Ashton waved his hand in front of the dazed king's eyes. He stumbled as his eyes managed to briefly focus on Ashton.
Beloved sighed, then picked him up by his fur cloak, carrying him out of the palace.
Eir quickly moved to catch his majesty by the arm, making sure he didn't fall. The female bird flew back into the palace. It was strange, the ring of fire… followed her to the far side of the room. She and the lad removed a cloth from a giant nest. Inside were a few dozen eggs. Not all the same either.
Sven took a deep breath, freed from the oppressive power. "Aye, beast ah power," he muttered.
"Majesty, they be speaken ta ye." Frigg reminded glancing into the nest. Some of those eggs… were pretty big. He eyed the female… had she lain them? Nay, some of the eggs had a leathery hide. No bird would lay eggs like that. Not to mention… there was one egg big enough for both birds to fit inside. Frigg subtly eyed the giant snake god.
Beloved flew out of the nest to land on the human's head, peering down at him, "Are you listening? Did you hear what we said? This is important, don't get dis-tract-ted." Beloved admonished dropping a small flame to clear the fog from the human's mind.
Sven shuddered, suddenly wide awake. "Oh aye, a beastie, ye be sayen?"
Ashton peered at the eggs, the bird eggs were mostly of fire… not exactly ideal for the icy mountains. He picked up several eggs, checking what manner of beasts lay within. Sometimes it was hard to tell the eggs apart.
Satisfied the human was paying attention, she flew back to land on one of the larger eggs. "This one of water, in ice she would freeze, this one of fire, would melt all that he sees. Nix so many babies… from where did they come? Are you stealing eggs? Brooding the young?"
Ashton pursed his lips as he glanced up, he opened his mouth to answer, then closed it. After tilting his head from side to side he sighed. "Most mothers attacked me, wanting to eat… but the eggs left alone, so I took them along. A few… just appeared, some were gifts, honestly though… no idea what to do with."
Beloved changed as she picked up breed of basilisk egg. There were four… "Nix… were you mistaken… for a chicken???"
Sven choked, so did half his men as they turned away to hide their grins. The smile died on his lips seeing the giant snake god slither overhead. Sven shivered as the half man, half snake picked up a rather large, narrow egg. From what he could see, the egg was rather soft…
Ashton stomped his foot, "Twas not my nest the eggs were left, I was just passing through! I met with an old acquaintance, when we awoke… 4 eggs more."
Haven picked up another basilisk egg. They were surprisingly… healthy. "Why have they not hatched? You must have incubated them for over a hundred years already."
Ashton covered his mouth as he blinked up at Haven innocently, "If they hatched in here, what would I do? Chase little snakes? No thank you." He wasn't scared of them… but raising them… when he was constantly in need of new bodies? Like most breeds of basilisk, these would attempt to eat the bird that brood them.
Haven shook his head with a soft smile as he placed all four eggs in Beloved's arms, then carried her out. "Best to find new mothers for them." Even if they weren't a threat, Nix wasn't exactly hard hearted enough to kill them.
Beloved showed the human the four eggs, "Two boys, two girls, which do you prefer?"
Sven eyed the eggs, "They be, snake eggs?" He'd killed many a snake, but… what would he do with them? Make soup?
Ashton left the rift open to return the unpicked eggs, "A protector for you, for your mate, all of your line, unless you draw hate. For generations to come, a snake of earth, will protect all your domain."
Beloved sighed, "They will be all alone, you must treat them right! If you are mean… we… bad things a might!" Beloved added with a threatening glare.
Haven used his tail to block Beloved's fierce expression. "We will… look in from time to time." Haven promised as she cradled the eggs to her chest.
Sven's stomach actually hurt from his effort to not laugh at her… threat. Honestly, she looked on the verge of tears. "Aye, treat em like, family." Sven promised. Only then was he allowed to see the four nearly identical eggs.
Frigg stepped in with a short cough, "Oh, aye, kin of the king they be, but, instead ah one, why no ah pair? Then, they protect each other too." Frigg said with a wide smile, it was hard not to pat the lassie's head. Aye, she was a beauty. Small though, barely reaching their chests.
Eir jumped on the idea, "Aye, ah pair, they be babies after all. Who better ta have at ye back than ah sibling? Aye, brothers of arms, brothers of blood."
Beloved looked half convinced as she peered at the excited trio. "Females are fiercer, less likely to attack, closer to kin, more instinct to protect. You're not looking down on us females? Just because we carry the breed?"
Eir backpaddled so fast his soul was almost left behind, "Aye, ah course they be da fiercest, tis why the lady queen stays home. No matter what armies dare ta come, she will no let one past the gate. Tis us men who follow the lady's orders. Aye just be thinking, ah territory ken only have one queen."
Beloved nodded, "Oh, that makes sense, but a queen of men, a queen of beasts, shouldn't there be one for each?"
Haven smirked as the humans nodded along, like chicks pecking at rice. They were smart, he was tempted to see what manner of female tamed them all so.
"Then a pair, male and female, the male with be brash, harder to tame, but he won't back down, kill all who challenge in his domain." Beloved warned holding out her left hand with the two male eggs.
"The female will be smart, a master she has none, but included in clutch, all hers to protect. She will be fierce, her venom alone kill even dragon kin. She will not go out to fight, but should she make the move, death no matter how contrite." Ashton warned waving to the two female eggs.
Sven stared, "Aye ken no tell the difference, can ye pick two who… will no suffer from the chill?" The cold was a serious concern. The only snakes they found were diamond head beasts. They were beautiful, but often killed before anyone even saw them.
Ashton stared at the eggs, then picked a male and female. They were both more likely to develop earth affinities. While they would grow, it would be slow. Maybe, an arms length a year. "These two are closer, stronger their bond, all for the better, or worse should things go wrong."
Beloved ran to return the remaining eggs, tucking them under the cloth, only for Haven to curl his tail around the three nests full of eggs. She jumped into the nest as they were brought out.
Sven watched in horror as the snake god… changed back into a full snake, just to eat the largest eggs. He clutched his new eggs to his chest, "Ye… godship?"
Haven swallowed the giant dragon egg down. "A small… snack." Haven said as he looked at the rest of the eggs, opening rifts to drop them in similar clutches. They may not belong to his Beloved, but… there was no need for other snakes to take any of their attention.
Satisfied no snake eggs remained, he pushed the nests back through the rift.
Ashton shrugged, "Now, an hour in the sun, an hour in your arms, you are to brood them, make them believe you are kin."
Eir's eye twitched, "Aye may be mistaken, but donna the babes eat… the one who broods em?"
Sven couldn't help squeezing the soft egg. It was like an overly fully water sack.
Beloved giggled, "They are so smart, long have they waited, they'll understand, no risk the king is taking."
Eir let out a small breath of relief. Then eyed the imperial family. Aye, best to get unpleasant tasks over with swiftly.
Sven only half heartedly greeted the emperor, dropping off a few beast cores as offering. Now, he was sitting on a log, surrounded by his men… brooding eggs. His men were coming up with fierce names for the wee beasties, good fun for the men after weeks of tireless journey.
Frigg was getting nervous. At first the birds only popped in occasionally. Checking in on the elk as he ate whatever treat they'd given him. Now… they were sitting on the giant snake tail they'd dragged over, head in hands, staring at his majesty Sven.
Eir shared a glance as both birds tilted their heads at the same time in surprise. He glanced around seeing no reason for the reaction. "Mayhap tis no me place, is… somethen amiss?"
Beloved glanced up, tilted her head back and forth, "Nothing is wrong."
"Nothing the matter." Ashton agreed with a nod as he continued to stare at the chest. They would only gain the belt after the eggs hatched.
"We are just curious, how long his heart will chatter." Beloved and Nix admitted.
Eir flicked a glance over his majesty, chattering heart is it? "Aye, donna hear… chattering."
Beloved rolled her eyes so hard her whole head rolled. "You're not a bird, not one of song, humans can't hear what, what we hear louder than drums."
Sven couldn't suppress his smile at her exaggerated antics. "Oh? What does me heart be chattering on about then?"
"Your mate, your young, the home it does long. It's really impressive, how consistent the thrum." Beloved and Nix said tilting their heads toward each other.
Sven stiffened up, well, aye, he be thinking of his wife on some level. She was pregnant again… the last time…
Beloved blinked, "The notes took a turn, instead of warmth, worries erupt, more so concern."
Sven masked his expression, not that it would matter if they could hear his heart. "Well, aye, she be me wife. Ah course aye be thinken ah her."
Beloved pouted, then stood up. "I want to see, I will bear witness, your song so impressive, I am now curious."
Ashton tilted his head, "Through the eyes of a mate, greatness, love, strength. She must be impressive, she is truly a queen, if anything were to happen, a true pity."
Sven didn't think the beasts were threatening him… but beasts were unpredictable on the best of days.
"Oh aye, the greatest of pities, we wouldna even ken what to do." Frigg said bumping his king's shoulders. "Ah great burden be lifted thinken ah the wee beasties who will protect her."
Beloved nodded proudly, "We will give blessings, make sure they are strong, if she's so amazing, no blessing too small."
"Oh aye, we promise ye, words donna do her justice. Though, she is a fighter. Fierce warrior queen puts us men ta shame, Aye just be worried… ye may… startle her, she being with child an all. She may no ask questions…" Frigg explained tentatively.
Beloved gasped, clapping her hands to her cheeks, "Oh! I should not scare her, I should be discrete! If she is startled, the poor baby!"
"Aye milady, she be like ah mother bear, swiping er claws, or a mother eagle protecten her nest. She mean no disrespect, but she be a woman ta fight ta da death protecten her wards." Frigg explained solemnly as he shook his head, "Mayhap, ye could, send ah missive? We could prepare ah feast ta welcome ya."
Beloved crossed her arms as she started to pace, "I want to see now, know how much to bless, I have an idea! You she shall see." Beloved skipped over to the human king, placing her hands on his chest. Finding the strongest chord of his song, she opened a rift.
Sven wasn't sure about his lady wife, but he near had a heart attack seeing the familiar stone walls. Their bedroom… his lady wife had already drawn her sword, both hand maidens behind her, out of the way. "Milady wife! Tis me!" He called as her eyes narrowed dangerously. Her sharp features reflected on her even sharper sword.