"No... Thank you."
Sigyn nearly tripped over her own feet at those words. Fear struck her hard, like she had been slapped across the face by the back of a hand. The apples she had been carrying fell to the ground.
"What? No, it can't be. It's impossible. He's... Dead."
Bending on one knee, she slowly started putting the apples back inside the basket. Thoughts raced through her head to reason why she heard the voice.
"Maybe it was someone who sounded just like him. Maybe since it was so faint it could have been something completely nothing at all. Or maybe I've been working too hard and need sleep."
She continued coming up with excuses so that she wouldn't be frightened. When she had just finished picking up the apples, she realized someone was walking near her. She hadn't even realized someone was passing by. She glanced up to see the prince, looking very happy as he walked down the corridors. Sigyn stood up quickly and bowed just before he crossed her path.
"Good day, your highness." She said respectfully.
He stopped and bowed back. "Good morning, good maiden! I wish you well on your journeys today!" He beamed.
He continued walking through the halls towards the front of the palace. He was in a surprisingly good mood today. She picked up her basket, somewhat flustered by such a joyous greeting from the prince. The legendary warrior who has saved countless lives out of the goodness of his heart. Oh how she wished she could know him better... Her happiness came to a halt when she heard shuffling in the throne room, and she remembered the voice. She glanced toward the direction of the throne room. Sigyn had always been a much too curious person. As a child she would run into sacred places in the palace because she wanted to know what was in them, and why no one talked about them. Even as the adult she is today, she was still getting in trouble for getting into things and doing things that she wasn't supposed to.
She suppressed the sense of curiosity until it hurt. She shouldn't go in there. It just feels like something bad will happen. Her face twisted into a frown. She set the basket down. She couldn't help it. Maybe just a glance. By the time she had walked through the enormous doors to the throne room, she had all but convinced herself that the voice was her wild imagination. She felt her heart stop when she saw the back of a figure walking behind the throne. Her breath caught in her throat. She made no sound, pleading that they wouldn't notice her. The form halted. She stood, paralyzed, in her place. Terrified that the person on the other side of the hall was who she thought they were. She was shaking so badly that she was convinced that they could hear it. The head of the form turned slightly. The huge doors behind her slammed shut so quickly she jumped and made a small sound of terror.
She turned around for a quick second, glanced at the doors, and immediately gave up hope that she had any chance at opening them. As soon as she turned her head back she saw him. He was directly her. Sigyn screamed and fell to the floor. She flinched and waited for the worst. Waiting for all the rumors to come true. Waiting to be tortured until he was entertained enough. Waiting to be slowly skinned alive. Waiting to feel the burns that came with fire. Waiting for her life to end as she knew it. But they never came.
Instead two hands lifted her off the ground, gently. She froze. Feeling more terror than she thought that she could ever feel. Once she was on her feet, she was looking him in the face again.
"It's alright, I'm not going to hurt you." He said, calmly.
"L-Loki? But y-you're... Dead" Sigyn stuttered. She was able to breath slightly, now somewhat interested on how he's standing in this room, and not buried in the earth of another realm. He grinned.
"That's right. I am dead. And I'd like to keep it that way, understand?" His sudden change in attitude blew away any curiosity she had left and replaced it with ice.
"I'm not even king for five minutes and I'm seen by someone." In an impressed tone, but his face was starcastic. "That takes quite some talent, sneaking up on me. Tell me, what is your name?"
She reached desperately for breath, but she couldn't hold down any air. Loki tapped his scepter in his hands impatiently. She forced sound to come out of her mouth.
"Sigyn."
"My dear, dear Sigyn. This is actually quite a convenience for me. You're the only one who knows I'm alive. And it would be nice to have an errand girl. I will call for you when I need you. Which shouldn't be very often. Do you understand?"
Sigyn nodded quickly.
"Good. I appreciate your cooperation. Now go." The doors opened. But she continued to stare at him, in a bewildered state. He raised an eyebrow at her. She bowed quickly and tried to walk out of the room as slowly as she could. The sound of quiet laughter came just before the door closed.