For Asgard!

Sif listened to Loki with a set jaw, the most intense though impartial of expressions upon her face. But it was shortlived. "I know, Loki, but it backfired so monumentally! What kind of arse lets an enemy of old into the vault?! I know the Allfather wasn't going to listen to you if you spoke up, but..." She sighed, a hand on her forehead. "What were we supposed to do? I did remind him that it was forbidden and we all said it was a bad idea but he never listened! And I wasn't going to let you all charge in there without me, if something happened to any of you, what friend would I be? I don't know why Heimdall let us pass other than his own curiosity - which, if not for your meddling wouldn't have been stirred in the first place, might I add. At the end of it all the truth of the matter is, you did keep him there. You were not the reason he was cast out, but you were the reason he remained so. And perhaps next time express your confusion with a little less intention to kill, because I promise you at that time I doubt Thor believed you were anything but truthful in your intention to obliterate the entire realm."

Loki's flash of anger did nothing to intimidate Sif, whose intensity matched his inch for inch. "Not that I would understand?" She scoffed. "I only moments ago voiced my support for you, said you might not make a bad king at all, do you think I have not known for some time that you were not at you best then? Do you simply think I have not noticed every single time you have chilled our drinks with but a touch? Do you think I did not overhear, I did not guess, do you think I would sit here and try to rekindle our friendship if I did not think for a second that perhaps your anger was justified?" She leaned in further. "I do not support you idly, not merely for your pretty face or your way with words. I know what I am about, Loki. I know. Can't you see that what we did, what I did, while more openly for Thor's sake was also for yours?! I was never as sorry as when I had to defy you, but nothing gets between me and what I deem right. Not an entire army, not either of Odin's sons. The throne, at the time, was not my concern. Justice was. You two were. And if you truly did not mean for Thor to be banished then I would have hoped you'd see by now that all I wanted was to bring my friend home where we could all resolve the matter. For the both of you, Loki."

The sudden change in demeanour coupled with the touch of his hand startled Sif, whose face scrunched up in confusion for a moment. She drew a breath as an attempt to curb what emotions ran wild after this brief yet intense argument. The hand under Loki's turned, and she wrapped her fingers tightly around his. "I- I am afraid, Loki. I have seen you lost, I have lost you before. More than once. To be here now and not try to stop that from happening again would be a sin." She looked away. "And yet I am failing miserably."