Chapter 3
I walked about the market after leaving the Palace. I didn't wish to return home at present. My thoughts were a muddle and I needed some time to myself. It was difficult to lead Firefoot through the throng of Aesir, but I didn't wish to ride. The wooden stalls of the vendors selling their exotic wares helped to calm me. There was a stall that I frequented that sold pelts and jewelry made of bone. The owner was an elderly man by the name Ymir, who had been very kind to me since I was a child.
"Good afternoon!" I stopped and greeted him. He looked up from his furs and smiled toothily at me.
"Afternoon, Sigyn. What brings you here?" He knew I didn't come often, and when I did it was always on the second day of the week.
"I came to visit a friend. He just returned from...Niflheim." I made up.
"Ah, well I hope he had a pleasant journey! Someone else arrived in Asgard today, Loki Odinson." He peered at me, gauging my reaction. I smiled.
"Really? Well, I hope he had a pleasant journey." I smirked coyly.
"You never were a forthcoming lady, were you?"
"Not when being forthcoming was preferable."
He smiled and nodded at me before turning to help another customer. I fingered the pelts appreciatively. I had always loved the feeling of furs, a blanket was a pure necessity, even if I didn't have one. My mother thought they were mothy, nasty things suitable only for Jotun's. I waved to Ymir and walked away, towards my home. Once I was away from the crowd I mounted Firefoot and walked him easily along the way.
"Lady Sigyn!" Someone called from behind me. I turned to see Baldr riding his Stallion after me. I swung Firefoot around to meet him.
"What is the matter, My Prince?" I called. He loped towards me and reined to a halt a few feet in front of me.
"Nothing is the matter, Lady. We heard that you were at the castle and left unescorted. Mother was worried for you and I offered to rectify the situation." He flashed a sunny smile my way. For being Loki's younger brother, he was the exact opposite in every way. He had golden colored hair, and a youthful, innocent face. He was small compared to Thor, but still masculine. I had never spent much time around him, Loki never got along with him much. Baldr was the apple of his mothers eye and Thor was the heir. Loki was left to fit in where he could.
"Your offer is very kind, Prince. I can handle myself, though. I've ridden this way countless times, it's nothing to worry about. Thank you, though." I smiled and waited for him to return the way he'd come. You never turn away from the Royalty. But this royal didn't leave me be, he looked at me as though I'd spoken the dwarven language, Voluspa.
"Milady, you are very pretty, and noticeably of high birth. I must protect and escort you on your journey home." Baldr employed some sort of misguided chivalry.
"You do me much credit, My Prince, but in all my time on Asgard I've never needed an escort." I tried to reiterate my independence in a different way. It was just like trying to reason with Loki.
"My mother deems it appropriate for me to escort you." He repeated. He had a skull as thick as Thor's.
"Alright." I conceded. I was tired and just wanted my home and a cup of tea. He smiled radiantly at me and took point. I followed quietly and focused on nothing but the scenery about me and the rhythm of Firefoot's movements.
" - and it seems to me that it's a heavy punishment for him, especially seeing as Loki is still a member of the family. Even if he did do bad things, he's still our brother." I only heard the last of his monologue, obviously this was weighing heavily on his mind.
"What sort of punishment was he to receive?" I inquired.
"The typical punishment is to spend his incarceration underneath the Serpent of Skaoi, but even that is rather harsh to Mother's tastes." He informed me. My heart skipped a beat and my chin fell. The Serpent was the greatest, most painful of punishments imaginable for an Aesir. It's venom would kill any mortal within thirty seconds, but we have a lower mortality threshold, and so can survive the pain. We must bear every critical moment of agony until the sentence is over.
"Will he stand trial?" I asked with trepidation.
"My Father has decided that there will be a formal trial, he is too biased in the eyes of the Asgardians to make a fair choice."
"How long does he believe the sentence will be?"
"It's undecided." He seemed to shut down then. I nodded and returned to my own business. How would I be able to live knowing that Loki was in such anguish? I had lost him once, I couldn't stand by and watch him nearly die again.
Baldr rode with me until I was in sight of the house, turned, and left abruptly. I looked after him quizzically, went to the stables, and handed Firefoot to the groom. My dress was soiled from the dirty streets so I went inside to freshen up and change. I was to always look like a perfect lady. I picked flowers on the way in to put in my long hair. Mother would be pleased that I put forth such effort. I went to my white and gold colored room, took off my boots, and loosed my hair. I pulled off my dress, pulled out a light blue dressing gown, and slid it on over my chemise. I didn't plan on going out anymore and wanted to simply sit outside and read my book. There was a great Library near the Palace, and there were great Midgardian tales there. I loved reading those stories of far off places and people. My newest find was a relatively new novel called, "Pride and Prejudice" by a woman by the name of Jane Austen. It was dreadfully fanciful and romantic and something Loki would generally ridicule and laugh at me for, but I loved it. I picked it off my bed and went down to find my mother.
There was always a mutual love and affection between my mother and I. Although she sometimes didn't approve of my actions and I didn't approve of her social ladder-climbing ways, we were all each other had. I knew that I could always go to her and she would always love me, no matter what. We were small, but we were a family.
"Sigyn?" I heard her voice from the garden. I walked into the Sitting Room and through the large arches that led to a fenced patio and turned to the stairs that led down to the garden. She was sitting on a bench, under a flowering tree.
"Hello, mother." I smiled and greeted.
"How was he?" She looked at me with a sparkle in her eye. I never told her I was going to see him, but she always seemed to know.
"He's not well. He may have to serve his sentence under the Serpent of Skaoi." I told her sadly, I couldn't hide my feelings from my mother.
"Oh, dear! I'm so sorry. Is there anything we can do?" She stood and took my hands.
"I haven't any idea. He's just recently returned and he's not entirely...himself." I grimaced and sunk onto the bench.
"I'm sure that all will be well. Just have some hope." She smiled at me, sat near me, and rubbed my back.
"Yes, but mother, what if all is not well? He could be very hurt and I can't watch that." I looked at her for wisdom and comfort.
"Don't think the worst, dear. You must hope for the best and prepare for the worst. That doesn't mean you should dwell on every bad thing that could occur. I am sure that Odin King would not let anything permanently damaging happen to Loki. You seem to forget that they are family, and the King won't be able to bear something terrible happening to any of his children, even adoptive ones." She comforted me.
"But he's so sad, Mother! What if this breaks his heart for good? What if I lose him completely to darkness?" I cried.
"You won't. You're both stronger than you believe. His heart will mend and I have no doubt that you will not allow him to turn to dark ways. I know you, darling. You'll kill him as soon as let that happen." She teased me. I sat in silence for awhile, calming and controlling my feelings. I was never emotional in front of anybody except my mother. She brought my feelings out. I was usually very stoic and unflappable, but she was my mother and therefore the person I trusted most in all the nine realms.
"All will be well, dear. Worry about it not." She soothed. I nodded and sighed deeply. Deciding I was tired of my dramatics I straightened and gave a watery smile.
"I understand, Mother. Please forgive me, I did not mean to cry. We will sort this out, will we not? You're completely right, all will be well." I laughed lightly and smoothed my hair. "He will be well, even if he must lie beneath the Serpent."
"He will, indeed, darling. He is much stronger than any of us supposed." My mother smiled.
"I know he is, mother."
"Would you like some herbal tea? We have fresh mint from the garden." She offered kindly and stood from the bench. I nodded and looked up at her sincerely.
"I'll come in a few minutes. I need to collect my thoughts." I told her in a questioning lilt.
"Of course, dear. Don't be too long. I'll have the tea waiting." She smiled and patted my head gently. I stood and walked in the opposite direction of our house, towards the lake and flower garden. There were large, willow like trees on the side of the lake towards the house, and a large, dense forest lined the opposite shore. Our flower garden nearly abutted the lake, and was rather large, with rock pathways, wooden benches, and a hedge maze complete with a fountain in the center. I'd always loved this garden, it was much more formal and impractical compared to the herb and vegetable garden behind the kitchen. Everything had their use, but the pretty things were always much more inspiring. My heart felt light amongst the colors and scents abounding as I walked through all of the flowers and flowery trees known to creation. I enjoyed walking here immensely. There was no one else within eyesight and not a sound to be heard that wasn't serene and natural. I liked feeling alone. It made me feel more important somehow, as though all of the Aesir that spent their time looking down on me had disappeared and I could live my life perfectly happy.
I meandered to the center of the tall maze and sat on the ledge of the fountain. My thoughts were muddled and yet completely blank, I had come to peace with everything and so it was time to move on from it. I ran my fingers through the cool water behind me and looked up to the sky. It was always a sunset in Asgard. I've heard that the sky was different in each of the realms and I've decided to see all of them. I watched the stars flicker and the colors of the universe dance. I wished I could dance with them. I could leave all this behind and waltz with the stars for the rest of eternity, never having to see or hear or talk to another soul again.
I sat there, thinking nonsense, for much longer than I had anticipated. By the time I snapped from my reverie it was nearly time for supper. I knew by the chill in the air. There was a strict rule in our household, one must always be on time for meals. I bolted from the fountain and ran all the way back to the house in as ladylike a way I could.
A/N: Another chapter finished! It was more of a set up, establish character chapter, but there it is. :)