Loyalty and Mischief (WIP)

Chapter 22 - You showed me the world when I was all locked up inside

"And your name is? I'm Thor. A-And then the fellow asks, You're Thor? Whereupon Thor says, Well, it hurts!"

The bellowing laughter of the group filled the hall. Thor only chuckled along and glanced at Sif, who sat next to him. She rolled her eyes in amusement. Clearly, they were of the same mind — Volstagg's joke definitely lost its charm when you had already heard it seventy times.

Thor's gaze shifted to the empty seats at the table on the dais. He imagined his brother seated in his chair, overlooking the merriment but not joining in it — a trait Loki inherited from the Allfather — with Sigyn whispering to him and miraculously making him smile. It seemed like a lifetime ago.
Whilst Thor still had reservations about Loki taking his wife to Alfheim so soon after all she had gone through, Frigga had assured him it was for the best. And despite Thor's resentment toward Aelsa, he had to admit she was the best person to help Sigyn since she was part fire mage herself.

"Something on your mind?"

Thor was pulled out of his musings by Sif's concerned voice.

"Hm? Oh, I was just thinking of..." Thor motioned toward the empty seats.

"Don't worry." Sif put her hand on top of his. "They will return before you know it."

"I hope so."

Another roar of laughter waved through the group. Thor noticed Fandrall had now joined them and raised a brow. He would have thought his friend to be more bereft after losing Astrid, but it would appear the youngest member of the Warriors Three had recovered quickly from that loss. Fandrall had his arms around a servant, his face buried in her auburn hair as he nuzzled the side of her neck. Sif followed Thor's gaze and sighed. "A new one every day." 

"I thought he would have needed more time."

"Not Fandrall. Healing means forgetting and moving on for him. It is his own way of dealing with his grief."

Thor hummed in understanding. He recalled when he took Fandrall to see Sigyn and Loki. His friend had been convinced Astrid had returned to them. Nothing could have prepared him for the terrible truth. Sigyn told Fandrall what Astrid had done and had asked him to forgive her for her death. Fandrall had responded curtly, saying that no forgiveness was needed from him. That, if Astrid truly had been capable of such treachery, she was not the woman he'd believed her to be. He had then sworn his fealty as Sigyn's champion and had kept a regular patrol near her and Loki's chambers in case his Lady needed something in her solitude. If there was one thing the young warrior embodied, it was unyielding loyalty.

"Thor..."

Thor looked up when Sif nodded her head to the Guardian of the Bifrost and the Allfather, approaching swiftly. They both rose from their seat, but Sif but remained at a distance.

"Heimdall? Why are you here?" asked Thor fearfully, looking from his friend to his father. "What has happened?"

"Loki and Sigyn have left Alfheim," replied Odin. "Two weeks ago."

"What? Why did we not know of this sooner?"

"I regret to say my eyes were deceived by the combined magic of Queen Aelsa and Loki," admitted Heimdall with a rigid jaw. "It would appear Loki and Sigyn conjured illusions of themselves, and the Queen kept the magic until today. I have searched through all the Nine Realms, but I cannot find them."

Thor cursed loudly. Damn Loki and his trickery! "Can Mother not find them?"

"Frigga already knew and refuses to say where they have gone." Odin gave an exasperated sigh. "That woman will be the death of me one day, I swear. Regardless, we must act. Lady Sif, I would like you to stand ready to retrieve Loki and Sigyn once we have discovered their whereabouts."