And now on to the next chapter and a slightly changed Hero and perhaps (if we're lucky) a changed Loki. Favorites; LOKI IS KING, Pandora's Little Box. Alerts; Arquero333, XxanimeobsessionxX. The soundtrack for this chapter is Discombobulate by Hans Zimmer from the Sherlock Holmes soundtrack. I own nothing you recognize.
Forged By Fire
Chapter IV: Surprise
Sif found her sister cold and composed the next morning as she fired arrow after arrow at the targets before her. The whole court buzzed with the knowledge of what had happened the night before but Sif wanted to hear what had transpired from her sister and not some lowly gossip. "What happened last night?" she asked. "All was going well and then you stormed out of the hall like a fire out of Jotunheim." Hero laughed softly at the comparison and lowered her bow.
"The younger prince insulted you and I returned the insult with one of my own unique nature," her sister responded, some spark of her old dry humor sparkling in her eyes.
"Did you really dump water over him?" Sif asked, struggling to hold back hysterical laughter as her sister nodded gravely. Sif couldn't help herself then, laughing until she was gasping for breath. It didn't take long for Hero to join her and their laughter hung in the sky almost as bright as the sun. Finally they composed themselves enough to plan their day. Hero had decided to stop hiding and Sif would be lying if she said she didn't approve of the plan.
Hero was her sister's shadow on the way to the training ring and Thor greeted her with a pleased grin and a wink in Sif's direction. The three exchanged cheerful banter and then Hero settled to one side, content to watch Sif and Thor attempt to beat each other up. She called in an occasional suggestion, helping them both equally as was her habit. Finally, exasperated with Thor's poor footwork, she grabbed a practice staff from its rack and rose, pushing aside the older prince impatiently and promptly whacking her sister on her head.
"Hey," Sif complained, rubbing her head and mock glaring at her sister who snickered. Sif shifted her stance slightly and suddenly they were flying too and fro, twisting and all but flying to keep ahead of the other. They threw everything they had into an attempt to gain the upper hand somehow.
"You would think that with as late as you two females always are you would have learned to be quiet." Hero's back stiffened at the lofty tone but her eyes blazed as they bore into Sif's.
"I care more about my friends being living than if I disturb your studies my prince," she said, turning with a mocking bow to face the dark haired bow standing at the edge of the practice ring. "So you can find yourself another place to study." She tossed her training staff easily to Thor who caught it without thinking and then carefully turned back to correct Sif's hands. She moved to Thor next, checking his hold before giving an approving nod. She knew that she was being stared at in this moment but she didn't care. Later maybe she would regret her words but for now she would bask in the satisfaction she felt at putting the younger prince properly in his place.
Loki stared at Hero's straight back in something that was almost silent awe, his eyes fixed on her every motion. This was the girl who had caught his attention two years ago, supremely confidant and moving about with sharp, concise movements. She corrected Sif and Thor carefully but for the most part let them spar as they would, content to watch. Resigned to the fact that the noise was here to stay he settled down on the grass and reopened the book, searching for the correct paragraph and attempting to find the peace that had been there before. He didn't quite manage it.
Hero sank down in the grass next to him, offering no excuse or apology for her behavior. Loki didn't blame her. After all that he had said to her he deserved much more than water dumped over him in public and a verbal slap. Still Hero was far too kind to do any more serious and she would probably be more than willing to put petty insults aside in exchange for a truce. He let out a long suffering sigh and put the book aside finally, not bothering to mark the page. "That bad?" Hero asked, arching and single eyebrow as she met his eyes before turning back to monitor Thor and Sif's progress.
"Not that bad perhaps if it was simpler material," he offered after a moment, half afraid of a sharp retort. If this had been Sif there would have been one but instead it was Hero sitting next to him and that made all the difference in the realms.
