Sif snarled and twirled her spear about menacingly. She'd been knocked to the ground more times than she cared to admit, but in her defense, she was her time of the month and she was feeling particularly drained of energy due to iron loss. What she lacked in physical energy, she made up for in angry gusto.

"Come on, little girl," the warrior snarled. "At least make it a challenge. Everyone thought Lady Sif would easily be the victor in the tournament of champions, but how many times have I knocked you in the dirt?" He laughed and nodded to his friends on the benches near the field. "At least make me break a sweat."

"I'll break something, that's for sure," Sif replied breezily. "Come on now, let's finish this." She glanced up to the viewing area, where Odin and Frigga watched. Taking a deep breath, Sif swung her spear up over her shoulder. The annoying soldier had given her enough motivation to get out of her funk. She struck him from the left and right, knocking his shield away and raining blows on his armor.

Thor chuckled and clapped from beside Odin. "That's my warrior," he boomed.

Loki raised an eyebrow at him. "Our warrior, you mean?" he suggested. "You're not the AllFather yet."

Thor grinned. "Sure, sure, but look at her! Never a day comes where she'll be defeated." He paused. "Except for to me." He winked. "But that's a story for another time."

Rolling his eyes and biting his tongue, Loki turned back to the battle before him, where Sif was slashing her opponent's armor to pieces and slowly hacking off pieces of his scraggly beard. He was flustered and couldn't get a blow in edgewise.

"Enough," Odin boomed, raising his hand. "A victor. The Lady Sif advances. The next pair, please."

Sif glanced up to the AllFather and lowered her spear with a smile. She bowed to the thrones. As she did, the bearded warrior took a backswing and brought the sword down over her shoulders, knocking her to the ground and causing her to cry out in pain.

"Hey!" Loki yelled in rage, jumping up.

"Odin," Frigga gasped. "Did you see that?"

Odin shrugged. "All's fair in love and war. She shouldn't have let her guard down. Let it be a lesson to her."

"She'll be fine," Thor said, waving at Loki. "T'was a practice blade."

"And practice armor," Loki cried, jumping over his bench and running to the pitch. "What do you think you're doing, fool?" he roared at the warrior. "You could have killed her, had you struck her neck." He dropped to his knees beside Sif.

"That's the last time she'll humiliate me," the warrior mumbled, bending to scoop up his splintered shield.

"That's the last time you'll be able to speak." He rose his hand to curse the man, but Hogun and Fandral jumped between the pair.

"Whoa, there, no need to kill the man. He's on our side," Fandral sang out as he grabbed the warrior by the arm. Hogun gave a curt nod as he grabbed the other arm and they pulled the warrior away.

"To the cells," Loki called. "I shall deal with him later."

Fandral nodded. "You heard the prince, sir! That was a poor choice. We'll make sure to manhandle him further, Lady Sif!" he laughed.

Sif winced from the ground as Loki dropped to his knees beside her. "I'm all right," she groaned through gritted teeth. "I'm just glad I beat him fairly."

"I thought Loki and Sif hated each other?" Thor mused aloud to his parents as they watched the pair. Odin raised an eyebrow and Frigga tried to hide a small smile. "I don't see why he should care." He frowned. "I think he's up to something."

"Oh, Thor," Frigga chided. "He's your brother. Be less suspicious of him."

Odin snorted. "How bold of Loki to order my guards around. Very well - he's coming into his own. Though I'm surprised it took the likes of the she-warrior to bring out his kingliness."

Thor's eyebrows shot into his hair as he let the words soak in. "I'll speak to her, now that she's had a moment to catch her breath." Thor made his way to the field where Loki was still kneeling over the girl.

"I'll call for a healer," Loki murmured as he pushed aside Sif's light armor and studied her shoulders. They were already starting to bruise. As her heart pounded, the blood pumped in and colored her pale skin purple.

"A healer?" Thor asked as he strolled over. "Nonsense! She's all right. Our warriors are the strongest!" He declared to those in earshot.

Sif squeaked in pain and gasped for breath.

"Come, Sif, all of the commoners are watching," Thor hissed through gritted teeth. "Act like the predicted tournament champion. You must get up."

"She took a blow to the back when she wasn't expecting it. She's hurt, you fool." Loki turned back to Sif. "Can you walk?"

Sif squeezed her eyes shut. "I don't know." She was crumpled into a ball on the ground, pain coursing through her body. The pain was throbbing and radiating down her arms. "Why did that hurt so bad?" Normally the eyes of thousands of Asgardians in attendance would have embarrassed her, but the pain was too much to ignore.

Thor frowned and looked out to the pitch. Her opponent had dropped his sword when he was dragged away. Thor scooped it up and immediately scowled. "This is no practice weapon," he growled, crushing the wooden blade between his hands. The wood splintered and fell away, revealing an iron rod underneath. "He was cheating. This could have killed her, or any other opponent, even during a fair fight." He held the blade up above his head. "He will pay for this! Asgardians do not win by cheating or trickery, but by their skill! A disgrace to Asgard!"

The crowd roared in fury.

"Come," Loki said, "we've got to get you to a healer. The rod came down on your spine. I'm afraid he's broken something. Are you ready?" he asked as he tucked his hands under her.

"No," Sif groaned. "But let's go." She braced herself, and was surprised that the pain from being moved was much worse than she expected. A sickening crunch sounded from somewhere behind her ears. She howled in pain and felt her arms and legs go limp.

"The bastard," Thor growled. "Be well, Sif. I shall see you tonight." He stormed back to the stands to rejoin his parents.

"Ah, Sif," Loki groaned as her head swung sickly from side to side. "He's broken your spine." He grimaced as her body turned to dead weight in his arms. "I'm sorry." THe stark difference between the last time she'd been in his arms to now frightened Loki. Her strong, solid body was now as limp as a noodle.

Sif saw stars. My spine is broken? She thought to herself, No wonder I can't feel my legs. She turned her head slightly and felt a searing pain up into her skull. The sensation was too strong and she was unable to even cry out. The agony made her wish for death, and swiftly.

***
"We heard she was coming," a comely healer exclaimed as Loki strode through the door with the warrior in his arms.

"I picked her up and there was a crunch- I think the brute severed her spine. He used a battle weapon disguised as a practice weapon. She was bowing to the AllFather when he struck her," Loki explained as he laid Sif down on the healing slab.

The healers glanced and tutted at each other. "Why, I can't believe. Surely he'll rot in the cells."

"You're in the infirmary now, Lady Sif," an old plump healer said into Sif's face. "You're in good hands."

Sif blinked up into the lights and at all of the unfamiliar faces. Had she passed out? How had she gotten here? She tried to sit up, but her body wouldn't obey. When she tried to speak, a breathy squeak was all that came out. Panic flooded up from somewhere deep within her. Tears welled up in her eyes and the only sensation she could feel was that of her throat closing and making it difficult to breathe. This is it, Sif thought to herself as she gasped for air.

"Sif," Loki said in a calming voice, "I'm right here. Your back broke in the tournament, remember? You're in a room of healers. You're all right. Fandral had the same injury five centuries ago - do you remember? Those oafs were hiding in the tree in the courtyard, and he fell right on his head." Loki gave a laugh and smiled down at Sif, relieved to see she'd calmed down a bit. "No need for panic."

"It'll be a few days," the plump healer said calmly. "But you'll be back on the pitch in a week's time. You'll be asleep for the healing, of course. Think of it - a nice three day nap!"

"Deep breaths, dear," the other healer instructed her. "This is something we've mended a thousand times before."

Sif's eyes were wide with terror. Three days. The pain was bizarre and flashed in different places in her bodies. She was unable to move and couldn't grasp for words to ask questions. Three days? What if I never wake again? Sif blinked, trying to communiate her fear.

As if reading her mind, Loki nodded. "I'll be staying with her," he announced. He smiled down at Sif. "I shan't leave your side. I promise." Just then, the healers injected the sedative into Sif's leg and she felt and saw no more.

***
"How is she?" Thor boomed as he strode into the infirmary. "How's Asgard's best warrior?"

"She's been out since this afternoon," Loki commented from behind his book.

Nodding, Thor sat in a chair next to his brother. "The nerve of him. To think Sif could have been killed." He shook his head and sat back. "Once I thought I should marry that woman."

Loki looked up in surprise, then to Sif, then back to Thor.

"Father said it would be a great match, and I had no reason to believe we couldn't find the mutual fondness Mother and Father have." Thor smiled, shook his head, and tossed his hands up. "But then Midgard happened."

"Jane Foster," Loki said, setting his book down. "I'm surprised you have remained in Asgard for so long. The Midgardians age quickly, brother, you should spend as much time-"

"Pah," Thor waved a hand at him. "I am surprised you have not married Sif yet."

Loki raised his eyebrows. "Oh?"

"She has always been quite fond of you. In our youth - trysts - nothing of consequence - she called me Loki more than once." Thor chuckled. "How awkward. Then again, we thought we'd never see you again, and you two had seemed more brother and sister than anything."

"How awkward, indeed," Loki said, his cheeks growing hot. He glanced down at Sif and tried not to smile. The damn vixen had never stopped loving him, even when she vowed her loathing for him.

"I just figured since no other realms' women would suit you, why not her? You were nearly inseparable as children, and even Father has mentioned you are both drawing together once more." Thor grinned. "You're usually quick to protest, Brother!" He guffawed. "Call me a Norn! Is that why you've not left her bedside? There's chatter at court."

Loki studied Sif's face- her delicate nose, beautifully carved cheek bones, her long, dark eyelashes. "Let them chatter," he replied at last. "How would the poor women of Asgard react if I took a wife? Why, surely everyone prefers me unattached."

"Ah, always avoiding the truth. I'll leave you two be." He winked and strode from the room, leaving Loki to stare at Sif in wonder.