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.

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

chaosmustbemaintained:

Loki snapped awake, grabbing whatever it was that had touched his hair and leapt to his feet with a growl. He was confused when the hand was so small and immediately released it with a look of shock and concern.

“Oh… oh, Sigyn, I’m… I…” he floundered trying to clear his head of sleep and adrenaline.

Sigyn stepped back with a little yelp, her other hand flying to her chest to press against her heart, which was now pounding. “M-my lord! I did not — you were — no insult was intended!” She ducked her head hard, wondering if she should drop to her knees. 

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.”

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

chaosmustbemaintained:

The loud crash of a dropped something woke Loki with a start. He had managed to doze lightly and the palace was slowly waking to its usual bustle of activity. He stretched out long and rubbed his eyes. He remembered the night before and wonderful little Sigyn.

He went down the hall and found some breakfast food and brought it back to his room.
He quietly opened the door and walked over to the bed, setting the tray quietly on the bedside table. He snuck back to the couch, laid down glad to have a familiar feeling behind his back and flung his arm across his eyes. Sleep recaptured him without mercy or hesitation.

Warmth overlapped Sigyn, warmth and unaccustomed softness. Drowsily, she shifted, flinging one arm out, and paused when that arm encountered more pillows rather than the edge of the bed. Blinking her eyes open, she glanced around, momentarily confused, before the memory of the previous night came back to her.

Loki had truly left her entirely to herself, had given up his chambers wholly to her, apparently on some princely whim. She pushed herself upright amidst the duvet’s disarray, wondering if perhaps he had snuck back in.

Yes, there he was, lying full length on the couch he’d unceremoniously removed her from. Moving in silence, she slipped out of the bed and padded over to gaze at him. It struck her that possibly this was a dream. Hesitantly she reached out a hand to stroke the fall of his hair.

Loki snapped awake, grabbing whatever it was that had touched his hair and leapt to his feet with a growl. He was confused when the hand was so small and immediately released it with a look of shock and concern.

“Oh… oh, Sigyn, I’m… I…” he floundered trying to clear his head of sleep and adrenaline.

Sigyn stepped back with a little yelp, her other hand flying to her chest to press against her heart, which was now pounding. “M-my lord! I did not — you were — no insult was intended!” She ducked her head hard, wondering if she should drop to her knees. 

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

chaosmustbemaintained:

He noticed her blush and gave a soft, short snort, looking down shaking his head. Numerous naughty thoughts ran through his head but he braced himself against them. He raised his head and looked at her again.

“Very well, you leave me no recourse…” he bent down and scooped her up into his arms; walking to the bed, he kicked the corner of fluffy duvet away and put her in the bed. “For the sake of your honour and reputation as a dutiful and respectful citizen of Alfheim currently residing in Asgard, I shall sit outside in the hall and keep guard over you. There is no point in arguing.”

With that, he flung the duvet over her, turned and walked out of the room. There was a small bench opposite his door and he sat down, crossed his arms, laid his head back against the wall and thought about Sigyn.

Sigyn froze with shock the moment he picked her up. He was nearly out the door by the time she could get her mind working again, and as the door swung shut she said, “But it wasn’t my honour I was thinking of … surely I have none … “

Biting her lip in the dimness, she gazed sorrowfully at the door until sleep overwhelmed her.

The loud crash of a dropped something woke Loki with a start. He had managed to doze lightly and the palace was slowly waking to its usual bustle of activity. He stretched out long and rubbed his eyes. He remembered the night before and wonderful little Sigyn.

He went down the hall and found some breakfast food and brought it back to his room.
He quietly opened the door and walked over to the bed, setting the tray quietly on the bedside table. He snuck back to the couch, laid down glad to have a familiar feeling behind his back and flung his arm across his eyes. Sleep recaptured him without mercy or hesitation.

Warmth overlapped Sigyn, warmth and unaccustomed softness. Drowsily, she shifted, flinging one arm out, and paused when that arm encountered more pillows rather than the edge of the bed. Blinking her eyes open, she glanced around, momentarily confused, before the memory of the previous night came back to her.

Loki had truly left her entirely to herself, had given up his chambers wholly to her, apparently on some princely whim. She pushed herself upright amidst the duvet’s disarray, wondering if perhaps he had snuck back in.

Yes, there he was, lying full length on the couch he’d unceremoniously removed her from. Moving in silence, she slipped out of the bed and padded over to gaze at him. It struck her that possibly this was a dream. Hesitantly she reached out a hand to stroke the fall of his hair.

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

Once again she blushed hotly, and damned her fair skin. But this was Asgard’s prince, paying her these attentions, calling her by name, giving her endearments. It was enthralling, but she couldn’t help her hesitations, fearful of making a mistake. Better to be patient.

“D-dare I inquire what you are doing, m—” Her gasp as he nipped her other ear cut off the end of the thought, and she tipped her head back in pleasure.

Loki sat back to take in the sight of her, head back, eyes closed and he smiled. This was a stunning creature, charming with her uncertainty yet capable of witty defiance in the face of royalty. He decided it would be unfair and counter-productive to his newly-formed plans to toy with her in such a way so he stood and again offered her his hand.

“I truly must insist on you taking the bed, Miss Sigyn. It would not do to have a beauty such as yourself debased so by sleeping on a couch…” he tried to look stern and unrelenting but he could feel his eyes smiling and betraying him.

Sigyn looked up at him, towering over her. She swallowed, hard, and said, faintly, “My lord, truly, what if someone were to enter, and find me there, and you here? I cannot.”

A thought darted through her mind — you could share it with me — and her ears went pink again. Determinedly, she tucked her feet up on the couch and gazed at Loki, eyes wide, face set.

He noticed her blush and gave a soft, short snort, looking down shaking his head. Numerous naughty thoughts ran through his head but he braced himself against them. He raised his head and looked at her again.

“Very well, you leave me no recourse…” he bent down and scooped her up into his arms; walking to the bed, he kicked the corner of fluffy duvet away and put her in the bed. “For the sake of your honour and reputation as a dutiful and respectful citizen of Alfheim currently residing in Asgard, I shall sit outside in the hall and keep guard over you. There is no point in arguing.”

With that, he flung the duvet over her, turned and walked out of the room. There was a small bench opposite his door and he sat down, crossed his arms, laid his head back against the wall and thought about Sigyn.

Sigyn froze with shock the moment he picked her up. He was nearly out the door by the time she could get her mind working again, and as the door swung shut she said, “But it wasn’t my honour I was thinking of … surely I have none … “

Biting her lip in the dimness, she gazed sorrowfully at the door until sleep overwhelmed her.

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

chaosmustbemaintained:

i-am-the-firechild:

chaosmustbemaintained:

Oh, he liked this banter. No one had dared speak to him so audaciously with such playfulness before. He smiled with fascination.

He answered her with another passionate kiss traveling slowly from her lips along her jaw to her earlobe where he gave her an impish nip.

“Ooooh,” she shuddered. Trying not to fall over, she put her arms around his neck. Another tingle crawled down her spine. “Oh, my lord, are you trying to persuade me?” Sigyn asked, finding breathing to come harder.

He wrapped his fingers in her locks and made his way back from her earlobe to her lips. He pulled away slightly to look devilishly into her eyes and cocked an eyebrow.

“I’m sure I don’t know what you mean, dear Sigyn… ” he let his voice trail off as her kissed along the other side of her face and administered the same nip to her other earlobe.

Once again she blushed hotly, and damned her fair skin. But this was Asgard’s prince, paying her these attentions, calling her by name, giving her endearments. It was enthralling, but she couldn’t help her hesitations, fearful of making a mistake. Better to be patient.

“D-dare I inquire what you are doing, m—” Her gasp as he nipped her other ear cut off the end of the thought, and she tipped her head back in pleasure.

Loki sat back to take in the sight of her, head back, eyes closed and he smiled. This was a stunning creature, charming with her uncertainty yet capable of witty defiance in the face of royalty. He decided it would be unfair and counter-productive to his newly-formed plans to toy with her in such a way so he stood and again offered her his hand.

“I truly must insist on you taking the bed, Miss Sigyn. It would not do to have a beauty such as yourself debased so by sleeping on a couch…” he tried to look stern and unrelenting but he could feel his eyes smiling and betraying him.

Sigyn looked up at him, towering over her. She swallowed, hard, and said, faintly, “My lord, truly, what if someone were to enter, and find me there, and you here? I cannot.”

A thought darted through her mind — you could share it with me — and her ears went pink again. Determinedly, she tucked her feet up on the couch and gazed at Loki, eyes wide, face set.