Ch. 3: My own secret ceremonials

The tingle of soft kisses on the top of her spine pulled Sigyn from her slumber, making her groan. She felt a giggle against her skin, and the kissing resumed, this time traveling down her bare back, lingering between her shoulder blades.

Warm hands caressed her sides, subtly rolling her hips to make her lie face down on the bed. Sigyn smiled and blinked one eye open. It wasn't even dawn yet.

"I hope you have a very good reason to wake me up this early." She grumbled.

"Actually, I do." Loki breathed out, dragging his lips further down her spine and kissing the small of her back. Sigyn giggled at the ticklish feeling, making Loki smile. "C'mon, get dressed." He whispered, withdrawing from the bed.

Sigyn shivered from the lack of contact and rolled over just to watch him walk to the bathroom in all his naked glory. "What are we getting dressed for?"

"You'll see." He winked, popping his head from the door frame.

"For the Norns' sake! It's not even dawn yet!" Sigyn threw the covers over her head.

"Stop whining and get up already!" Loki dropped himself on top of her, trying to pull the covers away.

"Why? Why? Why, oh, why?" She said between giggles.

"Cause today is the ball and we have to get back before we are attacked by an army of servants trying to get us ready for it."

"Ugh, the ball… Fine." Sigyn sat up, Loki was already dressed. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see." He chuckled and kissed the top of her head.

Sigyn rolled her eyes and went to the bathroom to freshen up and get dressed. Once ready, he took her hand and led her through the still empty corridors of the palace.

"Loki, are you going to tell me what's going on?"

"It's a surprise!" He gave her a mischievous smile.

"Okay, now I'm scared."

They reached a small passage that led to the lower levels of the Sorcerers' temple. Sigyn and Loki knew the place very well: it was their school. It just made her even more confused. Before she could say anything, Loki stood in front of her.

"Do you trust me?" He said, taking her hands, looking directly into her eyes.

"Yes."

"Great! Cause I want us to get bound." He explained with a nervous smile.

"What?!" She nearly jumped away from him.

"This whole week I've been trying to come up with a way to make it up to you for tricking you into marriage." Loki's voice was quivering slightly. "So I figured, since we can't actually get re-married-" Sigyn was still staring at him blankly. Loki's face dropped. "You don't want to."

"I'm just-" Sigyn stammered. "You realize that it would mean, right? We would share thoughts, experiences, feelings- you won't be able to lie to me anymore."

Loki looked at her slightly hurt. "Why would I wanna lie to you?"

"And, if you're doing it out of fear or jealousy that I could do something, then it's just wrong!" She continued without registering his words. "Where did this idea come from? Don't you trust me?"

"I do! With my life!" He stated, watching her pace. "That's why-" Loki stood in front of Sigyn, interrupting her pacing, and took her hands. "That's exactly why. I trust you, I don't trust anyone else. If I ever had to chose someone to keep my secrets, to keep my life, to keep my heart, it's you."

"But it goes both ways." She said softly. "I DO trust you, but you still scare the life out of me." Sigyn looked down, not to see the hurt in his eyes. Loki cupped her face in his hands.

"Sigyn, I love you." He said, looking straight into her eyes. "That's the only truth I know." He put his forehead on hers and sighed. "I don't know where will we be in a thousand years, I just hope I'm able to find you. If you want me to find you. And if I'm the one who's lost, I know you're the only one who could find me. I wouldn't want it any other way."

Sigyn tried to find any shadow of doubt or uncertainty in Loki's eyes, but found none. She buried her head on his chest, his arms holding her close, and knew this was it. If there was one place she would be forever safe, it would be Loki, no matter how many light years apart they were.

"You'll be the death of me." She breathed out and looked up. "Fine. Let's do it." His face lit up as he kissed her.

Holding hands, they sorted the intricate catwalks of the basement. An eerie glow lighted their way, leading them through the numerous protective shrines under the school. Most of them were right beneath the palace, others were scattered under Asgard in places of power, healing or funeral rites. Sigyn knew their wedding had been held right above one, in the far side of the gardens.

"Master Thyra." Loki spoke softly, with a small head bow. Sigyn did the same.

"Prince Loki, Princess Sigyn." The tall woman greeted them. "If you are ready, please follow me."

Master Thyra was one of the Sanctum teachers, and probably one of the most powerful sorcerers in Asgard. It made sense that Loki would ask her for help with the proper binding spells, specially when she was versed in mostly every marriage ritual ever known in the nine realms. Loki and Sigyn followed her into a small shrine, they knew was right at the start of the bifrost bridge.

It wasn't anything big or pompous: just a circular room, walls of white stone littered with runes and symbols written eons ago. Glowing with a flickering golden light, they seemed to dance around, switching forms. Sigyn had seen such effect all over the Sanctum, but she was always amazed by it.

Master Thyra stopped on the far side of the entrance and stood in front of Loki and Sigyn.

"If you both are here, is because you have both agreed freely to join one another."

"Yes." Both replied at the same time.

"Good." Master Thyra smiled. "I hope that after years at this very school I don't have to conduct you through the ritual." She added with a smirk. "You both know what will happen after this. This magical bond will stay with you forever: it will transverse space, time, dimensions and in some cases, even death. May you be one of the lucky few."

As she spoke, Sigyn and Loki faced each other, reaching their right arms and entwining them in between. Their bare wrists joined as they linked their hands together.

Master Thyra seemed to pick one of the runes from the walls: one golden thread stretched in her hand, thought it seemed she wasn't even touching it. The thread unraveled in her fingers as she led it to where Loki and Sigyn's wrists were touching. There, it latched itself around their arms. Sigyn smiled at the tingling feeling, eyes locked in her husband's. Master Thyra's words she knew by heart, so Sigyn allowed herself to get lost in Loki's eyes. A warm feeling crept through her arm and came to settle on the pit of her stomach.

"Nutë." Master Thyra commanded with a snap of her fingers.

"Lá istan." Loki and Sigyn spoke at the same time, sealing their bond. The golden thread melted into their skin.

"Congratulations." Master Thyra spoke. "The binding has been successful."

"You sound surprised." Loki said with a smirk.

"Not at all, my prince. I've known for a long time Sigyn would be your choice. And she will be your salvation too."

Sigyn lowered her head and smiled to herself. "I hope so." Loki hugged her and kissed the top of her head.

"Give it a couple of hours, you know how this works. It can be a bit overwhelming having two heads inside one." Master Thyra said as she led them out. "On the plus side, the sex is great!" She added with a wink.

Loki smiled. "Thank you, Master Thyra."

"Your majesties." With a small nod, the sorcerer turned around and seemingly floated away.

.-

Back in their chambers, Loki couldn't keep his hands, or everything else, off Sigyn. It was really awkward to have her thoughts and feelings inside his head, but it gave him such a rush. All he wanted was to make her happy, and now that he had access to her feelings, he could see exactly how.

I didn't think you'd like this.

Well, why didn't you ask?

Loki was pinning Sigyn against the wall, with her legs around his waist. Their clothes had already evaporated.

You're not going to break me, you know?

My mistake.

It was intoxicating. Addictive, to feel everything she was feeling. To know how good he could make her feel. Loki buried his head in her neck, loving how her nails left trails on his back, how her teeth left marks on his shoulders. Her body was already quivering.

Loki… that's… I'm…

I know.

Sigyn pulled Loki's hair back, making him face her, and devoured his mouth. Wave after wave of pleasure washed over them. Loki held onto the wall to keep his wobbly legs from giving up. Sigyn tried to untangle herself from Loki, but he didn't allow it. Instead, he placed his forehead against hers, staring into her eyes.

This is weird.

What? Having a conversation inside our heads? I think it's great!

Both smiled as Loki carried Sigyn to their bed.

Well, it does allow us to kiss and talk at the same time.

Loki hovered over Sigyn and kissed her deeply, while his hands explored her bare skin. Clinging to his back, Sigyn managed to roll him over and straddled his hips.

"I wish we had more time to continue with this." She said, linking her hand with his.

Loki felt a bit dizzy at knowing what would happen in a minute. "Wow. We can share magic tricks too?"

Sigyn shrugged. "I guess. Can you see the army coming to get us ready for this afternoon?"

"I can. My mother is at their front."

"So we're sharing magic tricks." Sigyn lowered to kiss him once again as she willed her nightgown to appear. "I'm sorry."

Loki rolled his eyes and did his clothes too, right before the door burst open.

"Morning, everyone!" Frigga sang, while opening the curtains. She started talking about the ball, while a myriad of maids made their way in, bringing breakfast, dresses, robes, capes, hairbrushes, colognes, perfumes, mirrors and countless other things.

Sigyn got off the bed, knowing resistance was futile. Loki just stayed in bed, staring at the ceiling, extremely annoyed.

Look at the bright side: think of all the fun are we going to have this afternoon with this new method of communication.

Loki smiled.