Roughly sixty years passed on Asgard.

Today marked the vernal equinox. The air was heavy with nectar and pollen, but it was sweet. Thor rose early as ever. He dressed in his favorite armor, mounted his favorite horse, and rode into the city. He was met with several morning greetings, but nothing else.

"Has everyone forgotten?" Thor mused, stepping off his horse.

"Please, as if you would let anyone forget," came the chuckle of a familiar voice. Thor turned and was met by Lady Sif. She may have been of noble birth, but she much preferred to live outside the palace. He grinned at her.

"Well, then tell me what I want to hear," he said smugly.

"Happy vernal equinox?" she questioned, playing dumb. Thor pushed her shoulder. They roughhoused a bit. "What are you doing wandering Asgard so early in the morning? You should be sound asleep, saving your energy for tonight. You take your festivities seriously."

"Sleep? I can sleep the next week away. The celebration begins today. Early. Noon, preferably." Thor looked towards the palace.

"Of course," Sif smirked. "And then you can have a whole hall filled with drunken, sleeping men in your honor."

Thor laughed and patted her shoulder. "You will be there, Sif?"

She feigned shock. "You know I cannot! I must train hard today, I've no time for petty parties! I am a woman! I do not celebrate!"

Thor shoved her playfully and mounted his horse once more. "Well, train your way to the palace if you can manage it. I have a bet with the Three that you will make someone bleed tonight. Make sure it's Fandral for me."

Sif rolled her eyes. "Indeed." She shooed Thor away and continued sweeping the steps that led to her flat. She would have to finish her training regimen early if she was going to be at the palace by noon.

҉

There was a horrible pounding on the door, followed by a very jubilant, "Loki, get up!"

Loki groaned, rubbing his face. "You are more obnoxious than usual this morning," he muttered.

"I heard that."

"You were meant to."

Thor chuckled. "You are banned from sleeping the day away, you must be festive with the rest of us tonight! I demand it!"

"Your demands are unkind, brother. I have not slept at all." Loki pulled himself from his bed and dressed as Thor no doubt hounded his door. He could practically feel his brother's frown through the oak. "Tis called insomnia," he added. "It is a common ailment for those with troubled minds. You could not fathom it. It is understandable. You have no mind at all."

Thor roared playfully from behind the solid doors. "You are lucky you have magic protecting these pathetic slabs of wood! I could have your head for that comment!"

Loki scoffed. "Thor, please." He finished dressing and sent a silent prayer that Thor would not snap his neck out of excitement. It was a special day. Thor had difficulty containing himself on special days. Including ones that revolved around him. Loki opened his door and braced for the inevitable: either a rib-crushing or neck-breaking hug. He was surprised to receive neither.

"Happy Birthday, Thor," he said plainly.

"Why is it the only one who tells me this says it in the most un-celebratory tone in existence?"

Loki allowed himself a smile.

Thor wrapped a thick arm around Loki's neck and mussed his hair. So Loki did not get away from Thor's affections after all. Loki growled loudly. Thor ignored him, spun on his heel, and literally dragged his younger brother by the neck to the dining hall. Loki likened himself to porcelain in the meaty hands of a giant toddler. The raven haired prince grimaced. He did not tell Thor to remove his arm, however; today was Thor's day. The tortures of his affectionate and boisterous elder brother would likely triple.

Thor released his kin and claimed his place at the table. Loki sat quietly, pouring himself a cup of honey mead. He needed to start drinking early if he was going to tolerate the night. Thor laughed and did the same. Soon after they began eating, Frigga and Baldur joined them in the hall. They both wished a happy birthday and sat. Baldur seated himself quietly beside Loki and took the bottle of mead. This was to be his breakfast. Loki smiled faintly.

"Is Father not awake?" Thor questioned between mouthfuls of sweet bread. The food on the table must have gravitated toward him; the sweet bread in question was clear on the opposite end of the hall when Loki sat down.

Frigga clicked her tongue. "He is off who knows where. I told him to be here this morning, but I awoke to an empty bed." Thor paused only briefly to frown at the table, then continued to stuff his face. "He is like you," Frigga continued, turning her attention to Loki. "He prefers to be anywhere else but home."

"Please do not compare me to him, Mother," Loki murmured through a baked apple.

Baldur chuckled. Frigga did not reply. They ate their meal in a comfortable silence. By the time Thor finished, he consumed over half of the table.

"No doubt you could give Volstaag a run for his money," Loki said in quiet shock as Thor patted his stomach. "How exactly do you manage to fit all that in there and still move?"

"It would be helpful if you had a few muscles," Thor answered smugly.

Loki immediately took the rest of the honey mead from Baldur. "I am going to need this much more than you," he insisted with a hard look. Baldur held up his hands, palms open.

Suddenly, their friendly banter was interrupted by a few loud whoops and one, "Will you be quiet?" Thor stood, returning the loud noise. His friends Volstaag, Fandral, and the newly-acquired Vanir-friend Hogun came early as requested. Frigga retreated to prepare herself for the night ahead.

"My friends!" Thor said as they filtered through the hall. "There are the infamous Three. Is Sif not with you?"

"Of course you worry about Sif," Fandral smirked, stroking his chin.

"She's probably having trouble deciding which set of armor to wear," Volstaag snorted, helping himself to a handful of grapes and a baked apple.

"I wonder if she'll wear the armor I had casted for her," Thor said hopefully. There were a few coy whistles sent Thor's way. He grinned sheepishly.

"You had armor cast for her?" Hogun said. His usual somber demeanor was broken only for this occasion.

"Oh, don't make a fuss out of it! She said she was having difficulty moving with normal armor, so I had a blacksmith cast her more appropriate pieces for her figure," Thor replied. His cheeks were turning various shades of pink.

"We are ignored," Baldur commented from Loki's side.

"We are not ignored, we don't even exist," Loki muttered.

"Feeling bitter, Loki?" Fandral smirked, winking at him. Loki cringed. "It's alright, we'll give you plenty of attention as well. But this is Thor's day, do try to not be so greedy."

"Perhaps he is upset you are making a move for Sif tonight," Volstaag said, nudging Thor's arm. Thor laughed and shook his head but stayed quiet.

Baldur was perplexed. "But Loki, didn't you –?"

Loki shook his head quickly.

"What is this?" Fandral questioned, slinging an arm around Loki's shoulders and mussing his hair. "Did you already try for her hand? My, my, an underground worker! You couldn't even woo her with your silver tongue?" Three of the six laughed. Thor cast Loki a dangerous look while his friends were not looking.

"I would recommend not doing that again," Loki murmured coolly as he delicately fixed his hair. "I can only imagine the fit you would throw if I returned the gesture." Fandral protectively held a hand to his locks.

"What's wrong, Loki? Fur rubbed the wrong way?" Volstaag snorted, mewling for added effect.

"It does not matter. She'll not approach you while I am here." Loki slid out from under Fandral's arm and stalked off, Baldur at his heels.

The four remaining boys stared after them.

"Who wants to take another bet about what happened between Loki and Sif?" Fandral said.

Thor, Volstaag, and Hogun turned out their pockets.

҉

"Eight hundred years ago this day in Asgard, my Queen gave birth to our second son. He was a troublemaker from the start. Hardheaded, stubborn, but joyful and strong. He was taxing to raise. I do not pretend I was there to aid my wife, as I was away for many days at a time. But I have watched my beautiful son grow into a magnificent soldier.

"Thor," Odin said, standing. Thor came forward and knelt before his father. "On this evening of the eight hundredth year of your birth, I bestow upon you the true power of a god. Your strength is already unparalleled. Your virtues are respectable and admired. You are already a fine warrior. But as King, and as your father, I deem you more – I present to you the title of God of Thunder. Strike your enemies with a fierce bolt. Make your presence known. Bring on the storm that comes with your namesake."

Electricity crackled and sparked, welling from the floor underneath Thor's feet. He was surrounded in a bright light; many shielded their eyes. The energy faded away. Thor stood. Odin raised his glass.

"May you have many long and prosperous years ahead of you, my son," Odin said proudly. "You are still growing inside, but you have reached the age of adulthood. Drink from your goblet proudly; you will make for a fearsome opponent to all who oppose Asgard. To Thor!"

"To Thor!" the hall repeated. There was a silence as they all drank, then the air unanimously erupted into cheers.

"To you, brother," Loki said, nodding slowly. "You truly have everything now. Not many are blessed with physical strength and magic."

Thor was then presented with gifts: an ornate mirror from the ever-preening Fandral; a large and juicy slab of boar meat, slathered in honey and spices from Volstaag; a specially-made iron mace from Hogun; a set of the finest hidden daggers from Loki; a silver helmet decorated with ornate wings from Frigga.

"Nice feathers," Loki commented, eyeing them.

"I don't want to hear a word from you, cow," Thor laughed.

Loki scowled. "They are goat horns."

"Of course," Thor snickered.

"What about your gift, Sif?" Volstaag asked, stroking his sizeable beard.

Sif chuckled, shaking her head. "My presence is your present," she said, pouring herself and the boys more wine. "Congratulations on being recognized as an adult, Thor. I did not think you would make it." She nudged his shoulder. He winked at her. Loki snorted.

Hogun sat back, hand on his knee as he watched Sif and Thor. They flirted for a bit, either seemingly unaware of their surroundings or incredibly bold. Volstaag reached for his pocket under the table. The Vanir noted something felt off about the raven haired prince. Loki seemed dangerously amused, or masking his anger with a smile. It was hard to tell which. It made him uncomfortable.

"Might I take you on a tour through the heart of the palace later?" Thor asked, pulling Sif onto his lap. She shot him a precarious glance through her smile. He was certainly feeling confident that she would not flatten him. His confidence was correct. She settled on his knee with her goblet.

"That might have worked if you hadn't already shown me around the place twice. I do come around, you know." She placed the goblet to her lips, curious to see how he would take her jabs.

Thor grinned. "Ah, but I am willing to bet that there are at least four places you have not seen yet."

"Four?" she questioned.

"Four: my parents' chambers, Baldur's chambers, Loki's chambers, and my own."

The boys whistled loudly. Sif elbowed Thor sharply, laughing.

"That isn't exactly true," Loki said, staring into his goblet with sudden boredom. The scent of liquor wafted on his skin like cologne.

"How so?" Thor asked, trying his best not to glower.

Loki smirked. His eyes flitted up to Sif. She paled. "There are three places she has not seen yet. Take my chambers off of your list."

Everyone was silent.

"What exactly are you talking about, brother?" Thor said, an edge to his voice and smile. Sif shook her head slowly.

Loki sighed and rolled his eyes. "It should be obvious. I do not wish to embarrass your girlfriend further, but since you are so adamant." Loki hummed in contempt.

"Remember the last time we returned to Midgard, how you were so determined to find that stupid human soul again for me? How you tried and tried and in the end you still were wrong? You ruined me, brother. And then to make up for it, you sent Lady Sif to me to ease my pain. I told her everything about Siv. Everything. Right down to the dreams that you fear so much. I told her she reminded me of that human. Fiery and strong and brave. Everything I sought for, everything you sought to return to me once I realized I would never find it again. She took it upon herself to help me feel better. You did a marvelous job, by the way," Loki smirked.

"You jest," Thor said, chuckling. It was not a question. His grip on Sif's waist would have crushed her had she not been wearing her armor. Thor looked up at Sif, who sat stiffly on his knee. She stared at Loki as if he were stabbing a knife through her chest. "He jests," Thor said, less confident now.

Sif did not know how to react. They swore never to speak of it again, and yet, here he was, spilling her darkest secret to her friends. She slowly stood and poured them all more wine. She moved as if she were submerged in water. The memory hit her like a tidal wave.

"Many, many years ago, I met a human for the first time," Loki sighed, leaning his head against her shoulder. Sif settled beside him. She knew this story well, from another mouth. The Valkyrie found herself becoming the one the princes confided in when they had no one else to turn to.

"And no one can shake the idea that I still love her. It has come to Thor's attention that I seem to be 'incomplete' without this human – this is according to him, mind you. He went to Midgard by himself to find her again." Loki paused, swallowing. "That is the problem with Thor. He thinks, because I have a tiny cut, that it is his duty to make a hero out of himself to offer me an unnecessary bandage. I adore my brother, but in his attempts to heal me, he has only opened the wound wider."

Sif patted his knee. It was not uncommon for Sif to listen to Loki's rants, but tonight was different. Tonight, he seemed off. More broken. Usually, his tirade included several insults about the star child. She could not help but wonder about the mortal. Thor hid nothing from her about Loki; Sif had long pretended she knew nothing.

"What are your feelings toward this human?" Sif asked slowly. She could not deny her little curiosity.

The raven haired prince let out a chuckle that sounded as fragile as his heart. "I do not know anymore. Truthfully, I do not. I was content to love her as a friend, mourn her as a departed soul and move on. But everyone is so adamant on bringing her back for me that they've convinced me I yearn for her romantically. Not one of the souls I have hunted is my Siv. And if they were, I destroyed them by one accident or another. It is just not worth it to keep believing in her. I cannot live another ten thousand years like this."

'Ten thousand is a bit of a stretch,' Sif could not help but think. But she stayed silent. He was only venting his emotions. They made an oddly perfect pair, she decided. He was frowned upon for seeming weak and womanly. She was frowned upon for seeming masculine and wild. Sif sighed and stood, pulling him to his feet. "Come now, let's at least take you inside," she murmured. The raven haired prince hung limply against her. She could not hide a smile; she shook her head and rolled her eyes. "Work with me."

Loki placed his palm against the intricate woodwork. Thin green strings of magical netting unknotted themselves and faded. His enchantment was released, and they entered Loki's chambers. "You remind me of her," Loki said suddenly.

"Of the human?" Sif replied, surprised.

Loki nodded. "In personality. Strong, and you both do not give up. Brave. You fight until the fight is over. And your face. You share her expressions. You share a common name, as well. She was no doubt named for you. And your hair, now, since I cut it. The darkness reminds me of her in shadow." He looked at Sif with a weak smile. Sif patted the back of her hair instinctively. She remembered the accident – how they trained together, and a stray blade of his sliced the ponytail clean off. It darkened considerably, rejecting the steel. She remembered how childishly her rage burned from the mistake.

Sif sighed. In that instant, she allowed herself a moment of tenderness. She hugged him tightly. "I wish there was something I could do to comfort you. The similarities no doubt cause you pain," she mumbled, stepping away.

"They do," he murmured. Sif noticed his eyes did not leave her face. He stepped closer to her once more. "Forgive me," he said in advance. Sif shook her head. It took her a moment to understand what he meant. His eyes pierced through her. They seemed to yearn for something . . . but they did not yearn for her. Sif wondered if he was even looking at her and not at something in his imagination.

She found herself wrapped in his arms, wrapped in his blankets, wrapped in his body. It was suffocating and liberating. He was gentle yet demanding. Light and fervent. And what was she? Sif found herself unable to control how she acted. It was not like her. Not like the warrior façade she adopted to blend in and stand out. He womanized her. It was humiliating. Relieving. It did not matter that she could not tell if he called her name or Siv's; it did not matter that he held her as he likely imagined another woman. Sif had never known this kind of excitement until now. There was only so much exhilaration to be earned from riding into battle surrounded by men who did not know how to handle themselves around a woman with a sword.

Early in the morning, Sif found herself alone in the prince's bed. Loki paced his floor, muttering quietly to himself. Sif swallowed hard. This feeling, what was it? The feeling that stifled the room, flooded his mind, drowned her nerves? Dread for the future. Regret for the past. They agreed this changed several things. Firstly, they could no longer hold the same friendship. Secondly, they were to act as friends before the others, as to discourage curiosity. Thirdly, they were required to forget the events of the night, purge it from their minds. And finally, they were to never speak of this again – not to a soul or each other or a ledger or a mirror. They completely erased the night from themselves, and by extension, destroyed their bond. Loki would no longer rely on her for comfort or solace. The warrior dressed quietly and removed herself from his presence.

"Continue your flirting," Loki urged, sweeping his hand at them. "But remember I had her in my bed first. Happy Birthday, Thor."

Thor snarled loudly and grabbed Loki by the collar of his tunic, hoisting him in the air. Outside the palace, a sudden storm swirled menacingly in the night sky. The golden haired prince would have enjoyed throwing his drunken brother into a wall had he not been surrounded. It did not matter, he decided. Many a night passed in the hall where the princes erupted into battle. The guests were used to such behavior. "I am eager to test these new powers," Thor thundered. But still, something held him back. Odin watched his sons from a distance, taking note at the severity of their tempest in a teacup.

Loki chuckled. "Why the hesitation?" he asked snidely. Thor slowly lowered him back to the ground, scowling. It would leave a bad image if he destroyed his brother over this. Loki continued to jab at him. "You do not usually show so much restraint. Trying to make a good impression on Father? Or perhaps your girlfriend?" he sneered.

The Valkyrie reached out, quick as lightning, and slammed Loki's head into the table. She simply could not handle it any longer. Loki stumbled and fell back; he hissed in pain, holding his bleeding forehead. Thor let out an empty laugh. She did the same to him as well. The Three quickly exchanged their bet money behind her back. If she caught them, they all no doubt faced the same fate. Sif removed herself from the environment, mortified.

Heimdall, who was relieved of his gatekeeper duty for the evening, approached their corner of the great hall. "Loki, I advise you to go back to your chambers. You are drunk." He then proceeded to lead the sniggering boy away from the festivities and back to his room. Baldur tagged along behind.

It would be a few decades before Sif and Thor spoke regularly to each other once more.

22:07

10.1.14