Author's Note: Not much to say on my end. Snow White Queen thank you so much for your kind words regarding Sigyn! I have always had trouble in the past creating a character that does not have Mary-Sue tendencies so if it looks like I am headed in that direction at any point tell me! I am also interested to see how Sigyn begins to react to Thor and his friends. This is their first meeting so I can't imagine it will be that eventful, but relationships develop in funny ways...
Thor and Loki were the only ones present at the stables when Sigyn reached them the next morning. She dismounted Roan swiftly and stroked his nose.
"Good morning." She greeted.
Loki returned her greeting, but Thor just stared at her clothing.
"Does my attire bother you My Prince?" She asked in amusement.
"I would not go as far to say that it bothers me, but it is indeed…unusual." Thor noted.
"Surely Lady Sif does not ride in a dress." Sigyn pointed out.
"No, but her riding attire is a bit more feminine. She wears a skirt thing of sorts over her pants." He tried explaining.
Sigyn raised an eyebrow. "That is hardly practical. My mother is a true Lady and she never shied away from riding trousers and a tunic so I see no reason why I should either."
She found it a bit odd that Thor found her attire to be shocking seeing as he kept company with a female warrior. It was true that, were she taller, she and one of the Princes could have switched outfits and no one would have been able to tell the difference aside from the colors, but Loki didn't seem to even notice the first time he saw her wearing it. At least she cinched in the waist of her tunic with a belt to keep her feminine curves if nothing else.
Hogun was the next to arrive followed by Sif, Volstagg, and lastly, Fandral. Sigyn was introduced to each of them upon their arrival, and at first glance she had to agree with Loki's assessment of them. Once everyone had arrived, they mounted their horses and set off towards a fairly well-known lake in the countryside. They kept their pace to a trot through the city itself, and Sigyn could sense Roan straining to go faster. She couldn't deny that she was hoping Thor would pick up the pace as well. There was little talk till they reached the outskirts of the city.
"Is everything all right My Lady?" Fandral asked Sigyn.
"Yes, why should it not be?" She queried.
"Everything should be all right, you just appear to be a bit bored." He noted.
"I think this pace is a little too slow for her tastes." Loki interceded.
Thor looked back and smiled.
"Too slow?" He asked.
"A little My Prince." She admitted.
"The lake is still a couple of miles away." Thor pointed out.
"And your mount can't gallop that far?" Sigyn challenged.
Sigyn had seen Thor's competitive streak, and was well aware that he wouldn't be able to turn down the challenge. On cue, Thor spurred his mount on, and the others followed suit. Sigyn held Roan to a moderate gallop, allowing her to maintain a pace that kept her next to Hogun and right behind Thor. She would make her move soon enough. Loki was able to pull up on Sigyn's opposite side, and he threw her a look that said he knew exactly what she was doing. She simply pretended not to notice his look. When they approached roughly a mile from the lake, Sigyn let Roan slip into a full-out gallop. She pulled away from Hogun and Loki with no problem and flew past Thor. The golden-haired Prince glanced over at her as she sped by, but she passed him too quickly to see what expression his features held. She reached the lake first, and slowed Roan to a canter and then back down to a trot as the others arrived. The group dismounted and Sigyn pulled out a treat from her saddlebag for Roan.
"It seems that my brother wasn't lying for once." Thor remarked while tying his horse's reins to a nearby low hanging branch. "You are a skilled rider."
Sigyn and the others also secured their horses reins to low hanging branches and made their way over to the lake. The group sat and talked by the lake for a few hours. The conversation mainly consisted of stories from the few small battles they had taken part in. It was fairly easy for Sigyn to peg each member of the group as they spoke. Thor was the leader, and was accustomed to getting his way. He was the strongest and most aggressive fighter of his friends. He had a passion for battle that was only likely to grow as he did. Hogun, the silent yet deadly type. He was extremely level-headed and unemotional, which made up for the silliness of his other companions. Volstagg was the optimism of the group. He was large and a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield, but he had a kind heart that moved him to be the first to try to smooth over arguments between his friends. Fandral was the life of the party, the flashy one. He always seemed to be bringing a smile to other people's faces. Loki had been correct when he had labeled Fandral as bit of a womanizer, and Sigyn had to admit that he did have a strange sort of undeniable charm. Sif was a woman on a mission. She felt the need to always prove herself, which sometimes meant that she would bring up the weaknesses in others to divert attention from her own. Sigyn could hardly blame her though. She couldn't imagine how difficult it was for Sif to be taken seriously by all the male warriors around her. She was sure that having Prince Thor's support was a huge comfort to Sif. Loki was the observer. He was a part of the group without really being in it. This meant that he could look at the big picture and be the group's eyes. If someone were in trouble Loki would be the first to notice, and the first to come to their aid. This skill was probably underappreciated on the battlefield, but would be the reason most of them made it home. He was also the strategic mind of the group. While Thor would always have the final say, he respected Loki's opinion. In a way, Loki could temper Thor's brashness. Sigyn was interested to see how correctly she had read the dynamics of this group as she got to know them better.
After a while they finally determined that it was late enough to take their lunch. As they ate, Sigyn assessed her standing with Thor and his friends. Thor liked her well enough, and she assumed that had to do with her friendship to Loki. Fandral had taken to her immediately, but she had a feeling that he took to all women immediately. Volstagg was kind, though it would take time, and possibly a few treats, to befriend him. Hogun…well Hogun didn't seem to hate her so she supposed that was good enough for now. Sif seemed to be a bit wary of her, which was not surprising. She still associated her with Loki, and as long as Sif did that she would be hesitant to trust her. Sigyn knew it was going to take some time to win Sif's trust, and she hoped Loki realized that as well.
After lunch the boys decided it was time for a swim in the lake and Sif was swift to agree with them. There was no way that they would be getting Sigyn into the water though. She just preferred to stay on the shore and read. Not even Loki could convince her, though he tried incessantly for a good ten minutes. Sigyn finally won out with the excuse that the lake water would not be good for her riding clothes, and that she could hardly go swimming in her undergarments with young men present. The boys, satisfied with her reasoning, pulled their shirts off and jumped in. Sif threw Sigyn a glance and sighed.
"I can stay here with you if you wish." The girl offered, obviously trying to be amicable to Loki's new friend.
Sigyn smiled but shook her head. "There is no need for you to miss out on the fun. I am a big girl so I am perfectly capable of sitting here by myself."
Sif tried to hide her look of relief, and quickly followed the boys into the lake. Sigyn retrieved a book from her saddlebag, and curled up on the grass to read it. Every once in a while she would glance up to watch the group splashing about. They were able to pull her out of her book for a little while to judge a diving contest. Fandral was easily the best, but Sif and Loki weren't bad either. She wasn't sure Hogun understood how to dive properly, Thor was less than graceful, and she was fairly certain Volstagg hadn't even tried. It was an amusing diversion, and the rest of the afternoon proved to be just as pleasant. They finally decided that they had swum long enough so they came up to sit next to Sigyn on the bank. They all laid down in the warm summer sun to dry off, but one by one they dozed off till only Sigyn and Loki were left awake.
"Enjoying your book?" He asked while scooting over to her.
"Very much so." She replied without looking up from her page.
"You know if you fancied a swim it would be safe to do so now, they all seem fast asleep." He remarked.
"and why would that make any difference?" she asked while still refusing to look up.
"Because they wouldn't see you in your undergarments." He stated.
She looked up from her book to see him grinning.
"But you would." She pointed out.
"Well you've seen me topless, so it would only be fair for me to see you in such a state."
Sigyn knew Loki was only saying this to get a reaction from her, and she decided that she wouldn't disappoint him. She shut her book and met his gaze.
"If you are going to take up that argument then I must inform you that were I to take a swim in naught but my undergarments, you would be forced to remove your trousers for me."
Loki looked startled for a second, but his cool manners took over again quickly.
"I am afraid I don't see the line of your reasoning." He admitted.
"I have only seen you shirtless therefore, under your argument, you should only be allowed to see me shirtless."
Sigyn could see recognition light up Loki's green eyes, and he gave her a wicked smile.
"And if I offered to remove my trousers?" He queried.
Sigyn rolled her eyes and reopened her book. Loki gave a huff of disappointment.
"Come now, do you not know how to swim? Is that why you are being so stubborn?" He inquired.
"I know perfectly well how to swim, I just have no desire to do so." She informed him.
"Well then, will you at least desist reading for a while and speak with me?" He whined.
Sigyn smiled.
"Very well," She began while handing him the open book, "you can read to me."
Loki took the proffered book and she scooted so that they were sitting shoulder to shoulder. Loki began to read aloud and Sigyn's eyes flitted across the words as he spoke. His natural tone was soothing, almost enchanting. The sun, which was slowly making its way to the horizon, bathed the group in warm light and Sigyn soon felt the warmth lulling her to sleep. She wasn't sure when she finally drifted off, but she was awoken by Loki just before the sun dipped over the edge of the hills that surrounded them. It was growing late, and they all needed to return home for their dinner. Not once did Loki tease her for falling asleep on his shoulder, and for that Sigyn was grateful.
The summer months drifted off much in the same way. Thor, Loki, Sif, the Warriors Three, and Sigyn would go on weekly rides to the lake, and Sigyn was beginning to feel more a part of the group with each trip. She was slowly earning the trust of Sif, and she began to sense that the time for Loki's prank was approaching. Though no one understood why Sigyn always refused to swim with them, they respected her decision not to. It wouldn't be till their final visit to the lake that summer that they would discover the reason behind her reluctance.