Training

Training never was a thing Loki enjoyed or liked partaking in. He knew he wasn’t strong or skilled in fighting like other Asgardian warriors. The only thing he felt he was really good at was using daggers or his sorcery, both things he thought reflected his shift mind.

Before Louisa Loki would be able to get out of training by either hiding or going off to find his Mother so to work on his sorcery. But now with Louisa, Loki was able to claim that he was needed in Midguard or would simply just vanish from sight to get to her.

It all was working well as he missed a fair amount of training sessions, but his brother had decided to change the times on which they trained so Loki would be included.

“We need all the help we can get Brother and we need you to be swift and as ready as ever to take on a threat.”

“Of course Brother.”

He had replied smirking, the oaf taking it as a genuine smile thinking he was enthusiastic as he was, when really he was glaring and listing off as many Asgardian curses that reflected how he felt.

And that’s where he found himself now; training with his brother and his Warrior’s three in the Royal Courtyard. The courtyard was placed a far distant behind the palace and was lowered almost like a little arena with three stairs leading down into it. Like an arena it was wide and circular pathed with bronzed stones, the side decorated with brilliant plants and roses that were always in bloom giving off their other worldly fragrance that would always irritate Loki’s nose.

In the middle of the ground courtyard sat a single bronze tiered fountain baring its own battle scars and cracks from ill-concentrated warriors swinging their weapons or missed blows. Loki’s Mother never liked to glaze upon the damaged garden piece as she always pleaded with the All Father to replace it. She saw it as ugly and bleak, much like Loki saw it.

For some reason the look of the fountain it reminded the tricksterof the old scars and marks that Louisa had on her body from her deceased Father’s blows. But to the All Father and to the other warriors of Asgard, the fountain represented the scars of war that in Asgard would be proudly paraded to other warriors as it was a sign of strength, not weakness. Some warriors were known to cut their healing wounds so they could continue to show off their scars and marks.

It was one of the reasons why it was regarded, but never ruled outright as where you practiced your strength and agility. Thor and Volstagg where, and like they were today, always near the fountain. Hogun not too far away practicing his concentration and swift paramilitary moves on his own in his ‘zone’. Fandral and Lady Sif, who had just recently started practicing with the Gods, were near the side, but still in plain view practicing their sword combat with calm aggression.

Loki made sure to stay way away from the sculpture and the other warriors. One of the reasons was because he would somehow always get in the way, the other reason because he didn’t like the attention being near the foundation suggested. This was mainly because he never received any of the attention. He was regarded as the runt, the deceiver who was too lean to build strength. Well, that’s what he believed anyway, especially when the All Father was watching like he was today.

His single sapphire eye was always on Thor. It was never on him. No matter how much he tried to impress Odin, Odin never looked his way. So Loki made sure on days like this to avoid it and for this reason he had made sure he stood and practised near the only wall in the courtyard out of Odin’s glaze.

Because if he was regarded, Odin would always use his youngest son as an example on how not fight or as a focal point to his rants. While these times were rare, Loki wanted to avoid them at all costs.

It was better to be ignored then to be seen as futile among Gods.

His corner also seemed to stop his brother and his friends, leaving him alone to able to focus on his thoughts practicing his magic and his fighting skills. His magic was always his specialty, his gift when it came to fighting a threat. The enemy were imperceptive compared to him, his illusions of himself or of other things trapping the oafs every time.

He used these same illusions when practicing, except they all took forms of what he deemed as threats slashing each one of them down.

Frost Giants, Dark Elves, Louisa’s deceased Father, Steven, Louisa’s bullies; every last one of them cut down with cutting edge swiftness and a bored expression on his face.

I shouldn’t be here, he thought cutting down a vapid David wiping sweat from his brow, this is a waste of time.

I’ve been doing this for hours with the same result, I do not need to train, I am quick and swift already as it is.

Curiosity and dulled down with his own boredom got better of the God, his eyes scanning the golden sky of Asgard to see the sun was just about to begin setting, the time sending excitement through the Trickster.

Louisa is about to finish school, She’s be waiting for me.

Smiling to himself Loki cut down one last Frost Giant pinning the ghost figure to the ground watching with it flash away from sight. Putting his blades in their respected areas on his armor he marched outside of the courtyard, his thoughts only on his Princess, his green eyes only on his horizon.

“LOKI!”

Loki jumps ignoring the snickers of the Gods around him, his eyes fixing on his Father glaring down at him in disapproval,

“Yes All Father?” He asked glaring at the All Father hearing his Brother and the Warrior’s Three moving with curious steps towards the scene the All Father was sure to make.

“Do you have somewhere you needth be?”

Loki heard at that moment Fandral snicker, his laughter just behind him in his ear,

“Undoubtedly back to the mortal brat…”

Growling with angrier Loki span around quickly pinning Fandral to the courtyard’s floor. He pulled out one of his remaining battle knives about to thrust it into the Oaf’s throat not hearing the inhaled shocked breathes of the spectators.

“DO. NOT! INSULT. HER.” He snarled through gritted teeth down at vain God, his voice carrying around the now eerie quiet space.

Fandral swallowed heavy showing a stab of fear for the God of Mischief, Loki’s lip twitching to smile down at the reaction. Fandral at this moment wasn’t his fellow comrade in battle or a friend. Fandral was a threat, a threat he wanted to end with a flick of his weapon.

“ENOUGH!”

Odin yelled slamming Gungnir down shutting off Loki’s sinister thoughts. Loki glared down at Fandral watching him swallow tightly again, his blue eyes flickering panicky to where Odin sat.

Just a simple push and flick, Loki thought still glaring down at his victim, his breathing hard,
That is that is needed. The harassment and abuse about Louisa would end and I will be respected.

“LOKI!” Odin and his brother yelled, one voice commanding, the other panicked.

Snarling with an eye roll Loki got off Fandral, both of the God’s glaring at one another as they did. Fandral raised his blonde eyebrows smirking only angering the God of Mischief further.

You wouldn’t be smiling if I cut your neck villain…

The All Father told the other warriors including Fandral and spectators to leave the courtyard with a stern but reasonable tone. Loki watched everyone leave listening to their whispers, none of them favouring his reputation. Thor came over with his head high showing worry and disappointment, Loki ducked his head from the glaze.

“Loki are you -?”

“Leave me brother,” he snarled not wanting his sympathy glaring up at the thunder God,

“You heard what Father said.”

Thor swallowed giving his brother a pat on his back, Loki holding back a grunt caused from the piercing force and strength of his Brother’s blow.

He listened to his Brother joining his friends, his voice concerned for Fandral asking him if he was ok, Fandral laughing it off. He heard the group start to make fun of Loki and Louisa, his Brother laughing along at his emotive Brother. Loki felt a further stab of angrier,

If I ever become ruler of Asgard those fouls and barbarians will definitely feel and hear…

“Your recent behaviour within these walls has been inexcusable as of late Loki.” Odin said, his voice now echoing around the deadly silent arena.

Loki gritted his teeth, his heart racing through his being, “Father I was provoked –!“

“What have I taught you over the years Loki?”

Loki lowered his eyes listing off the words he’s Father had drummed into his head as a Godling,

“A wise king never seeks out a war...”

The All Father nodded however Loki was not finished,

“Father he was insulting Louisa’s –“

“That is another concern I have with you Loki,” He watched his Father sigh wearily as he walked down the courtyard’s stairs,

“You are in line to the throne Loki and have fair greater needs in Asgard as to oppose to a maturing mortal child,”

Odin paused just in front of the God of Mischief, another large sigh being pressed from his thin lips, his one eye glaring down at him like it always did.

“I did fair warn you of growing attachments to the mortal, which I pressed you not to do.”

Loki clenches his jaw at how the All Father pronounced the word attached, like Louisa was some insect or illness.

“Father I am NOT attached -!”

“If you are not attached Loki then why would you attack Fandral?” Odin asked cutting off his son’s angered snarl with a stern tone.

Loki frowned down away from his Father, his single bright blue eye staring down making the Asgardian Prince feel heavier and smaller.

“May I leave now All Father?” He asked swallowing heavy glancing up to Odin. He got one tight and small nod before the King turned his back, Loki marching away not bothering to blow, his body too tight to even think of doing such a thing.

I constantly find his attention for doing something wrong,

Loki thought as he made his way to the court room exit, his lips twisted into a snarl glowering down the path as he stalked, his fists clenched absorbing strengthening magic,

It is never when I’m doing anything right, unlike my reckless oaf of a brother. He and his imprudent friends could not do a thing wrong in the King’s eyes.

“Loki!”
He unclenched his fist turning to his Father who was not looking his way; instead the All Father was glazing ahead to the palace where his grand chair sat.

“Interfering and intervening with mortals can have more consequences than rewards, no matter how greatly you try to evade them.”

Loki could hear the knowledge in the King’s words along with a great deal of sadness but the God of Mischief still glared up at the All Father not allowing for the words to fully take their toll on him.

You wouldn’t know Father,

He thought sighing heavy turning away from his Father treading heavily down the path away from the courtyard towards the Bifröst,

You sit yourself upon a throne a whole realm away from mortals that pray away in their angrier, greed and idiocy as you ideally fretin your greatness.

He cringes his fist breathing out heavy,

I will never let any harm come to my Louisa, I have made the oath to myself. I am her friend, her Prince and you will never EVER take that away from me. And that is the scar I would hold over my being.

Notes