Consequences

2

Asgard celebrated Thor's coronation with a week of feasting. Brynja and Loki held off their announcement, but began to talk in secret about their own relationship and the possibility of marriage. It seemed as though something had been resolved in their life- one chapter of Loki's ambitions ended- and he felt more free to act independently, no longer always under someone's eye as a successor to the throne, the temptation finally out of reach.

Brynja kept out of the public eye as often as possible in order to keep her pregnancy secret. She saw Freyja to make sure everything was progressing normally, Loki eagerly sitting by her for every examination, asking Freyja to tell him what every touch meant and how the baby was growing. The day that he first noticed the swell of her abdomen as she lay beside him at night, he was absolutely enthralled, his fingers tracing the gentle bump, remembering the feel of Sleipnir moving inside him and marvelling that he had created that feeling in his own beloved.

As the child grew, Loki continued to be in awe of Brynja's body and the emotional strength she displayed as her body changed. His touch was light, gentle, and worshipful. Freyja watched the interactions that happened in her presence and was amazed at how involved Loki wanted to be in every aspect of the pregnancy and caring for Brynja.

Brynja was barely showing when she and Loki called Frigga, Odin, Thor, Katja, and Sunny to the library and told them the news. Frigga's hands flew to her face as she cried out in excitement. She threw her arms around both Loki and Brynja, kissing their cheeks and congratulating them while peppering them with questions about how Brynja was feeling and if they had thought of names for the child. Odin shook Loki's hand, congratulating him heartily, and hugged his daughter when he finally could get Frigga to release her. Thor clapped Loki on the back and asked if he wanted the news released to the realm yet. Loki shook his head, asking that they not let the word go beyond the family until it was obvious that Brynja was pregnant. Katja and Sunny both hugged their mother and tried not to squeak from their excitement. Frigga was so thrilled that she invited Brynja to immediately come with her to the royal tailor for maternity garments. Brynja declined, needing her rest, and Loki escorted her back to their chambers tucking her into bed and calling to a servant to bring them dinner.

While Brynja rested in the evenings, Loki and she dreamed about a wedding. Neither of them wanted the elaborate ceremony that they knew their family would want to give them. Brynja had a dress she hoped would fit, given to her by an old woman she had buried in Midgard in their 1970s. Loki wanted something simple as well, and both of them wanted Sunny and Katja involved in the ceremony. Neither of them, however, had set a date, and no formal proposal was made. They both understood that it would happen, they would have their wedding, but they liked not having to commit to a date or answer questions from family yet.

When Brynja went into labour, Loki sat by her side, brought her water, food, cool damp cloths to wipe her forehead and arms to hold when she wanted to hang on him. Though he had cut Sleipnir from himself without help, he knew that those contractions, once they began, were not something to trifle with. He called for servants to fetch Freyja and to bring more fruit and water to sustain Brynja. He cradled her when she needed to be cradled, he kissed her and brushed her hair from her face, gently comforting her and reassuring her when things were so intense she pleaded him to just rip the child from her. Freyja sat back and watched, making sure everything about the labour looked normal and let the couple work through the birth of their child together.

Freyja brought a labour stool for Brynja and helped her get on it, coaching Loki on how to catch the child as it emerged into the world. He wrapped the baby in a soft blanket while Freyja tended to Brynja. He was grinning ear to ear, tears in his eyes, as he met his child. Once Brynja was moved to the bed, he brought the baby to her.