Chapter One; The Secret Visit

The echoing of her footsteps bounced off the walls of the narrowed tunnels. The flames flickering in the sconces as she passed by, her pace brisk and purposeful.?

She turned another corner, whereupon she saw a burly guard at his post. As she approached him she removed the hood of her cloak, revealing her identity to him.

The guard stammered as he addressed her, a clear indication of his surprise in seeing her here

"My, my Lady..how can I-"

Sif held up a hand to silence his questioning

"I have come to see the prisoner"

The guard blinked and looked uncertain.

"Kindly let me pass"

she instructed.

"But, but Lady Sif..the Allfather clearly stated that no one is to visit this prisoner.."

Sif took a deep breath before she spoke again, she was not at ease with having to lie in order to gain access to the man she sought out

"I am aware of the Allfather's wishes..however, it is Odin himself who has sent me here."

The guard was visibly even more confused, but thankfully he moved away from the door where he'd been keeping vigil.

"Oh, well..in that case My Lady.."

Sif breathed a sigh of relief as he fumbled with the keys on his belt.

Clearly security here was far too lax, she found herself thinking. If the gaurds could be so easily fooled into disobeying Odin's strictest of orders. Still, right now she was grateful for it.

At last the heavy door creaked open and hesitantly Sif stepped into the small space. Her eyes took a while to adjust to this dimly lit cell, only a small single candle burned in the corner.

It was then she became aware of the dark figure clad entirely in black, sat on the floor in the corner. It didn't move or make a sound and for a moment Sif wondered if he was in fact dead.

She took a small step closer, before finally uttering the name she hadn't spoken for so long

"Loki?"

Another moment passed before the figure slowly began to raise his head. Sif wasn't sure of what to expect, having not seen him for such a long time, but as her eyes fell on his ghostly pale face, sunken eyes and demonic glare the breath caught in her throat.

His hair had grown longer from when she had last seen him, his raven locks now flicking out where it touched his shoulders. The blackness of his clothing and hair in the dark room accentuated his pale complexion.

Did he not recognise her? She couldn't understand why he remained so silent and impassive.

She cleared her throat and tried again

"Loki..it is I, Sif"

Still nothing, not a murmur passed his lips.

"Loki..why do you not speak?"

Loki lowered his head again back to the stone floor, causing Sif great irritation.

"Do not ignore me trickster..you at least owe me an explanation!"

At that Loki's head snapped up, his eyes burning into her's and his jaw set tight.

For a moment Sif felt as if this wasn't Loki at all, she could not recall ever seeing him look at her with such pure animosity before.

Finally he spoke, his usually smooth voice nothing more than a low growl,

"I know it is you..however I fail to see why you seem to believe that I owe you anything!"

Sif was furious at this,

"Well I knew an apology would be too much to ask for, but an explanation as to why you purposefully tried to destroy us.."

"Us?"

He interrupted looking blankly at her.

"Yes us, myself, Fandral, Volstagg and Hogun...as well as Thor!"

Loki bristled openly at the mention of the Thunderer's name. Sif ignored it and persisted

"Why would you do such a thing? You sent the destroyer to kill us all - even your own brother!"

Suddenly he was on his feet, towering over her, his face merely inches away from her own

"He is NOT my brother!" he spat angrily.

Sif was suddenly gripped by panic, his movements had been too quick for her to even register.

She swallowed hard, and shakily tried to stand her ground

"You still tried to kill us..why would you do that?"

"You acted as traitors, you defied the order of your King!"

She could feel the coolness of his breath on her, instinctively she backed away slowly.

"You betrayed me, for him!"

He was saying now.

Sif frowned,

"We could not just leave him alone on Midgard, powerless.."

"Oh but he wasn't alone, was he Sif?"

Loki Jibed. He was smiling now, but not a warm, genuine smile. It was a sneer, a vindictive smirk.

"He had his midgardian woman to keep him company..your betrothed was busy courting a mortal, yet still you ran to him!"

Sif closed her eyes to shut out his sneering expression,

"I did not go running to him..it is Thor's business whom he.."

she faltered slightly,

"I mean I cannot expect him to feel for me when it is not his choice to be betrothed to me..It is not for us to question the Allfather's bidding.."

Loki began to laugh, a mocking laugh. He looked for a moment as if he almost pitied her. This angered her greatly.

"Nothing you speak of explains your actions Loki!"

she pointed out.

Loki looked bored, as if he could no longer be bothered with the conversation, but at last he replied

"You would think that Sif!"

It was the first time he had spoken her name..

"You have always had a habit of being blind to what is around you."

Sif frowned. She didn't understand, she was about to question him again when he supplied the explanation for her as if he had read her thoughts,

"Surely you have learnt that every action has a reaction, to which there is then a consequence?"

"So you are telling me that because we went to Midgard to find Thor you tried to destroy us?"

He had turned away from her now and was walking back to his preferred corner

"This has nothing to do with those other fools! You came for an explanation, you alone..it is your actions I am speaking of not theirs!"

"Alright, so it is because I disobeyed your command when you made yourself King - "

"I NEVER made myself King!"

Loki yelled in anguish, making Sif physically jump

"My mother made me King! I didn't want the throne..she told me that the duty fell to me..but you wouldn't think of that would you? You who has always sought to make me the villain! Less of a man than the mighty Thor!"

Sif could not believe what he was saying

"Loki, you have always been envious of your br- I mean Thor.."

she corrected quickly

"Why am I to blame for that?"

Loki turned and gave her a meaningful look over his shoulder

"As I said before, you have always been blind to what unfolds around you..I am saying no more. Now leave me be."

He slumped back down into the corner, as if exhausted by his own emotions. He hung his head and she could hear his breath coming in short gasps.

It was then that Sif took note for the first time the squalid conditions of this 'hidden' cell.

Unlike the others in the main prison, it was cold in here, dark and the air seemed almost thin.

She had previously noticed the bruises and scars on his face when he'd been close up to her. It was clear now, he really was not well. Physically and possibly mentally too.

His mind was unbalanced, his actions on Asgard and then recently on Midgard were not that of someone in their right mind. She should feel pity for him, and forgive his past acts of ..lunacy?

For some reason she found herself walking towards his slumped form, she crouched down beside him and spoke gently

"Loki you are unwell. Is there anything I can get you to help ease your discomfort?"

Slowly he looked up at her, his expression different again. This time he looked sad, his eyes held a vulnerability and he appeared almost lost

"I am quite well thank you. I need nothing.."

then he added quite poignantly

"..from you."

Sif couldn't quite explain why that hurt her feelings like it did, Loki was nothing to her - then she realised, is that what he was trying to point out? She was very confused,

"Loki, why speak so aggressively towards me? I am merely trying to - "

"What Sif, comfort me?"

He cut in abruptly, his expression changing again. He now looked offended and defensive

"I do not need your pity Lady Sif..I would much rather you let me be."

Exasperated she made to stand, when suddenly he reached out and caught her firmly by the hand

"Have you not listened to a word I've said? You came here for an explanation, I've given it to you..it is not my fault if you cannot comprehend it!"

His touch was alarmingly cold, and he pulled her closer towards him, making her gasp;

"You stated earlier that it is not for us to question the great Odin's bidding, yet you disobey him by coming here to question me!..You seem to make a habit of disobeying the orders of King's!"

Sif was gasping for breath now, her arm caught in his vice- like grip, which held her close to him. She knew she could attempt to fight him, but something within her made her powerless against him.

"So you came seeking answers..well I shall have to assist you being as you are too blind to the truth!"

He reached up with his other hand and placed his fingertips gently on her forehead. As before his touch was cold, but then a warmth began radiating across her forehead, and suddenly she began to feel dizzy.

"What are you doing? Stop it!"

She protested, and pulled away from his touch.

He let her free of his grasp

"I am merely helping you to understand what it is you so desperately wish to know..but cant understand."

He said calmly.

Sif blinked, suddenly feeling tired and very confused.

As if knowing this Loki called out;

"Guard, the Lady is done here!"

The door creaked open and the guard stood waiting for Sif to leave.

In a daze she turned back to look at Loki one last time. He stared back at her, and for a moment it was as if she could hear his voice, softly speaking inside her head saying

"Do not fear me Sif, I would never truly intend to harm you"