Sigyn's right about his age. Just in case anyone's wondering. Maybe a little younger.

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Sigyn was a lovely girl. She was very beautiful, with sharp, delicate features, a mane of copper hair and striking topaz-colored eyes. She moved with a quick grace that reminded Frigga of the little deer that haunted the wooded skerries to the north of the city, or one of the big cats of the Southern Woods.

Thor was heading some quest for his father along with several of his friends and would be joining them at Fensalir on his way home. And for Loki's sake, Frigga was glad. Thor dominated rooms and conversations, she knew Loki often felt constricted by him.

Watching them as they rode in the cart over the top of her book, Frigga smiled. Sigyn was continually pointing and exclaiming about things they passed, laughing and flashing her golden eyes at Loki. Once, she caught her breath, "Oh, look!" she gasped, "Look!"

And she leaned forward, across Loki, to point excitedly out across the water at the flight of radiantly plumed birds. Without thinking of it, she'd put one hand lightly on Loki's wrist to balance herself.

Then the birds were gone from their sight and she sat back again, "They're so beautiful. Loki," she said, "I'm so happy we saw them. Thank you," she turned quickly to glance at Frigga, to indicate her as well, "for inviting me along."

"You're," he was looking at her very intently and Frigga did not know if he remembered that there was anyone else in the world at all. Then he blinked and he turned his head away. "You're welcome," he said.

If she noticed the flush creeping up his neck, Sigyn gave no sign.

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It was wonderful, to see the way she ran him about the palace. She marveled at everything, flying from one thing to the next like an eager child. Frigga laughed, thinking to herself that finally, Loki had found someone who's curiosity was the equal of his own.

Sigyn was good for him, Frigga thought. She was laughing and effervescent where he could be moody and quiet and she challenged him. She made him think and she made him laugh, laugh like he had as a child.

For Thor, she had worried differently. He fell in and out of love with speed and intensity. He rarely felt for a girl long enough that Frigga would even know her name. Loki was more reserved. She did not think there were many girls he had ever felt for. Sif, she knew, had been a childhood infatuation of his, and Freja, a mage-woman from Vanaheim that had aided with his studies. But there was nothing of future for him with them, and he'd known it.

Sitting in a shaded alcove of her garden, they watched the rippling water that ran past to the sea. Sigyn was sitting on the sand before her, gesturing fluidly and with her hands, her eyes very serious as she spoke and as she listened. The girl was knowledgeable about many things, in the way of a mind that didn't realize its own power. She had an attentiveness that Frigga was sure made Loki more than a little uneasy. But undoubtedly it pleased him, too. As they spoke, Frigga decided she quite liked her. She'd already thought so, but having conversed with her at length, she was certain.

Loki sat a little ways away as she and Sigyn spoke, about an arm's reach from them. He was watching both of them, very quietly. Then he frowned. He turned his head and looked out at the play of the sunlight on the water.

Frigga had never seen him like this.

Sigyn rested back on her hands, contented and still as she looked out on the water. Then she leaned forward. Feather-soft, she brushed Loki's wrist.

Startled from his thoughts, he blinked at her.

"Are you all right?" she asked. "You seemed so far away,"

For a long moment, he only looked at her, searching her face.

She had no notion of how she delighted him. It showed deep in his eyes. Frigga thought with a pang how lonesome he must be, that Sigyn's question could touch him so deeply.

It grieved her that it was not an ill she could remedy.

At least, she comforted herself, this was a beginning.

Sigyn smiled, "What is it?"

Giving a cough in his throat Loki shook his head, "I was thinking," he said.

Sigyn's head tipped to one side, "What about?" she asked.

The wind blew a lock of her hair across her face and she caught it back with her hand.

Loki opened his mouth as though to speak, then changed his mind and abruptly rose. In a fluid motion he bent and gathered a number of the small, flat stones that lay on the ground beside the water. "How far do you think you can skip one of these?"

He tossed one to her and she caught it in both her hands. Her eyes flashed when she smiled. "Let's see."

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It was two nights later, by a little brazier in the garden, that Frigga suggested they go down to the market. It was a little village market, held every so many days, perhaps a half-hour's walk from Fensalir. There were some things that they would need for the feast she had planned for Thor's arrival, which was anticipated for the next evening.

Her bare feet tucked under her on the chair, she explained that she could send one of the serving men, but she'd thought that the two of them might enjoy the errand more.

Sigyn had been delighted by the idea. And so it had been decided that the two of them should go.

Frigga was never quite sure what happened.

She herself had slept rather late that morning, and when she came down in her bare feet and her loose dressing gown she had found a note, scrawled in Loki's hand, laid under a glass on the tabletop, to the effect that something pressing had come to his attention, and he had been forced to return home with utmost speed.

More puzzled than alarmed, Frigga called one of her men and sent him to the stables.

Neither Loki's horse nor its fittings remained.

None had seen or heard him ride out.

Sigyn arrived, with her flaming hair bound back behind her head and her saffron skirt caught up in her hand, just as the man was answering Frigga's questions.

"What's happened?" Sigyn asked. She set her basket on the table.

Frigga considered, then made her choice. "Loki's left us," she said, sitting down at the table. "I rather thought something must have come between you on the road."

Sigyn frowned, "No, I – I have no idea. I woke earlier than he and the cook was in such a fuss I decided to let him sleep and just go on my own. I had, I had hoped," she flushed prettily, "that he might meet me there."

"Well," Frigga took a long breath, "who knows," she smiled. "Perhaps he will come back."

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I originally wrote this by accident. Yesterday's chapter was written for this fic, but today's and tomorrow's were a memory in a fic that didn't work out that I wrote…last year? Anyways, it was all originally told from Loki's pov, so it was an interesting challenge to switch it all over.

For anybody who's wondering what Loki's thinking about in that scene by the water when Sigyn asks him and he's all evasive…He's thinking that they're really too young to decide such things, but he wants to marry her, someday. I didn't know how to communicate that from Frigga's pov.

Anyways. More tomorrow.