Two days later Sigyn found herself once more standing at the Bifrost gate preparing to leave for another realm in search of answers. Only this time instead of bidding Loki farewell, he was lecturing them on the do's and don't's in Alfheim.
"It's pretty simple," he said. "The forest elves are quite literally of the forest. They are one with the trees that grow there so any harm done to the trees is done to them. Which means we can not have any fires and they can not be used for target practice." Loki shot Thor a knowing look.
"Why do you look at me like that, Brother?"
Loki smiled. "I just remember a certain forest on Midgard you flattened."
"If you are speaking of when I came to retrieve you, it was purely self defence."
Loki gave a half laugh. "More like showing off. I remember, I was there after all."
"Anything else?" Sif asked breaking up a potential argument.
"Ah, yes." Loki answered returning his attention to the group. "When we enter the forest, we will find a clearing to wait. We are remain until we are summoned. We are not to wander off or we will be very unceremoniously removed from the woods and not permitted to return."
"How long do we wait?"
"As long as it takes. Time has little meaning to creatures as long lived as these. We will just have to be patient."
"Well, at least we won't have our appendages bitten off by frost this time." Sif spoke up.
" Appendage removal is not limited to ice." Fandral pointed out.
"I feel so much better." Sigyn grumbled.
"There is more," Loki interrupted "unless you want to get yourself killed, then by all means ignore me." Silence settle over the group. "Now, I can not stress to you the importance of leaving the trees alone. Don't cut them, mark them or even so much as snap a twig from them or we will face the consequences. Are we clear on these points?"
"We get it," Sigyn said a note of exasperation in her voice. "Touch tree bad. Can we go now?"
Loki looked as if he was about to argue but thought better of it. Instead he turned his attention to Heimdall. "Ready when you are, Gatekeeper."
Heimdall pushed Hofud into the the Bifrost mechanism. The room once more began to spin around. Sigyn braced herself for the sensation that she was being grabbed, so was not caught quite off guard as she was yanked from the room and sent hurtling across the cosmos to their next destination. This time Sigyn took some time to look at the colours and patterns which streaked passed her and appreciate their beauty. It was helpful for her to do this so it would take her mind off just how fast they were moving toward another realm.
They landed in Alfheim with about as much grace as they had Jotunheim. Sigyn was a little more prepared and only wobbled slightly. Loki looked as if he was about to move towards her, but she held up her hand assuring him she was fine. Looking around Sigyn could see they landed in a large open field. the grass was a least knee high all around with the exception of where they stood. The area had been burned by the Bifrost's power. Loki studied it carefully, checking the edges and swirling patterns.
"What are you doing?" Fandral asked.
"Making sure there are no sparks. The Forest Elves would not take to kindly to us burning down their home." When he was satisfied he rose to his feet. "The forest is over there," Loki gestured to the forest a short distance away. It was massive stretching out before them in either direction as far as the eye could see. Sigyn could make out a large tree whose branches stretched out above the forest and wondered why that tree was so much bigger then the others.
The group started forward, covering the distance in a short period of time. They found and opening between the trees and a path to follow. They followed it and after a time came to a clearing that had a obvious function. The ground was made of moss, making it soft underfoot, and several rocks were placed in a semi circle with seats carved in them for comfort. Light spilled from open sky above where no branches grew giving the area a more open appearance.
Sigyn wanted to take a closer look at her surroundings. She moved around the clearing, being careful not to step beyond it. She watched the wildlife move among the trees. The birds that sang in the branches, the rabbits that hopped among the bushes and the deer that moved through the trees without making a sound. It was not long before Sigyn realized just how tidy the forest was. There were no dead plants, no rotting logs, not even twigs or leaves scattered along the ground. She turned to point out her observation when she saw a figure appear from the forest edge and approach the group.
She was tall and willowy her clothes looking like they were made from leaves, they even sounded like the wind in the trees when she moved. Her chestnut hair fell in waves down to waist and rippled when she moved. But all of that seemed irrelevant when Sigyn looked into her eyes. They were green, but not just any shade. They were a vibrant emerald green that was the exact same shade as hers and Loki's. Sigyn moved to stand next to him and slid her hand into his. She gave it a squeeze and he returned the gesture. She could see the image of the woman's eyes flutter through Loki's mind and knew he was thinking the same thing.
"I am Dexa," The woman spoke up seemingly unaware of the fuss she was causing. "You will follow me and I will take you to Alexsanaia."
"Who is that?" Sif asked.
Dexa looked at her as if she thought her particularly slow.
"She is their queen," Loki answered.
Dexa nodded to Loki and then turned to go. She did not wait for the others, who quickly fell in step behind her. Sigyn continued to look around her at how immaculate the forest was and how unafraid the animals seemed to be of their presence. She could only assume it was due to fact no-one hunted them in this realm so they had no cause to be afraid. As for the forest itself she just had to ask.
"This is not like any forest I have ever seen before."
"You noticed that, did you?"
Sigyn looked sideways at him. "Why is this forest so…."
"Tidy?" Loki supplied. Sigyn nodded. "To reduce the chance of fires. It is less likely to burn the woods down if there is no dry kindling for the fire to take hold."
"Can't they prevent it with magic?" Fandral asked falling into step next to them.
"A forest this size?" Loki asked. "That is a lot of magic. More then they may be able to conjure on their own. Ljósálfar tend not to ask for help from outsiders."
It was sometime later when they reached the end of their journey. Sigyn hardly noticed the distance, she was too enthralled with the magic of nature all around her, and there was just so much to see and so little time to see it. On more then one occasion something had caught her attention and she had stopped to take a look. She was brought out of her exploration by Loki pulling on her hand. She had tried to disengage from him so he could not do this, but he kept his grip firm. Sigyn knew it must have been a relief for him when the trees parted and Dexa stood before them indicating they had arrived at their destination.
"This is our Eternal Queen Alexsanaia." Dexa spoke stepping back and granting them their view.
Sigyn's jaw dropped as she stared at the largest tree she had ever seen in her life. A trunk that looked bigger then the Asgard palace stood before her and toward so high into the sky, its top disappeared into the clouds. The branches spread out in all directions of various lengths, but never so thick as to block the sun from the forest below. All through the branches sat the elves playing, chatting, or enjoying the suns warm rays. Below a river wound it's way past the tree, pooling in front of it where some more of the elves splashed and played before it continued on its journey.
"Come," Dexa spoke gesturing them forward. "She waits for you." she moved down the path and the others followed. When they moved under the trees branches, Sigyn found the shade cool and refreshing. She immediately felt a need to remain and not leave at least until nightfall. She was brought out of her thoughts when Loki came to a sudden stop, bringing her hand flush against him.
The woman that sat before them looked absolutely ageless and yet seemed as old as time itself. Her skin was smooth with no signs of the passing years, her blond hair shimmered with strands of silver and her limbs were smooth and elegant when they moved. And her eyes, they showed more years then Sigyn could count and they too were green just like her's and Loki's.
Sigyn felt Loki squeeze her hand and she returned the gesture. Yes, this was starting to get very strange.
Alexsanaia stepped forward and came to stand before Loki and Sigyn. she touched a hand to each of their chins and tilted them up as she was taller then everyone present. Her skin was smooth against Sigyn's skin as she studied first her face and then Loki's. At last she released them and stepped back.
"You are both Ljósálfar." she said.
"That's new." Loki spoke up. "Someone is actually claiming kinship to me. But no My Lady, I am of Jotunheim not Alfheim."
Alexsanaia smiled. "Your father must have been Laufey."
"He was."
"Then your mother was of the Frost Elves."
Loki furrowed his brow and looked over at Thor.
Thor shrugged. "I am sorry, but Father did not tell anything more of your parentage other then you were Laufy's. Maybe he did not know."
"Oh he knew," Loki growled "Just another secret for him to keep from me." He returned his attention to Alexsanaia. "Are you sure of this?"
Alexsanaia smiled at him like she would a curious child. "The blood of the Ljósálfar has spread throughout the branches of the Yggdrasil tree and no matter how thick or thin it is in the veins of a being, two things remain. One is the ability to use magic and the second are the eyes." She looked to Sigyn and then back to Loki. "The green of your eyes is distinct. No other race in all the realms has it. If you have the colour you are of Alfheim."
"What do you know of my mother?" Loki asked a flicker of hope tinging his words.
"Only that she left with Laufey when she was with child and lived with him in Jotunheim and that she died in childbirth during the battle with Asgard."
"When Odin took me thinking I had been abandoned."
"We do not know what the circumstances were that brought you to that temple, only that we lost track of you for many years. When we learned of a magic user in Odin's court we suspected it was you. We knew you were in good hands and did not pursue you."
"You should have payed more attention." Loki said darkly.
Alexsanaia's eyes narrowed. "Powerful we may be, but not powerful enough to take a child from Odin's grasp. Whatever the circumstances we would not be bringing you home."
Sigyn knew that Loki was feeling frustrated with the path of his life. No matter how many players were involved it still came down to Odin. He wove his will and pushed Loki down a predetermined path whether he wanted to walk it or not. Any who wanted to stand in his way could not and so Loki was alone.
"And Sigyn?"
Alexsanaia moved her attention to Sigyn. "Her blood is thinner, as if many generations separate her from her Ljósálfar blood."
"I'm not really sure. It's more of a family legend." Sigyn said. "If a child had green eyes it was said the Ljósálfar blood was strong with them. How far back it goes, I can not say."
Alexsanaia touched her finger to Sigyn's forehead for a moment. "You also have magic, but it is not as focused as this one's is."
"No," She admitted "It is not."
Alexsanaia stepped back to look at the group. "Please, tell me why Freyr said it was most urgent that you seek an audience with me, for he would not tell me why."
"For Loki," Thor said stepping forward to stand next to him. "He is poisoned with an ancient toxin and part of it's cure is found here."
Alexsanaia frowned. She studied Loki for a moment and then returned her attention to Thor. "Yes, I sense what you speak of."
"Can you help?"
"I can point you on the right path, the rest would be up to you."
"I am not liking the sound of this," Fandral grumbled.
"We are out of the ice and snow," Sif pointed out.
"And I have a feeling we are about to land in a very hot fire."
"How well do you know of the legends of Midgard?" Alexsanaia asked.
"I am familiar with what they have written about our realm," Thor answered.
"Well, this involves a different realm." Alexsanaia answered. "The people of the Isle of Britain had their own legends Ljósálfar. Some had power over the elements and tended to be cruel and mischievous. Some were kind, but you still had to be wary of them. The people called them collectively as 'The Fair Folk' and had many rules to guide them from the dangerous path they could be led down. This is where you will be sent for your task to prove your worth. I will give you time to prepare and make yourself familiar with these rules before you continue your journey."
"How will we do this?" Loki asked looking around. "I don't see a library."
Alexsanaia smiled. "You see but you do not observe." She moved to the massive tree and touched her hand to it's surface. After a few moments, there was a flash of light and when she stepped back a door was carved into it's surface where none was before.
"How…" Sif began.
"This tree is was grown from a seed of the great Yggdrasil making it almost as old as time itself. It's purpose is to record passage of time and events in the Nine Realms for those seeking knowledge. The library within it is as complete as you will ever find one to be, but your search among its history will not be easy. Are you still prepared to make the journey?"
Fandral shot Loki a look. "What is it with you and libraries? We can't seem to keep you out of one for very long."
"It's a burden I will gladly bear." he answered "We will accept your offer of help. How much time do we have?"
"That is up to you. You are the one dying."
Sigyn flinched at the reminder. Loki gave her hand a squeeze of reassurance.
"We will begin immediately." Thor spoke up.
Alexsanaia nodded. "Good luck to you."
Loki approached the door with the others close behind. He opened it, revealing exactly what was promised. The interior looked as if the tree had been completely hollowed out and replaced with endless rows of bookshelves, desks and parchment shelves which also appeared to be carved from the wood of the tree and finely polished. The shelves were stacked to capacity with books of every different colour shape and size, neatly labelled and scrolls with tasseled tags identifying their contents. Windows along the walls let in the sunlight so it streamed across the desks and alcoves providing plenty of light for the reader who chose one of these locations to read by.
Fandral let out a low whistle. "And how are we to find what we are looking for in this stack of books? We could be here until Ragnarök trying to find the answers we seek."
Sigyn bit her lip trying to suppress a giggle. "You don't frequent many libraries, do you?"
Fandral made a face. "I avoid them, why?"
Sigyn pointed to a podium where a large red book with gold writing rested. "That book there is a catalogue of all the books here and where to find them. We can look them up by either name or subject. So unless Ragnarök is almost nigh, I don't think we will be here that long."
Loki flipped through the catalog looking for the subject matter they sought. He soon found it and let out a small sigh. "I wouldn't be to hasty with that statement, Sig. It seems the material is extensive, we could be here a little while."
Sigyn watched Loki run his finger down the middle of the page, nearly every title lit up indicating they fell within the subject they were looking for.
"Is there any way we can narrow this down?" Sif asked as the rest of the group joined them in front of the catalogue.
"Possibly. As we study this material we may find something that will help us narrow down what we seek. In the meantime, I would not want to overlook anything until we are sure."
"Come, Sigyn," Sif spoke up, "It looks like we will need to make up some kruttkaffe."
"Better make it prestakaffi." Fandral spoke up. "We can at least be in better spirits while looking for these….spirits."