To Lose Fidelity
Chapter 2: Intended Plans
"Excuse me, but can you all settle a bet?" Said a man with a blonde goatee to a gathering of rock trolls. He watch as they looked up to him, squinting from the vibrant silver armor over his chest and arms that glisten in the sun. His ocean green cloak softly swept on his back. The man is known as Fandral The Dashing. From the famous band of Asgardian champions, The Warriors Three. A swordmaster who has yet to draw his weapon before these creatures who are slowly sizing him up.
"Asgardian." They growled. Fandral smiled contently and jumped off his perch. Sprinting down a narrowing valley in the flat block mountains, as the group of trolls stomped behind him.
Many of the Nine Realms are plagued by the tempered nature of rock trolls. A mutation of sentient rock born from the magic of Yggdrasil. Those who reside themselves deep under their claimed mountains. Until feelings of greed, jealousy or even rage ignited them to attack their neighboring townships or farmlands.
It is a very common trouble in Asgard, but the attacks had always fallen back as easily as they had started. The trolls are of low intelligence and their strength is nothing compared to an aesir. Their underground kingdom could never match the strong and limitless power of Asgard. And when they had drifted from their underground home, all believed that it would end the same. But somehow they had held their own. Their commander Ulik's leadership continued to strongly spur their rage further into aesir lands. Their army grows with new followers of lowlifes and ruffians, inspired by the creatures' success. Harboring their own vendetta towards Asgard. War, the troll King Geirrodur declared after he denied Odin, the king of Asgard, order for desist. And in light of the declaration Odin had sent his sons to answer the call.
A raven haired man leans back against a wall of rock at the dead end of a valley. He wears layers of crossing black leather over his lean figure with emerald green accents peeking out of the seams of his tunic. Almost no armor to be seen on him save for the intricate vambraces he picks at on his sleeve board. And an adorn shoulder guard of a serpent and wolf's head, that strapped his sleeveless black coat to his tunic. He visibly carried no weapons, but those who know him are aware of the daggers he kept hidden on him. He is unthreatened by the echo of the trolls footfalls. Looking up when Fandral is a few short steps away from him.
"How many?" Said Loki, the second prince of Asgard, in a smooth voice with a lively smirk.
"At least thirty." Fandral smiled gladly, resting a hand on the hilt of his sheathed sword. Making no attempt to ready for a fight as the trolls see them and charge on harder. "Ah Loki," Fandral said looking skyward to a distant figure hovering high above them, collecting a storming rage of lightning.
"They are hardly close enough." Loki said glancing to the same figure, whose red cape waved in the winds.
"He's almost ready to come down," Fandral said hurriedly.
"Not yet," Loki said with crossed arms watching the charge of trolls. When they were near upon them. Drawing their weapons back Loki grabs Fandral's arm and they are gone. The trolls swing their weapons at the wall where they stood. Colliding over each other and before they could wonder how the men before them had gone a violent blast of lightning strikes down upon them. It held unnaturally, its blast digging into the ground. The light too blinding to see the damage the trolls suffer in its wake. It stops, and a thunder rumbles in the gorge.
When the drifting smoke, dust and debris calm down it reveals Thor, the first born prince of Asgard, heir to the throne. He rises from his bend to stand tall, his powerful hammer mjolnir leaving a deep scorch behind in the charted mountain pass. Thor's vibrant red cape cascades down his back carrying stains of battle. The silver discs on his chestplate and chainmail that wrapped up around his arms, shine in the light of the sun over his navy accent. Wind tousles his blond hair as he laughs in a deep voice entertained, giving mjolnir a light toss to grasp by its handle.
"Another." Thor jested to the the rubble around him, and as if to answer his request the few survivors stood. Their rage pushing them past their disorientation towards him. Thor grinned and with just a swing of mjolnir he crushes the first troll apart. The second troll that charged behind him is knocked away by a dark haired maiden dressed in silver and red armor.
"Don't take all the fun." Lady Sif said over her shoulder to Thor, bearing her sword to charge at her opponent. Thor chuckles and charged towards the next troll. Away from them Loki and Fandral slowly tail down the mountain side towards them.
"Now how shall I settle your debt?" Loki said slowly, grinning wide.
"I may have counted wrong," Fandral said.
"But survivors still stood after the full blast." Loki said catching Fandral's attempt to get himself out of the deal. Fandral sighed, then turned quickly into a better attitude.
"I suppose their gift of durability had to make up for their lack of wit. But let's settle the debt another day." Loki only pondered the idea a moment before agreeing as they stepped onto the pass littered with rubble. As Thor crushed mjolnir into the last trolls body, Sif ran up to them. Her skirt of chainmail glimmers from under the red plates of her short dress.
"You cut it close there Loki." Sif said as she retracted her blade and sheathed it into her shield.
"And about that, why must I be the bait in this?" Fandral said reminded of the wait under the pending lightning strike from Thor.
"It was a natural choice. Your mouth runs as well as you." Sif said teasingly to her friend.
"Well if that's how you feel I'll just leave with Volstagg." Fandral said breezily.
"Only he received permission to leave today." Sif asserted. "He can't be expecting us to attend."
"But he will." Thor said gladly as he joined them. "I gave Volstagg my word we would attend."
"Than I will be taking my leave now." Fandral said with a wave goodbye from his brow. Leaving to find Volstagg for the trip back to Asgard.
"The commander will take offence if we go." Sif said pointedly to Thor. "He expects you to stay at the camp until the end of this endeavor." Thor grunts at this, while the trolls have been making wiser charges against his country, they are still trolls and been hardly a challenge for him.
"He shouldn't be so concerned. Honestly, what could the trolls possibly do in a night?" Loki said with a smirk.
"Exactly." Thor said, glad for his brothers agreement. "We will be back tomorrow and everything will be just the same as we left it."
\.../
Sigyn's hands lace through Theoric's arm as they leave the restaurant. Her head rested gently on his broad shoulder as her eyes fell downcast. Theoric slowed his pace to even with hers. Glancing at the top of her head with his hickory brown eyes. The feast may last days, but Sigyn expressed how upset she would be if her mother became too busy for the party if she was held back instructing in the kitchen. And he has taken the day off to meet with the various chefs Sigyn had considered to hire for the wedding. But none had been available or interested.
"There is a tavern I know of," he offered optimistically. "It is not elegant, but the food is appetizing." Sigyn took in his words for a few steps.
"I don't know." Sigyn said unsure if a chef at a tavern would be approved by her parents for the wedding. "I'll try again another day, further from the city."
Theoric didn't look to her, but kept on a sympathetic smile as he led them out of the street toward a stone railing. Sigyn removed her hands from his arm to place her elbows on the ledge, leaning her weight into them. She looked over the view of the cityscape. Heimdall's golden observatory could be seen on the horizon radiating in the light of a setting sun. Theoric crossed his arms and leaned his back against the ledge watching over Sigyn. She drummed her fingers on the stone in thought.
"Should we consider postponing?" Sigyn questioned out loud. She quickly turned to Theoric. "It's not because of the cook. This troll ordeal has been outlasting itself. It could make members of our families nervous to travel if it should carry onto the next month." She watched as Theoric raised an eyebrow at the thought.
"I don't imagine this conflict will last as long as you fear," he said.
"But it could last another month. You may even be requested to return to the army." Sigyn straightened her posture and her arms crossed. "I don't want to cancel our wedding if your are drafted a week before the ceremony." Theoric laughed at the idea, and gently cupped her shoulders in his hands.
"Sigyn I transferred to guard the castle to avoid recruitment for you, to help with the wedding." He said undeterred. "Besides, I doubt it will be any longer than this week. Your own cousin is following Prince Thor's charge as we speak. You can't imagine the trolls could survive much longer under his leadership."
Sigyn wished she hadn't known Thor as well as she did. The Thor she remembers would surely be brandishing mjolnir in excessive stunts than give the conflict any proper attention. But it has been a long time since they had last spoke, perhaps he has matured. But she knows Fandral is much the same. While she and her cousin both lived in the city of Asgard, they haven't seen much of each other outside their family gatherings. They were close as children, but as adults they simply shared fewer circles. So much of the time they spent together before was her simply following Loki. Sigyn felt a nervous tight pull inside her chest, she would rather not think of him now. She still felt uncomfortable with what she had dreamed.
Sigyn bit in her inner lip returning to her current ordeal. "Yes…but, I would still like to discuss this with my parents, they are hosting." Theoric looked at her feeling his advice was discredited, but decided not to push any further now. He took her hand with a smile.
"Than should we head to your home, or do we enjoy this evening together?" Theoric said with a handsome grin on his square jawline. The sun is nearly set, but there is always something to do in the city. "I heard there is a comedic performance in Hjort Park." Theoric leaned toward her. "Perhaps we could catch it?" He said with a cheery grin. Sigyn peered at him with a smirk, and tightened her grip over his hand.
"I do know a shortcut." Sigyn chuckled and without a step they materialized a street away from the park. Theoric observed his sudden surroundings, amused. "Come on." Sigyn said as she purposely bumped into his side, their hands still interlaced. Sigyn pulled him toward the green to an outdoor theater. Finding seats in the back with a open view of the stage. The play is just in its first act. It is a common comedy, about a bumbling fool who is mistaken as a great warrior, and inadvertently defeats a troll king. There is no coincidence in the director's decision on the story, and its mix audience of young and old enjoyed each joke.
It is during the second act Sigyn distinguished one hearty laugh over them all. She peered at the front section of seats, and saw a large man dressed in burgundy armor. His long red hair loose over his shoulders. A small girl sat on his knee her nose tickled under the man's beard, while an axe laid against his other. Besides him sat a voluptuous woman with rosy cheeks whose straw-colored curls were tied back in a loose braid. The woman held an ample smile and cooed at the auburn haired toddler in her own lap.
"Volstagg has returned early." Theoric whispered after he followed Sigyn's gaze.
"He isn't the only one." Sigyn said less amused. As she had noticed her cousin, Fandral, sitting a row behind his friend in the company of two beautiful women. That is expected of her relative, but why is he goofing off when the king had sent him to fight. The lights dimmed after the final act, and returned for an encore. The audience stood to applaud.
"Should we greet them?" Theoric said over the cheering crowd. Sigyn looked down to the front and watched Volstagg's wife grab his arm for attention.
Sigyn hadn't the chance to know Volstagg personally. At the time The Warriors Three was being fully established, she wasn't following Thor's miscellaneous adventures anymore. In the distance Sigyn watched as Volstagg nodded. Picked up the child from his knee and axe to leave with his family. Fandral gave a small wave as they ran out before the crowd ended their applause. Sigyn wondered what caused Volstagg's family to leave so intently, but mostly why they were back in the city.
"Yes," Sigyn said taking Theoric's hand to make way towards her cousin. They ran down and stood at the end of the row where Fandral had sat. Waiting as Fandral is slowed down by the many admirers of The Warriors Three, but he caught his cousin's face out of the crowd ahead of him.
"Sigyn!" He cheered over some heads. Sigyn waved back as he left the crowd to greet them. "It is good to see you." He said pulling her into a friendly hug, and then he turned to Theoric. "And what is the noble Theoric doing away from his post?" The two clapped each other's forearms in a shake.
"Thought I would enjoy the company of a beautiful women, as you surrounded yourself with trolls." Theoric said as he put an arm around Sigyn's shoulders. "But the trolls seem to far more attractive from what I've heard." He finished as Fandral's company caught up behind him. The couple smiled at the warrior.
"Ah it would seem." Fandral said smiling guiltlessly as he wrapped an arm around the first woman.
"Then the trolls are already defeated?" Sigyn asked with a sarcastic smile.
"No. But, it is an entertaining battle, that I had to part to meet new friends." The woman under his arm laughed. Sigyn let go a quiet snort as Theoric chuckled. "And what brings you here cousin? I hadn't expected to see you tonight."
"Our wedding had lost our cook, and we have been searching for a new one today." Theoric interjected, Sigyn was surprised he did, he usually wasn't so abrupt.
"Oh no." Cooed the second woman under Fandral's arm. "Did you find a new one." She asked politely.
"No, and she is convinced that we should postpone the wedding so long we are fighting trolls." Theoric said right to Fandral. Hoping someone on the battlefront could convince Sigyn that this Troll ordeal was nothing to postpone a wedding over. Sigyn however was shocked he would bring this back up right before her cousin.
"We haven't decided yet." She retorted turning to face Theoric, controlling her tone. "But I don't see what is so awful about pushing the date a bit further?"
"If the trolls posed a threat I would agree." He said shrugging his arms. "But we just need a cook, maybe we won't find a professional, but finding somebody to cook isn't impossible." Theoric and Sigyn shared this quick dispute as Fandral and company watched. Fandral eyebrows furrowed, if they are looking for an outsourced chef he knew quite a few, and the best one to recommend.
"If I may interject." Fandral said. Sigyn turned to Fandral, trying to hide her embarrassment over the argument. Theoric crossed his arms besides her, waiting for Fandral to finish. "I do know somebody who would be happy to cook if you ask them."
"Do I know them?" Sigyn asked curiously. Fandral smiled brightly at the couple's attention.
"I do." Fandral said affirmingly. "She was actually in my company earlier, and I can introduce you if you'd like. I won't be shy to say she hosts some of the best feast I've ever had."
"Who?" Sigyn glanced between the women in his company.
"Hildegund, Volstagg's wife." Sigyn and Theoric both shared a look that communicated the same thought between them. Sigyn volunteered to answer first.
"I don't think we could impose on her for such a favor. We don't even know the family well enough to ask."
"As honored as we would be to have Hildegund." Theroic added. He held Volstagg in high respect that to imagine asking his wife for such a request felt out of bounds.
"Don't be so modest, Hildegund is merry and generous as Volstagg, I believe they would insist if I tell either of them your ordeal." Fandral said, slyly stroking his goatee at the suggestion.
"Fandral, we are thankful but," Sigyn said resting a hand on Theoric's arm. "We will find somebody." Fandral held her gaze a moment then gave her a nod.
"Sorry I can't be of service. But at least allow me to invite you to the festivity tonight." He said with a charming smile to the couple. "We were heading there ourselves until I saw you." He said cordially, as the women giggled beside him.
"A feast would be great." Theoric looked down to Sigyn. "We can't show our faces to the cooks who turned down our wedding after all." He joked. Sigyn returned a playful smile.
"I suppose not." She looked back to Fandral to see he has already turned towards the party waiting for them to follow. "And who is hosting?"
"Volstagg." Fandral noticed Sigyn's eyebrows arch. "I don't imagine you will ask, but at least come and complement the cook." He winked at Sigyn who rolled her eyes lightly. Theoric offered his arm and she took it without hesitation.
"Already celebrating your advance over the trolls." Theoric said to Fandral as they walked besides him.
"Oh no, this party is to celebrate his daughter's birthday, but I do imagine we will lose track of that later." Fandral said grinning as he lead his guest to the party.
\.../
Before any fans come at me with facts I have to say I know that was a kronans in Dark World, but I took artistic licence because if a race is going to be called "Rock Trolls" they should be made of rocks. (I just find that more fun)