An : This chapter is shorted then I had hoped, but this is where things are going to get interesting and maybe we see that Sigyn hasn't managed to soften Loki completely.
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, you've no idea how much each word means to me. I only hope I can keep you interested.
FallenEpiphany

Chapter 4

From heresy, frenzy and jealousy, good Lord deliver me.

You know that feeling, I believe everyone does, when you were young, or perhaps even as you grew older, when somebody takes something that belongs to you.

A journal, a toy, something that you are so enamoured with, and it is just swiped out from under your nose.
That feeling of annoyance, rage and possession that completely warps your boy so much that you feel you will not be the same with out this thing that has been stolen from you.
The feeling that you would do anything in your power to get it back.

I staggered to my feet, trying desperately to make sense of the situation.
Had it been mere seconds ago that Sigyn's lips were so close to mine? The smell of her Atreyu and Jasmine oils filling the air around me as we embraced, the tears staining her fastruggce as we realised just how damaging our miscommunication and my selfishness had been.

Now however, she was wailing and I could hear him roaring something at her as he towed her down the hall. I stumbled to my feet, full of purpose and an anger I would not understand until much later.

I tore after him, skidding into the hallway.

''THEORIC!'' I bellowed, one hand holding the side of my face. The scar on the left side of my face had reopened upon my ungraceful collision with the fireplace, and was bleeding somewhat profusely.

''Loki!''
I saw her then, struggling unsuccessfully against his brutish arms, looking tiny in comparison.
I saw the blood trickling down her lips.

I saw red.

I ran, like a bull at a gate, blind with rage, only to be completely blind-sided by yet another hulking mass.
Only this one was far more gentle with his grip.

Thor grabbed me around the waist, stopping me dead in my tracks and unable to fight as he pinned my arms down.

''What is the meaning of this?''

Fuck.

Odin appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, his golden eye patch glinting in the morning light, his lips set in a grim line.
Everyone stopped.

Theoric stopped dragging Sigyn like a doll, she stopped fighting, and once I stopped struggling, Thor released me cautiously, but kept a hand on my shoulder for good measure.
''Why are my halls filled with the voice of anger so early in the morning?'' Odin inquired, eyeing Theoric and the state of Sigyn curiously.

''Ask your son!'' Theoric spat, glaring at me with such intensity it was hard to comprehend.

I glanced at my father, whose attention had now turned to me, my hair a mess, blood trailing down my face, surely I was a sight to behold.

''Loki.'' Odin said quietly, as though regretting that he had to address me personally.
''What has happened here?'' he asked.

I thought carefully, how would he react if I told him the truth?
That yes, Theoric had found Sigyn in my arms, and even as our lips made to touch, I was plotting his downfall and the clear path ahead with Sigyn.

Infidelity was common, but frowned upon in Asgard, much like Midgard and many other worlds.
Regardless of how abusive Theoric was, Sigyn would be punished for our closeness.

Over Odin's shoulder's I saw her looking at me, her eyes were utterly unreadable, clouded with emotion that I couldn't decipher.
She seemed to be challenging me?

''Sigyn and I were in the Archives, we were discussing the passing of time since we had last had chance to speak. We made to depart and embraced as friends and that brute-'' I growled in Theoric's direction ''- burst through the doors in a fit of rage, and made for Sigyn.''
I paused, looking at Sigyn, whose eyes had softened considerably, relieved I think, that the God Of Lies was forming her an alibi in the only way he knew how.

Lying, however, the next part, was no lie.

''He made for Sigyn and I placed myself between the two, however with my restrictions in place I was no match, he bowled me over and grabbed Sigyn, and that is what has brought us here.'' I finished, staring directly at Odin, willing him to believe me.

''Is this true Lady Sigyn.'' Thor piped up from behind me, and I felt him squeeze my shoulders.
I resisted the urge to frown, why would Thor not jump to the aid of one of his very best friends?

Ahh... Of course, I realised, he was still trying to help me, he still cared after all this time.

It was rather touching in truth.

Sigyn looked at me, the blood trickling down her chin matched my own.
And in that moment I realised how alike we were.

Both wounded, hurt, wanting nothing more then to find something or someone to call home.

''Yes.'' she whispered and Theoric roared in fury.
''I SAW THEM!'' he snarled, throwing Sigyn to the floor roughly, I flinched, but because of our audience I allowed Thor step forward and offer her his hand, even though I wanted to pick her up and bring her back to my chambers, lock the door and keep her safe from everything.

Sigyn took Thor's hand and stumbled to her feet, coming to stand between my brother and I.

''She is being coerced by that lying, unworthy bast-''
''Mind your tongue Theoric whem you speak of my brother, the Prince.'' Thor warned, and I saw his hand drop to Mjǫlnir's handle.

Odin saw the trouble brewing and he stepped in.
''Theoric, Thor, we have more pressing matters then I pointless trifle over a trip to the Archives between two friends. The Rock Trolls are at our borders and now is the time to protect Asgard rather then get caught up in this childish drama.''

Theoric froze, and his stance softened, he apologised and dropped to one knee, ''Forgiveness Allfather. I spoke out of turn-''
Was I the only one that noted the mordancy in his tone?
''-you need only command and I shall serve.''

His grovelling made me want to vomit.

''Take my Hawks to the South Border. Geirrodur has already begun to make his way through, he must be stopped. Go now, and when you return, your bride to be will await you, and we shall hold the wedding on the day of your triumph, there shall be a week long feast to celebrate.'' there was an air of finality in Father's tone, one I had not heard since that day as I clung to Thor over a black abyss.

''No Loki.''
Those two words, the way he spoke them, there was no fight, nothing I could say. I merely accepted my fate with a restrained tear.

From the look on Theoric's face told me he was feeling something similar.
He glanced at me, and then back to my Father.

Odin followed his gaze and when their eyes met again, Odin nodded once.
Theoric got to his feet, his armour, something that I had never seen him without, glinted golden in the sunlight.

''Thor.'' Father turned and I felt Thor stand a little straighter.
''Will you take Lady Sigyn back to her rooms. Fetch a healer for her mouth.''

Theoric took his leave and Thor took Sigyn's arm.
She was looking at me, her eyes wide and round, but she followed Thor duly.

Father turned to me, and I realised it was the first time I had been alone with him since my return.
I had to force myself not to shudder.

''Loki-''
''He beats her.'' I blurted out, unable to stop.

What was this irrational need I felt to save her? To protect her?

''I know.'' Odin said quietly.
''You know?'' I repeated a little disbelievingly.

''Theoric has always had a temper.''
''And that excuses her bruises, cuts and the fact that she was just beaten in public for speaking to me?'' I demanded.

''I never said that.'' Odin said softly, his face was the most relaxed I had seen it in my presence since my return. In that moment I was six years old again, chasing through the halls after his ever elusive scarlet cloak. Listening to his stories and wondering if I would ever be like him.

''Theoric and Sigyn are engaged, by the old laws and the new, I am powerless to stop it. You know that. Regardless of his actions, Sigyn is bound to Theoric now.''

''Is there nothing we can do?'' I heard the defeated tone in my voice.

''Is this a conscience?'' Odin raised an eyebrow and I fought back a nasty remark.
''I cannot stand by and watch him hurt her. I will not do it.'' I hissed.

My Father regarded me carefully for a long moment.

''Loki Laufeyson-'' I tried my best not to flinch at the name ''- I hereby forbid you from seeing Sigyn daughter of Iwaldi until after her date of marriage, but because today you have shown that somewhere behind the malice, there still lies a beating heart, I return to you your powers.'' with that he pressed his great golden staff Gungnir to my heart and it began to glow.

It felt like I was being electrocuted. My body seized and I could feel the power flowing through my veins once more.
When I reached out and opened my mind I felt the minds of others.

I resisted the urge to smirk.
Fool. I thought.

But he was forbidding me to see Sigyn? Now, when Theoric was leaving and we would have time to talk? More then that he was offering her as a homecoming gift.
Like a pig to the slaughter.

I couldn't argue with him, in the eyes of Asgard I was still a traitor and if I proceeded to spend more time with Sigyn I would be seen to be wooing another man's wife, and Sigyn's slate was clean, she did not need me to drag her down.

''Thank you Allfather.'' I said numbly.
For the first time in my life, I felt something.
Something deep in the pit of my stomach twist uncomfortably.

The thought of Sigyn, her pale skin shadowed my the hulking Theoric. His hands rough on the skin that needed to be touched so softly.
His hands on something that was mine.

It was then I think that I made the decision.
Theoric would die.

If I lost everything but her, Theoric would die. She was the sun to my moon and he was the cloud that was hiding her from me.