anything of note?"
"Only the old fart congratulating her on the impending birth of her grandchild, and of course, adding that were it a boy to have father's name in it some how, you know as a tribute to the great man." Loki looked as though he was doing everything in his considerable power not to laugh.
"Over my maggot riddled, mutilated corpse!" Kari snarled. Loki chuckled. "Is my reaction somewhere near what you assumed?"
"Very much so. So breakfasts with Thor?"
"His idea, I assure you. I am not sure why though, we talk of little."
"I think he is proud of 'his' little accomplishment." Loki grinned wickedly.
Kari huffed out a small breath of laughter, but said no more, with regards it. "I think it best if I head to my chambers." She smiled as she continued on.
"I shall join you there soon my darling." Loki whispered in her ear as she passed by him.