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Chapter Text

“Loki, if I may speak to you?”

“Of course, King Einar,” Loki replied, returning his book to the shelf before standing and following the king out of the library and into the meeting room. “Is everything alright?”

“Of course, certainly,” King Einar assured. “I was simply wondering if you and Sigyn were planning your Bryllupsreise.”

“Ah, yes.” Loki gave a short nod. “We had…shared the word, between one another.”

Einar laughed. “But you’ve not actually made plans?” he asked. “You know, centuries ago, when the heir to a throne was wed, it was commonplace for them to travel the nine realms.”

“I recall reading that,” Loki replied. “I also recall that I am banished from one realm, attempted to take over another, and helped to destroy the last race of a third.”

“Well, of course you needn’t travel to Asgard, Svartalfheim, and Midgard,” Einar assured. “But perhaps the others?”

Loki just blinked. “I would sooner throw myself back into the void then set foot upon Alfheim,” he began. 

“And the other four?” Einar asked. “Are you not a prince of one of them?”

“Not officially,” Loki replied. “They're insisting on a proper ceremony, but the arrangements for that have not yet been finished.”

“That doesn’t mean you can’t visit.”

“Do you wish Sigyn to freeze to death?”

Einar opened his mouth to reply before freezing and softly asking, “You don’t want to visit the realms.”

“It’s not that,” Loki replied. “It’s that I would rather not garner Asgard’s attention.”

“You mean the Allfather’s.” Loki didn’t reply. “What do you fear he will do?”

“He’s creative,” Loki replied. “He’ll think of something not even I could ever begin to imagine.”

Einar nodded. “Very well then,” he agreed. “Perhaps you and Sigyn could have a less traditional Bryllupsreise .” He smiled. “I hear baby season is coming up.”

Loki stood abruptly. “May I be dismissed?”

Einar’s laughter followed him out of the room.

…………………….

“My father has distressed you.”

“That is not the word I would use.”

“He pressed on our Bryllupsreise.”

“I hadn't realized it was so…”

“Important?”

“I suppose so.”

“It’s important to him. You have no idea how long he has been trying to find a suitor I like. Now that I have one, now that I’m wed , he wishes to do everything.”

Loki’s shoulders slumped. He was afraid she would say that. “I suppose that is true,” he remarked.

“We don’t have to travel though.”

“But you want to.”

“Well…” Sigyn stood from her desk to approach her husband who still stood near the door, refusing to step further into her chambers as if he didn’t have permission to be beyond the threshold at all. “I’ve never left Vanaheim and I have always dreamed of traveling. Have you traveled?”

“I have, yes,” Loki confirmed. “Quite extensively, in fact.”

“So traveling with you would be like having my own personal tour guide.” She tangled her fingers into Loki’s, gripping the collar of his tunic to pull him down for a kiss. “You could teach me everything you know.”

Loki sighed, knowing he’d lose this argument, as if he ever had a chance of winning from the moment he’d walked through the door.

“We’re not visiting Svartalfheim,” he told her. “There’s little to see there but broken ruins.”

“Very well,” Sigyn agreed. “What of the others?”

“I suppose I could take you on a tour of the others.” After a beat of hesitation, LOki offered, “Perhaps you could even meet Hela.”

Sigyn’s eyes lit up. “Truly?” She asked, clinging to his arm.

Loki couldn’t fight a smile. “If that is what my princess wishes,” he murmured.

She beamed. “ Thank you , Loki,” she said. “I’ll begin packing at once.” She hurried over to her armoire, only to freeze and turn to softly remark, “We don’t have to visit Asgard.”

“But you wish to.”

She thought for a moment. “I wouldn’t be upset if we didn’t,” she decided. “We were both hurt by them. They don’t deserve us.”

Loki smiled. “Perhaps, one day, you could meet Thor,” he offered. “I think he would love you. But not…not now. Not when we don’t know where the Allfarther’s opinions lie on this marriage,m nor what he will do if he discovers it,.”

“My father would never let him touch you,” Sigyn swore. “And Asgard is but one army. Never forget, Loki Laufeyson , that you have two armies standing behind you, ready and waiting to defend you and I.”

Loki smiled. “I think I do forget that, often,” he murmured. “Admittedly, it’s nice to be reminded.”

“Good,” Sigyn said firmly. “Now come over here and help me choose my gowns.”

“You know I much prefer you in what lies beneath.”

Sigyn quickly looked away to hide the way her cheeks burned red like her hair. But her husband had caught enough of a glance and laughed as he came over to assist.

Chapter Text

“Say, isn’t your one suitor a prince of Alfheim?” Loki remarked as he and Sigyn strolled through the royal gardens of Alfheim, free until their visit with the king and queen in a few hours.

“Yes, he is,” Sigyn replied. “I hated him.”

“He hated me,” Loki remarked. “Do you think we’ll see him at dinner?”

“Without a doubt, if he doesn’t throw a tantrum over the fact that I chose another first.”

“Without a doubt, if he doesn’t throw a tantrum over the fact that you chose me first,” Loki amended.

“Do you know his parents?” Sigyn asked. “Would they really let him get away with that?”

“They’re very kind people,” Loki replied. “Perhaps in private they would, but since you’re the heir to the throne, they might try and keep him restrained.”

“What does me being the heir have to do with anything?”

“Well, if you and I were ever to break or if I were to die, they don’t want you to think too poorly of their dear, beloved Prince Arvid.”

“You mean they’re hoping I’ll marry him if something happens to you.”

“Yes.”

“I would rather marry The All-Father.”

Loki snorted.

………………

It came as little surprise to either heir when their lovely and peaceful stroll was interrupted by the very same Prince they had both been speaking of.

“Princess Sigyn.” Arvid strolled over, not even noticing Loki as he took the Vanaheim Princess’s hand and gave it a deep kiss. “How are you, my dear? I assume you’ve come to grovel at my feet and apologize as you beg me for my hand in marriage?”

“Hello Prince Arvid,” Sigyn returned, smoothly sliding her hand from his and not so subtly wiping it on her dress. “And unfortunately, I’m afraid you’re mistaken.” Before Arvid could say anything about that, Sigyn said, “You know my husband, Prince Loki.”

Arvid does a double take, eyes wide as he sees the emerald prince at her side. “ Loser Loki ?” he asked, turning to stare at Sigyn as though she had just stabbed him through the heart. “You can’t be serious !”

Sigyn just smiled sweetly and interlaced her arm with Loki’s. “Yes, we’re visiting the realms for our Bryllupsreise. Alfheim was the first on our list.”

“He’s not welcome here.”

“Why not?”’

“Because he’s-”

“Yes?”

Perhaps it was the sharp tone of Sigyn’s voice or the way Loki was—rather drastically failing at—hiding a smile, but Arvid snapped his mouth shut and pouted.

“How long are you staying?” he reluctantly demanded.

“We have many realms to visit, so just for tonight,” Sigyn replied. “We’ll be on our way tomorrow morning.”

Arvid scowled so Loki finally spoke. “I can see you wish to wed her deeply,” he remarked. “So I am willing to engage you in a bit of a game .”

Arvid’s eyes sharpened. “What game?”

“You have all of tonight and prior to our departure tomorrow to attempt to win her from me. If you do, I will gladly step away.”

“And if you somehow manage to win?” Arvid asked, though it was clear he was just asking to be polite and not at all because he actually thought he could lose.

Loki pretended to think about it but it was Sigyn who offered the answer. “Then you will address him with proper respect and his full title.” She smiled. “And you will bow to him and apologize for how you treated him in childhood.”

Arvid’s eyes flashed but his arrogance was on full scale and he just grabbed Sigyn’s hand, gave it another kiss, and says,

“You will be mine before nightfall, sweetheart.”

And then he was gone and Sigyn and Loki were left to wander the gardens in peace.

“This is going to be fine,” Sigyn remarked.

“Oh indeed,” Loki replied. “I look forward to seeing him make himself a fool.”

“Can I punch him?”

“Only if he deserves it.”

“Are you telling me you don’t think he does?” Loki only smiled. They walked on in silence for a few moments before Sigyn remarked, “I cannot help but fel that he’s a fool, however.”

“I couldn’t agree more, though I’m curious as to what prompts you to say that.”

Sigyn smiled. “Only a fool would play games with the God of Mischief.”

……………………………………

Loki is self-aware enough to know that he has a jealousy issue and socially aware enough to know that it comes from growing up in the shadow of the mighty Prince Thor Odinson while living his life as second-best in everything.

So he’s expecting those feelings to rise up when Arvid greets them for dinner, whole heartedly ignoring Loki whilst flirting intensely with Sigyn.

Yet Loki feels not a single lick of jealousy in him because every time Arvid looks away from making any sort of advance, Sigyn squeezes his hand and pulls him down for a quick kiss.

‘Only a fool would play games with the God of Mischief’ Sigyn had remarked and the best part is that Loki doesn’t have to do anything to try and prevent Arvid from winning.

Sigyn has no intention of wedding that monster of a man. And that’s coming from someone who grew up in a realm that classified his true people as monsters.

Arvid thinks he’s winning because Sigyn is letting him think he’s winning by batting her eyes and smiling and very cleverly hiding the disgust Loki knows she feels for this man. 

But as soon as they return to their guest chambers after dinner with the royal family—something that takes ages as Arvid spends at least forty-five minutes trying to convince Sigyn to come to bed with him—Sigyn is tugging him in for a kiss that’s far more passionate than the short ones they’ve shared throughout the day.

“By the Norns, I thought we’d never get away from him,” she murmured as she dragged Loki by the hand towards the bed. “He never stops talking .”

“He’s trying to win your hand,” Loki murmured.

“Well, he’s doing a rather terrible job,” the princess declared. “I wouldn’t take him in marriage if I wasn’t already bound with another.” 

Loki’s eyes softened. “You know,” he murmured. “I think this is the first time in my life I’ve ever…been chosen over another.”

Sigyn had to work very hard to prevent him from seeing any sort of pity in her gaze.

“Well,” she said quietly. “It’s a good thing I came around when I did, isn’t it?”

Loki chucked before asking, “Do you really think Arvid is going to respect the terms of the deal?”

“We’ll see,” Sigyn replied. “And if he doesn’t, then I’ll show him what sort of things the Princess of Vanaheim is taught.”

“Oh?” Loki asked, grinning. “And what sort of things is the princess of Vanaheim taught?”

Sigyn’s eyes glinted. “Do you really want to know?”

“Of course.”

“Are you sure ?”

Sigyn’s smile was Loki’s only warning before her foot was striking him between the legs and he fell to the ground with a barely restrained groan of pain while Sigyn just loudly laughed above him.

…………………………….

Their time to travel to the next realm—Musphelheim—arrives the following day and Arvid is, understandably, furious to learn that Sigyn is still heavily in love with Loki.

“You tricked me,” Arvid snarls as soon as his mother and father have bid their goodbyes and left the three royals alone.

“In what way?” Loki asked calmly, arm interlaced with Sigyn’s. “Is it truly my fault that you were foolish enough to make a deal with the god of mischief himself?”

Arvid looks two seconds from trying to cut off Loki’s head, so Sigyn steps in and calmly remarks,

“As I recall, Prince Arvid. We had a deal. Were you to lose, and you have, you were to address Loki with his full title and the proper respect one of his status deserves. As well as bowing and apologizing for your treatment of him in childhood.”

Arvid sneered before giving a very poor, very weak, very sarcastic bow. “I deeply apologize for my treatment of you, Prince Loki.”

“Ah ah,” Sigyn said. “I said full title.”

Arvid looked like he was going to scream. “Prince Loki Odinson of Asgard .” The words sounded like they were ripped out.

“Hmmm.” Loki pretended to think for a moment. “Should we take it?” he asked Signy. “It was, after all, my title the last time Arvid and I spoke.”

But Sigyn was already shaking her head. “No, if he’s to obey the rules of our game then he’s going to give you the proper respect.”

“That is his title.”

“No, that’s the title he grew up with,” Sigyn corrected. “That is not his title any longer.”

“Then what is ?”

Glancing at Loki to get his permission, Sigyn replied, “You will address him as Prince Loki Laufeyson , crown prince and heir to the throne of Jotunheim.”

Arvid’s eyes went wide .

………………………..

“Is it terrible to say I enjoyed that?” Loki asked once they had finally left Alfheim and arrived as Musphelheim and received their room in a nearby inn, on account of Musphelheim not having a monarchy. “Forcing Arvid to say those words?”

“He was cruel to you, as so many have been,” Sigyn replied. “You deserve respect and certainly deserve acknowledgement of your proper title, now that you have chosen to accept it.”

“I wouldn’t say I’ve accepted it,” Loki murmured.

“But you're getting there?” Sigyn asked.

Loki’s smile was small. “Yes,” he replied. “I think I’m getting there.”

Chapter Text

Loki’s first response upon entering Musphelheim was to look around and promptly declare,

“I hate it here. I think I’ve discovered my least favorite realm.”

Sigyn chuckled. “What about Asgard?”

“Second least favorite." He shot her an unimpressed look. “My skin is melting off of me.”

Ever the kind and considerate wife she was, Sigyn laughed at her husband’s dismay. 

“Tell you what,” she decided. “Let’s just do a quick tour, introduce ourselves to whoever’s in charge, then we’ll head somewhere else. Somewhere cooler .”

“Anywhere is cooler than this,” Loki muttered sourly.

Sigyn just fondly shook her head, interlacing her arm with Loki’s as they headed through the hot and burning realm of Musphelheim to meet its rulers and introduce themselves.

…………………….

The trouble came when the rulers, fire giants with too little on their hands, were more than overjoyed to have two visiting royals and insisted on throwing a massive celebration.

“I’m going to die tonight,” Loki idly remarked as he and Sigyn strolled through the palace.

“You’re not going to die.”

“Fire Giants and Frost Giants-”

“Jotnar.”

“Don’t mix.” He gave her a dull look. “I am going to melt to death.”

“You’re not going to melt to death.” She squeezed his hand. “Doesn’t your Asgardian skin protect you?”

“Only in the thinnest of ways,” Loki replied. “Not enough to allow me to forget what I am and certainly not in this inferno of a realm.” He glanced over his shoulder towards the direction of the throne room. “They’re going to kill me with their enthusiasm tonight.”

“They mean well.”

Loki did not look impressed. “You’re going to be taking a puddle home.”

“Well, maybe my puddle husband will complain less than my current one,” Sigyn returned, pecking him on the cheek before happily skipping down the hall.

“I could kill you in a thousand differnet ways.” Loki told her when he caught up.

She just laughed. “I love you too.”

………………………

The celebrations were held that night and the rulers of Musphelheim all but talked Sigyn and Loki to death. Loki himself felt like he was swimming in a pool of his own sweat and when the lady remarked on it, he merely gave a weak smile and replied,

“Apologies, it doesn’t seem like that heat is agreeing with me.”

She was apologetic instantly, asking what she could do to help and remarking that while it was so kind of them to come and allow these festivities, he had no need to stay any longer if they were making him uncomfortable.

Now, at this point, it would have been more than acceptable for the two of them to depart  since their discomfort, as guests, had been noted and they had been given permission to excuse themselves by the hosts.

However, despite the fact that he was more or less boiling in his own skin and had just been given permission to leave, Loki simply replied,

“I can manage. Thank you. I’m just unused to such heat, on account of Vanaheim’s mild weather.”

The rulers seemed unsure but nodded nonetheless and as soon as they were drawn into conversation was someone else, Sigyn leaned over and murmured,

“Please tell me that you said no simply because you really aren’t as bad as you thought and not because of some twisted, Asgardian mindset that tells you that if you stay in the heat long enough,  you can sweat out your Jotunn heritage.”

Loki just smiled at her. “Darling, that’s impossible.”

“Doesn’t mean you won’t try it.”

Loki’s lack of a reply didn’t sit well with his wife. Taking advantage of their hosts’ lack of attention, Sigyn leans over and quietly murmurs,

“Promise me that you’ll say something if it grows too much?”

Loki smiled back at her. “I promise.”

…………

Sigyn had forgotten that her husband was the god of lies.

She supposed she’d grown lax with him, in the weeks of their marriage. Supposed that the few months she’d known him was long enough to know all of his tells—to be able to see through even the thickest facade.

As the hall bustles around him in a panic after he’s collapsed when they stood to finally leave, she’s beginning to realize she was wrong.

There is so very much to Loki Laufeyson that she still doesn’t know.

“I suppose it’s a good thing Jotunheim was next on our list,” she remarked hours later when he finally came to, after he had been moved to one of the cooler—but still bordering on almost too how—rooms in their hosts home. “I asked you to say something if it grew too much.”

“Sigyn darling, I am a gentleman,” Loki told her. “It would have been unkind to reject their hospitality.”

“Yeah, and now they think Vanaheim is going to take them to war for nearly killing you.”

“It was hardly their fault.”

“No, it was entirely yours.

Loki sighed. “Asgard does not get hot.” Sigyn frowned, unsure of where this line of thought could possibly be going but knowing she should stay quiet and let him finished. “In either winter or summer, it’s mild. I can recall on one hand the number of times those temperatures rose below what was bearable for me. Despite that, even the mild summers were too much. As a child, Thor and even father often told me that I would be fine if I pushed through it.”

Sigyn really should stop thinking she couldn’t hate the All-Father any more than she already does. Loki always seems to find some way to prove her wrong.

“You know that doesn’t make me feel better, right?”

“I wasn’t trying to make you feel better,” he told her honestly. “I just wanted you to understand why.”

“I do.” Sigyn nodded. “Maybe it’s best we’re not going to Asgard.”

“Oh? Why not?”

“I seemed to have the sudden urge to punch King Odin in the throat.”

Loki’s laugh was probably the least graceful thing she’d seen from him thus far.

Chapter Text

The moment they arrived in Jotunheim, Loki dropped face first into the snow. As she laughed, Sigyn heard him mumble into the white powder,

“I never thought I would be pleased to see this place.”

Sigyn chuckled. “Are you cooling yourself off or procrastinating?”

Loki grumbled, “Both.”

“Why?”

He was silent for a long moment. When he did finally pull himself up, to his knees, Sigyn fought the instinct to smile at the snow caught in his hair, or the very subtle natural blue tint his lips and cheeks had taken on in response to the frigid air.

“I was raised on Asgard,” he finally told her. “Raised to believe we…the Aesir were better than all others. That Jotunheim was below us—a realm of mindless beasts, nothing more.” He swallowed. “I killed Laufey.”

“To prove yourself to the man you knew as your father.”

“It didn’t matter anyway.”

Sigyn touched a hand to his arm. “Queen Farbauti knew you were raised against the truth,” she murmured. “None here hold that against you and all have welcomed you home with open arms.”

Loki sniffed. “Home,” he repeated dully.

“We can leave,” Sigyn offered. “We can tell them I have fallen ill.”

“No, I…” Loki took a deep breath, dragging himself to his feet and pulling Sigyn to stand with him. “They are my…I cannot…” he huffed. “I must face the truth.”

She squeezed his hand as they headed towards the palace.

Within a half hour of their arrival, festivities had begun. Thankfully, a majority of it was held outside the palace, while a far smaller celebration with only Loki, Sigyn and Farbauti was held inside.

“We have centuries to catch up on,” Farbauti said. “I have mourned you for so long.”

“I…” Loki sought for words that escaped him. “I did not know there was anything for me to mourn.”

“I am sorry we did not…” she hesitated. “Laufey wanted to storm Asgard. So sure was he that Odin had taken you, but…I told him not to. Perhaps that was my mistake.”

“Why didn’t you?” Sigyn asked softly, when it was clear Loki was unsure of how to respond to such a statement.

“We were badly weakened from the war,” Farbauti replied. “And with the Winter Casket gone, the heart of Jotunheim, our realm had already begun to crumble. We had to stay. For our people. And…and we did not truly know that the All-Father had taken you. We only…we had only suspected.”

Loki was silent for a long moment. “He did not tell me I was not Aesir until I picked up the Winter Casket and discovered it myself,” he murmured. “And even then…even then, he said not a word. Even then, he only…”

Farbauti reached out, not to take his hand but simply to lay her own between them.

“Would you like to see it?” She asked quietly. “The Temple?”

There are many things Loki had pictured when the word ‘temple’ was used. He had pictured something grand, gold, similar to those on Asgard. An unfair comparison. Instead what he finds are blue, crumbling walls, broken ceiling and snow covered floor. In the center of the room sits an altar, cracked but still standing, intricately carved in the same design as Laufey’s ancestral markings.

Items are laid out. Some Loki recognizes—ice carvings, food, toys—others he has no hope of identifying. It is Sigyn who speaks softly, voice hardly audible over the distant, howling winds.

“They’re presents.”

Farbauti smiles, a sorrowful expression. “Gifts from our people,” she murmured. “From Laufey and myself. Placed here on your birthday and the day of your disappearance. Coupled with prayers to the Norns that you might one day return to us.”

Loki did not know what to say. “I am favored here,” he found himself murmuring.

“Our people wept for weeks, when the news of your disappearance reached them” Farbauti told him softly where she stood behind the newlyweds, and Sigyn saw, out of the corner of her eye, the way Farbauti twitched, wanting badly to reach for her son but restraining herself, if barely. “Laufey was not alone in the desire to storm Asgard in search of you. Even your brothers, illegitimate sons of Laufey though they may be, contemplated taking Asgard’s heir as recompense.”

The thought of Thor being stolen as Loki had been, raised in a realm that hated the one he had come from, did not sit right with the young prince.

“I am glad they did not,” he murmured. “Odin was already…it was clear Thor was his preferred. Had Thor been taken, I am not sure I would have been treated as kindly as I had been.”

Sigyn and Farbauti shared glances, the pair of them disagreeing with Loki’s idea of kind but neither electing to be the one to say it.
“How long are you staying?” Farbauti asked instead.

“We have one other realm to visit,” Sigyn replied. “So as long as Loki–”

“Only a day or two. We will be traveling to Helheim next and afterwards...” Loki flexed his fingers and then admitted to Sigyn, “I sent a letter to the All-Mother, before we left.” Sigyn’s eyes went wide. “She would be honored if we came to Asgard, to finish our Bryllupsreise.”

“And the All-Father welcomes this?” Farbauti asked skeptically. “Forgive my words, but…he is not on good terms with either of the realms you two hail from.”

“My father and King Odin have been seeking an alliance for the last few years,” Sigyn said. “I imagine that shall end, the moment the All-Father sees who I have elected to take as my husband.”

“I have no allegiance to Jotunheim.” Farbauti flinched, hard. But behind him, out of sight of Loki, it went unseen. “He would have no reason to refuse it, solely because of our marriage.”

“And if you choose to take the throne of Jotunheim?” Sigyn asked. “If you elect to take your place as king?”

“What Odin does not know won’t hurt him.”

Much to the surprise of Sigyn and Farbauti, Loki elects to join in the celebrations outside of the palace. If possible, the excitement amps up even further and within minutes, Loki is overwhelmed and visibly regretting his choice.

“On Asgard,” Farbauti murmured to Sigyn, the two of them sitting outside of the crowd. “You will protect him, won’t you? As Laufey and I were unable to? As I am still unable to?”

“I will protect him with my life.”

Farbauti nodded. Then, quietly, she asked, “Do you think he will…accept it? His rightful place here, as King?”

“I think…” Sigyn murmured. “He wants to be wanted. To be loved. And I believe…that he thinks he cannot ask for it. That desire for such a thing makes him…selfish.”

“Because of Odin.”

“Because of Odin,” Sigyn agreed. “Though I am doing my best to repair that.”

“Good.” Farbauti nodded. Her eyes softened as she and Sigyn watched Loki. “Even after how he was raised, after the trials and torments he has been through…he is still my son. Even if I may never have the chance to call him such a thing aloud to him.”

“I believe…” Sigyn said slowly. “That he will come around to it. That he will, eventually, accept his place as rightful heir.”

“You sound so certain.”

“He is here, is he not?” Sigyn asked. “With your people? With you? He shows no fear, only…trepedation. He was raised in the shadow of the golden prince. He is not used to the attention.”

“I suppose he is,” Farbauti murmured. “Thank you for caring for him, Princess Sigyn. Jotunheim shall forever be in your debt.”

Sigyn smiled. “It is my pleasure.”

Chapter Text

Barely on Helheim for a matter of seconds, they’re greeted by a blade cutting sharp through the air, scarcely missing Loki by a hair. Despite the close call, the god did not even flinch, merely regarding the woman atop the throne with a cool look as he remarked,

“Is that any way to treat your little brother, who has graciously taken the time during his Bryllupsreise to see you?”

“It is when he did not even send an invitation to his favorite sister.”

“You are my only sister,” Loki said as the goddess began to descend. “And you should take no offense. I did not invite mother or Thor, either.”

“Yes, I had heard The House of Odin had been shaken recently. “Although, trying to invade Midgard? What could have possibly driven you to such a thing?”

Loki shrugged. “Madness, perhaps.”

This close, Sigyn can see a resemblance so uncanny that it was hard to believe the pair shared no blood at all. Pale features, raven locks and piercing green eyes, Sigyn can understand how the realms had been easily convinced that Loki was of Asgard.

The goddess, Hela, chuckled. “And I’m sure Odin handled that well.”

“Better than expected. He did not execute me.”

The goddess turned to Sigyn then, with little warning. “You must be the bride.”

“Princess Sigyn of–” The woman holds up a hand and Loki falls silent.

“I know who she is.” She looked Sigyn up and down. “What are your intentions with my baby brother?”

“I love him.”

“That is an emotion,” Hela corrected. “I asked for your intentions.”

“To love him,” Sigyn amended. Hela hummed.

“That’s a start,” Hela murmured. “All of him?”

“Of course.”

“So you know of his truth then?”

Loki speaks before Sigyn can answer. “You know?”

Sigyn gives him a sympathetic look. “I am not blind, nor am I a fool. Baldur and I had always known you were not of Asgard and as Odin had just returned from Jotunheim, even an infant could have drawn the conclusion.”

“You never treated me any differently.”

“On the contrary,” Hela corrected. “I treated you better.”

“Because I am from Jotunheim.”

“Because Norns knew Odin wasn’t going to.”

They were silent for a long time. “Princess Sigyn,” Hela said without warning. “What are your theories?”

“My theories?” Sigyn repeated.

“You have noticed the resemblance between myself and Loki.”

“Of course.”

“And I assume he has told you stories of Baldur? The similarities in appearance he shared with Thor?”

“Yes.”

“Why do you think that is?” She brushed her hair over her shoulder. “What is your theory as to why Loki and I look so similar?”

“I couldn’t possibly–”

“Guess.”

Sigyn glanced at Loki, who appeared just as confused as she was. “I suppose I…” she began, slowly. “I had always assumed it was the All-Father’s doing. A spell cast to hide Loki’s truth from him and all others.”

“A good guess,” Hela praised. “With the information you are working on, it’s clever.”

“But it is not accurate?”

“It is unlikely.”

“Why?” Loki asked.

“The glamor spell around you, the one you came to Asgard wearing? It isn’t Odin’s. It never was.”

“Whose then?”

“I know not of your true parentage,” Hela replied. “But that would be my guess. A spell placed upon you, for protection. Should the All-Father find you, the spell would interact with his own seidr, reaching into his memories in an attempt to find a pleasing appearance, one that might serve to entice him to let you live.”

“I can control it now,” Loki felt the need to tell her.

“Yes, there is no trace of that spell from before,” Hela said. “Only your own. The switch occurred when you learned the truth, perhaps.” Her smile was soft. “Yet still you wear my colors.”

“I am sorry,” Loki said softly. “That it was because of me that you were–”

She waved him away. “Odin had always been displeased with me, from the moment I was born,” she told him. “I assure you, it had nothing to do with your appearance.”

Her little brother eyed her for a long time. “Are you going to ask?”

“Ask what?”

“To see it. To see my truth?”

Hela planted a hand on her hip, looking unimpressed. “Why would I do that?” She asked. “Had you wanted me to see it, you would’ve worn it here, wouldn’t you?” Unsure of how to respond, Loki remained silent. Hela’s demeanor softened a moment later and she remarked, “I think no differently of you, little brother. I never have.”

“Of course you have.”

“Loki–”

“You openly favored me over Thor, after all.”

Hela blinked, then chuckled. “I suppose that is true,” she agreed. She eyed Sigyn for a moment before asking Loki, “You are happy?”

“I am in love,” Loki confirmed. “Something I never believed I would be permitted.”

“And your true parentage?” Hela asked tentatively. “Where do you stand on that?”

“I am learning to accept it.”

“That is better than Odin could ever do.”

“Yes,” Loki confirmed with a small smile. “I suppose it is.”