As the World Falls Down
Chapter One, Daisy (Purity, Innocence, Cheerfulness)
Disclaimer: I do not own Thor the movie or comics, though I would not mind visiting the set. Then again I might have trouble speaking coherently and keeping myself from drooling. Bad impression.
Note: The story title comes from the song by David Bowie for the Labyrinth soundtrack used during that ballroom scene I used to love and sigh over as a teenager. It really works for Sigyn and Loki, well, mostly Sigyn, who stays by Loki's side until the end of the world, literally. Oh, and a different flower will represent every chapter, which becomes more important later.
Also: I could really use a beta but I hate to message someone I don't know and ask that of them. Anyone willing to volunteer their time? I'll love you forever!
"Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boist'rous; and it pricks like thorn" –William Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet.
Sunrises in Asgard were spectacular things. The golden sun crowned with a vibrant rainbow rose above the dewy clouds catching the sky in a fiery glow which was cast down on the shimmering world below. Yet as breathtaking a sight as it was one girl up with the sun would not even spare the sunrise a glance. Sigyn Forestidotter was far too excited about the day's events to think of anything else. She had turned twelve years old two months ago and had recently received an invitation to the ceremony today which would initiate another group of children along the Rite. Each year only a handful of children were chosen, and she had been lucky enough to be one of them! This was her chance to become a Goddess, like her mother and father (though he was a God not a Goddess)! It was all she had ever wanted, and today was the first day of the rest of her life. Her big break and her chance to make her dreams come true.
When Sigyn awoke she thrust the covers of her bed back and sprung from her feather down haven. She crept as quietly as she could from her chamber down the hall past her sibling's rooms to the washroom where she quickly shed her nightdress and set about cleaning herself to be presented at court for the ceremony.
When she was done she found one of her older sister's dresses hanging to dry, and paused. Her sister had already finished her Rite, and was a woman grown now. Sigyn was still young but on her path to adulthood now. The ceremony would prove that she was leaving childhood behind her and growing up. Looking at the beautiful sunset colored dress she grinned. Surely today would be the right day to begin dressing as an adult too? Her sister was very pretty after all and her dresses were always of the finest materials. Grabbing the dress Sigyn pulled it on, only to find it was far too long and a bit too large.
She stood thinking for a minute before running into her Mother and father's work room where they performed some of the menial duties of their Godly stations which often included correspondence. Her mother also kept her sewing things in there too. Sigyn moved quietly and opened the drawer of her mother's desk and pulled a needle and a spool of thread from within. She then ran silently back to her room and set about sewing the hem of her sister's dress so that it was much shorter.
When she was done she returned to the washroom to fix her hair and spotted her mother's cosmetics. How wonderful! She had always admired her mother's makeup and longed to play with the bright colored tubes and powders within. Today she was an adult, and women wore makeup. So with a bright grin on her face she reached in and set about painting her face.
That was how her mother Lady Vӧr, found her. Her eyes covered in many colors from lash to brow and her lips a garish shade of red that clashed with her sister's dress which had been haphazardly sewn. Her cheeks too were far too bright and the blush was almost a perfect large circle.
"Sigyn my darling! What is this? What have you done?"
Sigyn beamed at her mother sweetly. "Today I begin my Rite and become an adult! I am so excited mother! I want to look like a real Lady of the court!"
Her mother was silent for a minute, quietly trying to suppress her anger. "My darling you may be beginning your Rite today at the ceremony, and you are no longer a little child; but you are still far from a grown adult yet. You are not ready for such things yet. You will look lovely just as you are on your own without my makeup. You have no wrinkles to cover as I do!" She said trying to soften the blow. "Besides you did not ask your sister if you could have her dress did you? You know she will be very cross."
Her youngest child looked down bashfully. "I'm sorry mother. I just want to be like you and Var."
"You may take after us in some ways dear heart but more importantly you are yourself, and I hope that one day I will learn a thing or two from you."
"You want to learn from me?" Sigyn echoed astonished.
Lady Vӧr nodded. "Indeed, I do. I am afraid I have lost much of your enthusiasm and I should love to acquire such youthful vigor again." Then with a conspiring smile she leaned in close. "And I dare say your sister could stand to learn temperance from you as well" They both laughed.
"Now," her mother continued. "Let's get you cleaned up and into a nice dress of your own, hm? I'll fix your sisters before she finds it. Oh, and you know I bought you a special dress of your own just for this occasion."
Sigyn gaped and then smiled following her mother down the hall. "Really! I want to see it!"
Soon the house was clean and Sigyn was dressed and ready for the ceremony that day. Her mother had told her to wear a soft mauve dress with an ivy pattern hand embroidered in ivory thread from Alfheim. Her mother had helped plate her honey blonde hair, as was customary for Sigyn; although some of it had fallen out and it was beginning to look a little disheveled. The girl was too excited to sit still. Sigyn had always been a very good and obedient child but she was also sensitive and emotional.
The rest of the family was also finely dressed for their day at court and prepared to attend Sigyn's ceremony. Sigyn's older brother Mimir, who in three months time would be facing his Challenge in the Hall of Fear, sat watching his younger sister with a fond look. Their older sister, Var, had already finished her trial and successfully taken her place among the noblest of courtiers as the Goddess of Oaths and Bonds. Now though she stood impatiently, eager to return to get on with things and return to court.
At the age of twelve all children in Asgard no matter their family standing, were chosen to participate in today's ceremony if they showed promise. Sigyn had been one such child and she was eager to attend the first part of her coming of age rite and be apprenticed to an established God or Goddess. She would then spend every day with her master and learn what it would take to be a Goddess. She would be given lessons in combat, diplomacy, healing, strategy, and the arts.
At sixteen, she would then face a challenge determined by the All Father after he had counseled with her master on her progress and face The Hall of Fear as her brother soon would. She would then face her fears and weaknesses and have to rely on her strengths, what she has learned from her Master, and her own skills to overcome it. How well she did during the Challenge would determine what Goddess she may be nominated as.
Sometimes more than one child was nominated for the same position, but only one would successfully earn the title. Others would not be nominated by the court at all, and their training would come to an end. If she were to succeed though, as her older sister Var had, then she would be allowed to train for two more years in more specific areas related to her interests, talents, and nomination.
Finally the culmination of many years of hard work would take place at eighteen during the Trial. Odin All-Father would send each candidate to a selected location to survive and prove themselves off world for six weeks on their own. It was a great risk, often dangerous. Some had even died during the Rite. Only the worthy would be bestowed with the title of God or Goddess by the All-Father.
"We'll be late if we don't leave soon!" Var called out in protest. Her face scrunched up in her usual manner.
"Calm yourself sister. We will leave soon. There is still plenty of time before the ceremony, we won't be late." Mimir told her.
She sighed irritably. "That's no reason to dawdle though either."
"Alright that's enough." Their father said, entering the front entry room with Sigyn. "Your mother will be here in a minute, and then we can go."
Sigyn ran past her father to her older brother whom she adored. She and Mimir had been close since they were very young. "Brother! I am so excited! Were you this excited on your Ceremony day? What was it like?"
Mimir leaned forward in his seat and grinned at his sister His kind, handsome face set off by his bright brown eyes against the olive skin of their father. "I was just as excited as you are. But nervous and a little scared too. I was worried no one would take me for an apprentice."
She gasped, her gray eyes widening. "Oh no! That won't happen to me will it?"
"No, I am sure you will be chosen. You are too sweet to be overlooked. Besides you would not have been invited if they did not already have someone in mind for you." He reasoned.
"Oh, good. Who do you think I will be apprenticed to?"
"Hm, I don't know. Perhaps Lady Idun, for you are surely as sweet as one of her apples."
"Mimir!" She protested his teasing.
"Sorry, I could not help it!" He then reached forward and began to tickle her sides. Sigyn squealed and ran from him.
Var watched through cold brown eyes and slipped her long silky white blonde hair over her shoulder. "You are no longer a little girl Sigyn! Calm down, you must begin to grow up and cease such foolish games! And you are not helping brother."
Both of her siblings frowned at her, "Sigyn will always be my little sister." Mimir answered. "I will always have time for games with her."
"That's enough." Their father said with gentle firmness as their mother walked into the room. All three children awaited his word. As the God of Judgment and Justice they all took their father very seriously. "Var is right you are beginning to grow up Sigyn and it is time you learn when to play and when to behave." Sigyn looked down sadly while Var looked triumphant. "However like your brother said you will always be my child and I would be saddened to see you grow up too fast. Enjoy these times you have together." Now Var and Sigyn's emotions were switched.
"Yes father." Sigyn replied with a grin.
Vӧr clapped her hands. "Well! Let's be off then, shall we?"
************End
This is a different take on Loki and Sigyn. I decided to give her a different family than we have seen so far in the fandom as she does not have one in mythology or Marvel cannon as far as I am aware. I hate introducing too many new characters at once and when starting with a family to give you a sense of their dynamic it is sort of necessary. So to help if you're like me, at the end of some chapters I will put a little character guide, like so:
Sigyn: Age twelve at this point, and about to become an apprentice. She has golden honey blonde hair she often braids and gray eyes just like her father. Tends to wear pastels at this age.
Foresti: Sigyn's father. God of Judgment and Justice. For those who know the Old Testament of the Bible I sort of picture him as a King Solomon type. He has tan almost olive skin, wavy dark brown hair that is beginning to gray and gray eyes like his youngest daughter. Fond of wearing olive greens and some gray tones.
Vӧr: Goddess of Wisdom, and Sigyn's mother. She has light ash blonde hair much like her oldest daughter, that is beginning to gray. Her eyes are brown. I see her wearing purple dresses.
Var: Oldest child of Foresti and Vӧr. She has gone through her Rite to become the Goddess of Oaths and Bonds. She is the spitting image of her mother with ashen white blonde hair and brown eyes. She is very pretty but often has some frown or sneer on her face. She often has a bad attitude but is very loyal to her family. About 18 years old. I also picture her wearing a lot of oranges and gold.
Mimir: Middle child, Sigyn's brother. He is sixteen and halfway through his training. He is very close with Sigyn and a very good brother. I have never seen Sigyn have a brother so I wanted to give her one in my story. He takes after his father with the same warm skin but his hair is curlier and a lighter brown and he also has his mother's eyes. He wears a lot of blue.