A/N: Hey guys! So summer is on its way and I am so glad I am NOT a Jotunheim dweller. Anyway, just a short note before you start reading because I know how boring AN's are. First off, thank you for all the positive reviews! And the not so positive which there have been NONE which is great. I'm enjoying writing this story as much as you are (hopefully) reading it :) Also I heard the words "Jotun Elite" used to describe the lords and ladies of the Jotun palace and thought it was cool so I'M USING IT. Deal.
My Men of the Week: Laurence Olivier, Tom Hiddleston, Nico Tortorella, Joseph Morgan, and Joseph Gordon-Sexypants.
Just out of curiousity, what do you guys prefer, daily small updates or long updates once a week? let me know! :)
Enjoy!
Fandral awoke with a start. His eyes strained in the bright light. There was a ringing sensation in his ears. He coughed. He felt something solid under him. It was dirt. He felt an intense pain in his leg. Pain was good.
That meant he was still alive. He squinted. A muffled noise was coming from his left. He turned to look at a blurred mass of skin and dark hair. "H-Hogun?"
A wheezing response, "I'm here. I'm fine, where's Volstagg? Volstagg!?" Hogun called out.
A coughing, hacking Volstagg stumbled up to them from a bluff he must have rolled down. There was sand in his bread and he blinked blearily but was physically unharmed.
Fandral blinked twice to clear his head and breath two deep breaths. He sat up. His head spun. Volstagg groaned.
"Where are we? What-what happened?"
"Loki happened." Hogun said, fiercely. They sat for a moment, remembering. Volstagg spoke, his voice hoarse. "Where are we?" He repeated. They looked around.
A strange sun beat down on them. Dry, sandy desert surrounded them. Fandral looked down at the hot ground. Markings on the ground. Swirled and etched patterns burned into the ground in a circle around them.
"Odin have mercy. He actually did it." Fandral gaped. Hogun looked up abruptly at Fandral. Volstagg frowned. "What? Who did what?"
Fandral swallowed, he mouth was so dry. "Loki. Loki banished us. We're banished. We're on Midgard."
Sif sat before a mirror. She carfully brushed out her long, raven-black hair. How she wished for her fair hair once more. To look and be recognized as an Asgard. Vanity was never important to he before but, sitting before a reflection of herself, she felt a tiny spark of insecurity. But only a spark.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and rose. Her green dress traced her figure and cascaded around her feet. She sighed, distressed and nervous. She only hoped Laufey would have the decency to kill her quickly, even if he humiliated her by forcing her into this ridiculous attire.
She brushed away invisible lint and straightened when she heard many footsteps stomping in synchronization before halting outside. "His Majesty the King requires your presence." A Jotun giant called out.
Sif pursed her lips. Then the doors opened. She was faced with twelve garnet-eyed monsters. She regarded them warily. Then, taking a deep breath, she slowly moved forward. She held her head high.
It would not be said that the greatest Lady Warrior went meekly to her death. The Jotun gaurds made formation around her and together, they moved down twisting corridors. Through open doors and high archways.
Everything stone and ice, with torches lining the walls to offer more in the way of light then the feeble gray sky.
Delicate designs were carved into the walls, much to Sif's surprise. She was also surprised to note that her heart was hammering in her chest. And she had a shaky feeling in the pit of her stomach.
It was hardening into a knot that threatened to devour her entire being in nervousness.
Finally, after several corridors and halls, Sif noted a huge door that definitely led to the throne room. She felt sick, but she clenched her teeth. The Jotun gaurds stopped and moved away from her.
The doors opened. This is it, She told herself. She stepped through the door, and everything stopped.
A hush fell across the Jotun Elite. Sif breathed out shakily. Her breath billowed out in a fog. The harsh boom of the doors closing behind her echoed through the silence.
Every pair of eyes in the atrium was trained on her, like she was an animal you rarely got a chance to see. She squared her shoulders and forced herself to ignore the heat trying to force it's way to her cheeks.
She looked first at the rug, then down the long path to the throne, surrounded by Jotuns, the up the Throne steps, then-
"Lady Sif! Welcome to the Palace of Jotunheim!" Loki smiled coldly. His green eyes burned. His white flesh stood out painfully from the rest of the populace.
He regarded her almost humorously, as though this was a very interesting game, and they the players. Then he stood and walked forward. He had in his hands, a gold spear.
Odin's spear, why does he have it? Why is he here at all..what's happened? Sif wondered in her head while her outside expression remained hard. She narrowed her eyes at the smirking King. He raised his hand towards her, palm out, almost as though he were asking her to-
"Come here." The command was firm yet calm, as though he expected her to obey.
Not likely, you wretched bilge-snipe. Sif's thoughts were dark. She locked eyes with Loki. She knew it was a challenge. He was daring her to oppose him. She could feel the hatred.
The uncomfortably charged atmosphere of unhappy, confused Jotuns. All of this happened in an instant. She brought up her chin, and set her jaw. She walked forward stiffly.
Loki smiled in triumph. She reached the throne steps and raised an eyebrow. Loki nodded encouragingly. She sighed and walked up the steps, taking his hand. Loki turned his attention to the Jotun court.
"My friends, my people, today is the day, history is made, we will remember this time as one where we stood together and achieved great things, and in the end, know that their king has fallen, and we will take back that which is rightfully ours! Rejoice, knowing that your king will bring about order and justice, and your queen," everyone's eyes shifted to Sif, "will bring about an alliance, a permanant peace."
Loki looked at the court, satisfied. The Jotun look anything but. One dared to call out, "But she is not Jotun!"
Another called out, "Asgard are not welcome here!"
"Do you come to rule us or shame us?"
Everyone took up the protests and suddenly it was deafening with the angry rioting of the Jotuns. Loki's grip on Sif's hand stiffened. He raised his staff and brought it down with a crack and a deafening silence ensued.
Not a breath of sound. Loki stared out with a hint of anger in his face.
"I am your King, kneel before me." Sif looked at Loki, half-frightened, half-fascinated. His face was slightly, afraid. When the Jotun just stood there staring at him, dumbfounded, he shouted, "KNEEL!"
It echoed within the atrium. Then everywhere, Jotuns dropped to one knee. Once the entire court was kneeling, Loki led Sif to her throne. Then he turned to the Jotuns. He raised his hand and suddenly his skin flushed blue.
Thin, raised hieroglyphics traced his skin. Old runes. Not a word was spoken, not a breath was taken. Sif stared in shock.
This was not real. Wake up, wake up, please let me wake up, let this be a bad dream, please. Sif was speechless.
Loki broke the silence, in a dangerous, lilting voice he spoke, "I am your King. I am Jotun. I have chosen the best queen this realm will ever know, and you will accept her because I will it so. Anyone here who thinks differently should speak now."
Wisely, no one spoke. Loki leaned forward. "No? Very well. Court is dismissed. Leave us."
Loki turned to Sif, "Hello, Sif."
Sif swallowed. She was going to get out of her, if it was the last thing she did.
A/N: You guys are probably wondering why Sif's narrative POV is not so strong in this chapter, well, it's basically because she is just taking in her surroundings. Plus, I wanted this scene to be one where it appears Sif has little to no control. It unsettles you and builds tension. So there you have it!
Chapter Question: Do you think Sif will succeed if she tries to escape? if so, how?
Thanks alot guys, see you soon!