Loyalty and Mischief (WIP)

Chapter 19 - In the dark of the night the terror comes true

Thor and Loki returned to Asgard in all haste after leaving the Warriors Three and Sif to secure transport for the prisoners and see to their fallen and wounded comrades. Frigga immediately took Loki and Sigyn to the healing room, while Thor sought out the Allfather. 
Odin stood atop the balcony overlooking the courtyard. His ravens flew overhead, their shadows appearing like dark spectres on the ground in the torchlight's glow. The night slowly wrapped Asgard in its embrace, the waning moon appearing low in the sky.

"Did you find her?" Odin inquired of his son when he joined him.

"Aye, we did. Mother and the healers are tending to her now. She... went through a lot." His father's eye settled upon him at that answer, but Thor was glad Odin asked no further. Sigyn's injuries had been hard to look at, let alone speak of them. He cleared his throat before continuing, "We have Lady Sunna and her sons, Thorin and Björn."

"And the other two?"

"Dead. Loki defeated Ivar in battle, and Aeric... he was killed by his mother."

"Hm, I will not waste much time on her then," spoke Odin. "Only one sentence seems appropriate for Lady Sunna's crimes. As for her surviving sons —"

"I would ask mercy," interrupted Thor hastily.

His father quirked a brow. "Those men attacked you and your brother. They almost declared war on us. You normally would not hesitate to destroy your enemies. Why the sudden change of mind?"

"It is more a change of heart. I ask it for Sigyn. She is the one who suffered the most; she should have a say in their fates. At the very least, wait to pass judgment until she has recovered."

Odin regarded Thor with mild curiosity. A raven came to sit on his shoulder. He paid no heed to the bird and instead looked out over his domain. 

"You speak reasonably," he said after a moment of silent contemplation. "I will postpone the trial of Sigyn's brothers until she is well again. Perhaps Lord Völundr may wish to have a say in this as well."

"Sigyn's father?" asked Thor in surprise. "He is here?"

"Yes, he joined his youngest son through the Bifrost and surrendered freely. We have him in a holding cell. Frigga was able to lower the enchantment placed upon Lord Völundr long enough for him to speak to us. Lady Sunna holds a vast and intricate knowledge of sorcery despite losing her fire. The spell is quite ingenious; one look at Sigyn, or even the mention of her name, and Völundr feels only disdain, impeding him from taking any action that would have a direct effect on the improvement of her life."

"I do not understand. For what purpose?"

"Lady Sunna wanted Sigyn to lose hope. To lose her very will, so she would concede her fire to her mother. Had Lord Völundr not agreed to Frigga's proposal to send Sigyn a year ahead under the ploy that your... sometimes coarse behaviour would only bring her down further, Lady Sunna would have demanded your wedding take place immediately. When Sigyn married Loki, they unknowingly thwarted those plans and forced her to act now."

"Because she feared my brother would have his own plans for Sigyn."

Thor's fists balled in anger. That someone could sink so low in their depravity, to use and harm their own family in such a way... It sickened him to even think of it. Not even Loki would dare to do such a thing, and he was the God of Mischief. Wickedness had seeped into his nature. Or at least, that's how he used to be. Sigyn's love was changing Loki already. If she was lost to him... Thor didn't dare imagine what could happen.

***

The second-born Prince of Asgard sat dejectedly on the ground, his head lowered, his arm resting on his knee. Frigga had promised she would let him back in the healing room as soon as Sigyn was stable, but that had been three hours ago. It was taking far too long.