Bound By Fire
by Lacrimula Falsa
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and/or any other Marvel franchise. I write for fun, not for profit.
Summary: Saving Loki's life during a quest in Muspelheim, Sif finds herself unwillingly trapped in a lifelong marriage with the trickster. Stripped of her position as Shieldmaiden and the laughing-stock of Asgard's court, she sees only a life of misery and regret before her. But people are not always what they appear to be, and a snake and a thistle might yet come to cherish the other's company. [AU, pre-Thor. Multiple chapters.]
A/N: Since I wanted to get to the 'accidentally married' part of the fic relatively quickly, the beginning might appear…short in comparison to the rest. I only hope that it doesn't feel too rushed. Don't like it don't read it, and reviews are better than gold.
One – Crime, Punishment
[Sif]
Sif couldn't help but think that as a Shieldmaiden of Asgard, she really should not be in this position at all.
Here she was, flanked by the Warriors Three and with more than two dozen Einherjar at her back, facing a grand total of five fire-ettin. Yet she had not taken on a defensive stance, had not drawn her weapon or readied her shield. The best soldiers of the Realm Eternal, helpless before a handful of giants.
This was largely due to the fact that said giants were presently pointing spears made of magical fire at all two of Asgard's princes.
Thor, who appeared to have misplaced Mjölnir, and Loki, who to Sif's eyes looked notably worse for wear, bathed in sweat and with dark circles under his eyes. Sif wanted to kill both of them. This was a disaster. An unspeakably huge disaster.
At least they had figured out – rather quickly, all things considered – that the tallest of the ettin women was Sinmara, the ruler of Muspelheim. It hadn't been hard to go from there and conclude that clearly, their plan had failed and Loki's and Thor's attempt to break into Muspelheim's Treasury had been discovered and that the both of them were now, essentially, prisoners of war.
An unspeakably huge disaster.
After long moments of tense silence, Sinmara spoke, her voice deep and rumbling, like crumbling rocks.
"Warriors of Asgard. We have found these two sneaking past the walls of our Treasury. As they are now our captives, you will speak in their defense."
Sif swallowed. She was a warrior, not a law-speaker or diplomat. But alas, she was in charge as Thor's second-in-command, and therefore it was her duty to prevent an incident that could well lead to war. She figured that her only hope, dishonorable as the notion was, was lying.
Muspelheim existed far removed from the other Realms, and the last contact with Asgard had been generations past. Maybe Sinmara was unaware of the fact that she had captured princes of Asgard. For all that Sif knew, the fire-ettin might think that Bor was still king.
Schooling her face into what she hoped was a convincing expression of sincerity, Sif stepped forward, head respectfully lowered.
"Your captives are thieves, your highness. In Asgard we know them well. We were, in fact, sent here to retrieve them before they could steal from you, so they might be returned to the Real Eternal to face justice."
To her surprise, the fire-ettin Queen laughed, a sound like falling rocks.
"Nonsense. Odin Allfather might think us far removed from his golden home, but we are not so uninformed as not to recognize the golden Prince Thor. He wields Mjölnir well, but a hammer cannot harm fire."
Sif felt sweat beading on her face, and not only from the heat of Muspelheim or the blazing flames of the ettin's bodies so close to her. This could end very, very badly.
It was Loki who spoke next, stepping towards the ettin queen so his face nearly touched the tip of her fire-spear.
"Queen Sinmara, I am sure a solution can be found that will be agreeable…"
He never got to finish his sentence, as Sinmara's hand hit him hard across his face, burning his pale skin and sending him sprawling. Behind her Sif felt the Einherjar as well as the Warriors Three ready themselves for a fight, and gave them a subtle sign to hold back. An open battle was the last thing they needed.
"The captives will not speak!" Sinmara looked angry, her eyes literally blazing fire that licked out of her empty eye sockets and mingled with the flames that made up her 'hair'. "One more word and I will remove your tongue!"
Loki, wisely, shut his mouth, still sprawled on the rocky floor and giving Sif an imploring look. In an other situation, she might have found the picture almost comical.
Sinmara turned back towards Sif, the spear in her hand shifting into a flaming scepter. Her fiery hair seemed to form a crown upon her brow, almost as if she was donning signs of rule. She probably was.
"Worry not, Aesir. We have no wish to engender war with Asgard. We wish to be left alone and no more than that. But surely, if we punished Thor, the Allfather would bring the forces of Hel down upon us. We will let Asgard's crown prince go free. We will however" Here she turned towards Loki. "punish the mage."
Sif frowned. That Sinmara revered to Loki not by name or title…maybe the fire-ettin was in the dark about some things after all. It seemed that she did not know about Asgard's second prince, for surely punishing Loki was also an act that would cause war.
Maybe, Sif thought, she could use this to her advantage.
"We thank you for your gracious show of mercy, Sinmara. But surely, you will understand that as a protector of Asgard and it's denizens, I cannot leave on of the Aesir in your hands, unknowing of the fate that awaits him."
The fire-queen frowned at her, and it was a fearsome sight. She fought the impulse to step away from the giants.
"This is my offer. We give you your prince, and will punish the mage as we see fit. We will neither consider this a declaration of war, as well we could, nor seek reparations. Now choose. Accept our gesture of peace… or Asgard and Muspelheim go to war."
Stricken, Sif looked first to the Warriors Three, who stood unmoving but clearly shocked, then to Thor and Loki. Thor looked pained, and Loki defeated.
Struggling for the right words, she cast a helpless look in Loki's direction. He had always been the best at talking his way out of such impossible situations. His weapon was speech, hers was the sword or glaive. But he was no allowed to speak, and she could read nothing in his gaze but wary acceptance. Sif wanted to shake him for being such a spineless coward.
Stalling, she looked back towards the ettin.
"Might we at least know his punishment?"
Sinmara smiled, and the other ettin with her, sharp as blades and without an ounce of friendliness.
"The punishment is death."