There are many ways to change the way a story ends. And then there are ways that change very little. Forged By Fire begins as the second and becomes the first as it grows. The soundtrack for this chapter is the Main Theme by John Powell from The Bourne Identity. I own nothing you recognize from Thor.

Forged By Fire

Chapter I: Steel

"Lady Sif raise it higher please." Sif shot an exasperated glance at her sister, Hero, for abandoning her to the hands of the short tempered swordmaster who had finally agreed to train her. Hero simply grinned, her auburn hair shimmering in the bright sunlight almost as much as her sister's blonde once had. Her expression clearly says you wanted this. Sif sighed in exasperation and corrected the position of her sword. Then her stance. Then her footwork. Two candlemarks passed by slowly and finally Sif was released to join her sister.

Hero lazily lounged on a sunny hill, her bow and quiver of arrows set to one side. "You abandon me to that monster?" Sif questioned indignantly.

"You were the one who pressed mother so to gain lessons and then argued with everyone else until they let you," Hero replied lazily.

"Because I need them," Sif insisted. "I would die if I didn't fight."

"Or if you couldn't try to impress Thor," Hero shot back.

"That is not what I'm trying to do," Sif snapped indignantly as she swatted her sister.

"To get back at Loki then for cutting off your hair and then regrowing it black," Hero suggested and Sif growled. "Come sister. One or the other is the reason."

"Both," Sif snapped, finally giving in. "Now are you going to lounge about and make us late for meeting with Queen Frigg or are we going to move?"

"I guess I might be persuaded to move," Hero began.

"Good," Sif interrupted, turning her back on her still lounging twin but Hero wasn't finished.

"-If you dance with Thor at the next feast in two days."

"What?" Sif yelped as Hero easily caught up with her. "You can't be serious!"

"Oh yes I can," Hero said with a wicked grin. "It's only one dance."

"Well..." Sif said thoughtfully. "I will, on one condition."

"You can't make a condition on this," Hero complained indignantly.

"Why not?" Sif returned, watching her twin sputter with a wide grin. "Are you going to hear my condition or make us late?" Sif had stopped walking now and was watching her twin with arms folded over her chest.

"You don't play fair," Hero muttered but she stopped sputtering and waited sourly for her sister to speak. "Name your terms."

"If I am to dance with Thor in two nights time then you must dance with his brother," Sif returned with a triumphant grin. Hero's cheeks flushed bright red and she glared at her sister, caught between furious humiliation and embarrassment. "Well what do you say to that sister?"

"Nay," Hero protested. "I say nay."

"Then we'll just be late," Sif replied, digging her heels in and holding her ground even when Hero pulled at her arm. "Don't try to drag me sister. We both know you cannot."

"Fine. I give in," Hero grumbled. "But you're dancing first." Sif groaned but gave in, recognizing the stubborn look on her twin's face. "Now let's run or we really are going to be late." The two sisters sprinted for the palace, their feet smacking against the stones and their hair flying out behind them. They were trying to catch their breath while they slowed to ascend the stairs, smoothing their clothing with practiced fingers.

"Running late again?" Thor asked, standing beside one of the pillars as the girls scrambled up the last few steps.

"It was her fault," they both protested at the same time, motioning at the other. Thor laughed then and Sif smiled, looking pleased.

"You would think by now that the sisters War would have learned to measure time," a cool voice came from the shadows and Sif saw the expression on her sister's face become painfully fixed.

"War keeps time for no man, or woman for that matter," Sif spoke up with a haughty smirk, throwing an arm over Hero's shoulder. "Come sister. We shant keep the Queen waiting any longer than we must." She led a grateful Hero away, her mind whirling.

Ever since they had been born Hero and Sif had known each other, truly known each other, mind and heart. Hero had known the instant that Sif had fallen for Prince Thor and at the same time Sif had known when Hero had fallen for Loki. And he did nothing but taunt her. Sif's blood boiled at that. He did everything in his power to make Hero look the incompetent fool and often succeeded. Sif had not been thinking about that when she insisted Hero dance with the dark haired prince. Now she stopped in the hall and whirled her sister around to face her. "I take my condition back. Don't dance with him," Sif ordered. "Go talk to our brother instead. I'll give the Queen your apologies and surely she'll understand."

"But I'll have to go out past them again," Hero protested, her eyes watering with tears.

"No you won't," Sif soothed more gently than most would think possible. "Just go out that door to the left."

"Thank you Sif," Hero said with a watery smiled and crept away before she would start to cry. Sif herself stormed toward Frigg's chambers in a fury. She would have, in this moment, loved to tear Loki apart but she could not so she would do the next best thing. Speak to his mother.