Choices

Chapter 21
Thor clipped his bracers into place around the white fabric on his long sleeved shirt. He grabbed a black sleeveless shirt with red strips along the edges and pulled it on over it. Her tucked the ends into his black breeches and slipped into his boots. He knew by the end of the night most of his clothes would be askew and messy, but that didn't matter. He wanted to look presentable as his father had made early plans to first gift Thor on this nameday before the actual party would begin.
All the kingdom would come and go throughout the day. Participating in the various activities planned before the drinking began late in the evening. There were shows of battle to be seen at the arena, competitions of archery in the yards. Maypoles and flower arranging open to the women. The flowers would be brought to decorated the ballroom and dining hall throughout the day.
Thor looked at himself in the mirror. Two small braids of hair framed his face to keep the hair from getting in the way. His hair was touching his shoulders. He'd kept it that way for a few years now. A soft knock on his door signalled the arrival of his mother. She had wanted to escort him to the throne room to receive his gift. When he opened the door there she stood. A beautiful visage of what a true goddess should look like. His mother's face shone bright with pride and somehow she looked younger.
"Good nameday my son," She greeted stretching up and kissing his cheek.
"Thank you, mother." He grinned and offered his arm. She entwined her arm around his and together they made their way to the throne room.
Entering the room it was filled with early risers who were just as curious and eager to see this gift rumors had told would be given. Loki was stood on the steps leading to the throne. He'd worn a green tunic that fell to his knees and opened in the front and beneath was a white top. Thor was surprised to see white on his brother. Had he lost a bet? His pants remained the usual black and shoes adorned his feet. His hair was kept short and slicked as always. He stood with his hands at his sides and was smiling.
The last few days training Loki in battle had been stressful and yet satisfying. They bantered back and forth the likes of which no one had seen them do before. They spoke and told tales they'd missed out on during their years of silence. In naught but two days Thor felt as though his brother had returned full force and he was glad of it.
Across from Loki was Sif in a long golden gown her hair hanging loose. Thor's eyes were tacked onto her most of the way down the aisle. When he finally looked away, he saw the warriors three just down from her and across from them stood Cephera and Seraphina.
When he reached the stairs, he escorted his mother to the top before falling to one knee in front of his father. "My son," Odin's voice betrayed his prideful feelings. A smile beamed across his face. "On this day over three centuries ago your mother gifted me with the news of your existence. I was happy for the news then and I am happy to have you still. It is not tradition to give gifts on ones nameday, but this year an opportunity knocked and I could not turn it down."
Thor felt the anticipation rise within him. His eagerness made it hard to stay quiet. Odin turned and picked up a bundle and before the crowd he uncovered a hammer. Its craftsmanship was like nothing he'd ever seen before. There was an inward gasp from many before Odin spoke. "This hammer was crafted from the very heart of a dying star. A rare opportunity and one taken to create the perfect companion to aide my eldest son in battle, and to wield as he creates a new world as a future king. It's called Mjolnir."
The silence around the room reminded Thor of the dead of night when only the animal and the waters could be heard. All eyes on him, waiting for him to take his prize. With his heart hammering in his chest, Thor reached out only to have his father pull back. "Oh, perhaps I should have mentioned, only a man worthy to wield this weapon may hold it. Do you think yourself worthy?" His fathers eyebrows lifted in amusement and Thor grinned as he reached his arm out and his hand gripped the leather bound handle.
With a heave, though the hammer was actually much lighter than it appeared, he hoisted it up and over his head. The room erupted into cheers. Thor turned and waved the hammer about. The cheers got louder. The entire time he held his new gift he couldn't help, but amuse his thoughts with what battle would be like with this in his hand. An adventure was due soon to test its strength.
(Cephera)
Around and around the room turned as she swung from person to person. The music moving her feet and her body in ways she'd not normally go. She cast her mind from the dance and flowed with the music, a smile across her face and laughter in her throat. From the moment the music had begun she hadn't stopped dancing.
She couldn't remember now how many men had asked her to dance, but she had accepted everyone. Dancing was harmless. As the night moved on some of the men that pulled her around were drunk and she found herself supporting them and leading them across the floor. Her sister was drinking and laughing at the sight. It was nice to see her sister having a good time. She usually did at parties though liquor was usually involved.
For Cephera, she had no need for alcohol. She hated the taste of the stuff let alone the effects it had in the morning. She'd dabbled in it during her early years, but no more afterwards. Thor was showing off in the far corner of the room. He'd discovered some of the powers his new hammer held. He would lay it across the room just so he could summon it to him. Everyone was so drunk they acted as though it was the craziest thing they'd ever seen. It was silly, but amusing nonetheless.
Loki was taking it all well enough. Cephera had watched his face when the hammer was revealed. His first reaction gave away his instant envy. A wild look of jealousy followed before masking back to his normal serious demeanour. As soon as he had realized his own outward reaction he had glanced around to see if anyone was looking and caught her gaze. His eyes gave a tiny narrow at her as if telling her to keep her mouth shut. He hadn't said anything to her all night.
She had seen him around the dance floor talking to women. All of whom he made grin and give him devilish looks. He danced with a few of them and even kissed a couple once his own mead had made waste to his usual manners. Not once did he approach her or ask her to dance and a tiny part of her was disappointed. She'd had liked to think they had gotten past master and student now toward friendship. He seemed to keep everyone at arms length and she wasn't sure how to break that barrier.
When finally the night slowed down and she was no longer dancing, but taking a moment to catch her breath she decided to approach Loki herself. Bundling her skirts in one hand, she moved across the room, swerving through the crowd and up behind the younger prince.
"Will you bed them all?" Cephera asked Loki as she snuck up behind him. He turned his head to peer at her over his shoulder before chuckling. She liked this Loki as this carefree prince. His hair no longer neat after loosening around his face slightly from being hauled out to dance. His cheeks flushed from the mead and another cup in his hand.
"I have stamina Princess, but I don't think any man has enough for that many in one night." He told her with a laugh. "And you? Will you bed anyone this night?" He asked. Clearly the alcohol also loosened his tongue. She wasn't use to him asking such outright questions.
Cephera felt her cheeks flush before answering. "No, I'm not that kind of girl." She replied shrugging.
"You could have invited someone from your home if you had liked. A male perhaps that may strike your fancy." He told her taking a step forward.
"I have no one at home." She assured him. She wanted to laugh at this new Loki. Though his questions were awkward it only reminded her of how different he was at this moment. The feeling was short lived. Her amusement vanished when Loki stepped into her personal space and his mouth mere inches from her ear.
"Are you sure? No man back home that you save yourself for? No man that has captured your heart?" Cephera stepped back and surveyed her teacher.
"There is no one," she said slow and sure. She felt strange. Her heart pounding and her breathing was hard to steady. Loki was now scrutinizing her before smirking and walking away. Cephera watched him go back to the dark haired woman he'd last spoken with. Her attention was on him instantly and she giggled as he spoke something to her.
"Are you okay?" Seraphina asked placing a hand to her sister's shoulder. Though Seraphina was intoxicated she always had a good enough mental capacity to still notice things. She swayed slightly on her feet as she attempted to look less drunk and more serious.
"I'm fine. Just some drunken man babble." She assured her sister regaining her smile as she shook off the awkward feelings she felt. Seraphina began nodding her head.
"They are good at that." She declared and fell to the side bursting into laughter and also walking away. Cephera looked back to where Loki had been, but he and the pretty lady were gone.
Cephera left the party early. When she reached her room, she stood on its balcony and took in deep breaths. She couldn't take her mind off his drunken questions. A nagging feeling in the pit of her belly as to why he would ask such a thing. A sense of suspicion curling its way into her mind.
Someone in her realm that she was waiting for? Certainly not! As long as she has lived Cephera has never had a romantic interest in anyone. She didn't know why she just hadn't. There were plenty of men she found attractive, but she was more engaged in making allies and friends than lovers of any sort. Did that make her weird? It wasn't as if relationships scared her because they didn't. She knew they would happen one day... but then there was that.
The downfall all her people lived with. The probability that they could produce a child was less than 15% among them. Their reproductive systems between the men and woman were erratic and slow. Unpredictable to know when a woman may ovulate not to mention the low sperm count of the men. Alliances like the one their father made were their way of bringing their chances for offspring up to at least 30%, but even then there was no guarantee. Mixing with other races didn't give them that security. This was something she feared.
It was true she'd come to terms with the fact that she would rather love over a child, but what if the man she fell in love with couldn't understand that and wouldn't risk being with her if she couldn't bear him children. What if that was the determining factor that would decide if she could find happiness or not? Loki knew nothing of these problems facing her people and so he wouldn't understand why she had no one waiting for her at home. Cephera wasn't ready to be faced with rejection.
Seraphina was in line for the throne and her children would take the succession after her. Her sister had hundreds of partners over the years and every account was unprotected. She was young which worked in her favor because the older they got, the smaller the chances to get pregnant became and yet not once had her sister gotten pregnant. If Cephera found someone she would like to give her heart to she'd want to explain everything to them beforehand before either of them got wrapped up in their emotions.
The sound of the bedroom door opening surprised Cephera, making her jump. She rushed to the balcony door and found her sister being carted in over Fandral's shoulder. He was walking a far straighter line than her sister had been earlier. "Sorry, I didn't know you were here," He said when he saw her. He grinned almost sheepishly. "She's passed out." He plopped Seraphina onto the bed.
"Why not take her to your room?" Cephera asked.
"I don't like her when she's hungover." He replied. Cephera burst into laughter. She knew exactly what he meant. Her sister was very temperamental the morning after drinking. Fandral gave a polite gesture, but before he could walk away Cephera stopped him.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Anything Princess," he told her smiling.
"If you found a woman you loved and you found out she couldn't have children and because of that you'd never be a father, would you leave her?" Fandral titled his head at her.
"You're speaking of your own people." He replied shocking Cephera.
"She's told you?"
"She has. She made it quite clear that she refused to protect herself against pregnancy and then she explained why. She told me that if I didn't want to be in the child's life that was fine but it was important for her to have an heir and she would not rid herself of the pregnancy should one happen. She didn't want to take advantage of me so yes, she told me." He stroked his chin. "To answer your question... I believe that if two people truly love each other that they would accept the other as they are and if they do not then it wasn't really love. I am sure there would be times that it would be hard on one or both of you, but in the end you'd still have each other. After all what is a true relationship without the hardships." Cephera felt a small weight lift off her shoulders.
"Thanks." Cephera ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you." She repeated kissing his cheek. "I needed to hear that." She admitted. Fandral wiped a tear from her face.
"Chin up. I'm sure one day you'll find that person meant to love you as you are," he said. "Until then you have your sister, though I'm not sure if that'll be a good thing or a bad thing tomorrow." He chuckled and finally fled the room leaving Cephera to undress her sister and shove her into bed properly.

Notes