Chapter 3
Sleep was just about to claim Sigyn when her servant Liv came into the room. "Wake up Milady," she said as she drew the curtains open, "I'm going to draw a bath for you. Your mother is arranging for a gown to be brought up to you." Sigyn opened her eyes and sat up, "Thank you Liv," she said, pretending to be tired. Liv nodded and left, giving Sigyn privacy. Sigyn got up and discarded her nightgown. She studied her naked body in the mirror, She wasn't by any means ugly, but she didn't quite fit the Vanir standards of beauty when it came to her body. Vanir men prefered a wider set woman with large breasts, and she was anything but that. Sigyn was a very slim woman, nearly breastless in comparison to her sisters and mother. For years her mother had tried to force her to eat extra food at meals to fatten her up and make her more desirable. despite her mother's great efforts, she remained the same weight, Her mother was furious, but not as furious as when she found out exactly why the horses had grown fat.
At that moment Liv came back into the room, "Milady, your bath is ready." Sigyn turned around and followed Liv into the bath chamber. Sigyn got into the bath and Liv got to work styling her hair. "Liv?" Sigyn asked.
"Yes milady?" Liv responded.
" Why do I have to get married?" Sigyn asked. Liv seemed shocked at the question
"Don't you want to get married?" She asked in surprise.
"Not really," said sigyn, "At least not for the reasons that Mother wants me too."
Liv sighed, "It is your duty as princess to be married, you help bring peace among the realms, it's the burden you must bear as a princess."
"But why?" Sigyn said in outrage, "Why am I only to be a peace offering? A political weapon? I don't understand."
Liv paused for a moment then spoke, "Odin's sons are very handsome, especially Thor, the eldest. He's said to be the most attractive man in all of Asgard."
"And also the most dim witted," Sigyn smirked.
"Milady!" Liv exclaimed. Sigyn spent the rest of her bath in silence, letting Liv wash her hair. Sigyn thought ahead to what the day would consist of. Mother would surely want her dressed in the finest gown she could find and also the most uncomfortable. Sigyn let out an annoyed sigh at the thought. She was still secretly hoping that the Asgardians did not find her desirable, Sigyn was sure she had already managed to deter one of them with the events of the morning.
Sigyn as well as many other people in Vanaheim had heard stories of Loki Odinson and his love of mischief and pranks. Sigyn will admit that she had thought many of these pranks to be quite funny. Her favorite story was one she heard of when he as a child cut the golden locks of Lady Sif of Asgard's hair as an act of revenge. Now because of that Lady Sif's hair now grows a dark black color rather than the original gold. Sigyn let out a giggle at the thought I wonder what she did to him to make him want to cut her hair? Sigyn thought to herself still snickering.
Liv had finally finished styling Sigyns hair and she got out of the bath. She made her way back to her room and admired Liv's work in the mirror. Liv had done a very simple yet elegant style for Sigyn's hair. It was a half-up style; our small braids wrapped around the side of her head all meeting in the back top two bound with cord and then joined with the bottom two braids and bound all together. The remaining unbraided hair was left to cascade down her back and shoulders. Her natural curls were enhanced and made shiny with a special root oil prided by Vanir women to improve the look of their hair.
"Milady" Liv began, "The queen sent up a dress"
Sigyn turned from the mirror to see Liv holding up one of the most beautiful dresses she had ever seen. It was a strapped silver gown embellished with grey embroidered vines, The straps crossed at the back of the gown exposing a large amount of her back. The gown was indeed beautiful but quite risque for the occasion. If she hadn't known any better, Sigyn would have thought that her mother found the dress in one of the various brothels in the Vanir pleasure district. The queen must have really wanted to marry her off if she chose this dress to put her daughter in that knew better than to complain, so she kept her mouth shut and allowed Liv to dress her.
Just as the dress went on, the queen stepped in the room.
"Hello mother" Said Sigyn as Liv was adjusting the dress.
"My my, that gown looks absolutely stunning on you' The queen Freyja said, pleased with herself being the one who chose it.
"When will the Asgardians be arriving exactly?" Sigyn asked slightly flinching in pain as Liv accidentally pulled her hair.
"The Asgardians have already arrived. They are already in the throne room speaking with your father." Freyja said, "We must be there shortly so finish up".
Freyja walked over to Sigyn's vanity and chose a few pieces of jewelry. She selected a silver arm cuff, a pair of dangling diamond earrings, and a beautiful diamond necklace. Liv placed the jewelry on Sigyn and then stepped back so that Sigyn could view her appearance in the mirror.
Sigyn stared at herself for a while, In her head lothing the fact that the men might actually find her to be attractive now. Freyja walked to stand behind her daughter in the mirror, smiling at her work, "You look beautiful" Said Freyja moving one of Sigyns curls back, "If any of Odin's sons do not find you to be beautiful, then they must have more interest in the men of Asgard." Sigyn knew she should have laughed at her mother's joke, but she couldn't find the will to even fake a laugh. She was terrified. She did not want to leave her people or her family, and in as little as a few hours, it might all be taken from her. Freyja walked back over to Sigyn's vanity and picked up the princesses crown. The crown was a gold band engraved with Vanir script saying devotion, loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity. The sides had two horn like attachments shaped like wavy crescent moons. This was the crown of the Princess of Vanaheim, The Goddess of Fidelity, Sigyn Freyjasdottier. The queen put the crown on Sigyns head. "Be charming my dear, today may very well change your life" And with an empty feeling in her stomach, she followed her mother out of her room and towards the throne room.
A/N: Thanks for your patience for this chapter. Sigyn's crown was inspired by a Sigyn cosplay I saw. All credit goes to her
