Author's Note: Guess what!? You guys get two chapters today, YAY! The catch, you are not getting one on Thursday like I had intended. Sorry, I had planned on posting chapter 52 on Thursday, but I have family coming in that day so I had to change my plans. You, the wonderful reader, now have two options. You can either A) Read chapter 51 now and read chapter 52 on Thursday or a different day of your own choosing, or you can B) Read them both today, but lose the right to complain that I am only updating one day this week. The choice dear reader, I leave up to you. Guest I am actually really glad that you mentioned the passing of time. I was a bit concerned about squeezing a full year into two chapters, but it seems like it didn't detract from the story too much. I have really enjoyed getting to write the latest sparks between Loki and Sigyn, but goodness they have been a challenge. They can't fall back into their old routine too quickly! The identity of Sigyn's stalker is not too difficult to figure out (if you know where to look of course), but she is a character that I will be taking out of her established cannon quite a bit. I will give you a hint though, it is not Freya. Hearing your comment about not reviewing unless you truly love the work you are reading makes me appreciate your reviews all the more! Thank you so much for the compliment you pay my by both reading and reviewing my work.


Loki allowed Sigyn to fall asleep against his chest before lifting her off the ground. He considered taking her to her family's carriage, but thought the better of it. If he were to disappear with her, her family might become suspicious about his intentions towards her. Instead he gazed around the guests for her mother and father. They were fairly easy to spot, and Loki carried Sigyn over to them. He gave a nod of his head when he came to stand in front of Halldor and Signy.

"Good morrow, Lord Halldor, Lady Signy." He greeted.

"Good morrow, Prince Loki." Lord Halldor greeted with a curious glance towards his sleeping daughter.

Lady Signy looked at him skeptically, but gave him a nod of respect nonetheless.

"I fear Lady Sigyn fell asleep while we were dancing, and I thought it would be best to return her to her family." Loki explained.

Halldor nodded and took Sigyn from Loki's arms. Loki didn't wait for either of her parents to speak, but nodded and walked off towards the palace. He might as well go to bed since there was no way the rest of the festival could be better than dancing with Sigyn had been. He slept soundly, and didn't wake till a little before mid-day. Loki quickly changed upon rising, and went to his mother's chambers. Sigyn wasn't there when Loki arrived, and Loki asked his mother if she had forgotten to send an invitation. Frigga assured him that she had sent one as soon as she had risen, but that it was likely Sigyn hadn't received it yet. Loki paced about his mother's sitting room as Frigga watched on in amusement. A knock on the door finally brought about an end to Loki's pacing, and he quickly went to take a seat before his mother opened the door.

"Good afternoon Sigyn." Frigga welcomed.

"Good afternoon, My Queen."

Loki rose from his seat respectfully with a smile.

"Oh Prince Loki, forgive me, I didn't see you seated there. Good afternoon to you as well."

"Good afternoon, Lady Sigyn."

Sigyn took the seat across from him, and Frigga took her customary spot on the chaise.

They brought the Queen up to speed on the developments in their story with the children, which Frigga seemed to enjoy. Luncheon was brought in to the three of them, and Loki listened contentedly as Sigyn shared stories of her niece. Frigga shared some rather embarrassing stories of Thor and Loki growing up, but Loki didn't care since the stories were welcomed by Sigyn's musical laughter. The afternoon passed pleasantly, but Loki knew that he still needed to speak with Sigyn about her stalker.

"Are you previously engaged for dinner this evening?" Loki finally asked.

"No, My Prince, I had intended to dine with my parent's this evening."

"Then could I perhaps sway you to stay and dine with us?"

"I would not be opposed to such an offer, but I would hate to impose upon your family." Sigyn answered.

"Nonsense Sigyn, it would hardly be an imposition. We would be delighted if you would dine with us." Frigga interjected. "I will have a servant send word to your family immediately."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"Suppose we retire to the library till it is time to eat?" Loki suggested.

"That sounds like a good idea." Sigyn agreed.

Loki rose from his seat first and went to hold the door open for Sigyn. He followed her into the corridor, and then they followed the all too familiar path to the library. He opened the door for her, and Sigyn stepped foot into the library. She paused just inside the doorway, but Loki didn't press her to go any further. This was the first time she had been here since their disastrous confrontation all those years ago. Loki kept the door open so that anyone walking by could attest to the innocent nature of their interaction. Sigyn finally made her way to the table a pulled out a chair. Loki sat across the table from her and folded his hands in front of him.

"I think it is time we talk about the woman at the lake." He began.

"Very well, what would you like to discuss?"

"I need all the information on her you can give me, so start from the beginning. When did you first start seeing her?"

"A long time ago. Remember the day I fell out of the tree?"

Loki nodded.

"That was the first time I ever saw her. I caught a glimpse of her in the forest. That is what I was staring at so intently when I fell out. When I looked back after we had untangled ourselves, she was gone."

"Was there anything specific you noticed? Her hair color perhaps?"

"No, from that distance I couldn't even tell she was a woman. I honestly only barely caught a glimpse of her that time."

"Very well, when was the next time you spotted her?"

"I saw her multiple times after that, but only for brief moments. The next time I actually got a fairly good look at her was that evening in the alley. She appeared not long after I arrived there, and she was there only minutes before you joined me."

"Did you notice anything about her that perhaps you didn't feel comfortable telling me then?" He prodded.

"No, I was able to determine that she was a female, but that was it."

"Ok, have you ever seen her closely enough to give me a description of her?"

"Yes, the day we fought…"

"Go on."

"I left here and went straight to the lake. I stood a ways away from it at first, but I finally decided to move closer since the water was frozen solid and could do me no harm. I looked into the frozen surface, and saw her reflection directly behind me. She had the strangest face I had ever seen. Half of it was as fair and beautiful as Freya is said to be, but the other side… the other side was frightening. It was a dull grey color, and was sunken in. Her hair seemed to have the same split personality. Half of it was a deep gold, while the other half was as black as yours."

Loki nodded, so far their descriptions matched perfectly.

"What color were her eyes?" He asked.

Sigyn closed her own eyes for a moment to reflect back.

"The one on the grey side of her face was red, and the other was green."

Again, their description matched.

"Did she try to touch you?"

"No. I was too stunned to move at first, but once the shock wore off I turned to face her only to find her gone. Frida arrived at the lake immediately afterwards."

"Has the woman ever tried to touch you before?"

"Yes, the night I was waiting for Theoric to come and ask my father for my hand in marriage. I got tired of waiting in the sitting room so I went to take a walk in the garden. I took a seat by our fountain, and the water began to glow a strange golden color. I leaned in to discover the source of the glow, and a grey bony hand reached out of the water. A man whom I did not recognize seized me from behind. He covered my mouth to keep me from calling out, and forced me back towards the hand. That is when she spoke to me. She told me to calm myself, which I refused to do. She seemed impressed by my desire to fight back against the man because she told me that I had defiance this time, and that it would work well for her plans. She floated her hand by my face, but never made contact. Instead she grabbed a section of my hair, and it began to turn silver."

Loki mulled over Sigyn's words for a minute.

What did the woman mean by Sigyn having defiance this time?

"Describe the woman's voice to me." He requested.

"Sad."

"Sad?"

"Yes, despite her appearance her voice didn't seem menacing. It was low and mournful like someone who was too tired to care anymore. In an odd way it reminded me of the way my mother used to speak after Iounn's death."

"Tell me more about the man that grabbed you. Did you get a good look at him?"

"Not really. It was dark outside and I only saw him for a split second. He was quite strong though."

"You've only seen him once, correct?"

Sigyn nodded.

"Then I don't see any point in lingering on his identity. Now let's talk about what happened at the Winternights festival. How long were you at the lake before I arrived there?"

"A couple of minutes. I had just lit the candle and put it on the lake when you called out to me."

Loki gave her a questioning look.

"Are you certain of that, Sigyn? Are you sure that you hadn't been sitting there watching the candle for a bit before I arrived?"

"I am positive of it. I had just started to watch the candle when you called out to me."

Loki took in a deep breath. Sigyn wasn't lying, or more accurately, she believed she was telling the truth. The problem with Sigyn's account was that she was already sitting unmoving alongside the water with the candle floating almost at the center of the lake when he arrived. He had then watched the woman approach Sigyn and turn her hair silver. It had been at least five minutes from the time of his arrival till he called out to Sigyn, and the candle would have taken ten to fifteen minutes to travel that far on the placid lake. Either Sigyn's sense of time was way off, or she had been in a trance the entire time. Loki thought back to how she hadn't even stirred when the woman grabbed a hold of her hair, and determined that it was very likely she was in a trance.

"Loki… are you ok?"

Loki refocused his gaze on Sigyn and shook off the concern that was showing through.

"Yes, I was just thinking is all."

"Not your best lie." She scolded. "Something about what happened at Winternight bothers you."

"The whole thing bothers me Sigyn. This woman is an enchantress of some sort, and she has admitted that she has some sort of a purpose for you. You are smart enough to know that is not a good thing."

"I just don't understand why she hasn't actually done anything though."

"What do you mean?"

"She has had plenty of opportunities to harm or abduct me, but she never has. Aside from turning my hair silver a couple of times; she hasn't done anything to me. It just seems strange."

"It is strange. We need to determine what she has planned for you, but to do that we need to figure out who she is first."

"We?" Sigyn queried.

"We. I should have looked into this years ago."

"So where do we begin?"

"Here in the library. If we can figure out her identity then I can begin making inquiries."

"You can begin making inquiries? Why only you?"

"Because I am the one with the sources." Loki pointed out.

"Have you already forgotten my stubbornness? You aren't going to make any inquiries without me."

Loki sighed. Same old Sigyn.