A guard led her through the expansive golden hallways of the Asgardian throne room. Loki had sent for her the next day, with word that he had important news to share. Their footsteps echoed in the empty hall as she began to make out the figure upon the throne. Her movement slowed as she saw him, stopping well before the foot of the throne. The guard motioned for her to move forward before taking his leave. Shocked and stopped in her tracks, she thought this must be some sort of game, a trick.
"Loki... what..." her broken voice trailed off in the echoey chamber.
He smiled a warm, knowing smile and stood, moving down the steps toward her, golden scepter in hand with green cloak trailing behind.
"Come," he stretched out an arm toward her, "we need to speak in private."
The guards took notice and moved away as the pair went toward the king's chambers off the path of the throne room. She took his arm, confused by the man whom she thought she knew so well. Closing the door behind them he removed the elaborate helm, and laid the scepter aside. He began to look more like himself, she thought.
"What is this Loki?" Sigyn asked, concerned.
"I wanted to tell you as soon as I could, love. I did." he replied emphatically, "It just all happened so quickly. I wasn't expecting any of this."
He continued to tell her of how Odin had fallen into the great sleep and that with Thor in exile, this left the throne of Asgard to him. Lingering feelings of anger and betrayal wafted off of him, despite his composed disposition. Smiling he pulled Sigyn close and stroked her hair. That charming smile, it weakened her defenses and she collapsed in to hold him, cold metal of his armor against her face.
"I don't know what to think, Loki," she pulled away and looked in his cold blue eyes, sheepishly. "Am I to be happy for you? I do not believe that I can be."
"I didn't want this Sigyn. I did not," he said, with a raised voice, convinced that it was not a lie.
"Why did you not come to me earlier? What are you not telling me? Do not pretend that I cannot feel it," she spoke of the gaping distance between them that had gone unacknowledged for too long.
"Who are you?" It fell out of her mouth before she even realized what she'd said. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, that was out of line. I shouldn't have. I don't even know what I mean," she stumbled over her words as she watched his expression drop.
"Sit with me," he said softly, leading her to a seat. He took his place across from her and held one of her hands in his. Turning it over, he placed a single finger in her palm. A cold sensation washed across her hand as a small ball of ice formed, and his hand began to turn a deep blue color. Confused, she looked at him as if this was just some sort of trick. Pulling away abruptly, the ice dropped to the ground and shattered. She rubbed her now cold hand against her skirt to warm it.
"What is this Loki? What is it supposed to mean? Ice?" she asked with increasing desperation.
He looked in her eyes with a deep sadness tempered by resentment. His delicate face washed with worry and a furrowed brow.
"I love you Sigyn."
Frustrated and confused, she looked at him longingly. "Yes, as I you. Now will you stop playing games with me, please?"
"I am not who I thought I was. My life has been a lie told to me repeatedly. But it doesn't matter, love. I am king now. Asgard needs me, as I need you," he replied resolutely. He needn't say more. She understood what he'd meant. He was not originally of Asgard, but of Jotunheim. The blue skin of the ice giants lay beneath the surface, hidden beneath his Asgardian form.
"The Allfather has lied to you?" she asked, feeling his heartbreak.
"Yes. But it matters not. This is not why I wanted you here," he answered, closing the gap between them and forcing a smile. "Sigyn, I wish for you to be my queen. Marry me and we shall rule Asgard as one."
The words caught in her throat, as tears began to form in her eyes. She could not force them back, as hard as she might try. He watched as she pulled away from him, confused and afraid.
"I...," she managed to choke out but the single word.
"Yes, love. You what?"
"I love you Loki," she paused, "but I cannot. I cannot be queen. This is madness. I do not want this."
She felt the biting pain as his heart broke further than it had already, wondering if she had the strength to endure this. Knowing that Sif's suspicions must have been true.
"What?" his lip trembled in anger as a tear rolled down his cheek. "Why?"
She'd never felt afraid of him before, but in this moment she was unsure of what hid beneath the surface that even she had not scratched. It was all too much to bear so quickly. She'd spoken hastily. It wasn't what she'd wanted, to hurt him.
"I'm sorry, love" she begged, moving close to kiss his cheek, "I just need some time. That is all. You'll understand, won't you?"
His jaw stiffened as he quickly turned away from her affections. "Yes," he gritted through his teeth and walked out the door without looking back. Heartbroken, she began to sob into her hands as a guard came to escort her away. She would not see the same man that she had loved again.