Author's Note: I am back! Warning! Warning! Warning! This chapter is super fluffy even for me… You have been warned. As always, helpful comments are welcome (You guys have been great about that though so keep it up!) Anyway Happy Belated Christmas! The only gift I can really give you is my gratitude for reading this story AND two chapters instead of one! Yay! (I bet you all are more excited about the chapters than my gratitude, alas the materialistic view of today's society… just kidding… kind of.) Snow White Queen, I am actually glad that you had a pretty good idea of why Sigyn didn't want to swim because it means you were really paying attention. I always try to leave clues that will A) give you some insight into a character's reasoning even if it is not explicitly stated or B) set up things that are going to take place. Very rarely will I throw something in out of the blue. You are completely correct that Sigyn is hardly a proficient liar. She can tease and mislead, but outright lying is not her forte. She would be more likely to lead you around in circles to throw you off-kilter. Loki's presence was extremely important to Sigyn in her panicked state. I feel that while still obviously youthful in his response to the situation, Loki is the only one mature enough to go to her aid. The others just freeze when they are most needed. As we have seen, Loki is protective to the point of possessiveness and he will do just about anything to safeguard what he believes to be his. It is also probably not often that others look to him for comfort or protection, so Sigyn choosing to cling to him was probably a bit of a shock to him. All in all I think Thor would take up for Loki when others accuse him wrongly, I think his main issue is that he is so caught up in his own world that he is oblivious to when Loki is actually being accused. It is certainly an interesting dynamic in their relationship.
Asgardian Falls were beautiful in Sigyn's opinion. She loved the heat of summer, but the cool weather was tolerable and Roan seemed to prefer it when they went riding. It was on one of these beautiful days that Sigyn and Loki found themselves reading in one of the many garden's of the palace. Thor and the others were off fighting in some battle or another. Loki was not among them since he was still recovering from a nasty wound he had received from their last skirmish. Sigyn found herself wishing that she had pulled her hair back since the breeze kept blowing it in her face while she attempted to read. She caught Loki smirking at her as she tried to tame her wild mane for the hundredth time.
"Having trouble My Lady?"
Loki only ever called her 'My Lady' when he was teasing her.
"A little." She conceded.
"Shall we go inside?" He asked while closing his book.
"And waste such a beautiful day? No… but perhaps we could find another way of occupying ourselves." She suggested.
Loki stood and offered her his hand.
"How about we go for a turn about the gardens?" He proposed.
Sigyn quickly agreed and reached up to take his hand. The thought of actually pulling Loki down to the ground crossed her mind, but then she caught sight of the bandage that she knew was wound tightly around his bicep, right shoulder, and upper torso peeking out the top of his tunic and thought the better of it. Loki was thoughtful enough to measure his strides as they walked so that Sigyn didn't have to scamper to keep up with him.
"I've been thinking about our little plan, and I believe I have it all worked out." Sigyn mentioned.
Loki looked down and grinned. "It is about time."
Sigyn frowned at him. "It takes time to gain people's trust."
"That's not my strong point." Loki reminded her.
"I know that's why you need me, remember?"
Loki looked ahead, but Sigyn couldn't mistake the amusement in his voice when he next spoke.
"Of course, please continue."
"Do you remember how at the last banquet Sif mentioned liking Frida's new hairstyle?" Sigyn asked.
"No." Loki replied honestly.
Sigyn rolled her eyes. "Of course you don't, well she did, and that's when it hit me. All we need to do is give Sif a haircut."
"A haircut?" Loki asked skeptically.
"Yes, a haircut. I'll work out the when and where, all I need from you is a pair of enchanted scissors."
Loki laughed. "This may be the most ridiculous idea I have ever heard. If it was anyone else suggesting it I would have to question if it would actually work."
"But I am not 'anyone else' am I?" Sigyn remarked while smirking.
"No, you are not." Loki confirmed. "I can get you the scissors, but I still have no idea how you plan on managing to cut her hair."
"Simple, I plan on her asking me to."
She could tell Loki was curious, but she had no intention of disclosing her full plan, which she had already began to put into motion.
"Very well, keep your secrets. I will be working on a backup plan however, just in case yours should fail." Loki warned.
"An unnecessary precaution, but if it eases your mind be my guest."
The two walked in silence for a short time, taking in the gardens. That was something Sigyn truly appreciated about Loki, he wasn't afraid of silence. It never made him feel uncomfortable like it would with so many other people Sigyn knew. On the contrary, he seemed to enjoy the quiet moments just as much as she did. They reached a section of the gardens that looked out over the city and stopped to admire the view for a short while.
"Loki…"
"Hm?"
"May I ask you something?"
"Always."
"This will seem silly, but would you mind showing me something…magical?"
Loki looked at her and smiled.
"The view isn't enough?"
"Loki."
"Alright, alright. What would you like to see me do?"
"I don't know. What can you do?"
"I think the question is 'what can't I do?'" He replied in her ear, now suddenly standing behind her.
She turned to face him excitedly.
"Do something else!" She implored.
Loki thought for a second then smiled.
"Would you like to see me create a double of myself?"
Sigyn nodded her head fervently.
"Can you guess which one is the real me?" A voice asked from behind Sigyn.
She looked over her shoulder to see a second Loki. She took a step back from the two Loki's and began to study them. They were identical in appearances, but the longer she looked at the one on her left the more she seemed to think its form wavered unnaturally. If her hunch was correct, there was one way she could know for certain. She approached the Loki on the right and quickly raised her hand to strike him. Before her hand could come into contact with his cheek however, Loki caught it in his left hand. The Loki on the left melted away and Sigyn grinned.
"Found you."
"I think that would count as cheating." Loki pointed out.
"Nonsense, it was a logical conclusion. I saw the one on the left waver and the thought crossed my mind that perhaps your double couldn't actually come into contact with people. I knew the real you would intercept my slap."
"I think you were just looking for an excuse to hit me again." Loki teased.
"Of course not! I would never strike a true Prince of Asgard, especially one that was so valiantly wounded in the defense of my home!" She teased in part.
"Ahhhh I see, well I shall look past your history of violence since you flatter me so eloquently." He replied.
He moved his hand so that it was clasping hers, and the sight seized his gaze. Sigyn's heart began to flutter at the thoughtfulness his eyes held. She bit her lip in anticipation as he looked back to her and smiled.
"You are a kind friend, Sigyn."
"Friend?" Sigyn thought sadly.
She was pretty sure her disappointment was visible, but she recovered as quickly as she could.
"As are you Loki. You look tired though, perhaps I should leave you so you can rest." She offered.
Loki didn't look as though he wanted her to leave, but Sigyn could see the exhaustion in his eyes.
"Loki you need to heal, I shall return tomorrow if you desire it."
Loki nodded his head in surrender. He made a motion to lead her towards the stables, but Sigyn stopped him.
"I can find my own way Loki, you go straight to bed."
"Tomorrow then." Loki replied before kissing her hand in farewell.
