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The court room was intolerably hot and stuffy, and filled with the sound of old men talking over each other and clinking goblets. Its high ceilings displayed many old shields, and a wide round table filled the middle of the room.
Sif stood between two lords who cast funny looks her way, probably wondering what a mere warrior was doing standing in the court room with her superiors.
It had been months since Malekith’s attack, since the death of the Allmother, and Odin had recently fallen back into the Odinsleep.
Thor had told her he was sure his father would wake again soon, but she head the restlessness in his voice.
Here Thor stood now, at the head of the long stone table. His mousy blonde hair was half pinned up and his silver armour glittered. The red of his cloak was a stark contrast to everything else in the room.
Eventually, he cleared his throat and the room went silence. Sif found the silence heavier then any of the talking.
“Good morning.” He said, his booming voice echoed in the large room. “And welcome. If everyone’s here, then, let’s begin the meeting.”
He didn’t have the smoothness or perfect execution of words that Loki had ever had, but Sif was still proud of him. She banished thoughts of Loki from her mind.
“I have come to an understanding that there are some objects out in the cosmos that hold great power.” Thor continued. “They could be dangerous if they are taken into the wrong hands. I intend to go and search for them and have them locked away in the all fathers vault.”
There was a murmuring around the table as the lords took this in. Sif had already known about the stones, Thor had come to her immediately after coming back from Midgard after fighting those robots, and they’d discussed where they might be scattered throughout the universe.
“What are the objects?” Prompted a tall, bald man with a long white moustache. He observed Thor almost coldly over his high gold collar.
“Well, I’m not exactly sure.” Thor lied. Clearly, he didn’t want this information getting out to everyone. Sif felt a swell of pride that she’d been one of the first to know all the details.
“Where are they?” The long moustached man questioned.
“Well, um, I don’t know. I intend to search several realms for them.” Thor replied.
Sif was taken aback by the rudeness of this man. She remembered him from when she, Thor and Loki has been young and introduced to him. Lord Frode, she thought his name was, and remembered him always sitting nearby to Odin in court meetings. He probably thought he was a close advisor of Odin’s and therefore could treat Thor like an inexperienced delinquent.
“So, if I am correct,” Lord Frode said. “You intend to leave Asgard unprotected and unruled, in a blindness ambition to retrieve unknown objects that could be anywhere in the universe? Sounds like a fools errand to me!”
There were a few scarce agreements across the table, and they’d had Thor begun to look unsure. It was his apparent wavering that made Sif speak.
“Watch your tongue, good lord.” She said quietly, her voice cold and disdainful. The table turned to look at her. “This be Odin’s heir and your current king, I advice you to be more respectful of his decisions.”
Lord Frode looked at her, clearly appalled, but said nothing.
Sif didn’t miss Thor’s grateful glance. “I’m going to move on if we’re all in agreement.” He said.
“I leave Asgard tomorrow, as I don’t think there should be any time wasted at all. The good Lady Sif will be left regent in my place.”
Instantly, shouts of outrage and shock, faces turned to look at Sif.
She hide her surprise and lifted her head.
I’m to rule in his place?! She thought in shock. Why hadn’t he discussed this with me previously if that was his planning?! It better not have been a mere spur of the moment, I will kill him.
Thor looked at her for a long time. She gave him a nod. His shoulders relaxed.
“I reject to this addition! I see the Lady Sif unfit for the position of regency, your majesty,” Lord Frode announced, much to no one’s surprise. “I fear your absence and the choice of this woman in your place will have left the throne quite defenceless!”
“Watch how you speak of the Lady Sif.” Thor said quite firmly.
The men looked taken aback.
“Sif be unworthy!” Elric, a barrel of a man put in. “Let Birger be regent; I will yield to him!”
Sif glanced at Birger himself in suppressed anger. This is who they’d bow to?
With a warrior’s build and an amiable grin, and never without a beautiful lady on his arm, Birger was quite a leader in his circle of warriors. She’d taken him down many times in the fighting rings. If only she could ask for a physical fight to settle this argument, rules be that the winner be made regent. She knew she could take any of them.
This is not a civil way to think. She reprimanded herself. Thor likely chose you for your level headedness. She lifted her chin and looked at Birger in the eye.
“I’d make true to be a good ruler!” Announced Birger jovially to his friends, clearly quite pleased to be so popular. Sif wanted to stab him.
“Peace!” Said Thor. “And why should Birger be preferred in this? Sif knows the laws of the court as well as he, and she happens to be a close friend of mine also.”
“I will gladly take the place at the throne in percussion in your absence if you see it fit, your majesty.” Sif said coolly.
“Ambitious Sif.” Birger said. “Hush, let your betters speak. These are not a woman’s matters.”
“The topic very much concerns me, lord.” Sif said. “Much more so then it does you, it seems, as you were not chosen for the position.”
Much to her delight, Sif saw Birger redden considerably.
Thor hadn’t taken his eyes off her.
“If you will take the place, Lady Sif, then the matter is settled.” He said. “I think we’re done here.”
Sif caught up to Thor as he left the court room.
“Really, Thor? I in place of the throne?! Were you thinking at all?”
Thor grinned at her. “I was thinking very clearly. There is no one I would trust more in my place.”
Sif couldn’t help but give him a small smile. “And why not come to me first to ask me?”
“Oh,” Thor replied. “You’d have been sure to refuse.”
The next morning, Sif, the Warriors Three and Heimdall gathered to see Thor off.
“I’ll miss you, you big bilesnipe.” Fandral said as Thor embraced them all.
Thor laughed. “And I you. Stay well, my friends.”
“Don’t become a stranger.” Sif whispered as he hugged her.
When Thor had left, two golden-armoured guards followed her and the others back to the palace. “Leave us, please.” She said to them once they had arrived.
It felt absolutely ridiculous to sit in the throne, so she didn’t, instead perching on the railing of one of the balconies surrounding the throne room.
“Well, well, well.” Fandral laughed. “Ruler of Asgard, eh Sif?”
“It seems.” Sif put her head in her hands.
“Why the pique? I say this is great news.” Volstagg patted her back.
Sif wasn’t so sure.
That night, she sent a prayer to Frigga and curled up in bed.
She remembered a time when she’d pray for Loki every single night after he’d fallen.
How would he be faring in the dungeons?
Better in prison then dead.
She shivered at the thought, recalling how full of relief she’d been when he’d returned safe with Thor after Malekith’s attack. She didn’t know what she’d expected to happen, but she still had nightmares of him falling off the Bifrost and had silently worried.
She remembered how Thor recounted what had happened on Svartalfheim, how Loki had successfully guided them there, how he fought valiantly, how he protected Jane from Malekith and the Dark Elves, how he stabbed Kurse and sent him to Hel, barely surviving.
She wondered if he was lying in the bed in his cell at this moment, missing his mother like she was.
Sif didn’t want to think of Loki anymore, it brought her too much pain.
“Your ladyship, there is someone who wishes to speak with you.” A guard informed Sif the next day.
“Oh.” Sif said, quickly sitting in the throne and lifting her head. “Okay, send them in. Thankyou.”
When the grand doors were opened and the visitors in question walked into the hall, Sif felt the hair rise on her arms. Had the room darkened slightly, or was it her imagination?
Three women walked in, all very old and yet all young and beautiful at the same time. Sif thought temporarily of Frigga.
The old women wore black dresses laced up to their throats, their grey hair pulled up in a series of buns, stag antlers attached to their headpieces.
“Greetings.” Sif said cautiously, sitting straighter in her chair. “Who might you be?”
They bowed before her. “We are representatives of the Gifteðrinn ones, crones of North Vanaheim.” Said the first lady.
Witches. “What are your names?”
The lady smiled wickedly at her, her eyes dark. “Our names do not matter.”
“Then why do you wish to see me?”
“Sit tight, little one.” Said the second lady. “It is quite a story.”
Sif raised an eyebrow. Both crones turned to the third to speak.
Lifting her hands, she summoned what looked like one of Loki’s illusions before Sif, perhaps a kind of vision. It showed terrible war.
“During the Allfather’s bloody conquests, he came upon us.
He ravaged our land, taking all the precious things we held dear to us, invading and taking over.
We tried to fight him back, to save our children, but he stole our most precious weapon.”
Sif had a sick feeling in her stomach, not liking where this was going. She said quietly, “What was the weapon?”
The vision showed a long, thin bladed sword, studded with precious jewels.
“The Dainsleif sword, made by the dwarf Dain as a gift for our people. The sword was blessed, a strike from it never failed to kill. However, once drawn it must kill a man before returning to its sheath.”
“It sounds more cursed then blessed.” Sif said softly.
The witch waved her hand dismissively. “Technicalities. Odin claimed that anything dwarven made belonged to Asgard. He stole it and took it away, probably has it in that giant vault of his.”
“And you want it back?”
“Aye.”
“Odin’s conquests were many years ago, he has since brought around a long time of peace.” Sif said. “Why come to Asgard about this now, in particular, I?”
There was that wicked smile again. “Because the throne is weakened now, little one. No longer is Odin the powerful king he once was, no longer does Queen Frigga, once of Vanaheim herself, live to keep us at bay. The first crown heir to Asgard is dead, the second is far off in space, and the third imprisoned for treason against the throne. There is no one to stop us.”
Sif felt a shiver run up her spine, and didn’t bother to correct the crones that there was only two princes of Asgard. “What do you intend to do with us so weakened, then?”
The lady cackled. “Kill you! Kill you all! Ravage your streets, wage a war you win, peck out Odin’s other eye and take everything you all hold dear. And then, take our sword from over the demise. There is no one to stop us.”
“There is me.” Sif said coldly, not admitting that the crone’s words had shaken her. “Seize them.”
Guards grabbed the witches, two of which hissed and screamed. The third kept her eyes calmly locked on Sif’s.
“Go ahead.” She said. “Imprison us. Kill us. Do what you wish. If we aren’t back safely in our tribe by sunset with so little as a scratch on us, you will be murdered in your sleep by our many sisters.
“Let us go, and we will give you seven days. Seven days to track down the sword and bring it back to us. After that, we will kill you all.”
“Release them.” Sif said quietly. She watched them leave.
The court room was silent in light of this recent news. Sif had only called those she knew she could trust. Once upon a time, it would have included Loki.
The Warriors Three stood to her left, Volstagg, Fandral and Hogun. Then there was Heimdall, Sif’s half brother, and Tyr, leader of the Asgardian army.
“What should we do?” Volstagg asked in desperation after Sif had told them the news.
“We should send for Thor.” Tyr said.
“No.” Sif replied. “There is no way to contact him when we do not know where he is, and what he’s working on is even more important then this. Besides, I can handle it. There have been many war threats over the years, nothing that cannot be dealt with.”
“And what do you advise we do, Lady Sif?” Hogun asked, watching her closely.
“I think we track down the sword.” Sif said.
“I agree.” Volstagg said. “These witches’ numbers are great and they know we are weak. We must find the sword and give it up to them.”
“Not at all.” Sif replied calmly. “That is not how I meant it. I refuse to be daunted into doing these crone’s bidding because they believe they are stronger then us. There numbers cannot be big enough that Asgard’s Army cannot keep them at bay if they do come.”
“So we go to war with them?” Fandral asked.
“Not necessarily.” Sif replied. “I refuse to have my first proclamation to be a call for more war and bloodshed to try and solve a problem rooted in centuries of it. This is my plan.
“Tyr, I will have you prepare the army to protect Asgard in the case that the crones do something unwise. I will go to find the sword of Dainsleif with someone who knows were to find it and the history regarding it. We will have one of our sorcerers make a large impenetrable field surrounding Asgard’s borders to keep the crones busy in case I am not back within seven days.
We shall see then if it is the wisest choice to hand the sword over to them.”
“Lady Sif, you have been left as our leader.” Heimdall said quietly. “I advise you to stay at the palace, not searching for a sword when we have many other people to do that.”
“Do you know where it is?” Sif asked quietly.
“No, it is hidden from my view by something unidentifiable.” Heimdall replied.
“I will not stand by and let someone else attempt this. I will look for the sword myself.” She said it firmly, looking at Heimdall in challenge. He merely shrugged.
“Well then, It sounds like a good plan,” Fandral said. “Although excuse me for finding some flaws…”
“Yes?”
“How will the sword even be found? It’s been lost for millenia and these witches can’t even find it, want with all their—“ he wiggled his fingers to describe magic. “The only person who would have known such histories is the Allmother. Further still, an impenetrable force around Asgard? Only the best mages would be able to pull it off, and it still wouldn’t be enough against crones. Magic is their life’s work.”
“It seems the Allmother’s passing has made this entire task more impossible.” said Volstagg quietly.
Sif felt a pang of grief thinking of Frigga. “There are others with her powers.” She assured them.
She did not say who.
The palace dungeons were high-ceilinged and cloaked in darkness, torches illuminating the long passageway between the cells of criminals who snarled or called to her. The walls were thick grey stone and few small windows between cells were barred, showing the passageway outside.
There was a cold draft and Sif was glad for her cloak because it reduced the temperature of the room to near freezing. She hoped, for a small second, that the inside of the cells were incapsulated in some sort of heat.
She hardened her heart against pity- these people were here by their own choosing. This was their fate.
Walking over to stand before that cell in particular, Loki’s cell, she lifted the cloak of her head and looked the sorcerer up and down in observation.
Loki was definitely in a more feminine form today, if her curves were anything to go by. (Not that Sif had paid any attention to such a thing.) Her eyes seemed bluer then last Sif had seen her, when she could swear they’d been green.
Loki’s midnight hair framed her pale face, her lashes long and her lips red. Her hair was much longer then last Sif had seen her, growing in subtle waves to her shoulders. She stood by the bars, her hands folded neatly behind her back.
“Queen Sif!” She cried in mockery as Sif approached her, sweeping into a low bow. “I didn’t expect such a highborn visit.”
Reddening slightly, Sif just glared at her. “Do not address me that way. I am not a queen, Loki. And you know it.”
Bleak and white, the cell had a thin bed, a small wooden table and one chair, perhaps for a visitor. There were a few books on a shelf in the corner.
Sif had not visited Loki, whether it was out of anger or fear of seeing what she’d become.
Please, as if the great Lady Sif would ever fear anything. She could hear Loki’s kind natured words in her head, from a long ago time, a long ago wager. Now she stood before her and wondered what went wrong.
“I’ve come to talk to you.”
Loki raised an eyebrow. “That much is clear.”
Sif glared at her. “I haven’t, however, come to listen to your caustic retorts you seem to find so clever. You will be silent and listen or I will leave.”
“What a great pity that would be.” She said dryly. Seeing Sif’s glare, she grinned. “My apologies, dear, I couldn’t help myself.”
She mimed zipping her mouth closed with a hand, tossing the imaginary key over her shoulder.
Sif crossed her arms. “When you’re quite finished.”
“I’m finished.”
“Good. I’ve come to you for your help.”
She didn’t miss the curiosity flash across Loki’s face before she hid it under a mask of indifference.
“You must be desperate to attempt to enlist my help, Lady?”
“I need your skills. I know you have read a great lot on our history and travelled many places to read such content, and with the great Allmother passed you are the only person who knows such information.”
She watched how well Loki kept her indifferent facade up. It didn’t matter whether she pretended to care about her mother or not, they’d all seen how easily Thor had convinced him to help with Malekith after her death.
“And what will I get in return?” Loki asked scathingly.
“In return, I offer you the chance to be released from custody under the condition that you service Asgard and myself in this mission.”
“You’d set me free?” She asked quietly.
“I would.”
Loki hesitated. Finally she said, “what could this project possibly be?”
“There is a cursed sword, named Dainsleif, taken by the Allfather in conquest many millenia ago. It’s very important that I find it before the week is over. I presume you know a fair bit about this sword?”
“Yes.” Loki said, somewhat breathily, and Sif saw the light she got in her eye when she was flicking through pages of books in her mind. “Yes, I have indeed. What could make the Lady Sif so desperately in need of a cursed sword not sighted for millions of years?”
“I will tell you the details.” Sif said coolly, looking at Loki disdainfully. “If you agree to my terms and accept the proposal.”
Loki looked at her for a long moment. Sif looked right back at her. Slowly, she saw the corner of Loki’s mouth turn up in a small smile.
“I accept.” She said softly.
Sif told her everything.
“What are we doing?” Loki whispered, right at her heels as they descended from the dungeons. “Why are we hiding?”
“Shh!” Sif hissed. They ducked behind a pole as a guard walked past. She turned to examine Loki. Taking off her cloak and sweeping it over Loki’s shoulders, she pulled the hood low over her head. She told herself it was to make sure Loki wasn’t seen, and not because she kept getting distracted by her little smile.
“Keep your head down, and do not let anyone see you.” She told the mischief god gruffly.
Loki glanced down at the binding bracelet Sif had placed on her wrist and sighed. “That would be a lot easier if you let me use my magic.”
Sif flashed her a sour smile. “Absolutely not.”
“Doesn’t anyone know you plan to use me to help you?”
“Not yet, I didn’t want anyone to talk me into sense.” She said dryly.
The Warriors Three were waiting with horses at the entrance to the newly constructed Rainbow Bridge. She was sure she saw them all do a double take when they saw who she was with.
“Uh, Sif?” Fandral asked. “Who’s that with you?”
Sif turned, pretending she didn’t immediately know who he meant. “Oh, that’s Loki! Don’t worry, she isn’t going to do anything evil.”
“We’ll see.” Loki said. Sif glared at her.
“Of course.” Fandral said, putting the pieces together. “Loki will know there this cursed thing is!”
“I admire your confidence in me.” Loki flashed her teeth.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Hogun asked Sif, both he and Volstagg much more wary of Loki then Fandral was.
“It’s definitely not.” Sif told him.
Volstagg sagged. “Norns, do I need a drink.”
“You’ll have to wait till after, I’m afraid.” Sif said. “If we pull this off, I’ll buy everyone drinks.”
“Including me?” Loki asked.
“No, not including you.”
“Does she know where the sword is?” Hogun asked Sif, bringing them back to the topic at hand. If Sif was to rule Asgard, she needed to learn not to get distracted so easily.
“I certainly do.” Loki replied. “The Dainsleif sword, cursed to always kill after being drawn. It’s one of the many stolen artefacts in our long and bloody histories.”
“If this is in Asgard’s history section in the grand library, then why do we need Loki?” Volstagg asked.
“Because unlike your regular history scrolls, I know where to find it.” Loki said. “I’ve done a lot of careful research on items like this, I’ve translated scrolls found in century old libraries on Vanaheim, sought out proses sung by midgardians deluded enough to make the sword into myths, retold again and again for thousands of years.”
“Alright then. Where is it?” Sif asked.
“Dainsleif resides on Niflheim, where it is guarded by deadly mists and shadow creatures that have been, so far, mostly proven to be myths. There are several unique protection spells anyone willing to venture there will need if they want to come back alive.” She glanced at Sif.
“So you’ll need to come with me?”
“Indeed. Or let me go alone—“
“Unlikely. Nice try though.”
Loki sighed.
“So, Niflheim eh?” Fandral mused. “The realm of fog and mist…I didn’t expect it to be there. But it makes sense, as it’s mostly uninhabitable, save a few weird monsters.”
“Exactly.” Loki replied.
“We leave tomorrow morning.” Sif told Loki, trying to get the conversation back on track again. “You will be allowed to visit your chambers and the library to organise anything you may need.” She turned to Hogun. “Keep an eye on her. I’m going to tell the guards I need stocks of food and camping material for two people.”
She glared at Loki for good measure and turned to leave.
The next morning, Sif, Loki and the Warriors Three met at the end of the bifrost. Heimdall knew exactly what Sif was doing, and glared at her to show his disapproval.
“Do you have any better ideas?” She hissed.
“I certainly don’t have worse ones. Watch your back, sister. Loki will betray you at a moment’s notice.”
“I intend to not give Loki the opportunity.”
“Loki can hear you.” Loki said caustically, not taking his eyes from his pack as he checked it’s contents. Sif definitely did not take the time to give him more then a glance, certainly did not admire the half bun he’d pulled his hair into.
“Are you ready?” She asked him coldly.
“Awfully. Simply cannot wait—“
The lights of the rainbow bridge carried them away from Asgard and killed the end of the retort on Loki’s tongue.
Niflheim was cold and mostly dark, save from Sif’s lantern, sending beams of light cascading ahead of them through greyish mud and white snow.
Loki had assured her the sword would be found in a cavern at one of the many cliffs, and the tops of such cliffs and mountains were barely visible above the fog. Sif wondered how long this would take.
It was eerily silent, the trees veiled in the lightest of mists, their branches somber brown with sable cracks that gnarled the bark.
Clouds sat low upon the earth like a transparently lucid dream in the darkness.
At first, Sif trudged ahead of him, glaring into the dark and ignoring him as best she could. If there was a glimmer of hurt she saw on his face, she told herself she’d ignored it and that she didn’t care. But eventually, he caught up to her and they silently walked on side by side. It was a very uncomfortable silence.
“I want to make it clear.” Sif said. “That I am mad at you and do not wish to speak to you unless I have to.”
Loki said nothing.
They walked for nearly a day, Sif refusing to stop or look back. Eventually, she felt winds pick up and whip at her face.
“Surely not a storm.” Sif groaned. “As if the climate isn’t bad enough already.”
But she was right, as the winds grew stronger and louder and rain began to pelt down at them.
Loki tried to catch up with her, tried to keep them close, which infuriated her more as she stormed ahead of him. The wind and rain did not give up.
“We should find shelter!” She heard Loki call to her, before she had time to say it herself. Now she definitely couldn’t look for shelter, as that would seem as if she agreed with his idea.
They continued to walk. It only got colder and colder.
Sif wrapped her thick cloak around herself, shivering uncontrollably. She probably had hypothermia, she though sourly, as she looked down to her blue tinged fingers.
The cold moved in only to meet the warmth of her blood, her only defence left against such ice. She could feel it wash over her skin, again and again.
Come on Sif, she thought to herself. One foot in front of the other.
In defiance to the wind, in a rage against the winter blasts, at ease with the volcano that breathes under this snowy mountain range.
She had to keep walking. She tried to keep her slow pace steady. If she fell, she wouldn’t stand back up again.
The lantern had long since gone out. Straining her eyes to search through the mist for some place that could offer them temporary shelter, Sif lost her footing, tumbling in the snow she neared the edge of a series of sharp rocks. Her chest constricted in pain and—she felt a hand on her arm, securing her and pulling her back to her feet. Sif looked up to see Loki absentmindedly steadying her as his other arms shielded his eyes, searching through the mist. She pulled her arm out of his.
But the moment brought back a wave of memories that hit Sif like a brick wall, of both of them, when they had been younger, always back to back. Fighting off enemies, surviving a snowstorm, on a hunt.
They’d always been a wonderful team, she thought in anger. She tried to put her pride away for just a moment so that they would survive this.
Turning back to him, Sif reached for Loki’s hand, to the bracelet chaining his magic. She was not sure what she was doing anymore, or if it was wise. Putting in the code, the bracelet clicked open and Sif stumbled away, away into the snow. She was feeling extremely lightheaded.
But then, she felt Loki pull her close and lift his hand and…
There was a force around them, as if it was their own small eye of the storm. The wind howled around them but didn’t reach them in their safe bubble, and Sif clung to Loki and watched the blizzard around them, almost fascinated despite her uncontrollable shaking.
Despite its danger, the cold earth is very pretty in its crystal-white gown.
Soon, they managed to find shelter in a hollow cave face.
Still soaked through from her near fall in the snow, Sif barely registered what was happening. She felt Loki pull her into her sleeping pack, drawing the blankets up around her. She felt him pull her to him and felt his hands head with magical warmth, and she buried her face in his neck as blackness enveloped her.
The next morning, Sif slowly awoke and panicked for a spilt second before remembering where she was. Slowly lifting her head, she looked out the mouth of the cave and saw the storm had ended and left everything white and eerily silent.
Turning her head, she found Loki lying on his side next to her, still asleep. One of his arms draped elegantly over her middle. His dark hair was mused from the storm and lips pouting in his sleep, Sif had an overwhelming burst of affection.
Oh no. Not again.
Quickly rolling out of Loki’s reach, Sif sat up and looked around her. Their few belongings were still with them, including food. That was good, because Sif was starving. Opening her pack, she found parched corn and hardtack. Miserable with it but still quite ravenous, she did her best to eat it.
Soon Loki awoke, sitting up drowsily and lifting his hair from his eyes. Sif looked back down at her food and vowed she did not find the action attractive in the least.
When he looked up and saw her, she threw him his share of the food. “Eat.” She said, but her voice wasn’t as harsh as before. “We leave soon.”
“Is that so?” Loki said saucily, picking at the hardtack. “And your welcome, my Lady, for not abandoning you in the snow.”
“I’m not thanking you for discovering you had a moral compass.” She was very appreciative though, although she’d never say it.
His just sighed, and she felt a little disappointed.
They continued trenching through the snow for the rest of that day, getting closer to the highest cliff in sight, which was according to Loki where the sword was kept.
Sif didn’t want to trust him, but as he reassured her, if they didn’t get the sword he didn’t get his freedom, so she supposed it had to be right.
And besides, she had been trying not to think about it too hard but he really could have left her to die as soon as she’d given him his magic— yet he’d chosen to keep her safe, save her life, carrying her all the way to find them shelter.
Were it not for a few evil things she was trying not to hate him for, Sif may have begun to adore him again.
Sif shook her head. She was tired, and the day had been a long one. “We are never going to get there.” She grumbled.
“I don’t believe in never.” Loki said cheekily, nudging her.
“Well, I don’t believe in always.” Sif countered.
“Opposites attract.”
She laughed. “Pfff, never.”
“Always.” He finished, smirking.
That night they fell asleep in comfortable silence, much closer then Sif thought she’d ever find comfortable again.
Finally, they climbed higher through the cliffs and came to a cavern, it’s entrance sealed by a stone wall.
“This is it.” Loki said quietly.
Stepping up, Sif looked closely at the wall of rock and realised it must be some type of door.
“This must be the riddle rock you told me of?” She joked
“Indeed.” Loki came close and brushed his hand over it, looking closely at the rock. “You must answer three riddles, and the cavern will let you in.”
Sif heard him mumble some words she didn’t understand, and then stone rumbled.
Sif jumped as a low, whispering voice seemed to come from all around them, deep and low but as if it were spoken directly in her ear.
Who seeks entrance to the Hideaway of Dainsleif?
The words didn’t exactly come from one place, she realised. It was like they were spoken inside her mind. Loki clearly heard them too, and turned to look at Sif, encouraging her to address herself first. “I am Lady Sif.” She said. “Goddess of war and regent of Asgard.”
“And I am Loki,” he said.
Sif turned to look at him. He didn’t meet her eyes.
What brings you here?
“We wish to enter and collect the cursed sword Dainsleif.” Loki said.
There was a long silence. They looked to each other, and then the rumbling began again.
Then answer me this.
Who is that great one
who grasps the earth,
swallowing wood and water.
Bad weather he dreads,
wind, but no man,
and picks a fight with the sun.
guess my riddle.
Loki touched Sif’s elbow, turning her away from the talking door.
“Pick a fight with the sun. Do you think it could be darkness?” She asked.
Loki shook her head. “It would make sense but, swallowing wood and water doesn’t have anything to do with darkness.”
“What about the ‘wind, but no man’ bit?”
They hesitated for a moment, and then the answer came to both of them. They were surrounded by it after all.
“Fog, of course!” Sif told the door.
The door said.
Correct, but answer me this.
What is that wonder
I saw outside
before the Doors of Day?
Eight feet it has
and four eyes
and bears knees above its belly.
guess my riddle
“Some kind of creature?” Sif whispered to Loki.
“Indeed. Eight legs, four eyes, it’s typically a spider.”
“Spider?”
Correct. But answer me this
You can carry it
everywhere you go
But it never gets heavy
guess my riddle
“It’s definitely not you.” Huffed Loki, and Sif rolled her eyes.
Although she was silently thankful for the possible near-hours Loki had carried her through snow.
“Surely it’s not something like life?”
“Well, that gets heavy.” Loki mumbled. “Wait, I’ve got it. Your name!”
Correct. Said the door. It sounded someone annoyed, if that was possible for an ancient stone face.
“We’ve don’t all three.” Loki said. “We can enter now.”
But the door didn’t open.
“Perhaps it didn’t like that we found it so easy?” Sif suggested.
A last riddle
the door said, as if in reply.
“Typical Odin, not keeping to his word.” Loki hissed. “Every history book promises three riddles.”
I hurt the most when lost
but more when I am not found
I am easy to ignore
But hardest to forget
I can drive some to insanity
others to joy
I fill a room
but don’t take up space
Guess my riddle
“This one is impossible” Sif buried her face in her hands, trying to think.
They spent several minutes coming up with different answers, all which were incorrect.
“Is there any other way to get pass you?” Loki asked.
Guess my riddle.
“I’ll take that as a no.”
“It must be somethi— what are those?” Sif got to her feet from where they had been sitting near the entrance, her hand coming to rest on the hilt of her sword.
Loki stood too, and followed her gaze. Out from all around them, dark figures were surrounding them.
“Kaldr andlát” Loki said softly. Cold death. Sif shivered.
“Creatures of mist and shadow.”
“I thought they were myths.” Sif said.
“Me too.”
One of the creatures emerged from the fog and stood before the.
It was tall and gaunt, and looked hard as old bones, with flesh pale as milk. Its armor seemed to change color as it moved; here it was white as new-fallen snow, there black as shadow. Others emerged from the fog to look at them too. Sif caught sight of one eating something that looked like a piece of meat, gnarling at it like a child would eat candy.
The patterns ran like moonlight on water with every step it took. Sif saw their eyes; blue, deeper and bluer than any human eyes, a blue that burned like ice.
“Hello!” Loki called to them. “We come at peace.”
“Liar!” Shouted one of the creatures. The others joined in.
“We are here in King Odin’s good will, to protect his possessions against intruders!”
“Odin isn’t king anymore.” Loki said. He gestured to Sif. “Odin’s son left Sif here as ruler of Asgard. That means you bow to her now.”
“We do not bow to Asgard!” Shouted an enraged kaldr andlát. “Only to King Odin!” The others roared their agreement.
“And what exactly has Odin done for you?” Loki asked dryly.
“He showed us true light; he showed us the sun.”
“How is that possible?” Sif whispered. “It’s always cold and dark here, did he take them to another realm to show them the sun or something?”
“He showed us the sword!” Another cried. “It shines bright like burning fire, bright like other realm’s skies at morning! He left it under our protection.”
“Right.” Loki said. “Well, I can show you light too. Look!” With a click of his fingers, a magical ball of light hung in the air above their heads.
This only enraged the kaldr andlát more. “That isn’t true light! That but a trick!” Called the one eating the unidentifiable meat.
Loki glowered. “Then I’m sorry to say but Odin tricked you, I don’t see how Dainsleif would have glowed without the use of some kind of magic.”
“How dare you doubt King Odin!” One shouted.
Sif held up her hands. “We simply mean to take the sword and—“
With a cry, they attacked.
Sif drew her own sword from its sheath and spun it, slicing into their milky flesh.
They had inhuman cries but were stronger then she’d anticipated.
Managing to fell one, she turned as many more began attacking them, their eyes sold and frenzied.
She concentrated on surviving moment by moment, rather then trying to fell as many of them as she could. She saw Loki had a dagger in each hand, swiping madly at all that came near.
His face was bleeding.
Letting out a burst of magic, a group of them toppled away from him, only to be replaced by the others charging behind. Sif wondered how many of them there must be, only to realise they seemed to be forming from the mist itself.
Sif cried out as one bit deeply into her arm, deep enough to reach bone. It grinned at her, its black teeth dripping with her blood. The blood seemed to make the kaldr andlát more frenzied, and that meant more dangerous. Sif didn’t know how they were going to survive it. Moving closer the Loki, they fought back to back. When one stumbled, the other covered for them, and so on until they had mowed through many of these terrible little creatures.
When most of the danger had been averted, Sif stumbled to her feet, dazed and covered in blood. Where was Loki? Struggling through the fallen bodies of kaldr andlát, her heart beat furiously until she found him, laying half covered by one of them. Crawling out, he took her offered hand with a weary smile.
He looked around. “Hm. Nice job, m’lady.”
“And yourself.” Sif said, breathing a silent sigh of relief. “It’s been too long since we’ve fought together.”
Loki looked at her with a smirk. “It’s been too long since we’ve done anything together. I loved celebrating our battles.”
Sif grinned at him. “Me too.”
He opened his mouth to say something, but Sif darted forward, pressing her lips to his. For a surprised moment he didn’t respond, and then he kissed her back like he was finding water after months of drought.
Every part of it was all consuming, and Sif lost herself in the passion of it. She wound her fingers through his hair, and her body seemed to mould against his as if she they were both liquid. She could feel his heart thrumming in his chest, so gloriously alive. why did we wait so long?
“I love you with every breath.” He whispered as they broke away.
Her eyes widened at the confession, not at all expecting it. “Loki, I…”
Correct answer. The door said.
They turned to look in unison, and Sif jumped slightly as the heavy stone groaned open, giving them passage into the cavern.
“Love?” Sif asked, half non-believing, half in bewildered amusement. Loki reached for her hand and they slowly entered together.
The inside of the cavern was not like any cave she’d been inside before. It expanded like a wide dream, a carved statue of a sleeping dragon within the rock of the ceiling. A divine artwork of water and time, crystalline rocks covered the interior like ancient jewels. The cave expanded into a giant still pool, and above it floated what must have been Dainsleif, a large, golden sword, as if it were in wait for them.
The throne room was dark once again. Sif was glad Loki stood beside the throne, she was a nice support. The crones bowed before them.
Sif stood from the throne as soon as the three of them entered, walking down the steps to stand before them. “Greetings.” She said, smiling quite pleasantly.
“Do you have the sword?” Snapped the first crone, apparently not having the patience for civil conversation.
“I do have the sword.” Sif said calmly. “It’s not with me currently, but I have it.”
She saw the greed flash in the crone’s eyes. “Then go and get it.”
“It’s a marvellous sword, just like you said. Very beautiful.” Sif told them.
“We don’t have the patience for this!”
“However, you changed a bit of the story. You called it blessed, remember? To always strike and kill? Well, when Loki told the the histories, it was always called a cursed sword.”
“These are just words.” The third crow hissed. “What difference does it make?”
“That’s what I thought.” Sif said. “It doesn’t make much difference at all. But Loki told me the rest of the story too, a few bits you ladies forgot about. They make all the difference in the world.”
She saw the crones eyes flash in anger. “Give is the sword!” The second crone hissed, her headpiece bobbing.
Loki walked down the steps to stand next to Sif.
“The retelling I know is always very different to yours.” She said. “I think you know why. The elvish, they have a very different story. And you know what? It makes sense.
The dwarf Dain, he makes Dainsleif for Aflheim, to protect the light elves against evil in the universe. There was so much evil in those days.
But it was intercepted on its way to Aflheim, and was lost to space. No one knows for sure where it got to.”
The crones looked infuriated, but they didn’t do anything. They wanted to know how much Sif and Loki knew, Sif realised.
“Other stories have a sword stolen by a group of witches, in particular three sisters who lead these crones. Their names were Portia, Lænda, and Guthrie. Those are your names, am I correct?” The crones said nothing.
“Your clan is not big and powerful, it is only you three sisters and few others. You would lead no war against Asgard, for you wouldn’t risk your own lives. You just had enough faith in the prospect of us fearing you enough to bring you the sword. When Odin took the sword from you in battle, claiming everything dawven made now belonged to Asgard, that was spent by him. But he also didn’t know Dainsleif was stolen from Aflheim, a realm he’d recently made alliance with. I think you were terrified, and I think still to this day you were terrified you’ll be found by Aflheim and they’ll press charges.” Loki smiled at them, her smile so smug it made Sif want to laugh.
“I’m sorry for what Odin did to you and your home.” Sif told them. “And I hope under my rule I can make a lot of it right. But you will not get the sword back as repayment.”
The sisters were silent. Sif saw they all looked scared. Quietly, the one she believed was Lænda asked, “where is the sword?”
“The sword is on its way back to Aflheim, it will be handy having them in my favour. I have asked them to leave you be, and you are all protected by Asgard’s forces in return for Odin’s wrong doings towards you, as we did not know you’d stolen the sword.”
The crones fell to their knees and thanked Sif and Loki for their protection.
“Thankyou, oh thankyou.” Guthrie murmured.
“Now leave.” Sif said sternly.
They did.
Sif stood with Loki on a balcony overlooking Asgard and smiled to herself.
“Very well done, my lady.” Loki bowed dramatically.
Sif laughed. “It is thanks to your research that we are safe now. I don’t know what I would have without you.”
Loki shrugged, trying to be modest and doing a terrible job. “I guess I helped a little. Sif, I…I didn’t ever think this would happen.”
Sif wanted to taunt Loki for her lack of words, something that very rarely happened, but she knew exactly how she felt. How to describe in words how one’s life can change in a day? Perhaps this had all been for the better, for Loki would have still been in a cell, and nothing would have rekindled between the two of them. She reached out and took Loki’s hand.
“After everything that’s happened,…” Loki said. Everything that have happened indeed. Loki had yet to explain it all to Sif, but she was sure it would all come out in good time. “…never did I think we’d ever be together gains. And yet..and yet..”
“And yet here we are despite it all.” Sif whispered.
“Indeed.” Loki smiled thankfully, glancing at their joint hands. “Well, regent of Asgard, what other good do you plan to do for this place?” She gestured to the sparkling city off the balcony.
Sif titled her head to the side, deep in thought. “I’d put in some laws for the good of the people at some point, their are scarcely enough to keep them safe from one another. Mostly ensuring that everyone is equal and given fair rights to trial, it’s especially important in a dictatorship like ours and I think the Allfather has gone long enough without it. I hope Thor won’t mind too much.”
“Thor chose you for a reason, the good of Asgard.”
She smiled. “And of course, that any discrimination against gender, race and religions be dealt with harshly.”
“Wise ideas, my lady. I look forward to seeing Asgard flourish under your rule.”
“And you, Loki? What would you do? For the good of Asgard.” She added.
Loki rolled her eyes. “Well I’m certainly not wishing to set fire to the place. Hmm. I would revive the old practise of progress and actually visit my subjects, travel to every part of the country for a few weeks. Odin has forgotten to let them know they are cared about, it’s a good way to lose favour quickly. I would hear their concerns and encourage them to send letters to me personally. I would do whatever I could in my role to advise the court of their concerns and actually find solutions.” She saw Sif’s expression. “It’s just an idea!” She said defensively.
“No, that’s..that’s actually a wonderful idea.” Sif pursed her lips, thoughtful. “I was just thinking…Loki, I do think you’d be a good ruler after all.”
Loki scoffed. “I know. I could have been, if you gave me a chance before betraying me. But you’ll be much better and you know it. You have everything a good ruler needs—you have empathy but you aren’t afraid to be harsh when it’s needed. You have integrity, you aren’t easily influenced and you’re awfully self-aware.”
Sif laughed and kissed her, leaving her looking quite pleased. “As are you, my dear. You’ve been exceptionally loyal and brave, and we wouldn’t have survived this ordeal without your intelligence…oh Loki, take my side at the throne. Let’s rule together.”
Loki looked choked up on emotion for a second. Sif knew this was not coherently what she wanted, but it was a sure start to make everyone see her as a good ruler and equal to Thor, and perhaps she’d enjoy ruling beside Sif.
“Yes..yes, I accept.” Her smile was dazzling. “I do not believe I’d be in favour of the court however…”
“Oh Loki, I don’t care for those fools. Let them talk and snick if that is their thing, we have run a marathon on bleeding feet and won.”
She sealed the promise with another kiss, feeling light and free.
And that’s how they’d live in the absence of Thor, they’d sing along with their drunk friends at feasts, told children old stories and myths, they laugh privately to each other about pretentious courtiers and listens to nasty court gossip. Perhaps go on adventures throughout the galaxy, discuss deeply the mysteries of the universe while sitting under the stars, outlasting hordes and rulers that would come and go as they survived, making Asgard a better place as they went.
And some time in the distant future, Thor would return from his searches empty handed and defeated, and they would all go and find the infinity stones together.
Sif and Loki would fight alongside the Avengers, Sif would discover Loki’s heritage and he would see it did not change a thing, and Odin would eventually awaken and beg his younger son for forgiveness, and they’d marry one day, forever a perfect team, and they would fight Hela when she came, and then the Mad Titan, they would do it all together.
But they knew none of this as they held one another on the balcony overlooking Asgard— beautiful, golden Asgard with its crystalline skies.
And so forever began.