Prologue

He was perfect.

Sigyn knew she shouldn't think of the All Father's son that way, but she did. He was everything she ever wanted in a man, and even though her friends never understood why she clearly preferred Odin's younger, more mischievous son over the older, muscular, and (in their eyes) more attractive son who was meant to rule one day, Sigyn knew it was because she wanted a husband who could make her laugh, who could brighten her day with only a smile.

Loki.

All Father, even his name sounded perfect.

He had never noticed her, but Sigyn did. She noticed the way he walked, the way the corners of his eyes creased whenever he smiled, the way his laugh told everyone how pleased he was at pulling off a mischievous prank.

"He never notices me," Sigyn sighed as she watched the prince stride past her in the hallway.

"Why should he, Sigyn? You are but a child," her nurse scolded her. "Stop daydreaming and focus on the here and now."

But Sigyn refused to give up her dream of one day becoming Loki's queen. And then the day came when the All Father had her sent to Jotunheim, to serve as Laufey's ward. It was Odin's way of pledging his promise to the leader of the Frost Giants, to appease Laufey's uneasy feelings about their fragile alliance.

Sigyn's parents had no choice but to obey, but for Sigyn, it was an order she was reluctant to comply. Nevertheless she soon found herself in the Bifrost with her parents and the two princes.

Sigyn looked at her mother and father, her face betraying none of her conflicting emotions.

"You will be back with us soon enough, my child," her father promised.

Sigyn nodded, silently telling him she understood.

"Dress warmly, my lady," Thor called. His voice was deep and comforting, and Sigyn silently thanked him for it.

"I will, my Lord." Sigyn smiled, and then turned to Loki. The mischievous prince was looking at her for once, but his expression was unreadable. Sigyn turned away from him then, and watched as Heimdall summoned the portal to Jotunheim.

Seconds before she was sucked through, Sigyn turned her head towards Loki.

Was that sorrow in his eyes? Before she could figure it out, however, she was gone.

She was perfect.

Loki knew he shouldn't think of a little girl that way, but he did. She was everything he ever wanted in a woman – girl, he reminded himself often – and even though nobody knew of his growing obsession of her, Loki knew it was because she reminded him of everything that was good in life.

Sigyn.

All Father, even her name was perfect.

She had never noticed him, but Loki did. He noticed the way her fair hair streamed behind her as she ran down the hallways of the palace, the way her mouth was perfectly formed, and the way his day seemed to brighten whenever he saw her.

She will never be mine, Loki thought wistfully as he had passed by her in the hallway one morning. She is far too young, far too fair to ever be with me.

And yet, Loki never gave up his dream that he would one day make her his queen. And then the day came when the All Father stated that Sigyn was to be sent to Jotunheim to be Laufey's ward. When his brother came to tell him the news, Loki felt as if the world was crashing down on him.

Why her? Loki had thought, not caring whether Heimdall could hear his thoughts or not. She is but a child!

But Odin had given his word, and not even Sigyn herself protested. Loki accompanied his brother to the Bifrost the day Sigyn was to be sent to the cold wasteland of Jotunheim.

Even when faced with such an unpleasant task, Sigyn never cried. She never showed any weakness, and Loki loved her all the more for it.

Love? Is this love I am feeling for her? Loki pondered, adopting a mask of indifference as Heimdall walked across the Bifrost.

"You will be back with us soon enough, my child," Loki heard her father say.

Sigyn nodded, as if telling her father that she understood.

"Dress warmly, my lady," Thor called from beside Loki. Loki felt that he should say something, but he could not find the words.

"I will, my Lord." Sigyn replied, and her voice was as sweet as honey. Loki looked at her then, and to his surprise she looked at him. He was about to say something, something that could assure her that everything would be alright, but she turned away from him. His voice died in his throat, and he watched as Heimdall summoned the portal to Jotunheim.

Seconds before she was sucked through, Sigyn turned her head towards Loki.

He drank in her appearance, wishing that he could come with her.

And then she was gone.

Author's Note: I decided to put up this 'teaser' chapter to see if I should continue this fanfic or not. I'm honestly busy with work and finishing my Left 4 Dead fanfic (plus a handful of others I'd rather not mention, haha), but this idea suddenly hit me while out with friends and I just had to write it down. First off, I. have. not. read. the. comics., so don't expect massive inserts of the Marvel characters. This fanfic is my own take on the characters, and I started writing this because I desperately want Loki to have someone stick by him no matter what. I know Loki and Sigyn's relationship (based on the things I've read in the Marvel wiki) is rather...one-sided, and I wanted to change that. The events follow the "Thor" and "The Avengers" films, except Sigyn is thrown into the mix.