Freyja watched Thor leave the room. Her beautiful face was ashen. Her hands shook with rage and shock. A single golden tear rolled down her face. These demands, negotiations was far too lenient for what was happening here, there was no negotiating with Odin, proved what Sigyn had always believed and what Freyja had long suspected. Odin had no interest in defending Vanaheim from anyone. She longed to see the day Odin was made to sacrifice a child in order to preserve someone else's warped idea of the 'Greater Good'.

Hating herself for even considering the notion, Freyja began to consider which one of her daughters to let go. Sigyn would have to stay, she knew that outright. She would start the Ragnarok herself before handing Sigyn over to Odin. Sigyn was too important to Vanaheim to be surrendered. While she wasn't Freyja's favourite child, in Sigyn there was a leader who would restore Vanaheim and lead the realm in a way Freyja was unable to do. For the time being, Vanaheim would have to pander to Odin's demands. That was truly the Greater Good. Freyja heard laughter outside, the joyful noise travelling through the windows and echoing around the room. Rising from the table, Freyja looked out the window, seeing her eldest child linking arms with Baldr. The two were so focused on one another, so lost in their own world where they were the only citizens.

And there was her solution. No sacrifice would be made, not truly. Yes, she would have to let Nanna go, but that was no more sacrifice than any mother made when her children wed. Nanna was in love and the solution was neat. Let Nanna be wed to Baldr. Let Odin think he had a claim on Vanaheim's throne.

Sigyn lay back in the haystack, Loki joining her. Sigyn's attention was firmly on the cobweb that stretched across the barn ceiling. She watched the spider dancing across the silk threads, making its home ever more intricate and beautiful. Loki's attention was on Sigyn. It was an irrational fear, he knew, but he was afraid that if he looked away, even for a moment, she would vanish. Sigyn's eyes flickered to Loki's face, who refused to look away from her. Sigyn's eyes flickered back up to the ceiling, before looking back at Loki.

"Stop staring at me!" She finally broke the silence between them. Her fingers shifted, gently brushing against the back of Loki's hand. Loki smiled. It was a small smile, but enough for Sigyn to notice the change in him. She linked her fingers with his, their palms resting against one another's. A million tiny, delicious shocks ran through Loki's palm. He looked at their interlocked hands and up at Sigyn, unsure if she had noticed. Sigyn's eyes remained fixed on the ceiling above them.

"Do you like Glut?" Sigyn asked.

She's not you, was the first thought that came to Loki's mind. "I don't dislike her." Was the answer Loki gave, not sure what it was Sigyn was truly asking him.

"So you like her?"

Loki shrugged awkwardly, "I suppose you could say that."

"More than me?"

Loki cast his gaze down to their hands, gently brushing his thumb along her index finger, "Sigyn, the only woman I like more than you is my mother. My opinion of Glut pales in comparison to my opinion of you."

"So why did you bed her?"

"She offered and I, quite foolishly, went along with her proposal. Please do not judge me too harshly."

"Syn in the one who judges people, not me," She said, her voice joyous and teasing. She was quiet again and Loki could tell she was thinking, "If I had offered, would you?"

Loki sat up, crossing his legs but managing to keep Sigyn's hand in his own, "No, I wouldn't have bedded you," Sigyn made to protest, "Before you hate me, allow me to explain," He silenced her, "I wouldn't have bedded you because you are better than Glut. You deserve more than a night. You deserve all the love a man can give you and more besides. I would…" Loki sighed, "I would never take you just for one night. And never let any man have you for just one night, promise me that Sigyn. Promise me you will wait for the man who will stand by your side until the Ragnarok befalls us all."

As Loki spoke, Sigyn felt an odd feeling come over her. There was a fear swimming there, a fear of the future, a fear of the uncertainty she felt. Not for the first time, she wished she had inherited Freyja's gift of foresight. How was she supposed to know if she had found such a man? "Okay," Sigyn answered weakly, not sure if she was about to burst into tears or not.

Loki cast a look outside the barn. The sun had disappeared from view. Had it gotten that late already? Loki sighed, climbing off the hay and brushing himself down. He held a hand out for Sigyn, which the young Princess took gladly, lazily pulling herself up, "Will Her Highness be requiring transport back to the palace?" Loki asked.

"Oh, Her Highness will," Sigyn giggled. Loki turned, offering her his back. Sigyn locked her arms around his neck and jumped onto his back, "Onwards steed!"

Loki straightened up, "'Steed'?"

"All heroes must have their noble steed, Loki. The steed is a vital part of any hero's story."

"And you are to be a hero?" He asked as he started walking.

Sigyn nodded, unseen by Loki, "Yes," She answered haughtily, "I will be the hero of Vanaheim."

"And your name will be spoken of through the centuries. Your great grandchildren will tell their great grandchildren for millennia to come. When we are but ash and dust, your name will live on. And I, Loki, will be remembered as your noble steed."

He felt Sigyn snuggle her head along his shoulder. He silently willed her to press kiss lips to his bare neck. "You will be remembered as the most noble of steeds," He felt Sigyn's lips brush against his neck, her breath tickling him as she spoke.

As the Vanir palace came into sight, the young royals spotted the familiar silhouette of Thor. Sigyn hitched herself further up Loki's back and began waving at Thor, yelling his name. Thor waved back somewhat less enthusiastically. Sigyn wiggled down from Loki's back and the two made the rest of the way to the palace walking side by side, "Good evening Thor." She said, much more demurely than she had just been.

"Milady."

"How has your day been?"

"Successful."

Loki remained on the fringes of the exchange between Sigyn and Thor, ready to step in if anything became too awkward or too heated. Truth be told, he wasn't entirely sure which party he was rooting for as Thor and Sigyn maintained a tense politeness. Sigyn raised an eyebrow at Thor's answer, "How so?"

"The treaty between our people has been all but cemented."

Sigyn and Loki blinked in surprise. Sigyn floundered for a moment, "That was today?"

"Yes," Thor asked, a little confused. Sigyn looked to Loki, seeing if he had any clue as to what was going on. Loki looked just as blank faced as Sigyn felt. "Is there a problem?" Thor asked.

Sigyn shook her head, "No, there's no problem. If you'll excuse me, gentlemen." Sigyn turned on heel and walked hurriedly back into the palace. When she was away from the princes, Sigyn broke into a run, racing through the palace to her mother's chambers. She smacked her hand on the door, each hit smarting against her hand. The door opened and Freyja stood there, the picture of beauty and serenity, as she always was.

"What is wrong my dear?"

"The negotiations were today?" Sigyn asked, desperately hoping that Thor had been teasing her.

Freyja let her shoulders drop, looking so beautifully fragile it almost broke Sigyn's heart, "Yes, they were," Sensing her daughter's distress, Freyja pulled Sigyn into an embrace, stroking Sigyn's dark curls, "Your relationship with Thor is too volatile. They needed to go smoothly Sigyn. One day, when you rule this land, you will understand that some things must be done, no matter how much it pains you to do them."

Sigyn raised her head, "What do you mean?" Panic rose in her throat, "What did they demand from us?"

"That I give up one of my daughters."

Sigyn's eyes widened, "Mama…"

"No, not you my dear. You are too important to risk giving to the Aesir," She ran a hand through Sigyn's hair, tucking a loose strand back. Her hand came to rest under Sigyn's chin, lifting the little princess's face to look at her, "Never ever doubt your position here. I will not sacrifice you Sigyn. Do you know what your name means?"

Sigyn nodded, "Victorious."

"Exactly, Sigyn. And you will be victorious in your rule. You will be the one that restores Vanaheim and becomes a thorn in Odin's side," She placed a gentle kiss to Sigyn's forehead, "Until then though, we must play Odin's game to build our own realm. Do you understand?"

Sigyn nodded, "I understand. I just wish you would trust me. I wouldn't have done anything out of line mother. How am I to know how to rule if I never see you rule?"

Freyja laughed, "You think I know how to rule? Sigyn, one day you will realise that not one of us truly knows what we are doing beyond our best. That is all I ask of you when you become queen. Do your best and all will be well."