Sigyn had retreated to the safety of her own room to avoid the constant questions and annoying giggles from her sisters. They wouldn't leave her alone after her attempted explanation of why this was happening, so she'd locked herself away in her room until they calmed down a bit. I could be here for some time, she thought frustrated.

She sat down on the edge of her bed, scowling at the now closed door. It was only now that she was alone and able to think, that the implications of what her father had said finally started hitting her. Courting... Courting? Loki wants to court me... Me?

Sigyn was confused. In fact, she was more than confused. She'd only met Loki a couple of times- and she was pretty certain that she'd spent most of her time getting angry or yelling when they had met- and he wanted to court her? It made no sense. Although it did throw the bargain they'd made into a whole new light. What if he thinks that in agreeing to giving those kisses, I was agreeing to this? Sigyn thought, blinking. No, he couldn't. I didn't agree to that.

But if not that, she couldn't figure out what had led Loki to ask for her father's permission to court her. And she still didn't understand why he'd want to court her in the first place; in her opinion, she was bad-tempered and better off alone. She wasn't a perfect match for anyone- least of all a God that thrived on playing with that bad temper.

She'd thought it was bad enough when Loki simply started exacting his mischief on her, and then there was their strange bargain... But this? Sigyn had had no idea that he was planning something like this. He hadn't given her any hints about it.

The more that Sigyn thought about it though, the more annoyed and confused she got. How dare he just summon her, her father and sisters to the palace and ask to court her without saying anything to her beforehand. She hadn't even seen him for weeks.

Then again, he is the God of Lying and Mischief- he could just be trying to make a fool of me. This could all just be another way to trick me- a way to laugh at my expense... The situation was starting to make Sigyn very annoyed- more annoyed than any of her previous interactions with the God.

Right, that's it, she thought, pushing herself off of her bed. And before either of her sisters or even her father could waylay her, Sigyn was out of the house. She was determined to resolve this- to get an explanation.

No one would have interrupted her on her way to the palace, not if they had seen the irritation lighting her eyes. And as she came across the guards, she couldn't help but hope that they would just let her though without comment this time. Things never seemed to be going her way lately though.

"She's back again," the guard she'd developed somewhat of a dislike to grumbled.

"Twice in one day? That must be a new record," the other replied.

"Look, I'd rather you just let me through right now; I have a bone to pick with Loki," Sigyn said, the annoyance she felt heavy in the tone of her voice.

"So we heard he's courting you now?" the friendlier guard commented as she neared them.

Sigyn paused. People are hearing this now? That's just brilliant.

"How did you hear that?"

He smiled and answered, "You pick up certain things working as a guard."

"Right. Well, I hope you have no objection to me passing because I am in a foul mood right now and I'd hate to waste what could be quality venting on you simply because you're here, when there is someone who utterly deserves to have it unleashed on them not far away."

"Go right ahead," he said, gesturing on to her with his hand.

The guard didn't, of course, mention that they would have let her in anyway. Since Loki had officially began courting Sigyn, he had commanded that she be allowed entry to the palace at any time. It seemed to the guards that he'd thought that through at least. Or perhaps not, thought the more talkative of the two, glad that he was not on the other end of her fury.

"Where is he?" Sigyn asked before passing them.

"The same place as last time probably."

It didn't take her long to find Loki sitting on the ledge of that same balcony in the same room she'd met him in last time. At first she thought him another illusion; but she dismissed that as he noticed her and stood, walking her way. No; this was the real thing, not an illusion.

"What in Valhalla is this, Loki?" she half-yelled at him.

He raised an eyebrow and stopped in front of her, just staring at her surprising boldness.

"So you're just- you've just decided that you're going to court me now? What is this?"

Loki inclined his head, something of amusement playing on his lips as he calmly replied, "It's quite untraditional of you to come here, is it not? Should it not be me making the trips to see you?"

She scowled at him.

"Seriously? That's what you have to say right now?"

He did not reply, but merely studied her reaction carefully.

"I was fine with this when I was just agreeing to kisses- wait, you are aware that I just agreed to those five kisses, aren't you?"

"I am."

"So you do know? So this is- what is this?" she asked, irritation and confusion coming out as one in her tone.

He paused for a moment, letting her calm herself slightly before asking, "Is your only objection to my courting you your belief that I have somehow tricked you into it?"

She opened her mouth to respond, but closed it again sharply, reconsidering her words. God of Mischief and Lies, Sigyn. Remember who you're talking to, she told herself. But her anger seemed to have diminished slightly after he had asked that so innocently and she wasn't quite sure why.

"That's not what I said. All I meant was that-"

"Said and meant are two very different things, little Sigyn. I would know."

Her brows scrunched together.

"All I meant was that this isn't because I agreed to that bargain, is it?"

"No; it is not."

"Then why?" she asked quietly.

"I have my reasons."

"You're really not going to tell me?"

"Maybe at some point; if you're patient," Loki replied, shrugging.

She half expected him to wink at her from the way he'd said that. And it only inflamed her anger again.

"You know what? Just... urgh," Sigyn finished lamely, unable to come up with anything that adequately described her frustration.

Scowling, she turned to leave.

"Goodbye, Loki," she shouted to the man now behind her as she began walking away.

But Loki was in front of her quickly. Impossibly quickly. Sigyn jolted to a stop abruptly to avoid colliding with the Prince. She had no idea how he'd done that- and the fact that he could, unnerved her slightly.

"It's very rude to turn your back on someone mid-conversation," Loki said, amused condescension shaping his voice.

"It's very rude to refuse to answer someone when they ask you a question," she bit back quietly.

"Fair play, little Sigyn."

She folded her arms in annoyance, staring at Loki. She knew she was being childish, but she didn't care.

"I knew I picked you for a reason."

Sigyn blinked, some annoyance fading from her features. He had her blindsided with that, and she could only stand there staring as the God who was now courting her, bent his head and placed a soft kiss to her forehead.

Just as he moved to leave, he added in a whisper, "You look beautiful, by the way; even if your intention was not to."