Alfheim was a stunning and beautiful land. While it lacked the awe-inspiring grandeur that Asgard possessed, Loki couldn't help but marvel at the picturesque beauty of the land that spread out before him. The gently rolling hills were dotted with towering, sterling white trees.
The cool afternoon breeze tussled his dark hair as he reveled in the pleasant environment. He wished he could have idled away the day strolling through the vast fields of wildflowers that he had spied on his way into the city. If only all of the nine realms could be so pleasing.
With a content smile, he headed towards the shining city that he has spotted from some distance. The sunlight gleamed off the elegantly curving buildings which appeared to be made of either clear crystal or pure ice. He couldn't wait to find out.
Loki looked about with rapt attention as he entered the oddly unfortified city. While few of the buildings were as unique as the crystalline structures that towered above the city, the other were no less beautiful. Everywhere he looked he found himself in awe.
While Asgard was without question a gem of the Nine Realms, the first intention of every architectural decision had been that of defense and practicality. Here, it seemed, beauty was valued above every other consideration. There could be no other explanation for the sights that he had seen.
He couldn't help but study each of the quaint structures as he passed. While each was built in a similar style involving thick frames constructed of the same gleaming white wood he had seen outside of the city, no two were alike. Each pristine façade was painted in its own unique way, making the long street appear to be a prism of colors.
Yet, for all of the diverse colors that were seemingly placed at random, the sight did not seem garish as would be expected. Indeed, it was quite the opposite. Loki couldn't help but admire the rainbow of colors that spread out before him.
The people that inhabited the kaleidoscopic city contributed to its unique appearance. The tall, thin light elves that cheerily bustled about their business seemed to be just another fixture, the various shades of their blue skin adding even more color to the already awe-inspiring display.
His thought swirling from the sudden stimulation, Loki wandered blithely down the cobbled street. Most of the elves paid the small boy no heed, although a few greeted him jovially. Such friendliness always roused his suspicions. After all, it was a tactic that he had used with much success in the past. For all of his apprehension, none of them seemed to be doing anything more than wishing him well.
His head moved on a swivel as he attempted to take in everything around him. He desperately wanted to see the shining building near the center of the city, but he didn't want to miss out on anything before he got there.
He found his gaze drawn to the broad window of a small shop along the way. Sparkling in the warm sunlight was a menagerie of crystalline animals. The intricately carves statuettes seemed almost lifelike in their portrayal of everything from a simple kitten to a majestic dragon. He wondered how difficult it would be to 'borrow' one of them on his way out of the city.
Distracted by his devious thoughts, Loki was taken by surprise as he walked directly into a fellow traveler. Stumbling from the unexpected collision, he was saved from falling to the ground simply by his nimble reflexes.
"Loki –," a soft, pained voice called out as he caught his balance.
Looking up at figure he had bumped into, Loki found his eyes drawn to the familiar woman that filled him with odd and difficult feelings. "Lady Sigyn," he said just as softly as he tried to settle himself, "fancy running into you here."
Sigyn nodded, unable to take her eyes off the small boy that stood before her. "Yes, I wouldn't have expected the All-Father to let you travel so freely, considering –."
Loki simply shrugged and smiled impishly up at her. "You know Odin."
In all honestly, she did know Odin, likely more than Loki did anymore. While Loki was still struggling to understand his new life and all that he had done, he had remembered Sigyn quite clearly. No matter what had happened between them, he knew that she was his wife. Even though he had died, twice, they were still husband and wife. The quaint custom of 'death do us part,' as the mortal were often known to follow, did not mean much in Asgard. Death was rarely as final in Asgard as it seemed to be for the mortal.
Loki could not begin to imagine what Sigyn must feel to see her husband as nothing more than a child. He knew it must be odd. It proved no less weird to him, truth be told. He could remember so much of his past with Sigyn, thoughts that filled him with strange and foreign emotions. He had no idea what the emotions were, he simply knew that he felt a connection to the woman, no matter how strained they had become.
Since his resurrection, Loki and Sigyn had rarely crossed paths. After their first chance meeting, both seemed to do their best to avoid the other. Avoidance was much simpler than the confusion that boiled to the surface whenever they saw one another.
"Sorry about bumping into you like that. I kind of got distracted by everything," Loki explained sheepishly.
Sigyn smiled softly as her gaze swept across the storefronts. "Yes, this place is quite different from Asgard. No matter how many times I come here I find it hard not to be a little impressed."
"You come here often?" Loki asked. He wondered if he should know that – so much of his past was still nothing more than a haze.
Sigyn nodded as she began to play with her hair absently. "It really is a lovely place and they have the most wonderful spas in all of the Nine Realms. The hot springs are heavenly!"
Loki clamed up instantly as visions of Sigyn standing naked amongst the steam of the hot springs flashed in his mind. "Um – I really need to get going," he said quickly, his eyes no longer able to look into hers. "I'm glad we ran into each other though."
As Loki ran off down the busy street, Sigyn could only let out a soft sigh and watch. Happiness had always been elusive. Her life seemed to be filled with one trial after another. She silently wondered how long she would have to endure the latest one as she began her trip back to Asgard.