Unexpected

Chapter 7

The brothers never came. After half an hour longer, the robed woman woke Sif and sent her on her way. It was nighttime, but she was not tired. She walked aimlessly at first, trying to guess why neither Thor nor Loki had come to her, so she went to their rooms. She went to Thor's room first since it was closest. Several knocks drifted into the silence, and she could only assume he was fast asleep. Next, she went to Loki's room around the bend.

She knocked and waited. Nothing again. Feeling somewhat bold, Sif opened the door and peaked her head inside. She'd never been in here before, but when she looked inside, the hairs on her neck stood up; This had been the room that she'd been in with Loki in their minds. A lump rose in her throat at the memory and only got thicker when she saw a sleeping Loki turn over in his bed. Clearly, the assistant hadn't tried very hard to wake him or Thor.

Sif now knew that he slept naked and with a mixed feeling of shame and longing, quietly backed out of the room. Upon turning to leave, she ran right into Loki's chest. She let out a scream, but he brought his hand to her mouth just in time to stifle the sound. She looked at him bewildered. His face was riddled with concern and distress.

"Sif, I'm so sorry. I don't know what I was thinking, it was absolutely reckless and stupid of me to use that magic on you. I had no idea what I was doing. I could have killed you. I know now how completely vicious my actions were... I am so sorry..." His chest was heaving faintly under his robe, hand had fallen from her lips. He studied her face, but she wasn't giving anything up, "Please, say something." A tone of desperation played in his voice. She took a deep breath, looking up and down the hall, then turned from him.

Loki's eyes grew wide as she went to his door. Her hand went to the doorknob, she looked back at him and to his great surprise said, "come..." She walked back into his room waiting for him to follow. Loki thought he might be dreaming but followed her into the room. Silver light streamed in through the balcony, bounced off the floor and was consumed by the darkness on the opposite side of his chamber. She walked up to his bed post placing her hand on it just as she had in during the enchantment. Loki looked around a bit more desperately, searching for any sign that this was a dream, but only found reality taking shape of Sif standing next to his bedframe.

She was quiet at first, looking around for something to distract her, but finally she spoke up, "What happened?" Her voice was low and small. Loki wasn't sure if he'd ever heard her speak like this: unsure and without confidence. "I don't exactly know. What do you remember...?" He trailed off. He didn't want to hear her answer, he could only hope she didn't remember anything. She too looked uncomfortable as she turned in place to face him, "As much as you do, I think."

Loki blushed and folded his arms over his chest protectively. He avoided eye contact, but soon gave up and looked at her. She opened her mouth to say something, but when nothing came out it snapped closed, and she looked away as her face flushed.

"I – I didn't want it to end." She finally said definitively, "but you vanished, and I was left in the dark. Literally. I wasn't afraid and I found my way out of oblivion, likely thanks to Mimir. At least that's what the Healer said." She folded her arms across her chest mirroring him, "Why did you leave?"

Loki shuffled uncomfortably, he didn't want to speak his feelings into reality, but he couldn't dodge her forever. So, with a sign he told her, "I was afraid I was manipulating you in a way that I had not intended. I thought I may have been using you in a moment of mental weakness. But - but the longer we were together, the more I could feel that you were there too. Controlling aspects of the enchantment yourself." By this, Sif was confused, "That doesn't sound bad, so I ask you again, why did you leave?"

He didn't want to say it, to expose his soul, his true feelings. But it was already too late for that. He took a deep breath through his nose and looked at her as indifferently as he could muster, "I felt vulnerable in a way I have not felt in centuries. It frightened me to realize that you may have been able to perceive those feelings within me. Though we are hardly acquaintances, Sif, you are still one of the people closest to me and as such you have now seen a side of me that even my brother has not seen. Even now in this moment, I feel it again and it is petrifying to me." His voice was quiet, but he'd said it all while looking at her. This may have been the bravest moment of his entire life. His heart raced, but he kept his face as expressionless as possible.