She lifted a hand to her face, brushing the edge of one of the tattoos. “These? They mark my magic.” As was becoming familiar, at Loki’s touch a slight shiver ran down her spine. “I am but a poor sorceress, my lord.”
“Mark your magic… how so? I am unfamiliar with this… I have no such markings.” Loki pushed himself up a little, propping his elbows behind him. He took his weight on his left side and raised his right hand to lightly trace the edge of the tattoos.
Her heartbeat sped up at the gentle brush of his hand. “T-they tell all who look upon me what magics I have in my mastery. Around my eyes for that my senses may be enhanced. The feathers of a bird for that my magic is that of the deep forest and the wild lands.” Sigyn tried to breathe, closing her eyes against his touch. “And the colour of dusk for that my magic is also that of the shadows and the soft night.”
“Fascinating…” he whispered gently under his breath. He put his hand under her chin and softly lifted her head until she was looking at him. “They are beautiful, Sigyn… I have never seen anything like it…” He gave a warm smile that crumpled into a concerned frown when he heard the crashing noise coming from behind them.
He pushed himself up, careful to set Sigyn on her feet, and drew out his daggers. He placed himself between the line of trees and Sigyn and every muscle tensed as the bilgesnipe came plowing through the underbrush.
A hot flush of energy ran through Sigyn’s limbs. Instinctively, she snapped out a hand and called her bow, moon-bright with silver inlay and already strung taut. A swift glance told her that Loki had only daggers, with which he would have to approach far too close for safety.
“‘Ware, my lord!” she cried. She summoned an arrow and fired in one breath; the shot whirred past the bilgesnipe’s head.
Sigyn’s giggles turned into delighted shrieks as Loki tackled her to the ground. He held her pinioned, and she wriggled, still giggling. “My lord!” She caught sight of his face, her hair falling over hers, and the laughter subsided a little. “Are you a mighty hunter? I fear I am caught.”
“The best in all the land, I’m afraid. Once I have my sights on something, it’s almost over before it starts.” He gave another laugh and gently pushed back some of the hair that had fallen into Sigyn’s face. He gently ran his hand near her eye and spoke quietly. “Tell me of these markings…”
She lifted a hand to her face, brushing the edge of one of the tattoos. “These? They mark my magic.” As was becoming familiar, at Loki’s touch a slight shiver ran down her spine. “I am but a poor sorceress, my lord.”
“Mark your magic… how so? I am unfamiliar with this… I have no such markings.” Loki pushed himself up a little, propping his elbows behind him. He took his weight on his left side and raised his right hand to lightly trace the edge of the tattoos.
Her heartbeat sped up at the gentle brush of his hand. “T-they tell all who look upon me what magics I have in my mastery. Around my eyes for that my senses may be enhanced. The feathers of a bird for that my magic is that of the deep forest and the wild lands.” Sigyn tried to breathe, closing her eyes against his touch. “And the colour of dusk for that my magic is also that of the shadows and the soft night.”
His laughter blended with the babbling of the stream as Sigyn pressed her nose into a pale cup-shaped blossom. She glanced over at him, unable to stop smiling. Impulsively, she bent over the little stream and plunged her hands into it, throwing a shower of droplets at Loki and calling a small breeze to help them along.
He threw up his arms to ward off the water and let out a huge guffaw as he threw himself to the stream to battle back. He scooped out some water and tossed it back at Sigyn and felt a sort of freedom and ease he hadn’t felt in a very long time. She was about to throw another handful when he pounced, wrapping his arms around her, falling to the ground making sure she landed on him to avoid injuring her. He held her arms tight with a wicked grin on his face and a naughty twinkle in his eye.
Sigyn’s giggles turned into delighted shrieks as Loki tackled her to the ground. He held her pinioned, and she wriggled, still giggling. “My lord!” She caught sight of his face, her hair falling over hers, and the laughter subsided a little. “Are you a mighty hunter? I fear I am caught.”
“The best in all the land, I’m afraid. Once I have my sights on something, it’s almost over before it starts.” He gave another laugh and gently pushed back some of the hair that had fallen into Sigyn’s face. He gently ran his hand near her eye and spoke quietly. “Tell me of these markings…”
She lifted a hand to her face, brushing the edge of one of the tattoos. “These? They mark my magic.” As was becoming familiar, at Loki’s touch a slight shiver ran down her spine. “I am but a poor sorceress, my lord.”
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.
Loki laughed as he watched Sigyn, happy that he had pleased her. As she bounced around the grove, he grew curious at her actions, touching each flower and tree, almost as if she could speak to them. He walked over to his favourite log and sat down, elbows on knees and just watched in fascination.
His laughter blended with the babbling of the stream as Sigyn pressed her nose into a pale cup-shaped blossom. She glanced over at him, unable to stop smiling. Impulsively, she bent over the little stream and plunged her hands into it, throwing a shower of droplets at Loki and calling a small breeze to help them along.
He threw up his arms to ward off the water and let out a huge guffaw as he threw himself to the stream to battle back. He scooped out some water and tossed it back at Sigyn and felt a sort of freedom and ease he hadn’t felt in a very long time. She was about to throw another handful when he pounced, wrapping his arms around her, falling to the ground making sure she landed on him to avoid injuring her. He held her arms tight with a wicked grin on his face and a naughty twinkle in his eye.
Sigyn’s giggles turned into delighted shrieks as Loki tackled her to the ground. He held her pinioned, and she wriggled, still giggling. “My lord!” She caught sight of his face, her hair falling over hers, and the laughter subsided a little. “Are you a mighty hunter? I fear I am caught.”
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.
Loki laughed as he watched Sigyn, happy that he had pleased her. As she bounced around the grove, he grew curious at her actions, touching each flower and tree, almost as if she could speak to them. He walked over to his favourite log and sat down, elbows on knees and just watched in fascination.
His laughter blended with the babbling of the stream as Sigyn pressed her nose into a pale cup-shaped blossom. She glanced over at him, unable to stop smiling. Impulsively, she bent over the little stream and plunged her hands into it, throwing a shower of droplets at Loki and calling a small breeze to help them along.
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.
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.
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!”
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.
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?”