Soulbonds and Fairy Dust

Chapter 26

Sigyn took Loki's arm and let him walk her back to the horses and their friends. "Did you defeat the vicious little girl child?" Fandral teased you and Loki. He was the most moronic of the morons and was showing it at that moment.

Sig glared at Fandral. "That was an entire realm personified as a child. She could have killed us all where we stand and not broken a sweat," she informed him with a snarl. She was grumpy when she was this exhausted. No one really blamed her for that.

Loki was also glaring at Fandral. "Magical beings are more powerful than anything else. You would do well to remember that," he told Fandral coldly. Fandral was a moron and needed to be reminded that he wasn't more powerful than Loki. Loki was usually in the shadows and didn't flaunt his abilities too often.

Apparently, it was just often enough that Fandral wisely shut up at the reminder and your group was able to head to the inn in the nearby town.

Loki got Sig settled at a table with food in front of her and stayed by her side. He was worried about how exhausted she was with good reason. She had nearly passed out and her colors were so muted. He didn't know what could actually cause her hair and eyes to be less vibrant, but he knew it wasn't good. "You really should get some rest, darling. That last gate took a lot out of you," Loki told her the second her plate was empty. He wanted to get her safely tucked into bed and resting.

She nodded, noting how worried everyone was, and got to her feet to head to her room. She had her own, but she'd already told Loki he was welcome to share with her, no matter what form he was in. Loki took her up on the offer. He was concerned over her and not willing to let her be alone when she was so drained. "I told you this wasn't going to be easy. You know why Mama Frigga won't let you learn blood magic..." she reminded him as they headed upstairs, her arms were around Loki's waist as they walked.

"I know, but I worry about the toll it is taking on you. I know the dangers of blood magic, but seeing it first-hand helps me better understand Mother's warnings,"

"Please don't think I'm weak because of this," she told him softly. "I don't want you to think I'm one of the helpless feather-brained noble ladies you despise..." it was one of her concerns if Loki kept seeing her weak like this.

Loki stopped in his tracks and turned to her, cupping her face in his hands to make her look up at him. "I would never think you weak, darling. I know how difficult blood magic is. I know how hard this is for you and I see you persevering despite how difficult it is for you. In fact, after all this, I consider you one of the strongest people I know. Do you understand?" he demanded firmly, giving her no room for objections.

Sigyn gave him a warm, exhausted smile. "Understood, my prince," she told him with a hint of teasing in her voice.

He smirked in reply, glad she was still up for sarcasm and sass. "Good," he replied warmly and wrapped his arm back around her shoulders to steer her to her room. She headed straight to the bed to crash, though made sure there was plenty of room for him in the bed too before she passed out. She knew he wasn't going to leave her alone.

Loki read for awhile while she rested. Eventually, he decided to get some sleep himself and curled in the bed with her wrapping her safely in his arms. Her sleeping expression turned to a warm smile, though she didn't stir. She was exhausted and too drained to wake. It was extremely powerful dangerous magic she was using and the doorways were immensely powerful as well.

Sig woke right after dawn and smiled at Loki, who was reading in the bed next to her. Her color had returned and she looked better at least. "Good morning, prince," she greeted him warmly. She found that waking in his arms was a pleasant way to start her day.

He easily returned the smile. "Good morning, darling. How are you feeling?"

"Better," she told him. Her smile was still a little tired, but that could easily be due to the early hour.

Loki wasn't quite sure whether to believe her, but finally nodded, accepting her word. "Alright. Should we head out to the next door?"

She nodded and climbed out of the bed, riding clothes shimmering into place as she did. "So how long before you grill me on every detail of my conversation with Tilly?" she asked him lightly as she collected her things.

Loki smirked. "Well... since you brought it up..." he teased, goading her into answers.

She giggled in reply. "Ask and you shall receive," she told him warmly.

Their group met up in front of the stables and mounted up quickly to set off towards the next doorway. Loki turned to Sig once they were settled on their horses. "So, what did you and a magical realm talk about?" he teased.

Sig rolled her eyes. "You were there for the entire conversation, princeling," she teased him right back, much as she'd done with him as a child.

He chuckled. "The fact that a magical realm likes me was certainly shocking to hear,"

She laughed. "Well Tilly likes me so I'm not surprised she likes you too," she replied warmly.

"A magical realm was speaking to you and likes you ?" Fandral asked stupidly, eavesdropping on her conversation. "Someone likes you?" he added even more stupidly in Loki's direction.

Loki ignored the moron and kept his attention on Sigyn. "Are you actually friends with her, darling?"

Sig nodded. "I didn't know what she was when I first met her, but she was so glad for someone to talk to and be nice to her. She's the reason I survived when most of the other changelings didn't,"

"Then I'm grateful to her for keeping you safe,"

"She did keep me safe and helped me learn to control the fae magic. And she made the queen and gray lords be... not nice... but bearable. Or at least let me hide with her when they weren't," she added with a shrug when he looked horrified at how she was treated.

When he finally got his emotions under control again he spoke. "I'm glad she made your life there a bit more bearable,"

"Me too," she agreed. "The gray lords didn't much like a mongrel in their court, especially one as powerful as I am. At least not until I came of age, then I was suddenly useful,"

"Well, you don't have to worry about them. You're home now," Loki reminded her. He was so relieved that she was home. So was she. Asgard was her home and she was beyond grateful to be back there, back among her people, back with the princes she grew up with.

"The gray lords are powerful, Lokes. I doubt they're going to just let me go without a fight..." she reminded him, though she was hesitant to say more about fae politics.

"Meaning what, exactly?" he demanded with a scowl. If any of them even dared to mess with her, they would have to deal with him first. Loki's overprotective nature was as legendary as his temper.

She sighed and committed herself to the explanation. "The gray lords are the most powerful of the fae," she explained. "Besides the queens of the two courts. Their will is law and they dislike being defied. The soulbond will protect me from having to marry one of the fae, but that doesn't mean the other gray lords won't want me returned to the court," she looked away with a blush when her tongue slipped. And she hoped Loki hadn't caught the wording.

"Other gray lords?" he asked and Sig cursed to herself.

She sighed heavily. "Of course you caught that..." she grumbled at him. "Too observant for her own good..." maybe if she teased him enough he wouldn't press her for answers.

"Don't avoid the subject, Sigyn. Tell me, please. Let me help," he pleaded. He wanted so desperately to be able to help her, protect her.

She sighed and stared at the pommel of her saddle instead of looking at him. Her voice was soft, shy, nervous, when she spoke again:

"I'm one of the gray lords,"