Of Love and War Chapter 1, a marvel fanfic

My roleplay partner gave me a drabble prompt and this is what came from it:

Offer Me: I'll write a drabble about my character giving yours a gift.

There had been times growing up that Fandral had admired Sif, of course he would, Sif was the strongest, fastest, most able of all the training warriors, he trained with her as often as he could each day looking forward to returning to his home with a new bouquet of bruises. The other warriors laughed at both Sif, for being a woman warrior, and Fandral for losing to her, even though they refused to fight Sif they lost every match against Fandral, especially in swordsmanship. When questioned how he was so good he simply stated "I train with the best".

Soon came the day the training warriors where given their new ranks to serve Asgard as needed. Hogun, Volstagg and Fandral were to form a band of warriors to be known as the Warriors Three, three of the most skilled warriors in training, par Sif, to be a group that all of realms would call when in need, equal to that of Odin's own sons. Not that this was an issue for Fandral, he and Thor got on well, along with Hogun and Volstagg, he tried to make room in their group for Loki but Loki would not have it. Fandral's only wish was that Sif could join their group. Soon though, through Thor's efforts Sif became a recognized warrior of the All-Father. But to become a full warrior she was to complete a might quest only the bravest, or unluckiest, warriors were given. To slay a mighty monster that was terrorising humans on Midgard, in Sif's case a dragon made entirely of gold, and could breathe flames burned hotter than a dwarf star from each of its nine heads, it was known as Gorinwinch. Traditionally Thor would accompany the warrior-in-training to access the warrior's work and to help if required but he was to be sent on a quest of his own to Midgard to slay the giant snake Jormungand. As Thor could not accompany Sif he chose another to go with her to Midgard, Thor picked Fandral of the Warriors Three, a quest Fandral accepted readily.

Sif and Fandral spoke little as the time approached for their quest, constantly checking their equipment and horses, both uneasy as to what was to come and the very real prospect that they could both die. It wasn't until they were on the bi-frost awaiting Heimdall to send them to earth that Sif spoke to the swordsman "I never thanked you" she said, to him, patting her horse's neck reassuringly.

"For ever what?" Fandral queried, he could not think of anything.

"For everything, for sparing matches, for agreeing to come even though we could-" she stopped herself with a gulp.

"Sif it is nothing." But he was blushing furiously.

"Are you ready?" Asked the gate keeper Heimdall, they both nodded, a bright light appeared, all the colours of the rainbow and many more unnameable, as the light faded they were on Midgard. Fandral sighed with relief "come along" he said "we have a day's journey ahead"

"Well" Sif started, rubbing her lower back, sore from a day of riding "it appears to be night, I suggest we find shelter perhaps?", Fandral nodded, "very well, I think I see lights ahead, let us seek a meal and find where this terrible beastie lives" She smiled at him.

Fandral knocked on the house door, it opened to find a dwarf's home "kind sir, I am Fandral the Dashing of the Warriors Three and this is Lady Sif, we seek shelter from the night and to know of the dragon Gorinwinch "

The dwarf let them enter and told them all he knew. Gorinwinch was a horrible dragon whose belly could not be pierced by anything, it's nine heads constantly fighting and snapping at each other causing its faces to be horribly scarred and it was said Gorinwinch was once a mortal man whose love had been turned to gold by a curse placed on Gorinwinch's head, but nobody really believed the tale. "I will make a deal with you" the dwarf said "as you do not seek the treasure, give it to me and I shall take you as close to Gorinwinch as I dare and heal you if you survive. Deal?"

Fandral did not like this idea but before he could voice his conditions Sif had already agreed.

"Very well Lady" The dwarf smiled "let us be off as the beast will be sleeping now and unprepared for you".

They sat out into the forest on foot, the two warriors with nothing but their blades and the dwarf his bow and arrows, soon the plants became blackened and then merely rocks and ash. "I do not dare go closer as the sun shall rise soon" whispered the dwarf "but I shall return for you soon". Sif gave a curt nod, and pointed that Fandral should go ahead of her so she could watch his back.

As Fandral approached the cave mouth the hairs on the back of his neck stood up, something was wrong here, suddenly there was the sound of an arrow loosening and Sif screamed, Fandral spun around to find the dwarf had not left at all but shot Sif through the heart. The colour drained from her face and she fell to her knees, Fandral roared in outrage and the dwarf took off frightened as Fandral ran to Sif's side, gripping the arrow as it protruded from her chest. "Sif, Sif" he whispered as he held her in his arms "Sif, speak to me, tell me you will be ok" tears were rolling down his face now and dripping on to her cheek.

She smiled a little "yo-you look so beautiful" and then her gaze dropped and she grew still in his arms. Fandral sobbed into her flowing hair rocking back and forth with her in his arms "I won't leave you Sif, I can't" he told her over "I won't" and over "I can't leave you" and over.

So engrossed in his grief, Fandral failed to notice the giant beast Gorinwinch come up behind him,

"I TOO WAS -"

"-ONCE IN LOVE"

"I TOO WAS -"

"-ONCE IN LOVE"

"I TOO WAS -"

"-ONCE IN LOVE"

The beast rumbled, Fandral scrambled back but would not let go of Sif. He was so close he could feel Gorinwinch's hot breath, Fandral was close enough to eat in one bite.

"LOVE IS A TERRIBLE -"

"- THING TO LOOSE"

"LOVE IS A TERRIBLE -"

"- THING TO LOOSE"

"LOVE IS A TERRIBLE -"

"- THING TO LOOSE"

Gorinwinch sighed, arms reaching up and silencing all but two mouths

"I WISH -"

"-TO HELP"

"BUT I -"

"NEED YOU-"

"-R HEART"

Fandral looked terrified "m-my heart for what? What will you do?"

"TO SAVE HER"

"SAVE HER"

Fandral looked down to Sif laying cold in his arms "… I will die won't I?"

"ARE YOU NOT -"

"-DEAD WITHOUT HER?"

The dashing god gulped and nodded "I just want her to live" he whispered and removed the arrow from her chest as best he could through his tears as Gorinwinch looked on sadly. The dragon reached over to Sif breast and cut the heart from her chest, and removed her dead heart, Fandral could not watch this happen.

"YOUR TURN NOW"

He nodded, opening his shirt, eyes shut tightly, then a sudden sharp, burning feeling touched his flesh over his heart, for Sif, he told himself over and over, feeling himself grow weak as his heart beat in the talons of the beast before being placed in Sif's chest, sealed with the head of the dragon's flames.

Sif gasped for air as the colour returned to her face but her eyes remained close, a small smile crossed Fandral lips as the world faded to black around him.

The great golden beast lifted its heads to the sky. No more death. It thought looking down at the two warriors, one's chest falling and rising slowly, the other's getting slower until stopping. Gorinwinch lifted a claw to its chest, the gold flesh melting away from its blazing talon. Gripping its large, solid gold heart Gorinwinch pulled, roaring in the pain. But soon golden blood oozed from its paw as the gold heart forever beat, placing it in the man's chest, sealing Fandral flesh closed with the last of Gorinwinch's fire. The beats fell heavily to the ground. Each of Gorinwinch's head smiled as it slowly died, but was able to watched the lovers waken confused and hugged head other, not remembering what had happened, or what the dying monster did for them. The dragon's eyes closed with its last, laboured breath and a smile on its face thinking of the lover who gave his whole heart.

Once upon a time, it is said that the god of gold had fallen in love, or at least that is what the Midgardians believe. But it is impossible for one to fall in love when thy heart is made of gold; aye it is beautiful but cold and unforgiving. Fandral would forever be changed by the golden heart he did not know he possessed; and Sif would never know of the boy who gave his heart so she might live.