"Attie, it's time to wake up if you want to visit Sif," a voice called. My eyes fluttered open to see the sun setting. Ares helped me up sluggishly.
"Alright, I'm up." I stretched my arms trying to loosen them up.
"Sif is going to see Thor to come get you," Artemis informed me. I looked around and noticed that Apollo was missing.
"Where is Apollo?"
"Maybe you could tell us that, Attie," Ares suggested, "you always seemed to know where he wandered off to." I searched my brain fro any memories but came up blank. I shrugged my shoulders in response. Thor decided to appear at that moment with a hearty laugh.
"Greetings, friends! Are you ready to leave, Athena?" I nodded and gave Ares a kiss on his cheek before grabbing Thor's hand. "You have picked a wonderful day to visit," Thor told me before we were lifted off of the ground.
I could hear music and laughter before we even landed. I opened my eyes to see lanterns hanging across streets and people singing and dancing everywhere. Thor gently lead me through the crowd with his hand on my back. I was almost tempted to pull away and join the festival, but I knew that if I did, I wouldn't find Thor for hours. I continued to be lead up to a building right in the middle of the festival. I spotted Sif on the front steps and waved. She waved back and pulled me up with her once I was close enough.
"Can we go someplace quiet for a little bit?" I asked. She nodded and pulled me further up the stairs into the building. Once the door shut, everything was very quiet with a little bit of the sound outside making its way inside.
"I got your message earlier," she explained, "what did you want to talk about?"
"Well, I got some memories today."
"Really? What memories?"
"They weren't really important. However, I do have a question for you." her smile grew and she nodded vigorously. "Were Ares and I ever a couple?" Sif seemed to be puzzled and carefully thought before speaking.
"Not that I know of. Is there something you want to tell me?"
"Oh no, no, no," I defended, " I just thought we might have been something by the way he acts."
Sif gave me a gentle smile before responding, "As long as I have know you, Attie, you and Ares have always acted like that." I nodded, biting my lips out of nerves and frustration. I was no closer to the answer I needed. "Now, come on. There is a festival, and we shouldn't ignore it." I decided that Sif was right, so with a smile, I followed her back to the first few steps.
"Why, hello there," a voice said nearby.
"Why, hello, Loki," Sif greeted. The man had dark hair along with bright green eyes almost like emeralds.
"Athena, I didn't know you would be attending."
"Um, I didn't. I came to talk to Sif, and I decide to enjoy the festival as well." Loki's smug smile grew, and I detected a devious look that looked very similar to Hermes's.
"Good. Let's join in the next dance, shall we?" Before I could give my refusal, Loki had whisked me away from Sif. He took me down into the square and maneuvered me into the proper dance position.
"Loki, I don't know this dance," I whispered as we waited for the music to begun.
"I know," he replied smartly.
"I'm going to look like an idiot," I hissed.
"You'll be fine." I huffed and then tensed as the instruments began to play. The music flowed in a familiar melody, and I found my body moving just like others. I felt myself relax and just enjoy the dance. Loki continuously tried to keep me giggling by making silly faces and spinning me around.
I was breathless by the end, but I couldn't seem to decide if it was from the dance or the laughing. Loki and I didn't stop. We simply continued to dance and dance until I was sure I was going to have blisters on my feet.
"Oh, Loki, I think my feet are going to fall off." Loki just answered with a smile but steered me into the direction of some nearby stairs. He disappeared for a few minutes before appearing with two mugs of beer. He handed me one, but I didn't take a drink from it. "I don't drink, Loki." Loki snorted.
"Athena not drinking at a festival, that's very hard to believe."
"I don't drink," I repeated.
"Just try it. I promise that you will like it." I took a tiny sip of the beer for an explosion of the taste of apple cider. I eyed Loki before gulping down some more. "There's my girl," he cheered and lightly slapped me on the back. The rest of the night was burry, passing in bright colors, laughter, and dancing.
