In the weeks after Ashilda's birth, Erna learned that the most difficult part of the whole affair came after. Though inconvenient and uncomfortable, the pregnancy itself was a walk in the park by comparison. She knew she had an incision to worry about where most new mothers didn't, but the weeks and weeks of bleeding was somehow worse. She felt more like she was recovering from battle than from carrying their child.

For his part, Loki was able to ease some of her suffering under Eir's watchful eye. But he became so hypersensitive to her every discomfort, she'd finally had to have a discussion with him about it. Although he only wanted to help, she had to remind him that sometimes all that was expected of him was to let her grunt in pain and be there if she asked for something. Things got a bit easier after he stopped trying to swoop in every few minutes to see if some new issue had arisen.

But Erna was sure all the pain and everything else would fade into memory. Her daughter would see to that. Every time she looked at her something new stood out. Ashilda's eyes were so similar to her own amber ones, but without the guarded cast that comes with years and knowledge. They were bright and clear and inquisitive, always seeming to take in her surroundings. There was also the addition of a sea green ring around the outside of her iris, something that Erna didn't have. It was subtle, but it instantly brought her husband to mind. Those eyes reminded her more of Loki than even the black hair that began to crop up on her head. And despite protests to the contrary, she could see that he was secretly pleased his daughter took after him in such a visible way.

She relied on him heavily in those first few weeks. Whenever her body demanded rest or she needed a moment to herself, Loki was there to take the baby. He told her stories as those intuitive eyes watched him with an intensity one didn't expect in a newborn. He was so ready to care for their daughter that the nanny had very little to do at first. More than once Loki had dismissed the woman by the middle of the day, much to her surprise and consternation.

One thing the couple had agreed on, was that aside from a nap here or there, the child would sleep in a separate room. Loki's study had been temporarily transformed (quite literally thanks to his magic) into a nursery, as neither of them could bear to be too far away from Ashilda. But both knew they would need time for just the two of them and however difficult it may have been, they left her to slumber alone at night.

And while her recovery took anything more amorous than kissing and caressing off the table, they grew to appreciate the quiet moments they were able to spend together. It reminded her of the times, not so long ago, when he would steal into her rooms every night during their courtship. At least they'd grown out of suppressed words and self-denial, she thought happily.

One night shortly after the one month mark, Loki climbed into bed with a disgustingly sappy grin on his face. "What?" He was either about to describe some new endearing trait of their daughter's or he was trying to hide something. Either way, she wanted to know about it.

"It's just that I love you and I realized that I'm lucky enough to be able to tell you that as oft as I damn well please. So wife, I would like to officially declare my love for you."

She sighed, mournful look on her face. "Alas, I cannot accept your declaration. I'm not dressed for something so formal."

"But you forget how persistent I can be, little elf. I would love you no matter what your attire. Although if you feel that strongly about it, you could remove that shift…"

"And you scoffed at romance when you proposed to me."

"You, my darling wife, bring it out in me." He pulled her close, raining small kisses down all over her face. Her answering laugh made her incision hurt a bit, but not enough to make him stop. Ridiculously silly Loki was far too entertaining.

When he did finally stop, pressing one final kiss to her lips, he was still grinning like a fool. "There's something else, I can tell."

"I figured something out today," he declared with a grand flourish of one hand.

He was going to make her pull it out of him for the fun of it. Idiot. "And that was?"

"You're not the only one Ashilda sent dreams to."

"Wait. What?"

"The reason you had such a difficult time rousing me when you went into labor was that I was dreaming and trying to hold onto it."

"How do you know it was her doing?" She probably should have felt more skeptical, but something told her it would never be a good idea to underestimate their daughter.

"Because she showed me herself all grown up. Or at least how she sees herself as an adult. Who knows really if she can see the future. I honestly wouldn't put it past her. I suppose she could be a seer more than a sorceress, but then again there was the light beam to think about—"

"Slow down, Loki. You're going at breakneck speed and I'm tired."

He cleared his throat and began again at a blessedly slower pace. "I was dreaming something innocuous—"

"Probably something about world domination," she interrupted, earning a playful slap on her bottom.

"Shut it, wife." Despite his words, he pulled her closer and began rubbing circles on her back. "I distinctly remember being pulled out of my dream and onto this riverbank. She was there. And I demanded information only to be met by cryptic declarations and a smug smile."

"Well that definitely sounds like a child of yours."

"Laugh all you want, little one, but I know it was her."

"How are you so sure?"

"Her eyes. They're so similar to yours, but not quite the same. I originally dismissed it as my brain conjuring up pieces of you, but when I put her to bed just now it hit me. They were Ashilda's eyes. Eyes I hadn't even seen yet."

"That means she could be even more magical than we realized, Loki."

"Well she was while still inside you. I think some of that has been tempered now that she's born."

"What makes you think so? Because she hasn't blown anyone up when she's fussy?"

"There is that, but I've given this a lot of thought and I've researched what I could. I think you were acting as a kind of conduit or amplifier of her magic."

"Me? How? I'm not the least bit magical."

"That you know of. You might have been born with it and just never honed the skill. If it isn't nurtured it withers like any other talent. I think there's a reason you were able to communicate with her and know her thoughts and fears."

"Loki, it could just be that she's very powerful."

"Aye she is that, I'll grant you, but why do you think her skill is so prodigious?"

"Well, you're her father for one."

"But no parent of what would turn out to be a magical child ever experienced anything like what we've both witnessed. No, I don't think that's all there is to it."

"Nobody else has born children to Loki of Asgard and Jotunheim. Well, unless you believe all those stories about horses and snakes and the like."

"I could kill Volstagg for starting those rumors. It's been centuries and people still whisper about that damn horse. But that's not what I was getting at, little one. I think part of it is me, but I think the other part is you."

"If— and I'm not saying you're right— but if I had magic in me, albeit buried and untrained, would that explain what she was able to do while still in the womb?"

"If you add me to the equation I think so."

She pondered the idea in silence for several minutes before responding. She was powerful, that much was clear, but a mother's worry saw the downside of that as well as any benefits. "Loki, this could be a problem. What if she accidentally hurts someone? Or herself, gods forbid!"

"I tell her repeatedly not to use her magic until I instruct her on the use of it."

"She's barely a month old, she can't understand you!" Without warning, panic started to creep in. Ashilda could be a danger to herself and there was nothing Erna could do to stop it.

He felt how rapid her heartbeat had become and spoke soothingly. "Erna, you've seen how she watches people, particularly when they're speaking to her. Have you honestly not noticed that the level of attention she exhibits isn't consistent with most newborns?"

It was rather uncanny to watch. She'd already half expected Ashilda to start responding to him, so rapt was her attention as Loki wove stories for her. But she'd chalked that up to maternal blinders. Didn't every mother think her child extraordinary?

"But we can't know for sure until she starts talking, and even then she won't be capable of complex speech for years to come."

"Well, in the meantime I'll just continue speaking to her as if she understands. It can't hurt anything."

"Loki, I get the distinct impression that we don't have a lot of control in this situation." The initial wave of panic had resided, but she had a feeling the residual uneasiness would remain.

"That's because we don't. Not really. But I remember what you said to me on our wedding night. That we would be good to each other and take everything else as it comes. It still seems like a solid plan."

"How are you this calm about it?"

"I'm finally taking some advice my mother gave me a long time ago to heart. At the time I couldn't even fathom having children of my own, but she said that parenthood was terrifying and unpredictable, but that if you could get past the uncertainty of it, it was the best thing she could think of. So I'm just trying to heed my mother's words."

"You think we'll be any good at it?"

"So far, has there been anything we couldn't do between the two of us?"

"No."

"Then I don't see this as any different. And already it's much more rewarding than some of the more unsavory things we've had to deal with. We have this little miracle that's half me and half you and yet a totally different person and I don't see how we can't help but enjoy it."

"You know, you're fairly wise. I bet you'd be a good ruler. Has anyone ever told you that?"

"Let's hope she inherited my sense of humor. Yours is rubbish."

"I will have you know I have a delightful sense of humor. People say so."

"They're humoring the queen, little elf."

"Oh shut up. It's time you let me sleep."

He dimmed the lamp and settled back in beside her, grinning in the dark. Although the concerns she'd voiced had been valid, he couldn't help but look forward to their lives to come with excitement and hope. Too long he'd wallowed in self hatred and pity only to find himself pulled out of it in the most unexpected way. Everything seemed so much sweeter when he looked at the current state of his life compared to where he'd been when he'd first spotted Erna in the great hall. She could be uncertain, it was only natural. He had enough certainty for all three of them.

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he started to make out the fine details of her face, already courting slumber. Her fatigue left him with ample time these days to study her as she slept. He had a hard time closing his own eyes, as he found her untroubled countenance fascinating. By some magic beyond even his understanding this woman had agreed to share his life and her sleeping form never failed to stir a great well of gratitude within him.

That she would leave herself so unguarded in his presence had meant so much to him. If he was being honest with himself he'd probably started falling in love with her the first time she'd fallen asleep in his arms. Nobody had trusted him like that in a long time. It had loosed something in him that he'd kept buried more out of fear than anything.

Gods, but he did get philosophical on nights like this. If she was awake she'd chide him for wasting valuable sleeping time, but he'd join her in sleep soon enough. For now he'd let such thoughts surround him and give him comfort. He loved and was loved and despite everything was truly happy.