Sorry for the long break- i had to finish a story (6 chapters in 1 day, you have no idea the power i controlled).

Anyways, i recently became an addict to a show called Sherlock (watched both seasons in 1 day), and i got a challenge for Xiaolin Showdown,

SORRY FOR THE BREAK!

REVIEW!


Loki leaned down, angling to the left and out into open countryside once more.

Hlýða was a fast steed, nimble and quick as she darted over small holes in the ground from various field creatures. With one jump, Hlýða leapt over a fallen tree, landing with not a stumble.

He turned, angling over the reaching roots of great oaks and maples, weaving between thick trunks and low branches.

"Faster, Hlýða, faster." Loki whispered, not wishing to speak louder as Hlýða's ears flickered. Long had she understood his words, thus why he named her 'Listener'.

They moved, the snorts of heavy breaths fixed with his rhythmic trembling and ragged breaths.

He was not crying-

He exhaled shakily as he tried not to think about Algrim, the gentle smile and the long hair of the Dark Elven kind.

He tried not to think about the savage look upon his face as he wielded Surtr's sword of fire, the manic grin filled with intent to kill.

And he certainly did not think about the piercing shriek of pain and agony as Loki wielded the flame, burning skin and flesh as bone blackened and crumbled in the air-

He pulled on Hlýða's reigns as he couldn't bare it, pulling his horse to a panting stop and burying his head in her neck.

"I am so sorry Algrim. I am so sorry." He whispered, over and over as Hlýða snorted, sweat running from her quivering body.

Loki had not noticed how close they had drawn to one of the Caravan roads, one in particular that weaved between the giant trees to Skipta- the small trading town.

He heard a feminine voice long before he expected to hear another voice. If anything, he expected his brother to have chased him, perhaps even Sif if she was to chase after him.

He looked, trying his best to rub the water out from his cheeks, wishing more than ever that his cloak included a hood.

The voice came again, this time it was loud enough to be able to fully distinguish words.

"No! Why won't you work?" It cried out, frustrated and slightly distraught.

Loki couldn't help but listen to the voice, what was a woman doing so far out of Asgard?

He listened again, dismounting and leaving Hlýða to rest from her hurried run, approaching and weaving between the trees as he heard the voice call out somewhat recognizable words.

"Skógr! Snúa til spá!" The voice cried, a thick accent that was slightly recognizable to Loki as he drew nearer.

A maiden stood at the base of a tree, lifting both arms and slashing them down, failing to move the tree. She let out a cry of frustration, scowling at the wooden trunk.

She let out a low breath, Loki leaning against a tree as he watched her. She repeated her words again, shouting angrily "Skógr! Snúa til spá!" and jabbing at the tree once more.

Loki's eyes had long since changed, the redness fading until all left was the messy fix of his hair. He watched her, noting her stance, and his lessons whispering back to him in his mind.

'A spell's true power comes not from the voice, but from its whisper. A true master need not speak a word to perform.'

"Maybe you shouldn't shout." Loki spoke, his voice quiet yet loud enough to cause the woman to gasp, turning and lifting her arms in a standard Seidr wielding position.

"Who are you? What business do men have upon staring upon maidens in the wood?" She questioned, not timid or blushing as he had initially expecting, but bold and brave to stand against him.

"What business do maidens have upon performing Seidr against the forest?" Loki asked, swallowing against his still raw throat.

She blinked, lowering her stance slightly, the sun managing to peek through the trees to glitter against her golden hair, bright in the sunlight.

"…Who are you?" She asked, looking at him cautiously, no doubt looking at how…different his armor was in comparison to other Warriors.

"I could ask the same. You have difficulties in nature magic." Loki noted, nodding to the tree where she had been trying to animate it.

She blinked, hand brushing against the trunk as she asked, now timid, "You know the ways of Nature Seidr?"

Loki's smile faltered slightly as he saw her suddenly excited eyes, he had no doubt that she had been attempting this magic for many fortnights.

"I apologize, maiden. I only know of Illusion and Shapeshifting." He gave a slight bow of apologetic courtesies.

She sighed slightly, before tilting her head to the right, "You know the art of the Valkyries?" She asked, walking around the tree, letting her one hand drag upon the rough bark.

"I-I had proven my worth to them." Loki defended, and the maiden smiled slightly, "How a male managed is beyond my comprehension." She scoffed, causing Loki to arch an eyebrow.

"Why, fair maiden you doubt my skills of persuasion." He countered, and she laughed, a light carefree voice which caused an unconscious smile to drift upon Loki's face.

"Oh? And your skills of persuasion only affect those of women kind?" She asked, causing Loki to smirk, "It would not bide well to persuade warriors, would it not?"

She laughed, leaning against the tree with a large smile, obviously his personality had caused her joy. "Oh, you are such a Tiek'va." She spoke, her voice changing into an incredibly thick accent, Loki's Silver-tongue translating easily. 'Tempter.'

What startled him the most, was the language she had spoken. Vladiva- the language of the Vanir.

He tried his best not to stumble in his step as now he saw the very tips of her pointed ears.

"That depends, am I succeeding?" Loki asked, arching one eyebrow as she laughed, more out of surprise then humor.

He looked at her, drawing closer and tilting his head out of curiosity, "What is your name, Vanir?"

She blinked, recoiling ever so slightly, almost as if she had imagined him to attack her. Instead, at the corners of her mouth her lips turned upward, almost as if she was unsure of how to proceed with someone acting so kind.

"Sigyn, a pleasure to meet you, Prince Loki."

x-(X)-x

"Where are we going?" Clint asked, Natasha looking at Tony as he lead them along the path he and Bruce had ridden not only a day before.

"To this little pond thing- I think it was called Pool of Rún or something." Tony shrugged, the horse clomping along.

"Why would Loki be there to begin with?" Natasha asked, shifting on the saddle as if it was uncomfortable.

"He seemed rather happy with it when we were there before. I don't think Thor knows about it- it's actually really cool." Tony explained, moving and directing them to a very faint path off of the main path, almost hidden from sight.

Natasha and Clint followed obediently, they were only a few meters down the path before the horse's ears flickered forward, hearing something.

Tony halted his horse, dismounting. Clint and Natasha did the same, the three of them ducking and slinking under the cover of the foliage, out of sight.

"See anything-" Tony instantly quieted as Clint jutted his hand out, nearly hitting Tony in the face as the two spies inched closer towards the pool.

"Who the hell is that?" Clint asked, voice a hiss as they peeked out from the foliage, still a fair distance away.

Loki was there, but the more startling thing was the woman beside him.

She was young, golden hair falling to just below her shoulders, dressed in rather poor garb.

Her clothes were the standard long skirt as well as the slightly large tunic over a patched cloak. It didn't disguise her standings as likely a peasant farmer, but the more surprising thing was how she smiled as Loki said something.

She gave a playful shove, Loki lifting his arms and saying something else as defending himself.

"Loki has a girlfriend?" Natasha asked, voice just as low and a hiss as Tony blinked, still staring at the woman.

She turned, arching one eyebrow and asking something, causing Loki to tilt his head in confusion. She spoke again, possibly clarifying while his eyes alit with recognition.

He lifted his hand, splaying his fingers in an odd position while saying something, eyes narrowing as he spoke.

The root by their feet shifted, the ground shifting as it managed to wriggle its way out of the ground and twist in the air like a worm exposed to air.

She shook her head, and Loki scowled slightly. She laughed once more, the sound not heard over the distance as she reached out, one finger drawing over his hands and with a fluid movement directing his hands.

The root moved further, swaying gently in the air before gently sinking back into the earth in a much more graceful movement then Loki had originally used.

"Is she teaching him?" Clint asked, blinking in confusion while Tony watched with an almost all-knowing look on his face.

Loki smiled, in turn twisting his hand and giving a firm snap. From behind the woman the water of the pool lifted, revealing a hare made of water, leaping across the surface of the pond.

"Come on guys." Tony muttered, inching backwards to where they had abandoned their horses, Clint and Natasha glancing at him in slight confusion.

"I thought we were supposed to bring back Loki-"

"He'll come back eventually." Tony quietly argued, inching back and far away enough to not be heard by the two Seidr users.

Natasha seemed to have understood his intentions and gave a slight nod as they mounted horses, turning and walking down the path again.

"Hey, Stark!" Clint called, causing Tony to look over at him where he sat leisurely in the saddle, used to riding horses.

"Who was that woman?" Clint asked, causing Tony to grin. "Remember that ball thing? And when you and Natashalie danced?"

Clint opened his mouth to respond before it dropped further, eyes widening as he seemed to remember the golden beauty in the stunning emerald dress.

They walked a few more steps in silence before Clint asked, rather quietly, "Really?"

"I assure you, it was the same woman." Natasha spoke, her eyes glowing with odd emotions, "Although from their slightly cautious behavior, I assume they just met."

Once again a slight silence before Clint asked rather loudly, causing Tony to laugh loudly.

"Did we just walk in on a date?"

x-(X)-x

"This is Hlýða." Loki introduced, letting Sigyn pet her sleek black fur.

"Listener?" Sigyn asked, recognizing the words from the ancient language that all Seidr users based words from.

Loki gave a slightly sheepish smile, shifting awkwardly while Sigyn smiled, "She's beautiful. You must be a great listener too, aren't you Hlýða? I'm sure you know many stories and songs that have never been spoken." She smiled, the horse carrying on and flicking her ears.

"Do you own a steed?" Loki asked curiously while Sigyn's smile rested on her face as she shook her head, "I have not. My father tends fields to the East of the marketplace, we have no money to purchase a horse when one must till and turn soil." Sigyn explained while Loki's eyebrows lifted in surprise.

"You own lands under the Mountain of Himinbjorg?" Loki asked curiously. Sigyn sighed, hands threading into the horses mane. "Southern, upon the bridge to the Plains of Ida."

Loki frowned, looking at her and at the forest, "Correct me, Sigyn. But a walk from the Plains of Ida to the River Glὀi takes many days."

Sigyn gave a small smile, looking at her well worn boots and giving a slight shrug, "Indeed, my Princ-"

"Loki." Loki corrected, causing Sigyn to smile ever so slightly at the correction.

"Very well, Loki. It is many days walk. I was heading towards the traders cabins, and was returning when you stumbled upon my Seidr."

"Your attempt at Seidr. It resembled more of an angry feud with a tree." Loki teased, causing Sigyn to playfully scowl.

"You know trees, they hold the worst grudges." She teased back, causing Loki to smile. "And the Oaks?"

"Not nearly as temperamental as the Maples! And how those Pine's spread such gossip!" She laughed, the two continuing as Hlýða snorted at the noise.

"You are different then what I expected, Loki." She noted with a small smile, causing Loki to roll his eyes and sigh.

"I assume your estimation upon my character was based upon the antics of my brother?"

Sigyn gave a small shrug of her shoulders, rolling them as Loki frowned. "It matters not. You have traveled to the traders and returned with as little as this?"

Now she looked uncomfortable, looking at her feet and away from Loki, "My father's harvest is not as plentiful as one would expect."

"That's why you're out here." Loki spoke, speaking aloud as Sigyn looked at him, slightly confused, "You were casting Seidr upon nature to try and improve your harvest."

She blushed slightly, looking down at her patched dress, "It matters not. You should not concern yourself with the trivial concerns of a peasant-"

"You are not a filthy greedy peasant." Loki spoke, voice firm as his eyes shone with a bright light, using one hand to push her chin up to look at him with her unique Vanir eyes. "You are fascinating, Sigyn."

She stared before looking down once more, moving over to sit on the grass under a tree where Hlýða roamed. Loki did not hesitate to sit on the ground next to her.

"…You will forget me." She spoke, jerking her head and looking firm with her decision, "You will carry on with your path, and I shall mine. One day perhaps I shall bow to you, my King. Until then, let this peasant work upon the fields."

"What a shame upon Ygdrassil it would be for your hands to be worn raw from dirt and rock." Loki casually added in, causing Sigyn struggle to keep a firm façade. "Then a shame it is. Until I see you next, My liege."

"I am not king. That is destined upon my older brother." Loki spoke, jumping to his feet as Sigyn rose, walking towards where she had dropped her worn pouch from before.

She paused, glancing over her shoulder then shaking her head, "You are much smarter then he, you would be a far wiser king then he."

Loki smiled slightly, before frowning. He looked at Hlýða then mounted, moving his staff so it rested upon the other side, shifting saddlebags before moving into a trot, drawing up next to Sigyn who walked upon the dirt.

"Farewell." She nodded, and Loki frowned.

He liked this woman, he wasn't about to let her vanish without a word.

"We shall depart, but not until we reach the city rings where I am sure you will find rest for the night." Loki noted, looking up and seeing the sun already start to set. Sigyn blinked in surprise before confusion, "You intend to walk with me for many lengths before we reach the city?"

"Nay." Loki smiled, leaning over and with the assistance of a hushed word of Seidr, he picked her up from where the ground rose to assist him.

She gasped in surprise, blinking as she sat in the saddle in front of him, hands clutching his arms in surprise, as well as her awkwardness upon Hlýða.

"Have you never ridden?" Loki asked curiously, her back tensing at his much louder voice right behind her. She swallowed looking around in surprise, "Nay. It was never an option. Walking to the city was always available-"

"That would take many hours and wear your feet raw." He frowned, noticing just how bad her boots were.

She shuffled, self conscious once more as Loki gently stirred Hlýða into a walk, Sigyn's arms searching and gripping Loki's quickly.

He laughed, the three of them moving upon the worn path and eventually along the water as Sigyn slowly relaxed to marvel at the sight.

"Wont the city guards speak of you with me? I'd hate to shame your reputation, m' Prince." She spoke, looking at the horse with the ever so slight amount of shame.

Loki frowned, shaking his head as he snapped his fingers, a beautiful green web of thin lines branched around them as if a spider had woven a dome around them.

"I am skilled in the art of Illusionary Seidr. I have studied under all ancient tomes and many wonderers of the secret arts. They will not see us." He assured, causing her to look down and smile ever so slightly.

"You seem to have many skills." She smiled, and Loki chuckled in response, nodding.

"I am honored by your visit- but I am sure that you must be busy, must have friends or friends-in-arms to speak with and bite steel." She reasoned, causing Loki to open his mouth, then close it.

'Sif and the Warrior Three do not count. They are friends of Thor's, and not of mine. Amora is jealous and greedy…perhaps the mortals from the Halls? Would they could as friends?'

"I'm afraid that I hold no companionship." Loki imputed casually, causing Sigyn to lift her eyebrows in surprise. "None? Not one to confide or swap tales and stories?"

"I have Hlýða." Loki argued, and Sigyn's brow furrowed as she gained a somewhat saddened look in her eye.

"Listener. Yes, you do have Listener." She spoke quietly, glancing out as they finally exited the forest just as the sun was now glowing orange.

They walked for a few quiet moments, just looking out over the land and the approaching buildings as Sigyn quietly spoke, hesitantly as if not sure of what she was saying, "It would be…honored, by your company in the future." She hesitantly spoke, as if not sure.

Loki looked away to hide his large smile, instead he just chuckled slightly, "And I would be honored to have such a lady by my side for a friend."

She smiled, blushing slightly as they entered the city fully. And true to Loki's word, nobody even glanced at them.

"I can take any small room for rent for the night, will suffice." Sigyn nodded, looking at all of the small rather shabby places for rent.

Loki looked at them in disgust, knowing full well that he had stayed in worse.

"Nonsense." Loki spoke, causing Sigyn's brow to furrow as Loki directed Hlýða along one of the side roads which connected to another- moving to a large golden building with stables along the outer side.

Loki walked over to the stables, sliding down and snapping his fingers, allowing them to be seen once more. At once a stable boy rushed over, taking Hlýða's reigns and allowing the two to walk into the large building.

"Loki-" Sigyn started, automatically attempting to argue. She glanced around, taken aback by the extravagance of the building that they were walking in.

"What?" He asked, eyes widened in mock confusion as they walked towards the main area where a rather extravagant woman sat, looking at them bored.

"One room is required for the night." Loki spoke, voice a drawl as the woman glanced at them, a scowl forming on her face as she noticed Sigyn's dirty clothing.

"And peasants like you have enough gold to afford even a horse stall for a night?" She sneered, sniffing pointedly while Sigyn blushed, looking at her feet.

"I'm afraid you don't seem to understand." Loki spoke again, eyes cold as the woman looked at him, about to sneer before freezing in surprise. "One room is required."

"My prince! I- At once." She stuttered, swallowing and growing pale as she stumbled away, fumbling with one golden key with an engraved number, nearly dropping it as she practically threw it at him.

Loki held it coolly before turning, Sigyn following and looking around the extravagant tapestries that hung from the ceiling to the floor.

"Loki, is this not the Chambers of Isa? These hold the most expensive rooms in all of Asgard!" Sigyn spoke, voice hushed and quick as she stared at him accusatorily.

"Indeed it is." Loki nodded, looking at the key before swerving down the left corridor, inserting it in a large golden door, and hefting it open.

He held it open as she shook her head, entering the room and the involuntary gasp that parted from her lips caused Loki to chuckle slightly.

"Do you mock me?" She scowled, playfully punching his shoulder.

"I? Surly not, daresay my masculinity would remain intact." He teased, causing Sigyn to laugh playfully. "That implies that you had masculinity prior!"

Loki scowled, rolling his eyes playfully as Sigyn walked into the room, drawing one hand over the silken sheets.

"I thank you, Loki, for lending your steed and a place to stay for the night." She spoke quietly, setting her somewhat ratty pouch from her hip upon the table bolted to the floor beside the bed.

"Of course, Lady Sigyn. It's been a pleasure to meet you." He smiled and turned on his heel, about to walk out before Sigyn hesitated, "Wait." She spoke.

Loki turned and paused, looking at her curiously as she stepped forward, gnawing on one lip slightly, "My abode resides upon the common trail, only a segment of the rising sun's time. It holds a fence of violets and ivy." She explained, hesitantly looking at the hem of her dress, "I would be honored by your visit."

Loki smiled, looking at the maiden who had occupied his attention for many hours, and even proved herself more interesting than any of the nobles' daughters.

"I will see to it, Sigyn." He smiled, walking out as she closed the door behind him.

She turned, a smile settling on her face as she looked at the bed once more, shaking her head with a breathless laugh.

'What a lucky Vanir I am.'


I really hope that i'm not making Sigyn too...Mary-sue. I'm trying to make a unique personality that will alter into the Sigyn you know and will eventually, love.

Anyways, i wanted them to bond and stuff, that way the group could hold one over Thor.

Thanks,

REVIEW! (I want...eh, lets go for 13 review. I like 13, it's my lucky number!)

Thanks!

~Oceanbreeze7