A Game for Sinners and Fools

Love is Like War: Easy to Begin, but Very Hard to Stop

-H.L. Mencken

Golden halls glistening from the glorious sunlight streaming through pillars of marble, even the endless winding hallways of Asgard's Palace gleamed as magnificently as the throne room. Every tile, every stone looked polished, as if untouched by the delicate fingers that reached out in curiosity. Despite their metallic gleam, the walls and floors were not cold, filled with warmth against the tiny hand that tentatively caressed it.

Clutching the silk of her father's blue cloak that glimmered brilliantly with each stride he took as he moved down the hallways, she scurried to keep up with him, overwhelmed by the beauty the palace beheld. Everything she had been told by her mother appeared to be a lie as the words she had heard seemed foolish in comparison to what her eyes beheld. Catching herself ogling, she cried out for her father to slow down since she feared being left behind.

When he turned around to embrace her while she ran over to him and threw her tiny arms around his legs, the sound of youthful voices echoed off the walls. She ducked behind her father, cloak grasped in her tiny hands as the Allfather strode up the stairway holding the hands of his sons who were talking excitedly.

"Bragi!" Odin welcomed his friend and comrade with clasp of hands that turned into a hug.

"You look none the older, Odin." Bragi smiled while glancing down at the two boys flanking the Allfather, "By Valhalla, the crown princes have grown so strong."

"I don't believe your daughter has met them." Odin pushed his boys forward, "This is Thor, and this is Loki."

The blonde stood up taller, puffing his chest out, but instead of announcing himself he became distracted by the pair of grey eyes staring at him. He inched forward, curious about the little girl that quickly hid back behind her father's cloak, "Is that a faerie, Milord?"

Bragi began to laugh, disentangling his daughter from her hold on his cloak despite her silent protests.

Loki smacked Thor's arm, angry with his brother's carelessness, "Don't be rude. Faeries are associated with Dark Elves!"

Bragi's daughter was pouting as he forced her to stand in front of him, but when Loki walked up and took her hand, she seemed to smile. He kissed her hand, though it left her furiously blushing and unable to form words.

"I'm Loki." He smiled cheerfully at her, "It's a pleasure to meet you-"

"Sigyn." She bit her bottom lip, "My name's Sigyn."

"That's very pretty."

Loki was soon nudged aside by an impatient Thor, who took Sigyn's hand and kissed it as well, "I'm Thor."

She wrinkled her nose at him until her father gently pinched her arm, "It's lovely to meet you…"

Bragi chuckled, looking over at Odin, who appeared pleased as his boys had not forgotten their manners. He cleared his throat, "Well, that's settled then. Sigyn had very dearly wanted to meet the crown princes."

Sigyn went back to her silent pouting, bashing her little fists into her father's thigh for embarrassing her. Odin and her father shared a deep laugh that only made her blush darker until she heard Loki's calm voice.

"I had wanted to meet you as well."

Grey eyes meeting blue, Sigyn felt her lips pull apart to a smile. Taking her father's hand, she followed after him even though the two princes decided they ought to run off and play a game. Despite their invitation, Sigyn wanted to stay with her father though her eyes didn't leave Loki's until they were too far down the hallway that she couldn't see him very well.

Thor punched his brother in the shoulder as they raced outside into the gardens, "You've got a crush on Sigyn!"

Loki rolled his eyes, not at all in the mood to deal with his brother's taunting, "One of these days you'll be jealous of our friendship."

"Friendship would mean you have to spend time with her." Thor stuck his tongue out, "I don't see that happening."