The Hermit Herbalist

Chapter 16 - A Family?

Loki gave Clint a cup of tea and they sat around the hearth. Even though she had wanted to continue and make love again, she understood Clint's desire to discuss the topic of children and babies in the future. They both took several sips from their cups before they turned to each other. "So, us... you, me... and babies?" Clint queried and Loki smiled.

"You, me, and babies," Loki supplied. She leaned back, gently cradling her cup of tea. "I am Jotun, and you already know that. Jotuns do not have similar reproductive cycles to that of other races. Your humans can conceive and carry within a nine month period; then be ready to carry again not long after birth. That is actually a reason for the concept of overpopulation on your world." Clint shrugged, not sure if he agreed with her or not, but he was not about to interrupt her. "Jotun females still carry for the nine month time period, but they are not always capable of carrying children."

"What does that mean? Aren't all women, unless there's a medical complication, always capable of carrying babies?" he asked.

"Jotun females aren't always ready because their bodies prepare themselves. Once a year, they go into heat," Loki stated and Clint's eyes widened. She leaned forward, her hand covering his. "Last night, I wasn't in heat. You might have come inside me, but your seed will not take root because my womb is not ready."

"Oh," Clint said, and he could not hide the disappointment in his voice at this. Loki gave him a shy smile at this, knowing that he had wanted to at least entertain the concept that he had impregnated her last night. "Okay. When do you go into 'heat' then?"

"I track my heats, and my next heat is not until a month from now. You'll know when I go into heat. My disguise falls away and my Jotun skin is revealed. I beg for you to take me, and my heat will only end once your seed is planted in my womb. It is dangerous to let a heat persist more than 72 hours. It could either permanently damage the Jotun females reproductive organs, or kill her," Loki enlightened and Clint gaped.

"What the f*ck?! You could die if I don't-?!" he started to ask.

"Get me with child? Yes, that is a possible outcome. Or, I could never have children.  We'll know once I conceive, as I will shift back from blue to this skin tone," Loki said lightly as she took another sip of tea. Clint shook his head before he put his tea aside, and knelt down in front of her. Loki watched as he took her hands in his and kissed her knuckles.

"I promise you that I do want children with you. We never had time before our wedding to discuss kids, let alone the getting married," Clint admitted and Loki smiled. She freed one of her hands and ran her fingers through his hair.

"And I want to have children with you. As I said last night, you are the only one I wanted to give myself to, and with you, I will have many children. I want to bear you sons and daughters; little boys who hunt the beasts of the forest with little bows and arrows," and Clint laughed at this, "and little girls, who will keep them in line." Clint's eyes brightened at this and he knelt up, pulling her into a deep and passionate kiss. When they parted, he rested his forehead against hers. "I want a son we can call Francis. Your middle name is Francis."

"I recall clearly. He's going by Frank. If there's one thing about myself I've hated, it's my middle name," Clint admitted. Loki laughed a little as continued to run her fingers through his hair. "And I want a little girl, my princess. She'll the image of her mother: strong, caring, sharp, and beautiful. I want to name her Adelaide. Then we can call her Addie."

"Another Midgardian name," Loki pointed out and Clint sighed.

"As long as they're not too weird, we can have a few Norse names. Any recommendations?" he posed. Loki grinned conspiratorially, and pulled him close. His head rested on her breast as her arms enveloped him and she stroked his head.

"Talon. A good, strong Nordic name. And... Frida for a daughter," Loki said and Clint nodded after a second.

"Talon...  I've heard people use it on earth before," Clint admitted and Loki smiled.

"There!  You already like it!" she declared with a light laugh.

"I also like Darian and Richard for a boy," Clint said and Loki's eyebrow went up.  Her arms looped around his neck as he raised his head to look at her.

"What's all this, Clinton?  You talking of a son and heir for you name and bloodline?  You almost sound medieval," she jabbed and Clint grinned.  He stood up with her in his arms and took her to the bed.

"So medieval I want to have you again.  I kind of interrupted the other time with our little talk, but now that we've got that out of the way..." he started to say as he placed her on the mattress.

"Yes?" Loki asked as he slowly started to undo her corset.

"I think we can pick up where we left off," Clint finished.  He kissed her passionately and Loki allowed him to make love to her again and again.  He could lavish her all he wanted.

Kael sat on a log before the campfire, his hands clenched together.  He had been forced to flee the village after the mortal's surprising return.  And he had such high hopes that the human would go back to his little world and forget all about Ikol.  Instead, he had come back, and taken her under his protection.  Kael still did not know to what extent, but he had sent some spies to the village to ascertain exactly.  

A snapping twig made him look up and he reached for his bow.  "It's me, Kael," said a voice and one of his compatriots appeared.  Kael lowered his bow and his friend sat down beside on the log.

"What did you learn, Tori?" he asked and the young man inhaled and exhaled slowly.  "Speak."

"They were handfasted yesterday by the village elders.  Everything she has is now his, as is she.  The sheets were produced as proof," Tori said.  Kael turned to face the fire, his hold on his bow so hard, his knuckles were white.  Tori watched him closely, but it was clear he wanted to move away.  "What will you do?" he finally queried.  Kael stood up, walking around the fire.

"What will I do?  Well, I won't let this go unpunished.  Tori, I want you to find the thief bands and outlaws that live in the Mountains of Siber.  I want to rally them to attack the village," Kael declared and his friend stood up swiftly.

"Are you sure that's wise, Kael?  For one woman?" he challenged and Kael turned on him, gripping his throat. 

"If Ikol was like any other woman, but she's not!  She's a goddess!  And besides, this mortal thinks he's better than me.  I will teach him better than to assume such things.  Go now and no more questions," Kael ordered, shoving Tori down.  The other man scrambled away as fast as he could.  Kael turned his attention back to the fire and seemed to see Ikol's face dancing in the flames.  "I'll take her from him as he took her from me.  I'll take her as he takes her.  I'll make her mine, and only then, will the mortal archer be given the mercy of death."