the ring on his finger

Loki was walking through the snowland. His luck seemed to run out. Just now a snow storm had come up, which made him watch into the distance impossible. The new snow and cold wind destroyed all the traces of the young woman, but still he did not give up and trudged  in the direction in which he had followed her footprints til now.
Loki gasped, it was not the cold, which bothered him but the strong headwind almost forced him to his knees. Even if he had to summon all his strength just to get ahead at all, how did she manage it go along? The God shuddered as he had to admit that the frail woman might already succumbed to the cold and has been covered by the snow. Was he even booted on her white grave without discovering her? No, no, it could not be! He tried to convince himself that if he had really lost her  in the ice, his daughter Hel would have already been appeared as early as the soul of the young woman appeared in Niflhel. There was still hope to find the young girl alive.
Even if the mistress of the underworld was his daughter and even if she had helped him quite often, Loki knew that he could not hope that Hel would agree to bring her back to life. It was up to their will, not his, and the death could be very moody minded when he was involved. Hel probably would laugh at him just for his failure. He couldn`t allow that. Never! He had to find her before Hel could!
Meanwhile the God sank up to his waist in snow. He cursed and howled, but suddenly he stopped. To his left, he saw a small rock. If she really came along here, she would have certainly run for shelter there. It was at least a hope, if not the only one he had now.
His heart beat up to his neck and took almost his breathe. A cry escaped his throat and his eyes shone as he really saw  her pale green dress hiding behind the rock. He had found her. He had made it. He ran through the deep snow staggering.
Her face had lost all color, her reddish hair was closed by a white blanket of snow covered her eyes. All in all, she seemed more than a beautiful porcelain doll, but completely lifeless. Loki dropped to his knees before her. She could not be dead. He stroked her cold cheeks, but there was no reaction in her face. Her skin had already assumed a bluish color. Loki put worried his head on her chest and listened. His hands rested on her shoulder and pulled his grip so tightly together that it should have hurt Sigyn. First he couldn`t hear anything, but silence in her chest. He yelled in disbelief. Finally he heard a tiny faint throb. He sighed relief. His hands dropped down to her hips and he pushed her closely to himself. Loki groaned. He needed to do something, otherwise she would die in his arms. He urgently needed to bring her to Midgard. Every other moment in this icy hell could be her last. There was no time. The god had inserting his magic. The same he already had used once for the goddess Idunn to rescue her from the giants. But it was risky, and every failure was intolerable for him if it includes that suffering woman in his arms.
Loki indeed was able to transform living beings, including himself in a different form. More than that, he could choose a shape for others than him, which does not even have a beating heart. Their shape might be far away from life and yet would the soul, the lifeblood not be lost. However, to turn others into objects wasn`t very debilitating for the magician, but the transformation back into the lifing being was always a risk and if the return was incorrect, if not impossible, she would be lost.
That was his reason why he usually avoided such a magic. Especially on people he liked. But now he seemed to have no other choice. Alive, the woman wouldn`t have any chance. Her heart was already fatigued. But as an object Loki could simply bring her out of this world into the next quickly. She would be safe and with him.
Loki pursed his lips as he faced her. Carefully, he leaned the woman against the cold rock. His heart raced. Hopefully his magic would work. It was the first time that the God doubted his own abilities. He was never afraid of his power. But the possibility he could fail on it just now, when he needed it most, filled him with panic. Never before he had felt such a miserable uncertaintly. Why now? Previously it always had worked. Why now was he believed to fail?
Loki pressed his left hand against Sigyn's forehead, the other he held against her chest. His hands began to glow again. Beads of sweat stood out on the temple of God, and he gritted his teeth. He felt like the magical powers through his body, the arms flowed to Sigyn and her body was covered in a blinding blue light. Loki cried. It was like fire flowing through his veins, and with a jerk he was flung back. By the heat of his spell all the snow had melted around him. He groaned and sat up again. His head ached, but immerdiately he looked to the place Sigyn was sitting before. But now this place was empty. Only a small shiny thing was glittering in the melted ice. A ring. Gently Loki lifted it. Almost he dropped him, because it was so hot. A golden ring with a small red sparkling stone. Never anyone would expect the shape of a woman behind it, never would believe a soul in it. Loki smiled softly as he pulled the ring around his finger. Now he could leave Jotunheim with Sigyn without threatening her harm anylonger.

In Midgard Loki felt in a deep sleep for 3 days and nights. When he finally awoke, he felt weak from thirst and hunger. The god had chosen a small cottage for him and Sigyn as shelter. Far aways from the next bigger city. It was situated next to a large lake surrounded by forest land. No inhabitants of Midgard would passed there so easily. The cottage only had one room, but with a small place for sleeping and a kitchenette. Only one door led still in a small bathroom. The decor was simple but functional and there was a small fireplace. Directly after arriving Loki already had lighted a fire. Although he had found towels, linens and various washing utensils, dishes and even firewood in this lodge, it seemed uninhabited. At least the rightful owners did not return yet, and if they did, the God would deal with them.
Still sleepy Loki looked at the ring that still adorned his fingers. Was he strong enough to revert it? As much as he wished, he already would have known her in his bed, felt her body against his closely, her breath, her warmth, he had been too exhausted after his arrival in Midgard. He even had to catch the fire, which crackled in the fireplace, in a very conventional way.
Carefully, he pulled the ring from his finger and put it right down on the floor. Loki took a deep breath and tried to animate his magical powers. His hands circled above the small glittering object and immediately it started to shine. However, even before the master of magic could even utter his spell, he sagged. He could not. His magic gnawed on his forces too much.  He collapsed an fall back on the bed. He needed to wait. He was still too weak. His stomach began to growl as if it wanted to punish Loki for his stupidity. Loki knew before he was capable of doing anything, he should look for something to eat. He grabbed the ring and pulled him back on his finger. Hastily the god left the warm cabin, going out driven by hunger.
Lakeside there was a small rowboat. But Loki ignored it and jumped into the lake after he got rid of his clothes. In his hand he carried only one bag. Although it wasn`t make  for a fishing, Loki was a skilled swimmer and even better in diving. When he went back to the shore, the bag was filled with writhing, wriggling fish died in vain. Loki swallowed one of those raw with gills and scales directly after his feets touched the dry ground. He immediately felt better. The rest of his prey, he would cook over the fire. He had caught enough for two.
 At the dawn Loki wanted to renew his attempts to turn Sigzn back in her true form. He grew up in the fear if he waited any longer, she would supposedly doomed to end up as a piece of jewelry on his finger forever.
Loki's hands trembling, but this time he did not want to give up. Even as his temples began to hammer and he thought his skull would burst, he continued with his magic. Again the ring began to shine in all colors, which occupied the entire hut. Panting the magician said his mantra. He had to pull himself together to avoid to collapse again, but the fear this could destroy the woman's body enabled him despite all his pain, which went through his limbs. He was blinded by light, which filled the room completely now, and after the God finished his magic, his strength was gone in a flash. With flickering eyes Loki slumped down. Had it work? Maybe it would have been better if he had waited until he got all his former powers? But now it was too late anyway. Rudely he landed with his head on the stone floor. He groaned when he felt the burning pain. For a moment he was wrapped in deep, soothing blackness. .

Loki abruptly opened his eyes when he heard a faint whimper. All of a sudden he was instantly awake and jumped on. Not far from him, he saw his beloved. Yes, she really was. That it was clear for him now. He wanted no one else. He wished he could immediately rushed to her and held her in his arms forever. But when he saw her sitting there, whimpering in fear, it filled him with pain. He did not want her to suffer. She should not feel any fear at his side. Wasn`t it his intention to give her security? To show her a world that was far away from any fear as long as he was with her. Over and over again.
Gently he took her hand in his. Suddenly she stopped her whimpering. Her fingers groped his hand curiously, but with a certain awe. Her lips curled into a narrow strip and her head jerked anxiously on all sides, as if she tried to look for a way out with her blind eyes. It took a while until the young woman followed him to the bed seduced by Loki's vehement effort.
The God thought that she was as exhausted as he was. Timid and insecure Sigyn laid down herself on the soft mattress and pulled the blanket over her head.
Loki heard her sigh as he furnished the rest of her body with soft, warm blankets carefully.
At the end, he pulled her gently out of the shoes and made sure she was laying comfortable. She still wore her green dress. Loki would gladly undressed her for bed, but he dared not to move. He did not want to frighten her more as she already was. Before he let her rest entirely, he stroked her through her curly hair. First Loki wanted to give her a small kiss, but he stopped when he saw her eyes were closed clenched. Sigyn`s  breathing was fast and restless. She clawed her thin fingers deep into the bed sheet. He saw her fear .... Fear of him.
So Loki decided heavy-hearted not to share the narrow bed with her, but to take his place on the floor. The god did not want that she feared him. With heavy thoughts, he finally sank into a deep sleep .... but this time he had controlled and closed all doors and windows. This time she could not escape ....