Disclaimer: I do not own Loki or any of the characters from the Marvel universe.
A/N: This is a love story between Sigyn and Loki. Takes place in the Marvel movies universe, after the Avengers. Please enjoy!
Loki looked out through one of the enormous windows of his chambers in Asgard at the breathtaking beauty of the Asgardian sunset.
It wasn't the view he was thinking about.
He was planning his next conquest.
The latest attempt to take over the planet earth had not exactly gone as planned. No doubt his planning had been brilliant of course, but these meddlesome superhero friends of his brother, Thor had banded together to form a general nuisance in his path to glorious victory.
So now, he had to plan again.
A knock came at the door and after a pause, one of the guards entered the room without permission.
Loki kept his gaze steadily on the sunset, only his face clouded over with a look of cynical defiance. This was really getting irksome.
Since his return from earth, the All-Father, Odin, had placed him on house arrest in his chambers. There were five guards outside of his chambers at all hours of the day, guards outside his building on the ground AND he had to wear this…this strange, bothersome bracelet which neutralized all his magic!
It was completely unfair and far worse than being locked up in the towers of Asgard!
"My Lord, the All-Father requests your presence in the great hall." The guard said without expression in his voice.
All the guards had been instructed to enter the chamber after knocking. The Prince's privilege of privacy had been taken away.
Loki breathed a deep sigh of anger as he thought of being treated as a commoner and half turned toward the guard, "Don't you mean DEMANDS? Do I have a choice?"
"I don't believe so, Sire," the guard answered with the highest of patience in his voice.
Loki looked back to the sunset without moving a muscle, fully intending to test the guard's patience.
"He was insistent on your presence immediately, Sire," the guard nudged.
Loki turned towards the door with a bored sneer on his lips, "Of course he was."
He walked briskly out the doors of his chambers and toward the Great Hall where the All-Father, his father, sat on the massive gold throne overseeing all matters of the kingdom.
It always amazed the guards how swiftly Loki could move while appearing to expend no energy at all. The guards scrambled to open the massive gold doors to the Great Hall as he approached with additional guards trying to keep up with his brisk pace.
"I bid you a Good Day, your highness!" Loki swept into a deep bow at the stairs below the throne with exaggerated flourish and grace. "You summoned me?"
"Yes," replied Odin. He gazed at his adopted son for a few seconds.
He was often struck by the elegance and natural princely grace which he possessed.
He was born to be a king like his brother, Thor, yet there was still work to be done before Loki could be handed such power.
"I wanted to speak to you about your future," Odin said.
"Really?" Loki answered in his usual voice full of amusement, one eyebrow raised in challenge.
"Many council members in Asgard have questioned my… leniency toward your grave actions over the past years – Actions which could quite easily be seen as treason." Odin held up his hand to silence any arguments from Loki, whose gaze had turned to stone with a brewing volcanic fire underneath.
"You will be silent and hear me!" stated Odin in a voice which commanded complete adherence and humility.
Even Loki reluctantly took a deep breath and calmed himself to a dull silent roar of fury. He clenched his hands to control the anger rolling through him like a low but steady earthquake.
"I see many great qualities in you, my son," said the All-Father as his gaze swept past Loki to the now glorious, red sunset outside the majestic windows of the Great Hall. The light danced magnificently through the windows and playfully kissed the jewels imbedded in the walls. The light then leaped off the jewels and sprang across the room filling the Great Hall with the brilliant rainbow of lights.
There seemed to be an ethereal blanket of light around Odin and Loki was surrounded with a brilliant red light which made him look even more angered than usual.
Odin sighed and continued, "Yes, there are many admirable qualities in you. They are why I brought you back with me from Jotunheim as a babe. Despite your… numerous… indiscretions my son, you have all the makings of a future King.
"When I look at any being, as the All-Father, I can see through to their souls. In your soul I saw an intelligence beyond measure, strength to be a decisive ruler, natural grace which comes with a noble birth and yes, the gift of magic.
"I also saw that you were cunning, but if I could guide this side of your character the right way, it would be an invaluable trait for a future King." Odin paused and looked at Loki.
Loki took this opportunity to quickly interject. His father could be at times very long winded and he never had the patience to listen to the entire lecture.
"Father, you never intended to make me the King of Asgard, so why talk of these… so called, KINGLY qualities?" Loki squinted his eyes and carefully studied his Father, "Unless… you're considering sending me back to the half demolished land of Jotunheim to rule as king! Are you?!"
"No, Loki, I'm not." Odin said with a slight smile and shake of his head.
Given an almost unlimited number of conclusions which this son of his could draw, he always chose the path of painting himself as the victim.
Would he never believe that so many people still loved him and would ALWAYS love him despite everything?
"What is it then, Father?! Tell me!" Loki almost screamed.
"PATIENCE!" Loki set his jaw and clenched his fists even harder. "I have decided on an alliance with Atheria. The land is ruled by the Goddess Sygin. She is both Queen and because of her great powers, Goddess of all the lands. She wants to choose a king to reign by her side.
"This alliance would bring the perfect balance of masculine strength of Asgard and the feminine strength of Atheria to all the galaxies. The result will be a new age of evolution, creation and rebirth."
"You are arranging a MARRIAGE for me?! Father I… what?" Loki took a deep steadying breath, "Why would you DO such a thing to me?! I know I have possibly been… at times….a bit…. challenging, but why THIS?!" Loki stared at his father with shocked disbelief in his eyes.
"Loki, my son, I am giving you the opportunity to RULE by the side of this great Goddess! This is a true honor many great warriors and noble sons of my kingdom could only dream of being awarded! Many of my Council members will question why I chose YOU!" Odin's voice echoed like thunder across the Great Hall and his eyes held a warning against argument.
He added, "Besides, you are not being given a choice, this is what you MUST DO! Is that clear?!"
"Why ME?" Loki asked.
"Because, as I've said, you possess great qualities, but not the maturity to use them properly. Goddess Sigyn is a very old soul who can help guide you in the right direction."
"Wait… so, does this mean I get to be a God if I marry her?" Loki asked with a pleased grin on his face.
"NO! It means you get to reign as King beside her. The title of Goddess is a birthright and comes with special powers which no one can share," Odin answered.
Loki rolled eyes, "Is this… Atheria… a big kingdom?"
"It is as great as Asgard and as powerful. It is the land of creation."
"When are you sending me to this… delightfully… creative planet?" Loki asked with a sigh and bored toss of his head.
"Immediately," Odin answered. "I have asked that your bags be readied and Heimdall is preparing the portal as we speak."
"This is an outrage Father! Don't be surprised if you see me back here soon. Even house arrest is better than THIS!" Loki bowed reluctantly to the All-Father, "I take your leave!" with no more than a final glance at Odin, Loki turned on his heels and strode out of the Great Hall.
Loki stormed toward the Bifrost and was greeted by Heimdall, who met him with a piercing all-knowing gaze.
Heimdall and Loki kept their conversations to very near zero. They had often had disagreements as Heimdall always seemed to know Loki's ulterior motives.
Loki found him to be a meddlesome irritation to his world.
"The portal to Atheria is ready." Heimdall simply stated without any expression on his quiet face.
"I know you're enjoying this Heimdall! Why not show your JOY?!" Loki sneered.
Heimdall maintained his steady stature and gaze, "The Portal is now open." he announced.
Loki stepped defiantly toward the Portal and squared his shoulders. He would break free after he arrived at Atheria.
Heimdall had impeccable aim and Loki arrived just inside the Palace gates of Atheria.
As the haze of the Bifrost cleared, Loki noted that he was definitely expected here.
There was a reception of guards lined up and formally attired with a red carpet stretching a quarter mile to the majestic palace staircase. The reception carpet continued up the grand stairs to the stately front doors ornately decorated with gold and crystals.
Loki took his time gracefully walking up to the Palace doors.
He needed time to think… and plan.
No doubt the Queen would want to move quickly and marry him, as almost every woman he met eventually wanted of him.
A slow satisfied smile caressed his lips. Despite his questionable reputation, he was immensely popular with the ladies of court and any other land he traveled to. Somehow women seemed to be attracted to his bad-boy image, not to mention his princely charm and good looks.
Those mesmerizing green eyes alone could win any maiden in the lands.
Goddess or not, Loki was confident in winning the affections of the Queen. The question was, would HE want to stay and rule this land and moreover, could he put up with Sigyn?
He had reached the foot of the stairs and now slowly ascended, taking in the overwhelming grandeur of the palace. It truly rivaled the palace in Asgard - which was difficult to do.
He stopped at a landing in the middle of the staircase and looked over the Palace walls.
The land beyond was a lush, beautiful stretch of forest and green meadows.
To have ALL this… he must endure what kind of woman?
Two guards were opening the majestic front doors now and Loki walked into an enormous front hallway which led to the throne room.
As he walked down the hallway, he noticed the walls were again ornately decorated with gold and crystals. In front of the walls on either side were sculptures of what Loki assumed were previous generations of Kings and Queens.
As he walked through another set of massive ornately decorated double doors, a courtier stepped up to him and bowed deeply, "The Kingdom of Atheria welcomes your royal highness, Prince Loki. The Queen is still at her exercise and will return shortly. She would like you to make yourself comfortable until she is able to join you."
He waived Loki to a seat at the foot of the stairs leading to the throne.
Loki sat down at the chair.
She wasn't even here to meet him, he thought.
At her exercise? Loki's face set with anger and he had to get up and walk to one of the windows to hide his rage.
As he blindly looked out of the windows at the elegantly designed gardens, he thought, She's probably a very "gentle" lady… who dresses in pretty flighty gowns and was probably strolling the length of these gardens for her exercise!
Loki walked slowly back to his chair. He would NOT put up with this kind of silly woman for even a day of his life! He would tell this so called GODDESS that he would have nothing to do with her and then immediately leave!
The Goddess silently entered the throne room and motioned quietly to the guards not to speak. She studied Prince Loki with a steady gaze.
Loki was standing behind the chair angrily staring at the carpet in front of him. She motioned for one of her guards to announce her.
"Presenting the Goddess Sigyn, Queen of Atheria!" announced the guard.
Loki started but still looked at the ground. He had not heard the queen enter the room.
With a moment's hesitation he formulated what he would say to her. Instead of looking up, he took a few steps toward the stairs leading to the throne and bowed deeply. "Thank you for welcoming me your Majesty, but may I say I have NO intention of…."
As Loki lifted his gaze to the Queen standing in front of her throne, his eyes widened and he stopped mid-sentence.
Of all the possibilities he had imagined, Loki had never expected to see the vision before his eyes now!
The Goddess stood with all the grace, majesty and elegance befitting her stature, anticipating Loki's words.
She was slender, slightly taller than average and was suited in practice warrior garments. Instead of a flowing flighty dress, she wore her leather pants and vest. Her arms were protected in more fitted leather and she still held the sword in one hand as she casually rested the tip on the floor beside her. The look in her beautiful steady piercing eyes said, "Make one wrong move and I'll take you down."
Queen Sigyn was almost the exact opposite in appearance from Loki with the exception of their hair both being very dark in color. Despite her hair being pulled high on her head, it still flowed down to her hips like a thick waterfall of sinuous silk.
Sigyn's skin was a warm caramel which glowed like warm gold with the sunlight's touch through the window. Her brown eyes had an undertone of dark crimson which gave them a warm but piercing gaze as she met Loki's deep eyes of green. Her full lips curled up at one corner with confidence and amusement at the man standing in front of her. One of her brows was slightly lifted as if to say, "You are no match for me."
Loki stood there shocked into silence - the Goddess was absolutely stunning!
A/N: What did everyone think? This is my first fanfiction. I'd like some feedback on this as motivation to continue!
Please review! :)
