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Only a Matter of Time
Aug. 14th, 2012 05:48 pmIt didn't take long for Sif to grow tired of the incessant talk around the city. On her rounds she'd heard all of the rumors, each more ridiculous than the last. One day Loki was on his way back to Asgard with an army of Frost Giants and the next, he was currently ruling over some Midgardian city whose people he was holding under a thrall, making them dance for him every night.
But no one actually knew anything--least of all Sif, and that was what cut at her the most. It was true she at least knew where Loki was, but understanding was a different thing. It was difficult to reconcile any of what Thor had told her, or what she'd seen herself, with the boy she'd used to taunt for being so scrawny, who'd played tricks on her and had all those years ago made her hair as dark as his own. And she couldn't quite recognize Thor anymore with weight on his shoulders and shadows in his smile.
She'd always distantly known with their different stations that life would take them each down separate paths, but this wasn't what she'd imagined.
Even Fandral and Volstagg were founts of speculation that grew wilder with each flagon of mead. Sif spent more time with herself than she was used to, and began to feel restless. Useless. Before much time had passed, she made her way resolutely to the palace.
With Thor gone, Sif's visits there were much farther between, but Frigga welcomed her with her usual warmth as they sat for tea. Sif returned her embrace with none of the awkwardness she'd felt around the queen as a girl with gangly arms and mud on her skirts from wrestling with Thor.
Or, at the least, not as much awkwardness. Sif adjusted her armor and leaned forward to pour water for more tea as she looked across at Frigga, who sat poised and elegant as ever, her golden curls tumbling over one shoulder as they made idle talk.
"I've some idea what you're here to say," Frigga said after a while, broaching the subject. "I too am worried for Thor."
Sif's hand faltered briefly on the water jug as she righted it on the table. "I did wonder if he might need reinforcements," she said casually.
"I imagine it was difficult for you and the Warriors to stay behind." Frigga watched her over her teacup.
When news of Loki's escape had begun to spread around Asgard, Sif had known Thor would not stay even before he'd come to her. After all these years her instincts were to follow him wherever a mission would take them, but they weren't children anymore, she was a soldier in her own right and in times of peace, she had her own duties within the realm to attend to. "I don't have the freedom of a prince to go off wherever I want with no set plans to return," she said finally, more blunt than she'd intended to be, and with a little more bite.
Frigga only chuckled. "I'm sure he misses you too," she said, and Sif had the grace to look abashed.
"You know that Loki is under control," Frigga continued gently. Sif took that to be the end of it and began to desperately reach for ways to end the conversation, but then Frigga added with a small smile, "Still, I would feel more at ease if I knew that Thor had a friend from Asgard with him."
+
The Bifrost was clear of travelers when Sif reached it, approaching her brother where he stood watching at the edge of the world. Out of habit she sat at his feet, looking out over the abyss. Heimdall made no move to greet her, but this too was habit, so she simply sat in the quiet for as long as she could stand it. Most times she would try to fill the silence, but it occurred to her she may not have one like it with him for some time.
"You have decided to follow him," Heimdall said, finally. No surprise to anyone involved, Sif thought wryly.
"Unless you can tell me what else to do?" She glanced up at him with childish hopefulness. Despite his mother's words, Sif was unsure how needed she would be. And Asgard was all she knew; she'd never set out away from it alone.
"That is not for me to decide." He turned his gaze to her for just a moment.
It was the answer she'd expected--to a question she never should have asked to begin with. Sif released a breath and got to her feet again, setting her shoulders. "Get me as close as you can."
But no one actually knew anything--least of all Sif, and that was what cut at her the most. It was true she at least knew where Loki was, but understanding was a different thing. It was difficult to reconcile any of what Thor had told her, or what she'd seen herself, with the boy she'd used to taunt for being so scrawny, who'd played tricks on her and had all those years ago made her hair as dark as his own. And she couldn't quite recognize Thor anymore with weight on his shoulders and shadows in his smile.
She'd always distantly known with their different stations that life would take them each down separate paths, but this wasn't what she'd imagined.
Even Fandral and Volstagg were founts of speculation that grew wilder with each flagon of mead. Sif spent more time with herself than she was used to, and began to feel restless. Useless. Before much time had passed, she made her way resolutely to the palace.
With Thor gone, Sif's visits there were much farther between, but Frigga welcomed her with her usual warmth as they sat for tea. Sif returned her embrace with none of the awkwardness she'd felt around the queen as a girl with gangly arms and mud on her skirts from wrestling with Thor.
Or, at the least, not as much awkwardness. Sif adjusted her armor and leaned forward to pour water for more tea as she looked across at Frigga, who sat poised and elegant as ever, her golden curls tumbling over one shoulder as they made idle talk.
"I've some idea what you're here to say," Frigga said after a while, broaching the subject. "I too am worried for Thor."
Sif's hand faltered briefly on the water jug as she righted it on the table. "I did wonder if he might need reinforcements," she said casually.
"I imagine it was difficult for you and the Warriors to stay behind." Frigga watched her over her teacup.
When news of Loki's escape had begun to spread around Asgard, Sif had known Thor would not stay even before he'd come to her. After all these years her instincts were to follow him wherever a mission would take them, but they weren't children anymore, she was a soldier in her own right and in times of peace, she had her own duties within the realm to attend to. "I don't have the freedom of a prince to go off wherever I want with no set plans to return," she said finally, more blunt than she'd intended to be, and with a little more bite.
Frigga only chuckled. "I'm sure he misses you too," she said, and Sif had the grace to look abashed.
"You know that Loki is under control," Frigga continued gently. Sif took that to be the end of it and began to desperately reach for ways to end the conversation, but then Frigga added with a small smile, "Still, I would feel more at ease if I knew that Thor had a friend from Asgard with him."
+
The Bifrost was clear of travelers when Sif reached it, approaching her brother where he stood watching at the edge of the world. Out of habit she sat at his feet, looking out over the abyss. Heimdall made no move to greet her, but this too was habit, so she simply sat in the quiet for as long as she could stand it. Most times she would try to fill the silence, but it occurred to her she may not have one like it with him for some time.
"You have decided to follow him," Heimdall said, finally. No surprise to anyone involved, Sif thought wryly.
"Unless you can tell me what else to do?" She glanced up at him with childish hopefulness. Despite his mother's words, Sif was unsure how needed she would be. And Asgard was all she knew; she'd never set out away from it alone.
"That is not for me to decide." He turned his gaze to her for just a moment.
It was the answer she'd expected--to a question she never should have asked to begin with. Sif released a breath and got to her feet again, setting her shoulders. "Get me as close as you can."
