Hello again! I want to give a MASSIVE 'thank you' to all the people who reviewed/followed/favourited. I really appreciate it. In a PM I was asked if I had twitter which I do not. I do have Tumblr though (ebs23x) where I post a lot of Hiddles/Loki stuff as well as other random things. If you end up following me let me know that you're reading my fic and I'll happily follow you back, it is the least I can do. I'm also on Vine in case any of you are interested (Eleanore Lewis) again let me know that you found me through this fic and I'll follow you back. ANYWAY... enough of my ramblings, here is the next chapter, I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 5

Sigyn stood in front of the huge pair of golden doors that allowed entrance into the throne room. It was heavily guarded by intimidating guards, and the thought that the king and queen of Asgard were just on the other side of the few inches of metal unsettled her further.

When Theoric nodded to the guards in indication that he wanted to be allowed entrance, Sigyn found that she couldn't move her legs. Other than their shaking, she could not consciously operate them.

When the large doors started to open the only thing that got her to head towards them was a slight shove in her back. Sigyn turned her head slightly to see her father's impatient expression. She immediately looked away again and carried on stepping into the throne room.

Despite the situation she couldn't help but be slightly in awe of the extravagance of this room. Every surface shone beautifully. Nearly all of it was gold apart from the floor which was black, but even that had intricate gold details flowing through it. Right at the far end of the aisle stood the throne. Its magnificent presence was highlighted by the two sets of steps it was raised upon, making sure that whoever sat upon it would watch over everybody.

That was where the All-Father was sat. His single crystal blue eye carefully regarding the three people who had just entered as they made their way to the steps at the bottom of his throne.

Sigyn presumed that the slightly older, though still beautiful, woman who stood to the side on the level at the top of the first set of stairs was the queen, her second son beside her.

Sigyn was surprised to see Prince Loki there. He wasn't obliged to be. The only thing he had any involvement in was the scandal of him being in her room alone with her, but that seemed insignificant in comparison to the other issue.

Sigyn curtsied deeply as her father and Theoric bowed.

When they all stood straight again Theoric was the first to speak. "My King, you have no doubt been informed that there is some pressing news of which I must inform you."

The All-Father regarded him carefully before replying. "Prince Loki has spoken of such things, yes, but he has not specified them."

"If you allow it, My King, I shall explain what it was the prince meant."

Odin nodded once.

A small smile spread over Theoric's face and disappeared as quickly as it came. "The matter concerns the Lady Sigyn, daughter of Lord Hugin."

Sigyn could feel her shoulders subconsciously hunching over as she kept wishing that she could just disappear right through the ornate floor.

"It would seem that," Theoric continued, "well… the only possible way I can think to describe it is to say that she has the exact same powers as a… Frost Giant. Though she is, of course, Asgardian."

The All-Father remained silent as he considered this news, though Sigyn could not see his face as she was intently staring at the floor.

Odin spoke to her father. "Is this correct, Hugin?"

"It is, My King," came the reply before the silence returned lasting twice as long as the previous.

After what felt like an eternity to Sigyn, the All-Father spoke to her directly. "Lady Sigyn, would you be so kind as to come here?" Though it was obviously a question, the tone of his voice as well as his status made it a command.

Sigyn looked up with wide blue eyes, similar to that of a doe staring at a bow and arrow, before she carefully made her way forward and ascended the steps to the throne with shaky legs.

When she arrived in front of the king, he studied her carefully before reaching out for her right hand. He looked at both the back of her hand and her palm carefully before speaking. "Does your skin turn blue, My Lady?"

"N-no, My King." Her voice was barely audible.

"And your eyes, do they turn red?"

"No, My King."

The king studied her hands for a little longer before letting them go and sitting back in his throne. "I would like to see your powers."

Sigyn's eyes widened, but she didn't speak; she wouldn't dare question the All-Father.

She carefully held her hands out in front of her and gently cupped her palms together. She concentrated her power to her hands as she formed a small structure out of ice, similar to what she had done for Prince Loki in the garden after the party.

Slowly she opened her hands to reveal a tiny raven made of ice nestled between her palms.

Amusement glittered distantly in the All-Father's single blue eye as he observed the tiny sculpture.

Theoric chose that moment to intervene. "She claims the ability to make anything out of ice, My King, of any size and shape..."

Theoric was cut off when the king held up his hand in silent command.

Sigyn frowned at what the lord had said. She knew he had been listening in on the conversation she and Loki had had in the gardens, but she hadn't specified what she could make in any way. She supposed he was trying to show the king that her powers could be somewhat dangerous in comparison to the harmless bird she had just made.

The kings's hand slowly lowered as he spoke. "I have no doubt of her capabilities, Theoric."

Odin turned his attention back to Sigyn. "Did these powers surface after your birth or were you born with them?"

"I have always had them, My King. I do not know why."

The All-Father's eye flashed to Lord Hugin for a moment before returning to Sigyn.

"I am curious to know how my son is involved." Queen Frigga spoke for the first time since they had entered the hall. Her voice was kind as she enquired gently.

Sigyn's eyes flashed from the queen, and then to Prince Loki before settling on the floor as a blush pooled across her cheeks.

Theoric jumped in once again, clearly trying to maintain some control over the situation. "The prince was discovered in Lady Sigyn's bedchamber alone with her."

Sigyn's blush deepened as she heard the queen gasp. "Loki, how could you? An innocent young girl…"

"Nothing untoward happened, Mother, I was merely helping her to control her powers." Loki's voice was surprisingly relaxed as it quickly interjected his mother's speech.

"It matters not what you were doing, the fact that you were in her bedchamber is untoward enough."

At that point Odin decided to speak. "You knew of her powers then. For how long?"

Loki still looked unashamed as he answered. "I have known for years. Since we were both children."

"What?" Hugin couldn't help but join the conversation. "How… how could you possibly have met Sigyn when she was a child? She never left the house."

Sigyn couldn't stop her eyes from snapping to Loki's to find that they were already staring intently at her.

Thankfully Odin moved the conversation on. "It matters not, Hugin. That was in the past and it cannot be changed. We must now focus on the future and how we shall deal with the news brought forward today."

Silence descended in the grand hall as its occupants waited for the All-Father to decide how best to proceed.

Instead of being shattered by the king, the silence was gently broken by the queen. "My King, may I speak to you in private?"

Odin took one look at Frigga and could tell that she had an ideal way to advance from the current situation.

He nodded. "Leave us," his thunderous voice echoed throughout the room despite the fact that its only occupants were gathered around him.

Sigyn descended the steps hurriedly. When she arrived at the bottom, her father roughly looped her arm through his and held firm, quickly leading her towards the exit after they had bowed.

Theoric and the prince followed silently.

Just after they had all exited the grand doorway, but before it had closed, Odin called in one of the guards. They could all hear him ordering him to bring Prince Thor and Lord Fandral to the grand hall immediately, which he did so.

When the door eventually slammed shut and the guard's footsteps had disappeared off down the hall, the previous occupants of the throne room stood there in silence.

Theoric had a smug smile on his face as he leant casually against the wall with his arms crossed.

Sigyn was partially glad that her father still had a tight grasp on her arm because she was shocked to find that she wanted nothing more than to smack that stupid look of Lord Theoric's face. She had to clench her free hand as she felt it becoming cold to prevent herself from flinging an ice dagger at him.

Loki, of course, looked perfectly at ease.

The silence stretched on for a few minutes until three pairs of footsteps could be heard.

"Sigyn?"

She looked up to see her brother, along with Prince Thor and the guard who had been sent to fetch them, approaching.

"This is your sister, Fandral?" Prince Thor came bounding up to her and held out his hand to take hers, a huge smile stretching across his handsome face. "It is a pleasure to meet someone of such beauty, My Lady," he said as Hugin released his daughter's arm so that the crown prince could grasp her hand and kiss it.

Sigyn could not keep the sadness out of her eyes as she curtsied and looked up to him to say, "It is a pleasure to meet you also, My Prince," in a despondent voice.

"Thor." Prince Loki's voice was serious as he indicated for his brother to come to him. His tone made Thor realise that the lady's visit was not merely recreational and sauntered over to Loki. The dark-haired prince started whispering swiftly to his brother, presumably filling him in on the details.

"Sigyn, what are you doing here?" Fandral had walked to his sister, his blue eyes were full of concern and confusion as he grasped her hands upon seeing her distress.

Sigyn could only look at the ground as she felt tears pool in her eyes.

It was the sibling's father who answered the question, his voice filled with anger. "Your sister's secret is a secret no longer. Lord Theoric knows, the entire royal family now know, and soon enough everyone will know. The king and queen are in there at this moment, discussing what to do with her."

Fandral's eyes were wide as they looked from his sister, to his father and back. "Oh, Sigyn," was all he could say in a faint whisper.

Almost immediately after Fandral had spoken, the large golden doors opened with a loud groan, signalling to them that the king had come to a decision, and they were required to enter.

The group made their way back inside the grand hall and towards the throne where the king sat with his queen standing where she had been previously as if she had not moved.

They all bowed in respect when they reached the bottom of the stairs leading up to the throne. With a gesture from the queen, Princes Thor and Loki ascended the stairs and took their rightful places beside their mother.

The remaining four stood silently, waiting with a mixture of emotions to hear the All-Father's decision.

"Lady Sigyn, come forward." The king's booming voice broke the quiet, and Sigyn couldn't help but flinch slightly.

She slowly stepped forward, looking down at the floor. Each step she took made her feet feel heavier and heavier and more difficult to move. She ascended the first set of stairs, to the level where the rest of the royal family stood, Queen Frigga on Odin's right, and the princes on his left.

"I have come to a decision," the All-Father carried on, "that I think is the best way forward."

Sigyn waited with baited breath. What was he going to say? Was he going to order that she stay confined to her house, or be kept in the dungeons, or even banished from Asgard? Oh Norns! What if he banished her to Jotunheim?

"May I speak, My King?" Lord Theoric interjected.

The king looked at him for a few seconds before nodding once.

Theoric smiled. "I have offered to marry the Lady Sigyn despite her unusual traits and compromised position. I insist."

"There will be no need for that, thank you, Lord Theoric." The queen's voice was soft as she gently pushed into the conversation.

"Oh, but I insist, My Queen. I have no qualms at all in making her my wife." Theoric's voice had started to waver under the fear that he was losing control of the situation.

"Again, you have our thanks, but your marriage to Lady Sigyn would interfere with our decision."

Sigyn started to panic. They were definitely going to send her away. She couldn't marry an Asgardian after she had been banished.

"But, My Queen –," Theoric was desperate now.

Frigga stopped him once more. "No, Theoric. We plan for Lady Sigyn to marry our son. It is the best way forward seeing as it was he who compromised her virtue. Why should anyone but himself have to take responsibility for his actions?"

Sigyn felt her heart skip a beat as she realised what the queen was saying. She lifted her head to look over to her with wide eyes, not being able to bring herself to look at the dark haired prince a few feet away from her. Surely she had misheard. It sounded as if the king and queen were completely ignoring Sigyn's powers and only focusing on the small scandal involving the prince. Why would they do that? Not only were they not doing anything to amend it, but they were practically deliberately making sure that such powers be brought into the royal family.

Sigyn's musing was shattered by the All-Father's voice, ringing with authority and command.

"That is my decision. The Lady Sigyn and Prince Loki shall be married."

A.N. O...M...G! Ok... who guessed that's were I was going with this story? Haha! (or should I say 'heheheheheheheheh'?). Please let me know if you spot any mistakes, and also just let me know what you think! Thanks for reading xxx