Seven Times A Charm

After the childbirth, Io was allowed to do absolutely nothing.

She hated it.

"Absolutely nothing" turned out to mean sitting in bed while other people brought her food, water, blankets, books, pillows, medicine, and anything else they thought she might possibly need.

It also meant that every time she tried to stand, somebody appeared.

Usually Lexander.

Sometimes Lisbeth.

Occasionally Thor.

And, on one particularly ridiculous occasion, Aurethar had lowered his enormous head through the balcony doors and asked whether she needed assistance.

"I am recovering from childbirth," Io said.

Aurethar blinked.

"Yes."

"I am not dying."

"I know."

"Then why are you all treating me like I am made of glass?"

Thor, standing beside the bed, folded her arms.

"Because you just gave birth to two children who can apparently summon the First Flame."

Io stared at her.

"That doesn't mean I can't walk."

"No."

"It doesn't mean I can't eat by myself."

"No."

"It doesn't mean I can't get out of bed."

Thor hesitated.

"That one is debatable."

Io threw a pillow at her.

Thor caught it.

Shadow, sitting on Thor's shoulder, meowed.

Thor nodded.

"Shadow agrees."

Io pointed at the cat.

"She has been spending too much time with you."

Shadow yawned.

Thor smiled.

"She is a very intelligent kitter cat."

The first several days after the birth were difficult.

Io was exhausted.

Her body had been through more than anyone could reasonably expect it to endure, and although the healers assured her that everything was progressing normally, recovery took time.

She slept whenever she could.

She ate whenever she remembered.

And she discovered that two newborn babies somehow required more attention than an entire army.

Ignatius and Seraphina were already developing distinct personalities.

Ignatius was calm.

Mostly.

He liked being held.

He liked being fed.

He liked sleeping.

And he particularly liked being held by his father.

Whenever Lexander picked him up, Ignatius would immediately relax.

Seraphina was different.

She had opinions.

Strong opinions.

She disliked being cold.

She disliked being hungry.

She disliked being put down.

She disliked having her clothes changed.

She disliked being awakened.

And, most mysteriously, she disliked anyone attempting to kiss her forehead while she was trying to sleep.

Lisbeth had discovered that last one.

"Oh, she's adorable."

Lisbeth leaned down.

Seraphina opened one eye.

Lisbeth kissed her forehead.

Seraphina immediately scrunched up her face.

Then she screamed.

Lisbeth jumped back.

"All right!"

Io laughed weakly from the bed.

"She warned you."

"She didn't say anything."

"Her face did."

Lisbeth looked at the baby.

"You have quite the personality."

Seraphina stopped crying.

Lisbeth leaned closer.

Seraphina stared at her.

Then she smiled.

Lisbeth gasped.

"She smiled!"

Io smiled.

"She's manipulating you."

"She's a baby."

"Exactly."

Ignatius had his own quirks.

He was particularly picky about food.

At first, Io thought that was impossible.

They were newborns.

They couldn't possibly be picky.

She was wrong.

Ignatius would happily eat for several minutes.

Then he'd stop.

Io would adjust him.

Nothing.

She'd try again.

He'd turn his head.

"Really?"

Ignatius would stare at her.

Io sighed.

"You were hungry five minutes ago."

He continued staring.

Lexander watched from the chair.

"He has your stubbornness."

Io looked at him.

"He has yours."

Ignatius suddenly began fussing.

Lexander smiled.

"He's hungry."

Io stared at him.

"He just refused to eat."

"Apparently he's reconsidered."

She looked down at her son.

"You are incredibly demanding."

Ignatius opened his mouth.

Io laughed.

"Fine."

Seraphina was even more particular.

She seemed to have already decided that some days she liked one side more than the other.

Nobody knew why.

One afternoon, Io was feeding her when Seraphina suddenly stopped.

Io waited.

Seraphina looked around.

Then she began fussing.

"What's wrong?"

Seraphina continued fussing.

Io tried again.

Nothing.

Lisbeth walked over.

"Maybe she's finished."

Io looked skeptical.

"She barely ate."

Seraphina cried louder.

Lexander entered the room.

"What happened?"

Io sighed.

"Your daughter is refusing to eat."

Lexander looked at Seraphina.

Seraphina immediately stopped crying.

She looked at him.

Then smiled.

Lexander smiled back.

Io stared.

"Don't."

"What?"

"Don't look so pleased with yourself."

"I'm not."

"You are."

Lexander picked up his daughter.

Seraphina immediately settled against him.

Io crossed her arms.

"Traitor."

Lexander laughed.

"I think she likes me."

"She likes anyone who isn't trying to feed her."

The babies were eating constantly.

At least, that was how it seemed to Io.

She had barely finished feeding one when the other started fussing.

Then, after both had eaten, one would decide they were hungry again.

Io stared at the two sleeping infants.

"They eat too much."

Lisbeth laughed.

"They're growing."

"Too quickly."

"They're newborns."

"They're eating like soldiers."

Lexander looked over.

"They're going to be large."

Io groaned.

"I don't need large."

"You married me."

"That was different."

"How?"

"You weren't waking me every two hours."

Lexander laughed.

"Fair."

Io looked at the babies.

"They're going to eat us out of house and home."

Lisbeth smiled.

"Wait until they're teenagers."

Io's eyes widened.

"No."

Thor, meanwhile, had developed an entirely different concern.

Combat training.

She had already begun making plans.

"We need to start early."

Lexander looked at her.

"They are less than a week old."

"Exactly."

"They can't walk."

"Not yet."

"They can't talk."

"That will come."

"They can't hold weapons."

Thor thought about that.

"We can work on grip strength."

Io stared at her.

"No."

Thor looked at her.

"Why not?"

"They're babies."

"All warriors start somewhere."

"They're going to start by learning how to sleep."

Thor nodded thoughtfully.

"Sleep is important."

Io smiled.

"Good."

"And then combat."

"No."

Thor sighed.

"You're very protective."

"You want to teach newborns combat."

"Yes."

"They're not even strong enough to hold their own heads up."

Thor considered this.

"Then we'll start with head control."

Lexander laughed.

Io covered her face.

"Why did we let her near them?"

Thor's plans became increasingly elaborate.

She wanted Ignatius and Seraphina to learn balance.

Then coordination.

Then basic defensive movements.

Then weapons.

Lisbeth eventually discovered Thor had drawn up an entire training schedule.

She picked it up.

"What is this?"

"Early combat education."

Lisbeth read it.

"Day one: supervised crawling."

Thor nodded.

"Important."

"Day two: obstacle navigation."

"Very important."

"Day three: dodging."

"They'll be crawling."

"Exactly."

Lisbeth looked at her.

"You've lost your mind."

Thor smiled.

"The earlier we start them learning to defend themselves, the better."

Shadow meowed from her shoulder.

Thor nodded.

"She agrees with me."

Lisbeth looked at the cat.

"Don't encourage her."

Shadow licked her paw.

Baldr found the entire situation hilarious.

He would often sit nearby and watch the family.

One afternoon, he found Thor standing over the babies.

She had placed two pillows several feet apart.

"What are you doing?"

"Training."

Baldr looked at the babies.

Ignatius was asleep.

Seraphina was chewing on her own hand.

"How?"

"I'm teaching them to crawl."

Baldr stared at her.

"They're newborns."

"Everyone keeps saying that."

"Because it's true."

Thor pointed at Ignatius.

"He's going to be strong."

Baldr smiled.

"Obviously."

"And she's going to be terrifying."

Seraphina suddenly sneezed.

Thor nodded.

"See?"

Baldr laughed.

"I don't think that proves anything."

"It proves she's powerful."

Loki was equally amused.

He had developed a habit of visiting the nursery simply to watch Thor attempt to teach babies things.

One morning, he found her holding a wooden training sword.

Loki stared.

"Absolutely not."

Thor looked at him.

"It's padded."

"They're newborns."

"Still."

"They can't even sit up."

"They'll learn."

Loki took the toy away.

Thor frowned.

"Hey."

"No."

"You aren't their mother."

"Exactly."

Loki handed the wooden sword to Lexander.

"You deal with her."

Lexander looked at the sword.

Then at Thor.

Then at Loki.

"I'm beginning to understand why everyone calls you the trickster."

Loki smiled.

"Thank you."

As Io recovered, she slowly began spending more time out of bed.

The first time she walked into the sitting room, everyone applauded.

Io stopped.

"Why are you clapping?"

Lexander smiled.

"Because you walked."

"I've been walking for years."

"But not for several days."

Io sighed.

"You are all ridiculous."

Lisbeth hugged her.

"You're doing wonderfully."

Io smiled.

"Thank you."

The recovery was slow.

But every day was a little easier.

She could walk farther.

She could sleep more comfortably.

She could sit with the babies without immediately needing to lie down.

And eventually, she began laughing more.

That was what Lexander noticed most.

The exhaustion remained.

But the fear was fading.

The danger had not disappeared.

Surtr was still out there.

The Watch was still investigating.

The conspiracy inside Concordia was still being dismantled.

But for a little while, they had peace.

One evening, Lisbeth found Lexander in the kitchen.

He was staring at a bowl.

Lisbeth stopped.

"What are you doing?"

"Learning."

"Learning what?"

"How to make baby food."

Lisbeth laughed.

"They're nowhere near being weaned."

"I know."

"Then why?"

Lexander looked at the bowl.

"Because I don't know how."

"How to make baby food?"

"Yes."

Lisbeth smiled.

"Come here."

She began explaining.

"When they're ready for solids, you start simple."

"Fruit?"

"Eventually."

"Vegetables?"

"Yes."

"Meat?"

"Later."

Lexander nodded seriously.

"How do you prepare it?"

"Soft enough that they can manage it."

"How soft?"

"Very soft."

He frowned.

"How do you know?"

"Experience."

Lexander looked at her.

"I've commanded armies."

"I know."

"I've negotiated treaties."

"I know."

"I've fought gods."

"I know."

"I was Odin."

Lisbeth smiled.

"And none of that taught you how to feed a baby."

Lexander sighed.

"No."

She handed him a spoon.

"Try."

He mashed some cooked vegetables.

"Like this?"

"Finer."

He mashed them again.

"Like this?"

"Perfect."

Lexander nodded.

"I'm ready."

Lisbeth laughed.

"They aren't eating this for months."

"I know."

Io eventually discovered what he was doing.

She walked into the kitchen and found Lexander standing beside Lisbeth with a bowl of mashed vegetables.

She stared.

"What is that?"

"Baby food."

Io blinked.

"They're still breastfeeding."

"I know."

"Then why are you making baby food?"

Lexander pointed at Lisbeth.

"She is teaching me."

Io smiled.

"You're adorable."

"I'm preparing."

"For what?"

"The future."

Io laughed.

"All right, Odin."

Lexander smiled.

"Don't call me that."

"You were the one who brought it up."

Lisbeth laughed.

Io walked over and kissed him.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For caring so much."

Lexander looked toward the nursery.

"I've already lost enough."

Io took his hand.

"You're not going to lose us."

He squeezed her hand.

"I know."

That night, the entire family gathered in the nursery.

Ignatius was sleeping peacefully.

Seraphina was wide awake.

She stared at everyone.

Thor stood near the crib.

Shadow sat on her shoulder.

Loki leaned against the wall.

Baldr sat in a chair.

Lisbeth was beside Io.

Lexander stood behind them.

Io looked at her daughter.

"She's never going to sleep."

Seraphina yawned.

Everyone stared.

Io smiled.

"See?"

Seraphina closed her eyes.

Thor whispered:

"Good."

Nobody moved.

Ten seconds passed.

Seraphina opened one eye.

Thor sighed.

Loki laughed.

"She's already learned how to fool you."

Thor nodded.

"She's going to be formidable."

Io smiled.

"So is her brother."

Ignatius stirred.

His tiny hand opened.

A faint golden light appeared around his fingers.

Seraphina's eyes opened.

A tiny spark of white-gold flame flickered around her hand.

The room went quiet.

The two flames touched.

For just a moment, golden light and white-gold fire intertwined.

Then both disappeared.

Lexander smiled.

Io leaned against him.

"They're going to be trouble."

Lisbeth laughed.

"Definitely."

Thor nodded proudly.

"Excellent."

Loki smiled.

"Wonderful."

Baldr shook his head.

"Poor Concordia."

Io laughed.

The twins settled down.

For the moment, the First Flame was quiet.

The city outside continued to grow.

The Watch continued hunting Surtr's conspirators.

And within the palace, Io continued recovering while Lexander slowly learned the strange and terrifying art of parenthood.

He had once been Odin.

He had gouged his own eye out to gain universal knowledge.

He had ruled gods.

He had fought legendary monsters.

He had even died during Ragnarök.

But nothing had prepared him for two hungry babies.

And somehow, he wouldn't have traded it for anything.

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