Chapter 26
Loki felt the familiar presence beside him before he even opned his eyes. Usually he woke up after Thor had left for his morning workout. But today he smelt Thor ,felt his strong presence cacooning him and opened his eyes to Thor's indulging smile. Loki supressed urge to rub his eyes and yawned. He knew Thor thought him adorable after waking up, (which he was not, thank you very much!) He frowned at the king and asked ,
" What time is it? You don't have sparring today?"
" I did not want to go!"
" Hmm.That is a rare occasion. May I know the cause?"
" Mmm. Just.. you were sleeping on my arm and you looked so peaceful. You never get enough rest with all the bad dreams ,I ..I didn't want to disturb..."
" Tell me that you didn't miss your sparring , because I was sleeping on you." Loki sat up to stare increduously. But the sudden movement caused his stomach to churn unpleasantly. His head throbbed and the smell of air was almost as stale as dungeons. Before he could speak his unease or objections, sickness in his stomach forced it's contents in a reflex so strong that he had to press a hand on his mouth and rush to the washrooms.
By the time Thor arrived behind him, he was throwing up his meagre dinner in a basin or was trying to. Nothing came out as there wasn't anything to throw up. Thor kneeled beside him supporting his quivering body as he wretched violently without any outcome. As the retching bout receded after some time, he sagged in the kings chest and put his head vulnerably on support of the shoulder, a tired sigh leaving his lips. Thor touched his forehead which was clammy with sweat and he closed his eyes. Before they could think of moving Loki rushed forward as nausea hit him again, dry heaving. Thor tried to sooth him , rubbing his back.
It took them some time get out of washrooms. Thor sat Loki down on a chair and offered him a cup of water. Loki turned his face away, taking anything in his upset stomach made him feel sick.Thor knelt in front of him taking his both hands in his.
" Loki, sweetheart.."
" Mmm?"
" I know you would not like it, but you need a healer and I am calling Eir."
" I am fine,Thor.Just give me a moment."
" I am sending for another healer from Vanaheim today. But we can't wait until they come. This is serious."
" Its nothing new Thor.I am fine."
" Nothing new? How many times did this happen?"
" It happens every morning when you are out usually. I will be fine... Just tired!" Loki tried. not to close his eyes.
Thor's eyes flashed in anger, " And you did not even bother to tell me this? How can you do this to me? Again and again I trust you , only to be betrayed.. Is it so hard to just tell me the truth..Have you no trust in me?"
Loki stared horrified, as the thunderer's anger subsided into hurt. Thor was always quick to rage and slow to calm down. That was the reason he kept things from the thunderor , tried to manage by himself. He was doomed to eternal lonelyness 'cause the stupid oaf would not grow up and think about the consequences before smashing things'. He had kept things to avoid hurting Thor, and now he was being blamed for that also.Why did this always happens to him? Why it was always him at the end of blaming finger.
" Why?" ,He whispered.
" Why? I should be asking why? Why can't you just be honest for once in life.Why I have keep be looking around to check when will you stab me in the back.Why can I not trust you after everything?." , thor was screaming by the end.
Loki knew Thor lost his sense with rage but he was too sick right now. Too sick of taking blame for everything.. Hot white rage flared in his mind and he stood up. Fully prepared to give the oaf a piece of his mind, but the sudden movement was a bit too much ! Everything happened at same time. The roof tilted and tiny stars were swimming in front of his eyes.All he could say was,
" You !.." Thor's face blurred amd simmered far away, Roof tilted in odd angle and he felt sweat breaking on his spine, a sudden chill spread through his limbs and last thing he heard before passing out was someone's shout.
Thor knew he has gone too far when he registered hurt on Loki's face. The upturned frown of eyebrows with wide brimming eyes, little quiver in lower lip and his gorgeous brother had melt his anger with a single whispered 'why'. He cursed himself for being so gullible to Loki and did only thing he knew to stop himself from going to Loki and kiss the hurt away.He screamed... said whatever came into his mind! And he realised his mistake as soon as anger flashed in Loki's eyes. The leaner man stood up about to scream at him but swayed with sudden uncertainty. His eyes roled back and Thor scrambled to catch him as he fainted out-cold.
"Loki. ", He tried to call the pale man as soon as he caught him mid-fall. and frowned at how light the thin man was. He layed him on bed and felt his forhead, which was cold_ too cold with beads of sweat. Thor wanted to kick himself, but right now he needed to take care of Loki who was looking paler by the second.
" Loki." When he got no response he walked out of bed chamber and called to the guard outside. Nanna who was setting breakfast looked at his panicked face and rushed inside.
" Is he vomiting again?" She asked as she passed him in hurry to get to Loki.
" He was." He said as he went out to send a guard for Eir. When he came back to bed she was mopping the pale face with a cloth with deft hands. Loki looked really sick lying there.' I did this to him' he cursed himself and his anger.
" Nanna, do you know what is wrong with him?"
The older woman looked sad as she gased the sleeping face." I know he is not well but he forbid me from telling you. He promised me that he will talk to you as soon as Jotun delegation left. He did not want to bother you with his health when you were already so burdened.As foolish as it sounds he worries more about you than his own health." Thor looked away in shame. He had blamed Loki, while Loki was trying to protect him...
Eir entered with a procession of apprentice behind her. She asked what happened.
Thor answered, " He is having trouble to keep his food down. His stomach is so upset that he has been dry heaving as soon as he woke up. He is so starved that he fainted mid-talk."
" Since when this is happening? "
" About a month or so. He never eats and has been really moody. He feels dizzy time to time and sleeps too much" ,nanna added.
A apprentice filled the symptoms in Loki's file on a device. Thor and Nanna were shooed out as Loki was being checked.They waited.
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" How is he?" , Thor rushed to Loki's side as soon as he was allowed in.
" He needs rest, my king. I am giving him something that will help with his upset stomach and weakness. He will need a particular diet to replenish his energy.I will explain it to Nanna."
" What is wrong with him? He thinks that the ring is killing him.Tell me that he is wrong and he can be saved. I will throw the ring away if necessary, Eir.Please..." ,Thor knew he was begging but he did not care anymore.
" My King, there's nothing to be worried about.He will be well after proper rest and treatment." ,Eir assured urgently.
" He is so pale, he really looks ill. When will he be awake? He has been unconscious for long time"
" He awoke for a while but I had to sedate him, " upon seeing Thor's frown ,she added, " He was not co-operating. He will wake up in an hour"
" Not co-operative? Loki may be unhappy with you but he has a sence to allow the healer to work. Why would he be uncooperative?"
" I was examining him for underlying cause of his illness. I needed to perform a penetrative test."
" Penetratitive?"
" Nothing physical.I just wanted to scan his body with magic to find the possible cause of his illness. He was not allowing me to perform any spell. I apologise my king, but it was necessary and I did not want to distress him further by restraining him. "
" You said he will be fine. What's ailing him?"
" What he says about something sapping his seidr is true, your magesty. But its not the ring. He is expecting, about six to eight weeks along, not that far but I would have been happy if he was under my care since the beginning. I also took his blood to confirm my suspicion, which came positive.The foetus has probably seidr of its own or using Loki's seidr as anchor to settle. Apart from the weakness, he seems to be healthy." Thor could not understand through ringing in his ears.
" Foetus? Wha... What are you.."
" Yes my king. Prince Loki is pregnant!"
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