Choices

Chapter 22
Cephera woke up before the sun has risen completely. She was alone as usual, her sister off with someone, most likely Fandral, and she had training with Loki. It had been three weeks since Thor's nameday and Cephera was a little disappointed to realize he recollected nothing.
She climbed out of bed and immersed herself into a nice soothing bath. She'd fallen asleep without getting washed the night before. Loki was not taking training easy on her lately. Every lesson took all her extra energy and she found herself even napping before supper. Still she wouldn't complain.
After soaking for a half hour she climbed out and dressed in a simple dress. She'd learned to not wear nice things when Loki had plans to leave the castle for lessons. She'd change into something else later. She weaved her hair into a multiple looped style in the back and peered at her reflection a moment.
Afterward she stood getting ready to meet with her instructor at the stables. Cephera strolled across the room and opened the bedroom door when she bent over and took in a sharp gasp of air. It was the only breath she managed before she fell to her knees cramps filling her belly and an ache beginning in her lower back taking all air out of her lungs. She gasped and sucked down breaths as pain radiated up through her spine and into her head.
She opened her mouth to call out, but no sound came out. 'Not now.' She pleaded in her mind as she choked back a sob. Tears stained her face as the pain tore through her sides and down her legs. Sparks of energy radiating off her as she struggled to get to her feet. Soon a servant walked by, looked in her open room door, and screamed for help.
(Loki)
Loki had pretended to not remember his conversation with Cephera they'd had at the party and had not brought it up since. Three weeks had gone by since then and Loki still found himself utterly curious as to who this Krystoff was. He still had the letter; he hadn't found a time to return it and she hadn't seemed to notice as far as he could tell. He tested her the last few weeks. Making thing difficult for her to test her resolve to learn and she never disappointed him. Now once did she ask to stop.
Today he was taking her back out to the pond area for a different training. He hated to stay on one thing for too long as it became boring. She was to meet him out at the stables at the crack of dawn but she had yet to show up. Loki hated to believe he was concerned, but he felt nervous as to the reason. The girl was never late. He paced a while snapping at the staff who would stare at him.
Resigning his patience he ventured back into the palace to check on her. If she had slept in she would know his anger for being made to wait. His footsteps echoed through the deserted halls. The servants were off doing other things at this early hour. As he approached her room he slowed noticing a group of servants stood just outside the room. He heard muffled sobs and painful grunts which set his legs moving faster. He reached the threshold of the open doorway with the servants scrambling to get out of the way.
Cephera was on her bed tossing and clutching her teeth together. Her hands wrapped in the sheets and pulling at them as she gasped and groaned before flipping onto her stomach and arching her face twisted in pain. Had he not known better he might have thought she was having a baby, but he did know better.
"Why are you all just standing around! Fetch the healer!" He roared at the gathered house help. Furious that they would be so bold as to just watch. He hated to think of the rumors they'd began already.
"My Lord. She has demanded her sister be found. She insists no healer can help her." One servant pipped up her eyes cast down in fear.
"My sister... " Cephera hissed and gave a movement that looked like a confirming nod before grunting and falling forward in pain. Her eyes catching Loki's for only a moment. Loki's palms had turned sweaty and his mouth felt dry.
"Where is her sister?" Loki demanded.
"One of the serving boys has gone to fetch her. She spent the night away from the palace." Loki clenched his fists and swept into the room. "Get out all of you. And fetch my mother." He ordered. He didn't feel everyone needed to see this. He approached the bed. He was hesitant to touch her once the room was clear. He wasn't sure how to proceed. He'd never dealt with something like this. Perhaps, she was having her menstrual woes. "I assure you our healers ..." He began before she twisted back onto her back, curled her fingers into his collar and forced her eyes upon his.
"CANNOT HELP ME!" Her pain made her shout the words. Loki had a hard time detaching her unusually strong grip, but managed to before she choked him altogether. When he was free he back away a step. He surveyed her, thankfully she was clothed. It looked as though she had time to dress before succumbing to... whatever it was that was wrong with her. Loki watched on feeling helpless and... afraid. He hoped beyond all hope his mother would know why to do. A woman might be better suited to helping another woman in such discomfort. Loki felt out of his league so to speak. He didn't like the mixture of feelings riding him.
A curling feeling of unease and worry had settled deep in his belly and knotted there. He'd never felt anything quite like it before. At that moment she wasn't Cephera his student she was just simply Cephera. The soft hearted, determined princess he'd come to know. Loki jumped as her arm swung out and collided with a bathing jug on the small vanity causing it to crash and break across the floor. As it did his mother rushed. Loki hadn't even heard her arrive he was too focused on the chaos that was Cephera withering in pain.
Frigga gave Loki an order but he barely heard her. Finally, her hands gripped his shoulders and forced his vision to focus on her. "Bring me a basin of hot water and a cloth, afterwards, have a horse prepared to take her and her sister to the Byfrost." Loki nodded still in shock.
He fetched what his mother wanted and did as she requested. When he returned his mother was patting the soaked hot cloth onto the princess's arms, back, neck... any area that flesh could be seen. Time seemed to loop forever before Seraphina finally came in. Oddly the elder princess was smiling and swiftly picked her sister up off the bed. "It's about time," she said to her and carted her past Loki without acknowledging him. Loki followed in bewilderment and watched her sister take Cephera off to the Byfrost on the readied horse.
To say he was confused was the understatement of the year. "Loki," Frigga said behind him making him turn. "Don't worry for her. When they first were offered to stay here Princess Seraphina told me a few things I should know to prepare in case this should happen."
"Wait? So this is something they knew would happen?" Loki gave his mother a bizarre look. He couldn't imagine something like this being planned for, which brought his mind back to a woman's menses. He had never bothered educating himself about the finer points of it and somewhat wished he had.
"She's coming of age. To us that is when we hit a certain number, for them it is a time of rapid acceleration in growth, strength, power. Her childhood years melting away, her bone structure changing to fit what they call their final form. They tell me it's very painful, but not harmful." Loki was so use to the princess' spending time in Asgard he often forgot they were of a different race.
"So the next time I see her she'll be different?" He looked back toward the gates where they had gone. Curiosity had set in and his worry moved aside.
"Maybe. Seraphina says that it's different for everyone. Some change very little and other changes significantly. Apparently, for Seraphina she had been a bit chubby and lacked much facial definition, the woman you see today is what she became." Frigga smiled. "She'll be fine. All their people go through it. They will take care of her."
Loki nodded and furrowed his brow. Coming of age? He was happy he didn't need to feel that kind of pain just to age appropriately. He was very curious as to what kind of girl would return. He hoped that her passion for the magical arts would not change, admittedly he was enjoying having a student and even more joyful to have one as willing as she was.
XxX
A week and a half, that's how long it had been and still no word from Mechanova. Loki pretended to not think about it. Pretended he didn't care and that it was none of his concern, but even Thor noticed Loki's concern and worry. "I'm sure she'll be fine." Thor told him out of the blue while they rested after a very rigorous sparring match. They'd continued with their secret training in the caverns.
Loki stared at Thor and was tempted to play dumb, but what was the point he obviously knew the truth. "How could it take this long?" Loki relied at last.
"I am sure that her family are doing everything needed to help her through this tough time." Thor assured him. Loki didn't reply. He felt strange talking about this with his brother. "I'm glad to see that you and her have grown so close," Thor said.
"Do not grow sentimental on me. The longer she is away from her studies the longer it will be for her to learn what I'd set out for her." Loki lied waving a hand dismissing Thor's words.
"No brother, do not attempt to trick me in this matter. You've grown fond of the princess, if not romantically than certainly as a friend. Do you realize that when you are here and we train that more often than not you tell me stories of your training with her. The enthusiasm you speak of it with tells me you enjoy spending time with her. I am not making fun Loki, I am glad you've made a friend of your own." Loki wanted to walk away from the topic.
The thought of having a friend, a real friend was so alien to him. All his life his acquaintances and 'friends' derived from being brothers to Thor, Cephera was different, she had wanted to connect with him from the beginning, no strings attached to the others. She'd accepted him and his sometimes cruel words and actions. She didn't blame him for being him. She wasn't afraid to call him out on his bullshit, like the time with the chocolates. She didn't fear him in the least and all this made her not just bearable to be around but a joy.
"My friend." He uttered the words out loud not realizing he had.
"Yes Loki, your friend." Thor chuckled startling the younger prince into realizing his mistake.
"I'd never stopped to think of it that way." Loki admitted seeing no point in denying anything now.
"Well when you see her again greet her like a friend would greet a friend not as a teacher and student. I'm sure she'd like that." Loki gave a hint of a grin and a nod. "Speaking of the two of you, when she returns I've been wanting to take you with us into the forest. I'm dying to see what my hammer can do and I think you're ready for your first real adventure." Thor winked at Loki and he felt a nervous tension build inside him.
Training with Thor seemed to be just what Loki needed to focus on just learning and having fun doing it. When he'd been in front of the others he'd grown nervous and made mistakes that caused them to laugh and jeer. Deep down that childhood part of him still felt the burn of ridicule and embarrassment. Loki didn't want to show fear, he had to face the demons of his past some how and this was it.
"Very well, if you insist." Loki placed a teasing tone in his voice as he spoke and Thor chuckled not sensing Loki's real thoughts on the matter.

Notes