"Shall I let him in, my lord?"

Loki's eyes narrowed at his servant; the wisp of a boy had been underfoot ever since he returned from his new apartment the previous day, and it was starting to grate his nerves. However, he had bigger things in his life to think about than the obtrusions of the help, and he forced himself to push it from his mind as Loki surveyed the lad from his writing desk.

He had signed all the paperwork for his second home after Sigyn disappeared yesterday, off to cook dinner for her betrothed, and Loki set about handling the financial aspects of the purchase. As a royal – even an adopted one – and designated son of Odin, he had a fairly substantial amount of funds that belonged to him. Much of it was in the family name, but ever since he was a boy, Loki had been hoarding away coinage in a private account. Perhaps he had anticipated the day when his family might cast him out, but for whatever reason, he always suspected he would need a private store of money. He hadn't the slightest idea what Thor did with his funds, nor did he care; as long as his accounts remained untouched by anyone but Loki, he was pleased.

The purchase of the residence barely put a dent into his savings. It certainly wasn't prime real-estate, as it was nowhere near the royal palace, and with only one bedroom it wasn't necessarily contested for by the booming population of families he had seen in the city streets these days. No, the purchase meant little to him in monetary value, but it had a great deal of sentimental value for him, and for that the place was a steal at best. Sigyn adored it. The way she looked up at him on the tour, the admiration she had for all his hard work and kindness, was something he wanted to hold onto for as long as possible.

She somehow managed to distract him, even when she wasn't with him, and Loki had to concentrate very hard at dinner that previous night so that he wouldn't give his game away. Thor had been annoyingly attentive lately, and he was sure the Asgardian would put his foot down when he learned what Loki had been up to lately. He wasn't actually harming anyone, mind you, but Thor's patience for his mischief had been somewhat strained since they returned from Earth, and if his false brother was the only person keeping him from Odin's wrath, he thought it best not to upset him too terribly.

However, morning came, and Loki rose with a bounce in his step. That evening, Sigyn would prepare a meal for him, and it was the first time since he had been released from his prison cell that someone had gone out of their way to do something for him with no expectations in return. Yes, she was technically doing it as a means to repay him for the safe haven he had purchased for her, but Loki knew that a meal cooked by her was done out of the goodness of her heart. His mood reflected his eagerness, and by the end of his first meal with Thor he had the blond laughing heartily into his plate, jests abound from Loki's lips.

He needed to find a way to keep himself busy for the day, or he was bound to rush over early and spoil her surprise. Loki had great faith that the servant he had paid off to escort Sigyn here and there would take her exactly where she needed to be, so all that was left for him to do was wait. However, his morning changed drastically when the little lad, the tiny servant who he suspected spied for Thor, arrived and informed him that he had a visitor: Theoric.

Now, from what he knew of the warrior's schedule, he was supposed to be at that damn arena going through training exercises in the morning, and then at Odin's beck and call come the afternoon until he was relieved. Loki drummed his fingers on his granite desk, staring hard at his servant as he went through the possibilities of the man's appearance outside his chambers. The only conclusion he drew was that the dolt somehow discovered Loki's obvious affection for his intended, and he had come to slay him. A quick glance indicated his staff remained camouflaged against the backdrop of his dark walls; he could defend himself if the warrior struck before palace security arrived.

He smirked a little, and then nodded, "Yes, let him in, and then shut the door and wait outside."

The boy darted off without acknowledging the request, and Loki's eyes narrowed; even if he wasn't spying for Thor, the sliver of a man would need to learn how to properly interact with a royal, which may require some painful tutoring. That was, however, for another time and place.

He rose as Theoric entered the room, clad in what appeared to be training armour, and schooled his features as he approached. Curiously, there was no malice in the man's face, none of the anger Loki had anticipated. Instead, the somewhat shorter man seemed humbled to be in Loki's presence, and fell to his knees in the typical salute that was usually done for Thor's benefit.

"Theoric, isn't it?" Loki purred, his lips quirking upward when the man nodded. "Is there something I can do for you today? I should have thought my… brother would be a more suitable listener to the woes of a Hawk."

"No, my prince," Theoric began. "I have come to speak specifically to you."

His eyebrow shot up, and he gestured for the warrior to rise. Then, with his hands clasped behind his back, Loki paced slowly in front of his guest, quite sure that he could reach for a weapon before he was attacked.

"Speak then."

"It is about my intended," the man started, his arms hanging dully at his side as Loki observed him. "I have heard that you and she have spent some time together as of late…"

Loki grinned and shot the man a look, "We have."

So, this Theoric character was simply a better actor than Loki had initially given him credit for. Here was the accusation he wanted, here was the chance to declare Loki's possession of something that had once belonged to a Hawk.

"I have heard many stories, and Sigyn tells me some of the things she says," Theoric prattled, shaking his head as he sighed. "I wished to come before you personally to apologize for her ignorance."

He stopped mid-stride, and then turned to face the warrior directly, his face scrunched, "What?"

"She doesn't know how to properly address a man of your position."

"Oh?" Loki's lip twitched, and he resumed pacing.

"No, she's very simple, my Sigyn," Theoric insisted. "I wanted to apologize for any impudence she may have displayed in your presence."

"I had noticed none," Loki said softly, and he swore he heard the man sigh in relief. "I have merely heard of your mistreatment of her… of your anger and displeasure."

His smile was decidedly cruel when he turned his attention back to his guest, who seemed taken aback by the comment.

"She…" Theoric trailed off, lip twitching as he shook his head, "She is known for her fables-"

"She's a very lovely woman," Loki remarked. "I think I should like to take her from you."

"Forgive me, my prince," the man said tightly as he took a step back, "but I think I misheard what you said-"

"No, no, no," Loki insisted as he countered the man with a step forward, eyes alight. "You heard me perfectly well… I think I shall make Sigyn my wife, not yours."

"I-"

"I believe I am already part of the way there," he mused, his tone jovial as he shrugged. "She is loyal, yes, but I have made her see that her loyalty is wasted on such a man."

"You lie."

"Most of the time," he chuckled, "but if you were to return home, you'll see that I've stolen her away with very minimal prompting. In fact, give me another week, and I think I shall…" He trailed off, and then laughed, "Well, I would say that we would return your ring to you, but from what I've heard, she's already lost it."

He saw the warrior inch forward, his hands balled and eyes narrowed, but if Theoric was the type of man to apologize for his intended's supposed behaviour, he wasn't the sort to attack a prince in the palace. No, he might have been a brute – as many Asgardians were – but he certainly wasn't a foolish one. To physically assault a royal could earn one the death sentence, depending on Odin's mood, and while Loki could possibly use that to his advantage, he did not want to be delayed to meet with Sigyn.

"You can't marry her," Theoric stated after a moment of tense silence. "I've had her… repeatedly for a number of years."

Loki felt his throat tighten, but he swallowed away the feeling quickly and replaced the look of irritation with one of indifference.

"I'll not be king of Asgard," he insisted. For now. "It matters not to me whether she's virginal on our wedding night… I can only assume from that, therefore, that she had yet to be properly satisfied. I like a challenge."

Theoric stared at him, quivering with what Loki assumed was rage, and he wondered if he could goad the warrior into at least striking him; a night in prison would certainly keep him off Sigyn's scent. However, before he could get another word in, the man turned sharply and stormed out of his chamber, shoving the waiting servant aside in the process.

"Is everything right, my lord?"

Loki snorted, and then gave a nod, "Yes, just as it should be."

He sauntered back toward his desk, pleased with how easy it was to send the man into a violent rage, and then turned back to the door to demand his servant fetch him some celebratory wine. However, the boy was nowhere to be seen, and Loki rolled his eyes; the lad was definitely in need of some proper lessons on how to do his job.

Sigyn was surprised how calm she was in her new surroundings. That morning, Theoric had left, as usual, for the arena, and she retrieved a small bag from the back of their closet and stuffed it full of the clothes she could not be without. For a time, she contemplated taking things from the kitchen, but she knew Theoric would need them to prepare a meal for himself that night, and it would be cruel to leave him without the tools to do so. She crafted a very articulate letter, one that detailed all of her grievances and a desperate plea for some sort of solution before they were married – for both of their sakes. When she finished, Sigyn left it in a place where she knew he could find it, and then met her palace escort right on schedule. Just as Loki had promised, the man led her downtown to her new apartment complex, and Sigyn was given the rest of the day to settle in.

Now, there wasn't much to set out in the already sparsely furnished home, but considering she was only a temporary house-guest, it seemed suited. She unpacked her dresses in the large bedroom closet, and they barely filled one row of six. With that finished, she was almost unsure of what to do with her time. Loki told her he would join her for the dinner she offered to cook sometime after sunset. However, it seemed he had already been by the home, as there was a small stipend of funds left for her on a table in the hall, with a handwritten note from her prince indicating that he thought she may need something in order to fill the pantry.

She took the hint, and Sigyn spent the majority of her afternoon at the market nearby, but she did not feel safe until she was back in the apartment. As she rummaged through fruits and vegetables, Sigyn felt as though unwelcome eyes followed her. At the time, she assumed it was the nervousness of finally leaving Theoric, of being free from that house at last, that set her on edge, but being aware of the logic certainly didn't make the experience any easier. Once she had purchased a hearty helping of dark meat – she wasn't sure how much Loki would eat, mind you – and paid for her product in full, Sigyn darted back to her temporary residence with a hood drawn over her head.

From there, she started to cook, feeling immensely comfortable in the modern kitchen once she had filled it with familiar smells. It took her a little while to get the appliances working to her liking, and she found that the water boiled much faster here than at home; she tailored her approach to the changes, and as the sun shifted its position across the bright blue sky, she knew her dinner guest ought to arrive within the next hour or so. Although he hadn't been all that specific about the time, she thought it best to hurry along; it would be rude of him to wait for his meal should he appear sometime soon.

She bent over to examine the roast, which was slowly turning in the automatic stove, and she removed her vegetables from the burner, dumped the excess water, and then set about seasoning them with the final layer of herbs. Now, she wasn't a fool – she knew Loki would have had a better meal had he opted to dine in the palace that night, but this was the only way she could possibly thank him for his generosity. Well, no, there was another way, but she couldn't possible do that; as much as he expressed a desire for her, Sigyn was engaged to another, and she couldn't bring it upon herself to thank Loki in an indecent manner.

A thunderous knock at the front door startled her enough to drop the handful of herbs into her pot accidentally, and she frowned at the overly seasoned vegetables. Here she was, rushing about and panicking that he might arrive in the next hour, and he had already arrived! Oh, and she must have looked a mess; her blonde hair was completely awry and she had the evidence of her culinary preparations all over her dress. However, if she really thought about it, Loki had seen her in a state at work, covered in dirt or berry juice, so he was bound to be accepting of a little cooking mess. Besides, she would freshen up before they sat down to dinner… Wherever that might be; she was fairly sure that the apartment did not come with a traditional table, which was something she would suggest he purchase if he wished for it to be a functional home.

She wiped her hands on her dress, figuring it would be better to have clean fingers and a messy skirt than the opposite, and hurried out of the kitchen when the knock sounded one more. Her bare feet thumped down the hall noisily, and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest when she came to a halt in front of the wide door; for some reason, she felt anxiety associated with his arrival. However, it was fairly easy to mask, and Sigyn threw her shoulders back as she gripped the recently polished knob, reminding herself to act as pleasant as possible.

Her smile faltered when she actually opened the door, unfortunately, as she did not see Loki waiting on the other side, but Theoric. Sigyn's anxiety returned in full force as she gazed up at her intended, and her arms fell limply to her sides when she noticed he seemed in a silent rage as he glared down upon her. She had seen the look a few times in the past, and she couldn't possibly imagine what might have prompted it; if he was here, it meant he had read her letter, and in it she expressed her love for him, but a desire to make it stronger.

"Did… Did you read my letter?" she asked weakly. Her hands shook as she fidgeted with her fingernails, unable to hold his gaze for more than a few seconds at a time. "I-I thought-"

She swallowed her words as he grabbed her arm, yanking her through the doorway and out onto the building's absurd stairwell. There was a chill that followed them down the side of the complex, and as he dragged her through the streets soundlessly, she couldn't help but feel as though the entire realm watched their drama. His grip dug so deeply into her flesh that she thought she felt blood trickle down her wrist from his nails, but when her eyes flickered toward the offending limb, she saw nothing. She stumbled from time to time, the base of each foot burning on the golden streets after the sun had had its way with them.

They passed through the city in silence, aside from Sigyn's occasionally whimper when they changed directions (which resulted in a painful tug on her arm), and even when they wandered through the more remote countryside they said nothing. When the military barracks came into view, when she saw the home she had abandoned that morning, she felt her eyes begin to water. He was so cross with her, so angry at her deceptions, and perhaps she could understand why; she had left this place for the solace of another. She hadn't meant to be cruel, but perhaps he had taken it as such – perhaps she had truly hurt him?

She wiped the stream of tears from her cheeks when they passed the entryway to the complex, wishing for no one to see her faults by an idle glance. However, as they neared their home, she knew that any of their closer neighbours who saw them would know they were quarrelling, that Sigyn was in trouble again. She flinched when he threw their front gate open and held in her cry when she stubbed her bare toe on the raised ground – this time she knew there would be blood. When he finally threw her into the house, an obvious disinterest in the way she stumbled and fell against the wall, she knew there was more than just hurt bubbling beneath the surface.

She cowered when he slammed the front door, shoulders shuddering and hands fisted in her skirt pathetically as he glared down at her.

"How could you do this to me?" he spat, hurrying forward and taking her firmly by her upper arms. He shook her hard enough to make her teeth chatter, "How could you humiliate me at the place where I serve? In the house of Odin, you saw fit to make a fool of me!"

"No, that's not what I wanted," Sigyn cried, eyes wide as she shrank away from him. "I only wanted some time to-"

"Be with him?" he sneered, shoving her back roughly against the wall before turning away. She blanched at the accusation. "What did you think would come of it? Did you think he would marry you instead? That your disgraced prince would grant you some… some… life of leisure?"

"He was only helping me," she told him, though they were both unconvinced at her words. "He was so kind."

"You're a fool, Sigyn," Theoric said, his voice laced with ire. "You're a naïve fool to believe that a man is kind to you for no reason. I'm sure he wanted to do nothing more than bed you, and then send you on your way! He was halfway there, wasn't he? Buying you a home-"

"It's his home," she argued as she timidly pushed her trembling body from the wall, "but this isn't about him… Please, read my letter… You'll see-"

"This one?" he asked as he snatched it from the mantel nearby. She nodded, eager to see the anger melt when he read her carefully crafted words, but her hope vanished when he ripped the envelope in half and tossed it in the hearth. "I have no desire to read the pointless ramblings of why you wished to leave me!"

"But I don't-"

"Nor do I require your lies!" he bellowed, and a sob slipped from her lips when he bore down on her again, "What trickery did he use on you? Was it a plot to oust me? Humiliate me in front of my squad? How the palace guards must laugh at silly Theoric when my intended sleeps in the prince's chambers under the guise of work!"

There was no persuading him from his malice now, and Sigyn merely turned in on herself, her side pressed firmly against the wall to shield her face from his.

"I only wanted us to be the best we can be when we marry," she whimpered as he stalked away. "Don't you see?"

His response came as he hurled a flower pot at the wall, the glass shards raining down amongst her ruined petals.

"No woman should leave her husband as you did," he told her sharply.

"We aren't married yet," Sigyn insisted, the words tumbling forth before she could stop them.

"We are as good as," he sneered. His face relaxed for a moment, as though a thought had overtaken him, and he cocked his head to the side at her, "Were you bored?"

"I… No-"

"Is there not enough for you to do here?" he continued, "Is that how he ensnared you?"

"No," she sniffed, straightening up a little and wiping her tears away again, hoping this time that they might actually engage in a proper dialogue.

"It is, isn't it?"

"Theoric-"

"Well, allow me to give you something to do for the next few days," he remarked coldly. "Perhaps it will keep your attentions here!"

She watched him stalk out of view, and only when she heard the back door being forced open did she realized what he might possibly do. Skirts in hand, Sigyn rushed after him, and only stopped when he slammed the clear door and placed a bench in front of it. Her eyes widened as he marched toward her vegetable garden, and she banged her fist against the glass.

"Theoric!" she cried, her voice cracking as he tore into the leafy greens, "Theoric, please, stop!"

Even though the sun had recently set, it was easy to see how her intended mutilated the garden, how he dug into all her hard work and made a mess of it. Roots were tossed here, stems there, and the fruits of their labour were crushed underfoot as he stomped through the soil. At the end, the only thing left untouched was her glorious tree, which was clearly too large to be snuffed out at his hand. However, as she watched him stare up at the leafy branches, many of them riddled with blossoms, she wondered if he might look for another way to hack the last of her hard work to bits.

She could have gone around from the front. Sigyn knew she could have turned around, marched out the front door, and raced to the back in order to stop him from desecrating her happy place, but what good would that do? It wouldn't soothe his anger, and it wouldn't bode well for her future. So, she simply slid to the floor and watched, knees up to her chest as she peered around the bench blocking the back exit. When he finally returned, she scrambled out of the way, but couldn't bring herself to run for hiding in the safety of their bathroom.

"I think it is fairly obvious that you will not be working at the palace anymore," Theoric muttered as he shut the door softly behind him, his breathing somewhat laboured. Sigyn noticed that he didn't bother to look at her when he walked by, which actually made the words he spoke easier to digest. "If you need to leave the house for something other than bringing me my gear to the arena, you'll do so with an escort… My mother has been interested in spending more time with you lately."

"Yes."

She didn't need an escort; after what had just happened, after the anger she had seen, Sigyn had no desire to step out of line again. Perhaps she would once the dust had settled and they were happy again, but for now it seemed easier to simply keep Theoric calm.

"Well?"

Sigyn looked up at him quickly, her eyes swollen and red, "Yes?"

"Are you going to get started on dinner?" he inquired as he glanced at the clock hanging overhead. "I'm starving… I trust you haven't been gone long enough to forget how everything works."

"N-No, of course not," she told him. She then crossed the room and disappeared into the kitchen; she was definitely going to miss the automatic stove top and oven.

Thor had ruined everything.

Loki stood before the modern oven, watching with an emotionless expression as the black roast rotated around for its audience. Evidence of Sigyn's cooking was scattered everywhere, and the residence had smelled glorious when he first stepped inside. However, she was nowhere to be found, and it was all Thor's fault.

Just as Loki had suspected, the little servant who hadn't the slightest idea of how to be a servant had been spying for his false brother, and after Theoric departed earlier in the afternoon, he had gone straight to Thor. From there, they had intercepted Theoric before he went to seek Odin's aid, and apparently managed to persuade him to drop his complaint if he could take Sigyn home with him. Loki was told all of this shortly before he left for dinner; Thor acted as though he had done him some great favour. Apparently, his trickery had been downplayed once more thanks to his glorious older brother – always there to save the day.

The servant, who was no longer Loki's to command, knew of the address because Thor had sent him to follow Loki and Sigyn the day before, and as soon as he heard the words, Loki knew he had lost her. Naturally, he needed to investigate the apartment for himself with a hope that Theoric would have rather disposed of her than collect her again. However, when he arrived, he found an unlocked door and an empty home. Thor had ruined it. He had ruined a week's worth of careful planning, and everything Loki had intended to do once he had Sigyn separated from Theoric. In a way, the Asgardian had taken away the woman he desired to make his wife, and for that Loki could not forgive him.

"If the All-father learned of your tricks, Loki, he may lessen your privileges. I do not wish to see you trapped in the palace like a prisoner again. You must not push… Drop this cruel game before word of it reaches Odin's ears, I beg of you! I couldn't stand the thought of your punishment again… He may banish you this time. Do not toy with his Hawks."

It was immensely difficult to appreciate Thor's words through his rage, and perhaps one day he would see the true meaning behind them. For now, however, it was easier to hate him, to blame him.

Loki turned off the stove, and only then did the roast stop rotating. The room was starting to smell of the charred meat, and he turned away stiffly, his mind lost to what he should do next.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

So that happened. I saw a lot of Theoric's reactions here coming from his inability to actually express how he's feeling - jealousy, betrayal, hurt, anger... all that good stuff, and his way of expressing it is to lash out at the person causing it.

There are three more chapters until we meet up with the events from the prologue, so it's time to get Loki's schemes pumped up a notch!

Much love for all the support I've been given with this story! I know I've been slack with updating, but I've been in December exam mode for a while, and sometimes that takes precedence over updating my online stuff. I'd like to be better, I swearz. Regardless, I love you all and your feedback! YOU'RE AMAZING!