#also also im sorry i actually didn't advance the whole plot much i got distracted by his thoughts

[emeraldxphoenix]

It’s not surprising that Harbard is the one who chooses to take the most umbridge at Loki’s entrance, and recent activities. The man is a walking, talking, primordial bovine, so obsessed with ‘tradition’ and ‘proper process’ that he’s clearly never so much as flirted with change in his life. The Lord makes no secret of his displeasure at Loki’s union with his queen, very clearly holding his past, and his tendency towards mischief, against him. Loki avoids him where possible. 

Enough. Oh Norns it shouldn’t do things to him when his wife uses that voice. Except it really does, and by the time the council members are dismissed, the god’s cheeks are dusted with a gentle pink. He can’t help it, not when Sigyn handles her council so sternly, firmly defending him in spite of his lack of real status or position – something that is most definitely a failing in their eyes, but never in hers. It had been unsettling, to put it mildly, when Loki had first arrived on Vanaheim, in essence (if not reality) stripped of his royalty and bearing no position other than a glorified concubine. The court had loved to whisper. Over time, however, the trickster had relaxed into his new role, the flame of his ever-growing love for the Queen contenting him to the thought of a life by her side, in whatever position she might choose.

Loki can’t help the ghost of a smirk curling at his lips as the council files past, extremely pleased both with himself – for succeeding where others failed, for putting a violent end to the life of the would-be assassin – and the situation as a whole. Some of the council may object, but the Prince Consort can think of no higher privilege than murdering the man who wanted his Queen dead, and he’s astute enough to know that the people of Vanaheim will be expressing their gratitude for a long time to come. 

He releases the bloodied sack into the first hand that reaches for it, but the only thing the trickster really cares about is currently rising to her feet, steadying herself against the table, and slowly approaching him. Gods, he loves her.

You’re hurt. A snort of dry amusement. “And you’re recovering from a poisoning.” Still, he reaches for her with his good hand, wrapping it round her waist both to support and pull her close. Chin dips, head tilting forward until the god can press his lips against hers, the touch filled with a desperate adoration born of days spent mostly apart, and thankfulness that such a time has reached its end. An audible sigh of relief vibrates in his throat. Several moments pass before he pulls back, reluctant to part when all he wants to do is climb inside her skin beside her, and continues speaking. “Now, sit back down before I make you. Then I’ll tell you whatever you want to know about that villainous crotch-louse I caught.”

Sigyn is still not entirely recovered from the attempted poisoning, but she hides it well. Her duties have been scaled back while she recovers, with anything which can wait until she is well again being put on hold entirely. This meeting could not wait.

While her council is predominantly now made up of members of her own choosing, there are still a few on it with whom she regularly disagrees; holdovers from her mother's reign, kept both for their knowledge on specific matters and because she does not wish to merely surround herself with sycophantic courtiers. But these same faces are the ones she expects pushback from where Loki is concerned - they disagreed with her decision to bring him here in the first place, and have made a point of disagreeing with everything involving him since. Their Queen giving her husband explicit permission to deal with the threat to her life himself went down predictably poorly.

The comment which precedes Loki's arrival is made in response to Lord Harbard's insincere query as to whether she was truly well enough to have made such a decision, and her tone is as dry as the look she exchanges with one of her more agreeable advisors. Her gaze is quickly drawn towards the door upon the sound of it opening; there is only one person who would enter unannounced, so she is not as surprised as some when Loki enters the room.

While her council make various exclamations regarding the obvious contents of the sack he carries, Sigyn finds her attention drawn immediately to the injuries he bears. The fact she knows he would happily have endured far worse in the name of keeping her safe does little to quell the anxious guilt she feels at the sight.

Before she has the chance to reply, Harbard shoots to his feet - clearly thinking he has found the perfect way to prove his own point as he declares: "Your majesty, you simply cannot allow this. There are proper channels which must be—"

"Enough." The Queen instructs, blue eyes hard as they settle upon the indignant advisor. "For the sake of your years of service to the Realm, I will overlook the fact that - today alone - you have twice seen fit to question my judgement. But I will not allow you to undermine the fact that my husband has, in a matter of days, succeeded where the proper channels failed. I heeded your advice for months, and it almost cost me my life. You are lucky I have not concluded that you were somehow involved."

She turns her attention to other members of her council then. "Have the remains dealt with, and make it known how the culprit was apprehended. Now please, leave us."

The council disperses, with the majority moving to do as she has asked; the man who takes the sack from Loki is not the only one to mutter thanks and congratulations to the Consort as he leaves. Harbard exits the room in embarrassed silence. And meanwhile, Sigyn pushes herself to stand - leaning on the table to support herself for a moment, before walking to stand before Loki just as the door closes behind the departing advisors.

"You're hurt."