Right to the Night

Chapter Thirty-Four

As the months went by, Elisabete's belly kept growing almost to the size of a watermelon. She found it harder to move around and she went to see Eir almost daily to check up on the child. With the birth coming closer, many of the court members as well as the citizens were getting ready to celebrate the birth of the prince. Loki would leave his meetings early or cut them short to spend time with Elisabete and make sure she was doing alright as well as the baby. Towards her last month, Eir instructed she be put on bed rest. Elisabete found it hilarious to watch Loki act as her own personal servant, being at her beck and call day and night for whatever she wanted. As Loki was exiting the chambers to get to one of his meetings, he inhaled sharply as he heard her call out to him.

"What is it, my love?" Loki asked as he turned around to face her.

"Come here. He's kicking again." Elisabete replied.

Loki walked back towards her and sat on the edge of the bed, letting her take his hand and leading it to where the baby was moving. He felt the small heel of his foot move across his hand and he beamed with delight.

"He's so strong in there." Elisabete commented.

"I can't believe he's this far...and healthy." Loki told her.

"That's because we have the gods on our side." Elisabete grinned, taking his chin in her hand to make him look up at her.

"Do you need me to fetch you anything before I go attend my meeting?" He asked.

"You know, I have Iona to fetch me my things. She is my personal maid after all." Elisabete laughed.

"I know she is, but I want to be involved in this pregnancy as much as I can. It's all new to me and I want to indulge in every experience and feeling you have. Now, what can I do?" He explained.

"You can go to your meeting and fetch Iona to help." Elisabete replied, kissing his cheek.

"Alright, if that's what you wish. But if anything happens, tell Iona to find me and bring me here." Loki told her.

"I will, Loki. Don't worry. Eir said the baby isn't due for at least another week." Elisabete beamed.

Loki exited the room and found Iona. He sent her to tend after Elisabete before going to his back to back meetings for the day. She made her way to Elisabete's chambers and smiled brightly seeing her in her bed with her hands on her enormous belly. Elisabete greeted her kindly as she pulled up a seat next to the bed.

"It's been some time since I've seen you." Iona chuckled.

"Yes, I know, and I'm sorry. Loki's insisted he be the one to care for me while I'm bedridden, which is an insane thought given all the meetings he has." Elisabete explained to her.

"I understand. My father was the same way with my mother when she was pregnant with my little sister," Iona stated. "You are radiant, Elisabete. I'm so happy for you."
"Are you really?" Elisabete inquired.

"Of course I am. You're my best friend here in the palace. We've been together for quite some time and I love you. I'll admit, it was hard at first having to adjust to you as the new queen and having to serve you. But, you didn't change at all. You were still the same Elisabete I knew and loved. I am happy for all your successes. If it's any consolation, you deserved to be queen all along." Iona explained to Elisabete.

Elisabete smiled brightly and took Iona's hand in hers, caressing it softly.

"You've been so good to me and you've cared for me like no other here in the palace before all this. What do the other maids think of me?" Elisabete asked.