*

Over the next few weeks, Maeve learned much more about ruling than theory had ever taught her. She fell into the groove of a schedule: wake up, listen to the people, consort with the councils. These often monotonous days were varied by visits to Frigga, occasional switching off depending on which brother took the throne for the day, and hosting guests and banquets. At least at the end of the day, she could spend a relaxing evening with Loki, king by day and husband by night.

For the majority of the time, Thor and Loki dealt with petitions and treaties in the throne room while Maeve rode a horse into the villages. She worked to ensure that the lower classes were also provided for, something Odin never prioritized. This was an arrangement that Loki was hesitant to agree to, but it greatly improved the relationship with the palace and its people. Besides, out of the trio, the Asgardian peasants generally liked Maeve the best, and he never forgot how mangled the bodies of the bandits who tried to rob her looked after the villagers had gotten ahold of them. Between those loyal subjects and Maeve herself, he knew she'd be fine.

They were quickly faced with other problems. Both Loki and Maeve desired for their unborn children to be kept a secret as long as possible, but the princess knew their time was running short, especially with twins. Even though Maeve's winter wardrobe tended to be thicker and layered, she found that the her dresses were starting to get tighter around the waist and bust. She had also recently discovered that morning sickness was not an exclusively morning ailment and it struck with vengeance at any time during the day. While he was the god of lies, Loki found it increasingly difficult to come up with new explanations as to why his wife had just run from the throne room. Thor gave her tight hugs and Frigga comforted her as best as she could, but the pregnancy was clearly taking a toll on the princess.

Maeve also couldn't stop fixating on her visions. She'd discussed them at length with Frigga, who was just as lost as she was. Loki grew more protective of his wife by the day and constantly doubted the intentions of everyone besides their family.

One morning, Thor rose earlier than usual. He figured that he was getting used to the new schedule, as he used to sleep much later. The night before, he went out drinking and dancing with Sif, but his exhaustion didn't even come close to the elation that fluttered through him at the very thought of her. Things were finally going well.

He met Frigga for breakfast in the royal family's dining room. At first, he enjoyed the private breakfast with his mother, an uncommon occurrence, but as the meal came to a close, his mind shifted elsewhere.

"Mother?"

"Yes, dear?" She asked, smiling at her eldest son.

"Have you seen Loki or Maeve this morning?"

Frigga tilted her head, considering, then shook it. "No. Not since yesterday. After lunch, they told me that they were going to pay a visit to the library. Don't fret, I'm sure they haven't wandered off too far."

"They shouldn't be wandering off at all," Thor grumbled, poking moodily at his eggs. He noticed Frigga smiling down at her plate. "Is something funny?"

"Not at all. Don't be angry with me. I just find it rather endearing how much you care about them."

"I - well, it's just irresponsible, that's all," Thor bumbled, not wanting to appear soft, especially as a temporary king. Ever since he was young, Odin taught him that a king had to be strong, without emotions, and he though emulating his father's rule would elevate his chances. "Loki is supposed to be ruling at my side and Maeve is with child. They should be accounted for. Right?"

An amused look crossed the queen's face as she stood up and pushed in her chair. "Of course you're right, dear. Why don't we split up and look for them?"

"I'll check their chambers and the library," Thor volunteered. He was gone quicker than a lightning flash, more worried than he let on.

Frigga, however, smiled to herself and walked at a slower pace, taking her time as she admired the decorations in the halls. The servants had begun to decorate for the Winter Solstice. It was the shortest day of the Asgardian year, and as such, was spent in celebration from dawn until dusk. Other than the Harvest Fesitval, the solstice was her favorite holiday by far. She only hoped that Odin would wake to celebrate it with her. He cherished the holiday also.

As she continued on her way, her thoughts strayed from the upcoming celebrations to Loki and Maeve, and the many arguments she and Odin had concerning them. She loved her son's wife like the daughter she never had and knew how blessed they all were that she came into their lives. However, the queen couldn't deny that her presence complicated so many matters that otherwise wouldn't have been complicated for a long time.

She and Odin disagreed on many things, and this argument just added another to the running list. However, this one was different, and she knew it.

Taking a familiar path, Frigga found the door that led to Loki's hidden library. She quietly unlocked it and poked her head in. What she found made her smile.

Loki and Maeve were sound asleep on the long green couch as flames from the night before flickered in the fireplace. She had drifted off on top of him, and their arms were wrapped loosely around each other. A book lay open on the floor, probably dropped at one point. Frigga almost hated to wake them, but she luckily didn't have to.

As the door clicked shut, Loki opened his eyes ever so slightly so that his emerald irises were a sliver, his arms protectively tightening around his wife at the sound. He sighed in relief when he saw that the intruder was just his mother, although he did roll his eyes. Anyone else would have been stabbed on sight.

"Good morning," he greeted, sleep still lacing his words. "This is... unexpected. Did we miss dinner?"

"My dear, the two of you missed dinner, dessert, and breakfast," Frigga chuckled. "Thor was looking for you, he was quite concerned for your whereabouts."

His eyes widened. "We what?" He tried to sit up, but then remembered that Maeve was still sleeping on top of him and didn't want to disturb her. "How could we sleep that long?"

"I don't know. You must have been tired." Frigga sat down on one of the side tables and tucked an auburn lock of hair behind her ear. "You do deserve a break sometimes, you know."

"We can't right now. Asgard needs us," Loki protested softly. He sat up, gently moving Maeve so that she was laying on his lap. Playing with her white-blonde curls to distract himself, he hesitated, then admitted a fear. "I don't want to let anyone down. You especially."

"You won't. You're doing a fantastic job." Frigga reached out and placed a hand on his. Loki didn't usually tolerate small intimacies like this, but he made an exception for the two most important people in his life. "You're wise and just, and you know how to lead. You have the makings of a good king, Loki, but you are already a good man. Don't lose sight of what's most important to you."

Loki's jade eyes flicked down to Maeve and he smiled ever so slightly. "I won't."

"I'm very proud of you, Loki. And I'm sure that your father would feel the same way."

His expression brightened at her praise, then darkened at his father's name. "Thank you," he said stiffly. After sitting in silence for another minute, he spoke up again. "Mother, I had a... I had a question, of sorts."

"Oh?" The Allmother's blue eyes twinkled like stars. "Ask away."

"I'm worried about Maeve," he admitted, brushing a curl out of here face. "She's too stubborn to say it, but she's been unwell often as a result of the pregnancy."

Frigga smiled reassuringly at him. "Dear, every woman goes through that. It's perfectly normal to not feel well while one is with child."

"No, I understand that. I'm not stupid and I'm not Thor. I just feel like something's wrong. I've never known any other woman who catches cold as easily as she does. She's sick constantly and she's so small. I just..." He exhaled, pinching his nose in frustration. "I'm at a loss. Is there something wrong? Is there something any of us can do?" Not to mention the thing that Asmund is hiding from me.

Frigga looked down at her hands, but not before Loki saw the faintest trace of something in her expression. Was it guilt? "I would just make sure that she is taking care of herself. I know I said that the three of you are supposed to be ruling together, but ensure that she receives enough rest. A single child is taxing enough to carry, and you've been blessed with two. Remember, she's your flower, Loki. You must protect her."

When she repeated those words that she told him a few days before the couple met for the first time, Loki couldn't help reminiscing all that they'd been through in the span of approximately a year and a half. They'd fought and pranked and fallen in love. Now, they were going to be parents. He knew without a doubt that he was passionately in love with Maeve Freydottir, his flower and his queen, and that he would do anything to keep her safe.

Maeve stirred in his lap, then sat up suddenly, a queasy expression on her face.

"Good morning, darling!" Frigga said warmly. "Did you sleep well?"

When she didn't respond, Loki nudged her, a worried look in his eyes. "Are you alright?"

She shook her head rapidly and covered her mouth with her hand. Then, she pushed herself off of the couch and rushed out the door without explanation. Loki and Frigga followed, but Maeve was faster than they gave her credit for. After asking a few clearly confused servants she must have ran by, the pair found her vomiting violently in the nearest bathroom a few minutes later.

Wordlessly, Loki dropped to his knees and held her hair back, whispering comforting nothings into her ear. Frigga slipped out of the room after establishing that her children would both be alright. She trusted Loki to take care of Maeve.

When the sickness spell finally passed, Maeve buried her face in his chest and breathed deeply, still trying to catch her breath. Her head felt like it was spinning and her lungs couldn't take in the proper amount of air.

"Do you feel better?" She could hear the guilt in her husband's voice. He hated seeing her in any type of distress and not being able to do anything about it. This wasn't something he could save her from, a fact he had trouble coming to terms with.

She shrugged, then nodded. The shivering returned, the ever-present cold that had plagued her for the last few months. Feeling this, Loki pulled her closer. "I'm alright now," she whispered.

"No lies, love," Loki said softly, resting his chin on her head. "They don't work on me, remember?"

"How could I forget?" She whispered, her voice teasing even as it shook. "I guess we should get ready for the day."

Loki rubbed his temple tiredly. "Darling, don't take this the wrong way-"

"No." Maeve shook her head adamantly. She knew perfectly well what he was about to suggest. "I'm not staying in bed. I'm going with you."

"You're obviously not feeling well-"

"When am I ever feeling well anymore?"

"Well, that's unfortunately true, but there's nothing shameful about getting the rest you need-"

"No!" She insisted, covering his mouth with her hand. He raised his eyebrows but refrained from speaking. "I'm fine, I swear. Listen to me: I'm pregnant, not dead."

Loki's fingers closed around her wrist and slowly lowered her hand, a lovingly exasperated look on his face. "You do that quite often."

"You don't stop talking if I don't cover your mouth," she pointed out teasingly. "I simply prevented you from swaying my opinion."

"You are quite impossible," he grumbled. "So impossible. In fact, you're the most impossible woman I've ever met."

"I know. And you love me anyway."

He chuckled under his breath. "You look quite terrible, love."

"I thought you were good at charming others."

"I am. I just don't have to charm you anymore." Grinning, he helped her to her feet and offered a hand. "Let's go get dressed and meet Thor in the throne room. Mother said he was beside himself because we've been missing since last night."

"Don't make fun of him!" She exclaimed, though she couldn't help giggling. Her brother-in-law always brought a smile to her face. "He's just sweet."

"Sweet, sure. Paranoid is the term I'd use. We deserve to slip off for a few hours occasionally. We are married. Not that he'd understand any of that." Loki shook his head at his older brother's occasional cluelessness.

"Lo, give him some credit." She shoved him to the side. He shoved her back, but his shove was gentler. "He is courting Sif."

"Yes, but the oaf will never grow up enough to make his move," he said dismissively. "He'll court Sif for ages until she grows bored and moves on."

"Stop it!" Maeve couldn't contain her laughter even though it hurt her head. It bubbled over like golden Asgardian mead, and soon, Loki was laughing, too. "You're so pessimistic!"

"Anything to add, love?"

"Yes. I'm hungry."

Frigga heard laughter echoing in the half-decorated hallways and sighed in relief, glad that her children were alright. She closed the door to Odin's chambers, where she began to pace, hoping that her husband would wake soon and wondering how long they could afford to keep their biggest secret.

That was Chapter 51! Sorry for the confusion with the last update! I hope you liked this one! Predictions?