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Chapter 41

Chapter 41
Cephera entered the grand palace of Asgard and took a deep breath. She'd missed this place. After 6 months of being gone, a time span that shouldn't have felt so long had it not been for her continuos foul mood, she'd almost forgotten the splendor of the vast city and it's people.
She saw several guards smile as she walked by, but remained professional . It was nice to see she was welcomed by more than just the nobles. Cephera had made Loki go on ahead two days ago and said that, when she was ready she would return. In that time she had gathered her wits.
She forced herself to contain her bubbly happiness and reminded herself that she had to make him work for her trust and loyalty. Even Seraphina made sure to lecture Cephera about forgiving him too easily. Of course her sister also made many suggestions in ways to make him pay, and all of them were nothing close to Cephera's comfort zone.
Entering through the hallway, bypassing the throne room, she hadn't sent word to Loki she'd arrived. Instead, she sent word to the queen. She desperately sought Frigga's advice before she stepped back into this world. Frigga would be waiting for her in her sitting room.
"By the fates!" A male voice stopped Cephera and caused her to turn. A fair haired man stood staring at her with a shocked expression. "I never thought we'd see your smiling face again, Princess." Cephera smiled back kindly. She remembered him, Bjorn was his name. She'd met him at Loki's nameday after he'd asked her to dance. Kindly fellow with dark eyes and a warm smile. He had a younger sister who promptly pulled him into the next dance and that was the last Cephera spoke to him, but she saw him around often.
"Bjorn, it's nice to see you." She replied.
"You remember my name?" He said surprised and grinned wider.
"I never forget a face nor the name to go with it." She laughed.
"I'm glad. I heard about what had happened, you returning here is..., unprecedented. No one has ever made angry the younger prince without consequences." He seemed uneasy to talk about Loki in such a way, but his concern made her blush.
"Loki know's he's done wrong, not me." She told him. "I will be fine. I know perfectly well what the prince is capable of." She assured him.
"My apologies, I didn't mean to pry." It was his turn to blush and Cephera felt somewhat awkward.
"No, thank you for your consideration and worry, but I must go. I am meeting the queen." She hurried her words and began to back away in advanced movement to flee.
"Of course. Be well Princess," he said and Cephera took off at a decent speed. She wasn't sure why she wanted to flee. Perhaps, after Krystoff's advances she'd been left untrusting. Whatever, the reason she really was holding up Frigga from her daily doings.
She arrived at the queens chambers doors to find one open and a guard waiting. Cephera entered and the guard closed the door to allow them privacy. "Your highness," Cephera greeted Frigga who had already began a walk across the floor toward her. Frigga caught her into a soft embrace.
"I am happy you've returned." She told her with a sigh of relief.
"I would have come to visit you." Cephera insisted.
"It was not me I worried for."
"Right..., Loki," Cephera said.
"Over the years I have come to realize that both my sons are hot headed and quick tempered. Loki not as much, but strike the right string and he explodes. Loki had been doing so well, I'm afraid you're the bond that held him together. Without you, he shattered and become reclusive."
Cephera felt a little ashamed for having left without saying goodbye to Frigga. When Frigga pulled back from the hug, Cephera could see how much Frigga had missed her written on the queens face.
"I guess then my question to you is, should I forgive him and let the past be in the past?" Cephera knew it was an odd question to ask the mother of the man involved, but Cephera had learned the Frigga was always truthful.
"By the fates, no!" The instant tone of the queen startled Cephera. "I love Loki with all my heart, but I heard all the things he'd said to you and those things deserve to be paid for. If you forgive him so easily he will only learn that you are easy to please and he will take it for granted and no doubt hurt you again, taking advantage of your kindness. No, Loki deserves to work to restore your bond."
Relief flooded Cephera, that had been what her father, sister and even she herself had thought, but hearing Frigga say it only validated it more. It validated the anger she still felt.
"I had hoped that eventually you would rekindle your hidden feelings and maybe one day gain the courage to tell him." Cephera looked up startled and bit her lip.
"Does anything ever get past you?" Cephera asked with a hint of a smile.
"Not much."
"You're like a mystic or something," Cephera said.
"No, nothing like that." Frigga laughed. "I simple watch when everyone else is too busy to notice." Frigga reached out and slipped her fingers through Cephera's bangs. "Loki doesn't know that what he needs has always been in front of him. One day he'll realize."
"I'm not waiting for that day. Right now, the way I felt for him feels like a long lost ache. When I see him my heart doesn't flutter, instead I'm filled with sadness and his words of unworthiness assault my memories." Cephera chewed her lip harder.
"That was an injustice, him saying such a thing. He said it out of anger, he didn't mean it..., but I know that my saying that doesn't make it change. Only Loki can undo the damage he's done." Cephera nodded. "But you also have to be open to it. If you remained cold and continuously shut him out you'll never get passed you're strife."
"I know." Cephera admitted. "I just don't want to fool things up. I don't want to pretend everything is okay." Cephera shook her head. "I don't know how to act." Cephera shrugged, frustrated.
"Act how you feel, but in return pay attention to the little things he does to make it right. Not everything he does will be monumental. The smallest touch or right word could be just as important. When the time is right, you'll know when he's learned his lesson and in return you'll feel better for it." Frigga led Cephera across the room to sit with her.
"I'm glad I have you." Cephera told her.
"I always wanted a daughter, I believe that the fates brought you here for Loki and I'd like to think for me as well." Cephera nearly choked on a sob as her lips sprang into a smile. How could this woman be so perfect?
(Thor)
Thor waited for what seemed like hours for Sif to make her daily pass by of the combat grounds. Shame on him for being the fool to believe she thought this way to be a shortcut between her home and the palace. Clearly she enjoyed watching the training between the seasoned warriors.
When he spotted her she look as serious as she usually did. "Sif," he called jogging toward her. She stopped dead and looked surprised to see him.
"Thor..., my prince." She replied, awkward and unsure.
"Just Thor, always just Thor." He responded taking her hand and kissing her knuckles. "I'm a fool, I know it, sometimes I will deny it, but after much thought I know it is true." He began, he was impatient and had no care for who heard him. "I believe your decision to lie to me was because of my own selfishness. It caused you to believe that I couldn't love you as you are by being unsupportive of your dreams. When you spoke of training I would always agree, but I know you could hear my hesitance and my disapproval."
"Thor, I,"
"No, do not speak. I am honoured that you were willing to change for me. That you love me that much. That you would give up...,"
"I didn't give it up." She blurted, interrupting him. "Seraphina and Cephera were training me in secret." Thor was stunned and momentarily forgot his speech. And he'd planned it out so nicely too. Words didn't come to him so easily as it did for others. He swallowed her new admission, thinking if it mattered to what he had to say.
"It doesn't matter, I was a fool. I wish to make it up to you. I want to prove to you I love you for you and that, although it is outside the norm, I accept your need for battle. Let me prove it, I want you to meet me tomorrow at the Byfrost, I have a trip planned for us." Sif gazed up at him with curious eyes.
"Alight." She replied grinning, hope lighting across her face. Thor bent and kissed her. He'd missed her, though they hadn't been apart long. It was amazing how having someone constantly at your side and then gone for only a few days could make such a big impact.
"Tomorrow, at the Byfrost during dawns first light." He reminded her.
"Yes, tomorrow." She replied with a nod.
(Loki)
Loki hadn't expected her to walk into the library with the instant question of when her training would restart. Cephera had startled him and he nearly fell on the window ledge, he did drop his book. He'd been glad to see her and quick to suggest that he could begin her training right then.
She'd agreed and now, hours later, Loki was stood near the far wall cringing after being electrified for the second time. She had insisted on battle magic. He had been right when he first began training her almost 15 years ago, that when she was angry she learned quicker. He chose electric magic for stunning an opponent first because he didn't want to hurt her too badly, instead he'd become a quick target.
"Maybe we should try something else." He suggested shaking off the numb feeling in his arms.
"But Loki, you're the one who warned me this would become painful." She replied frowning with a pout with a hint of amusement.
"Painful for you...," he stopped and suddenly thought how much she seemed to be enjoying herself. His soft little Cephera was on fire today, her anger burning through to her magic. Right now, he was glad he had chosen stunning and not fireballs or worse. "Yes, pain is part of battle, but there are other spells that can help you win, like waves of water."
"You want to go swimming?" She quirked up and eyebrow. "Well, I do love the water." She conceded and Loki was glad for it. He wondered just how much of this angry Cephera he would be able to handle. It would have been refreshing to have seen a new side to her, had he not been the object of her mood swing. If this was any hint of things to come, he was in for one long, rocky ride to recovering their once strong bond of friendship.
Loki swore to himself that he would never let a woman lead him astray again. He was done with the wild ones, he needed to settle down with a kind, soft creature. He also swore that he would never assume the worst of Cephera, she was not her sister, she was not and would not try to hurt him out of jealously or envy. He'd been a fool and acted like a child. He was not a child, and needed to better learn to control his emotions and be more calculating in his words and manners. Loki needed to re-discipline himself.

Notes

Comments

@fraychan
Then I have done my job well. :p

Yasumi Yasumi
6/15/15

Your cliff hangers wound me D:

fraychan fraychan
6/12/15

@fraychan
Keep that adrenaline pumping, still a lot to come.

Yasumi Yasumi
5/14/15

Oh god I can't even describe how happy this chapter made me. I'm feeling a slight adrenaline rush haha

fraychan fraychan
5/12/15

@fraychan
I agree, things have could been so much different if things had just come to light sooner.

Yasumi Yasumi
5/7/15