2013 EDIT: BRAND NEW CHAPTER ALERT! I felt like the secondary characters and relationships needed a little more buildup, so I added this chapter between chapters 5 and 6. A year doesn't seem like a long time but it was surprisingly difficult to write new content. I hope you enjoy it!
(For those of you who missed the announcement, I'm in the editing process of this story right now, and I've completed everything up to this point. I did a lot of re-working at the end of this story especially, so stay tuned. I'll continue to update in the next couple of weeks.)
Chapter 6 – Throwing Punches
The morning light streamed in through the window in the corner of Kiera's room. She blinked the sleep out of her eyes and stretched. Though she had slept well, exhaustion still plagued her. Jadef had been pushing her in the months following the discovery that her magical abilities were emotionally driven. Despite the extra effort put into her now daily lessons Kiera had still made no progress.
Jadef said it would take time, Kiera thought to herself. But she did not expect it to take this much time. Kiera's seventeenth birthday had come and gone, and she was no closer to any sort of fire conjuring ability. Watching the others practicing their various skills every day in the courtyard and noticing their steady progress was beginning to fill Kiera with jealousy. Thor had improved immensely with Mjolnir and had smashed many of the practice dummies into smithereens. Sif was proving a master at swordplay, and she, Hogun, and Fandral engaged in daily swordfights that looked to be straight out of an epic movie. Loki was able to hit the center of every target with his daggers.
And still Kiera was accomplishing nothing but turning her face a brilliant shade of purple.
There remained one bright spot in the midst of all of her shortcomings. Loki had proven a loyal friend, supporting her and assisting in whatever he could to help her. Even after lessons were finished for the day, Kiera often found herself in his company, reading books, taking walks through the palace grounds, or staying up in the study and talking until all hours of the night. Sometimes, he sat with her while she performed her servant's duties, reading to her from the books Jadef had given her to read. At the very least, Kiera thought, he was not about to give up on her.
Kiera was jolted from her thoughts by the sound of a loud bang. Fearing another fire, Kiera leaped out of bed and collided with Thor who had burst into her room, fully dressed in his training armor. Kiera's head rammed into the metal plating covering Thor's chest and she stumbled backwards into a heap on the floor.
Kiera sat up, rubbing her forehead. "Thor, what the – "
"Young Midgardian," Thor bellowed before noticing that she was on the ground. He paused, extending a hand to her. When she took it, he gracefully set her back on her feet.
"I am sorry about that, Young Midgardian."
"Thor, really, you can call me Kiera," she replied, trying to ignore the throbbing in her temples. Kiera grabbed a throw blanket and covered her shoulders. "And, you know, there's this thing. It's called knocking. You should try it sometime."
Thor seemed oblivious to the fact that Kiera was in her nightgown and continued. "I have come to invite you to participate in a most exciting event."
"That's nice, Thor. But could you wait and tell me when I actually have real clothes on?"
Thor looked Kiera over from head to toe. Suddenly, he looked uncomfortable.
"Oh, um…I do apologize. I will just wait outside then." He awkwardly turned and walked back out into the hallway.
Kiera stood still for a moment, not entirely sure what had just transpired. Before he could barge into her room again, Kiera grabbed a long skirt and matching shirt. As she began to change out of her nightgown, she suddenly thought better of it and changed in the bathroom. For Thor to see her in a nightgown was bad enough, and there was no way she wanted him to walk in on her in a more compromising state of dress.
After she had changed and splashed cold water on her face, Kiera opened the door to her bedchamber. Not seeing anyone in the hallway, she stepped out a little further and ducked out of the way just as something hurtled past where her head had been only a split second earlier. Heart pounding at the near miss, she turned her head to see Thor clutching Mjolnir in his outstretched fist, his eyes wide with surprise and his mouth agape.
"Holy crap, you nearly took my head off!" Kiera shrieked.
"I grew tired of waiting for you so I made use of my time."
"Why were you throwing your hammer thing around in a narrow hallway right in front of my door?"
Thor ignored her question. "The lady Sif, the Warriors Three, and myself would like to challenge you to a tournament."
Kiera blinked in response. "What kind of tournament?"
"An epic clash of skills to determine who is the bravest, most accomplished warrior. It will take place in one week's time. Sif thought it would be interesting to invite you."
"Why, so you guys can pummel me to death?" Kiera replied. "If you haven't noticed, Thor, I'm not really all that great at this magic thing. You'd flatten me in a nanosecond."
The more Kiera stood there talking to Thor, the more she realized how easily he could beat her to a pulp. He was huge, at least a foot taller than Kiera even when she was standing at her full height. His biceps appeared to be as big as Kiera's head, and his armor only added to his bulk. He radiated confidence and strength, and his shoulder-length mess of blonde hair gave him a regal appearance. He seemed to possess everything the people of Asgard would want in a future king.
"This would not be a fight to the death," said Thor. "There is nothing to fear."
Kiera seriously doubted that.
"Well, Young Midgardian, will you join us?"
"Thor!" Sif's voice echoed down the long corridor. She strode toward them, stopping next to Kiera. "You said you would wait for me."
"You were late, Sif," answered Thor.
"Never mind that." Sif turned to Kiera. "Is he bothering you?"
"Um, no," Kiera replied. "But what's all this about a tournament?"
Sif raised an eyebrow at Thor. "You are so dramatic."
"I merely invited her per your suggestion."
Sif rolled her eyes. "I hope Thor did not scare you. Once every year, we hold a contest of sorts to match skill against skill to measure our individual progress in our training. I just thought that it would be nice if you joined us."
"What kind of…contest?" Kiera said, picturing epic swordplay and imagining what it would feel like to be accidentally beheaded.
"During our lessons, those of us training in combat will use swords, spears, Mjolnir over here," she said, gesturing to the hammer. "But we also duel each other using weapons made of wood. That is what we will use so there is no threat of any significant injury. As long as everyone behaves themselves…" She shot a pointed look at Thor.
"But…I don't know how to swordfight."
"We can teach you the basic maneuvers," Sif said. "I am sure Jadef would not mind your missing a lesson or two. It is a useful skill. The contest will be solely for fun, so there is nothing to worry it might be fun to take a break from…whatever it is you do over there."
Kiera flushed with embarrassment at the thought of how silly she must look trying desperately to make something spontaneously combust.
"And, to be honest, it would be nice to have another girl for a change," Sif said, smiling.
Kiera took a deep breath. "When do we start?"
Jadef was more than happy to allow Kiera to take a few days off from her usual training to give her time to learn some swordplay. Sif was an excellent teacher. With the help of Hildorr, a tall, intimidating man with dark skin, piercing eyes, and lightning fast swordsmanship skills, she perfected the basic blocking and striking techniques in a matter of days. She knew she was nowhere near the skill level of the other warriors in training, but at least she would not look like a complete fool.
At least she hoped not.
Kiera glanced over to where Jadef was instructing Loki. "Does he usually compete with you guys?" Kiera said, blocking an advance from Fandral.
"Who, Loki?" Fandral replied. "Not usually. Normally he sulks in the study."
"Why not?"
Fandral chuckled. "We won't allow him to use magic. And I suppose to him that takes the fun out of the event."
"Not surprising."
As she wielded her wooden staff that stood in for a real sword, Kiera looked over at the other end of the courtyard to see what Loki was up to. Their eyes met for a brief moment before he quickly looked away, hurling a dagger at a dummy and hitting it square between the eyes.
The morning of the tournament dawned overcast and dim, but Kiera woke with an excited twinge in her stomach. Even if she failed miserably, that did not change the fact that this was the first time her peers had invited her to any type of social gathering. She opened her closet and pulled out the armor that Hildorr had procured for her. She was just beginning to fasten the many buckles and snaps on the breastplate when she heard a knock at the door.
"Come in!" Kiera called. The door opened and Sif stepped inside.
"Ready?" Sif asked.
"I will be once I figure out how to put on this contraption," Kiera said, awkwardly reaching around the back of the armor trying to fasten one last strap.
"Here, let me help you," Sif said, walking behind Kiera and tightening the leather before securing it with a buckle.
"Thanks."
"Kiera," Sif said, stepping out so she could once again face Kiera, "I wondered if I could talk to you about something."
"Sure."
Sif looked down at her boots. "I wanted to give you a warning."
"About what?"
"Loki."
Kiera furrowed her brow. "What about him?"
Sif looked up at Kiera. "I know you study with him, and therefore you spend a great deal of time together." She paused as if considering how to proceed. "I…I notice how friendly you are toward him and I just wanted you to know that Loki…he's not always what he seems."
Kiera folded her arms across her chest. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," continued Sif, "that he has a reputation for being insincere. More than that. He…though he may seem to care about you, Loki does not have friends."
"I don't understand."
"Kiera, believe me when I say that you cannot trust him. He only does things for his own personal gain. He's crafty and he's dangerous. I just wanted you to be careful."
Kiera did not know how to respond. Suddenly defensive, and felt the unexpected urge to deny all the things that Sif had just told her. Was Kiera just biased, that she could not see this side of him?
"I mean it," Sif said, placing a hand on Kiera's shoulder. "Stay away from him."
Kiera could only nod.
The others had already gathered in the courtyard when Kiera and Sif arrived. Hogun and Fandral were already engaged in a duel, wielding wooden rods and flying across the courtyard.
"You made it!" Thor shouted at them. He and Volstagg were sitting atop a short stone wall at the far end of the courtyard. Kiera followed Sif over to where they sat. Thor and Volstagg extended hands to the ladies and helped hoist them up so they were all seated in prime position to watch the combat unfold.
It seemed to be an even matchup. Both warriors seemed to anticipate every move and counter it perfectly. Kiera began to feel nervous, knowing she would not stand a chance against any of them. Suddenly, she sensed movement next to her as a figure hurdled the wall from behind and settled smoothly next to her.
"What did I miss?"
"Loki?" Kiera whispered, smiling. "I thought you didn't come to these things."
"Well, I thought you could use a little encouragement, so I made an exception," he replied, winking.
Suddenly, the other warriors were applauding. Hogun took a bow as Fandral extracted himself from the ground, beaten.
"How do you win?" Kiera asked Sif.
"If you disarm your opponent you are declared the winner and move on to the next round." Sif cast an obvious glance at Loki and narrowed her eyes.
Thor leaned forward on the wall. "Would the ladies like to go next?"
Sif and Kiera jumped down off the wall and walked over to the pile of wooden rods on the ground. As they knelt to pick choose their weapon, Sif leaned in closer to Kiera.
"Remember what I told you," she whispered. "He may seem harmless, but he will not hesitate to turn on you when he no longer has need of you."
Kiera could not explain the bitter taste in her mouth or why her hands shook as she took arms. Was it nerves? No, it was anger. Who was Sif to say these things? If she cared so much about Kiera, why had she not tried to befriend Kiera until now? Why had she allowed Kiera to form a friendship with Loki in the first place?
Swallowing her anger, Kiera took her position opposite Sif. Sif raised an eyebrow at Kiera as if to further accentuate her point. Heat filled Kiera's cheeks.
"Ladies," Thor shouted from atop the wall, "take arms…and let the duel begin!"
BANG.
Sif ducked as a jet of yellow fire blasted past her out of nowhere and smashed into the wall behind where she stood. The whole courtyard was still and silent for what seemed like an eternity. Kiera gaped wide eyed at the black scorch mark in the stone wall.
Sif quickly regained her balance and strode furiously toward Kiera. "What was that?"
"I – I don't know…I'm sorry!"
Before Kiera could react, Sif raised the rod in her hand and swung down with all of her might. Kiera braced herself for the blow when out of nowhere Thor appeared, shoving Kiera to the side and blocking Sif's staff with Mjolnir, sending wooden splinters flying through the air.
"Thor, back off," Sif yelled.
"Sif, I'm so sorry, I didn't try to do that!" Kiera cried.
"You expect me to believe this look-at-me-I'm-just-an-innocent-Midgardian-who-could-not-hurt-a-soul charade?" Sif pushed past Thor and stomped toward Kiera.
"Now wait just one minute, Sif." Loki appeared out of nowhere and thrust an arm out to block Sif's advance.
"Do not touch me, you snake!" Sif said, smacking his arm out of the way.
"Loki, leave this to me," said Thor.
"Sif," Loki said, ignoring Thor, "I have taken lessons with Kiera for the better part of a year now, and never once has she come close to conjuring fire at her own will."
"Hey!" Kiera cried, indignant.
Loki turned back and mouthed, "Sorry."
"She just attacked Sif! How do you know she did not mean to do that?"
"Thor, it is best to say out of things when you have no idea what you are talking about."
"Do not tell me what I can and cannot do, Brother!"
"I promise it was an accident!" Kiera yelled, struggling to be heard over the brothers' squabbling.
"Thor, I mean it," Loki whispered harshly. "Drop it. Everything is fine."
"Everything is fine?" Sif shrieked. "Are you daft, Loki? She almost killed me!"
Loki raised an eyebrow at Sif. "Ooh, so overdramatic."
Thor spun around fiercely. "Do not speak to her in that way," Thor said, inches away from Loki's face.
"I will speak to her any way I want to, Thor."
Thor shoved Loki hard so he flew backwards, somehow managing to land on his feet. Thor charged at Loki, who sidestepped at just the right moment, avoiding a powerful right hook. The force of the swing caused Thor to topple sideways to the ground. Enraged, Thor whirled around and launched himself at Loki, pinning him to the ground.
Sif stood agape, temporarily forgetting her vendetta against Kiera. The warriors jumped down from the wall and ran toward the fray. Kiera was too stunned at this turn of events to move and watched in morbid fascination as the brothers exchanged blows on the ground.
Thor raised his fist which connected with Loki's jaw. Loki replied with a head butt to Thor's nose. Thor cried out in pain, reeling backwards. Loki took this opportunity to swing his fist at Thor's head, which Thor skillfully caught in his hand. He bent Loki's arm backward and Loki winced, twisting out of Thor's grasp. Loki stood up quickly and looked around before raising his arm. With a turn of his wrist, he magically sent a large rock flying at Thor's face. Thor ducked, but not before it grazed his ear.
"You resort to using magic to beat me, Brother?" Thor said, a smile forming on his face. He opened his hand, summoning Mjolnir which hurtled into his waiting fist.
"I am merely matching my skills versus yours, Thor. Is that not what this tournament is all about?" Loki laughed. "Besides, what is the mighty Thor without his precious Mjolnir?"
Thor shrugged. "Your sorcery is no match for me. You will eat your words, Loki." Twirling Mjolnir rapidly at his side, he flew at Loki, knocking him to the ground. Loki quickly shoved Thor to the side, but stumbled when Thor reached an arm around his ankle. Loki tried to scramble out of the way, but Thor swiftly wrapped his burly arm around Loki's throat, holding him in a headlock. Thor dropped Mjolnir and began slamming his fist into Loki's face. Loki stomped hard on Thor's foot and use the split second of distraction to turn and return Thor's blows with a swift uppercut to the jaw followed quickly by an elbow to the ear.
Suddenly, Kiera was jolted from the scene as she was knocked into from behind. Jadef and Hildorr charged past the small group of warriors watching the scene unfold. Within seconds, both princes were restrained by their mentors.
"That is enough!" Hildorr bellowed, muscles straining as he held Thor back.
"What is the meaning of this?" Jadef demanded, twisting Loki's arms behind his back.
Breathing heavily, Thor and Loki's eyes were fixed on one another with looks of unadulterated detestation. Neither of them said a word.
"It was my fault, Jadef," Kiera said, stepping forward.
"No, Kiera, wait," Sif interrupted, standing beside her. "We were beginning a duel and Kiera…accidentally shot a fireball at me. I overreacted." She cast an apologetic look at Kiera.
"That's okay. I really didn't mean to."
"I know," Sif replied.
"That does nothing to explain this childish behavior," Hildorr roared. "We could hear you two all the way from the study."
"Now," Jadef said, "if we let you go, will you behave like adults?"
Jadef and Hildorr released their hold on the princes whose eyes remained locked on one another. Both were covered in dirt. Thor wiped his nose with his ripped sleeve. Loki sported a black eye and his hair was matted and stuck to his face with blood.
Volstagg shifted awkwardly. "I guess this means the tournament is over?"
Kiera did not see Loki or Thor until nightfall when the warriors gathered around a stone fire pit. Such was tradition after their annual tournament.
"Normally, we toast the winner," Fandral said, passing Kiera a goblet of wine, "but I guess we shall have to toast to…um…"
"…not killing each other," Kiera concluded, earning a laugh from the other warriors. They raised their glasses and drank. Kiera gazed into the flames, enjoying the way they danced.
She was distracted by two silhouettes in the far end of the courtyard. The figures shook hands and clapped one another on the back before joining the warriors around the fire.
"What did we miss?" Thor said, taking a seat next to Volstagg.
"Well, look who decided to show up," Hogun joked as Loki sat in an empty seat between Thor and Kiera. She noticed that he had a cut above his eye and his face was swollen. She glanced next to him at Thor whose lip was split in two places and whose left ear was covered in what looked like some sort of healing ointment.
"Did you two get in trouble with Mother Dearest?" Sif chuckled.
Thor and Loki exchanged looks. "She was not pleased," Loki said.
"Never mind that, pour them some wine!" Fandral chimed in.
The rest of the night was filled with dramatic re-tellings of Thor and Loki's epic skirmish and legends of Asgardian past. Kiera did not remember laughing so much in her entire life. It was good to have friends, she decided.
When the fire had burned to glowing embers, the warriors retreated for bed. Loki walked with Keira to her room, and they paused when they reached her door.
"I'm sorry for what happened," Kiera said. "I really didn't try to do that to Sif. I guess I was just mad about…"
Loki looked at her inquisitively. "Mad about what?"
Kiera debated briefly about whether or not she should tell him about her conversation with Sif. "Nothing," she replied. "I guess I just didn't want to be embarrassed in front of everyone, that's all."
"I suppose not. Although it was pretty excellent timing, if I do say so myself."
Kiera laughed. "So, I take it you and Thor are on speaking terms again?"
It was Loki's turn to laugh. "We may…disagree from time to time, but he is my brother."
"I think that was more that just some run-of-the-mill disagreement," Kiera said. "Thanks though."
"For what?"
"Standing up for me."
Loki shrugged. "It was nothing."
There was an awkward pause in the conversation.
"Well, we should probably get to bed," said Loki.
"Yeah, I guess we should," Kiera replied. Neither of them moved for a moment. Finally, Kiera turned the doorknob and stepped inside her room.
"Kiera!"
Kiera peeked around her door, her breath catching in her throat.
Loki stood silent and unmoving for what seemed hours. "Um…goodnight."
"Goodnight."
As Kiera closed her door, a swarm of butterflies took residence in her stomach, refusing to slumber even for a moment.
Review please! :)