And so it came to pass that Sigyn brought Loki his supper every evening, and stayed to help him eat it as well. Over the months, Loki found in Sigyn great integrity, which he valued highly. She never told another soul what they spoke of while eating. She became his confidante, the only person he trusted to tell about the training he'd been doing in the magical arts. Sigyn delighted in everything he demonstrated for her. He found her smiles and applause to be the most encouragement he'd ever gotten before. What little his family knew about his love for magic, they responded with hostility and disapproval.
The first time he succeeded with the replication spell, it was while Sigyn was in his chambers watching. He managed to create four replicas of himself, and surrounded Sigyn with them. "Oh Loki!" she cried while turning around in a circle to look at each one. "This is wondrous! Are they real? Are they flesh and bone?" She reached a hand out to touch one, and gasped when it went right through the Loki in front of her. She sat down on a bench and looked up at the images with a grin on her face.
Loki broke off his concentration, and the four images disappeared a moment later. "They are merely images, though they look as though they are real," he explained as he sat down on the bench next to her. He looked into her pretty face and smiled. He had grown more comfortable around her, allowing himself to enjoy her attention and affections a bit more, though he still tried his best to maintain control at all times.
"Loki, you have such a talent for magic. I have not seen anything like it," Sigyn said while reaching out and placing her hand on his. "You always amaze me."
Loki looked down at her hand. It was soft and delicate. He moved his hand to take hers properly, then smiled and gazed into her eyes. "Sigyn, you inspire me to work the hardest I've ever worked before." His heart started to pound and he was concerned that his palm might be sweating, but she either didn't notice or didn't care. He decided it was time to take control of his relationship with her. It was time to take the next step. With a deep breath, he leaned in to kiss her.
Before he could press his lips to hers, though, his chamber door opened and Thor rushed into the room. "Brother, I have been looking for you. Mother wishes…" He stopped in front of them and grinned as Sigyn jumped up from the bench with a gasp. She hurried over to the table where the dinner dishes were and began to gather them onto her tray. "Brother what is going on?" he asked, the grin appearing to be stuck onto his face. Sigyn ran out of the room, leaving the two brothers alone. "Loki, have you been enjoying little Sigyn's pleasures? I told you you would enjoy it, did I not?"
"Brother, I have requested that you announce yourself before entering my chambers. You interrupted us!" Loki stood up and glared at Thor. "What is it you needed?"
"Mother requests your presence. I know not what she wants."
Loki groaned and rolled his eyes. "Very well, let us go see what she needs."
Frigga was seated at a table in her chambers when the brothers arrived. "Ah, Loki, I am glad that you have arrived so quickly. I have some matters to discuss with you."
"Mother, I have reason to believe that our Loki here, is in love," Thor interrupted in a teasing manner. "I happened to walk in upon him and the object of his affections just now in his chambers."
Loki felt as though he had been hit in the face. Thor always ruined everything for him. The special, even sacred, secret love he had with Sigyn was nobody's business but his. There were times that Loki wished he could do something to really hurt Thor, and this was one of those times.
Frigga looked fondly at Loki. "Is this true, my son? Do you have a young maiden who has captured your heart? I had thought we would have more time before making an official betrothal contract for you, but perhaps the time has arrived. Who is this maiden?"
"There is nobody, mother," Loki replied calmly, trying to hide his true feelings. "Thor is jesting. He finds it funny to try and make you think this. Apparently my usual lack of appeal amongst the maidens here is source for amusement…"
"Oh, Loki, do not speak so of yourself," Frigga said with a frown. "You are terribly handsome. I know for a fact that there are many maidens here who would care for you greatly. You must spend more time getting to know them, that is all. You will never find a wife if you spend all your hours in your chambers reading books."
"But brother, I saw you, you were about to kiss Sigyn," Thor said, not dropping the subject. "Mother, you remember little Sigyn?"
"Sigyn Kjellsdottir? The serving girl from the kitchens?" Frigga looked at Loki, furrowing her brow. "Son, is this true? Have you become entangled with her?"
"No mother, she merely delivers my supper, that is all."
"I advised him to have his way with her and be done with it, but the way they looked, I fear it must be love, mother," Thor said, shaking his head sadly.
Frigga sighed and looked sad when she spoke. "Loki…You are a prince of Asgard. Odin has many plans for your future, none of which include a betrothal to a serving girl. Now, have your pleasures with her as you will, and cast her aside, as Thor advised. She will not be a part of your future life."
Loki had not thought much about the future, and who he would be wedded to one day. He had only thought of the next evening to come when Sigyn would arrive with his supper. It was all he wanted at the moment. "What sort of plans does father have for me?" he asked cautiously. Odin rarely paid any attention to him. He couldn't imagine that the man had grand plans for him. Thor was the apple of Odin's eye, not Loki.
"You will have to speak to him about them. He does not confide in me about such matters," Frigga frowned and reached out to touch his hand. "Son, your hand is ice cold. Come stand by the fire. I do apologize to be so candid about your future. It would not do to pursue something that can never be. I am sure that Kjell is at this moment seeking to form a betrothal contract for Sigyn with somebody more suitable for her station. This is the way of things. Perhaps you could take her on as a lover after you are wedded, but it could never be more than that. Perhaps I can speak with Odin about this, and we could form a betrothal contract now. There are certainly many eligible maidens who would make a good wife for you. Would you like that?"
Loki shook his head, trying to think of a way out of his predicament. "No, thank you mother; I do not feel the need for that as of yet," he said quietly. "But perhaps Thor is ready for such an undertaking. He is the eldest after all, and should be the first to be wedded." Thor glared at him, but he smirked and continued. "He should not have trouble finding somebody who wishes to be wedded to him, for he is very popular with all the maidens. Of course, the problem will be finding one who is still actually a maiden. Thor does have a way with women. In fact, I find it rather shocking that he has not yet fathered several bastards by now. Most likely he has, but the poor girls keep it a secret."
Frigga looked at Thor and frowned. "Thor! I hope you are not taking advantage of the maidens. It is one thing if they wish to be with you, but if you are taking any sort of liberties with them…"
"No mother, of course not," Thor quickly assured his mother. "I would never take liberties with any of the maidens. I cannot help it if they all desire me…"
Frigga smiled. "I am glad to hear this," she replied. "Now, let us return to the business at hand…" She changed the subject, but Loki paid very little attention. His thoughts were on Sigyn and the sad reality that the trust and confidence he found in her would be forced to come to an end. He realized now that he enjoyed her presence in his life so much that the thought of it ending felt unbearable.
The next evening, Loki was upset again when Sigyn did not come to his chambers with his supper. Another serving woman had come in her place. "Sigyn Kjellsdottir sends her apologies and asked me to tell you that she can no longer bring you your food. She has been assigned as one of Frigga's handmaids and will not be working in the kitchens any longer."
Loki was filled with rage and sent the servant away quickly. How could Frigga do this to him? Why did everybody in his family so actively attempt to ruin anything he enjoyed in life? After eating a quick meal, he hurried off to his mother's chambers.
Sigyn was there, standing next to Frigga, brushing the older woman's hair when he arrived. Loki tried not to look at her, but failed. When Frigga noticed this, she dismissed Sigyn for the night. "You may go now, girl. You have done very well today." Sigyn gave a polite bow and left the room, but dared to steal a glance at Loki as she went. The plaintive look on her face nearly broke his heart.
"Mother, why have you done this?" he asked as calmly as possible, once Sigyn had left.
"Because it was for the best," Frigga replied practically. "I know you, Loki. You would not be able to give up your infatuation with the girl, and it simply cannot be. It is better this way. Now you will not see her in the dining halls, nor will she be able to tempt you by visiting your chambers. And you should also know that I have given generously to Kjell to aid in securing her dowry. He shall be able to fund a better betrothal contract for her now. Perhaps to one of your father's warriors. It would be a great honor for Sigyn to marry one and bear him many sons."
"Mother, how could you do this to me?"
"Loki, you are young. These are the first passions of love you have ever felt. It is raw and overwhelming your senses. You are not able to think clearly. As your mother, it is my duty to help you through this time. One day you will understand and even see the wisdom of my decisions. And I have handled this situation without getting your father involved. Be grateful for that, at the very least."
Loki shook his head sadly. "And you will never understand what you have done to me," he replied. "I will take my leave of you now, for I do not wish to be in your presence at the moment." With as much dignity as he could muster, he gave his mother a scathing glare and left her chambers, slamming the door shut as loudly as possible on his way out.
How was he going to get in contact with Sigyn now that Frigga was controlling everything? She had designed it purposefully so they would not be allowed to interact unless she was present. He could not even write to Sigyn to explain things, for he knew she could not read. He had hoped to have the time one day to teach her himself, but that was not to happen now.
Several miserable weeks passed, with Thor doing his best to cheer up Loki, but to no avail. Loki stopped eating and sleeping, and only his magic soothed his frayed nerves. Rumors reached him that Sigyn had formed a betrothal contract with Theoric, one of Odin's warriors. They were to be married in a year's time. He felt as though his heart would stop whenever somebody spoke of it.
One day, he finally managed to perfect a variation of the replication spell where he created projections of another person other than himself. He created a perfect replica of Sigyn. As he gazed at her, a thought formed in his mind of how he could finally have a chance to speak with the real Sigyn.
A couple days later, Loki visited Frigga for the first time since storming out of her chambers. "I felt it was time to make amends, mother," he said to Frigga while sitting in a chair across from her. Sigyn stood behind Frigga, ready to assist her in anything she might need.
"Loki, I am glad you have finally understood my decisions," Frigga replied. "I love you terribly. Odin might complain that I coddle you too much, but I do not agree with him. I think I coddle you just enough."
Loki smiled at her joke. "Your coddling has made me who I am today," he replied in kind. "I want to compliment you on how fair you look. The green of your dress quite suits your complexion."
"Thank you, Loki," Frigga replied, looking fondly at her son. She took a sip of her wine and Loki carefully sent a spell to the glass to fall out of her hands and spill onto her dress. She gasped and quickly stood up. "My hand slipped…" she said. "I shall have to change my clothes. I will be back in a moment." She turned to leave the room, and Sigyn began to follow her.
"Shall I assist you, my lady?" she asked.
"No, I shall be quick. You may remain here," Frigga replied before exiting the room, leaving Loki alone with Sigyn.
Loki looked to see that Frigga was fully out of the room before standing up. He concentrated on Sigyn while performing his replication spell. She gasped in surprise as a perfect copy of herself appeared at her side. "Loki, what…?"
He held his hand out. "Come with me," he whispered with a devilish grin.
Sigyn hesitated for only a moment before smiling, walking over to him and placing her hand in his. "Where will we go?" she whispered as he pulled her towards the door.
"What does it matter? Vanaheim? Midgard? Jotunheim? I care not…" Loki shut the door behind them quietly so Frigga would not hear. "We shall be together, that is all that matters." As his heart pounded, and the nervous fluttering in his stomach returned, he felt a rush of power and excitement course through his veins. Nobody would think him a child any longer.
"But Loki, I am betrothed now, what shall happen if I do not honor the contract?"
"It does not matter, Sigyn, for we shall never return to this place." He continued to pull her through the halls, and felt elated when she began to run faster, keeping pace with him.
They ran, hand-in-hand, towards Heimdall, guardian of the Bifrost, the last of the barriers to get past. Once they were free of the palace, the rest of their lives would truly begin.
