(Loki's pov.)

"Are you ready lad?" Loki assumed that this man was Theoric's father. Judging by the resemblance, and the friendly pat on the shoulder.

"As I'll ever be I suppose." He replied.

"It's a good thing we did your sword ceremony before we arrived here isn't it? You'd hardly have the time now... Say where is your sword?" The man continued. 

"Uh..."

The man looked at Loki, his eyes calmly searching his face.

"Look at you!" He chortled, "Are you nervous?"

"Well... I ... Erm..." Loki stammered.

"I don't blame you at all son. That Sigyn is a pretty one. I'm glad that she agreed to marry you. It's far less ...messy that our other option."

Loki grunted in agreement, as his throat burned with fury.

He mumbled something about finding his sword and went back to his tent to pack up Theoric's things. 

A few hours later, Loki, atop Theoric's mount, sighed as they crested a little hill, allowing him to finally see the village.

The sky was still dark with heavy grey clouds, and he could see his breath and that of his horses'. But he did not feel cold. Instead as he neared the village, a warm feeling spread through his chest and lingered there, almost making him forget the atrocity he had committed only a few short miles behind him. 

But, Loki reminded himself. That was simply a means to an end. And his end was here, his happily ever after, his Sigyn. 

(Sigyn's Pov.)

My hair fell is soft waves to my waist. The breeze lifting and playing with sections of it. It was unusual having it float so freely about my face.

"You look amazing!" Astrid smiled. 

I smiled nervously in reply, and stood to my feet raking my fingers through my hair and stretching as I looked at the sky.

the clouds were heavy with unshed rain, just as my heart was full of unshed tears. 

But, I reminded myself as I squared my shoulders. This was my life now. For the good of my village. 

My sister in law and my Step mother walked me towards the field in which the hand-fasting ceremony would be taking place.

Verdandi was already there, and she walked over greeting me with a smile.

"I have a wedding gift for you," In her hands was a beautiful crown of flowers. "These are from my garden." She smiled. 

Tears welled up in my eyes as I gave her a smile. 

She nodded, seeming to understand my sentiments even if they were not spoken. 

I heard some noises behind me, and spun on my heel to see Erland running up to us.

"Ladies." He smiled.

"Erland!" I exclaimed.

"Sigyn... you... you look so grown up." He seemed overwhelmed by the thought.

I smiled shyly at the ground as Verdandi placed the crown on my head.

"I uh, have your gift for your groom." Erland hastily unsheathed the dagger he was carrying. 

It's handle was striped, golden and black, and there was delicate engraving on it's hilt.

"This is beautiful!" I exclaimed.  

Erland smiled a sad smile and re-sheathed the dagger, handing it back to me.

"I hope that it's a start to a strong and loving marriage." Erland replied, he looked like he wanted to say more but was soon cut off by the thundering hooves of the groom and his party.

And there Theoric sat, high on a mighty black horse. His eyes lit up as he saw me and the horse had barely stopped as he jumped to the ground.

"Good day Theoric." I smiled stiffly.

"Good day my love." Theoric grinned, and the sight of him doing so caught me off guard.

I flinched and stepped away from him.

"Do you have the dowry?" Theoric's father Flynn wasted no time in asking. 

I had to refrain from rolling my eyes as my father walked over to help Erland with settling our debts.

"How was it at the front? Any monsters?" I asked Theoric sardonically. 

A mischievous glint formed in his eye.

"Monsters? Aye, but only the one... Just me." He smirked.

"Why Theoric, was that wit I just heard?" I asked in mock surprise. 

"Either that or the wind whistling through the trees my dear." he replied, grabbing my hand. 

I extracted my hand from his and smiled uncomfortably.

"What is it?" he asked.

I beckoned for him to follow me, leading him away from the gathered group of people, and into the treeline where we could talk in private.

"I am neither your love nor your dear. You and I both know I do not love you. And furthermore you are a brute and I wish I did not have to marry you." I spat.

"Why do you have somebody else willing to take your hand?" He barked harshly. 

"..." My mouth hung open in shock.

"We had a deal." He reminded me. 

"Which you only succeeded in getting because you threatened the lives of the people I love!" I exclaimed. 

He took in a measured breath.

"I'm sorry."

"What?!" I bellowed.

he shut his mouth tightly.

"Theoric Flynn-son if I didn't know better I'd say you just apologized. Or, well... tried to."

"Sigyn, I truly love you. I've certainly gone about the wrong way of showing it-"

"You think!?" I burst.

"- but I do love you." he continued. 

"If you really loved me, you'd not be forcing me into this sham wedding." I sneered. 

"Sigyn. I know I'm not in any place to be asking you this. But would you be willing to make a deal?"

"I'm listening."

"My father expects certain things of me. Namely marrying you. Having children..."

I silenced him with a raised eyebrow.

He sighed, "Look. All I'm asking is you give me a chance. Three months."

"Three months of what?"

"Marriage. Then, if you still want to we'll get divorced." he replied meekly, leaning against a tree.

Meekly! As if somebody had broken him!

"What changed?" I asked, perplexed. 

"I beg your pardon?" He asked, furrowing his brow. 

I gestured at him wildly. Crossing my arms. 

"You've somehow gained some manners, and now you say you care for me?! Is this some sort of trick. Because if it is I won't give you the satisfact-"

"This is no trick! Look, I'm trying to make you happy. Just give me the chance to court you properly!" He exclaimed.

And I must have taken leave of my senses because...

"Alright. Three months." I agreed, sticking my hand out for him to shake.

"Then my dear, we have a deal." He smiled, kissing the top of my hand.

~~~

Erland walked down to the altar bearing my ceremonial sword. I followed shortly behind him and watched Verdandi walk a remarkably well behaved goat onto the stone altar.

The animal was killed quickly and mercifully as Verdandi called on the gods for their attention and blessing on the wedding and marriage. I couldn't help but wonder if it caught Loki's attention at all. But it was as if I could feel his presence here, and that made me feel marginally better about my decision. 

I looked at Theoric across from me, he seemed to be just as nervous as I was. Perhaps I misjudged him? 

I banished the thought from my mind as he handed me his ceremonial gift, a sword that was passed down from the generations of men in his family, which would be given to our son should we have any... Children. One of the many aspects of marriage i was not ready for.

I gave him his dagger and the ceremony took off at full swing.

"Please join hands." Verdandi asked us.

I placed my trembling hands, into Theoric's sure ones.

"Theoric and Sigyn, I bid you to look into each other's eyes" Verdandi stated.

We did as she bid us and I found a strange sort of peace in looking at Theoric.

"Will you honor and respect one another, and seek to never break that honor?"

"We will." We chorused .

Verdandi draped the first chord over our hands. 

"And so the first binding is made... Will you share each other's pain and seek to ease it?"

"We will."

Verdandi draped the second chord over our hands.

"And so the second binding is made... Will you share the burdens of each so that your spirits may grow in this union?"

"We will."

"And so the third binding is made... Will you share each other's laughter, and look for the brightness in life and the positive in each other?"

"we will."

Verdandi draped the fourth and final chord over our hands.

"And so the binding is made." 

She tied the chords together.

"Sigyn and Theoric, as your hands are bound together now, so your lives and spirits are joined in a union of love and trust."

I could feel a cold sweat break out over Theoric's hands, and his smile faltered but only for a second.

"Above you are the stars and below you is the earth. Like the stars your love should be a constant source of light, and like the earth, a firm foundation from which to grow.

And now as you exchange rings, do you have any words you would like to say?"

I took a deep breath as Verdandi loosed our hands, and Theoric reached for the ceremonial sword, holding it out in front of us.

I placed his ring on the hilt of his sword and afterwards, wrapping my fingers around the hilt, spoke this to him.

"Theoric. You cannot possess me, for I belong to myself. But while we both wish it, I give you that which is mine to give. 

You cannot command me, for I am a free person. But I shall serve you in those ways you require, and the honeycomb will taste sweeter coming from my hand." 

He smiled at me and, after putting on his own ring, placed my ring on the hilt of his sword. wrapping his cold fingers around mine.

"Sigyn, I pledge to you, that yours will be the name I cry in the night, and the eyes into which I smile in the morning. I pledge to you the first bite from my meat, and the first drink from my cup. I pledge to you, my living and dying equally in your care. And tell no strangers our grievances. 

This is my wedding vow to you,

This is a Marriage of equals."

I had to look away because the intensity of his eyes was burning me. But I turned to him as he spoke again, quietly this time.

"And beyond this, I will cherish and honor you through this life, and into the next." 

A rousing cheer sounded from amongst our friends and family as I slid the ring onto my finger. 

"You may now kiss the bride."

The sun broke through the clouds as he kissed me. 

And at the moment his lips captured mine, I should have been suspicious. Because this kiss reminded me far too much of Loki's.