Thunder roared over their heads. Sigyn's heart clenched in fear when Mjölnir crackled with lightning at Thor's rage. Loki hurriedly stepped in front of her, one hand pushing her back while he raised the other out to Thor.

"Brother," he said, "please, hear me."

"You dare speak to me?" hissed Thor, barely able to contain his anger. "You DARE?"

The heavens opened at his booming voice. Rain poured down and soaked them in mere seconds. Sigyn's red hair stuck to her like tendrils of blood. She kept her gaze on Thor, as she couldn't bear shifting it to Astrid's anguished expression. But her betrothed's fury wasn't much better.

"I have allowed much of your trickery over the years, Loki," Thor sneered, "but that you would do this to me? To her?"

"I've done nothing."

"Do not lie to me! I know it all. Your subtle coercions, the flowers you gave her, even that damn necklace. Undo your magic, Trickster, now!"

The pendant at Sigyn's bosom shimmered green. By the sudden gasps uttered by Thor and Astrid, she assumed Loki must have lifted the illusion. Her fingers closed around the serpents, not wanting them to see it. This was hers. Hers and Loki's.
Thor's eyes narrowed at Sigyn. Through the rage, she recognised stubborn reluctance. He wouldn't believe there was no magic or trick at play. He couldn't believe that she'd chosen this willingly. That she chose the second son over the golden Crown Prince.

"Sigyn will not marry you," stated Loki, back straight and voice strong.

"Do not speak another word!" bellowed Thor.

"Go on, shout at me! Strike me even if that will make you feel better; it changes nothing! Sigyn was never yours, to begin with! I hold her heart and love! And I will not let her fall into the hands of a brute like you! "

The lightning bolt hit Loki suddenly. He fell to his knees with an agonising cry.

"LOKI!" Sigyn shouted. "Thor, no! Stop this!"

But the Crown Prince of Asgard would not listen to reason. Blinded by mad fury and betrayal, Thor charged at his brother, lifting Mjölnir above his head with every intent to hurt him. Loki tried to summon something to protect him, but nothing would be good enough against the awesome force coming down on him. Sigyn could not allow this to go on. She had to save her love. She wanted to save him.
All who had witnessed it still could not say how she did it. Yet the ones who knew what Sigyn truly was all agreed on one thing — a fire mage's inner power is brought forth by desire, by an urgent wanting. This is what saved Loki. This is what would further set Sigyn's life.

***

Thor was blown back by an invisible force. Water splashed all around him as he smacked into the dirt. He blinked against the rain, hearing Fandrall and Sif's faint shouts as they sped towards him. They'd hidden at Thor's order, lying in wait to see if Loki would attempt anything. But the Trickster wasn't the one who deflected Thor's attack with such a fierce, magical feat.
A circle of white-hot flames burned around Loki. Thor followed his brother's aghast stare through the fire and froze, feeling something he had rarely felt before — angst. Overwhelming fear of the genuine threat he saw before him.

Sigyn's eyes were blood-red, a burning yellow where her pupils were supposed to be. Her hair danced around her head like a flame, and her skin glowed in the same iridescence as Loki's pendant. The serpents' scales flashed dangerously, and it almost appeared like they were coming alive once more. Then, Thor realised, to his great dismay, they were.
Two snakes wrapped around Sigyn's arms, from her shoulders to her hands, their bodies made entirely out of fire. They raised their heads toward Thor and the others, hissing and spitting embers. The heat radiating off them evaporated the surrounding rain and puddles on the ground, steam rising like an ominous mist.

"Odin's beard!" exclaimed Fandrall in utter shock. "How is Loki doing this?"

"He's not. This is Sigyn's magic." Astrid helped Thor up with Sif, gripping his arm tight when he stood. "Loki must have done something to augment her powers. It's the only explanation."

Thor and his companions held their breaths as the handmaiden sprinted forward to face the creatures. They hissed threateningly when she came too close. She bravely ignored them and called to Sigyn in a desperate plea.

"Sigyn, please, stop! Whatever Loki has done to you, you must fight it! Fight his hold on you!"

Fandrall quickly pulled Astrid to safety as flames burst out from the snakes. He drew his sword as Sif came to stand on his other side. Now each with a foe to deal with, the snakes dropped to the ground, leaving Thor to face Sigyn directly.
Yet the Crown Prince did not look at his betrothed. All his attention was on his brother, still trapped in the circle of flames. Loki had his hands around his pendant and kept on muttering, eyes shut in concentration. What was he doing? Was he controlling Sigyn? Was Loki truly making her do all this? 

Thor gripped his hammer tight. What was he to do? He could not attack Sigyn. She stood innocent in Loki's deceptions. He had been trained to safeguard the innocent, not murder them. But neither could he allow such a threat within Asgard. He had no choice.
Sif and Fandrall looked at him, awaiting his order. With a nod from him, Thor's friends jumped at the snakes, careful not to get burned. The blades of their swords began to melt, this close to such great heat, but neither Fandrall nor Sif wavered. Thor would not have them in harm's way for too long. He only needed them to distract the snakes so he could get to Sigyn. Thor spun Mjölnir faster and faster. Thunder and lightning tore open the sky above. He lifted his hammer and...

***

Despite having been weakened by Thor's attack, Loki had still managed to summon an illusion of himself behind his brother. Thor grunted in pain when the dagger pierced his side. Mjölnir slipped from his grasp as he stumbled to the ground. The lightning crackled on, but the thunder above them stopped. 
With Thor wounded, and the snakes occupying Sif and Fandrall, Loki could finally focus on Sigyn. He made the illusion hovering over Thor disappear, sending it behind the fire mage. His hand tightened around his pendant, despite the searing heat, and Loki sent every ounce of magic he still had through it, so Sigyn sensed him.

"Sigyn, remember what you learned," he urged her. "Remember how you took control. I need you to do that again. I need you—argh!"

Loki let go of the pendant as pain shot through him. He gripped his shoulder. Cool blood seeped through his fingers. He fell back and his illusion disappeared. Astrid, having somehow found her way through the circle of flames, knelt and pulled Loki back by his hair, her dagger at his throat.

"I don't know what you have done to Sigyn, but you will stop now! Release your hold over her, Trickster!"

A chilling shriek pierced through the garden. They both turned their heads and witnessed Sif and Fandrall getting thrown into the air by a mighty swipe of a fire snake's tail. The pair landed a few feet away from Thor with a nauseating smack. The circle of flames retreated to the serpents, fuelling their fire further, making them grow to a monstrous size. 
From the corner of his eye, Loki saw Sigyn raise her hand, her burning gaze not on him, but on Astrid. The handmaiden drew back in terror as the snakes attacked. Free from her grasp, Loki scrambled up and pushed her aside to face the fiery monsters himself. But just before the flames threatened to engulf him, the serpents crumbled down to ashes at his feet. 

Loki exhaled in relief, then winced at the stinging in his shoulder. He raised his eyes at his lover, in awe of her power, of her control, and of what she'd revealed by extinguishing her fire like that — it was all for him. 
Sigyn's magic had surged after he'd been struck by lightning, wanting to defend him. And when he jumped in to protect Astrid, she'd reeled her powers in, keeping him safe from harm. Her desire... was to protect. 

"I'm safe, my heart." Loki cautiously approached. "You saved me. You can let go now."

The green in Sigyn's eyes slowly returned. The scorching temperature in Loki's pendant subdued. What little remained of his magic wrapped it up in cool, comforting safety. His pounding heart steadied. The rain stopped; the sky was once again open and calm. All that was left were the remnants of a terrible nightmare. It was over. It was —
Loki was forced down by an immense strength. He struggled, realising to his great dismay his attacker was none other than the Guardian of the Bifrost. Heimdall had undoubtedly sensed Sigyn's magic and had sped toward the Queen's garden to neutralise the threat. But if he was here, then... 

"SIGYN, RUN!"

An intense white light blinded Loki, cutting off his cry. A terrible scream echoed through Loki, reverberating through his blood and bones and filling him with dread. As the flash faded, the Prince's eyes adjusted to the dark night again. His heart sank. The Allfather stood over an unconscious Sigyn. He struggled again, alarmed at the sensation of her magic so abruptly ebbing, but Heimdall's iron grip held him firmly in place.

"No, let me go! She needs me!"

Astrid hurried past, but Odin stopped her from going any further toward her friend and lady with a single glare. Fandrall, having regained consciousness after being thrown like a rag doll, ran to her to hold her back from the Allfather. 

"It was Loki," said Astrid hastily. "He did something to Sigyn. He has been controlling her for months."

"I've done nothing!" yelled Loki, cursing that damn woman for the hundredth time.

Odin's eye travelled to where Thor lay in Sif's arms, her hands on the wound Loki gave him to stop the bleeding. He then gave a curt nod to Heimdall, who lifted Loki to his feet, arms behind his back. The Guardian pushed Loki forward until he came face to face with his father. Dread gripped the Prince's heart at the silent anger crossing Odin's expression.

"Father, please —"

"SILENCE!" Odin hit his spear to the ground, silencing his son immediately. "I will not listen to your excuses, Loki. You have put us all in grave danger."

"No, no, Sigyn isn't like the others of her kind! None of this is her fault!"

But Odin would not hear him. "Take him away. Confine him in his chamber and bind him, so he cannot use his magic. Then return here. We will settle this at once."

"No!" Heimdall began to drag Loki away, but the Prince struggled with all his might. He fought to escape the Guardian and rescue his love, shouting at the top of his lungs. "Father, I beg of you, you cannot do this! You cannot kill her! Sigyn! SIGYN!"

He pushed the last of his powers to connect with her, hoping that she would sense his panic and would wake, but it was to no avail. Her magic, her bond with him, had faded so much it was barely there anymore. There was nothing Loki could do to save Sigyn.
Fortunately, there was another. One who had seen it all, hidden amongst the shrubs and blooms of her garden, deciding against stopping the fire mage herself by letting fate play out. She now knew for certain she'd made the right decision. And she would fight to defend both her son and the woman he loved.

***

"I knew you were up to something. I knew you did not just choose that girl out of a thousand others who were just as good, if not better, to be our son's wife. But I never expected you to bring such danger into our very midst! What were you thinking, Frigga? You knew what she was! You knew of the destructive force she holds within her! And to tell Loki about it! That boy will let no opportunity slip by to gain even more power than he already has! Our son could have been killed tonight! Asgard could have been brought to ruins!"

Frigga calmly listened to her husband's ravings. After such a long marriage, she was used to them by now. When Odin noted her collected composure and silence, he stared in incredulity. 

"You remain unfazed by what has happened? Will you not even speak in your own defence?"

Finally, Frigga met her husband's gaze and said, "Look around you. Tell me what you see."

Odin furrowed his brow at the odd request. He harrumphed, but eventually did as she asked of him.

"Your garden," he answered.

"Exactly. Look closely, my dear. Do you see any burned leaves? Any flowers that have been left to smoulder from the fire that touched them? Is the Yggdrasil tree scarred from the flames that roared here tonight?"

Odin looked again, turning his head slowly to take in what Frigga was saying. Nothing was destroyed. Her garden was as beautiful as it always was. Were it not for a slight trail of ashes of when Sigyn released the magic on her fire snakes, none could have even guessed a most horrid fight had taken place that night.

"I will not deny Sigyn has immense power within her," said Frigga. "Yet she has not used it to destroy. And you have none but Loki to thank for that. He has been her teacher at my request."

Odin shook his head with a sigh. "Your trust in him is misplaced, Frigga. He craves to wield power, much like you yourself once did."

"Yes, and when was my lust for that tempered?" retorted the Queen. "Your magic, though inferior to my own, became the only thing that could reel me down when needed. We share a unique bond, my dear, and so do Loki and Sigyn."

Though he would not look at her, Frigga knew she had Odin's attention. She stepped to him and continued, "They are the exact opposite and yet completely alike. They will always be pulled towards each other, and will always fight for each other."

"It cannot be," said Odin bluntly. "I will not allow it. I will not allow her."

"There is nothing you can do. They have bonded and now share everything. Their minds, their souls, their hearts... their bodies."

Odin's head jerked up. His one eye stood wide for the briefest moment, then narrowed in rage. 

"Damn you, witch," he spat at her. "Damn you!"

The Allfather stormed away. His ravens flew up into the night, loudly cawing their displeasure. Frigga gave out a sigh. She knew he would hold a grudge for some time yet. But it was something she was willing to face if it meant her vision of the future would come to pass. The fire mage had risen. Now all that was left was the hero.

***

Loki tried to free himself from his bindings, but Heimdall secured them well. There was no getting out of them. Reasoning with Volstagg and Hogun was useless as well. They pushed Loki back several times when he tried for the door. After the fifth time, Volstagg had quite enough of it and knocked Loki down with the hilt of his broadsword. There was some blood at his temple. He had a screaming headache, and there was still the stinging pain in his shoulder from the wound Astrid had given him, but Loki didn't care about his physical wounds. All that mattered to him was Sigyn.
The snake pendant felt cold around his neck. Too cold. Loki couldn't sense any of Sigyn's warmth. Her magic must have withdrawn after coming out so intensely. It was the explanation Loki desperately held on to. He dreaded to think about the other reason. The one where Odin would do what he and his father before him had done to all the other fire mages.

He can't. If taking the blame for what has happened is what it will take for Sigyn to live, then that is what I will do. I'm the Prince, I'm his son! He cannot kill me, no matter what I do. I'll say I bewitched and made her attack the others. Then she will be safe. Thor will still accept her, believing her innocent, and they will —

The door to Loki's chamber suddenly opened. He jumped to his feet when the Allfather entered and sent Volstagg and Hogun out, giving permission to check on the others. The warriors hurried out of the chamber, leaving father and son to their own. 
Loki wanted to say everything at once. He wanted to say he had planned it all from the moment Frigga announced Sigyn would come to Asgard, from the moment he first laid eyes on her and realised she had magic. He wanted to confess to the scheme he'd never played out, but found himself tongue-tied. What chance would there be Odin had not already killed Sigyn? What chance would there be his father would actually believe him?

The Allfather slowly walked past his son and halted at the balcony. Loki didn't dare move and watched Odin looking out over his realm as the sun rose. The golden palace glistened in the first light. Had it been any other morning, the beauty of it all would have been much appreciated. 
The silence in the room was deafening. Loki heard only the erratic thumping of his heart. Why would his father not speak? He'd suffered many punishments at the hands of Odin, but this was by far the cruellest. Fear pushed Loki to ask, "What have you done to Sigyn?" 

"She yet lives," answered Odin. "For now."

Loki exhaled in relief. There was still time then. He could still try to save her.

"You cannot kill her," he said. "It was me. I've been controlling Sigyn for months since I first discovered her magic. She isn't capable of performing such feats on her own. So if you want to blame someone, blame me. I will accept any punishment, I swear. But do not harm her, Father, I beg of you."

Odin remained quiet, his back turned to Loki. His broad shoulders dropped, as if weighed down by an unbearable weight. Or perhaps more a burden. 

"Your entire life," spoke the Allfather then, "you have never spoken in someone's defence like that. Yet now, you do not hesitate to take the blame, pleading for that girl's life even, because you know full well what has befallen others of her kind. You, who spend hours in our library, reading and studying not only our history but that of all Nine Realms. And with the only book that would reveal what Sigyn is, that would help you understand her magic, missing, I wonder if you would really go to such lengths to gain even more power."

Loki dropped his head in defeat, sighing miserably. As expected, Odin did not believe him. The man was right; Loki had never defended someone this fiercely before, not even Frigga. All he had ever done was look out for himself. To take the blame was unlike him. So, of course, it could be nothing else but a lie.

"Have you nothing to say?" demanded Odin.

"What do you want me to say?"

"The truth, if you are capable." The father turned to face the son. "Answer me this; what is Sigyn to you?"

Loki smiled weakly and whispered, "Everything. She is everything."

"You do not care she is a threat? To us? To you? A fire mage is no mere sorcerer, Loki. Their motives, their very reason for existing even, make them different from any other being in the galaxy. They are remnants of ancient magic, with only one ultimate goal, no matter how good their intentions may seem at first."

"Sigyn can control her magic, I promise. And what do you have against people who are different, anyway? As if you are so normal. And what of Mother? She holds powers stronger than your own, and you do not speak of her like this. Nor of me, for that matter. Or do you see me as a possible threat as well?"

Panic crossed Odin's expression. Loki was certain he saw it when he mentioned himself as a threat. But as quickly as it came, it was gone again.

"You will stay here," ordered Odin. "Bound and under guard, until I say otherwise."

"Fine, I don't care," said Loki. "Just release Sigyn. Let her come to me, so she does not lose control over her magic."

"No."

"Father, you must, please!"

"I must do nothing."

The Allfather stalked away, ending the discussion then and there. But Loki refused to let him leave like that. He needed to give him a reason to set Sigyn free. There was but one thing left to try.

"You cannot keep her away from me!" he yelled. "Our magic is bound! We are all but married! If you harm her, you harm me! And the part of me she carries in her womb!"

Odin stiffened, his hand frozen half-way to the door handle in mid-air. Loki held his breath as he glanced back, his one good eye searching Loki's face for the truth.

"You lie," he said.

"I have lain with her more than once in the past weeks. Ask her yourself."

The deadly glare Odin shot Loki was enough to make any man cower in fear. But Loki would not give in and raised his chin in defiance. Enraged, Odin pulled the door open, shouting at the guards outside. They hurried into Loki's chamber, finding the Trickster dropping onto his bed, tired of the emotions running havoc inside of him.
Loki had no idea if Sigyn carried his child. Despite the contraceptive draught they'd diligently taken every morning since the start of their affair, there was always a chance at conception. He had never seen himself as a father, but now, he wished and prayed someone would come to tell him he was to become one. For it was a line his father would never cross. Or so Loki hoped.

***

Thor groaned at the pain in his side as he shifted to a more comfortable position on his bed. His true ache, though, was more of the heart than of the body, which could not be healed so easily. The events of the previous night kept replaying in his head, reminding him this wasn't a nightmare. 

"Does anyone know where she is?" he asked his friends.

"In the Vault," answered Volstagg. "Heimdall stands as her guardian. No one is permitted near, but Astrid refuses to leave. Fandrall keeps her company."

"And Loki?"

"Tried to get out of his binds a few times. I had to knock him out. The Allfather is with him now."

Thor averted, his lips grazing over his lower lip as he contemplated what Odin might do to his brother. They were all used to Loki's schemes by now, but this was no longer a joke. This was serious. Bad enough that Sigyn was now revealed as a fire mage, but that Loki had actually dared to claim her magic, to wield such great power himself!
Yet Thor could not help but think there was more. All those times they had gone from Heimdall's sight, only to appear moments later. The stolen glances he'd noticed between them. Everything he had overheard in the garden. And that kiss...

"Sif, you followed Loki since he left the hall last night." Thor turned to the shieldmaiden seated beside him. "What do you make of what you saw?"

"I'm not sure," she spoke honestly. "Knowing Loki, the most logical explanation is that he put an enchantment on Sigyn, so she surrendered to him. First through those flowers and then that necklace. But... the way he was with her. And she with him. I don't think there was any deception, except towards us. To keep their secret."

"Come, Sif, surely not!" exclaimed Volstagg from his seat at the table. "The mere idea of it is preposterous. I mean, what does Loki have to offer that the Crown Prince does not?"

"The heart does not care for such things," said Hogun. "The heart wants what the heart wants."

"Well spoken."

They all jumped up at the sudden sound of the Queen's voice. Thor gripped his side, having moved too fast. Sif hastened to nudge him back into his pillows, and Thor glimpsed the worry in her dark eyes. He put his hand on hers, reassuring her he was well.

"Could I have a moment with my son?" Frigga asked of the warriors.

They all bowed and left the chamber. Sif lingered a moment on the threshold before closing the door. Thor was certain she would stand just on the other side of the door, waiting to be at his side again. Of all those he counted among his friends, she was without a fault the most loyal.
Frigga came to sit with Thor and put a hand on his side. Instantly, he felt her magic healing him. He smiled at her, silently thanking her for her help and comfort. But when Thor noticed his mother's sad expression, he took her hand, realising she too must be hurting.

"I am sorry, Mother," he spoke softly. "I wish I could have discovered it sooner. Maybe I could have stopped it then."

"Oh, my sweet boy, you have nothing to apologise for. You have done nothing wrong. Whereas I... I kept something from you. From all of you."

Thor raised a brow. "What do you speak of?"

"When I met Sigyn, I immediately sensed the power within her. I foresaw what she would become if she stayed with her family. And I foresaw what she would become if she came to Asgard. To where the other half of her heart awaited." Frigga lowered her head and let go of Thor's hand before continuing. "You are the Crown Prince and first in line, so it was natural everyone assumed Sigyn was yours and not your brother's. My greatest mistake was thinking she would not touch your heart as well. I never expected you to develop feelings for her. But it was never meant to be you, Thor. You are not her heart's desire. Loki is."

Thor sat motionless, staggered at his mother's revelation. His suspicions were true then. Sigyn and Loki were together.

"H-have they...?" he stammered, unable to voice his thoughts.

"They have formed a bond, yes. Their pendants are a symbol of that. They will always fight for each other, keeping each other safe from harm. You have witnessed firsthand what Sigyn is capable of now. Her newfound strength is because of Loki. He has been helping her, teaching her how to control her powers. It will not surprise me if your brother has already learned how to use some of her magic as well."

"Are you not afraid that is what he wants?" questioned Thor. "Do you not fear Loki might merely use Sigyn to gain more power?"

"I believe that was his plan at first," admitted Frigga. "But a bond between mages cannot be formed through lies and trickery. Their hearts cannot become one if they do not beat with the same unconditional love. Loki can deceive anyone he likes, but not Sigyn. She will always know his true intent, and he will know hers."

"I fear Father will not allow Sigyn to live. I remember what he told me of the fire mages when I was a boy. They were wiped out of existence because they are unpredictable. And with Loki at her side... I don't know if that is any better."

"It is, despite what he may think. But you are right; Odin does see Sigyn as a threat. I have already tried to make him realise she is not. Loki will undoubtedly attempt to convince him as well. Yet I believe that, at this point, he may only listen to you."

Thor shut his eyes. That she would ask this of him...

"I know you are hurting, my boy," Frigga went on. "And I will never forgive myself for having done this to you. But I must ask for your help. If not for your brother or me, then for Sigyn. You had Heimdall watch her, and you had your friends follow her. You were convinced she was being harmed. Your actions speak for themselves, Thor. If there was ever any love for Sigyn in your heart, you will not leave her to her fate."

He pressed his quivering lips together and shook his head. If there was any love... He hadn't known the meaning of the word until Sigyn came into his life. To think he'd lost her to Loki... To think he might lose her to the executioner's blade...
Frigga kissed her son atop his head. Her dress rustled as she rose and walked away. The door opened quietly and then closed again. Thor opened his eyes to find he was alone. He looked down as his hand touched something hard and gasped. His mother had left him Sigyn's book. The one he'd given her so she could read her favourite Midgardian story. Thor recalled then what Sigyn had asked him. When she was still his...

'Would you do the same, then? If it were you in King Mark's position, I mean. What would your ruling be if you caught your beloved with another and she told you she loved him more than you, and he loved her as well? Would you kill your rival? Kill them both, perhaps? Imprison them, keep them forever apart from each other? Punish them merely for the crime of loving each other?'