His Property [English]

Chapter 8

Slowly the senses began to return to Lauren and it took her a few moments to understand what had happened. She met Sigyn, Loki found out about the baby, and then....

She felt a hand resting on her stomach and heard a soft whisper, but couldn't make out the words. When she opened her eyes, she squinted them because of the bright light. Finally she could make out Loki sitting next to her and gently stroking her belly, a slight smile could be seen on his lips. Lauren began to move and Loki hastily slid away from her. 

"Lauren, you're awake," Loki said with relief.

"What happened?" she asked and Loki looked from her down to the paints.

"You passed out because of the baby. It's taking your strength and you're also severely hypothermic," he explained to her. Loki ran a hand over his face and inhaled audibly. "If you keep our child, this is going to happen a lot more often and it's going to get worse, Lauren."

"I told you I would keep it, no matter what the risk," she said, looking away from him, out the windows, "It's my flesh and blood."

"It's mine, too," Loki said softly, "But it doesn't mean you're not more important to me."

Lauren laughed mockingly. "If I'm important to you, why have you ignored me for the past two weeks?"

"I promised to stay away until you asked me, didn't I?" -Loki grinned a little before his expression turned more serious again- "Besides, I'm guessing you wanted to rest because you would have gotten your period."

"Apparently I didn't, did I?" said Lauren.

"Why didn't you tell me something straight away when you knew you were pregnant?" he asked her, and she looked at the bed sheets.

"I..." -She paused- "I was afraid of how you would react, afraid of what you would do."

"You must really think I'm a monster to think I would harm our child or you," he said, smiling sadly, "I think I deserve that."

"Loki-"

He stood up and interrupted her, "The spell that keeps you warm should work for some time until I have to renew it. You should rest some more until we have dinner later, Lauren."

She opened her mouth to say something more but didn't manage it as Loki quickly left the room. Lauren sighed and couldn't help but feel bad that she hurt him. It was the truth about what she thought he would do if he found out about it. But she also had to admit that he hadn't hurt her unborn child or her, and had even helped her when she fainted. She sighed again and let her head fall back on the pillows.

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Loki took a deep breath after leaving the room where Lauren lay and leaned against a wall. Lauren was carrying his child and not only that, but it would probably kill her. Why hadn't he considered the possibility that even though she was a Midgardian and he was a Frost Giant, they could still father a child? As far as he knew, that had never happened before, at least he had never known about it. How long would his Seidr be able to keep her warm during her pregnancy? He did not want, no, he could not, lose her. Loki realized that he had to find a way for the child and her to survive the birth.

"Is everything all right, my king?" Loki looked up at the older woman and nodded.

"I'm fine, Eir," he told the healer; she raised her eyebrows a little and didn't really seem to believe him, but finally nodded in agreement.

"All right." -She stopped for a moment and took a deep breath "Lady Lauren is doing quite well, considering her circumstances. You don't need to worry about the child or her."

Loki looked up at her. "No worries? You-" -he broke off, trying to calm himself; he closed his eyes and reached for the bridge of his nose before looking back to Eir- "you will tell no one about the child or her, understand?"

The healer nodded in agreement. "Of course, your majesty."

"Good, take care of Lauren-" he said. "About them both."

Eir nodded and Loki pushed himself off the wall and walked purposefully down the corridors to the library.

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Lauren lifted her head when she heard someone enter the chamber and saw an older woman with blond hair standing there.

"Lady Lauren, I am glad to see you are awake. I am Eir, the royal healer," she explained to her.

"Just Lauren," she corrected her. Lauren closed her eyes, remembering that she hadn't asked Loki if the unborn child was okay, and looked up at the healer. "Is the-"

"The unborn has not been harmed in any way, only you have had a debilitating seizure."

Lauren nodded and sat up before sitting on the edge of the bed. "All right. Thank you, but I will now return to my duties-"

"The king has ordered that you rest, and besides, you've been relieved of your duties, so someone else will take care of that now."

She froze at Eir's words. Loki had already replaced her with someone else? What did that mean for her now? She had no use for him anymore, why should he care about her or the child now? After all, she was not his wife and he could disown them both with ease. Lauren touched her belly with her hand, it still showed no signs that she was even pregnant. She got up from the bed and Eir looked at her with wide eyes.

"You should lie still until you regain your strength-"

Lauren interrupted, raising her hand. "I'm fine."

"But the king said-"

"I don't care what the king ordered, Lady Eir," she told her, "You are welcome to report to him that I have left, but I will go."

She walked past the shocked healer and exited the healing chambers. Lauren was confused for a moment as to where she was, having never been in that part of the palace before. She walked through the corridors trying to find her way back to Loki's chambers, but realized quite quickly that she was lost. She decided to sit on a railing in a corner and pulled her legs to her chest as she looked out. Lauren quickly realized how exhausted she actually still was as she looked out. She leaned her head against the wall and quickly began to fall asleep.

When she woke up again, she noticed someone picking her up and carrying her. She managed to open her eyes a little and could see that it was Loki.

"Sleep," he said softly, and before she could say anything, she felt herself falling back to sleep.