It was well after midnight when Sigyn heard a noise. Tonight was Loki's night out, but he was always silent when he returned.
She frowned, carefully getting to her feet. It was not unknown for people to attempt to break in; apparently being the village's resident sorceress meant it was some sort of teenage right of passage to get into her hallway. She swore she would never understand normal humans. Not bothering to pick anything up, she shut the door of her workroom and headed towards the sound, expecting the nervously giggling pre-pubescent boys looking around in combined awe and disappointment: Awe that they had made it in, disappointment at how normal everything looked.
The intruders must have come in the backdoor, into the kitchen. Sigyn stopped short and backed into the hallway, hoping the people in her kitchen had not seen her.
There were three men dressed in black, wearing scarves over the lower halves of their faces - definitely not children.
She had a brief flash of annoyance at herself for not picking up something she could use as a weapon, before Sigyn began pushing her magic into a more offensive shape. She hung back, hoping she hadn't been seen; she needed a bit of time.
"... witch is home?" one of them was whispering to the other.
"It doesn't matter," another one said gruffly, "If she is, we can handle her."
Sigyn was rather insulted by that; a Sorceress was far more powerful than a witch. She wished, not for the first time, that her magic was designed for destructive rather than creative purpose. She grabbed the nearest thing - a brass candlestick - and willed some of her sluggish power into it. It would have to do. And if they thought her no more than a mere witch, all to the better.
"What, pray, are you doing in my house?" She demanded, allowing the candlestick to glow slightly. Sometimes using visual magic was enough to unnerve normal people.
"You have something that was ours. we've come to take it back."
"I am not in the habit of having things belonging to ruffians," she replied calmly.
"Just hand over the Trickster's box and we'll leave you alone."
Sigyn was surprised, but didn't show it. "It belongs to me. I suggest you look for one of your own, elsewhere." She said coldly.
"It was stolen from our enclave. We want it back."
"Unfortunately for you, that is not an option. I strongly suggest you get out of my house." She repeated, her voice not changing.
"Give us the box and we will leave quietly."
"I am beginning to think you are either hard of hearing, or stupid." Sigyn stepped forward, her eyes glowing faintly with the power bubbling within her. "This is not an option. The box is mine. You are trespassing in my home."
He drew his sword.
She concentrated on it, willing it to heat up. The blade started to glow red hot. The man yelped and threw the sword at her. Sigyn leapt out of the way and threw her candlestick back at him. He grunted as it struck him in the shoulder. She threw out her hand, sending the kitchen table flying at the other men.
Suddenly, she was grabbed from behind. She swore colorfully and kicked backwards, but the man held her firmly. "Now stop that," he scolded, holding a knife against her throat.
Sigyn set her lips firmly, and concentrated on the knife. Hot would be unpleasant against her throat, but ice would be worse; the last thing she needed was to prevent her own ability to breathe. Heat it was, then.
"Set fire to the kitchen," the man behind her directed his companions.
She swore; there was no way she could direct her attention in three ways. She concentrated on the knife-man's weapon, it was her only option. Fires could be put out, slit throats generally were harder to mend.
One of them men struck a match and went to light the curtains on fire, but they went out promptly.
"I would much rather you desisted. Those were a very good bargain."
"Be silent," he pressed the knife closer.
"Being silent is really going to defeat the object." She told him, rolling her eyes. "I cannot give directions if silent."
"The only thing you need to say is where the box is," he growled
"It is where you cannot get it. I will have to retrieve it."
He considered for a moment and then eased off his hold.
She rubbed her neck, giving him a dark look. "Entirely unnecessary." Sigyn said irritably, before she gathered her magic and concentrated, murmuring the words of a spell softly.
"What are you doing?" he demanded
She waved a hand, dismissing him. The air shimmered as a portal took shape beside her, and an icy biting wind lashed through the room, whipping Sigyn's hair from its tie and pulling at the man nearest her, dragging him backwards through it.
"You thought I would hand the box over to you?" She sneered, staggering a few footsteps away from him. "You are greater idiots than I originally thought! Loki belongs to no-one, and shall be bound by none!" The box appeared in her hands, and she threw it at the floor, stamping on it for good measure. Better that he was free, than in slavery to those whom Sigyn could easily see meant no good.
"No!" the man holding her gave a shout, although if that was in response to the box being smashed or his companion being sucked through the portal, was not clear.
"That is really not gentlemanly," came a new voice.
"You are late," Sigyn scolded.
Loki held out a hand, pushing back the man who was holding Sigyn. "My apologies, my lady," he said with a little bow.
One of the other thugs gripped his weapon - a club – tighter and advanced on the trickster.
"I'd put that down if I were you," Loki said mildly.
The man held it tighter, glaring, gaining a little confidence as he saw his comrade sneaking towards the trickster. Suddenly, his club hissed at him as a snake lifted its head, rearing back and spreading its hood.
"What the-?!" He threw the club away from him as hard as he could, staggering backwards.
Loki ducked as it flew through the air, striking the man who was sneaking up behind him, knocking him off his feet.
The now weaponless man glowered at Loki. "What did you-"
"There was a snake," he said simply
"How did it - that was my - you're supposed to want revenge!"
"Whether I wanted revenge or not didn't change the fact that there was a snake there," he pointed out
"That's not what I meant!" He practically stamped his foot in frustration. "You're supposed to want revenge! The witch had you stuck here! We were getting you out!"
"Out?" he repeated, "For what?"
"So you weren't stuck here with her! You could do what you were brought over for!"
He calmly walked over to the complaining man. "Hmm. Let me see... Revenge upon the woman who has kept me in a very [i]very [/i]luxurious cage, or revenge upon the men who would make me a slave..." He looked thoughtful, "That is difficult."
The thug a step back. "That wasn't - I mean – uh-" He glanced over towards his companion, only to see that the man was pinned under club, which was now glowing.
"Now, I suggest you leave," Loki continued calmly, "There's a door behind you, or the portal if you wish."
"I - what about him?" He motioned to the prone bandit.
"I will let him up when you have left." Sigyn's voice was strained.
"There now, you see?" he smiled
The bandit didn't look very happy, but backed towards the door, his self preservation higher than his greed.
Once he was gone, Loki turned to the man on the ground, "Now, are you going to quietly leave when you are let up?"
He spat a few obscenities, but the general gist appeared to be yes, he would. Sigyn released the spell she had been holding on the club, and fell back as he scrambled to his feet. He looked like he was planning on doing something, then thought better of it and rushed off.
"Any more?" Loki asked
"Only the one through the portal." Sigyn said quietly.
"Alright," he reached out to the portal, and then closed his hand, making a fist, and the portal closed as though it never had been. That settled, he turned to Sigyn, who was still seated on the kitchen floor. "Are you alright?"
Sigyn opened her mouth to tell him that she was fine, then stopped. Lying was one of her primary traits thanks to her upbringing, and after his help Loki deserved better. "Not precisely, no." She admitted, "I'm not entirely sure I can get up."
"Stay still then," he knelt down next to her. Her face and throat were covered with small cuts from both kitchen detritus from her tornado, and the knife-wielding bandit.
The look of concern on his face unnerved her slightly, and she waved a hand at him. "It could be worse, Loki."
"Shh," he murmured, lighting running a finger over the worst of her cuts. Behind him, her kitchen was putting itself back in order. The kettle seemed to be firmly in command, and was taking no nonsense from the dishes, even ordering the broken ones back together.
"That's better," Loki said softly, "I'm afraid healing isn't really my forte, but you look a bit better anyway."
She laughed at that. "That was hardly my concern," she chided, taking absent-minded stock of herself. Her power had stopped rebelling, and was settling back into the soft thrum behind her breastbone she was used to. She felt slightly more human again. "I think I may be able to rise now." She informed him, and carefully began doing just that, with Loki's aid.
She nodded her thanks to him, and looked around the kitchen. "Well, that is much better, thank you."
He nodded, "No lasting harm done then."
She glanced at him. "Not entirely."
"Is something else wrong?" he looked concerned.
"I would have thought the lack of bonds might have been an indication," she said wryly, half smiling.
"Do you really think I'd consider that to be something wrong?" he teased
Sigyn chuckled at that. "Of course you would not, but it is not exactly something that ought to have happened in this way..."
"No," he agreed, "I'd prefer if you hadn't been attacked."
She laughed then, properly, and shook her head. "You know full well what I meant, Loki," she chided him, eyes still merry.
"Yes," he smiled, "That's true."
She gave a little sigh. "Well. You are no longer bound here, and I cannot force you either to return or to not wreak havoc as you will,"
"Also true," he agreed, "But you should also notice that I am still here."
She looked up, her expression a little confused and awkward a moment before she smoothed it out to its usual impassive mask. "Indeed you are."
"I'll make you some tea," he decided.
She blinked at him. "I - sorry?" She wasn't able to suppress her surprise.
"Although I'm not as good at it as you are... but I shall make sure it is actually tea," he winked.
She laughed softly then. "Very well," she nodded, and took a seat. It wasn't long before the trickster brought her a warm mug of tea. She automatically sipped at it while he took his usual seat.
After a little while, she placed the half-empty mug down on the table, and regarded him levelly. "You confuse me." She told him bluntly.
"Why this time?" he asked with a smile
"You are still here." She motioned one hand around her to encompass the house in general. "Yet you are not bound here."
"I thank you for that, by the way."
She smiled a little. "You are not a toy, to be stolen away by precocious fools."
"I came back because I was worried about you," Loki continued.
She nodded slowly. "Thank you for your concern," she said.
"I'm glad you're alright."
"Thanks to you," she agreed. "They were certainly very persistent."
He nodded "I'm glad I made it home in time."
"As am I," she admitted, picking her mug back up and looking into it.
"And as to why I am still here, it is because there is no where else that I would rather be right now." The trickster leaned lazily back, stretching out, "and I always do as I like."
"I could not argue that," she agreed readily.
"And I would like to stay here for a time."
She blinked again. "You...will not be hugely chaotic, I hope?"
"Not any more than I have been," he said
"Then... I would enjoy your company..." She admitted softly.
"It's settled then," he smiled, "I shall still remain here for a time. After all, I never minded being here."
"I will have to tell the council, you understand?" Sigyn sighed. "I imagine they will be most unhappy."
"There's nothing they can do about it, is there?" he asked
"Oh, I am sure I will be reprimanded in some delightful way," she snorted, raising the cup to her lips.
"You didn't really have a choice in the matter."
Sigyn shrugged. "Nonetheless, it will be viewed as a failure on my part. I am, after all, supposed to be capable of handling anything." She gave a wry smile.
"Do you need to report this?" he asked suddenly
"Lie to the council?" She queried, though she didn't sound particularly shocked.
"Why not?" he shrugged
She canted her head to one side thoughtfully. "It may well be in my best interests," she agreed. "Though the lie will become tedious in the retelling,"
"Not if you do it correctly," he replied
"True enough. However, they will still expect me to be looking for a way to send you home," she told him. She sighed quietly.
"Didn't you tell them it was impossible?"
"I did, but you were there listening, Loki," she gave him a wry little smile. "The matter is not closed."
He chuckled, "Humans are so stubborn."
"Yes, we are," she smiled.
"Well if you wish to lie to the council, I will help," he said. "This might help." He held out a familiar looking box, identical to the original.
"Oh, very nice," she regarded it, "May I?"
Once he had given her the box, she turned it over in her hands, studying it intently. She could not detect that it was a fake.
"A perfect copy," he said, "Exactly the same, except for one tiny detail."
"Oh?" She regarded the box again, looking for what she had missed.
"I'm not bound to it," he smiled