Neither Loki nor Sigyn slept that night. Apart from a tight squeeze, a gentle caress, and a soft kiss now and then, they lay in absolute stillness. When the sun came up, they lingered a few moments, watching the prism of morning enter their bedroom and finding it oddly fortifying.
Without uttering a word, the couple then prepared themselves. Sigyn sat at her vanity and allowed Loki to brush and braid her hair. He'd done this for her before, and as she watched him in the mirror's reflection now, Sigyn couldn't help but wonder if this simple act helped Loki ground himself. She also wondered if he'd braided his own hair in his female form. Though the question burned on her lips, she didn't ask him.
After he was done, Sigyn helped him don his green cape and golden cuffs, making certain that when he faced the Olympians, they would remember he was the God of Mischief and Odin's heir. If they offered the slightest insult or even tried to harm them, the full might of Asgard would crash against them like an all-consuming tidal wave.

Loki's titles and family should be sufficient security for us, thought Sigyn, but there may always be someone stupid enough to attempt retaliation for the previous war. My fire has returned after all these months of slumbering, but it's nowhere near to full strength yet. Especially since I have to keep a constant flow into the pendants to steady Loki. I will need to rely on illusions and weapons if something occurs.

"You're worried."

Sigyn blinked as Loki finally broke the silence. He had his head slightly tilted and held an all-knowing gaze in his eyes. Had he heard her thoughts? If he had, there was no point denying it.

"I am," she said. "Not for myself, but for you."

"Are you concerned about all the Grecians, or just one in particular?" asked Loki.

"Can you blame me for wanting to be cautious around someone you've described as being as much a Trickster as you are?"

"No, not really. But if it eases your concern, I believe Hermes meant it when he said he wouldn't allow anyone to harm us."

"Do you trust him that easily?"

"Not in the slightest. There was just... something about the way he said it."

Sigyn hummed, not really caring for her husband defending the one he claimed had broken his heart. She tied the last clasp of Loki's arm cuff and then turned to gather her own cape. Yet as she reached for it, a pair of hands halted her, slipping over her sides to her belly.

"Hermes means nothing to me, Sigyn," said Loki, pressing himself to her. "He might have once upon a time, but he squandered every chance he had when he betrayed me. I admit meeting him rattled me, and I can only apologise for breaking down the way I did. But yesterday reminded me it's best I am rid of him. With Hermes, there was only an endless loop of mischief, chicanery, and extremely rough and lustful sex. There was no friendship, no trust or forgiveness, no tenderness or affection, no... no love. In all my life, I've only ever truly loved one. If you're wondering who it is, you need only look in the mirror."

Sigyn slowly raised her head, catching Loki's reflection before her. He leaned in to whisper, "I love you, Sigyn. Norns know I don't deserve you. Hermes was no good, and you, I fear, are too good. You have the purest soul I have ever encountered. My greatest fear, besides losing you, is I will corrupt that soul somehow. I won't be able to live with myself if my actions destroy you."

"Don't say things like that." Sigyn spun around in her husband's embrace to hold him. "You speak of me, but you fail to see the beauty and kindness you have in your own soul, Loki. I have become the woman I am thanks to you. My strength is yours. My passion is yours. How can you destroy me when you lift me higher than anyone ever has?"

"Have you already forgotten our marriage only exists because of my trickery? That I meant to use you against Thor? That I meant to claim your powers for my own?"

"But you didn't. You made the right decisions when it mattered. I have never held any of that against you, nor will I ever do so. Had I not been Thor's betrothed, I know you would've done things properly from the start."

"Had you not been Thor's betrothed, we probably wouldn't have met."

"Fate would've brought us together somehow."

"You say that with such conviction, I feel compelled to believe it."

"Believe it. I am yours, and you are mine, now and far longer than forever."

Sigyn placed her hand on the nape of Loki's neck and pushed herself up to capture his lips. It took a moment for him to kiss back, but the moment he did, an all-too-familiar heat bubbled up from deep within Sigyn. She forced it back down, though. Now wasn't the time.

"Ready?" she asked as she drew back to look into his eyes.

"No," replied Loki honestly. He offered another weak smile and then said, "Come on, Rúna and Fandrall will be waiting for us. The sooner we get to Olympus, the sooner we can return and forget about all this."

***

From their Midgardian home, Loki summoned the Bifrost and requested Heimdall transport them and their horses to the gorge of the river Enipeas, close to the town of Litochoro. Thanks to the gift of allspeak, they got directions for the easiest path up the mount from a local guide (who asked no questions on their Asgardian attire thanks to an easy illusion). He warned them, though, as more than one person had lost their way after attempting to seek the mythological home of the Gods. Bodies were discovered sometimes, lying in a ravine or floating in the river, but most were never found again. Modern mortals were quick to attribute it to carelessness, but Loki knew better.

No doubt they'll have doubled their defences after the Asgardian army came so close to their doorstep. We'll need to proceed with caution.

With Sigyn and Rúna riding between him and Fandrall, the group set out to continue their journey along the mountain pass. Loki glanced over his shoulder every now and then to make sure the others were all right. His chief concern was Sigyn, of course, but he couldn't help but notice the other two's strange behaviour.

"Sigyn," Loki called to her through their mind link, "is something the matter with Rúna and Fandrall? They haven't spoken to each other in hours."

Sigyn sighed. "There is, but I'm not sure I should tell you now."

"Please do. I don't want any surprises while we deal with Hera and her people."

"Well... all right, but promise me you won't do anything until we get back to the cabin."

Loki's anxiety grew when Sigyn asked him that. The Olympians rivalled him at being experts in manipulation. If they had the slightest hint of secrecy or discord among them, they would not hesitate to use it to their advantage.

"Tell me," he urged.

"I noticed the same as you, so I asked Rúna about it when you and Fandrall spoke with the guide. She told me that after we retired last night, Fandrall came to her room, and... he confessed his feelings for her."

Loki shut his eyes and groaned. Fandrall, that fool!

"Rúna wasn't sure how to respond," continued Sigyn, "so she asked him to leave. Judging from his current demeanour, I suppose he took it as a rejection, but that wasn't her intention. She has feelings for him too, but is worried about what people might say if she agreed to be his."

"As she should. She's only thirty-seven and nowhere near ready for a relationship. She's barely into sexual maturity."

"I am well aware of that, Loki, but age shouldn't matter in love. Besides, I'm also younger than you. It doesn't bother us, does it?"

"You're not seriously comparing two hundred years to nine hundred, are you?"

"Just listen to me, please. It's not just about the age difference, which I admit is a lot, but she's also worried about you."

"Me? What do I have to do with any of this?"

"Loki, Rúna is my handmaiden and your ward. She fears if she says yes to him, people may claim you bewitched her to get Fandrall's loyalty. They are sympathetic to us now after what happened, but that won't last. Sooner or later, the whispers will return, and Rúna doesn't want to be the cause of any further accusations against you. She refuses to see us harmed, but especially you because... she has come to love you like a father."

Loki's heart twisted at the words. He knew Rúna appreciated his help in tutoring her, and recalled she'd once told him she hoped to find someone who loved her as much as he loved Sigyn, but to learn now she saw him like that...

"I'll speak with her," he said.

"You will?" asked Sigyn in astonishment.

"Yes. And Fandrall, too. If I'm assured of their feelings for each other, and they agree to a few conditions... they have my blessing."

He turned in the saddle, meeting Sigyn's stunned expression. Slowly, a smile appeared on her lips and she mouthed, 'thank you'.

Suddenly, Loki caught a sweet forest scent in the air. He halted his horse, prompting the others to do the same. Before anyone could ask what was wrong, he held his finger to his lips, just now noticing the silence. There wasn't the slightest rustle of a leaf from the nearby trees hanging over the ridge, not a whisper of wind, nor even the chirping of the tiniest bird. The disconcerting quiet was everywhere. And it not only disturbed Loki.
The Asgardian horses shifted from one foot to another with jerky movements and scraping hooves, unable to stand still. Their ears flickered back and forth, as if they too searched for sound. Loki leaned forward to place a hand on his steed's neck, noting its rapid breathing and heightened pulse.

"Stay on guard," he told the others.

With a click of his tongue and a firm kick, he spurred his horse forward. The animal obeyed but remained skittish, eyes darting everywhere. Loki weighed his options. Continuing on horseback on a narrow ridge seemed risky with a threat around the corner, but without them, they'd lose precious time. Mirror-scaping would get them to their destination faster, but it would also show the Olympians what Sigyn was capable of. They already knew she was a fire mage, so the less they knew of her other abilities, the better. It seemed they had no choice but to continue as they were. Yet Loki didn't like it one bit.

Cautiously, the group proceeded along the path. The eeriness remained, as did the silence. A few times, Loki believed he saw grinning faces in the leaves, but they were gone in the blink of an eye. He led his wife, ward, and brother's friend higher and higher until, after a few hours, they reached a clearing with a cave.
The Asgardian Prince eyed the dark entrance in suspicion. Blood spatter stained the walls. He glimpsed behind to see tiny flames at Sigyn's hand, and Fandrall gripped the handle of his sword tighter. Too late did Loki realise the only one from their party without a means to defend or attack was Rúna. Her position in the middle guarded her, but if it came to it, he would have to act fast.

All of a sudden, Loki's horse neighed and reared as the path was blocked by thorn vines and branches shooting out of the ground. Girl-like giggles resonated around them, only to be broken by a thundering roar. The ground trembled as a gargantuan creature with three heads emerged from the cave. Its body was covered in shimmering snake scales, a forked tongue slithering in and out of each razor-toothed jaw. Three pairs of gleaming yellow eyes rested on the travellers. It lunged.
Fandrall moved his horse in front of Rúna's to protect her and raised his sword. Loki reacted before the warrior could swing and doom them all. In less than a second, hundreds of doppelgangers surrounded the menacing hydra, stopping it in its tracks. As the beast fruitlessly snapped at Loki's illusions, Sigyn threw a fireball against the blockade. Screams erupted as it burned and smouldered to ashes. The remaining vines and branches hurriedly retreated into the earth, leaving the path open once again. The horses sprang into a galop, leading their riders away from danger, and only stopped when they could no longer smell the non-existent forest or hear the terrifying growls and screeches.

"So much for safe passage." Fandrall grunted in annoyance. "I thought the hydra was in the south at Lerna? What, in Odin's name, is it doing here away from the marshes?"

"They must've brought it as an extra defence after the war," said Loki. "Good thing it's a fairly stupid creature."

He turned to check on Sigyn and Rúna. The handmaiden seemed all right, though a bit shaken at having had such a close encounter with the fearsome monster, but Sigyn appeared stricken. She clutched the reins so hard, her knuckles turned white. Loki reached for her hand, prompting her to look at him.

"The vines," she spoke softly.

"Dryads." He then understood. "You did what you had to, Sigyn."

She averted. Loki let go, allowing her a moment to come to terms with what she'd done. With some luck, the tree spirits had only suffered burn wounds, easily treated by the healers at Olympus.

"Let's keep going. We should be there soon."

"Indeed, you should."

Loki's head whipped right to the mountainside. An olive-skinned, half-naked man with a toned abdomen and chest looked down at them from a small crevice. Ram horns protruded from his head and messy, dark brown hair. A neat beard covered half his face, but Loki still discerned the mischievous grin on his full lips. He held the same glistening onyx eyes Loki had once adored.

"Pan," he greeted. "I was wondering where you were."

"You know me, Loki. I like to observe a little first," said Pan. "You made good work of the hydra and dryads. Record time, too."

"About that. I thought Hera promised we'd be safe?"

"In Olympus. She said nothing about the road."

Loki's jaw clenched at the oversight. He shouldn't have agreed to a meeting this soon. It was painfully obvious he wasn't at the top of his game, which he absolutely needed to be in order to deal with the Olympians. But it was too late to turn back. He had to see this through and face whatever they threw at him.
Pan jumped off the crevice, gracefully landing in their midst. Loki heard Rúna's gasp and saw Sigyn's curious gaze when Pan's lower body showed the hinds of a brown goat. Only Fandrall seemed unperturbed by the sight, meaning this wasn't the first satyr he met.

"I take it you're here on your father's behalf?" asked Loki.

"Partly. But I also wanted the pleasure of meeting the legendary fire mage first." Pan turned to Sigyn to offer her a flourishing bow. "An honour, Lady Sigyn. I am Pan, God of Wilderness and son of Hermes."

"How unfortunate for you," reacted Sigyn. "You have my sympathy at having him for a father."

Loki's eyes widened in horror at his wife's insulting reply. He waited with bated breath for Pan's reaction, but to his astonishment, Hermes' son chortled and guffawed heartily.

"Oh, we're going to have fun with you, I can tell. The others are already making wagers about the inevitable confrontation between you and Hermes. They'll certainly get their money's worth based on that reaction. Come along now. I want to make sure I have a front-row seat for that show, and our Queen is not the most patient of women."

Pan skipped between them and took out his flute. The melody of the instrument's cheerful tune harmonised with the clippety-clop of goat and horse's hoofs. The path was wider now, allowing the group to ride two by two. Loki was forced to ride in the rear with Fandrall after Sigyn steered her horse close to Rúna's.

"This won't go easy, will it?" asked the fair warrior, his voice low and masked by Pan's music.

"No, I fear not." Loki gritted his teeth. "I'll attempt to keep Sigyn with me at all times, but we may be separated at some point. Can I rely on you to ensure nothing happens then? Despite Hera's word, I fear what some Olympians might do at the mere sight of Sigyn's beauty and strength."

"The stories about their jealousy and pettiness indeed don't bode well. But rest assured, Loki. I will guard Rúna and Lady Sigyn with my life if need be."

Let's hope it doesn't come to that, thought Loki. The only thing that might benefit us is Zeus' absence. He wouldn't have hesitated to start another war, merely to prove superiority over the Allfather. Thor and I may have grown up thinking of him as an uncle, but that bastard doesn't even come close to Odin.

They continued in silence, listening to Pan's admittedly delightful music, yet still on guard for any new threats lurking in the shadows. Fortunately, nothing else attacked them. It seemed as if the Greek God's catchy tune held the creatures, spirits, and monsters away, and when the sun stood at its highest, they at last arrived at the end of the swirling mountain pass.
A great effigy of the famed Greek sphinx, holding the body of a lion, the naked bosom and head of a black-haired woman, and the wings of a mighty eagle covered the slope. When Pan changed the melody on his flute, the sphinx came to live. She jumped from the stone, landing with a hiss and cat-like pounce before them. Mist appeared behind her, keeping hidden what she guarded.

"What is this?" demanded Loki.

"You're not of our pantheon," answered Pan, "therefore, you must appease the gate-keeper to be granted passage into our realm. It's very simple. The sphinx will pose a riddle to one of you. If the answer is correct, you may go on. If not, you better pray those horses can outrun her."

"Pan, this is ridiculous! Hera knows we're coming!"

"Be that as it may, you still need to answer the riddle. General security rules. Nothing I can do about it."

"Oh, for the love of — fine! What's the riddle?"

All waited for the sphinx to speak. Her green slitted eyes roved over each of them. Loki's heart plummeted when they settled on Rúna. Of course the beast would choose the youngest member who was still learning how to read and write. He stepped forward, hoping the sphinx would pick him instead, but a menacing growl forced him back.

"The girl and none other shall reply," said the sphinx.

Damn it all! Loki looked at Sigyn's handmaiden, but to his surprise, she didn't appear to be daunted by the hybrid beast. Rúna was even calmer now than when they faced the hydra and dryads. The sphinx sat back on her hinds and spoke solemnly, "There are two sisters. The first gives birth to the second. The second gives birth to the first. What are the names of these sisters?"

Loki groaned silently. The riddle itself was easy enough, for the answer could only be night and day. Yet the sphinx had asked for specific names. Rúna couldn't possibly —

"They are Hemera, the day, and Nix, the night. One gives birth at sunset, whilst the other gives birth at dawn."

The sphinx moved aside. The gathered mist dissolved, revealing an arched gateway. Loki stared in disbelief at his pupil, while Sigyn smiled and nodded approvingly. When she saw Loki's expression, she explained, "We often play a game of riddles when we walk in the Queen's garden back at Asgard. Frigga sometimes joins us. If I'm not mistaken, this was one of hers."

"All right, all right, enough talking," Pan rudely pushed past them. "Let's get a move on. I already had to miss one orgy thanks to you lot, and I have no intention of missing another."

Loki rolled his eyes at the satyr. He followed Hermes' son as the others trailed behind him. A shimmering veil appeared as they approached the archway. One by one, they left the mortal realm of Midgard behind. Before them, in all its licentious glory and splendour, lay the home of the Greek Gods — Olympus.

***

When Sigyn first arrived in Asgard thirty years ago, the mountains, lakes, rivers and town around the golden palace had taken her breath away. She'd believed nothing could ever surpass the vision she beheld. Yet what she saw now came a very close second.
Neat stone pathways were flanked with trees, bushes, and flowers of every shape, size, and colour. Stately temples with grand columns and lifelike gilded statues stood left and right, each more imposing than the last. Marble fountains in clear fresh-water pools connected through streams under ornate wooden bridges. And oh, the people.
Halflings with the body of human and animal chased after young women and men in play. Sigyn stared in shock and fascination as they barely had any decent clothes on and freely engaged with each other without shame. She caught Fandrall trying to shield Rúna from it all, but it was no use, as the debauchery was all around them.

Pan brought them to the main square and called for the stable hands to care of the horses. When Sigyn dismounted and handed the reins to the boy who'd come running to her, she gasped silently at seeing the bruises on the child's body. He took the reins, head held low, and walked away without a word. She felt as if she were looking at a reflection of her own childhood.
Unease crept up inside her. Though a paradise at first glance, the darkness and peril of Olympus became more apparent with each passing second. The shadows obscured the slaves as they waited behind buildings and trees to be summoned. As she looked at the group standing by the nearest temple, Sigyn noticed cracks in the columns and discolouration on the statue at the entrance. She scoffed. It was all a charade. A facade.

"Well," announced Pan loudly, "I've done my part. No doubt I'll be seeing you at the banquet tonight, so for now, I bid thee adieu. Hermes is on his way to lead you further. Oh, ladies! Guess who's ba-ack!"

Off he ran, jumping into one of the pools with a big splash and an excited woo-hoo, to the great delight of what Sigyn could only assume were nymphs. She averted as the naked water-sprites began to kiss and climb on top of Pan, forcing herself to discard that image from her mind as quickly as possible.

"I don't like this," she said as she faced her husband. "This whole place... It doesn't feel right."

"I know." Loki sighed. "It's why I didn't want to come here again."

"Again?" Sigyn furrowed a brow. "You were here before?"

"Once, with Hermes. He brought me here during the war, and I took him to Asgard. It was the only time we swore we wouldn't use what we learned to further our fathers' cause. My time here was... eventful. Olympus has a way of getting to you."

"I don't think it's that bad."

Sigyn whirled around at the stranger's voice. Her breath choked upon seeing the Adonis before her. Despite Loki standing right beside her, she let her eyes roam over the man's lean physique, taking in his amber skin and tight-fitted sky-blue tunic. Then she caught his tattoo and the wings on his sandals. She looked up into black eyes, half-hidden by wavy ash-brown hair and similar to those of the satyr who'd guided them to Olympus. The initial attraction soured, leaving nothing but enmity as she stood face to face with the Greek Trickster.

"I trust your journey here wasn't too arduous?" he inquired.

"Nothing we couldn't handle," answered Loki curtly.

"Good." Hermes turned to Sigyn and bowed his head to her. "My Lady, an honour."

It took every fibre of her being not to slap the smile off his face. But Sigyn recalled Pan mentioning the other Gods were looking forward to seeing her confront Hermes. She would not give them the satisfaction. Nor could she compromise the truce between Olympus and Asgard. Above all, she was a Princess. And she would act as such.

"Likewise," she replied, dipping just enough for a curtsey. "I thank you for welcoming us."

"Please, come. Hera is expecting you."

Hermes offered Sigyn his arm. She glanced at Loki. His face stood grim, but he still nodded his consent. Carefully, she hooked her arm with Hermes' and walked with him while Loki, Fandrall and Rúna came up behind them. The sweet scent of incense wafting from the Greek was both alluring and stomach-churning.

"I've been wanting to meet you for quite some time, Lady Sigyn," said Hermes, his voice purposefully low.

"Have you now?" Sigyn kept her attention on her surroundings as more halflings, slaves, nymphs, and deities joined in their walk. "Why is that?"

"Well, it's not every day you encounter a being that is supposed to be extinct. Not to mention that it is a rare event among my people to find a former lover ending up happily ever after with another. Oh, my apologies. Loki did tell you about our past, didn't he?"

Sigyn pressed her lips together at the provocation. Loki's story and what she'd read about the deity in the books from the Tønsberg library had given her a fair idea of what to expect from Hermes. She would not be goaded into whatever scheme he was undoubtedly concocting.

"Hm, interesting," said Hermes then. "Though silence tends to confirm my suspicions, your body language tells a different story. It screams your hatred towards me. Meaning you know what happened between me and Loki. Meaning he trusts you."

Hermes' statement caught Sigyn off guard, and she briefly met his gaze. There was something peculiar about the way the Greek studied her. It reminded her of her first conversations with Loki. Like him, Hermes was trying to get a measure of her.

"Loki doesn't trust easily," continued Hermes. "There are things he won't even confide to his own family. So for him to trust someone like you... it's intriguing. I sense he has bonded with you in a way not even Eros or Aphrodite can accomplish when they bring two individuals together in love or lust. Knowing who Loki is —"

"You know nothing of him," sneered Sigyn.

"Don't I? I shared his bed for an awful long time, my Lady. And as a psychopomp, I have the unique ability to read the souls of others, whether they are alive or dead. I know your husband better than you believe. From every curve on his glorious body to every scrumptious thought."

Pain. That's all Sigyn wanted to inflict on this stuck-up pathetic excuse for a deity. Unfortunately, there was nothing she could do. If she dared attack Hermes on Olympus, it would be a blatant declaration of war. Not only that, but Loki watched her like a hawk. He must've felt her flame surging with anger, as he pushed his own cooling magic into the pendant to calm her. Yet there was no soothing the seething storm beneath the surface.

"If you know him so well as you claim, why did you hurt him?" demanded Sigyn then, her voice gritty with repressed rage. "Even if your ploy was to fight a battle of wits for the sake of your realm, you maintained your relation with Loki for nearly a century. Am I truly to believe he was nothing more than a means to an end? An end not even your own, as even the woman you betrayed him with only needed you to get to him."

Finally, the grin in the corner of Hermes' mouth fell away. He slowed his steps but didn't stop. Had she struck a snare?

"I tried to tell myself he was nothing," whispered Hermes. "I kept on repeating it like a mantra every time I caught even the faintest murmur of him. But when we met yesterday, that resolve shattered. I looked into his soul and saw his pain. His hardship. And I wanted to take it all away. I wanted to save him from whatever or whoever had hurt him. Because even after all these years and all that happened... he is yet very dear to me."

He took a firm yet gentle hold of Sigyn's hand. Her eyes flickered up to him, seeing a sudden sadness seeping from his being.

"You accuse me of using Loki, and I admit to having done so. You accuse me of betraying him, and again, I admit to it. But the one thing nobody can accuse me of is not loving him. My liaisons have always been fleeting, Sigyn. Always, except with him. This is the honest to Zeus truth; Loki had something I'd never seen before. I didn't want to let him or that feeling of being alive, of being loved, go."

"Why then?" demanded Sigyn. "Why betray him?"

"As you said, I, too, was a puppet. The Asgardian witch learned I was drawing out our deal for the sake of being with Loki. She stole the ring I gave him so he would come looking for it and enchanted me to sleep with her. My actions and words weren't my own. Her magic controlled me, and I wasn't strong enough to withstand her. By the time Zeus helped me break free, it was already too late. Asgard won the war because of the combined forces of the Allfather and his sons, with Loki leaving a trail of death and devastation in his wake. I knew better than to pursue him to try to make things right. He would never have believed me."

Sigyn didn't know what to say. She hadn't expected such a heartfelt confession. Because despite Hermes' reputation, she believed him. He wasn't so different from Loki, and her husband had a few stories of his own. Some of which she knew he still kept hidden from her. One in particular seemed to pop up more and more lately.

"This witch you speak of, who is she?" asked Sigyn.

"Loki hasn't told you of her?" wondered Hermes aloud.

"No," she replied truthfully. "He shares most things with me, but nothing of her."

"Forgive me then, Sigyn, but if Loki stays silent on the matter, I must as well. The less you know of her, the better."

"Hermes, if she is yet a threat —"

"She isn't. I lured her into the depths of Tartarus, where she will remain for all eternity. You have my word."

The word of a Trickster... Well, if she trusted one, Sigyn supposed she could trust another as well. She took a deep breath, nodding at Hermes before glancing at Loki. It didn't appear as if he'd heard anything from their conversation, but she still noticed his apprehension. She smiled reassuringly, touching her pendant with the tip of her fingers.

"Sigyn, I want you to promise me something."

She turned her attention back to Hermes. "What is it?"

"No matter what happens, no matter what you or Loki may endure, never give up on him. Please don't make the same mistake I made. He won't survive if you leave him. Because he loves you, Sigyn. Truly and unconditionally. I've seen it etched in his soul and heart. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Sigyn clutched Hermes' arm. He halted. She peered deep into the Greek's onyx eyes and said, "I promise."

"Promise what?" Loki instantly appeared at their side, eyeing Hermes with suspicion.

"To not set my shoes on fire," answered Hermes in Sigyn's stead. "This is my favourite pair. I'd hate to see them go up in flames. You have my thanks, my Lady. And now, allow me to present the Queen of Olympus and Goddess of Marital Harmony."

He stepped back with a majestic wave of his hand. Atop the fine marble steps of the greatest temple in Olympus stood a woman dressed and veiled in fine silks with a golden diadem atop her head. There she was. The one whom Freya had entrusted to help her husband — Hera.