The Dissonance

***TRIGGER WARNINGS***

Mentions of pregnancy loss, infertility, maternal fatality, and infant fatality. Child abuse, evil stepmother, weight and body scrutiny.

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"Did you hear? Finna and Anina are getting another sister."

"Oh, my Gods! Seven girls?!

"Yes. And I have it on good authority that the Viscount is livid. He has been cursing the Norns since the Lady had her scan. He has even moved out of their chambers. I heard he has been staying with his mistress."

"That is terrible! What an ass."

Loki could not help but overhear the hushed conversation of the two librarians at the counter behind him as he sat in the school library, studying for his history test. He recalled seeing the couple in the dining hall recently, the Lady barely eating, one hand pushing her food around with her fork, the other cradling her bump. He remembered she looked frail and pale, but he just chalked it up to normal pregnancy woes. The Viscount seemed to be more churlish than usual, barking at servants and brooding over his plate.

Another girl. What are the odds? Loki shook his head and wondered if Viggo would finally give up his pursuit for an heir or if he would keep breeding his poor wife like a prized mare in his quest for a legacy.

As time passed, Lord Viggo returned his stoic façade, but the Lady Agda remained shut off, declining social teas and leaving her younger girls in the care of nannies more often.

One morning, Loki exited his bedroom to discover his mother sobbing and distraught in the sitting room of their chambers.

"Mother!" He rushed to her side. "Mother, what is it? What is the matter?"

She accepted the handkerchief he passed to her and pressed it to her face as she continued to cry. Thor came out of his room then and joined them at their mother's other side. Each boy trying unsuccessfully to calm her. Eventually, the sobs slowed long enough for her to speak.

"Agda..." She wiped her nose.

"Did she lose the baby?" Thor asked, his eyebrows furrowed with concern.

She drew in stuttering breaths, "She's... she is dead."

The princes looked at each other, stunned and horrified.

"When? What happened?"

Frigga took a deep breath. "Sometime in the night. Complications of childbirth."

"And the baby girl?" Loki asked quietly.

She squeezed her eyes closed and shook her head. "They did not get her out in time."

The boys sat and held their mother as she let her tears flow. They knew once she stopped, she would button herself up and not cry another tear after this day, putting her Queenly mask back in place and becoming the picture of strength.

Loki looked around, "Where is Father?"

"He went to console Viggo."

Thor and Loki exchanged a look.

"Those poor girls." Frigga sniffed. "Thor, you must be a pillar of strength for Finna."

"Of course."

Loki heard the tightness in Thor's voice.  He looked to his brother again and he quickly looked away. He did not have time to ponder what that as all about, he was still reeling from the news.

Lady Agda had always been thoughtful and sweet to him. When she asked about his wellbeing, he knew she was always genuinely interested, not just making small talk. He had never seen her lose her temper or spread gossip. He could not recall an unkind word ever passing her lips. She was patient and loving. She was just good. Through and through, she was a good friend, a good mother, and a good wife. Viggo never deserved her.

She was a true beauty. Long, thick, dark brown hair and amber eyes. Her daughters were some of the fairest in the capitol, a lovely mix of blondes, brunettes, apart from Eisa who had the copper hair. And now they were motherless.

Palace life will be very different without her around. Loki looked to his mother. She had just lost her best friend. His heart broke for her. She had so few people she could trust. Of course, he had seen her cry before. Not often and always in the privacy of their chambers. This one felt different. Loki could not place his finger on it, but something felt off.

Asgard prided itself on its medical advancements. No other realm rivaled them when it came to health and longevity. They had a cure for almost all chronic illnesses. Maternal mortality was extremely rare, but not unheard of. Agda certainly had the experience under her belt, having been through labor and delivery six times prior. The soul forge would have picked up anything that would have been considered problematic beforehand.

Perhaps I am overthinking this. Loki leaned back on the sofa and covered his eyes with his hand.

oOXOo

Six months after Agda's funeral, Viggo remarried. His new wife, Yulla, took great offence when she was not invited to be one of the Queen's ladies, so, at her request, the Viscount Lord moved his family out of the palace to a large home on the outskirts of the capital. Yulla was younger than Viggo. Much younger. She often clashed with his daughters, blaming them for causing her undo stress, stress that prevented her from conceiving.

Viggo sent his two oldest daughters abroad to finish their studies. Loki was sad to see Anina go, even though she never let him bed her, she had become quite proficient at fellatio, and let him practice his oral skills on her in return.

Thor and Finna's farewell was much more dramatic. Finna had begged Thor to ask the King to let them marry now so she could stay. With neither of them being of age, Thor told her the King would never agree to it and refused to even broach the subject with his father. Finna's feelings were hurt, of course, but that did not stop her from trying to spend every minute with him before she was sent away.

They had gotten careless and were discovered mid coupling by one of Yulla's maids in Finna's bedchamber, who immediately called for her father, who chased the Crown Prince through the halls of his manor as he desperately tried to pull his clothes back on. Thor was spotted by half the citizens of the capitol racing through the streets wearing only one boot and a tunic. His bare bum on full display as he urged his mare to get him back to the safety of the palace grounds as quickly as possible.

The gossip spread like wildfire and Viggo demanded the wedding be held as soon as possible. Odin talked him down, reiterating that the two were much too young still, both needing to finish their educations and Thor his military training, then the wedding could proceed as planned. He assured him the whole ordeal would be forgotten about once the girls were well abroad and everything settled down. With Odin's solemn promise that his daughter would birth the future king, Viggo sent his two eldest daughters to a boarding school on Vanaheim.

Before Finna was even out of the Bifrost, Thor had a gaggle of girls lined up to console him through his heartbreak. But if Thor was heartbroken, it would have been difficult to tell. Once Finna was gone, Thor started to come into his own. He finished school, started his military training, and really let loose. He was gifted the dwarven hammer named Mjolnir from Odin's weapons vault to help him harness his newfound power. He became loud and boisterous. He excelled at combat exercises, he started sitting in on Odin's council meetings, he visited pubs and brothels with his new warrior friends. He moved out of the family chambers into his own apartment on the other side of the palace. And he made less time to be with his brother.

As time passed, Loki was moved further and further into Thor's shadow. A shadow that grew as Thor grew. His muscles soon overtook his wits. He made brash, hasty decisions. He developed a short temper and a craving for war.

This was Odin's golden boy.

His successor.

oOXOo

Yulla, pleased that the more troublesome girls were out of her hair, was free to focus on her two main priorities: conceiving a male heir for her husband, and finding rich husbands for the five girls who were not yet betrothed. The four youngest girls left at home: Groa, Willa, Britta, and Eisa, were put through "wife training" by their stepmother. The sooner she could get these girls married and lessen the drain on Viggo's coffers, the better for her.

Yulla, knowing of the older girls' promiscuity, preached chastity to the youngers. She went on at length about purity and how the best husbands would only marry untouched women. She made the girls believe that the only way to make their father proud was to marry into a rich family, and the only way to do that was to be the most perfect lady at all times.

She raised them to be meticulous about their looks, but humble when accepting compliments. To be impressive conversationalists, without expressing strong opinions. To be well trained in the arts, to sing, dance, and play instruments. To be well versed in literature, history, and philosophy, but to never openly act smarter than a man.

She taught them social graces, how to behave at parties, how to attract attention without being ostentatious or brazen. How to flirt with a man without him knowing he was being flirted with. How to keep him interested without physical contact.

She was also very strict about the amount of food they were permitted in a day and banned sweets in the house. The girls were weighed and had their waists and hips measured weekly. Most of their childhood years were spent being trained to act like grown women. Although she did allow outdoor play time each day, strictly because she worried about their muscle tone.

oOXOo

"Line up!" Yulla yelled as she entered the large suite that her four youngest stepdaughters shared. She was dressed in a new gown, icy blue with a white, wolf fur boat neck collar, the alabaster skin of her chest and shoulders dusted with iridescent shimmer. Intricate, tiny braids at her temple met behind her head, held together with a silver hair pin in the shape of Yggrasil, the rest of her platinum blonde hair hung down the middle of her back.

It was the winter solstice and their family had been invited to the feast being held at the palace. The girls lined up in descending order in the center of the room, awaiting inspection. Everything had to be perfect before they even thought about leaving.

"Groa," she ran her critical eyes over her, "the silver jewelry is a nice touch. Let's switch to flats, men prefer shorter women."

"Yes, Mother Yulla." Groa slipped out of her heels and went to retrieve a pair of flat shoes from their shared closet.

"Willa," she picked up her chin and inspected her face, "pinch your cheeks, you are too pale. And pull your hair back. Show off that tender skin of your neck."

"Britta," Yulla rolled her eyes, "orange is too warm a color for winter. Go change your dress. Honestly girls, have I taught you nothing?"

"Sorry, Mother Yulla."

"Eisa, smile for me." Eisa looked up and gave her stepmother a wide smile, her front two baby teeth had fallen out a day apart from each other the week prior. Yulla sighed, "I suppose there is nothing we can do about that. I just pray to the Norns that your permanent teeth grow in straight." She shot Willa a scathing look.

Willa covered her mouth with her hand as Yulla gave Eisa another look. "Groa, put some tights on your sister to cover those scraped knees. Britta, take Eisa's shoes to the maid and try to get those scuffs off. Quickly girls, the carriage will be here to retrieve us shortly."

"I HATE tights! I won't wear 'em!" Eisa balled her fists at her sides.

"You will let Groa put the tights on you, or you will stay home."

"I don't want to go to the stupid feast at the stupid palace anyway." The lack of front teeth causing a lisp when she pronounced her S's.

Yulla smirked, "Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Too bad. Have you forgotten about the multitude of sweets that will be provided for dessert?" Eisa's face fell, she had forgotten about the sweets. The only time she was permitted to eat dessert was during trips to the palace. "I am sure you will enjoy your dinner here with the servants just as well."

"Fine! I will put on the stupid tights."

"Maybe I have changed my mind about bringing you? Why should I take the chance of you embarrassing your father? Perhaps you are still too young and too clumsy to be seen in public, let alone in the presence of the Royal family?"

"Apologies, Mother Yulla." Eisa ducked her head, "I will not embarrass you or Father. I promise."

"Tights. Now. And do not make me regret this." She spun on her heal and swept out of the room. Eisa stuck her tongue out and scowled at her stepmother's back. "I saw that!" Yulla yelled from the hall.

"I think she is a witch." Groa sat Eisa on her bed and started rolling her tights.

Eisa's mouth fell open, "Really?"

Groa gave her a little smile, "Think about it. How does she look so perfect all the time? She must bewitch us all to ignore her flaws. She probably has warts on her nose and whiskers on her chin."

Eisa giggled, "Yeah. And I bet all her teeth have fallen out."

"The next time she starts in on you, just remember what she really looks like under all that glamour." She gave her little sister a wink as she struggled to get her tights up her legs.

"Yeah, ugly hag."

"Shhh. We cannot let her know that we know her secret. She will put us in the stew pot if she finds out. Got it?"

Eisa' eyes went wide, and she swallowed thickly, "Got it."

oOXOo

Boring.

Boring.

Boring.

Boring.

Eisa sat in the middle of a long bench at one of the tables inside the great hall of the palace swinging her legs back and forth as the adults carried on conversations all around her.

Boring.

Boring.

Boring.

Boring.

She had eaten everything that her stepmother had told her to, and she did not even spill any on herself despite the table being too high for her to eat comfortably. She looked across the table to her sister and raised her eyebrows to her; a silent question, when will they bring out the desserts? Britta gave her a little shrug in response.

Stupid feast. Stupid palace. Stupid tights.

Eisa had been watching the royal family at the head table, the King, the Queen, Prince Thor, and Prince Loki. She was reminded on almost a daily basis that her big sister was going to marry the oldest prince and that he would be her brother by law.

If Thor is my brother by law, and Loki is Thor's brother, would that make Loki my brother too? She would have to ask Groa.

The King and Queen were sat in the center of the head table. Thor on Odin's right. Loki on Frigga's left. Odin and Thor were laughing and spilling their mead on each other, making rowdy conversation with her father. Loki and the Queen were eating quietly and sipping their drinks, carrying on a polite conversation with another courtier, not causing a commotion like the others.

She was too young to remember, but her sisters have told her that Thor used to be the serious one and Loki used to be the fun one. Eisa watched the brothers with interest. Now, Loki always seemed in a bad mood and Thor was always laughing.

Finally!

Eisa spied the servants setting up the desserts tables and clearing out space for dancing. Her stepmother stood and gave one final warning to the girls before setting them loose.

"Do not cause trouble. Do not eat too much. Do not do anything to embarrass your father. And Eisa," she looked down at her with a stern expression, "do NOT wander off. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Mother Yulla."

"Remember everything I have taught you. Shoulders back, stand up straight. Willa, closed lipped smiles only. Your future husbands could be in this very room right now. Isn't that exciting?" She gave a little shimmy of her shoulders. "Is everyone clear on how to behave?"

"Yes, Mother Yulla."

"Good. Now, I am going to go enjoy myself. Stay out of my sight until it is time to go home."

Once her back was turned, Eisa made a mad dash to the desserts table. She loaded a plate with as many treats as it would hold and made her way to the exit. She ducked out of a side exit and shuffled down a large empty corridor, carrying her large plate with two hands, until she saw the doors she was searching for.

She knew these glass paned doors would lead her to the path to the Queen's Garden. She sat her plate on the floor, stood on her tiptoes to open the door, retrieved her plate, set it on the ground outside, then shut the door behind her.

Easy peasy. She retrieved her plate, watching it carefully to ensure the tower of goodies did not spill. She turned around, ready to run the length of the path to find a nice quiet bench to enjoy her sweets on. But as she turned, she collied with a man as he came up the stairs. She dropped her plate, shattering it to oblivion and her treats flew away from her, far and wide.

"Watch where you are going, jerk face!" Eisa stared at her prized sweets on the ground, devastated.

"I beg your pardon?"

She turned and looked up and up and up. "Loki!"

"Try again, Lady Eisa." His voice was stern.

"Umm... Your Majesty?"

"No."

"My Highness?"

"Better." He stood looking down at her with his hand clasped behind his back. When she did not curtsey to him, he raised his eyebrows to her expectantly.

She stood there looking up at him for a few moments, "You made me drop my food."

Exasperated, he stepped around her and started walking the down the path in the opposite direction.

"HEY! You aren't going to help me clean this up?"

He stopped, turned slowly on his heel, "Have you somehow mistaken me for a servant?"

She swallowed thickly, his menacing gaze making her feel smaller than she already was, "N-no, Your Princliness. I just thought you could, you know," she swirled her hands around, "magic?"

"So, not a servant, but a clown to do tricks for you?"

"If you want to." She shrugged.

"You have some nerve, little one." He glared at her.

"Thank you."  At that, she curtsied to him, chocolate and jam all down the front of her light blue dress.

Loki could not stop the bark of laughter that escaped him. With a smile on his face, he turned back around into the shadows and started making his way to his intended destination. What he heard next made him stop in his tracks.

"Eisa Viggodottir! I turn my back for five minutes and your sisters tell me that you have run off again! What did I tell you?"

"Ow ow ow. Sorry Mother Yulla! Ow."

"Look at yourself! You filthy little pig!"

"Ow! I am sorry!"

Loki turned around to see Viggo's wife holding the child up by the arm and shaking her roughly.

"I knew I should have left you at home! You are a disgusting little brat!"

"Ow, you are hurting me!"

"I know!"

"Unhand the girl at once."

Yulla stopped shaking her but did not relinquish her vice grip on her arm. "Don't you know who I am?" She turned toward the voice in the shadows. All the color drained from her face as Loki slowly walked into the light.

"You are The Viscount Lord Viggo's whore turned wife." Loki's face was a mask of neutrality. "I said to unhand the girl."

"Your Highness!" She released Eisa and bowed into a deep curtsey, "I did not see you there."

"Obviously."

"Excuse us, My Prince. We were just leaving."

"You will not take another step until I say so." Loki walked closer, "What is the meaning of this?"

"Well, when I realized that our precious Eisa had wandered off, I was beside myself with concern." She brought a hand up to her mouth and forced out a sob. "When I finally spotted her, my protective, motherly instincts took over. I do not know what came over me." She dabbed nonexistent tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Right." Loki walked over to Eisa and used one long, slender finger to raise the sleeve of her dress, exposing the dark purple blooms that were already starting to form on her arm. "The Viscount allows you to abuse Agda's children?"

Yulla gaped at him before squaring her shoulders, "They are my children now. I will mother them the way I see fit."

"What you call 'mothering', I call abuse. Which one of us do you suppose is correct?"

She stammered, blinking up at him, shook. She could not contradict the prince, she had to agree with him. "You. You are correct, My Prince."

"I can understand how you were mistaken, seeing as how you have yet to have a child of your own. How many years have you been trying to give Viggo an heir?" He tilted his head in faux sympathy, "But I would not worry if I were you. I am sure the Lord is a patient and understanding man and his love for you is true and deep. He would not dream of replacing you with someone more... fruitful."

Tears sprang to her eyes in earnest this time. Loki slowly walked to stand in front of her, he put his hand on Yulla's neck and wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. He lowered his mouth close to her ear as he drew her in close to him by her waist. "If you so much as lay a finger on one of Agda's children again, Viggo will be in the market for a new wife sooner, rather than later. Do you understand?"

She nodded shakily.

"Say it, you villainous cunt." Loki ran his lips lightly over the shell of her ear. "Tell me that you understand what I am telling you."

Yulla shivered as the deep timbre of Loki's voice reverberated through her. "I understand, Your Highness." Her voice barely above a whisper.

"Very good." Loki purred. "And just in case I have not made myself perfectly clear; I do not think you are fit for anything other than your previous profession of milking cocks, so if the Norns did see fit to curse some poor child to be your son, well, I hope his stepmother is more kind to him than you have been to Agda's children."

Loki placed a slow, tender kiss to her cheek with his warning as he released her trembling form. He looked down to Eisa, she was staring up at him in awe, her amber eyes shining and a wide toothless smile on her face.

"Did you hear any of that?"

"Uh-uh." She shook her head and pushed her golden copper curls out of her face.

Loki smirked, "I believe you dropped this, little one." Loki held his open palm out to her as a flash of green light revealed her plate full of sweets intact and in perfect condition.

Eisa's face lit up and then immediately fell. She looked up to her stepmother and then back to Loki, "I don't think I should."

"Nonsense! The Prince has done you a kind favor." Yulla's voice was still shaky as she wiped her eyes. "If we cannot indulge at a feast, when can we?" She forced a laugh.

"Thank you, My Highness." Eisa beamed at him as she took the plate with both hands.

Yulla opened the door for her and ushered her into the hallway.

"Oh, Eisa. One more thing." He tossed a ball of green light in her direction. When it landed on her shoulder it enveloped her briefly then dissipated revealing a brand new, unsoiled green dress, neatly pressed. Loki also put a braid in her hair and tied it off with a green satin ribbon.

Eisa giggled as she looked herself over. "Thank you, Prince Loki."

Loki nodded and turned back into the shadows, heading swiftly down the meandering path that led away from the main palace building. He hopped over a low wall and strolled through the dry winter grass toward a gazebo nestled alongside a large koi pond.

"Your Highness." The couple said in unison as they stood to bow and curtsey.

A wide grin broke across Loki's face, "Thank you for waiting for me." He grabbed the woman around the waist and pulled her in for a deep kiss.

"We would never think of starting without you." The man removed the woman's cloak from behind and slid the straps of her dress over her shoulders, kissed her neck, and slid her dress down, exposing her naked body to the cool air.

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Yulla:

Young Eisa:

Groa: