AN: Thanks to all for the wonderful response! Here is chapter two - enjoy!

Disclaimer: As before, I own nothing pertaining to Thor, Loki, Sif or those particular universes.

~Voi

It had been four months since the ceasefire had taken effect, three months since the talks towards peace had begun in earnest. And though both the princes Helblindi and Byleist had died on that final day of battle, Odin would still find Jotun leadership as strong as it had ever been.

Into the vacuum of authority had stepped a third prince, a Jotun known only as Loki. And with him came the force to consolidate the power of his realm, the trickster queen who had fooled them all, his mother, Laufey.

"I thought Laufey was the name of the Jotun King?"

It was a question Sif had been asked several times as curious courtiers and warriors alike jostled for a chance to catch a glimpse of the diplomatic envoy that had brought what remained of Jotun leadership to Asgard.

"Is it true that she is the real leader of the Jotuns?"

"If she is Laufey then was the Jotun King her husband?"

So many questions, and Sif had no answers for them. What information she had gathered was purely from her own observation and even that remained incomplete and imperfect.

Assigned to guide the Jotun honor guard through the palace and act as liaison between the guests and the Aesir, Sif had only seen the queen on only a handful of occasions. And even then, they were more glimpses than anything else, for the lady Jotun was jealously guarded both warriors and prince alike.

Her son was ever the watchful protector, and even though he was not always there to accompany her there was no missing the glittering emerald jewel that rested upon her brow, his jewel though no one explained it as such.

Sif however had yet to actually see the prince himself. Or rather, she had never met him and so could have seen him without recognizing him at all, which in and of itself was disconcerting.

It would be to her advantage to procure and image of the Jotun prince quickly if she was to continue to be on proper guard. But there were only a handful of people who might have such an image, and even then, those she might go to were otherwise busy brokering the peace.

At least for now he would remain an elusive figure.

And so Sif continued her work, guarding and standing watch, until one evening found her nightly route interrupted by the very queen she was meant to protect.

"I am told your name is Sif."

Quiet, thoughtful, her voice was husky for a woman, lower pitch than Sif would have expected. But she knew who addressed her and Sif turned to face the woman who had been wily enough to trick even Odin himself.

"Lady Laufey."

Sif had no idea what sort of titles Jotuns used, but she attempted to be respectful all the same. The smile she got in response was encouraging enough that she remained where she was when Laufey finally approached her.

"My son said that you are to be commended."

Slender instead of stout, the queen barely matched Sif for height and had none of her physical strength. But there were different kinds of strength, and Sif had not forgotten the abilities of that Jotun in the courtyard. Abilities that a queen would have in spades.

"Your son?"

"Yes, he struggled for peace for decades before the opportunity presented itself. He credited you with making that final step possible."

"Me?"

It was impossible to hide her confusion, not with her brow so creased.

"I was but a soldier, your ladyship. Forgive me if I feel his good opinion of me is unfounded. I have not yet had the chance to meet your son."

Her answer caused the other woman's elegant brows to raise slightly before the surprise was dismissed with a small wave of her hand, "It is often the common soldier who experiences the very worst of war. That you now protect me, seemingly without reservation, is humbling."

"I believe peace is something worth protecting."

Sif responded automatically, honestly, "We have all seen too much of war."

And once more her words seemed to comfort the Jotun queen, drawing another steady smile that warmed her otherwise cold features.

"Then we had best hope diplomacy wins out. Though who can say what the whims of men may bring?"

"Why do you not join them?" Stumbling over her sudden lack of manners, Sif amended, "Forgive me Lady Laufey, but are you not queen? Would you not wish to shape the treaty?"

"My son will be King soon. He must shape the kingdom he wishes to rule." Ruby eyes glanced from warrior to where the garden lay just outside the window, "Loki has been raised for this; he will do what is right for our people."

And then, because the thought pleased her, Laufey added, "Both of our people."

"Pardon me, Queen Laufey, but someone is here to see you."

There came a polite knock at the door of the Queen's library, and into the room stepped a tall Aesir messenger. A tall, good looking man, Sif found herself at a loss when she caught sight of those bright green eyes.

An exotic Emerald, the likes of which were rare among the Aesir.

Pale though he was, the color suited him, as did the deep ebony of his hair framing a face that was at once beautiful and handsome.

But though he was the sort of man Sif could appreciate looking at, she did not recognize him and that in and of itself was dangerous. He should not have been able to get past the guards at the door of the guest wing, never mind make it all the way to the Queen's inner rooms.

Something was not right.

"State your name, courtier."

Remaining where she was, the warrior narrowed her eyes as she demanded to know who he was. She did not draw her weapon as she might have had she been on the battlefield, but her guard remained up, and she would not hesitate to act if he proved resistant to her request.

"My name is not of importance, I am but a messenger."

But even though he spoke the words he took a step closer, and Sif did not miss how his hand strayed to the weapon at his hip.

"If you are truly just a messenger then you may leave now, for you have delivered your message."

And this time Sif matched his step forward, placing herself squarely in his path, standing between the Jotun queen and this mysterious man.

He unfurled his collection of sharp daggers with the grace of a viper, moving to drive the largest into her in the same sharp movement.

Balanced, calm, she reacted to his first attack in a split second, whipping the glaive from her back to the forefront.

Blocking the first wave of thrown projectiles, she remains conscious of her unarmed ward as she knocked him back.

She would have to remain between them at costs.

Countering the second attack with the shield on her arm, she pushed him again with a bellowed shout, kicking him sharply when he tried to pivot around her.

"Lady Laufey, please find safety!"

She gestured in the direction of the meeting hall in the hopes the other woman would know her meaning. But any further action was cut short as the assailant began the attack in earnest.

Unlike the Jotun that she had fought, this Aesir was swift and cunning, using a mix of dexterity and strength to evade her attack and counter with his own.

Grimacing when she missed a block and took a strike of a blade to her left cheek, she retaliated with force and even when the wound began to sizzle with what must have been poison or magic she remained vigilant in her task.

She hit him twice before he landed another, and by the time he score the third he was bleeding from twice as many wounds.

"Yield, and I may yet spare you!"

She shoved him to the ground and pressed with her foot until he stopped squirming, stilling at the look of iron resolve on her face.

"You do not have to die. But you must stop this, this instant."

And though he looked stunned at the offer, the look was all to brief, gone behind a mask of pure rage as he drove the last of his knives through her exposed leg and drove her to her knees in agony.

But she would make good on her promise, and he would not live to see the dawn.

With a final sharp slash she cut the assailant down, watching in sudden befuddlement as he dissolved into emerald light.

And when that same cooling green wafted over her, it was with equal measures of surprise and awe that she found her wounds healing, the previous agony nothing more than a recent memory.

Touching the now unblemished skin of her cheek, Sif had only just gotten to her feet when she was interrupted once more by a courteous knock on the library door.

"Lady Sif, you truly are a credit to your people."

The voice of praise came from the wide chamber entryway, strong Aesir columns framing the tall form of a very familiar face.

The Jotun from the courtyard, with the queen beside him.

And this time, instead of armor he wore attire befitting those of a diplomat.

No, Sif narrowed her eyes as she assessed the glitter of precious stones and metal at his neck and wrists, not diplomat. He wore the garments of a prince.

""It's you." Her eyes widened as the last of the magic faded, "You're the prince?"

"Indeed," Pleased, his handsome lips curved into an appealing smile, "Imagine how things might have gone had you but known who I was."

"You're Loki?" She looked to where the body of the assassin had disappeared, "Was that your handiwork too?"

"You sound rather surprised lady Sif." He sounded amused, pleased even, despite her temper. "Had you not heard the rumors? Asgard has a trickster prince in its midst."

Laufey smiled at her son with affection but turned apologetically to Sif a moment later, "He takes after me in that respect. The illusion was not meant as an affront."

"Wasn't it?"

Vaguely Sif knew she was being insolent, but she could still remember the pain of her wounds, and rush of anger that even now had the power to reignite her temper. "We are trying to broker a peace treaty, one that is still so fragile it could easily collapse had this been anything but an illusion."

Outraged though she was, the continued verbal disrespect of Asgard's Jotun guests was not what she meant to do but stopping seems beyond her.

"Our people have fought and died for centuries and you wish to play war games now?!"

Loki was a perfect counter point to her temper, and he raised an elegant blue hand to quiet her, at least for the moment.

"It is not war games, but games of trust I care about."

Sif growled, "Trust?!"

"Yes." Loki's flat red gaze froze her, "I would know who my once-enemy chose to defend my mother while I am not there to watch her. Who would Odin trust to protect the peace between our people?"

His logic was sound even though his method seemed more like madness.

"That he chose you is as much a comment on how much he favors this peace as any discussion we have over the treaty table. You serve well, Lady Sif, you are truly a warrior of honor."

"I would have you trust your first judgment then continue to test me." Sif responded, unwilling to so easily forgive his deception, "If you wish to pursue peace then you must learn to trust, as I have had to."

And because she knew he would recognize the gesture, she extended her hand towards him, palm up and expectant.

This time it washe who hesitated.

Eyes lifting from hand to meet her, the prince glanced at his mother who merely nodded before leaving for her chambers. And then, when they were alone, Sif spoke again.

"Trust that you have done the right thing. Trust that we will not disappoint guarding you as allies."

Temper abated, she watched, waited, as the prince slowly crossed the space his face an expressionless mask though she wondered at the look in his eyes, the emotions that seemed to pass so swiftly in those depths.

His hand slid into her own not a moment later, cooler than her own but once again familiar, warmer than she had expected.

"I trust you Lady Sif that will have to be enough for now."

It was not the answer she sought, but after so many years of fighting the compromise was an acceptable one.

Sif felt a small smile warm her features, as she finally allowed herself a small measure of ease.

"I never expected to see you again."

"Indeed?" His eyebrow quirked, "So have I disappointed you or pleasantly surprised you?"

"A bit of both perhaps," she folded her arms comfortably, "War does strange things to a person's perceptions."

"Indeed." He nodded in agreement as he gestured to the pair of chairs that sat before a roaring fire, "Do you have time to spare for conversation with the Jotun prince?"

"As long as your mother is safe."

He glanced at the door for a long intense moment before he turned back.

"Yes, I think she will be fine now. You have my thanks."

She did not expect the level of sincerity he expressed with that simple thanks, but it was all the more rewarding for such a surprise.

They settled into their respective seats, with Sif poised opposite from the door, her place affording her a clear view of the doorway and all who may appear.

And though Loki did not seem to be as concerned, there was a momentary glow of emerald at the door before it faded from view. But the gesture was unmistakable, and now with both magic and watchful eyes guarding the queen the pair could converse freely.

"Would you like me to surprise you again?"

Loki gestured to the space between them and with a glow of sparkling emerald an elegant chess board appeared.

One last game, this one Sif was familiar with.

"Of course, Prince."

He smiled, "You may call me 'Loki,' I have no need for titles."

"Then Loki, it is."

And that evening became the first of many she spent in the Jotun prince's company.