He still had a grin on his own face when he turned back around and caught the look on Lieutenant-General Yngvarr's face. Loki gave the man his best innocent expression, but it only caused Yngvarr's eyes to narrow suspiciously and he had to chuckle at that. The man was starting to get to know him far too well. Which could be a problem in the future.

Or a challenge.

Hmm, it could be interesting as a challenge. Just think of all of the potential chaos...

Something of his thoughts must have shown on his face as Loki thought Lieutenant-General Yngvarr looked even more suspicious, but it could simply have been his imagination.

Then they were at his chambers and Loki pulled Queen Sága's missive out while he waited in his antechamber for the Einherjar to check the rest of his chambers. The wax seal was magical in nature but broke open easily at his touch, its defenses fading away. Loki would not be surprised if it also allowed its castor to know he had received the missive.

The parchment unfolded easily and Loki was left looking at the beautiful calligraphy of the ljósálfar, and the usual, wonderful decorations around it. Unless this turned out to be an important official document which needed to be filed away in the king's library, he was keeping it for his own collection as 'twas far more intricate than any example he had already managed to obtain before.

The missive itself started with the usual greetings and courtesies between royalty and rulers of two different Realms. It still felt surreal to have those titles and pleasantries directed at him. Loki had seen them countless times while reading missives to his father, but to know they were directed athimpersonally was... altogether different, not the least of which was because he hadneverexpected for it to happen.

Loki blinked in surprise as he actually realized what the missive itself was saying. 'Twas a request to relay a message to Laufey-King; an offer for a large trade agreement to be set up even before the first jötnar left Jötunheimr to attend the various Harvest Festivals, including the one on Álfheimr. The fact it had come through him, with a token offer to provide him with a mage's bundle for his trouble, allowed him to see it for what it truly was. Further incentive to sweeten the pot and help convince Laufey to accept the new treaty. As such 'twas expertly worded and the second parchment to pass on to Laufey-King had all of the proper makings of a new trade agreement with the option to expand in the future.

This was... 'twas political gold and Loki felt his heart beat faster. Not only did this provide definitive proof to Laufey and their people that Loki had actually spoken to the other Realms about the change in terms of the treaty with Jötunheimr (which, cut off as they were from the rest of the Nine, they could have cause to doubt), but it also proved people would still be interested in what Jötunheimr had to offer. It would mean Laufey would be able to return to their people, not only able to declare peace and the return of the Casket of Ancient Winters, but with the first order of jötnar goods as well, proving in one go that their new treaty was already providing both money and work for Jötunheimr.

In addition to all of that, 'twas also proof of either Queen Sága's favor towards him, as well as her commitment to stand by him on the matter. Aye, Álfheimr did not want war, but this went far beyond merely that, verging towards an outright declaration Queen Sága stood with him, and not simply Ásgarðr, as an ally. The implications and political ramifications of it were not lost on Loki, and he could not help but wonder if Sága's fabled sight was at play here. 'Twas either that, or she had been more favorably disposed towards him than he had known, or anyone else in Ásgarðr had realized.

'Twas an interesting thought in and of itself and Loki was curious to know what Óðinn would make of it once he woke.

"My King?"

The voice drew Loki from his thoughts, and he blinked as he looked up at Lieutenant-General Yngvarr.

"Hmm?" Loki inquired.

"Was there anything else which you required or wished to do this evening?" the lieutenant-general asked.

"Oh, nay, I will be responding to this missive and then turning in for the night," Loki replied. "You may go, thank you, Yngvarr. All the way out tonight."

He did not want to run the risk of one of the Einherjar overhearing anything with Sigyn spending the night.

"My Liege," Lieutenant-General Yngvarr protested.

"Do you know how many wards and other magical defenses are woven over, and extend around, my chambers?"

"I... nay."

"More than around the All-Father's or even the vault."

No one had ever accused him of being trusting or foolish.

"Truly?"

"Hmm," Loki confirmed. "I have had to specially modify them to accept you and your men. Before there were only four people who had standing permission to enter other than myself."

"Four?" Lieutenant-General Yngvarr asked, before his eyes moved past Loki. "Oh, of course."

Loki did not have to turn to know Livunn had entered the chamber.

Lieutenant-General Yngvarr frowned. "Even before, the others were not allowed to enter? The Warriors Four?"

Loki scowled darkly. "Nay, I had never trusted them that far."

A few emotions flashed lightning quick over Yngvarr's face, not all of which Loki could catch, but he was quite certain surprise, dismay and displeasure were amongst them.

"I would still feel better if two of my men were in this outer chamber," the lieutenant-general stated.

"So noted," Loki replied evenly.

He could understand the man's concern, but Loki would not budge on this. Not tonight.

He would not risk Sigyn's reputation or put up with needing to be careful the whole time she was here.

Lieutenant-General Yngvarr gave a shallow bow before motioning his men out of the chamber.

"Loki," Livunn greeted once they were alone. "Was there anything else you required tonight?"

"I need to write a quick message for Lord Aðalgrímr which will need delivering, but that will be all," Loki replied, leaning Gungnir against the wall as he headed deeper into his chambers for his study.

"Very well," Livunn said, shadowing him at a distance.

In his study, Loki duplicated both the missive to him and the document to Laufey in order to send them to Aðalgrímr, before he made a few quick notes on a separate sheet of parchment. While Ásgarðr's top diplomat would no doubt be resigned at receiving a message from him at this hour, Loki had no doubt its contents would please Lord Aðalgrímr greatly.

"Thank you," Loki said as he handed the duplicates and message to Livunn.

"The same time tomorrow morning as today?" Livunn asked.

Loki sighed. "Alas, nay, an hour and a half earlier, I am afraid. Not only will I need a quick word with Lord Aðalgrímr, but the increasing time disparity with Jötunheimr means we need to start earlier each day to have enough time."

"Of course, Your Majesty."

With that, Livunn took her leave and Loki locked down his wards for the night. Now even his mother, Thor and Livunn would not be able to simply enter unless there was an emergency. With a thought, Loki banished his robes for something far more comfortable and informal before he moved to the far back corner of his study. There, woven ever so carefully into the wards and stonework was a slightly different version of a pocket dimension. Actually, now he thought of it, Loki realized 'twas far more like the king's library than his personal pocket dimension, even if it did not possess the ability to be accessed from anywhere on Ásgarðr. Not that he would want it to be, as it would merely be an added vulnerability which was the last thing he wanted given the contents.

Loki untangled the many and varied defenses he had erected, before calling forth two of the bottles of mage wine he kept stored within. Placing them aside, he restored the defenses before he allowed himself to enjoy the raw seiðr which emanated from the bottles. It crackled along the edge of his senses and he longed to reach out andpartakeof them both, but he resisted.

For now.

The differences in how the two bottles felt in his hands was such that Loki could have identified which was his and which was Sigyn's even with his eyes closed. His own (and thetruemage wine as he liked to tease Sigyn), called to his seiðr, longing to be rejoined with it. Sigyn's, on the other hand, was far more coy and playful, in addition to being mead and thus not technically mage wine. Not that the ljósálfr who had pointed it out to his lover had held his ground in the face of her displeasure.

The memory made Loki laugh before he abruptly sobered as he recalled what they had said of his mage wine.A winter wine, those select few he had allowed to partake of it had said.

At the time, Loki had not thought much of it and had even been rather proud to be so obviously different from the others. Besides, he had always particularly enjoyed winter, and thus he had viewed it as an extension of his preferences and personality.

Now... now it made Loki feel vaguely ill and he had to clamp down on the thought as he felt something tear deep within his core once more. As he was alone, Loki took the opportunity to visibly react to it. He carefully placed the bottles aside before doubling over, his arms wrapped tightly around his middle as he rode out the pain. Ásgarðr rushed to his aide once more, helping him to stabilize his core as much as possible. There was also the cool tentative touch of Mother Winter, her connection still tenuous at best, but Loki readily let her in and exhaled in relief as her freezing touch soothed the pain. He was surprised she was willing to help given what had triggered the damage, but all he felt from her was concern and... at first he thought 'twas pity, but then he realized 'twas grief. He could only assume 'twas for how he saw his true form.

Not wanting to think of it, Loki rose once more and picked up the two bottles. He placed them on the low table in the living chamber before retrieving two wine glasses. If they had not just come from a feast, he would have added something small to eat, but 'twas unnecessary. He opened both bottles to let them breathe before he nodded in satisfaction. The anticipation of the night to come reminded him to cast a quick spell on himself to ensure he could not impregnate Sigyn, before Loki closed his eyes and reached out with his seiðr towards the palace guest quarters, even as the scent of the wine and mead filled the air.

His was heavier, rich with winter spices, plum, moonflower nectar and the opulent taste of the darker red grapes, and yet it also held a hint of winter's bite; a chill which had always delighted and teased at the edge of Loki's senses, tantalizing them.

Sigyn's, meanwhile, was far lighter, sweet with the scent of lavender fed bee honey, summer berries and the teasing seiðr of the white grapes of Andlàngr. It all swirled with a hint of what Loki could not say was physical, but which he still associated with her; the scent of the ocean breeze in the starlight of a warm summer's eve.

Both also had the ever so slight hint of iron to them, that was due to their blood which had gone into the making of them, as was required for all mage wines. 'Twas why he had the bottles so carefully hidden, for not only did the inclusion of their blood make it rather potent as a weapon which could be used against them by those with nefarious intentions, but mage wine as a whole was also looked down upon by Ásgarðr. They saw it as a Dark Art to be banned like so many other areas of seiðr which they did not properly understand, or which possessed the potential to be powerful. In this case, through temporarily boosting the power of the seiðberandi who consumed it, particularly if 'twas made with their own blood.

Of course, it had been for that exact reason Loki had been drawn to mage wines after he had first learned of their existence.

Luckily for both himself and Sigyn, her father was the leading expert on Ásgarðr on mage wine due to his time on Niðavellir back before he had married Lady Snotra. It had meant they had been able to raid Lord Kvasir's library for the information when both Kvasir and Snotra had been from the home as, naturally, Kvasir had not been able to teach them about it given how frowned upon the practice was on Ásgarðr. With that initial information, Loki and Sigyn had been able to learn the rest from the dökkálfar and ljósálfar.

Once Loki was certain Sigyn was alone in her guest chambers, he teleported himself there with a thought, taking care not to appear too close to her lest he startle her in the process. He also made certain to ensure his arrival was preceded by a subtle sense of seiðr, as a way to announce himself.

"Loki," Lady Sigyn smiled brightly as she turned to face him.

"Sigyn," Loki replied, absently noting she too had changed into a far simpler dress.

Then she had stepped closer and, this time, Loki followed his impulse and leaned forwards to kiss her. Sigyn met him halfway, one hand sliding along his face and into his hair, while the other slid along his chest and over his shoulder.

All of the old emotions came rushing back to him and Loki could only hang on as it all washed over him. Her familiar scent and the tingle of her seiðr brushing along his own reignited the burning desire formore, nowand refreshed the haunting pain of their separation and her loss. He moaned at it all and moved to renew the kiss as soon as it ended. Sigyn, however, moved her head just enough so his lips slid along her cheek instead.

"Sig," Loki complained, nuzzling at her skin instead, before nipping her earlobe.

The way Sigyn's breath caught, and her head tilted to give him more access, told him she was still as sensitive as ever there.

"Loki," Sigyn breathed, a hitch in her voice. It made Loki smile and pull her closer. "Stop."

Loki huffed and leaned his head forwards against her for a moment before drawing back with a pout to see what she wanted.

Sigyn chuckled as she caught his expression. "Oh, hush, I simply will not be responsible for keeping you away from your guards for any longer than absolutely necessary."

The sentiment sobered Loki a little and he became aware of his surroundings enough to feel another gaze on him.

"Technically, I am not unguarded at present," Loki returned with a wry smile, before continuing at her puzzled look. "Höðr."

"Oh," Sigyn said, biting her lower lip.

Loki was briefly concerned, thinking she was worried at his former guard's knowledge of this present dalliance, before he realized she was trying not to laugh.

Why?Oh.

"Vanaheimr," Loki realized and chuckled himself, eyes glancing over to the right to meet Höðr's.

The current gatekeeper blinked in surprise before inclining his head respectfully, though the twitch of his lips indicated he, too, recalled the events in question. Though Loki was certain Höðr had already been aware his and Sigyn's relationship had progressed past that of friends to lovers,thatparticular incident had left no doubt in anyone's mind.

The only question was who had been more mortified, them or Höðr. Loki was fairly confident it had been his guard.

"Very well," Loki said, smiling at Sigyn. "My chambers 'tis then."

"Thank you," Sigyn replied before he teleported them.

Within seconds of their arrival, Loki could feel Höðr's attention shifting away from them, and he knew he did not need to worry about it returning anytime soon.

'Twas curiously refreshing and nice not to have to worry about being spied upon relentlessly. Loki had never fully realized precisely how draining Heimdallr's dislike and suspicion of him were until he no longer had to worry about it all.

"Now we can continue," Sigyn said, pulling him closer for another kiss.

Loki moaned and just took the time to enjoy simply kissing Sigyn. It had been so long, and the easy intimacy of even relatively chaste kisses was one he missed greatly.

"I have missed this," Sigyn whispered as they pulled apart only as much as necessary to breathe.

"Hmm, me too," Loki admitted, nuzzling her once more.

Her fingers carded through his hair before tugging gently on the longer locks.

"This is new," Sigyn said. "I like it."

"You do?" Loki asked, pulling back a little.

"Aye."

He had initially done it as he knew a change associated with his regency would subconsciously remind people of it after Óðinn had woken and taken Hliðskjálf back. So, truly, it should merely be a happy coincidence Sigyn appreciated it too, but Loki knew himself well enough to realize his vanity would have overruled all else if she had expressed a preference for his old hairstyle. The desire to appear best to one of the few who genuinely appreciated his appearance was simply too strong.

"Are you going to grow it even longer?" Sigyn inquired.

"I had not thought of it, but perhaps," Loki replied.

Sigyn hummed, drawing a few strands forward to see exactly how long they were, and Loki smiled at her. Because he was observing her so closely, he saw the exact moment Sigyn registered the scent of the mage wines. Her nose twitched adorably and her eyes opened wide.

"Is that?" she questioned, looking around.

"Aye," Loki confirmed, offering his arm and leading her to the sofa. "Would you like a glass?"

"Must you even ask?"

"Given what I would like to do later, aye."

Sigyn gifted him with his favorite of her smiles. 'Twas softer and gentler than the others but, he felt, far warmer and more intimate. As well it might, given the effects of mage wine were quite potent even when freshly made, and they only grew stronger as it was aged and theirs was two and a half centuries old. Once consumed, neither of them would be fully capable of giving consent.

"Aye," Sigyn said, looking him right in the eye.

His anticipation swelled as Loki pulled the two cut crystal wine glasses closer to himself. Not only did mage wine give the drinker's own seiðr a buzz and a temporary increased boost of power, but it also made the drinker more languid and sensitive to touch and another person's seiðr. So, when combined with being both physically and magically intimate with another being, it generated a greatly elevated and pleasurable experience.

"Single or mixed?" Loki asked as he pulled her mead towards him.

"Mixed," Sigyn replied, her breath ghosting over the back of his neck as she brushed his hair aside to nip at the skin where his shoulder met his neck.

Loki automatically tilted his head to give her more access even as he poured the mead into both glasses. Strange as it was, they had discovered long ago that their wines combined rather nicely, and the power boost was only increased by mingling the two.

"What have you been doing lately, other than being regent?" Sigyn inquired, soothing the bruise she had no doubt left with a kiss.

"My regular duties," Loki began, corking and putting down the bottle with her mead and picking up his own to top off their glasses. "I have also been looking into a new spell I have heard of."

"Oh?"

Loki hummed, handing her a glass before taking his own. "May e'er the waters flow, and the sands blow," he said while raising his glass, carefully pronouncing the ancient toast to the Norns.

"May e'er the Yggdrasill grow, and the Three Ladies glow," Sigyn completed.

They each took their first few sips and Loki allowed his eyes to slip closed as he savored the rich taste that sparked to life across his tongue, accompanied by the heady prickle of seiðr unfurling within him, mixing with his own as it went. The delicious contrast of own and foreign only heightened the effects.

"Norns, I have missed this," Sigyn moaned.

"Do you want me to collect another of your bottles for you?" Loki offered.

In order to prevent them from losing their rather large stock, which they topped up every few years, most of the bottles were kept in a cavern deep within a mountain on Miðgarðr. Everest, Loki believed the mortals now called it. There it could age and remain safe from anyone who might wish to steal it, as 'twas deeper than most would dare teleport without having prior knowledge of their destination.

"Nay," Sigyn replied, placing her glass on the table before taking his and doing the same.

Loki regarded her with half-lidded eyes as she turned and moved to straddle him, her weight settling comfortably in his lap as her arms did on his shoulders.

"Hey," she whispered, leaning forwards to rest their foreheads together.

"Hey," Loki replied, lips twitching as he brought his own arms to settle around her waist. "Oh, I must warn you."

"Warn me?"

"Aye, for when you reach for me with your seiðr. The response will be stronger than before."

Sigyn's eyebrows shot up. "You found a way to significantly enhance your seiðr?"

"I became king of Ásgarðr," Loki explained, observing her closely.

It took a few seconds, but then her eyes grew wide. "The Óðinnforce," Sigyn breathed.

"Hmm," Loki confirmed.

"That would be a significant boost."

"To put it mildly."

Sigyn laughed. "How does it feel?"

"Indescribable," Loki replied, before kissing her again.

She instantly responded and deepened the kiss, no doubt chasing the taste of the mage wine. 'Twas also why Sigyn pulled away a few minutes later as she twisted to the side and reached for his glass. Loki placed his hands on her hips to stabilize her even as he took the opportunity to nibble on her neck. Sigyn moaned, arching into his touch before Loki felt the stem of his glass being bumped against his hand. He pulled back enough to accept it and took another drink while Sigyn retrieved her own glass. This time they put their glasses on the small table beside the sofa for easy access.

Loki then allowed himself to be pushed down to lie lengthwise on the pillows while Sigyn stretched out atop him, her arms coming to rest on either side of his head while her hair fell in a wave of gold around their faces.

"Allow me to pay proper homage to my new king, Your Majesty," Sigyn breathed, her breath ghosting over his face.

Loki could only lay there and watch as Sigyn reached out with her seiðr. Arousal, alcohol and seiðr singing strong through his veins. The first brush of Sigyn's seiðr against his own was a cool rush of clean air and like coming home. Loki moaned, never taking his eyes off her and therefore saw the shock which pulsed through them when Sigyn realized precisely how powerful he had become.

Then Loki could not resist anymore and pulled her down into another searing kiss even as he reached back for her with his own seiðr, letting the two tangle up with each other as surely as they soon would physically. Their hands roamed everywhere as the mage wine truly started to take effect. Though the mix of foreign and aged seiðr enhanced arousal and other sensations, it also mellowed the drinker, making them languid, allowing them to draw out the experience and Loki loved the slow burn of it all, the arousal curling in his belly.

He half dreaded needing to move in order to be able to drink more, but apparently the pillows under his back elevated him just enough not to need to. Nor wanting to twist his arm up to reach the table, Loki blindly lowered his glass to the floor, watching Sigyn drink with half-lidded eyes. He waited until she had put aside her glass before he reached out with his seiðr and traced it across her ownjust soto make her moan and shake with a full body shudder at the same time.

"How do youdothat?" Sigyn demanded once more when she regained enough breath to do so, voice rough with pleasure.

"A gentleman never tells," Loki retorted with the familiar tease.

"One of these days, I will make you tell me," Sigyn threatened.

And he looked forward to it, but for now, Loki laughed though it hitched at the end as Sigyn's clever fingers undid the fastenings of his tunic and pushed it to either side.

"Give me your best attempt," Loki challenged, all but purring as her hands ran over his chest.

"I will," Sigyn promised. "Simply not today."

With that, she leaned forwards to nip at the skin just above his heart. Loki moaned, letting his head fall back though he buried his fingers in her hair.

Sigyn proceeded to lick and nip at his skin while moving down his body until she was able to nuzzle at his sternum. Her seiðr flared again and Loki felt a rush of panic at having her so close to his wounded and shredded core, not because he did not trust her with it, but rather because he did not want her to discover what had happened as he knew she would stop and insist on his being seen to at once. But then it faded as he remembered that, close or not, one had to reach outintoanother's core to feel it clearly enough for that.

Calming, Loki reached out and teased her seiðr again, making her moan against his skin. He pulled her back up his body so they could kiss once more and he brushed her lips with his tongue, seeking entrance. When they separated after, Sigyn handed him his glass and he finished it in two large swallows, eager to move on now. Sigyn clearly agreed as she finished her glass in one long swallow, her smoldering eyes never leaving his own as she did so.

As soon as Sigyn had put her glass down, Loki sat up once more, capturing her lips even as his hands ran down her back to her rear. Understanding what he intended, Sigyn wrapped her arms around his shoulders and her legs against his waist. With a bit of help from his seiðr, Loki rose to his feet and carried her into his bedchamber.