Chapter 14

" Lady…Sif. Okay. Hold on." Ororo thought for a moment, shutting the door and cast a look at Thor who was now behind her.
" Ororo, I know her…"
" I know you do."
She raised an eyebrow.
" She was simply my fighting partner."
" And the one you were supposed to be in an arranged marriage with?"
" Y-…well, yes, at one time, looong ago, but it never exceeded anything more than a potential engagement. My father arranged that, not I. Trust me, Ororo, thou art my lady, not a soul else."
Thor said, holding Ororo's shoulders and looking into her eyes.
" Daddy, is everything okay?" Anja said on the couch, playing the Action Men vs. Kung Fu Fighters game.
" Yes, little one, everything is fine." He answered.
Ororo sighed. He seems sincere, she thought. He better be, at least.
" Alright."
Thor opened the door and beckoned Sif in, along with two little children at her side. Ororo was able to get a good look at them now. The woman was quite tall and strong looking, a little taller than she was. She had piercing blue-green eyes and thick black hair tied into a rope-like braid down her back. She wore a glimmering metal breastplate over a black corset, a long red skirt and brown boots.
" You guys can sit down, would like a drink or something?"
" I am fine."
" We are good, thank you."
The two tan-skinned, twin boys sat down next to their mother. They were interesting looking and seemed to have impeccable manners. They wore tiny armor and Capes similar to Thor's. Their dark hair was in a few neatly braided rows.
" Soo, what brings you here to Earth?..or Midgard as you call it."
" I am here to tell Thor that his father Odin requests his and your presence in Asgard. He also requested that you bring your daughter."
" Why, lady Sif?" Thor asked. The guests were on the couch, Anja glanced at them furtively at the edge of the sofa. Thor and Ororo sat on the love seat to the side.
" Odin knows of Anja and her powers and needs to begin having her trained."
" What about Loki?" Questioned Ororo. How does he know? She also thought.
" You would be quite surprised at how he has been acting. This Loki is not the same one I knew. He has been so good and diplomatic that Odin has lifted his banishment to the Low Realms, even though he tends to still spend time there."
" My brother…is behaving well?" Thor said with a gruff chuckle, not quite believing it.
" Eh, I don't buy it."
Ororo had all reason to not believe it.

" Hi."
" Greetings, Midgardian."
Anja gave the hazel-eyed twin boys a confused look while the adults talked. She had gotten bored of the video game and put it down.
" Wanna play?"
" Well, would you like to see our new partners?" Said one twin.
"They are outside." Said the other.
" What are they?"
" Gryphons." Both said in unison.
" Whats that?"
" They look like lions and have eagle wings and heads."
" Cool!"

" So who are these children, Lady Sif, if thou'st minds not of me asking?" Inquired Thor, pointed to the twins.
" They are Skadi and Modi"
She pointed and continued:
" And they are mine."
" Your children?"
Thor looked at the two who seemed interested in talking to Anja. Ororo's interest now too, perked up a bit.
" Who is their sire?"
" Ahh…I was afraid I would have to tell this…"
She inhaled and then began:
" The night that you were wed to Lady Storm here, I was in the city of Las Vegas as well. I suppose that I wanted to see you, but I decided against it. That night, I spent some time at a small brewery house and met an interesting human man by the name of Eric who happened to be in town for very similar reasons."
Ororo and Thor listened on intently.
" He told me that someone he once loved was also marrying someone in the city that night and he too had lost the desire to go see her, but that he wished her well. We talked and well…one thing led to another and many months later I gave birth to these two."
Ororo was piecing together the story in her mind and felt her heart pounding.
A man by the name of Eric…in town because someone he once loved…was getting married. No..no, it can't be.
" Um, Lady Sif?"
Ororo cleared her throat and asked politely,
" Sorry to prod, but what was this man's last name?"
" I remember not…it was Cha…Chaali or something. He claimed to be a fighter and the King of a distant nation."
" T'challa?"
" Yes, that is it. Eric T'challa."
Ororo's eyes widened and Thor looked at her, knowing all well of her and T'challa's past. Ororo just looked away, shaking her head.
This is not my business…but damn! Those are Eric's kids!
" Does Eric know about them?"
" No."
" He doesn't?"
" Yes, yes, I know. Midgardian ladies are apt to cling to the sires of their children. Not I, however. It was only a one-night affair. I want Skadi and Modi to be raised in Asgard, as strong warriors under my care."
" But Eric would probably like to know about his children."
" Lady Storm, your true name is Ororo Munroe, am I correct?"
" Yes."
" Then you are the Weather Goddess he spoke of those years ago. You and him were betrothed once and that is the reasoning behind all of your questions."
Ororo just sat there for a moment, staring off towards the sunny window, not knowing what to say, really.
They kind of look like Eric, She thought.
" Mommy, Daddy?"
" Yes?" both parents said,
" Can I play outside with them?"
" Well…okay, be careful." Ororo said and the three kids ran off to the backyard.
" You do know that they are technically the Heirs of Wakanda?" Ororo said to Sif.
" Yes, I do. It is fitting, their father may be Midgardian, but at least he is a king and fighter. My father is a king as well. This is their first trip to Midgard, as I am not overall fond of this realm. If they so desire to see their father in his country when they grow of age, I will not stop them from doing so. This is my desicion."
" I can see that you are content."
Thor said
" I am. They were unexpected, but they have such fiery little spirits. Sometimes they are too much, but I have learned a lot of myself and of others. My little men inspire me, in a way."
She rested her palms on her lap and had a twinkle in her eyes.
I knew of a vain and ruthless Sif once, Thor thought, however this woman here is composed and calmer than I have ever known. Thor clasped Ororo's hand in an effort to calm her spirits.

() () ()

" Where are they?"
Anja asked. The twins whistled and a loud "Kyyyyark" sounded out. Two winged creatures soared down from the sky. About as large as big puppies, two tuft-eared Gryphons touched down in the short grass of the backyard and ran to them sniffing the one they didn't know, Anja.
" Hahaha, they tickle!"
" That is enough Fir."
" Enough, Zal."
The Gryphons turned and sat down in front of the boys, calmly panting with their dark tongues lopsided.
" Good."
" So these are Gryphons." Anja said patting them both on their feathery head.
" They are hatchlings, still."
" We hatched them ourselves not long ago."
Anja picked a stick up and threw it in the air. One Gryphon leapt with a lightning reflex and caught it in a quick beak snap.
" Good boy." Anja said, the Gryphon made a playful "kyew kyew" noise and motioned the stick in his beak at her. The other wanted a turn as well and budged the other aside. The two green eyed, young Gryphons kept moving forwards with snapping beaks and Anja grew frightened of them.
" Fir!"
" Zal!, bad, no!"
The twins tried to pull the,eager Gryphons back first by their tails and then by their legs, but to no avail.
" Ahh! Stop!"
Anja tripped backwards and yelled, emitting a shocking pulse of ice cold energy. The two Gryphons were stunned for a moment and she was able to stand up.
" Kyaaarrr!"
They quickly snapped out of it and emiited an eagle cry tinged with a low growl, hunching and following her. They both hissed, edging closer with ruffled feathers.
" Nooo! Make them stop!"
Cried the little, curly-headed four year old moving back.