Merry meet! Here's my third installment of Heart of Music. Thank you to everyone who has commented and favorite/alerted this story; I'm truly grateful! I know Aunt Setezunna is extremely biased right now but I promise there is a reason for this! Just be patient In this chapter we finally meet someone ;) five bucks says you all know who.

Chapter Three

Sigyn's head snapped up at the sound of the voice, losing her balance and falling back into the fountain. She pulled herself out of the water with as much dignity as she could muster as the mystery voice cackled. She looked up to realize the voice belonged to a tall lean man. He was as pale as moonbeam and had hair as dark as her sister's. When he stopped laughing she realized he had startling green eyes that one could get lost in. A blush crept over her face as she realized not only did she make a fool of herself in front of a stranger, but a handsome one at that. "My name is Sigyn," she said softly, her face burning.

The stranger looked her over very slowly; his eyes traveling over her body and making Sigyn want to flee. He seemed to mull something over in his mind before speaking. "I have not heard of you in court and your attire hints to common status."

Sigyn flushed. She was dressed in a simple brown tunic; she had felt no need to dress up and pretend to catch some nonexistent eye. "I am not from Asgard," she said, straightening her shoulders to stand proper in defense. "Me and my sister are staying with family to attend court." She didn't know why but she felt that she needed to defend herself to this man, to prove herself. "Who are you?" Sigyn challenged, ignoring the chill running through her as she shivered. The water was certainly cold.

The man smirked and his green eyes danced. "I think I will leave that to be revealed at court," he pursed him lips, "Are you cold?"

"No I just like shivering for the fun in it," Sigyn smirked to show she was only teasing. This was a trait she knew her aunt would maim her for having. The stranger at first seemed taken back but then smirked again.

"Would you mind me if I helped?" Sigyn lifted an eyebrow at this. What could he do? Put her on a fire? Without another word, he grasped her hand as a large wind blew at her. It blew so hard that Sigyn thought she would fly off if he wasn't holding her hand. When it stopped Sigyn realized that she was indeed dry.

"You do magic!" she exclaimed, amazed. Sigyn had become fond of practicing magic herself but had only learned the basic household spells. It was hard to find books on magic so far into the countryside and as her father often told her, magic held no need in the life of a simple farmer.

The man laughed and Sigyn nearly closed her eyes at the sound. His voice was like black velvet. "Indeed," he chuckled, clearly pleased with her reaction. "I've not met many that become so excited over magic as you before."

"I like to practice magic on the side," Sigyn explained, "but it is rare to find a book advanced enough in Vanaheimr to really further my knowledge." When he let go of her hand as they talked Sigyn found herself wishing he still held it.

"Vanaheimer?" the man mused, "I thought I recognized your accent." Sigyn flushed again; she didn't realize she had one. "Are you attending the ball next week?" he asked, watching her. She wished he would look away –even if only for a second- so her heart could calm itself.

"I do not know," she replied simply. She refused to let on how much he affected her. "I can safely assume my sister will but I neither have a want or need to go." She shrugged, what was the point of going just to sit in the back alone all night?

He frowned, "what if I asked you to?" Sigyn couldn't help the blush this time.

"Well I suppose it might persuade me to go," she smilled shyly, "but why are you so interested in me coming?" No man ever asked her anywhere.

It was his turn to smile shyly, "Obviously Asgard has not left a well enough mark on you, falling into fountains and being interrogated by strangers." He chuckled; his emerald eyes dancing again, "I wish to rectify that."

Sigyn laughed, "Not even the riches of Asgard could make me like this place. It is my Hel away from home." He frowned.

"Why do you dislike it here so much?" His eyes let on that it was more of a serious question than his tone hinted at.

Sigyn looked out at the setting sun, "I have been brought to be auctioned like cattle to men I will never love and whom will never love me. I am staying with a woman who utterly despises me for reasons I don't even know and all the while I am to pretend that I have any chance beside my sister to gain a husband when we all know there is not a man daft enough on this large world to ask for my hand."

The man raised his eyebrow at this. This was obviously not what he was expecting. They sat in silence; him deciding his next words, Sigyn calming her racing her heart at her sound outburst. "Why would no man ask for your hand?" She raised her eyebrow at his. His smirked, "amuse me."

"Well I don't know if you noticed but I'm not exactly the 'pretty asgardian' type," she air quoted as she talked, "and honestly I'm not the type to try to please anybody anyway." She smirked and her heart's music began a rebellious beat through her. In her studies she realized it was much like Midgardian's "rock and roll". She guessed they probably had a lot of built anger.

"You are eleven blessed," he stated, a little taken back at the sound of the sudden music that had only been silent and barely noticeable before.

"Since birth," Sigyn said calming the music to something softer, "they were a friend of my father's." She shifted, still uncomfortable revealing so much to man who wouldn't even give her his name. "Who are you?" she asked more seriously. When he opened his mouth ready with a snarky reply Sigyn cut him off. "If not your name than something to help me solve the puzzle?"

He smiled mischievously. She obviously won him over with her last statement. He closed his hand and opened it again. In his palm lay a small glass black, gold, and green serpent turning it's head against its body. A emerald velvet choker looped through it's neck. "This," he smiled, his eyes dark, "is all the hint you need. If you wear this to the ball you will know immediately who I am." She smiled in confusion but took the necklace none the less.

"Than I guess if I truly want to know I have to attend that damned ball, huh?" she chuckled to herself , looking at him. "I thank you for the gift and the hint, sir," she smiled but noticed it was suddenly very dark; or rather the sun had set. "Shit! How long have I been out?" She turned back to the man, "I'm sorry I really must go I didn't realize how late it was." She bowed her head and ran, still clutching the necklace to her. As she ran the man could hear the soft notes of music, like the fluttering of butterfly wings.

Sigyn raced back to the house, making a few wrong turns and had to turn back as start again. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, Sigyn found her aunt's house again. All the lights were out so she assumed they all were asleep as she climbed into her room through the window. She locked the door before she left so they probably just assumed she was locking herself in when they called for supper. Exhausted from everything, Sigyn slipped beneath the sheets of her bed and instantly fell asleep. Her dreams were filled with emerald eyes.