Loki left soon after, taking the opportunity to depart while Coulson was momentarily distracted. It occurred to Sigi that if he had really wanted, he could have instantly forced her to his will. Except that he had preferred to demonstrate which of them had the upper hand, that Loki had the power to manipulate her based on her emotions, her gender, and her status on Asgard. He believed to have won. As Sigi wondered exactly why she had yes as she had, she felt he had won. But sitting on the edge of her bed, thinking over what she had just done, she wondered it that was really the case.

Her first thoughts went to her family, wondering what Stan and Hanna would say if they knew she was engaged. She was terrified to know what her mother would say, to see her falling back on all that she had believed about herself. She felt like she was betraying some part of her, some element of self-respect by giving in to pressure and her own deep-seated yearning to know what it was exactly Loki was after, what exactly she thought loving him would do. She despised Loki for putting her in this position, but she despised herself more for going along with it. And yet…

There had been no option for her to choose that did not end in some sort of loss. But what exact loss and danger had she just accepted? What did Loki really intend for her? There were too many unanswered questions and too many loose ends. But an idea was beginning to form in her mind, one that at least gave her some leverage if things went terribly awry.

She stared down at her hands, thinking about the energy she had instinctively generated to form a protective shield. If she was capable of doing that, what else could she do? With everything else around her, she had taken for granted that she had magical qualities within her, and perhaps others that could be formed with practice or study. She could profess all she wanted that she wasn't interested in power – and to some extent that was true; she had no interest in abusing and using others. But she wanted to know what else she could do, what else she was capable of, and just what exact mastery she could claim as her own. Loki said he could show her real power and perhaps with the right convincing he could teach her. But if she was going forward with the marriage, likely Odin would want her to learn more about Asgard. Given the vastness of the palace library, there would be books about magic and perhaps she could ask Frigga to give her a bit of guidance to find the proper books.

The final hurdle would be convincing Fury. He certainly would not be averse to building up her skillset, but he would want it to be through his channels for S.H.I.E.L.D. and with his structure of training. Sigi thought, however, that with the right insistence and the right positioning of her choices and aims, she could convince him that she would accept the S.H.I.E.L.D affiliation regardless of her personal choices. As much as she was frightened to admit it, she needed a tie to S.H.I.E.L.D., if not for help in the future or perhaps to help them, should they need it, but to give her a link back to Earth, a link to everything that had brought her here, as well as a certain kind of leverage with a powerful group. Fury's organization might frighten her and she might not want to be considered part of their team, but she needed to cooperate with them if she had any desire of finding out what exactly was in this weird, wide universe. She needed to keep all of her doors open – especially as she had no idea what exactly she was walking into.

Giving up on sleep, Sigi freshened up and changed her clothes, deciding she should speak with Coulson now before whatever occurred before Fury and Odin later that morning came to pass. She stepped into the hall where Coulson stood, casually reading a book.

"Hey," Sigi said softly. "Can I talk to you about something?"

"Of course," Coulson said, slipping a piece of paper between the pages to mark the place in the book before closing it. "What about?"

"S.H.I.E.L.D. I know I've been resisting accepting Fury's urging for me to become a full team member because I don't understand what he sees me doing and I want to keep my options open. But I also don't want to abandon myself from S.H.I.E.L.D. – my work with you has been amazing. It really has. And so I was wondering if we could make a compromise – I want free access between Midgard and Asgard to come and go as I please and help you and Fury out when you need it, and stay here to learn more about my abilities. It sounds so simple saying it, but I know that to Fury, having me act as a free agent is a huge liability. But I'm asking you to trust me on this."

Coulson looked at her curiously. "What changed your mind?"

"Something… personal," Sigi said lamely. "You'll be finding out, soon enough, when I speak with Odin. It's just… I'm afraid of being tied down. But I'm also afraid of being listless and rudderless. Do you think I have any chance of Fury agreeing to this?"

"Well, I'm agreed," Coulson smiled. "And I'd want you as part of my unit anyway. Fury will just have to deal with it. Consider yourself a sort of freelancer to our organization." He held out his hand and she shook it firmly. She hoped to whatever gods there were to hope to that he never found out she was marrying the man who had nearly killed him. He trusted her so much, for reasons she would never entirely understand, and she was loathe to lose that.

Coulson checked his watch. "Well, I suppose we should head down. Fury wanted to get an early start and it's past breakfast." It occurred to Sigi suddenly that she had no idea of how Asgardians kept track of time, if they even had a system, and whether Coulson's watch was really of any use here, other than a consolation that time was still being kept track of somewhere else.

"My lady," Theoric said, appearing behind them. His face was calm and serene as Sigi turned to face him but his eyes twinkled mischievously. Considering what they were about to do, Sigi was feeling anything but mischievous and once again she wondered what exactly she was getting herself into. "The Allfather requests your presence."

"We were just headed that way," Sigi smiled sweetly. There. Let him know she was aware that what her decision was dangerous and stupid and reckless and that she was doing it anyway, not because she had lost all sense of her reason, but because there was no reasonable way out of this mess. Let him see just how vulnerable she really was, and let him think it made her weak. Perhaps he'd finally learn it was her vulnerability that drove her to keep testing herself, to keep challenging herself, to continue surging forward into uncertainty. It was vulnerability that drove her to make sure she was never treated as anything less than she was ever again.

In the throne room, Odin sat on the raised dais with Frigga by his side while Fury paced impatiently before them. Thor and Jane stood at the edge of the room, both looking concerned while Sif and the Warriors Three lingered beside them, along with a few other people Sigi imagined inhabited some position of authority in the Asgardian court.

"Ah, just the person I wanted to see," Fury said. "Let's get this started then."

"You promised me your time," Sigi said, "and I'll use it as I see fit." She turned to Odin. "As you know, I have been unwilling to choose between Asgard and Earth. I did not want to decide between them because I feel I belong to them both. And also… well, it seems I can simply cannot keep my life separate from this place," she said. She looked towards Theoric, who gave her a loving smile and stepped forward. Damn, he was good.

"Allfather," Theoric announced, "I know it may seem unthinkable, given that I have known Sigyn for such a short time, but in our days together, it was impossible for me to remain merely a sentinel over her. I am quite a talkative fellow and she is such a kindhearted spirit and before long I found myself easily talking with her, even about this realm she comes from which I know little of. Soon, I realized I had fallen in love with her and declared it to her. But she was afraid that such a thing could not be, that an outsider could not be allowed to marry an Asgardian. And so, though she returned my feelings, she felt unable to act on them. When she was forced to choose between Asgard and Earth, I feared I would never see her again. I convinced her that she would not have to choose between her world and mine if we married and that I loved her with my entire being. She said that marrying me would make her the happier than anything else in her life. I know that it is not permitted to marry a human, but I believe Sigyn is an exception with her mixed heritage. I am ready and willing to make a home with her and acquaint her with our customs here. All we ask is that you allow this to be and bless our union."

It was compelling. Sigi half believed it herself, even though she knew the truth. Loki was quite the storyteller and his myth here was rather wonderful. What the audience who had heard this would think when they heard the truth was a dark reality Sigi was loathe to face.

Odin's face was unreadable. Fury had looked less shocked when he'd first encountered Loki and he looked poised to say something. He shook his head and looked at Odin.

"Is this true, Sigyn?" Odin asked. "Do you wish to marry this man?"

"I do," she said, taking a hold of Theoric's hand. For a moment, it grew cold and Sigyn imagined it was Loki's hand, not his masquerade's.

Odin gave a small sigh. "You have done much for us, Theoric, and under different circumstances I would respect your intentions. You and my son wear my patience thin with these impossible demands. An Asgardian may never marry an earthling; you know this."

"I know, Allfather," Theoric replied. "But our people have changed. Earth has changed. We have a relationship with them that we did not have before. Perhaps it is time we embrace it rather than fear it."

Odin stared steadily at Theoric. "This is true. But it still stands that a great deal separates our two worlds. And your intended, though raised human, is still an enigma to us."

"No. She isn't," Theoric said. "She is a person, not a problem. And she deserves to be treated as such."

Frigga smiled, her eyes lingering on Theoric. There was something knowing in her irises, but she said nothing, only turning to Odin when the silence lingered on.

"What would you have me do?" Odin said heavily. "Bend the rules for the one you love? Make an exception for her only once while refusing the same to my son? Allow both of you to do as you please while risking the welfare of Asgard? Are we to suddenly change our ways by impulse without thinking how they may affect us? You seem to forget how this will affect more than yourselves."

"You think we are being selfish," Sigi replied.

"Yes. I do."

"If we were selfish, we would have gone forward without asking you," she retorted, keeping her voice calm and even. Getting angry with him would do no good here. "We wanted you to consider this and its implications, not to speedily grant us something in pursuit of a self-serving end." The lie rolled off her tongue to easily. She believed in a love that was unselfish, that went beyond two people into a more worldly, complicated relationship, but she wondered if that was what she was really experiencing. As the list of things she was risking began to pile up in her mind, she forced the thoughts away. She could deal with her own reservations later. Right now, she needed to make sure that Odin's were taken care of. "This is personal to us, we'd prefer not to care about the political elements, but we know they cannot be overlooked. It's just that we believe that it is for a greater good, not merely our own."

"And how do you expect me to believe that? My own son has been distracted for months with his own emotions. I cannot have more of my people follow the same route. And to be honest, it concerns me to think what such… intermixing would breed between you and Theoric."

Sigi's eyes winded at his remarks. "That's…that's terrible," she cried.

"It is a valid concern. Just as we are all concerned about what you are," he said coldly.

Tears formed in her eyes and fury filled her veins. "Just once I thought maybe you could put aside the fact that you think I am a monster," she spat. "I am not so different from the rest of you – why do you all fear me like this?"

"Because the unknown is a vastly terrifying thing, Sigyn," Odin replied.

"Then try to understand, try…" She stopped, looking at Theoric. He stared back, his eyes full of pain. She knew what he was thinking – this was no fight that they could win.

"Very well," she said. "Though I've tried to find a place here, you've clearly shown I'm unwanted from the very moment I've arrived. Forgive me for trying to expand my horizons. Clearly that sort of thing is not appreciated here. I will go back to earth than and trouble you no more with my sentimental heart and mortal mind."

She walked slowly out of the room, Theoric close beside her. She wished he had stayed behind, frightened that Loki would be furious at the turn of the events. Turning into an empty room, she took a deep breath, trying to calm herself and realized she was shaking.

"I hate him," she gasped as Loki dropped his disguise. "I hate him so much. How could he say those things? Why… God, if he thinks this of me, what does he think of Frost Giants? Dwarves, elves, whatever else it is you've got living in these realms? I'm… I'm so sick of it. Of all of it. I can't deal with this anymore, of trying to ingratiate myself with people who hate me. No, no more." She closed her eyes fiercely, willing herself not to cry. "I'm going back to earth. I have to. If I keep trying to deal with this, it will burn me up inside. It will destroy me."

Loki laughed coldly. "Imagine living with it for the last several centuries."

It was the first time he had ever mentioned age. She looked at him cautiously. "Centuries?"

He smirked at her. "Yes. Odin does have a point. Given we have thousand of years longer in our lives than you, I can't say that it's much of a surprise he finds it foolish. We aren't as fragile as you, or so short lived. You are in the universe one second and gone the next. It's amazing you ever developed civilizations at all."

She stared at him, deeply hurt. "What are you doing?" she cried. "I thought you… I thought this was your idea." He was being cruel, but it was a gesture that felt defensive. He was hiding something. She rested her hand on his arm. "Something's changed," she said. "What is it? You never seemed entirely concerned with my mortality before. We don't even know what my life span is, given my dual heritage. It could be just as long as yours."

"I can't take that risk," he replied. "You will die sooner than I and I can't take... you would be worthless to me."

"Worthless," she said bitterly. "Is that what you're concerned about?"

"Spending all of this time battling with you to no avail is a waste of energy," he continued. "I cannot continue to do this. Time is not on our side."

"And neither is Odin. Is this how you're going to explain this away? Find the idea worthless instead of accepting that Odin is misguided man and father who banned a marriage simply because it displeases him? Were you only doing this for him?"

He grabbed her wrist, dragging her towards him. "I thought I warned you about making assumptions about me," he hissed.

"And I thought you didn't care about any of this anymore," she replied. "We're both clearly mistaken about many things. I assume that you no longer wish to marry me."

"No," he said bluntly. "You are free to return to earth, to live out your petty little life somewhere else. This might have worked had I thought… but you did so well at convincing me that death was not an obstacle with you. But it is always an obstacle. Always. But you are free now; you needn't worry about 'subjecting' yourself to me. Isn't this what you want? Your freedom?"

Sigi's throat constricted and she swallowed, trying to clear it. "I don't know what I want anymore. Maybe it is best that I go home."

"Very well." His eyes scanned her body, almost hungrily. The lust was still there, if nothing else was. "And once more my seduction goes unfulfilled. Shame. But so be it. Maybe one day we will meet again, but I find it unlikely. This never would have worked anyway." He shook his head and gave her a piercing glance that she would remember for days. "I suppose you hate me now."

She shook her head. "I wish it were that simple. Just hope that if I ever meet you again, I still have half the tenderness I have now. Because if I don't, there will be hell to pay for you."

"I look forward to it," he said darkly.

She began to leave when Loki cleared his throat. "One last thing before you go, if I may."

Sigi swallowed and nodded grudgingly.

"What's the secret to your healing abilities? What do you think of when you do it?"

She gave him a surprised look. Caught off guard, she replied, "Hope. I think of hope."