Consequences

15

Sigyn's plans only seemed to get worse. A few days after his announcement in the square, Loki awoke to find himself commanded to fight Sif for the sole purpose of getting injured so that Sigyn could nurse him back to health. He was instructed not to speak, only to fight, and to use magic against Sif if he could.

Katja was watching Sif train new fighters when Loki appeared in the courtyard. Sif called for her to take over the training and approached Loki.

"What do you want?"

Unable to answer, he attacked. She parried. Katja moved the trainees farther away as Loki cast spells. Sif blocked what she could and dodged others. Her plan had been to avoid hurting him at all costs, well aware that he was not under his own control. He was persistent, however, and she changed tactics, instead deciding that it would be best for her trainees and for herself if she could disable him quickly. She dropped down to dodge a blow and quickly planned her attack. She launched herself at him and delivered a blow to his groin that sent him staggering backwards and dropped him to his knees, a dagger falling from his hand. She grabbed the training staff she had dropped during her dodging and delivered a blow to his knees as he struggled to stand up, hearing the bone crack as he fell, a silent scream on his face. She then carefully delivered a blow to his head that toppled him completely.

As he lay on the ground, she picked up his dagger and knelt beside him, "I'm sorry, Loki, but this is for your own good." She drove the dagger through his arm and pinned him to the ground. Again he screamed, no sound coming from his lips. Sif walked to the palace, calling for guards. Loki closed his eyes, the pain overwhelming his senses. He felt the air change around him and the cool of the stone floor of Sigyn's room. Loki cursed viciously, his voice finally freed, tears in his eyes.

"Oh, it can't be that bad, can it?" Sigyn asked, mock concern in her voice.

"Go away, Sigyn. Just leave me be."

"No, no, no...you need someone to care for you...and you will let me care for you. You won't fight it, will you?" she said.

Loki whispered, despondent, "No. I can't. You won't let me."

A week later and there was still no progress made by the witches to break the spells keeping Sigyn's room closed. They knew Sigyn had to be thinking up something truly terrible for her next plan, but they could not figure out what. They were in council, the witches, the warriors, and the rest of the family, trying to figure out just what to do next, while Sigyn was working out just how she was going to execute the next part of her plan.

Sif sighed, "I don't know what we can do at this point. We can't get into stop him, we can't touch him when he's out- she snatches him back. I tried to pin him to the dirt, but whatever magic she uses, she moved him before I could call for the guard. We won't be able to take him alive unless she's dead."

Fandral agreed, "So we need to draw her out. What will get her to leave the cell?"

"Only seeing something that will really cause Loki pain. She did not need to see him beaten, her joy is in tormenting him after, in possessing him," Thor said.

"So what would get her to come out?" Katja asked.

Brynja's voice was distant as she replied, "A death of someone Loki cares about. Someone she can make him kill."

Hogun finished the thought, "The death of a king. She's trying to start a war, to force Loki's hand." He looked to Thor, "You."

Sunny spoke, "She's been too quiet this week, but given Loki's injuries, she's probably playing nursemaid. We need to draw her out."

Katja shrugged, "Nice words, Sunny, but do you actually have a plan?"

She nodded, "Yes. I have a birthday in a week. We usually celebrate publicly for at least part of the day, being royals and all. We need to announce the a time when the citizens of the realm can wish me a happy birthday on the steps of the palace. We make sure that it is known that my uncle will be with me. Sigyn should be able to see through illusions if they are thin, so we'll need to construct this carefully. I want her to know it's not me beside Thor. I want her to think him vulnerable, Loki's chance to act. I will take a post and craft a second illusion more carefully, one she can't see through. Sif, I will need you and the Warriors Three to be very obvious bodyguards. Mother, you will serve as a distraction. Katja, you will let me speak to you in your mind, as we have done before. We will run a test and divert her attention, we will find her, and we will remove her from the equation."

Thor shook his head, "I cannot let you put yourself in danger, Sunny. She is a witch-"

"Yes, she is a witch." Sunny interrupted, "But I'm a stronger one." She looked to Freyja, "Tell them."

Freyja nodded, Angrboda on one side of her giving Sunny a wink, "It's true," Freyja said. "Sunny is remarkable. She has learned quickly from all of us- the magic of Asgard, Vanaheim, and Jotunheim all come easily to her. Trust that she can do this."

Brynja sat forward, pen in one hand and paper in front of her, "So let's outline how this will work." Sunny began to talk in greater detail, her confidence not betraying that she was uncertain of one thing, the one thing the plan hinged on- that Sigyn would actually leave her chambers to watch Loki kill Thor.