Swords and Words

Nothing thrilled Thor more then the ringing of metal against metal. It was the sound of battle, the sound of honor and glory, the sound of adventure. It put fire in his heart and made him feel like nothing could ever stop him.

But the sound of wood against wood, not so much.

"I do not understand!" Thor growled, as he blocked off his sword master, "Why is it that I cannot have a real sword? Why must I have this stupid twig?"

"Patience Prince Thor." His sword master said, blocking Thor's attack easily, "Your time will come soon enough. But, for now, a training sword is to be your weapon."

"But it is pathetic!" Thor growled, "I am far more then ready for a proper worthier weapon, why shall I waste any more of my time with this one?"

Before Thor's teacher could respond, Thor lunged in for his attack. Somehow his teacher predicted it and easily stepped to the side and put his wooden sword against Thor's throat.

"There is much more that twig can teach you then just how to fight, Prince Thor." His master said, taking the wooden sword away from his neck, "You must learn patience, or that can bring your downfall in battle. Lessons are done for today; you may go."

Giving his master a stiff bow before running off, Thor quickly threw his sword aside in the weapon's shed before making his way back into the castle. On the way back, however, Thor thought he saw a person in the training grounds who he had never thought would ever be there in his entire life.

"Lady Sif?" Thor called out uncertainly at the figure that was attempting to hide between two bushes.

Jumping with surprise, the young girl, who was indeed Lady Sif, gave a quick curtsy and said formally, "Prince Thor, I had not expected you to be here."

"Had not expected the crown prince of Asgard to be out training on a sunny warm day?" Thor laughed, though not unkindly, "That is a poor excuse for being found hiding among bushes."

Lady Sif's face turn a bright burning red but she kept her face up and looked at him defiantly.

"Why is it that you are here, and not learning to sew somewhere else?" Thor asked, being only seven and not knowing that he was being rudely blunt.

"I like being outside." Was the answer Sif gave.

"That is not the reason, and a poor one lie as well. My brother is only five and he can give a much more convincing lie then that." Thor said shaking his head.

"I can most likely wield a sword better then him, however." Sif muttered under her breathe but Thor heard.

"What?" Thor exclaimed, his eyes flashing angrily.

"He is awful at sword fighting." Sif said as she saw no point in lying anymore, "I come here whenever I can to watch warriors fight, and I try to learn myself. And, I am most sorry to say, I do not think I have ever seen anyone fight with a sword more poorly then he does."

"Now that is a lie!" Thor growled angrily.

"No! I would not dare!"

"You, however, seem to! And you should better run off to where you are suppose to be before someone else finds you here! Thor said shortly.

Sif opened her mouth to argue but, realizing whom she was speaking to, quickly closed it and with another curtsy, hurried away back into her lord father's house.

Shaking his head furiously, Thor had turned to leave but his eyes had just than fallen on Loki and, before he knew it, he was hiding where Sif had just been, watching his little brother practice.

As much as he hated to admit it, Lady Sif was right. Loki was awful. Worse then awful, actually, more like the most terrible appalling dreadful warrior that ever picked up a sword. Loki held the sword with such an awkward fashion; almost like it was an unpleasant thing like slime that he'd rather not touch. Also, being so little and weak for a Asguardian five year old, he seemed even weaker as his sword master delivered blow after blow, expecting Loki to be able to block it with his own strength. Only that poor Loki would then drop the sword and jump a good way back, glowing red as he scrambled to retrieve his wooden sword.

Thor was so caught up with watching his younger brother and feeling sorry for him that he hadn't notice how fast the time had flown by and nearly jumped a good foot into the air as he heard a voice say:

"Thor? Is that you hiding in the bushes?"

"Yes, mother." Thor said, blushing and climbing out to stand in front of her, looking up at his mother.

"What were you doing?" She asked, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

"Nothing." Thor quickly said, wanting to spare Loki the humiliation of their mother seeing how awful he was.
She frowned and, instead of nagging Thor for the truth like he had expected her to do, she shook her head and said, "Well, come along then. You have missed your history lesson with your tutor so I think I ought to punish you in some way."

Hanging his head low and trailing after her, Thor thought more and more about Loki until finally he mustered up enough courage to ask, "If an Asguardian is not good with a sword, what will become of him?"

"Thhhorrr." His mother cooed, giving him a small smile, "You are extremely gifted with a weapon, all your masters say so. You have no need to worry."

"I know." Thor said quickly, "I was just wondering…"

"We will think of something for Loki, do not worry." She said out of the blue, causing Thor to looking up in alarm.

"How did you know?"

"Thor, did you really think I was not aware of what goes on with my own son?" Frigga said with a small laugh.

"So, what will happen to Loki if he does not get any better?" Thor asked with a small voice.

"I do not know… He is a smart boy, I am sure he will find his talent in another thing."

"Hmm" Thor said, and then laughed, "It is strange. I am horrible with things that have to do with words but am a great deal better with things that deal with physical stuff. But Loki seems to be the exact opposite… Mother?" Thor asked, seeing that his mother had suddenly halted next to him.

"Good with words…" His mother said, her eyes widening, "Oh, Thor! You are so smart! Why had I not thought of this before?"

And with that, Frigga hurried away, leaving her son looking after her with a puzzled expression.

It wasn't until a week later that Thor had understood what idea he had caused to be planted in his mother's brain.

"Thor! Thor! Thor!" Loki shouted excitedly, more excited then Thor had seen him to be in his entire life.

"What is it Loki?"

"Guess what? Guess what mother is letting me do!"

"Ride a pony?" Thor guessed

But Loki just shook his head, bouncing on the balls of his feet, his childish grin in place.

"Go somewhere?"

"Nope!"

"Be with father for a day?"

"Nuh uh!"

"What Loki." Thor asked, getting bored and annoyed by the second.

"She is letting me take sorcery lessons!"

"What?"

"Sorcery lessons!" Loki chimed again, "I am going to learn magic!"

"Magic? Why are you excited to learn magic?" Thor said without thinking and then wished to retract it when he saw the deflated look on Loki's face.

"I thought it would be exciting…" Loki said timidly, "You do not think so?"

"Oh, no I do Loki! It is just… you do not think it is just a bunch of tricks?"

"No… Mother says it is something only real talent people can do."

Though the smile had not been sincere, Thor did mean it when he ruffled Loki's hair and said, "I am sure you will do great, brother."

And as the years went by, Loki did great. More then great, actually, he was the best most talented sorcerer that ever lived, according to Thor. And, though he would never admit it, Thor saw that Loki's magic was more then a bunch of tricks, something more then Thor could ever do with a sword or later his hammer. Loki's magic was something only a talented person could do. It was a shame that Thor never told him that…