"No! I will not leave you." Tiny arms wrapped around Heimdalls' leg in a futile attempt to convince her old brother. Blue eyes as deep as the sea brimmed with tears. "I will good, I promise."
"It is not a matter of being good, Sif. This is for your well-being," he sighed, looking down at her. Even though she had stayed with him many years, she was but a toddler. Long, curly blonde hair the shade of wheat fell to her waist, softly framing her frame, darkened by the hours spent exploring around their home.
Gently prying her arms away from him, he knelt down, placing large hands on small shoulders, "You cannot stay in Himinbjorg with me forever."
Heimdall's hall, where the two had lived up until this point, was about as far from the city as one could get without traveling to another Realm. It was what connected the Bifrost, the bridge between realms, to the sky. Not only was it dangerous to little Sif, but Heimdall was rarely there, instead guarding Asgard. He had placed a large telescope in the window of Sif's room, so she could look at the skies from there. It was never used for that; always she looked upon the Bifrost where her brother was, afraid to admit she was lonely.
"Here in Asgard, you can learn, and make friends, and have the proper upbringing." Sniffling, Sif wiped way the tears from her face with her forearm. She was afraid.
Heimdalls' heart wrung. He was no father, and more importantly, he could not take the place of a mother. He loved Sif, but knew living with him was no good for her. Already Heimdall could see that she was special, and that this was what was best for her.
"I will," he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "never abandon you, sister. I have the Allsight, remember?" Smiling, Sif nodded. "Even when you feel alone, you can rest assured that I will be able to see you."
"Where she will be going, I doubt she will ever have a moment alone," A soft voice chimed from the doorway. Brother and sister spun to face the visitor. Immediately Heimdall placed a fist over his heart and bent to one knee, motioning for Sif to do the same. Hesitantly she did, in complete awe of the woman before her.
It was Frigga, Queen of Asgard. A warm smile graced her lips as she stepped forward, chuckling at the kneeling figure openly staring at her.
"Who are you?" Sif asked bluntly. She had never seen a woman so...regal as this one. The Queen had stacked strawberry blonde braids pinned on her head, the perfect accompaniment to the dazzling crown she sported. A diamond-encrusted teal gown graced a soft maternal figure, trailing behind her.
"I," Frigg began, "am going to be looking after you, making sure you are properly cared for."
"Everyone keeps saying that, but yet I feel perfectly fine."
"Would you not like children your age to play with? To accompany you on your many adventures?"
Sif's eyebrows knitted together as she squinted at the lady, "How-"
"Nevermind that, dear." Frigga turned to Heimdall, "I'll be waiting in the carriage. Servants will come and get her things, and then she can join me." And with that, she swiftly turned and disappeared out of the doorway.
Without a word, Heimdall scooped up the petite girl. "You will be safe, and happy," He said softly, seemingly reassuring himself. All around her, uniformly-dressed men and women came and carried away the boxes of her things, while Sif watched over her brothers' shoulder, choking back tears.
Carrying her down the stairs and to the front doorway, he sat her down and a grave look came over his face. "Now, you will need to be strong. Everything and everyone will be new, and you will surrounded by very important people." Sifs' eyes widened at that, and Heimdall chuckled. "Just be yourself. They will love you fine."
Turning her around swiftly, her gown twirling at her feet, he set her towards the royal carriage holding her things and the Queen.
Gathering her courage, she sucked up her tears and walked forward. She would be strong. She would be strong for her brother, and she would make him proud.