Well, this is my first EVER fic! :D Anyhow, the whole story is basically an alt universe from the Avengers film, i.e. Loki never killed Laufey etc etc :P This chapter is the prequel to my main plot, basically explaining why Sigyn just happened to be where she was to begin with :) Enjoy! x x

Btw! I would also like to give credit to my awesome friend and housemate Kit (aka princesspomegranate) for all her help getting my first fic started :D

Disclaimer: I own nothing (sadly!). Some of the dialogue belongs to The Avengers movie and Marvel...etc :D

I knew it would come to this, Sigyn thought to herself as she walked along the corridor that led to the throne room. It was a walk that seemed to take forever.

"But it wasn't my fault!" she frowned, a whine edging the tone of her voice. How could he do this to me... to us? she asked herself, tears filling her eyes. She didn't hate her husband by any means, she couldn't. He was still her husband. So what if he lost his mind, he was still my Loki. The man I fell in love with... The father of my children. She hadn't even thought of what would happen to her children yet.

Sigyn had known how this day would end as soon as she had been summoned to the throne room. People had to have someone to blame, and today, it seemed, it was her. That morning, a page had come to her house and informed her that she was to meet with the Allfather that afternoon. Since then, she had spent the morning preparing herself for the inevitable. With a heavy heart, she had told her children that she, and their father, loved them both very much, before leaving make her way to the palace.

And now, here she was. Waiting. She'd been summoned and arrived on time, yet still she was waiting. Come on! she thought. She had reached the enormous gold doors that stood between her and her fate. And right now, she hated those doors.

"It'll be fine," she sighed, trying and failing to reassure herself.

Sigyn straightened her dress and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"Princess Sigyn?" a voice called from behind her.

She turned to see the page that had visited her this morning, running to catch up with her.

"Yes?" she replied, a frown appearing on her face.

Does he not remember why I'm here! she thought, exasperated.

"You were supposed to wait for me at the entrance, my lady. Did the guards not tell you?" the page asked, gasping for breath.

Who did this boy think he was, telling her where to be?

"No, they did not. Do you really think it matters? I'm here now." Sigyn looked at him, her silver eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and anger.

"Very well, my lady. If you would follow me please."

The page pushed open the golden doors and Sigyn's stomach sank.

Sigyn made her way towards the stairs in front of Odin. She knelt in front of him, and bowed her head. Odin gestured with his hand and she rose.

The Allfather was sat on his golden throne, his armour glinting in the bright light of the hall. His spear, Gungnir, lying his across his lap. His wife, Frigga was standing to his right, her hand resting on his shoulder. Their son, Thor was stood behind his father's throne, his face expressionless and his eyes looking everywhere but the doors where Sigyn stood. This was a scene that she had seen so many times before, yet there was one thing missing.

"I miss you..." she whispered to herself, her thoughts straying back to her husband. She was pulled out of her reverie as Odin called her name.

"You are aware of why you are here, I assume?" he asked, his voice carrying across the almost empty room.

"Yes, Allfather." she replied, bowing her head hoping to avoid his gaze. She fumbled with the sleeve of her dress, pulling the pale gold embroidery that adorned it.

"Then you understand that this is the will of the people of Asgard as a whole, not just this family." Odin explained, rising from his throne.

"Now, I am not without mercy, child." he said, his voice softening, "Your fate will not be as harsh as it would normally be in such circumstances, for the crime was not your doing. Now, are you able to answer a question?"

Sigyn nodded, unable to muster even the simplest sentence. You knew this day would come she thought, trying in vain to reassure herself, Just do what they ask and it'll be over.

It was Thor that spoke this time, stepping forward behind his father, his arms still crossed.

"Did, did you know that Loki had lost his mind?" he asked, his voice breaking has he spoke about his brother.

Sigyn faltered. Of course she had noticed; how couldn't she? He was her husband after all. She had spent every waking moment with him, since the day they began courting. She knew him inside and out. And yet, it had taken her a long time to notice it. Too long maybe... she trailed off as Thor repeated his question.

"I did..." she stopped again. Would my answer really make any difference, they've probably made their decision already "...not. I didn't know."

"Are you sure?" Thor asked her, moving closer the stairs in front of the throne.

"Y-yes. I am sure." she stuttered, averting her eyes from his. They don't believe me she thought, tears clouding her vision.

"He was my husband, I would have noticed if he had changed. In any way." she replied eventually, looking straight back at Thor. Her eyes were no longer filled with sadness, but determination. She was no longer afraid of what would happen to her, she had come to terms with that. It was fate, and no one argued with fate.

"It won't help if you lie to us, Sigyn." Odin said, looking her directly in the eye.

She nodded. She knew it was useless to lie, but Loki was, is, her husband and she would never betray. Not even if it would cause her harm.

"But it no longer matters if you believe me or not though does it, your Majesty?" Sigyn asked, tilting her head to one side. Their pointless questions were beginning to annoy her. If they have already decided, why are they insisting on dragging it out?

Odin walked towards her, Gungnir clinking against the marble floor.

"You would do well to mind your tongue!" shouted Thor, "You are in the presence of Odin Allfather!"

"What does it matter!" Sigyn shouted back, her annoyance and exasperation mixing, giving her voice a harsh tone. The three of them looked back at her with identical expressions of shock. "None of you care what I say! Not you...not my family...not even my own friends! You have all chosen to blame me for something I had no hand in and there is nothing I can do or say that will change your minds. Please, just give me my punishment and then leave me be."

"Very well." Odin replied, his calm tone a surprise against Sigyn's sudden outburst.

At least I fought my side. You had best be proud of me, my love she thought, looking up at the golden ceiling.

"Sigyn Iwaldidottir, wife to Loki Laufeyson and Princess of Asgard," Odin boomed, raising Gungnir from the floor, "As you well know, the people of Asgard have placed the blame on you for the crimes of your husba-"

"Enough of the formalities, Father, hurry up and get rid of her!" Thor shouted, unable to contain his anger and only calming down when his mother placed her hand on his arm.

"Calm yourself, my son," Odin ordered, "As I was saying, Sigyn; you are hereby banished from the realm of Asgard. You shall not be stripped of your Asgardian rights, your immortality or any powers you may possess. However, you shall not return here, unless it is expressly granted by me, Odin Allfather, or any future ruler of this realm."

Sigyn simply nodded. It could be worse; I suppose she thought to herself.

"You will return to your home and collect your belongings. You may travel to any of the other realms. You will then go to Heimdall on the Bifröst and he will allow you to travel to the realm of your choice." Odin finished. At that moment, the page returned to the throne room and Sigyn walked back towards the hallway.

Sigyn hurried about her room, collecting as much as she could before she was summoned to the Bifröst. But where should we go? she wondered Maybe Jotunheim...King Laufey is technically family after all. No, no. The safest place would be Midgard, no one knows of me there, and we'll blend in. I have to think of my children.

She ran from room to room, throwing clothes into a large black bag on her bed. Just as she was folding her daughter's nightdress, Thor walked into the room.

"What do you want, Thor?" she called, not turning to look at him.

He didn't answer, instead he asked her;

"Why are you packing your children's clothes, Sigyn?"

"Why shouldn't I be? They're coming with me, aren't they?" she answered, stopping mid-fold.

"No." Thor replied, pulling the clothes from her hands.

"No? Then where are they going, hm?" she asked, not allowing herself to believe that they would leave her children without both of their parents.

"They shall stay here. My mother has opted to become their guardian; they will be taken care of."

"You have got to be joking! Tell me you're not being serious!" she shouted, so loudly her son, Nari looked around the bedroom door.

"Mother, is everything okay?" he asked.

"Yes, son. Please, go and look after Asfrid. I won't be long." she replied, attempting to smile at her son to reassure him. He left the room as she asked.

Thor looked at her, sorrow filling his eyes for the first time.

"I'm sorry, Sigyn. But Father never said that they were to go with you. The punishment is yours, not theirs."

"Leaving them parentless is a punishment!" she sighed, "But I suppose there is nothing I can do. Very well, but please, take care of them"

"I promise," Thor replied, "Father said you need to be at the Bifröst in 10 minutes."

"Okay." Sigyn said, returning to her packing. Thor turned to leave;

"Goodbye...sister" he said, not looking back.

"Goodbye." she replied, but he had already left.

Sigyn arrived at the Bifröst, her bag in hand. She had said her goodbyes to her children and her parents, who had seemed to barely care about what was happening to their child. Frigga had met her at the Bifröst to take the children. It had been difficult. Poor little Asfrid, she doesn't even understand.

This was it. She was never coming back. Her childhood home, the old oak tree where Loki had proposed...she would never see them again.

"My lady," Heimdall greeted her, bowing his head, "Where is that you have chosen to go?"

"Midgard." she replied bluntly, not looking at him or Odin.

"As you wish." At that, Heimdall pushed his sword into the centre of the Bifröst and Sigyn was transported to her new home.

Goodbye she thought, thinking of the children, the home, and the life that was being taken from her.