History Repeating Itself
It was a beautiful night, the moon was full; bathing the lawn in its pale lunar glow. It was warm and the air was filled with the scent of jasmine. The slight breeze cooled Sif's burning face. Blocking out the sounds from the great hall which rang out into the night air, shattering the silence of the gardens, she began to stroll along the path.
Her heart felt heavy and it troubled her to know that the cause lay with Loki's betrothal. She had forced it to the back of her mind but now it had become much more real. His intended bride was here now at the palace. How long would it be until the marriage actually took place?
"They are strangers, how can they be expected to marry?!"
She muttered to herself under her breath, her hands clenching into fists at the over bearing frustration that consumed her.
Just then she got the distinct feeling that she was not alone. As though someone was watching her. Self consciously, she turned slowly. There was no one behind her. Glancing back towards the palace her gaze fell upon the dark figure which loomed on the steps beyond the lawn, half hidden in the shadows.
The slight glint of gold metal in the moonlight, enabled Sif to make out the shape of a horned helmet.
Loki.
Conflicting emotions rose up yet again within her. Was he following her? If so, why?. She did not trust him, he had not earned the nicknames 'sly one' and 'trickster' for nothing...though at the same time she felt slightly proud of the way she had sensed his proximity this time.
She summoned the strength to turn away, desperately trying to ignore the quickening of her pulse. She would not give him the satisfaction of having him think that she was ruffled by his presence. She could barely resist the urge to glance back, as she slowly continued down the pathway. She realised at that moment she was heading in the direction of the orchard.
From the corner of her eye she caught sight of him heading in her direction.
She reached the trees, their luscious branches forming a canopy above her, that blocked out the light. Despite his impending presence, the sudden sound of his smooth voice in the darkness startled her nonetheless.
"What troubles you, warrior princess?"
His tall, familiar form appeared from behind a nearby tree.
Sif could not bite back a small laugh,
"Warrior yes...princess I am not!"
As an attempt to appear relaxed, she leant back against a tree. Loki wandered closer, smiling wolfishly at her,
"Not yet maybe, but in time.."
His words trailed off.
"What is it you want from me Loki?"
She asked somewhat abruptly,
"If you mean to torment me further-"
A sharp burst of laughter from him silenced her mid-sentence. She stared at him incredulously, he registered her expression and ceased laughing.
"Torment?...How little you know of what torment truly is..."He looked at her face intensely, she shifted slightly under the gaze of his green orbs,
"....but I merely asked you a simple question..which you have not yet answered."
Swallowing hard Sif lowered her head and stared down at the ground. The air in the space between them seemed to have thickened somehow. The now familiar feeling of unease swept over her once again.
"I, I am fine..nothing troubles me. You are mistaken Loki."
Doing nothing to hide his scepticism, he raised a pointed eyebrow,
"Am I?"
In a desperate bid to divert his attention, Sif forced a smile and shot back at him,
"What troubles you, shape-shifter?"
"Ahh, now..shape-shifter I am not.."
He pointed out,
"..at least, not any longer."
He added sadly, a melancholy expression on his handsome face.
Much to her relief though, he smiled when she retorted;
"Not yet....but maybe in time."
Their eyes met and this time she allowed herself to hold his gaze. And there it was again, the deafening sound of her own heart beating so loud in her ears. She felt sure he must be able to hear it also.
Powerless or not, Sif could not deny she sensed something like an invisible force pulling her towards him. But magic was not responsible, he was no longer capable of casting hexes and spells.
She cleared her throat, which had become very dry all of a sudden and broke the charged silence,
"You have not yet answered my question..What is troubling you Loki?"
But Loki shook his head, mischief dancing in his eyes, she knew then even before he spoke there was no point hoping for an honest answer.
"I am not troubled my Lady...why should I be?"
Sif frowned, admittedly confused,
"Well, the Allfather has just declared your betrothal, which now makes it official...does this not grieve you? You seemed none to happy of the prospect of marriage initially."
Loki looked thoughtful, as though considering what to say. After a long pause he surprised her by merely shrugging his shoulders.
"That is it?..You have nothing to say on the matter?!..."
She felt her temper begin to rise, he really was the most complicated individual she had ever known. That is if she actually knew him at all.
"How can you be so calm? You are to be married off to a stranger, previously the notion horrified you so what has caused this sudden change of heart?"
Loki was frowning at her now,
"I never actually said that I found the notion horrifying.....it appears that you are more opposed to the betrothal than I."
"If that seems so then why do you remain so impassive? If you speak with the Allfather then-"
Loki came closer towards her, causing her to fall silent.
"May I remind you Lady Sif, that it was your discussion with Odin that spawned the notion in the first place! I have no choice other than to be cooperative, but do not mistake my obedience for apathy."
He turned his back towards her and muttered,
"The alliance may not be all that terrible, she is after all, fair of face....and form"
Sif clenched her fist so tightly, she felt sure her nails had drawn blood. His words stung as though she had been slapped hard in the face. Why this was so, she could not and did not even want to comprehend. She bit hard on her bottom lip in order to stop it from quivering. Whether it was trembling from upset or anger was another mystery to her.
"So, you desire her?"
she stated rather than asked, trying her upmost to steady her voice.
Loki, who still faced away from her did not answer, just chuckled to himself. She sighed heavily,
"I am glad you find it amusing. Please yourself, I am done with you!"
With that she began to walk away, when with lightning speed she found herself pushed back against the trunk of the tree, his hands either side of her gripped her arms, pinning her. Whilst simultaneously htrapping her with his body. In shock, she let out a shriek in protest, which caused him to loosen his grip slightly,
"Just what is my impending marriage to you?"
He snarled, his jaw set so tight it looked as if his face might actually crack.
"Nothing.....it is nothing!"
she gasped breathlessly.
A spark of recognition flashed over his tense face,
"Nothing, again?....It is always nothing according to you, where I'm concerned!"
"That is not true! I have made sacrifices for you-"
She faltered as his face came closer, the coolness of his breath on her face made her shiver.
"So, why the sacrifices then Sif?"
His voice dropped to nothing more than a whisper, a stark contrast to the tone he'd used a mere moment ago,
"If it means nothing to you?"
He reached up and gently stroked her cheek with the tip of his thumb, his touch seemed to cause an electrifying effect and ignited strange sensations within her. Sweeping over her like a giant wave.
Then as if reality hit, she abruptly pushed his hand away.
"Do not touch me Loki!"
She snapped, flinching when he made to touch her again,
"I stand by what I said, I am done with you...I do not want you near me!"
Blinking in shock, Loki recoiled from her like a wounded viper.
She felt an instant pang of regret as she registered the hurt clearly visible in his face and eyes.
The truth was Sif felt vulnerable now and it was not a feeling she was accustomed to.
These new emotions that Loki had somehow stirred up, confused and scared her in equal measures. She was used to being in control of her feelings and actions.
He made her feel powerless. Completely exposed, yet he was always guarded, never allowing his barriers down. She could not allow herself to trust him, she felt certain Loki viewed everything as a game. She wasn't prepared to become a pawn and get hurt or humiliated further.
At last Loki spoke, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere that now enveloped them,
"Do not flatter yourself Lady..."
He sneered openly at her, any tenderness previously visible had dissapeared without a trace,
"..you and I, we were done long ago!"
The venom dripping in his voice momentarily struck her with fear, but this feeling was then engullfed by something else. Disappointment.
Fearing any further display of her emotions would make her look a complete fool, she squared her shoulders and hurriedly left the way she had came.
So once again she found herself leaving the younger prince by himself in the gardens. History had a strange way of repeating itself.
Desperate to keep the remains of her dignity in tact, she would not allow herself to look back. Her pride would not permit it. She could feel tears pricking at her eyes, threatening to fall at any moment.