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A.N.: I'm not a writer After her run-in with the God of Mischief, Sigyn returned to the victorious forttress she won over. She was welcomed back with food, mead, beer, and games. Children tugged at her tunic and braided her hair, women offered her their boiled eggs, men kissed her hands and cheered their cup with hers. From the time the sun set, and the moon rose high above their heads, they celebrated their victory.
Now, everyone was full to the brim with bread, sausage, fruits, and mead. Children were shuffled back to their beds, women pet the hairs of their husbands, and many others lay astrewn in a deep sleep. Sigyn was wide awake. The mead and the beer barely affected her, and she ate a healthy amount of food so she didn't feel sick. It was far past midnight, she thought. Her eyes scanned the people in the dining hall, all now familiar to her. Just two moons ago she was a stranger, just as they were to her. Now she finds what she could call family. Unfortunately she could not stay here, for she is not mortal like they are.
Sigyn was reared in a place called Asgard, a place far, far away from here. She is Asgardian, and what people of Earth would consider a Goddess. She was given the title Goddess of Victory by the Allfather where she originated. Midgard, Earth, was not her place of living. The life of a mortal was far shorter than hers, and her mother warned her of the lives she would see born and passed if she decided to prolong her stay. With that in mind, Sigyn knew her stay wasn't permanent, at least not here. In a way, she was thankful the God of Mischief encountered her when he did.
Sigyn padded out of the dining hall after some contemplation. She's done this before, she reminded herself... Over the centuries she has come across many mortals. Every time she had to stop herself from creating intimate relationships. She lied about her origins often, and she always disappeared without a trace once her job was done. Once outside, she gazed upwards. Trillions of noble stars speckled the sky, faintly illuminating her surroundings. Sigyn drew in a heavy breath, then exhaled. She shan't draw this out.
With nothing but the clothes on her back, Sigyn walked firmly towards the fortresses' entryway. She heard a shuffle. "Sigyn?" Sigyn turned to the familiar voice. Ah, there stood Theoric. Theoric is a loyal warrior, and believed in his freedom fiercely. He stood just slightly taller than Sigyn, who was 5 foot and 8 inches. His hair was a dark brown, mistakingly black, and just above his shoulders, curling every which way, with a groomed beard. A sword was hooked comfortably on his belt. He looked at Sigyn with big eyes, like that of a dog. She felt a rock in her stomach. She met Theoric two moons ago, at the very beginning of her little escapade. He told her about his worries, about how there were colonies trying to win their town over. Sigyn assured him that she would help. Theoric thought she would stay. "Out for a night walk, ey?" Theoric walked closer to Sigyn. "Aye," she replied, a white lie.
They walk out of the gates together and into the night, the air was fresh and warm with a breeze. Their walk was quiet, both looking down into the long grass, wary of tripping or walking into anything. Sigyn flicked her gaze up to look at the scene she's grown used to. From the gates, the ground sloped down and flattened out into a valley, a river running quietly and reflecting the stars. Just across the river, the earth would rise back up into tree-ridden mountains. There, across the river, waiting was a God.
"Lovely night," Theoric broke the quiet. "Aye..." Sigyn answered. After a long walk to the river, Sigyn found the shallow end. She paused at the edge, looking into her shadow rippling in the water. Beside her, Theoric stretched, unknowing what brought her here. "Theoric." "Sigyn?" "I will continue alone from here." A pause... Theoric looked confused, a little taken aback. "Without your steed?" he questioned. "He waits across this riffle." Sigyn gestured into the pines across the way. "... Where are you heading?" Theoric asked, leaning a bit closer to her. "Afar..." she was vague. "Afar..." Theoric repeated, as if he had to process what she said, "why... why is that?" "I have to go, Theoric. This place, I cannot live here. It is not my dwelling. As much as I would love to stay, I cannot." Sigyn explained, keeping her voice level. "It was my plan all along, I was never to be permanent."
Theoric stared, blinking frantically every now and then in that moment. He turned away, looking across the river, then down the river, and shifted on his feet. He rubbed his face.
"Theoric..." Sigyn could see the distress. "Will you be back? Someday?" Sigyn thought a moment, was hesitant. "Someday..." she repeated back to him reassuringly.
They turned their attention back across the water. The stars glittered in the water, in which rolled quietly over the pebbles of the bank. Sigyn closed her eyes. She felt she could sleep standing up. "My apologies, Theoric..." she murmured, now opening her eyes and looking towards the sky, which she noticed had a hint of milkiness to it. "I know you'll protect your home." She could see Theoric nod curtly out of her periphreal. With her shoulders hunched, Sigyn stared into the riffle. After a long pause, she stepped onto the pebble shore to cross.
"Wait," Sigyn turned, to her regret. "At least take this with you," Theoric drew his sword and carefully held it across his hands, "there's wolves... bears." Sigyn raised her brows, looking down at the rustic thing. Her eyes scanned the sword, then she looked up. "Should I take this, then I wish to give you something in return," she dug around in her tunic, grabbing around her neck, before pulling off a dainty necklace. She held it firmly in her hand - it was shaped like an acorn, colored jade, and held together by a white gold. Theoric looked closely, inspecting from his distance. He couldn't see it quite well in this time of night. "It's good luck." Sigyn said simply.
They exchanged their items, their hands brushing as they did so. Sigyn didn't think much of it, Theoric thought a lot of it. His fingers tingled and already missed her touch. But what he had in his hands now was just as precious. It was warm from being close to her body. "Theoric, I thank you," Sigyn said softly. "Your heart is kind." "Sigyn... you will not be forgotten." Theoric responded, swallowing. It felt like a rock were in his throat. Sigyn dipped her head, and turned once more, securing Theoric's sword in her belt. Theoric watched, clutching at the necklace given to him. He rubbed at the jewel with his thumb, comforting himself as he watched this woman cross the river onto the otherside, who didn't even look back, and disappear into the trees.
She didn't come back. Not even Someday. He held onto the necklace, and sometimes he wondered if it were a dream. If she were a dream. When he grew old, he passed it to his son. He told him of the necklaces' significance, and the promise Sigyn made that she would one day come back. He hoped that it would be in his son's life time, or his grandson's... or his great grandson. It would continue to get passed on until the meaning and story behind it was lost to time. However, it never rusted, and it never dirtied.
