Author's Note: This story is a sequel to "What Is Loved Will Never Die" and takes place after the events in "The Avengers". If you haven't read the first story yet, you might want to. ;)

Frigid

Stark Towers

Sigyn exhaled, hearing the cries of her newborn child and the series of explosions that rang across the city. She opened her eyes slowly, feeling her child move between her thighs.

The birth had sapped her of most of her energy, but Sigyn forced herself to stand. She used her magic to cut the umbilical cord and leaned forward, wincing slightly as pain shot up her thighs.

"My love," Sigyn said softly, carrying the bloodied baby in her arms. "My sweet child."

Another explosion rocked the building, causing the baby to cry even more. Sigyn used a portion of her dress to wipe the blood off the naked form and slowly stood, willing herself to walk out of the room. While she felt weak, her concern for Loki's welfare gave her strength to inch her way towards the door.

Just as she stepped onto the hallway, a powerful force knocked Sigyn backwards. She felt the baby slip out of her grasp, and Sigyn instinctively cast a protective bubble around the child.

Seconds later Sigyn hit the floor, and she gave a soft cry of pain.

What were those distant thuds that she was hearing?

Sigyn struggled to sit up, but she felt drained.

The child, Sigyn reminded herself. Even now Sigyn could hear the incessant wailing of the baby, and it took nearly all of her strength for her to sit up and get to her feet. She swayed on the spot slightly, placing a shaking hand on her temple.

Loki, Sigyn thought, groping the walls and looking down at the ground, searching for her child. Gods, help me.

Whether the All-Father heard her or not, Sigyn never knew. Something heavy collided on the back of her head and Sigyn slumped to the floor. Her last desperate thought was: Keep them safe.

And darkness claimed her.

Jotunheim

"Sigyn, do not wander off," Laufey said, as he strode after the laughing 10-year old. Sigyn was wrapped in the warmest fur and was oblivious to the biting winds of the Jotunn wasteland.

Sigyn gathered a small ball of snow in her hands and glanced towards Laufey, grinning. "Snowball fight, Laufey!"

Laufey sighed and ran a hand down his face, feeling the rough markings. "Not today."

Sigyn shrugged her shoulders and continued making more snow balls on the ground. That was one of the things Laufey liked about Sigyn; she never complained when she didn't get her way. Laufey stopped, watching as Sigyn threw herself on the snow and moved her arms and legs, creating a snow angel.

After a few minutes Sigyn brushed herself off and looked at Laufey. "Is it time?" she asked softly.

Laufey nodded once. He gathered all of the Frost Giants once every year, if only to boost their morale and further solidify his status as their King. Today was that day, but Laufey allowed Sigyn to briefly play in the snow before she retreated to the warmth and safety of her chambers.

A slight rumble echoed, and Laufey's monstrous pet poked its head from the rock crevice where it normally lay. As it rested its snout on the cliff, Sigyn giggled and patted the monster's nose. It sniffed, taking in her scent, and gave a soft growl.

Laufey bit back a smile. He would never admit it to anyone, but Sigyn had brought warmth to this chilly wasteland of his. At first he was a bit hesitant to accept her as his ward – after all, what did a Jotunn know of rearing an Asgardian child? – but Sigyn proved to be capable of taking care of herself, even at a young age.

"Stay, Agriff," Sigyn said, patting the monster gently on the nose. Agriff gave a snort and then disappeared back into the crevice. Sigyn smiled and walked towards Laufey, tilting her head to look up at him.

Laufey led the way back to the palace, which was nothing like the grand structures in Asgard. It was simply made from carved rocks, with the highest platform reserved for Laufey and Sigyn's use. The other Jotunn had gathered there, and they stepped to one side as Laufey and Sigyn approached.

Laufey noticed that Sigyn tensed slightly as she walked through the crowd of Frost Giants. Still she held her head high, determined not to let the other Jotunn notice how nervous and scared she probably felt.

Laufey sat on the high seat, his eyes following Sigyn as she made her way inside her chambers. Once he was satisfied that she was safely inside, he began the proceedings.

Somewhere in the far reaches of the cosmos

"Laufey," Sigyn whispered, her breath forming the familiar mist in front of her. Sigyn lifted her arms, the shackles clinking as she moved.

"She still hasn't been broken." Thanos's cold voice broke through the silence, and The Other bowed his head.

"Forgive me, my lord," The Other replied, and despite the pain that coursed through her veins, Sigyn could sense fear in his voice. "But she is resisting my torture methods."

"It isn't effective enough," Thanos snapped, and The Other flinched, as if he had been gut-punched. Thanos walked towards Sigyn, who was lying on her side. With a flick of his wrist, Thanos lifted Sigyn to her feet. "She's weak."

"Only her body, my lord," The Other answered, inching closer. "Her mind isn't. Quite remarkable, really."

Thanos whipped around, furious. "I do not care whether you find her remarkable or not! Break her."

Thanos lashed out at Sigyn, and the goddess screamed. Fiery whips of pain sliced through her body, and Sigyn shuddered. Thanos lashed out at the goddess again and again, and each time Sigyn screamed, curling into a fetal position in a vain attempt to avoid the attack.

"That is how you torture a prisoner," Thanos finally said, glaring at The Other. "The lack of screams show me you are not committed to your role, Other. Perhaps I may need to find a replacement."

"No, my lord," The Other said quickly. "We will break her."

"Soon," Thanos added, and The Other echoed the sentiment. "She is our key to getting into Asgard. The sooner we have her under our power," Thanos sent another fiery whiplash at Sigyn, who whimpered, "The sooner we can retrieve the Tesseract. And how long we have to wait depends on you."

Thanos eyed The Other one last time before leaving. The Other approached Sigyn, who was breathing fast.

"Please," was all she said. The Other could see the bruises on her arms, as well as the long red gashes that ran down her legs. While these were in the process of healing – Asgardians certainly had fast healing abilities, The Other thought enviously – The Other was aware that the goddess was exhausted from the days' long torture she had just endured.

In response, The Other used his magic to send images of Sigyn's dead husband, his body bent, twisted, and broken. She turned her head this way and that, whimpering as the images filled her mind.

"Loki," Sigyn gasped. The Other continued sending her various images of a dead Loki, and each time Sigyn gave a soft cry. But like before, Sigyn soon became silent, as her mind transported her back to her stay in Jotunheim, which was a significantly warmer place than she was in now.

Asgard

The place was cold.

So very, very cold.

Loki gripped the side of the bed, finally standing up and pacing the entire length of the prison cell. It had been days since he last saw his wife – surely Iwaldi and Freya would not have kept her from him this long?

Sigyn herself wouldn't have allowed to be kept from his side, even for an hour. Loki gritted his teeth, silently berating himself for the millionth time. The very idea of Sigyn not being here with him was a sword thrust to the heart.

Loki.

Loki raised his head, as if expecting to see his wife standing just beyond the cell bars. Her voice had come to him so suddenly, so powerfully, it was as if she was mere inches from him.

Loki.

"Sigyn," Loki said, his voice hoarse. "Where are you?"