Author's Note: I am so, so, soooooo sorry it took this long to update. I am in the middle of a project that has been taking up a lot of my time, so I have only been getting small windows of opportunity to write. This chapter is fairly long so hopefully that will make up for some of my absence! This chapter is rated 'M' for references to torture, blood, you know those sorts of things. It is nothing that intense, but I always would rather overestimate the chapter than underestimate it. Dream sequences are in italics as always. Abbyisswag can you really love a story too much :) Caitreylove but bad puns are the best kind! Sigyn's necklace has come into play again, and I think it is safe to say that it might have some importance later on down the road. Keeping Siggy age appropriate is actually much more difficult than you might think. I am glad she seems to be growing up at a fitting rate though. Hahaha it might be time soon enough :) Guest Why thank you! Happy to hear you enjoyed it! :D FlowRah Awwww thanks! I still can't believe I even wrote the last two rated 'M' chapters… sooooo unlike me! Never fear, I never get bored while reading reviews :)


Loki eyed Sigyn from over the top of his book. She was currently conversing with Fandral about something, and though she smiled, there was still a certain disappointment about her air. Today had signaled yet another failed month of trying for a child. He knew it bothered Sigyn that she had yet to get pregnant, but he didn't worry over it. The first year of trying and failing to conceive a child had been the most difficult for him. Now, a few years down the road, it didn't bother him. These things simply took time. Some months the gloom hit Sigyn harder than others, and it looked like this month was going to be one of the more disappointing ones for her. She always blamed their failed attempts on herself, and wouldn't listen when Loki pointed out that it was just as much his fault as hers. Despite her brief stints of sorrow though, she always managed to bounce back as determined as ever.

"Sigyn seems a bit afflicted tonight." Thor mentioned, coming to sit next to Loki.

"Don't let her hear you say that." Loki replied while closing his book. "She is trying her best to put on a happy face, and any indication that she is failing will only make her more upset."

Thor took another glance across from where he and Loki were sitting to study Sigyn and Fandral.

"I take it another month has gone by without any results?"

"Yes, but it is better than the months where she shows signs of results only to be disappointed the next month or the month after that." Loki pointed out.

"Miscarriages?" Thor asked under his breath.

"Or phantom pregnancies. Either way, it is much more difficult for her to handle than just knowing the truth."

"Well there is no reason for her to get too concerned. You've only been trying for a child for what, four years?"

"Six…"

"Six? Has it really been six years?"

Loki nodded and Thor let out a low hum in disbelief.

"Six years… still, that isn't all that long. Some couples don't have children for decades after they are married." Thor reminded him.

"I am well aware of that fact, but it doesn't make it any easier on Sigyn. Fortunately it doesn't always affect her so poorly."

"Yes, that is fortunate. On a different topic, I heard Father mention that you will be going to some of the outskirt villages to handle a few matters of diplomacy sometime soon..."

"I am. I leave two days from now."

"So will you be joining us for some training tomorrow?"

"No, I have already promised Sigyn that I would work with her."

"I find it interesting that Sigyn has so recently taken up an interest in combat training, and even more interesting that you agreed to teach her." Thor remarked.

"You know Sigyn, she is always wanting to learn something new, and I would rather it be me training her than… Fandral, or someone like him." Loki answered, easily deflecting his real reasons for agreeing to teach her.

He found it to be rather interesting that after all of these years Thor and the others had yet to figure out what Loki was really doing on these "diplomatic" trips that he took for the AllFather.

"So will she be going with you?" Thor inquired.

"To the villages? No, she will remain here."

"Is it wise to leave her here alone when she is so obviously upset?"

"I have to go on this little trip, but there is no point in dragging her along with me. Diplomatic meetings that I don't even wish to attend are not going to lift Sigyn's spirits. No, she is much better off staying here and spending time with her family and Mother."

"How long will you be gone this time?"

"As long as it takes for me to complete Father's checklist."

Thor nodded in understanding, and the brothers fell silent. Loki looked across at Sigyn and a feeling of guilt hit him. He had already warned her about his departure, and he had informed her that he was likely to be gone for at least a week. She had taken the news well enough since she was well accustomed to him having to run off at least a couple times every few months, but her acceptance of his work for the War Council didn't make him feel any less guilty when he left, or any less concerned for her well-being in his absence. A week was a long time for him to be away regardless, but seeing as he would be spending most of that time in a different Realm made things even more worrisome. He wouldn't be able to just pop in and check on her as he usually did. Loki looked to Thor again. He had always told Sigyn to trust no one while he was away, but he knew that was easier said than done. Even Loki couldn't help but trust a few people, and Thor was one of those few. No one was more stubbornly loyal than his elder brother, so if there was anyone he could trust his wife's safety to, it was Thor.

"Thor, you will look out for Sigyn while I'm away won't you?"

"Of course I will." He promised with a smile.

"I don't like leaving her all alone as often as I do."

"She is hardly on her own in your absence." Thor pointed out.

Loki looked back over towards Sigyn. She was now talking animatedly with both Fandral and Volstagg, and Sif seemed to be following their conversation with a smile. Thor was right. Sigyn was far from alone here.

"You are right of course, just promise me you will watch her carefully."

"I will." Thor assured.

Loki gave his brother a grateful smile before excusing himself for the evening. Upon seeing Loki rise, Sigyn also excused herself and left with him.

"You seem to be feeling better." Loki pointed out as he took his wife's hand.

"I am. I don't know why I was acting so cross earlier. It took Frida more than a few decades to have a child so I don't know why I am so worried about it."

"Because you are less patient than your sister perhaps?" Loki teased.

"Perhaps." Sigyn agreed.

They walked the rest of the way back to their chambers in silence, and retired upon arrival. They were up early the next morning for a bit of training, and then spent the afternoon walking in the gardens. The evenings before Loki left on his missions were always the most difficult. It didn't matter how many times he had done it, he always felt a strong desire to give up the mission and just stay with Sigyn. Every time he expressed that desire however, Sigyn was right there to encourage him to follow through with his plans. She knew how much his work for the War Council meant to him. It made him feel important, needed even, and Sigyn had always told him that no matter how badly she wished he would stay at the Palace, she was happy knowing that the work made him feel as though he truly belonged somewhere. He was never able to sleep the night before he would leave due to the adrenaline of the upcoming mission and his reluctance to leave Sigyn. Instead of sleeping, he would wait till Sigyn was fast asleep before pulling out a book to read. This particular evening however, he lay quietly next to her as always, and once she was asleep he reached out to grab his book from the nightstand only to find that he hadn't placed one there. Loki sat up and scanned the dark room for any signs of a book. None. Loki quietly slipped out of the bed, rather unhappy with himself. He always remembered to plant a book somewhere! He searched the room as silently as possible, and finally resorted to searching through his chest. He couldn't really see all that well in the dark room, but as he reached the bottom of the contents his hand brushed a leather volume. He triumphantly pulled the tome out and took it back to bed. He lit the candles that sat on his nightstand and opened the book. He flitted his eyes over the first page and had to smother a little groan.

It was the Prose Edda.

He had forgotten that the book was still in his chest. The last thing he needed before this mission was to read such a dismal book as the Prose was, so he shut it and placed it on his nightstand. He entertained himself for a time by running his fingers through his wife's tangled hair. Regardless his best efforts though, he couldn't help but glance over at the tome on his nightstand every so often. Despite the stupidity of the Midgardian book, he couldn't help but be a little fascinated by it. He was finally unable to resist the temptation any longer, and he grabbed the book and opened it up. He spent some time rereading a few of the stories he and Sigyn had already read, and then skipped to the tale that had haunted his wife's nightmares for a time. It was just as morbid as he remembered it being, and he was reminded of why he needed to keep it away from Sigyn. He returned the book to the bottom of his chest, and dozed off for a little bit. His internal clock awoke him soon enough, and he reluctantly left Sigyn's side. He gathered the few things he would need while he was away and placed a farewell kiss on Sigyn's forehead before setting off on yet another adventure without her.

As Loki tackled his mission he began to realize that it wasn't the stress of the day's, and sometimes night's, work that got to him, but the dreams that he was beginning to have. At first they were somewhat pleasant. He would see a younger Sigyn across the room during a party, ask her for a dance, and get lost in her shy smiles. It was like what dancing with her for the first time would have been like had she not been so resistant to his charms. Each time he saw her in the dream he knew that he had wanted her for a long time, for as long as he could remember, and that this dance was the first time he had ever had the courage to pursue her. The dream soon extended from dancing in the great hall to leading her from the dance floor to walk the halls of the palace. They would then stop in a garden to sit on a bench and talk. Sigyn would smile and giggle shyly, and he would purposefully brush his hand against hers. Loki eventually plucked a rose from one of the bushes and slipped it amongst the jewels in her hair.

He slowly leaned in and tested her reaction to a kiss by brushing his lips against hers.

She brushed hers against his in return.

Her small sign of approval encouraged his sudden desperate need for her, and he kissed her till neither of them could catch a breath.

"Be mine… be my wife…" he pleaded softly in her ear.

Sigyn tensed slightly, and her eyes darted shamefully away.

"My Prince, I can't…"

"Why not?" He pressed, assuming that her refusal sprung merely from her timidity.

"Because I am promised to another." She admitted.

Loki's grip on Sigyn's hand tightened.

"Promised to another? Who?"

"Lord Theoric. My Father and he signed the marriage contract not three days ago."

Loki's heart sank. He knew Lord Theoric and his reputation well. He was an extremely attractive member of Asgard's most elite fighting force. He was certainly older than Lady Sigyn, but that hardly mattered to anyone, their ages were close enough to be socially acceptable.

"Do you love him?" Loki asked, his heart skipping a beat as he waited for her reply.

"I like him. We are on friendly terms with one another."

"You like him, but you do not love him?"

"Love does not happen overnight, My Prince."

That Loki knew to be true enough. His own love of Sigyn had grown over years and years of admiring her from a distance.

"And does he love you?"

"Perhaps. If he does he has not said so."

Loki intertwined his fingers with hers, and looked down at the sight. Their hands were a perfect fit.

"Lady Sigyn, do you love me?" He inquired.

"Prince Loki! I… I am not sure I can reasonably answer that query!"

"Then answer me this. Could you learn to love me?"

"Why do you ask me these things?" She deflected.

"Because I am in love with you Lady Sigyn, and surely spending your life with someone you know loves you is better than spending it with someone who may or may not ever love you… especially if you thought you might learn to love that man in return."

Sigyn's eyes were wide with shock at Loki's sudden pronouncement. He could see confusion, a little distrust, and even some desire swimming in her blue-green eyes.

"Prince Loki, I am flattered that you would show such interest in me, but the contract between my Father and Lord Theoric is already witnessed and signed. There is nothing that can be done about it unless you are able to convince Lord Theoric to quit his suit."

Sigyn was right. Unless he could get Theoric to withdraw from the contract there was nothing he could do…legally.

"Run away with me." He urged while placing his hand on her cheek.

Sigyn's face lit up for a moment at the suggestion, but it fell almost as quickly.

"I can't do that to my family… or Lord Theoric. He is a good man, and doesn't deserve to be treated in such a way… I shouldn't stay here alone with you, it isn't proper."

She stood to leave but Loki rose and caught her arm. She half-heartedly tried to pull away from him, but he only gripped her tighter and swung her around to face him.

"Why do I sense that you only wish to flee because you know I am right? Lord Theoric may be a good man, but you don't even know if he loves you. You say that you might one day love him, but the blush on your cheeks would suggest that you are attracted to me."

"Love? Attraction? What are they truly worth? Without a marriage contract those feelings can result in nothing save frustrated emotions."

"So you are attracted to me?"

Sigyn tried pulling away from him again.

"Please, My Prince, let me go. Unless you plan on asking Lord Theoric to withdraw his marriage offer, discussing whom I may or may not be attracted to is pointless!"

"Perhaps, but I wish to know regardless. Are you attracted to me?"

Instead of allowing her to answer verbally, he kissed her. She attempted to pull away at first, but Loki wouldn't allow her.

"Tell me you aren't attracted to me…" he muttered before kissing her again in a more gentle manner.

Sigyn didn't try to pull away this time. Instead, she began to relax into him. Loki took advantage of this, and let his lips wander down towards her neck. It wasn't till he reached her clavicle bone that Sigyn seemed to be roused from her trance like state and pulled away.

"I am sorry my Prince. It was wrong of me to stay so long alone in your company. I should return to the banquet."

With that, she was gone. Loki didn't chase after her. There was no need. She was right, as long as Theoric held the marriage contract there was nothing that could come of these passionate emotions that they seemed to share. Loki meandered his way back to his chambers, pondering the situation. Theoric wasn't going to be convinced to walk away from this marriage, it was too advantageous. Not even Loki's famed "silver tongue" would be able to accomplish such a task, but fortunately he did have other ways of taking the warrior out of the equation. Ways that he intended to use.

Loki could hardly believe how his mind had twisted his love for Sigyn and his hatred for Theoric into such a bizarre dream. As strange as the first dreams were, they seemed rather normal compared to the ones he had next. He began to dream that he had been the one who had betrayed Theoric to his death, and that he had taken on Theoric's form to wed Sigyn that same day. Odin himself had performed the impromptu ceremony, and once the vows were said, Loki revealed himself. Odin and all the other Asgardians had been furious at Loki's deception, but there was no going back. Sigyn had pledged herself to him, and that was a pledge that could not be undone. Loki had been banished on the spot from the palace, while Sigyn had been offered an invitation to stay within its protecting walls. Loki hadn't considered that the Royal Family might offer her a form of escape from her vows to him, and he feared for a moment that she might accept their offer. She would still be legally married to him, but she wouldn't be forced to consummate the marriage should she stay in the palace. His momentary fears were proven to be baseless however. Sigyn accepted her new role as his wife, and stated that because Loki was banished she would follow him into banishment as well. Those present were impressed by Sigyn's fidelity, but were no more kind in their driving off of the pair from society despite their admiration of her.

The next phase of his dreaming added yet another bizarre twist to everything. He found himself at a banquet mocking every Asgardian present for their mistakes, faults, and dirty little secrets. No one person was spared his accusing tongue, and he managed to rile the entire banqueting party into a frenzy. They chased him away from the celebration, and Loki formed a plan to prove that none of them, regardless of how perfect they thought themselves to be, was without a weakness. To do so, he determined to take down the one that was considered to be the most beloved and perfect of them all: Baldr. Arranging for Theoric's death had been easy enough, and arranging Baldr's hadn't been much more difficult. Loki had been forced to flee however once everyone's favorite prince was disposed of. There had been no doubt in their minds that he was the culprit behind Baldr's death, and they chased him relentlessly till they found him. They had sewn his mouth shut upon capture, and had then tried him for the murder. It wasn't much of a trial seeing as he wasn't allowed to defend himself. He was first sentenced to being beaten, and then he was drug to the cave that sat on the beach below his and Sigyn's home where he would be given the rest of his sentence…

Pain.

Mind numbing pain.

His body hurt from being beaten, his pride hurt from the degradation of having his mouth sewn shut, and his heart hurt from just witnessing his two sons being drug into the depths of the cavern. His body now hung limp in his captor's grasps, and the sounds of a small struggle soon reached his ears.

Sigyn.

She gave little grunts as she tried to escape whoever was restraining her, but Loki assumed she wasn't having much success. A snarl echoed from somewhere in the cavern and Loki tried to keep his breathing steady. He had to keep a cool exterior despite his rising panic to avoid giving his punishers any satisfaction in their work.

"Nari!" Sigyn shouted.

"Mother!" Their younger son called out in panic.

Loki didn't have the strength to look up, and he was glad he didn't. He imagined that the look on Sigyn's face was probably more than he could handle.

"Please let my son go, there is no need to punish him for whatever Loki or I have done!" Sigyn pleaded.

"Raise the prisoner's head so he may receive his sentence." The AllFather commanded instead.

One of the guards restraining Loki grabbed his hair and pulled his head up so he was looking at the AllFather. Loki's defiant eyes met Odin's solitary one for merely a moment before he glanced desperately around the room for his wife. His eyes finally landed on her, and he scanned her swiftly. A slight feeling of relief washed over him as he noted that she was, for the most part, unharmed physically. The AllFather's voice brought Loki's attention back to him before he could study Sigyn further.

"Loki Laufeyson, you have been apprehended and brought here for the murder of Baldr Odinson. As punishment for your grevious crime you are to be witness to the death of your own son, Nari, by his transformed brother Váli, and then be bound by his entrails under a venomous snake till your own death."

Loki's eyes flitted to Sigyn in concern.

"No harm will befall your wife. Sigyn is here to bear witness so that her suffering will further add to your own. Once the sentence is carried out she will be allowed to leave, and will be provided for in your absence since only the Norns know what wrongs you have done her." Odin responded in answer to Loki's unspoken question.

Loki watched as Sigyn began to go limp in the guards grasp as Odin's words sunk in. Her momentary limpness caused the guards to loosen their grip on her, and she took advantage of the opportunity. She rammed her elbow back into one of the guard's nose and struck the other one in the neck. Finally freed, Sigyn ran to Nari's defense before Váli could be unleashed upon him. She scooped their youngest into her arms, but before she could stand to flee with him, Thor gripped the back of her neck.

"Put him down." He commanded.

Sigyn seemed to only clutch onto their crying son even more tightly, and Loki began to bristle at how the "golden prince" was grasping his wife.

"Please, let my son live. Kill me in his place, I would gladly die in his stead."

No one spoke after her final plea for her son's life, and Sigyn didn't take her eyes off of Nari. Unable to stand the proceedings any longer, Loki began to struggle against his captors. It took yet another guard and several solid blows to subdue him once again.

"The decision has already been made." Odin finally stated. "Your son must be the one to die."

Loki cursed Odin in his mind.

A son for a son… no, two sons for one son.

Was that even fair? Was Baldr, a god who did nothing to deserve such love and appreciation from all the Realms except for being born, more valuable than both of his sons?

The two guards who had restrained Sigyn earlier tore Nari from her grasp and Thor forced her to her feet. The 'god of thunder' began to walk her over to where Loki stood, but it appeared that Sigyn had not given up the fight yet. The moment he transferred his hand from her neck to her upper arm she broke his grip, secured a dagger from the guard closest to her, and went to strike at Thor with it. Loki was rather impressed with his wife's gumption, a trait she had only really developed after marrying him, but unfortunately the warrior's instinctive reflexes where quicker than her own. Thor deflected the strike while landing his own blow against her temple. Sigyn was sent staggering away from the warrior-prince towards their bound son. Loki wasn't sure if she even tried to catch herself, or if she was unconscious before she hit the ground. Those watching didn't even move to pull her unconscious form out-of-the-way, but instead watched as Odin gave the signal to release Váli on Nari. A guard did ensure to stand near Sigyn should the hound try to turn on her, but Loki had a feeling that Sigyn would rather them just let her die along with their son. Loki was helpless to do anything but watch in horror as Nari was torn asunder by the hound. He wasn't very big so the most Loki could hope for was that his death came swiftly, and given that his shrieking had only lasted a few moments Loki believed the Norns had at least shown his son that mercy. Nari's tiny frame was mangled beyond recognition by the time the guards pulled Váli off of him, and the blood was beginning to creep its way across the cavern floor towards where Sigyn lay, still unconscious. Váli was led out of the cave, and the guards holding Loki stripped him down to the nude. He was forced to the ground to a sitting position, and it took a fair number of guards to keep him pinned down long enough to retrieve Nari's intestines and bind his arms and shoulders with part of them. Loki had to keep his eyes squeezed shut as the slippery feeling of the internal organ and the smell of the blood began to make him nauseous. He could not vomit. Whatever he did, he could not vomit. His lips were sewn shut so he would merely suffocate on the bile. His lower torso was secured with the intestines next, and then his ankles. He felt the warm soft feeling of the intestines turn to hard iron as he struggled, and he finally opened his eyes.

It was over. There was nothing more he could do.

For the first time in his life, there was no escape for him. Normally he could just shape shift into some small animal or break the chains magically to escape, but the Æsir had been smart in their execution. They had beaten him so badly that his magic was spent from trying to heal him, and should he turn into a small animal and escape they would just torture Sigyn in his stead.

Sigyn.

Loki looked over to his wife, and he had to hold back a mournful groan. She was cradling their lifeless son. She had bundled him in Loki's garments, and was rocking him back and forth just as she had when he was a babe. None of the gods or goddesses went to offer her comfort as she sat alone in her own little world of grief.

She was an outcast.

The second she had married him she had been doomed to such a fate. The friends she had before the marriage all disappeared as soon as she said her vows. None of them wished to be associated with the trouble that followed his footsteps. Her friends and family abandoned her, and then he had as well. It hadn't been by choice, but that didn't negate the fact that he had left.

One of the women present gave a little snap of her fingers, which was greeted by a hissing sound. A large serpent slithered out of the shadows from behind her and approached Loki. The snake glanced Sigyn's way once, but it seemed to be very conscious that she was not its intended victim. Upon reaching Loki the snake slithered up around his torso and around his shoulders. Loki's nerves tingled as the snake slithered and hissed about him. Without warning, it sunk its fangs into his shoulder, and a searing pain overtook his body. He squeezed his eyes shut, and struggled against his bonds. The iron fetters dug painfully into his body, but that discomfort was merely an afterthought to the venom that the snake was still pouring into his veins. He couldn't keep himself from screaming, but it was a garbled incoherent sound since his lips were sewn shut. He couldn't help but writhe in agony till the snake finally released his shoulder from its fangs. The torture was far from over though. Venom continued to drip onto Loki's face and body, and Loki kept his eyes tightly closed to protect them from the venom. His body shook uncontrollably, and his muffled screams transformed to moans. He thought he heard Sigyn's voice shout his name, and moments later he felt someone tugging at his restraints. Loki had to fight hard to open his eyes, but the sight of Sigyn fighting so valiantly for him was more than worth the effort. The snake lashed out towards Sigyn for her interference, and Loki's heart raced. If that serpent so much as threatened to bite his wife Loki would… he would… he would do nothing… he could do nothing. The weight of Loki's helplessness began to fully present itself, and his anger began to fester.

"It is time to go, Sigyn." Frigga encouraged as Loki continued to shake from the aftershock of the venom.

"I am not going anywhere." Sigyn replied sternly.

Thor attempted to pick up Nari's body, and Sigyn rose indignantly to her feet.

"Don't you dare touch my son!" She commanded.

"Sigyn…" Odin began, but she immediately cut him off.

"Do not speak my name with such pity for I know you feel none. None of you do. I don't believe any of you capable of pity unless it is towards yourself! You are all selfish, cruel, and vain beings who take pleasure in the suffering of others!"

Loki watched his wife tell off the Asgardians that had come to witness his punishment, and he couldn't help but be inwardly proud of her. He was fairly certain that he had said almost the exact same things to those gathered here before. It was one of the reasons he was here bound naked by his own son's entrails. The Queen looked ready to try to reason with Sigyn, but Odin placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Let her mourn her sons, and she will come to us when she is ready."

"And what of my husband? Do you not think I will mourn him every day that I know he suffers?" Sigyn seethed.

"If you had a true husband, perhaps." Sif countered.

"True husband?" Sigyn pressed in tone of voice that even Loki knew to be wary off.

"What husband tires of his wife after only four weeks of marriage, and then only returns to impregnate her in hopes of conceiving a proper heir?" Sif taunted. "Though perhaps the better question is what woman is so gullible to allow him to do so?"

Loki hadn't thought his heart could break any more than it already had, but it did. Sigyn's body began to tremble with either rage or tears, with her back to him Loki couldn't tell which.

"Get out, all of you. Get out!" She shouted.

It didn't take long for those present to follow her command, and once she was left alone with just Nari's body and him she fell to her knees and began to sob. If those leaving shot him smug looks or hate filled stares Loki didn't know it. His eyes were glued to his sobbing wife. He wanted to hold her and assure her that Sif was wrong. He had never tired of her. He hadn't left her because he had stopped loving her, but because it was safer for her if he wasn't there. Loki couldn't explain why, but he had always had a certain talent for getting himself and others into trouble. That talent was offset by his ability to get himself and others out of said trouble, but it didn't negate the fact that danger followed him wherever he went. He had never wanted Sigyn to be put in the path of that danger because he loved her. Yes, it was true that he had been unfaithful to his wife on more than one occasion; Angrboda being his usual consort, but those relationships had been for nothing more than to satisfy his physical needs. He loved no other woman in the Realms, and he never would. She probably wouldn't believe him if he told her that he had often watched her from afar to reassure himself that she was ok, or that his heart broke every time she was greeted with scorn or ridicule because of her relationship to him. She would never trust him should he admit to her that the birth of their two children had been two of the most treasured memories he had, second, in fact, only to those memories he cherished of her in his arms. Sigyn wouldn't have any faith in him or his words, and he could hardly blame her. He had given her no reason to have it. He had proven himself to be nothing more than the "god of lies" in her eyes.

Loki didn't know how long Sigyn cried for, but he could do nothing but watch her. She eventually wiped her tear-stained cheeks, rose from her spot on the cavern floor, and went over to pick up Nari's body. She left the cavern with the corpse, and Loki let his head fall on his chest. It was better this way. Sigyn didn't deserve to bear witness to his pathetic sordid state. She had suffered enough on his account. Loki tried to doze off after a little while, but it seemed that the snake wasn't thrilled with that idea. Its fangs sunk into his shoulder once more, and the proceedings from earlier played themselves out again. Sometime during the final waves of pain, Sigyn returned to the cave. She wore a black dress along with a deep green pendant on a golden chain, and she carried what appeared to be a blanket and a knife. Relief filled Loki. Sigyn was going to kill him. Whether the act would be of hate or mercy he didn't know, but Loki welcomed it. Anything was better than living chained to these rocks. She unfolded the blanket and covered his nude lower body before gripping his jaw. Loki closed his eyes and relaxed his body. Sigyn deserved to do this to him after everything he had put her through. He could feel the hand that was holding his head steady shaking slightly. He braced himself for the feeling of cold steel against his throat, but it didn't come. Instead, he felt a tugging on his lips. He opened his eyes to see Sigyn meticulously using the knife to cut the thread that was binding his mouth shut. She surprisingly only nicked him a few times, and once all the thread was cut she removed it. Loki's first instinct once his lips were freed was to speak to her, but she pressed a cloth across his mouth to stop the bleeding before he could utter a syllable. She kept her eyes lowered as she applied pressure to his swollen mouth. Once she had stanched the bleeding, she left the cavern once again. She returned a second time not long after carrying a large basin and a few towels. She dipped the towels into the water and silently began to clean his wounds with them. She inspected his injures, which were already healing, and then left with the soiled cloths. When she returned the third time she held a goblet in her hands. She placed the cup to his lips, and he opened them so she could pour the liquid into his mouth. He sputtered slightly at the bitter liquid, but he managed to swallow most of it. He went to speak once he got the vile liquid down, but Sigyn placed a finger over his lips. His head began to spin, and then his world was plunged into darkness.

Time in the cave slipped by slowly. Loki was completely unable to do anything for himself, and Sigyn had to care for him like a child. She had to feed him, bathe him, and keep the cavern where they were as clean as possible, yet she never uttered a complaint as she watched over him. It was a disgusting and degrading job; one far below her station, but Sigyn didn't seem to mind. She tried different tactics to get rid of the serpent and to break his chains, none of which worked. Oftentimes she would be forced to drug Loki to get him to sleep, and sometimes she would shield his body from the snake's venom with her own to allow him a moments rest. She occasionally was forced to leave Loki's side to get supplies, and the snake always made sure to take advantage of her absence. The pain was excruciating, but knowing that Sigyn was right there to nurse him through it somehow gave Loki hope that one day it would be ended. Due to his body always having to recover from the snake's venom he was never able to gain enough strength to magically break his bonds, but if he and Sigyn could devise a successful plan to rid themselves of the serpent he stood a good chance of breaking free.

The relationship between he and his wife had morphed drastically during his punishment. There was not much they could do aside from talk, and so they had. She had raged at him at first, and he allowed it. He permitted her to vent her years of pent-up hurt, and he then defended what actions he could. Sigyn had fumed a few weeks over all that, but had finally determined to let the subject go. The pair then fell to reminiscing on the more pleasant memories they had shared together, which was a surprisingly long list considering how often he had left her alone. There were plenty of tears shed over the loss of their sons, and smiles had over their rambunctious childhood. While talking was their main pass-time, it wasn't their only one. Sometimes Sigyn would read to him, and though it had been tricky, they had actually managed to make love on several occasions. The months, years, and decades went by in much the same way. The snake would torture Loki mercilessly, and Sigyn would care for him selflessly. He watched helplessly as Sigyn began to grow thinner and paler as she placed all her energy into caring for him instead of herself. She always slept curled up by his side, and she could normally manage not to wake him when she roused from her sleep. It only took one morning to change all of that however. Loki was jolted awake by the sound of Sigyn letting out a sharp gasp and making a scuffling motion. He opened his eyes to see her on the floor of the cavern with the serpent biting into her wrist. Loki's eyes widened at the sight. Sigyn's intentions were all too clear to him, and he yelled out to try to stop her.

"Sigyn! Don.."

Before he could finish his plea however, Sigyn severed the snake's head from its body in one swift motion. Though the serpent was dead, its jaws stayed clamped shut on Sigyn's arm pouring all the venom in its glands into her blood stream. She grasped the affected area and writhed on the cavern's floor as the excruciating pain took over all of her. Loki watched helplessly as his wife yet again suffered for his sake. She somehow managed to crawl her way over to Loki as the spasms shook her body, and she curled up against him.

"Sigyn…" was all Loki could manage as his tears flowed freely.

She wasn't going to live. The amount of venom now in her system would kill her. If she had his healing abilities perhaps…but she didn't.

"Don't cry Loki, I'm not." She soothed.

Loki pulled against his chains to try to touch her, but he was unable to. Sigyn seemed to take on a otherworldy look, and Loki knew she was fading fast.

"The pain was meant for me Sigyn, not you." He whispered guiltily.

"We are husband and wife, Loki. We are one, what hurts you must also in turn hurt me. Besides… I can't really feel it anymore."

"Can you feel me?" Loki inquired as he leaned his head against hers.

"Only you." She replied. "Loki…"

"Yes, My Love?" He answered as calmly as he could.

"Will you let me see your eyes? That's what I want to see before I go to sleep."

Loki turned his head to look her in the eyes, and smiled. He wished she could see herself now. She looked more beautiful than she ever had before; she was halfway to wherever he soul was headed already.

"Do you believe Váli is still alive?" She asked.

"Yes, I do."

"Find him."

Loki nodded that he would.

"You will take care of Váli, and I will take care of Nari… he never did like the dark." She reminded him, while resting her head back on his arm.

"I don't believe that it will be dark where you are going." Loki stated, completely confidant that if there was anyone in the Nine Realms who deserved the brightest place in the afterlife, it was Sigyn.

Sigyn gave him one last smile, and then she was gone.

Loki cried then. His tears, though mournful, burned with hate as they rolled down his cheeks. He would escape these fetters, give his wife the funeral she deserved, and then avenge her death on those that had brought it about.

Though Loki never saw if he got his revenge in the nightmare, he instinctively knew that he had.