After the presentation of the twins, the court headed for the feast in their honor. Luckily, there was a much more private dinner that you and the twins would be attending. The feast was for the realm to celebrate. You all knew it would be too much for the twins, though, so you and Loki took them to a small private dining hall where only the family gathered. The twins relaxed when they were around only people they knew. Narvi stayed on your lap through the meal, though Vali was enjoying a rousing game of 'pass the baby'. Still, you noticed Loki's eyes kept going to her, kept making sure his baby girl was alright as she was passed from hand to hand.
Even though she was giggling as she was passed from person to person, as she was cuddled, tossed, bounced and tickled. Loki stiffened, concerned as she was passed to Odin, but Odin chuckled and held her, doting on his granddaughter in a way he'd never doted on his children. He was going to be one of those grandparents, the ones who were assholes to their children, but adored and were perfect to their grandchildren. Vali spent most of the actual meal on Odin's lap, being bounced while he ate. She giggled, enjoying every moment of it.
At least until she got bored with her grandfather and teleported back to her father's lap. Loki gasped as his arms wrapped automatically around her, holding her safely to him. You all stared in shock.
Vali was much too young to be teleporting. That was severely advanced magic. You hadn't learned how for ages after Loki started teaching you magic. And the twins were completely untrained. They shouldn't be teleporting for years, even centuries of magic study.
A week old infant shouldn't be capable.
Loki exchanged a worried glance with you and you saw the fear in his eyes. What if they tried something too dangerous with their magic and got themselves hurt? You knew one of the options was to bind their powers until they were old enough to properly learn, but you refused to do that to your children. Loki was against it as well, but you didn't want him to get pressured into it. /We'll teach them properly/ you reassured him.
/Papa?/ you heard Vali's call to her father. She sensed his fear and upset as he held her tighter to him.
He gave her a warm, gentle smile and stroked her back. "That was quite a big magic for such a little witchling," he told her gently. "You surprised everyone," he said. There was a hint of pride, but also a hint of worry in his voice. She tilted her head, hearing that worry too. Narvi watched with interest from your arms, taking whatever lesson this was to heart, both of them were. He may be smaller, quieter, and shier than his sister, but he was just as intelligent and just as curious.
The age old adage that to teach one twin was to teach them both was definitely true with your twins.
"Magic can be dangerous, little love. Especially such big magic," Loki explained gently, speaking aloud so both twins would hear. "None of us want to see you hurt," he added and hugged her tight.
/Scared papa?/ she asked, seeming to grasp the situation.
He nodded and pressed a kiss to her hair. "A little," he couldn't stay upset with her, he was already wrapped around her little finger. "We know you can do it now, but there are rules with magic and teleporting especially,"
You could not have the twins teleporting all over the palace whenever they felt like it.
/Rules?/ both twins asked.
You laughed. "We'll discuss rules later," you reassured them and went back to your meal. You all laughed and relaxed and enjoyed the peaceful evening together. You tried not to be embarrassed when it came time to feed the twins. You'd grown up not only Midgardian, but American, and breastfeeding in public was still taboo. However, on Asgard it was perfectly normal. No one thought it strange to feed a baby wherever the baby was hungry because that's what breasts were for.
You were still getting used to it and getting used to the even harder thing that you weren't even expected to cover yourself while doing so. Luckily, Loki understood your qualms and did summon a soft silk blanket to cover you with. And you were grateful that none of your family commented on it.
Loki and Odin both had to go make appearances at the main feast a couple of times that evening. Loki took Vali with him as she didn't mind at all being seen in the public eye. Narvi wanted to stay with you in the quiet. He did let the others hold him when you walked him over to see them. Though he only stayed for a minute before he was reaching for you again.
He would learn in time to trust them.
It was early when you took the twins to bed. They were still so little and growing infants needed a lot of sleep. You made an appearance at the main feast and kissed Loki goodnight in front of the court. He needed to stay and do his duty to the court. The crowd, already drunk, cheered loudly for the kiss and for the giggles from the twins. Loki handed Vali off to you when he broke the kiss. "You need to stay with your mama," he told the girl firmly. She didn't like it, but she would obey. Loki's tone had left no room for disobedience. Besides, you would shield the twins' room to make sure they couldn't teleport out of it until you could set up proper rules and be sure they would obey.
But that was a problem for a different day.
Tonight, you and the twins were all tired enough that you didn't have to worry about her straying, even to find her beloved Papa.
Loki gestured to the table where the warriors three were sitting. Sif was in the private hall with Thor and the rest of your family. Volstagg was the one gestured to. It was a royal gesture from Loki, a command from the king, granted still the future king, but it was treated as such and Volstagg approached the head table and bowed.
"Volstagg, would you escort my wife and children back to our suite?" Loki asked. You had your magic back and could protect yourself and your children, but you understood Loki's desire to see you guarded and safe. Especially since you'd died recently. Besides, it was well within your consequence to have an escort, even one of such high standing as one of the warriors three. Loki didn't always like Thor's friends. He usually disliked them all together, but he liked Sif, and he trusted their fighting ability. He would never like the overly flirtatious Fandral, but he trusted them to guard you and his children.
Volstagg bowed again. "It would be my honor," he replied. You kissed Loki's cheek before you left the hall with Volstagg. He was usually loud and jovial and tonight wasn't any different as he told stories on your way back to the suite, but you saw that despite his demeanor, he was on guard for any danger.
Luckily you didn't come across any and you thanked Volstagg for the escort when you were safely back in your rooms. You weren't surprised that he insisted on checking the rooms for danger before he left you and that he reminded you to reinforce the shielding when he left. You laughed at his overprotectiveness, but did as he asked and set up the shielding.
You couldn't bear to put the twins in the nursery, not yet. You used magic to change all three of you into pajamas and made them a nest of pillows in the middle of your giant bed. They couldn't get accidentally rolled onto, or roll off the bed when they were surrounded by pillows, magicked in place so they'd be safe. Maybe tomorrow night you could bear to let them sleep in their cribs. Tonight you wanted them close. You curled up in the bed with them and kissed them both on the forehead as you turned out the lights.
They fell asleep quickly and you stroked their hair while they slept. You should have been able to fall asleep, but something Hela had said kept nagging at you. "Your husband will take the throne soon," she had said, but wouldn't give you more information.
Why would Loki be taking the throne sooner than anticipated?
You meant to warn him of Hela's words, but you fell asleep before he returned, the mystery still percolating in your mind.
