Sigyn stood before the floor length mirror looking over the transformation her friends had given her. She wore a backless white dress that hugged her body and flared from her hips to pool on the floor at her feet. Green and gold stitching decorated the edge of her see through veil and also in twin paths down the back of her dress. At first glance, they looked to be fluted flowers, but on closer inspection one could see they were tiny daggers, an inside joke between her and Loki. Her upper arm was decorated with a gold armband in the shape of a serpent and around her neck was a gold torque shaped in a filagree of intertwining vines. Her dark hair was piled on her head in a mass of curls with a few locks coming free to fall on her shoulders. On her forehead was a circlet of gold in the same design as her torque, with an emerald in the centre and onyx stones decorating the rest of the band.
Sigyn found her friends had done an amazing job, despite their endless chatter on local gossip. She allowed herself to be swept up in it, not wanting to think about the ceremony, her stomach felt like she was going to throw up at any minute. Runa had chosen not to attend this little get together, which made things easier for her. Now she was standing here, looking over their handy work and wondering if she could go through with it. It wasn't that she did not want to marry Loki, far from it, it was the ceremony that was making her so nervous. She was going to be scrutinized by all of Asgard, since she was marrying one of the rulers of Asgard, a powerful position. Though Loki seemed to enjoy the new responsibilities, she did not like the attention.
"Nervous?" Sif asked stepping up next to her. She was dressed in a silver skirts that shimmered when she moved, her dark hair held back with a large silver hairpiece that looked like a branch from a newly blossomed cherry tree.
"How can you tell?" she asked a slight quiver in her voice.
"Because your chest is vibrating like a hummingbird." Sif put her arm around her shoulders and gave her a squeeze. "You will be fine. Now come, Fandral is waiting."
Sigyn let Sif guide her from the mirror and out into the main room where Fandral stood. He wore his ceremonial black armour polished so much Sigyn could practically see her reflection in it. At his hip was a rapier that his hand rested on and hanging at his side was a dagger.
Fandral gave a low bow his free hand sweeping out to his his side. "My Lady," he said returning to his standing position. "You look ravishing."
Sigyn gave a small curtsy "Thank-you, Fandral," she said, "And may I say you are equally as stunning?"
Fandral gave her a flirtatious wink as he rose. "You may, and you would be right."
Despite her nerves, Sigyn could not help but laugh. Fandral gave her a rakish grin and extended his arm. "Shall we, my dear? The sooner the ceremony is concluded, the sooner we can start celebrating."
"And the more time you will have to flirt with women," Sigyn pointed out.
Fandral's jaw moved soundlessly trying to come up with an appropriate response. Instead he threw back his head and laughed. "Loki will not get away with much around you," he predicted when he found his voice.
"Only what I allow him to." Sigyn admitted a sly smile sliding across her face. She took Fandral's preferred arm and let her guide her down the halls to the main throne room. Fandral kept up his lively chat, telling her of one ribald adventure or another he had been on. Sigyn always found them enjoyable and right now she also found them mercifully distracting. Sigyn wasn't sure if he was intentionally doing this to distract her, or he was doing it out of habit when a pretty girl crossed his path; it did not matter the effect was the same.
They arrived at the throne room. The large gold doors swung open showing the lavishly decorated interior. The carpet down the isle was of a pale green decorated along the edge with gold stitching and randomly fallen white flower petals. Along the isle were elaborately carved golden polls that the multitude of guests stood behind, watching her every move. The poles were connected with garlands of flowers of pale lavender, pink and white that wound their way between the poles and down to their base. At the end of the isle was where the ceremony would be, she could see huge bouquet's of flowers, that looked almost as tall as herself, on either side of Hlidskjalf. She could see Thor standing before it in polished silver ceremonial armour and a vibrant red cloak that flowed from his large shoulders down to the ground. He would be performing the ceremony. As Fandral led her down the aisle, Sigyn's eyes slid to her right to where she knew Loki would be standing. He too was dressed in his ceremonial gold armour and green and black dress clothes, but instead of his horned helmet, he too wore a gold circlet like herself, with the central emerald and onyx stones. She knew that though she could not see them from where she stood, that the band had been carved with runes of good fortune. Around his hip hung a sword that would be later used in the ceremony. But right now all Sigyn could see was Loki looking at her, his joy reflected in his eyes which were a bright forest green. She couldn't understand how he looked so composed and calm while she felt like she would fall apart at any moment. She had to admit, this was not exactly his first royal ceremony, but weren't grooms supposed to be nervous too?
Sigyn now stood before him, with Fandral behind her. She extended her quivering hands and Loki took them in his own and that his when she felt is nervousness. Though he looked very calm and composed, his hands were shaking. Sigyn did not know how long they stood staring at each other before Thor gave a small cough to gain their attention. Sigyn nearly jumped out of her skin, she had forgotten for a few brief seconds where she was. Loki gave her hands a squeeze and released one so they could turn and stand before Thor.
"I feared this day would never come," he began. "Loki's whole life has been of one extreme or another. Whatever he did, he did himself not wanting to depend on anyone. That took him to a dark place I thought he would never return, until you." Thor turned his gaze from the audience to Sigyn. "You shone a light into that darkness and brought my brother back when I thought him lost. You will have my gratitude in ways you will never know."
Sigyn felt tears spring unbidden to her eyes and spill down her cheeks. Her emotions were running high and she couldn't keep them under control. "We helped each other." She managed in a shaky voice. "I was in a dark place of my own." Thor tilted his head to her and smiled.
Thor turned his attention to the assembled guests and began with the ceremony.
"In times past it was believed that the soul shared characteristics with all things divine. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. It is in this tradition that a blessing is offered in support of this ceremony.
Blessed be this union with the gifts of the East.
Communication of the heart, mind, and body
Fresh beginnings with the rising of each Sun.
The knowledge of the growth found in the sharing of silences.
Blessed be this union with the gifts of the South.
Warmth of hearth and home
The heat of the heart's passion
The light created by both to illuminate the darkest of times.
Blessed be this union with the gifts of the West.
The deep commitments of the lake The swift excitement of the river
The refreshing cleansing of the rain
The all encompassing passion of the sea.
Blessed be this union with the gifts of the North
Firm foundation on which to build
Fertility of the fields to enrich your lives
A stable home to which you may always return.
Each of these blessings emphasizes those things which will help you build a happy and successful union.
Yet they are only tools.
Tools which you must use together in order to create what you seek in this union."
Thor turned his gaze to Loki.
"Do you, Loki, take Sigyn to be your wife,
To be her constant friend,
her partner in life, and her true love?
To love her without reservation,
honor and respect her,
protect her from harm,
comfort her in times of distress,
and to grow with her in mind and spirit?"
"I will." Loki promised.
Thor turned to Sigyn.
"Do you, Sigyn, take Loki to be your husband,
To be his constant friend,
his partner in life, and his true love?
To love him without reservation,
honor and respect him,
protect him from harm,
comfort him in times of distress,
and to grow with him in mind and spirit?"
"I do," Sigyn vowed
Thor turned to Loki "Do you have the sword?"
Loki unbuckled the sword from his hip and handed it, scabbard and all, to Sigyn. "I give you this sword to hold and care for until the time our son is of age."
Sigyn took the sword from his hands. The weight was heavy in her hands and she could not help but think their son will have to be pretty strong to wield it. "I will do as you ask." She turned and handed the blade to Fandral who in turn passed her the dagger. It was of simple design; a black hilt with gold weaving around it and a tiny emerald decorating it's base. She turned and handed it to Loki. "Please take this dagger that I have had made for you. May it guide your hand and protect you from harm."
Loki took the blade with a smile and a wink. He slipped it into his boot and they both turned to Thor. Thor held up his hand in which he held a gold and white rope made of silk. Loki and Sigyn extended their hands and clasped them. Thor looped the silk rope loosely around both hands.
"Now you are bound one to the other
With a tie not easy to break.
May you grow in wisdom and love.
That your marriage will be strong
That your love will last
In this life and beyond."
Thor unbound their hands so they could turn and face each other. "You may now kiss the bride."
Loki lifted her veil and took a moment to stare at her. Sigyn didn't mind, she was doing the same thing. So much had happened before they had come to this place, this moment in time, it was a wonder they ever made it at all. She wanted it to last, it was just too perfect. But it didn't it couldn't.
"If you don't want to kiss her," Thor stated, "I'm sure there are others who would."
"I would be one." Fandral spoke up from behind her.
"That won't be necessary," Loki assured them.
He looped one hand around Sigyn's waist and pulled her up against him, his mouth falling to hers with remarkable speed. Sigyn barely let out a gasp before she was entangled in his embrace. She responded to him immediately letting her hands slide over his shoulders and into his dark waves. She wasn't sure where things would have gone next if Thor hadn't let out a cough to bring them back to their surroundings. "Maybe we can save some of this for tonight. In the meantime it is time to celebrate!"