Chapter 9: That Bastard
"Even if it was meant to be a surprise, any mother should want to hear of her son's betrothal from his own mouth."
"You have alienated yourself mother, and I can not be held responsible for that," Loki replied simply as he patted the corners of his mouth with a fine linen cloth.
Loki was playing his part in this charade perfectly. So well, that he nearly fooled even Sif.
Loki had been the last to show at dinner and had greeted his mother with a kiss to her cheek. When he'd turned to Sif and had kissed her, just the same, she had been a tiny bit stumped. In the brief moment his cool lips had touched her cheek, she had felt surprised by the gesture. He had done it as though it was the most natural thing to do.
But as his hand had ghosted over her's, Sif remembered the ring. The ring on her finger, wish had been forced. And the threats he held over her head like a pendulum. This was all just a farce and she could not let herself forget that.
Yet she also remembered that he had let her sleep on his shoulder just hours earlier. For that reason, she avoided his curious gaze religiously. Sif had never in her life been so opposed looking directly into the eyes of another person.
Embarrassment. That was the most prominent emotion Sif felt when she would make the mistake of locking eyes with Loki. At first, she had not immediately been able to identify the emotion that'd swelled in her chest. She could only think of how she had slept against him and how he had let her. How like a woman of her! Not only was it a blow to her pride but also her womanhood. Never in her life had Sif ran into the arms of a man for comfort. She hadn't ran to anyone's arms for comfort.
Only once her cheeks had gone hot did Sif realize she was mortified. She could not stand to think of how weak she must seem in his eyes.
Meeting Frigga's eyes was another thing entirely. Sif had always liked Frigga. Always. Even back when Sif had just been a little girl and Frigga had seemed so grand and elegant that she had intimidated Sif. Still she had liked Frigga and wanted the All-mother to like her in return.
But Sif didn't feel guilty because she liked Frigga. It was because she respected Frigga.
Although unwilling, she was, Sif was still playing along in Loki's charade as his betrothed. She could see how happy it made Frigga. Although she fussed over having been excluded from their engagement, Sif could see Frigga was happy her son was to be married.
But it was a farce and Sif felt guilty for playing along.
So Sif had spent a large part of the meal with her eyes glued to the dinning plate before her. It was empty now and had been so for some time. Now that she had nothing to keep herself diverted, she wished she had eaten slower. She did not know exactly what to do with herself. Her meal had been the only thing distracting her from the other two people in the room.
"You guard him like a sentry. And I would rather you did not spend all of your time at his bedside. He does not need your protection, that's what the guards are for. Our enemies will target Odin, and I don't want you putting yourself at risk."
"Oh," his mother scoffed with a smile. "I can take care of myself-" Frigga began to brush off his worries.
"Mother," his tone was suddenly serious. Noticing a change in the atmosphere, Sif's eyes finally drew away from her plate and danced between Loki and Frigga.
"I do not want you in there."
Despite her better judgment, Sif allowed herself to openly stare at Loki with interest. She found his persistance strange. Why was he being so adamant about this?
An uncomfortable silence fell over the three of them and Sif took an uneasy sip of her wine.
"You know," Loki began in a lighter tone, combing back his inky hair though it had never been out of place. "The All Father is not the only one who is in need of you. Actually Sif was just saying she would need help arranging the wedding ceremony." Sif's eyebrows flew up as Frigga turned to regard Sif with interest. "Isn't that right Sif?"
She felt pinned beneath both of their gazes and fought the urge to tug at her suddenly restricting collar. Loki gave her a meaningful look as they both waited, and Sif felt heat once again rise in her face. She resented Loki a bit more for placing her in this situation.
"Ah, yes," she slowly nodded and turned her attention to Frigga. "We plan to have the wedding soon in fact." Was that even true? She knew nothing of when and where they would wed. Sif sucked in a breath realizing she had thought the word when not if. Goodness, was this really going to happen?
"Well, I hope not too soon!" Frigga exclaimed then sent her son an admonishing look. "Loki, you really should have told me. I hadn't even known when the two of you were courting."
"We weren't." Sif injected sharply, before she could stop herself. She didn't even know why she'd said it, and so abruptly. It was just something she could not keep inside. She supposed she just wanted it to be clear, Loki had not asked to court her.
Frigga's eyes snapped to Sif and Loki gave her a disbelieving look behind Frigga's turned head. She sent him a thin smile. She wasn't even sorry.
Frigga regarded them both with a somewhat perplexed expression. "Then tell me, how did this relationship come about?"
Sif decided now was a good time to take another sip of her wine.
Loki quickly recovered and responded without falter. "We had a mutual agreement that we keep our involvement a secret."
"Don't be coy now. I'll admit I am intrigued but also a bit exasperated. Why keep it a secret? What have you to hide?"
"Now you are just probing for details."
"Hardly. The cause of a hasty marriage is no great mystery." Frigga slowly smirked as though she were in on some sort of secret. Sif blinked in confusion and her eyes shifted from Frigga to Loki.
Loki had paused, his fork suspended between his thin fingers, before he startled Sif and laughed.
"Ehehehe!"
The laugh had made Sif jump because it seemed so genuine and earnest. With his face turned up like that, all happy and amused, he nearly looked endearing. It gave Sif chills to see him in this light. She also felt left out from whatever delightful joke Frigga and Loki were sharing. The cause of a hasty marriage is no great mystery? Sif didn't underst...oh? Oh!
Sif was suddenly glad she had finished her meal because her appetite had quite unexpectedly vanished. The very idea of carrying Loki's child was enough to make her stomach churn.
Before Sif could tell herself not to do it, her eyes flashed to Loki. And of course he was looking right at her, his face full of amusement. If Sif didn't know any better, she would say he was feeding off of her discomfort.
"Well I thought I should ask," Frigga was smiling at her son as his chuckles trailed off. "You would tell me that at least wouldn't you?"
"Why not ask Sif," he motioned towards Sif as brought his fork back down to his plate, containing his smirk. "She's hardly said a word all evening." Sif gave Loki a frosty look.
"Oh, leave her be." Frigga reached over to pat Sif's hand comfortingly, her blue eyes glowing with sympathy. "She's just worried for her Gatekeeper."
The amusement in Loki's eyes quite suddenly vanished, as though it had never even been there. Her Gatekeeper. He had caught that. She avoided Loki's suspicious eyes and turned to Frigga and smiled while silently begging her to move away from this subject matter. But she didn't.
"Let us hope he returns before-" Sif had to stop her. What was she going to say? Before he is to be uncle?
"He will," Sif interrupted, feeling rude for doing it. But Loki was not privy to that information. She smiled then and shifted her gaze to Loki pointedly. "He will return."
Frigga gave Sif a look of understanding as a servant came to refill their drinks. Already Loki's eyes were suspicious, as they danced between Sif and his mother like he knew she was hiding something.
"So Sif," Sif had been staring at Loki and quickly averted her attention back to Frigga. "What do you have in mind?"
Sif squinted in confusion, momentarily forgetting Loki, who was still rigid. "How do you mean?"
"What I mean is, what are your plans for the wedding?" Frigga chuckled, then her smiled dropped as her eyes grew in size. "Oh dear, you have started planning haven't you?"
"I don't think I have much time to plan a wedding," Sif replied honestly then added, "I would actually like most of it to be a surprise. "
"You let me take care of it then. There is much to do."
Sif nodded and smiled while avoiding Loki's eyes.
Their brief silence was suddenly shattered by loud shouting. The three Asgardians exchanged curious glances as the sounds of commotion filtered through the doors and into the room. Loki was beginning to stand when the double doors were shoved open to reveal a stoic sentry. Behind him, Sif could see other guards rushing past in the corridor.
She stood, too, suddenly alert.
"The dark elves approach."
XxX
"This is going to be messy," Balder commented, sizing up the elves off in the distance. Sif had to agree. Because of the recent rain, the ground was still wet and soft. She felt her horse shuffle beneath her, agitated by the unpleasant mud beneath her hooves. This would be a messy fight indeed.
The air was so still that Sif could not feel even the slightest tickle of wind and the humidity was making her sweat from inside her helm and causing stray hairs stick to her neck. To keep her hair from being a nuisance, Sif had fastened her raven tresses into a single long braid down her back. Yet still it felt like a big warm bundle on the back of her neck, making her clammy and hot.
She patted her mare's neck, letting her know she was not the only one uncomfortable, as Sif scrutinized the long line of dark elves far off in the distance. The elves had paused in their approach and Sif wondered why that was.
Balder, Brunnhilde and Sif were positioned at the front of the formation, the Valkyrior and Asgardian sentries lined in rows behind them. It had not taken long to assemble their men and women. They had been preparing for this, for Sif knew the dark elves would come and they would not come barreling over the hills as the trolls had. Each Valkyrior and Asgardian knew the clear threat the dark elves presented and had been hasty to take their positions.
This wouldn't be like fighting the trolls. Already the elves had proven their intelligence by chosing to make their assault under the cover of nightfall. It was common knowledge that the dark elves favored the night and the night favored them. The race of dark warriors seemed to nearly merge with the shadows, making them just barely visible. Added to that, the horizon was blanketed in fog...well the elves held the clear advantage. If it were not for the moonlight, the dark elves would remain entirely obscured.
"Ladies, on my word-" Brunnhilde began, her voice ringing clear.
"Wait," Sif interjected holding up a single hand. "Let me speak with them." Brunnhidle did not question Sif and ordered her women to hold, before giving Sif a curious glance.
Balder spoke up from beside Sif as she dismounted from her horse. "Sif, you can not go alone-" When Balder suddenly went silent, Sif glanced in his direction. His head was turned to look behind them, where the other warriors were parting to make way for a horse. Sif immediately recognized the rider by the curled horns of his helm. He soon reached the head of the formation, and swiftly dismounted.
"Have your archers ready," Sif told Brunnhilde, and she nodded in return.
"Be careful," Balder advised before Sif set off in Loki's direction. As she approached Loki, she took notice of his armor. Unlike his usual attire, his defined arms were left bare. Sleeveless. Sif thought it was a foolish idea to leave his flesh unprotected like that but then she thought of how hot she felt beneath the leather and metal armor that covered her own arms.
Sif reached Loki just as he was removing his golden helmet, and assumed he had the same intentions as she. He carried the Odinspear horizontally in his right fist, holding it like it had always been his. Their eyes connected and Sif immediately knew they were on the same page. They both set off towards the dark elves silently.
"Now would be a good time to put that silver tongue to use," Sif murmured, as they traveled across the broad expanse between the Asgardians and the dark elves.
"I very much doubt a few words will stop Malkeith's army," he replied.
She shot him a confused look. "Then what are we doing?" He did not answer. Maybe because they were now in hearing distance of the elves. Maybe he just chose to ignore her, but either way Sif was left feeling uneasy.
As they reached the elves, Sif noticed many of the warriors begin to fidget in anticipation of a fight. Their ashen faces were mere shadows, but their eyes glinted dangerously under the moonlight. Sif fought the urge to reach for her sword.
"Stand down," the leader of the elves barked at his men. His shoulders seemed a bit broader then all the others, and although the dark elves were already a tall race, he also seemed even larger. The younger warrior beside him, seemed to deflate by the command, and sheathed his sword in a single jerky motion. Sif assumed he was second in command.
"I hope you have not come to make negotiations," the large elf addressed Loki, in a stoic voice. Sif stared at the dark elf feeling she knew who he was though she was sure she had never set eyes upon him. His face was not only aged but it was a canvas of scars. This was the face of a warrior that had seen a lifetime of war. This is Algrim the Strong, Sif realized! Second only to Malkeith himself. "You know what we are here for."
"And you know the consequences of such an action," Loki replied levelly. His gaze flickered over the formation of dark elves. "I would think you and your people would have learned from their mistakes."
The dark elf's scarred face remained stony but the young elf beside him bristled. Sif wondered how the impetuous child even held such rank. Maybe he was Algrim's son. Or even Malkeith's. Either way, she doubted he had earned his title. "I have been given orders and am duty bound to follow them, Odinson."
The younger elf at his side suddenly cut in. "Surely this can not be the son of Odin!" He exclaimed, throwing his arms out with grandeur. A cocky smile was forming across his dark lips.
Sif frowned and Loki tilted his head in the young elf's direction.
"There is tell of a young prince who took his brother's woman to his own bed." Sif's hand had subconsciously lowered itself to the hilt of her sword. She could feel Algrim becoming edgy also, despite his stoic face. The youth was attempting to bait Loki. The young dark elf threw Sif a look, and she felt he knew exactly who she was. "And after that he took his brother's thrown." He turned his dark gaze back to Loki.
"Are you that prince?"
The bait had been laid. Sif' eyes flew to Loki and she wasn't sure what she had expected to see. Maybe outrage or disbelief. Sif, personally, was about ready to send her fist flying into the cocky elf's mouth. Instead she saw calm.
"I have no reason to reward the accusations of a child." Loki tossed the young elf an unimpressed glance, and Sif could feel the elf grow more agitated. Loki's attention quickly returned to Algrim. "I come to you as a King not a prince. And as King of this realm I must ask. Are you prepared for the deaths that will follow should you attack these walls? Are you willing to sacrifice the lives of your warriors all for a grudge your King holds against my father? Because when you fail, you will be shown no mercy."
Algrim's eyes seemed to waver momentarily. Sif could see in his eyes that he didn't want to sacrifice lives. "We have only come for Odin. No matter how old this feud may be, he must pay for his sins against our race." Algrim's chin lifted slightly. "The price we ask is his life and his alone." Sif glanced from Algrim to Loki. Was he insinuating that they allow the elves to take Odin? "Like you, I do not wish to shed unnecessary blood."
"Enough of this!" The younger elf roared, gaining their attention. He unsheathed his sword, his grayish face turned down in a snarl. "We have come to fight and I will not stand for any less!"
"No," Loki hissed as the young elf lunged forward to strike. Loki stepped to the side, swiftly moving out of the young warrior's path.
"You will kneel."
Bringing the Odinspear around, he smashed it against the back of the dark elf's legs with such force it brought him to his knees. The young elf groaned, his elbows and knees planted in the mud at a painful angle. The sounds of swords being unsheathed, told Sif the dark elves were finished with talking.
"If you wish to take the All-father's life..." Loki said, turning his attention to Algrim.
"We do," Algrim said gravely as he lifted his own spear.
"Then you will to have to fight for it." Without warning Loki slammed the Odinspear into the ground and the air changed around them. It was suddenly less murky...the fog was gone. Whatever spell Loki had cast, would help the Asgardians. Now that the dark elves were no longer shrouded in fog, they were a great deal more visible.
Sif had been preparing to help Loki fight Algrim and did not see the young elf rising for the ground. When he swung his broad sword for her neck, it was too late to attempt at blocking the fatal blow.
Seemingly from thin air, a long arrow embedded itself in the elf's neck. Whichever archer who had been watching over Sif was very precise. It was an exact shot, and stuck straight through the side of his throat. There was no need for Sif to finish him off; he was dead before his body touched the ground.
Sif needed no further prompt as she swiftly brought her metal helm from it's place tucked beneath her arm and yanked it on.
The battle had started.
Sif unsheathed her broad sword and pulled her shield from her back as another warrior charged towards her. She dug her heels into the ground and lifted her shield just in time to deflect his oncoming blade. Her boots were pushed backwards in the mud from the sheer force of the blow. As Sif shielded herself, the battle cries of her fellow warriors and shield maidens rang in her ears from across the field. The sound was followed by thudding hooves.
Without warning, the elf brought his leg around to knock her from her feet. Sif managed to dodge the attack and the warrior's foot fell into the mud, leaving his side open. Sif didn't hesitate to drive her sword between his ribs.
Blood spilled from the wound as Sif yanked her weapon from her enemy. The strike had brought him to his knees and with a swift blow from her shield, he was finished.
And already another warrior was coming towards her. She ducked beneath him, using his momentum to her advantage and flipped him onto his back. Both warriors grappled in the mud for a moment before Sif was able to take the upper hand. Shoving her knee down on his throat, she sank her sword into his chest, exactly where she knew his heart was.
Sif's ears were suddenly filled with the sounds of clashing swords, roars, cries and the sound of her own blood pulsing in her temples. As she reached to retrieve her shield from where it had fallen, she glanced around at the ongoing battle while also, though unknowingly, searched for Loki. The Asgardians had reached them and now a full scale battle was underway.
But she did not see Loki.
She felt he was there, though. She noticed a dark elf seem to collapse without any cause at all, falling face first into the mud. Then she noticed the gleaming dagger, wedged in the side of his neck gushing with blood.
He was here. He may have been under the covering of some sort of spell, but he was here taking down their enemies silently and with precision.
The battle stretched on into the night and one by one, the elves fell. As Sif plowed through her opponents she wondered; Why did they still fight? Sif did not actually see Loki until, at one point, she found herself struggling to fend off two elves at once. When one of the elves had knocked her sword from her grip, she was forced to rely on her shield only.
The other elf lunged for Sif, sword swinging. Sif blocked a few swipes with her shield before pivoting on her heel so that she dodged his hit, bringing her body behind his. She quickly climbed up his back, like she were mounting a horse, and her unexpected weight sent him stumbling to the ground. Now on his back, Sif coiled her bicep beneath his throat and snapped his neck.
Sif had not forgotten the second elf and looked over her shoulder just as he was descending upon her. She wouldn't have time to lift he shield and deflect the blow. His blade was inches from her throat when his body was literally blasted sideways. His singed body toppled across the mud before going still. Sif eyes moved in bewilderment from the elf's now smoking body, to source of the blast.
Loki. He stood a few yards away, the Odinspear still fisted in his grip and in his other hand he held her sword. She did not have time to examine the fact that he had just saved her life. Instead she gave him a grateful look as he threw the sword to her and she caught it deftly.
Then he was gone.
It wasn't until the sun slowly began to peek over the horizon, that the battle finally came to a close. The remaining small amount of elves left standing were allowed to retreat back into the dark world they had emerged from. In the days that followed the battle they would collect their dead, and pay their respects. But on this day they had met clear defeat.
Bodies upon bodies were left in the aftermath of the battle. Not all of them belonging to the elves. Some faces were familiar and belonged to the women she had trained with, and fought with. But each warrior had died a honorable death and their souls would be escorted into the gates of Valhalla. Many of their warriors were left wounded, and were escorted back to the palace while other's went to prepare the incineration ceremony.
Sif kneeled before the body of a Valkyrior and brushed her grimy hand softly across the woman's eyelids, closing them. It appeased Sif only slightly to know the woman had died a warrior's death, and her soul was at peace now. Sif still grieved their losses.
She stood as two women swooped in to carry the body away.
"You are hurt," a voice said from beside her and Sif lifted her head and there was Loki.
He was mounted atop his horse but she couldn't see his expression. With the sun rising behind him, he was a silhouette, the curled horns of his helmet creating a black arch.
Like many others, Sif hadn't made it through the battle entirely unscathed, but her injuries were very minor. "There are others much worse off then I," she spoke as she tugged her sword from where she had stabbed it into the ground and went to walk forward.
His horse trotted in front of her, blocking her path. Now that the sun was no longer behind him, she could see Loki clearly. For a moment she tried to understand why he did not have a spec of mud on him. Not even a drop of blood. Was he that clean a fighter? The night he had returned from Jotunheim he had been covered in blood. Not for the first time, Sif speculated; what exactly had happened on that night?
"I'll take you to a healer."
"I may dirty your horse," Sif warned as he held his clean palm out to her.
"Come."
With reluctance she took it and pulled herself up behind him on the horse. As they trotted in the direction of the palace, Sif's eyes turned back to the aftermath of the battle and what was left in it's wake.
They were only following orders. So many lives and so much blood had been waisted, all for nothing. It saddened Sif to see an entire race of warriors doomed by their reckless leader. Should Thor have assumed the throne that could have been us. The thought came unbidden and Sif immediately chastised herself. Thor was reckless but he would never do something like this.
"This isn't over, is it?" Sif asked, turning back in the saddle. The elves would come back with larger numbers and with help.
"No. It's not."
The rest of the day was spent in quiet recovery and preparation of the ceremony that was held that evening. When night fell the procession began and the bodies were given due respect. Words were spoken over the flames that engulfed the brave warrior's bodies and Brunnhidle proclaimed that their souls would live on and enter the gates of Valhalla. Frigga was there too, huddled next too Sif within a thin a black cloak and staring at the fire with a look of mourning. Loki stood at the other side of Frigga, having said a few words himself.
Afterwards a feast was held in celebration of their victory, but Sif wasn't in much of a mood to rejoice. When Balder attempted to include Sif in their merry making she only sent him a half hearted smile and covered the top of her wine glass when a servant came by to refill it. It was only when a group of musicians began to play music, did Sif's spirits finally lift and she joined Balder in a few silly dances.
Sif noticed Loki slip past a cluster of Asgardians and out of the great hall. She found herself following him out into the empty corridor and away from the noisy celebrations. She caught a glimpse of his lanky form stalking down the dim corridor before the darkness swallowed him up. She wondered where he was off to. Perhaps he wasn't in much of a mood to celebrate like herself. Deciding it wasn't much of a concern to her, she turned back and joined her comrades in celebration.
XxX
When Sif returned to her chambers that night, she was exhausted and nearly did not see the lithe form perched on her bed.
"How did you like your gift?" Sif nearly groaned as she removed her shoes. The day had been long enough and now she had to deal with Loki's female counterpart.
"It wasn't yours to give," Sif replied as she unfastened her fine black chiton at her neck. Shucking off the garment, she regarded Amora with weary eyes. She lay draped over Sif's bed, with her arms behind her head and the filmy material of her emerald bodice leaving very little to the imagination.
"Perhaps not but what does it matter," Amora shrugged sitting up and folding her long legs and bare feet beneath her. Sif had to appreciate the fact that Amora had the decency to remove her shoes before climbing into Sif's bed. "I have provided you with the tools you need," she motioned towards the sword that sat undisturbed against Sif's bed. "Now you may go to work."
"This isn't a tool, it's a weapon," Sif lifted the sword from where it rested against her bed post and tossed it to the sorceress. "And I will not use it against Loki."
Amora caught the sword by the hilt and gave Sif an unimpressed look as Sif pulled the band from her hair and let it tumble down her back in raven waves. "The Sword of Frey is capable of much more then piercing a heart."
Sif froze in combing her hands through her hair and turned to face Amora. Had she just said the Sword of Frey? Amora tossed the sword back and Sif caught it deftly. She now regarded the seemingly plain sword in shock. "Last I heard, the Sword of Frey was in the hands of…the bringer of the light." Her eyes widened and flew to Amora. "This is Balder's sword!"
Amora only smiled. "And now that you have the power of Frey...I wonder what you will do with it." The Sword of Frey was capable of many things. It was said that the sword was even capable of wielding itself without the hand of a swordsman. But most importantly, it could open the gateways between worlds.
Sif stared at the sword a moment longer before shaking her head as a realization washed over her. "Nothing. There is nothing I can do without Loki releasing the Destroyer upon Midgard. If Loki commands the metal beast, there will be no stopping it."
"Are you sure about that?" Amora asked her doll-like eyes twinkling.
"Yes," Sif regarded Amora with confusion. "The Destroyer is an unstoppable force…unless you have something to share with me." Sif gave the blond woman a narrowed look.
"Sif, who commands the destroyer?" Amora asked, standing and advancing towards her slowly.
"As I have just stated, Loki does." She hesitated in thought. "And Odin too." Maybe Frigga as well? She wasn't sure.
"That is because the Destroyer obeys the ruler of Asgard," Amora gave Sif a pointed look but Sif didn't see where she was going. After a pause Amora sighed in exasperation. "When you marry Loki, that will also be you."
Sif gasped in understanding as Amora swooped in on Sif and grasped her by the shoulders. "Without the Destroyer, Loki can not stop you from retrieving your gatekeeper."
Sif shook her head. "You are wrong. Loki will know what I am up to. This ring," she held up her finger, "It is his way of tracking me." And not to mention Sif couldn't even cross over into a separate realm from Loki without enduring unimaginable pain.
"Don't worry about Loki," Amora waved off Sif worries as she pulled away. "Let us take care of him."
Sif eyes turned to slits and she titled her head down. "Us?"
Amora went silent a moment and Sif placed her hands on her hips, now very suspicious. "Us? There is someone else?"
"It's not your concern. You need only worry about Heimdall," Amora said, her lips making a firm line.
"Not my concern?" Sif repeated in disbelief. "Who else is there?"
Amora didn't answer. She didn't want Sif to know. Maybe Skurge was helping Amora. If that was the case then Sif understood why Amora was keeping that information to herself. Skurge was a known enemy of Asgard, and minion of Amora. Or perhaps it was someone Sif already knew...
For whatever reason, Amora was keeping her mouth shut about it. Let us take care of him. Take care of him? That sounded a lot like Amora had plans for Loki and they wouldn't be pleasant. Would she go as far as to kill him? Her and her helper? Sif wasn't sure she was ready to risk it.
"You still havent told me where Heimdall is," Sif stated. "Or what is it you want with Loki. There is a much aren't telling me Amora. I'm not even sure who your allegiance is with."
"My allegiance is with myself," Amora said carefully.
Sif crossed her arms. "That's not enough for me."
Amora stared at Sif a long moment then smiled slowly. It was a charming smile but it still made Sif shiver. "Fine then," she shrugged. "Let me know if you change your mind." With that, a large funnell of black magic enveloped the Enchantress and she disappeared wholly.
Sif stared at the spot where Amora had been for a long time. Was this getting out of hand? Her eyes dropped down to the sword. If Amora had wanted to, she could have used that sword to open the gate and allow not only Skurge but whoever into Asgard. Sif was beginning to feel like she was no longer in control of this situation. She knew what she had to do and stood and left her chambers.
It was time to tell Loki.
When she reached his chambers her hands didn't hesitate to shove the doors wide open, the light from the corridor spilling into the dark room. Her eyes fell to the motionless form sprawled in the bed.
"Loki," Sif hissed at the lump amongst the heavy furs. For a moment he did not move then slowly threw a lazy arm up to cover what she thought was his head. Sif squinted in bewilderment at the bare arm and thought of how thin and undefined it was. Her eyes widened as she examined him more closely and the way his body was sprawled. Loki did not sleep like that.
Sif took as step back when a head of red curls raised itself from the bed, and the stranger peered at Sif through squinted eyes. A woman.
"Who's that?" She rasped, her voice clouded with sleep. Sif gaped at the woman, the very young woman, in Loki's bed. She looked barely out of her teen years, with plump little pink lips and still baby rounded cheeks. Still, the girl was undeniable pretty and with some age would be gorgeous.
The girls big blue eyes blinked rapidly as they adjusted to the light from the corridor. Was she addressing Sif? A glance around the empty room confirmed they were the only two here.
"Where is Loki?" Sif asked, her voice sounding demanding and maybe even a little irate.
"Loki..." The girl repeated, her wide eyes. Her mouth moved to form more words but then she stopped and her face took on a very vacant expression as she thought. Sif shook her head in disbelief. She had asked a very simply question. The girl had to know who's bed she resided in. Sif made the harsh decision that the girl must be dumb.
"Who are you?" Sif finally asked, her voice clearly indicating she was growing impatient, and placed her hands on her hips. Hopefully this question would be less complex.
Sif wasn't completely oblivious to the irrational reaction she was having to the girl in Loki's bed. Sif knew herself well enough to know it wasn't jealousy she felt. It was something else, undefinable. Something that was making her have very mean thoughts about the little harlot in Loki's bed.
"A concubine, by trade," the girl replied as she reached up to rub her eyes. "Sent by the Norn Queen as a gift."
Sif stared at her for a long moment, her mouth open. Her eyes traced over the girls ruby chemise that looked, in Sif's opinion, absolutely horrid with the girl's auburn head. Karnilla had sent this girl? This child? And as gift? Some sort of congratulations to Loki, no doubt. Congratulation on his ascension to the throne.
But what irritated Sif most was just looking at this girl in Loki's bed and knowing she had touched Loki...and he had touched her. It was disgusting! Revolting! What would have happened if Sif had walked in and caught them in the act of it? What would she have seen? She could not even imagine it! And at the same time she was having a difficult time not imagining it.
When the girl cleared her throat, Sif snapped out of whatever trance she had been in. The red head was now fully awake and regarded Sif with a wide eyed expression. Maybe she was just now realizing who Sif was because she looked a little frightened.
Stepping back Sif yanked the doors closed with a little more force then was necessary before stalking back towards her own chambers with a single thought in mind.
That bastard.
It was...it was disrespectful! Disrespectful to Sif, disrespectful to their impending marriage! Granted it was a farce, but just imagine if word got out that Loki had a concubine to satisfy his needs...they would think Sif incapable! Sif winced at the direction her thoughts were taking. She wasn't feeling herself at all.
Sif had half a mind to scream out Amora's name and exclaim 'I've changed my mind! He's yours to do with as you please!'
She was having a hard time placing her emotions as she slipped back into her empty chambers and went to her bed. She did not have any real claim on Loki and she did not want any claim over him. But there wa a tiny part of Sif that had been shocked to know Loki was with other women. How very arrogant of her to think he was attracted to only her. Well, that was assuming he was even attracted to her.
But the way his heart had hammered in his chest...
That bastard.
xXx
Sif didn't dream often. Maybe she did but just didn't remember them. Sif could not remember having such a vivid dream as she did that night.
Like most dreams it started somewhere in the middle. There was no build up. No explanation. But she did not need one because, as dreams went, everything made perfect sense yet no sense at the same time. She only knew she was underwater.
Sif's hands reached out of the water and connected with the brass lining of a tub. She used the sides of the tub to pull herself from the warm water, and sat up straight as water sloshed over it's edges. She pulled her knees to her chest and the caps of her knees poked from the water, glistening and steaming. As she rubbed the wetness from her eyes she felt a chill seeping in, like frigid water had just been poured in from behind her.
Her dream-self did not question the strange occurence, instead Sif closed her eyes knowing what the cold water meant. When a pair of hands slid over her shoulder, Sif only smiled and leaned back into the broad chest she had expected to be there. She didn't even jump when his chilly skin connected with hers.
She could feel him breathing softly behind her, his chest gently rising against her back. He was completely silent but she could feel his heart, like an erratic drum, beating it's way out of his chest. Unlike his lips, his heart never lied, and that was why she prefered him silent.
His hands traveled over her body nearly hesitantly, and she felt his mouth lower to her neck. When she gasped, she felt him grin against her skin before his mouth continued to movie along her neck.
Still he was silent.
It was strange how the smallest of details are what let someone know they are dreaming. When Sif caught a glance of her hand trailing over his tensed forearm she titled her head. Wasn't there supposed to be something there, on her finger? What was it?
There was actually something wrong with this entire picture, wasn't there?
Sif jumped when she felt him bite her neck, a little too roughly. She could feel a change in him. His hands were no longer gentle but groping as they grasped roughly at her flesh, making her wince. She began to shift in the cooling water, meaning to face him but his hand ceased her by the hair, and stopping her movements. Her hands went to the top of her head, where he clutched her tresses at the roots, not entirely gently.
"You're hurting me," she whispered, her voice seeming to travel through a warped tunnel before it reach her ears.
"Stop, you're hurting me Loki!" Panic finally colored her voice before he suddenly shoved her beneath the water, and proceeded to hold her there.
That was precisely when Sif woke, confused and aching. She couldn't exactly recall what the dream had entailed, just knew the lingering feelings it had left with her. Their had been a man. No a lover? She could not remember who that man had been. Was it Thor? Why was her heart climbing it's way out of her throat?
She messaged her pulsing temples and sighed. It was no use, she could not remember.
Feeling flushed, she pulled back the thick furs and sat at the edge over bed just allowing herself to fully wake. The small amount of sunlight filtering into her room, told Sif it was early morning. She stretched as she stood from the bed and went to run a cool bath. But when she stood before the long brass tube, she felt fragments, just small bits and pieces, trying to resurface. What was it about that tub that was making her think of Loki, of all people? She subconsciously took a backward step away from the tube, suddenly feeling a headache and decided not to take a bath.
When she turned around there was Loki, standing against the wall with his arms crossed. The ring would have alerted her to his presence if she weren't so out of sorts at the moment.
"My mother wants to take you into the city today," he said. Sif felt the irritation she had felt last night returning. She nearly asked if he had enjoyed his red-headed gift, but managed to contain herself.
"Oh, yes?" She asked cooly, brushing past him.
"When I spoke with her she seemed a little frazzled so you may want to hurry before she leaves without you," he said conversationally. Just to make a point to herself that she was not angry with him, Sif smiled, although tightly. She shouldn't be angry with him. "I'll be ready shortly," she said as she pulled on a robe.
Without warning his hand shot out to catch her by the shoulder and she gave him a disbelieving look.
"Who did this?" He whispered and Sif stared at him incredulously. A line was forming between his brows as his eyeswere trailed across her body. His gaze went to her face and saw her look of confusion.
Loki exhaled sharply as though she was aggravating him and shoved her towards her long mirror. She gawked at him a she stumbled forward and then gasped when he suddenly grabbed the sides of her robe and yanked them down her shoulders. Sif could hardly believe his nerve! She was about to give Loki an earful before she caught a glimpse of her reflection.
Her hands flew to her mouth at what she saw and the blood drained from her face.
...WHAT?
"Who did this?" He repeated, his hands still fisted around the edges of her robe. He stared at her reflection too, seeing what she saw.
She didn't know what to tell him. She didn't know how to explain the marks that covered her throat and chest. Were they bruises? They weren't like the marks Loki had left when he had ceased her by the throat. Her hand went up to brush the pink skin. It didn't hurt, really.
"I don't know," she whispered in honest bewilderment. She tugged at the material at her chest and saw something that looked very close to a hand mark covering the top of her breast and disappearing beneath her clothing.
"Who did this?" Loki shouted, his patience completely gone.
Sif's eyes flew to Loki, startled by his volume. His chest rose and fell rapidly and his mouth hung slightly agape as he waited for her reply. He was angry at her? "I just said, I don't-"
Then Sif realised.
Her eyes went back to her reflection and she realised how it looked. These were marks a lover would leave. Bite marks, lines in the shapes of fingers...the pink stains across her throat were in the distinct shape of a mouth and the ones across her chest...just like that, the dream came back to Sif. No longer in fragments but whole images. Her face turned red both from embarrassment and fury.
He had done this!
Like lightning, Sif's hand delivered a sharp slap to Loki's face. His head stayed bent to the side, in the direction she had struck him in and he glared in disbelief at her from underneath strands of black hair that had fallen into his eyes. He looked both infuriated and shocked that she would hit him. For a brief moment, no even a full second, Sif swore she thought she saw his eyes flash red.
"You are perverse," Sif spat yanking her robe back up. "You know who did this." How had he done it? She was sure it had been a dream! Was it some sort of trance he had placed her under? Another stupor?
He wiped his mouth as if he expected blood to be there. "He will hang for this," Loki whispered then turned on his heel.
Sif brows scrunched and she shook her head in bewilderment as he retreated from her chambers. "Who will?" She shouted at him.
"Your brave lover," he tossed over his shoulder before slamming the doors to her chambers shut behind him.
Sif shook her head as she tried to make sense of that last sentence; Brave Lover? Balder? Balder? What, NO!
Even if Balder had taken Sif to his bed, how dare Loki! Had Loki told Sif could not be with other men. He had never said that! If he wanted her to remain 'faithful', well, he had never made that clear. Before he had only seemed to care for his reputation. Yes she was bound to him, yes she was his betrothed but it was a farce. If Sif wanted to be with other men, why should it matter, just as long she kept it in private. It didn't matter though because Sif hadn't done anything wrong. As ridiculous as it sounded, she hadn't committed adultery or whatever it was Loki thought she was guilty of. Loki had done this to her. He had made these marks on her body. Hadn't he?
A while after he was gone Sif continued staring at her reflection just thinking, what just happened? He had to have done this. There was no other explanation for it. And then he blamed Balder for it? Why?
He was irrational! He was a hypocrite, that's what he was! A big fat hypocrite! Because it didn't matter how many marks covered her body, he was the one with the concubine!
He was making her crazy.
Sif could not stand to look at her reflection a moment longer and turned away. It unnerved her to look at the red marks and know they had came from Loki's mouth and she had let him. Well she had been dreaming, or she thought she had, and couldn't really be held responsible. Could she? She was growing frantic and dragged a trembling hand through her hair.
Nothing Loki did made sense. First he takes a concubine to his bed then he...he does this? Like Sif was in the wrong?
All feelings of anger aside, the only thing that should matter was that he planned to hang Balder. Balder, who had done nothing but be her friend. How could Loki so easily decide to take someone's life? Sif realized she was always counting on a humanity in Loki but it just simply wasn't there. She needed to wake up and stop sympathizing with Loki and take him for what he was; a monster.
There was a palpable shift in the air and without looking, Sif knew Amora was here. The air stirred with the dark energy Amora always carried with her, that wasn't exactly definable. She could feel her there, standing just behind her shoulder. Sif spoke without turning to look at the Enchantress.
"What do you need me to do?"
Sif didn't need to see Amora's face to know she was smiling.
A/N:
IMPORTANT: I will be changing the title of Being Sif to Sow a Character. Now that I'm reaching ten chapters I'm getting a feel for the story and the title no longer fits. Just giving you guys a heads up!
ALSO: I don't know if you all already noticed but I added a PROLOGUE when I updated. That's why there are technically 10 chapters instead of 9 and I sort of updated twice today. Please take a look at it and let me know what you think :)
Chapter Question: How do you all feel about the Thor 2 spoilers? Excited, angry, doubtful? Tell me what you think!
Personally I would take a pic of Loki's new hairstyle over spoilers any day but that's just me :)
Wow this chapter was a fatty! Please check out the new prologue (unless you are a new reader) and have a happy tide! :D