Chapter 6

"We have to be silent, Sigyn. If they hear you, they will kill you." Thor was walking beside me and debriefing me on the mission we were supposed to accomplish. I nodded, bored, and ducked behind some bushes outside the dilapidated old Merchant's Square on Vanaheim. It had been marred by red painted handprints and claw marks. Few buildings were still enclosed and standing, and there were fires where it had been overrun by giant orc-like beasts. It was my duty to aid the relations between the people of Vanir and the giants, called Gerd. I had been born and lived on Vanaheim for the first 398 years of my life, until Thor came to visit our realm and saw my potential. This was to be my first attempt at war.

"How many of them are there?" I asked, fiddling with the knife in my boot. It was a nervous habit.

"There are two tribes in this region, but you will be dealing mostly with the Black Arrow tribe. Their numbers are few, but they are vicious and tough." He explained.

"Are you not going with me?" I asked him, fully looking at him for the first time.

"I will, but you need this knowledge in the event I am detained." He replied, "Their leader is called Hummonin Carrowtooth. He has plagued this area for too long. We must end this now." He scanned my face, almost trying to see if I was afraid. I smiled at him.

"So we shall, Prince Thor." I inclined my head to him, stood straight up, and walked into the Merchant's Square. "Are you coming, Highness?"

These strange dreams of some other life of mine had been haunting my nights since Loki had returned. I had no way to explain them; they were as vivid and familiar as memories when I slept, but as soon as I woke I knew that they were only my imagination. There was no way I could explain it. I seemed to be a fierce warrior in some other life, and had grown up on Vanaheim, not Asgard. It was very curious, and only became curiouser.

I woke late the next morning. It had taken a long time for me to sleep; the events of the evening did nothing to help my adrenaline. I realized I was late for my studies already, and would welcome a morning at home, so I lounged in bed until I was too bored to stand it anymore.

It took about five minutes. I washed and dressed in a modest dressing gown, perfectly acceptable for gentlemanly visitors, and rushed down the stairs. My stomach was making enough noise that I'm sure Heimdall could hear it. It was a busy night, and I was sure we would all appreciate a warm breakfast. Although we did have a cook, I felt it easier to make the breakfast myself this morning: fried sausage and eggs together, and smorbrod, with juice. It barely took any time at all to prepare, and so I commenced eating and reading a book I had received for my last birthday.

"You'll ruin your eyes with all this reading." Agmund snatched the novel from my hands and held it close to his face, "Why are there no pictures?"

"Because the writer assumed someone like you wouldn't be able to read it anyway." I teased and reached up to snatch it from him. He held it behind his back.

"Not until you promise to share some of your delicious breakfast with the rest of us." He cocked an eyebrow. I sat back in mock surprise.

"I was planning to consume that by myself!" I gasped.

"Not if you want to maintain your girlish figure." He laughed. I stood, grabbed the book from his hands, and picked up my plate in a lightning motion. I sniffed in disdain and walked onto the terrace. I realized my teasing actions could be taken amiss, especially by my mother, and simply left my plate on the railing as I walked out to the garden. I made certain that nobody was watching and waved my hand to summon forth a novel I was currently reading. I opened the old pages and continued walking. I directed my steps back towards the road into town. It wasn't that far, and I was used to walking.

Unfortunately, I forgot about the carcasses of my adventures the previous night.

Fortunately, someone had already disposed of them in some undisclosed location. It had me worried, but I walked the entire road without a single incident.

"A decision has been made." Those were Baldr's first words to me when he found me in the Library. "You must come at once."

He told the Librarian that I had to leave and, of course, there was no arguing with a Prince of Asgard, so I left. I didn't ask any questions as we rode to the castle; I was sure I didn't want any answers. Once we arrived Baldr led me to the immense throne room. There were people milling about in an unofficial manner, and Odin and Frigga were nowhere to be seen. The court must have just adjourned. I studied strangers' faces to try to get an inkling of their heavy decision, but they were all impassive.

The courts operated by majority in Asgard. Anyone who came could vote, and the most votes were the final decision. That way the people could be involved in the verdict, but only when Odin decreed a vote to take place.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to know the outcome.

"I'm going to take you to mother. She needs another woman's sympathy." Baldr turned to say.

"So the verdict wasn't a happy one." I commented. He gave me a mournful smile.

"He will be manacled under the Serpent for twelve hours every day until his sentence has expired." He informed me. I knew it that would be the decision, but there was still a hitch in my breath when I heard it out loud. He had killed people. I needed to remember that.

We walked with purpose to the huge side doors that would lead to the rooms Odin and Frigga retired to after their emotional ordeal. There was a depressed air, but I knew it was probably my imagination casting my feelings on something external. We entered the room after the doors had been opened by attendants and I approached Frigga. I grasped her extended hand and she looked on me with as much sympathy as I felt for her.

"I'm glad you came, Sigyn." She spoke softly.

"I'm so sorry, Your Majesty." I kneeled in front of her and bowed my head, as a sign of respect. Odin was speaking quietly with Baldr, and I saw Thor come into the room and join them.

"Go to him, Sigyn. Thor tried, and it doesn't appear to have gone well. I've already gone, but he wishes not to see me. Tell him we love him." She squeezed my hand before letting go. I exchanged sad smiles with Thor and walked to the door he'd come in from. I was sure they all wanted time together, not interrupted by some Aesir who wasn't one of them.

It wasn't terribly far to the dungeons, but it there were many flights of stairs leading there. I didn't mind; it meant that with each step I could remember Loki for how he was before having a constant drip of the snakes' venom.

I entered the dungeons and stopped short on seeing Loki's cell. Empty. I suppose it was a shock, even if I expected it. I walked to a guard and smiled as congenially as I could.

"Will you tell me where Loki Odinson has been taken?" I asked sweetly. The guard barely moved; his eyes only twitched towards me. He seemed about to refuse me, but recognized me as someone associated with the family, and smiled slightly.

"Go past all the cells and there will be doors leading to the more private ones; he should be on the right." The guard answered me and gestured for another to accompany me. I nodded to the guard and followed his companion past yellow tinged cells to the end of the chamber. There were large, simple wooden double doors, and the guard opened one for me. I smiled, walked though and told him I could continue on my own. After some protestation I convinced him I was fine, and he let me be.

These cells were more private, it was all stone and cold. They didn't have doors, only doorways; the assumption was that whatever inhabited these cages was under too much agony to muster strength to escape. I walked down the hallway, and looked into the first room on the right. There was complete silence; Loki must be the only prisoner here. My eyes adjusted to the darkness and I saw Loki chained to a stone rock that had been hewn into a type of throne. His hair was dripping from the venom, and I could almost see the snake above him, but it wouldn't be in this room, it would be above the ceiling.

His face was blank and impassive, even as he raised his head painfully and met her eyes. There was no smirk of arrogance or glint of humor. He was empty. She rushed forward and examined his manacled hands and ankles. There was a steady drip of poison falling to his head. It sizzled and created a kind of swirling mist throughout the room. I didn't want to imagine the pain it must inflict.

I didn't know what to say. He was in pain, I didn't need to ask him how he was. He was angry, I didn't need to tell him all would be well in time.

"Leave me be." He ground out, the smoothness of his voice replaced by a grating tone that did little to hide his pain. I couldn't just leave him here. But it was so hard to look at him; I didn't want to stay, either.

"How long is your sentence?" I asked meekly. I wished my voice hadn't sounded to frightened and childish.

"A very long time." He answered.

"I'm very sorry." I mumbled, knowing that he would usually taunt any such expressions of sympathy or emotion.

"Leave me now, Sigyn." He whispered sadly. He didn't want me to see him in this state, and he thought it would be better if I just left him to rot. He was always so wrong. I knew that it would be best for me to do as he said, so I bowed my head and backed out of the cold room. Although I left, I had no intention of never returning. He couldn't be rid of me that easily.

Word had apparently reached the palace of my 'heroic deed' of slaying the wolves, for I was greeted with silent stares and surprised glances from all I passed in the Palace halls. I felt almost small under the weight of all the eyes, but I did my best to ignore them and keep my chin up.

"Sigyn! Mighty Wolf Slayer!" A booming voice rang through the spacious hall and I searched for the source until I saw the glint of his blonde hair. He was pushing his way through soldiers and nobles, with his red cape billowing in his wake.

"Prince Thor! Mighty Slayer of All!" I teased. He closed the gap between us.

"How is my brother?"

"He is not himself and is in much pain." I replied candidly.

"Whatever can we do for him? This is not what I would have chosen, but there is nothing to change that now." He was frustrated and fidgety. He was used to solving things with brute force, and this was a problem that he couldn't fix with his fists.

"We can be there for him and do our best to make him more comfortable. That is all I know to do." I wasn't entirely an expert problem solver myself. I shrugged my shoulders and we both began walking side by side. We stayed silent for awhile, each lost in our own thoughts. Thor seemed to have an unspoken mission to escort me back to the Library. It hadn't taken me very long to check on Loki, and I still had at least two hours before I could go home.

"Do you remember our first battle together? With the Gerd?" He seemed to be in a mood to reminisce.

"I wouldn't call it a battle, exactly. I seem to remember a lot of sneaking and hiding and flitting about, stabbing giants." I teased.

"It was a war for the ages." Thor smirked.

"We seem to remember this very differently" I raised an eyebrow at him.

"You were actually rather impressive back then. Not like Lady Sif, but still rather intimidating. Why don't you join us anymore?" He inquired.

"I'm simply busier, I suppose." I responded flippantly. I had my reasons, and I didn't particularly want to share them with a prince of Asgard. He seemed to realize that and let the subject drop. We walked on. I realized I had a question, and I had no filter when I was curious.

"Thor, what happened in New York?" I looked at him fully. He lost any merry look in his eyes and suddenly I saw the 'Thunder' he was associated with.

"I don't believe it is necessary for it to be completely known." He informed me diplomatically.

"I don't believe I would have trouble keeping it a secret." I cajoled.

"There are things that happened in New York that are still under review." His rehearsed answer didn't provide me with any peace of mind.

I smiled meekly and walked on. I wouldn't press any further. He obviously didn't want to share, and I wanted him to keep me in mind for when he was ready to talk. Too much asking on my part would drive him away. He joined me in walking for a bit, but I didn't expect him to stay. I continued on home by myself. As I left the village and entered the woods I broke into a run. It was very unladylike, but I had to run away from the pain and grief that was threatening to drown me. Foolishly, I felt that if I ran fast enough maybe I would forget the pathetic look on his face and the way my heart died seeing him in such pain. It finally became too much and as I turned the lane to see our home in the distance I slowed myself to calm myself so our visitors couldn't see my distress. That wouldn't do.

"Are you coming, your Majesty?" I asked with a cocked brow and sarcastic look. Thor rolled his eyes at me and turned to flash Hogun some hand signals that made absolutely no sense to me, and he knew it. I gave his back a retaliation eyeroll and ran out from behind a column to surprise the giant Gerd, Carrowtooth. I grinned savagely and yelled.

"You're much shorter than I imagined, swine!" Yelling rudely was always my favorite part of a fight. Unfortunately, Gerd seemed incapable of thought, let alone speech, so I was only answered with an angry roar as he swung around to face me and charge. He was about seventy five yards away, and I had a much shorter leg span. I made a quick choice, grabbed my bow, and took an arrow from the quiver at my back. I widened my stance and nocked the arrow, taking deep breaths to still my hands. I aimed the arrow for a vital organ and released. I would have aimed at his head, but Thor would be upset if I finished it that quickly and I didn't want to take that chance. I could always miss, but if I didn't I was hesitant to incur his wrath.

The arrow struck just above the Gerd's collarbone. I smiled in some perverted happiness that I had inflicted pain. Thor and Hogun ran around me to attack while Carrowtooth was wounded. It was only a minor scratch on such a massive being, though, so they still had their work cut out for them. I contented myself with attacking the guards that ran in to ascertain their leaders safety. It was like swatting flies. It was my first taste of battle, and I had more than proved my potential to the Prince. It was not to be the last time I shed blood.