Sigyn found comfort in coming to one of the secluded gardens, the same one to which she and Loki used to come to break away from prying eyes of the Asgardian palace. This little orchard, full of blooming orange trees, witnessed the spring of their relationship – which to be honest looked in the beginning more like a cat-and-mouse game then proper courting. Their relationship wasn't always favourably seen by everyone, since there was not one drop of royal blood in Sigyn's veins, so they spent a lot of their time here.
Yet, today Sigyn came here to be alone. She needed the repeatable pattern of battle manoeuvres to tire out herself . She spent years to learn to wield Fjothr, the spear forged by her grandmother . It was not only light and sharp, but elegant - the magic in the blade allowed it's wielder to adjust the length of the handle. Sigyn learned to use this ability in order to compensate her rather small stature.
"One step to the right, turn round, strike. A swift rotation of the handle, strike."
The blade cut the air with a hiss of steel, as the young woman engaged every muscle of her body to work. This way she could completely turn off thinking and rely on her instincts. Still though, after hours of workout, she could not wipe away the image of Loki's smile – it kept coming back and sending a chill down her spine. She always knew Loki was jealous of Thor and kept telling him there was nothing he could envy his brother, but whatever wise arguments she used, she failed to make him believe them. The thorn remained where it used to be.
Sigyn clenched her teeth and threw Fjothr at the wooden fence in a helpless display of her frustration. The shining blade plunged deep into the wall, the handle shortening without the touch of its wielder. Sigyn was panting, every muscle of her body shuddering from exhaustion and pain, and she still could not convince herself to believe it was nothing more than a smile of satisfaction that Thor's ceremony was spoilt by hard luck. But before she could come to any conclusion he heard footsteps behind her back. She knew their sound and their lightness.
- My prince – she said, not turning to face him. Loki haven't seen her like this for a very long time, maybe even never. He touched her shoulders, wishing to comfort her.
- I couldn't find you after the ceremony, so I came here. You are upset – he said, softly grazing her hair with his lips.
- Yes – no point in lying. The drawback of being so close to the god of mischief himself was that you couldn't really lie better than he did.
- By what happened at the ceremony? Nothing was taken from the vault.
- Loki, will you stop this? - said Sigyn angrily, and shook his hand off and Loki forgot whatever soothing half-truth he wanted to tell her.
- Why are you cross with me?
- Because I know you had something to do with the frost giants.
- Are you saying this just because I was disappointed when father announced him the heir? There has to be a better… - he wanted to say "reason for you to blame me", but Sigyn just cut in.
- Oh, for heaven's sake, Loki! Do you think I was born yesterday? – the woman frowned and Loki regretted the idea of coming here. He loved her, but hated how she read him like an open book. Sometimes he wished he could make her believe his lies just as easily like he conned others. It would make things so much simpler sometimes.
- Why is this so important to you all of a sudden?
- This is important! This was ruining your brother's coronation with frost giants breaching the vault – she couldn't believe what she heard.
- And why do you think it was me?
- Because we are arguing instead of you saying straightforwardly that it you it wasn't your doing! – she folded her arms on her chest and gazed straight into Loki's eyes. Touché!
- Well played, my dear – he said coldly.
- I'm not playing anything, I'm doing what I promised I would!
- You promised to speak your mind, not yell it my face!
- I promised to be your conscience - she replied sharply. Loki stared at his lover in unvoiced bewilderment. She scolded him like a misbehaving youngling! Him, the prince of Asgard! He pressed his lips into a narrow line, and turned on his heel, rushing out of the orchard. Sigyn opened her mouth to call after him, but she did not utter a word. Instead she sunk onto the ground and hid her face in palms, sobbing.
Loki was furious. Right and wrong? He knew exactly which was which, he just made his own rules he followed or not as he wished. He didn't need her to tell him what to do, and if he could not a breath without her watching over his shoulder! But by the time Loki got back to the palace he was more bitter than angry. Sigyn was not only his lover, but also the a friend, always by and on his side, this one time being an exception. This made him wonder if he really was right. He walked past the dining hall, where his brother's fest was supposed to be and which now stood empty. He grabbed an apple, but did not eat it, toying with it for a moment, and then sat on the terrace, resting his chin on folded palms, recalling the evening Sigyn spoke of.

Following the old saying to keep both, your friends and enemies close he arranged for Sigyn to be reassigned as one of the house guards. He saw her ever day for weeks, but she still was keeping her distance, though never shunned him. At some point Loki started to think of this as a game, but he lost his upper hand long ago and it was no way of telling who was hunting whom. Loki was used to getting what he wanted though and where diplomacy failed he has decided to be very straightforward.
He knew that Sigyn loved books and was spending every moment of her very limited time off duty in the library. It was the private part of the palace, but she sneaked there sometimes and indulged herself to one of most rare volumes in Asgard.
It was late in the evening when Loki slipped into the library, softly and soundlessly as a cat. Sigyn did not hear him, rapt in lecture. She was sitting on a high ladder, her spear lying on the bookshelf just a little too far to reach if anyone sneaked up on her. So this was exactly what he did – he came as closely as he could without being noticed and said:
- Is that nice to come at someone's library without an invitation? – he was wrong, she did reach the spear, but she dropped the book she was reading. Loki grabbed it and looked at the leather-bound cover.
- Myths and legends of Midgard? Curious choice, but a good book – he said, smiling. Sigyn was pointing the Fjothr at him for a few seconds, completely surprised, until he touched the blade and gently moved it aside. And then Sigyn realized with all clarity she was just pointing her weapon at the younger prince of Asgard.
- I'm sorry – she said, putting down Fjothr, woozy.
- Is that away to great the host?
- I'm sorry that didn't ask your permission to read the books – she said, but Loki laughed.
- Who else is to read them? The guards? My brother? – she snorted at the last one, trying to conceal it though, remembering they were talking about the heir to the throne. Loki held out the book, but Sigyn shook her head.
- I better go – she said, climbing off the ladder, but Loki put his hands on the step she was sitting on, preventing her from walking away. He cast aside the book and stroked her cheek. She gasped - his touch was electrifying.
- I want you to stay, Sigyn – he said.
- Do you always get what you want? – she asked. Loki gently touched her neck and lifted her chin.
- Most of the time - their lips were so close he could feel her warm breath.
- Maybe I should decline then, just for the sake of it?
- Maybe. Do you want to decline?
- I should… But I don't - she replied, not resisting any longer. Loki drew Sigyn nearer, kissing her fervently. He yearned so long for this moment, that this sweet taste almost made him dizzy. Sigyn tucked her fingers in his hair, feeling his hand sliding down her neck and arm, ending up on her waist. He was glad the palace had many rooms, as he hated treating books with disrespect.
- I'll be your conscience – she whispered in the grey of the morning. It was the first of many nights she shared his bed through all those years, and what seemed to be one of Loki's conquests turned into a long-lasting unwavering relationship. Sometimes they just sat in the orchard for hours, not feeling the urge to utter a word and at other times stayed in bed all day, bantering, just because they could. Of course, Loki never stopped flirting with other ladies, but he never allowed himself more and always made it up to her. But he never thought about what she had said then, until now of course. Maybe he should get back and…
A sudden yell of fury snapped him out of his thoughts. The sound of wood cracking and metal dishes banging against the marble floor was overwhelming. Loki recognised his brother's way of showing disappointment over losing his argument with their father about proclaiming him king. Loki stood up and noiselessly appeared from behind the column.
- It is unwise to be in my company, brother – muttered Thor, when Loki sat next to him on the stairs. Jarring Thor would be such a nice distraction from his quarrel with Sigyn, Loki thought. It turned out quite different from what it was supposed to be…

This one took so long to finish! I rewrote it three times, so I truly hope it reads well.
Any suggestions on what to include next are very much welcome :)