Consequences

13

Bel saw the letter darting through the halls of the temple, searching. He watched it flit from wall to wall and stood, waiting. There were so few letters that came to Jotunheim and even fewer that seemed to have minds of their own as they did, letters that searched for their intended recipients. He placed his hand out and the letter settled into it. He carefully opened it.

"Bel,

"I have been bewitched by a woman I once wed and was released from. I do not have control over what I do or what I am going to say shortly to challenge you. Please know this, it is not my intention to say these things, to appear as a warrior, to reveal my Jotun heritage to everyone assembled in the square. I have little time to explain, but please, find Brynja, Odin, and Thor tell them of this letter immediately. I am not permitted to speak to her. I can only write her once and this was not the time that needed it most. I cannot write to many, my letters are limited.

"Everything I do is meant to hurt me the most right now- Brynja can explain the bargain I made with Sigyn in order to make sure that my wife and son were unharmed. I do not have much time. I will shortly be acting on the order. I know she is trying to force Thor's hand, to force him to act against me. I also believe there are darker forces at work here. Things she has said when she thought I was asleep last night, things that will only make this so much worse. PLEASE, I beg that you talk to Brynja.

"I must go. Sigyn is getting impatient. She agreed not to read the few letters I negotiated to send. I must not push her patience or else she will make this so much worse.

"Tell Brynja I am so sorry for what she saw in the garden. She will know of what I write.
"Loki."

Bel read the letter a second time and called to Angrboda, "Do you know the paths into Asgard that require no use of the Bifrost?"

"Of course. Why do you ask?"

"Loki is in some sort of trouble and, by his letter, may be about to threaten the sovereignty of this realm. Apparently he has been bewitched in some sort of agreement with a former lover. I will need to travel to Asgard quickly and with someone who knows this sorcery well. If you will accompany me, I will be grateful."

Angrboda sighed, "Sigyn. Yes, I will come. Let us make haste."

Thor was not entirely sure what to do when two Jotun were reported to be in Asgard at the same time that Loki had been sighted striding in full ceremonial armour to the city centre. He looked to Odin for guidance and Odin agreed to intercept the two before they reached the palace to determine if they were a threat and to identify them if they were known. Thor mounted his horse and, with a contingent of guards around him, rode to the square to determine what Loki was up to.

Loki fought ever step in his mind, but his disposition was proud, just as he had been ordered to be. He knew this was breaking the bargain he had made with Odin to live freely in Asgard after his near-execution in Jotunheim. He hoped that there would be mercy for him when this entire thing was over, whenever that would be.

He found himself in the crowded square and did exactly as she had commanded. He got their attention. He announced, all eyes on him, who he was, where he was from, and his origins. His skin turned blue and he threatened to take the throne of Jotunheim by force to reclaim his birthright as the son of Laufey. He saw Thor standing at the edge of the crowd and his thoughts were screaming, pleading, that Thor understood this was not his plan, that this cruelty was not his own. He vanished, leaving the crowd staring at the spot where he had stood.

Thor did not hesitate, but rode into the square, calling to his people to listen closely, "My fellow citizens of Asgard. It is true, Loki is not one of us by his birth. He is, however, in the love that my parents have bestowed upon him, deserving of it or not. I know that he has wronged us greatly in the past. That he has not held this realm in high regard, and that he as betrayed trust. This is not one of those times. Today, it is he who has been betrayed. Many of you will recall his ill-fated marriage to Sigyn, a rare beauty, and very young. She has returned to Asgard. She now practices sorcery and took Lady Brynja and the young Amundr hostage so that she could trade their freedom for Loki's. His actions are not his own, but that of a prisoner bewitched. I know you cannot trust him. Do, however, trust your king. I have spoken to Lady Brynja. Lady Freyja has seen her memories. Loki is not himself. Whatever he is forced to do, remember this. I do not know how we will undo this, but you have my word that we will not have war with Jotunheim. We will not fall for these schemes." Many in the crowd clapped, some cheered, but most were simply stunned to silence as Thor rode out from them. It was rare for the king to make so public an appearance and they knew that whatever situation they were facing, it was dire if he was speaking so frankly and so quickly after an incident. They were also stunned by Loki's revelation and Thor's confirmation of it.

Loki, however, did not hear Thor's speech, pulled back to Sigyn's chamber and commanded to seduce her as he had so long ago. His heart sank as he touched her bare skin, believing in his heart that every action was a betrayal of his wedding vows, a little moment of treason against his wife. He tried to detach from what he was doing and found that to some extent, he could simply turn off his mind and let the spell command his body. Still, he knew that he was the one touching Sigyn, the one kissing her, the one removing her clothing and holding her intimately and he fought against the spell, unable to break its hold on him.