Choices

Chapter 2
Loki had seen Cephera to his mother and left as politely as possible. He had studies to attend to and hated to be late. So far his meeting with the princess's had only strengthened his distaste for them. True he knew little of Seraphina and yes he found the younger one very striking in appearance, but that had faded quickly with her child like behaviour. He had been less than thrilled when he was forced to fetch her.
It had irritated him so much he acted a little harshly toward her, but it certainly shut her up and put her in her place fast. Getting rid of her at the palace was a gift and he would not waste the few hours he had with Amora.
"And he's in one piece," She said teasingly as he entered the usual practice room.
"Just barely." He replied grinning.
"And how are they? Pretty?" She asked laying flat a book Loki had been practicing from the day before.
"Hmmm. Neither of them are by any means ugly, the younger of the two carries her looks better." He told Amora. It was no secret to anyone that Amora enjoyed both men and women, though she preferred men.
"I'd like to have a chance to meet them myself," She said thinking. "How about you? Has your interest been peeked?" Loki scoffed.
"Hardly. The older one seems to have a distasteful attitude and the younger one is rather childish." Loki took a seat. "I have not come here to talk about them I am here to train. Now teach." He ordered her putting his foot down on the subject.
"Of course my prince." Amora smiled and began her lesson. She wasn't that much older than him, but magic was usually something females were taught not males. The few hours he had there went by all to quickly. He left the room as he always did, sexually frustrated. He could swear she was getting worse with each passing week with her teasing. Loki hated his disposition when it came to women that he held a higher regard for. His inability to just order them to his bed and to bend to his whim was rather annoying, but he knew this was not how one created a longterm romance.
When he left he had no time to find a quick fuck before dinner was served and so he went directly to the midday meal to join his family and the rest of the nobles in the palace. Upon entering he was loath to see the newcomers at the royal table, but it didn't surprise him. They were, after all, royalty. He took his usual spot next to Thor and seated across from each prince was the princess's. Done on purpose, no doubt, to force them to converse and make them feel welcome.
The dinner began with Odin introducing their guests once more and then the food was served. Most food was already on the table, but hot soup was served fresh from the pot. "Prince Loki, I'd like to apologize for my childish behaviour earlier. I'm afraid I got ahead of myself in a strange, beautiful place," Cephera said to him.
Loki was aware of the eyes on him and gave the politest smile possible. "No worries princess. No harm done." Was all he offered in return. She was smiling pleasantly, but still looked awkward which only made Loki feel better. This one was easy to bother. Her emotions were easily hurt it would seem. Her sister next to her was making quite the bit of noise slurping her soup and Loki saw Cephera give her an elbow which caused her to burp. When she didn't excuse herself Loki felt somewhat disgusted. One expected it of a uncouth male, but not a lady.
"Owwwww ... I mean excuse me." She cried out and turned to glare at Cephera. Clearly she had done something to her to make her see the error in her ways.
"Do I need to show you how to eat?" Cephera whispered to her as if no one else could hear. Seraphina narrowed her eyes, picked up her bowl and drank the rest of the soup right from it. Cephera groaned and looked away. Loki looked to their father who looked only amused and oddly proud, was this what they were always like? Loki hoped he never would have to go to their realm for any reason.
"I am glad we have this new friendship King Yorin," Odin said wholeheartedly. "I hope we can learn much about each other." King Yorin inclined his head.
"Me to goddammit!" He replied smiling wide and slamming a fist on the table.
"You should stay the week." Odin offered.
"I have a realm to run and must leave, however, I am sure my daughters would love to learn more about your people and its grand city." He offered back.
"I would!" Cephera agreed quickly and Loki saw her clench her sisters hand. "And so would Seraphina." She offered when her sister didn't reply. It was clear the older one didn't want to be there.
"Splendid." Odin declared. "My sons will gladly show you two around." Loki hated having his help offered up, but luckily he saw it coming and didn't bother with a hateful glare.
"There are many wonderful sights to be had in Asgard." Thor told them before ripping a piece of bread off between his teeth.
(Cephera)
Thor had begun telling them all about the places he would show them, he sounded excited, but his brother was not. She could see it in his fake smile. She could tell by the dark look in his eyes. He was not pleased to have them there. She didn't know why he hated them. She understood his behaviour the early part of the morning, but surely that didn't cause him that much trouble.
When they had finished eating they followed Thor and Loki outside to the stables. "Pick one, I assure you they are all well bred and easy to ride." Thor told them both. Cephera looked at the massive stallions and swallowed. She was not comfortable riding any kind of animal.
"Can't we go on foot?" Cephera asked as Thor mounted his white horse and Loki on his chocolate brown one. Seraphina had chosen the one closest to her which was white with dark spots and easily climbed on. "Have you never ridden a horse before?" Thor inquired as Cephera hesitated.
"My sister prefers her feet," Seraphina said and looked down to Cephera. "Come on. Once won't kill you," She said giving her a satisfied smile that now she was being forced to do something she didn't want to do. Sighing Cephera mounted a black one next to her and they left in a slow trot. She held on perhaps a little too tight as her knuckles turned white. She finally eased up in her grasp as they neared the gates. They were opened for them with a flourish and a loud creak as they left to enter the main city.
They set a steady pace, a slow trot through the city streets. "We will be in the market soon." Thor told them smiling over his shoulder. Cephera gave a small grin back. The horse riding wasn't so bad as long as they stayed slow. They continued mounted throughout the marketplace and Cephera found herself feeling a little disappointed. She would have liked to see things closer up, but alas the princes's didn't seem to want that. Perhaps, communing with the common folk was not allowed there. At home Cephera ran through the market often, bare foot and her hair free. She may be well mannered when in the company of outsiders, but at home she ran a little wild.
"It will be nice to have someone different around to converse with," Thor said to them.
"Really?" Seraphina said. She was being sarcastic, but only Cephera and Loki seemed to notice.
'Be nice.' Cephera mentally chided her.
'I don't want to stay here.' She mentally called back.
'It's only a week. Besides you need to learn more about other places in order to rule as a better queen someday.' Cephera reminded her smiling a knowing smile at her sister as she turned her head to glare at Cephera.
"Have you ever seen a grander city!" Thor boasted.
"Our kingdom at home is quite large and also impressive, but in a different way than here." Seraphina answered.
"My apologies, I didn't not mean to suggest that ..."
"Don't apologize your trying to entertain us, I understand that, but I was just pointing it out." Serpahina was very curt with him and Cephera shook her head. She felt as though her sister was trying to give a bad impression.
"Oh look a tavern," Cephera said to get everyone's attention off the last words spoken.
"I could use a drink." Seraphina grinned wickedly.
"No my lady," Thor said quickly. "I am unsure how taverns are where you are from, but here a lady of high standing does not enter them safely." Thor warned her.
'We are so going there later.' Seraphina mentally told Cephera.
'Behave.' Cephera scoffed back getting irritated. Why couldn't her sister learn at least a few manners or ounce of respect.
They trotted to the end of the road where it cut off in four direction. "The one on our far left will bring you to the edge of the great expanse. It's a wonder to behold, but take care not to find yourself falling into its void. The one next to that will take you to the Forests. Many great beasts lurk inside and so I would warn against your going there," Thor said and looked to Loki. It was clear the two of them had been inside before.
"The far right path leads to the shoreline that stretches far around the palace and the one next to that will take you to the resting place of the Asgardians long dead." Loki added.
"And we won't be going down any of them?" Seraphina inquired eyeing the path to the forests. Cephera wouldn't disagree. She wanted to go there too. The girls did not fear a little adventure, in was in their Mechanovian blood to brave dangers.
"No. It would be unwise and we do not have such time. Perhaps another day we will start out early. The shoreline and beaches and alcoves along it are safe enough to show you." Thor gave off another smile. "Come we will head back to the castle grounds and you can meet our friends the warriors three."
And with that they turned around and ventured back the way they came.
(Thor)
Thor was very happy to show the girls around, but he knew his brother was not, but Thor had faith that given time Loki would warm up to them. They were very nice, or at least he thought so. It was refreshing to make new friends. They entered the gardens and he led them down to the coliseum were he knew his friends would be sparring.
"Absolutely not." He heard Fandral express. "It is not proper lady like manners for such a thing." Thor came out from the lower doorway onto the dirt covered field to find Fandral arguing as politely as possible with the Lady Sif. This was not the first time. Recently, the lady had become interested in learning the art of war and fighting, but such a thing was not something taught to women. Thor figured it had something to do with the fact that Sif was known to have affections for him and this was her way of trying to impress him.
"What's going on?" Seraphina asked Loki who was closest to her.
"The lady Sif wants to learn how to be a warrior. A silly notion, girls do not belong in the battlefield." He replied snorting and crossing his arms. Thor watched Seraphina give Loki a glare and before anyone could really understand what was going on the princess had taken hold of a bamboo pole used for training and swept it behind Fandral's feet taking him off onto his back. He cried out in surprise.
"You think a woman can't fight do you?" Seraphina asked thrusting it at him as he lay on the ground. Fandral rolled out of the way and was back on his feet quickly. Thor was ready to intervene when Cephera grabbed his sleeve.
"Don't," She said watching calmly.
"I do not wish to see your sister get hurt." Thor told her.
"I think you should be more worried for your friend." She replied a smile tugging at her lips. Fandral had taken ahold of the pole in Seraphina's grip and once again shouted out as she threw her weight and sent him over her onto his back again. Thor heard Cephera sigh in a proud kind of way. When Fandral made to get up Seraphina put the pole to his neck as if it were a sword.
"Go ahead. Say girls can't fight again." She offered him glaring down. Fandral held up his hand to surrender and Seraphina backed off.
"Well if that wasn't a complete mockery I'm not sure what is." Loki commented. His voice sounded bitter and he left. Thor didn't bother trying to get him back. Loki was known to have such bouts of irritation. Thor knew where it stemmed from. Loki had never been able to win a fight against any of the warriors three even though they trained everyday together at sundown. Loki was frail in his body mass. Watching this tiny girl take Fandral down wounded his self-esteem without meaning too.
"Dear gods I've never seen a girl heave a man like that," Fandral said to Seraphina and Thor saw an interested look play across Fandral's face.
"Where I come from everyone knows how to fight; taught to us the moment we could walk." Seraphina said. "Men ... and women."
"My apologies then. I did not mean to insult you with my words to the Lady Sif." Fandral frowned.
"Your highness my friend still speaks the truth. The battlefield is not a place for women here in Asgard. Training a lovely woman such as Sif would be frowned upon and laughed at." Thor offered to explain.
"All change starts somewhere," Cephera commented from behind them. "What's the harm in a few lessons. What would happen should she find herself in a situation where such training could come in handy. If Asgard came under attack tomorrow it would be something she just might dearly need." She added. Thor looked to Sif who was looking both hopeful and grateful.
"There is truth in your words though an attack on Asgard is not likely to be something she would have to face, but I see your point. A few lessons, I suppose, would not hurt."
"Thank you my prince," Sif said falling to one knee, her fist to her chest. Her blond ponytail falling over one shoulder. She had blossomed into quite the woman since her younger years. She had come prepared for battle as she wore a training outfit meant for a man rather than the usual dress a woman wore.
"Do not thank me," Thor said and took the opportunity to introduce the two princess's to his friends.

Notes