Sigyn had now grown used to waking up in strange, unfamiliar places. Out of all the weird places she had managed to throw herself into this one had to be the most…comforting. It was warm-and the yellow sun that beamed into the room from the large window was making love to her skin, acting as the healing balm to the hollow icy ache that felt like had become her very bones.
"Drink this tea, girl." Sigyn spun on the bed, startled, to find an impressive woman standing in the doorway.
"Drink this tea, girl." She repeated, as she sat on the edge of the bed and placed the cup gently to Sigyn's chapped lips. Sigyn was taken aback-mayhap because she was not expecting such gentleness from the woman…or mayhap because of late gentleness had been to far out of reach in the weeks spent in the frozen wasteland of Loki's ice keep.
The tea tasted bitter and she nearly spit it out, but some form of courtesy imbedded deep inside her prevented her from the rude gesture.
It was a pleasant surprise when the warmth of the tea spread inside her. She almost felt like her old self.
"This is Elder Root. If brewed correctly it can cure any ail, Lady Sigyn."
How did the woman know her name? Sigyn assumed that she must be some accomplice of Loki's…but then again, Sigyn had assumed that Loki had no accomplices at all, and that he was always alone in his ice keep.
"I am Arnlaug…you are safe here girl. You are safe indeed." Sigyn nodded and spoke out loud without helping herself.
"Where is Loki?" the woman cackled and then screeched. This alarmed Sigyn.
"Concerned for the Iceling, eh? Well you need not to. He is gone on some errands. He will return," Sigyn nodded again and sank back to the pillows.
Loki surveyed the city around him from where he stood in his vantage point, hidden underneath Sigyn's black cloak, of which magic he had been able to re-apply. The city around him bustled with life and laughter and zeal. The idiots did not know of the sinister occurrences that were taking place in their very Asgardia.
He had looked all day for any signs of disturbances and yet had found nothing. Had Hemidall said naught to the All-Father? Why weren't the city guards garrisoned and ready for an onslaught?
The only reason he could think of such was that mayhap the All-Father were planning to claim the girl personally.
He had been previously the All-Father's great libraries, to look for a way in which he could separate the power from the host Sigyn and yet he had found nothing at all…at least nothing that boded well for Sigyn.
Sigyn would fade, he reasoned, with or without the power inside her. There was no way for him to safely liberate her…and yet this was a life that he did not want on his conscience, either way.
There was only one thing left to it. He would have to request and audience with Odin himself. He was not one to delve into something blindly and not one to foolishly hope. Yet, he hoped that the All-Father had a way to save Sigyn.
The reasoning behind such blind fate…mayhap, he reasoned, he had grown to the presence of Sigyn. Mayhap, he reasoned to himself, he didn't care to have his property damaged.
It confused him, this thing called sentiment.
Sitaan readied himself, as soon as Morgana had come to him with news that Sigyn had reappeared in one of her mirrors, with the Casket's power apparent in her aura. He readied himself to go and get her for himself.
The plan had finally come to full circle. The power would be his to dominate and now he could rule over Muspelheim, he could finally destroy the fires around him with the never ending ice. Not even his father, Surtur, would stop him.
All would bow before him. He would take all the realms and leave Asgard…the great golden Asgard for last. He would take everything. He would be conqueror, the greatest all the realms had ever seen and he would crush all those who stood before him.
He hated having to rely on that little girl so much…he hated the little girl.
He was a man that believed in fate, and he believed now that it was fated that he became ruler.
All that was left…all that was left now was little Sigyn.
"This is of great importance-I demand entry!" he reasoned that he could either go to the All-Father as a concerned citizen, or as a prisoner. Either would suffice as long as he gained and audience. The guards eventually relented and half-dragged him to the A—Father's oddly empty hall.
Loki stood there, in the presence of the All-Father and his beloved golden son, Thor.
"I am told that you are burdened with grievous purpose, so speak quickly." Odin spoke in his fatherly tone that rung with obvious authority.
"I am Loki, of Jotunheim," at this the guards around the hall stiffened, and Thor's grip tightened around his hammer's handle.
"Are you not to diminutive to be a frost giant?" Thor spoke his disbelief in his arrogant, deep voice that made Loki's insides lurch with irritation.
"We all have flaws, my good thunderer, and this one is mine-you see, I was born…malformed, for a frost giant." This seemed to chastise Thor, at least a little.
"I have heard of you from Hemidall." Loki gestured with his hands and bowed low. "Your purpose is known to me." Thor looked at his father, and then at Loki, his brilliant blue eyes opening wide,
"This is the one? Tell us now! Where is the Casket?" Loki produced the casket out of thin air.
"I fear that this is the casket. I fear that there is much I must explain to you." Odin looked on to Loki sombrely, all his millennia of age showing on his face.
"Come forth to my study."
And things be set into motion! Stay tuned for more :-)