Praying
As Sif sat alone in the gardens, hot tears of regret and heartbreak staining her cheeks, she was suddenly aware of the sound of guards shouting within the palace. Their heavy footsteps thundering in unison along the hallways was enough to distract her from her state of self-pity.
Wearily she rose to her feet and headed back inside, curious as to what all the sudden noise and activity warranted.
Confused at the level of apparent urgency; guards rushed around her with swords drawn as if preparing for an invasion, she began searching frantically for someone who could explain the cause of the sudden commotion.
She hurriedly turned a corner and fortunately caught sight of Thor's red cape and blonde hair up ahead.
The hallways were teeming now with guards along with members of the Aesir who had previously been assembled in the Great Hall.
Calling out to the Thunder God, she fought her way along the bustling corridor.
Thor acknowledged her with a nod of the head, but did not speak or stop. His expression was grim indeed.
Sif managed to catch up with him, but had to keep up with his quick, purposeful strides,
"Thor, what is happening?Are we under attack?!"
Thor took a deep breath, and shook his head gravely,
"No, but please do not worry yourself Sif..this matter does not concern you."
Sif frowned, instantly affronted. Why would he say such a thing?
She was about to demand answers when he turned to her abruptly, eyes pleading,
"Please, you must remain here whilst I attend to this, there isn't time to explain further and if you.."
He fell silent, as though trying to choose his next words carefully.
After an agonizing pause, he finally completed his sentence,
"..if you..care for Loki at all then you must remain here and let me attend to the situation-"
"Loki!"
Sif cried, her voice sounding so shrill she barely recognized it as her own,
"What of Loki? Thor, what has happened?!"
"Do you care for him at all, or not?!"
Thor suddenly bellowed, startling her into silence and causing panic to stir within her gut.
Was that a trick question? Why would he be seeking some form of confession from her right now? Clearly something had happened. Thankfully, Thor wasn't actually awaiting her response at all,
"If you truly have his best interests at heart, then you need to let me get on!"
He continued firmly, then without another word he quickened his pace further and marched purposefully away, leaving her bewildered.
**********************
Her heart was hammering and her chest was tight, causing her to struggle for ragged gasps of air by the time she reached the derelict rainbow bridge.
She hadn't paused for thought or breath since leaving the palace once she'd realised the only person who could provide her with satisfactory answers was Heimdall, she'd raced as fast as her legs would allow. Which had been a challenge for her weak, undernourished body.
The Gate Keeper stood facing away from her, but obviously sensed her approaching. His dull-set tones rumbling to her ears before she'd uttered a word,
"I warned you did I not Lady Sif?"
Gasping for a proper intake of breath, Sif halted in her tracks.
Slowly Heimdall turned around to face her; his expression was dark but he appeared more concerned than angry, which provided her a little light relief.
She wasn't sure she possessed the patience at present to endure more interrogation from him, however well intended.
"H-Heimdall, I seek an explanation that is all.."
Her breathing was still heavy, hampering her ability to speak.
Heimdall stared intensely at her, his heavy brow furrowing further still,
"That may be so my Lady....but once I provide you with the answers you seek, you will be sure to stray further down this destructive path."
Sif sighed heavily, pausing in order to allow her breathing to steady.
She surveyed the guardian's open and honest face.....stark contrast to Loki's.
"Heimdall, I know you speak with my best intentions at heart.."
She managed at last,
"..but I cannot fight against my own. One must follow one's heart, wherever it may lead."
Heimdall stared deep into her eyes, searching her soul, and when he responded his voice was imploring,
"Even to disaster?"
Swallowing hard, Sif kept her gaze steady in defiance,
"Even to Helheim itself!"
For a moment they stood staring back at each other, each of them determined to stand their ground.
Eventually though Heimdall realised he would not succeed in breaking Sif's will and reluctantly admitted defeat,
"The Trickster has vanished...along with his bride."
He announced finally.
Sif's frown deepened in confusion,
"Vanished, how could that be? He has no power-"
She fell silent as it suddenly dawned on her that Heimdall had argued that point with her before.
"No, he has none of his own...but I've realised now there are other forces at work here. The Lady Sigyn must be playing a part in this."
Bristling slightly even just at the mention of her name, Sif found it difficult to disguise her disbelief in the suggestion that an innocent, frail looking specimen such as Sigyn was capable of such sorcery.
Then another thought came to her and as tasteless as the notion was to Sif, it didn't make it unreasonable.
Though she struggled to say the words aloud,
"So what of it really..if she is a mistress of magic, perhaps she wants time alone with her..."
She faltered, unable to use the term 'husband' when referring to Loki. The word somehow seemed to catch in her throat,
"..well, with him..they are newly wedded. It is understandable for them to want privacy."
Not that she was defending Sigyn, even the thought of this possible explanation caused her further envy... but it seemed to Sif a perfectly natural desire.
And for a split second she found her mind wandering to thoughts of what she herself would want in that situation...thoughts best kept to herself, as indeed being away from prying eyes would be an absolute necessity.
The very notion of being wedded - and alone - with Loki made her pulse quicken and her cheeks coloured under Heimdall's scrutinising gaze.
She found herself hoping to the Norns that Heimdall wasn't somehow capable of reading thoughts as well.
Just then he spoke, shattering her thoughts,
"Perhaps so, but Loki is well aware of the conditions imposed upon him in order for him being permitted to remain in Asgard. He is forbidden to leave the palace grounds. Coupled also with the fact that he and Sigyn...are not yet married."
Not.Yet.Married.
The words hit Sif like cold water, bringing instant shock and causing her previously heavy heart to somersault in chest.
"They....they're not yet married?.."
She stammered, mind and heart both racing.
Heimdall looked downwards, a sombre look now visible in his liquid, amber eyes,
"No they are not. Loki did not repeat the sacred vows as spoken by the Elder Chieftain, thus resulting in the union not being officially blessed and therefore invalid."
Sif's mouth fell open.
Loki was not married. He had refused to continue with the ceremony.
Asgard was one of the few realms throughout the Nine Worlds that practised the ancient wedding tradition of swearing your oaths at the beginning of the ceremony, and even this did not finalise the union until the end when the couple's union was officially blessed by the Elder Chieftain.
"Did he not give any explanation for his actions?"
Sif asked, her stomach flipping.
"None. He merely muttered an incoherent apology to Queen Frigga then he fled the hall with his spurned bride in pursuit-"
"Didn't the guards attempt to stop him?"
Sif interrupted.
Heimdall shook his head slowly,
"That order was not given by Odin, I believe Lady Frigga had some involvement in that."
Sif's eyes bugged, but she could not keep a smile from tugging at the corners of her lips. Frigga.....so wise, so caring.
"However.."
Heimdall continued gravely,
"..the Guards have now been dispatched in order to apprehend the couple, I have reason to believe that they are fleeing to another realm. Possibly Sigyn's native realm of Vanaheim."
"But how can that be?"
Sif demanded, for it was common knowledge that without the Bifrost, no one could leave the realm without the Allfather's assistance.
And clearly he would not assist Loki in fleeing to another world.
"In both realms of the light and dark Elves, as well as Jotunheim, Loki is known as The Sky Traveler..."
Heimdall's voice was low and compelling,
"..at first I assumed this to be due to Freya's falcon cloak-"
"Why yes, Loki has borrowed that cloak several times in the past to fly to Jotunheim and-"
"But no other has the ability to fly with that feathered cloak!"
Heimdall cut in abruptly,
"As a master of magic, we presumed he used it to enchant the cloak, thus enabling it's wearer to take flight...but since then I've realised the cloak was merely a ruse, he had the ability to transport himself from realm to realm without it. Not only can he change form to that of a bird, not many know he is also in possession of a pair of enchanted boots. He refers to them as his 'sky shoes' and with those he can walk through the air. Furthermore he knows of other pathways beyond Asgard, that I myself am unable to see!"
Sif stared at the Gatekeeper, open-mouthed as she struggled to take in all this new and startling information.
Nervousness crept over her, as she was forced to admit that there was still much about the trickster God that she didn't know. And if Heimdall himself was still learning, what chance did she ever have?
"So, Loki has used the magical footwear to escape? But why now, when he could have left before?"
Sif spoke her thoughts aloud.
But the ever-wise Heimdall shook his head,
"Odin confiscated the boots when he extracted Loki's powers.....and to slip through the unknown gateways to another realm, magic is required."
Sif's frown deepened further, as a possible explanation began to form in her mind,
"Sigyn?..You said you suspect she has a part to play in this. If she possesses power in her own right, then she could assist Loki in escaping to another dimension!"
Heimdall did not nod his head in agreement, but his words confirmed his belief in the theory,
"She is not what she appears to be and like the secret gateways, I was unable to detect the hidden forces at work."
"That explains why she would flee with Loki, otherwise why would a spurned bride leave willingly with their intended groom?"
She paused again, mind whirring as she attempted to make sense of it all,
"Clearly all is not as it seems, she must have contrived a plan with Loki."
A million thoughts were now running through her head, colliding with each other and filling her with panic and dread.
What in the Nine Worlds was Loki up to? Whatever his latest scheme was, it couldn't possibly be good.
If his previous escapades were anything to go by, the outcome would no doubt end in utter disaster.
Sif automatically turned to look back towards Asgard's gleaming spires, eyes scanning the vast realm, from the palace and the surrounding kingdom; the town and many villages, to the luscious meadows and sprawling wilderness that lay beyond,
"How can I find these gateways? Heimdall, if you sense that they are headed for Vanaheim, then can you not locate the path which they are to take?"
Heimdall was hesitant in his response and only when Sif turned towards him with pleading, tearful eyes did he reluctantly venture a reply,
"I fear I cannot locate these hidden gateways...If it were in my power to do so I would have informed our King, as it is my sworn duty to protect this realm."
Sif's heart sank, frustration rising within her. Feelings of helplessness were becoming all too familiar and she detested it.
As a warrior, accepting defeat went against everything she believed in and had ever trained for. It was instilled in her nature to rise up against adversity. She was no stranger to soldiering on through calamitous events despite the odds.
"There must be something which can be done, I refuse to give up on him now when he can still be saved from further destruction!"
Heimdall stared back at her stony faced, clearly unmoved in spite of her passion,
"The only thing you can do now my Lady, is pray."
"Pray!?"
She repeated, scowling at him angrily,
"We are Asgardians not mortals. To whom are we meant to pray? Our people of this eternal realm are governed by no higher beings or power, we're merely at the mercy of our own destiny.....who would hear our prayers?"
"The Aesir have the ability to hear others if we are addressed directly... whatever other skills or powers we possess as individuals, the power to hear a heartfelt plea is the one gift we all share. No other race has this and that is why the humans worship us as deities and call upon us in what they call prayer."
Heimdall explained,
"Though we are not accustomed to practising such a method amongst ourselves, that does not mean it isn't possible to communicate with our own kind in such a way...it is said that if one has enough faith and speaks from the heart, prayers will be heard.."
He fell silent and gazed deeply into her red-rimmed eyes, his own filled with what Sif could only interpret as apprehension,
"....however you must bear in mind.."
He warned,
"..that although prayers may be heard....they are not always answered."
Swallowing hard as she digested this added revelation, she nodded and thanked the wise Gatekeeper, before hastily bidding him farewell.
As she made her way back across the rainbow bridge, she was struck with the memory of Thor appealing to Loki on Midgard when the Destroyer had been sent forth to destroy them.
He had done this as though speaking his thoughts aloud and he had been heard; therefore his words must have been true and from the heart..he pleaded with Loki to cease the destruction and he had been heard...he had prayed.
Taking a deep breath she halted and closed her eyes,
"Loki...Loki, please.."
She muttered and found herself placing a hand upon her chest.
She could feel her heart pounding and focused, blocking out the sound of the rolling waves far beneath the Bifrost until all she could hear was her own heartbeat,
"..Loki, if you hear me, please you must return...I need you to return. If you have ever cared for me in the slightest at all...then you must...for me..I need you."