Frightened, you rolled up the sleeves of your shirt and dipped your shaking hands into a bowl of clean water that Thor had placed in front of you.

The surface threw small waves across the water while you made sure to wash away the smallest crumb of dirt and all of your own blood.

You weren't a healer by no means, but the god of thunder was right about one thing. The giants knew how to aid others. It hasn't been uncommon for your people to help others when they were to give birth. In fact, you had been present at many yourself, just did not participate.

And in comparison to the Asgardians most giant mothers and their children were well after, unharmed, alive. However, the same couldn't be said about the gods of Asgard. There was more than one story that told of a woman who died in childbirth or shortly after.

Tyr's mother was one of them. Even though she had been a giant, she had given birth in Asgard. Perhaps it had been intended of Odin for her to die. And even if not, it could still be considered a failure.

Despite the fact that Sif was the wife of Thor you did not believe in taking a mother from a child if it was unnecessary. Children needed parents. It would have been cruel to punish the unborn one for the sins of its father.

With clean hands you stepped up to the bed, blood covering the sheets, and locked eyes with Sif. Thor wanted to gain your attention but this wasn't about him.

"Lady Sif.", you said in a calm manner both to reassure her and yourself that everything would be fine. "That child of yours wants to be born."

A strand of golden locks stuck to her sweaty forehead.

"It's- it's too early!", she gasped, her teeth clenched while her nails dug into the brim of the bed. "She isn't- isn't supposed to!"

Your gaze darkened. Premature children did not have a good survival rate. If that child wouldn't make it, your life would be crushed within an instant.

However, if you'd be able to save both the mother and her child perhaps Thor would show himself grateful and let you off.

At least this once.

"Lady Sif, I have to disappoint you but if your child wants to arrive, it will come. That is not up for debate.", while your skin still felt like fire burned on its surface, you let two fingers run along it to call an ancient spell that would milden the pain.

It had been so long since you've last left the embrace of magic. Somehow it was so familiar yet so knew. Like a childhood friend that had returned after many decades, an adult now, but still the same friend nonetheless.

As the sparks shone golden between the tips of your fingers, you let your hand lay on the mothers stomach and whispered a few words in the ancient language of the giants.

Sif's body was stiff, almost like stone beneath your touch. It was an indicator that the child, indeed, was about to be born.

As your magic seeped into her, the agony on her face eased. Tiredness replaced it.

You kept on suffering. In fact, some of her pain transferred to you. It was a spell of companionship. Her pain for yours, your breath for her heartbeat.

A moment passed in which you tried to clear your mind. The connection struggled.

And all of a sudden there it was. A heartbeat, so small, so calm. And yet you knew just how much worth it held.

A life for a life.

A child for your escape.

"I can feel the child.", you said and let your hand run along Sif's stomach. "It is breathing. No. It rages."

Concerned, Thor kneeled down next to the head of his wife and breathed a kiss to the back of her hand.

"Will my wife survive?", he asked, sincere fear shimmering in those greyish blue eyes of his.

This was the very first time that you recognised him as just a man. A husband, who loved and feared, a father who perhaps needed to make a decision he did not want to.

His child, flesh and blood. Or his wife, the love that gave him meaning.

It send shivers down your spine to see these two individuals in such a situation. What made this even worse was that this wasn't unique. Anyone could find themselves in this exact position, unwilling to chose.

Trails of tears drew red-sticky lines down Sif's cheeks as she managed to take a deep breath and gain a single second of full consciousness.

"Does your giant blood possess the power to safe my child?", she asked, fully aware that there was a price that needed to be paid.

She was willing to pay it. Any price.

You looked her deep in the eyes. She was the mother. It was her decision to make.

"The chances are good.", you admitted, not wasting a single second by looking at Thor for his opinion. "But I might not be able to save you. My powers are... limited in this realm. With this body."

"So be it.", she sighed and smiled all of a sudden. Anything.

"Sif!", shock was written on Thor's face.

But his wife quickly silenced him with a single glance of hers.

"A life for a life.", she kissed him.

"A life for a life...", you mumbled, as your attention wandered lower to cast another ancient spell, a song of your childhood, this time.

It was to bring her comfort in these trying times. Fear was able to ruin many things. Especially when the chances for success were low.

Pressure pressed down on your chest as you called for the strength of Jötunheim.

Reys of soft gold danced over your giant skin as you opened your arms. They formed themselves into long lines, almost like thread with sharp needles at their tips.

Insecure by fear, Thor raised his hand. Lightning danced between his ginger hair.

"What are you doing?!", he asked as your eyes began to glow as golden as the ones of Tyr.

"I will cut her open.", you simply said, your voice far away. "And then I will sew her shut again. Just like I have been born once. Just how my father was born."