The Wrong Prince, Chapter 6 - A Sif/Loki Fanfiction
The Wrong Prince
Chapter 6
Fandom - Thor (2011 Film), Sif/Loki
Rating - Teenage
Summary - Sif has never done what everyone expects of her, so why should they be surprised when she chooses the wrong prince?
Genre - Romance/Angst
Status - Work in Progress, Chapter 6 of 12?
Word Count - 3, 726 words
Previous Chapters - Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4 and Chapter 5.
Written for the prompt on LJ's Norsekink - Sif's the perfect Asgardian woman. She's of noble birth, she's beautiful, she's a great warrior. EVERYONE, from Odin Allfather to the lowliest servant, expects her to marry Thor. But then she and Loki elope.
Chapter 6
Just like to say again that I only really know Thor from the film; I don't know much about the comics or the myths. The stuff about the Elves is just my own idea!
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So surprised was Sif at Loki’s words, that the grip on her sword slackened and it fell from her hand, rushing towards the water and slicing through its mirrored surface. It was only saved from sinking to the deep depths of the pool by Loki’s quick reflexes and magic. As the hilt of the sword slipped past the surface, a shot of green light leapt forwards and grabbed hold, raising it up and into Loki’s reaching hands. Sif watched all this with very little thought and even less comprehension. Her mind was too consumed once more with the words Loki had spoken.
Marry him? It was not something she had really considered before, maybe in the distant future, but now? They were certainly not ready for marriage, even after many centuries there were still too many doubts and misunderstandings between them, too little trust and communication. Even before Loki had fallen and their relationship had been dealt an almost deadly blow, they were still not ready for such a commitment as marriage. Yet, what alternative did she have? Marry Thor or marry Loki? That was not a question she even had to think about and she turned towards Loki as he turned towards her, holding out her sword like a peace offering, magically made dry and sparkling in the flickering sunshine that escaped through the thick oak branches above them. She took the sword from him without looking, she was too busy staring determinedly and intensely into his eyes. She wanted to see his every expression as she spoke her words of agreement to his plan, “Yes, alright. I will marry you then.”
Her response was hardly one full of enthusiasm and happiness, but then Loki’s proposal had hardly been of the usual variety and he looked incredibly surprised by her quick and determined answer. His mouth dropped open, caught on the words he had been about to say and his emerald green eyes lit up in shock. Sif saw his throat move a few times as he tried to find the words to speak and saw his eyes flickering as he fought down his reaction. When he finally did answer, his voice was almost perfectly balanced, “It does not have to be me you marry, Lady Sif.”
Sheathing her sword quickly, Sif simply rolled her eyes at the stupidity of his statement. “Who else am I going to marry then, Loki?” When she noticed his face twitch and his lips begin to move in speech, she quickly narrowed her eyes at him and snorted, “I think I would rather marry Thor than anyone else beside you, Loki.”
“Then marry Thor you shall,” Loki replied, emotionless. He had turned back towards the pool, but let his dark locks fall over his face so Sif could see his features and his expression no more.
Sif felt her anger and frustration at him rise within her, why could he just not be straight with her for once, just this once? Why was he always so determined to play games and hide his thoughts and dance around with his words? Sif’s patience was running very thin and she glared at him until he flinched slightly. “So you would prefer to see me married to your brother than marry me yourself?” Sif tried to keep her voice controlled, but even she could hear the resentment, hurt and anger in her tone.
An audible sigh was all the reaction Loki allowed Sif to witness and he eventually said, “Marrying Thor would be far easier, Lady Sif.”
Sif snorted at that and kicked her foot at the water where the reflection of Loki’s face remained hidden from her in annoyance, causing their images to distort and a splash of water to cascade over Loki, startling him enough that he turned to her once more. “Since when did I ever care about taking the easy way out? Where is the challenge, the triumph, the honour in that?”
“But we are not ready for anything even like marriage, Sif,” Loki replied almost petulantly and Sif could hear the hints of pleading and desperation in his voice as it wavered slightly. He turned away from her and Sif saw a flick of his hand and a flash of faint green light as the water droplets suddenly evaporated from his clothing.
“And you think I am more ready to marry Thor?” Sif replied angrily. Her hand remained on the hilt of her sword and she gripped it tightly in her frustration, though she could not deny the truth within Loki’s words. She knew that marrying the trickster god would be far from easy, especially considering all that had happened between them. For ever since Loki’s fall, things had never quite been the same; his actions had left them both bitter, with deep feelings of betrayal and even less trust and understanding between them. Sif knew Loki had not fully forgiven her for siding with Thor and travelling to Midgard to rescue him, that Loki assumed her friendship with Thor was greater and far worthier to her than her relationship with him.
Sif did not know how to overcome such suspicions between them; she did not have the words to express the differences between her friendship with Thor and her love for Loki. She had only hoped that time would once again prove her dedication to the God of Mischief, that he would come to realise once more than she would always love him in a way she could never love anyone else. But time was not a privilege they had any more and even before Loki’s fall, Sif knew such things were far from certain between them. The thought of marrying him when such problems existed sent a shiver of anxiety and apprehension down her spine, but what choice did they have?
“But do you not see it would be a disaster, for both of us?”
“No more so than were I to marry your brother!” Sif just glared at him, hoping he could see the annoyance in her gaze as he tried to hide from her through his hair again. His words and the way he was refusing to look at her were very rapidly wearing on Sif’s patience and she did not have much of that even at the best of times.
“And you would defy my father, your King? Marry the enemy, the Frost Giant who has brought nothing but havoc upon the nine realms and shame upon the house of Odin?” Loki turned towards her as he spoke, the madness and contempt, bitterness and self hatred creeping into his words and his expression once more. His hands clutched tightly to the earth under his palms and Sif could see the way the fingers curled, resisting the urge to strike at something.
Sif simply sighed in frustration and dug her hand harder into the hilt of her sword, the nails piercing her skin around the weapon. She did not know what else to say, to do. For what could she say, what words could help soften the anger and bitterness that had festered within Loki for so many centuries? How could she explain how much he meant to her, to those that cared for him? Where had things gone so wrong between them that he would question her desire to marry him over his brother? Perhaps if Loki had returned to Asgard sooner, perhaps then their relationship would not have been so badly destroyed. Perhaps if he had never fallen with the Rainbow Bridge, they would have found it much easier to rebuild, to repair the damage done between them. But as it was, it seemed that every day they had spent apart, with Loki hiding out in Midgard, another year of distance, of mistrust and misunderstanding, had forced itself between them. She knew that Loki saw her own distance as a form of betrayal, that he was bitter that she had not played a hand in trying to bring him home. But Sif had tried to make Loki understand that she had no choice, that she had not been allowed to return to Midgard to find him. That Thor had forbade it and she herself was not sure enough of Loki’s reaction to betray her friend. She reached over and took his hand, threading her fingers through his on the warm, soft earth. “I would still rather marry you than marry your brother, Loki.”
“And suffer the shame of disobeying your king? Suffer the scorn of the whole of Asgard?”
“What do I care for what Asgard thinks, Loki? Besides, the Allfather has yet to command it of me, so I am betraying no one.”
“You do not know what it is like.” Loki replied, his voice now more weary and resigned than the bitter and resentful tone he had used but moments before. “How painful it is to hear their whispers following you, to see the revulsion and hatred in their eyes, to see them draw back in disgust and fear.”
Sif looked at Loki in surprise, it was not like him to be so open, to talk so freely of what was troubling him. Yet whilst her sympathies for the fallen prince took hold, her own frustration began to get the better of her. “Do you forget then, Loki, how the people of Asgard first reacted to the idea of a female warrior? You think I did not notice the very same whispers and looks of scorn and derision aimed at me?”
“But that is different, Sif, for you have proven your worth and your right to fight alongside the warriors of Asgard, your right to become the queen of this realm. That is why my father so desires for it to be you who marries Thor.”
“And so we must do what the people of Asgard expect of us? Resign ourselves to an existence of misery and regrets to make them happy?” Sif looked at Loki crossly, her anger and frustration biting into her words and she squeezed his hand harder in warning. “Do you also condemn your brother to the same fate? Separate him forever from the mortal who holds his heart and who he pines after each day?”
Loki suddenly looked away from her then, glaring down at his own reflection in the pool and Sif knew she had hit upon a weak point in Loki’s armour. For ever since Loki had returned, Sif knew he had been eager to become worthy of the forgiveness his brother had so freely given. Whilst he may not act for himself, perhaps not even for her, he would surely act on behalf of his beloved brother.
“It is not that simple, Sif.” Loki eventually replied, trying hard to keep his voice empty and cold, though his feet swinging in agitation in the water and a small, sad smile playing across his lips belied the nonchalance in his tone.
Sif narrowed her eyes at him further, feeling her frustration start to twist to panic. Panic that he did not want to marry her, that he would prefer to see her marry his brother than commit himself. The panic loosened her tongue too much, but Sif was glad when her tone did not waver and her voice remained firm and derisive. “So you would prefer me to marry your brother then, Loki?”
When Loki gave no answer or reaction to her words, Sif felt her patience finally snap. She reached forwards to grab his chin and turned his face towards her so he had no choice but to look into her eyes. “Know this, Loki Odinson, if I marry your brother I will be a faithful and honourable wife to him. I will not betray him, even for you.”
Loki’s lips twisted up into a smirk as he answered, “I would expect nothing less from you, Lady Sif.”
Sif pushed his face away in disgust, not caring when his body was caught off balance and he had to clutch at the ground to prevent himself from falling forwards into the water.
“Then you have only yourself to blame when I am wedded to your brother, Loki.” With her voice dripping with disapproval and contempt, Sif began to stand, no longer able to face the God of Lies and Trickery who sat beside her.
“Wait, Sif,” Loki suddenly called out, reaching forwards and grabbing hold of her arm. His grip was firm, but that was not what stopped her. A burning, intense sensation swept through her at his touch and as she looked down she saw the faint outline of green light lingering on the air. She looked at Loki suddenly, catching his eyes and seeing behind his mask to the truth within them. It was not like Loki to lose control of his magic like that, to let it slip from his fingers without warning and it proved to Sif more than any words or action ever could, how close to breaking Loki’s control was. In that moment she realised just how much pain he was biting down and how much resentment and bitterness were simmering just below the surface. She also understood, in that one moment as she never had in all the years they had been together, how much she meant to Loki, how much the thought of losing her pained him and yet how he thought they had no other choice.
As her own eyes widened in understanding and acceptance, Loki turned away sharply, glaring fiercely at the ground beside him, his whole posture tensed and angry that he had given himself away. He let go of her arm and clasped his hands tightly between his knees, pulling away from her so there was a good few inches between them, though the distance between them was far greater than that which could be measured in mere inches or miles.
“It could not be a simple Asgardian wedding, Sif.” He turned back towards her, his mask once more held firmly in place, though his hands still twisted nervously together. When Sif merely looked on in confusion, he continued, “Father would only break an ordinary marriage, see it destroyed, that is if we could find someone willing to even perform the ceremony.”
Loki looked away from her again, back into the safety of the pool and Sif followed his movement, watching him watching her through their flickering reflections. “It would need to be a marriage father cannot break, Sif, an Elfin marriage.”
Unable to stop her reaction, Sif drew in a short, sharp breath at his words. The people of Asgard knew all about the marriage ceremonies of the Elves, how they, as a more traditional immortal race, mixed magic within their weddings. Magic that was said to bind the bride and groom together for all eternity, powerful magic rumoured to cause harm should either one stray and deep, everlasting magic that followed them even to the great unknown, beyond death itself. A shiver of fear ran down Sif’s spine at the thought, before she cursed inwardly as she saw Loki had seen the shock and apprehension in her reaction.
“I understand,” Sif forced the words out, gripping her sword so tightly her fingers turned white.
He glared deeper into the pool, his expression becoming twisted and his eyes almost crazed. “Do you, Sif?” Loki asked, his voice becoming as distorted as his expression. “Do you really understand what it will mean, being bound to me through an Elfin marriage? What may become of you if anything should happen to me? If I should…”
Loki’s words were cut off in a nervous gulp, but Sif did not have to hear the words to understand what he meant and suddenly the final piece of the puzzle fell into place. She did understand then, what was troubling Loki, holding him back. He was fearful for her; of what would become of her should he fall again, back into the madness and anger that had pushed him over the edge before. Anger fuelled by the resentment and bitterness that had plagued him for centuries, that was always simmering just beneath the surface, that every day scared Sif that it would break free and she would lose Loki forever. And if that did happen, what would become of her? Would the binds of their Elfin marriage drag her down into his madness? Would she be faced forever with the heartbreak over his fall, their separation, the magic within their marriage making it impossible for her to ever move on? And yet what was the alternative? To lose Loki forever anyway and be forced to marry a man she could love only as a friend, who was already in love with someone else? To forever be tormented by the presence and temptation of his younger brother, who would always be close by?
Even as the questions swirled around Sif’s thoughts, she knew well enough that her decision had not changed, that it would never change, no matter how much Loki tried to make it otherwise. He could strike fear in her all he wanted, but he should know well enough it would not work. For she was the Goddess of War, used to conquering her fear and marching into battle, well practiced in pushing her doubts and misgivings aside and defeating her enemy no matter what the odds. Besides, what point was there fearing the unknown when the alternative was so unthinkable, so distressing?
“Do you really want to chain yourself to me, Sif, for all eternity?” Loki finally asked sadly, his voice resigned as he saw the determination in her eyes, though he gave one last feeble attempt, anxious for her to understand, to really know what she was agreeing to.
Sif took Loki’s hand again and held it gently, wrapping her fingers around his and bringing it to rest on her lap. “I do not want to lose you, Loki, not again.” It was all the words Sif could find to express how she felt; how her heart had broken and her tears were wrenched from her soul in private over the rumours of his death. How much the memory of their separation had destroyed her and made her long to see him again, despite what he had done. Sif pushed aside those painful memories, for now the time had finally come when a decision had to be made, when they had to choose between exposing their relationship or ending it completely. Sif knew with every beating of her heart and every breath within her body what her choice would be. The question was now, what choice would Loki make.
“It is up to you, Loki, do you want to marry me or see me marry your brother? It is that simple.”
After a long pause that seemed to last countless lifetimes, Loki eventually spoke, “I suppose we have no choice, then.” Loki’s sigh of defeat was audible enough for anyone to hear and Sif tried to bite back the heartbreak it caused her to know Loki was so unwilling. For she could understand it, felt it herself, knew they were both making such a significant sacrifice to stay together and to help their friend and brother. So she tried to push the pain away, to set aside the doubts and anxieties and to instead take action, to focus on the positive, the knowledge that she had won this battle of wills against Loki. That she would not be forced to marry his brother and would instead be able to marry him, the one her own heart had chosen so many years ago. She smiled then, for there was much to be pleased about; she and Loki would remain together and, just like they had done for countless years, they would work through any difficulties the gods of fate decided to throw upon them. “You need not look so sad, Loki. I am sure marrying me will not be that trying.”
Sif playfully punched his arm, tried to brighten the melancholy mood between them. It seemed to work, for now at least, as a playful smile twitched at the corners of Loki’s lips and his eyes once more held a twinkle within their emerald depths. “I am not too sure about that, Lady Sif, I can see you being a very trying wife indeed!”
Sif kicked his legs in the pool, laughing slightly as a cascade of water rained down upon them. And if the laugh sounded a little desperate, a little forced, she was determined not to notice. Instead she let the cool water wash away her fears and worries, for now the decision had been reached and she was determined to let it plague them no more. “I am sure I will be no more difficult than you, Loki, God of Mischief and Trickery!”
As his smile grew, Sif took the opportunity to reach towards him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him nearer, their legs becoming entwined within the pool. She brushed her fingers up into his hair as she bent down and whispered softly in his ear, “I’m sure there will be a few advantages to marriage, Loki.” Then, she brought her lips down towards his and kissed him gently.
“So, we are to be married then?” Loki asked, pulling away from her slightly. His voice sounded childlike, filled with awe and wonderment, as if he could hardly believe she had agreed.
Sif simply smiled at her future husband and rolled her eyes. “Of course, Loki, why ever did you think it could be otherwise?” Before he could answer, she pulled him against her once more and kissed any words he may have spoken away.
It was only mere moments before Loki responded to her kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist and turning more fully towards her. And if their kisses became slightly desperate then, anxious, frantic, as if they were kissing away all their doubts and fears, Sif was determined not to notice. For they had made the only choice open to them and there was no point in further worry. Besides, Sif thought as she let Loki push her down onto the warm, soft earth, his lips dropping to press firmly against her neck, marrying him would not be such a hardship, after all.
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Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. More chapters are on their way soon.