Fandom Birth Stories

ꨄ︎ Serpent child of Loki, Jormungandr

Seventeen hours.

It had been seventeen long, agonizing hours since this ordeal began. Loki pressed against the cold wall of the cave, just in time for another sharp, horrible pain to tear at his swollen abdomen. Against his better judgment, Loki let out a single, sharp cry.

Sweat poured from his creasing brow, trickling down his cheeks alongside the tears. Breathing unevenly, he laid down once again, shifting desperately to try and find a more comfortable position.

Perhaps due to the magic used in order to hide the pregnancy, Loki had rarely felt the baby move. In comparison to the pups, this one was considerably easier to carry. Most of the symptoms were mild, and his growth was slow and easily masked with a simple concealment charm. But still, the intensity of this labor nearly made this pregnancy among his worst.

The contraction peaked. Knees pulled to his chest, Loki cried out once again. Biting into the tunic he had torn away much earlier, he let out a muffled scream.

"You have hidden away again." A deep voice came from behind. Strands of golden hair fell upon Loki's face as Thor crossed the floor of the cave to hold his brother in a strong embrace. "There was no need to."

"The news was not well-received the last time," Loki reminded with an exhausted sigh as the contraction let up. "I lost Leif when he protected a child from a monster and yet her parents ordered his death because he had to bite her arms to pull her with him, Runa was killed in that battle with the giants, she fought along my side and she paid for it, defending me! And Fenrir is now chained up because the prophets fear his size! And what's worse is I am forbidden to see him, father will not let me near him which is turning him feral! No, I can not put another child in any form of danger." Loki winced, the memories to great to reflect on. Even though the contraction had faded away, he still felt sore and exhausted.

Thor recognised this pained, worn look in his brother's emerald eyes. "Come here," he invited, spreading his strong arms wide for Loki, who crawled gratefully into the embrace. "Does it hurt terribly?"

"I can manage," Loki insisted, though the tears welling in his eyes said otherwise.

"Let me help you, I am sorry for the pups. They shouldn't have been treated that way, they were good and loving, as for Fenrir I will speak to father about you being able to visit or even see if we can persuade him to take him away from Asgard," Thor insisted gently. "For now you have this little one to worry about, just remember to keep breathing."

Loki nodded, sighing softly and drying his tears. Thor rubbed gentle circles in the small of Loki's narrow back. "This child will be arriving soon. May I ask who the other parent is?"

A flash of fear broke through the pain in Loki's eyes. "You will be mad at me. Please do not be mad at me. I had only the best interests in mind, though I know now they were misguided."

A sinking feeling gathered in the pit of Thor's stomach. What had his little brother gotten himself into? "Loki what did you do? I promise I shall not be mad but please brother tell me" Thor very nearly begged. Loki raised his emerald green orbs to stare into his brothers blue pearls, taking a deep breath he spoke.

"You know of the serpent waters beneath the World Tree?" Thor nodded already looking concerned as to where this was going. Loki saw this but continued knowing the next contractions weren't far off.

"Father sent me down two months ago to persuade Nidhogg to stop or at least lessen his gnawing at the roots of Yggdrasil. When I met with him he was furious as he in the sense feeds on both the dead and the damned souls of the dead. I tried to make peace which was when I suggested a bargain he stops his feeding to more scheduled times and I would do him a favour. Anything he desired or required I would have it done. The serpent then came to me and watched me carefully as his voice rumbled 'be careful young prince, promising things like that is not something to be given lightly' I told him as long as it wasn't something that would cost the lives of creatures and people, that it was safe and something useful then I would do it." Loki paused rubbing his swollen womb as he felt the contraction roll through him, Thor rubbing his back as shoulders as counter pressure.