A/N: You know, sometimes I'm surprised by how many people are still here after 11 chapters of this annoying book, but you're here and that's what matters right?!? This chapter features one of my favorite Midgardians! Can you guess who it is? We get a few cute things here and there, I thought I'd make it up to you guys after last chapter... and before things go downhill yet again in the following chapter.
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“Are you okay?” Theoric said half jogging down the hallway to meet her having heard the scream. Her face was a ghostly white, even for her porcelain skin. She collected herself before Theoric got too close.
“I’m fine, one of the prisoners was acting out.” She decided to leave out the part about Loki, there would be no doubt in her mind it would only anger the warrior again. He gazed at her for a moment as if he didn’t believe her. If he didn’t, he never acted upon it.
Extending his arm to guide her down the hallway, she allowed him to lead her back to her room.
“I have to attend to some matters on Midgard with Thor tonight, but I shall return tomorrow afternoon. Odin will not permit us to stay longer, not that I want to stay any longer.” His face looked down upon hers with a growing smile.
She couldn’t deny that her feelings for Theoric had grown in the past few days and it appeared as if he had as well. Standing before her door, her teeth nibbled on her bottom lip contemplating what to do.
“Theoric.” She sputtered out before he had a chance to dismiss himself.
“Yes my Lady?”
“Would you care… would you care to stay up with me for a while? I do not imagine I will be able to sleep tonight.” Her hand played with the hem of her sleeve, anxiously awaiting his answer.
“Of course Lady Sigyn.”
The two walked into her room, the fire already going and the balcony windows shut but the curtains open. Her blanket still lay by the fire from the other day, as she could now not bring herself to sleep in what used to be Loki’s bed. Her hands snagged a few of the pillows from the bed and she brought them to the blanket where Theoric was already removing some of his armor to be more comfortable.
Sigyn had never seen him in just a white tunic and black pants, but she much liked it. The glow of the fire seemed to lull her to sleep, but the books seemed to be calling to her and begging her to pick one of them up and read for a while.
Perusing the vast selection, she felt two arms slip around her waist, enveloping her into a hug. She couldn’t help but grin while he read over her shoulder, his chin resting on her back.
“Have you found one you like?” His voice tickled her ear.
“Yes, but- wait!” She shrieked slightly when her body came off the ground. Carrying her like a husband might his bride, he moved over the blanket where he had propped some of the pillows up against the chair. He set her down off to the left and closer to the fire while he sat to the right of her.
Shaking her head, she could only laugh as she began to read one of her books, all the while he leaned over to read over her shoulder. It didn’t take long for Sigyn to find his arm around her while she lay her head on his chest and read. With the fire dying and the idea of sleep dwelling in her mind, she felt her body curl up next to his. Her arm draped across his torso and her head remained on his chest. A blanket being brought up around then was the last thing she remembered before slipping into unconsciousness.
---
The sun rudely awoke Sigyn the next morning. She found herself still on the ground clinging to Theoric, his head resting on the top of hers and his arms wrapped around her in a protective manner. Groaning, she quietly and carefully moved his arms so she could go stand at the balcony. She had no doubt in her mind that he would be in trouble for missing Thor’s appointment in Midgard last night… or perhaps not.
From the balcony, she could see Thor walking through the gates hand in hand with that of a mortal. She was had soft brunette hair and a strange attire. Her face lit up every time she saw something new and would point wildly before clinging tighter to Thor. She couldn’t help but laugh at the two in the courtyard.
“What’s so funny?” Theoric was now standing behind her on the balcony, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist forcing her back into his chest.
She could feel before even turning partly in his arms that he had dressed back into his armor he had removed the night before. Trying not to show the disappointment of feeling a sheer cloth rather than metal against her back, she shook her head and laughed and pointed down to Thor and the girl.
“Ah, that must be Lady Jane, the woman that Thor has fallen for from Midgard.”
“Perhaps it was best that you did not attend Thor last night, it seems as if he had better company.”
“Mmm perhaps he did but I can guarantee it was not as good as mine.” His lips tickled her ear and he kissed her shoulder and then her neck.
Sigyn shivered against his touch, never had she felt this way before, let alone let anyone touch her in this way. She wasn’t angry, just worried that she would do something wrong to drive him away. His cloak blew around her, allowing her to snatch it in her hand and fiddle with the edge of it. Turning slightly in his arms, he kissed her cheek lightly, pressing his forehead against the side of hers.
“I have some matters to take care of with the council, will you okay for the morning and seeing yourself to healing lessons?”
Nodding, she turned so she was facing him; his hazel eyes making her heart sputter. Something about the way he looked at her made her want to live in that moment for the rest of her life. One of his hands that had been on her waist suddenly came to wipe a stray hair from her face, but it lingered on her cheek. Cupping her face lightly in his, she felt him pull her waist closer to him and his face inclined to meet hers. Her eyes slid closed and she felt his warm breath on her face and then finally, his lips upon hers.
It was soft and welcoming, had she known that this was what she was missing out on she would have kissed him sooner than now. She felt her entire body melt into his and he must of noticed too as he smiled against her lips. Her hands came around his neck and pulled him closer, if that was at all possible. Their unspoken attraction finally seemed to have a it’s own language as they stood there on the balcony in the Asgardian Sun.
This continued for several minutes until he reluctantly pulled away. A low chuckle came from the warrior, his forehead head still pressed against hers.
“As much as I want to continue kissing you for the remainder of the day, I do need to attend to other matters.” He planted one more kiss upon her lips, sending her heart sputtering once more. He thankfully didn’t linger too long and slowly released his grip on her.
“Had I known that was what our first kiss would be like, I might have attempted to do that sooner. Until we meet again my Lady.” He kissed her hand when he bowed, making powerful and quick strides to the door, smiling once when he looked back at her before shutting it behind him.
Sigyn felt her heart steady, pushing some of her hair back that had fallen out of it’s braid. Biting her lip, she couldn’t help but smile at the thought of kissing him again; she was falling hard and fast for the warrior.
---
Showering and changing into a dark violet dress, she headed down to the dinning hall for the morning meal. It was quiet empty from its usual crowd but she assumed it was because the council was meeting presently so it shouldn’t surprise her.
Eir, Véar, and a few other warriors sat around the table. Sigyn took her seat and noticed the young mortal from earlier across the table in Thor’s seat. Eir was finishing when she arrived, but Véar was in a deep conversation with the girl.
“You must tell me Jane of Earth, what do the stars look like there? My brother describes them but I always wanted to know what they look like from other Realms.”
“Well, they are really hard to see in the sky. It’s from the light pollution that comes from the nearby cities so you can only really see it with a high power telescope or if you’re away from the cities. Even then you can’t see as many stars as you see here.” Jane’s voice was eager and full of excitement, something that was contagious to the two women listening. Sigyn could see why she had found favor in Thor’s eyes.
“What is it like to live on Midgard?” Sigyn’s voice piped up. Midgard had always intrigued her, as it was something Thor had often spoken of.
Jane turned to face Sigyn and gasped. The blonde’s face turned white. Was there something on her face? Did she have a scar? Touching her face consciously, Jane shook her head and pulled her hands down.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to gasp. It’s just… you are quite beautiful. I can see why Theoric spoke greatly of you the last time I saw him. Tell me, have you two begun to see each other?”
Sigyn’s face turned red and she looked down at her fingers. Véar lightly laughed and nodded up and down as if it were a response to Jane.
Sigyn was at a loss for words, it seemed as if gossip traveled fast in this kingdom, something she was not used to having. Back in Vanaheim, sure the town was small but everyone kept to themselves unless it was a large announcement such as a wedding or funeral. She wasn’t angry with Jane or even Theoric, just slightly embarrassed.
“Well,” Véar said, snagging Sigyn’s hand and patting it lightly. “She has found favor in the good warrior’s eyes. Rumor has it that he missed a meeting with my brother and Thor last night to fetch you. Now I wonder if he was ‘preoccupied’ with someone.”
The three laughed, though Sigyn not as much. Pulling her hand from Véar’s to rest in her laugh she shook her head back and forth.
“Nothing happened last night, I can assure you. But to answer your question Lady Jane, yes I believe you could say that Theoric and I have begun ‘to see each other’.”
Véar squealed and jumped up and down in her seat, her chocolate eyes full of excitement. Jane smiled in response, happy for her newfound friend. The three conversed for a bit longer until Véar stood.
“We have some healing lessons to attend to. I do believe Thor and his company should be done soon. You may join us until they are done if you wish.” Véar didn’t appear to be giving her a choice in the matter even if it sounded like that.
“Is it like your version of being trained as a doctor? I’d be curious to see how Asgard’s medicine works compared to Earth’s.”
“Then you shall!” Véar snagged her hand and tugged her down the hallway. Sigyn smiled, following the two towards the medical ward.
She had been learning fast and knew how to use certain elixirs, how to create some of them from scratch and even how to identify infections and the appropriate measures to take with an injury. Véar was currently learning how to master some small portions of magic, but it was extremely limited, as Eir only knew a little herself. Frigga had been teaching Eir some so that they could put it into medical practice but obviously those had come to a drastic halt.
Stepping through the door, she could see Eir had already laid out a task for she and Véar to tackle; it was often to create an elixir from memory and who could create it the fastest. Sometimes, as Eir would explain, you didn’t have the luxury of completing an elixir at your own pace. Often times if there was a battle or an attack on the palace, you would have to do it as soon as possible to save a life.
“Lady Eir this is Lady Jane of Midgard. She wishes to watch our lesson.” Véar dipped her head and took a step back from Jane.
Eir stared and then smiled, but Sigyn could swear it was more of a smirk. “Well, do you know anything of medicine?”
“Actually…” Jane’s confident voice began to sputter things out that Sigyn did not know the words for.
Eir motioned for Véar and Sigyn to begin their lessons while she and Jane spoke about medical terms she had never heard her teacher use. This faded into the background while she began to concentrate on the mixture before her.
Sometimes when they were creating the mixtures, Sigyn would often imagine what it would be like actually being born into this life and not a prisoner. It wasn’t that she felt constrained, no in fact Odin had been more lenient with her and having someone with her at all times. She wasn’t sure if it was something Theoric had done or not but whatever it was, she was thankful.
Other times she imagined what it would be like back on Vanaheim. Her heart longed to be home, to smell the grass and to lie in the flowers in the sun. Lying in the grass outside of her balcony in the garden wasn’t the same. It still felt like she was a corralled horse that didn’t have enough room to run wherever it pleased.
“Does Odin know of your presence here on Asgard.” Eir’s question stirred her from her thoughts. Though it sounded as if it was a question from the head healer, Sigyn knew that she had meant it as a statement. Of course Odin knew she was here, but was he happy about was the better question for the girl.
“I believe Thor went to speak to hi-“
“Lady Jane!” Thor’s voice bellowed from down the hallway, cutting of Jane. He walked down the hallway quickly, nodding politely to the other three. “Lady Eir, Lady Véar and Lady Sigyn.”
He bowed after each of their names and then fixed his gaze on Jane. “Odin has requested a meeting with you at once. My Ladies.” He bowed again to them and extended his arm to Jane.
“Thank you for allowing me to sit in on your lesson. I really enjoyed it.”
“The pleasure is ours Lady Jane, we do hope to see you again.” Eir turned to Véar and Sigyn who nodded in agreement.
With that, Thor and Jane headed towards the throne room, leaving Véar and Sigyn to return to their studies.
“Now, lets see how you two have done with your elixirs.” Eir said as she began to look over the mixtures they had created.