The Family Lokison (Part 4)

Returning...Home? (SIGYN)

"Mum, have you ever been to Asgard?" Narvi asked. He'd finished packing a bundle of clothes for himself and helped me load it in a single satchel with a selection for Vali, who went with Loki to tell Grid and Freyr about the morning's plans.

"I grew up in Asgard, love." I rested on the edge of his mattress and patted it for him to sit beside me. "When we're there, so long as it's safe, I'll show you where my parents and I lived. I might even show you some special places, like where I met your father."

"So he lived there, too?"

"Yes. But...I think it's best if he shares that with you and your brother when he feels ready. Don't share it with Vali. We'll tell you both in time." I smiled at him and cleared the small bit of hair from his face, much the same way I used to do for Loki. "How much of it did you see?"

"Not very much." He swatted me away when I lingered at the scratch on his eyebrow, though I couldn't place why seeing it made my stomach twist. "When will we come home?"

I wished I had a real answer. Wished I knew anything about what was to come. "I don't know exactly. But I'm not afraid."

"Why not?"

"Well, when we first came to Vanaheim, Nanny told me there was something special about what I carried inside." I patted my belly. Warmth spread through me that I had to trust. "It's Hela's home now, but back then, I carried you and Vali. She felt you were the seeds of a new Yggdrasil. Now that I know Ragnarok is here, I know what that means."

He raised his brows expectantly.

"It means you'll both see a new beginning. How can I be afraid with such a prophecy?" I laughed to myself nervously, hopeful that saying the words out loud would somehow make them true. But that was what Grid meant, wasn't it? That they were the first generation to know both worlds?

"I won't be able to sleep," he said, shifting to stare at his fidgeting fingers.

"Oh, I have a trick for that, you know." I nodded toward his pillow, encouraging him to snuggle in for the night. Vali would be back soon enough—and if I was lucky, Loki would've gotten him to fall asleep through boredom while talking with Freyr anyway and would carry him in. It was a treat to have private time with my gentler son. "Now, which would you like tonight?" I asked him, lightly stroking his hair. "A Pale Moon? Five Little Birds?"

"The Lonely Shore," he said, closing his eyes and deflating the same way Tiwaz would.

"A marvelous choice." I cleared my throat and found the right key in my throat before singing his favorite lullaby—an old Vanir tune I learned soon after coming here, replaced with words in the language he knew. While Vali appreciated songs that had small dances, Narvi never failed to rest when bathed in my voice.

The lonely shore I walked upon

You saw me standing on my own

The moons and stars gave me a sign

Now here you are, and you are mine

And if the world comes tumbling down

Your precious feet lose solid ground

Reach out for me, our hands entwine

And close your eyes, for you are mine

After repeating it several times through hums and one more run with the words, Narvi drifted to sleep with quiet, deep breaths and peace on his face. He looked more and more like my father each day, with his narrow nose and sweet spatter of freckles like he'd been kissed with auburn rain. I imagined, after he earned his rights as a man and grew his hair out, that it would be a chestnut tinged with red. Like a lion's mane. Powerful, yet tame.