There was not time to waste, both sides started to run towards one another. Loki stayed close in proximity to Sigyn as he could. Something didn't feel right to her. Sigyn couldn't put a finger on it exactly but it troubled her. She thought this to the rest of the Avengers, Loki, and Suttungr.
As she thought this, the dark elf side immediately stopped and fell with no warning, confusing the other side. In the next second, Malekith then drew out the Casket of Winters and proceeded to cast the enemy side into ice.
Malekith burst into a joyous laugh once they were all turned.
"What's going on?" Nick Fury aimed his voice to Agent Hill.
"Sir, it seems that Malekith froze our entire force on the field," Maria's voice cracked a bit.
"Send in the next force," Nicked barked. "I want heat warmers, fires going, medics, and anything else that can get our side back on track." He was worried but it didn't show. "How long until Malekith's army reaches them?"
"At the pace they were going," Maria looked at a computer then back to Fury. "About ten minutes."
"And the second forces?" Nick didn't like this outcome. He could already tell that the odds weren't in their favor.
"Ten to twenty sir," Maria kept her chin up. "Troops are being sent out now. We can send in the jets."
"No," Nick closed his eyes. "Too close in proximity to them. It could easily shatter them all."
Everyone was frozen, some could think while others transfixed in time. Tony was among the lucky ones, except that it had froze his suit. He was locked inside an frozen iron casket.
"Well, this is just great," Tony got his system online. "Jarvis, I need the defrosters on at full blast. This is more ice than I could imagine."
"Yes sir," Jarvis spoke. His suit was slowly getting free.
"Now, I know how Steve feels like," Tony looked at the rest of the Avengers and then to the other army. "Well, we're screwed."
Thor and Loki tried to break free. Sigyn could hear their thoughts and could see the dark elves racing towards them ready to smash them all to pieces. She knew what she had to do. Sigyn just had to make sure not to compromise herself or anyone.
She focused all her energy in getting herself out. She was going to try getting everyone out at the same time but there would be no time for that. Sigyn could feel the ice melting around her. Once she had about an inch, she burst into flames, making the ice around her shatter. Her clothes as Glut burned away, but she was lucky enough to wear a red dress and veil underneath that was resistant to her flames. Sigyn then focused her energy on the rest. She let them all warm up and the ice then showered all around them. Tony had broken free and was attacking the forces.
The Jotuns came out battling passing some of the Avengers, sweeping their way through the hordes of dark elves. Thor, Tony, Steve, and the Hulk came in behind the Jotuns and made their own paths.
A few Jotuns stopped Sigyn from venturing in. They protected her. Loki ran up beside them, throwing daggers everywhere. Sigyn calmed the fire that hovered around her skin, but it only fueled the fire burning inside of her. She knew that they were only protecting her, but since coming back, she feels as if she has been nothing but a problem. A child standing in the way. Sigyn couldn't shake the feeling at first, but she sighed and tried to make the best of it. Maybe one day, she will let her feelings known. If she was fighting among the Valkyries, she knew that she would be treated as an equal and would be allowed to fight just like the rest of them.
The second forces came, mending those in need, and helping with the fight. Malekith's army was dwindling in minutes. He was down to thirty-odd some men. Malekith decided to keep this life and retreated, his last surviving men with him. He was cautious enough to close the portal. He was angered that his trick did not work.
Some of the Jotuns and SHIELD agents cheered about the recent defeat. Suttungr and the rest knew that it wasn't over. Malekith may have retreated to what seemed to be his tail between his legs, but the worse was yet to come.
There was a group gathered around Sigyn. They were thanking her for saving their lives. She responded with humble gratitude and scanned them over to make sure that they were alright. The group parted for the Avengers. Thor was in the lead and swung her into a hug. The two laughed once he put her down and she could breathe easy again. Steve gave a sincere thank you with the nods of Clint and Natasha.
"You've done alright kiddo," Tony mused. "Thanks for giving me ideas in updating the suit. I guess I am going to need a better de-icer. Maybe one of Frost Giants can stay here so I can have an example." Some of the Frost Giants looked down at him in scrutiny. "Or maybe not," their looks grew soft, "these ones." Then back to scrutiny. Tony just shrugged his shoulders.
The Hulk had already said thank you before his transformation back into Bruce who was sitting in front of heaters with warm clothes, and blanket with the rest of the agents.
The group later dismissed. The Avengers were back on board the Helicarrier. The agents were packing up some of the camp area while the rest were researching the field, making sure Malekith wasn't coming back anytime soon.
Sigyn was standing in front of Suttungr and the rest of the Jotuns with Loki just behind her to the side. The Jotuns had broke camp and were standing on the exact spot to be taken back up again.
"Soon, my lady," was all what Suttungr spoke before Heimdall transported them off of Midgard.
Loki took Sigyn back to the Helicarrier. There they spotted the Avengers lounging and relaxing. Thor was talking to an agent about Jane and meeting with her again before he had to go back to Asgard. Tony was having himself a drink, Bruce had barely walked in with a hot mug of coffee in his hands. Natasha was sitting on the couch. Clint grabbed an apple, ran and jumped over the back of the couch, only to land in the seat next to Natasha. She looked at him with a bit of annoyance. He only smiled and bit into the apple, teasing her.
Loki smiled and thought to her. Come, let's leave them to their own company.
Sigyn followed Loki back to her room. Why thine own room? She didn't want to read in what was coming. It was a nice thing about her gifts. She was able to turn them off if she wanted to.
Loki stood facing her, with his back to the door as he closed it. "Doth does not see?"
"Nay," Sigyn smiled. "I only see what I want to see."
His hand came up to touch her face. "May I?"
"You may," Sigyn breathed as she waited for his touch.
His fingers pressed soft on her cheek, then his palm caressed her jawline. Sigyn closed her eyes and leaned into his hand. Loki brought his other hand upwards to the other side of her face. His two hands gently slid the veil away from her face and off her head. He let the veil drop to the floor. Sigyn opened her emerald eyes that seemed to shimmer. Her red fiery hair cascaded down to flow through his fingers.
"I thought I lost you," his voice merely a whisper. "Sigyn. How I have missed you so."
Sigyn could hear his thoughts then,
I wamted to do this the moment you freed yourself from the veil, Loki closed the gap between the two.Seasons have passed when I have not thought about you, when I have not tried to see what beauty you have become, what kind of maiden you have thrived upon. Reminded myself of what childish pleasures you envoked. I have missed you, my friend Sigyn. I have terribly missed you.
"That is why can not speak them," Sigyn's breath piqued, "but I will. There wasn't one season that I did not think the same. I wondered what became of you and the rest. What challenges arose, what ideals interested you. I wondered...if there was ever a maiden who caught your eyes, a new companion who surpassed my own, an equal the trumped our own similarities."
"None," Loki brought her closer. One hand cupped her neck with the other slipped down and brought her in around the small of her back. "None so far have ever came close to now what is before me."
Sigyn knew that he meant as maiden and not just a regular equal. It was not what she exactly wanted but in time he would see that they were equals all around.
Their lips met soft and slow before turning needy and passionate. His arms brought body in more to clutch with his. Her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling him closer to her. Both of his hands were around the small of her back.
The two stopped to get their breath. They looked into each other's eyes knowing that this maybe be their only time before heading back to Asgard. This next kiss somewhat started the same where they left off. Sigyn knew that it wasn't going to go far. Loki wanted more but he felt that if he did have her now, the secret moments they could possibly share back in Asgard would not be enough. He wanted to others to know that she was his and his alone, but that would require always being by her, which would mean he would be with the Jotuns and he just was not up for that yet. He didn't dwell on it too much. He would just have to try and get what he wants the usual way.