Chapter 14
It was the blood curdling scream that woke Cephera up with a nasty jolt causing her to wonder who got murdered. Her bare feet hit the cool marble floor as she jumped from her bed and dressed as quickly as possible. Her sister was already ahead of her as her gown was much simpler to put on. Seraphina was out the bedroom door and bolting down the hallway with Cephera lagging behind.
There was a succession of smaller screams and as they found their location - thanks to Seraphina- they found Sif collapsed on her bedroom floor her face in her hands as she wept and her head as bald as a babies. Small wisps remained as if a cruel reminder of the beautiful blonde locks she once had. The twins had stopped after Seraphina had thrown the doors open to reveal the scene inside and only seconds after Thor was pushing between them and headed right for Sif.
"No, do not look." she cried pushing him away.
"Tis' but hair my lady." Thor said his voice comforting as he narrowed his eyes. His lips moved in a silent name as he helped Sif to her feet. "Come let us see my father. He will have answers on what can be done for this." Thor had his arm around her shoulders as she clumsily left the room with him. Cephera followed behind with her sister beside her.
"Loki did this didn't he?" Seraphina asked her fists clenched at her sides.
"I've no doubt of it." Thor replied.
"He's a monster." Sif spat between sobs.
"Did anyone see Loki do it?" Cephera asked pursing her lips and then frowning at everyone's assumption.
"In Asgard, when something such as this happens it is always Loki. Loki as his way of trickery and mischief. When he feels belittled or derailed by others he likes to show them the darker side of his wraith. Though I must admit this is the worst I've seen him do so far." Thor replied and sighed heavily. "I fear this is my own fault. I should have been more understanding of his feelings regarding Sif and myself. I should have explained it better. I often forget how touchy and soft my brother truly is even is he tries to never show it."
"But there is a chance Loki didn't do this." Cephera insisted. She felt sad that instant blame was put on the younger prince.
"I'm afraid the chances are slim that he didn't do this. My father will bring the truth to light and he will seek justice for Sif and Loki will be punished," Thor said.
"I'd like to show him my fist and leave a few lasting marks on your brother myself for this." Seraphina growled smacking her fist into her palm.
"Sera! Violence doesn't solve anything." Cephera chided, appalled at her sisters angry words.
"I said I'd like to not that I would." Seraphina remarked.
They had not been the only ones woken by Sif's screams. People were cluttered in the halls as they passed. Everyone trying to catch a look at what had happened. When they reached the throne room Odin was there hastily dressed in his robes and some pieces of armour. Frigga was also there looking bedridden and sleepy though she still managed to look beautiful and regal.
"What is this?" Odin asked as Thor approached and stopped before him.
"The Lady Sif was attacked while she slept and her hair cut down to nothing." Thor informed him.
"Is this true?" Odin asked turning his eyes to Sif and taking in the sight of her.
"Yes all Father. Later today I had a fight with Prince Loki and I'm afraid I insulted him," she said her voice cracking as she tried to stay clam.
"And you blame Loki for this?" Odin asked a deep frown causing wrinkles to crease his forehead.
"I believe it could have been no other." she replied firmly. Cephera head the footsteps entering the throne room and before turning she had a feeling it was Loki.
She turned and sure enough Loki entered the room looking very satisfied with himself. "Do you have words of defence against these accusations?" Odin asked him almost hopeful. It was almost pitiful how hopeful Odin did look.
"I do not." Loki replied a hint of smugness in his tone. His mood was much happier than the one he'd donned all day and it unsettled Cephera that he took such pleasure in others discomfort.
"Do you deny this?" Thor looked surprised as the lack of defensiveness from his younger brother.
"I do not deny it, for it was I who done so. I really don't see what's the bother, it's just hair. We have wigmakers." Loki's smirk widened as Thor and Odin's faces turned red. "For such a person as a wigmaker is the only one who could fix this now." Loki's words were cryptic.
"Loki what have you done?"
"Well it seems in my haste to find the perfect item for the job I grabbed a pair of enchanted sheers from the seamstress and well, her hair will not grow back now." Cephera was appalled by the lack of empathy Loki spoke with. In fact, it didn't seemed as though he meant his words about him grabbing them in 'haste'. She was beginning to now see why Thor knew it was him. He was clearly very proud of his actions and even felt as though he deserved this so called 'justice'.
"You will fix this Loki. I will not tolerate such childish behaviour from my son." Odin declared. Frigga was shaking her head solemnly. "Your antics will be ended here." Odin stood and with a bang of his staff he declared, "you will travel to the realms of the dwarves and you will commission, from your own pocket, a new bed of hair for the Lady. Upon your return I expect a full apology. The next time your antics should go this far, be glad I do not seal away the magic you love so dearly."
Cephera watched Loki's eyes widened. His expression betrayed the fear he felt from that threat.
"And what would you have me do?" Loki asked. "Allow her to insult me as she did." His words were bitter now and he was no longer looking smug.
"Only children act out as such, the right thing would have been to talk it out." Odin's voice was rising. "I have given my orders. You leave now."
Loki glowered at his father and turned to leave the room.
(Loki)
The entire time he dressed for his journey he scowled. To think that just anyone could insult someone as high standing as himself was preposterous. It was just hair, Loki didn't understand why anyone cared so much, least of all Odin. The lady knew all too well who's wraith she incurred and should have tread more carefully.
A knocked sounded on his door. It was much too soft to be a guard and with a narrowed glare and exasperated sigh he opened it up. He found Cephera on the other side. Her presence was not welcome and he had hoped his foul mood would deter her. Still she stood there all wide eyed and innocent looking and Loki growled. "What do you want?" he asked her not allowing her entrance.
"Thor has offered to accompany you to the realm of the dwarves, but Odin wouldn't allow it."
"What do I care." Loki waved off her information. He didn't need Thor.
"So I have offered instead." Loki could have groaned in irritance then, but he held it back.
"My little pet following her master around." he mused. "Should I be teaching you to fetch as well?" It was her turn to glare at him. Her soft features drawing inward in a complex manner that gave her a somewhat older look.
"I'm not an animal, Loki. I'm going to make sure you do as you're told, no more tricks." she retorted.
"I'm to be babysat by a child." he shook his head at her. "You think that if I were to be up to something you would know? You think you would have what it takes to stop me?
"It's not that." She replied her voice had become soft again. "I don't agree with what you did, but I believe you felt justified in it. I feel that you are hurt by her spurned words. I believe you felt cornered, you seem desperate to keep up this persona that you are not to be messed with and so you do as you please to those who anger you." Loki gave her a deep look. He was unsure how to read her words. She didn't seem to pity him, but she didn't seem to fear him either. He wasn't sure he was comfortable with her assumptions. "I feel you need even one person who is willing to understand you. A friend."
"You are my student, not my friend."
"Not yet, but I hope that one day you could see the value in having me as one."
"Are you not afraid that should you anger me as such, that I will not do something to you?" He asked trying to change her mind.
"No. You underestimate the Mechanovian blood, if you harm me in a manner to make me angry, you will regret it. I won't need Odin to punish you for me." Loki laughed. The thought that this tiny child could do anything at all nasty to anyone was amusing.
"Yes, I suppose you will send that whore of a sister after me."
"She's not a whore." Cephera narrowed her eyes. "And I don't need my sister for everything."
"We'll see." Loki almost promised the words. A part of him wanted to test her and see just what she would do if she were angered. He felt her threat was empty and at the same time he almost took it as a challenge. However, he had done enough mischief in the past day and could wait to find out more about the little one. "If you are coming then hurry up." Loki moved passed her and down the hall. She promptly turned from his now closed room door and ran after him.
Loki kept his strides long and fast enough to make her work to keep up. He was not planning to coddle her. He made quick work to the stables. The journey would be much faster taking a horse through the Byfrost. "Get on." He ordered her. The one horse would do. She didn't have the skills to ride her own for any length of time, not according to her first arrival. Loki was very good at remembering even the smallest details about people. He had noticed that day how hard she held the reigns and the awkward way she had sat in her saddle.
He did not help her mount. He watched her look up at the large stallion and use the wooden beam for a wall to boast herself. He was amused she hadn't argued about sharing the horse. When he climbed up he got in front of her instead of having her in front of him. He wanted to ride fast and hated to have her head come back to hit his chin or obstruct his view.
She wrapped her arms around his waist. "If you should fall, I will leave you behind. See to it you hold on tight." he ordered.
"I won't give you the satisfaction of seeing me fall off." she replied. Loki smirked and nudged the horse into a soft trots once of the main stretch headed out the gates he kicked the beautiful animal into a gallop causing Cephera to tighten her grasp. One of her hands clasping her opposite wrist and the hand beneath gripping his tunic. When she initially grabbed that handful of his shirt her nails had managed to bit into the skin of her abdomen, pinching him.
Loki wasn't sure what to expect from this journey, but he was more interested in what the little princess had planned. No one offered to be around him for no reason. He had expected her to have been so shocked by his actions against Sif that she might even refuse to continuing training. He had underestimated her to some measure. There was more to her than it appeared.
Thank You's
- Loki's Dreamer: Yeah, I really wanted to make a mixture of Norse mythology and marvel Loki.
- Babynora 1983: I'm neither a lover nor a hater if Sif. I really know very little about her.
- Poodle Warriors: I had fun trying to figure out how this was going to occur and when.
- Vulcaniumx: and it's only the beginning of Loki's misdeeds.
- Short Haired Me: a lot of people can be unreasonable where pride is involved.
- Miss Padawan: just take a deep breath.
- Doctor Loki Love: yeah. Loki feels justified but it doesn't make it right, but he is still young and sometimes youth can also cause bad decisions.