Sif had little to do the rest of the morning but prepare herself for what would likely be her last and most perilous journey to Jotunheim, if her instinct was correct. Although the air in Asgard was warm and comfortable, she was already beginning to feel a chill in her blood, but she couldn't tell if it was the effect of her anticipation of her upcoming journey, or if Figga's cold words had affected her more than she'd realized. Her limbs felt numb and her mind seemed unwilling to acknowledge what had just occurred. A little denial would serve her well, though; she could deal with the implications of the queen's discovery when she returned. For the moment, she had an important task ahead of her - one that deserved her full focus and fortitude.
A few hours after her appointment with the queen, she returned to the castle, dressed in a number of layers and with a satchel full of supplies at her side. Her inventory of food would likely last a few days, but an unpleasant feeling in her gut made her believe it wouldn't be necessary.
Thor was waiting for her in Odin's hall. A long, grey cloak with a deep hood disguised his body and face and his hair had been tied back to hide its unique color from sight. There wasn't an element of his iconic red on his person, but the most noticeable absence was Mjolnir, which was normally found hanging proudly from his side. It was well-hidden under his coats, she surmised, knowing he wouldn't spare the Frost Giants its company, should they present a threat.
"Is my disguise sufficient enough to fool the Frost Giants?" he asked.
She smiled. "I suppose you'd pass as a bodyguard - or my manservant."
He chortled, but despite her dry jest, there was despair in her eyes, inadequately disguised by her humor and the focus on her duty. "Are you truly apprehensive about this task? Or is there something else wrong?"
She looked up at him in surprise, amazed that he could read her through an honest attempt to hide her troubles from his view. "No," she lied softly, "it has already been a long day following a sleepless night, that is all."
Thor nodded in understanding. "Does this have anything to do with my mother?"
She shook her head; another lie.
"Sif," he started cautiously, "if it's nothing too private, I wish to know what you discussed. I love my mother, but I worry at times that she is making plans for me beyond my knowledge."
"It's nothing like that," she said, either missing or ignoring the humor in his tone, "but I'd rather not say. It's a trivial matter; that's all you need know."
She had hoped he would accept her response and move on to the more important situation at hand, but she could see the argument already brewing in his eyes. Her mind raced to find some other deception, but she was never forced to use one. Just as he opened his mouth to counter her, a group of no fewer than six Einherjar walked in along with their captain, interrupting his thought. The guards were surrounding a very disgruntled-looking Loki, who'd had the chains and mask replaced and was not pleased about it.
"What is he doing here?" Sif asked. His eyes met hers briefly, but she was merely greeted with a hard and cold stare, not unlike the sort he often granted her before they had taken to sharing his bed. She was not prepared to see his face so soon, especially filled with such contempt. It compounded with the other events of the day and brought a knot to her throat, but she pushed back the threat of emotion and awaited Thor's answer.
"I wanted him close," he answered.
"He has not fallen for your bluff. He knows you wouldn't relinquish him to the Frost Giants so easily."
"I know," he said, "but I would like him to believe in the chance that I may yet change my mind."
Loki laughed as the guards sat him down at the far side of the room and chained him to a heavy bench. After all their years, Thor was completely ignorant about the range of his hearing and the echo of their large halls. Regardless, it would have been easy enough to see through his deception. Thor had grown even softer since his return to Earth; Loki was beginning to wonder if there was anything he could ever do to make his once-brother angry enough to take his life.
Sif excused herself from Thor for a moment and approached the captain of the Einherjar. He still respected her, despite of his disagreement with Thor's earlier doubt in his guards' fortitude, and so he didn't react as defensively as he normally would have when she requested to check Loki's binds for herself. She was relieved when he didn't follow her, more so when the other guards gave her space.
He watched her carefully and lifted an amused eyebrow when she actually began checking the locks and the amount of slack in the chains around his arms and legs. He had been expecting some lecture or ultimatum after that morning, but her lips were curiously silent. "You're going to Jotunheim again," he surmised, "with Thor."
"Yes," she answered simply.
"A private, little holiday with your former betrothed. How wonderful for you," he said in his slippery voice. "I suppose you're finished with me, then." He attempted to keep his amused appearance, but his brow flinched visibly and a scowl quickly supplanted his normal cruel, sardonic smirk.
She looked up at him slowly, an odd, incredulous expression on her features. "Is that jealousy?" she snapped quietly, avoiding the appearance of anger as continued to run over his chains. "For someone who is nothing more to you than means to your revenge?"
His obstinate nature would not allow him to admit his words were wrong, but as a shadow of pain crossed her features, he suddenly felt a wave of regret for having lost his temper so easily that morning. "Sif…" he started. He kept his voice low for her sake. "...when you have finished your mission, come to my chambers. If my teasing you has affected you so much…"
"It is pointless - and it was no tease."
"Is the mighty Sif really so easily defeated?" he asked.
She ignored his question and reached around his head, checking the clasp of his mask. "Your mother knows everything," she said. "I have paid for her discretion with the promise that this has ended - a decision that was not difficult to make."
He had no clever quip or sardonic response, instead he sat silently, his eyes softening in rare form. Her anger diminished at the sight of his sincere expression, though she had no way to verify its authenticity and he was an exceptional actor. She wished he would say something of some nature that would make her feel better and lighten the weight on her shoulders, something that would make her believe that the last two months weren't purely an act, something to indicate he might've enjoyed her company for some legitimate reasons, even if those reasons were limited to her body.
"I…" he started again.
"Is everything alright?" Thor asked, witnessing the distressed expression on Sif's face though he knew not what had been transpired between them.
Loki's words died on his tongue with this interruption. Sif looked back at Thor and gave him a reassuring nod. "This is not the time," she whispered to Loki, "nor will it ever be."
She had more to say, but as it nearly spilled from her lips, she stopped herself. Getting into the middle of this conversation had been a misstep in their present company - and she had not the energy to see it to completion. With merely a sigh, she stepped away and back to Thor.
"Everything is fine," she answered Thor. "Loki has taken the defensive in the only way he's able, but it's nothing I can't handle."
The prince looked at her oddly again, his concern for her unfaltering due to her continued, apparent dismay. "Are you certain?"
She responded with a simple nod, but it was enough considering the challenge that rested before them. He pulled the portal device from his coat. The small mechanism burned bright and blue with renewed energy, filling the room and catching their prisoner's eye. They exchanged additional quiet words, but Loki could not hear beyond his focus on the device within Thor's hand. With a movement of his thumb across its surface, they vanished.
The light of Asgard disappeared; as though they had fallen through ice into freezing water, they were suddenly rushed with frigid air. Sif shuddered, but she quickly corrected herself, showing no other additional weaknesses to the cold. She wondered if there would ever be a day when she would be able to withstand the dark skies and sharp wind of the dying planet, though she doubted such a wicked climate would lend itself to acclimation for anyone who was not a native. Part of her hoped this meeting would go as poorly as she expected it to, so she could forget this world and leave the memories of its unwelcoming crust in the past.
She took a few steps forward, beginning the long hike from their position to the steward's hall. When Thor didn't immediately follow, she looked back, growing concerned with the look of worry that was poorly shrouded by his hood. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Now that we're here, I'm not at peace with this," he said. "I feel as though we are already under their careful watch."
"We likely are," she answered, "but this is no different than my previous visits, and they have yet to try and harm me."
Thor nodded in acknowledgement, but his look didn't improve. He turned the portal device in his fingers and held it out to her. "Here - if this journey should turn sour, don't hesitate to return. Odin can open the portal from Asgard's side and retrieve me later."
"And strand you here?" she asked disbelievingly.
"Mjolnir and I have stood well against them before and we will again," he argued quietly. "There is no need to worry about me."
Hesitantly, she took device from him and secured it to her own belt. They continued on from there, trudging over the gray, brittle rocks and through the snow to the broken towers of the Jotun palace. As they travelled, Sif grew increasingly aware of how correct Thor's observation had been. They were being watched and the edge of tension was present in the atmosphere around them; she sensed bloodlust.
Just as before, they weren't greeted until they were well within the walls of the palace grounds. It was no secret now that they were surrounded, but Sif resisted expressing her fears, and Thor followed her cue, keeping his head down so it remained in shadow. Before long, the liaison walked over to meet them; with his shorter stature, he stood only a foot taller than Thor, but his face was tightly knit in seriousness, mirroring the threat she felt in the air. Sif had been relieved to see his small form, but now that she could see his eyes, she wondered if her trust hadn't been misplaced.
"Your guest is unwelcome," he said lowly, his deep voice barely a whisper above the wind.
"He is merely my guard. He intends no harm against those who wish me none," she answered.
"Even if you stood alone, you have returned too soon. The steward wants nothing to do with you."
She looked uneasily toward Thor. She'd feared as much, but in her understanding of Asgard's position and her respect for the Allfather, she didn't wish to oppose him. "Our timeline has changed," she explained, "and we did not want to rescind our offer before speaking with you of the options still available to…"
"Did you bring the traitor?" he interrupted.
Her brow furrowed. This was unlike him, and the manner in which his eyes continued to shift from her to the walls and doors around them served only to increase her discomfort. "No," she answered simply.
The liaison sighed deeply. "Then you should leave - now. There is no need to speak with him when his answer can be so clearly predicted. He will not allow any Jotun to leave this world at Asgard's bidding and you would only test his patience by expecting anything else."
"I'm grateful for your counsel," she began, "but I am here on my king's orders and I can't yet allow the matter to rest."
He took a step closer to her, and though her trust wavered, she resisted moving back from him. "There have been some changes in our circumstances that you cannot begin to understand. If you do not turn back," he began, "it is likely you will not leave our soil again. Consider my words carefully before you act."
Thor scoffed quietly under his cloak and Sif looked sharply at him in warning. He couldn't give into these threats so quickly, not when the real danger stood so far beyond the liaison himself.
The liaison had yet to ask about her company, but had not the chance. A small group of much larger Frost Giants approached from the shadows, taking all control from the liaison regarding the direction of this mission. This worried Sif more than anything, for by the look on the liaison's face, she had already lost this contest.
"Asgardian," the leader of them spoke, "you are under the watch of myself and my men for the duration of your stay. If you wish to have audience with the king, you must first lay down your weapons."
"You've never before requested such a precaution," she argued. Her right hand subtly grasped the grip of her sword.
"You have never before brought an additional outsider to these negotiations. Extra care is warranted," he replied, "and this was not a request."
Despite his clear advantage in size, this Frost Giant's voice didn't ring as deeply as the liaison's, neither did his eyes contain the sense of stoic honesty she'd grown to trust. Her shoulders tightened, but Thor's blue eyes shined reassuringly from the shadow of his hood. She hesitantly acquiesced and untied her swords from the belt around her waist.
"Who is king?" she asked as they waited for her to reveal and surrender every blade she concealed on her body. She assumed this was the great change which the liaison was referring to in his warning. "What has happened to the steward?"
"King Laufey left no suitable heirs," said the Jotun. "Since our time dwindles, we have chosen to break his line and elect our steward as his successor."
"And your people were content with this?" she asked in surprise, glancing briefly towards the liaison, who would not meet her eyes.
"The vote was mostly unanimous," he replied. His expression took on a greasy, snide appearance as he looked towards the liaison. Sif's apprehension grew worse.
Thor had taken a hunting dagger from his cloak in an attempt to avoid looking as though he'd come unarmed, a move that would've made the Frost Giants far more suspicious of his mysterious presence. One member of the garrison took it from him, laughing as it appeared comically small in his oversized hand. "Is this the extent of your guard's defense?"
"We are on a mission of peace," she reminded them, "but I assure you, it is all he would need."
The Frost Giant stared down at her, straightening his back as if to emphasize his towering height. Her eyes narrowed and never fell from his, and despite her diminutive size, she rose to his silent challenge. His lips curved into a crooked smile. "Such blades you possess to pierce the skin of another with a simple stare - hardly befitting for an emissary of peace," he said, a sardonic humor lacing every tone that concurrently served to patronize her.
"If that unnerves you, perhaps you should taste the steel of my sword," she said in a strong, unwavering tone.
"You threaten easily, Asgardian," he said with a deep chuckle, "though it proves just another reason why we require the surrender of your weapons - all of your weapons."
Her heart sped within her chest. Thor had hidden Mjolnir well beneath the layers of his coats. Had the Jotuns the ability to sense its power? "I have given them all," she answered firmly, calling his bluff.
"What sort of fools do you mistake us for?" he asked. "The device on your belt - relinquish it or turn back to where you came from."
She was not eased by learning his true focus. "It's not a weapon," she argued.
"We are not so ignorant. It glows with a great energy. Regardless of its use on your journey here, it may cause us harm, should our truce end here today."
"It's our only means by which to return home," she pressed further.
"Then return - or give it to me for keeping."
She looked back towards Thor, hoping for counsel. He nodded subtly, contradicting what her instinct was nearly shouting in her ears. Still, he was her prince, and they both knew that this was likely their last chance to attain what Odin had sought since the last Great War. Despite her better judgment, she removed the device from her belt and tossed it to the Frost Giant. "If it is not returned to us…"
He didn't verbally acknowledge her threat, but his eyes and smirk conveyed his understanding. "Go to your regular accommodations. If the king wishes to meet, we will summon you."
The group of Frost Giants left with their weapons and so Sif turned to lead Thor towards the small alcove which held their only protection from the planet's elements. The liaison quickly caught up to them, but concurrently behaved as though he didn't wish to be seen speaking with them. "You should have heeded my advice. There is nothing I can do now to help you."
"Liaison, if I'd…"
"Do not be so foolishly persistent," he snapped. "If you fail to see the severity in my warning, perhaps you are no better than we have thought of you - and you deserve what is coming."
His discussion with them had drawn some attention and so he turned and left abruptly, before she was able to reply. Her eyes fell on Thor again, but he seemed indifferent to the liaison's strong words. She knew their odds, but it was quickly becoming apparent to her that they had already failed - and would not leave Jotunheim without struggle.
Sif led Thor to her shelter. He remarked on its inadequacy and how uncomfortable it was, but he seemed relieved for its privacy, and what little guard it offered against the frigid wind. He pulled his hood back and as Sif lit a flame over a small container of fuel between them, he took off his gloves and desperately tried to warm his hands.
"This is not going well," she said, breaking the stretch of silence within the tent.
He chortled wryly. "I've come to that conclusion myself."
"I understand the Allfather's concerns, but we've returned too early. It's a game now - and we are merely expendable pawns to them."
"For the sake of my father's hope, we will play it out," he responded, "though I have little doubt the Frost Giants will see Mjolnir again before we leave." She smiled in uncertainty. "We will be fine," he added reassuringly.
"Of that, I have no doubt," she said, "but I pity those who wanted our aid and shared peace. They'll perish at the will of their new king - and there's nothing we can give them for aid."
Thor pressed his frozen lips together. He felt admiration for Sif's compassion for the people who had long been Asgard's enemy. He was also beginning to feel the weight of his share of the responsibility on his shoulders. He came with Sif because of his own selfish desire to distance himself from his pain; if he'd remained behind and allowed Sif to come by herself, perhaps her reception would've been more kind.
"I was too eager for a change in my circumstances to see it," he said. His brow furrowed, and as he continued, his voice dropped in its register and his words came more deliberately. "This is not the first instance my faulty sense of timing has created more hardship."
Such a vague response was difficult for her to read; he had referenced "timing" before in their conversations about their past and she had little doubt his remark also referred to what had occurred with Jane - who had remained mysteriously absent from the hall that morning and from their conversation thus far. Then again, with the various troubles that were pressing upon his shoulders, it could be any number of issues influencing his thoughts. She debated on whether or not to ask him, weighing their recent arguments against the love they still had towards one another.
"Has Jane Foster returned to Midgard?" she asked hesitantly, cursing the nerves and apprehension that suddenly appeared in her voice. He sighed quietly. "I've overstepped my limits. I'm sorry…"
"No, you haven't," he said adamantly, "those are limits I never should have imposed on you in the first place." She smiled softly, acknowledging the apologetic warmth in his tone. "I did return Jane to Earth. Her tolerance for our differences grew too thin, and her longing for her own home, too strong. When she learned of the division her presence caused our people, she felt it was the better for Asgard to part ways for the time being."
"I…" she started, searching for her reply carefully. "It was kind of her - to consider our wellbeing above her own."
"I'm grateful for your efforts, Sif, but we both know there was more to her purpose," he said. "I never should have brought her. She was overwhelmed - both by our realm and the pressure I placed upon her."
"Is - is it over then?" she asked with a stutter, driven more by concern and curiosity than jealousy, though she still felt the faint weight of guilt in her gut.
He didn't answer at first, but his hesitancy was due to the fact that he wasn't sure of his response; he thought nothing ill of her question. "I told her I would return to Earth and reunite with her - and although it is likely I will be called there again, I'm not certain it would be best…" he trailed off, pausing to think as he rubbed his hands over the fire. "She will never really feel at home in Asgard - and I'm not certain our people are any more likely to welcome her, especially into a position of authority. It would be irresponsible - to bring someone to my side who cannot give everything of herself if it was required of her. You were right, Sif, as was my father. I scorned you for seeing what I was blind to."
She should have been elated, relieved, and touched by his admission. Jane had done what damage she would, but she would no longer be a looming risk and an uncertainty in a trying time. These, however, weren't the thoughts that were running through her mind and the happiness she expected with this news didn't come. As he spoke, he looked defeated, in a sense, like someone who was quickly folding under the pressures of his position. She was disappointed, but it was suddenly no mystery why he'd insisted on coming along. She wondered if he secretly wanted the situation to deteriorate, so he could swing Mjolnir without excuse or limit and enjoy the rush of blood to his heart that often followed.
"I've never seen you surrender so quickly to a challenge," she said.
He looked up at her sharply, surprised by her tough and unsympathetic tone. "What would you have me do? This challenge was not one I could simply overcome with my might."
"No," she said, "and if it were, you would've overcome it already. I don't know what you should do - and I'm hesitant to offer you advice or criticism. What I do know, what I have remained keenly aware of, and what has been the cause of my cynicism from the beginning - is that you have seen something in her - something which possesses enough worth to risk your father's wrath and your people's patience. Something worthy of so much risk should not be abandoned at one failure." She leaned closer to him, placing her gloved hand upon the stubble of his growing beard. He met her eyes, and for the first time in a long time, enjoyed the complete honesty and sincere love they held for him.
He smiled sadly, considering his words carefully before speaking. "You would have me pursue her to Earth? Despite…" he started carefully, "...the worthy options that have been within my arm's grasp this entire time?"
Her eyes instantly fell, as did the smile on her mouth. Even though her skin was numbed by the frozen wind, she felt blood burning in her cheeks and lips. In the great war of dissonance that had been waged within her heart from the moment she'd first heard of Jane, this felt like the final battle. "I would have you be happy," she replied roughly, willing away the water that had blurred her vision, lest it freeze there.
Thor's heart melted and every negative thought he'd held against her faded forever from memory. He admired her never so much as he did at that moment, but it hardly felt appropriate to express how much, considering their situation and the various influences within it. Instead, he simply pulled her hand from his cheek and kissed her palm; the return of her smile was his reward. "You deserve happiness - far more than what I was ever able to give you."
She laughed wryly. "No," she said adamantly, "you were the great love of my youth. Everything I have since found has fallen far short of your standard." Her lips fell again with the volume of her voice. "Even my most recent attempts, I'm afraid."
A rich sense of nostalgia for her filled his chest with her words. He had pursued from before their adolescence, but the chase was easy, given her admiration for him. As a result, he had taken her for granted during their best years, and he was beginning to understand the unspoken reasons she may have so suddenly cancelled their betrothal. At the same time these thoughts occurred to him, her last statement had begun to take root in his mind. Although he knew it was not his business, he asked his question. "'Recent attempts?' Are you with someone?"
She regretted the addendum she'd added, realizing she had left her secret vulnerable. Still, she felt a sense of relief with the very idea of speaking with him after having shrouded herself in dishonesty for so long. "In the loosest possible terms," she answered. She scoffed quietly and frowned as her eyes returned to the ground. The words from her own mouth surprised her, as she'd been content to consider it done until the moment she answered his question.
"Who is he?"
She chortled as she carefully considered her answer, knowing she was far too great a coward to say it outright. "He's - a challenge."
His lips curved upward. "Shall I point out your hypocrisy now, or would you like to tell me the whole story?"
She knew him better than to take offense to his question; she had heard the jest in his tone. Still, her heart felt pain when she considered her answer. His lightheartedness would only be supplanted by anger if she told him everything. "Oh, I have fought this challenge well, though I'm still not completely certain as to why."
He furrowed his brow in confusion. "You speak as though you're not interested in keeping him, but I sense some grief in your voice. I don't understand."
"Neither do I," she answered honestly, "but he is vain, prideful, and selfish. No matter what efforts I make, he will never change. This challenge is insurmountable."
He sighed through his nose. "It's a poor match."
"He is," she said with a subtle, dry smile.
"Then why are you with him still?"
She couldn't bring herself to acknowledge it with her own mind, let alone to speak it aloud. Loki's tongue was poison, his heart a block of ice, and his mind held nothing but concern for power and his ill-aimed revenge. Still, his hands set a fire within her body she had not felt in a very long time, and in the few moments he spent focused on her each night, she felt as though she were the center of Yggdrasil. Despite what common sense told her, she swore at times she could still see the legitimate, true affection he once held for her within his deep, green eyes. There were moments when she had fooled herself into believing there was something more profound in his actions, as though every stroke of his flesh expressed something for which he could not find words.
She closed her eyes in shame, knowing Thor was awaiting a valid response. It was a lovely fantasy, that was all.
"Why do you delay your answer?" he asked after her long silence.
"Because it is not worth the waste of breath to speak of it," she finally said, "and it likely no longer matters."
He moved around their small fire until he was next to her. She was grateful for the closeness, for it brought more warmth and his large frame acted as a greater shield against the wind. Despite her tumultuous feelings, she leaned against his shoulder, smiling softly as he wrapped his arm around her to draw her nearer. "You deserve someone who will make you feel something better than this controversy he has stirred within your heart. But - if there is hope for change, I wish he would become what you need."
"Why would you say that?"
"He is horrible for you and yet you keep him, still. You must feel stronger than you realize for this mysterious man - whom I already, greatly dislike."
She laughed softly, considering his words as she absentmindedly held his hand in hers. "There are not many men I have ever felt so strongly for as to forgive the sort of trespasses he has made against me," she said, looking up towards him. "I wouldn't count him among them."
"Would you have counted me within those ranks?" he asked softly.
A sad smile spread across her lips. "What trespasses did you commit against me in our time together?"
"Perhaps none or few when we were betrothed, but ever since, they've been innumerable," he confessed, "and I am grateful to you for remaining in my company regardless of them. I know you aimed to adopt some distance from me due to what has happened recently, but in all honesty, this was something I never wished." He looked down to meet her brown eyes. Her face seemed to disobey the darkness that surrounded them, emitting a light and warmth he had not seen from her since they were deeply in love. Matching her smile, he stroked the edge of her chin and her cheek where the icy air had left a blush.
In spite of the cold, his finger left a heat against her skin. She leaned slightly into his palm, her heart aching with a conflict between what she wanted and what she thought was right. It brought her some relief to realize that for the first time in weeks, this internal battle had nothing to do with Loki. "I suppose my fealty runs too deeply to ever venture too far from your side. I was a fool for thinking my heart was ever capable of it."
"And I was foolish for making you believe that was what I wanted," he answered. His gaze fell to her lips as his calloused palm continued to rest upon her soft skin. Her pull towards him was stronger than it had been in years, and if it was not his intention to make her feel this way, then she was very confused.
Her brow fell and wrinkled as the light from her eyes dimmed. It caused a weight in his heart to see such an expression of pain on her features, for he knew exactly its cause. "Then what is it you do want?" she asked roughly. "I haven't the energy to continue guessing."
His eyes did not leave hers, but no sound left his lips. His mouth opened as though he would respond, but he only sighed dejectedly. As moments passed, the hope that had grown in her heart diminished. "I owe you an answer," he said, "but I - I have none to give right now. I suppose..."
Once again, his words failed him. She could see his troubles weighing down on his shoulders, but she was also relieved to see his lips curve upward slightly, despite his continued silence. Her patience for his response worked against her; before he could retrieve his words, there was an interruption.
"Asgardians," a loud voice range from outside the opening of their tent, "the king will take audience with you."
Sif looked at Thor apprehensively, but the confidence in his expression had returned. The smile of one welcoming a challenge graced his lips before it was obscured once again by the shadow of his hood. Sif began to wonder if the Frost Giants would issue the first swing in this battle of patience, or if Thor's brash nature would return before their business was finished.
The Jotun soldier and his garrison encircled the pair as they left their tent and they began another hike to the palace in tense silence. As they entered the far gates, Sif felt the return of the odd, prickly sensation she'd felt from the people since her first journey there. They watched her closely, some with curiosity and amazement, but others with suspicion and hate. Despite the perpetual darkness of Jotunheim's eternal night, she could see their murderous eyes as they followed her, and could sense the bloodlust in their hearts.
After many long minutes of smothering silence, Thor chortled lightly. "What's wrong?" Sif asked.
"What hate they keep for us," he whispered cautiously. The snow began falling harder, aiding his efforts in keeping his voice below the range of their hearing. "I have little doubt they are parading us in front of their people for the purposes of gaining their people's attention and arousing their wrath - as though they're trying to stir a riot."
"We've done nothing to encourage it," she argued.
"We wouldn't have to. Their fear and abhorrence is already in their heart; it would take but one small spark to elicit enough anger to justify violence."
She sighed, missing the reassuring weight of her sword on her hip. She felt exposed and vulnerable without it. "I'm beginning to understand what Loki must feel like when he is brought into the halls of the palace - in his own home, no less."
Thor looked strangely at her from beneath his hood, surprised by her words and the sympathy contained within. "I wouldn't have expected such empathy for one who has committed Loki's sins - especially from you."
She bit her lip, unwilling to elaborate or argue. Additional words would only endanger her further and their mutual murmurings were only worsening the Frost Giant's distrust. Her silence went unnoticed. As they entered the pitch black hall of the Jotun king, the unpleasant whispers of Thor's instinct became a deafening scream. His smile widened in defiance, never diminishing as they approached the throne.
The king sat back in his ornate, frozen throne. He looked down his nose at his visitors with nothing but snide contempt and the sadistic smile of one who had defeated law and tradition in order to win his position. He was dressed no differently than the men in his company, but as they bowed to his presence, his eyes filled with the pride of knowing he was above them. Thor looked upon him with astonishment, recognizing how poor a fit he was for his chair.
"You are pressing your fortune against the limits of my patience," the king spoke threateningly. "What bids your return to our realm? Is it true that Odin and his whelp have denied our request for the extradition of Laufey's assassin?"
Sif raised her head, lifting her chin so he could clearly see her face; she straightened her posture and her features became as cold and as firm as the stones beneath her. Her eyes met the king's unabashedly, a courageous fire within their brown depths. This small change did wonders, making her seem a larger, stronger figure than her diminutive size afforded. For a moment, Thor recognized the reason why his father had favored her so strongly as a potential wife; despite her expressed uneasiness regarding this assignment, she possessed every ounce of strength and dignity Asgard deserved from its great leaders. She was beautiful and terrible at the same time, standing firm against a room full of fearsome beings who were twice her height and seemed to be looking for any excuse to eviscerate her on the throne room floor. She swallowed her fears and had risen to the challenge of meeting the king on his own level - and until that day, when Thor had insisted on accompanying her, she had done it all alone.
"I'm here to deliver the Allfather's message to you and your court," she said firmly, foregoing the formalities she would've shown towards any other king. "It is as you said. Odin has rejected your terms. He will not relinquish his son, regardless of what your conditions mean for your people."
The king released a subtle, but sharp breath, somewhere between a scoff and a laugh, though his eyes remained stubbornly locked on hers. Thor furrowed his brow in confusion under his hood. The Jotun king didn't appear to be surprised, meaning that he'd had no intention or aim of seriously considering Odin's offer. This had been a game to him from the beginning, one with the goal of justifying a show of aggression towards Asgard. He wondered if Sif knew this, and if she did, if she had been prepared to fight them on her own prior to his insistence on accompanying her. She would've been their sole target; when Odin had chosen her as his ambassador, he had placed her neck at the tip of his enemy's sword.
"The mercy of the Allfather is capricious," the king said. His voice dropped and as he spoke, he had leaned forward in his seat.
Sif shook her head. "Your people are still welcome to relocate with the aid of our resources. This proposal was never conditional upon your counteroffer."
He scoffed lowly. "Do you really believe I would allow my people to abandon our home for Niflheim?"
"It was our hope you would see reason," she argued. "It's inevitable that…"
"Reason? There is little 'reason' in cowardice," he said wryly.
"Then you've condemned your people to death."
Despite Sif's grave words, the king smiled. "To die is better than to indebt ourselves to Odin to the point of slavery."
"Your distrust of us has skewed your judgment. That was never his motivation," she argued. "Is it so difficult to understand our compassion for those who may wish to evacuate this world?"
"You seem to believe I emerged from my mother's womb only yesterday. You flaunt this new power, this resource, this device of dark energy that has allowed your passage here, before us as a threat. You call my predecessor's assassin a 'traitor' to satisfy our ears, but you protect him as though he has done no wrong. You have claimed your plea is benevolent, but I am not so easily fooled. The Allfather has come to enslave us through charity. This merely an attempt to regain his control - but I will not surrender to his grip as easily as our last king."
She listened to his words carefully, allowing him to finish his rant in a show of remarkable patience. "Is there nothing we can do to convince you of your error?"
"No; Jotunheim's truce with Asgard died with Laufey. If the Allfather or one of his constituents appears here again, I will consider it an act of war."
His words were filled with an adamancy and stubbornness she had encountered before. She felt like a failure, but she knew persistence would only expend valuable energy and worsen their tension. She glanced briefly at Thor, but he gave no indication of his own will. He trusted her.
"You've sealed your fate, but we will respect your wishes. This offer will not be made again," she answered. "Return our weapons and we'll leave you to your demise."
The guard that had led them through the palace laughed lowly from the shadows. The hair on the back Sif's neck suddenly stood up as the stress in the room doubled.
"You may have your swords back, if you believe they will help, but I am keeping the device. Such power could serve us well," he spoke lightheartedly, as though he hadn't just issued them a death sentence.
Sif disguised the panic she suddenly felt within her gut. "It won't serve you," she argued. "The power store within the device is temporary and contains only enough energy to transport a small group."
"We will study it while it lives then, but I will not return it to the Allfather and allow its power to slip through my fingers."
"It would strand us," she argued again.
"So it would," he answered antagonistically. "A word of caution before you begin your new lives here: our citizens are not overly fond of your people. I would use care in your interactions with them."
She could hear the distinct cracking of the ice in the air around them. The others present within the throne room of the new king had used their powers to materialize daggers, short swords, and javelins made of ice in their hands. It appeared they were finished with her and with Asgard's offers for help and peace. Thor subtly felt for Mjolnir's handle under his coats, but he made no other move. He looked towards the alarmed Sif, signaling her with a slight nod of his head that they should leave their current environment before instigating their struggle. She opened her mouth as if to protest, but she dropped it quickly, realizing she had no means of defending herself.
"Odin will not have this," she issued as her final threat. "You will do nothing but invite his presence here if you don't allow my return."
The king rubbed his chin as if in thought, but his cold smirk never faded. "I hope you have adequate supplies. I am in doubt you will be able to find much charity here once you run out of food."
She exhaled briskly, but said nothing further. They left the palace, abandoning their verbal efforts and allowing the king to relish his imagined victory. Once they were beyond the ears of the palace guards, Sif whispered, "what now?"
He stopped and pulled her close enough to make his response as quiet as possible. "We find where they've taken the device and reclaim it," he said. "At the very least, we'll find your weapon and fight our way to it." She nodded, though she wondered how likely it was that they would so easily locate any of their items on the dark planet before the king wasted the device's remaining energy, or used it to take himself to Asgard in an attempt at a surprise attack. Even Mjolnir would only get them so far in their search. "Sif - what I originally said is still true. If we are separated and you find the device first, leave with it. I will find my way home shortly after."
"If the situation truly calls for it, I'll consider…"
Thor heard the blade whistling in the air, but could do nothing to stop it before it hit its mark. Sif gasped and held her arm, turning to meet the garrison of Frost Giants that had followed them to the grounds. One of them displayed a wicked smile on his lips as he materialized another ice dagger from the air. It took only a moment to connect the hole in her coats and the fresh cut on her lower shoulder with its source.
"What is this?!" Thor growled, no longer as concerned for his concealment as he was for the drops of garnet falling from Sif's fingers onto the snow beneath them.
"So this is what it takes for the silent bodyguard to loosen his tongue," the Jotun spoke dryly. "The protection of the king no longer covers you as an emissary. You are intruders upon this world - and we shall dispatch you quickly."
Sif silently seethed in her anger as she watched all of the work and suffering she had endured go quickly to waste. "Foul, treacherous...!"
Once again, her words were interrupted. The Frost Giant's fingers released the blade of ice with the aid of his energy. Quicker than a breath, he threw it towards her neck. It flew through the air faster than she was able to evade it, but still, it never touched her skin. Shattered ice fell to the ground like glass; Mjolnir had been drawn, and had saved her life.
The small crowd behind the group of soldiers broke out in murmurs of astonishment at the sight of the legendary weapon that few in the history of its existence had ever had the strength to wield, but the leader of the garrison raised his hand to silence them.
"We are honored, Odinson, that you have graced us with your presence once again," he said, his voice slithering through his lips in a manner that struck familiarity in both Thor and Sif. "Allow us to remind you of the hospitality of Jotunheim."
The leader yelled suddenly, and the men behind him charged forward. Others followed from the shadows, swarming them in a circle from all sides. Instinctively, Sif turned her back towards Thor's but she had no weapon or shield. Against two dozen or more Frost Giants, she could do little but work to stay alive and allow him to face their enemies unencumbered by any worry for her safety.
Three had set themselves apart with their speed and had stepped within the reach of Thor's arm first. With one powerful swing, he knocked them all back, sending them crashing into the stone walls behind them. One more approached and with an upward thrust, he pushed the hammer into his chin, snapping his neck and putting him down permanently. Thor had turned to his left to dispatch this opponent, but as he did, another attacked from the right, grabbing the arm that held his weapon. Thor began to feel the sting of cold quickly bite through his coats where the Frost Giant gripped him, but he did not loosen his grasp on his weapon's handle. The Jotun had underestimated real strength of Thor's arm, even without the aid of Mjolnir. With merely an empty fist, Thor threw a closed punch, shattering the attacker's nose and sending him hence as he recoiled in pain.
Thor's method of defending himself against a few attackers at a time would not work for long; reinforcements were closing in on him in greater numbers. Mjolnir was capable of releasing enough energy to fell them all at once, but the chance of collateral damage was far too great. Sif was well within the range of his attacks, and considering she was still unarmed, he didn't want her to leave his side. He continued to carefully control his strength and had already bested a great number of their enemy, but pulled punches only did so much damage, and nearly every opponent he put down regathered their strength and attacked again.
Most of his men set their sights upon Thor, wanting their turn against the mighty Mjolnir and its wielder, but the leader could easily spot the Asgardian's true weakness, and it rested not in the prince himself. He ceased his efforts against Thor and shifted his focus to his weaker counterpart. She was doing what she could against those who fought her, but her methods were limited to blocking with her own body and dodging their weapons. If any of her adversaries were to turn their full strength against her, she would not hold her energy for long.
The Frost Giant summoned a blade of ice to encompass his forearm, running towards her with full speed and force. She sensed him early and saw his approach, but it did little to help. His first swing with the sharp edge of his blade was evaded, but his body slammed into hers, his great weight sending her away from Thor's side and to the ground with a harsh impact. She recovered her senses quickly and opened her eyes, turning her head just in time to miss the tip of the blade he had pointed at her eye. The blade sunk deeply into the ground, causing a moment when he struggled to pull it free. She used this short moment of vulnerability to violently sweep the back of his knees with her legs. He was forced into a kneel, but it barely slowed him down. He dissolved the blade, freeing his arm so he could swing the back of his fist at her head. She fell back several feet onto the unforgiving stone.
"You never should have returned, Emissary," he spat. "Your king is a thief and a liar; he would never own our obedience and fealty."
She fought to catch her breath as he sneered down at her. With a roar, he put his hands together in a ball and lunged, aiming for the center of her chest with all of the power and weight he had in his body. Despite her smaller and weaker form, and the faults he believed all Asgardians to own, she defied his strike and blocked it with her own crossed arms. She groaned and struggled against his strength, his shock at her resiliency providing some help to her ability to fight back. Once he recovered from this unpleasant surprise, however, he only pushed harder.
Her high-pitched scream filled the air as she felt her right arm break under his pressure. Despite the shock and pain that travelled through the length of her body, she held strong. Shifting her weight, she turned on her toe and pulled him forward. The sudden loss of resistance caused him to stumble forward. With another strong, well-timed kick, she knocked him to the ground and landed her knee into his neck. He gasped, unable to breathe in, and lost consciousness shortly afterward. It was a battle won, but he would soon recover and as she looked back at the numbers descending on Thor, she knew it would not be long enjoyed.
For half a moment in his intense struggle, Thor met her eyes. She was holding her arm and more Frost Giants were gathering behind her. It was unlikely she would best another opponent, and their enemies showed no signs of slowing down.
With a yell, he forced back the latest swarm of his attackers using a weak blast of energy from his weapon. He had only a small window of opportunity. He reached around her waist, throwing Mjolnir into the air as hard and as fast as he was able, though he was not used to tossing it in such a short space. The muscles in his arms and chest strained as he held onto her and the strap of his hammer, but despite their fast climb, his short throw landed them well within the sight of their massing adversaries. They were up on a short ledge that the Jotuns, despite their height, would have to climb, but it would take only moments before they would overtake them.
He set her down quickly, having no time to care for her arm. She grimaced at the hard impact, but said nothing in complaint. "Thor, take us further from here. We can return and…"
"He will have used the device before then," he said.
"Thor…" she began to argue.
"You're in no shape to continue. I can take them alone," he said firmly. She wouldn't protest any further with the particular edge his voice had to his tone. "Remain here," he ordered.
He took off back into the black sky before she could answer, heading directly towards the middle of the thickest mass of Frost Giants. With her safely out of range, he released the restraint he'd practiced earlier, lifting Mjolnir above his head before striking the ground as hard as his strength would allow. The resulting shock formed a deep, round crater and took the majority of the his adversaries to the ground. Many of them were knocked unconscious by the concussive force. Without a moment taken to think, he swung ferociously at those who remained on their feet.
The full might of Mjolnir was once again being displayed in all its glory upon the Jotun planet. With every swing, the air exploded in reaction to the pure speed and force of his arms and the Uru weapon in his grip. Even from her distance, Sif could see the pride of his youth fill his eyes and in a moment lost in nostalgia, a smile crossed her lips. It was clear why Midgard had thought him "the god of thunder."
The grin on her mouth fell instantly when a small group broke free from Thor's rage and began to pursue her. The song of Mjolnir failed to tempt some of them, and the leader she had earlier injured recovered more quickly than she had feared. They began to easily scale the rocks leading to the ledge on which she stood, eager to prey on her now that she had been separated from Thor. They would not easily forget the emissary of Odin that had begun this new endeavor.
Sif was no fool; her broken arm and lack of a weapon left her unable to fight, but surrendering would only get her killed. If she ran towards Thor, he would only pull back his strength again. She turned on her heels, immediately heading the opposite direction and leading this smaller group away from its majority, who were quickly falling to the mercy of the prince's wrath.
Her legs carried her as fast as they could over the rough terrain of the broken planet. Her lungs burned and froze at the same time, ice filling her chest with every rapid breath. She briefly looked back to check their distance, only to find that her pursuers had crested over the ledge and were now drawing closer. Their strides were wide and their footing was sure upon the familiar landscape of their home. It would not be long before they closed the gap and caught her.
Her mind raced as she considered what few options she had. She needed only to draw their focus long enough for Thor to finish the cluster of his opposition and find her. Though it would only take a moment or two longer for their defeat, she quickly realized she would be dead by then if she continued her present path. She could only think of one thing that could save her: she had to use find a way to use her size to her advantage.
Just on the horizon, there was another high ridge of black rocks with several narrow openings across its face. Similar accesses in the ledge she had just passed over led to winding gullies within the rock. She was far more nimble than the giants. If she was fortunate enough to choose one that didn't dead end, she could outmaneuver them and possibly find a nook that would conceal her until Thor was able to find them.
She took her wager and went through the first opening. She could hear the footfalls and heavy breathing of the giants behind her, but as she made several turns through the rock, they were gradually falling behind. The shear walls of jagged, black stone were working as she hoped they would, but the narrow path caused her to brush her arm against its crooked face every few feet, causing waves of pain up her shoulder, neck, and spine. She was forced to slow down, her throbbing limb and burning lungs winning over her survival instinct.
The path forked up ahead and she saw her chance. She proceeded down the narrowest side of the trail. As soon as she was beyond sight of the main path, she pressed her back to the wall and stopped. Her breathing was ragged and shallow, but she tried her best to control the sound that escaped her lips.
The world had gone completely quiet, the falling snow absorbing most of the sounds caused by the crumbling structures around her. Her shoulders tensed as she the crunch of approaching footsteps on the ridge above her broke the silence. She looked up; the rock went above her to twice her height at least, but there were no ridges or formations to conceal her. As the footsteps sounded again, she prepared herself, hoping Thor would find her in time.
Just as the worst of her thoughts travelled through her mind, a large, blue hand appeared from the top of the ridge, pulling her from the crevasse. Before she realized what was happening, she landed harshly on the ground, exposed from her hiding place and at the mercy of whoever had found her. She knelt where she was, cradling her arm, her mind sending a number of names to her tongue by which to call the double-crossing Frost Giant who would seek her death simply for the sin of offering them aid.
"Stand, Asgardian. We have not long before we are seen." The deep voice was instantly recognizable. Though she was still unsure if she could place her trust in him, she couldn't deny the relief she felt when she looked up to see the relatively small Frost Giant standing before her.
"Liaison!" she said in astonishment. "How did you find me?"
"I saw the direction in which you ran. You are a clever warrior, and I knew you would choose the sunken valley as a shield. Those of us who lack the size and strength of our peers must often use the elements around us to our advantage."
She held her arm carefully and stood, unable to disguise her cynical stare. "Do you wish me harm as well now that your kinsmen have turned against me?"
Before answering, he pulled a leather strap from his shoulder and held it out for her. Her swords were returned to her, and her worry faded from her expression. "I cannot simply stand by and allow worthy blood to be spilled needlessly upon this ground. This soil is already steeped in it, and I believe that is one reason why my planet is dying."
She had no time to express the gratitude she felt. The small group of her pursuers had climbed from the ridge and were approaching her with smiles of slippery satisfaction as though they had already won. She unsheathed her swords, the starlight from above reflecting against the steel and casting a faint light on to the black ground in front of her. She latched both ends of her swords together to form one long weapon and took her stance, holding herself as steady as she could against the frigid wind.
Knowing her injury, the leader approached first, his confidence evident in his gait. He swung his arm towards her and she evaded it, turning around the outside of his form so she was at his back. Her right arm was useless, but she was well-trained and her left was nearly just as strong. In a flash of light, she'd aimed a powerful swing at his neck. His body slumped quietly to the ground, and as his head rolled elsewhere, she looked back towards his men. A silent challenge filled her eyes. With renewed rage, the rest rushed her all at once.
The battle was over impressively quickly. By the time her sword stopped, it was dripping. The ground beneath her was stained, the streams of blood accented by fallen, blue bodies. Her lips fought to turn upward with the satisfaction of her victory, but she remained stoic in the presence of her single ally, whose brethren were now laying in pieces before him.
Before she could offer a word to the liaison, a familiar explosion sounded a distance back. She knew what it was it heralded, and as she expected, Thor flew into the scene only a moment later. His breath came quickly from his broad chest, but she could see a fire in his eyes, lit by the freedom of releasing his full arm onto his deserving opponents, and the relief of having found her alive.
"I see you've fared well," he said with a chuckle, examining the fallen enemies at her feet. "I regret that this has happened, but it eases me to see you with your weapons again - and a prisoner?"
"No, this is the one I know only as 'Liaison' - my sole ally here. He brought my weapons, and though he would not fight his own kin, he has saved my life."
"Then I am in great debt to you," Thor said, "but I suppose it may be too much to hope for our other missing equipment?"
"It is beyond my reach," the liaison spoke. "The king has placed it in the upper north tower. There will be many strong sentinels in your path, and they will send even more reinforcements once they learn what you have done here."
"Then we shouldn't linger," he said. "Sif, can your arm endure one more challenge?"
She nodded reassuringly, barely the hint of discomfort written on her face despite her broken bone. She looked back towards the liaison, her confidence faltering slightly. "Would you come with us?" she asked. "The offer was open to anyone, and surely to the one who has saved the lives of the Allfather's messenger and son."
"It would be the least we could do to repay your kindness," Thor added.
"My place will forever remain on Jotunheim," he answered.
After getting to know him and his culture, she was not surprised by his answer, but it offered no comfort. "What will happen to you? They'll certainly be able to find who returned my arms."
"I will die here. Whether it is by the hand of my king or at my planet's death, it matters not."
"Then this is 'goodbye,'" she said. She placed her uninjured hand on his arm, looking up to his red eyes as she spoke. "Please, give me your name."
He stared at her in some confusion, lacking any knowledge of the strange social customs on Asgard. "What purpose would it have at our parting?"
"We share stories and tales of our experiences with our people. I would like Asgard to know of the Jotun who aided me."
The Frost Giant laughed, his voice carrying over the ridge on which they stood. "You are still strange to me, Asgardian," he spoke with a humored, but skeptical expression. He began walking away with this odd, final statement, but before his long step carried him too far, he added simply, "Ranulf."
She smiled as he left. Without a word or moment of further lingering, Thor wrapped his arm around her waist, careful to ensure he was more tender with her injured arm than he had been before. With a swing of Mjolnir, they were off to where Ranulf the Liaison had directed them.
Thor had allowed himself to charge his swing at full strength, and with an armed Sif at his back, they were an unstoppable force. The Frost Giants had no chance. Every man who chose to attack was downed quickly, either by the blow of Mjolnir or the slice of Sif's swords. The hall that held the guard they were warned of quickly filled with Jotun blood and severed limbs as the pair made a path to their stolen property. This realm had missed their window for diplomacy, and would regret earning the ire of the prince of Asgard from that day forward.
Blood rushed pleasantly through Sif's veins as her heart beat wildly within her chest. The pain of her arm had nearly vanished, muted by pure adrenaline and the unmitigated joy she felt at that moment. She had nearly forgotten how well she worked with Thor. They silently coordinated their strikes, needing no words to between them to ensure they had each other's blind spots and avoided getting in the way of the other's weapon. Their seamless teamwork appeared choreographed to an outsider, but it was merely the result of the familiarity, and hundreds of years as friends and former lovers. They knew each other so well, in fact, that for a brief flash, their eyes locked and they immediately knew what they were feeling at that moment. This shared, silent laugh was refreshing to her, especially after the time she'd recently spent in the bed of a mystery who refused to share anything with her beyond the flesh.
The hall fell silent within a few minutes and Thor quickly retrieved their device, grateful to see it still glowed with the same level of power it had when they arrived, meaning it hadn't been used while in the king's hands. Sif stepped closer and grabbed his robes for support, smiling in relief as the dark energy swarmed around them.
She had never been as happy to step foot within her own realm. The darkness of Jotunheim was gone, behind her, she hoped, for the rest of her life. Now her senses were consumed with the light of Asgard's halls, the warmth of their star, and the smell of the man who still owned a piece of her heart. She knew she had failed Odin, but she felt no burden from it.
"How is your arm?" Thor asked, his voice breaking through her haze.
"Mendable," she answered.
They stood in silence for a moment, regaining their breath in the same hall from which they'd left. The Einherjar were still scattered around the room at their posts, surrounding a cross-looking Loki, who had remained chained to the bench during their mission. Thor could not disguise the curl of his lips, but he felt constrained by their present company. He took her uninjured hand and gently pulled her onto the nearby balcony, beyond the eyes of the Einherjar and their watching prisoner.
Once they had their privacy, Thor's smile widened and spread contagiously to Sif. This quickly developed into a shared laugh, though neither dared let their voice drift beyond the doorway to their backs. "If I'm not mistaken, that is quite the look of enjoyment on your face," she said in a teasing tone.
"If you had witnessed how quickly I sorted the entire Jotun army, you would know why," he responded playfully.
She narrowed her eyes. "I regret missing it, though I'm certain that's a slight exaggeration."
"Perhaps," he answered. They took a few minutes to excitedly report to each other up on what they had done, sparing no detail in their victory. Thor's eyes were alight with pride and his chest puffed out as though he were trying to impress a stranger, but Sif had her opportunity to boast as well. The longer versions of their stories would be shared around a table with their friends, but for the moment, it was just the two of them; the occupants of the other room had gone forgotten.
"I'm afraid my presence may have escalated the issue," he said. "I'm sorry if you feel I encroached upon what progress you'd made."
She shook her head emphatically. "The king had his mind made before after my first visit. His sudden ascension to power only sealed his decision."
"You're likely right," he said. "Still, I will take responsibility with my father. If the fault for our failure should lie anywhere, it will lie the Jotun king or myself."
"I was glad to have you there," she argued, "and I would've died if you had not come. I assign no fault or blame to you."
He hadn't let go of her hand. He lifted it to his lips, kissing it lightly in appreciation for what she'd said. "If it makes no difference to you then, I was happy to have gone. It did my heart some good - and I feel lighter already than I thought I would for a long while."
Her lips never dropped, but the light in her eyes dimmed, making him wonder if she held her smile for his sake. "Well - exercise and excitement can offer a cure to heavy-heartedness."
"I think my cure was more in the company than in the task," he said. He moved his cool hand to her frozen cheek.
She knew he wasn't being completely honest in what he'd said. Mjolnir was his first love and he regressed to the demeanor of a schoolboy whenever he was able to really release himself with its use. Still, the effort seemed to work. The authenticity returned to her pleasant visage. "We do make a formidable force, don't we?"
"Yes," he said quietly. "I'd forgotten how well we work as a team."
"We used to do a lot of great things together, Thor," she said. She meant it, in part, as a jest, but as his smile faded, she was afraid he'd taken it wrongly. However, the hand on her face remained still, and instead of a rebuke or argument, he bent down to kiss her on the other cheek. As she always did, she leaned into him, and despite his chilled lips, she relished in the tickle from the bristles of his beard, the faint smells of metal, cedar, and vanilla on his skin, and the sudden warmth that filled her body.
When he separated, he leaned back only an inch or two. She could still feel his breath against her skin. Curious and nervous for some unknown reason, she pulled away just enough to meet his stare. Her heart flipped within her chest as his blue eyes filled with something he hadn't shown towards her in a long time. Without hesitancy or doubt, he leaned down to kiss her again.
This time, his lips did not touch her cheek, her hand, or any other part of her he often aimed for when he wanted to be flirtatious or show his care as a friend. This time, his mouth rested on hers; as his hand reached around her waist to pull her closer, his intent was unmistakable. For the first time since they had broken their betrothal, there was perfect clarity between them, muddled no longer by thoughts of Midgard, their past, or their positions. She knew what it was he wanted, and it brought her more joy than anything else in that moment to realize it was her.
They had forgotten again - his sense of hearing. She had barely glanced towards him upon their return, consumed by whatever rush their recent endeavor had created and her worship for the unworthy heir to Odin's throne. Although Thor had pulled them into relative privacy, there was not much afforded by one thin wall. He could hear everything - including the telling silence that had suddenly fallen between them.
He curled his fists in rage, lines of red appearing beneath his nails as they pierced his skin. Heat and water blinded him as his eyes filled. He could think of nothing but the anger he felt towards the man who had stolen everything from him yet again. Still, the Odinson, for once, did not own all of his wrath. Without pause, she had apparently melted to his whims, consenting to his touch, regardless of who was sitting only a few paces from their reunion. She had accused him of caring nothing for her beyond their physical activities, but it was obvious to him that her rebuke was nothing but hypocritical.
Her frozen, chapped lips did nothing to block the warmth he brought her. His arms felt familiar and right around her waist, and his mouth fit as though his was the missing second piece to hers. His taste had lingered despite their years apart, and so she felt wrapped in an ocean of memories and nostalgia. His smile would shine for her again as it used to in the past, no longer distracted by the women who had flittered through his life so frequently.
He parted from her for a moment, his chest rising and falling with the same breathlessness she shared. There was a smile on his lips, inviting as it should be, and confident, as though he had no intention of stopping there. This light was tainted with a shadow, however, one that dimmed the moment with a shade of dejection. She wanted to convince herself that it was their failure on Jotunheim, the impending war, or his continuing problems with his brother that still weighed on his heart, but the curse of their closeness was that she knew him too well to accept those thoughts as truth.
He leaned in again, but she placed a hand on his lips to block them from hers. He gently pulled it away, watching in confusion as her expression fell and her eyes became glassy. "Did I misunderstand?" he asked sincerely. "I thought - I thought this was something you wanted. On Jotunheim…"
"It is," she answered. "I know I hurt only my own pride by admitting this, but my love for you has not waned since the first time you kissed me."
"Then why…?"
She didn't wait for the end of his question. "Because I have not the strength to fight for your heart when I know it belongs to someone else." He distanced himself from her with these words, crossing his arms defensively. "Despite the battle for our escape and everything that has happened, I can see it on your face and taste it on your lips. She is a challenge - and you haven't given up on her yet."
"Sif…" he started. His eyes would not meet hers.
"It wouldn't be fair to any of us if you moved forward with me while this question still hung above your head."
"If she cannot live on Asgard…" he started.
"She will be back. If you feel for her as strongly as I believe you do, this won't have been her only appearance here - and perhaps our people will accept her better next time."
Thor considered her words carefully. "I had not the strength of will to release her from this experiment when I returned her to Earth. She expects to see me again."
Sif nodded, the stone in her throat making it difficult to persist. "Then you should," she said. He turned his back to her, unable to look at her as the water welled in her eyes. She wiped it away, unwilling to jeopardize her pride any more than she already had.
"Is this solely about Jane, Sif?" he asked suddenly, catching her off guard. "Your 'challenge' - the man fortunate enough to hold your attention so firmly - are you certain you're as finished with him as your purported to be?"
"T-that is more complicated than I could ever possibly…"
"Why should it be? Do you feel something for him or not?" he asked. There was guilt in his heart of which Sif would never know. He did love the brave woman in front of him, and he could not bear to think he would hurt her for the sake of his own selfish and likely futile ambitions. "Tell me my wager is true - so I might not feel as though we're passing on this important moment merely for my own sake."
Even though she couldn't see Loki from her angle, she looked back over her shoulder in reflex, as though she were afraid he could hear them. Her cheeks grew red with heat; more tears threatened to fall, even though they were unwanted. "Thor, you've shown more love for me in one ill-timed kiss than he has shown towards me in our entire time together. He makes it difficult for me - and I feel a fool for admitting that I'm not certain of my answer."
"Then the timing is bad for both of us," he said with a soft smile, his regret eased by her uncertain response. "It seems we both have answers to find."
He didn't understand. If he did, he would know how hopeless it was, but though his words brought her no comfort, the idea behind them seemed to lift his spirits. It was difficult to pass over this chance yet again when everything about the match seemed so right to both of them. He simply didn't want to think he was the only party making this decision. She let him believe what he wanted to, for she could never bring herself to explain further.
"I suppose so," she simply said, feigning her own smile, though the illusion quickly fell.
"Go - mend your arm and rest," he said, believing her dishonest expression. "You've done a profound service to Asgard, and I will worry about clearing the issue with Odin so it will not be a cause of worry for you any longer."
She could no longer muster even the facsimile of a smile, not after what she'd just lost for the second time in her life. She simply nodded her thanks and retreated from his sight to the healing rooms. Her path brought her through the hall - and it was only then that her eyes met Loki's.
She paused as though she had just met the resistance of a brick wall. Within his emerald depths, she could see anger and confusion coupled with a strange despondency. She could never describe what she saw with mere words, but there was a strange legitimacy present, and it made her inexplicably feel both warm and apprehensive, as though she wanted him to reveal what was driving such and expression, even though she knew she wouldn't be able to tolerate the answer. The trail of blood leading down his chained hands caught her eyes, attesting to the intensity of his thoughts. She was impressed and grateful that he had held his tongue, but she could not deny her curiosity of what he would say if he let it loose.
She said nothing to him. It was too dangerous in this crowded room, but even if they were alone, there would have been nothing on her mind worth speaking. His earlier insult to her came to memory and her chest once again began to ache. With this in her thoughts, she took her eyes from him, stepping around him and proceeding to the healing rooms.
Loki made no effort to stop her, but he'd already heard what he would that was of any value. As Thor approached him, however, he wished he would have. He was in no mood to deal with him, and despite his skill, his tongue held no taste for his normal insults.
"I suppose it would be redundant to continue with empty threats," Thor spoke. "You don't appear to have responded to this one in the way I had hoped."
Loki chortled sarcastically. "Your bluff was weak. I wasn't exactly concerned."
"Are you so certain it was a bluff?" he asked. "I admit I am soft when it comes to my family, but I was content to leave our options open. If the offer was good enough, I may have conceded to it. Consider it your fortune that negotiations deteriorated before that happened."
"There was no fortune necessary," Loki said lowly. "When was the last time you arbitrated anything without Mjolnir in your hand?"
Thor sighed. He knew he was stepping into another verbal trap. "Do you have a criticism for everything I do? What is your quarrel with me now?"
Loki shook with anger as his thoughts went down several possible paths. "You can't possibly negotiate when you know not what you already have," he hissed.
Thor was utterly confused by Loki's words, though he wouldn't have understood them in the context of their own relationship. In the moment he took to figure out what he may have meant by this strange remark, he finally noticed what had drawn Sif's attention: the strange look of pain in his brother's eyes that didn't match his tone and the trail of blood down his hands. "Loki, what…?"
Loki wanted no part of answering the question he knew was coming, so he utilized a misdirection to steal his mind from the topic. "It's a shame I missed Jane Foster's visit to Asgard. I was so looking forward to meeting her."
His efforts had worked. Thor had recognized Loki's efforts to shift his focus, but the comment and his knowledge of Jane's presence there had still managed to stunt his thoughts. He ordered the Einherjar to unchain him and take him back to his quarters. He had no interest in discussing anything further now that his brother was back in the mood to play his games - and he didn't wish to give him another opportunity to utter Jane's name from his poison tongue.