chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

The unexpected teleport startled Sigyn into stumbling on landing. Her free hand flailed out, desperately catching at Loki’s clothing. Hanging on to him with both hands, she looked around, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. “Oh, my lord,” she breathed. “Oh, it’s so wonderful!”

He put an arm around her, holding her close as he studied the scene. “This, my dear Sigyn, is my haven. I know of none who know of this place. In my youth I would come here to escape my brother and his friends’ harassment.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath in. “It was a balm to me.”

She pulled away a little, still staring around. Yes, she could feel it, this hollow of glorious nature, breathing in pain and breathing out peace. A tender smile curved her lips and softened her eyes. This place called to a part of her heart she hadn’t even realised was being bruised by the brilliant wonders of Asgard’s city. “Why would you show this to me?” she murmured.

He dipped his head slightly, suddenly feeling exposed and vulnerable. “Oh… I… well… I had heard of the beauty of the wilds in Alfheim and… well… I thought, perhaps the cultivated symmetries of the palace gardens were… I mean…” He straightened himself to his full height. “I wished to share a piece of my own comfort with you since you are a visitor here and may not have much comfort of your own.”

Turning back to him, her smile widened into blazing glory. “Thank you! Thank you, my lord!” Carelessly, she freed herself from his hold, and flung herself down on her knees beside some of the flowers, caressing them with fingertips, burying her face in the leaves of the glowing trees. Her eyes shone as she looked around yet again, laughing a little. Sigyn circled the hollow, laying her face to each tree trunk, touching each flower.

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

Obediently she rose, still holding his hand. She didn’t want to let go of it. “Where shall we go? I thought I had seen all the glories of Asgard already.” And then I saw you, she thought. That made her duck her head again, though she forced her chin back up, giving Loki a brave smile.

He gave her his winningest smile back and wrapped her hand around his arm. “I doubt you have seen this.” With a quick flick of the wrist they disappeared from the courtyard, reappearing next to a small waterfall that spilled out to a small pond and lazy stream. The pond was lined with strange trees that seemed to give off a sort of light and countless other plants and flowers. There was a fragrance in the air of sweet fruit and recent rain.

The unexpected teleport startled Sigyn into stumbling on landing. Her free hand flailed out, desperately catching at Loki’s clothing. Hanging on to him with both hands, she looked around, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. “Oh, my lord,” she breathed. “Oh, it’s so wonderful!”

He put an arm around her, holding her close as he studied the scene. “This, my dear Sigyn, is my haven. I know of none who know of this place. In my youth I would come here to escape my brother and his friends’ harassment.” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath in. “It was a balm to me.”

She pulled away a little, still staring around. Yes, she could feel it, this hollow of glorious nature, breathing in pain and breathing out peace. A tender smile curved her lips and softened her eyes. This place called to a part of her heart she hadn’t even realised was being bruised by the brilliant wonders of Asgard’s city. “Why would you show this to me?” she murmured.

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

Clearing her throat, she managed, “I am well, my lord. You were seeking me?” She willed herself to be strong, not to blush and stammer or be embarrassed, and curled her fingers in his. “Will you … sit with me, and tell me about your day?”

He smiled, shaking his head, “Will you not walk with me? I should like to show you around the palace and grounds.”

Obediently she rose, still holding his hand. She didn’t want to let go of it. “Where shall we go? I thought I had seen all the glories of Asgard already.” And then I saw you, she thought. That made her duck her head again, though she forced her chin back up, giving Loki a brave smile.

He gave her his winningest smile back and wrapped her hand around his arm. “I doubt you have seen this.” With a quick flick of the wrist they disappeared from the courtyard, reappearing next to a small waterfall that spilled out to a small pond and lazy stream. The pond was lined with strange trees that seemed to give off a sort of light and countless other plants and flowers. There was a fragrance in the air of sweet fruit and recent rain.

The unexpected teleport startled Sigyn into stumbling on landing. Her free hand flailed out, desperately catching at Loki’s clothing. Hanging on to him with both hands, she looked around, wide-eyed and open-mouthed. “Oh, my lord,” she breathed. “Oh, it’s so wonderful!”

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

As evening began to fall, Sigyn wandered out-of-doors, turning her face up to the waning sunlight. Closing her eyes, the amber light made shadowed patterns on her eyelids. But what brought her pleasure only a day ago was made less by the memories of the night before; the liquid tension of Loki’s touch. Would she ever see him again?

She opened her eyes, and there he was, sharp and elegant, drawing the gaze like a magnet. Across the courtyard he strode, apparently in some haste. Startlement made her mute.

It didn’t take long for Loki to locate Sigyn; he saw her on the other side of the courtyard and made his way over. He smiled at her startled look.

“My dear, Miss Sigyn. I have found you. How are you this evening?” He grabbed her hand in his and gave it a gallant kiss.

Clearing her throat, she managed, “I am well, my lord. You were seeking me?” She willed herself to be strong, not to blush and stammer or be embarrassed, and curled her fingers in his. “Will you … sit with me, and tell me about your day?”

He smiled, shaking his head, “Will you not walk with me? I should like to show you around the palace and grounds.”

Obediently she rose, still holding his hand. She didn’t want to let go of it. “Where shall we go? I thought I had seen all the glories of Asgard already.” And then I saw you, she thought. That made her duck her head again, though she forced her chin back up, giving Loki a brave smile.

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

There wasn’t much for the aide to find out, really. No one seemed to know much of anything about her, at least not in Asgard proper. She was exactly as she claimed she was, an alfr, elf, recently petitioned for residence in the Realm Eternal, of minor but enough rank to be granted chambers in the palace itself, if inconveniently placed ones.

Sigyn knew nothing of this search for information. She had scurried back to her rooms in haste, finding her way more easily by daylight but struggling to apply her wildlands magic to stealth indoors. When she finally reached her own chambers, she closed the door and fell back against it, panting.

She stared around, feeling like a stranger in her own skin. The mirror caught her eye, and she crossed to look at herself in it, marvelling at her memories. Those memories occupied her in a daze as she changed into a soft day dress, drifting about the fringes of the court.

The day was long and tedious, filled with workers who asked too many questions, engineers arguing against his designs, contractors trying to haggle prices. Loki’s lack of good sleep and his distraction at his thoughts of Sigyn made him irritable.

When the day was finally over, he tracked down the aide and was again disappointed. Nothing. Almost no information on Sigyn he didn’t already know. He was tempted to shoot the messenger but thought better of it when he remembered the conditions of his parole.

He went back to his room, showered, changed, and went off in search of Sigyn.

As evening began to fall, Sigyn wandered out-of-doors, turning her face up to the waning sunlight. Closing her eyes, the amber light made shadowed patterns on her eyelids. But what brought her pleasure only a day ago was made less by the memories of the night before; the liquid tension of Loki’s touch. Would she ever see him again?

She opened her eyes, and there he was, sharp and elegant, drawing the gaze like a magnet. Across the courtyard he strode, apparently in some haste. Startlement made her mute.

It didn’t take long for Loki to locate Sigyn; he saw her on the other side of the courtyard and made his way over. He smiled at her startled look.

“My dear, Miss Sigyn. I have found you. How are you this evening?” He grabbed her hand in his and gave it a gallant kiss.

Clearing her throat, she managed, “I am well, my lord. You were seeking me?” She willed herself to be strong, not to blush and stammer or be embarrassed, and curled her fingers in his. “Will you … sit with me, and tell me about your day?”

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

chaosmustbemaintained:

Again with the shock and confusion. He had never felt so befuddled before in his life, what on earth was going on?

Hearing his name on her lips sent a punch of emotion right to his gut. It had unbalanced him enough that he wasn’t able to react when she came around, kissed him softly and ran out the door.

He must have looked a sight when his aide came into the room seeing him standing in the middle of the room, mouth still open slightly, confusion written on his face like it was a book. He regained his composure on seeing the attendant and sent him on an errand to find out information on Sigyn.

Loki ate a little of the food, changed his clothes and headed back to the bifrost to continue work on the repairs.

There wasn’t much for the aide to find out, really. No one seemed to know much of anything about her, at least not in Asgard proper. She was exactly as she claimed she was, an alfr, elf, recently petitioned for residence in the Realm Eternal, of minor but enough rank to be granted chambers in the palace itself, if inconveniently placed ones.

Sigyn knew nothing of this search for information. She had scurried back to her rooms in haste, finding her way more easily by daylight but struggling to apply her wildlands magic to stealth indoors. When she finally reached her own chambers, she closed the door and fell back against it, panting.

She stared around, feeling like a stranger in her own skin. The mirror caught her eye, and she crossed to look at herself in it, marvelling at her memories. Those memories occupied her in a daze as she changed into a soft day dress, drifting about the fringes of the court.

The day was long and tedious, filled with workers who asked too many questions, engineers arguing against his designs, contractors trying to haggle prices. Loki’s lack of good sleep and his distraction at his thoughts of Sigyn made him irritable.

When the day was finally over, he tracked down the aide and was again disappointed. Nothing. Almost no information on Sigyn he didn’t already know. He was tempted to shoot the messenger but thought better of it when he remembered the conditions of his parole.

He went back to his room, showered, changed, and went off in search of Sigyn.

As evening began to fall, Sigyn wandered out-of-doors, turning her face up to the waning sunlight. Closing her eyes, the amber light made shadowed patterns on her eyelids. But what brought her pleasure only a day ago was made less by the memories of the night before; the liquid tension of Loki’s touch. Would she ever see him again?

She opened her eyes, and there he was, sharp and elegant, drawing the gaze like a magnet. Across the courtyard he strode, apparently in some haste. Startlement made her mute.

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

chaosmustbemaintained:

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.

Again with the shock and confusion. He had never felt so befuddled before in his life, what on earth was going on?

Hearing his name on her lips sent a punch of emotion right to his gut. It had unbalanced him enough that he wasn’t able to react when she came around, kissed him softly and ran out the door.

He must have looked a sight when his aide came into the room seeing him standing in the middle of the room, mouth still open slightly, confusion written on his face like it was a book. He regained his composure on seeing the attendant and sent him on an errand to find out information on Sigyn.

Loki ate a little of the food, changed his clothes and headed back to the bifrost to continue work on the repairs.

There wasn’t much for the aide to find out, really. No one seemed to know much of anything about her, at least not in Asgard proper. She was exactly as she claimed she was, an alfr, elf, recently petitioned for residence in the Realm Eternal, of minor but enough rank to be granted chambers in the palace itself, if inconveniently placed ones.

Sigyn knew nothing of this search for information. She had scurried back to her rooms in haste, finding her way more easily by daylight but struggling to apply her wildlands magic to stealth indoors. When she finally reached her own chambers, she closed the door and fell back against it, panting.

She stared around, feeling like a stranger in her own skin. The mirror caught her eye, and she crossed to look at herself in it, marvelling at her memories. Those memories occupied her in a daze as she changed into a soft day dress, drifting about the fringes of the court.

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

chaosmustbemaintained:

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.

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

chaosmustbemaintained:

Loki knit his eyebrows together and licked his lip, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Fragile?” he spit out under his breath. What did she mean by fragile?

He was a Prince of Asgard, he was a warrior, a master of magic, his intellect rivaled by very, very few. He had very nearly destroyed not one, but two realms, he led armies, he had survived unspeakable horrors in the Abyss and she thought him… fragile?

“You would ridicule me so early in the morning, Miss Sigyn?” he ran his tongue across his teeth. “There is some breakfast for you by the bed. I have matters of the court to deal with. I will send an attendant to assist you in finding your chambers.”

He turned and walked towards the door.

The abrupt blaze of anger stabbed Sigyn. Too honest, too much, too open … she cursed her tongue, that meant to confess and wounded instead. “No, oh no,” she half-sobbed, “please, my prince, I am sorry!” Utterly heedless for the first time since they had met, she threw herself at his feet, reaching for his hand.

“You have been so kind, forgive me, I took advantage and spoke out of turn,” she babbled, desperate only that he should not leave in anger. Let her never see him again, let her be sent in exile for her temerity, only let him forgive her mistake.

“Please,” Sigyn whispered, starting to cry.

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?”

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

chaosmustbemaintained:

Taking a deep, calming breath Loki willed himself to relax. All was well, there was no danger.

“Please, my dear Sigyn, there is nothing for you to apologize for. My…” he hesitated, wondering how much he should tell her, “my past has made me… on edge and extremely… cautious… when I am…. vulnerable. I am the one who need apologize for my actions. You meant no harm, I’m sure. Please, will you forgive me?”

Her head flew up, eyes enormous. “I … forgive you? I should not have been so bold as to touch you.” Turning her face away and closing her eyes, she whispered, “Only, you looked so *fragile*. So … ” the word sighed out of her, “beautiful.”

Loki knit his eyebrows together and licked his lip, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Fragile?” he spit out under his breath. What did she mean by fragile?

He was a Prince of Asgard, he was a warrior, a master of magic, his intellect rivaled by very, very few. He had very nearly destroyed not one, but two realms, he led armies, he had survived unspeakable horrors in the Abyss and she thought him… fragile?

“You would ridicule me so early in the morning, Miss Sigyn?” he ran his tongue across his teeth. “There is some breakfast for you by the bed. I have matters of the court to deal with. I will send an attendant to assist you in finding your chambers.”

He turned and walked towards the door.

The abrupt blaze of anger stabbed Sigyn. Too honest, too much, too open … she cursed her tongue, that meant to confess and wounded instead. “No, oh no,” she half-sobbed, “please, my prince, I am sorry!” Utterly heedless for the first time since they had met, she threw herself at his feet, reaching for his hand.

“You have been so kind, forgive me, I took advantage and spoke out of turn,” she babbled, desperate only that he should not leave in anger. Let her never see him again, let her be sent in exile for her temerity, only let him forgive her mistake.

“Please,” Sigyn whispered, starting to cry.