Lead Me Back to Normalcy
A/N: Since I've gotten a bit farther ahead, I decided to post a chapter early! I have to say, I really enjoyed writing the chapter! It only took about a day to crunch this out! I hope my excitement for this chapter shows!
All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.
Chapter Ten: Half-breeds and Jotun
He … He didn't know what to think after Skadi's rant, lie, revelation? So he blankly stood there, eyes glazed over, as he replayed what she had said to him over and over and over and over and over again in his mind. The word half-breed kept echoing off ominously in his head a little too easily. There was no way he could be a half-breed—Thor wasn't like Sigyn or his brother whom were pale with green eyes and naturally scrawny. No! Thor was sun-kissed, blue eyes, and built for power.
'You have her strength no doubt…' whispered the giantess again in his mind.
But Odin was naturally strong. It only seemed natural that he would inherit that trait from his father. After all, Balder had inherited the same trait; though, from what he had heard of his older brother, he was much stronger, more powerful than Balder ever was. Even his own father said he was stronger than he ever had been in his prime. Thor had always accounted it for it coming from his father's strong bloodline, his fierce training, and of course, possessing Mjollnir. It only made sense … but so did Skadi's suggestion. Giants, whether he or she was frost, fire, forest, or island, were all naturally graced with strength. Their strength, combined with their natural control over the elements, made their race especially powerful and dangerous.
Powerful enough that perhaps Asgard had felt threatened by them?
Helblindi had claimed that was the reason his forefather had killed Ymir.
No, that couldn't be. Asgard was the shining, golden city atop the hill for all to see. There was no greater place in all of the universe than Asgard! No place could even begin to rival her golden beauty! His head hung low as he recalled where all the gold had come from—the war with the Vanir. The Vanir had lost the war and surrendered to the Aesir. Thus, the Vanir became part of the Aesir. With it, Asgard would have all the gold needed to erect its beautiful buildings and walls. But why the two had ever gone to war was never fully explained to Thor. There weren't too many records of the war since it occurred early on his father's reign; which was well before Odin had built his grand hall for Frigga and his future children.
The Vanir were something much to be envied. Their great mastery of magic always produced the best vegetables, fruits, ships, and crafts. Rumor had it that their blacksmithing could rival that of the dwarves, but it was just a rumor. It was because of the Vanir that Asgard had been able to beat back Laufey's forces so efficiently on Midgard. No one could even begin to rival the Vanir and their magic. Well, Loki could have, but that was only because he studied with the Vanir. Wait…
Thor began follow the direction the giantess had given him. The halls were very similar to the room he had been in previously. The walls were high, even for a frost giant. Fire ran along the very edge of the wall and licked the top of the ceiling. The ice scattered the orange, yellow, and red light across and down the corridor. These walls too held pelts of strange animals Thor had never seen; however, there was nothing below them.
Turning another left, he picked up his pace. His eyes at the large, metal doors at the end of the hallway. Carvings inked in silver and gold depicted the fierce faces of a wolf with ruby eyes and a serpent with green eyes. Thor placed two of his mighty hands on one door and pushed. The door did not budge easily, but slowly, he felt it begin to move underneath his force. Thor slipped through the opening, emerging into a large, open space room. Smack! He jumped around to see the door having slammed itself closed … angrily?
"The doors naturally close on their own. It's to keep any Aesir from being able to sneak around should they be capable of opening it."
His ears led him to the source of the soft voice. In the center of the room was a large fir located in a pit six feet down and easily fourteen feet in diameter. Around the pit were thick, shaggy pelts that ranged from brown to white, to black, and to silver. There wasn't just a few, but a good foot of these pelts lined around the pit. Sitting atop the see of fur, with her white pelt cloak still covering her body, was Sigyn. Her hair was pulled back into a single braid. Shockingly enough, she wasn't nearly as gaunt as he remembered her down in the cell. There seemed to be life to her again. Well, at least to her skin. The dark circles still clung to her eyes and were darker in color. Sigyn's eyes were not just red from constant crying, but red like a frost giant's. Thor naturally took a step back. Shyly she looked away.
Thor only took the least amount of time to notice that this room was different than the corridors and halls. The far wall to the north was completely made out of white and blue ice. Sunlight from far above filtered down through it, creating lighting that was neither bright nor dull but a comfortable mix. Next to that same wall, he noticed a small trench about six inches across had been built. In it ran water he was sure was as cold as Skadi's attitude. The western facing wall was lined with shelves that only reached as far as Sigyn could possibly reach. Piled atop the black metal shelves were a variety of items. There were dolls of humans and animals made out of the finest looking cloth and fur; clothes made out of the same materials as the dolls; and jewelry of unknown metals and stones that glittered more than the stars or the water beneath a full moon.
Then to the southern wall were finely crafted toys that belonged to a young child of perhaps ten, maybe twelve years of age. There were numerous piles of them, all each organized. Then it dawned upon Thor. All of these toys, they were from when Sigyn was but a child. He turned his blue eyes to her. Thor watched as Sigyn fumbled with one of these soft dolls in her hands. She stroked the wolf's golden fur much like a child would. In the way she held herself, Thor saw but a child beside the fire, not in looks but in heart and mind. He felt a pang of pain prick at his gut at the way she looked like a young, shy, abused child with no one in the world but that plush.
The sight of her in this state only invoked a need to shelter her and protect her from all bad things in the universe. She just looked, so, so lonely there stroking the plush with her large eyes staring blankly at it. He wondered if this was how she looked when she was alone in Odin's hall. Did she looked this out of place there as she did here? His heart plummeted for her. Never had such a strong instinct to go up to a woman and wrap her in his arms wash over him as Sigyn did.
So Thor walked up to the pile of furry pelts. He took noticed how Sigyn paid him little attention as he stripped his battered boots off of his feet and took off his signature crimson cape. The god noticed too, much to his surprise, that Sigyn was nude beneath her cloak. He could see so much more to her than what he had imagined. The girl's wrists were scarred on the inside from many deep, self-inflicted cuts. Those scars seemed insignificant compared to what he saw next. Her left arm, where the burn had been, was blue skin. There was a hair-thin outline of black, decaying skin in between the blue skin and her natural pale skin. The same pattern he noticed was on her face from where Helblindi had grabbed her.
He felt the heat of the fire brush against his armor, super heating it. Now he understood why Sigyn was naked next to the fire. Anyone would drown in their clothes and sweat next to it. Thor removed his chest armor, his muscles straining and moaning with each stretch and contraction. God, he was so sore! He placed his armor off to the side. Thor tossed his ebon' shirt to the side. He hesitated for a moment before stripping off his black pants. The god stepped lightly onto the pelts. His feet curled around the softness of the fur. Never had he imagined that animal pelts would feel so great next to one's skin. It was like sand but eight times more heavenly.
Slowly he sat beside Sigyn, sinking much further into the sea of pelts than she. No, like always she seemed to float atop them like she was a ghost. Well, it felt like she was ghost sitting next o her. Sigyn didn't so much as acknowledge him. She continued to stroke that pitiful wolf. Thor sighed. "I'm glad to see you are finally eating more, Sigyn. You appear much fuller," he spoke. He flicked his eyes to her, but she was keeping her mouth shut. "Your mother is an interesting person…"
Thor had never been graced with a silver tongue like Loki, and it sure showed now. He leaned forward towards the flames. Feeling the flames like the cold off his skin was refreshing. He felt his body begin to relax. Sigyn, though she too leaned towards the flames, kept her head low, eyes on the plush, and fingers wrapped around the plush's fur. He reached with his left hand and placed it over her right hand. Sigyn became a statue. Her eyes shifted towards him and locked with his. Gently Thor squeezed her hand and forced his fingers between hers. "You can trust me, Sigyn," he whispered. "I do not know what I did or if it were the actions of someone else, but I shall not harm you. I swear, Sigyn."
Sigyn looked away from him, but her fingers squeezed his in return. "I can see it in your eyes, Thor," she murmured. "I know my distrust is hurting you, but I am skeptical of any and all Aesir."
Thor hesitated, something he rarely did, before speaking. "But—Your mother said I am not Aesir. She said I am like you." The words felt awkward coming out of his mouth; Thor would've mistaken his voice for someone else because of the strain in his voice. Actually, his whole body felt sick saying those words. They couldn't be true. No, no! He wasn't a… He was Aesir. Frigga was his mother! There was no way in all of the nine realms he could be anything but an Aesir.
"Now you know how Loki felt when he found out he wasn't an Aesir," Sigyn commented softly. She curled more inward, making herself smaller. "You are a lucky one, Thor. You never looked like a half-breed. I would have thought you to be full Aesir had it not been for how you healed quickly and your undeniable natural strength. I wish I could've looked like you. It would have made life a lot easier, better."
"So I am—"
"Yes," she answered. "You are a half-breed." Thor was lost for words. He didn't know what to think; he couldn't think properly. This time it was Sigyn who placed her other hand on top of Thor's. "All Father is a complex man. He is by all means a deceitful man, but he is so to protect his pride and family. He never told anyone because even if you have a drop of Jotun blood in you, you will be considered a Jotun, an enemy of Asgard. So he was protecting you and Loki because you two were his sons. He loved both of you. Heritage did not matter when it came to loving either of you. In that respect, Odin is ahead of his time."
His stomach felt like a punching bag for a professional boxer at the moment. Thor saw Sigyn looking towards him with soft, understanding eyes. "You say he loved us both equally, but why was I then chosen to be the future king?" he inquired, his voice shaking. "That does not make sense, Sigyn."
She blinked slowly. "I—I know you don't understand, but All Father is a complex man, Thor. He chose you to be king for more than the fact you are his seed or the golden child. He is a wise man and has his reasons for choosing you as king, most likely because you are half Aesir. To have a Jotun on the throne, no matter how qualified, would have been enough to cause a revolt. At least one of half Aesir might be able to keep the people's trust. Maybe eventually, lead to a Jotun taking over the throne of Asgard," she contemplated. "Loki will live much longer than you, Thor. The Jotun live three to four times longer than an Aesir. Henceforth why my mother is still young looking. He would be able to carry one where you would leave off. Then you would have a peaceful transition, Thor. This would Ragnarok without any blood, violence, and death.
"Odin saw what the Jotun were capable of after witnessing their power on Midgard. He knows that it is only a matter of time till the Jotun gain control over the nine realms. He saw that coming. That's why he had you, Thor," Sigyn explained. "It the same reason he took Loki. All Father knows that the reign of the Jotun is coming, and he is preparing Asgard for that day. He wants no more bloodshed. He wants an alliance. Take a look at you and Loki, Thor. You two are still stuck on each other; where one goes the other follows. What one doesn't think of, the other will. You two complete each other. The Aesir and Jotun can compliment each other underneath the right leadership."
"You make my father sound noble," Thor chided.
She took a deep breath. "Because he is, and he is about the only Aesir I will grace with that word," Sigyn replied through her comforting voice. "You and Loki were his greatest creations, Thor. He encouraged both you and Loki's strengths; he pushed you harder than ever to become a fierce warrior; he gave Loki as many opportunities as possible to challenge his intellect and expand on his natural gifts of sorcery. He's been a good father, Thor. Don't do what Loki did and allow your heritage to ruin that relationship. All Father suffers enough with the guilt of Loki's suicide. He doesn't need to lose another son."
Thor, despite the nausea, managed to smile at Sigyn. "You're wise beyond your years if you realized all of that," Thor complimented. She meekly smiled back like he was just saying it to say it. "I mean it, Sigyn. Thank you." She gave him a small nod in return before shrinking back to her little ball. Sigyn took her hands back so she could stroke the plush wolf that flopped in her lap. Thor placed his hand on her shoulder and ran it down her back. Once again she froze, but as he continued to rub her back, Sigyn relaxed. She leaned farther over so he rubbed more of her back. Thor smiled at her compliant nature.
For the first time since Loki's absence, he saw a genuine smile of happiness on her face. His own heart felt warm as a result. Being her protector would be hard he knew, but to see the sadness gone from her bones, even if just for a fleeting moment, was all worth it. The satisfaction from knowing that she wasn't in pain, at least in this moment, was so filling to know that there were still truly innocent souls who needed someone. Thor was more than elated to be that someone.