Chapter 12

Loki entered a sitting room and sat next to Mandy. "Why are you here?" he asked curiously. "It has been three days since your argument with Sigyn."

Mandy set the book she was reading face down on her lap. "Is there any reason I should not be here?" She looked at him quizzically.

"You are welcome to be here, but I would think you would be with Sigyn."

"Loki, have you lost your memory? Sigyn and I are not speaking to each other because of that stupid argument." Mandy picked up her book and continued reading.

"If it is a stupid argument, why not make amends? I happen to know where she is. Go to her, tell her you are sorry."

Mandy set the book down again. "Apologize to her? Why? I'm not the one who is in the wrong here. She should apologize to me." She picked up the book, but Loki pushed it back down. Mandy stared at him, with daggers in her eyes, "Don't touch me," she said in a stern voice.

Loki left his hand on top of hers. "Do not speak to me in that tone. I am trying to help and you will listen."

"Really? Okay, I am listening. However so far you want me to do something I think Sigyn should do."

Loki removed his hand from Mandy's. "She is in the library, go to her and use your intelligence. Act as if you intend to apologize and then let her be the one to say I'm sorry."

Mandy considered his words. She then slowly shook her head. "I can't do that. I would be deceiving her. That would be mean. I'm not like that."

Loki lets out a frustrated sigh. "Then sit here and wait for her to make the first move. You will be here for a very long time as she can be extremely stubborn."

"I have noticed that about her. Fine I will go to the library, but I won't deceive her." Mandy stood, set the book on the chair and headed for the library. Loki followed her. A devilish smile crossed his face as the two entered the library. Mandy crossed the floor over to where Sigyn sat and stood in front of her.

Sigyn stopped working on her needlepoint and set it on the table next to her and looked up at Mandy. "Well, is there something you want?"

"I think we should end our arguing and start speaking to each other," Mandy answered.

"Are you apologizing to me?" Sigyn asked.

Loki stood in the doorway, his arms folded in front of him. He spoke before Mandy could. "Actually, she expects you to apologize to her. After all you are the one who started it."

Sigyn looked over at Loki then back at Mandy. She slowly rose from her chair. "Is that true? Is that the reason you came in here?"

"I…. no…. I mean yes, Mandy stammered. She looked at Loki infuriated and pointed at him, "This is all his fault," she said in an angry tone.

Loki placed his hand on his chest, "My fault, how did become my fault?" He asked as if he was innocent.

"Think about it, Sigyn, he's the one who argued with you in the dress shop. He also interfered with us arguing at Sif's and why we started arguing again. Just a few minutes ago he insinuated I should trick you into apologizing to me. I told him I couldn't do that to you, it was too mean." Mandy lowered her arm back down to her side and waited for Sigyn's response.

Sigyn considered what Mandy said and then strode over to Loki, "She's right, you have been mixed up in this from the first." She then gasped, "You have been trying to break up our friendship," she accused him.

"Why would I care if your friendship ended or not?" He asked calmly.

"Let me think, maybe so I would come running to you for a shoulder to cry on when our friendship fell apart."

Loki became irritated with Sigyn. "Did it ever occur to you that just maybe Mandy was trying to make me look bad so she wouldn't have to answer to you about apologizing."

Sigyn looked back at Mandy. "You did say you wanted me to say I was sorry."

"Sigyn, Loki is playing you. He wants us to keep arguing."

Sigyn walked back over to Mandy. She placed one hand on her hip. "Is that really what you think?" She asked.

"Yes, that is exactly what I think. Does it really matter who apologizes to who? If we keep arguing he's going to get his way."

Sigyn let her arm slide down to her side. She stood for a long moment. She turned on her heel and faced Loki, "Would you please answer a question honestly? Do you want Mandy to leave Asgard?"

Loki shifted his weight, "I do not care what Mandy does. I am only here to make sure she tells the truth."

"You mean, the truth according to Loki," Sigyn said.

"No, I mean the absolute truth."

Once again, Sigyn faced Mandy. "Mandy, for what ever reason, I am sorry, we should not have argued, especially over a dress."

Mandy smiled, "Thank you, Sigyn and I too am sorry. This was a stupid disagreement."

The two women hugged each other. After they parted Sigyn walked over to Loki. "As for you, I know you are lying and that you were trying to get Mandy to leave."

"Really? That is what you think? I have nothing better to do than try to come between the two of you?"

"That is exactly what I think," Sigyn said forcefully.

"You couldn't be more wrong if you tried," Loki said crossly.

"I'm not wrong! And you know it," Sigyn shouted.

"I know one thing and one thing only. You are the cause of your own problems. You want to use me as a scapegoat and it won't work," he announced.

"I didn't have problems before you came along. All of this is your fault," she exaggerated and waved her arms around indicating the entire room.

"Umm guys, this is getting a bit out of hand," Mandy said softly, hoping they would stop arguing.

Loki glanced over at Mandy, "This is nothing," he said to Mandy. "Is it sweetie," he asked Sigyn, knowing it would irritate her.

"Sweetie! Did you just call me Sweetie!"

"I believe I did," Loki smirked.

Mandy walked around the couple and quietly left the library. She had no idea where this was leading, but she didn't want to be part of it.

With the flick of Sigyn's wrist, a book floated off the shelf and was suspended in mid air for a few seconds, then shot across the room towards Loki. "Now what do you think of your sweetie?" She asked

Loki caught the book before it hit him and sent it back towards her. Sigyn ducked and the book landed on the floor. Passions rose high and book after book flew off the shelves and soared back and forth from one to the other not hitting either. The books piled high until the two couldn't move without stepping on one.

Sigyn let out an angry sigh, "Mandy and I are leaving!" She shouted.

"No, you are not," Loki shouted back.

Sigyn waded through the books and exited the library.

Loki followed her, grabbed her by the arm and forced to face him. He moved close to her and kissed her hard.

Sigyn slapped him across the face. "Don't ever do that again," she said angrily.

He smiled mischievously. "I do what I want," he said calmly.

"Oh," Sigyn said irritated. She walked off in a huff.

Loki stood there and watched her walk away. He chuckled lightly to himself. That was the Sigyn he liked. Aside from Thor she was the only one who would go toe to toe with him. She may have left as if she didn't like the kiss, but because of past experience he knew she had.