Loki continued to train me - days passed and I had begun to wonder if perhaps the offer of a journey outside Asgard was some cruel prank, but it hadn't been given by the mischievous one with whom I was learning to parry and thrust (using blades, to clarify). Frigga had gifted me this bounty, yet she'd put the planning in his hands, so I was at his mercy - and I'd given him the power he'd begun reminding me of, when I dared ask for a time table for our trip.

"Never you mind," he'd smirk. "We'll go when -"

"You deem me ready," I started to sound tired and resigned. His smirk would grow into a true smile - amused and then challenging, as though he'd love to push me into another spat like the one he'd witnessed when his mother had first mentioned Midgard on his arm. "I'd rather tour it while I can still stand on my own two feet, my prince. I think it may lose something if I'm too infirm to enjoy it under my own faculties."

He laughed, truly and surely tickled by my irritation at the wait. "You're riled up, Sigyn." Loki's eyes twinkled and his smile remained fully loaded. "It won't be much longer," not much of a promise or a set date, but I supposed it would do. "Are you that excited to be alone with me in a strange place? At my mercy?"

A twist in my stomach that I wouldn't exactly call uncomfortable hit me hard and fast at the quick change in his tone. Low and dark, even as his expression stayed bright and cheerful. Dry lips that needed sated won out before I could answer, and with the small motion that came from that fix also changed Loki's entire expression - gone was the bright teasing smile and twinkle in his gaze- replaced with the tense jaw, flared nostrils, and the light blue orbs were growing dark as his pupils grew larger.

"Alone?" Finding my voice finally, the question still came out hushed. "Is Midgard abandoned?"

Loki didn't answer, I had a sudden flash that he might not be ABLE to answer me just yet. Even if I wasn't entirely sure WHY he couldn't.

"As for your mercy, my prince -" I moved closer, since we were still on his balcony, once more going through the steps of what I'd named our rhythmless dance, and stared up at him - close enough so he could feel the heat pouring off of me from the exertion of our exercise. "Aren't I always at your mercy?"

He stared down at me, and I wondered if - this time, he'd finally burst the bubble in the way that we both seemed to want to - even if I wasn't completely sure HOW I wanted it to burst.

"Still flirting with danger, Sigyn," his voice was as breathless as mine, which made me feel marginally better. "Is that wise?"

"Only if danger is willing to flirt back, Loki." Please, I thought, let danger be willing. "Is danger willing?"
"More than," he nodded, his now empty hand coming up to brush an errant, sweaty lock out of my face. "Soon," and this time, it sounded like a vow AND a promise.

Back to my rooms - another bath - and I felt like I'd been here before, because I had. For days and days - time may pass differently on other realms, but here in Asgard, it was driving me mad.

The day finally came - and it came exactly like all the other days before it. I woke up to find him reading in my window seat. Lounging as if it was both his right and the most relaxing place he could think of to read in - except this time I noticed that he had a very small bag with him. My heart pounded so loud that I felt certain he could hear it -

"Good morning, Lady Sigyn." Not looking up from his book, but his smile was telling. Teasing and also secretive, I rolled my eyes. "Are you planning on staying in bed all day? Pity, I thought we might finally go along to Midgard, since you seem so set on going."

"If you insist, my prince," playing along, I stretched like a cat might - slowly and languidly - arching my back and yawning. "Should we have another training session before we go?" I caught the tiny shake of his head and the curl of his mouth that told me he was amused, if unwilling to show me.

"I think we can take the day off," shutting his book, he finally looked up. "Still abed? Out," commanding, and then a sigh. "Unless you really would rather stay?"

Smiling, I slid out of my bed and got ready, modesty had been lost after the second day of his visiting my room - while I had changed in front of him from the first, once the second was over, it became routine.

"Your hair," I had left it down, learning that it was easier to contend with at the end of my daily preparations. Looking up from where I'd been settling my gown, I saw him holding a velvet wrapped package. "I have something for you -"

Loki gestured for me to sit on my bed and then handed me the bundle. Untying the small black ribbon that held the emerald green velvet shut, my breath caught when I saw what he'd brought. More than one set - even though he'd warned me that he planned on having them made - I wasn't expecting them. Hair ornaments that would work as daggers. And each was both functional and beautiful - with jewels set in the top, stones both precious and raw, while the metals were different for each set: silver, gold, steel, iron.

"Well?" I'd gone speechless and he was waiting. "If you don't -"

"They're lovely," my finger traced each one. "Beautiful, in fact." I looked up to see him studying me. "Thank you, Loki."

"Yes, well -" he was smiling, but now that I was focused on him and filled with gratitude - "Let's get your hair up so we can go - after you pack."

Packing was easily done - all I really needed to toss together was a few books, a gown to wear to sleep in, and the bobbles I wore most often. Excitement coursed through me as Loki took my equally small bag in the same hand that held his own, and offered me his arm. I'd never seen a need to visit the Bifrost - what's the point of going to the point where all realms meet if I would never actually LEAVE this one?

"Let's go meet Heimdall, shall we?" Loki glanced down at me, and I could tell he was amused by my excitement, but he wasn't mocking me - at least I had that.

Heimdall was kind, if a bit odd - greeting me and wishing me well for my trip to Midgard. And then with a flash and a feeling as if I'd left some part of my stomach behind in Asgard - we were GONE and arrived on the edge of a road at the edge of a city - that was hidden in a sheen of mist.

"Where are we?" I looked up at Loki and he grinned down at me, his attire changing as my mouth dropped open - from the Asgardian leather that I knew so well to a frock that had more buttons and frills - I was almost aghast.

"London," seeing no dawning realization on my face, only what I imagined must be more confusion, his grin grew. "England, it's a very proper place in Midgard. And you are NOT dressed for it, Lady Sigyn." Crossing my arms over my chest, I waited. Clearly I had no idea what would be 'proper' attire for a lady in this LONDON. "Shall I help you?"

Sighing heavily at his press for me to plead for aid, I nodded, but he continued to wait and I could hear a noise that warned of approaching locals. "Please," I bit out, not wanting to be an oddity in a strange place. With a smirk he altered my gown into something not completely dissimilar - still a gown, but far more frilly and more structured and uncomfortable. There was another addition, on my finger a ring had appeared. "What's this?" I held up my hand and saw a plain band of gold.

"That," he offered as a carriage arrived, and with it my first taste of the Midgardians we'd be mingling with. "Is a wedding band." My eyes widened. "Midgardians are quite prudish, and since I refuse to let you out of my sight," he reminded me. "Which means, we're newlyweds, Sigyn."