Title: Into the Mind
Summary: Sigyn must delve into Loki's mind to save him from an attack.
Characters: Loki, Sigyn, Thor, Frigga
SPOILER WARNING:This story has direct reference to current comic events including Fear Itself 7.3 and Journey Into Mystery 631.
"Focus," Sigyn said softly.
Loki focused on the spell he was casting. At least, he tried to.
"Focus," Sigyn repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's hard to focus when you're blowing in my ear like that," Loki whispered back.
"That's the point of this exercise," she said. "Being able to focus on your spell despite any distractions."
Loki suppressed a groan. "Can I work up to this type of distraction?"
Sigyn chuckled. "Just be happy I'm not expecting you to cast a spell when I'm doing this." She began sucking on his earlobe, sending a pleasant shiver through his entire body.
He was still getting used to the very physical nature of Sigyn's affection. Before Sigyn it was just occasional hugs or pats on the head from Thor. Sigyn added hand-holding to that and didn't shy away from sitting or standing close to him, but it was all still rather chaste. Now that they were courting she had taken it up several notches. Tight hugs, cuddles, tender caresses and kisses – a lot of kisses. The sensations were all so new to him.
Loki's knees were feeling rather weak as she continued. "Sigyn," he managed to hiss out.
"Sorry, sorry!" Sigyn said with a light laugh as she stepped away. "You're right, back to work. We can have fun later."
The lesson was much easier once Sigyn started using less "distracting" ways to try to distract Loki. When it was concluded, they canoodled on the couch for a while.
It was all rather improper, Loki thought, for a courting couple to be unchaperoned. At least it was according to several of Sigyn's maids, particularly Asta. Though, Loki honestly didn't know if it was considered improper in general (he never paid much heed to such things) or if they thought it was improper for him. When he asked Thor about it, his brother had advised him to follow Sigyn's lead. Sigyn obviously wasn't bothered by it so he decided he wouldn't be, either. After all, it wasn't as if she had any relatives to object.
Because I killed them all. Loki involuntarily jerked back from Sigyn at that thought.
Sigyn looked up at him, concern on her face. "What's wrong?"
"No-nothing," Loki lied, forcing a smile. But the look on Sigyn's face told him she didn't believe him.
"You're lying," she stated.
Loki sighed. "Just don't worry about it."
"You're doing it again," Sigyn continued. Loki wasn't sure if he was imagining the angry edge to her voice.
"Doing what?"
"Feeling guilty about something that happened before," Sigyn replied. "Don't bother denying it. You can't hide anything from me."
Loki suddenly felt a surge of annoyance and pulled back even more. "I've hidden plenty from you," he muttered.
"Have you, now?" Sigyn challenged, rising to her feet.
"Oh, don't pretend you haven't hidden things from me," Loki returned, also rising.
"Everybody has secrets," Sigyn said.
"Then I guess I'm the only one not allowed to have them!" Loki realized he should just shut up. But was angry now and even though it disturbed him that he could be angry at Sigyn, it wasn't enough to stop him. "Can't have Loki keeping secrets. He might be up to no good."
"I never said-!" Sigyn protested.
"You didn't have to," Loki interrupted. "You're just like everybody else!"
Sigyn slapped him. "How dare you!"
Loki was able to admit that he deserved that and that he probably should apologize. But the stubborn part of him just wouldn't let him get the words out. After all, she had started it. So, since he currently couldn't apologize and he didn't want to say anything that would make Sigyn even angrier, he did the only other thing he could think of.
He disappeared.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Thor walked into the tavern and quickly scanned the area. It was still early so there weren't very many people. He quickly spotted Loki sitting at a corner tables staring into a tankard. Instead of going directly over to his brother, he walked over to the bar.
"Ulfr," he greeted owner with a nod. Ulfr was an old friend. Thor used to spend a lot of time in this tavern when he was young and he still enjoyed the occasional visit. It was Ulfr who had sent the message that brought Thor here today.
"Lord Thor," Ulfr replied with a quick bow.
Thor accepted the pint Ulfr poured for him and motioned over to Loki. "How long has he been here?"
"A couple of hours," Ulfr replied. "Working on the same pint."
"Has there been any trouble?"
Ulfr shook his head. "No. I'm not really worried about your brother and I'm not just saying that to appease you. But I'm about to get busy here and I'm worried that somebody might get drunk enough to try to harass him."
Thor nodded. "Thank you for sending for me, old friend." Thor went over to Loki's table and sat down without saying a word.
"Hello, Brother," Loki said, not looking up from the tankard.
"What happened?" Thor asked.
Loki let out a long sigh. "Sigyn and I had a fight."
"Ah." Thor replied. It was all starting to make sense now. "And you decided to drown your sorrows in ale."
"Isn't that what men do when they have women problems?"
It Loki wasn't looking so morose, Thor would have burst out laughing. But he didn't think Loki would appreciate it in his current mood. "Some men," he said. "Many men, in fact. Though, I thought you favored wine."
"You can't get properly intoxicated with wine," Loki replied.
Thor took a look in Loki's tankard. "You can't get properly intoxicated with just a half-pint of ale."
Loki was silent for a few seconds. "I don't much like the taste," he admitted.
Thor took a long drink of his own ale to keep from laughing.
Loki let out another long sigh and lowered his head to the table. "I should have know it was too good to last. I did know, I was just hoping I was wrong."
"What? You're giving up?"
Loki raised his head. "Sigyn hates me now."
Thor frowned. "I'm sure she doesn't. Do you hate her?"
"Of course, not!" Loki exclaimed, sitting straight up in his chair.
"Then why are you so sure she now hates you?"
Loki lowered he head to the table again. "She has more than enough reasons to and I said some pretty harsh things to her." He shook his head. "I was just so angry. "
Thor took another drink before speaking again. "Loki, my dear brother, I'm not going to ask what you were arguing about because, in the long run, it's probably not important. However, I speak from experience when I say that just because you argue with your lady it doesn't mean you love each other any less. I've argued with Sif many times."
Loki nodded. "This is true."
"And yet we are still together after all this time. But you and Sigyn won't last that long if you give up after every fight and there will be many fights to come. But as long as you continue to love and respect each other and don't do anything to intentionally hurt the other, you can work through it."
"So what do you suggests?" Loki asked.
"Apologizing always helps," Thor replied. "Though, I'd give her some time to calm down."
Loki chuckled a bit. "I figured that much out. Should I get her a gift?"
"The gift won't work if the words aren't sincere and Sigyn will be able to tell."
"Oh, the words will be sincere, I can assure you of that."
Thor smiled and placed a hand on Loki's shoulder. "In that case, a gift never hurts."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The next morning found Loki knocking on the door of Sigyn's home with a basket of her favorite flowers. Asta answered. She was an older woman who had been with the family for as long as Sigyn could remember. She didn't like him. When she saw it was him at the door, Asta made an odd face as if she had smelled a foul order.
This is not going to go well, Loki thought grimly.
"Good Asta," he said politely. "I-"
"Lady Sigyn is not here," Asta interrupted. "And if she were, she would not like to see you. Begone!"
Loki tried not to sigh. "Thank you, Asta. Please, inform Lady Sigyn that Prince Loki called on her." He figured it wouldn't hurt to remind Asta exactly who she was speaking to.
"I will tell her," Asta replied, completely unfazed. "Though I doubt she'll respond. Lord Theoric is calling on her later."
Loki felt his eyebrow twitch. He was sure she was lying but it still annoyed him.
"Also, she no longer likes those types of flowers." With that she shut the door on him.
"Good day to you, too," Loki muttered at the closed door.
He hadn't gotten two steps away when he felt a familiar quiver of magic. He pulled a small runestone of out his tunic. It was glowing and vibrating slightly.
He was being summoned.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Loki walked swiftly down the long, dimly-lit hallway. It had been a while since he was last summed to this area of the palace. He was amongst the few people who knew of this place. It was only accessible through an entrance that was only visible to those who were allowed. Even though Loki knew exactly where it was, he couldn't see it most of the time and when he could see it, he knew to step through immediately.
He stopped before the large doors at the end of the hall and waited. It took only a few moments before they opened and he stepped into the hidden throne room of the All-Mother.
Frigga the Queen, Idunn the Maiden and Gaea the Mother. They sat before him on their thrones regal, elegant and powerful. They returned to Asgard shortly after the fight with The Serpent and took charge after Odin abdicated. While they ruled well, they still chose to step aside when Odin finally returned.
Loki suspected they still held most of the power in Asgard (or at the very least more than was commonly believed) but it was not a theory he dared to voice. For one thing, nobody would take him seriously. But even is somebody did, if The All-Mother chose to rule from the shadows he would respect that.
Loki had served them, then and he still served them, now. Many of the dark things he had done for Asgard had been at their behest. Yet, he served willingly and, if pressed, he would have to admit he'd chose to serve The All-Mother over The All-Father.
Loki walked up to the thrones and stopped at a respectful distance and dropped to one knee.
"Rise, Child," Frigga said. "And come forward."
Loki obeyed. "It's been a while since I've stood before you, All-Mother."
"It has been peaceful as of late," Frigga replied.
Idunn laughed lightly. "Also, we've heard you've been rather occupied." Gaea also laughed and even Frigga's regal smile took on an amused edge. Loki felt his face warm slightly and hoped wasn't blushing too noticeably.
"How is Lady Sigyn?" Gaea asked.
"She's well," Loki replied.
"I do hope we weren't interrupting any plans," Idunn said.
"No," Loki said. There had been plans, but he figured they were all canceled until he and Sigyn reconciled. If they reconciled. He still wasn't sure about it, even after Thor's reassurances.
"How odd," Idunn replied. "You just started courting. I would have figured you'd have many plans."
Loki resisted sighing. "We had a fight," he said quickly. The looks on the ladies' faces told him they already knew. "So to answer your question, Lady Idunn, yes, I did have plans to apologize to Lady Sigyn."
Idunn and Gaea both gave him a sympathetic look. Loki couldn't tell what Frigga was thinking.
"However," Loki continued. "I doubt The All-Mother has summoned me here to discuss my failing love life."
"To business, then," Frigga said. "We have heard tales of a plot against our people." She held out her hand an a rune appeared in her palm. It floated out of her hand to Loki. "This has the information you need. This is a reconnaissance mission. Do not attempt to engage him. We merely wish to assess the threat. "
"Yes, my ladies," Loki said, bowing deeply.
"You may go."
Loki spun on his heels and walked swiftly to the door. He was surprised when it didn't open to him.
"One more thing, Loki," Frigga said.
"Yes, Lady Frigga?"
She smiled at him. Not the regal smile she usually wore, but a motherly smile; one that he rarely saw but cherished. "I do hope you and Lady Sigyn are able to reconcile."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
It was late before Sigyn finally made it home. The business she had been called away for did not take long. But then something else came up and then something after that.
"Welcome back, milady," Asta said. She already had a goblet of her favorite wine prepared for her. "Would you care for dinner or a warm bath first."
"Thank you," Sigyn said, accepting the goblet. "Dinner first then a bath."
"Right away, milady," Asta replied. She left quickly and returned with a tray of food.
"Did I get any visitors while I was away?" Sigyn asked as Asta set the tray before her.
"No, milady," Asta replied.
"Oh," Sigyn replied, feeling a bit disappointed. She was hoping that Loki would have stopped by.
She had regretted her words the moment Loki teleported away after their fight. It frustrated her when Loki blamed himself for his past-life's deeds, but she knew she shouldn't have become cross with him. She also shouldn't have slapped him, but his words had cut deep. Sigyn didn't think he really meant it, but it still hurt.
"I shall visit him tomorrow and talk to him," she said to herself as she settled into bed. "Hopefully we can reconcile."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Sigyn was awakend by a scream coming from somewhere in her house. She leapt to her feet and ran to the door, mentally preparing several spells in case she had to defend her household. She heard alarmed voices coming from the reception room.
"What is it?" she demanded as she entered. There were several servants looking down at Asta, who was kneeling on the floor. The couch hid the older woman from her partially. "Asta," Sigyn said, moving over to her. "Are you we-." Asta rose as she approached and Sigyn froze in her track when she saw why she had been on the floor.
Loki laid on the floor, his open green eyes staring blanking at the ceiling.
"No," Sigyn gasped out.
"Milady," Asta began.
"NO!" she cried out as rushed to Loki's side and took his limp body in her arms. This couldn't be happening. This was a horrible nightmare from which she would soon wake. "No, my love."
"Milady," Asta repeated. "He still lives."
Sigyn looked up at Asta briefly and then back down at Loki. She pressed a hand to his chest. She could feel the rise and fall as he breathed and the steady beat of his heart.
"What happened?"
"I do not know," Asta replied. "Inga found him. It was she who screamed."
"I came in and he was lying on the ground," Inga clarified.
"Send for Lord Thor, immediately," Sigyn ordered.
"That will not be necessary."
All eyes turned to face the source of the new voice. All immediately fell to their knees.
"My Queen," Sigyn said reverently.
Frigga glided over to and knelt down beside her. She placed a hand on Loki's brow. Sigyn could feel the air vibrating with Frigga's magic.
"It is as I feared," Frigga spoke after a few moments.
"Can you help him?" Sigyn asked.
Frigga looked up at her. Sigyn forced herself not to look away from the queen's powerful gaze. "No, but you can."
"How?"
Frigga took Loki into her arms and easily picked him up. "Come, Lady Sigyn."
Sigyn obediently followed Frigga to her room and stood nervously by the door as Frigga laid Loki on the bed.
"He was attacked," Frigga said. "And instinctively retreated into his mind. But he went too far and I fear that he may not be able to find his way back."
"What can I do?" Sigyn asked.
"I can send you into his mind to search for him."
"I will do it," Sigyn said immediately. It was really no question for her.
"It will be dangerous," Frigga cautioned. "I can tether you, but if you stray to far or remain too long, the tether may not hold and you, too, will be lost."
"I care not what the risks are," Sigyn replied. "He risked everything to save me. How could I not do the same."
"Then another warning. You will be going into Loki's mind. You will see his memories, thoughts and secrets. You may see something that could change the way you feel about him."
At this Sigyn faltered. Loki said that he had hidden plenty from her. What type of things? Evil things? Things that would turn her love to hate? But what other option did she have? Loki would die without her help.
"Lady Sigyn?"
Sigyn made her decision. She could never hate her Loki. If she ended up hating his man, it would be because he wasn't who he claimed to be. "I understand and I accept."
Frigga nodded. "Very well, brave Sigyn. Lay down next to him."
Sigyn climbed up onto the bed next to Loki.
"Now close your eyes and try to relax. Also, remember: do not linger."
Sigyn complied. She waited and for was seemed like a long while, nothing happened. Suddenly she felt a surge of magic shoot through her body and then darkness.