Soulbonds and Fairy Dust

Chapter 14

Sig shied a little toward Loki when she realized the mark was lighting up. She and Loki were drawing a lot of attention from the people passing them in the palace. She certainly didn't fit in as an Asgardian anymore: she was too short and her coloring was all wrong. She wasn't sure the story had completely spread yet about what had happened to her as a child and how she had come back. The palace could be as bad about gossip as a Midgardian high school.

The story of the soulbond marks on Loki's arm would spread soon. He was one of the princes of Asgard, and while soulbonds were much more common on Asgard than elsewhere in the nine realms, they still weren't that common. It was also strange for him to have a lady on his arm, apparently. He'd never truly gotten over Sigyn's loss.

"I missed you so much," she told Loki softly as she looked up at him. Even though she'd blocked her memories of him, she knew she had been missing something and someone. And Loki had been her family.

Loki had such a kind and carefree smile on his face that it was drawing attention too. No one expected that from the reserved prince. The prince who fancied himself the dark prince of Asgard at that. "I missed you as well, so very much,"

"I'm assuming we're expected for dinner," she started softly, noting the attention they were getting and wanting to get away from it. "Maybe we can find somewhere where fewer people will stare at us to spend our time until then?" she suggested with a smirk. Loki liked hanging out with people about as much as she wanted to be on display for the citizens of Asgard.

Loki nodded. "We are expected for dinner. Why don't we just head to my chambers for now? No one will bother us there. Most people don't bother me," he said and sounded a bit mournful at that.

"Sounds like a plan," she replied warmly and Loki escorted her straight back to his chambers. He didn't want to deal with the onlookers either. Though his carefree loving expression and the soulbond marks on their arms shocked everyone who saw them. Sig was shy when there was too much attention on her. Her unnatural red hair was drawing way too much attention, plus she was walking with Loki.

Loki hadn't been seen with a lady since... Lady Sigyn.

/It's alright. They won't do anything while you're with me. Most people here consider me the Dark Prince of Asgard/ Loki reminded her when he noticed that she was shying closer to his side.

/You? A dark prince? But you're Loki/ she replied, confused as if it were obvious that Loki was as gentle and sweet as she remembered. /Besides, I'm pretty sure they're staring at me. Sidhe-red isn't exactly a common hair color here, or tri-colored eyes, or pointed ears/ she reminded him. In point of fact, she completely stuck out like a sore thumb, though this used to be her home. The fact hurt her, but she tried not to let it show.

/You have not been on Asgard long since your absence. The people's opinions of me have changed drastically. And you are beautiful, fae or Asgardian. There is no difference to me. Do not let their stares bother you./ he told her warmly and she heard in his telepathic voice how much he cared.

/Well, that's stupid of them/ she grumbled. They used to like the polite young bookworm of a prince. Until they ended up on the wrong side of tricks anyway. /I should be used to being stared at by now.../ she continued her grumbles. The pair finally reached Loki's suite and he held the door open for Sig so they could both slip inside away from all of the staring.

"Better?" Loki asked when they were safely alone, the door closed behind them and his shields firmly in place.

Sig sighed in relief and relaxed in the gentle quiet of his cool room. "Much better," she agreed. She gave him a warm smile and kicked off her shoes, curling on the couch in his sitting room with her feet tucked under her, just as she had constantly as a child. It was a second home to her and still felt as such. She waited a moment to see if he was going to choose asking questions or quiet reading for the afternoon's entertainment.