All those worries remained as a deep furrow between his brows, and Idun could not help but sigh. Loki's thoughts were not helping to ease his concerns, and neither were her words, not really. Not if he continued to look so painfully unhappy. She shook her head. "It's not all you can hope for."
Idun had optimism on her side, there was no denying that, but that didn't mean her beliefs weren't firm. She truly believed that there would be hope, always. "The road may be rough, but it's too early to rule acceptance out, Loki. If there are any children out there who may win over even the toughest of crowds, they would be your children. I believe this completely. I believe in you as a father, and believe in their strength as a result."
But the opinions of the Aesir were not the only things weighing on Loki's mind, and that became clear to Idun as he spoke again. This nearly made her sigh again, not with frustration, but with an uneasy sort of sadness. With the knowledge that her words could not help here. She could not say that Hel would be alright and make it true. Idun only had hope and optimism, and sometimes that just wasn't enough. Sometimes Loki needed more from her than that.
She shifted where she sat, leaning forward to touch her palm gently to Loki's cheek. She wanted his attention, wanted his gaze. Idun was not a goddess of many firm expressions, but this topic was serious, and she was not smiling as a result. He had to see that. For whatever reason, it seemed unreasonably important. "Children get hurt," she told him, touching his jaw lightly with her thumb. "And your child may be more fragile than most. But you will not lose her. If you have any say whatsoever, you won't feel that loss in your lifetime."
Idun removed her hand then, setting it to the grass to pluck a blade herself. "She will heal. She'll hurt herself again. But you'll be there through it all, and you'll see her grow. I can't accept that a dear friend has been given a child, only to watch her slip away. I don't believe that is the fate you're destined for."