"So, what will we do with our little conundrum?" Loki had his hand placed carefully on Kari's swollen stomach as he spoke, it glowed light green.
"What are you doing?" She demanded, looking as his seidr seemed to seep into her.
"I am interacting with my child, nothing to fear."
"Inter…is it reacting?"
"Can you not feel it? Our little ones seidr is connecting with mine. It has no idea that it is communicating, it is not able to understand such yet, but it very much trying to communicate on some level with me."
"It just feels like the weird flutterings I always feel when it makes small movements." Kari placed her hand on Loki's. "Norn's what will we do?"
"We need to think. Perhaps we could run, both of us this time."
"If it was before now, I think he would have just left it, but with the child, he would not leave it rest."
"We could tell him, but in all honesty, I am unsure as to how he would react. He may not take it well."
"You think? Norn's what have I done?"
"Please stop blaming yourself darling, you are stressing the child." Loki began to kiss behind her ear down to her neck, earning him a gasp from Kari. "Has Eir stated whether it is safe for you to do certain things at present?"
"Yes." Kari slipped her hand behind her to pull them against one another.
"Wonderful." He grinned, sliding his hand down to pull up the short hem of her nightdress, exposing her naked ass, which he took in his strong hand. "Norn's woman, you are divine." He placed her leg over his thigh before slipped his hands around to the front of her body, relishing in the dampness he could feel at the apex of her legs. "So wanton already?"
"Do not tease me Loki, I warn you." Kari turned her head and nipped his bottom lip.
Loki chuckled before positioning himself at her entrance, and pushing in slowly, but firmly. "No teasing is it?"
"Fuck!"
"Language darling." Loki pulled her thigh up and began to thrust slowly in and out of her. "You have missed me it seems."
"Yes." Her nails dug into his thighs, causing Loki to his in painful pleasure.
"I have missed you too my darling. Every night I thought of you, and most days too."
"Loki." Kari could not control how her legs shook in pleasure.
"I was a fool to not let you explain." His thrusts became stronger as he attempted to get her to reach her pleasure before he took his.
"Please…please…Loki!" Kari shouted him name as her body spasmed around him.
As though they were synced to one another, Loki came immediately after, biting her shoulder as he grunted his release. They lay in silence for a few moments, the sounds of their breathing returning to normal was the only sound in the room.
"I'm sorry I did not return with you darling."
"I'm sorry I messed everything up. If I had known about the elixir wearing off."
"Don't, don't say it Kari, don't regret this." His hand went to her stomach. "Don't regret our child."
"But I ruined everything."
"No darling. No you have not. Do not think such things. We will find a way to sort this."
"What if we don't?"
"We will, wait and see, now rest my love. We will think more tomorrow."
It was barely sun up when Loki awoke, he smiled at Kari being in his arms, and their child growing in her. A child, they had created something so precious. And his witless idiot of a brother thought it his. His eyes widened as a thought came to him. If Kari gave birth to a son, none would think anything of her not carrying more children, Thor would unknowingly hand Asgard to his child, his heir. He chuckled deeply at the thought. Kari stirred next to him beginning to wake.
"Darling, I need to be going if Thor is to join you for breakfast. I will see you later."
"Promise?" Her voice was small, and heavy with sleep.
"I swear. Now, get some more sleep, you are carrying our precious child in you." Kari mumbled in reply and turned so that she now had her face against the pillow he had slept on, taking in his scent. Loki gave her a small kiss before giving her stomach one last caress and leaving her rooms.
X
A month passed and each day passed in the same manner, Loki stayed with Kari every night, most of which he would spend pleasuring her, then would leave in the early hours before Thor would arrive, royal duties took up most of the days, along with Kari going Odin's chambers and forcing Frigga to go for a walk with her to the gardens, and then sometimes seeing the healer before dinner, finishing off the evening with going back to Odin's chambers. It was exhausting, and it was taking a toll on her physically.
"You will need to take it easy or you will be put on bed rest your Majesty, the child needs you to have your energy, but you are not permitting yourself to rest." Eir scolded.
"I cannot, Odin…"
"There is nothing you can do for him, if he makes the week it will be noteworthy, your concern is the child." The healer ordered.
Kari's eyes widened, Odin's health had been steadily declining, but she had not thought him that bad. "But Frigga…"
"Would not be pleased to think you put your child and yourself at risk. If you have to go on bed rest, the child may be born early, that is not something you and it need." Eir insisted. Kari gave a small nod and said nothing more. "So nothing strenuous from now on, only small strolls, plenty of sitting, and most importantly, plenty of rest."
"Very well." Kari accepted, upset with it meaning an end to her and Loki's pleasurable nights. She felt the child move, so her hand went to the spot that she had felt it nudge. "Whatever I need to do." Eir nodded her approval. "Is he really so bad?"
"Honestly Allmother every minute he survives shocks me. I cannot see him remaining conscious after this evening."
"Is he in pain?"
"Only discomfort, but pain no. I have taken care of that."
"Good, thank you." Kari smiled. "And the child is fine?"
"Yes, as I stated, it is taking a toll on you, and you need to take that into account. If you continue to eat well and rest more, all will be fine. Light exercise only, the upper tiers of the gardens, and the hallways, nothing more, avoids the steps when possible." Kari nodded. "I can tell you what gender the child is if you would like? It is somewhat of an exhibitionist it must be said."
Kari grinned. "I have suspected for a while. But I do not wish to know for certain until the birth, which will give me something to look forward to after the efforts of labour."
"Yes, I suspect you do and I agree with waiting to see." Eir smiled in return. The healer smiled looking to Kari's stomach. "It's seidr will be powerful, I sense it."
Kari placed her hand on her stomach. "I do too. It is already so strong, it often startles Frigga and Loki."
"They would be more attune to such things." Eir nodded.
The door to the healing rooms opened and Loki looked around in search of Eir, seeing her and an only half dressed Kari. "Eir, it's Odin, he's…"
Eir did not wait any longer; she called on her aides and ran from the room. Alone, Loki walked over towards Kari. "Is it time?"
"I am not sure, he woke from a nap and he cannot speak, it is only groans. But he seems aware of his surrounds." He watched as Kari righted her clothes. "The child?" He asked concerned.
"Just a check up."
"And it is well?" He looked around to see if any were in the rooms other than them.
"It is fine." Kari smiled but she shook her head slightly to indicate not to do anything suspicious.
"Wonderful. It is good to know the future of the realm is safe. You best ready yourself and come, mother will want you close, she depends on you so much."
Nodding, Kari fixed her dress and walked down the hallway. "I am to take things easier now, the child is taking too much from me."
"Well then, do as you are told." Loki insisted sternly.
"No more…"
"I am sure we will survive a few weeks. It is already the beginning of Spring."
"But still…"
"If Eir said to cease, nothing will alter that." He leant in close to her. "I am not putting you and our child at risk."
"What are we going to do about Thor, and him thinking it is his?" After Loki's initial insistence they do something, little more was said on the matter.
"We are going to do nothing." Loki explained plainly.
"What?" She stared up at him.
"The child will be reared as Asgard's future monarch, you and Thor are all but are divorced in everything but legality, and you and I will continue to live as we do."
"Loki, that is not a good idea." Kari stated. "Thor…"
"Will be glad to have a child and will badger you for no more. He has made that clear." Kari's expression caused him to elaborate. "He may have admitted such in front of the warrior's. They know of the state of your marriage, and he is blessing the Norn's for there being one child, he will ask for no more, unless you offer." Kari scoffed. "I thought as much."
They finally made their way to Odin's quarters, Loki not saying anything of the slower pace Kari took, but noticing with concern how she found it difficult to get there.
"What did you do?" Thor demanded as they arrived, noting how Kari was out of breath.
"I did nothing, she had to come all the way from Eir's rooms, who, she informed me, has told her to take it easy, which is a substantial journey considering her condition."
"Don't start." Kari panted.
"It is true, I told her to take it easy." Eir confirmed, exiting Odin's bed chambers. "Allmother, please listen to what I say." She implored.
"But Loki said he was bad."
"And remember what I said." Eir argued.
Thor looked between his wife and the healer. "Is there something wrong with the child?"
"The child no, your Majesty, the Allmother on the other hand, is a different matter. Her body is exhausted with everything that has been going on recently. The child is taking what it requires for her, but that is leaving very little for her." The healer explained.
"Kari, effective immediately, I am insisting you have nothing to do with throne room issues." Thor ordered. Not even wanting to argue, Kari nodded. "Loki…"
"Obviously I will have to assist more, there has to be some form of intelligence in the room." He grinned mischievously. Thor glared at him for a moment before rolling his eyes. "What of Odin?" He queried, turning to the healer.
"It is time. He will lose consciousness soon, and then, it will be a matter of minutes." Eir stated sadly.
"Very well, Loki, you go in, mother is with him now. he cannot respond as you know, but you should at least say something to him." Nodding, Loki silently made his way to the other room.
"I will give you some time." Eir bowed to leave. "Call for me when he falls unconscious."
"We will." Thor promised. When the healer left, he looked to Kari. "Sit down and rest."
"It is more work for me to get out of one of these chairs than it is for me to stand."
"Why did Loki remain with you as you made your way here? I told him to return immediately."
"I asked him to; he heard Eir tell me to take it easy, that I needed to be careful. He was concerned." Thor's jaw clenched slightly. "Thor, what is wrong with me being around Loki?" Kari asked.
"He is too pleased with there being a child, he should not be."
"You want him to loathe the baby?"
"I…" Thor silenced for a moment. "No, I do not want him to loathe the…the baby."
"Why did you do a double take at calling it a baby?"
"I never thought of it as a baby, just as a child."
"Well that is all it is, a baby, and I am going to be spending time around Loki, Thor; he has strong seidr that causes the baby's seidr not to flair as badly."
"Mother could help with that."
"Yes, and she did for a while, but she is not doing so well at present, and this situation with your father has caused her seidr to weaken. Thor please stop trying to create a rift where there is none. Do not continue what Odin started." Thor frowned, but said no more.
They turned to see Loki and Frigga looking at them, unsure at how long they had been listening to their conversation. "Thor, I think he wants to see you." Frigga's voice was small.
Thor nodded and walked passed his mother and brother to his father's chambers. Kari bit the inside of her lip as Loki looked at her. Frigga sat down, her hands fidgeting as she did so in anxiety. "Mother." Loki looked to Frigga.
"I'm fine."
Kari walked over and sat beside her. "It is alright not to be you know?" Frigga smiled sadly and looked lovingly to Kari's stomach, which was getting larger by the day it seemed.
Thor came out of the room soon after, he seemed somewhat shaken. "Is he?" Frigga asked fearfully.
Thor shook his head. "It will not be long though."
Kari rose and walked into the room, the other family members were so startled by her actions; they said nothing as she walked through the doors. She walked into the room she was so sick of seeing in recent times. Odin's rasping breaths were the only sound in the room. Walking over to the bed she looked at him. He had gotten frail and thin as time had passed and the illness had taken its toll. Looking at the once authoritative man that was her father in law, her lip curled slightly in contempt.
Odin simply looked back at her, his eye focused on her rotund stomach. "So now you cannot even talk is it?" Kari asked, her voice emotionless, Odin could only blink slowly in response. "Then perhaps it is time you finally listen to me. It is no secret I hate you, I despise you with every fibre of my being for what you have done to me." She snarled. Odin looked as though he did not seem to care. "All you have ever cared about is what you think was best, and for some reason; trying to punish Loki for some unknown crime. You know nothing of what was best for him, Thor, and I know you don't care, but also me. The only time you seemed to show the least bit of interest in me is since I began to carry this child." She indicated to her stomach as she walked closer to the head of the bed. Turning to ensure the door was still closed. "But before you ascend to Valhalla, or I would think descend to Hel, I am going to share one last little gem with you." She leant down close to his ear and chuckled. "The child I am carrying is not Thor's heir." Odin's eye widened. "It is Loki's."
It was at that moment one of the curtains to Odin's balcony pulled aside and Loki walked out from behind it. "You have a truly vicious streak my dove." He grinned wickedly, placing his hands around her swollen waist and over his growing child. "You thought you could keep us apart father. Does it give you satisfaction to see your suspicions were correct?" Odin's breaths became even more laboured as his anger rose, before he weakly tried to cough, but was unable to. "Go call mother and Thor, he is about to leave us I think." Loki instructed as he kissed the side of her neck again as Odin watched helplessly.
Without saying a word, Kari turned and made her way back to the door as Loki disappeared into thin air, grinning at his father as he did so.
"Kari?" Thor looked at her as she rushed into the room.
"He can hardly breathe." Thor rushed passed her and into the room, followed by Frigga, and a moment later, the false Loki fizzled away and the true on walked out from behind a pillar again and joined them, Kari slowly making her way to the main door of the chambers, alerting a servant to call Eir. When she got back to Odin's bed chambers, Thor was standing over his father as Frigga held his hand, while Loki stood back slightly.
"He fell unconscious just after we entered." Thor stated. "You called us just in time."
"I sent a servant to Eir." She informed him.
"There is no more can be done." Frigga wept.
Not ten minutes later, Odin, Asgard's greatest war king, was dead.