She opened the door without thinking, tense and heaving breath, then cursed her stupidity as soon as she saw who stood there.

"Loki," she gasped. "What..?"

He bowed, eyes twinkling, the flowers he held in one hand swooping elegantly as he did so. "M'lady Sigyn," he said. "I could not stay away."

"Damn, Loki, it's the night before my wedding…"

He grinned. "I know. I could not pass up this… my final opportunity to woo you. After tomorrow I shall have to slink way to my hole like a beaten Jotun, but tonight, Sigyn? Could you not pretend you were not taken?"

"It's not a good time." Loki craned his head, trying to see around her. She moved in front of him. "Loki, seriously."

"What? Is Theoric here?" he chuckled, still trying to see around her. "I have heard on some worlds it is bad luck for the groom to see the bride the night before the wedding…"

"That's a human thing," Sigyn said, her lips curling in disgust. "Loki…" She should have realised earlier what had happened, it was a give away - the stillness of the doppleganger left behind. It faded into nothingness as she spun in time to see Loki standing in the middle of her hall, staring down at the body.

"Huh," he said. "He was here, then."

There was a long silence.

"He was drunk," Sigyn said.

Loki gave her a look. "So you killed him? I'm suddenly thankful you never returned my advances…"

She made a noise of disgust. "You know him, Loki. He's… always drunk. Tonight was meant to be special for both of us, he was meant to…" she threw up her hands and snarled. "He came home and he…"

Loki's jovial expression slid away and he stood still, eyes flicking between Theoric's corpse and Sigyn. "Did he attack you?" he asked softly.

Sigyn's jaw worked, but she nodded, once.

Loki's mouth twitched in the beginnings of a smile. "So like a good Asgardian girl, you defended yourself." He shrugged. "Case closed. You would not even need your own services as advocate."

"It's not that simple, Loki."

He cocked an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Theoric's family have power. This marriage… it was always more political than… " she sighed. "They will want me punished."

Loki shrugged again. "You're the lawyer, not me."

She nodded and hugged herself, rolling her head. Theoric had fought back, of course, but he was no match for her when he was falling down drunk. Loki was very still, looking down at the body, back ramrod straight, the fine leather and metal of his princely clothes glinting in the firelight.

"You, though," she said slowly. "You're a prince."

His head whipped up and he caught her gaze, eyes narrowing. She thought she saw his lips twitch in the beginnings of a smile. "What are you suggesting?"

"Loki… you could say… you could claim you walked in on us? Perhaps… if you were a witness to his violence…."

But Loki was shaking his head, kneeling beside the body and running his hands over it. "No good," he said. "Thor knows I'm here," he smiled crookedly. "He's the one who made me come, actually. And all know that I… courted you. If it were me who killed him his family would be doubly keen for revenge…"

"Odin…"

"Would not lift a finger in my defense if he thought me guilty," Loki's voice was harsh and his face closed off. She cocked her head, wondering. Loki rarely spoke with such venom.

Finding nothing on the body to interest him, he sat back on his heels cocking his head on one side. "You fight well, Sigyn. Theoric is no slouch of a man. And his neck is well and truly snapped."

She winced, remembering the sound it had made, and looked down. She supposed she should feel remorse for what she'd done, but she could find none in her heart. Theoric had always tried to be good to her, but she was not stupid, and she had seen the signs of what he was well before this night.

Perhaps that would be enough to save her.

"Go then, Loki," she said softly. "I shall face justice."

He was beside her then, quickly and silently. Cold breath stirred the hair at her brow and his lips curved in a smile. "I can help you," he said.

"You should not risk Odin's displeasure."

"Odin will never know," he said, reaching up to brush a strand of hair from her forehead. His fingertips touched the skin there and she resisted an urge to shiver. So cold. He had always been thus. And yet there was heat in his gaze.

"What can you hope to do?" she whispered. "He is dead, by my hand."

The air around Loki shivered and suddenly Theoric was there before her once more. "I am dead, you say, Wife?"

She took an involuntary step backwards, shaking her head in disbelief. "Loki?"

He grinned, and even the grin was Theoric's. Only the chill of his skin and the fact that he stood, living and breathing told her that this was not the man she was supposed to marry.

"Leave the body to me," Loki said. "And prepare for the wedding tomorrow. We shall be certain Theoric is seen to have an accident on the hunt next se'enight. The trampling of a bilgstein will cover his wounds."

"Loki you have duties as a Prince. Odin will notice you are gone."

"I am good at being in two places at once, Sigyn," he said, then waved a hand. "In any case, if I storm off in a sulk over your wedding I hardly think Odin will be surprised." The bitterness was back in his tone and she almost reached out a hand to comfort him.

Almost.

"Why do this for me?"

His formed shivered and changed back. He looked at her for a long moment, sucking at his teeth. "You doubt the sincerity of my affection for you, Sigyn? After all this time?"

She cocked an eyebrow. "Yes."

He inclined his head, eyes twinkling. "Very well then. I suppose I should have expected that." He tapped his foot and crossed his arms. "Let's just say I shall expect… recompense," he stepped closer to her. "You're a powerful woman, you have skills far greater than you think. There may come a time when I have need of them."

She should step back. Her mind was telling her so, but Loki's face was inches from hers and his hand lifted once again, knuckles brushing her cheekbone. His fingers were long and pale and smooth, no callouses like Theoric had, just soft, cool skin, and his eyes were clear and wide. She could read nothing in them, though.

It was somewhat like being touched by a statue.

"If you are unwilling to accept or return my… affection, perhaps we shall keep to a more simple bargain." He dipped his head closer to hers and she felt her chin lift involuntarily. She could smell the sweetness of his breath and she swallowed, struggling for control.

"I just killed a man, my Prince," she reminded him, and if her voice was breathless, well, she figured she could be forgiven.

He threw back his head and laughed. "So you did," he said. "And I would not be so stupid to tempt you to kill another." He shrugged, then knelt down, hefting Theoric's body over his shoulder in one easy movement. The strength of Thor Odinsson was legendary in Asgard, yet people too easily forgot his brother had abilities of his own — some of them far more useful than mere physical strength.

Loki shifted for a moment, arranging the body so it was comfortable, and then the air around him shimmered once more. In his place stood an old man, carrying a rolled carpet. "If m'lady would be so good as to let me out the servant's entrance, I'll get this out of your way."

She blinked. So easily, her problem was solved. As he walked away through the dark streets she thought she saw him look back towards her once, green eyes twinkling, and she wondered if she had done wrong trusting him. She was in debt, and she was unsure if her repayment could ever be sufficient.

She sighed and turned back inside. In her chambers, her wedding finery hung, glittering and accusatory all at once. What other choice had she?

She was an advocate, and knew the law.

He was the trickster prince, and did not need it