A/N
Okay, this is my first Thor story ever. Just putting that out there. This story is a different look at how Loki and Sigyn's relationship began based more closely on the mythology combined with some fantasy plot that I made up myself. It does contain quite a number of OCs, but please bare with me. I hope you like it. Please R&R.

For Loki Odinson, the day had been going as it usually did. He'd spent the morning sparring with his brother and his friends. His afternoon consisted of sitting in his tower in the royal palace, studying magic. That was the thing he cared about most, his magic. However, today he was particularly eager to practice because he needed a new edge against Lady Sif's fighting. Unfortunately, the prince's normal day took a turn for the worse when dinner rolled around.

Sitting and eating quietly next to his brother, Thor, and trying to ignore the lively conversation going on between the others, Loki suddenly heard his name and looked up. Everyone around him was looking in his direction, making him realize that he had been directly addressed.

"Forgive me, I did not hear you."

"You are a man now, Loki. When are you going to find a wife? It shouldn't be too hard. After all, you are a prince of Asgard." Fandral said with a grin that quickly disappeared when he saw the death glare Loki was giving him.

"I have no interest in marriage." the dark haired man hissed back quietly, hoping that his parent's wouldn't catch wind of the conversation. Unfortunately, it was too late and they were already looking right at him with thoughtful expressions.

"It is true, my son. The time has come." Odin spoke in a serious tone. Loki looked back at his father somberly and shook his head.

"I would not make a good husband." the green eyed man protested, but no one heard him. They were already discussing who he might marry. This angered him, but he said nothing. Talk of marrying the Sons of Odin to Vanir brides as a show of peace had already been on the table for years. He shouldn't have been surprised that they were speaking of it now.

"My daughter would be a good match." Freya suggested. The young woman sitting next to her suddenly turned bright red and Loki felt bad for the girl having to deal with such embarrassment. After all, he was feeling just the same way, though he did not allow himself to show it. "Their union would bring strength to the peace between the Aesir and Vanir."

"Lady Sigyn also has much in common with Prince Loki. They are well suited for one another." Frigga added with a smile. It took every ounce of willpower Loki possessed not to do a spit take at hearing the girl's name. His gaze fell on her once again and it finally registered in his brain that, yes, that was Sigyn, all grown up. Apparently she'd been walking around the palace for months and only now had he noticed it was her. It was understandable, since he hadn't seen her in a very long time. Perhaps it was for this reason he was having such a hard time taking his eyes off her and she was trying to hide her face behind her abundance of golden locks.

"Must we discuss this now?" the prince asked, attempting to save them both from the discomfort of having this open for all at the table to see.

"Very well. We shall speak of this further after the meal." Odin replied, narrowing his eye. Loki was not at all reassured by the soft smile his mother gave him and though Sigyn seemed relieved, he knew this was only the beginning of what he was sure would become quite an uncomfortable experience.


The next day, Loki did not leave his tower all morning. The previous evening had been filled with embarrassment and anger and the prince was not in the mood to face anyone, especially his family. Despite his protests, he was now betrothed to Lady Sigyn and the injustice of it all angered him beyond words. Sure, their marriage would create a bond between the Aesir and Vanir, but he had been forced into it without any consideration for his opinion on the matter. Not that he had any particular objection to Lady Sigyn. She was definitely beautiful and he had fond childhood memories of her, but the bottom line was that it he had not been betrothed to her of his own free will and that infuriated him.

Loki's train of thought was broken away from the issue at hand when a knocking came on the door of his room. He looked up from the tome in his lap with a grimace and answered.

"Go away, brother. I would not speak with you. I wish to be alone." he snapped as the door opened. The dark haired young man was surprised to see that it was not Thor, but Lady Sigyn. She looked timidly at him, clutching the skirt of her deep green dress nervously. "Oh." Loki breathed, genuinely taken off guard for once, though he recovered quickly. "What is it?" he demanded, miffed that his solitude had been disturbed. He tried not to speak too harshly, reminding himself that she was just as much a victim as he was.

"I just thought...maybe we could study together and catch up." Like Loki, Sigyn held a deep interest in magic. As children, they had both been students of Amora the Enchantress, though their dependance on her had quickly disappeared. Eventually, Sigyn's studies had taken her to Alfheim and Loki did not see her again for many years.

"My magic is not like yours." he began sternly, "I do not practice such frivolous magics as those used to change the color of flowers. You would therefore have no interest in what I am studying." The insult in his words was hardly concealed and it offended the woman on a personal level. How dare he mock her abilities. He had no right to judge her when he had not even seen her cast a single spell in centuries. What had she done to receive such scathing words?

"You underestimate me, my lord, but you're right. I would not stoop to practice the arts of trickery like you." Sigyn snapped bitterly, glaring at Loki intently with her bright blue-gray eyes. He returned her glare for a moment before replying.

"What did you really come here for?" He narrowed his eyes at her, but she remained calm under his piercing emerald stare.

"I already informed you. I merely thought that since we are to be married, we should at least be on good terms." Though the woman's voice seemed steady and calm, her eyes betrayed her hurt and anger at the way he was reacting to her. She had much to learn about concealing emotions, Loki noted. He frowned at her and closed his tome before standing up and approaching her so that it became quite apparent how much taller than her he was.

"Let me make this abundantly clear." There was a dangerous undertone in his voice that Sigyn did not miss. "I have no desire to marry anyone. I do not ask for, nor do I require your love and understanding. I only wish to be left to my studies." His words were sharp and painful to the blond. Through all his pranks and trickery, she had never known him to be this cold.

"It is tragic, then, that I must become your wife. I will be expected to spend much of my time with you, no matter how you may protest."

"You are merely another blip in my world, a scratch on a stone. I will not allow your presence to stunt my growth as a sorcerer." Loki hissed, grabbing her roughly by the upper arm. His composure was slipping and now Sigyn understood that it wasn't really her that he was angry with.

"Why do you speak to me in such a way? I wish you no harm. I only mean to make light of this predicament." she explained, her voice much softer now and anger melting away. At her words, Loki seemed to calm down considerably as well. He let go of her arm and took a step back from a slightly shaken looking Sigyn.

"My Lady Sigyn," he began, sounding tired and remorseful. "Forgive me for my slight to your honor. I am not myself. The frustration I feel desires audience." He knew that being gentle and honest with her was the best way to gain her trust, which was something he would need if he was going to make the most of her presence in his life.

"Did you never consider that one day you might have a wife? There is more to life than magic, my lord." she said, leaning toward him a little. This was not the response he had expected her to have and it made him feel strange. Was this fear? The idea of marriage simply felt odd the second prince of Asgard. He was so used to his older and younger brothers being given more love and praise than himself that the idea of someone being there solely for him was new and difficult to comprehend.

Before he could come up with reply that would not reveal his insecurities, a guard came through the door. Both Loki and Sigyn turned to look at him in surprise.

"The AllFather requests the presence of Prince Loki and Lady Sigyn. There is a matter of a magical nature in which he requires your counsel." he informed them. The two followed quickly without another word to each other. When they arrived the in the throne room, they saw that many of Asgard's most well known sorcerers were already there. From this, it was clear that the nature of the matter was quite serious.

"My friends, a dark hour has fallen upon us." the voice of the AllFather rang throughout the hall as he spoke. All eyes were on him. "Aldirr the Tyrant has awoken from his slumber." A whispering like a chorus of insects filled the room. Odin spoke of a dragon who was feared by all. The dragon king, Fafnir, placed him into a (supposedly) never ending sleep to protect the Nine Realms. A way had not yet been found to pierce Aldirr's hide, but Fafnir succeeded in poisoning him, though it did not kill him. "It seems that though his body was rendered useless, his mind remained as awake as ever. He was able to bring a number of creatures under his control. Bending them to his will, he had them find a way to awaken his body. We have yet to find out how they did it, but the most important thing is that we thwart his plans of revenge. We cannot simply send in an army and beat him with brute force. This task requires a much more refined touch, but never the less, a touch with the skill and power to kill. A group of you must go to Svartalfheim and find a new way to bring down Aldirr." There was a grave tone in Odin's voice that sent a wave of unease through the crowd. "I am aware that this request is more dangerous than anything I have asked of any of you before. No one will think less of you for refusing it." The King paused for a moment to give them time to consider before continuing. Loki glanced briefly at Sigyn and saw a look of anxiety on her face. With this, he was sure that she was going to back out, reinforcing his evaluation of her as a fragile little maiden. "Please step forward if you accept." For a moment, no one moved, but then, in unison, Loki and Sigyn came forth. Standing apart from the others, they bowed to the AllFather, touching their fisted right hands to the left side of their chests. As he straighten, Loki glared at the woman next to him in disbelief.

"What are you doing?" he demanded quietly, lips barely moving. She returned his glare briefly before fixing her gaze on Odin.

"Serving my people." she declared softly. Loki noticed her look of determination and he realized that she was not only looking to prove herself to him, but to all of Asgard. He knew what that felt like and he found that he had a new respect for the woman.

"We will do this thing for Asgard." Loki announced confidently. Odin nodded his approval. He was unsurprised that his son had volunteered, in fact, there had been no question of it, but he was taken aback to see Sigyn step forward. Perhaps she was more than she seemed. He had taken her for a timid young woman, yet as she stood by Loki with that determined look in her blue-gray eyes, he couldn't help but feel that her place was exactly where she was, next to Loki.

"Very well. Will no one else assist these two in this task?" the king asked, looking at the other fifteen sorcerers and sorceresses in the room. Two more came forward: Amora the Enchantress and Gingr Ynson. It made sense that Loki and Sigyn's first teacher would want to go with them, but Gingr was a bit of a shock. He was not known for a willingness to work for the good of all. In fact, he was infamous for his selfishness. Never the less, the AllFather nodded in acceptance. "Then it is done. The four of you will travel to Svartalfheim tomorrow." Making a sweeping motion toward the others, all the sorcerers and sorceresses who had refused the mission shuffled out of the throne room, leaving the four alone with Odin. "A Svartalfar escort will be waiting for you upon your arrival. They have been instructed to follow your orders and protect you with their lives." All but Sigyn gave him looks of disapproval at the suggestion that they needed protection, but Odin simply raised an eyebrow and continued. "If nothing else, they will be valuable for their intimate knowledge of the landscape."

"Understood." Amora said with a small bow, which the others mimicked.

"Good luck." he finalized in a serious tone. The four nodded and left the hall, off to prepare for the journey ahead. Amora and Gingr went their separate ways, but Loki kept walking with Sigyn.

"Your magic is not suited for this. Why did you accept?" he told the woman sternly. She stopped abruptly and turned toward him looking quite offended.

"You are just like the others. You only remember the skills I possessed as a child. You know nothing of what I am truly capable of. Why is it that everyone doubts me? Is it because I don't flaunt my abilities like everyone else?" Sigyn retorted, making no effort to hide her feelings. "I am fully able to contribute to this mission."

"I meant no offense, my lady." It was true, he had not intended to come off so harshly, but he knew he would have rile her a little to figure out what she was thinking.

"Then what did you mean, my dear prince?" Already, he could see her calming down and gaining control of her emotions once again. Before this day, he had never seen her act so fiery. It made him wonder if he was receiving a special treatment.

"I merely wished to test your resolve. We cannot afford to have you doubting yourself." This was only partially true. What he truly desired was to be able to understand this woman's limits. Such information could become highly valuable in the future.

"I see. Well, you can be assured that I am without doubt." Outside, Sigyn appeared stern, but on the inside, Loki's piercing green eyes were slowly picking away at the wall she'd built against her nervousness. Something about the way he looked at her made her want to shiver with something that felt like...well, she wasn't sure what it was.

"Good." the dark haired man replied with a nod. He hoped that they wouldn't find out later that her heart was still too soft to kill even an enemy. So far, she had proven to be much more than she appeared.

"I'll see you at the Bifrost tomorrow." With a bow, she turned and walked away. Watching the blond for a moment, Loki sent a sliver of lime green magic toward a fountain as she passed it, causing a large amount of water to splash toward her. As he turned to walk away, he heard the sound of shattering ice and grinned.

"You pass." he muttered, feeling much more endeared to Sigyn than before. As a child, he had been fond of her merely because she had not treated him like a criminal, but they had not spoken in many many years and now they were grown, ready to face real challenges in the real world. She had changed and he found that he like this new, driven Sigyn.

A/N: ...and that's the first of many chapters to come! I know this chapter is a little short, but they will be longer in the future. Anyhoo, reviews are much appreciated. Thanks for reading.