Author's Note: JaviMason19691 Hey, just because the last few chapters have given us some hope for Sigyn and Loki doesn't necessarily mean that I will dash it all to the rocks! It is high time something good happened to them. Caitreylove so I was actually pretty certain that the guest from the last chapter was you, but I didn't want to say anything on the off chance that it wasn't. How awkward would that have been XD Oh there was no way I was going to allow Sigyn to be oblivious! It would have been completely against her personality. I am very glad that she comes off as a likable female heroine though! Hahaha maybe someday I will venture out of my comfort zone and consider writing something I could publish, but I am not a writer by trade so we shall see. Thank you for the compliment though, I truly appreciate it!


The big day had finally come. The Summer Solstice celebration signaled what had become an annual story time. Loki secretly looked forward to the children's shenanigans, but he acted as reluctant as ever when Gytha came to retrieve him. Sigyn was already sitting amongst the children when Gytha and he arrived. He glanced at the children and did a quick head count. He had been fairly sure that their numbers had grown last year, but there was no doubt in his mind that they had grown this year.

"So where will we be starting this year?" He inquired upon his arrival.

"Well we can't start without the others." Asa mentioned.

"Of course not, and who has gone to retrieve them?" He asked.

"No one yet, we were kind of hoping you would…" Gytha stated.

Loki glanced at the children's faces a bit confused. Why would they want him to get Thor and the others? Was it because he was Thor's brother?

"Why me?" He asked.

"Because, you know, you are big." Dagny explained.

Loki was utterly confused now. There had been many words used to describe him in the past, but big had never been one of them. Thor had always been the big one… Of course, that is why they wanted him to go fetch Thor. Thor was big.

They were intimidated by his brother.

They didn't know that Thor was an absolute pushover where children were involved; they just looked at him and saw a massive man who was known for his fierceness.

Loki gave the children an understanding nod.

"Of course, I should be the one to go retrieve him." He agreed before going to do just that.

He felt more than a little silly going to fetch Thor and the others under the pretense of "The children told me to do it," but luckily he knew Thor and Volstagg were both too fond of children to tease him about it. Sif would certainly enjoy holding it over his head though. The group came as expected, and Fandral even made a remark about his interest in their character's fates. Once everyone had been assembled the children instructed Loki, Thor, Volstagg, and Fandral to sit next to each other. Gytha quickly took her spot in Loki's lap. Sigyn stayed seated where she was while Bird-girl and the "King" and "Queen" of Alfheim took seats next to her. Hogun and Sif were pulled to another side and all the warriors, both male and female, from their first story took seats next to them. The little boy playing the AllFather took a seat on a rock, and Loki started to understand what the children had planned. The twins and the additional children who had joined the past two festivals took seats either with the "warriors of Asgard" or with the "magician" and "his warriors". The little boy acting as the AllFather waited till everyone got settled before he began to explain what was going on.

"After the magician and his warriors were defeated in a grueling battle they were condemned to execution. The princess of Alfheim was a smart girl however, and reminded her parents that they couldn't be put to execution without going on trial for their crimes first. Since everyone knew her mother and father, who were the rulers of Alfheim, were going to pronounce the magician and his followers guilty no matter what, it was decided that the AllFather would be the judge instead. Does that make sense?"

"Yes, but what is going to keep the magician from escaping like he did the first time?" Lofn asked.

That was a good point. He had escaped capture after the first battle by using his magic, and as of right now there was nothing hindering him from doing so again.

"You could always make him wear magical handcuffs that block his magic." Sigyn suggested with a devious smirk.

The children all thought this was a marvelous idea and Loki knew that Sigyn was laughing inside. With a roll of his eyes he conjured a pair of handcuffs onto his wrists. He could hear the children that hadn't seen his magic at work before give little 'ooos' of admiration, which sort of made up for the annoyance of having to wear the stupid cuffs.

No other problems were pointed out, so the "AllFather" began the trial. Loki tried his best not to smile at the boy's questioning.

Did he kidnap the princess of Alfheim and her pet bird?

"Yes."

Did he keep the princess locked in his castle for four years?

Loki protested that it had only been for a few months, but Gytha informed him that it had been for four years. Loki knew for a fact that the children had said that the magician only held her hostage for a few months during their first story time, but decided not to argue with it. They had never been the most consistent in their details after all.

"Yes, I kept her hostage for four years, but I did bring her snacks." He replied.

Asa looked very pleased with that answer while her twin sister just shook her head at her sister's knack of being easily swayed by food.

Did he escape capture after being defeated the first time?

"Yes."

Did he visit the princess in secret after his initial escape?

"Yes."

Did he place the princess under any sort of spell to make her fall in love with him while she was in his grasp or afterwards?

"No."

Had he led his own forces against those that sought to retrieve the princess from him the second time?

"Yes."

Loki did point out however, that he hadn't been left much of a choice since they had threatened his brother.

The "AllFather" pondered Loki's responses for a moment before deciding that for his actions, the magician and his followers must be put to death. Sigyn let out a overexagerated gasp and Loki just tried to look somewhat surprised. Thor actually did look surprised by the verdict, which Loki found amusing. This was the first time he had ever had to die during a game of make-believe, unlike Loki. The next big thing to decide was who would actually get to be the executioner. The children argued about it for a few minutes, which Loki found to be fairly disturbing. It was finally determined that Bárðr would get to do the honors since he was the eldest of the boys. He quickly went to retrieve a stick and when he returned he told Loki, Thor, Fandral, Volstagg, and Gytha to get on their knees. The five of them did as they were told, though Fandral muttered about the injustice of it all while doing so. Bárðr approached Loki first, and he leaned towards him in a conspiratorial manner.

"Don't worry," he whispered, "the princess is going to save you."

"Ah, and have you informed her of that?" Loki inquired softly.

"No, we aren't going to have to." Bárðr stated in an assured manner.

Loki wasn't so sure the boy was correct, but he didn't argue with him. Bárðr looked down at his stick and then back to Loki.

"Could you do that thing you did last time?" He asked excitedly.

Loki smirked, and effortlessly enchanted the twig to look like a sword. Bárðr raised his new weapon to strike, and Loki wondered if he should inform the boy that an executioner never looked his victim in the eyes as the deed was done. He determined that there was no real need to since it was all simply make-believe. Loki closed his eyes and waited patiently for the "sword" to strike him, but it never did. Instead, Loki heard Sigyn yell out…

"No, don't do this!"

All the children gasped or let out little "No's" of their own causing Loki to reopen his eyes. Sigyn was standing in between Bárðr and himself clutching the "sword" to her stomach. Bárðr pulled the "sword" out and Sigyn went to her knees clutching her "wound." Loki reached out with his cuffed hands and pulled Sigyn back to lean against him. She gave him a little wink before making a pained grimace, and the children all quickly ran from their spots to surround the tragic scene.

"What's going to happen to her!?" Gytha asked.

"Well in reality, she would die." Thor stated.

"Actually in reality she would already be dead." Sif corrected.

"She can't die!" Asa protested. "This is supposed to be a happy story!"

"I say, how many happy stories have you heard that involve an execution?" Fandral whispered to Volstagg.

Volstagg merely shrugged his shoulders. Apparently he couldn't think of any.

"The magician has to save the princess." Lofn determined.

"How?" Loki inquired.

"Well he has magic, he can just use that to save her." Dagny suggested.

"But you all robbed him of his magic, remember?" Thor pointed out.

"No, we didn't. We just blocked his magic with the handcuffs." One of the other children reminded them. "All we have to do is take the handcuffs off and he will be able to use it again."

"Very well, take them off them." Loki requested while holding his hands out to them.

The children all looked at one another in confusion.

"How do we get them off?" Lofn finally asked.

"By using the key of course." Loki replied.

The children looked frightened now.

"Key? What key? You never gave us a key…" the "Queen of Alfheim" noted.

"Of course I didn't give you a key. You have to go find it. When the AllFather had the magician bound he had the key hidden away so that none of his followers that might have escaped capture could release him."

"So we have to go find it?" One of the younger children asked.

"Yes."

"But how? It could be anywhere!" Lofn pointed out.

"No, not just anywhere. The AllFather was wise and created a series of clues that would lead them to the key should they need it again." Loki explained while conjuring a piece of paper and handing it to Gytha. "It is up to you all to find the key and bring it back here before the princess dies."

The children all started clamoring around the paper in excitement and ran off in the totally wrong direction. Loki smiled, that should keep them busy for at least a little while.

"Perhaps you and the others should go with them Thor, in case they have difficulty finding it." Sigyn suggested.

"An excellent suggestion!" Fandral answered.

Something told Loki the blonde warrior was enjoying this a bit more than he should. Thor rose from his spot and nodded at Loki and Sigyn.

"If they can't find it, it's hidden in the willow tree." Loki informed Thor.

"We'll help them along if they have any difficulty." Thor promised.

Thor and the others left, leaving Loki and Sigyn alone.

"So how is dying?" He queried.

"Not very terrible." Sigyn answered. "I am actually quite comfortable at the moment. You are a surprisingly comfortable pillow."

"Good to know, I will add it to my list of talents."

Sigyn smiled up to him and he down on her.

"So is the princess going to live?"

"I believe so, they want a happy ending this time.

"That is nice to know. How long do you think it will take them to find the key?"

"Not too long. I was careful to make the clues rather obvious."

"You know, you have made this story time so much fun that they will probably demand that you be in charge of the next one as well." Sigyn pointed out.

"The next one?"

"Mhmm."

"A flattering notion, but I think I will be retiring my post as official storyteller after tonight."

"The children are going to be very disappointed to hear that."

"Let's not be too dramatic about this. The only thing I have actually done to move this story along was to start it, they have done all the rest."

"True, but they don't see it that way."

"They don't?"

"No, they see it as an adult, and a Prince no less, spending time with them in a manner that didn't treat them merely as children. You let them participate and have a say in the story, which is something most adults wouldn't let them do."

Loki thought about Sigyn's point for a moment. He couldn't say that she wasn't correct, but he certainly had never thought of it that way before.

"I suppose you are correct, but that is all the more reason for me to retire. I've taught them how to create their own stories, now its time for them to go off and do precisely that, without my help."

Loki and Sigyn spent the rest of their time alone looking up at the stars. Loki could feel his legs going to sleep underneath him from kneeling so long, but he paid it no heed. He loved the feeling of Sigyn's head resting in his lap. Thor, Sif, the Warriors Three, and the children finally returned with the key, and Loki couldn't help but laugh at Fandral, who had taken the list of clues from Gytha and was now leading the way.

"We found the key!" Asa's twin proclaimed happily.

"Marvelous, now undo the handcuffs."

Fandral handed the key to Gytha who slipped it into the keyhole. Loki's shackles dissipated along with the key, and he rubbed his freed wrists.

"You gotta save her!" Asa reminded him.

Loki held up his hands defensively and smiled.

"I will, I will." He replied before placing his hands over Sigyn's.

A soft golden glow emanated from his pointless healing spell, and all of the children watched on in awe. Once the glow faded Sigyn opened her eyes and the children began to clap happily.

"He did it! The princess is saved!" Dagny announced joyfully.

"Get up, get up so you can kiss her!" Lofn added.

Loki gaped at the little girl. Didn't they get it the first time they asked him to kiss Sigyn? He wasn't going to do it.

"How about they simply hug?" He offered instead.

"No." Bárðr replied. "They have to kiss."

"Yes, the children are right. The magician and the princess must kiss." Fandral agreed with a devilish twinkle in his eyes.

"It is the only real way a love story can end." Volstagg pointed out with a chuckle.

The children clamored on about it for a few minutes, but it was Thor's egging on that brought a blush to Loki's cheeks.

"Come now Loki! Don't disappoint the children brother."

Sigyn finally stood up and grabbed Loki's hands to pull him up.

"It's one kiss, Loki, it can't hurt. Just a peck on the lips and they will leave us alone."

She began to pull him up before Loki could warn her that his legs were asleep. She managed to get him a little ways up before his legs gave out and he went tumbling backwards bringing her with him. He managed to catch himself before his head could hit the ground and Sigyn managed to get her hands in front of herself in time to keep her from slamming her head into his chest. The scene brought laughter from everyone watching, and Loki was simply glad that they were distracted by the tumble rather than the position Sigyn and he now found themselves in. When Loki had fallen backwards he had landed with his legs spread wide and Sigyn had landed directly on top of him, which was to say that her lower torso and legs were now resting between his own. Sigyn's cheeks shone a faint shade of pink as she used her hands to prop herself up on Loki's chest. Loki could feel the heat rush to his face and lower extremities, and he caught himself holding his breath. He had spent three years trying to bury his feelings for Sigyn, but now there was nothing he could do to hide them. Sigyn looked into his eyes so deeply that Loki couldn't tear his embarrassed gaze from hers. He didn't realize how long they had been lying there till the silence around them became deafeningly loud. Loki pulled his eyes away from Sigyn's reluctantly to look at all the other expectant eyes staring down at them. No one said anything, but Loki found himself wishing that they would. Loki sat up a little more and looked back at Sigyn. The moment his eyes met hers she leaned in and softly touched her lips to his. The contact was fleeting but her lips continued to hover over his. Their noses brushed causing Loki to lose what little restraint he had left. Without any more hesitation he cupped his hand behind Sigyn's head and pulled her in for a real kiss. Loki felt her hands grip on to his lapel and pull. It was as though she didn't think that their bodies were close enough. He practically begged entrance to her mouth, and Sigyn complied without any reluctance. Thor clearing his throat was the only thing that was able to pull the two apart.

"Whoa…" one of the children muttered.

Loki cleared his throat to try and get control of himself again, but he couldn't suppress a happy smirk.

"So…now that the magician and princess have kissed, how does the story end?" He asked.

"Well… they run away together." Bárðr offered.

"They run away together? Shouldn't they get married?" Sigyn asked.

"They would have to run away together to get married." Fandral interjected. "Seeing as her parents obviously won't approve of the match."

The six other adults in the group gave Fandral amused slightly disbelieving looks.

"Someone has certainly thought about this." Sif remarked.

"Not really, but I mean they were going to kill the guy without a trail so it is obvious they wouldn't be thrilled to have him as a son-in-law." Fandral defended.

"They should go eat!" Asa shouted out of nowhere.

"Now that sounds like a reasonable suggestion to me!" Volstagg declared while picking up Asa and putting her on his shoulders.

"Well if eating is your way of celebrating, then I shan't stop you," Loki interjected, "but I believe the magician would much rather dance with his princess."

Loki managed to stand this time, and helped Sigyn up as well. He held his arm out to Sigyn and she took it with a smile. Before they could walk off however, Gytha came and grabbed onto his other hand.

"I want to come with you!" She remarked.

The other children swiftly agreed that they wanted to tag along as well, so it was a rather large group that made their way over to the main bonfire to dance. Everyone except Hogun joined in on the dancing, but as the evening slipped away Loki managed to separate Sigyn and himself from the others.

"I like the ending to this story." Sigyn murmured.

"So do I." Loki concurred.

The giggling of the little girls dancing with Thor, Fandral, and Volstagg caused Sigyn to look away for a moment and Loki took the opportunity to kiss her on the cheek. She turned her eyes back to him and smiled.

"Stealing kisses now are we?" She inquired lightheartedly.

Loki nuzzled his nose into her cheek as his response.

"You know stealing from a royal bears a harsh punishment." She reminded him.

"Yes, I am well aware of that fact, but you are a noblewoman, not a royal." He reminded her.

"Actually, I am. The story is still not officially finished, so I am still a princess." She pointed out.

"Very well, My Princess, do you plan to punish me for having stolen a kiss?" He asked.

"Perhaps. What would you advise me to do?"

"I would advise you to punish me, to give me your worst." He muttered in her ear.

"Wise counsel, My Lord," She remarked, "council I intend to take."

Sigyn kissed him on the cheek before pulling away and giving him a curtsy.

"I will see you tomorrow." She said before disappearing amongst the guests.

Loki watched her retreating form as long as he could before losing sight of her. A chuckle resounded in his chest.

"A cruel punishment indeed, My Lady…" he muttered under his breath.

He was going to make her pay for that one later.