Love Me?

Chapter Fourteen

Loki had his arm wrapped around Elli's waist as she stood on their balcony watching as her friends and family made their way towards the Bifrost. Loki had told her countless times to go with her mother to say goodbye but Elli refused.

"There is still some time before they leave." Loki commented.

"I don't like goodbyes." Elli said meekly.

"They'll be back soon." Loki told her.

"How do you know that?" Elli asked.

"Jotunheim is weak. We have no structure. Now, we have Asgard as well as Alfhiem on our backs. Although my father will never admit it, it is better for him and our kingdom if he surrenders. We barely have enough money to get supplies and weapons or even food. It will be an easy win for us." Loki explained.

Loki pulled Elli closer to him and he looked down at her as he saw her hand rub her belly.

"It's so cold." Elli commented.

"Don't think about it." Loki said.

He took her hand in his and smiled as he squeezed it.

"I have another check up tomorrow." Elli brought up.

"Have you not been feeling well?" Loki asked.

"No," Elli replied. "I just want to make sure that everything is fine with me and the baby...even though they cannot see it."

"Would you like me to accompany you?" Loki asked.

"That would be nice." Elli grinned.

Moments later, Frigga opened their chamber door and Loki helped Elli back into the room.

"They should be leaving any second now." Frigga told them.

The three heard the vibrations of the Bifrost in motion and Elli sighed as she put her head down.

"I believe that as of now, I am queen regent." Frigga commented.

"What are we to do?" Elli asked.

"Go on with our normal lives." Frigga replied.

"How can we?" Elli asked her lip quivered.

"Elli, please do not cry. They will be safe. Do not waste countless hours crying over them." Loki told her.

Loki wrapped his arms around her and cradled her head to his chest as he hushed her. Frigga ran her hand up and down Elli's back trying to soothe her.

"And to think that they have gone because of us." Elli cried.

"Shh, sweetheart. None of us are at fault. Only my father and brother are to blame. Do not blame yourself for this." Loki told her.

"Lunch is to be served soon. I shall see you in the dining hall." Frigga told them before leaving the room.

"What am I going to do without them, Loki?" Elli asked.

She laid her hands against his chest and Loki took her hands in his.

"First, you will not cry for them. Second, you will not blame yourself for this war. Third, you must move on and go about your normal day as if they are still here. That's what I've done." Loki explained.

"But it's easy for you. You've been through so many wars. I've never had my father and brother leave at the same time." Elli told him.

"I understand. There are things in our lives that are out of our control. Now, all we can do is pray and hope for their safety." Loki told her reassuringly.

Loki kissed her softly and Elli sighed as she nodded your head.

"You're right. I shouldn't worry. Especially while I'm pregnant. I need to move on." Elli smiled.

"Soon enough, they shall be home and you won't have to worry anymore." Loki told her.

"Let's go eat. I'm starving." Elli said.

Later that evening, Loki watched from their bed as Elli changed into her nightgown. He looked down at the small bump of her belly and couldn't help but smile knowing that his child was growing there, showing to everyone what they created as a symbol of their love. Elli got under the covers and curled herself next to Loki.

"Mother said we need to start working on a nursery." Elli told him.

"Really? So soon?" Loki asked.

"She wants us to help the architects with the plans. You know, like how big we want it and what colors and furniture will be used and placed where. That sort of stuff." Elli explained.

"Tha sounds wonderful." Loki smiled.

He ran his hand across her belly and Elli moaned as she smiled lazily.

"How are you feeling?" Loki asked.

"Alright." Elli replied.

"You should rest now. You and the baby need it." Loki told her.

Elli nodded her head as Loki turned off the light and wrapped his arms around her as they laid down on the bed. He pulled the covers over them and kissed Elli's temple before they both fell soundly asleep. The following morning in the healing rooms, Elli laid down on one of the beds with Loki standing at her side while Eir ran some tests. Seeing that everything was alright, Eir dismissed the two. After two months had gone by, Elli went to visit Eir since she had not yet had any complications and felt as though something was off due to that fact. Once the examination was over and Eir found everything to be alright, she dismissed the two. Once Elli was on her feet, she gripped her belly as she cried out in pain and Loki quickly took her hand in his and quickly examined her.

"Elli? Elli, what's wrong?" Loki asked.

"It hurts." Elli cried out.

"Shh, Elli, it's alright. Just lay back down and Eir will help." Loki told her.

He helped her back onto the bed and as she sat down, she choked out a sob and Loki slowly laid her down as Eir and the other healers crowded around her.

"Eir, what is going on?" Loki asked.

"I am not sure myself. I will try and see the baby but I know it will be hard due to the layer of ice." Eir explained.

Elli gripped Loki's hand and she looked up at him as he knelt beside her.

"Loki, I'm scared." Elli whimpered.

"Don't be. Everything will be alright. Just relax and breathe slowly." Loki told her.

Elli nodded her head and Loki looked up at Eir who furrowed her brows and scrunched up her nose.

"What is it? What's happened?" Loki asked.

"It seems as though the ice that obstructed the view has just now been absorbed into her womb." Eir told him.

"What does that mean?" Loki asked.

"It means we can see the baby now but, I don't know what will happen now that she has absorbed it." Eir replied.

"Does this mean stillbirth and a miscarriage are off the table?" Elli asked as she moaned in pain.

"I'm afraid not." Eir said softly.

Elli nodded her head as Loki ran his fingers through her hair.

"Are you still in any discomfort?" Eir asked.

"The pain has subsided." Elli replied.

"Well, if you look up here...this little dot right here...is your baby." Eir told them.

The two looked up at the image before them and Loki beamed as Elli giggled with excitement.

"Is it too early to know the sex?" Elli asked.

"It is. In a few months time, we shall know." Eir replied.

"Thank you." Elli beamed.

Loki and Elli made their way to Frigga's chambers to tell her the news. Elli opened the door to find Frigga sitting at her desk reading over a few letters.

"Mother, we've just come from the healing rooms." Elli said.

"What? Has something happened?" She asked frantically while turning to face the couple.

"No," Elli replied. "The ice within me has gone away. Melted I guess."

"That's wonderful." Frigga said softly.

"You don't sound pleased?" Elli asked.

"Elli, I need to speak with Loki...in private." Frigga replied.

Elli looked up at Loki and he shook his head.

"I'll be in our chambers." Elli whispered.

She kissed his cheek and left the room, closing the door behind her.

"What is it?" Loki asked.

Frigga inhaled sharply before standing up and handing Loki a letter.

"This is from Odin." Loki stated.

"It is, yes." Frigga sighed.

"I do not understand why you'd give me a letter written by him addressed to you when-"

"He's killed your brother." Frigga interjected.

Loki's mouth was agape as he processed what Frigga told him. His eyes then scanned the letter and Loki furrowed his brow as his lips curled in disgust.

"How? How can this be? You told him not to. Elli even told him. Why has he done this?" Loki asked as his voice wavered.

"Before your brother was killed, he was tortured by Odin's demands hoping that Laufey would surrender for his son's sake. When he did not, Odin executed him, publicly to the army." Frigga explained.

"Father wouldn't do that. He loves Helblindi too much. He trained him to be king." Loki mumbled to himself.

"I'm sorry." Frigga said.

"How did he do it?" Loki asked.

"Do what?" Frigga asked.

"How did Odin kill him?" Loki inquired.

"It's in the letter towards the end." Frigga replied.

Loki scanned over the paper and he swallowed the bile in his throat upon reading.

"He sent his head to my father...and burned the body? No, it cannot be true." Loki told her.

"I'm so sorry, Loki. I don't know why he'd go against your wishes given that they are your family-"

"They never were family. What does it matter anyway?" Loki told her as he threw the letter on the table and stormed out of the room.

Loki walked back towards his chambers and found Elli sitting on the small couch next to the fireplace. Snow had begun to fall and Elli turned to look at Loki.

"Loki...are you alright?" Elli asked.

She furrowed her brow as she looked at him and his bottom lip quivered as he shook his head. Elli ran over towards Loki, pulled him into the room, closed the door, and sat him down on the couch. As soon as she took his hands in hers, Loki broke down into tears. Elli felt like crying herself as she wrapped her arms around him and cradled his head to her chest as he sobbed.

"Loki. Loki, please tell me why you're crying?" Elli asked.

She took his face in her hands and he looked up at her as his chest heaved.

"Your father killed Helblindi." Loki told her.

Loki watched as her sympathetic eyes and loving smile faded away and the color drained from her face.

"No. he can't be. I told my father your wishes. He gave me his word." Elli told him.

"He didn't keep it then, did he?" Loki retorted.

"How?" Elli asked.

"Tortured him so that my father would surrender. When he didn't, they cut off his head, sent it to my father, and burnt his body afterwards." Loki told her.

Elli felt physically revolted at the thought as she put her hand over her stomach and swallowed hard.

"He's in a better place, I suppose. You can-"

"I don't want to hear that nonsense!" Loki exclaimed.

Elli jumped as he stood from the couch and she clenched her jaw to keep from crying out. Her eyes kept looking up at Loki and then down at the floor.

"Loki, if I have upset you, I-"

"Upset me? I am far past upset," Loki spat out. "Your father went against my good wishes. I am livid, Elli. My brother is dead. He was just a stupid boy who didn't know any better, Elli. He didn't deserve the life he was born into."

Elli decided to remain quiet as Loki proceeded to let all his emotions out to her.

"Now, who knows what your father will do now? If he goes against my wishes, he could kill my father. Then, I'll have no one left in this world. And maybe, ehehe, he'll take our wedding vows and declare them null and void." Loki seethed.

"He wouldn't do that." Elli spoke as she stood up from the couch.

"Who knows, Elli? Maybe, you're just like him. You have his blood inside you. Maybe, one day you'll hate me like you should have and stab me in the back by getting an annulment." Loki told her through gritted teeth.

"Loki, I'd never-"

"Oh, shut up!" Loki screamed.

Elli inhaled sharply as she looked up at Loki and he shook his head as he stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Once he was gone, Elli fell to her knees and cried into her hands, waiting for Loki to return.