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With limited privacy in a humble dorm of Askr's castle, Sky gave birth to her first child. The pain was intense, the worst experience of her life. She didn't want to think about how a whole baby came out of her body, let alone how her husband stomached the sight of her delivery.
The Heroes missed their Summoner who hadn't bothered to show up to work that day. Sky never announced her pregnancy, concealing it the best she could. Explaining her sudden absence to Anna would be troublesome, but not relevant. Instead, her focus was on her husband's overjoyed expression as he held their daughter in his arms.
Dainty, slightly tan hands made grabby motions in her mother's direction. Lilac strings of hair sloped over her bright, icy blue eyes like her father's. The baby took after his cool disposition, too. With a sweet smile on her face that didn't quite push up her eyes, not a single tear was shed by Frīja as she was welcomed into the world. She was healthy and large... it was just a little strange that the youngest wasn't the one crying.
To Sky's surprise, all the tears she heard came from Hríd. They glimmered and trickled down his soft, pale cheeks. He was overwhelmed with joy for his wife and child, grateful that they both survived.
The Summoner was raised to believe boys shouldn't cry. Those doubts crumbled, growing up with a twin brother. Watching her husband get emotional? How he bravely delivered their child without protest? Hríd was courageous, calm, gentle, and patient, always putting his wife's needs and comfort first. He helped her with the delivery. Who's to say he's not allowed to cry?
The idea of manhood Hríd presented was unconventional to Sky, and something she admired and respected from him immensely.
"We have a daughter... she's beautiful! Look, she's got your hair, right at the tip here!" Hríd commented, referring to the blonde tips on Frīja's few baby hairs.
"She got everything else from you, though! Minus the crying." Sky quipped, taking the child to nurse her.
Amidst the stew of emotions, the Summoner couldn't help her laughter. "This... is so not like you at all! But, I kinda like it," she put her thumb up to her darling's chin, catching one of his tears. His eyes sparkled with boundless joy.
"Why are you so pretty when you cry?"