This is my first FanFiction. Hope you enjoy. This takes place after Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Iron Man 3.
Chapter One
Sigyn
Positioned, she had taken the axes from the belt around her hips and maintained the defensive procedure. Kari continued to swing her blade towards her. She couldn't rely on dodging all of the time.
"Come on," Sigyn thought, her teeth grit. "Find a spot. Find a moment!"
Sigyn's vambraces were torn and smudged by deflecting each pound of Kari's pommels. Sigyn was growing sick of that nonchalant little smirk. To master the defensive art of combat, Sigyn was required to strike her enemy with one lethal blow.
Countless days of training prepared her for this trial, but she was out of breath already. She faltered on her foot and was on her heel. Kari was fast and wielded nothing but daggers. No shield was there to protect either of them.
If there was a time to be annoyed by one's own gaudy skills in the arts of magic, it would be now. Sigyn might have been able to trick everyone in the coliseum into believing she struck her foe fair-and-square. Cheating might have been easy. But time was running out. Sweat chilled her beneath the armor she wore. She shook, she grimaced, and then she did the unspeakable.
"Enough!" the great Lady Sif had jumped to her feet. She knew what was coming.
Approaching Kari's chest, Sigyn flicked her wrist to cast her spell. Kari made a protective 'X' with daggers to deflect Signy's strike. Sigyn flung her other axe at the back of Kari's exposed neck. Kari had seen it coming and was ready to dodge by ducking away. When she did, Sigyn took a step back. She had feigned her attack to instead cast a spell by setting her axe ablaze and sending a wisp of fire towards Kari. When Kari lifted her head, she saw the blaze coming and had no time to avoid it. Her eyes widened with shock as fire passed over her face without scorching her skin and sparking off the tips of her braided hairs. It vanished into smoke.
"Sigyn!" Sif approached as Sigyn leaned back and Kari warily stepped away from her. Sheathing her axes in her belt, the fires vanished from their edges.
"This is not how you win in combat," Sif hissed.
The council in the coliseum sat under a red tapestry at the foremost seating. The one, old and frail, with a blind eye that somehow mimicked the King, and gave him unwavering honor and grace from his fellow councilmen, leaned forward in his golden chair draped with scarlet and gold. "Young Warrior," he said, "What tactic is it you used to slaughter your opponent?"
Sif clamped her lips to face them and let Sigyn answer.
"Magic," Sigyn answered. When the old man's brow lifted and his gaze narrowed, she added, "Illusion, good Sir. But true fire can render an attacker dead within seconds."
The old man leaned back, glanced at the youth to his right who watched him intently, and nodded. Sigyn's hopes rose a bit at the gesture. Breathing heavily and full of anticipation, she silently waited for the young man rise to his feet and speak the words that would seal her fate.
But as he scribbled on a parchment hidden with a black and white quill, Sif turned her head and whispered, "We've had this talk over and over. I will make no more pleas of your place in the legion if you continue being insubordinate."
"But, M'Lady," Sigyn huffed.
"No, Sigyn," she stressed, "This is a trial that is meant to sculpt you into a warrior… not an agent of dishonor and trickery."
Sigyn was about to protest but Sif shook her head. "Combat," she continued, "is not about trickery. Do not fool a worthy opponent with your greatest talent but engage the way they deserve and the way in which they deserve to die. Where will you be if magic ever failed you?"
Sigyn perked her lips and narrowed her eyes at Sif. Before she could retort, the young councilman cleared his throat and announced, "Young Sigyn," his voice barreled over every seat and bystander, "Your usage of magic in a defense against offensive duel and, though your instincts are fair, your choice has rendered you incompetent of battle."
Sif's jaw dropped and Sigyn gasped.
"The council will not waste time with those incompetent. You are banned from the legionnaire. Lady Sif is not your master-at-arms. Having been closely aligned with her magnificence, the council has decided you will be put under surveillance until you prove your continuing loyalty to Asgard under your commanded state."
Two men of the legion came to each side of her. She never felt so accused!
"No, Sire!" Sigyn pleaded, "I am very loyal to any choice you make and to Asgard! But I simply meant to make a statement, or suggestion. Any offensive maneuver should be legal-"
"Oh, you petty thing," the old man rolled his blind eye, "Surveillance tactics have not been selected. If you don't mind your tongue, you may regret any choice you are so happy to obey…"
"Good, councilman," Lady Sif stepped in front of Sigyn and spoke with smooth confidence, "She is a valuable asset. I promise you. She's known to take asinine assumptions and is a knot in the many tangles of ratted men… but, sir, I break them eventually. She's merely strong-willed. I will remind her that next trial will accept no such indecency."
The old man squinted at Sif and smiled meekly. "No, Sif, I think not."
Sif drew in a breath.
"I have wasted enough time," he scuffed and flicked his wrist. In response, the two legionaries beside Sigyn took her arms. "Your surveillance will be carried out by a husband of the high court's choosing. Whatever you do besides carry out the duties of a housewife is of every concern until certain you are…" he looked at Sif, "domesticated."
"M'Lady!" Sigyn cried as the dragged her to the large double doors.
"You forget your place, Sire!" Sif snarled at the councilman, "You seem to think you can charge her for a crime of no name and sentence her to wed as though court was your place. You are here to judge the legion, not personal affairs."
"And judge I did," the old man leaned forward and grinned, "Take up your worries with Father Odin if I displease you so."
"M'LADY!" Sigyn was tossed out the doors. They were shut as she shuffled to her feet. The courtyard had glanced her way. Women in silk and jewels gathered at a fountain flirting with young admissions had giggled, recognizing Sigyn immediately. A square staircase closed in the gossipers and Sigyn's sparing affiliates who ignored her. Atop the small staircase were archways to a market, a trek of dwellings and pubs, another trek to the carriages, and an armory that sat between them all. Sigyn tried not to blush.
Sif was a warrior of justice, honor, truth, and loyalty. This council had no more honor or loyalty towards the very legion that protected them. This is treachery, Lady Sif had decided.
"I do not need the Great King to disband councilmen," Lady Sif turned from his partial gaze. She pushed the latch of the double door when the councilman said:
"You have more trials to oversee today, Lady Sif!" he reminded her, "Be back in an hour."
She huffed. The legion had been growing more ruthless. The council had lost their hearts for wary young men and women who dreamed to one day join an army once led by the Mighty Thor. It is as though a spot had opened up but was not for Lady Sif. Maybe private counsel with the King would fix that. For now, a child needed her hand. Sigyn was in shock, starring at the doors when Lady Sif came through.
"Was it so wrong?" Sigyn demanded, removing her helm where golden curls fell to her shoulders, "Won't they let me do it again? Just once more? I can win, M'Lady. Please!"
"There's no use in begging to me," Sif stopped before her and stayed strikingly stern.
Oh, Sigyn. Lady Sif had watched the girl in her practice with little interest off the edge of the coliseum for years. She knew Sigyn was not fond of fight over spell…
"I am sorry I did not strain your abilities to their fullest," she admitted. It was her job now as a high class and top rank warrior in the legion. She began with the newest warriors. Many held promise having been raised to fight, but some were not so privileged. Sigyn was one of those, and she was more of a walking daydream than a fighter.
Sigyn had gaped at Lady Sif. "You blame yourself for my choices?" she shook her head, "Do not do that, M'Lady. But is there a way to… repent?" Sigyn hated to say it.
Sif shook her head. "Child, go now," she instructed, "You are not under my command and, therefore, I have no reason to speak with you further."
Sigyn was struck but she knew arguing was pointless. She did, however, want to remind Lady Sif of one thing… a thing absolutely everyone had forgotten. She was no child.
"However," Lady Sif went on, "I do not think the councilman is the right on this matter. Say nothing, but go home to your father and wait. Speak no further to me. I will call upon you within the day."
Sigyn starred for a moment and nodded, her lips tight and eyes gleaming with confusion and hope.
Lady Sif gave her a hard look and motioned her head to the side. Sigyn took the hint and turned away at a fast pace towards the armory across the field.