Loki could still remember that day as if were yesterday, though he didn't remember which occasion had been solemnized, but the big hall was filled with people in ceremonial armor and clothing, like himself. From all over the realm the nobility had gathered, so it must have been something important and he - as always - didn't really care. Though Odin's brothers Vé and Vili had come with their families as well, which was utterly rare. He stood with his Thor and their friends, silently watching them and all those around, while everyone was drinking, feasting and celebrating.
He himself would rather have been reading or training magic but he new that Odin would be very disappointed. After all he still thought Odin to be his father at that time, whom he wanted to make proud though he never was able to fulfill that urge like his brother Thor. It was at that point when Loki thought about getting drunk himself - something he had done only a few times in his life - as he saw her. She walked right behind Vé and his wife, a living perfection, an embodiment of beauty and grace. Her head was tilted slightly downwards and her eyes shyly watched the people around her. Loki was sure that he had never seen her before. She looked like a delicate wild rose in a garden full of pest plants.
"Who are you staring at, brother?" Thor puts his arm around Lokis shoulders and makes him feel awkward again. "What a beautiful maiden", Odins first-born shouts out and all of his friend, also the Lady Sif, turn around seachring for the one that was meant. Luckily Vé and his escort are too far away to hear the slightly drunken Thor. In great foresight Loki had gotten him and their friends out of the Allfathers earshot so he wouldn't be embarrassed by them.
"That must be Vé's daughter", some of the men said. "She is absolutely beautiful. Sif, look you have a rival." The men began to talk about the appearance of Odin's niece and while Sif's facial expression became more irritated and jealous - because Thor was one of the most fervent one's among them, Loki almost didn't hear them as he silently admired her. Her hair fell like silk round her shoulders and she seemed almost fragile, like a deer, no - Loki slightly shook his head - like a unicorn. Her skin was like porcelain, shimmering like a fresh spring morning and her eyes - a chill of excitement ran through his body as her eyes meet his - they had the color of his.
Caught she rapidly looked away again, perfectly decent she looked to the ground again waiting behind her father to meet her uncle Odin, when the two men had greeted and spoken to each other. Still she had glanced at him, Loki, not at his brother. Cautiously he looked at Thor. "She is breathtaking, isn't she?" his brother asked him but Loki dared not to agree openly. Instead he looked at Sif who was boiling with jealousy. Everyone knew that she loved Thor but couldn't stand his constant lack of manners. "There, she looked at us again", Thor nudged him and Loki had to see if that had been true.
His brother laughed. "You do like her." She wasn't looking and Loki was angry at himself that he hadn't been cautious. "So lets split and take a look which one she wants", one of their friends suggested. "What... why?" Loki asked cautiously. "When Vé comes all the way, bringing his beautiful and decent daughter with him, he surely tends to engage her to one of you." another said. Again Loki had to look at Sif, who now was as pale as snow. "You mean she is a virgin?" Thor asked and laughed. "Well... oh look."
Vé had his daughter shown to Odin, who was obviously pleased with her appearance. Frigga spoke to the maiden as well, warmly smiling. Now she was allowed to leave her parents and floated down the stairs directly into the arms of Fandral. Loki groaned nearly inaudible. No one could see the face of their friend but hers. She smiles politely, speaking to him and gestured in a most gracious way and than dropped a curtsy to just let him stand where he stood and left. Fandral turned around to his friends and shrugged disbelieving. "Inconceivable!", Thor laughed. "No it is not", another friend said. "They say she is the most decent maiden on Asgard. And yes still a virgin."
"Maybe she can withstand Fandrals charm, but not mine", Thor laughed and finished his beer. Again Loki watched Sif, who really seemed hurt. He himself could be quite charming as well in a complete different way as Fandral or Thor. Because Sif was so deeply in love with Thor he had wanted her more than every other woman in this realm until today. "I am sure, brother", Loki said. "That if Sif can withstand you, she might as well." Now Sif looked at him disbelieving, frowning as if she asks herself what the trickster is up to. She knew that Loki had yearned for her all the time. "Oh you think that, brother?" Thor answered and Sif froze. "Just because she doesn't want to marry me doesn't mean that I haven't taste the fruits of her garden!" The mischief as done and Loki knew when it was better to leave. Right now, when Sif was about to explode.
Loki felt no triumph as Thor turned around to see where everybody stared at. If Sif would have had something in her hands she would have thrown it at him. She was in rage and she would be angry at Loki, because she knew that it was his work after all to be revealed like this. But it didn't mean anything to him. Not anymore. A part of him always knew that Thor and Sif secretly met in the night, that she was stained by him. And everybody knew that they would marry eventually. But Loki couldn't stand the idea that his idiot brother would stain that flawless, marvelous flower... He had to leave and calm himself right now. He had to restrain himself. There could be a chance that Vé indeed wanted to engage his daughter to one of them, like Sif one day as well. And Loki could not stand the thought of tasting a fruit his brother had already spoiled.
Suddenly someone startled him, standing in his way and he returned from his thoughts to the real world. There she was, right in front of him. Like an embodiment of pureness. Loki knew immediately that he must have her. "Forgive me, my prince", she dropped a curtsy. "I didn't mean to stand in your way." She had the melodious voice of an elven singer and a shiver ran through his body again. "You are forgiven", he spoke and his voice sounded much too deep and too hoarse in his own ears. "Mylady..." - "My apologies again, my prince", she blushed. "Sigyn, daughter of Vé."