Victim of Circumstance

Jotunheim

Thor and I walked the rainbow bridge, acutely aware of Heimdall's absence. We had only gone a short way when Thor sighed.

"Sigyn, it would be so much quicker if you would permit me to carry you."

I thought about it a moment, but before I answered Thor scooped me up and we vanished in flash of lightning.

I couldn't see for a few moments, but then my vision cleared and I realised I was lying in the snow, Thor standing protectively over me. He glanced down and saw I was conscious.

"Are you alright? Quick, get out of the snow."
Thor wrapped his cape around me while he scouted the area. Finally he returned, his boots crunching through the icy snow, his hair flecked with snowflakes.

"The palace is straight through the trees." Thor informed me. I noticed his manner had become far more casual away from his father. He talked like one of the Midgardians. "I can't come further then this, Sigyn. The Jotuns would love to have me held hostage in the palace. Good luck."

"Wait- Thor!" I cried, but he had vanished. His cape had vanished too. Muttering about how cold I was, my numb fingers managed to pull a cloak from my bag and slip it on. Instantly I felt warmer.

I trudged through the snow, the palace becoming larger as I went. I kept to the trees, unable to shake the feeling of danger the closer I got to the palace. Then, unmistakeably, I saw the figure of a man coming through the trees toward me.

"I know you're there."
The voice rang out, smooth and dark as syrup. I paused, terror washing over me. I could just make out the silhouette.
"Please, show yourself." the voice ordered, although it sounded less like a please-come-out-if-you-want and more of a come-out-or-die command.

I forced myself forward. Pushing aside a thorny branch, I saw a man, cloaked in green and gold, a horned helmet atop his head. But the most startling thing was his blue skin, lined with white scars or grooves, and bright, evil red eyes.

A Jotun, yet there was something off about him...

"Who are you, pray?" asked the Jotun.

"I am Sigyn, goddess of poetry and consort to Loki of Asgard. Where might I find him?" I said. The Jotun laughed a humourless laugh.

"You have found him." said Loki.

- - - - -

I was taken to the palace by another Jotun, who resembled Loki except he was much larger and muscular. There I was locked in a dark chamber and told to wait.

"You have been summoned." the Jotun guard growled at length, unlocking the door and cuffing my wrists together behind my back. He led me down a long, winding staircase and into what was undoubtedly a throne room. At the end, in an icy throne, sprawled Loki. His helmet sat beside him and I noticed the shoulder-length black hair, deliciously wavy, and without the cloak I could clearly see how slim yet muscular he was. When he saw me his skin began to change colour, becoming pale and unlined, his eyes green. I approached him, pulling the Jotun guard along behind me.

"Why are you treating me this way?" I asked him, my voice ringing across the room. "I am your wife, Loki! I am bound to you! I could not betray you even if I wanted to." I was angry at the way he'd received me, angry at my hour if imprisonment, angry at the cold way he talked to me and the the look of arrogance he now gave to me.

"I could not take my chances." Loki said, his smooth voice soothing me. "I do not know your purpose in coming here, to me, when you know what I am and what I have done."

"I only came because I needed to meet my husband. I want to know why you did these things. Thor tells me you are a good man, yet he has been betrayed by you countless times. I merely wanted to understand your motivations, Loki." I bowed my head to him.

He leaned forward, eyes narrowed in anger.

"Nobody understands me." he hissed, his words like venom. "You will never understand me. I am the God of Mischief and Lies. In fact it will be easier for you to believe I am evil-"
I cut him off. "No! I know that no one, not even a Jotun, is evil for no reason. I refuse to believe it!" my voice rang out once more. Loki seemed shocked at my outburst, quickly disguising his surprise, but I had not finished. "You may be the god of Mischief and lies, but why should that define the real you? I am the Goddess of poetry, but do I spout poetry when I speak? Do I read it? I do not!"

"Enough."
the word was quiet, but it silenced me as if I had been struck dumb. Loki rose from his throne, staff in hand, and slowly moved toward me, his eyes narrowed and his gaze dangerous. He flicked his hand toward the guard, who bowed his hand and disappeared from the room, closing the doors behind him. I glared back at Loki.

"I dislike your lack of respect." hissed Loki, still moving toward me. "Kneel."

I did not move.

"Kneel!" he roared, suddenly dangerous. His staff was raised; he pointed it at my chest. I knelt, but I did not bow my head. I would not.

"That is better." he whispered, moving behind me, speaking to the back of my head. "If you are to understand me know that I am never an equal. Claim loyalty to me, and I may let you talk, Sigyn."

My name from his lips was like silk; never had it sounded so beautiful and yet terrible at the same moment. His robes brushed my body as he strode past me, returning to the throne.

"Yet you interest me." he said quietly, settling himself on the throne. "You may return on the morrow. Rarely have I heard one so brave as to interrupt me."

I rose without invitation.
"You cannot hurt me. For if you did, you would hurt yourself. Do you not know my purpose in your future? Have you not been told?"
For a moment, his green eyes flashed red, and then returned to their previous colour.

"Yes." he said. "Now leave me. And learn some respect when you return."

I felt the Jotun guard enter, grabbing hold of my cuffed wrists and marched me out of the throne room.