Loki hesitated, confused, so confused by her reaction. He felt her hand grab his, heard her pleading words and wave after wave of doubt, anger, bewilderment, heartache and guilt swept over him. The torrent of emotions left him paralyzed for longer than it should have. He felt his body straining, vibrating, terrified of letting even one drop of this vile mix of feelings out into the open.
It took him a while to gain back control. He let out a ragged sigh of release and shook his head almost imperceptibly. He still had his back to her, her hand holding his. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and looked down at her over his shoulder.
“I shall forgive your transgression only if you forgive my misinterpretation and over-reaction to the perceived slight.”
The tension, the frozen stillness of his body, his silence, cut her to the heart. Sigyn laid her cheek against the back of the hand she held, wishing she could take it all back and wake up again to the day. “There is nothing to forgive; I have already forgotten. Please, may we pretend you have just awakened, and I have just awakened, and start over?”
He worried his lip for a moment, considering her proposition. The cheek against his hand unnerved him more than he was willing to admit.
“I am sorry, Miss Sigyn, it is not in my nature to feign ignorance at such things. Though, rest assured, I have forgiven.” he paused, unsure what to do next, “if it pleases you, perhaps we could meet again later in the day… I could give you a tour of the palace or….”
He trailed off, still facing the door, tense as he waited for her answer.
Sigyn released his hand, slowly, staring up at the curve of his shoulder. Why was he asking when he could command? This was strange, and wrong. “Loki,” she whispered, the first time she’d said his name. It felt … right. “My lord.” She stood up, circling around to face him. Some instinct prompted her to reach up, on her toes, and brush a quick kiss against his mouth.
“I am at your command,” she whispered, eyes closed, before whirling around and out the door.