A/N: Bit later than I expected this one to be, but better late than never aye? Anyway, you don't wanna hear from me, here is the next part, the parts will begin moving rather fast paced soon but these intro sections are needed fro later story line.

Chapter Four: Practice

She woke to a familiar song of a familiar bird perched on her window sill, singing to wake the still tried Goddess.

"Algaro," she groaned, pulling her blankets over her face.

The bird flew away, content that she was at least awake.

With a yawn, she pushed her blankets off herself, eyeing her room curiously. No doubt a servant had put her to bed, was it the next morning already though? Had she slept for longer than normal?

A knock on her door alerted her and she eyed the door as it opened and two servants walked in, heads bowed low, one carrying a large box.

"Morning Lady Valkaife," the empty handed one offered.

Valkaife had never known the names of the servants she had in the recent years. They came and went and she was always more concerned of her studies. As she always did, her gaze went over both servants before she allowed them to wash and dress her.

Unlike any of her usual armour or training leathers, she was instantly thrown into remembering what day it was by the dress that was pulled out and the heels that were to match it to give her some extra height.

She was satisfied at least that the red dress that was picked out wouldn't be the dress she'd have to wear on the night of the ceremony. That night she would wear the colours of what she is attributed to, that being nature and life, the colours of green and brown, as was her standard clothing along with silver to match her hair. Valkaife had never being a fan for gold armour.

Once dressed with what she dubbed as a 'training dress,' she was ready to be led by an awaiting Orethina to where she would have to practice more intensely with the chosen Loki.

"You did wonderfully yesterday," Orethina offered her support. "The Allfather is very grateful you attempted a shift in front of him for the first time. We all realised the pain you go through when learning a form."

"It will be mastered eventually, I am certain," Valkaife responded automatically. She chose not to tell Orethina that she used magic to quell the pain.

"Your schedule today is rather straight forward. Loki is waiting for you and Eir will be watching over the two of you for some time, she is the most elegant Goddess when she moves."

Orethina wasn't wrong and Valkaife nodded in agreement. Eir truly was the very definition of elegance. Even in battle she held such grace and elegance. Nobody could match Eir in that factor that much was clear.

"What is Lady Eir looking for?"

"Both of you not to fight," Orethina grinned, halting in front of a set of golden double doors. "They await you inside."

Valkaife was about to push the doors open before Orethina stopped her.

"Learn to walk in heels," she stated, leaving quickly.

The young Goddess was not used to heels, she had only worn small heels previously, the ones she wore were rather on the high side, no doubt chosen for her to learn to dance in so she was ready for the next evening when the ceremony would take place.

"Ah!" Eir walked over with grace, smoothing out Valkaife's dress carefully. "Did you sleep well after I found you?"

"Very," she nodded, watching behind Eir where Loki sat.

"Don't try anything," Eir gave one warning, giving her dance student a once over before allowing her to walk forward.

Loki stood when she drew near, eye the doubt that flashed through her eyes. She didn't know what to think of him anymore after he had helped her the previous day. He'd done something forbidden by aiding her with magic.

"Valkaife, walk my way," Eir stopped anything that could spark between the two being close.

She did as instructed, walking over to Eir.

"Now back to Loki."

Once more she did as told.

"Back to me."

"Are we going to do this all day?" Valkaife sighed agitatedly.

"You cannot walk, let alone dance currently," Eir put a hand to her head in thought. "I suppose given the circumstances and time, take them off for now. I shall make a balm for your feet and return."

Eir paused on her way out, staring back cautiously. It was always unwise to leave Valkaife and Loki unattended, she could get back to both strangling one another.

"Swear you will not do anything bad in my absence," Eir warned.

"I swear," both replied automatically, though whether or not the response please Eir was left unknown as she left in a hurry, wanting to be back fast.

Both teens watched each other carefully. Loki clearly hadn't spoken about the bargain he'd made with Valkaife, nor had Valkaife spoken to anybody. The less that knew the better, as far as she heard she had done well yesterday whether aided or not.

"How did you know I had magic when I did not?" Valkaife spoke first, breaking the uncomfortable silence that was settling.

"You were the only one who didn't know. You were told you only used natural life force as magic, my father says it's a hard magic which the Druid's tap into naturally. I heard Eir talking to my mother about that natural magic. Eir says it comes direct from Yggdrassil and is hard to harness if you are not born a Druid."

"The Druid's gave life to Yggdrassil," Valkaife nodded, finally taking off the heels that were already causing her irritation. "What did you do though, I saw you were weakening yesterday."

"It was not I. You needed aid whilst in that form flying. You don't have full control over both types of magic do you?" Loki questioned, though there was nothing hostile in his tone.

She didn't reply, though how she lowered her head and turned her gaze from him was enough of an answer to be found. It was not a common thing for someone to not be in control of everything. It could also be potentially dangerous.

"You drew sources from the only things you had previous links to, the life of nature around you and also you managed to draw it out of me without permission. It works on instinct with you as well as at your command doesn't it?"

"You know too much. I can work on it for a long time after this week, I might not be welcomed during the ceremony."

"I have one question I need answering."

"I owe you that I suppose."

"I read that Druid's like to shift back into their usual form in privacy due to their clothing shredding in the shape shifting process, why-"

"Magic. A friend and teacher taught me how to do it. It's something nobody here knew so after my first shifts and going through countless training uniforms I had to ask how to stop it."

"Can you use it on anybody?" Loki questioned, his eyes flashing with mischief at some unknown thought that sprung in his head.

"Tested it on a few servants," she nodded. "I can change their uniform or get rid of it altogether, so long as there is something there to change already it can be done."

Whatever Loki would say next was stopped as Eir entered the room with a male servant behind her carrying a tray of drinks which was promptly dropped off on a table. The male servant bowed before each in the room before retreating and closing both the double doors behind.

"First things first," Eir took charge, taking the discarded shoes and placing some balm inside each from a vial she had. "You two have to put all your difference aside for now. The arenas are open for you both after this to take out anything you need. Whilst in this room we remain calm, we do not fight, am I understood?"

Both nodded, it wasn't often Eir used such a strict, demanding tone.

"Then we shall begin. It is important you both pay attention to one another, keep eye contact at all times. We'll run through everything first and then we'll get your shoes on and take it from there," Eir instructed, taking a seat with a glass of wine and clicking her fingers for music to fill the room.

After the attitude from Valkaife the previous day when it was first confirmed that Loki would be her partner, Eir was surprised to see just how she had taken to practicing with Loki. Though there was still tension between the air and a few insults were passed between the two, they had gotten along far better than Eir had dared hope.

A flare of magic did have Eir alert briefly but it was soon held at bay. The tension mostly came from when Valkaife tried to take control, only to be denied by Loki who was quick to halt any attempt at leading she had.

Though it started out well, Eir soon realised her hopes were shattered when an argument kicked off. She had no idea what was spoken but tempers flared and she had no choice but to separate the duo and allow them both a break for bathroom breaks and also for drinks.

Valkaife took a glass of water and left the room, possibly heading for the bathroom, Eir wasn't too sure but her eyes fell on Loki who'd seated himself and picked up the same book he was reading before Valkaife had first being brought.

"You're both too tense with one another," Eir informed. "If any magic flares tomorrow as I have sensed this day it could stop the proceedings."

"The magic comes not from me."

"I wish you to escort her to dinner tonight. Converse in a friendly manner, get rid of all tension if you can. I'm relying heavily on you now Loki. I can only hope Valkaife will see sense."

"I understand."

Water dripped from her chin as the silverette gazed at her reflection in the mirror, tracing the intricate black lines that flowed from her eyes with a finger. She had tried and failed to actually get along with Loki. Everything had started out fine, she had to admit. He told her off, spoken down to her like somebody would a child, she'd taken it to heart and magic had sprung out.

Of course Loki had to comment about the out of control magic that crackled. She didn't have time for stupid comments at all. Everything had always been a game to Loki, was he treating this too like a game?

"Valk?" Sif's voice came through the bathroom door.

Valkaife stared at Sif from in the mirror, taking a hand towel and drying her face of all the water droplets that remained.

"Why did you vote for him?" she demanded, her emerald eyes shining with betrayal towards Sif.

"Frigga ordered honesty. Have Orethina show you the memory of yesterday and you will understand," Sif explained, watching her friends conflicting eyes carefully. She had never wished this upon her friend, but she would not go against an order from Frigga.

"She has only opened my mind to me once. The memory of my arrival here was the only memory she has shown to me. She guards her thoughts very strongly, showing a memory can reveal her true thoughts."

"Recall she has always watched over you. She and you are closer than you and I. Nobody would have voted for Loki if they didn't think it for the best. For your sake, try and put everything behind you?"

"It is harder than you realise now," Valkaife rested back on the marble sink.

"Oh?"

"I worked out why my title is to be Lifebinder, through him. I found how to become stronger through more practice and he worked out something I've tried to keep hidden."

"What?"

"Everyone is aware I can harness two types of magic, Eir doesn't embrace both due to the difficulties. I have to wield both naturally, but there are times I lose control. Loki found this out. No. I suppose found out isn't the right words. I guess I told him."

"You should know more than anyone that Loki's silver tongue is to be weary of. I know you, what did you bargain to keep this quiet?" Sif knew what Valkaife feared, being in debt with another. She wouldn't be held by blackmail and she would want all debts squared as quickly as possible.

"The Druid secrets, I'm not bound as they are to remain secretive. He wants to understand more magic, the kind I'm more attuned with. Speak of this to nobody, please."

"You'll be accepted tomorrow Valk, nobody is expecting much from the opening with Loki and you tomorrow anyway so don't threat about it too much."

"I have practice to do," Valkaife left abruptly after Sif's words.

Sif smirked as she watched her friend depart. Sure she'd lied to her friend, she didn't know what anyone expected tomorrow. That was the push that Valkaife had needed though, pushed forward with the knowledge that nobody expected much from her. She would want to prove herself.

Violently almost, the double gold doors were pushed open by the small seventeen year old, her silver hair being tied at the back of her head by a simple vine wrapping around the ponytail. Her bangs too had being clipped to one side, also with a vine.

Eir was hardly prepared for the determination that came with Valkaife's return. Without a word Valkaife put her shoes on, content with the feel of the balm that had being rubbed into the shoes which spread to both her feet.

"Look who woke up," Loki held a mischievous smirk, standing up and bowing his head down very slightly, so slight it could have being missed.

"Shall we continue?" Valkaife cocked her head to the side briefly, offering her hand.

Eir snapped her fingers and once more the music kicked off. Very little tension remained, that tension had switched to determination that ignited Valkaife. It showed as well in the dance. Whatever was done in her absence had worked. Gone was the annoyance, the anger, the tension. In its place was exactly what Eir needed form Valkaife and Loki.

Valkaife hadn't tried to lead, she fallen into step perfectly, treating Loki, not as the male she disliked, but the partner she needed to get her through the following evening. Finally Eir had a reason to smile at the duo. She wouldn't have even guessed the anger the two held for one another by watching them now.

All good things must come to an end though and it did, in the form of a wrong step from Valkaife.

"You clumsy-!"

"It was an accident!" Valkaife shouted at the same time Loki threw out an insult.

"Break it off!" Eir had both held at the shoulders in a matter of seconds. "That was as close to perfect as we can possibly get here. Valkaife, you need to learn to dance in heels so Loki go easy on her. Mistakes will happen now."

Both teens shared a glare and returned to it. Eir kept closer to them, watching Valkaife's footwork carefully and how she was unsteady on the thin heel especially when she was spun out from Loki. For Loki's part he did well to aid her balance but he was weary about one of her heels jabbing into his feet now.

Eir really struggled to understand how there could be so many different emotions running in the one practice. It was enough to tire her out and she was only sitting watching over the proceedings. How the atmosphere could change so many times was unknown to her, but it did give for an interesting time.

Orethina turned up eventually, entering as quietly as possible and taking a seat beside Eir who lowered her head in greeting, keeping her eyes fixed on the practicing duo.

"Any problems?"

"Less than you would have expected. Did you speak to her when we had a break?"

"I did not know you'd had a break. What happened?"

"She came back determined, they've argued a little since then but nothing bad. I think they've grown used to one another now," Eir nodded at the oblivious duo. "They'd have noticed you by now if they were like before."

"If you don't come soon, you'll miss dinner," Orethina winked. "I came to collect you all."

"That time has come already?" Eir was shocked, but quickly finished her latest glass of wine and placed it gently on the table beside her.

"Valkaife! Loki!" Eir stood, shutting off the music with a flick of her wrist. "We eat now."

"Orethina!" Valkaife grinned, about to run over, but was held back with a grip on her wrist from Loki.

"We have orders," he explained, nodding towards a proud looking Eir.

"Of course," she nodded. "Can I change?"

"You may, we shall meet you shortly," Eir left with Orethina instantly.

She eyed Loki carefully and he let her wrist go. She flicked her wrist, igniting magic instantly and changing her clothing and shoes to something much simpler and much more her style and colouring.

"Red never did suit you," Loki noted how she'd changed quickly, recalling what she'd told him earlier that day when he'd asked about her forms and clothing whilst in them.

"Did you want a change?" she questioned.

"You will teach me it," it was an order from Loki, one that made her recall that she was in his debt and gave a nod of understanding.

"Shall we go then?"

"Yes."