#helblindi

“Escort?”

“Her father offered to chaperone for her tonight,” Loki said.

“Why would she require a chaperone if you have already taken her to your bed?” Laufey asked.

“Father!” Loki said.

“Heimdall is not the only one that can hear rumors and secrets,” Laufey said. “They just take a little longer to get to me.”

Loki sighed.

“Just, please don’t speak like that to Heimdall,” Loki said.

“He can’t be under the impression that his daughter is a virgin,” Laufey said.

“He’s not, but I would like him to understand that I do treat his daughter with respect,” Loki said.

Laufey shook his head. “She’s barely more than a servant.”

Loki looked to Laufey. “So was Mother.”

Laufey paused before smiling.

In the entrance hall of Laufey’s palace, Sigyn and Heimdall waited to be received by the royal family.

“Father, if I could ask you to…” Sigyn grimaced. “You know…”

“What?” Heimdall asked.

“The All Sight,” she said. “You don’t have to know everything; you don’t have to make it a point that you do.”

“I see,” Heimdall said, smiling to himself. “Are you saying you’re embarrassed of your father?”

Sigyn sighed. “Just don’t force me to be.”

“Of course, little one,” he said.

A guard entered the hall and the two stood up straight.

“His Majesty, King Laufey of Jotunheim.”

They bowed at the entrance of the King and Loki. Sigyn gave a small wave to Loki, who grinned back.

“Your majesty,” Heimdall said.

“Lord Heimdall,” Laufey said. “This is a rare occasion indeed.”

“I am not the only one who can stand watch over the Bifrost,” Heimdall said. “But I am uniquely suited to it, so, yes, it is a rare occasion that I am away from Asgard.”

Heimdall looked to Sigyn.

“But for my daughter, I find the time,” he said.

Sigyn smiled.

“I understand,” Laufey said. “Come, the rest are waiting.”

They were led to the palace banquet hall, where Queen Farbauti and her two younger sons were waiting. The Jotuns lounged on cushions and furs behind a long, low table. Sigyn gasped at the imposing figure that the Queen Jotun made, as she looked down on the young Asgardian. Loki offered his hand, and Sigyn wrapped as much of hers as she could around Loki’s index finger.

“Mother,” Loki said. “This is Sigyn.”

Sigyn gave a deep curtsey.

“I am honored to be in the presence of the great Queen of the Jotuns,” she said.

She slowly looked Sigyn over. Then she smiled.

“So you’re the one we’ve heard so much about,” Farbauti said.

“Oh,” Sigyn said. “I hadn’t realized.”

“He hasn’t shut up about you, really,” Byleist, one of Loki’s brothers, said.

“You’ve turned him a bit stupid,” the other brother Helblindi said.

“Oh, like he wasn’t stupid before,” Byleist said.

“Boys, be nice to your brother,” Farbauti said.

Sigyn felt her face burn and Loki pulled her close to his leg, directing her to where they’d be sitting.

The food was brought out and the meal continued, mostly filled with Heimdall and Laufey discussing basic news of the Nine Realms. Farbauti watched Sigyn with focused intent. Sigyn felt like an ant under a glass.

“So,” Farbauti finally said. “Loki tells us that you are a healer.”

“Yes, I am,” Sigyn said.

“Are you a specialist or just general practice?” she asked.

“My internship was for internal medicine, but I’m currently finishing a trauma surgery residency,” she said.

“A surgeon?” Farbauti said, glancing at Loki.

“She is very good at what she does,” Loki said, smiling.

Sigyn’s hair fell in front of her face as she looked away, and she brushed it back.

“It took a lot of work,” she said.

“I can imagine,” Farbauti said.

“I understand the two of you were introduced by Prince Thor,” Laufey said.

“In a manner of speaking,” Sigyn said. “His highness is a friend.”

“I’m constantly surprised at how many ‘friends’ the crown prince has,” Laufey said.

Sigyn paused. “He’s very insistent. When he decides that you are his friend, it’s hard to argue. That being said, I am grateful for the opportunities and experiences I’ve had since he made that decision. I couldn’t have imagined what I would have come to do, when I first met him.”

Loki smiled.

“I see,” Laufey said. “And this was the manner in which you began courting my son?”

“Darling, really,” Farbauti said.

“I would suggest that Sigyn did not start seeing your son on a whim,” Heimdall said. “She does not make such decisions lightly.”

“And in any case, I was the one who approached her,” Loki said. “Who pursued her.”

“If I may,” Sigyn said. “I can speak for myself.”

Laufey nodded. “So, speak.”

“I honestly don’t know what this will become,” she said. “I understand that I am not of a status that most would expect to be courted by the Crown Prince of Jotunheim. But I care very deeply about Loki, I know that already. And politically, it may be to a certain advantage to make more concrete ties to the other realms.”

Loki raised an eyebrow and Laufey smirked.

“You speak with the All-Father’s tongue,” Laufey said. “And you seem to bring a certain contentment within Loki.”

Laufey stood and gestured for Farbauti to join him. Farbauti smiled at Sigyn, and the two left.

“That was… abrupt,” Heimdall said.

“Father tends to leave before he says more than he wants to,” Byleist said.

“Looks like the Asgardian girlfriend gets the okay,” Helblindi said. “How boring.”

“Sorry?” Sigyn asked. “Were you looking for drama?”

“Well, sure,” Helblindi said.

“Oh, just wait until Loki decides he wants to marry her,” Byleist said.

“You say that like he hasn’t already,” Helblindi said.

Loki covered his face with his hand.

“You two are dismissed,” he said.

The younger brothers shrugged and left. Loki looked to Sigyn and Heimdall.

“I do apologize,” Loki said.

“No need,” Sigyn said. “I’ve attended banquets in honor of Princess Gulveigg. Odin does not get along with his sister.”

Loki grinned.

“Sigyn, will you be staying the night?” Heimdall asked.

“Father!” Sigyn said.

“I am merely asking,” Heimdall said. “If this… event is over, I should return to my duties. I have no illusions of the relationship you both are currently pursuing.”

“Father,” Sigyn said. “This is what I was saying about having to know everything.”

Heimdall nodded.