Author's Note: Hello to everyone! This chapter is a bit shorter, but guess what… today is my birthday, so as a birthday gift from me to you I am posting two chapters instead of one! Yay! I hope you enjoy them! I own everyone who makes a physical appearance in this chapter. Reteka Hyuuga hahaha well you don't have to worry about fangirling or squealing in this chapter, but I make no promises for the next one! The One and Only A Nice Person welcome officially to Fanfiction! Prepare to waste away hours getting absolutely nothing done and loving it! (Sorry your usual name was already taken though!) First, might I say that your version of "Call Me Maybe" is far superior to the actual song. I laughed for a good five minutes at that. Next, I am so glad that you find the interactions between Loki and Sigyn to be emotionally realistic! With so many aspects of this world not being realistic I have really tried to at least make their thoughts and emotions believable/relatable. Nervous/worried Loki is so sweet. I think it reminds us how young emotionally he really is despite the fact that he is probably pushing 1000 years by this point (and psychology thinks Midgardian boys mature slowly…). Swim Until You Can't See Land knowing Fandral it is probably a little of both. I think he is trying to give Loki a little push, but I also think that if Loki doesn't act he will (he is too flirtatious not to). Loki definitely cares for Sigyn, but you are right, not all the layers of his affection are pure. He is still not mature enough to realize the problems that can arise with extreme possessiveness.
"So you managed not to run away after he kissed you?" Frida teased while weaving.
Sigyn smiled.
"I should never have told you that should I?" She asked while lounging carelessly in the window seat.
"Probably not, but since you did I intend to take full advantage of it!"
"and I thought your teasing about my 'slapping syndrome,' that is how you phrased it is it not?"
Frida nodded in affirmation, and Sigyn continued.
"Yes, well I thought that was bad enough."
"I warn you, there will never be a day when both of those things will not be amusing to me."
"Wonderful. I am glad I can bring you so much joy." Sigyn replied teasingly.
She had managed to go almost four weeks without telling Frida about Loki kissing her, but the excitement had finally been too much for her to conceal anymore. Frida had suspected something of the sort had occurred, but she didn't spoil Sigyn's fun by telling her so.
"So what exactly is your relationship, Sigyn?" Frida asked.
"I'm not sure." Sigyn admitted
"Well you aren't lovers since you've never slept together, and you aren't courting since he hasn't asked father for permission that I know of." Frida pointed out.
Sigyn began to twist a small section of hair around her finger.
"I know. Trust me, it hardly makes sense to me either. You should have seen it Frida, he kissed me in front of everyone without care. It was so unlike him to be that exposed emotionally in front of Thor and his friends."
"It sounds to me like he was trying to prove a point." Frida stated.
"A point? What point did he have to make?"
"That you belong to him."
Sigyn rolled her eyes.
"I don't belong to anyone Frida."
"He is a Prince, Sigyn, of course you do."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"Of course it does. As long as he is a Prince he will always have some amount of power over you, and if you enter into a relationship with him he will have even more. Like it or not, men rule our society Sigyn."
"Don't try to tell Lady Sif that." Sigyn muttered.
"Lady Sif may fight alongside the men, but what power does she truly have? Will she be the one leading the troops in their charge? Does she hold any political sway? Would it be acceptable for her to pursue a young man in the same way it is considered acceptable for them to pursue her?"
Sigyn knew Frida was correct, but she hated to admit it.
"Well I believe it should be the people who are most qualified that should be given positions of power, regardless of their gender. I say that if Hogun is the most qualified to lead the troops into battle he should do it, but if Sif is the best suited for the job then she should be given the command." Sigyn argued.
"and I don't disagree with you Sigyn, but in a relationship someone must take the lead or else the relationship will stagnate and die."
"I don't think a relationship between Loki and I will 'stagnate and die' from a lack of someone taking leadership." Sigyn remarked.
"No, it will stagnate and die because you will both want to be the one leading it. The two of you will butt heads on every decision, so no decisions will ever be made."
Sigyn didn't reply, so Frida looked from her weaving to her sister.
"Listen Sigyn, none of this matters if you don't enter into a serious relationship with Prince Loki, and I am not saying that you should treat everything he says as law if you do. All I mean to say is that should you pledge yourselves to on another let Loki lead, but do not think that just because he is the leader means you must be his servant. No, it will mean that you are his advisor, his helper. He will depend on you for your advice and support. You always speak of how fragile his confidence is, so can you imagine how much more self-assured he will feel if you willingly place your trust in him to lead your relationship? The fact that you are so strong will make it all the more important to him. Besides, if he is a good leader then his natural desire and instinct will be to respect and serve you. To sacrificially serve those they lead is the mark of a good leader, and believe me, it will take sacrifice on both of your parts. You will have to learn to not be so stubborn, and he will have to learn to put someone else's interests before his own."
Sigyn sighed.
"From the way you speak you make it sound as if romantic relationships take a lot of work…"
"All good relationships take work Sigyn, but I am fully confident in your ability to overcome the obstacles." Frida responded with a smile at her little sister.
Sigyn smiled back before looking out the window into the main courtyard. She watched the comings and goings of the servants for some time till a familiar figure made his way into the house.
"Frida…did either mother or father mention to you that Hallsteinn was to visit today?"
Frida quickly joined Sigyn at the window, and she was just in time to see their elder brother slip into the house.
"No, did they mention it to you?" Frida asked.
Sigyn shook her head 'no.'
"Well that is odd. Perhaps he has come to announce that Aldís is expecting another child."
"But they already have two!" Sigyn protested.
"And mother had six." Frida reminded her.
"Yes, but we are both aware that was an abnormality." Sigyn retorted.
"Well what other purpose could he have in coming here?"
Sigyn looked out into the courtyard again, and nearly fell off the window seat.
"To act as a witness…" she answered.
Frida looked quickly out of the window and gasped.
"Sigyn!" She cried out in excitement, while grabbing her sister's hand.
Sigyn beamed at her elder sister. The new arrivals had been none other than Markus, his father, his two brothers, and two of his closest friends. He had come to negotiate for Frida's hand in marriage. The two girls ran downstairs to watch the proceedings, and reached their father's private chambers just as the eight men retreated into them. Their mother stopped them before they could rush in behind the men.
"Let your father and brother handle this." Signy said with a smile.
Signy and Sigyn waited on a bench outside the doors while Frida paced back and forth. Sigyn watched her mother closely, and was delighted to see that she looked more like her old self again. Signy watched her eldest remaining daughter pacing about with a genuine smile. If the negotiations went well, which there was no reason why they should not, she would have a wedding to begin preparations for. Sigyn wasn't sure how long it normally took to negotiate a wedding contract, but she felt that the men made quick work of it.
"The contract has been arranged." Halldor announced happily as he opened the doors to his private chambers. "The Bride Price and Dowry are settled. Markus and Frida will be wed in a fortnight."
There was not a disappointed face among them as Frida went to first throw her arms around her father, and then went into the embrace of her groom-to-be.
"A fortnight? Just fourteen days..." Sigyn thought a bit wistfully.
In fourteen days she would be the only child left at home. In fourteen days there would be no one to share the tales of her adventures with. In fourteen days she will have lost her closest friend and confidant aside from Loki.