A/N: So many of you ask for a chapter (or 2) on a weekly basis and it makes me smile! Even though the book is finished and on my laptop, I'm still sticking with one or two chapter releases a week, just to space it out. In this chapter, we go back to our man in green, yay! A few other important things happen and let's just say Chapter 14 is not that cheery... Vote, comment or don't, but as ALWAYS, enjoy!
Art work: http://stellapupa.deviantart.com/art/Loki-and-frigga-408017116
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“I shall see you all tomorrow morning, thank you ladies.” Eir began to clean up after dismissing their lesson.
“I must meet my brother on some important matters. We must go to the top of the tower again and speak, perhaps tomorrow night? I am so eager to hear of you and your valiant warrior.“
Sigyn’s ears turned red again at the mention of her and Theoric. “I suppose, if you truly wish for me to make you jealous.” A smile played on Sigyn’s lips, her slightly mischievous nature coming through at last. It only came through when she was truly comfortable, Véar smiled in recognition that her friend felt comfortable enough to joke with her.
“Then tomorrow night it is! Until then my friend!” She skipped down the hallway towards the entrance of the palace and down the rainbow bridge to meet Heimdall.
Sigyn sighed, realizing she needed to go and feed the prisoners and see Loki. The thought of seeing him again made her shiver. He had not taken the matter of his mother’s death well last night and she was in no mood to see how he was today. But still, she would do just about anything to stay on Odin’s good side and keep her freedom.
The prison sounded quiet, even though she was on the other side of the door. She cringed at the thought of Loki’s scream filling her head again. The door opened and she saw the menacing prisoner, but he wasn’t doing anything as she thought he might be. He was just standing there, pacing slowly with his hands laced behind his back. He didn’t even look up at her when she walked past him; in fact it felt like he wasn’t even looking at her but rather through her.
Moving down the hallway with the guards, she finally got to Loki’s cell. He didn’t even seem to look up when she walked towards the door; something was wrong. The guards seemed to notice it too and started to follow her to the door, but she put her hand up.
“It’s fine, I will call if I require assistance.” She knew he would only become more upset if more people came into the cell. Pushing the door open and shutting it behind her, she saw that the pacing Loki in his clean white-lit cell was not what was really going on inside the former prince of Asgard’s cell.
The real Loki sat leaning against the back wall of his cell. Everything was destroyed; black marks from his hands ran along the wall, blood trailed on the floor to his left foot, which was split open on the bottom. His hair wasn’t slicked back but rather disheveled, his green eyes dull like someone had tried to snuff the lights out inside. He looked to Sigyn, who sat the tray down on what used to be his bed.
“And now you see me for the real monster I am. The one that killed mother.” His voice softly said, his head rolling against the wall as if to look at her was real effort. He was broken, utterly and completely broken. The life seemed to have been drained out of him.
“Kurse killed your mother Loki not yo-“
“BUT I’M THE ONE WHO TOLD HIM WHICH WAY TO GO!! I gave her over to him.” He was on his feet now, suddenly inches from her face. She dare not move while he sneered over her, his whole body trembling. His eyes stared into hers and she could really see how much he was hurting, they raced back and forth as they seemed to be looking for comfort.
“I am the one who wished for my father’s death to be at the hands of Kurse but did not count that my mother would get in the way. I could not protect her…” His voice trailed off, his eyes glancing at the ground though he still stood in front of her.
“Then that is something we share.” Her voice quietly echoed before her eyes fell to the floor.
He didn’t say anything in response to that, but the look that crossed his face clearly said he was caught off guard.
“I’m sorry.” The devlish God uttered
She had expected him to say something snarky, but she hadn’t expected him to say that. But the God of lies quickly recovered, seeing the look of astonishment upon her face.
“What you never thought you’d hear that did you? Perhaps I said it just to make you think I was, after all, that’s what a trickster would do, wouldn’t he? Oh you fool, still believeing that I may have a heart of gold. I promise you, I am not one to be trusted... ” The evil grin replaced the look of empathy he had worn only moments ago.
Sigyn was beginning to lose her patience. It was like he was a 5 year old that threw a temper tantrum every other second because he wasn’t getting his way. She could see why everyone hated him so much; there was not one genuine bone in his body.
“You truly are a mon-“
The man’s face now changed to one that could make the bravest man run for cover, on of his hands snatching her face between his fingers.
“I wouldn’t finish that sentence if I were you darling.” The venom-like words touched his lips and he ripped his hands away from her chin. What was that behind the terror coming from his eyes? Anger? Lust? No, grief.. but why? Sigyn's head hurt, trying to read the Prince like a book, a book that simply did not wish to be read.
His back turned on her and he kicked over one of the pieces of his chair. Sigyn rubbed her jaw slightly, looking down at the ground to see a trail of blood coming from his foot having forgot what she had seen in his gaze.
“At least allow me to bandage your foot.” Making a nod at the smears of red across the white cell.
“I don’t need your help girl, I have no desire to be touched by the likes of you.”
Sigyn’s lips pursed together and crossed her arms over her chest.
“You will allow me to bandage them, now.” Irritation flowed into her words, showing more of her true colors than she had since she came here. She was not to be toyed with. She may be a woman of Asgard and subjected to see men as authority as were the customs, but it did not mean that she had to take this from the likes of him, a criminal and a childish criminal at that.
Loki seemed to notice the change in her demeanor, his hands laced behind his back once more and a grin filling his face.
“Mmm my, my, the Lady Sigyn has a bit of temper herself. I wonder what else you are capable of…” Loki moved off towards his tray to pick over the food, his green eyes full of glint as he stared after her attempting to read her now.
“I am capable of much monster, you know nothing about me.” Sigyn glared after him starting for the door having grown tired of their game. If he wanted his foot to bleed out on the floor, she would let him and not lose an ounce of sleep over it.
She was almost to the door handle when the cup that had been on his tray came flying close to her face. It bounced off the wall and smacked her in the cheek lightly. Turning, she saw his body was quaking, his skin tinting blue and his eyes glowing red.
“BE GONE.” He screamed. The veins in his neck protruded and his hands formed talons. He only seemed barely under control as the blue was slowly creeping up his hands and neck. But his face, he was utterly distraught, but why?
Her hand fiddled with the door until she flung it open, shutting it quickly behind her. Her own hands were shaking and the ragged breaths she heard belonged to her. The thoughts that were swarming in her mind made no sense to her at all. They were jumping constantly from topic to topic like someone was going through her mind looking for something. Her dreams were suddenly at the forefront of her mind.
He was more terrifying than in her nightmares when he turned blue. He hadn't turned completely blue, but enough for her to get the idea. But still… it was more, surprising than terrifying, actually she found it quiet beautiful. So terrifyingly beautiful, was that weird to think? His skin had reminded him of the night sky creeping up next to the sun until it had been consumed.
Her thoughts were jarred when she heard her name.
“Sigyn? Sigyn are you okay?”
Theoric’s panicked voice came from around the corner. She descended down the stairs from the door and came around to where he was calling her voice. The man’s eyes fell onto the slight scratch, had it come from the cup Loki had thrown at her? It must have.
“It’s okay, it’s from healing lessons. I had a small accident making an elixir.” She quickly answered his questioning look. It seemed to satisfy him for the moment as he looked to Loki in his cell.
She hadn’t noticed but the illusion of him pacing was gone, no now he was sitting on the ground among the damage he had created earlier, glaring at the two.
“If it had been from him, he would no longer have a tongue." Theoric muttered quietely "Come, I have a meal prepared for us.” He took her hand and headed for the door dungeon doors.
She couldn’t be sure but she was almost positive that Loki had said something about the Warrior as they left. But if he had, Theoric hadn’t heard it, something she was grateful for. As far as she was concerned, she wished to cause no harm to come to the former prince; so much had happened to him already. It was strange for her to think like that, especially since not minutes ago she had been ready to hurl objects at his head. But still, that was different than a royal flogging.
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Walking hand in hand down the hallway towards the dinning hall, she could see Theoric’s smile creeping up his face.
“Have you found something amusing?”
“No, no my Lady. It’s just… Thor will perhaps tease you when we go to eat, Jane may have let it slip to him about what was said in healing lessons today.” The Crimson Hawk Captain, as that was what his group was called that he was in control of, wiggled an eyebrow towards her.
“Oh, yes…” Her lips nibbled on her lower lip, exchanging a glance with the man that had captured her heart.
“I hope to hear more about this later tonight.” He winked and pushed open the door to the dinning hall.
As it always was, the table was adorned with just about every type of meat and side imaginable. At the end of the far end of the table sat Odin, who only raised his goblet in acknowledgement to their entrance. To his right, an empty chair that had belonged to Frigga and two seats to his right, the chair that had belonged to Loki. Thor sat next to him on his left followed by Volstagg, and Hogun. Fandral sat next to Loki’s empty chair and Sif next to him. Sigyn sat next to Sif while Theoric took his spot next to Hogun. Heimdall never ate with them or at all so there was no need to place a chair. She began to notice everyone around her was part of the council. It was only when she and Theoric sat down that the table grew quiet.
“Tonight, we invite the Lady Sigyn to join us as part of the council to replace my late wife, Frigga.” Odin’s voice barely wavered at the mention of her name but that wasn’t what Sigyn was concentrating on.
No, she wanted to know why she, of all people, had been invited to join the council. She was a traitor, under careful watch of everyone on this council that she did not deliver them into the hands of Asgard’s enemies. How did any of this make sense? She refused to speak; resorting to only exchanging glances with the rest of the council that wore friendly smiles.
“To Lady Sigyn!” Thor’s voice bellowed, raising his own goblet.
“Lady Sigyn!” They company declared before taking a sip of their wine.
Looking to Theoric while she drank, she saw a grin appear behind his glass; she would have words with him when they were alone. He had done something to make this so, so what did it mean? Was she now free from under Odin’s watch? Or was it only temporary? Could it be something entirely different?
She pondered these thoughts while the company ate, listening to stories and laughing until one by one, everyone had gone but she and Theoric.
“Would you like to go on a stroll through the gardens?” Standing next to her chair, he offered her a hand, letting her wrap her fingers around his bicep to be led.
“Yes, if we may.”
“As the newest member of council, there is nothing that you are not allowed to do. Well there are some things but that pertains to everyone.” The corner of his mouth turned up in a childish manner, but she found it incredibly irresistible.
They walked down the hallways until they found themselves in the garden. She could see the light flickering off the walls from the fireplace that the guards had already turned down her room. Walking slowly through the garden, she leaned up against the tree, the warrior watching her eyes while they searched the stars.
“Tell me, why have I been placed as the newest member of council? After all that has transpired, I would have thought Odin would want me as far away from the council’s decisions as possible.”
Theoric laughed, resting his forearm against the tree above her head.
“It was I who requested it. If you are to live here for the rest of your life, should the King not trust you? Especially if one day I intend to make you my wife…” His hazel eyes met her blue ones. “Perhaps I should not have said that just yet.”
Taking his face in her hands, Sigyn pulled him into a kiss. At first, he was startled, and fell into her, but as she kissed him, her thumb rubbing against the stubble on his cheeks, he began to kiss her back. Feeling her back press up against the tree again, his hands rested on her waist, pulling her closer. Her hands moved to tangle themselves in his hair, her body warm against his.
This continued for several minutes before they parted to catch their breath. He chuckled slightly at the way she tried to control her breathing. It was true, her heart felt as if it would leap out of her chest, he hardly looked phased.
“I have no explanation as to why I deserved that, but might I just say, I quiet liked it.” Theoric kissed her lips softly and began to cloud Sigyn’s head again. Pushing him away slightly, she laughed and shook her head.
“The thought of one day becoming your wife… I must say it is most welcomed, which is why I felt the need to embrace you, but I do not know if I am there just yet good Theoric. We have but just met and I do not want to rush into things. I do one day hope to become your wife, if you so do choose to ask me. But for now, I am quiet content with these small moments we have with each other, if that is alright with you and if you will wait till I am ready.”
Her blue eyes once again met his deep gold ones, a smile plastered upon his face.
“I belive you are worth waiting for my Lady, we have all of eternity to mingle in this dance and I do intend to make you mine." He leaned down again, planting a kiss on her lips, one that she returned with just as much passion as he had delivered. His hands slipped tighter around her, pulling her closer yet still. His lips trailed kisses down her neck and a soft sigh departed from her lips and she mumbled his name lightly in his ear.
Suddenly, the light came on in Thor's room and quickly the two seperated from their embrace against the tree. They both laughed, being reminded that they were not wed yet and that it would be dishonorable to be caught together in the garden, let alone in bed togther before they wed. Honey-like irisis looked up into Sigyn's blue ones, his thumb caressing her cheek softly.
"It is just as well that we part for tonight before things get out of hand. Goodnight my Sigyn.” He dipped his head kissing her on her open palm before heading towards his chambers, glancing back once in a while.
The young maiden watched him go, ascending up her own stairs while her heart was still sputtering from before. It was true, she did have a strong desire to marry him, to live this life of royalty, but she felt as if something were holding her back, but what? He was everything she could desire, so what was it?
Slipping into the oversized chair (she still had yet to bring herself to sleep in Loki’s bed), she pulled the green blanket around her and fell into a dreamless sleep.