I Will Follow You Into The Dark~ On Hold

Chapter 5

Loki stood with his father and brother as they waited for the king of Vanaheim to arrive; apparently, he had heard of his daughter's death or something along those lines. Sighing, Loki thought back on the last month. He couldn't believe that the woman he had been alighted with was dead, and it was his fault. Why had he gone with his father's decisions to wed Astrid? She was a horrid excuse for a person, treating Sigyn and the other Royal Tjener in such a manner that soiled his tongue. He couldn't fathom why the bridge thought she would have been a perfect match for his personal Tjener Eirik. The man was such a gentle soul, but a fearless warrior, that much was evident when he had requested to be trained as a Einherjar. It didn't surprise Loki, after finding out that Erirk and Astrid had been alighted by the bridge, it was no shock that Erirk would want nothing to do with the palace besides being an Tjener; despite the betrayal that came at the hands of the Royal family, Erirk was still willing to defend them.

Sigyn was another matter. He had watched her leave the hall after the Allfather had made the announcement for all Asgard to hear. The look of defeat, anguish and heartbreak that bled from her along with all the colour in her cheeks, it broke him in return. He had never wanted to hurt her, sure at first, he thought the bridge made a mistake, but he found himself watching her, stalking her every movement and discovered how much of a wonder, how much of a selfless woman she was. Sure, he had noticed her beauty before that, but he hadn't released how skilled she was in everything she did. Training with Sif, keeping up with his brother and his idiotic comrades; healing in the palace alongside his mother. Asgard had truly lost an innocent and pure soul when Sigyn fell off the bridge with the wrench Astrid.

The sound of marching dragged Loki out of his thoughts, and he stood up straighter waiting for the doors to open. They swung open and revealed a furious king who stormed into the room. The man he had met only twice seemed to be larger than the last time Loki remembered seeing him. Árni stalked to the throne, his eyes burning with his anger, his voice loud enough to bring the walls down.

"I thought you said you were going to bring my daughter along with you!" He demanded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Thor and Loki bristled with the veiled threat of the man's actions, but a small wave of their father's hand halted them. Odin stood up from his throne and retreated down the stairs to stand in front of his allied friend.

"We did, and she came and is gone. Exiled from these lands by trying to force a bonding."

Árni frowned and then looked behind him where a woman with blonde hair that wrapped around her body joined the meeting. Loki's brows raised in confusion, a sensation that seemed to be enveloping all of the Aesir that were there. Odin looked back to Árni and spoke, his voice low with annoyance. "Who is this?"

Árni sighed, "This is my daughter Ásta."

The woman kneeled down, and her eyes locked onto Loki's. Seconds passed and she jumped up, gasping and turned to Árni. "Father they meant no disrespect. It seems that my hand-maiden Astrid posed as me and tried to force a wedding between herself and Prince Loki." Loki froze, his mind in shambles. This Vanir could read his mind? The woman Ásta nodded at him before continuing.

"She was alighted with a Tjener and thought it was a great way to distort the tattoo into that of Loki's horns. He himself was already bonded and didn't realise; the poor woman died defending the Allmother from Astrid after she had brought Astrid's betrayal to light." Ásta turned to Loki and bowed, her eyes swimming with unshed tears, "I am sorry for your loss."

Árni growled with fury at the actions of one of his own. He bowed and tilted his head in respect. Looking up to Odin he spoke, this time with a much softer tone. "I am so sorry for the disturbance that has happened to you and your family. To know that one of mine has caused so much unneeded disaster troubles me so."