Chapter 2
The Girl In Green
My father, Thor and my mother were already waiting for me.
Standing with my father were Sigyn's parents, Freya and Iwaldi, both of whom smiled genially at me upon my arrival. I returned the smile in kind, still slightly confused in myself as to why I had come.
''Loki.'' my mother all but cooed as I stepped into the warmly lit room. ''I thought you too fatigued for supper?'' she queried.
I gave a non-committal shrug.
Mother gave a quick glance over my shoulder, and smiled at something behind me. I did not need my powers to distinguish who was coming.
''Lady Sigyn.'' I turned to face her, and my breath caught in my throat.
She was dressed in green; it accentuated her eyes which held me entranced. Her dress was the exact green that ran through my own cloak. It hung low at her neck and dropped dramatically between her breasts; it followed the line of her waist closely and fell loosely from her hips to the floor, hiding her feet from view.
Her dark hair was braided back on one side, around her neck, and fell down the other side with the rest of her long mane.
''Prince Loki.'' Her smile was as genuine as ever, revealing her shimmering white teeth and she curtsied.
My smile this time was as genuine as Sigyn's, however, almost as soon as it graced my face it was replaced with a stony, grim line.
For it was then I saw him.
He was taller than me, and easily three times my weight. Theoric was the head of my father's 'Crimson Hawks'.
A group of warriors much like Thor, in both size and mentality. It had been some time since I had spoken to him, but he was exactly as I remembered him.
I watched him halt at Sigyn's side, and grasp her tiny arm in his, tightly, possessively.
My stomach twisted uncomfortably.
''My Prince.'' Theoric threw out a massive hand, and I took is cautiously.
''Theoric.'' I said evenly.
''I'm glad you decided to dine with us Loki.'' Sigyn smiled softly.
I could only nod, were they engaged? Had Sigyn moved on since I had left? Was that why she was being so kind to me? As a sympathy?
I was shaken, more so then ever.
They moved away and my mother joined me.
''You should have told me.'' I hissed.
''I did not think you would find it of much importance. You dismissed her so readily in the garden earlier I did not think you interested.'' she explained.
''Was she not to be engaged to me?'' I whispered, turning to stare at her.
Mother nodded, ''Yes, but when you were cast out, one could hardly expect her to wait. Theoric proposed and she agreed.''
I flexed my jaw. She was right, of course she was right, and Sigyn was never officially tied to me. It would have been frowned upon if she didn't accept Theoric's proposal.
It was too late now, too late for me to say anything to Sigyn, and even if I could, I knew not what I would say to her.
Father and Thor were talking with Freya and Iwaldi, and Thor embraced Theoric as he and Sigyn joined their conversation.
When the bell rang for dinner, Sigyn placed herself between her betrothed and I.
It was in truth a wonderful dinner, there was much talk and drink, and after an hour or so, tongues had loosened considerably, my own included.
Theoric and Thor were -of course- exchanging war stories, father and Iwaldi were deep in their own conversation and mother and Freya spoke in soft, good natured tones.
It was then that Sigyn turned to me.
''I am glad you came.''
''Why?'' I demanded quietly, wanting to know of her motives, I was unwilling to be toyed with.
She gestured around us, then lowered her voice and moved closer. Her hair bounced lightly as she moved and I could smell her bath oils off her skin, Jasmine and Atryu, two of my favourite scents. There was no way in Valhalla that she could have known that.
''This is why.'' She murmured, ''Now I have someone to talk to, someone who is not as dull as a cloudy sky.''
Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, and the dimples that formed when she smiled could have been the ruin of a lesser man. ''You brought me here to talk?'' I asked, eyebrow cocked.
''You are a most intriguing character Loki Liesmith.'' She conceded.
''Liesmith?'' I repeated, ''Is that what they are calling me in court?''
''Among other things.'' Sigyn said shyly.
''I don't doubt it.'' I admitted, I had never been 'liked' at court. Tolerated was a better term I suppose. Now they had not one, but two perfectly valid reasons to hate and gossip about me.
''Am I as intriguing as your soon-to-be husband?'' I asked, two could play at this game. Whatever this game was.
Sigyn made a sound somewhere between a cough and a laugh.
''Please.'' She sighed.
I narrowed my eyes and lowered my voice, though both Thor and Theoric seemed far too preoccupied in their own little world of war to give care.
''Then why in the All Father's name did you accept his proposal?'' I demanded, though I knew I had no right to.
''I did no such thing.'' She hissed, and cast a sideways glance at her father, who was still talking avidly to my father.
''Father is aware of the high esteem Odin Allfather holds Theoric in. After you fell, he went after the next best thing, in his eyes aside from you and Thor, Theoric is as good as one of the King's sons.''
I paused, it made sense in a way, Thor was too baffled by his love for the Midgardian woman to consider marriage in Asgard, and because I had been cast out, the closest link to the throne would be through Theoric.
''So you do not wish to marry him?''
''It's too late now, the date is set.'' Sigyn looked at her hands, folded neatly on her lap.
''That is not what I asked you.''
''I am duty bound to my father's will, and King Odin has blessed our union.'' She was avoiding the question with great effort.
''Sigyn.'' I whispered, placing a hand on hers without thinking.
Our eyes met, and in that instant, I did not see the vision of beauty before me, in the depths of those emerald eyes I saw a terrified child, a girl, who was being punished for something she did not understand.
I wondered at Theoric, he was like Thor in many ways, but he did not bare half the heart my brother does.
She was afraid. There was only one thing a man could do to make a woman tremble as such.
Anger swelled, ''Has he hurt you?'' I asked, teeth clamped together.
All the while, I was unsure why I should be so upset? Sigyn was nothing to me any longer, we were but acquaintances.
But I was upset.
She shook her head urgently, ''No, no nothing like that.''
She was lying.
''You're lying.''
''Loki.'' I froze and looked up, mother was watching me carefully and I withdrew my hand from Sigyn's.
''Yes?'' I hid the anger as best I could.
''How was your meal my son? You have been quiet all the while.'' I knew her tone by heart, she did not give pause to care about my supper, I saw her eyes lingering on the spot where my hand had held Sigyn's. Her head was tilted to one side.
''Wonderful mother, thank you.'' I threw her a smile, aware that the conversations around me had quietened some.
''I have been catching up with my dear Sigyn, it had been some time since we have spoken.'' I looked at the girl next to me, perfectly aware of Theoric's dirty glance in my direction.
I tensed slightly, almost hoping he would start a fight, until I realised my strength was taken from me along with my powers.
This girl baffled me, why was she taking such a hold? Why should I care what happens her? She was nothing to me, and yet, in that instant, she was everything.
I wanted to help her. Not to be a hero, for everyone knew I am the furthest thing from a hero one could dare to imagine, but for her own well-being.
''Indeed we were, I was only just asking Prince Loki if he would care to take me to the Royal Archives tomorrow while Theoric is sparring, it has been some time since my last visit and I fear I would not even know where to begin.'' Sigyn interjected sweetly.
She did?
''Yes-'' old habits die hard, and I lied with ease, ''I'm going to take her in high morning, so we have plenty of the day to use.'' I agreed.
Theoric seemed positively beside himself, but what could he say?
Yes, I was disgraced, and I was supposed to marry his Fiancée once upon a time, but I was still a Prince of Asgard.
He could not deny me, especially when Thor beamed.
''Such a wonderful idea, it would be a great thing, to see my brother sociable again, rather than locked in his chambers.''
A small part of me tore, poor Thor, poor, foolish, loving Thor. I had done nothing but break his heart and yet he still yearned to see me happy. He still loved me, still saw me as part of his family.
The evening wore on and I found myself with very little time to speak to Sigyn, most of my time was spent standing silently in conversation with my Mother or talking quietly to Thor.
My brother told me he had heard nothing of Father's plan's for my trial that we were not already partial to, he implored that I seek out Father on bended knee and ask to be spared.
I wondered briefly about this possibility, hardly daring to think of what punishments Father was holding for me.
Yet I declined, I'd like to say it was out of nobility, out of wanting to face my consequences.
It was not.
I could not hold the shame of begging for his forgiveness.
The moon was high when a soft finger caressed my hand in a far too comfortable way.
''My Prince.'' I turned.
She was so tiny, easily two heads shorter then I.
''Sigyn?''
Her eyes were big and bright, her hair fell about her in the most wonderful array. She glanced – anxiously – over her shoulder.
''Will he be upset?'' I asked, Theoric was a little drunk, he and Father were talking politics, something I thought beyond Theoric's mental capacity.
''Are you worried?'' Sigyn smiled, then added, seriously, ''Do not fear for me. I am perfectly able to care for myself.''
I threw her a curious look, and made to speak, but she cut me off.
''I shall find you outside my chambers after dawn I hope? We will have the daylight to regale us as we take to the Archives?''
''I-''
''Just say yes.'' She piped up.
''As you wish.'' I managed.
''Goodnight my Prince.'' She dropped into a low curtsy, and I had to fight the urge to glance down at her exposed cleavage.
''Lady Sigyn.'' I nodded, as Theoric materialised at her side, he bowed stiffly and growled a goodbye.
I watched his oversized fingers clasping the skin on her arm so tightly I knew they would bruise as he all but marched her from the hall, pausing to bid goodnight to Thor and my parents.
When they had disappeared from the room, I too, turned to my parents.
''I fear I must also bid you goodnight.'' I said softly, my mother nodded, and embraced me.
Thor clasped my hand tightly.
Father eyed me with the same curiosity as someone deciding whether a dog may bite or not.
With that I left, unable to stand his scrutiny for longer than duty dictated. I bowed my way from the feast room, and into the dim corridors of the palace.
Returning to my chambers, the fire was stoked and it was a little warmer than usual.
In front of the mirror I undressed, fingers glancing over the scars. I was still broken, still imperfect. The scars across my face were slowly disappearing, and I was glad.
I thought about the forthcoming morning, and what ploy Sigyn held behind her good natured lies.
I also wondered about Theoric, I had heard rumour that even when he took a whore he was rough, and I could not imagine Sigyn being taken so harshly. She was too small, too meek, too clever to be mated like a dog would take a bitch.
I wondered if she would suffer for her words with me, I thought not, even Theoric was not stupid enough to harm her before they were man and wife and the bond unbreakable.
At least, that was the hope I clung to as I fell into bed.
