Hi guys. I'm coming off my hiatus for a tiny bit. I started school last month, and this is the product of last week's procrastination. Enjoy! Keep in mind that this is post Thor 2.
Eir looked worried as she came in. Sigyn glanced up from the warrior's arm that she was stitching up. The ragged gash needed more than a needle and suture, Eir had the magic to heal it completely.
"Eir? Is something wrong?" Sigyn asked, speaking up for what seemed like the first time since news of Loki's death had reached them. The head healer took a moment to collect her thoughts before speaking.
"The All Father had requested your presence."
"The All Father? Why? What could he possibly-"
"I don't know. But I will finish this up…" Eir said, gesturing towards the warrior.
"Very well…" Sigyn looked pale as she got up. Was the All Father going to punish her for having gone with Frigga a couple times to Loki's cell? For the minor role she'd played in freeing him so that Thor could save his mortal lover? Something else she wasn't even aware had been wrong?
Swallowing the fear, she went to her room to change out of her bloodied healer's robes, and into her court gown, a simple plum dress, with minimal embellishments. She pinned her hair back from her face, and squared her shoulders.
She came before the king, kneeling at the foot of the steps leading up to Hlidskjalf.
"You called for me, my lord?" she said, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice. She then noticed her father standing by, with that familiar greedy look in his eye.
"Sigyn, yes…I am pleased to see you here…just in time…" Odin said, smiling a little at the sight of her.
"What…what is going on?" she asked, starting to feel a little sick. No, please, gods, no…
"All we need is your signature, darling." Iwaldi said, holding out a scroll and ink quill to her.
"My signature for what?" she demanded, refusing to take the pen until the situation was explained.
"Marriage, of course." Iwaldi said, as if discussing a business transaction. Sigyn's heart dropped.
"To whom have you sold me now, Father?" she asked, half-resigned to the fact, and half-feeling a fire rising in her gut that told her to fight this until she could fight no more.
"To me." Odin said. Sigyn recoiled, backing away from them both. Odin knew about her and Loki…He knew, and still he demanded this? No…No, she wouldn't…not in an eternity…
"How dare you ask this of me…" she spat, feeling every heartbeat at the base of her throat. "You know of my affections for Loki, I swore I would love no other…I cannot go back on my word, you know this…"
"I know of them. Far too well, I know them." Odin said, rising and coming down the steps towards her at a measured pace. "But we both must move past our grief. I for my queen, and you for the prince…"
"I promised…" Sigyn choked out, tears welling up. "Please reconsider…"
"I will not." The All Father said, turning so that he could look her in the eye. "You will be mine, and in return, I will give you anything you ask, even up to half the realm…"
"I don't WANT it! ANY of it! Don't you understand?" Sigyn said, tears finally falling.
"It's not about what we want." Iwaldi said. "You will not speak so to your king," he growled, coming forward, arm raised to punish her for resisting. Odin caught him by the wrist.
"Pray don't damage my queen…" he said, his voice even, and his gaze like ice.
"Of course, my lord…" Iwaldi said, bowing slightly as he was released. Odin held out a hand to Sigyn.
"Come with me." He said gently. It was the quietest that Sigyn had ever heard the old king speak.
"Please don't…" Sigyn said, shaking her head. Odin set his jaw, considering her for a moment, before kissing her hand. A few moments later, the familiar sigil of the Valknut appeared on her wrist.
"Now you're mine. And all will know it." He said. "Any who harm her, or threaten her will answer to me. Is that understood?" he asked the Einherjar.
"Yes my lord…"
Sigyn locked herself in her room as soon as she was out of Iwaldi and Odin's presence. She felt numb, and the mark on her wrist itched. She buried her face in her pillow, screaming her rage and grief at the thought of being forced to marry the king. Odin hated her…She was sure of it…All the times that she and Loki had caused trouble as teens, her continued hope for Loki's recovery, and worst of all, her willingness to question every decision he'd made concerning the Dark Elves.
She turned over onto her back, staring up at the ceiling, exhausted. How could it have come to this? She silently cursed the king, and her father…How could Iwaldi do this? How much had Odin paid him? It had to be a vast amount, if Iwaldi's grin had been anything to go by. She clenched her jaw and punched the pillow, pretending it was Iwaldi.
"Such rage. I wasn't aware you had this side to you, Sigyn…I think I like that." Odin's voice said from the doorway. He gave her an amused half-smile.
"Go away!" Sigyn moaned.
"I'm the king, you dare command me? Tsk tsk…" he clucked his tongue disapprovingly.
"If I'm to be the queen, then yes." She countered.
"But you're not the queen…not yet." He said, stepping closer.
"What would it take to get you to renounce the contract with Iwaldi?" she asked, refusing to call that man 'father'.
"It's unbreakable…as soon as we signed our names, it became binding…" he replied. Sigyn paled, feeling sick.
"Why me? Why not one of my sisters? Someone older?"
"Because, they are not like you." He said. "You are exactly what I want…no, need."
"Please, no…I don't want this….I don't want this…" she said, her voice breaking. "That has to count for something? Does my opinion not matter?"
"Yes, it does, but we can save that discussion for later, after our wedding feast."
"We're…we're to wed today?"
"In a week. I and this realm have grieved long enough. We need something to celebrate. Now, come with me, I'll have the servants begin helping you pick out everything you need."
One week later…
Sigyn stared forlornly at her reflection in the mirror across from her. She wished that Loki was still here, even if he was in his cell, it was better than him being dead and unable to help at all. Maybe she could've convinced him to forge a document stating that she was already married? That would be interesting, perhaps while they were sorting through the documents, she would have time to escape Asgard. Or maybe, if he was in a more sound state of mind, they could've run away together?
A sob tore free of her lips. She hated her father…she hated Odin. Why could they not just leave her alone?
"Sigyn? It's time…" Iwaldi said, knocking on the door.
"Go away! I'm not going anywhere…" she said stubbornly.
"You will come with me, or face death for disobeying your king's commands."
"Let him kill me! I don't care…It would be better than this…" she said. She didn't care if her makeup was ruined. Odin didn't deserve to see her at her best. It was his fault that she was crying, his fault that everything was ruined.
Iwaldi ground his teeth, annoyed at her stubbornness. He grabbed her by the arm.
"You will marry him, you will be happy, and as a result, I will live out my old age in comfort. The bride price? Enough to support an entire family for YEARS…Sigyn, do this for me…You owe me."
"I owe you nothing! You drove mother away, you left me on my own almost as soon as I could walk…It's a wonder I even survived childhood."
Iwaldi ignored her, dragging her out the chamber door towards the great hall where the throne was. Forseti stood at the foot of the throne to oversee the wedding, making sure all was proper and legal.
Sigyn barely heard what Forseti was saying. She closed her eyes, trying to keep her mind off of Odin, remembering everything she could about Loki. When Forseti bound their wrists together with the silk cord, she hissed in discomfort. He held their arms up, testing the knot. It held; the marriage was legitimate. Sigyn felt nothing. The people, however, were excited for any excuse to feast and drink.