"Fight you?" Sif repeated, thoroughly confused now. Usually an invitation like this from Loki would have her pouncing to attack him, but she was wary this time. What game was Loki playing now? He tossed her the dagger and Sif it caught it deftly in her hand, though the book did lurch forwards slightly.
"Yes Sif. Fight me."
Sif cocked her head as much as the heavy volume would allow and regarded him shrewdly.
Loki smiled as he continued, "And I promise I will tell all it was a fair fight, initiated by me,"
Though Sif knew Loki's promises were as worthless as rusty armour, the offer was too tempting for Sif to resist. Her anger at the second Prince may have been placated slightly by her recent success, but he still had plenty of past grievances to account for. She would make him pay for his actions this day and there was no weapons master present to call foul now. She lurched towards him, the heavy volume slipping from her head and striking the hard ground with a loud crash. She paid it no heed, too consumed with calculating the precise angle of attack to send Loki into his pile of blasted books and tumbling into the freezing water below.
Loki, though, had already anticipated her attack and calmly stepped away, moving around her so it was now she who was standing on the edge of the pool. She immediately fell into her battle stance, bracing herself for an attack from Loki. But one never came. Instead he just watched her with his infuriating smirk and a playful mischief in his eyes.
"Now, now Sif. You attack before we have reached an arrangement." He shook his head in feigned disappointment, "That is not very honourable of you, is it Sif?"
Sif glared, but she knew better than to attack again. "And what arrangement do you have in mind, trickster?"
"There is but one condition, Lady Sif." Loki answered, "You must only fight when you have the book balanced, without assistance, on your head." He looked pointedly down at the book lying open on the ground, its pages turning in the gentle breeze.
Sif's eyes were pure poison as she glowered at Loki. She should have known he would have a cruel trick in mind. She was definitely tempted to throw the book at him now, or better yet, the dagger and this time her aim would not only be for show. She clenched her fingers around its hilt, started to raise it high, but Loki merely tracked its movements mockingly, unconcerned and vaguely amused by her efforts. It forced her arm still and instead she stepped towards the book, kicking it with it her foot and banging it shut. "That is far from a fair fight, trickster!"
"Are you sure, my Lady? You hold the dagger and I am without a weapon." He held his arms out towards her, as if to prove they were empty. "And I promise to only defend, not attack."
Crossing her arms in irritation, Sif strengthened her glare at the trickster, but there was little else she could do. To not accept this new game of Loki's was tantamount to admitting defeat and giving up entirely on this disastrous idea of dancing lessons. And that she could not do, her pride was too strong to give up now. Beside, it was still a chance to fight Loki and seek revenge. So it was with a smirk of her own that Sif reached down and retrieved the book. It was easier this time to balance it properly and Sif looked at Loki with a challenging grin.
He smiled back and held his arms out in invitation, waiting for Sif to move.
She paused a moment, hoping to catch Loki off guard before she lunged at him, the dagger held high and ready to strike. But as she rushed forwards, she tipped her head and the book fell to the ground.
Loki stepped out of her way, circling around her and the book and smiling triumphantly. "Dear me, Sif. That is not a very good start."
"You say that at such a safe distance, Loki. It merely makes you seem weak."
"Then show me otherwise, Sif. Prove to me you have the makings of a warrior."
His words struck a chord with Sif and she tried again, but her first few attempts proved just as disastrous and her smirk soon fell into another scowl. As she lunged for him, the book would always hit the floor with a crash that echoed around the clearing and a painful reminder that she had failed again. Her frustration was not helped by Loki's growing smile and occasional laughs as the book fell once more or tipped precariously forwards and Sif lost her own balance in trying to maintain that of the book. Sif knew her movements would be praised on the training ground, her kicks sharp and fierce, her speed and strength capable of defeating any normal foe. But Loki had never been any ordinary adversary on the training ground, his skills never lying in the usual strength and force, but in strategy and evasion. And so he was in his element here, easily dodging her attacks and tricking her movements so her posture would collapse and the book would fall.
Loki kept to his side of the bargain well, never attacking, but that she could still not beat him was devastating to her pride. Whenever the book would fall, Loki would step away and look at her in playful exasperation, his arms held out mockingly as he waited for her to retrieve the fallen book. Sometimes Sif would continue to attack and Loki would dodge expertly out of her way, smirking at her or releasing a scathing and patronising comment. "Now, now Sif." He shook his finger at her, "That is not very fair. Trying to attack me with a dagger whilst I am unarmed."
Whether Loki intended it or not, and Sif would bet very strongly on the former, Loki's arrogant attitude only served to increase her frustration and rage, until her blows became almost vicious in their ferocity. But still Loki would step aside, laughing at her and scolding her lack of balance and prowess once more. Whilst her frustration drove her determination and spurned her actions, it also clouded her judgement. Her attacks grew more and more desperate and Loki's laughter rang ever louder around the clearing. "And you hope to join the very best of my father's warriors and protect this realm? You are not even capable of defeating an unarmed man!"
"I will make you pay for your scorn, Loki Liartongue!" Sif charged at him once more and again the heavy book struck the ground with a deafening crash.
When the book fell this time on her foot, the sharp pain brought her to her senses. If she truly wanted to beat Loki, she would have to play the game his way, and that would mean being cautious and making sure the book fell no more. She was a fast learner on the training ground, so why was it so different here? She forced all her frustration and anger at the second prince down and instead focused on keeping the book balanced.
Sif tried a few experimental moves then, raising her leg slowly in a small kick or stepping forwards with her arms out, wielding the dagger. The book wobbled dangerously, but Sif was growing accustomed to its weight now. She pulled her back straight and kept her head held high, balancing the book. It still took Sif many attempts to move properly with such a heavy volume perched on her head, but she focused her frustration into concentration now. No longer did she see the book as a hindrance, but a new weapon to wield, an extension of herself like the dagger she held so confidently in her hand. She let it push her into new movements, new tricks and methods she had never been made to consider before, new ways to conquer her enemy.
And her enemy watched on, silent now as he considered her. Her attacks were still easy to evade and he had plenty of opportunities to appraise the growing agility of his pupil. His slights and cruel comments were hitting their mark well, increasing her fury as he intended until she was forced to play his game. And as Sif grew more confident in her movements, Loki had to try harder to keep the admiration from his eyes, to hide his genuine smile at her growing success. Now that she was being more cautious in her movements, more patience in her attacks, Loki could see her balance improving greatly. Her back was now held far straighter than it had ever been, her head held proud and strong. She began to move now with grace and fluidity, rather than brute strength and anger. No longer did her movements seem like that of a warrior, but of dancer spinning around elegantly in strange, mesmerising movements.
This was the Sif he would watch with wonder on the training ground, the Sif who would rise to any challenge and usually succeed. The Sif who would stare down any opposition and any who dared to challenge the notion of a female warrior until they flinched, so sure was she in her future as a warrior of Asgard. This was the Sif who Loki knew would always be just out of his reach, watched only from afar and always destined for his brother… But this was also the Sif who Loki knew would enchant all on the dance floor, if only he could find a way to make her as confident there as she was in a fight.
Already Loki was planning ahead to future lessons, future ways to use Sif's skill and instinct for war in the art of dancing. He continued to easily evade her attacks, but his concentration was becoming diverted now, his thoughts distracted. He still watched her, but less carefully, failing to notice just how far Sif's confidence and surety in her movements had grown.
Sif's concentration, however, only grew, focusing on her enemy and how to conquer him. She could tell the moment he became distracted. It was a simple, barely discernable shift in his behaviour. But Sif had been trained in reading her enemy and she knew Loki well. Knew when the distracted look flickered across his eyes that his mind was becoming consumed with plots and plans and new games to play. His reflexes slowed and his movements became slightly clumsier, more perfunctory than mocking now. The smirk began to fall from his lips as they became a hard line of concentration, the mischief in his eyes dwindling into reflection. Sif watched him, looking for a way to finally defeat him. She saw her chance a few moments later and hastily took it.
A particularly high kick was aimed at his chest and Sif deliberately tilted her head slightly so the book would waver and threaten to fall. She raised her hand towards it, as if reaching to steady the book and feigned a stumble forwards. Loki watched her stumble and, in his own confidence, he did not move out of the way, assuming the book would fall. A scathing comment was already on his lips at her rule breaking, his concentration elsewhere. Sif waited not a moment longer and quickly recovered from her fake stumble, tilting her head and keeping her back straight to bring the book in balance. She finished her kick and planted her foot squarely in Loki's chest.
The impact knocked him backwards, landing with a loud thud on the hard ground. Sif carefully stepped forwards, her back completely straight. She would not be defeated now! She pushed her foot down on Loki's chest, preventing him from standing and held the dagger out, the tip of the blade focused on his heart. The blade against the skin of his throat would have been much more satisfying, but Sif did not dare to bend over him and risk losing the book now.
"Congratulations, my Lady. It appears you have beaten me."
"You yield?" Sif looked down at Loki in confusion. Surely he was not giving up the fight now? He could easily reach to grab her ankle and twist her over, knocking her and the book off balance. No doubt Loki would claim it was merely in defence too, so what was he playing at now? And why did he still smirk at her like it was he who had won?
"But of course, my Lady. Do you not hold a dagger above my heart and have me pinned to the ground?" When Sif still looked at him warily, clutching tighter to the dagger and pushing her foot more firmly into his chest, he continued slightly breathlessly, "I think you have adequately passed this lesson. Sif."
"Oh!" With all her concentration and determination in fighting Loki, Sif had quite forgotten about the lesson. That, coupled with Loki's easy submission and infuriating smirk, rather lessened her own triumph.
Still, she did have the trickster at her mercy and she dug her foot into his chest unnecessarily hard. "You may have taught me this lesson, Loki Liartongue, but I still have beaten you in a fair fight!"
"Indeed you have, my Lady, and quite a clever trick you played too."
His compliment caught her by surprise, she was not used to the trickster complimenting anyone and she brought the dagger down closer to his heart, already on her guard.
"And now that you have beaten me, Sif, would you be so kind as to allow me to stand up?"
With an icy glare and another unnecessarily hard push of her foot, Sif stepped away from him. She felt strangely drained then, as if she had lost the fight, not won it. And perhaps she had, or it was a joint victory at least, for Loki had succeeded too, helping her to balance so confidently and so naturally. She supposed she could at least be grateful for that, and she had still defeated him, tricking the trickster was no easy feat. She twirled the dagger around in her fingers as she coolly watched Loki stand, far too easily for one who had just suffered such a severe fall. He smirked proudly at her, looking pointedly at the book still balanced on her head.
His reaction was already grating on her patience and Sif quickly grabbed the volume from her head and stalked towards the pile of books still sitting by the edge of the pool. She dropped it down heavily on top of the others and felt a small measure of satisfaction when the movement caused the high pile to topple over. Her head felt incredibly light and buoyant without the heavy book and she deliberately fell into her usual slouch, arms crossed as she regarded him. "What next then, oh great teacher?"
Loki did not rise to her mockery and instead a small smile flashed across his lips. But he kept his voice stern as he answered, "Whilst more lessons would not go amiss today, I fear it is too late now to continue."
At his words, Sif looked around and indeed he was right! She had not realised they had been here for so long and already the shadows were long across the ground. The burning orange sun was already close to the horizon as Sol the sun goddess took her rest. It would be dark soon and the forest was no kind place to remain in at night. She did not fear it, but unlike Thor or Loki, she did not seek out trouble.
"Tomorrow then?" She asked petulantly. Whilst she was about as eager for the next lesson as she was for the ball itself, she was determined that Loki should not skirt his promise to her.
"Here, same time." Loki answered, already turning away from her to collect his books. He was exhausted and their lessons had barely begun! It did not help that things were becoming so difficult between them. Their arguments would only hinder Sif's progress and the ball would soon be upon them. He would have to swallow his impulse to do mischief and try to stop goading her so. What might replace their usual animosity though, Loki did not dare to consider. The growing attraction between them was an unforeseen complication, one he could never have accounted for. He never would have dreamed Sif may reciprocate… No. He could not afford such thoughts, not when all of Asgard already had plans to make her their Queen. She was destined for his brother and no fleeting attraction in her youth towards him would change that. He would just have to be more careful, find the right balance between ensuring Sif staying too annoyed at him to consider anything more and yet with enough patience that he could still teach her to dance. It would not be easy and he dreaded to think what the rest of the fortnight would hold.
"And what will you teach me tomorrow, Loki?" Sif called out to his back, her nostrils flaring at his abrupt dismissal, as if she were no more than a child!
Loki paused before answering. There were many more basic skills Sif had to learn and her patience and balance still needed much improvement. And then there was the third lesson which Loki knew Sif would find hardest of all. But they had so little time, the basics and that lesson would have to wait. With a weary sigh he replied, "Tomorrow Sif, I think we had better start teaching you the set dances."
Thanks for still reading and I hope you're still enjoying it!
I definitely plan to update the story soon, but in the meantime, why not check out my other Sif/Loki stories – A Dragon Moves Amongst Us and The Wrong Prince. I've recently updated both of them too and they are here on fanfic-net
Anyway, thanks a lot for still reading! :-)
