The Dark World | Book 3

Nineteen: Passings

Eight portals tore through the sky above Asgard, materializing from thin air as if drawn into existence by an unseen hand. They hovered at varying heights, their forms glowing with the energy of their realms. Muspelheim's portal flickered with fiery reds and oranges, flames spitting out like the breath of a dragon. Alfheim's shimmered with brilliant white light, its colors streaking like a rainbow caught in a storm.

Each of the portals drifted toward the others, as though guided by an invisible pull, the branches of the World Tree itself seemingly drawing them into a delicate, celestial alignment. Sigyn, standing on the terrace, caught sight of the vibrant greens of Vanaheim, her birth realm—a realm of vast trees, boundless skies, so close and yet so far, as if it belonged to another galaxy.

The streets of Asgard below teemed with excitement. The people gathered in eager clusters, already gathering at vantage points to witness this rare celestial event that would not repeat for another five thousand years. Asgardians laughed and pointed at the shifting skies, unaware of the catastrophic danger that loomed. For should Thor fail, The Aether would rip through the Nine Realms, devouring everything in its path.

The portals glided ever closer, their edges brushing against each other, forming a perfect union in the sky. The boundaries between the worlds weakened, and for the first time, the Nine Realms stood on the cusp of true proximity—closer than they had ever been before.

"Spectacular," a voice said, breaking the stillness of the moment. "Isn't it?"

Sigyn's heart skipped a beat as she turned to find Odin standing beside her. Her breath caught in her throat—not from fear of the All-Father, but from the terror of what Loki had done in his place. What would happen if the people discovered the truth?

"Yes," she replied quickly, her tone laced with tension. "Wonderful, should we not all perish in the next minute."

"I have faith..." Odin's voice was calm, steady. "In Thor."

Sigyn raised an eyebrow, turning slightly to meet his gaze. "You do?" she asked, noting the quiet presence of palace staff and others around them, their eyes all trained on the Convergence.

Odin turned his face to her, his one eye gleaming with an unsettling warmth. "It seems to shock many," he said, his words carrying weight. "But I have the most faith in you, Princess."

Sigyn's heart faltered. She knew, deep inside, that this wasn't Odin. But from his lips, those words seemed to twist something in her. A strange comfort she hadn't expected—an unexpected sincerity that tugged at the bitterness she had long held for him.

It was Loki.

She swallowed her unease, the familiar fire of hatred rising in her chest again. But she quickly tempered it, reminding herself that this was no longer Odin, that it was Loki speaking in his stead. And yet... the words, the voice, the way they landed in her heart, left her uncertain.

"Thank you," she said, her voice barely a whisper, betraying the turmoil inside her. "And should this pass, what will become of us?"

Was she asking Loki, or Odin? Was there even a distinction anymore?

Odin—no, Loki—smiled, a faint curve at the corner of his lips, a knowing glint in his eye. "We shall bring peace and prosperity across the Realms," he said smoothly, his tone as regal as ever. "I will continue to rule, to foster peace among our nations, and with you by my side, to give me counsel and advice, I believe we will succeed."

As the portals hovered in perfect alignment above, a cheer rose from the people of Asgard, their voices a chorus of joy and hope, their collective gaze glued to the heavens. Sigyn's eyes flickered back to the sky, but her mind was consumed with something else—the feeling of Loki's presence, cloaked beneath Odin's skin, pulling the strings of destiny once again.

This was the moment they had all awaited—when darkness would either descend upon them, swallowing them whole, or when the sun would shine brighter than ever, offering them salvation.

"What shall we do with our time?" Sigyn asked, her voice trembling with uncertainty.

"Love," Odin replied, his tone steady. "And rebuild."

Sigyn's gaze remained fixed on the portals above, her thoughts whirling in turmoil. The weight of Odin's words hung heavily in the air, but they did little to ease the storm raging inside her. His voice, the authority in it, twisted her emotions into a tangled mess. They were words of hope, yes, but spoken by him—the one she had never wished to hear them from.

She hated this form. She longed to hear those words from Loki's lips. To feel his presence beside her, not Odin's. She could never find love for the All-Father, not after everything he had done.

The portals, once in perfect harmony, suddenly drifted apart, losing their alignment as though the universe itself had sighed in relief. Sigyn let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, her shoulders sagging with the weight of the moment. The darkness had not come for them this day, and for the first time, she allowed herself a smile as cheers erupted around her.

The Vanir fleet, now a speck in the distance, marked King Iwaldi's departure. Sigyn stood with him, offering a kiss and a farewell. A tear almost slipped free as she watched her father retreat, wishing she could go with him. But she had duties here—duties to Asgard and its people. With Queen Frigga gone, someone had to step forward to take her place, and Sigyn was determined to do just that. She had grown to love this realm, its people, its heart.

Now, charged as Odin's second advisor, Sigyn would step into the role that would lead her and Loki to rule Asgard from the shadows. It was never what she had envisioned for herself, nor what her dreams had foretold.

Prophecy was a strange thing, after all—cryptic and intangible, often revealing itself in ways one could never anticipate.

Now that the threat had been vanquished, there remained only one lingering problem: Thor. The only one who could see through Loki's illusions, and the question loomed—what to do with Thor?

Sigyn had been pondering many things lately, her mind restless with the complexities of the realms. She glanced at her maidens-in-waiting, their curious eyes on her, then turned to Odin. He stood before her, his gaze sharp, yet oddly intrigued by the devious look she wore. This was a moment that had been building for years, a moment fueled by anger and the indifference she had long held for him. The Odin standing before her now would not punish her for what she was about to say.

And the Princess spoke, her voice steady but laced with the bitterness of her heart:

"And what will become of our future, All-Father? Am I here to be paraded around like a show-pony, or am I meant to help you run these realms in your stead, while you lounge about, dismissing your subjects and their very real problems? Running from your actions and declaring you are King, yet somehow you believe that makes you immune from the consequences of your actions today?" Sigyn's words were sharp, each one a calculated strike. "I am afraid my time in exile—your exile—has opened my eyes to how the world truly works. I confess, All-Father, I was sheltered. The life of a Princess was nothing but a leisurely existence where my greatest worry was marriage." She let out a bitter laugh. "And you continue to prance about in your golden attire. But will you truly rule, Odin? Truly rule as king?"

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, Sigyn wasn't sure if she was speaking to Odin or Loki. But Loki, standing silently, knew. It was both. His mind raced, filled with realization. He had indeed planned to lounge in the shadows while letting the realms free themselves from Odin's tyranny. But now, he saw the consequence of that—chaos would surely follow without a ruler.

If he were to take up this mantle, then he would have to act the part. The weight of leadership was not a simple crown to wear.

Sigyn turned away from him, and her maidens parted like the sea, making way as she strode forward with purpose. If this was the path the prophecy had laid before them, then so be it. She would walk it, with or without Odin's approval.