(Author's Note: This is an early story I wrote. It's not my best, so I figure it's the one that should be criticized the most. Also, on the myths, it wasn't my intention to stick with Norse mythology as we have it today. Some has been lost and some has been swallowed up by other religions. Where gaps occurred, I filled it in with whatever I felt like writing. Loki and Odin's first meeting is an example of that, as is Loki's skin.)

Sigyn loved the feel of the rivers of Asgard. They'd play around her toes and lap against the bottoms of her feet, tickling and calming her all at once. Being the youngest of the gods, she was allowed to do whatever she wanted, as long as she stayed within Asgard. She was not allowed to traipse through the world of mortals like Odin and the other gods and goddesses. She was told that day would eventually come, but each passing year only seemed to make it more of a fantasy.

It was on one such day that she felt Asgard shake slightly. It was an odd sensation, as everything there was so ordered and calm usually. It was such a small movement that Sigyn doubted she would have felt it at all if she hadn't been so still.

No longer caring about the river, Sigyn jumped up and ran as fast as she could to the towering palace of Valhalla, where any news was most likely to come first. Its crystal walls glinted in the afternoon sun and for some reason seemed especially bright today.

When she reached the palace of the great warriors, all the others were gathered there. Sigyn tried to ask what was going on, but the others didn't notice her small form dancing among them. Finally deciding that no one would answer her, she gave up and found a small perch on a far window. She would learn the news the way she always did. She'd have to eavesdrop.

"He's a scoundrel, that's what he is," Thor was saying to Sif. He puffed his stout chest and stroked his red beard thoughtfully. Sigyn tried hard not to laugh at such obvious preening for a future mate. If she did, Thor would never forgive her.

"He's the son of those pesky giants," Thor continued, now folding his arms over his chest and turning his eyes to the entrance.

"Not all giants are evil," Sif defended gently.

Thor smiled at the woman who'd captured his heart with patronizing gentleness. "I have fought many, dear lady, and, though you are wise in many things, I must say you don't know what you're talking about." Sif just smiled and turned her attention back to the entrance with the one who had just put her in her place.

There were few other whispers that mattered. Freya was too busy making sure her hair was in place and her brother, Frey, was busy watching his sister a little too closely. Ulle arrived which made Sigyn perk up slightly as the god of winter rarely showed his face in Valhalla. Tyr was also there, swinging his great battle-axe back and forth in that annoying manner that made Sigyn wonder why no one had lost their head yet. Or some other body part, she thought as it swung a little too close to Thor for her liking. Maybe the god still bore a grudge toward Thor for being replaced by Odin as a war god.

The sound of rushing water filled her ears and she realized with a start that Aegir and Ran the water god and goddess had arrived. Aegir looked at Sigyn briefly as he walked into the grand hall and she felt herself shiver involuntarily. It was almost as bad as looking into Thor's eyes. Or any god's eyes for that matter she realized. Which was probably why she wasn't married yet, or even betrothed.

Sigyn looked around the room and noted that all of Odin and Frigg's children were there, including Balder and Hodur, the twins. Sigyn got tired as she looked at all the gods and goddesses. Had they all felt Asgard shake as she had? Or were they there simply to gawk and gossip?

Where was Odin anyway? He was the only god she didn't see there. Sigyn felt a little disappointed. She liked Odin, even though he only had one eye and was the wildest of the gods. It was a kind gaze, and he inspired trust in even the most hot-tempered of the Valkyrs.

Suddenly, Sigyn heard Odin's voice echoing down the hall. "Don't mind them," he was saying, "They're the Valkyrie. They always look like that."

"Those who take the souls of the brave warriors to Valhalla," she heard a new voice state. It must be the "he" Thor had been discussing with Sif.

"Yes, exactly." Odin sounded pleased. "Do they speak much of the Valkyrie at Utgard?" Utgard: The frost giants' fortress in Jotunheim. Would Sigyn actually get to look at a giant? She lifted herself up to a standing position against the window, trying to get a good view of the voices that were coming down the hall.

"Here and there," she heard the new voice say hesitantly. She saw two figures appear at the end of the hall. One she recognized immediately, in spite of his enormous black cloak that shadowed his figure into darkness. But it was the figure next to Odin that puzzled her. He was also draped in a thick cloak that covered him almost entirely. Only his mouth, twisted into an amused smile showed. He stood a full head taller than Odin, but from the way the cloak moved had half the girth. Were giants really that skinny?

"It seems all the gods have come to welcome you," she heard Odin sigh.

"One can only hope," the visitor chuckled and threw back his hood revealing the most handsome face Sigyn had ever seen. She couldn't help gasping with surprise. She hadn't known they were that handsome. The giant's amber eyes immediately found her, still standing on the windowsill. Sigyn felt terribly embarrassed and dropped down to the level of the other gods, hoping the eyes would eventually leave her so she could study the newcomer in greater depth.

It seemed her plan worked. The giant gave a small snort of laughter and turned his attention to the other gods who now surrounded him. While Odin named each of the gods in turn, Sigyn looked carefully at the newcomer. His thick, straight hair was a brilliant shade of red mixed with just enough gold to catch the light and make it seemingly dance into flame. His skin was pale, but not in a sickly way. It had that odd quality which Odin had told her once belonged strictly to shape-shifters. Odin himself had that quality in his own skin. The giant's face was angular and he seemed to always smile, no matter what else was occurring or who was frowning at him.

"Aesir," Odin began with a flourish of his hand once he felt he'd finished naming his children, "this is-"

"You've forgotten someone," the giant reminded the Allfather gently.

"Who did I forget?" Odin looked around the room.

"There was a girl there by the window. She was standing when we came in."

"Really?" The stranger nodded and looked directly at Sigyn. Odin followed his gaze and nodded as well, though with a touch of impatience. "Come here, girl. Don't hide in the stone like a dark elf. This," he said with a slight sigh, "is Sigyn, my youngest."

The stranger nodded again and stood a little straighter. "And this," Odin began again with an impatient glance at the giant, as if for permission to continue, "is Loki. He and I have become blood-brothers."

There was a collective gasp from the whole of Valhalla. Then, silence.

Undeterred, Odin went on.

"I was walking through the land of the giants, when I found myself attacked by a great giant and his brother." Which would make it two giants, Sigyn couldn't help but smile. "When a stranger appears who begins to mock the two, saying that one is obviously a better warrior than the other and that only the best can defeat the great Odin of Asgard.

"The two began to argue back and forth, back and forth as to which was better and therefore should have the honor of slaying me. Finally, the debate became so heated that they battled between each other. It was easy, as they did so, to slay them both. Especially with the help of my brother." Odin grabbed Loki in a fierce hug then, very out of character for him. Loki smiled and returned the gesture. Sigyn relaxed as she realized this wasn't a matter of convenience. The giant truly cared about the god. It was plain on his face.

"As my blood-brother, he has the right to dine with the gods and live in Asgard if he so chooses. He may also take a wife among the goddesses and claim his progeny among the Aesir if he has any." Sigyn tried to think of a goddess that hadn't been claimed in some way yet. The only one she could think of was herself, or Sif, if the betrothal were broken before the next few days had passed. But she didn't think Thor would stand for that.

"Now," Odin said with a pointed stare at his children, "I am going to show him the rest of Asgard. You may all do whatever you like with your time."

Odin and Loki turned back to the rest of the palace and the Aesir slowly dispersed. Sigyn was among the last to leave, right behind Thor and Sif. It was then Sigyn noticed Sif looking boldly at Loki, as if trying to determine what kind of man he was. Sigyn glanced at the giant again herself, wondering if she would see what her sister did. Discouraged, she turned her gaze back to Sif who suddenly blushed and looked down at the floor.

Puzzled, Sigyn glanced back at Loki. His amber eyes were full of fire as he looked at the goddess and Sigyn could see why the woman had blushed. It was the stare a man gives his bride before their wedding night. Sigyn stared at Loki a while longer, but the giant didn't seem to notice her anymore. It would make sense. Sigyn was the plainest of all the goddesses and the youngest and the smallest. She didn't have the curvaceous beauty of Freya, or the wonderful tresses of Sif. She was as brown as the earth itself. Brown hair, brown eyes, slightly tanned skin, mostly from playing outside more than the others.

But why was she even thinking of this when it was so obvious Loki would try for Sif's hand? Sigyn shook her head and left Valhalla for her calming rivers.