The sound of knocking on their chamber doors eventually woke Sigyn from her light sleep. Loki's arm was draped over waist, and held her close to him. She nudged him with her elbow, causing him to bolt upright and clutch his face in shock.
"Loki?" She whispered, bring the blankets up to cover herself.
"Put on your nightdress." He muttered, climbing out of the bed, "They've come for us. I suspect Theoric has returned from his camping trip." Loki smirked as he pulled on his trousers, Sigyn averted her eyes and picked up the flimsy nightdress she had forgotten to put on the previous night. of course, they'd had little need for clothes, but she was already feeling self-conscious in his company.
"Quicker, I wouldn't doubt them to march in here themselves." Loki hissed, he was already fully clothed and Sigyn could only stare in awe at how quickly he had gotten dressed. She suspected he'd had more practice than she, well he had obviously had more practice. Last night had been enough to convince her of that and she began to blush. "And, pretend to sleep. Now." Loki pointed at the pillows and then back at her.
She had slipped the nightdress over her head just in time, and her head hit the pillow just seconds before the door burst open. She pretended to bolt up in shock as the guards entered the room.
"Lady Sigyn, Prince Loki, the king requests your presence immediately." The first guard recited. he gave Loki a shifty look and Sigyn gulped in fear. What if they knew she had willingly spent the night with him? That much they could probably tell though, she assumed her hair was a mess, her face too and even the room. Suddenly she felt nervous and wanted nothing more than to blend in with the walls.
when the guards didn't leave Sigyn began to grow confused, she clutched the blanket to her and shot a worried glance at Loki.
"Could you please excuse us, guards? I believe my wife would like to dress in something more proper before we meet the Allfather." Sigyn could practically smell the silvery words, and the guards almost fell for it until they remembered a request from Odin himself.
"Allfather insisted we do no leave you to be alone. So that none of your magic is to be performed."
Sigyn and Loki both frowned, turning to each other at the exact same time. Loki pressed a hand to his forehead and cursed under his breath, he turned his back before placing a beautiful metallic green dress in front of her.
His colour.
A smile rose to her face as he held the blanket up enough so the guards could not see her naked form, he made sure not to look at her in case they thought he was performing some sort of magic to make her agree with everything he said. Maybe the Allfather thought that she had been roped into his tricks via a spell, not that Sigyn may actually harbour affection for his youngest son. But then again, judging by Loki's track record Odin had every right to be wary.
The dress fit nicely, and it was then that Sigyn realized that in order for him to have dresses made in her size, he must have been planning this for a long time. Longer than she had at first thought anyway. She would ask him some other time, right now they were wanted at the hall. The fate of her marriage was resting in Odin's hands.
"Loki Odinsson, Prince of Asgard." Odin's voice echoed through the royal hall.
Sigyn and Loki were huddled together on the bottom step to the throne, their hands were entwined and his head was held high. Thor stood a few steps up from them, so far he hadn't looked at his brother. The warriors Three were also there, they stood close to Thor and rolled their eyes as soon as Loki had stepped into the room.
Margit, his betrothed, looked like a woman possessed, her hair was untamed (Though Sigyn couldn't say much, her hair must have been more dishevelled than she cared to imagine, but she had good reason to look like that), her eyes were wide and she shot Sigyn a glare. If looks could kill, Sigyn was sure she would be on her way to Valhalla by now.
Frigga stood by Odin, in her permanent place to the left of him. They painted the picture of the perfect eternal marriage and Sigyn found herself hoping her own would mirror theirs, but that all depended on whether Odin would have the marriage annulled.
Sigyn's family were also there, Njord looked as if he had aged more in the past hours than he had aged in the past few centuries. Sjofn and Syn looked horrified, almost jealous as they stared at Sigyn and Loki's held hands. Nanna was shaking her head repeatedly, probably mumbling something about how stupid Sigyn could act.
And then there was Freyja, who looked nothing short of content. Her face was vacant much like her eyes, it was as if she noticed nothing wrong. She was impassive, as always.
Theoric was standing by a fellow Hawk, no matter what he still stood tall, proud and handsome. His face turned to Sigyn's with a pleading look. She had no idea if she should say something, stare back or turn away. Her heart began to beat faster and faster when Theoric did not turn her gaze and she desperately fought the urge to say anything, but luckily she was saved by the sound of Odin once more.
"Your tricks have taken a sour turn, my son." Odin's voice remained calm and collected, but his authority was apparent, so much that it made Sigyn shudder, "You have made a fool of both families, what do you have to say for yourself?
"I.." Sigyn felt herself go stiff as Loki stammered, it was as if he couldn't speak. Had his silver tongue failed him?
No, she told herself not to be stupid. His words never failed him.
"I will not apologize, Allfather."
Sigyn spotted Theoric step forward out of the corner of her eyes, Njord too began to walk forward and soon she felt his hand upon her shoulder, pulling here away from Loki.
"Odin, my old friend, I beg of you. Annul this marriage." Njord pleaded,
"Aye, Allfather, it is not to be." Theoric countered, she saw his Hawk friends nodding their heads in agreement and she began to feel sick for the second time in two days. "I am to marry Sigyn, and Prince Loki to marry the Lady Margit, is that not what was agreed?"
Sigyn felt the urge to hit Theoric. His stupid words. His stupid beliefs. He did not even think of Sigyn as his equal, she was just to stay in his house and bear his children. In his eyes, women had no other use. The thought of spending her life with that brought back all the pent up rage she thought had disappeared when she had seen Loki stood in the doorway the previous night. She could either cry out or stay silent and hope that things would go in her favour.
"Ah, that all depends if the Lady Margit will take back the Prince of Trickery, does it not?" Freyja, Sigyn's mother had now taken her place next to Sigyn, completely blocking her from Loki. She fought the urge to bang her head against the wall, this had turned from a discussion of her marriage to a place to discuss feelings.
"Lady Margit, would you be happy to marry the Prince after his deceiving tricks?" Odin asked, he turned his eye from Loki to Margit, it was as if he was too fearful to take his eye from Loki for even one moment in case he pulled another stunt.
"Yes, my king." She sniffed back tears, Sigyn wanted to slap her, she could see the lies she told through her eyes. She did not want him for love, only power. That seemed to be obvious to only Sigyn and no one else. "I would gladly take back my dearest Prince."
"Then so it shall be, we shall undo the bond and Sigyn and Loki shall be free to marry their betrothed. Loki, my son, shall also be punished for his foolery."
And then Sigyn could hold it in no longer, she abandoned her usual quiet nature and took a step forward, for once in her life she felt bold and ready to take hold of the reigns, "Am I not allowed to have a say in my marriage?"
Odin look taken aback for a few moments before he leaned forward in his throne, his voice was kind, "Little Lady Sigyn, what do you wish to say?"
"I wish.." She began, taking in a deep breath as she closed her eyes, she felt small once more and wanted to vanish, "I wish to be married to Loki."
She felt Njord's eye burning holes into her head as she spoke, she bowed her head and felt someone take her hand, she turned her head and smiled as discretely she could as Loki stood next to her.
"And you, son?"
"I wish to be married to Lady Sigyn."
"And pray tell me, my boy, why should I respect your wishes when you clearly do not respect those of others?"
"If I cannot sway you, father, then I beg mother, understand."
Frigga simply shook her head, causing Loki to lift Sigyn's hand towards his chest as he cursed silently.
"Come, Sigyn, we will take you home and we can arrange for the annulment tomorrow, you have had a long day already." Theoric stepped forward, offering his hands out for Sigyn to take. When she did not move he took more steps forward, his fellow Hawks following behind.
Sigyn felt as though she could burst into tears as she gripped tightly to Loki's hands, and like the hero he truly was, Thor stepped in front of them. She hadn't even hear him move closer, but as she saw the back of his fine armour she knew just how deep his love for his brother went.
"Father, I beg of you. Listen to your son, this is not his silver tongue."
Odin nodded his head, motioning for Thor to continue,
"I can see his affection. This would have happened if it was not written by The Fates, this was intended by powers greater than even you, Father."
"She only wishes to be wed for his riches!" Margit cried, burying her face in her hands,
"And pray tell, Lady Margit, why do you wish to wed the prince?" Finally her mother had come to her rescue, Sigyn bit her lip to stop a laugh from escaping. Margit did not reply and Loki gave Sigyn's hand a squeeze of comfort. "I, Freyja, Goddess of Love, know their marriage to be decided by The Fates. I am the foreseer of love, I could not lie about such things."
"In The Fates, you say?" Odin asked, Freyja nodded in reply and stood her ground. Sigyn had never felt so much love for her mother. "I cannot argue with the Norns, if it is they who decided it cannot be undone."
"What?" Theoric and Margit both cried, staring in shock and horror at Odin, "It cannot be!"
"The threads have been crossed, and I cannot be the one to untangle them."
"And Mother, Father, I will not beg of you, but.." Thor had once again began speaking, his hands gestured wildly towards Sigyn and Loki. "Bless them, bless your son and his bride. Accept them. I love my brother more dearly than I can say, I do not wish to see his first act of honesty be shunned upon. We owe him more than that."
Both parents nodded their heads in unison, Freya bowed her head as Odin began to speak, "And so it shall be, I, Odin of the Nine Realms, and Frigga, give you our blessing. As both rulers and parents, Prince Loki, and Princess Sigyn."
Loki's smile grew wide, he immediately turned to Sigyn and slid his arms around her waist, lifting her into the air in triumph. He pressed a kiss to her lips and slowly spun her around, she could hear the laughter of Thor and the cheering of The Warriors Three, Freyja's light and pretty laugh could also be heard, as could Theoric's and Margit's wails of defeat.
But nothing could touch them now. It may not be love, but the bond Sigyn felt with Loki was special, that she knew.
"But, Loki, you must still be punished for your trickery."
Sigyn gulped and Loki winced, they pulled away from each other as he turned to face his father, the king. "Yes, father?"
"You are to be punished, you will be sent into the forest of Nidvallir until I see fit. Your new bride shall stay here and prepare for your return."
"No! Allfather, wait." Sigyn calmed her voice as Loki stared at her, almost in shock, "If Loki is to be sent to the forests, then I will join him. It is not fair that he should be punished for both of our choices. I wish to stay with my husband, I will not be parted from him. If he is to be punished, then so am I."
Odin began to smile, much to her shock and Sigyn took a few steps back into Loki's waiting arms.
"My dear, you would sacrifice your freedom to be with your husband?"
Sigyn nodded.
"You will make a fine goddess, the Goddess of fidelity and bonds. The most faithful in the nine realms, I bless you so."
Her mouth was agape, she felt Odin's magic begin to course through her veins as she stared at Loki. He had a smile on his face as she felt her skin begin to glow a glorious gold before settling back into the pinkish white.
She was a Goddess, so soon? Her husband was a god, yes. But she could only imagine herself as being merely Princess Sigyn, not Goddess of Fidelity. But she could not complain.
"And for your bond, I will not punish the either of you directly. I fear that eternity spent with my son will be punishment enough, Princess Sigyn." His eye widened as he turned to stare at his son, "And I fear that an eternity with a woman who does not fall for your tricks will be even more of a punishment."
Sigyn could feel the pride radiating from Loki, once again he picked her up, pressing their foreheads together before their lips; her body was crushed against his in the tightest embrace as he began to laugh, sweeping her off her feet. Literally.
I really don't like this chapter, but I've re-written it so many times now and it never gets any better, grrr.
The next chapter I like more, but this one had to be included! I think I'm turning Loki a little too soft, even though he is supposed to be that way (for now!) and Sigyn hasn't really got much of a character right now. I'm trying to picture how I see Sigyn, I don't really have like an actress in mind so if anyone has any suggestions then I'd love to know! I don't really know any 'modern' actresses names so she'll end up being some obscure model who was in vogue once in 1967, hah. And I really don't want that.
But thanks to those who've alerted and favourited this! It means a lot, I've had another few PMs so thank you all so much, I'd love to hear feedback and suggestions from you all. It all seems more involved then, you know?
And! Don't worry, we're nowhere near the end yet. Loki's still got to go off the deep end and try to take over the world, remember! But thank you all who've reviewed, for the last chapter and the whole story all together. x