The Dark World | Book 3

Seven: Sigyn's vigil

Whispers of Thor bringing a Midgardian woman to Asgard rippled through the halls of the palace, a quiet hum among the lords and ladies of the court. The mortal's name, Jane Foster, quickly became known, sparking a mix of reactions. Some sneered, their disdain thinly veiled, while others extended tentative kindness. As days passed, Thor became increasingly aware of the murmurs and judgments surrounding them.

It struck him then—a sharp pang of understanding for what Loki and Sigyn must have endured in their early days together. A fierce determination rose within him to shield Jane from every cruelty. Harsh words meant nothing to Thor's ears, but the weight of Jane's burgeoning power—and his inability to help her—gnawed at him, driving him to the brink of frustration.

That night, Thor turned to the vast Asgardian library, enlisting Sigyn's aid. Together, they poured over ancient tomes, their efforts tireless. Thor, a warrior by nature, regretted in that moment the hours spent on battlefields instead of in the quiet study his brother had so often favored. He realized now how unprepared he was for this kind of struggle.

Sigyn, however, navigated the sea of books with graceful ease. She unearthed forgotten volumes coated in dust and brought Thor piles of leather-bound texts he had never seen. She even revealed a hidden shelf, where Loki had stashed books of immense power. Yet even those clandestine works held no solution to his plight.

Thor sat amidst the towering stacks, the weight of his helplessness pressing heavy on his shoulders. The answers he sought seemed maddeningly out of reach, but his resolve remained unbroken. For Jane, he would search every corner of the Nine Realms if he had to.

"I could always ask Loki," Sigyn suggested softly.

"No," Thor replied sharply, his tone leaving no room for debate. "We'll figure something out." His eyes remained fixed on the pages before him, skimming relentlessly for answers.

Sigyn sighed, her gaze lingering on the thunder god. He hadn't visited Loki since his imprisonment. He hadn't asked after him or spoken a word in his defense. The anger in Thor's eyes wasn't just anger—it was heartbreak, grief, and betrayal, all tangled together. Despite everything, he still mourned his brother in his own way, the lock of black hair braided into his own a silent testament to his lingering affection.

"Thor," Sigyn said gently, setting her book aside.

He hummed in response, his focus unwavering.

Sigyn sighed again, louder this time. "I know Loki hasn't returned the same as he once was."

Thor's eyes flicked up briefly before dropping back to the book. "What of him?"

"We haven't even talked about it," she said, her voice carrying a note of insistence.

"Jane's future is more important right now, Sig," Thor replied curtly.

"I understand that," Sigyn said, her tone measured but firm. "But he is still your brother."

Thor finally looked up, his blue eyes sharp and filled with turmoil. "Is he?" he asked, his voice heavy with bitterness. "Is he still my brother after we learned he was born of the Jotnar? After he threw that truth in our faces and tried to destroy Midgard?" His broad shoulders rose in a dismissive shrug as he closed the book with a heavy thud. "After he threw himself from the Bifrost and let us believe he was dead all this time?"

The room fell into silence, the weight of his words settling between them like a storm cloud. "I'm trying to tell you, Thor—no one else will listen to me but you," Sigyn said, her voice urgent. "Something happened while Loki was gone. He let it slip once, and even Heimdall fears a greater power at work. Whatever gave Loki that alien army and those impressions—it's something he's too afraid to speak of. I know it!"

"Apparently, Heimdall doesn't see everything," Thor muttered.

"He can see you right now, saying that," Sigyn retorted with a sharp glance.

"Then can he see a way to save Jane?" Thor snapped back. "That's the priority. Saving her life."

Sigyn pressed on, her voice steady but insistent. "This Aether, Thor—it rivals the Tesseract in power. I believe there's a connection. Odin said there are relics older than the universe itself. Some are stone, while the Aether is fluid. The Tesseract could be one of these stones, and perhaps the gem in Loki's scepter—the one used to control the Chitauri army—is another."

Thor's brow furrowed deeply. "What are you trying to say?"

"Why are these relics reappearing now?" she asked pointedly.

"Where is Loki's scepter?"

"On Midgard," Sigyn replied. "Odin deemed it safest there, far from the Tesseract. But that only strengthens my point."

Before Thor could respond, Jane Foster emerged from behind a nearby row of bookshelves, her curious gaze settling on the table where the two had gathered their research. Her expression was laced with worry as she asked, "If the Dark Elves are still alive, will they come after me?"

"Yes," Sigyn said bluntly. "The Aether was the source of their power, according to these stories."

Thor immediately turned to Jane, placing his hands gently on her shoulders. "I will not let them touch you," he vowed, his voice low but resolute. "I will destroy the Dark Elves and return them to the dust, as my grandfather once did."

Sigyn allowed herself a small smile before closing the book in front of her. Rising from her seat, she smoothed her gown and said, "The hour grows late. I should take my leave. I will see you both in the morning." With a polite nod, she wished them goodnight and swept from the room.

The golden halls of Asgard had grown dark, illuminated only by flickering torchlight and the warm glow of braziers. The palace was eerily quiet, the moons shrouded by clouds as though reflecting the looming threat of the Convergence and the Dark Elves.

As Princess Sigyn walked the shadowed corridors, her footsteps echoing faintly, she felt a profound ache settle within her. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, she realized just how alone she truly was.