The first thing that he noticed was that she was small. Not relative to him, of course, but he was an exception among his towering brethren, and he had never seen another of his stature; Jotunheimr held very few trading partners (a foreign policy issue he was currently in the process of mending, though the progress was about as slow as the lumbering beasts that dwell in the Ironwood) and his only real contact with outside realms was in the dealings with the Light Elves, whose tall, willowy ambassadors still bested him by a head, at the very least.
She was small, but she was far from frail.
Even in the frozen halls of Utgard, she stood proudly, draped comfortably in her layers of furs even as her eyelashes froze from the cold. Her company, a voluminous, red-haired man, a dainty Aesir swordsman, and a warrior from Vanaheimr shivered and cast their eyes about the throne room. Her eyes, however, strayed from his father's only once, to take notice of the small prince draped across the stairs at his father's feet, before she bowed lowly (respectfully, something he had not quite expected considering the Jotun's past with Asgard) and addressed the Jotun king.
"King Laufey, it has come to Odin Allfather's attention that you are forging ties with some of the other realms, and I have been sent as to inquire about your intentions in doing so."
Laufey leaned forward and hissed in distaste at the mention of the Allfather. "What are you called, little emissary?"
"I am Lady Sif, shieldmaiden of Asgard. The other members of this party are-"
"I care not of them, Lady Sif. Countless of my warriors, as well as my innocent subjects, have fallen to many an Aesir man, and I would not deal with them. No, but I will speak with you, shieldmaiden. You are the only one in your company that has not slighted my people, and I need only know the name of whom I am addressing." The king stood from his throne and looked down his nose to the woman. "My realm is my own, is it not in my interest to create allies? Or would Odin Allfather prefer that we rot in our frigid walls, ignorant of the outside realms and stagnant of progress? I think that should keep us more than under his thumb- more accurately, under his boot." He paused as he reached Loki on the stairs, who practically vibrated with curiosity of the foreign emissaries. "My son, Loki," the king introduced with a large hand brushing over Loki's jewel-braided hair. "He tells me that Jotunheimr is rich in resources of the earth, though not the resources that would feed Utgard's starving families in the winter. He believes that our wealth is beneath our feet, and in the strong bodies of our laborers. Loki," he continues, voice booming in the hall, "tells me that the other realms would value such riches, and would, in exchange, offer their own, their crops and their livestock to feed Utgard's winter-starved. Loki," Laufey looked down at the prince, "has been correct. I have left the dealing with the realms in his hands, Lady Sif, and should Odin have any other inquiries, they shall be directed to the Jotun prince, my Foreign Adviser." He turned and resumed his seat on his throne, lounging back against the cool ice. "Your party should stay as long as you like, Lady Sif. Accommodations will be made for you. Loki will be your host. You are dismissed."
The prince rose as the ambassadors bowed and followed them out of the hall. The doors closed behind them, and he offered his hand to the visitors in greeting. "Formal introductions aside, I am Loki. I'm sure you will find Jotun hospitality quite a bit… warmer, than you may have expected." His eyes sparkled brilliantly in the filtered light and a smirk played across his lips.
"Not a wordsmith!" The blonde swordsman groaned and covered his face with his hands as the large man burst with laughter and clapped his friend on the back.
The Lady Sif ignored her companions and gripped Loki's hand in a firm grip. He reveled in how easily her palm fit into his own. "We shall see, Prince Loki. Perhaps Asgard would be open to some dealings with King Laufey's Foreign Adviser."
Loki smiled. "I am open to any discussions with you, Lady Sif. Please, right this way," he stated simply as his led them into the core of Utgard. The blonde groaned again.
"Quiet, Fandral, or I will give you something to truly bemoan," scolded the shieldmaiden, and Loki felt a stirring in his gut.
Yes, the Lady Sif was anything but frail.