Loki ran through the palace corridors, trailing his father and brother down toward the weapons vault. No amount of planning on his part could have guaranteed a result like this, though he didn't know whether to scream in frustration or rejoice in the turn of events.
Thor had been so close to his reward - to have it snatched away from him at the last moment must have been bitter indeed. Loki was thrilled at the thought, even if he was now being forced to adjust his own intentions accordingly. There is still time enough to salvage the rest of my plans. The three of us will survey the damage, and then the first moment I can slip away, Sigyn and I can leave. Let the would-be king brood for awhile...alone.
They turned a corner, and Odin slowed down to a swift walk, causing both Loki and Thor to nearly run into him.
"Father, why are you slowing?" asked Loki, unease slipping through into his voice. "The guards in the vault...shouldn't we fetch the healers for them?"
"They are beyond our help now," Odin replied, keeping his head forward. "I sense no survivors in the vault, Jotun or otherwise."
Sneaking a quick glance at his brother, Loki was unsurprised to see the rage building up in Thor's face. Though occasionally tactless, Thor had always held honor as a virtue more prized than anything else. A disrupted coronation was bad enough, but for Aesir to lose their lives? That was a grievous insult, one Loki knew Thor would be unable to forgive. Not without violent retribution - something Loki was increasingly desperate to avoid being party to. I just need more time to work this out.
At last they came to the doors of the vault, still sealed shut as though nothing had changed. Odin pushed them open and entered without hesitation, the confidence of his actions confirming there was no remaining threat awaiting them on the other side.
The atmosphere inside the vault was radically different from the outside, the air markedly colder, and the stench of death apparent even from a distance. Though the vault guards had died brutally, the Jotuns had fared much worse - their remains were barely more than ashes on the ground, the Destroyer having thoroughly lived up to its name. The massive sentinel was only just replacing itself into its sealed alcove as they entered, its work having been completed mere moments before their arrival.
The three men descended the stairs to the main passageway through the vault. Loki glanced down at the dead Aesir guards as they passed, their corpses still frozen from the touch of the Jotuns. It's regrettable it had to come to this, he thought; he had hoped the Destroyer would be able to do its work quickly enough to allow the vault guards to survive. They will be celebrated as heroes, dying valiantly in their service to Asgard. A warrior's death. He just hoped Sigyn would never figure out his part in their demise.
He doubted she would, thinking that perhaps it was fortunate the invasion had happened during the coronation after all. No one - least of all Sigyn - would think to suspect him of any wrongdoing with thousands of witnesses to his whereabouts at the time of the attack.
His father and brother were arguing about the best course of action, neither of them acknowledging his continued presence. It was as though he was invisible to them, his calm demeanor unable to compete with their rising voices and tempers. Just as it had always been. As it would always be.
It wasn't completely unwelcome, as it gave Loki a chance to observe and absorb, filing away information that would be useful later. Thor suggested that their father take a host of Asgardians and march into Jotunheim - teach them a lesson! - while Odin was instead recommending patience, rightfully pointing out how unsuccessful the small party of Jotuns had been in their quest.
Thor would hear none of it. "As King of Asgard-"
"But you're not King!" bellowed Odin. "Not yet." He stared his oldest son down, his gaze none the weaker for having only a single eye.
Thor just stood there, as silent as if he had been slapped. Satisfied that he had made his point, Odin brushed past him, retreating back up the stairs and out of the room.
The quiet in his absence became oppressive, prompting Loki to attempt to break it. "Thor-"
"I will find those responsible for this transgression, brother," said Thor, staring off into the distance, his teeth grinding in fury. "They will rue the day they made me the laughing-stock of the Nine Realms." Not even sparing Loki a glance, he left the vault, following their father's footsteps.
Sigyn stepped back from Sif, the dispersing crowd around her suddenly too thick and much too close.
"Sigyn, are you alright? Where are you going?" Sif's voice sounded very far away.
"I have to...I need to find..." Sigyn began, unable to finish. She stumbled through the suffocating sea of bodies, feeling faint and trying her best to keep breathing. She was desperate for them to clear away so she could find her way to the weapons vault. It was all she could do to not scream at them - Move!
Having no idea which way to go, she decided to follow the direction she had seen Loki run off with his father and brother. She fought the crowd, pushing and shoving her way through until she saw her opening. Just before she reached it, she felt a strong hand on her shoulder.
"Sigyn, stop!"
She turned to the voice, comforting and familiar, and had to choke back a sob.
"Edmund? Why...how are you-" She threw her arms around his neck, burying her head into his chest with relief. She honestly didn't care how, she was just happy her brother was safe...safe and alive.
"It was a last minute change this morning. My presence was requested here at the coronation instead of in the weapons vault." His strong hands patted her back as Sigyn wept into his chest.
She raised her head up to him, her face wet with tears. "Who requested you here?" Whoever it was, you owe him your life.
"I don't know. I was only told not even an hour ago. Another guard came in to replace me, and told me to come here."
"Who was it? Who replaced you?"
Edmund opened his mouth to respond, but a scream stopped him before he could get a word out.
Sigyn scanned the crowd for the source of the wail, at first fearful that she would see Frost Giants storming through the people, laying waste to them as they passed. Instead, she saw a young woman collapsing into the arms of an older man, her face a tear-stained mask of despair. Sigyn quickly realized it hadn't been a scream of terror she'd heard, but one of grief.
She had never been introduced to the young woman, but Sigyn had seen her from a distance enough to recognize the blonde hair immediately. He said her name was Mábil.
Edmund's voice was grave. "The guard who replaced me - that's his fiancée. You might remember him. Völund Ericson? I think he fancied you once."
Oh, I remember him. All too clearly. Sigyn's hand flew to her stomach in a useless effort to staunch the nausea gathering there. "Do you think...do you think he could have survived?"
Edmund looked down at her, his expression a strange combination of sadness and relief. "I doubt it. If I hadn't been switched to coronation duty today" he said, nodding toward the distraught girl, "that could be Ingrid right now." He shook his head, turning back to Sigyn. "Now come. Ingrid is safe in the kitchens, but we need to get you somewhere secure until we know the threat has passed."
"And what about you?"
"I need to return to the guard station and await further instructions." A look of horror passed over her face, and he continued before she could object. "Sigyn, it's what I've been trained for. It's my duty to keep Asgard safe."
"And who will keep you safe?" asked Sigyn under her breath, watching as Mábil was escorted from the throne room, her cries still echoing throughout the hall.
Loki gave Thor a little time, hoping his brother would calm a bit before he approached him again.
He started toward the throne room. He'd had no chance to ensure Sigyn's safety before rushing off to the weapons vault, and he wanted to make sure she was out of harm's way. He passed a group of Royal Guards going the other direction, including one he recognized. He pulled Edmund aside as they went past.
"Your sister-"
"She is safe, Your Highness," he replied, anxiously glancing over Loki's shoulder at the other guards as they retreated. "In your chambers. Did you need me?" Edmund's body was nearly vibrating with the need to join his brethren.
"No, go on," said Loki, waving him away. He knew it had been an age since the Royal Guards had needed to do much more than just stand around and look imposing. He wouldn't keep them from what little excitement the day's events had managed to generate.
"Thank you, Your Highness," said Edmund, hurrying off down the corridor.
Loki watched him for a moment. Of course, Edmund had plenty of reason to be thankful right now, especially to Loki - though he would never be able to know.
Loki had felt compelled that morning to go and check the weapons vault once more, to ensure that everything was in place for the Jotuns' arrival. He had hidden himself from view, sneaking up to the vault unseen, but his surprise at finding Edmund there had been nearly enough to make him lose control of his magic and reveal himself.
He vaguely remembered Sigyn telling him that Edmund had received a promotion when she told him about her brother's engagement. She hadn't been specific, likely not wanting to bother Loki with the details, and he hadn't given it another thought. Not until he'd found him guarding the vault that morning.
Removing Edmund from danger had become paramount. He'd still hoped the vault guards would survive the attack, but he wasn't about to take the chance that his beloved's only sibling might be critically injured, or even worse, killed. He knew Sigyn might not survive a loss like that. And if she ever found out about his own involvement? He shuddered at the thought.
A suitable replacement for the vault had been crucial, and fortunately for Edmund, Loki had known exactly who he would install in his place. He had conjured a quick missive directly into the basket of a palace page, the orders on the outside of the envelope directing that it be delivered to Edmund's superior officer within the hour. There was of course no signature on the note, but Loki knew the royal insignia at the top would be enough to ensure its instructions be carried out without question.
And they had been - to the letter. Sigyn's former lover had lost his life, but Loki felt it a small price to pay for saving her brother. He certainly wouldn't be grieving over Völund's death, and he didn't suspect Sigyn would either.
Loki continued down the corridor toward the throne room, hoping Thor had returned there after leaving the vault. He was surprised to find it empty, but the sound of a massive table being overturned in the nearby banquet hall - accompanied by a nearly animalistic roar - gave Thor's location away easily.
He entered the banquet hall from a side door, coming around an immense pillar to find Thor sulking on the stairs. Loki took in the sight of the upturned table and scattered food, glad that Sigyn wasn't there to see her hard work ruined.
Thor sensed his presence even before he came into his view. "It is unwise to be in my company right now, brother."
"And who said I was wise?" asked Loki, settling in next to him on the stairs. The fury radiating from Thor was nearly tangible. He knew he needed to settle the situation if he was to have any chance of escaping with Sigyn, but as enraged as Thor was, Loki was afraid it might prove to be an insurmountable task. He turned to the one tactic he was sure would calm him: soothing Thor's enormous ego.
The Warriors Three and Sif burst into the room at that exact moment, all of them looking primed for a fight. Loki leaned in closely to Thor, his voice barely above a whisper.
"If it's any consolation, I think you're right. About the Frost Giants, about Laufey...about everything." The change in Thor's expression would have been missed by anyone who didn't know him well, but Loki could tell he'd hit a nerve. "If they found a way to penetrate Asgard's defenses once, who's to say they won't try again - next time with an army?"
"Exactly!"
"But there's nothing you can do without defying Father..." Loki meant for the words to settle his brother once and for all, but an all too familiar look passed over Thor's face, and he regretted saying it immediately. "No, no no no no - I know that look-"
"It's the only way to ensure the safety of our borders!"
"Thor, it's madness."
This got Volstagg's attention, even as he helped himself to some of the surviving food from a nearby table. "Madness? What sort of madness?"
"We're going to Jotunheim," said Thor, rising from his place on the stairs, a smirk on his face. His tone held an air of finality, but it didn't stop the others from arguing with him, trying to convince him of the foolishness of such an action.
Loki remained silent, his mind racing. It was unsettling how rapidly the entire situation was spinning out of his control. Had the Jotuns arrived even an hour later, he would have been gone. Even now, the marriage rites would have been performed and he and his new bride would have been halfway to their final destination - a hideaway near an Asgardian beach that no one other than Loki even knew existed. Instead, he was being forced to try and remain calm, even as his plans crumbled around him.
There is still yet time. Father will catch wind of this and stop us before we can even step foot on the Bifröst, he thought, even as Thor finally convinced his friends to ready for a journey to Jotunheim. He must.
Sigyn briefly considered many places to wait before deciding to go to Loki's chambers.
Edmund had been unhappy with her choice, trying his best to convince her to wait with Ingrid in the kitchens, or better yet, at their apartment. Sigyn refused, knowing that Loki's chambers were as safe a place as any in Asgard, perhaps even more so, and the first place she knew Loki would eventually come looking for her. In compromise, she hadn't complained when Edmund insisted on setting two Royal Guards at the door until Loki's return. She knew they would have no chance against any Jotuns trying to get in, but if it made her brother feel better then she was happy to have them there.
She paced the floor as she waited, stopping occasionally to check her packed bags or peek out into the corridor, hoping to see Loki approaching. Eventually, she grew tired and changed out of her coronation gown, curling up onto the bed and wrapping herself in the furs covering it. Even under the covers, it was becoming difficult to stave off a coldness she knew had more to do with fear than the temperature of the room. What a disastrous day.
She lay in the bed, her mind restless, wondering what this would do to her planned trip with Loki and then chastising herself for being so selfish. Men had lost their lives. Völund was dead, and all she could think about was how happy she was it was him and not Edmund. She felt sympathy for the poor guard's fiancée, but Sigyn hadn't loved Völund. Not the way she loved her brother. Certainly not the way she loved Loki.
Some time later she was startled by the sound of hurried footsteps crossing the room, surprised to find that she had fallen asleep. The stress of the day's events must have made her more fatigued than she had realized.
Sitting up, she rubbed at her eyes. "Loki?"
He was at his wardrobe, rifling through its contents, when he turned to the sound of her voice. He was holding an overcoat she had never seen him wear before. "You need to stay in here for now. The guards outside will protect you."
"Protect me from what? Are we still under attack?" He was obviously preparing to go somewhere, but not with her.
"We're safe for now, and I'm hoping to keep it that way."
She rose from the bed, crossing the room to him. "Where are you going?"
"Sigyn, Thor is beyond reason at this turn of events," he said, throwing the overcoat over the nearest chair and moving to his dressing table. He opened the bottom drawer, pulling out a pair of gloves before turning back to her. "He is determined to do something foolish. I must try and work out a peaceful solution to this mess."
She looked closely at the gloves he held in his hand. They were made for cold weather, and her heart fell. "You don't mean...you don't mean to travel to Jotunheim." She searched his face, hoping he would deny what was quickly becoming all too clear. "Do you?"
He just stared back at her, eyes sad but resolute. "We won't be gone long. When I ret-"
"No! No, you can't go!" She ran to him, throwing her arms around him as if her willpower alone was enough to keep him in place. "You can't possibly reason with those vile creatures! Please...please, stay here with me." She couldn't get the vision of a sobbing Mábil out of her head, and the fear that she could be in the same situation made the nausea she had been fighting all day return with a vengeance. It was nearly enough to make her retch.
Loki pulled her in close. "Sigyn, I need you to listen to me. If I don't go with Thor, and something happens to him...I would never be able to forgive myself."
She raised her eyes to him, shaking her head in denial. "And if something happens to you? What would become of me then?"
Loki traced his thumb across her cheek, a gesture meant to comfort, but it only increased Sigyn's anxiety. She clutched his hand to her face, squeezing her eyes shut to focus on the warmth of his skin. If he leaves, I may never feel his touch again.
"I will return to you, Sigyn, I swear it. And when I do, be ready to leave, just as we intended. I'll not let this attack ruin what I had planned for us."
She sighed, finally resigned to the fact that he was determined to go no matter what she said or did. "If you swear it, then I guess I have no choice but to trust you."
He leaned in, kissing her gently - almost reverently - before pulling away. "I must go. Thor wanted to leave as quickly as possible." He was halfway to the door before Sigyn called after him.
"Wait!"
She rushed to the dressing table and pulled open a drawer, retrieving a small pair of scissors and two hair ribbons. As quickly as possible, she plaited a small lock of hair at the nape of her neck, tying it off at both ends with the ribbons before snipping it clear of her head.
She ran back to Loki's side, holding the hair out to him like a prize. "Take this with you, for luck. To bring you back to me."
He took the braid from her outstretched hand, twirling it between his fingers. As she watched, the strands became more and more translucent, until finally they disappeared entirely.
"Where did it go?" she asked, running her fingers over the palm of his now empty hand.
"Somewhere safe," he said, pulling her in for one last embrace. "Remember, be ready to leave upon my return."
She only nodded at him, rooted to the spot as he turned to leave. Her hand lingered on his arm until he was out of reach, dropping to her side limply as he pulled the door open and stepped through. He glanced back once more before shutting the door behind him.
"I love you," she said belatedly, and the only response from the now-empty room was silence.