Chapter 4

"Get up, get up! We have no time to waste! We have so much to do and we have to be at the palace one hour before the ceremony starts!" said Dagmar as she flung the bed covers off.

"Okay, okay, I’m up." said Sigyn as she wiped her eyes and ran her hands through her hair.

Breakfast was first while the bath was being prepared.  Sigyn was a little too excited to eat but did her best.  Next was the bath.  It looked to cozy - steam rising up from the water that was full of bath oil and flower petals and all of it was brewing in a high backed white tub with gold accents.  Sigyn just wanted to live in that tub forever, it was most relaxation she had in weeks.  But it didn’t last long, "Quickly girl! We've got to get your hair and makeup ready!" was what she heard as she was being drug out of the warm brew.

Her hair was brushed, dried and put into a low braid with flowers intertwined.  Make up lightly done as Sigyn was a natural beauty and too much would take away from that.  After that she had a few moments in Glitnir's private gardens.

She wasn't nervous about the ceremony at all; it was just for show and entertainment, a way for her to show off her skills.  She already had the job. 

"Sigyn, let's get this dress on!" Her maid shouted from her balcony.

The dress fit perfectly.  The cape was heavier than she thought it would be. "Mother, can I wait until we get to the palace to put the cape on? It’s really heavy." Her mother ordered the cape off and gave it to a guard to put in the carriage so it wouldn't be forgotten. The crown more of a head piece and fit perfectly on Sigyn's head.  It was made of gold and look as if we're lace, to match the dress. It was a circlet an upside down v shape that framed her face nicely. It also had small gemstones throughout the gold lacework to add to its brilliance. Sigyn loved it, it was fit for the queen herself, she thought, and was not quite sure why the queen bestowed upon her such exquisite gifts.

By the time all the primping was done, it was time to head to the palace.

The atmosphere at the palace was electric. Guest from all the Nine Realms were touring the palace and walking the grounds waiting for the ceremony to start. When guests saw Sigyn's carriage they would stop and wave hoping to catch a glimpse of the new Sorceress.  Unlike the evening before Sigyn kept the curtains in the carriage closed to help keep her focus.  There would be plenty of time after the ceremony to visit with guests.  She had quite a spectacle in store for the ceremony and needed to keep focus to make sure it goes all according to plan.

“Here, put your cape on, before you exit the carriage." Said Llmr, “I would hate for the queen see you get out of the carriage without it."  Sigyn and her mother struggled to get the cape on in the cramped quarters, but they managed to get it done just in time for the carriage to stop in front of the west entrance to the palace.  Frigga was there to greet her. “My Sigyn, how stunning you look!"

"Thank you my queen, you have the most talented tailors and jewelry in all the nine realms." Sigyn said.

The Queen escorted Sigyn to a small waiting room off to the side of the entrance to the great hall.  The room was lush and had a table overflowing with every kind of food you could imagine. “There are servants outside the door should you need them." And with that Frigga left Sigyn alone in the room.

Sigyn remained silent in the room meditating on her plans for the ceremony. She did a quick incantation to get her magic started and then rested in a large chair in the room.  The door to the room slowly began to open, it was Loki.  He walked in and shut the door. Sigyn stood up to greet him.  Loki said nothing for a moment, just looking at Sigyn.

"My, Sigyn, you have left me speechless with your beauty." Loki said as he looked at her.

“Thank you, you know your mother had this designed just for me." She said while spinning around showing off the whole ensemble.

“I know, she was proud of it when it was completed. She is so proud of you, we all are." Loki said

“You look handsome Loki. I have never seen you in your armor before; it's a little intimidating." Sigyn said averting her eyes coyly.

"Yeah, I think it's supposed to look like that.  I got it the first year you were gone."

"The helmet, is that part of it too?"

"Yes"

“It’s a little over the top isn't it?" Sigyn said with a giggle while pointing to the giant horns on his helmet.

"Yes, I think it's supposed to." Loki said with a smile the then a quiet laugh.

They both giggled over it for a few moments. Then there was silence. Loki put his helmet on the table and walked up to Sigyn.

"I really am proud of you Sigyn.  You are my dearest and only friend and I couldn't be happier for you and how far you've come." Loki placed his hand on her cheek, Sigyn cover his hand with hers.

"Loki, thank you, I don't really know what to say. You are also my dearest friend. You are the only one in Asgard who believed in me.  The only one who wanted me to just be me, not a pawn for their own advancement; I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for you." Sigyn took the hand that was on her face and kissed it.  Loki quickly reciprocated and kissed her hand smiled at her and said.  “I have to go the ceremony should be starting soon.”

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The great hall was full.  Frigga came out first flanked by Thor and Loki on either side of her.  Thor took his place while Loki escorted his Mother all the way to her seat and then took his.  Odin made his way to the throne.  The guests made sort of a wave as he passed them with their bowing.  Odin took a place in front of his throne.  The doors to the great hall were closed.

One of the guards outside Sigyn's room opened the door to indicate the ceremony had started.  Sigyn walked out of the room and took a seat in her floating chariot that would be pulled by two white winged horses. She took one big deep breath, closed her eyes and focused herself.

“Would the sorceress make her presence known?" Odin’s voiced filled the hall.

The doors of the great hall opened and the lights went out.  One by one torches were lit, the fires in them were of various colors.  From the blackness of the open doors light orbs flew into the room and danced above the guests heads.  Then from out of the darkness two pairs of gold eyes could be seen from the darkness.

"Sorceress, reveal yourself to us." said Odin

From the blackness two lions walked out and stood on either side of the doors.  They stood regally looking at the crowd. Suddenly, one of the lions cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Your Majesty, All Father, the Great God, King Odin of Asgard, your Queen Frigga, and your Sons Prince Thor and Prince Loki, citizens and guests of Asgard, it is my honor to present your sorceress."

The other lion took over.

“She is a citizen of Asgard, She has studied with the finest Seidr in Vanaheim and is ranked number one in sorcery in all of the nine realms.  King Njord gave her a commendation for helping his army defeat invading forces while she was in his realm."

And in unison the lion growled out “WE ARE HONORED TO PRESENT TO YOU, SORCERESS SIGYN!!"

The lions started to walk down the hall and following behind them was a parade of animals: dancing, juggling, playing instruments, and holding banners and ribbons.  Some animals had never been seen before in Asgard, the parade consisted of animals from all the nine realms.  They followed the lions taking places along the steps leading to the throne.  The animals were impressive, so life like and animated that it was hard to believe they were anything but real.  Loki beamed with pride at what she was able to do.  He could actually touch the animals, the illusions were so strong that they could be touched, that was rare and to do it at this level was impressive.  Loki was pleased with what he saw. He knew he had a part in making her who she was and in some way he helped make this possible.  Odin was even smiling at the animals.  Sigyn's entrance was preceded by a marching band of instruments playing all by themselves.

And then Sigyn entered.  She was in her gold and white floating chariot being pulled by two winged horses. The chariot as it went by left a trail of flowers starting from underneath it and flowing behind it.  The little trick made Loki smile; he knew it was a tribute to him.  That was one of the first tricks he taught her.  When Sigyn was younger she loved going without shoes.  Loki noticed it one day while he was walking her home.  She had stepped on a rock a cut the bottom of her foot.  He questioned why she wasn't wearing shoes and she said she didn't like them.  He carried her home and went back to the palace to work on the spell.  The next day after school in the gardens of Asgard, he showed her how to do the trick.  She picked up on it quickly and from that day forward if she didn't have any shoes on she would use that spell to create a cushion of soft grass and flowers for her to walk on.

The carriage approached the bottom of the stairs leading up to the throne.  The two lions left their post, came to the side of the carriage and assisted Sigyn out of it.  Sigyn stepped to the bottom of the stairs bowed and said.

“I am the Sorceress Sigyn, I have arrived at your calling and I am at your service Odin, King of Asgard and Ruler of the Nine Realms."

Odin motioned to her. “Come Sorceress."

Sigyn climbed the mountain of stairs to the Throne.

"Kneel Sorceress." Said Odin

"I appoint you the position of Sorceress of Asgard, may you serve Asgard with honor.  I, Odin, ruler of the Nine Realms also grant you the Royal status - Rise Sorceress Sigyn."

Sigyn stood and turned around and Odin said.  “May I present to you all, The Royal Lady Sigyn, Sorceress of Asgard."

The crowd gathered cheered as well as those standing outside the palace.  Sigyn clapped her hands together and all the animals displayed on the throne flew into a tornado of color above the guests heads. Sigyn then made a sweeping motion with her hands and a flash of fireworks went off and flower petals fell from the sky.

Sigyn got back in her chariot and flew out of the hall.  Odin and the Royal family followed behind.

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"That was simply excellent!" cheered Loki when Sigyn made it into the banquet hall. Sigyn, her family, and the Royal family were allowed into the banquet hall first to get into a receiving line for the guest. "Thank you" blushed Sigyn.  Before taking his place in line Loki told her “I especially like the flowers." referring to the flowers trailing her chariot.

It seemed like the guests were never ending.  Sigyn had a pile of flowers and gifts, as well as request for healing and assistance in various situations.  Finally, the procession of guests ended and the guest of honor could take her seat.

Frigga put together the seating chart and set Sigyn right next to Loki. Frigga thought a lot of Sigyn.  She knew that Loki loved Sigyn.  She wasn't blind to the fact that when Sigyn was around Loki was a more balanced person; He smiled more.  She was glad she came back at her request.  Frigga remembers the day she promised herself she would get Sigyn back to Asgard.  Loki stormed through the palace throwing whatever was in arms reach. Loki ran to his room and shut the door. Frigga knocked on the door, "Loki, my son, what troubles you?" There was no answer from behind the door." Loki?" His mother called to him once more before entering the room.  She found Loki face down on his bed crying into a pillow. “She’s leaving, Mother, they're sending her away!" Loki cried out.  Sigyn was already visiting her Father in Alfheim.  While she was gone Loki had expressed to his Mother and Father his desire to make Sigyn his wife.  The All Father and Frigga began meeting with Sigyn's mother.  The meetings were cold and it was obvious that Llmr did not want Loki to marry her daughter.  When Frigga started to question whether Sigyn's real father should be involved Sigyn was all of the sudden on her way to Vanaheim for training.

Frigga’s heart ached for her son.  She really wanted Odin to step in an order Sigyn back so Loki could marry her.  Odin wouldn't interfere and said that the training would be a benefit to Sigyn and Asgard and that if Sigyn and Loki were meant to be together then they would. In the days following her heart continued to break as she watched Loki slowing sink into sadness and become more destructive.  Frigga found the she was pleading for mercy for her son more and more and saw the tears swell in his eyes whenever he saw, smelled, or heard something that reminded him of Sigyn.  She made a promise to herself that she would use all the influence she had to get Sigyn back for Loki.

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Sigyn and Loki barely ate anything; they were too involved with each other.  Their attraction to one another was electric and all the guests were a buzz with the budding relationship.  Sigyn's parents were less than pleased with the seating arrangement and with the obvious chemistry happening between the two. 

Llmr approached her daughter, “Sigyn, now that everyone has eaten, maybe you should go talk to the guests." 

"Okay, mother." Sigyn said

Loki kept his eyes on Sigyn the entire time she was away from him.  He watched every interaction especially with other men.  Of course there wasn't a man at that banquet that was going to challenge Loki over Sigyn.  He only took his eyes from her when his mother asked him a question. "So, are you going to ask her tonight?"  Frigga said with a smirk.

"Wha-? No, Mother not tonight. I- I just can't believe she is actually here. If her parents would just g-"

"They left, said they weren't feeling well and went home, maybe ten minutes ago," Frigga smiled and put her hand on Loki's arm, “go talk up your future wife."

Loki smiled, kissed his mother on her cheek and got up from his seat, but Sigyn was nowhere to be found. "Surely she didn't leave with her parents." Loki said to himself

"Why the panicked face brother, are we under a sneak attack?" Thor said in a jesting manner while slapping Loki in the back and swinging a stein of mead in the other.

"Sigyn, I don't see her, I wanted to talk to her." Pouted Loki

"Oh, she's on the balcony, I think the crowd was getting to her and she went for some air." Thor replied.

Loki dashed over to the balcony that was just outside the doors of the great hall.

"There you are Sigyn; I was worried you had already left." Loki said in relief and with a smile when he saw her.

"No, I just wanted a moment to myself." Sigyn said shyly.

"Oh, my, I'm sorry I’ll leave –“

"No, please stay, you I don't mind.  It was just all the questions and comments.  I needed to step away."

Loki was puzzled, “What questions, what comments? Was someone speaking ill of you?" Loki's voice started to rise slightly.

“No, Loki please calm down. It was about us, people were asking about us." Sigyn said reluctantly.

“Oh" Loki said with a surprised look, "is that a bad thing? Would you not want me as your husband?" Loki said with a slight teasing in his voice hoping it would cover up his nerves.

"No, it wouldn't be a bad thing. I mean you're a good man Loki, I think any girl would be lucky to have you as a husband. You're smart, handsome, well-groomed and well mannered, you're a Prince. Any girl would be lucky." Sigyn smiled at Loki then turned around a little embarrassed at what she had just admitted.

There was an awkward silence for a moment. Loki was in shock, he really didn't think Sigyn would seriously consider marriage in the first place.  He was also flattered at her comments of him. Sigyn was a little scared at what she just said.  She had never thought of Loki as a potential suitor until that evening with all the chatter about the two of them.  She was scared Loki was going to just laugh it off.

"Oh my, there's a little chill out here and I left my cape inside." Sigyn said trying to break the awkward silence.  Quickly Loki unclasped his cape from his armor and said, "Here, please, do me the honor and take mine." He quickly wrapped it around her before she could refuse.  Loki's cape was so big; it wrapped around her like huge blanket and dragged the ground. The two of them spent a couple of hours on a bench talking and laughing and getting to know each other, again.

Frigga regretfully interrupted the couple. "The guests are leaving, Sigyn I think it's time you get home."

"Oh yes, I really should leave." Sigyn said as she started to take off the cape to hand it back to Loki.

"No please keep it for now. I will retrieve it in the morning.” Loki said with a smile, “Here let me walk you to your carriage."

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Sigyn returned home to a very quiet Glitnir.  The halls were lit just enough to bounce shadows off the walls and ceiling.  As Sigyn made her way down the hall she was oblivious to the cracked door of her parents’ bedroom.  Inside Llmr watched Sigyn walk down the hall.  Her eyes glared at the cape draped around her daughter.  When Sigyn was in her room with the door closed, Llmr shut the door.

"Green! She's wearing Loki's green cape!" Llmr said between her teeth. “That boy doesn't know his place."

“That boy," interrupted Forseti, "is a Prince of Asgard, he's Odin’s son. As far as he is concerned his place is anywhere he wants it.  I don't like this anymore than you Llmr, but confronting him is only going to backfire and it will drive Sigyn to Loki for sure. Whatever we do, it will have to be quick, like last time. For now let it rest."