Loyalty and Mischief (WIP)

Chapter 34 - I'll be with you when you dream

A/N The italic parts represent Sigyn and Loki's dream

The shimmering white moon above was the only light illuminating Thor's way as he came upon the stone circle and the entrance to Folkvang. A fog rose from the nearby lake. Its sepulchral arms cloaked the brave son of Odin, causing a shiver to run up his spine. He wished he hadn't left his cape with Sif, but at least she would be warm. One less reason for her to kill him when she awoke. 
Thor descended from his horse. Habit moved him to secure the reins to a low-hanging branch, but if he was successful... he would have no need of his faithful steed ever again. He patted its neck and left the stallion grazing, continuing the winding path to the stones on foot. 
Though he had never been there before, Thor had heard enough from his parents to know it was a place even the most powerful and bravest of beings wouldn't consider going. Not unless they had nothing left to lose.  

He treaded cautiously upon the moss-covered slope, the frost on top crunching underneath his boots. His eyes roamed over the stones, searching for the falcon effigy. Absentmindedly, he touched the cuff on his wrist, wanting to draw his dagger. Then he remembered he had brought no weapons. Perhaps he should have, but Thor hadn't wanted to risk Freya believing he had come intending to force her to help him. Every rumour, every story, and even those few times he met the Goddess confirmed one thing — if anyone dared provoke her, it would be the last thing they ever did. 

When Thor's fingers again stroked the bronze cuff, he halted over the symbol etched into it. He looked down at the engraving of Mjölnir and pressed his lips together. Sigyn had done everything in her power to mend the bond between them after their explosive fight at the training ground, gifting him the cuff during a feast in his honour. He hadn't taken it off once since. It was his strength. And a constant reminder of the only woman who had ever managed to capture his heart... and who had then chosen his brother over him. 
Part of Thor hated Sigyn for that. The same part that hated Loki so very much for taking her from him. But the jealousy and hurt didn't outweigh the love he bore them both. Had Thor not witnessed the state of them when they were forcefully separated after being caught in Frigga's garden thirty years ago, he would never have schemed to bring them together. He would never have allowed Sigyn to marry Loki. But to this day, it was so clear Loki Odinson was the only man she would ever truly hold in her heart.  

Yet, despite that, Thor held off from accepting any marriage candidates his mother offered. Because he wanted to be there for her in case Loki was stripped from her arms, be it from a disease, an accident, a war, or even the Trickster's own undoing. Even if she would never love him the way she did Loki, Thor was determined to remain close to Sigyn for every second of every day and to wait until she saw he, too, loved her beyond measure. 
But she would never turn to him again, now that he had caused such pain and suffering. The bond that had been so carefully mended in the past was broken with no hope of repair. This was the only thing he could do for her now. 

Thor took a deep breath and tore his eyes away from the cuff. The mist dissipated. A moonbeam caught the gravelled surface of the stone in front of him, casting it in a mystifying glow. Upon noting a drawing of a falcon, Thor threw all caution to the wind and ran toward it. 
But when he got to the stone, his mind again screamed at him to think this through. What if this was a trap? What if, in trying to help, he would only make matters worse? His actions had already caused such grief. Could he really take the risk?
The weight of the cuff on his wrist made Thor glance down. His fist clenched. There was no question — Sigyn was worth every risk, as was Loki. 

Following his heart, Thor mustered his courage and knocked the stone three times. He waited with bated breath, but all remained eerily silent. Looking about him, he furrowed his brow. Perhaps he hadn't knocked hard enough. He tried again, this time pounding his fist against the gravel. Once more, he waited. Once more, nothing.
Thor grew anxious then. Had he missed something from the stories about Folkvang? Was there something else he was supposed to do? He heard Loki's annoyed voice in his head, reprimanding him for being a fool and not doing his research. Freya was mentioned in several books at the library; he should have checked them before —