Sigyn was then hauled up away from him. He narrowed his eyes to the Jotun that grabbed her. The Jotun sneered before climbing down quickly away from top. Loki followed him. It was a race to get back. The Jotun had to fend off others as they tried to snatch her away.
The Jotun set Sigyn down in front of Gundroth. The King looked pleased. "We have a winner," the guard announced.
"Wait," Loki came from behind the guards. He went up to Sigyn and grabbed her arms. Loki held up the key for all to see before he unchained her. The chains dropped with a clang. His thumb grazed the back of her hand before she yanked them away.
The King smirked. "A tie. Let the winners of this round feast with us. While the rest feast amongst themselves." Sigyn was taken by guards to go get ready for the feast.
Grundroth sat upon a smaller throne. The other Jotun took a place near him while Loki sat on the other side of Grundroth. A small group of female Jotuns came into the group as well. They were the top winners of their contest. Food was brought to them by servants. Music came from drums, stringed instruments and some voices.
Sigyn wore a soot grey gown with a teal collar upon her neck. Teal fabric streamed from her under her arms that were clasped on by silver metal. If she moved just right, teal could be seen from under the dress as well. Her headdress was in the same color grey. It rounded over her hair crest line with beads coming down in different levels. The rest reached upwards enough to support the rings behind it. Thin silver rings were also placed with them to have a continuous patterns. Her hair was placed in a detailed bun of braids, twists, and few designs.
Loki watched as she entered. He noticed that her feet were covered in jewels. It was a slave anklet. She was led in by a female Jotun. Sigyn was led in front of Gundroth. There she kneeled, her back covered in fabric.
Grundorth asked her to rise. He tapped a certain gem under his golden armor. Sigyn felt the unlocking of her flame powers.
"Dance," he commanded. Sigyn rose up, only to be led to the center. The Jotun left her there as the music began to get loud enough for everyone to hear.
Loki positioned himself to be more comfortable as he believed he would enjoy this coming event. He watched slowly transition into the music as a serpent does in water. Streams of flames icicled from her finger tips as she spun around and kicked up a leg. The beat started to pick up as she arched her back and set flames about her.
He enjoyed watching her as he sipped the wine in a golden mug. A very young Jotunness servant came by to fill more into it. She eyed him with intrigue but his eyes were full upon Sigyn.
"Hmph," she protested. "All of those around want her. I see the same goes for you."
Loki kept his eyes on Sigyn. "She is quite the desirable weapon, by wielding her you can rule the realms."
"That's why you desire her," she looked to her.
"No," his eyes never trailing off of Sigyn as she blew a flame ball towards Gundroth it extinguished before it ever got to him. "Those who do, die. I have other aspirations." He gave a half smile.
The servant eyed him one last time before she left to tend to the others.
Sigyn finished dancing as she opened her arms and let out flames behind her like wings. The flames flickered out as she bent down. She felt the lock of the flames set back in place.
Guards took Sigyn away to get ready for the next part of the contest. Loki watched her leave and flicked his eyes back to Gundroth, who watched the rest as she left.
While Sigyn was quickly being bathed, Jotuns around her prepared her for the next match.
"This will take a few days," the older female Jotun spoke. "We have supplies for you, more extensive than usual. This part will kill most of the contestants for both sides."
"Hmph," Sigyn played with the thick fabric she was in. "And here I thought I would have to do it for him."
The older female narrowed her eyes at Sigyn. "This next part could take you as well."
"Farbauti," Sigyn let go of the fabric. "I may hope it does."
Gasps echoed through the healing room.
"You gave your word you would not walk to Valhalla," Farbauti grinded her teeth. She did not like this sort of traitorous act.
"I will not, but I may be guided by my sisters," Sigyn slid into the cloak they placed upon her. "The storms are getting worse. When he unlocked my abilities, I could sense it; the storm could take those in here. He could take those in here. Rumors of the rebels getting closer is making him more anxious."
They looked from one another with confusion and fear. She could hear the whispers.
"The King is in need of you," the servant who served Loki stepped out of the corridor and into the room.
"I am ever in debt to you ladies of savior," Sigyn bowed down in respect to them. "If perchance I survive, it was because of the loyalty I gave to each of you as you have done to give me. Though if it is my time, my dearest goodbye." Sigyn rose with tears in her eyes.
She was led out by some of the female warriors. The servant went down a secret staircase to the kitchen. She got a bundle of food, water, and other essentials. The servant found Loki getting ready by getting dagger.
"Come any closer and you will be the first to test the sharpness of my dagger," he warned her.
"I come to help," the servant bowed. She gave out the small bundle to him. Loki eyed her as he snatched it away. He set it next to his wolf pelt. She rose after he took it and went back to looking at the map of Jotunheim. "She will be in the forest."
"What is it that you want?" Loki cut right to the chase.
"I only want this contest to be over," the servant looked around to make sure that they weren't spied upon. "The others and I were taken from our homes to serve the King. Once he has his weapon protected, we will be able to leave. I was supposed to help take care of one of the giants who controlled these storms."
"His son is doing that for him," Loki made sure he had both rings hidden in a pocket. "In the forest you say?"
"Yes," she whispered. "This talk is treason, but she always goes there from time to time. The beasts take her there and several other places, but that is his favorite place to send her. Be careful on this part. This will kill off a bunch of the warriors. It will be dangerous. It is said that this will take a few days to find her and bring her back."
"Nothing is ever too dangerous," Loki put on his pelt and grabbed the bundle. He walked past her. "Thank you for the tip."
Loki integrated with the rest of the Jotuns walking to the throne room. Sigyn was linked in with the King. Once all of the contestants were there, he viewed through Sigyn's mind of seeing other's minds.
"This will be the most difficult of the challenge," Grundroth belted. "If you in turn take her for your own, you will die by her." He then peered to see if any of them would betray his words. Grundroth could see that a few did. He motioned to the guards to take them away. Sigyn could see through with a special part of her Valkyior ability if any were on their way of being worthy. Grundroth could not see what she saw. There were a few that had a small glow, but once she viewed upon where Loki was. The glow was bright, shining, and vibrant. This Jotun had been worthy on several occasions at once in order for it to glow that vibrant. She did not know which Jotun it was but she at least knew that there was one there that could be trusted.
Grundroth looked through the rest before he let her go. She was led by a guard to the beasts where she left to go upon a beast. Several beasts followed them, so the paths confused the warriors. The beasts would lean against some of the trees as Sigyn climbed up the tree she lived in. Once she was in the secret area, the beasts found hidden crevices to rest in and guard her.
The warriors were sent out then. Each going their own separate way. Loki brought a cloth of Sigyn's clothing. He would be the first to get to her. The storm was coming in on them quickly. He followed a tract of one of the beasts. He didn't care where it lead as long as there was a beast at the end, to which it came out of the snow and went to him. Loki smirked as he changed into Sigyn. The beast came up to sniff him. Loki had the fabric draped over him.
Loki did not breathe but extended his hand to it. The beast put itself up to him. Loki smiled. The beast then walked past and laid down enough for him to climb upon. Riding beasts; my, my, Sigyn you are certainly becoming more desirable. The beast took him around several places, while more beasts began to do the same.
Sigyn sighed as she let the food bundle drop next to the other supplies. She knelt to the ground to find to find the pelts. Her smile forming as she felt around. The pelts were a bundled against the back of the tree. She snuggled right in and searched for the ring hidden in a pocket. It would be a few days until they find her and she can mourn in peace. The pocket was empty. She searched again, this time through the pelts and back through her steps. She found nothing so far.
"No," she whispered in frantic. "No, no, no, no. I cannot have lost it." Her voice started to choke up. "Not the ring. I have lost everything else of him. Not the ring, please no. I beg of you. NOT THE RING!" She hit her head upon the tree. Sigyn then scuttled over to the food supplies and searched through them. Nothing as everything else. "No! No! NOOOOO!" She pounded upon the floor. "I lost it." She sobbed. "I lost it. Foolish me. How could I ever believe I could keep it that close and for that long?" She entered back into her fur pelt hovel and curled back into the position she was earlier in. Tears streamed down her face as she fell asleep.
The beasts stopped around its own tree. Loki looked up to the tree next to him. There were small foot holds. This is where she must be hiding. You never would have known unless you were up this far. Loki started to climb as the beasts left and circled to other trees doing the same. He opened a trapped door into the tree. The moonlight cascaded in, showing the circular room. There wasn't much too much to it. Lots of shelves, a carved out bathroom area, and a small pile of pelts. That moved up and down in a rhythmic motion. There she is. Loki took off a twig of the tree as he entered the room. He shut the door wrapping a ripped part of the dress on the twig. He lit the torch as he walked towards her.
He smiled down to her all snuggled into a jet black pelt. No matter how blind she is, she still finds a way to be near me.
Sigyn could smell the fire and the heat radiated to her. Sigyn woke up in a jolt. "No!" Loki was taken aback. She bolted up right out of the pelts. Sigyn closed her hands upon the torch. Loki watched as the flames licked her fingers as it became smaller until it finely burned out.
"Never create any light here," Sigyn warned him with a soft voice. "No flames, nothing." Flaps of feathers and caws of birds could be heard from the distance. They waited in silence as the birds landed upon the trees. A few landed on either side of the hovel. "Grundroth has trained the birds as well, due to my abilities. If somehow I ever escape and use my abilities they were the ones who were to capture me and bring me to another spot." She walked back to her spot and plopped back down.
Loki cocked his head to the side. "Not even worried?"
Sigyn tucked herself into the black pelt again. "The birds will hear me if you do anything. If you even try to bring me back now, you'll kill us both. The storm is going to descend upon us. You are lucky that you found me." Sigyn did not care what he would do next. She lost the last physical aspect of her husband. What he could do to her was nothing.
Loki could not see in the pitch black darkness, not yet until his eyes adjusted. He set is pack down and took off his pelt. His foot found the pelts. He took a few and laid down a few feet away from her. He wanted to snuggle up right next to her, hold her tight against him. Though he knew that she would not have it, not now anyway. If he got her to believe that it was him, they could not stay in this tree for too long and back at the palace someone would find out.
He woke up to her murmuring words in her sleep. She tossed and turned in her sleep causing him to slink away from her. If she was woken up from this deep sleep it could cause mental harm.
"Don't go," she spoke in softness and eagerness. She was dreaming of her wedding day. There was no Theoric turning into Loki. It was all Loki from the get go. He was there with her throughout everything. She was to the part where he trudged down steps with reluctance. There two Valkyries took a hold of him and chained him. "Don't leave." Loki held up her ring. "Don't go!" In slumber, she outreached to him as in the dream. Her body started to become stone. The dream Loki reached out to her and was about to say goodbye. "No-no-no-no-no." She shook her head and repeated over again.
She is dreaming of me, Loki watched her the best he could in the darkness. There were few cracks that let the moonlight gleam upon her. He heard the rustle of feathers. She kept repeating her denial. Loki clamped his hand over her mouth to muffle the scream. He felt the tears streaming down from her eyes.
Sigyn woke up to the hand upon her mouth. The hand let her move it off of her. She turned away from the Jotun as she clutched herself.
"Care to indulge what your dream was about?" Loki kept his voice low. He hid the concern in his voice and clenched his fist.
Sigyn sighed. "It is nothing of your concern." She faked that she was going back to sleep. Her body moved in the similar fashion.
Loki went back to sleep. Sigyn waited for a few hours. She listened to his breathing and assumed that he was asleep, but Loki did the same as her. Sigyn moved out of her bed in silence. She knew that there was a secret window to escape from.
She opened up the latch. Loki watched her. He could see that she was escaping from her. The pelts flung off as he ran to grab her. She was almost through a fourth of the way until she was gripped around the lower torso. Loki pulled her back in. Sigyn tried to fight against him and hold on tight to the sides of the window. One of her arms tried to reach out to a bird. She tried to wave it back and forth to get their attention.
Loki chuckled. "Can't escape that easily."
"Let me go," Sigyn gritted her teeth.
"And let you be taken away to another dreary hideaway," Loki took a hold of the arm holding onto the window and pulled her away from it. He tossed her into the pelts. The window was latched and secured. "My company that horrible?"
Sigyn rose up to try to face where she thought he was at. "Yes. Any company for that matter is horrible."
Loki crossed his arms. "Except the person you want so badly; that you call out to them in your dreams. It seems that they left you."
"I will not be baited," Sigyn stood strong.
"You're going to have to give in sooner or later," Loki stepped forward to her, his arms down by his sides. "We are going to be here a while. Besides, you still don't know what I want from you."
Sigyn became flustered. "You!"
Loki smirked. "Of course. You think I would let the others get to you? I lost you once, I won't let it happen again."
Sigyn didn't respond to him but breathed in deep. She figured by how cold it was by breathing. The storm was moving in. It would start its temper and rage soon. She needed substance to keep her body warm and functioning. Sigyn stumbled out of the pelts and started to feel her way to area where all of the food was at. Loki could hear her but not really see her all too well. He then propped the window he just shut to let in light. She could hear it creak.
"There are more windows," Sigyn felt the edges of a carved in shelf.
Loki started to prop them open enough to have enough light for him see. He looked around more and spotted a secret latch in the ceiling. It was right above where they slept. He looked around for a stool or a block that will get him to be taller. He found one. Loki kicked the pelts out of the way only to find another latch.
"Did you know about these?" He asked her as he opened the bottom one.
"What exactly am I supposed to be looking at?" Sigyn took a bite of a fruit.
Loki's heart hitched. Her remark saddened his smirk. "The secret latches under your bed and above it." By the frozen stature she had, he knew that she didn't. He sighed as he put the stool above the latch. Loki opened the latch up and peered into the next room. It was empty. He climbed into it. Loki searched for more secret windows but found little foot holes. The same that had been on the outside.
He climbed up and started to go through all of them. There were several rooms. The rooms started to get smaller in diameter each time. He went to the very top or close to it and found a door that led out to a top branch. It was snowing. A storm that blinded those around him. The wind was fierce and angry. It whipped around him. He looked at the lower branches and black birds were snuggled in close around the trunk of the trees. They were really close around the part where they were hiding at.
Sigyn took this time to wash herself off from the water that flowed from the insides of the tree. She cried and clutched her heart. Loki was coming back down the steep tree. He shut every latch as he did. Sigyn dressed herself back into her clothes. She then sat against the tree walk.
Loki came down from the last one he was at to find her on the opposite side. He shut the latch and moved the stool to somewhere else. "Is this what you do all day?"
"No, I tend to read from time to time," Sigyn smirked.
Loki chuckled as he peered down through the next latch. He also felt the foot holes.
"How far did it go?" Sigyn was curious.
"To the top," Loki climbed down. Sigyn stood up and walked over to the latch opening. She got down on her knees and felt around for the opening. "There was a door to the outside. It might be the same as the base of the tree."
He trekked down to the bottom only to find nothing. He checked each room as he came up, still nothing. Loki climbed up while closing each latch. His breath caught as Sigyn was over the ledge listening to him. He wanted to be the rougish romantic cupping her face and kissing her, but he had to wait. His plan would not work as if he did any of the things he wanted to do right now with her. It was tempting each and every time.
"For someone who cannot see, you sure are quite curious," he toyed with her. Sigyn moved away from the area to let him come up through the doorway.
"If there is a way back through without going through the storm," Sigyn went over to one of the windows. She stretched her hand out to catch the snowflakes. They were covering her hand in a quick manner. "I would take it." She brushed off her hand as she brought it back in.
"Such a hurry to get back to your master?" He closed the latch and set up the pelts back into a bed.
"This storm will take many lives," Sigyn grappled for another snack. "If I was back, the horns would sound and there would be enough time for the rest to come back alive, cold and on the brink, but alive."
"Hmph," Loki did the same as well.
The two continued to eat. Sigyn started to grab some food until she felt the locks upon her abilities to open up. Her hand clenched up but not from her own accord. It flexed open.
"Hide," she whispered to him. Sigyn could feel each ability start to click open. She felt Grundroth operating her even though she was miles away from him. "If you value your life and this contest, you will hide! Now!"
Loki watched her hand open and started to lighten into a red color. He kicked the pelts out of the way and opened up the hatch and dropped down while closing it. He listened to her walk above him. He heard the stool being placed and the latched opening. She was going to the top. Loki listened until she was a few latches up before he started to follow her. He used his strength and wit to take the stool off.
He followed her. The glow in her hand was gone. They reached to the top. Sigyn opened the door and began to glow. Her ability to see into others minds opened up. She could see where the Jotuns were hiding at. Her arm engulfed in blue flames. Her mind was focused on a close Jotun. The flames turned red as she flung a fiery ball to it. The flames went back to blue. Some of the black birds caught site of the ball and followed it. She could hear the scream. Sigyn looked to find more. Loki stayed behind her hidden, watching as she casted out fire balls with black birds on their tails.
She could see which ones they were. Grundroth was targeting all of those that he could find. Sigyn saw their worthiness and shed tears as she could the auras running, stopping, becoming brighter as their bodies died. Once Gundroth had his fun, he moved her back into the tree, and then locked up her abilities. The door shut and she leaned against it.
"How many did you kill?" Loki kicked the latch down with his foot.
"Enough to settle his pleasure, for now," Sigyn's tears streaked down her face. She got up towards the latch. Sigyn felt it with her foot. She opened the latch up and climbed down. Sigyn wanted to know which ones she murdered exactly.
Loki follower her, closing the latches as he went.
Sigyn started to feel around the food. She cleaned out a spot and started to set up the food in certain arrangements. She would feel where they are supposed to be. Loki watched her with curiosity. Once all of them were in arrangement she wanted, she broke open a fruit that she knew was blue for it was familiar to her. She would dab the inside upon certain ones. Some had small amounts while one was almost covered in it. She then grabbed another fruit that had red in the middle. She marked the ones she had killed.
Loki had figured it out. "Grundroth killed the ones in red, but blue, you saw how worthy they were."
"His thoughts, my hands, I did the deed," she corrected him. Sigyn tapped the one with the one doused in blue. "I saw all the rest but not him."
Loki looked to see which one it was. He remembered where he was in the lineup and widened his eyes. "He interests you?"
"In a way," Sigyn sighed. "If he wins the honor of protecting me, the rest will not worry as much." He gave her silence. "Though none spoke and I do not know enough of their mannerisms to distinguish them from another."
"Will you feel protected if he was here?" Loki gave her scrutiny.
"Hmm," she smirked. "No one can make you feel safe but yourself. I won't ever feel safe when someone has control over me." She turned around and headed for the makeshift bed. Sigyn felt the pelts to find that one comfortable pelt. It took her a few moments but once she found it, a soft sigh released from her lips. She didn't care what the Jotun thought of her. This pelt, soft and plush, would make her feel a bit wholesome. That even though he was gone, it felt as she was close to him.
The storm raged on through the night. The tree vibrated with the birds huddling in closer. Loki slept next her. Sigyn woke up to the rustling of feathers and the shaking of bodies. The Jotun's body was close to her. She breathed out of her mouth to feel the crisp stillness of her breath. It was cold but calm. Sigyn shot straight up her hand pushing off the Jotun's body.
Loki woke up to that. He watched her hand retract as if she got stung.
"This is our chance," Sigyn felt for the window. She opened it enough to let her hand out. There was no snow, just a soft breeze. "Come, tell me what you see?"
Loki ventured over to her. He looked out, only to see a clear view. The clouds were still there but the birds were flying around stretching their wings before curling up again.
"We leave, now," he grabbed her arm and headed for the door.
She wrangled out of his grasp. "Not without a few items." She went to the pelts as Loki cracked open the door.
He looked over to her as she grabbled for the black pelt. "I can get you any pelt you desire. Leave it there."
"No!" Sigyn found it. She folded it enough to be tied with a leather string.
Loki rolled his eyes as he went for his wolf pelt. He put it on, as she dawned her thick cloak.
"We will be spotted," Loki saw her grab a small pack of provisions.
"Good," she felt her way over to the entrance.
"Just leave it," as he grabbed for the pelt in her arms. "It will become a burden."
"It is my burden," Sigyn tied it around her waist. She started to climb down. Loki followed her. Sigyn was near the bottom of the foot holes when sang a short tune.
Loki watched the rustling of snow falling off of hidden beasts. He hurried down the hidden ladder to her. A beast came up to the tree. Sigyn let go to slip next to the skin. Loki followed next. The two grabbed on as the beast took off with many others behind it. He could see Sigyn was having a bit of a struggle.
"Let the pelt go," he grabbed her waist to keep her from slipping off. "You can have mine."
"Hmph," Sigyn reached out for his pelt upon him. "They are not the same."
"It's a just a black wolf pelt," Loki held onto her tighter as the beast started to jump over and through the fresh snow. "I can feel you slipping away."
"It is far too important to me," Sigyn held on tighter. "Nothing can ever replace him-it." Sigyn had to bite the insides of her cheek from tearing up. A black wolf pelt, ha! Even if I am blinded I still find my way to you.
Loki arched an eyebrow. "It reminds you of him." He was slowly coaxing out the truth from her. "Some Jotun that Grundroth killed with your abilities." Sigyn tried to keep her composure. She gave him only silence. "No? Is he still alive? Wretched away from your side. Some young servant pining for your love, knowing he could never have you." His voice had become menacing. She was pressed up against him. His lips thrumming against her ear.
"And if it happened to be, it seems your jealousy would blind you into believing anything I say is the truth," she tried to make seem that his closeness did not bother her. "What if I ache for Gundroth?" A sad twitch of smirk masked her mourning.
Loki chuckled. "Mmmmm. A slave in love with her master." Sigyn moved her pelt in between them. "Quite a simple lie. You almost had me."
"We're getting closer," Sigyn whispered.
Loki looked to the horizons. "How far off are we?" His voice now serious.
"Scared are we?" Sigyn chuckled this time. "The beast will become faster and the ride smoother." As she spoke, it happened just like she said.
The beasts around them slowed down as the beast kept their speed. Once the tower was in sight, the beast slowed down. Loki was the first to get off, catching Sigyn even though she refused and tried to get down another way.
Gundroth was there waiting for them. The two did not receive any trouble from the young beasts as they went up the stairs. "I was not expecting you to be back so soon." He was talking to Sigyn. "You have won another round." He looked to Loki. "Very impressive. Get her ready for tonight's feast." He ordered the guards next to him. Sigyn was taken away. "Show this Jotun to a chamber, he has proven himself worthy for the second time."