A world turned upside down

I was horrified.

How was I supposed to be certain the child was Thor's? I couldn't just tell him about what had happened. He would kill his brother and blame me in some way. This was the worst possible thing to happen to me other than Ragnarok itself.

How could I be so foolish? Thor never called me darling. Only when he became frisky and decided to have me in public areas. I should have known it was Loki. Thor didn't know how to please me in that way. Whenever we were in bed it just felt wrong.

I was pacing the halls, worrying about my own existence.

The thoughts occurring in my mind were simply wrong. Loki wasn't a better lover. It was simply because Thor would seem to have an interest in me when he showed affection like that. It was ridiculous to think I would long for Loki. He wasn't my husband.

But what if Odin found out?

Oh, how ironic it would be to birth a son with dark hair and green eyes. The child would look nothing like Thor or me. How would I explain such to the royal family?

I felt myself getting a bit dizzy from pacing the floors, and decided to return to my chambers.

My husband was at an important meeting. He had been since I went for tea with the all-mother, and I thanked the gods for giving me some alone time to calm my mind before Thor came bashing in and smothered me, rubbing my stomach and telling me how much he loves the both of us. I was drowning in guilt.

I laid down on my side. The midwife had advised that I slept like that for the next couple of months.

It took some time, but I eventually drifted into a light slumber.

I woke up once I felt someone wrap their arms against me while placing light kisses on my shoulder blade.

I turned around in fear, thinking it was Loki sneaking up on me again. He would be out of his mind acting all romantic towards me in my own chambers where my husband would just walk in without knocking or anything.

Luckily, it was Thor.

He seemed surprised at my sudden movement and my face painted with fear.

"My love, are you okay? I did not mean to startle you," he said in a whisper.

What the queen said was true. It had not been more than a few days since I had announced to him that I was with child, and he was already growing into a soft and lovable man.

"I'm doing fine Thor. I had not been aware of you returning home," I said with a reassuring smile.

My husband placed a light kiss on my forehead as he rubbed my stomach. The guilt was overbearing. The child he was learning to love was maybe not his own. I shouldn't be in this situation.

"I have some exciting news for you, my love," he beamed.

I was confused. His father had sounded slightly annoyed when Thor was called to Odin's private study. Why the sudden change of tone?

"Father called me to his study and began talking plans for my future as king, seeing as he expects us to be with child before the new moon." He began.

By the gods, what had Odin talked him into? This could only end poorly.

"This is a bit embarrassing, but he did ask if you had been taken care of properly," he added with a bashful laugh.

If I had been taken proper care of? He meant if Thor and I had been intimate enough times to ensure that I would be with child soon. It would almost seem as if Odin had sent both brothers after me in the hope I would birth an heir faster.

"And?" I asked a bit annoyed that Thor had to talk with his father about our intimacy.

Thor took a moment to calm himself as the excitement was shining all over his face.

"I accidentally mentioned that you were in fact already carrying our child, and in an instant, he informed me, that I was to take over the throne before our son is born. I am to be crowned in a few weeks." He sounded so joyful.

My husband had gotten everything he claimed that he wanted. A wife, a child, and now, the throne. Except, his wife had been touched by another man, his child may in fact not be his own, and his throne was only handed to him because his father wanted to praise him for getting me pregnant without my consent. Nothing about this was pleasant in my eyes.

Yet the thought of it not even being my husband being the father of my child was even more unsettling.

Had it not been for that horrible trickster I wouldn't have to question every night I had spent in the arms of a man looking like my spouse.

Maybe this was the way to tell him. To mention a few times I suspected it had been Loki instead. He would realize it before me, and I could act surprised that it wasn't my husband. I could not be blamed for any of this.

Loki had to pay for what he had done. Thor would understand my concern as to who the child belonged. I was sure this gentle giant would be on my side.

"Y-you didn't tell him of all the times we had been intimate in public spaces, did you? I would be mortified," I said shyly.

Thor looked confused. My slightly evil plan seemed to work as he asked me what I meant.

"Well, I wouldn't want the all-father to find out about our night on the balcony, o-or our time in the stables," I stuttered.

Thor seemed to grow irritated.

"I don't recall taking you in such places, my love. When was this?" His grip on my side grew a bit harsher.

He was trying not to show any emotions, but it was eating him up inside. I knew he was about to catch onto what was going on, but he needed to know what his brother had done.

"You're telling me you don't recall our morning in the maids closet right after our breakfast with your family? B-but it was you. I know it was. Your facial features, your voice, everything sounded and felt like you. Who else could it have been? No man in all of the nine realms is shaped as perfectly as you are, my love." I may have been sugar coating it a bit, but he caught onto what I was saying.

"I was discussing war tactics with my father. I have not been in any kind of maid's closet since we played hide and seek as young children." He was furious. I could feel the fire burning within him.

My husband had finally realized what was going on. He had finally figured out who had been sleeping with his wife, without her knowledge. I knew it went against everything he believed in.

Marriage had always seemed so sacred in his eyes. He grew up in the fantasy that he could find a woman as amazing as Frigga.

He got out of the bed, I could see he was still holding back. He was doing it for my sake probably. It would be unfair to punish me when I wasn't the one doing something wrong.

Thor's knuckles were turning white from anger. He seemed in need of letting off some steam. In the old days, it could be done on the training field, but sparring with lady Sif seemed like a bad idea at the moment. He would end up hurting her.

"I must go," he said through gritted teeth.

"Where are you going, Thor? Weren't we to celebrate you being crowned as king in a matter of weeks. You've always wanted this," I said, trying to convince him not to go out when being in such a state. I didn't want him to get hurt, or hurt others for that sake. My husband had always had such a temper.

"I have also wanted my wife to birth my son, but it seems some people can't keep their hands to themselves. I must teach him a lesson," he said while storming towards the door.

"Please, don't do anything irrational Thor," I shouted. He was too far gone to hear me.

"Loki!" Thor roared like a lion.

The slender, raven-haired prince turned around, not seeming to care the slightest that his brother was shouting down the hall for all staff and lower classed folk to hear.

Loki didn't seem the slightest bit surprised as his brother stormed toward him.

"What now Thor?" he asked rolling his eyes.

The blond god had reached his brother quickly. Both of his large hands were wrapped around Loki's arms, and his grip was more crushing than his hugs.

"How about you tell me why my wife has been intimate with someone looking exactly like me, while I have been busy attending meetings with father," he snarled.

The younger prince knew I had told Thor about almost everything. It took him a second to think of a way to avoid a punch in the face, but to his luck, his silver tongue never failed.

"I was merely doing you a favor brother," he said with an innocent smile.

Thor grew more agitated at Loki's words.

"Doing me a favor?!? My wife is pregnant you fool! Do you have any idea of the troubles you are in?" he yelled while shaking his brother violently.

Loki didn't respond until the blond god had stopped shaking him. He took a moment to correct his hair, not wanting to look untidy in public.

"If you would let me explain, brother, you have been all too busy with these meetings. I was but casting an illusion. A doubleganger of yourself so to say. What husband would you be if you weren't there to satisfy your own wife? Do you know the attention women require?"

Thor looked dumbfound. Had his brother really been doing this in order to maintain his own marriage?

"Exactly," Loki said. "For the record, I was unaware of her being pregnant. Congratulations brother. Now if you will excuse me, I have more urgent matters to attend to."

Thor let go of his brother completely, looking down at the floor like a child apologizing for breaking his mother's favorite vase.

"I-I apologize for doubting you, brother. I did not know it has so important to be with her," Thor muttered, a bit ashamed he had been unable to fulfill his role as my husband.

Loki scoffed a bit.

"Honestly, Thor, you make it seem as if you don't even care for her. You were more interested in her when we were children sneaking away to the marked during summer."

With that, Loki left his brother confused in the halls by himself, to wonder how else he had let me down.

Weeks had passed.

My pregnancy had been announced to the public. Had Thor not told his father I would still be able to enjoy some peace and quiet, but now it was impossible.

The midwife had been assigned a chamber almost next to ours as it was important to have her close in case something bad were to happen, and I had been given a dozen maids to care for my every need. I was never alone. It may have been Odin making these choices, but it was more likely Thor who felt bad for not being as affectionate as he wanted to be.

I still felt guilty about the unfaithfulness which was forced on me, but Thor seemed just as close to his brother as he had been in the last thousand years. There was nothing I could do to separate them.

The day for my husband to be crowned as king of Asgard had arrived. He looked as charming as ever in his red cape and Mjölner in his hand as he walked through the crowd.

I was placed next to the queen, a few steps below her. I wore a red dress. It would be indecent if I wore anything but my husband's color. My stomach had begun to grow, showing a slight bump.

I watched him kneel down in front of the all-father. His smile shone brighter than multiple stars in the sky. He had gotten everything he wanted. Everything he deserved, at least if one was to ask his father.

It had been but a few months since he and I were united in these same halls. Where I had sealed my destiny to be his wife and mother of his child. I had finally accepted that this was my life, after a few months.

I heard Odin begin ranting about my husband being his heir and one of the most powerful beings in the universe, but I zoned out.

I realized Loki was staring at me from the opposite side of the stairs we were placed on. His gaze was fixated on my stomach. He was thinking of my child. Wondering if it was his and what would happen once people realized it. I was sure. No man would stare at a noble with child, like that if he wasn't thinking of her as the mother of his child.

Thor had looked at me similarly, but only once.

He was wrong if he thought I would separate from my husband due to a small chance of the child being his. It wasn't my fault that he had been careless like that. It was disgusting, even if he said that he loved me.

I focused back on Odin as I heard him say the final part of his speech.

"On this day, I Odin all-father proclaim you -" He paused. What was going on?

The crowd started mumbling a bit. It was disrespectful of them to do such, but this was not to happen. Odin was to declare Thor king, but he said nothing.

"Frostgiants," he finally said.

Those weren't the lines he was supposed to say?

The chatter grew louder as no one understood what was going on.

Without another word, Odin hurried off of his throne, exiting the hall with his sons following behind him, looking equally confused.

I turned to Frigga, my face looking like a large question mark. She simply shook her head, not knowing what was going on either.

"I think it would be better if we were to go somewhere else to wait for them to return (Y/N)," she said. The queen sounded worried as well.

Odin wouldn't ruin his son's crowning for anything in all of the nine realms, and the mentioning of frost giants could only mean trouble. Our realms had agreed on a peace treaty.

The queen followed me out into another hall as the public began scattering towards the exits.

"I know this is a difficult time for you my dear, with your child and Thor proclaiming the throne, but why don't I escort you into your chambers so you can relax a bit," the all-mother said after making sure we were not being followed by any form of lower-class folk or intruders.

"I was thinking about it," I admitted. "But what if Thor returns within the hour? I wouldn't want him to worry about where I am."

The queen shook her head lightly as if I had said something completely out of place.

"I know you worry about him (Y/N), but if he returns soon, which I highly doubt, I will inform him of your whereabouts," she said with a soft smile.

She was such a kind and caring woman. How in all of the nine realms was I supposed to compete with her when I was to sit by my husband's side as queen? It would be a day of sorrow the day queen Frigga was sent to Valhalla.

I thanked the queen for her generous offer, he would be back soon. Then Odin could continue saying the last bit of his oath and Thor would be happy.

I had laid in bed for hours, but my husband was yet to return.

No one would inform me of where he had gone, some didn't know, but I could see others just not wanting to tell me. They knew something that wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't fair to keep me in the dark since my husband had left with his father.

Something was wrong, I could feel it. My husband had been gone for too long. I couldn't wait much longer, I needed answers.

I put on a red evening gown, making sure it wasn't too tight-fitting, as I didn't want to put pressure on my stomach.

I walked down the halls, there was quiet despite the many maids at work.

I couldn't help but notice their weird stares. I had never been met with such looks before. What did the servants know that I didn't? Gossip spread fast, but I would have heard something from one of my maids if something was wrong.

The guard in front of the grand hall looked stiff. It was as if his entire body had tensed the moment he saw me. He had always been kind to me, but something was off.

"May I pass, Austri?" I asked.

He didn't say anything for a while, it was as if he didn't even acknowledge that I stood in front of him.

"Please?" My voice seemed to have grown into a whisper. I was afraid of what I would find, but I needed answers.

He sighed. I knew Austri hated seeing me in distress.

"Fine, but you may not like what you see once you enter (Y/N)." He sounded defeated. It worried me even more. What had happened, were we at war once again?

I pushed past my friend and opened the gates. I froze in place at the sight before me.

Odin was not on his throne. Instead sat none other than the trickster prince himself wearing his leather suit and helmet. What was going on?

"L-Loki?" I asked cautiously.

His face turned into a wide smile, his eyes focused on my body. Focused on my stomach.

"Ah, princess (Y/N), I was about to send one of the guards to bring you here," he said. He sounded so innocent as always, but I had learned not to completely trust him. Something had happened. Something bad. The all-father was nowhere to be seen and neither was Thor.

"Where is Thor? And the all-father? What is going on Loki?" I asked petrified.

Loki's face became emotionless at the mention of his brother and he stood up. The dark-haired prince walked towards me, carrying Odin's scepter with him. In a matter of a few steps, Loki had reached me, our bodies only a few inches from each other.

"I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, darling," he said. His hand reached down to hold my own. I was confused, emotions flying everywhere. I had not noticed that he had taken my hands into his own, rubbing my hand with his thumb. "But Thor was exiled. Odin banished him after Thor marched into Jotunheim to teach those monsters a lesson, almost getting his friends killed in the process."

My eyes filled with water. My husband had risked his own life by traveling to Jotunheim to afterward be banished by Odin. When would I see him again? Would I ever see him again? I needed to speak with Odin, he had to fix this. He couldn't just leave me here with a child.

"Where is Odin? I must talk to him," I tried to move, to turn around and storm out of the grand hall. I had to find the all-father and talk him to his senses. My movement was stopped quickly. Loki didn't let go of my hands.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible, darling." He sounded so sad. So sincere when he said those words. "Father, well, he has fallen into Odinsleep. We are uncertain when he is to wake up if he is ever to wake up."

He looked pained saying those words, and who could blame him. He was left to comfort his mother as his own father had fallen into slumber, forced to rule Asgard as well. We were both alone.

I felt the tears roll down my face. Everything came crashing down at the same time. My husband was banished no more than a few months after our marriage, I was with child, and now, alone. No wonder the maids looked at me in such a way. I was considered a pregnant woman without a husband. It was the law.

"What am I going to do?" I cried. It was pointless to hold any tears back.

I sunk onto the floor, covering the marble floor in salty tears.

What was the point of continuing now? I would be shamed for being with child. No man would want me like this, my reputation would be ruined for all eternity.

I felt a pair of arms around me. I didn't resist, my body gave in. I was alone, but at least I was alone with Loki. I cried for what felt like hours, not moving a bit.

Loki didn't let go until I grew quiet. At the moment, his arms around me were the only thing making me feel safe. Why did this have to happen to me?

It took a while, but I had no more tears to cry in the end. Loki lifted his hands to my face, gently forcing me to look up at him. By the gods, I must have looked horrible with my bloodshot eyes and my ruined make-up.

"I know these are tough times, and that you feel alone. But I have a proposition for you, darling." His gentle smile was calming. He shared the pain I was in without even asking me any questions.

"Thor is gone, and neither of us knows how long he will be banished. But you shouldn't be alone. Let me take care of you, darling. I will be here through everything, thick and thin. You could join me in my chambers, I could have the maids bring in something else for me to sleep on if you worry about sharing a bed with me, a-and when the time comes, and your child is to be born, I will raise him or her as my own, despite their biological father. Please, be mine," he pleaded.

He noticed how I hesitated. Was this a good idea? I was legally able to court another man, but it was so soon. I had barely found out about my husband's exile, and now his own brother was asking me to court him.

"I know this is a lot to think about, but if you're worried I will take advantage of you in any way, you have my word that I will have my mother put me in prison for as long as you wish if I do such. Please, darling, I want nothing but to see you happy."

How could I say no to that face? He promised me everything that I needed and more to it. My child would have a father who would love them and I would get some peace, finally.

"Alright, Loki, I will pack some of my belongings and have the maids bring them to your chambers," I gave in.

Loki's face lit up with joy as I agreed to his offer. He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead and got back up to his feet. He helped me up afterwards, giving me a last hug.

"I shall come to bring your belongings by myself. Come, let me show you to our chamber." He extended his arm for me to hold onto and I wrapped my hand around his bicep. He didn't seem like it, but the younger prince was surprisingly fit.

Maybe all would be okay now. I could find peace. He had promised me not to take any kind of advantage of me. He gave me his word.

We exited the throne room together, walking down towards my chamber to collect my things.

"What will I dress in? All of my gowns are bright red. All of them are of Thor's color," I asked. I didn't look at Loki.

It was weird walking with him like this. It was something to get used to, just like when I had to get used to walking like this with Thor.

"Not to worry, darling, I will have the tailor come up to our room to make you some new dresses," he reassured me.

Oh, how my life was changing fast.