Author's Note: I am back! Again, sorry for all the delays. Moving makes everything more complicated. This chapter is pretty long though, so maybe that will make up for some of my tardiness. kksambo- So sorry this took so long to get out, but you will be glad to know that the events in Thor, Avengers, and Thor: The Dark World still take place in the timeline of this story. I cannot speak for anything that comes after the most recent films, but we won't get far into that territory anyways. Khaleesi Cosima Laufeyson- I again apologize that this took ages to come out. fireelfmaiden1- Thank you very much :) Anonymous1662- Hopefully this chapter will have a little excitement as well, though I cannot promise anything on that front. StrawberryObsession- Well you could write a rather lengthy thesis on why Sigyn and Loki can't have a happy life, but I will spare you that here :) DoctorBoo24- Thank you so much for your very thoughtful comments and compliments. I really do appreciate them! Hopefully this next chapter will give you some answers, but it might perhaps leave you with more questions. Who is to say? - Hahaha you know I cannot answer those questions yet! :) I will say I am not from Scandinavia however. I can use umlauts because I studied opera so I have written many papers and such were I was required to be able to. I don't always use them in the story however, I should probably be more consistent about that.
Loki headed straight towards his study after his bath, his dream fresh on his mind. If he could just find the journal that contained Sigyn's ever-important secret he could maybe answer all of the questions now buzzing in his head. Livia was just opening the doors to go into the study as he approached.
"My Prince, I didn't believe you would be up this early." She noted as she dropped into a curtsy.
"I retired earlier than I am accustomed to last evening." He explained.
"I see." She remarked as she looked forlornly into the study.
"Is something wrong, Livia?"
"I had risen earlier than usual this morning hoping that I would get a chance to clean your study. You've been in there so often the past couple of days that I haven't had the opportunity to see to it." Livia admitted.
Loki glanced from Livia to the study and gave an inward sigh. She had gone out of her way to see to her duties, and it seemed wrong of him to hinder her.
"Go ahead with your cleaning, I will come back after you have had some time to attend to the room."
Livia looked pleased that he had acknowledged her small sacrifice.
"Thank you, My Prince. I believe I saw the Queen on her way to her sitting room just a few minutes ago. I am sure she would be grateful for your company." She offered.
"Yes, I am sure she would be." Loki relented before turning and heading back down the corridor to the main wing of the palace.
The sun hadn't even begun to rise, but his mother often woke early. Loki gently knocked on the door to Frigga's sitting room, and her calm voice beckoned him in.
"Good morning, Mother." He greeted as Frigga looked towards him.
"Good morning, Loki. You are up early today."
"As are you."
"I usually rise early, but your Father was tossing and turning more than usual last night. I always seem to feel restless when Odin does."
"And what has the AllFather so restless?"
"There are several things on his mind not least of all are Sigyn and your brother's coronation. He has been putting off the Odinsleep so he can see to both the search and the coronation planning, and it is beginning to catch up with him."
"I thought he had given up on Sigyn?" Loki remarked bitterly.
"He may believe she is gone Loki, but he will continue to put as much effort as possible into the search till the end of the month for your sake." Frigga answered.
"For my sake…" Loki muttered coolly as he looked at the floor.
"Yes, for your sake." Frigga reiterated, lifting Loki's chin up. "Your Father loves you Loki, don't ever forget that."
Loki found that to be a bit difficult to believe, especially with how strained their relationship had been the past few months, but he would not argue with his Mother. Instead, Loki took a seat in one of his Mother's chairs.
"So how are those plans for Thor's coronation coming along?" He asked, trying to move the topic away from Sigyn.
"They would be coming along better if your brother would spent more time helping and less time going off with his friends looking for their next adventure."
Yes, that sounded like Thor all right.
"He's not ready." Loki stated. "The AllFather is making a mistake in coronating him."
"Thor is still immature, but he will rise to the occasion." Frigga defended.
"I'm not so certain he will. Does he have the makings of a good King? Maybe, but we don't know that. I still don't see why Father is so set on coronating Thor now. Can he not wait till Thor has decided to grow up? What is this sudden rush?"
"The burden of the crown is a heavy one, Loki. Odin is beginning to feel the strain of his old age, and there is no reason he should have to suffer it when he has an heir who is old enough to ascend to the throne."
"Old enough does not necessarily mean ready. Thor is a warrior not a politician, and he has made no effort in learning how to become one."
"He will learn in time. The Realms are at peace for now, and he will have you to counsel him should the need for diplomacy arise."
"Why does everyone assume that I will council him at all?" Loki inquired.
"Because you are his brother and his closest friend."
Loki couldn't deny that.
"You have always looked out for him when he wasn't perceptive enough to look out for himself."
Loki sat in silence for a moment. His mother was right.
"I still do not believe he is ready to be King." Loki pronounced again.
"He will be King regardless of whether you believe he is ready or not, so you have two options. You may continue to complain about it, or you can support him. The choice is yours."
Loki looked up at his Mother and sighed. Did he really only have those two options? Maybe so. He had tried reasoning with his Father to push back the date of the coronation, but Odin had refused to even give his concerns a cursory thought. He just couldn't believe that his perfect heir wasn't prepared for the throne.
"No one supports Thor more than I do, which is why I fear his premature coronation. I do not wish to see my brother fail because he was given too great a responsibility before he was ready for it."
"Every King will fail at some point Loki, no one is infallible."
"You best not let Father hear you say that." Loki remarked with a roll of his eyes.
"Your Father has made mistakes, and he is very aware of that fact." Frigga assured in a serious tone.
"Well he is about to make another one."
Loki could see his Mother was frustrated with his incessant pessimism, but she decided not to argue with him further.
"Will you at least be gracing us with your presence at breakfast this morning?" She asked instead.
Loki felt a twinge of remorse for his constant negativity. His Mother had just wanted to carry on as normal a conversation as she could with him, and he had gone and turned it sour.
"Yes, I had intended to eat breakfast with you all this morning." He answered apologetically.
"I suspect Thor will request that you train with him after the meal."
"I suspect you are right."
"And will you indulge him, or do you intended to go back and lock yourself in your study?"
Loki could hear the accusation in his Mother's voice. Loki sighed inwardly.
"Perhaps I will join him. Livia is taking the morning to clean the study, and I do not wish to rush her work."
Frigga gave a pleased nod to his reply.
"I think your brother would appreciate that. He misses your company."
Frigga looked out her window down into the gardens below.
"Would you care to take a stroll with me in the garden before breakfast?"
Loki responded by rising from his chair and offering his Mother his arm. She took it with an appreciative smile and he led her down to the gardens. They didn't speak as they walked among the blossoms. The early morning sun was tinting the sky pink, and sparkling off of the dewdrops scattered on the plant life surrounding Loki and Frigga. The Queen eventually broke their silence.
"I used to watch you and Sigyn in the gardens when you were children. I remember very distinctly looking out of my window to see you two sitting amongst the flowers. You were usually reading to one another, but every so often I would catch you doing something else…" Frigga confessed, giving Loki a teasing look.
"I hope that 'something else' wasn't too scandalous." Loki remarked.
"No, it wasn't. It was innocent enough at that point. I knew you wouldn't stay in that innocent phase for long though, not with Sigyn's passion and your possessiveness."
"It was a long time between the first time I met Sigyn and the first time I bedded her." Loki protested.
"When you have lived as long as I have, Loki, it doesn't seem that long of a time. You waited longer than your brother though, which was a relief to me."
"I am certain it was. He will eventually have to settle himself down though, Asgard will need a Queen."
"The opportunity to wed is already before him, but it doesn't seem to interest him." Frigga admitted.
"I presume you are referring to Lady Sif?"
"I am."
"Thor has never shown any desire to pursue her hand, or anyone's hand for that matter, and I do not foresee that desire developing any time in the near future."
"I have to agree, though she would make a fitting match."
Loki didn't disagree with his Mother's assessment, but Loki felt that his Mother shouldn't get her hopes up in regards to another royal wedding any time soon.
The pair admired the beauty of the morning in silence for a little longer before Loki escorted her to the dining hall for breakfast. Thor was thrilled to see that Loki would be joining them, and he wasted no time in encouraging his little brother to join in on some training after the meal. Loki agreed to the idea, which delighted Thor even more. The meal passed rather uneventfully, but Loki couldn't help but note that Odin did look restless. Something or some things were weighing on the AllFather's mind, and Loki couldn't help but wonder if Sigyn's disappearance really was one of them. Thor dragged Loki off to go train with Sif and the Warriors Three the moment they had both finished eating, and though his mind was still preoccupied with finding Sigyn, Loki couldn't deny that the physical exertion helped relieve some of his pent up tension. He felt more relaxed than he had felt in days once the training session was completed, and there was a sense of renewed vigor within him as Loki made his way back to his chamber to wash off. He never reached his wing of the palace however, as a palace guard accosted him near the great hall.
"Prince Loki, your immediate presence is requested in the great hall." The guard informed him.
Loki thanked the guard, and arrived at the hall a few minutes later. He had no real idea as to why Odin needed to summon him right now, but he assumed it would be about something related to Sigyn. Upon approaching the throne, his initial assumption seemed to be supported. Halldor, Signy, Hallsteinn, and Markus were all there… but where was Frida? Loki took a close look at his in-laws, and he knew something was amiss. Frigga had Signy in a tight embrace and was trying her best to console her, while Odin and Halldor were in deep discussion. Hallsteinn was simply looking at Markus in an unsure manner as Markus just stood there staring off into space. No one but Hallsteinn noticed Loki approach, so Loki went straight to him and Markus.
"Loki." Hallsteinn greeted in a solemn tone.
"What's happened?" Loki inquired, shooting a glance at Markus.
Markus appeared to be unable to respond, so Hallsteinn did.
"Frida is dead."
Odin and Halldor ceased their conversation at Hallsteinn's pronouncement, and Loki looked over at his Father and Father-by-Law.
"What happened?" He asked, directing the question to Halldor.
"We aren't certain. She was discovered this morning in the sitting room by one of the servants."
Loki looked to Markus expectantly.
"I wasn't home…" Markus explained softly. "Hallsteinn and I had been called away yesterday morning due to the search for Sigyn."
Markus seemed unable to say any more, so Hallsteinn finished his explanation.
"We were on our way back when we received the word about Frida."
"And I take it that her death was not a natural one." Loki presumed.
"It was not." Halldor answered. "This was found with her body."
Halldor extended a roll of parchment out, and Loki took it gingerly. He unrolled it and stared at the symbol painted across it.
Thurisaz.
The symbol was a dull copper color, and Loki knew what it had been marked in. Blood. Frida's killer, or killers, had written their message in Frida's blood. At least… he hoped it was Frida's blood…
"Sigrún?" Loki queried reluctantly.
He wasn't certain he wanted to hear the answer.
"Sigrún is staying with my parent's for a couple of days. Frida wanted a chance to look over the journals without Sigrún interrupting…" Markus replied.
"Journals?" Odin interjected.
"Sigyn's journals." Frigga explained. "I told you about them last night. Loki gave some of Sigyn's journals to Frida as a reminder of her sister."
"He gave some to each of us, to remember Sigyn by." Signy added quietly.
It was the first time she had spoken since Loki had arrived in the great hall, and the look on her face indicated that she probably wouldn't speak again any time soon. She held the same hollow look in her eyes that Loki had witnessed at the first banquet he had met Sigyn. Signy was no more than a living-breathing phantom.
"The journals Frida had are gone." Halldor stated. "I checked for them once Frida's body was removed."
Loki's stomach dropped.
"The journals." He muttered before turning on his heel and sprinting out of the great hall.
He could hear footsteps sprinting after him, but he didn't slow down or look behind him as he ran to his study. The door to the chamber was slightly ajar and Loki hoped to see Livia still inside dusting off the books or something, but instead he saw her collapsed on the floor. He quickly strode over to her and knelt down at her side. There was blood on the floor, but she appeared to be barely breathing. The footsteps that had been following him stopped at the threshold of the study, and Loki heard a gasp from the doorway. He heard his Mother's dress rustle as she quickly joined him by the maid. He gently pulled the girl up to a sitting position so Frigga could look for Livia's wounds. They were easy enough to spot however. Someone had punctured her lungs. Loki placed his hand over one of the puncture wounds while trying to use his magic to heal it, but he had a feeling that he was too late to help her now. Livia's eyes opened and they began to dart around the room in a panicked manner.
"Livia, I need you to stay calm." He stated.
Her breathing was erratic, and she was beginning to cough up blood. He focused his energy on closing the wound, and he had partially managed to do so before allowing his Mother to take over. She was the more skilled healer of the two of them. Despite her expertise though, Livia had lost too much blood by this point. Frigga sent him a look that said Livia wasn't going to make it, and Loki knew that the best thing they could do at this point was make her as comfortable as possible for the precious few moments she had left.
"They… they took them." Livia managed to sputter out between coughs of blood.
"Don't speak dear." Frigga encouraged.
Livia seemed intent on speaking however.
"My Prince, th… they are gone… the books on you…r desk."
"I understand Livia. You must stop talking now, and relax." Loki replied kindly.
Livia tried to speak again, but only gargled on her own blood. Frigga stroked the girl's hair as any caring mother would till Livia began to spasm. The spasms lasted only a few moments, and then she went still. Frigga brushed the maid's hair away from her face, and closed the poor girls eyes. Loki sat back and looked down at his now bloody hands silently. In twenty-four hours both Frida and Livia had died because of him. How many more people would he sacrifice in his search for Sigyn?
There were some cloths lying scattered on the floor, and Loki grabbed one to clean his hands with. He mechanically rose from the floor as he wiped his hands, and went to his desk. Sure enough, Sigyn's journals were gone. Someone had come for them, and Livia had been unfortunate enough to be in the room when they had.
"The journals I had kept are gone as well." He stated monotonously.
There was no reply from the others in the study, and Loki dropped the now bloody cloth on his desk so he could pick up a sheet of parchment that had been left there. On it was inscribed yet another Thurisaz. Loki could hear someone faintly trying to address him, but he continued to look down at the symbol. He just couldn't make sense of all of this, and he didn't know why. The facts of the situation just didn't line up. He felt a hand being placed on his shoulder, but he didn't look to see who it was till they gave him a little shake.
"Loki, you must come back to your senses." Hallsteinn urged in a hushed voice.
"Two people have died because of these journals." Loki murmured to his brother in law.
"All the more reason for you to pull yourself together. Whoever took the journals probably knows you have read them, and very well might come after you next."
"Or you, or Markus, or your parents…"
"I am aware of that, Loki."
"Have you read the journals?"
"One, but I found not…"
"It would be best to forget that you have. Has Markus or your parents read any of them?" Loki interrupted.
"To my knowledge, no, but I don't know for cer…"
Loki turned to face those standing in the doorway so they could hear him.
"I do not believe it is safe for Halldor, Signy, Hallsteinn, and Markus to return home. It would also be best if Hallsteinn's family were brought to the palace. Sigrún should be safe enough with Markus's family."
"The other journals?" Odin asked.
Loki nodded.
"Whoever killed Frida and Livia was looking for them."
"How can you be certain?" Frigga queried.
"The attack on Livia was obviously rushed, not well planned. Her attacker didn't expect her to be here, and he did a sloppy job of killing her. That means the intruder's target was something in my study, not someone. From what I can see, the journals were the only things taken from my desk, and nothing seems out of place in the room otherwise. While I believe Livia's death was an unintentional necessity for the killer, I suspect the attack on Frida was deliberate. It is likely her killer knew or at least suspected she had read the journals. I assume that nothing else was missing from Markus and Frida's home?"
"Nothing that I could see, but I only noticed the journals were missing because I knew she kept them on the table in the sitting room." Halldor admitted.
"Did any of you read from Sigyn's journals aside from Frida?" Loki pressed, hoping that they would lie if they had.
"No, they were mementos of my sister, and though she may be gone, I would never dishonor her by prying into her private thoughts." Halldor assured so strongly that Loki almost believed the lie.
Markus shook his head "No," and Halldor answered that neither he nor Signy had read them either. Loki was fairly certain Markus hadn't read them, but he knew that Halldor was lying. It didn't matter if he believed them or not though, he just needed to make a public scene about them not having read them in case someone was watching or listening in on the conversation.
"Why would anyone want these journals, Loki?" Odin asked disbelievingly.
Loki looked over at his Father and weighed his words. How could he voice his theory without his distrust of the War Council showing? Instead of an answer, a memory of Sigyn and him at the estate flashed through his mind.
"Sigyn, a long time ago, when we were first married, someone once warned me that you were in danger."
"Someone warned you? Who? Why? Why did they say I was in danger?"
"They said that you knew something about me, something that would put you in harm's way if you threatened to reveal it."
"I was once warned that Sigyn might be in danger because of information she possessed regarding me."
"And what information was that?" His Father inquired.
"I thought it was a ridiculous notion at the time, and I still do, but the danger is real enough..."
"I don't know, my informant didn't say, and Sigyn never mentioned anything. In fact…"
"Promise me that if there is some basis for that stranger's remark that whatever it is you know about me or my work for the War Council will stay between you and your journal."
"Whatever it is?"
"Whatever. Swear to me that you will not a tell anyone what it is."
"Not even you?"
"Not even me."
"But Lok…"
"Sigyn, swear it."
"I swear it. Only between my journal and I."
"I made her promise never to tell anyone, even me, if such a secret existed. She was sworn to keep it between herself and her journal. I thought that would ensure her safety, but I was obviously wrong. Those left that unite under the symbol of Thurisaz have seemingly both kidnapped my wife and begun to hunt down her journals, I don't know what more proof I need that Sigyn knew something she shouldn't have."
Odin looked away in contemplation for a moment, and then looked back at Loki.
"I find it difficult to believe that Sigyn could have had any exclusive knowledge about you that could put her in danger, but it cannot simply be coincidence that her journals have been stolen. Hallsteinn."
"Yes, AllFather?"
"See that a group of soldiers under your command are sent to retrieve your family, and then take a second group to your parent's house. See if the journals they kept are still there. If they are, bring them back to the palace. Instruct the men who see to the retrieval of your family to do the same with the journals in your possession."
"Yes, sir." Hallsteinn replied before grabbing Loki's arm and giving his hand a solitary shake.
The shake was no more than a cover however, as Hallsteinn transferred something small to Loki's hand. Loki didn't make any show of surprise, and casually folded his hands behind his back, as he oftentimes did, after Hallsteinn released his hand. His brother by law left the room without another word, and Odin looked to Halldor.
"I believe it would be wise for you, Signy, and Markus to remain here for the time being. As for Sigrún, while I have no doubt that she would be safe with Markus's family, I do believe it would be best if she were here with her Father. Frigga, would you see that they have rooms made up for them."
"Of course, and I will see that Livia's body is attended to as well."
Frigga showed Halldor, Signy, and Markus out of the study, leaving Loki alone with his Father. He looked down at Livia's body and cringed. Two innocent lives had been lost in his pursuit of Sigyn, and who knew how many more he had put in danger. Is this what Sigyn would have wanted? Would she be happy to know that her own sister had been murdered because he refused to believe that she was gone?
"Loki, did you read her journals?" Odin's voice inquired calmly.
"Yes."
"And did you find anything regarding Sigyn's secret?"
"No."
Silence.
"Loki, I think it would be wise for you to return to living in the main wing of the palace."
"What? Why?"
"Because you are too isolated here. It could have been you lying dead on the floor instead of the maid. You may not have found any information in those journals, but those looking for them don't know that. They may come after you next time, and I know that your Mother would rest easier… that I would rest easier… knowing that you are in a safer part of the palace."
Loki studied Odin intently, but saw nothing but concern in his Father's expression.
"Very well. For the time being I will return to my old rooms."
A slight head nod was as close as Loki got to a "thank you," and then Odin left the study. Loki considered leaving, but it felt wrong to abandon Livia's body there. He decided to at least wait till some guards arrived to take her away. Loki thought it would be a good time to take a look at what Hallsteinn had given him since he wasn't certain how long he would be waiting. He opened his hand to see a small folded square of parchment. Loki unfolded it to reveal a note addressed to him.
Loki,
I found the book you lent me to be extremely interesting. We should most certainly meet to discuss it at your earliest convenience.
Frida
Loki crumpled the note and leaned against his desk. He had been right. There had been something in Sigyn's journals, and Frida had found it. The Norns truly did hate him. Frida's set of journals had held the answers he needed, and now she was dead and the journals were missing. Maybe Sigyn had written about the secret in some of her other journals, but what were the chances that Hallsteinn and his men would recover them? It was likely they were already gone, and Loki just hoped that Hallsteinn's wife and sons hadn't been harmed in the process. The last thing he needed was another innocent life, or three, weighing on his soul.
The door to the study opened, and several guards entered. They wrapped Livia's body in a dark cloth, and then carried her out. Loki followed them out of the study, and saw an older woman standing in the hallway. Loki recognized her as the head of the palace servants, but he did not address her as she gravely watched them carry Livia's body down the hallway. It wasn't till they had disappeared around a corner that he spoke up.
"Has word been sent to Livia's family?" He asked.
"It is being sent as we speak, My Prince." She answered professionally.
"Will they come here to retrieve the body?"
"Unless you would rather we simply send it to them…"
"No, that would seem callous. Have word sent to me once they arrive, I would like to meet with them. I will likely be in my former rooms in the main wing of the palace when you send for me."
"Very well, My Prince."
Loki left to retrieve a few things from he and Sigyn's room, including the journal Sigyn had found at the estate, and walked the familiar halls to his old chambers. He entered his old bedroom expecting it to be covered in a thick layer of dust, but found it to be quite clean. He placed the things he had brought with them in their appropriate places, and then looked over the room. Even here he couldn't escape Sigyn. This is where they had been together intimately for the first time, where she had discovered him cheating on her, and where she had eventually forgiven him. They had spent countless hours in here before their marriage, and a wave of nostalgia hit him. He didn't have long to take it in however, as someone knocked on the frame of his open door.
"Loki?" Thor said in the most subdued voice he possessed.
"You are welcome to come in, Thor."
"Are you all right? I have just spoken with Father about what has happened."
"I am fine, it is Frida and Livia who are dead."
"I know, which is how I also know that you are not fine. Father mentioned that you believe these events are connected to Sigyn's disappearance."
"Since the same people have literally left their mark at the scene of each crime, I would think that fact was obvious."
"Yet something doesn't sit well with you."
Loki shot Thor a rather impressed look. Apparently his brother was in a perceptive mood today. Even Loki hadn't had time to acknowledge the fact that something about all of this seemed off to him till Thor had pointed it out.
"Yes, none of this sits well with me. I am not certain why yet, but everything that has happened the past twenty-four hours doesn't seem to fit with Sigyn's kidnapping."
"Is there anything I can do to set your mind at ease?" Thor asked sympathetically.
"Thank you for the offer, but no. It's unlikely that I will be able to set my mind at ease any time soon."
"Would you care to join Lady Sif, the Warriors Three, and myself then? We had intended to go for a ride, but we could find some other way to pass the time if you preferred."
Loki gave Thor a weak smile.
"You do not have to change your plans because of me Thor, besides, I am awaiting the arrival of Livia's family. It is only right that I am there to ensure her body is handed over properly."
"Very well. Will you join us after?"
Thor's concern was visible, and Loki sincerely didn't want his brother to worry over him.
"There are a few other matters I will have to attend to once I have seen to Livia's body, but I will be sure to join you later this evening if I can."
"I'll leave you to your business then." Thor replied before leaving Loki's chambers.
Loki sat down on the couch across from the unlit fireplace, and stared into the abyss. There were things about these crimes that just didn't add up. Hel had warned that Sigyn was in danger because she might reveal her secret, but Sigyn had been taken as an act of revenge… or at least that was what Loki had been led to believe by the presence of the dagger in the clearing. Perhaps that had been a ruse? No, it couldn't have been. Everything in that clearing had been arranged for a ritualistic killing. It would have been too elaborate of a ploy, what with the dead bodies and such. Besides, how would those that united under Thurisaz have even known that Sigyn held any dangerous knowledge about him? If they had been aware that she carried some personal secret they wouldn't have wanted to kill her to keep her from revealing it, they would have wanted to know it so they could possibly exploit it. They would have tortured her, and possibly accidentally killed her in the process, but Loki kept returning to the fact that killing her had clearly been their intention.
No matter how he twisted it, Loki knew that if those under Thurisaz had taken Sigyn then Hel couldn't possibly have been right about why she had been in danger. Loki could accept that reality if not for the events of today. Frida and Livia were dead, and over half of Sigyn's journals were known to be missing. There would be no sense in Thurisaz taking them if they weren't seeking information of some kind. This brought him back to the problem of Thurisaz taking Sigyn in the first place. The circular reasoning he found himself in was dizzying to Loki. The only possible answer to the problem would be if Thurisaz were not acting alone. Perhaps they took Sigyn for revenge in conjunction with some other interested party that was searching for her secret… or maybe another interested party had interfered with their plans for revenge… It would explain why Sigyn was missing entirely. Thurisaz had intended to kill her, but the other interested party killed them before they could carry it out and took Sigyn captive… but then why had Thurisaz left their symbol at the two most recent crime scenes as well? A plant by the second unknown party perhaps?
Loki didn't realize how long he was lost in thought for till there was a firm knock on his partially open door.
"You may enter." He called as he rose from the couch.
Hallsteinn entered the room and gave Loki a slight bow indicating that this was an official report.
"I am about to go speak to the AllFather, but I thought I might speak to you first." His brother-in-law explained.
"I'm grateful that you thought to do so. Is your family safe?"
"Yes. They were not at home when the soldiers arrived, and my men feared the worse as it was obvious that our home had been broken in to. Fortunately my wife and children returned while my men were still searching the place. Aldís often spends mornings at the markets, and when I am not home she takes our sons with her. Either the thief was aware of this fact, or we were fortunate she was gone before the break-in took place."
"Fortunate indeed. Were the journals you kept gone?"
"Yes, as were the journals at my parent's home."
"Was anyone harmed there?"
"No. The servants typically clean my Father's study while my parent's take their lunch, and the sitting room during dinner, so no one was in either room when they were broken in to. There were hardly any signs of an intruder from what I could see, but those journals are gone as well."
"It hardly matters now, since no one was harmed at either home. The only journal that mattered had already been taken."
"Frida's message?"
Loki nodded. He didn't have to verbally confirm Hallsteinn's vague query. Hallsteinn nodded back. Apparently he agreed with Loki's conclusion.
"You best stay on your guard Hallsteinn. You and your family may not be out of danger yet. I am sure my Father intends for you all to stay here till you can be somewhat assured of your safety, but even staying in the palace cannot guarantee it."
"I almost fear for my family more knowing we are here. There is still little love between my Father and the War Council. I do not doubt that he still suspects them for Sigyn's kidnapping."
"It is a doubt that I wish I could assuage, but it is a notion that has crossed my mind as well. It seems unlikely, but I cannot rule it out entirely."
"I understand. Well I best be off to report to the AllFather."
"Yes, of course. Thank you for speaking with me first."
Hallsteinn gave another small bow, and was gone. Loki had no time to process the information Hallsteinn had given him however, as the head of the palace servants came to the door as Hallsteinn was walking out.
"My Prince?"
"Has Livia's family arrived?"
"They have, My Lord."
"Then take me to them." He requested.
The older woman did as he asked, leading Loki silently to the servant's quarters. It didn't take long for them to reach their location. The door to the chamber was slightly ajar, and the older woman gently knocked. There was no reply to her knock, but Loki hadn't thought there would be. It had simply been a courtesy knock so that they wouldn't startle the inhabitants of the room. His quiet companion gave Loki a look that told him to proceed, and he gently pushed the door open. The room was lit with candles, and Livia's body had been laid out on a table in the center of the room. It appeared that someone had taken the time to change her clothing, which had been a thoughtful thing to do. Her wounds weren't visible, and the new dress didn't betray their location as the bloodstained one had. There was a woman standing at Livia's head gently stroking the dead girl's hair, and a young man sitting stoically at Livia's side.
Livia's mother and brother.
"I am deeply sorry for your loss." Loki stated without bothering to alert them to his presence in the room beforehand.
"As am I." Livia's mother answered softly.
Loki might have expected her to be crying over the loss of her only daughter, but he knew that simply wasn't a permissible way for Asgardian's to mourn.
"I know there is nothing I, or my family, can offer you to lessen the impact of Livia's loss. Anything we can give you would fall far too short when balanced against her life. As it were, I must give you something. I know Livia helped support you, I can offer you the ongoing income she would have earned in her continued service to my family."
"My son is able to support me well enough." The woman answered without looking up from her daughter's face.
"Then what do you need?"
"My daughter back."
"I assure you, were it possible I would do that for you, but no one can bring back the dead."
There was a heavy pause in the conversation, which Livia's brother filled.
"How could this happen? Isn't there any security in the palace?"
"In certain areas of the palace, yes, but the living quarters are not among those areas. There has historically never been any real need for protection of that sort. There are some soldiers assigned to the royal living areas, but not enough to keep watch on every room at all times."
Another heavy pause filled the room before Livia's mother spoke again.
"Why was she killed?"
Loki groaned inwardly. How could he gently explain to this woman that her daughter had died pointlessly?
"The attacker broke into my study, and Livia happened to be in there tidying up. It is very possible that I was their intended target seeing as I had planned on using the study this morning. The only reason I wasn't in there was because I had agreed with Livia to wait till this afternoon to occupy it since she had been unable to see to cleaning it the past few days."
"She died because she was in the way…" her mother moaned.
"She died because she was a witness." Loki replied.
Loki could sense Livia's mother's strong facade beginning to crumble, and when she next spoke he could see the grieving mother underneath.
"Did she suffer?"
Loki studied the broken woman before him. He could sense her desire to know the truth, and yet he could see that she needed some small comfort in her bitter loss. There was no way he could be certain of the answer to her question, but he thought it likely Livia had suffered. Any definite response would be a lie though, so it was a fortunate thing he was so good at it.
"She did not."
"Then at least there is that small comfort."
A third silence hung over the room for a few moments, and this time it was Loki's turn to break it.
"Are you certain there is nothing I can do for you?"
Livia's mother didn't reply at first, but when she did answer it wasn't the sort of response he had expected.
"Livia spoke of you and the Princess often, you know. She was thrilled when you asked if she would be your wife's personal maid. What happened to the Princess hit Livia hard."
Loki didn't know how to respond to that, but fortunately he didn't have to.
"You have asked what I want, what I need…" Livia's mother looked up at Loki for the first time since he had entered. "What I need is justice. Justice for my daughter. Can you give that to me?"
Livia's brother looked up at Loki as well in anticipation of his answer.
"As of now I cannot," he couldn't even give that to his own wife… "but if the opportunity arises, I promise you I will."
Loki gave a respectful nod to Livia's mother and brother before leaving the room. There were things he needed to determine about Frida and Livia's deaths, and if he didn't speak to the appropriate people soon it was likely that important details would be forgotten. He knew he wouldn't be allowed to leave the palace if he asked permission, so he left a copy of himself in his old chamber and snuck out unnoticed. He spent what precious time he had hunting down Markus and Frida's household staff. Through their accounts he managed to put together a general timeline of events regarding Frida's murder. Although he could only speculate on some of the details, Loki was left with an important question as he traveled back to the palace.
Why had the culprits not killed Hallsteinn's family or Sigyn's parents?
There had been plenty of time. The servants had seen Frida at the end of the evening, and she had given them permission to go home even though she intended to stay up to read. Frida must have found Sigyn's secret sometime that night because she had written the note, but not delivered it. She had no one to send the note with to the palace, and she wouldn't want to raise suspicion by going herself so late. The attack must have taken place before she had a chance to go to bed because, according to the servants, she was dressed in the same clothing she had been wearing the night before. That means the killer would have had plenty of time to break in to both Hallsteinn and Halldor's homes either before or after that murder. They could have taken the journals, and silenced those who potentially knew the information in them under the cover of darkness. That would have left only Hallsteinn and Markus, but surely the killers could have taken care of them while they were on the road. It didn't make any sense. The houses had been broken into eventually, so why had the culprit or culprits waited?
Loki wrangled with that question till he arrived back at the palace, at which point he had to try and piece together when Livia had been attacked. It proved an easier task than he had expected. Seeing as he wasn't certain which servants might have had the opportunity to see Livia this morning, he went to speak with the head of the household staff. He found the older woman in her office looking over some rolls of parchment. She gravely set them aside upon his entrance and raised an eyebrow.
"May I help you, My Prince?"
"I was curious to know if any of the palace staff saw Livia this morning before she died."
"I have of course spoken with the other servants that work near your wing of the palace, and several of them did recall seeing her earlier this morning."
"May I speak with them?"
"There is no need, they can tell you nothing about what happened to Livia."
"I understand that, but they might be able to help me pinpoint when the attack occurred."
"The last time anyone saw her was at breakfast, which is taken in shifts. Livia took breakfast after the banquet hall had been cleared from your family's meal. After that, she went to grab a few more dusting cloths before returning to your wing of the palace. That was the last time anyone saw her."
Loki thanked her for the information and left. While he would have rather spoken with the servants who had actually seen Livia, he wouldn't press the older woman to make them speak with him. She was just trying to protect them from what would be a rather uncomfortable and unpleasant conversation, it was her job. Unfortunately her information wasn't all that helpful in pinpointing when Livia had been attacked. He had trained with Thor for some time before being summoned to the great hall, leaving a rather large window of opportunity. Regardless of when it happened however, Loki was faced with the same question he had been forced to consider with Sigyn's parents and elder brother. Why had the attacker waited till so late in the morning to break in to his study? It could have easily been done at night while no one was around, but instead they had waited till almost midday. Why? There was no logic behind that.
Unable to unravel the problem, Loki determined to go take a bath. The hot water always had a way of relaxing him, which would allow him to think more clearly. He was glad of his decision as he slipped into the bath and sighed. His muscles began to unknot themselves, and Loki's thoughts began to organize in a more manageable manner.
Was Sigyn's kidnapping and subsequent disappearance from the clearing after her first abductors were killed connected to Frida and Livia's deaths?
It seemed like they must be, but the evidence to support the connection was a tad shaky.
What did all three events have in common?
Not much. Sigyn had been abducted, not outright killed. Thurisaz did claim to be involved in all three crimes, but anyone could have utilized that symbol as a cover if they had wanted. It certainly was suggestive, but could not be considered substantial proof.
Ok, so what did Frida and Livia's deaths have in common?
Aside from Sigyn's journals being stolen, nothing. Frida had been killed cleanly; her death had been quick. The killer had been skilled and composed, which suggested that he had been prepared to kill. They hadn't killed Frida on a spur of the moment whim; it had been part of their goal in breaking in. Livia, on the other hand, had not been so lucky. Her attacker had punctured her lungs, but they had done a rather shoddy job of it. It was the reason she had lingered for so long before death. Her death hadn't been planned. It was likely that Livia had stumbled upon them in the study after returning from her breakfast with her new dusting cloths in tow that she then either dropped out of surprise or during some sort of attempt to flea.
The next item on his list of things to ponder was the same one that had driven him to the bath in the first place. For what reason had Sigyn's parents and Halldor's family been left unharmed? There was no logical reason for the perpetrator to break in to their homes in broad daylight, but the answer seemed to lie in his study. If Livia had startled her killer, as the evidence suggested, it meant that they hadn't expected anyone to be in the study or to walk in on them. That was the only possible reason the thief would risk stealing from his chambers during the day, he or she had known Loki wasn't there. Perhaps that was the same reason the other break-ins had occurred during the day. They had chosen a time when they knew the occupants were out of the house, but why? Why did Frida have to die, while the others didn't? All evidence pointed to the fact that someone at least thought Frida had read the journals, but why not assume that all of the family had read them? If they knew all of Sigyn's family possessed some of the journals why would they not just be safe and assume that they had all read some of them… unless they hadn't known, at least not at first. It was possible that whoever was responsible for all of this had not been aware the rest of Sigyn's family had been given some of her journals, and had only found out later that they had. How would the ones responsible know that though? The only person he had told about Frida having some of the journals was his mother… they had been standing on the balcony when he told her however, so it would not have been difficult to hear their conversation. If the conversation between he and his mother had been watched it would make sense as to why the guilty party only believed Frida owned some of the journals, but he wasn't certain they had been watched. Being spied upon was a strong enough possibility however, that he had made a scene in the study earlier by having all of Sigyn's family admit to not having read the journals. It had been a precaution to keep them safe should someone be listening in. Had it actually worked? Well if someone had been watching and listening, yes.
Did someone spying on them fit the timeline of this afternoon though?
The break in at Halldor and Signy's home had obviously taken place after they had come to the palace to deliver the news about Frida, but Hallsteinn's home could possibly have been broken into before. For the sake of argument though, Loki decided to pretend that it had taken place around the same time as the break in at Halldor and Signy's. The first time anyone had verbally mentioned that Halldor, Signy, and Hallsteinn possessed some of Sigyn's journals had been in the great hall after Loki had been informed of Frida's death, and the topic came up again in his study. There would have been plenty of time after that first mention for someone to set the robberies into motion, but it was more likely that they would have been overheard in his study. Would there have been enough time between the second mention of the journals and Hallsteinn arriving on the scene for a break in at both homes to occur? If there were multiple people involved, yes, there probably had been enough time. Hallsteinn would have had to round up his men, brief them, and then divide them, which would have given the robbers a good window of opportunity to take the journals and get out.
So, given what he knew, the most likely scenario was that someone had overheard him and his mother talking on his balcony, that someone either killed or had Frida killed under suspicion that she had read the journals, stole the journals she had been given, broke in to his study the next day…
No, that wouldn't make any sense.
Why break in the next day? Loki had left his study not too long after the conversation with his mother, so why not slip into the study then? It was dark and no one would have been around to witness it. In fact, if he was being watched why hadn't someone slipped into his study to retrieve the journals days ago? There was nothing to gain from waiting.
His entire theory at the moment centered on the notion that he was being watched, but what if he wasn't? How realistic was it that someone had been successfully spying on him for at least a week without his taking notice? Not very realistic, but it was the only answer to all of this… wasn't it? Deep down Loki knew that it wasn't. Frigga may have been the only one he had told about the journals, but she had told someone else. Odin. His Father had been aware that Frida had Sigyn's journals. It would explain why Halldor and the others hadn't been harmed. Thurisaz wouldn't have hesitated to kill them all regardless of if they knew anything or not, but Odin wouldn't have had them killed if he believed them to be ignorant of whatever was in the journals. This couldn't trace back to the AllFather though, it just couldn't. Why would he have Sigyn kidnapped, and what need would he have with her journals? Yes, his Father was the head of the War Council, and both Loki and Halldor had feared the Council might act out against Sigyn, but these events didn't line up with the goals that the War Council would be trying to achieve. Kidnapping Sigyn, and using her as leverage to force him to work for them again would have made sense, but posing as Thurisaz and killing her did not. Not to mention Frida, Livia, and robberies.
Loki got out of the bath and threw a towel around his waist agitatedly.
Thurisaz.
Odin.
The War Council.
All of them could be involved, or none of them could be involved. Their motives didn't make much sense, if they had a motive at all, and their actions made even less. These series of events were going to be impossible to unravel without witnesses or solid evidence or something, and Loki was beginning to not care if he solved them at all. All he wanted was his wife. All he wanted was Sigyn.
Loki got dressed, and returned to his bedchamber till dinner. The dining party was larger than usual with Halldor, Hallsteinn and his family, and Markus and Siggy joining the royal family. Signy was the only one not present, and Halldor excused his wife's absence by informing them that she felt ill. There was little to no conversation to be had during the meal, and even Thor's naturally sunny disposition seemed rather subdued. Loki was fairly certain that Sigrún didn't quite grasp what was going on, because every so often she would try to start up a cheerful conversation with him. Loki would indulge her childish conversation with a smile, while keeping an eye on Markus who just stared at his daughter guiltily. He wasn't certain what Markus had told his daughter, but it obviously wasn't the truth. Dinner was agonizingly long, but it did finally end. Loki rose from the table along with Thor with the intention of keeping his promise of spending time with his brother. Sigrún was quick to rise too though, and she ducked under the table in time to grab Loki's pant leg.
"I am upset with you, you know." She scolded.
Loki glanced at Thor, and then looked back down at his niece.
"Really? You didn't seem upset with me a few minutes ago."
"It's because I thought you would tell me."
"Tell you what?"
"Tell me about how you found Aunt Sigyn."
"Siggy, I haven't found Aunt Sigyn… who told you that I had?"
"Daddy did… he said that Mommy couldn't come to dinner because she was with Aunt Sigyn. So, you found her."
Loki could sense a rising panic beginning to fester. He looked around at those still seated at the dinner table for any sort of help, but none came.
"Daddy wouldn't lie…" Sigrún insisted, but Loki could see that she was reluctantly beginning to fit the pieces together.
Loki gave Markus a long, almost pleading, look. Sigrún couldn't learn the news of her Mother's death from him. Markus was unable to hold Loki's gaze however, and Loki's heart sank. Sigrún knew now, Loki didn't doubt that, so it was only right that someone validate what she was beginning to believe. Loki knelt down in front of Sigrún, so that they were eye level, and he took her little hands in his.
"Your Father didn't lie… your Mother is with Sigyn now," Loki glanced over at his own Father, "and neither of them are coming back.
Odin gave Loki an almost imperceptible nod of understanding, and Loki refocused all of his attention on Sigrún. Tears began to brim around her eyes, and she looked at the ground. The room was eerily silent for a moment, and then Sigrún looked back up at Loki.
"You're lying." She stated quietly before pulling her hands from his and dashing past him.
"Sigrún!" Markus called out as the little girl sprinted out of the dining hall as fast as her little legs would take her.
Loki rose to follow her out, but Thor grabbed his shoulder.
"Let Markus handle her." The elder Prince advised as Markus ran out of the room in pursuit of his daughter.
Loki glanced at the door again, but relaxed. Thor was right. Markus needed to be the one to handle this. The brothers gave the others in the room a somber good night before meandering down the halls of the palace.
"Are we not meeting your friends?" Loki finally inquired as it became apparent that they were heading nowhere in particular.
"They are your friends too Loki, but no, we are not meeting them. I thought perhaps you would prefer a quieter evening than they can provide."
Loki gave his brother a small smile. It was a thoughtful gesture on Thor's part, which was saying something since Thor was not very good with thoughtful gestures… or thoughtful anything else for that matter.
"So, you have finally decided to give up looking for Sigyn?"
"The search has turned up nothing, there is no point in wasting time and resources on it."
"I wasn't referring to the official search, Loki."
"Two people died today because of my attempts to find Sigyn."
"Yet you will continue to look."
"I did not say that."
"But you didn't deny it…you will not be satisfied till you find answers about Sigyn, assuming you cannot find Sigyn herself. Should you need my help…"
Loki cut in before Thor could finish his offer of help.
"I cannot involve others Thor. Sigyn would not see her own life as being worth the price already paid for it. She would rather I gave up looking for her than placing more people in harms way for her sake."
"What will you do if you are able to track down those responsible for her kidnapping, or for Frida and the maid's deaths?" Thor asked.
"I will learn what I need to from them, and then I will deal with them in accordance to their crimes."
"You will deal with them? Doesn't that job fall to our Father?"
"It will depend on when I find them, it won't be long before that job falls to you."
"That is true…"
"And you wouldn't deny me the right to avenge my wife, would you?"
"No, I wouldn't."
The brothers stepped into one of the open-air gardens, and Thor jumped up to sit on the railing while Loki leaned against it. Thor's blue eyes seemed to be clouded with thought, so Loki stayed quiet. His brother would reveal his mind to him when he was ready.
"I know that you will search for Sigyn, Loki, but do you truly believe she is still alive?"
Loki folded his arms and let out a sigh.
"Yes, I do, but that doesn't mean I will find her."
"Will you ever give up your search?"
"You said yourself I will never be satisfied till I find her, or answers regarding all that has transpired."
"Yes, I said you will never be satisfied, but perhaps you will have to live with not being satisfied in this matter. Have you considered that possibility?"
Loki closed his eyes. The thought that he might never solve any of this mess had indeed crossed his mind that very day on multiple occasions, but was he willing to accept that reality? No, not yet.
"I have considered it, but I refuse to dwell on it."
Thor gave a little 'Ah,' and then they fell silent.
"You know," Thor began some time later, "this is the first time in a long while that we have spent time together just the two of us."
"Yes, it is."
"I've missed those times little brother." Thor admitted with a smile.
"As have I." Loki answered softly. "As have I…"
The official search for Sigyn was ended the next day, and her death was officially announced to the Realm. It was what Loki had wanted, but it still hurt none-the-less. The mood around the palace was somber for everyone living and working there. News had spread quickly about Frida and Livia's deaths, and Loki just knew that the subtle unrest that was beginning to fester within the ranks of the nobility would only be spurred on by these recent events. Thor was fortunately popular with the majority of Asgardians, which would make his transition to the throne somewhat seamless, but should he prove unready for the task ahead of him it would not take much to sway the masses against him. As foreboding as that almost assured outcome of Thor's coronation seemed, Loki didn't dwell on it. The current day had been set aside for mourning, and that night he found himself standing with his family and Sigyn's family in front of two funeral pyres. One pyre held Frida's body, while the other had only a book resting atop it in place of where Sigyn's body would be. Loki had told the others it was Sigyn's favorite book, but it was actually the journal they had found at the last estate they had visited. That tome and the impossible note from his nightmare tucked in-between its pages had to be a sick trick of some sort, so he had decided to burn it. He hadn't read it, and frankly he had held no interest in doing so seeing as there could be nothing in it to give him answers about Sigyn's disappearance.
Odin gave Markus and Loki a nod to indicate that they should place their wedding bands on their respective pyre. Markus picked Sigrún up and handed his ring to her. She shakingly placed it on top of Frida's folded hands and then grasped on to her father again. Loki then approached Sigyn's pyre and stared down at the ring on his finger. He couldn't do this. He gently pulled it off and held the small golden circle in his hand. This band represented his union with Sigyn, and his promise to always protect her. How could anyone expect him to just burn it? Did they think that his love for her would melt away with the metal? A hand was placed on his shoulder, and Loki glanced behind him expecting to see Thor. Instead, he saw his Father.
"Sigyn wouldn't want you to hold on forever, Loki."
Loki looked from Odin's face back to the ring in his hand. Perhaps Sigyn wouldn't want him to hold on forever, but he wasn't ready to let go, not when he knew deep down that she was still out there somewhere. He clasped his hand around the ring and created an illusionary one that he placed on the book instead. He slipped his real wedding band snugly under his vambrace, and then turned to return to his family. Odin gave the signal, and Hallsteinn and Thor each placed a torch on the pyres. Loki watched intently as the wooden structures were engulfed in the flames, and inwardly sighed as the journal began to burn. He then looked over at Sigyn's family as they watched the fire engulf Frida's body. Sigrún had leaned her head against Markus's shoulder, and he was shielding her eyes. Loki could only assume that Markus didn't want Sigrún's last memory of her Mother to be her charring body. Hallsteinn and his family watched quietly, his sons were old enough not to be phased by what they were seeing. Halldor seemed to be keeping up a stoic appearance, but Signy was not. Loki was fairly certain she would fall over if her husband loosened his grip on her.
The grave ensemble remained till the fires died down, and then they all returned indoors for a feast. Funeral ceremonies were always rather morbid, but the seven days of mourning that followed were meant to be festive. It was a way to celebrate the lives of those that had passed on, but Loki didn't feel festive in the slightest. These weeklong celebrations were meant to give those left a sense of closure, but there could be no closure for him, not without a body to prove Sigyn was gone. Friends of both families had been invited to the dinner, but Loki spoke with no one. He was a silent onlooker as his brother engaged in conversation with Lady Sif and the Warriors Three. The group managed to coax a few words out of him, but nothing more. Markus retired early under the pretense of having to put Sigrún to bed, and Signy disappeared not long after. Loki too slipped out of the dining hall early undetected, or so he thought…
"I am sorry, Loki." Fandral's voice stated from behind.
Loki turned around to face Fandral who was standing just outside the door to the dining hall.
"We will all miss her you know." The blonde confessed as he went to stand near an archway that revealed a beautiful view of Asgard.
Loki stayed where he was at as he answered.
"I know you all will."
"I will probably miss her more than the others however, Sigyn and I always did have a special friendship."
"Yes, she was always fond of you."
Fandral looked up into the evening sky and smiled.
"I remember a night very much like this one from many years ago. You and I were standing on a balcony, and I gave you an ultimatum. Do you remember it?"
Loki joined Fandral at the archway.
"I do. You told me that if I did not pursue Sigyn you would."
"Yes… I meant it you know. If you had taken no action I would have."
"She might still be alive now if you had." Loki noted coldly.
"No, nothing would be any different. She would never have accepted my advances. It was always you she cared for, and I was very aware of that, though you seemed a bit blind to it."
"I suppose I was too close to the situation to see the larger picture clearly."
"Perhaps. I always took credit for your relationship though. It was my prodding that finally gave you the motivation to court her."
"Well that and Sigyn being kicked in the head by a horse."
"Yes… well that too, though the horse incident was really Thor's fault with the thunder and all…"
Loki couldn't help but smirk at the memories Fandral's reminiscing had brought back to him. He eventually returned his mind to the present, and looked at his companion.
"Thank you Fandral, I needed this."
Fandral flashed him a smile, and Loki began to head back down the hall towards his chamber. He didn't make it far before Fandral began to yell after him.
"Oh yes, how could I forget to also mention that one time you came to me for advice on how to please Lady Sigyn in the be…"
"I will still not hesitate to give you matching hair with Lady Sif." Loki warned good-naturedly.
"You still owe me that favor I believe." Fandral shot back.
"As I recall you offered to give me your advice freely." Loki reminded him.
"You're memory is as sharp as ever, Loki."
"A fortunate thing indeed." Loki concluded before continuing down the hallway once more.
The week of mourning passed quickly enough, and though Markus showed some improvement, Signy showed none. Loki wasn't certain she would ever be able to recover from this latest blow. Sigrún seemed to have lost all of her vibrant energy, which was probably the saddest part of it all for Loki. There had been no other incidents to indicate that Sigyn's family was in any further danger, so after the week of mourning had passed they returned to their homes. Change began to come rather quickly after that. Markus moved he and Sigrún closer to his family, Loki and Sigyn's wing of the palace was sealed off against Loki's will, the time and resources that had been put into the search effort were now being diverted to the planning of Thor's coronation, and Loki continued his own private search for his wife. He chased even the most vague rumors, all to no end. Every angle he attempted to approach the problem from failed to get him anywhere. Days then weeks slipped away, and Loki began to realize that Thor's coronation was quickly approaching. As if his hunt for Sigyn wasn't enough to keep Loki occupied, Thor's coronation was bringing along with it problems of its own.
Halldor had continued to keep Loki informed on what was transpiring within the upper ranks of the nobility as the date of the ceremony drew closer, and his news did not bode well for Asgard's soon-to-be King. Nothing would happen as long as Thor proved himself to be a competent ruler, but it seemed that Loki was not the only one who believed Thor to be far from ready. His rash and immature nature could only lead to disaster, and that is when the nobility would act. Each noble would likely seek to place himself, his son, or some other relative on the throne of Asgard should Thor lead the Realm into some crisis, which could throw the kingdom into a chaotic civil war. It was a war Odin and Thor were likely to win in a fair fight, but Loki doubted it would be a fair fight. It would fall to him to fight the underground battle just as he had while serving the War Council, but even with his skills it was unlikely he would be able to stop every underhanded attempt to dispose of Odin and Thor. Loki knew Odin couldn't be blind to these traitorous workings, but he was blind to Thor's behavior. He was working under the assumption that Thor would magically grow out of his childish ways upon taking the throne, which Loki thought was an exceedingly foolish notion for someone so wise to have. If nothing changed, it would be too late by the time Odin realized his mistake.
Everything in Loki's life seemed to be crashing down at once, and as if his waking hours weren't bad enough, his dreams seemed to be filled with ghosts. Sometimes it was Theoric, sometimes it was being bound in the cave, and sometimes it was Sigyn. They were always the same nightmares, but he never had them in any particular order. Though the nightmares of the cave and Theoric were both chilling in their own rights, it was the nightmare with Sigyn that haunted him even after he awoke.
"This was my secret. This is why I had to die. Jotunheim is the key. If you wish to find me, you must go to Hel."
It was nothing more than a nightmare, a figment of his imagination… right?
Sigyn had held a secret and Loki did believe that it is why someone had wished her dead, but what did the rest of it mean? Jotunheim was the key? If he wished to find Sigyn he had to go to Hel? The latter could simply mean Sigyn was dead, but how could Jotunheim be the key to anything? Jotunheim was a wasteland that could offer nothing to anyone… could it? Sigyn's voice suddenly flitted into his mind as it so often did.
"Loki?"
"Yes?"
"They are coming for us aren't they?"
"Who? The War Council? Yes, I believe it is likely."
"We will never truly be safe from them here on Asgard will we…"
"As long as we don't comply with them, no, we will not."
"Then why even stay here?"
"What?"
"Why stay here on Asgard. It doesn't matter if we live here, or in the palace, or in any of the other estates we have seen, they can still reach us."
"You are suggesting that we leave Asgard?"
"Run away with me. If the War Council wants us, they are going to have to chase us down."
"Chase us down where? Where would we run to?"
"I don't know. Somewhere, anywhere!"
"There is nowhere in the Nine Realms where they wouldn't be able to reach us with little difficulty."
"Jotunheim."
Loki had thought it was a crazy idea, and it had been a crazy idea, but perhaps Jotunheim was a more relevant place than he had originally thought. Rumors had once circulated that Thurisaz had tried to broker a deal with the Frost Giants, and it was the only Realm he hadn't searched so far. He doubted any good could come from it, but he needed to cross Jotunheim off of his list of possibilities. He needed to visit the forbidden Realm. He wasted no time in sneaking out of the palace and taking his secret passage to the home of the Frost Giants.
It wasn't till he was standing in its wastelands looking out at the desolate place before him that Loki began to doubt his judgment in venturing to Jotunheim.
"We wouldn't have lasted ten minutes here..." Loki thought to himself.
It seemed odd to be standing in the Realm that his father had once spoken of in his stories of conquest and Asgardian bravery. It had always seemed like such a mythical place to Loki, yet here he stood.
"There is no possible way that Jotunheim could be the key to Sigyn's disappearance, or anything else for that matter. Just another pointless venture." He lamented silently.
There was nothing of worth in this icy Realm. Asgard had laid it to ruin years ago, and had stripped it of its power. The Frost Giant's were of no threat to Asgard, though they were still somewhat feared.
Loki explored the area a little as a formality, but seeing nothing of interest, he began to picture the great battle that had once taken place here. Everything seemed to agree with what his childish imagination had once envisioned, though it was not quite as cold as Loki had thought it would be. How many times had he and Thor re-enacted that battle in their boyhood? It had been Thor's favorite game to play. Loki could only imagine what his brother would have given to be here with him right now. He would finally have his chance to wipe out the Frost Giant's, just as he always said he would when they were children. Though Loki doubted it would be as easy to wipe out the Frost Giants as Thor had seemed to think it would be, something told Loki that his brother probably still thought he could slay them all single-handedly if given the opportunity…
"If given the opportunity." Loki muttered under his breath.
The wind began to pick up, but Loki paid it no heed. A plan was beginning to take shape in his head. It was a plan that could both delay Thor's coronation and keep the nobility in Asgard from turning on the royal family. Thor needed to exhibit his rashness in such a way that the AllFather would be completely unable to turn a blind eye to it, and the nobility of Asgard needed something to unite against, something that would keep them too busy to pursue personal ambitions to the throne. The answer was right here on Jotunheim.
The Frost Giants.
Nothing serious needed to happen, all parties involved merely needed to be frightened enough to take action. Thor to settle the score, and the Asgardian nobility to prepare for an attack that would never come… This blossoming idea needed some grooming, but it could work. It would unfortunately mean that he would need to set aside his search for Sigyn for a little while, but that wouldn't be too terrible. Once Asgard was stable again he would have nothing to distract him from finding his wife. Sigyn would urge him to see to the safety of Asgard first if she were here. She had given him the answer to Asgard's problems after all.
"Jotunheim is the key."
