A Quiet Sunday Morning

Sunday morning brings a visit from Thor, bearing an unexpected, and to Sia's mind, unnecessary, warning.

Suggested music: "Morning Mood" from the Peer Gynt suite by Edvard Grieg.

The fire was still burning steadily when I woke, giving me a new appreciation for Asgardian magic.

I sat up, realizing that I was no longer feverish, and could breathe without pain, giving me a new appreciation for my body's own healing magic.

I slipped into my robe and shearling boots, and padded out to the main room to ring for Sóldís.

The table was set for breakfast, everything still warm. Sóldís had already been here—no need to ring.

I smiled. I was enjoying this way of living a great deal, and wished I could stay. Returning to my quotidian life of details and dishes and laundry was going to be difficult.

Just as I was pouring coffee, I heard a knock on the door. I pulled my robe around me, and went to the door. I took a deep breath, and opened it to see Thor standing before me.

"Good morning, Sia. I hope I'm not disturbing you too early. I was concerned, and came to check on you."

"Good morning, Thor! Please, come in. I've just poured coffee."

As we were sitting, I noticed that the table had been set for two. Sóldís had planned ahead.

"Are you better this morning, Sia? Sóldís said you were quite feverish last night, and that the fever did not break until dawn." Thor's voice was filled with concern.

"Except for fatigue, I feel fine, Thor. Thank you." I was touched by his concern.

"I am glad Sóldís sat with you through the night. I ran into her just as she was returning from delivering your breakfast. I told her to get some sleep, and I'd look after you today." Thor smiled. "I don't know much about being a lady's maid, but whatever you need, Sia, I can arrange for you."

"Thank you, Thor! You are most kind. I think I will take things easy today, and spend the day reading by the fire. All I will really need is tea. And wine, later."

"This I can manage, Sia! I know how to ring for more wine!" Thor laughed.

"I am sorry you caught cold yesterday. I should have given you my cloak. I hadn't expected to fall asleep, though." Thor seemed puzzled.

"It's not your fault, Thor! Thank you for a lovely day. It was perfect, in every way. And none of us expected it to get cold."

Thor relaxed. "You are good company, Sia! The day could not have been anything except wonderful with your presence. Even my brother thinks you are charming."

"Loki finds me charming? That's quite the compliment." I was surprised that Loki had said anything to Thor, and equally surprised to have Thor relay the comment.

"Loki is not a warrior. He's a magician, and a scholar. He prefers a to spend time with those who think and speak with care. He does not do well with idle chatter." Thor paused.

"I am glad you are a women of strong intelligence and good sense, Sia."

"Thank you, Thor. You are kind to say so." I felt confused. Where was this going?

"You haven't spent much time with Loki, Sia. I know you have done your research, and you know the legends, but that is not the same as knowing him. Some of the legends are true, others are mere tales. He's much more complex. Even I don't really understand him, and he's my brother. Mother is really the only one who can manage him."

"Thor, please speak plainly. I am uncertain what you are trying to say."

"Sia, Loki can be quite charming when he wishes. He's not called 'Silver Tongue' for no reason. If he decided to take an interest in you—I fear it would not be good for you. I wish to warn you, that is all. He is my brother, but I know how he can be. And I do not want him to be that way with you." Thor looked pained at having to speak of his brother in such a way, and pained for having to have this conversation with me.

"Thor, I appreciate your concern. I doubt that, despite his compliment of yesterday, Loki really bothers about my existence. He seems much more interested in matters of state, and in his magic, to be bothered to think about a mere mortal of Midgard. I am certain that, should Loki desire female companionship, he would not lack for choice. And I am certain that I would not be one of those choices." I sipped my coffee.

"Sia, I am sorry we are even talking about this. I just do not want to see you hurt, and I know my brother too well in these matters."

"Thor, please set your mind at ease. I do not imagine, even for an instant, that your brother was being anything other than polite with his compliment."

"Thank you, Sia. I knew you were not the sort to be tempted by Loki. But Father is concerned, and so I am concerned. Thank you for setting my mind at ease." Thor smiled.

"Thank you, Thor, and thank the Allfather. I understand the concern, but please be assured that I am much too old to be pulled into those sorts of games at this point in my life."

"You are not too old, Sia. You are too smart!" Thor smiled over his coffee.

"Now, who's being charming?" I laughed, and Thor joined in.

We finished our meal with pleasant, inconsequential conversation.

Thor stood to take his leave. "Sia, I must look after the horses and men. The snow is early, and I need to make sure everything is taken care of."

"Snow, Thor? So early in the season?" I was perplexed.

"Yes, Sia. It's never snowed so close after the harvest before." He pulled aside the curtains, and I drew closer to see.

What I saw was a landscape that would have made Currier and Ives proud. A deep blanket of pure white snow masked the familiar landscape, turning it into a new world.

"Thor, does it always snow this much once winter comes?"

"It does snow, Sia, but not usually this much. Or this early." He let the curtain fall back over the glass.

"Thank you for checking on me, Thor. Do take care of yourself today—you don't want to catch cold, either!"

"I am well, Sia, and will be even better once I have ensured the well-being of the troops." He bowed.

"Ring for whatever you need, Sia. Mother said she can send one of the other ladies to help you dress."

"Thank you, Thor. Stay warm!"

"I will see you later, Sia!"

He strode through the door, and off into the day. I closed the door, and returned to the fire to think.

The conversation with Thor left me confused. What else had Loki said to him to make him feel he needed to warn me about Loki? One generic compliment on my charm would not have been enough to cause Odin to send Thor to me with a warning. What was going on? Who could I ask, and expect to receive an honest answer?

Perhaps Loki felt he had to be charming to persuade me to the work. Perhaps it was just his habit of being—charming people into doing what he wants them to do, instead of simply asking.

Loki had said I was an exceptional scholar, and had asked me to become the guardian of the Asgard stories. That had nothing to do with my being charming, and everything to do with Loki's desire for a legacy, for his legend to endure. I happened to have the tools necessary for the job—it wasn't about me at all. I had started to believe that perhaps Loki did see me as a possible friend, or at least a library companion, but I realized those were just kind words to convince me to do the work he wished to have done.

Too many ideas swirled around in my head to sort out in my exhausted state. I decided to go back to bed.