Chapter Two; The Dream

Sif could scarcely remember how she'd made it back to her chambers in the palace that night. It was all a blur. Her head ached, and spun making any coherent though impossible for her.

Collapsing onto her bed, she even lacked the strength to remove her clothing. No sooner had she rested her pounding head, she fell into a deep sleep that she did not wake from until almost 24 hours later.

And as she slept she dreamed. The dream was vivid and real, because it was no ordinary dream. It was in fact not actually a dream at all, but memories. Memories that Sif had long since forgotten, buried deep within her mind. Like the other Gods and Goddesses of Asgard, her life had already spanned many centuries.

Though her physical form was that of a woman in her early thirties, by mortal standards, memories from when she was still a young girl were far back in the mists of time. Yet in the dream here she was again, on the verge of womanhood, about to leave her teen years behind her..

The warm sunlight in the palace gardens caressed her skin as she wandered along the pathway. Her fingers reaching out, to brush against the colourful flowers as she walked by. The sound of birds singing high up in the trees filled her ears, and a soft breeze tousled her golden hair.

Then she saw him. Lounging lazily on the grass, his head propped up by his elbow, a pile of books beside him. Just at that moment he looked up, suddenly aware of her presence,

"Good day to you, My Lady"

he said politely, smiling what appeared to be the most heart warming of smiles; genuine and pleasant.

Sif approached him, not returning the smile

"So you still prefer to shun sparring practice in favour of your old texts Loki?"

Her question was clearly more of a statement.

Loki, the smile never leaving his young face, closed the book he was reading and sat up,

"Do not mistake my absence for ignorance Sif. My beliefs are that a strong mind is as equally important as a strong body, would you not agree?"

Sif glanced pointedly at his long, gangly legs stretched out before him and his narrow frame

"So, what you lack in body strength you hope to gain more in the way of knowledge?"

Loki's usually pale cheeks, coloured slightly at this.

"I have not yet finished growing, however the mind never ceases to."

He replied quietly.

Sif flopped down heavily beside him, her face wore a grim expression.

"Am I wrong to assume that my brother has put you in this glum mood?"

He ventured.

Sif visibly bristled, she hated being predictable. She should not be so easy to read.

"He, appears to have lost all interest in me Loki."

She admitted sadly,

"Your father has stated that we are to be married once we come of age fully..yet Thor does not seem to care."

Loki appeared fidgety at her speaking to him so openly, he hesitated a while, not knowing what to say.

"Ahh, well..I suppose you cannot expect he would be overjoyed at the prospect of marriage with him being so young."

Sif frowned,

"He is older than yourself Loki, and I for that matter...and besides, our marriage will not yet be for many years."

Loki lay back onto the grass idly, his arms behind his head, eyes firmly fixed on the sky

"That may be so, but you know Thor, as do I..he does not always think clearly..he wishes to prove himself first as a capable warrior, so his mind is distracted by thoughts of war at present...not love."

He looked up at Sif and seemed surprised to find she was smiling at him now.

"What amuses you so?"

He demanded somewhat self consciously.

"YOU Loki"

She was giggling now;

"It seems no one knows Thor quite as well as you do."

Loki shrugged and closed his eyes against the glare of the sunlight

"That may be so, he is my brother after all."

Sif lay down on her side facing him, her head resting on her hand,

"You also have a very old head on your young shoulders."

It was now Loki's turn to laugh,

"I am not sure if you mean that as a compliment or an insult my Lady!"

Sif laughed again,

"It is not intended as an insult, by reference to age I mean wisdom..you're far wiser than your brother Loki, despite you being younger than he"

She studied him closely, she could not recall having done so before. In fact she had probably never even been this close to him before. His face was slim, pale with angular features but handsome. His eyes were a deep emerald green, as opposed to Thor's crystal blue ones. His hair was thick, and black as the night, though when in the light it appeared to have a hint of blue about it - like a raven's feathers. Again, this was in stark contrast to Thor's, shaggy blonde mane.

"What are you looking at?"

Loki spoke suddenly, shattering her thoughts.

"I am merely taking in how different you are.."

She replied honestly.

"To...Thor?"

Sif was about to agree when a thought occurred to her;

"Well, yes, but also..to everyone else I suppose"

Loki turned now to face her, mirroring her position by leaning on his elbow

"In what way?"

"In every way"

She replied without hesitation,

"Most Asgardian's sport fair hair, either blonde, red or brown..yet yours is so dark.."

Loki was smiling again, she noticed for the first time the way his eyes narrowed as he did so.

"So you are referring to my appearance rather than character? I was expecting you to point out my obvious interests in reading and spell casting, and the blatant lack of interest in fighting"

Sif pretended to roll her eyes,

"Well yes, there is that also that makes you different"

Slowly the smile faded from his lips, and his eyes turned down to stare at the area of grass that lay between them.

"There is nothing wrong with being different..but people tend to fear what is different"

He looked almost solemn now.

Sif could somehow sense his sadness, and understood why he felt this way. He was often made fun of at the training arena for his unconventional style of fighting. He always chose daggers over an axe or sword, though sometimes he'd stretch to using a spear. However the most peculiar trait, was his method of fighting with his feet rather than hands. His long legs were deadly, his balance outstanding. He was able to kick so incredibly high and straight, rendering his opponent helpless against the force of it.

When questioned he claimed it was a form of combat practised in the far East of Midgard, and that it took great skill to master it. Needless to say, no one was impressed. At the palace he was ridiculed for his quietness, often choosing to read alone rather than join in with the lively banter of the warriors Three and Thor. Then of course there was the magic...

Many jibed him for his dedication to the craft. But Loki being Loki, was not perturbed by their mockery. Yes, there was no denying Loki was different.

Sif leaned in closer to him, and spoke in hushed tones, as if the trees themselves may be listening.

"Have you..kissed many women Loki?"

Loki's eyes widened in shock, and Sif herself was surprised by her boldness for asking such a personal question.

"I, well..ahh.."

He stammered, clearly flummoxed;

"..why ask such a question? Surely such a subject is of little interest to you!"

Sif couldn't blame him for being affronted. Never before had the pair shared any time alone together, now here they were lying side by side, talking as if they were close friends.

"I'm sorry Loki, I know it is none of my business..its just that..you're so different, and you say that people fear those who are. I am curious to know if girls actually fear you.."

Loki stared at her curiously, his dark brows knitting together in a deep frown,

"My word, that is a bizarre curiosity to have... and suppose I were to ask you the same question?"

He tried to keep his face serious as he added;

"...Though regarding men and not women!"

Sif laughed nervously, grateful for him taking this as well as he was. Previously she would have expected Loki to be outraged at such a line of questioning; he always seemed so serious and rigid.

"I, well..Thor isn't different as you are..he attracts girls easily, they do not fear him..they desire him."

She said eventually.

Loki cast his eyes down again as he realised what she was saying.

"Ahh, so you have kissed the mighty Thor..well -"

He fell silent as she edged even closer to him now, diminishing the distance between them.

"I wonder.."

Sif now pondered aloud;

"..how different a kisser you are to him..you're so different in every other way."

Loki swallowed hard and Sif could sense his tension, she couldn't quite believe her brashness either. Had she been out in the midday sun for too long? She wasn't thinking clearly, but there was something pulling her towards the awkward young prince. She had never felt anything like it before.

Their eyes locked and Sif felt her face burning. Then he spoke; his words no more than a whisper,

"Do you..fear me Sif?"

Their heads were now tilting closer towards each other, she could feel his breathing quicken, as had her own.

"I..no, I don't fear you Loki.."

She found herself closing her eyes automatically, as if instinctively aware of what was coming next.

Time seemed to stand still, everything began to move in slow motion: the breeze blowing the leaves, the birds flying above them..and then it came..

His lips met her's; gently at first, though the contact was electrifying, and she had to stifle a gasp.

After the initial shock and the reality of what was happening sunk in, she found herself melting into him.

Her hands reached up into his hair, tousling it with her fingers as she kissed him back, firmer.

She felt herself tilting, and realised he was lowering her head to the ground. For a moment she thought she heard a stifled moan come from him and her entire body was now trembling.

And then it happened. The voice. Or rather, a roar of anger that shattered the silence - and the moment!

The pair flew apart, Loki was stammering, clearly mortified at having been caught in such an intimate clinch... by none other than Sif's intended husband.

"Th-Thor, I..ahh.."

He was now scrambling to his feet.

Sif was frantically rearranging her tunic, which was now creased and grass stained.

Thor's face certainly depicted an expression that was thunderous.

"What goes on here?!"

He demanded, glaring at his younger brother angrily.

Loki was desperately trying to smooth down his dishevelled locks of hair, unable to look him in the eye.

"Brother, I..am sorry..it was just-"

Sif jumped to her feet and found her voice at last;

"Nothing!"

She declared, her tone steady and defiant.

Thor turned to look at her, her face was still flushed, but she somehow managed to stare back at him,

"It was nothing!"

She repeated, with more conviction.

She noticed Loki looking at her strangely, his eyes searching her face..for what,she did not know.

Thor turned and began to stomp away, grumbling something under his breath.

Sif automatically began to race after him,

"Thor, wait! Please, it was NOTHING I swear!"

As she left Loki behind, without another glance back, she thought she caught the sound of his voice...in her head..

"Was it...really nothing?"