Chapter Text
Stoick walked through town making sure everything was good before his people started rising in an hour. He let his mind wander a bit as he went. Valka had woken up this morning with a really bad stomach ache, she promised him that she was fine. He had only left after getting a promise that if it got worse she would go to Gothi.
It had been a year and a half since they got married and people were starting to say Valka was defective. She had gotten pregnant three times now but each one ended before the baby could be born. Spitelout was, according to his sister, very happy about this because it meant that their two year old son Torklout was currently the rightful heir. Astana was starting to get very angry with her husband.
It was about two hours later when Valka came looking for him. Stoick was at the forge chatting with Gobber. Stoick immediately noticed her scared expression. “Val, what’s wrong?”
“I went to Gothi,” she sobbed, falling into his arms. “She says I’m pregnant again. I can’t keep doing this Stoick, I can’t keep losing them.”
“Oh Val, I know, I know.”
It took three weeks for Valka to start showing. Unfortunately around the same time she started retreating away from people, not letting very many people near and hiding away in the house.
Stoick entered his house after a long day of chiefing to find Astana cooking while Valka looked after Torklout. Spitelout wasn’t anywhere nearby because Valka couldn’t handle her brother-in-law's comments right now.
“How are you doing dear?” Stoick asked leaning down to kiss her forehead.
Valka blushed softly. “Alright.”
“She’s been hungry. This is the second batch I’ve made,” Astana said light heartedly. She came over with a bowl of soup passing to Valka.
She took a sip before making a face and forcing herself to swallow. “Did you add something different? It tastes spicy.”
“No, it's the exact same ingredients I put in before.” Astana grabbed an extra spoon and took a little bit of the soup. “It tastes the same to me, not spicy.”
“Stoick, come here!” Valka shouted happily. The baby was starting to kick. She was still worried about losing them but so far everything seemed okay and she was farther along than she had reached previous.
“What is dear?” Stoick asked as he sat next to her.
“Can you feel them?” She placed his hand on her stomach and waited.
Quickly a massive smile broke across his face. “Strong one they are.”
Valka sat nervously as Gothi did her check up, Ingrid was sitting beside her having come for her own check up and more than happy to comfort her friend.
“How are they Gothi?”
Healthy, I don’t see any reason for concern. You should give birth in about two months.
“See Valka it’s going to be okay,” Ingrid ran her fingers in comforting circles on Valka’s palm.
“I’m still worried, the last three seemed alright before they suddenly passed.”
“I have faith that this is the one you’ll carry though.”
Oswald rushed to his sister’s bedside. “Hey sis how have things been?”
Valka laughed softly, smiling at her brother’s protectiveness. “I’m alright, so far the baby is doing well. I think they’re going to be big and strong like Stoick with how much they’ve been making me eat.”
“I wish I could be with you more,” Oswald tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“You have a three year old, a pregnant wife, and a tribe that needs you. I knew the consequences of moving here, we both did.”
“I know, it doesn’t change that I haven’t been able to comfort my little sister when you go through one of the hardest things in life multiple times.”
“Your letters were more than enough to help me get through.”
Oswald smiled solemnly as Valka rested against him. He desperately wished he could be there when she gave birth in six weeks but he had another peace treaty signing that would prevent him from making it. He couldn’t risk a war with two of the most important women in his life close to giving birth.