Chapter 3

Sigyn was left alone in the room for what felt like hours while her memories slowly began to restore themselves. She soon found herself smiling; joyful tears in her eyes, remembering all the times spent with her eight sisters.

She would play hide and seek in the gardens with the younger ones; Sjofn, Snotra, and Syn. Syn always wanted to be with Sigyn; even when it was her turn to search, otherwise she would cry until she got her way. Her and Sigyn were always so stubborn, although it was shown in different ways. Her elder sisters would always tease Sigyn about it playfully; as she would always retort to sticking her tongue out at them.

Snotra was always the hardest to find which was rather odd considering she didn't quite enjoy the game, she had made that clear every time she was asked if she wanted to play. Sjofn and Syn had to literally beg her..Sigyn's eyes grew weary remembering a time she had to tell their mother, Freya, she could not find her. Everyone was so worried until Lofn had finally threatened her with no supper and she came right out. Pulling her by the ear while Snotra cried the entire still do not know where she had hidden. Lofn; the third born, was always a little sour toward the little ones. She didn't like children and most certainly wasn't the motherly type. Though her patience for them were slight, Sigyn knew Lofn loved them dearly.

Sigyn sighed slowly, letting her eyes wander around the room as thoughts resurfaced in her mind; things she knew she had kept away before all of this. She liked to believe her family loved each other equally but the thought did not sit well in her mind. Lofn had disliked the first-born, Hnossa. Not because she was their half-sister; the daughter of Lodur and not Iwaldi, like the rest of them. But because Freya favored her most. It was not hard to see; Hnossa is full Vanir and resembles her father, whom passed away when Hnossa was young. Freya was very much in love with him. Unlike the rest of her daughters, half Vanir and half dwarf. Sigyn now took notice of how short she had been beside Loki just a few hours ago..She sighed once again, pushing away all the negative thoughts that regarded her mother. Freya was a caring mother for someone who did not love the father of their many children. That much was clear.

Her mind quickly averted back to her loving sisters. When Sigyn wasn't playing with the younger ones she would spend time with Nanna, the fourth daughter. She was definitely most closest to Nanna out of all her sisters. They would converse about books or more personal thoughts such as opinions on certain men while sewing together. Some days Idunn would sit and sew with them as well although never partake in much of their conversations; she was always to herself. Idunn and Nanna were always the mature motherly figures of the sisters. They both would take turns along with freya taking care of Var, the youngest. She was only an infant when last Sigyn had seen her.

Her eyes softened remembering her small features. Out of all Freya's daughters, she was sure Var looked the most like their father Iwaldi; for they both have Black hair and royal blue eyes. It certainly wasn't that surprising. Nanna is the only sister with brown hair. All of the others have golden blonde; all of which with matching royal blue eyes as well. Even Nanna shares the same color irises as they..

Sigyn's features ,however, were a little abnormal compared to her parents and siblings. Hair the color of french vanilla with a soft angelic glow to her many waves. Eyes the shade of pale blue Chalcedony stones. Her skin a gorgeous porcelain, so unlike the beautifully tanned tones of both the Vanir and Aesir amongst her. Yes it was rather odd, but she loved that about herself.

Suddenly the curtain whipped aside making her jump with fright; too lost in her thoughts to have taken any notice of footsteps coming down the hall. She was startled to see Clint with a tray of food along with a tall glass of water in his hand. A small feeling of hunger filled her as she smelled the food and was honestly relieved. But she ignored it as much as possible and stared at Clint with worried eyes. She swallowed as he placed the tray on her bed then kneeled to place the glass on the floor, stiffly standing back up in a quick motion.

Without hesitation, he made for the curtain.

"Wait!" Sigyn shouted to him apprehensively. He stopped as if he was given an immediate order from Loki himself and turned around to face her. His expression blank, waiting. She swallowed nervously with pleading eyes; hesitation in her voice as she spoke. "Clint, please..you must try your hardest to return to your normal self, you do not follow Loki, you follow Fury.." She paused staring at him intently as if it would somehow help coax him back to his normal self again; ignoring the confusing feeling in her stomach when she spoke his name.

His expression remained the same. As soon as he realized she wasn't going to say any more he turned around making for the curtain once again. Sigyn stood up anxiously in a rush just to be yanked back down by the chain around her wrist.

"But Agent Romanov" She shouted to him, only to cut herself off as he swiftly left the room with ease. She felt utterly defeated as she watched the curtain lightly sway back and forth.

Had they truly lost him for good..

She immediately pushed the thought away. She had to remain optimistic, it was what she was good at and the results were always worth the forced hope. She knows he is strong. As Loki had said, Barton has heart.

She began to eat forcefully with an uneasy appetite. Though her mind was optimistic her stomach said otherwise..But alas she had finally finished. This time a guard she had not recognized entered the room to collect the tray a little while later. She sighed sadly and grabbed Loki's cloak; she laid down, pulling her legs up to her chest, curling up like a cat and slowly closed her eyes. It was sometimes hard, she could admit, to be so optimistic all the time..

She ran though the many bright golden halls, staring up occasionally at the wondrous designs on the ceiling far above her; smiling brightly whilst trying to find a good place to hide.

Her family was visiting the royal palace of Asgard for a particular reason that Sigyn was not yet informed of. She knew it must be serious for the All-Father himself to call upon them. Besides Nanna, her elder sisters were elsewhere doing whatever they enjoyed doing while in Asgard. Nanna and their mother were in the throne room speaking with Odin. That she found out from Idunn.

This was not her first time being in Asgard, nor was this the first time being in the palace itself. Their family would visit the royal family every other year or so. She has known the royal family since she was a small child near the age of Syn, for their parents were great friends. She had very fond memories here, all of which were of playing with the youngest prince, Loki. They had simply been best friends when they were little but it had been a few years since last they've seen each other and she certainly didn't forget the confession regarding his real feelings toward her. It was a day she could not forget. Partly because she had never returned his words. She was always so timid about her feelings for him. She would simply toss the thought away like she does with every over whelming though and changed the subject, never to think of it again until that day he had told her aloud. Since then she had wanted to apologize in person when she was Asgard again and now she was.

Her nerves to bring up that particular subject were nothing less than frightening. It was not the mere thought of commitment that unsettled her so, for commitment never gave her such discomfort in any way; she was just so very shy that when those types of feelings surfaced it made her act very...well.. ungraceful like to say the least. So she wanted to continue to hide her real feelings for Loki as well.

When her family arrived at the large gates, she spotted him almost immediately out of the small carriage window. He was standing next to the many guards, mimicking their serious expressions. The gates opened and his eyes instantly found hers; a wide smile spread across his face. Right before the carriage reached Loki, Sigyn opened the carriage door and clumsily jumped out landing on her feet a little less graceful than she had initially hoped for while the carriage kept riding down the wide pathway that lead to the enticingly large entrance of the royal palace. Sigyn met his gaze, biting her lip as she heard Freya yell out her name furiously.

Loki was grinning at her amusingly with a hint of laughter in his eyes as she made her way over to him. Straightening up her posture as if it would cover up the un-lady like fashion of her little stunt. She had not known what had come over her to do such a thing. She stopped short a foot away from him with a delicate smile.

"I've certainly missed you as well.." A breathy chuckle escaped his lips. "Perhaps not as much." He teased. Sigyn averted her eyes down to her feet with a half-smile. "Are you saying you would have not flung yourself out of a moving carriage for me?" She teased as well, looking up at him with playful eyes and a wide smile, showing all of her perfect white teeth.

Her eye brows raised just slightly as he frowned, averting his eyes to the right then back at her with complete acuity as if the answer should be obvious. She crossed her arms with mock disappointment and he smirked.

"Oh? Would you prefer me if I threw myself out of things?" He asked questioningly, amusement thick in his voice.

A burst of laughter escaped her lips as her hands flew up to her mouth, a little shocked at the out burst. Loki had always found a way to make her laugh like that; irrevocably joyous and genuine. She took notice of how mischievously playful his eyes were and realized just how much she had really missed everything about him. There was certainly no one else like him in all the nine realms..

At that moment, she wrapped her arms around Loki surprising him for only a moment before his arms were around her as well. They then began to walk around the gardens while reminiscing about the past spent together; how Loki would playfully tease her for silly things such as with games, in which Loki brought up 'Hide and Seek.' A Midgardian game they had both enjoyed playing when they were younger.

Loki spoke of how often he would win, for she always hid in the most obvious of places. Sigyn crossed her arms. "I bet this time you will not be able to find me. You would have to give up." She replied, chin slightly upward in confidence.

He smirked lightly at that. "Oh? Lets find out, shall we." With a raised brow he slowly turned around, seeming very preoccupied with a perfectly trimmed shrub. That was Loki's way of counting, she assumed, and then took off running.

Now being in the midst of their game, she still couldn't find a good enough place to hide! Running out of time she finally decided the one place Loki would never look for her was..Lady Sif's chambers. Her and Sif were friends, surely she would let her hide there? She ran down the hall quickly until she had reached her door.

She knocked gently in the most polite manner. No answer. She then knocked again with a little more force. Still, no answer.. She then grew impatient for Loki was bound to stumble upon her in the wide open hallways and banged on the door as hard as she could.

The door flung open as Sigyn's eyes met royal blue irises. Sigyn noticed her hair was wet and she wore a bathing robe.

"What is it?! Is something wrong, Lady Sigyn?" Sif's voice was thick with worry. Sigyn just stood there a little sheepishly looking down at her feet. She cleared her throat hesitatingly..

"Well..you see...I am sort of playing a...game.." She avoided Sif's eyes feeling a little bad for disturbing her over something so silly. Sif sighed and rolled her eyes in realization.

"You wish to hide from Loki in my chambers, is that it?" Sif replied with boredom, she could hear the slight exasperation in her tone as well. Sigyn gave a small nod then sighed with relief as Sif stepped to the side, inviting her in. "Oh thank you so much Sif!" Her voice was slightly higher than normal; a mixture of excitement and anticipation as she immediately ran into Sif's chambers feeling like she had already won. An over joyful smirk of victory spreading across her face at the thought of Loki, for the first, clueless to where she is.

Sif looked over at Sigyn as she picked up her hair brush. "Why are you so sure he will not come knocking on my door as well?" Sif asked questioningly toward Sigyn. A puzzled look replaced Sigyn's victorious expression. "Why in Valhalla would he come here? You two do not like each other. It is the perfect place." Her smug smile returned.

Sif half smiled, looking at Sigyn through the mirror while she brushed her long black hair ever so roughly. "I am almost positive he will be here shortly. You are very easy to read if I am being quite honest." She said matter-of-factly. Sigyns shoulders slumped a little with uneasiness, realizing she was probably right.

Around fifteen minutes or so later, Sif was fully dressed in her casual attire and sat down in her bed next to Sigyn. They caught up on a few things until the there was a knock on Sif's door. Which led Sigyn to quickly jump up from the bed and hid behind a tall vase in a rush as Sif slightly turned to see her well hidden before opening the door.

"Yes?" Sif said lightly as her expression soon changed to one of annoyance rather quickly.

"I believe you have something of mine?" His smile was pure cunning. Sigyn could practically hear the smugness in his voice. She had no doubt Loki was smiling.

"Whatever gave you that idea?" Sif replied in the least bit playful. There was a pause.

"Sigyn, come out. Your lovely mother is bound to wake Garmr with her excessive yelling whilst trying to find you." Sarcasm dripped heavily in his tone when he spoke the word 'Lovely'.

Sigyn sighed and stood up from behind the vase and slumped to the door with a defeated look.

"How did you know?" Sigyn asked him a little bummed out but still smiled. He licked his lower lip and smiled as well, though his was very mischievous.

At that moment she saw movement in her peripheral vision coming down the hall. She turned to see Freya.

"SIGYN!"

Her eyes flew open.

Sigyn woke to darkness. The light in the hallway was much dimmer than usual, making the small room that much harder to see in. She sighed and turned over almost gasping to see a shadow of a body laying on a cot a few feet away from her bed.

She squinted trying to see who it was.. she was able to see the outline of smooth hair that spiked out as is flowed down. It was no doubt Loki. Her eyes had adjusted even more and she could just make out that his armor was off, but could not tell what he was wearing. She hoped he was wearing something. Heat uninvitedly rose in her cheeks.

She wanted to keep sleeping after reliving so many memories in her dream..but she now felt uneasy to fall back to sleep with him being in the same room as her..and so close. She swallowed quietly while staring at his shadowed outline through the darkness.

She no longer wanted to sleep alone... She felt the enticing urge to curl up next to him..to feel his warmth against her as she listened to his light steady breathing..

She then silently cursed herself for thinking such things.. why was he in here? Did he do this every night? Warm chills ran up through her stomach to her chest; a feeling settling there both a soft and anxious kind of pressure. She swallowed found herself grasping his cloak and pulling it closer to her.

The thought of seeing him for the first time at the camp of SHIELD made her suddenly feel like crying..she rolled onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. She did not want to keep questioning her own morals..but she could not escape what felt like the inevitable truth. She had loved him once before. Surely he was not always like this..? Who was he before? She wanted so much to find out.

He has murdered innocent people...why in Valhalla do you care for him, Sigyn?

"I do not know." She whispered silently before closing her eyes. She took a deep breath and released it repeating the process a few times until she had fallen back to sleep again.

This time she would find out who he had been.

( Sorry this chapter took like a month to write, I was having serious writers block! I know its not that long but again the writers block. -_- I promise next chapter will actually get back into the Avenger movie story haha. Just wanted everyone to read some of her past and get some more glimpses into her past so see just how Sigyn and Loki's relationship was along with her relationships towards her siblings and such.. Soo yea! Haha ok well hope you all like it! Thanks so much for reading! :3 )