Sif was awkward with Sandor after that night she woke up and the big man was wondering if it was something he said. He knew she understood why he did not want to light a fire, but then she woke up with lady's business and got herself wet. Sandor trotted ahead of her on the road and had to refrain from looking at her over his shoulder. What had happened that now she would not talk to him? "She's covering her trail well for someone who's lived in the palace all her life," Sandor commented, but Sif did not answer. Sandor sighed and tried to think of something else relevant to talk about. He did not make small talk. And she was not making it easy. "Her prints faded a while back. I must admit, I'm just guessing at a general direction," Sandor acknowledged. Again, no response from the Asgardian shieldmaiden. That did it for the Hound. He spun his horse around and blocked her path. Sif raised her tired eyes to his angry ones. "What did I do? How have I offended the great Sif Sylvansdottir that she will no longer deign to speak to me?!" he snarled. Sif looked like she wanted to shout, but for some reason, was bottling it up inside.
"It's nothing you did, Ser Sandor. It is a personal matter that I cannot speak of with you," Sif answered and Sandor guffawed.
"No need to play your pretty little lady games with me! I know who you are, Lady Sif!"
"And just who am I, Ser Sandor?"
"You're a prissy, entitled, self-centered highborn!" he yelled.
"And you're a slimy, vile, low-life stooge!" she hissed in return. Sandor reached for his blade just as she reached for hers. His sword and her spear found the other's throats at the same time. Her cold blue eyes looked into his stormy dark ones. Sif did not want to break first, but a flood of emotions went through her as she thought about why she had gone quiet on Sandor. What his very presence at her side meant to her. Her grip on her spear loosened, till finally she lost it all together. Her weapon fell to the ground and she concealed her face behind her hands. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I did not know this would happen!" she declared. This only confused Sandor all the more.
"Speak plainly, woman! Not in riddles!" he commanded.
"I haven't bled in centuries! What you saw the other night was the first in almost 500 years!" Sif admitted and Sandor blinked several times.
"What? How is that possible?" he queried. Sif felt the tears slide down her cheeks as she remembered why she had been afflicted.
"Because I was cursed. Cursed for offending someone more powerful than me," Sif said, her voice muffled behind her hands.
"Who?" Clegane asked as he sheathed his own sword. Sif sniffled as she tried to calm herself down so that she might enunciate better.
"Loki," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Sandor thought he had heard her wrong, but he could not have.
"You're saying Loki cursed you? But, why?" Sandor had a million other questions and he wondered if Sif had all the time to answer them. However, he was distracted when Sif's eyes rolled back in her head and she started to slide from her horse's back. "Shit!" Sandor cursed as he urged his horse back towards her in order to catch her body. "Women! More trouble than they're worth," he muttered as he transferred her to his horse and took the reins of her mount. He had to ride for a little ways without actually steering his beast, but Sif finally revived and pushed on his chest to separate from him.
"I'm alright. You can put me back on my horse," Sif said but Sandor shook his head.
"No. I ain't putting you back and we ain't going nowhere till you tell me what happened," Sandor insisted, his grip tightening around her waist. Sif realized that she was not going to get out of this without telling him her own best kept secret. She heaved a sigh and pressed her hands firmly against his broad chest.
"When I was young and stupid, I started a dalliance with the then young Prince Loki. I really wanted Thor, but he wouldn't look at me that way. I thought if he saw me with Loki, he might get jealous. He remained oblivious and Loki fell in love with me. I realized I was pregnant around the same time I realized that Thor didn't care either way. I didn't want to bear a royal bastard and possibly be either a laughing stock, or be forced into a marriage with a man I did not love. So, I aborted the babe," Sif retold.
"And Loki found out about his child," Sandor supplied. Sif nodded.
"He discovered my... crime... and he punished me for it. Using ancient dark magic, he placed a curse on my womb, saying that I would never again conceive children. And since, I have not bled in 500 years," Sif said.
"So... what's changed?" Sandor asked. Sif tentatively raised her eyes and nibbled on her lower lip. Sandor watched as a blush filled her cheeks and she lowered her eyes again. "Answer me, woman," he commanded.
"The specifics of Loki's curse were: black was your heart and black is your hair. Barren was your will and barren shall be your womb. Until there comes a time a foolish man shall dare to love you and dare to hope that you love him." Sandor just stared at her and she gave him a small smile. "My hair used to be blonde, like Thor's."
"That's not why I made a face, Lady Sif," Sandor responded. Sif knew why he had made a face and she felt her entire frame shake.
"I know... the curse would not have broken... if you didn't feel a little affection for me," she said and Sandor looked at her hard. His grip tightened around her waist, pulling her flush against his body. Sif gasped and found his face a mere inch from her own.
"Are you saying that you have affection for me as well?" he asked gently and Sif looked up at him. He was gruff, grungy, but kind at heart. A good man, who concealed his real persona beneath an aura of aloofness. Sif tentatively moved her hands up around his neck and Sandor leaned forward. When their lips met, Sif felt complete for the first time in centuries. She had been looking on the wrong realm all along for the man to be her other half.
In a way, I do owe Loki a thank you. For inadvertently giving me this, Sif thought.
YOU ARE READING
Loki: Storm of Swords
FanfictionWesteros: during the reign of Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, first of her name. Queen of the Andals and the First Men; Lady of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm. By her side is Ser Loki Frostborn, first of his name and house;...
