Chapter One

Thor stood in front of the ornately carved door to Sigyn's chambers for what seemed like an eternity, unsure of his decision to come here or his words. The two guards who were always by her door looked to him expectantly, waiting for his order. Thor had faced many battles since returning from Midgard, but this was as nerve wracking as any battle.

"My lord?" One of them asked, breaking his reverie.

"Let me in."

The doors swung open and Thor stepped inside the dimly let chambers. Sigyn's back was to him as she sat in front of her vanity, carefully running her brush through her hair. Again, his voice failed him. What could he say to here after everything that had happened?

Sigyn put the brush down, but she didn't look at him. "Hello, brother."

"Sister."

"It's been a long time. To what do I owe this visit?"

His guilt hit him like a blow to the stomach. He should have come here sooner. Instead he'd kept his distance ever since she stood before his father and the court of Asgard and held firm to her dedication to Loki. He had told himself it was to give her space, and that the various battles across the realms had needed his attention, but really it was because he hadn't known what to say to her. It was cowardice on his part, and he could not ignore her further.

"I am sorry for not coming to see you sooner."

"It couldn't be helped. You've been busy." She still hadn't turned to face him, but he could tell that she was watching him through the mirror. "The Nine Realms are in turmoil and need their prince."

"Regardless, I should have made time to see you." Thor didn't remember Sigyn being this difficult to read. Once, her smiles had been as open as her heart. Now she had built walls around herself that could not be scaled or vaulted over unless she allowed it. She was survival personified, wary and unbending. "It's good to see you at court again."

Her reemergence at court had taken most by surprise. They had expected her to remain in her room out of shame, not show herself in Loki's colors. She also had a habit of blending into crowds and shadows when it suited her, which only unsettled people further. Still, Thor was glad that she wasn't spending all of her time locked away in her rooms or the archives.

Sigyn turned and faced him this time. "You mean that?"

She studied him carefully, as though calculating his response. Thor hated that this is what she had become. It was too much like his brother, and he wanted to blame Loki for corrupting her. He had to remind himself that Sigyn had gone with him willingly, that everything she did was her choice. She had chosen this path, but that didn't mean he liked where it had lead her. "Yes."

Then, just as he had begun to give up, she smiled. It was such a small thing, but her face softened enough to know it was genuine. "I fear the rest of Asgard does not share your sentiment."

"You might be surprised." She shrugged and turned to face him. Now, with her full attention, Thor realized he had no idea how to start this conversation. "How have you been?" he asked quickly, awkwardly.

Sigyn quirked her head to the side. "I'm a prisoner in a gilded cage while my husband is confined in his cell." There was no trace of bitter sarcasm in her voice. "Though I suppose things could be worse. I could be dead."

"I have heard some troubling things lately." And just like that her smile was gone. Her whole body tensed, drawing up upon herself. "You've been going to the healers almost every night to get sleeping droughts."

"That's because I'm having trouble sleeping. Living under constant supervision will do that."

"Is it just that, Sigyn?" Thor stepped forward carefully. "Or does it have to do what you told my brother?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"You dream of Asgard burning, of darkness. They keep you awake at night and that is why you ask for the sleeping draughts."

"How could you possibly…" she stopped, glancing upwards. "Heimdall."

"He chose to tell me instead of the All-Father."

"Let me guess," she snapped. "In the hopes that I might be more willing to tell you than Odin."

"Because I will not kill you for seeing him." The anger drained from her face. "You were frightened, and went to the only person you thought might give you comfort. I cannot blame you for that."

"I should have cloaked myself better," she muttered.

"Sigyn," he sat next to her, and she eventually looked up at him. "I know I cannot turn you from him. But if Asgard is in danger, so his he. If there is anything you think might help or be important, please…"

She was quiet, staring at her hands folded in her lap. "They are just dreams, Thor."

"Yet you believed them so much that you sought Loki out even if getting caught meant your life."

"All I see is darkness and Asgard burning," she finally said. "Along with the other nine realms. I hear their screams. Smell the burning flesh. And my mouth tastes of blood and dirt when I wake." She took a shaky breath. "Loki was wrong; the wine didn't help."

What she said matched what Heimdall heard, yet he wished there had been more. "I am sorry sleep does not bring you comfort." When she didn't answer, he pressed further. "Do the sleeping droughts help?"

"A little. It mostly just dulls them, as though I'm watching my dreams through fogged glass."

"Have you spoken to the other healers about it more? Perhaps they know of a different remedy."

She laughed, but there was little warmth to it. "They already think me mad, Thor. Let's not give them more reason to suspect so."

"You aren't mad, Sigyn." He knew what the rumors about her were. Any one of Fandral's women had a story or two about her wandering the halls, muttering to herself incoherently. Volstagg's children told stories about how she made mice talk to one another about how much food they stole from Odin's plate that night to make them laugh. Darker rumors were that she wanted to take Loki's place as the trickster of Asgard. Thor knew that wasn't true; she missed him, and used any connection to him she could to keep him close, even if it was just his tricks.

"Aren't I? I'm surprised you haven't noticed yet."

"Noticed what?" Her gaze drifted to the corner, and he followed. In the shadows, he could make out the shadows of a man. "Who's there?"

"See for yourself." The figure stepped out of the shadows and Thor jumped to his feet, ready to call Mjolnir to him. "Say hello to your brother."

Loki didn't move, didn't speak, didn't even smile; he just tilted his head to the side slightly. "What have you done, Sigyn?" Had she really broken Loki out of prison? And how would the guards or Heimdall not have seen this? Thor reached out, but as soon as his hand passed through Loki's shoulder, he disappeared in a wave of shimmering blue light.

"I'm afraid of forgetting what he looks like." She said, heartbreakingly quiet. She sat up a little straighter, trying to appear more confident after such a confession. "Besides, I have a lot of free time and not a lot of friends. A girl gets lonely."

"Your skills have improved, sister." As he spoke, she created another version of Loki, this time standing in the opposite corner as he had been before, by her window and no longer in the shadows. It was a little unnerving that his 'brother' made no move to do anything. "Though, I would not bring him as your escort to the banquet tonight."

"You don't think the guests would find it amusing?"

"I think you would have even more Einherjar following you than you do now."

Sigyn rolled her eyes. "Gods know we can't have that. They're stifling enough as it is. Looks like I will have to attend by myself again tonight. And no, Thor, before you ask you cannot be my escort, though I appreciate the thought. But we both know that I will end up staying at the feast longer than you will."

So she, too, had noticed him leaving each night. "You will not try to convince me to stay longer?"

"I understand the need for privacy better than most." She glanced over towards the figure standing by her window. "As well the longing for someone kept so far away from you."

"You know I cannot release him for you, not even if I wanted to," he said gently.

"I know." She was quiet for a moment before drawing herself upright again. "What I do not know is why you are still here moping. The Bifrost is restored, and from what I hear the realms are at peace. I'd have thought you long gone by now and smooching Jane."

Thor couldn't help but smile at her use of the Midgardian word, no doubt learned from Darcy. "Jane is on Midgard."

"So was Loki, if you remember correctly. And the lack of a Bifrost didn't keep me from him. You could have Heimdall drop you in her living room, yet you retreat to the observatory each night, have Heimdall look in on her, and then retire to your chambers to brood."

"It's more complicated than that…and I do not brood."

"Very well, you're pining. Skip the banquet and have the gatekeeper drop you off on Midgard; you'll be happier for it."

His trust in her had not been completely destroyed, despite her alliance with his brother. The part of him that sounded like his father reminded him that she would be looking for any reason to get him out of Asgard, for who knows what she had planned. Yet if she had wanted to attempt anything, she could have made her move the entire time he was off-world fighting. "Is that what you would do?" He still trusted her advice, even now, if only because she did not dismiss his affection for Jane as pointless.

"It's what I did do, Thor. Remember? That's how I ended up in this pretty cage." She toyed with the green fabric around her wrist, secured underneath a golden cuff bracelet. "And with this."

"You still do not regret it, then?"

Sigyn looked towards the illusion of his brother, still standing near the window. "Sometimes," she admitted. "Not finding him or even joining with him, no. I'll never regret that. I regret that it came to this." She was silent for a moment before standing. "I need to get ready for the banquet. I shall see you there."

The conversation was over, and he nodded. "I will. Thank you…for all your help."

"Thank you for not telling the All-Father." She smiled at him. "No go, before I scream for the guards," she teased.

Note: So...this is the sequel to She Searches for You. This first chapter isn't very spoilery, but since this story will cover all of Thor: The Dark World eventually there will be spoilers.