This chapter features some dynamics of the other characters like Sif, Fandral, Volstagg, Hogun, Thor, etc. Please follow/review! :)
"Sif, I ca-a-a-n-n't brea-a-the." you panted.
"C'mon Aurora, don't give up now!" Sif shouted, breathing perfectly fine.
You would have groaned if you had enough air and the lung power to do so, but you had to settle for continuing to try and disarm Sif. The two of you were sword fighting at training as your instructor Vali stood by and watched. Sif was much bigger than you were and had more stamina. While sword fighting was your best area in combat, you were still no match for Sif. In a final attempt to win the round, you spun around with all the energy you could muster to swipe sideways at Sif, but her sword met yours with a clang as your sword slipped out of your hands and fell to the ground in a cloud of dust. You collapsed on the ground next to it, on your knees.
"Sif wins." you murmurred under your breath at the same time Vali yelled, "Sif wins!"
You focused on sucking in deep breaths of air, as if you could never make up for the air you lost in the mock battle. Sif offered a hand to help you up which you took.
"Good match, Aurora." she spoke.
"Thanks. I tried." you breathed heavily.
"I think it was your best so far, you're improving." Sif smiled.
You smiled back, "I'll still never beat you though."
"Well, should you ever, I'll gracefully accept defeat at the hand of my friend." Sif replied.
"We'll see." you smiled as you took your seat back down on the bench. Sif was to face another girl and then the boys would have their turn.
Loki was sitting next to you looking anxious. You could tell he was nervous because he didn't want to be humiliated by one of the guys again. He congratulated you on your performance though.
"Thanks, Loki. Maybe I really am getting a little better. I'm sure you are too!"
Loki shook his head. "Doubtful."
"Well, why don't you use a little bit of your magic to help you win?" you asked.
Loki narrowed his gaze in confusion. "Do you think that is permitted?"
You shrugged, "It could help you in battle so I think any skill you can use to your advantage is allowed. Only one way to find out right?"
"I suppose so." Loki answered as Liv, another girl in training, had her sword fall to the floor as Sif was once again declared the victor.
Loki tensed up; knowing that the guys would be called next and he had a sinking feeling that he was going to be called for the first match. Loki's suspicions were confirmed when Vali called out his name along with Volstagg's.
"Greaaaat." Loki groaned.
"You'll be fine!" you reassured him as Loki stood up with his sword to meet Volstagg in the sparring arena.
"I'll go easy on you." Volstagg spoke.
Loki rolled his eyes as he heard a snicker, undoubtedly from Fandral.
"Hush, be quiet!" Thor yelled at the spectator.
"On the count of three the match will begin. You know the rules. One..two...three!" Vali shouted as he quickly backed off.
Volstagg and Loki both unsheathed their swords and Volstagg swung first narrowly missing Loki who jumped back just in time to avoid getting nicked by the blade. Loki thrust his sword forward towards Volstagg who met the sword with his own. Volstagg and loki's swords were locked against each other as both tried to overpower the other. Ultimately, Volstagg succeeded as Loki stumbled backwards but regained his balance. Volstagg advanced closer to Loki who shakily clutched his sword in his hand. Volstagg smirked at Loki before he charged at him. Loki's eyes went wide and he found his feet rooted at the spot. Volstagg was still coming and Loki was still standing in the same place. Loki's mind was in overdrive out of fear of being bulldozed by Volstagg. Loki knew he wouldn't have enough time to run out of the way so he did all he could think of; he vanished.
"That's what he did to me!" Fandral yelled out.
"What the-" Volstagg began before he could stop running as he tripped and hit the ground.
Loki reappeared over Volstagg and touched the tip of his sword to Volstagg's armor.
"H-how did y-you do that?" Volstagg stammered as he looked up at Loki.
"Magic." was all Loki said.
"GOOD JOB BROTHER!" Thor boomed from his position on the bench. You were cheering for Loki too, but your voice was drowned out by Thor's voice.
Loki smiled faintly, but his smile faded when Fandral yelled out, "Magic is preposterous! He cheated! Volstagg is the real victor!"
"Now Fandral, calm down." Vali said raising his hand to stop the yelling.
Then, he turned his attention to Loki and looked down at him. "Where did you learn such magic?"
Loki gulped. "I taught myself."
Vali clicked his tongue, "I see."
"Am I in trouble?" Loki asked with his green eyes wide.
"You should be!" Fandral called out.
"Oh come off it!" you yelled at him.
"You two! Stop fighting this instant!" Vali turned around pointing a finger at you and a seething Fandral.
"But sir-" you protested only to be cut off.
"I will handle the matter myself." Vali said firmly.
You decided to keep quiet, but glared daggers at Fandral.
"Now," Vali said turning to Loki, "Magic is not something we normally deal with around here."
Loki hung his head as Vali continued, "It is not even in the rulebook. The rulebook does state however, that any skill set may be used so long as it is not an unfair advantage."
"And using magic is unfair." Fandral muttered.
"Fandral," you hissed, "Stop being such an insolent fool. Volstagg is an unfair opponent in general because of his size. You're just hurt because Loki tricked you into falling into the lake with his magic so just stop. You're not helping your case."
Hogun, the other member of the Warriors Three, leaned over and whispered something in Fandral's ear. You continued to glare at Fandral, daring him to slander your friend some more.
"My apologies Lady Aurora." he said to you after Hogun pulled away from Fandral.
"Right." you said tersely as you diverted your attention to Loki and Vali.
"I feel as if your use of magic could potentially be deemed unfair, but given your circumstances," Vali said eyeing Loki up and down, no doubt referring to his stature, "I will allow it. Loki is the victor of this battle."
Loki jerked his head up in shock. Volstagg sat upright and rubbed his head. Thor cheered loudly for his brother, Sif gave a small smile for the underdog, and Fandral scoffed angrily. You smirked at Fandral's reaction which was not missed by Vali.
"Fandral, since you seem so displeased with the outcome why don't you come down here and face Loki?" Vali spoke.
"But sir-" Fandral began.
"It wasn't a suggestion, Fandral." Vali said firmly.
Fandral bit his lip and trudged over to where Loki and Vali stood.
"Beat him, Loki." you urged in your mind.
"Oh, I will." a voice responded in your head.
You gasped which drew Thor's attention. "What is wrong Lady Aurora?"
"Oh nothing Thor, just shocked at the turn of events is all." you said as you covered up the real reason for your gasp.
"Can Loki read my mind?" you asked yourself.
"You are correct in your assumptions." the same voice replied which sounded just like Loki.
"You're starting to scare me a bit." you thought.
Loki turned his head to face you and winked. "No need to fret. I'd never hurt you."
You smiled back at him, "I know."
Loki turned around to face Fandral as Vali counted down. As soon as the match started, Fandral reacted quickly by swinging rapidly without any particular strategy. Loki looked startled as he jumped backward to avoid the reckless swinging. Fandral appeared to be swinging out of pure frustration and anger. He was bound to hurt someone else, or even himself. Loki stuck his sword out to meet Fandral's as the two engaged in combat. Fandral wasn't much bigger than Loki so they were almost evenly matched. Loki faked Fandral out and hit him in the chest with his sword causing Fandral to fall. Fandral's sword fell out of his hands and he rolled over on his side to try and crawl towards it. Before he could reach it, Loki picked up Fandral's sword and pointed his own at Fandral's throat. Fandral sneered at Loki before putting his hands up in defeat.
"This is absurd." Fandral huffed.
"Your behavior is what is absurd." Loki countered.
"Loki wins!" Vali called out.
Loki returned Fandral's sword and offered him his hand to help Fandral up. Fandral rejected Loki's hand and stood up by himself. Fandral brushed himself off and dragged himself back to where his friends were sitting.
"My brother is getting quite good isn't he my friend?" Thor asked Fandral upon his return.
"I guess so." Fandral said so as not to anger Thor who was protective of his brother.
"That'll conclude training for today everyone! You are all dismissed!" Vali called out.
"Thank the gods." Fandral groaned as he briskly made his way out of the area with Thor, Volstagg, and Hogun behind him.
You remained with Loki and Sif. Thor came back over however, and patted his brother on the back, "You looked like a warrior out there today, brother."
A tinge of red crept onto Loki's pale face which you guessed was from shyness or embarrassment.
"Thank you, Thor." Loki said without meeting Thor's eyes.
Thor patted him on the shoulder once more with a smile before he hurried off to catch up with the Warrior's Three.
"Thor is right you know." you said to Loki who was shifting on his feet uncomfortably.
"Indeed. I've never seen you perform so well before." Sif agreed.
"Magic is not used by warriors." Loki said quietly.
"No, but it could be. You could be the first." you said placing a friendly hand on his shoulder.
Loki looked up at you. "You think so?"
"Of course! Besides, it looked like you didn't even use magic when you faced Fandral." you pointed out.
Loki was smiling despite himself. "I didn't."
"See! You beat him all on your own!" you exclaimed.
"Fandral certainly isn't taking too kindly to his defeat." Sif spoke.
You waved your hand. "He deserved it. His ego is really insufferable."
Sif frowned. "He's not that bad."
"You didn't hear about what he did to me the other day then, did you?" you asked.
"I have not." Sif admitted.
You recounted the story of Fandral stealing your journal, bothering you, and then Loki coming to your rescue.
"Aww, Fandral was just trying to court you. He appears to fancy you." Sif gushed.
You scoffed, "Well, he should go fancy someone else."
"You should consider yourself lucky, he is already becoming handsome." Sif said with a look similar to jealousy.
"I don't fancy him or his attention at all. I wish he would stop trying to win me over." you sighed.
You could tell that Loki was uncomfortable from the girl talk about Fandral.
"Sorry, Loki." you apologized.
"It's not a problem. I just don't want Fandral to think I'm slandering him or that I hate him." Loki said.
"It's good you don't hate him." Sif noted.
"I think he hates me though." Loki frowned.
"I think he's just putting on a facade to seem like he does." you said.
"He's just embarrassed that you bested him twice." Sif added.
"Has he said anything?" Loki narrowed his gaze at Sif.
Sif looked at a loss for words. "More or less what I just said."
"Why does he loathe losing to Loki so much?" you asked Sif.
Loki scoffed, "I think I know."
"Oh, Loki, please don't think you're inferior to anyone." you pleaded.
"You're much more humble than Fandral. That's a good thing." Sif said.
"I have nothing to boast of; that is why I'm more humble than he is." Loki said solemnly.
"That isn't true. You are a great friend." you said looking at him sadly.
"In your eyes maybe." Loki said.
"She is right, Loki. You are a good person." Sif nodded.
"See Loki? Not everyone views you as lowly as you think they do." you added.
"I thank you both for your kindness, but I think I'm going to retire to my room for a while." Loki announced.
You looked sadly at him for a moment and then said, "If that is what you wish."
With that, you and Sif parted ways with Loki. Loki's small form wandered down the corridor and disappeared around a corner. You and Sif decided to walk to the dining hall where you met up with everyone else.
"Aye! It is Lady Sif and Lady Aurora!" Volstagg called out from behind a pile of food.
"Hello everyone." Sif said as she sat down next to Volstagg.
You sat across from Sif and next to Thor.
"Where is Loki?" Thor asked you.
"He wanted to go to his room to be alone." you said quietly.
Thor looked sad at your words. "After this I should go and speak to him."
"Perhaps that would be a good idea." you agreed.
"It is settled then. I will speak to my brother after we eat." Thor said as he began eating his food.
You noticed that Fandral seemed oddly quiet for his usual self. "What's the matter with you?" you asked him.
He gazed back at you. "What are you getting at?"
"Why are you mean to Loki?" you inquired.
Fandral rolled his eyes. "I don't understand why you like him so much."
Your eyes clouded over with anger. "He's my best friend!"
"Really? That's all?" Fandral smirked at you.
You felt yourself getting even angrier. "Yes, Fandral! Whatever you are hinting at, stop it!"
Fandral, however, kept going. "Maybe if Loki had a girl he wouldn't be so uptight and antisocial all the time. Too bad he'll never get one."
"Fandral!" Thor yelled.
"Why on Asgard would any of us need a partner right now? We are so young! It is unnecessary!" you yelled out in rage.
"This is enough Fandral." Thor said firmly.
"All I'm saying is Loki is the way he is because he doesn't have a girl and he will always be the way he is because no girl would want someone like him." Fandral said smugly.
"I would much rather be with. Loki than you! You're awful!" you said full of angry tears as you stood up and left the table.
"Lady Aurora, wait!" Thor called after you, but you just quickened your pace.
With your vision blurred by angry tears and your brisk pace, you failed to see the person in front of you and you walked straight into them.