Sif continued on her way across the Bifrost, not sure exactly where to go or what to do next.

She dawdled back into the town, heading towards the Palace, though she was in no great rush to return. She imagined Balder and Fandral gossiping about Loki's latest stunt, and they'd no doubt be gloating about having been right about his inability to behave.

In the Town Square crowds of people who had gathered earlier to join in the festivities to celebrate the younger Prince's marriage, were now loitering around. They too were  gossiping furiously amongst themselves, and curiously looking-on as Palace Guards rushed back and forth through the streets.
She felt flustered as she passed by and they turned to stare at her. She was still wearing her formal gown which made her feel extremely self-conscious.

Her attention was however distracted when she noticed, much to her alarm, six very distinctive looking warriors enter the Square through the Eastern archway. These were no ordinary warriors or guards; all in Asgard knew these legendary soldiers as the Einherjar, Odin's personal army, comprised of the most elite fighters who were once dead. The winged warrior maidens known as the Valkyries were responsible for selecting each of them and transporting their souls to Valhalla, where Odin bestowed upon them the honour of resurrection and immortality in the Realm Eternal.

She tried to avert her eyes, but it was difficult not to stare at their battle-scarred appearance; their armour was indeed as worn and beaten up as their bodies. Some were missing hands, others eyes and even arms. Their presence was as oppressive as it was ghastly.

Swiftly she hurried on, stomach contorting with fear. But not for herself....for Loki.
Those ghouls, though loyal to the Allfather, exuded a blood-lust that made the hair on the back of her neck prickle.
With no powers, Loki stood little chance against this formidable brood...with or without Sigyn and whatever potential 'powers' she may or may not have, they would be ridiculously out-numbered and would not succeed in combat against them.

Then out of nowhere she heard a male voice, though barely audible it seemed so close to hear ear that it startled her, causing her to physically jump.
She glanced over her shoulder, obviously no one was in close proximity, but it came again and this time louder. She halted abruptly, though it seemed no more than a distant whisper, yet it still carried above the chattering and footsteps in the Square;

"Sif...you must go to the West side of the Party Hall, around the back, be sure you're not followed...wait for me there!"

Spinning around, her breath caught in her throat. The voice was unmistakably Loki's. He had heard her plea, and he had answered.

Without hesitation she tore her way through the town centre, towards the Palace and in the direction of Thor's own private Hall, Bilskirnir.

As Odin's own Hall, Valhalla, stood within the vast Palace grounds to the North, Bilskirnir had been built to the South. Whilst Valhalla had once housed the Valkyries and Einherjar alike; though in separate wings, Thor chose to use his Hall as a venue for feasting and celebrating battle victories. Loki had often teased him for not taking up residence in the glorious building and had taken to referring to it merely as 'Party Hall' just to irritate the Thunderer.

Nervously she slipped around the corner of the building, peering back one last time to be certain no one had followed her.
Unable to stand still due to nervous anxiety, she paced back and forth, cursing the dainty sandals she was wearing for making her feet sore and longing for her boots after all the running she had done.

Time passed, the moments feeling like hours.

Somewhere overhead a raven let out a screech, startling her, so she cursed that too. And then she cursed herself for being reduced to such a nervous, quivering wreck.

After what felt like an eternity, though was probably no longer than a few minutes, she noticed a sudden drop in temperature. It was Midsummers day; the sun was still shining, bathing her in its warm rays, so the chill was inexplicable.
Baffled by this strange occurrence, Sif wandered a little further away and noted the way the air there was warm and humid as it should be.
Wandering further still, she found that even in the shadow of the Hall, the air was still warmer than over by the corner.

Her confusion was soon sated, as she witnessed the air around the cold spot beginning to ripple like the surface of a pond that had been skimmed by a stone...it had to be him, she told herself. This had to be one of the secret gateways.
Her eyes widened in undisguised wonder as the sky itself appeared to split open, parting to reveal a shaft of bright, shimmering light.
As it widened, revealing what looked like the funnel of a tornado twisting downwards, she raised an arm to shield her eyes from the blinding light and gusts of wind.

In an instant, the light and wind dispersed as though it had never occurred and her blinking eyes met with the familiar, though in this instance, shimmering, figure of Loki...

Struggling to hold back the tears which threatened to spill due to the sight of him, an immense relief washed over her.
Likewise she fought the desire to pull him into her arms and embrace him, but her stubborn pride, along with his fierce expression, prevented her.

"You called to me. It's been a long time since I heard prayers....and I was never called upon that often to begin with, unlike the mighty Thor and Odin."
He spoke softly, his tone distinguishably at odds with the anguished look he wore.

"Thank you for.....answering."
Sif replied, ignoring the comment about Odin and Thor. Now was not the time to start debating or bickering.

Loki raised a pointed eyebrow and gazed at her expectantly,
"Well?....What am I so needed for, Lady Sif?"

Sif glared at him, almost blind with sudden rage that made it difficult to form the words she wanted to,
"Well, you had to return, you were shown great leniency by the Allfather, he allowed you to remain in the palace and yet you repay him by absconding with your Vanaheim maid whom you spurned at the alter."

Paying little attention to her raised voice and seemingly oblivious to the violence in her glare, Loki wandered towards her slowly, his own expression now softening,
"He only allowed me to remain here under strict conditions, I cannot live my life according to those restrictions which have been imposed upon me...I have to leave."

"So the wicked Loki evades justice once more, and then what shall you do exactly? You no doubt already have some ill thought-out scheme which will only backfire, causing yet more destruction and with it your impending doom!"
Sif ranted indignantly,
"You could have been banished or sentenced to death if the masses had their say, but Odin showed you mercy-"

"Because of you, he showed me mercy!"
Loki snapped, his eyes suddenly changing, taking on that glacial, marble appearance which she disliked so much, and it rendered her silent.
"Why are you still insistent on being my saviour? All you have done is cause further aggravation. It is thanks to you that I was betrothed to Sigyn of Vanaheim, whom  I cannot marry, so I have no choice other than to escape whilst I still can!"

His words cut through her like a blade, wounding her more deeply than she had ever felt before by just mere words. His flippantness and blatant lack of appreciation for all she had sacrificed for him made her blood boil. A red mist descended before her eyes and she found herself charging towards him.

Whether or not it was the unexpectedness that kept Loki from avoiding her, she did not know. She half expected his shimmering form; which seemed to radiate a magical glow, to be one of his astral projections. But as her hands met with his leather-clad chest it became apparent that he was in fact solid and very real.

Shoving him hard with all her strength, he reeled backwards barely remaining on his feet.

"Liar!"
She screamed, her voice penetrating the air, causing the birds in the nearby trees to scatter at the anguished sound,
"If you did not want Sigyn you would not be eloping with her, you are a liar!"

Maintaining his balance Loki lifted his hands, as though feigning surrender,
"It is no lie, I do not want her. The reason I am leaving is so that I do not have to wed her-"

"I do not believe you, sly one!"
Sif cried, lunging at him again, this time she took a swipe at him with the back of her right hand.

It connected with his right cheekbone and he staggered back under the force of it.

"You've been fraternising with the witch all along, planning your escape...don't deny that she is aiding you! Your claim of not wanting to marry her is nothing but a feeble excuse."
She fell silent whilst Loki regained his footing and composure.

Beneath his right eye there was now a visible cut. He lifted his fingers and touched it, wincing slightly.
She glanced down at the solitaire ring on her right hand and felt a slight twinge of guilt.

"You are wrong, the reason I give is not an excuse.."
Loki was now saying, staring at her hard,
"..though admittedly she is the one making my escape possible."

Anger still coursed through her veins, and as much as Sif did not like being stared at with eyes of marbled glass, she strode towards him purposefully. Intent on lashing out at him again.

This time however he caught hold of both her wrists, pulling her into him.
"Will you desist, woman!"
He growled, as she continued trying to writhe from his grip.

All at once the atmosphere dropped to an icy chill and the blinding brightness returned.
Sif looked passed Loki to see the swirling, cyclone funnel again behind him. She ceased struggling against him, and his grip loosened, dropping her wrists.
He was going to leave...

Without hesitation, she reached up and wrapped her arms around the back of his neck just as the rapid, inward circulation of air masses pulled him - and her - backwards, sucking them both into the void.
Unlike transporting via the Bifrost, this tear in time and space rendered Sif completely breathless.
Closing her eyes against whipping wind, she clung to Loki and in return felt his arms tightening around her protectively.

The feeling of nothing, of being suspended in mid-air with no up or down, seemed to last an eternity.
Until suddenly the sensation of falling was overwhelming, her lungs were filled with pain as she fought to take a much needed gasp of air.
But her body was plunging so fast she could barely open her mouth. Her insides turned somersaults, beneath her she could feel Loki's body, and in the next instant she crashed into it hard.

They collided with something solid, landing with such force that Loki's body bounced, despite the firmness, jolting Sif's neck with the impact.
Loki let out a shriek of pain, but she was too breathless to make a sound or utter a word.
Gasping, she sucked in great breaths of air, and though in shock, managed to roll from on top of Loki, enabling his chest to heave; coughing as he inhaled loudly.

Neither of them were able to speak or move for a moment, they just lay side by side, flat on their backs on the hard ground. The only noise was that of their ragged breathing.
Sif hadn't even bothered yet to take in her surroundings, right now she felt too nauseated. Plus her entire body ached and her neck was tender from the landing.

Just then a voice she barely recognised cut through the silence, startling her,
"Lopt, what in the name of Hela is she doing here?!"

Sitting bolt up-straight Sif gaped in astonishment when she saw the speaker standing over Loki's immobile body.
Instantly she recognised the swathes of thick, golden hair, deep red lips, lean figure; scantily clad in the most elaborate, tight-fitting material which exposed the snow-white skin of her midriff. Only one woman dressed this way.....Amora....and she was speaking with Sigyn's voice.

Srambling to her feet, and subconsciously dusting away dirt from her gown, Sif turned to face the Enchantress,
"You...you were Sigyn  all along?"

"I'm a woman of many talents Sif, and who better to help a loved one in need?"
Amora quipped, her gaze now falling on Loki, who had rolled over onto his knees.

"But what of the real Sigyn? Has she fallen victim to your sinister dealings, you pair of miscreants?"

"She is unharmed and never even left Njord's castle. Thor struck a bargain with her father on behalf of Odin, and then I intervened at Loki's behest. I merely persuaded the Vanir royals to await further word from Asgard, and then proceeded to meet with the gullible Thunderer in the princess' place."
Amora's flinty eyes glinted wickedly, her lips twisting into an almost demonic looking smile.

"Do you have any conception of the shame such deviousness and deceit will bring upon the house of Odin?"
Sif shouted at Loki, who was now limping precariously to his feet.

Amora rolled her eyes,
"This is none of your business Sif. I strongly urge you to stay out of our affairs. I advised the sly one to ignore your pathetic plea, but he did not listen. Stubborn fool that he is."

Fist curling into a ball, Sif's thumb felt the ring that had cut Loki's face and momentarily contemplated splitting Amora's lusciously plump lips with it.

Luckily for Amora though, Loki now appeared at Sif's side; standing close enough for their shoulders to touch,
"I did not intend to bring her with me here..."
He spoke sternly to the sorceress,
"...but regardless, she is here, so you will not harm her...understand?"

He addressed her in the same manner one might give an unruly pet dog a command, though Amora was more like a rabid wolf; eyeing Sif as though she were a prime-cut piece of steak.

In spite of this Sif scowled at him, indignant at the implication of her being harmed by Amora.
Whatever powers the enchantress possessed, she could not match Sif's prowess on the battlefield.
Automatically her hand fell down to her waist, to clutch the hilt of her sword where it usually hung, but....damn - of course she did not have it. She wasn't even dressed in armour.

Extremely irritated Sif shot Loki a look of pure contempt,
"Why have you done this? Are you aware of how much danger you are in? The Einherjar have been dispatched to apprehend you. What were you thinking Loki? What are you hoping to achieve by this madness?"

Loki, whose pale complexion seemed to pale further now, making his skin appear almost translucent, did not respond.

"He merely wishes to avoid becoming a husband to the wrong woman.."
Amora supplied, smiling with a sickening level of self-satisfaction,
"..you yourself Lady Sif are responsible for his betrothal to a woman he does not yet know, let alone care for. Surely you cannot expect a Prince of Asgard to marry a stranger.....especially when his heart belongs to another."

"Shut up!"
Loki snapped, his eyes bored into his accomplice; a clear look of warning in them,
"I am going to the Kingdom of the Vanir. There I shall speak with their ruler, Njord. I refuse to become Odin's bargaining tool yet again. I am neither a relic nor a puppet to be used to form alliances or peace treaties."

With that he strode purposefully away and for the first time Sif was suddenly aware of her surroundings.
The landscape was vast; rolling fields and meadows gave way to hills and mountains in the distance, as far as the eye could see. The climate was quite warm, but the sun appeared hidden behind clouds and a brisk breeze blowing from the east made it rather chilly. 
This was most definitely Vanaheim.

"Lopt, I shall send her back through the world gate."
Amora called out to Loki, who promptly halted and turned to stare at her, then Sif.

"You shall do no such thing, witch!"
Sif exclaimed angrily, preparing to take Amora on, fighting with her bare hands if she had to.

Loki reluctantly headed back towards them, his face serious,
"Sif, this may well be dangerous. You should go back now whilst you still can-"

"Since when have you ever known me to shy away from danger?"
Sif interjected defiantly.

Loki hesitated, a slight smile playing about his lips,
"Never, that is true. But I'm sure the ever-wise Heimdall must have warned you against..."
He faltered slightly, seemingly reluctant to say the word 'Me'
"..well, I'm sure he has given you some form of warning in relation to....to, myself."

Sif bit her lip nervously, but her response was determined,
"I make my own choices in this life Loki, and at this moment I only have two, either you come back to Asgard with me now or I'm coming with you...but leaving here alone is not an option I'll consider."

Loki stared at her in disbelief, the surprise at her words clearly visible on his face.
As if speechless he gave her a small nod to indicate his willingness to allow her to accompany him on his journey.
Despite the strange and difficult situation, Sif found herself smiling at the mischievous one.
His eyes locked with her's, as he returned the gesture with a wry smile of his own.

Amora on the other hand was not smiling. Her face was now a mask of contorted rage and her honeyed tones had turned high-pitched and shrill,
"If she goes, then I do not!"
She declared, fury raging in her flinty stare,
"And without me Lopt, you will remain stranded here in this world. You need me!"

Loki's smile vanished, his teeth clenching in agitation,
"I grow weary of your tantrums Amora, do not attempt to bully me with your empty threats!"

Amora let out an ear-piercing shriek that made Sif's blood run cold,
"It is more than a threat, you sentimental Asgardian fool.....it is a promise!"

Nonchalantly, Loki raised a hand to his temple and flinched in discomfort,
"Good, I am relieved it's a promise, your constant whining makes my head hurt. I am glad to be rid of you......Go!"

"I shall have my revenge Lopt. You will regret this!"
Amora hissed venomously, before vanishing from sight, leaving the pair alone.