Loki prayed he was not wrong in believing Sigyn would go to the Urdarbrunn. But unless someone had truly taken her, which he very much doubted, it was the only place she could be. The glen lay shielded from all prying eyes, including Heimdall's. She could have escaped the Guardian's attention long enough to make it to the mountain. There were plenty of lakes and rivers near to it, any of which Sigyn could have used from her mirror world. If she was indeed still capable of using water, that is... For all he knew, it was a onetime incident, and she truly needed an actual mirror to cross now.

No, her desire to escape is strong. Water is nature's mirror. There is no reason for her not to be able to use it.

Loki hastened through the gemstone tunnel. He had made his way through it a hundred times before. He had no need of his eyes; his feet knew exactly where to go. As he neared the glen, the sound of the waterfall grew louder.
He ran faster, needing to know she was there. He needed to know she was safe. If she was... waiting for him. Loki alone had learned the truth of Urdarbrunn. He doubted if even Frigga knew of its existence. If Sigyn was there, she knew very well that only he could find her. It was their spot. Their secret.
Loki rushed out into the sunlight. He halted and raised his hand, shielding his eyes from the sudden brightness to search the glen. There in the grass, like a fallen Goddess from Valhalla, in a gold dress and with her blood-red hair spread out, lay Sigyn. Her skin was sickly pale, her eyes were closed. And in her open hand was a single flame — dying.

***

"Has she been found?" Thor hastened to the Warriors Three the moment he stepped out of the Bifrost portal.

"No," said Fandrall. "We were hoping you had better news."

"None," said Astrid dejectedly, as she joined Thor and her comrades. "Sif stayed behind to continue the search with the Elf Queen's guard."

Thor turned to the Gatekeeper, heart beating even more furiously in his despair. "Heimdall, surely your eyes must have seen her somewhere?"

"Forgive me, my Prince, but I cannot find her either. I saw her last in the palace in Alfheim during the night, and since then, nothing but darkness whenever I search for her. As if she plummeted into a void. Wherever Lady Sigyn is, she is well-hidden from even my view."

Thor threw his hammer across the Himinbjörg with a thundering roar. Mjölnir crashed into the wall, little lightning bolts crackling from the head. Heimdall lowered his eyes whilst the Warriors Three and Astrid carefully glanced at each other. The Crown Prince fell to his knees, dropping his head into his hands.

"This is my fault," he whispered almost inaudibly.

"Fear not," said Volstagg, in a poor attempt to lighten the mood. "We all know Lady Sigyn can stand her own man—er, woman, I mean. I am certain we will find —"

"HEIMDALL!"

Everyone jumped as Loki's voice suddenly resonated through the room. Heimdall stuck his sword into the key, searching for his location. Thor rose to his feet, his eyes fixed on the Gatekeeper.

"Where is he?" he demanded.

"Svartalfheim." Heimdall furrowed his brow.

"What's he doing there?" wondered Fandrall aloud.

"HEIMDALL, OPEN THE BIFROST!"

Heimdall turned his sword immediately upon hearing the panic in Loki's voice, and Himinbjörg whirled, opening the Bifrost to Svartalfheim. As soon as the Rainbow Bridge appeared, Loki leapt into the room, carrying an unconscious Sigyn in his arms. Thor hurried over to his brother as the portal closed behind him.

"You found — Odin's beard, what happened?" His eyes widened at the dishevelled state of his betrothed. "Give her to me, I will —"

"You've done enough."

Loki pushed past Thor with a hard, accusing sneer, going straight for the horses The Warriors Three brought with them. They took Sigyn from him, so he could climb the big, black stallion that was actually Thor's, and then handed her back to him. He galloped away with Sigyn seated in front of him, one arm around her body. Astrid mounted her own horse and followed Loki without hesitation, whilst the Warriors Three lingered for the Crown Prince.
But Thor stood frozen. He stared after them, unable to shake the sight of Sigyn lying in his brother's arms, barely alive.

"I... I do not understand." He turned to Heimdall. "What happened? How did she get to Svartalfheim?"

"I suspect someone took her there. For what purpose, I cannot say. Yet I have my suspicions."

"Did Loki say anything to you when he left?"

"Loki did not use the Bifrost to leave Asgard, only to return."

Thor's head jerked back to look at the galloping figures disappearing into the city. If Loki hadn't used the Bifrost, how had he gone to Svartalfheim? And how had he found Sigyn when even Heimdall couldn't?

***

Frigga hastened to Sigyn's chamber when she saw Loki approaching the palace from her balcony. She immediately called for the other healers when her son brought Sigyn in, and she grasped the gravity of what they were dealing with. It was no easy feat to send Loki away and lock the door on him. He begged her to stay, revealing once more that his feelings for Sigyn went deeper than anyone suspected. But there was nothing he could do. Frigga doubted if even her own magic could help Sigyn.
The state she was in resulted from an outburst of unbridled core magic. This was exactly why Frigga had asked Loki to teach Sigyn how to control her powers. She'd always suspected the fight with Thor had only been a sliver of what Sigyn was truly capable of. But if this was it... Sigyn's fire could destroy her from the inside if she remained untrained.

"Help me undress her," Frigga ordered the healers.

Her fingers were but an inch away from Sigyn's necklace when the Queen suddenly sensed magic within the rose jewel — Loki's magic. She waited until the healers were too preoccupied to pay attention to her and released the illusion with a flick of her wrist. She gasped at seeing Loki's pendant hanging around Sigyn's neck. Or an exact duplicate, at least, since he never took his own off.
Frigga took hold of the pendant, finding it cold at her touch. It would appear her son had been helping Sigyn after all, in his own mischievous way. She wondered if Sigyn knew about the jewel. If she did, it would seem Loki and Sigyn might already be more than they appeared.
Just according to plan.

***

Loki stood outside Sigyn's chamber, eyes closed in deep concentration. He clutched the serpent around his neck in one hand as the other leaned against the door. Since his mother wouldn't allow him inside, this was the only way he could help Sigyn. He let his magic flow to the copy he gave her, hoping Frigga wouldn't disturb it. Because she lay unconscious, Loki had to force her magic to anchor itself to his through the jewel. It was a tiresome task requiring great focus, but a necessary one.
The sudden sound of heavy footsteps coming his way disturbed Loki. He opened his eyes and meant to send whoever it was away, but he barely had time to avoid Thor's fist.

"What do you think you're doing?" exclaimed Loki, hastily jumping out of reach.

"I am in no mood for your games, Loki!" Thor snapped back at him. "How is it you knew where to find Sigyn? How did you get to Svartalfheim if not by the Bifrost?"

Loki scoffed in response. The nerve of his brother... "Really? That is the first thing you ask? How about you show some concern first? Oh, but that's right, I forget. You don't care about Sigyn. You only care about yourself!"

"Loki, I am warning you!"

"What was it you said to Sigyn? That she shames you? That she must learn to know her place?"

"How do you —?"

"And if that wasn't enough, you let yourself be cuckolded by that silver-haired vixen!" Thor's aghast expression was even more gratifying than Loki had expected it to be. He grinned, revelling in his brother's anguish. "It really is embarrassing to see how easily you can be fooled. Father had such high hopes for you, and you did exactly what even he suspected. You did things your way."

Darkness streaked across Thor's face, and with one giant leap, the Crown Prince of Asgard slammed Loki against the wall, one giant hand at his throat.

"You did this," he hissed. "I know not how, but this is your doing. Always scheming, always making everything into a joke. No more, Trickster! You will stay away from Sigyn, do you hear me?"

Loki struggled to breathe, clawing at Thor's iron grip. But he was nowhere near strong enough to win against brute strength like this. His vision blurred and shadows crept up around him.
Then a sudden wave of magic threw both brothers against the floor. Loki gasped and coughed as air filled his lungs again. He managed to sit up against the wall, stiffening upon recognising Odin before them, with his spear Gungnir in hand.
Thor scrambled up at the sight of his father and meant to speak, but Odin silenced him with a raised hand. The Allfather's stern expression stood harder than usually. Merciless even. But it was not Loki he was looking at. No, this time, Loki was not the cause of the problem. The golden boy was.

"I gave Loki the order to do whatever he needed to do, by any means necessary, to find your betrothed," said Odin. "And this is how you repay him? By choking the life out of him? Sigyn is found and returned thanks to your brother whilst you have done nothing but bring her pain. Had it been any other woman, any other flirtation, I would not have cared. But Sigyn is not one of your conquests; she is a future Queen. Your future Queen."

"Father, I —"

"One weak link can break the chain of a mighty dynasty! I had hoped she would have inspired you to become a better man. One I would be proud to call my son and heir. I see now my hope was misplaced."

Loki had to admit it was impressive hearing his father speak to the firstborn and favourite son in this manner. He usually bore the full brunt of Odin's displeasure, and was used to being scolded at. Thor wasn't. If self-reflection and a maiden as Sigyn as his future Queen wouldn't make him see the error of his ways, this surely would.
An awkward silence descended between them as Thor stood nailed to the floor, stunned and horrified by his father's harsh words. It became so unbearable, Loki stood and nudged his brother, not wanting him to stay here for one second longer.

"Just go," he murmured, his voice hoarse from having been choked. "We will settle this later if you truly wish it."

Thor's eyes settled on Loki. Though they were often at odds, it was the first time he saw such profound hatred in that sky blue glare.

"That we will, brother. That we will."

With those words, Thor stomped away, fists balled at his side. A part of Loki wanted to chase after him and have it out right now, but he didn't want to leave before he knew Sigyn would be well.

"I suppose you want to wait here?"

Loki met his father's one eye as Odin spoke to him. The Allfather was easy to read most of the time, but there was something in his gaze now that made Loki cringe in discomfort. He didn't show it, though. He braved Odin's stern expression as he'd learned to do a long time ago and replied, "Yes. Mother may have need of me, so I prefer to remain near. With your permission."

"You may," said Odin. "I know better than to ask you to reveal your methods. But may I ask how you knew Sigyn was at Svartalfheim?"

"Logic reasoning. There are still Dark Elves living in hiding amongst the Light Elves of Alfheim. It would have been easy for them to have access to the feast and wait until Sigyn was alone. Given time, we would've probably blamed Queen Aelsa for her disappearance and started another war, leaving the Dark Elves to pick up the pieces."

"Hmm." Odin's one eye narrowed a moment, but then his expression softened. "You have my thanks for bringing Sigyn home. Well done... my son."

Loki bowed in response, accepting his father's praise. It was logical reasoning, just not what had really happened. Yet Loki would never reveal that truth to anyone but Sigyn herself.

***

"Astrid tells me you refuse to leave."

Frigga sat down on Sigyn's bed, across from her son. After knowing for certain Sigyn would recover, she'd allowed Thor to see Sigyn. Had she known yesterday he would make himself a guardian statue, she wouldn't have done so. Even now, Thor merely threw her a glance.

"What has happened is not your fault," continued Frigga. "No one could have foreseen this would happen. Lady Sif has returned to Alfheim to search for the Dark Elves responsible for this, and Queen Aelsa has —"

"Do not speak to me of that woman," interrupted Thor with a venomous voice.

Frigga sighed. It was to be expected Thor would foster some rancour against the Elf Queen. She herself felt piqued as well, more towards her husband than Aelsa. Nevertheless, she understood Thor's feelings.
Her eyes wandered over her son, not used to seeing him so shaken and depressed. He was brought down by Odin's actions and his own foolish mistakes. But more so by guilt towards Sigyn.

"Do you love her?" she asked.

Thor's blue eyes finally looked up at her. He heaved a despondent sigh before speaking. "I do not know. How does one know if what he feels is love?"

"It is different for everyone. Some describe it as thinking of the other every second of every day. In my experience, I know your father loves me simply because of the way his voice sounds when he speaks the words." Frigga carefully caressed a lock of hair away from Sigyn's brow. "She has not known love. Not one moment of it, in all her life, poor thing. This is why I wanted Sigyn to come to Asgard. So she could be away from the family who scorned her her entire existence and she could flourish into the woman I knew her to truly be. She needs someone who loves her unconditionally."

From the corner of her eye, the Queen saw her son hang his head. Her hand moved to the necklace Sigyn wore — the necklace that now appeared a rose once more.

"Did you give her this?" she asked innocently.

"I wanted to... to thank her for what she did for me." Thor's voice broke. "Put our differences aside and... tell her I... I..."

"Care for her," finished Frigga. "It is a beautiful gift to say just that. Where did you get it from?"

"Loki." Thor scowled at speaking his brother's name. "He intended it for you but gave it to me when we spoke of Sigyn. He wanted to... help."

He slowly raised his head, eyes on the necklace. Frigga noticed the change in his body expression and reached for him, but Thor struck her hand away and lunged for the necklace. Afraid he meant to rip it away, Frigga quickly used her magic to shield it from Thor's grasp.

"What are you doing?" he exclaimed. "Loki has done something to that infernal thing, to her!"

"Thor, no."

"Yes! This is another of his tricks, another of his schemes!" Thor jumped up. "I will not permit Loki to get away with this! He will tell me what he did, or so help me, I will —"

"Thor, for mercy's sake, calm yourself!" Frigga hastened round the bed to grab her son and bring him back to reason. "Loki has done nothing but help Sigyn, I swear it. I have watched from a distance, and Loki does not pose a threat to her. Nor you, for that matter. Please, Thor. Stay your hand and wait for Sigyn to wake. Please."

Her heart broke upon seeing Thor's tears. She held his head to her bosom, comforting him just like she had done when he was a child by stroking his golden hair. He gripped her with both hands, desperate for support. It pained Frigga to see her son like this. She desired nothing more than to help him. But this was something he had to resolve on his own. As for her other son... She prayed he would do what was right.

***

It aggravated Loki that he couldn't get to Sigyn. Thor was always at her side, and Astrid watched him like a hawk, making sure he could not even come near her chamber. Loki had to rely on his mother to tell him Sigyn had finally regained consciousness after three days. The maiden claimed to remember nothing of what happened, which only worked in Loki's favour.
The Warriors Three, witnesses to how he returned with Sigyn after 'rescuing' her, spoke of his bravery and cunning to any who cared to hear it. Even Sif admitted she was impressed with Loki's skill at entering and leaving Svartalfheim undetected. For once, Thor was not the hero in their tale. If only everyone were so easily fooled.

Loki knew the Allfather and Frigga accepted his explanations on finding Sigyn, but he suspected they — or at least Frigga — held another opinion entirely. But so far, neither his father nor mother had pushed the matter further.
Thor didn't believe a word of it, of course. He was convinced Loki had somehow taken Sigyn, done something to her, and then brought her to Svartalfheim to shift the blame on another — which was partly true. The real problem Loki now faced was Heimdall.
It was not the first time the Prince travelled between realms on his own. He had discovered several hidden paths leading from Asgard to other places in the universe long ago. His magic always kept him protected from Heimdall's all-seeing gaze, but in this case, the Gatekeeper had been instrumental in Loki's deception. How else could he have convinced the others he found Sigyn on Svartalfheim if he had just appeared with her in the palace? No one would have believed him. The fact Heimdall had to retrieve them both brought a measure of truth to the lie. But it also brought a most annoying hindrance.

"Your Highness, a word if you please?"

Loki grunted silently when he heard Heimdall's voice behind him. The Gatekeeper rarely left his post, but on the rare occasions he did, he was always with either the Allfather or the Crown Prince. That he would seek the second-born Prince now did not bode well.

"Of course." Loki faked a smile as he turned around.

"I understand the Allfather asked you to search for Lady Sigyn by any means. Since this resulted in her safe return, we owe you thanks. Yet I wonder how you could find her when I could not?"

"Perhaps you're getting rusty? You have been doing the job for some time now, and it's easy to miss something."

"I miss nothing. Especially not when it is obvious someone hides from me on purpose."

Heimdall took off his golden helmet and gave Loki an intense stare. But the latter kept his composure. He had escaped Heimdall's sight for years. Even if the man was on to him, there was no way he could catch Loki in the act.

"Since you saved Lady Sigyn," said Heimdall then, "I will let it be this once. However, know you cannot escape my eyes forever."

"Is that a challenge?" Loki threw him a defiant grin.

Heimdall's golden eyes narrowed. His fingers brushed over the hilt of his sword. Loki knew he would never dare attack a Prince of Asgard, but still prepared himself for anything Odin's guard dog might attempt. But Heimdall merely bowed, leaving Loki alone again. It wasn't until he was gone from sight that Loki realised he had been holding his breath. He exhaled slowly and gripped the pendant hidden under his shirt.

All right, Gatekeeper. Let us test if you can truly see all.

***

"Thor, I am well, I promise." Sigyn sighed wearily. "You do not have to stay with me constantly."

"I want to." Thor handed her another cup of water, smiling.

The maiden frowned at him. He'd sat by her bedside non-stop, nursing her with his mother, reading to her, caring for her... He'd done everything she would have expected her betrothed to do. If only he had done it for the right reasons.

"Astrid, leave us a moment, please. Go and... Just go, I honestly don't care where to."

Both Astrid and Thor gave her a surprised look and then exchanged a concerned glance. Sigyn rolled her eyes with an exasperated tsk and crossed her arms, prompting them to raise their brows. She knew she probably shouldn't be acting this way, but she had enough of their constant coddling.

"I'll be just outside if you need anything," said Astrid, as she walked out the room.

Sigyn pinched her lips before facing Thor. "I know you are only here with me because you feel guilty."

Her betrothed — she could barely stomach the word now — averted in shame. "I should never have said what I said. I should never have... what I did... I never..."

Thor struggled with the words, but Sigyn didn't care to hear them, anyway. She didn't care about his excuses. She didn't care for him.

"Sigyn, you must believe me," he finally looked up, "I never meant to hurt you."

She scoffed. "We never mean to do the things we do, Thor. We only realise we have crossed a line when it is too late. But this is not the first time we have fallen apart. I just... I thought that after that night on my balcony... I thought I meant more to you."

"You do!" he exclaimed. "I swear it!"

"No, I don't. Someday, perhaps, when we are..."

She couldn't say it. The mere thought of being married to someone like Thor brought nothing but bile up Sigyn's throat. He was contrite now, and would be considerate for a while, but it still wouldn't change who he was within. He would never learn. With that idea in mind, Sigyn could never truly love him. Not like...

"I would like to be alone, Thor. I need to gather my thoughts... about us. Our future."

Her words crushed Thor. He pressed his lips together and hung his head again. Sigyn wondered if she should pity him. She couldn't muster any pity. Not right now, anyway.
As he rose from his seat, Thor's eyes fell on the flowers by Sigyn's bedside. Every week the bouquet grew. There were so many roses, peonies, lilies, and other blooms that she lost count. All were snow white with icy blue veins — and all given to her by a man not her betrothed.
Sigyn's breath caught when Thor touched one. She wished she had the power to read his mind. If only to know if he suspected they came from his brother. But Thor did not show he did. He bade her goodnight and left, giving Sigyn one last glimpse at the door before he closed it behind him.
Sigyn hurriedly crawled out of bed to lock it, but halted and rested her head against the cool oak. If she locked it, Astrid would never let her hear the end of it. She took a deep breath and stepped back — right into a pair of powerful arms.

"I thought he would never leave."

Sigyn startled at the sound of Loki's voice, but could not turn to him. Loki had her locked in an embrace, his arms wrapped around her. He bent his head to her ear and whispered, "Are you all right?"

His alluring voice sent shivers through Sigyn's body.

"Y-Yes," she stammered, her heart beating faster and faster.

"Are you well enough to come to me?"

Sigyn turned her head sideways to glance back at him. An illusion, she realised then.

"Sigyn, can you come to my chamber through the mirror?" Loki asked again, urgency in his voice.

"I can manage."

"Do it. I'll be waiting."

Loki's doppelgänger released her. Sigyn felt the magic leave her and slowly turned around. The room was empty. She drew in a breath. Her fingers closed around the pendant. Her mind warned her not to go. A vow had been made. But... did the vow still stand? They had both been tempted by another, but while she had mustered every ounce of strength to say no to Loki, Thor had actually given in to Aelsa.
Sigyn groaned, her heart and mind eating her up. No matter what she did, she would always wonder what would have happened had she picked the other brother. She recalled the story of Tristan and Ysolde. Was she to suffer the same plight as the maiden in that tale? Was she to marry for duty, yet keep the man she truly loved as her paramour?

A smile crept up her lips then. Of course... Why had she not realised it before? There was only one man who appeared in her dreams. Only one man who she longed for above all others. Only one man for who her heart still beat. So... why not go to him?
Sigyn crossed the room and changed her shift into a simple long-sleeved green dress, hastily tying her hair with a matching ribbon. She took one last look over her shoulder, and then placed a hand on her mirror, allowing the magic to pull her into the world hidden behind all reflections.
Towards her heart's desire.