A/N: A slight trigger warning for assault (don't worry, it's not Loki). This turned out way darker than I originally intended, but then Norse mythology tends to be a bit dark. I swear this is how the chapter wrote itself. Thank you all who continue to read and review-you make writing this all the more rewarding!

References in this chapter are to the Norse myth "The Necklace of Brisings".

"One is not enough," Sigyn said, fingering the blade he had placed in her hands. "I have never heard of a warrior armed with only a knife."

"Then you have never heard of me."

"What I heard about you had nothing to do with knives."

Loki chuckled. "I might only guess."

Sigyn cocked her head, considering him. "Why a dagger? Why not a sword?"

"A knife is an intimate weapon. It's just the enemy and yourself, with that one last look so he knows you won the final trick. A dagger is unseen, quick, and deadly, but most of all, unexpected. That should be the nature of death."

Sigyn smiled slowly. "Do you wax philosophic very often?"

"Only when I speak of necessity."

"Is death one of them?"

"The realms are dangerous and not all folk are fair. Defense must be a priority if you wish to return home unscathed."

Sigyn flicked a strand of long, auburn hair over her shoulder as she looked around. "Are there enemies here in Álfheim?"

"I was not speaking just of Álfheim."

Sigyn could not hold back her grin. "How many enemies do you have, exactly?"

"More than you."

"Tsk! You must teach me how to make more."

Loki smirked. "With pleasure."

Sigyn thoughtfully traced the knife tip along the length of her index finger. "Teach me to lie."

He blinked as his brows drew together. "Surely you cannot be that innocent."

Sigyn gave a delicate shrug as she stepped slowly toward him. "Books cannot teach me everything." Her eyes suddenly sparked. "I find the idea intriguing. The results are so unpredictable because the question itself has no definition."

"Sigyn, please tell me this is not another equation that needs solving."

She came to stand before him and peered up at his face with a curious look. "You're one that needs solving."

Loki drew back, his green eyes going cold. "Not just yet."

"Two months since our first meeting and I still cannot figure out your variable."

"Is that why you finally agreed to accompany me? To work me out?" Loki asked.

Sigyn let out a light laugh. "It was a definite temptation, among other things. A man who lives his life by tricks is the opposite of every science I have studied—unstable and erratic. Most people are just so…predictable."

Loki's lips twitched. "You wish to be less predictable?"

"I think I've followed the same formula for too long. It needs change."

"So you want me to teach you how to lie."

Sigyn tapped the knife blade against her lips with a smile. "I want you to teach me how to do it better."

He was trembling, not from pain but from memory. How long it had been since he had heard her voice winding through the recesses of his mind, bright and increasingly more intimate as the ages had wore on. They had discovered this silent trick long ago, a secret communication that had proved useful in times of trouble. It had now become a mere reflex to reach his thoughts out to another, but he had not expected Jane to respond in kind, and in that voice. He managed to crawl forward, eyes locked hard on her frightened gaze. Just who was this human who could dream and speak like Sigyn? His tongue slid along the inside of his sewn lips as the possibility began to creep toward consciousness. He knew what it was, but he could not stand to believe it.

Loki, they're coming!

It was Jane's voice now, sharp and urgent in his head. He bit his tongue in frustration. Hers was not the voice he wanted to hear.

Who was that, Jane, who spoke before you?

Her brown eyes were as wild as a her gestures. "I don't know!" she yelped. "How can we-"

Quiet! his voice hissed, acidic. Do not speak aloud again.

His order touched off something in Jane, and her tone sounded like that of a cornered animal, dazed and furious. I'm sorry that I'm not used to speaking with thoughts!

Or with your own voice, for that matter.

It just happened. It felt like it was…in me. I can't believe that-

Loki ignored the sharp clang of a weapon scraping along a nearby tunnel, though it had clearly startled Jane into silence. And where is it now? he asked.

I don't know, why don't you hold on while I go check?

Loki felt his frustration flare into a dull anger. Don't mock me, Jane Foster.

Give me some damn space, Loki!

He withdrew and watched her, annoyed. Her initial panic seemed to have subsided and she was now thinking hard, her eyes scanning the walls in quick glances, intensely unfocused. Her jaw shifted slightly as she bit her lip before dropping her gaze to stare at the ground. Seconds dragged by while Jane worked a problem out in her head without a word or glance in his direction. Though he could speak with her, he could not read her thoughts, a fact that now grated harshly on his patience. She smiled as the answer came to her just as time ran out.

Sindri appeared around the corner of the cell hall, pickaxe in hand.

Pretend you're asleep.

Loki stared over at Jane. Why-

Do it, now!

He obeyed reluctantly, lowering himself back onto his stomach and resuming his sprawled position. Her vehemence surprised him, but if anyone was capable of a plan at this point, it would be Jane. She clearly would not suffer to listen to his. He nearly closed his eyes as the dwarf's boots stomped closer and stopped in front of his cell.

"And who might you be?" asked Sindri, his voice rumbling with suspicion.

"Oh, there you are!" Jane cried happily, but stopped short of throwing her arms around the creature. Her voice was slightly timorous, but quickly grew stronger. "When did you catch him?"

"What business does a lady have in our tunnels?" the dwarf asked, visibly taken aback.

"I have been looking for this guy since he left Álfheim. I'm…I'm Frey's wife, and this bastard stole something from me."

Loki drew in a sharp breath from his place on the floor. Was she really claiming to be-

"You are Gerd?"

"Yes."

"You do not look like a giantess."

Loki sighed. Clever Jane, always reaching too far in her ambitions. Her ruse would end all too soon.

But Jane was not giving up the idea so easily. "Well, obviously it would be hard to navigate these tunnels if I were in my true form."

"I mean that you do not seem Jotun."

There was a smile in Jane's voice. "A disguise, of course. Appearances aren't everything, you know. I can't really walk between realms as myself all the time, can I?"

The dwarf was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "An enemy of the Trickster is a friend of Nidavellir. What did he steal from you, Lady Gerd?"

Loki was stunned. He risked opening his eyes wider before rolling them upward. He could not see her from where he lay on his stomach, so he feigned a tired sigh as he shifted onto his side, eyes closing again to complete the appearance of a restless sleeper.

Jane and Sindri paused at his movement, but soon resumed their discussion. "He took this," and Loki sensed a flash of white light in the dimness of the cell. He knew immediately she was showing the dwarf her vial of lakelight. He fought down the growl in his throat as he again peeked between his lashes and saw the dwarf take it from Jane's hand. He had not given it to her to allow such filthy vermin to handle it. Why had he even given it to her? Loki quickly recoiled from his own question.

"It is a pretty thing," Sindri gasped, wonder melting away his gruff demeanor. "What is it?"

"It's liquid starlight."

"Where does it come from?"

"Álfheim. I managed to find Loki and take it back, but he got away."

"Why did you hunt for him and not Frey?"

Jane shrugged awkwardly. "You know…Frey wouldn't really understand. It's kinda personal. Now that Loki's locked up, I guess I can let it go."

Sindri released his pickaxe to take the vial in both hands and brought it closer for inspection. The light seemed to dazzle him, and Loki knew exactly what was coming next. Foolish Jane.

"What do you want for it?"

Jane seemed surprised. "Oh, it's not for sale."

"All things of beauty are for sale, my dear."

There it was. Loki opened his eyes fully and glanced between the human and the dwarf. Jane was thinking again in that frenetic way of hers while the dwarf had ceased to look at the lakelight and had begun staring at her. Leering at her. Loki's teeth clenched behind his stitches. The dwarves of Nidavellir were well known for their lust of treasure and flesh alike, a desire he had once seen Freya use so despicably to her advantage. But Jane was nothing like Freya.

"How about a bet?" Jane asked suddenly.

The dwarf's yellow eyes narrowed at this. "I do not relish the idea. Bets are tricks."

Jane snatched the vial back from Sindri and cleared her throat. "Well, I guess everyone was right about you guys. They said you couldn't make stuff out of lakelight."

"Who said these things?"

"Frey…and the elves."

"You did not believe them?"

"Not really. That's what I wanted to see you about. After finding Loki, of course."

"Go on."

Jane huffed, clearly flustered. She was not accustomed to piling lie on top of lie, but Loki had to admit that he was impressed with how long she was keeping this up.

"Do you know the great ship that was given to Frey?"

The dwarf grunted in assent.

"My…husband uses a golden net when he goes fishing, and it has recently become tangled. We can't find anything that can cut through the metal and Frey doesn't want to melt the whole thing down. It would be such a waste and that's why I thought maybe you could help."

"You wish me to make you a new net?"

"I want you to make something that can cut through it. This lakelight is pure energy and might be able to do the trick."

"That is your bet? For me to forge something from starlight?"

"Yes, and prove that it's possible."

By the tone of her voice, Jane was apparently growing more and more comfortable with her story. It was a fantastic one, but not outside the realm of possibility. But why the bet? Why stall the dwarves at all? He continued to listen as his curiosity began to take on a silent, ravenous appetite.

"And if I win, Lady Gerd?"

"Then I'll give you as much lakelight as you want," Jane said. "My palace is by the falls and can give you an endless supply. If you can't do it then I'll just find somebody else who can."

The dwarf considered this for a moment, then bowed his grizzled head. "Then we are in agreement. Which instrument does the lady wish to be made?"

Jane held out the vial. "Scissors."

"Very well. Follow me."

Loki had not expected Jane to leave. He immediately rolled over, not caring if the dwarf knew he was awake and listening or not. Jane, what are you doing?

His thoughts were met with silence; Jane had not heard him.

Answer me! he shouted at her mind, but again the words fell dead between them. Their connection had been lost. She was following Sindri now, and Loki was mute to warn her of the trap she was falling for. Anger pulsed through him at his helplessness and at the sore fact that he actually cared. A mortal should never have tried to trifle with a people she knew nothing about, but even Loki could not stand to see the dwarves take advantage of someone so naïve as Jane.

He would not remember throwing his shoulder against the crystalline blue shield that electrified the cell bars or the sparks that would spray across his unconscious body.

Their voices sounded miles away.

"These scissors will cut gold in any form," Sindri was saying.

"I still don't believe you," Jane replied. "I need more proof."

"You have my word."

"I'm a scientist. Words don't count as proof."

"How do you wish to test them?"

"Open this cell."

There was a pause, but Loki could not guess at how long it lasted. He was still struggling to separate their voices from the ebb and flow of his own consciousness. Minutes seemed to pass before he finally got a foothold and managed to drag himself awake.

"I will not release the prisoner," Sindri grumbled.

Jane was insistent. "It'll only take a second and then you can put him back in. Heck, sew him back up if you want."

Another pause. There was a loud snap followed by a rush of crackling noise as the force field before him was deactivated. A key scraped the lock and the rusted hinges screeched in protest as the door was swung wide open.

"Up, you!" Sindri growled as he dug a boot squarely in Loki's side. The groan hummed in Loki's throat as he pushed himself to his knees, then to his feet. Jane walked forward and stood before him, holding a glowing object that seemed to both shine and reflect its own light. She took his chin between her fingers and slipped the edge of a scissor blade beneath a stitch at the corner of his mouth. There was the sound of a tiny snip and Loki felt his lips loosen ever so slightly. He stared down at her, the solution to her elaborate trick finally clicking into place. Jane was grinning now, her brown eyes sparkling with the triumph of the successful experiment. The scissors grazed his lips again as Jane began cutting loose the other threads one by one. He waited patiently, not wanting to give her away. Her fingers pulled the gold out gently, though he still winced at the pain of metallic thread feeding through his sore lips.

Her work finished, Jane paused to give him a stern look. "Now take me back to Asgard."

"I will do no such thing."

"You owe me," she hissed under her breath.

"Well done, Jane," he whispered admiringly. "I do not think I could have pulled it off better myself."

Jane's sharp response was cut short when a strong, gnarly hand pulled her back. She stumbled backwards with a cry and Loki caught sight of Sindri as he threw Jane outside the cell door and onto the ground. In her surprise she had dropped the scissors and now Loki dropped to his knees to slide them forward with the flick of his wrist. The instrument caught the cell door just as it was slamming shut, though the resounding clang drowned out the dull sizzle the electrified scissors made against the crash of metal.

"You treacherous wench!" Sindri roared as he slung her against the tunnel wall. "I should have known you were one of his!"

Jane shook her had, her eyes widening. "His? What are you talking about?"

"You are the Trickster's whore."

Jane let out a strangled laugh, though there was no humor in it. "You're kidding me, right?"

"He called you 'Jane', so you cannot be Gerd."

"But that doesn't mean anything!"

"It means that you cannot uphold our bargain."

Jane's voice took on a pleading tone as Sindri reached for his pickaxe. "I can get you more lakelight. I can pay you back, I promise!"

"Aye, a lady always keeps her promise to us," Sindri growled as he reached back for the lever to electrify the bars once more.

But Loki's attention had been focused on the scissors, and so the painful shock jolted through his body before he could release the cell door. He fell backward with a cry, his teeth clenching tightly as he writhed against the earthen floor. When he came to a minute later, Jane was pleading with the dwarf for mercy.

"You don't have to kill anyone. I can help you! I am a friend of Thor's and he-"

"That is another lie!"

"No, it's not!"

Sindri let out an ugly laugh as he gripped his pickaxe near its head. A scream and the ripping of fabric shook Loki from his stupor as the horrid realization of what Sindri was about to do twisted his stomach. The blue force field hummed before him and he winced at the thought of-

Jane shrieked as she began kicking at her attacker, her hands clawing for traction against the tunnel walls. The dwarf, though small in stature, proved stronger as he muscled her to the ground and cut another gash down the front of her shirt. Jane tried to roll sideways, but he pinned her left arm with his free hand. He did not seem affected when she struck him across the face with a fist, but instead pressed the steel of his axe hard against her throat until she began to choke.

When she screamed his name, Loki stopped thinking and sprang forward, the force field hissing and snapping around him as he crashed through it. He fell to his knees on the other side, snarling first in pain then fury as he caught sight of his target. His fingers fumbled for his knife, but were met with an empty holster. Of course they had disarmed him. He fought the daze of the electric shock and he dug his fingernails into the coarse dirt beneath him in his strain for balance. A murderous rage overcame him as he stumbled to his feet, a green light flickering between his fingers.

Sindri's body suddenly froze as a cry of pain gurgled in his throat. Jane gritted her teeth as she pushed him upward and over onto his side before she scrambled back until her back hit the wall. It was then that Loki saw his knife buried deep within the gut of the dying dwarf. Loki glanced over at Jane, but did not move toward her. She seemed unharmed, her brown eyes pale with shock as she stared forward, gasping for air. Loki stepped back to switch off the crackling wall of electricity before stooping down to pick up the lakelight scissors that were still jammed in the track of the cell door.

Loki walked stiffly back and knelt over Sindri, a slow, venomous smile stretching across his bruised lips. "Your kind were always the lowest filth of the realms."

"Saith Loki of Asgard," the dwarf sputtered, his yellow eyes glowering. Blood had begun to ooze from the corner of his mouth and down his chin into a matted beard.

"There are lines that even I will not cross."

Sindri tried to spit. "Then what line will you cross, Trickster?"

"This one." The scissors snapped open between Loki's fingers and he slit the dwarf's throat.