Chapter Text
“Loki.”
The voice came soft from beside him, scratched with pain and sleep. It was the first time he had heard it in almost three days. The book in his hands was forgotten and his attention immediately focused beside him. “I’m here my love.” He said softly, brushing away some of the hair that was slicked to her face with sweat. He reached for water, but her hand stopped him and he didn’t fight it.
“No.” She said softly, taking his hand in hers. He looked at her, knowing that merely speaking had become difficult for her. His strong warrior was still there but she was fading fast, hardly recognizable with her hollowed cheeks, dark circles and nearly translucent skin. With his hand in hers and a confused look on his face she pressed it to the large swell of her belly, just below her breasts and closed her eyes.
Loki’s eyes widened as he felt a flutter against his open palm, replaced quickly by what could not be mistaken as anything but a soft kick. “We’re going to call him Ullr.” She said with a soft smile before turning her head back into the pillow and allowing sleep to overcome her again.
The prince waited until he was sure she was asleep before getting up again. The healers had said she wouldn't survive the pregnancy, that the baby was draining too much energy from her. Loki had yelled and screamed and begged only to be endlessly frustrated by her sad smile and soft voice telling him that it wasn’t an option and that everything would be alright.
He understood now, understood the steely resolve in her that had driven him to tears and now Loki knew that he didn’t have one life to save, he had two.