Chapter Two

Sigyn let out a huge sigh as she plopped down on the bed in what was her very empty room.  The week had been very busy.  Everything just ran together and she’s not really sure how she managed to get all of her things packed away in time to have them sent off to Asgard. There was last minute training, and saying hundreds of goodbyes to the people of Vanaheim.   All that remained was a small desk in the corner, a small trunk with some clothes and toiletries and the bed.

Sigyn rolled over, put her hands behind her head and chucked to herself, " Royal Sorceress of Asgard - HA! Who would have ever thought that I could be so powerful?" Staring at the ceiling, her mind drifted back to her childhood in Asgard.

In childhood, and even now, Sigyn considered herself an outsider. She was the product of a tryst between the young and naive noble Llmr and King Freyr the ruler of Alfheim. Due to being born out of wedlock she did not possess a royal title like her Mother or Father. Not long after Sigyn was born her Mother married Forseti, keeper of the laws of the Nine Realms and an advisor to Odin.  Forseti loved and cared for Sigyn as if she were his own flesh.  When it was time for Sigyn to begin school, Forseti pleaded to Odin to allow Sigyn to attend the Royal School of Asgard that was exclusive to the children of the nobles and the Royal family.  Not everyone born in Asgard was gifted with abilities like the royal family and the nobles and their education required much more than simple reading, writing and arithmetic.  Their powers and skills, as well as their moral compass had to be exercised so that they could use their power for the benefit of the Nine Realms. Forseti pleaded with Odin saying that he feared Sigyn would be teased in the regular school due to her unfortunate creation and lack of title despite her parent’s pedigree.  Odin was reluctant to allow a child with no known powers attend the school, so he asked to meet the young Sigyn to evaluate if she would do well.

The next day a timid Sigyn was escorted to the palace by her ambitious parents.  They walked down the great hall to the throne room and greeted Odin. Sigyn quickly hid behind her parents at the site of Odin high up on his Throne. Llmr tried to drag Sigyn from behind her so that Odin could see her. Odin quickly raised his hand to tell Llmr to stop. He got up from his throne and walked down the seemingly endless series of stairs and knelt down behind a very embarrassed Llmr.

“Now, who do we have here?"

Sigyn with her head buried in her mother’s back said "I'm Sigyn."

"Well, it's lovely to meet you, I'm Odin."

Sigyn stepped back from her mother, reached into a satchel she had and handed Odin a piece of paper. "I made this for you." Odin took it and his face lit up with wonder and amazement. “Child, how do you know of this city?"

"I've seen it, in my head." Odin recognized it but was astonished that a child would know of it. He has seen this place before long ago, sitting on his throne while searching the nine realms, specifically Midgard.  It was a city in the Egyptian civilization called Menefer.

Odin quickly stood up and addressed her parents, “Have you ever traveled with Sigyn to Midgard or told her about cities of Midgard?" Llmr replied “No, my Lord, Sigyn has only ever visited Alfheim where her Father lives. We have never discussed anything about Midgard."

"Well, it looks as though we have a seeker here. Welcome to the Royal School and thank you for the picture." Odin said smiling as he patted Sigyn on her head.

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Five years in the Royal school and Sigyn's ability as a Seidr had not developed.  She was coming up on her final test to advance to the next level of the school and there was a fear she may not pass.  She was a good student, but when she was given a task to perform she would freeze.  Her teachers were convinced that being a loner was to blame.  All of the other children didn't pay much attention to Sigyn; her status, being the only child without a royal title before her name alienated her from the other children.  She also looked different- most pure blooded Asgardians were very tall and well built; Sigyn was petite, she also had different hair color - auburn, while the other children had different shades of blond or red.  And while most children had either blue or brown eyes, Sigyn had eyes of gold.  She was a standout from the rest of the children.  Also, her ability to see through time and space made her seem out of it.  Her mind often wandered and she got lost in other worlds. Sometimes she drew out what she saw. Either way, not fitting in with the other children left her with little confidence. Her lack of confidence hindered her ability to control her gift and develop new ones.

Her parents really didn't know what to do with her. Studying more was not the answer. She studied from the time she walked through the doors of Glitnir until dinner and then after that until bed. She rarely spent time in leisure activities. Maybe once every couple of weeks she would travel down the rainbow bridge to the Bifrost to meet with Heimdall.  Sigyn would draw the first thing that came into her head and show it to Heimdall and he would tell her where in the Nine Realms the city, person, or animal was located.  For Heimdall it was nice change of pace since he rarely got visitors. When Sigyn was done or Heimdall had enough she would give him a few drawings tuck the rest into her satchel and head back home.

One of these days would be the one that would change her life . . . .

One evening Sigyn was leaving Heimdall walking down the Rainbow Bridge. Looking in front of her she noticed a group of slightly older kids heading towards the Bifrost.  The closer Sigyn got to the group she recognized Thor. Young warriors heading out to find adventure, Sigyn thought to herself. Sigyn decided that she wouldn't engage them in conversation, but she would at least say hello to Thor.

 "Hello, Prince Thor, nice day for an adventure, no?" Sigyn asked

Thor just looked her way smiled, waved and continued down the Bifrost. The others behind him didn't pay much attention to her except for Sif.  Passing by Sigyn, Sif bumped Sigyn knocking her to the ground and spilling the contents of her satchel all over the Rainbow Bridge.

"Watch it, runt!" Sif said to her as she and the other warriors giggled at what Sif did. Sigyn just stayed on the ground, crying but not wanting them to see for fear they would come back for more teasing.

"Flooding with bridge with your tears is no way to handle this situation." a voice said over her in a calm and cool manner.

Sigyn wiped her eyes looked up to see Thor's younger brother standing above her looking down with an expressionless face.

"Oh! Prince Loki, forgive me. I apologize for being in your way, I will move." Sigyn said as she averted her eyes in respect to the young prince hoping to avoid any more teasing.

Surprisingly, Loki extended a hand to her and helped her to her feet. He reached into his coat and handed her a handkerchief. He then put his hands on her shoulders, gently turned her around and leaned down slightly so that he could whisper in her ear.

"Let me show you how to handle those daft warriors. Just watch."

Sigyn kept her eyes straight ahead to the group of young warriors heading towards the Bifrost.  She saw a green fog appear around the group and suddenly all of the warriors shot straight up in the air.   Hanging upside-down spinning around and around with all of their belongings falling all over the Rainbow Bridge. Sigyn wanted to laugh but put her hands over her mouth because she didn't want to upset Thor or any of his friends.

"It's ok, you can laugh.  They should be able to handle it." Said Loki with a chuckle, Sigyn quickly let out a huge laugh following my nonstop giggling.

"LOKI! Put us down NOW!" screamed Thor.  "This isn't funny! Sif's in tears!"

"What's that brother? I can't hear you; you must be too high up." Said Loki in a cool voice as he raised his hand and sent the warrior party higher into the air.

"LOKI, PLEASE!!!” cried Sif, “YOU ARE SUCH A MONSTER!!"

"Now aren’t we being a little hypocritical?" questioned Loki "So you pushed an innocent child down, showed no concern and laughed in her face. But when the tables are turned and it's the mighty Sif being teased . . . .

"LOKI, ENOUGH!!!" Heimdall screamed from the end of the Bifrost, "PUT THEM DOWN NOW!"

Loki's face quickly became void of emotion "Very well, I was getting bored with them anyway." One swift motion of his hand and the group raced down from the sky so fast you would've thought they were going to crash through the Rainbow Bridge. Loki quickly put his hand out and the group stopped mere feet above the bridge and gently glided down to the road. Sigyn just stood there laughter gone and suspense and shock came over her face.

Loki leaned into her to say "Come, let's get your things." When Sigyn turned around Loki had all her spilled belongings neatly stacked in his hands. Sigyn grabbed them and started to put them in her satchel.

"How did you do that?" Sigyn questioned

"Do what?" Loki innocently replied.

"All of it."

"Well, --, wait, what's your name?" Loki inquired

"Sigyn."

"Well Sigyn, it's called magic, sorcery, if you would like, I can teach it to you."

"Really?" Sigyn's eyes lit up “Yes, if it wouldn't be any trouble."

Loki smiled at her, "it would be my honor" As he bowed towards her regally at the waist. Sigyn giggled and the both of them headed down the Rainbow Bridge to the gates of Asgard and the start of a long friendship.

Loki was Sigyn's protector and teacher.  He helped her master her seeing ability, but also find another strength she had - sorcery. With Loki's help Sigyn passed her final test to the next level with flying colors.

After they met one was rarely seen without the other.

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She couldn't wait to see him again. He was her best and only friend. Sigyn was social as she got older and had what she considered many acquaintances, but none she would consider a friend.  Of course the last couple of years before she left for training were a little tense. Loki became more possessive of her. He was often causing trouble with others who wanted to talk to her, often physically standing between Sigyn and any potential suitor.  She just thought he was afraid of losing his only friend to one of the many young men who wanted her hand in marriage. Of course Sigyn was never interested in anyone who came to call on her. She was fond of Loki, but never thought he would seriously consider her for courtship.

Not long before she left for Vanaheim there was a rumor spreading that Loki may ask her parents for her hand.  Sigyn only took it for a rumor following the incident that left Loki restricted to the palace walls. It happened one day while Loki was reading on one of the many balconies located off of his palace apartment. This particular balcony was located above the training grounds for Asgardian soldiers. It was in the evening when the yard was mostly used as a gathering place. Loki became aware of a few soldiers underneath his balcony talking - they were talking about Sigyn.  One soldier made a crass comment about her and this enraged Loki.  He threw his book down and peered over the balcony waiting for the soldiers to emerge from underneath.  Once they did Loki used his magic to knock the soldiers to the ground with logs from a nearby gauntlet.  The soldiers quickly fell the ground. Loki then repeatedly lifted one of the logs and slammed it down on top of the offending soldier.  The commotion caused quite a gathering. At first no one knew what was happening but once one guard looked up and saw Loki tight lipped and fire in his eyes, they knew what was going on. Quickly this information made its way to Thor who burst through Loki's apartment and onto the balcony,tackling Loki and instantly breaking his concentration stopping the beating of the soldier.  The soldier was with the healers for a month and he was unable to continue his career as a soldier.  For this horrible act, Loki was restricted to the palace and was not allowed to have contact with anyone other than his parents and Thor.  In the days following rumors started spreading that the reason Loki was so angry was that he was about to ask for Sigyn’s hand and he was not going to tolerate someone speaking so crass about a future Princess, his Princess. Sigyn couldn't go anywhere in Asgard without whispers being heard. If the people of Asgard didn't already know who she was they did now.

In order to bring Sigyn relief from the drama, Thor asked her to accompany him to Alfheim. He was scheduled to leave on Royal business and thought a visit to her father and to a different realm would bring her some peace. Sigyn was delighted to make the visit with Thor and thought it would be a nice surprise for her Father.  The morning they were to leave Loki got word from a servant in the palace that Thor and Sigyn were going to Alfheim to visit with her father. To Loki this could only mean one thing. Loki found Thor in the training yard. "What do you mean by visiting Freyr with Sigyn?" Loki said as he walked out onto the yard, other soldiers quickly retreating indoors. “I mean nothing except for Sigyn to get some time away from the humiliation you have caused her." Thor casually responded.

"THOR, TELL ME THE TRUTH!" Screamed Loki as he tackled Thor, the two brothers fought in the yard, really it was only Loki fighting; Thor was just trying to keep Loki off of him. The guards were too scared to intervene on the fighting brothers and it took Odin coming into the yard to break up the fight.

"ENOUGH!" Odin’s voice resonated through the yard as he entered from a dark hall. "Guards, take Loki back to his room."

The trip to Alfheim went on as planned, but while she was spending the week in Alfheim, Sigyn got word that she would be going to Vanaheim to complete Sedir training.  The intense training would take four years with very little free time and she was to have no contact with friends or family on Asgard or from any other realm. She didn't have a chance to say goodbye to anyone, including her dear friend Loki.  Sometimes she hoped Loki would sneak into Vanaheim to visit but he never did.  She even wrote him on rare occasion, when she had a break, but he never responded.

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KNOCK,KNOCK!

Sigyn’s hand-maiden Dagmar peeped her head into the room "Sigyn, are you ready to make the trip to Asgard?"