Hey all!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters or anything from the Marvel universe. I'm just a fan who fancied writing up what I'd like to happen after Thor: The Dark World, which is where my Fic starts. Right from the end of Movie 2. So I hope you enjoy what you read. #MatureContent...eventually...lol

Sif hadn't told a soul of what happened in the training arena. Partly because she could scarcely believe it had happened herself and partly because she was embarrassed that he had gotten the upper hand on her at all. She had underestimated the new Asgardian warrior, and Sif never made the same mistake twice. She heard Volstagg's booming voice before he entered the stable, beef from breakfast still lining his bushy beard.

"Well?" He asked her whilst attaching his belongings to his horse, "How was the lad? Did he break easily? Lad like that won't last two minutes with us." Volstagg chuckled and eyed her when she didn't say anything, he'd known her too long to not see when she was hiding something but he let it go.

"He is much more skilled than any if us gave him credit for. He may be young but he knows how to handle himself" she said as she began fixing her horses armour. His long golden mane shining in the sunlight that slipped through the rafters of the stable. Belifier was his name. He'd been her most prized possession for many years. Unlike many of the other soldiers she cared for him herself. Feeding him and brushing his mane each day since she had owned him. He'd been a gift from Frigga, she'd seen him and instantly thought of her. His mane was golden as her hair once was and she loved that about him. How beautiful and fierce he was. Just like her, Frigga once told her.

Leaning her head against his she sighed softly and brushed her fingers down the emerald pendant once again remembering all shed lost. She hoped this trip would put some of that pain and loss away for her, but that she wasn't certain of. She'd dealt with loss before but never loss like this. Never like this.

Turning around as she heard someone clear their throat behind her. She wasn't at all surprised to see Darri standing by this stable door but she was surprised by the look on his face. It was a look of regret. "Lady Sif, may I speak with you a moment? In private?" He asked, his eyes falling on Volstagg who was watching him, eager to know what was going on. Volstagg for being a fabled warrior was also one hell of a gossip.

"Of course," she nodded her head and followed him back outside. He lead her into the garden and around to the frizarendium bushes. Frigga's favourites. She hadn't been her in a long time, hadn't had the patience for garden strolls, only with the Queen had she ever ventured here. And now in the wake of her death it felt cold and alone. Her powers now leaving the garden lifeless as she was.

"I feel I owe you an apology after my behaviours last night, it all went to my head. I should never have kissed you." He spoke slowly, softly, yet Sif did not feel as if his words where entirely genuine. "Think no more of it Darri, a moment of madness that I shall not hold against you" Sif nodded and began to move away, she was growing to hate this garden more and more with every passing second.

Loki wasn't quite sure what else to say to her, he'd been up most of the hours of the night thinking over what had happened. How he had let his anger and emotions cloud him. He couldn't let that happen again. Reaching out to her he took her arm, halting her. "That's a beautiful pendant" he smiled softly to her and raised his hand to brush against the emerald beauty. Feeling the magic sizzle under his fingertips. His magic. "Where did you get it?" He enquired letting his hand drop and taking a step back from her,"if you don't mind me asking."

"Yes it is..." She answered watching his hand as he lightly touched her pendant, "It was a gift. An old friend of mine gave it to me as an apology."

"An apology? He must have done something to really upset you if he apologised with such a thing."

"He did. Not that it matters now." She shrugged and reset the dagger at her hip, "He stole something from me, well, borrowed as he put it. And then he lost it. Something very precious to me." Sif didn't understand why she was telling him this. She'd never spoken of the theft. Not to anyone but Loki. She never wanted anyone to know how easily broken she could be by such things.

"I'm sure he never intended to lose it" he told her, as he recalled the incident himself. He had snuck into her room one night and taken an image orb of hers. One she had hidden away from them all. One he was curious to see. He'd taken it into the gardens and used his magic to open it. Revealing an image of a young blonde haired girl and her father. Sif never spoke of her family. Not since the day she had come to live with them, the day Frigga took her in.

Loki had learned over the years that Sif's father had been one of Odin's finest and most skilled warriors, he'd been killed whilst on a mission to Hel. A mission Odin never wanted him on. Letting out a soft sigh he glanced around the garden. In truth he had never lost the image orb. He'd been selfish and cruel. He'd hidden it away because he loved the look on that small child's face. A look Sif never showed anymore but the look on Sif's face when he told her he had lost it had been too much for him. He thought he'd feel something...better but all he felt was guilt.

He couldn't return it so instead he did the next best thing. He imprinted the sentimental value of it onto the emerald pendant, so each time she wore it it would make her feel safe, make her feel the way her father always had. It was by far the kindest thing Loki had ever done in his long life.

"Are your things packed and ready to go? We must leave now" Sif spoke sternly, all thoughts of being anything other than one of Odin's warriors lost to her now.

"I am ready whenever you are, my lady" - "It's Sif." She said suddenly. "If you are to be apart of my company that is what you will refer to me as, understand?" She raised a brow to him and he couldn't help the smirk that formed on his lips. "As you wish, Sif" his eyes found hers and it was just as the moment in the palace when she threatened him the last time. The look in her eyes. She knew who he really was, even if subconsciously, she knew.

It hadn't taken them long to arrive at Nidavellir, not once they'd crossed the Bifrost. They still had a few days ride before the would reach the Dwarven kings castle. Astride Belifier she took the time to look at Darri, really look at him. His hair was dark and slightly curled, yet it wasn't long it curled lightly around his ears. His eyes where dark as well, so dark she wasn't sure what colour they actually where but every so often when he glanced at her she saw a green glimmering there, in his eyes. His posture in his horse told her he was used to riding. Not once did he slouch. His stance was constant and he had the aura of a leader.

She found it unsettling, especially as he was so new. In saying that she found that all the men had taken to him easily enough. Even the Warriors Three found him to be good company and a good joke on their journey through Nidavellir.

Once it began to get dark they stopped in a valley of trees to set up camp and rest for the night. Setting up guard posts around their tents each interchanging ever few hours or so, to let the others sleep. It was the early hours of the morning before Sif's rotation began. She stood at the edge of the clearing, eyes open and listening out for any signs of movement in the distance. The realms where not as they once where, it was why they were here. To right the wrongs of Kurse and his dark elves.

After a while Sif heard a soft rustling behind her, and the footsteps of a man. She could hear him as he snuck up on her but she feigned ignorance until he was close enough. Turning swiftly she grabbed the figure by the neck and pressed her blade against his pale exposed throat.

"Always this aggressive are you Sif?" He asked with a dark mischievous glint in his eyes, his hands raised to show he was unarmed and she let out a breath before letting him go,

"Darri, what are you doing? You have already taken guard this night. Return to your tent and rest" she said in annoyance, more to herself than him before she turned away. Unfortunately not before her eyes had seen that all that clothed him where loose fitting linen trousers and a dark unfastened shirt. What is he thinking dressed like that out here? We could be ambushed at any moment. She thought to herself.

"You should put your armour back on as well, I highly doubt you'd like an arrow in the chest" she said to him and heard him scoff slightly, waiting on him to move off but he didn't. Instead he moved over beside her and sat down.

"I thought I could keep you company, and two pairs of eyes are always better than one" he smiled up to her softly and she could feel her resistance beginning to waver. He really was very charismatic, especially to have her and her men take a liking to him after such short time.

"Do as you wish," was all she said in return, her eyes returning to the grounds that lay out to the east of them. The ones they would take to the castle. It had been a long time since shed set foot in Nidavellir, everything had changed since then. The world seemed darker to her now.

Loki sat at her feet in silence. Simply listening to the sound of the wind as it flowed through the trees above them. It wasn't long before she sunk down into the ground beside him. He knew she would. Sif never acted as though she was better than anyone. She would hate the idea of standing over someone as she was. Smirking internally to himself he turned to look at her. Her hair was pulled back tonight, high on the back of her head in a long flowing braid.

"I preferred it down" he said without thinking, shrugging a shoulder when she looked at him in surprise, "Your hair, you suit it down, flowing free around your face. That's all." He looked away from her as she mumbled a lousy thank you to him and they returned to sitting in silence. Just like old times.

Well hope you're enjoying it so far. Please leave a comment and tell me what you think. Good or bad I don't mind either really. {Winks} Catch you on the next chapter