Choices

Chapter 57
She didn't bother knocking, rude was her thing better than manners. Seraphina walked right into Thor's bedroom and after passing his main sitting room, a room he probably never actually bothered to sit in - a complete waste of space as far as she was concerned- she entered through the doors to his bed chambers and found them empty of any physical person but full of noises echoing from the privy to the right.
Smirking Seraphina walked to the arched entrance, leaned against the wall and peered down at Thor as he threw his guts up into a bucket. It was a satisfying sight to see, at least for the elder twin. "Drink too much again," Seraphina said pretending to look at her nails, bored.
Thor didn't answer her, he couldn't as another wave of vomit crashed through him. This was Thor's newest life since Sif had left him and more so after she'd returned. The now estranged husband and wife now acted as though they were complete strangers. Passing one another daily without speaking. It had been a two years already, how time moved so quickly.
It hadn't been easy for Sif to come back to Asgard and continue her life there. It was true that people were in awe of her tenacity and strength, but as it turned out no one inside the palace took her seriously. She wanted to train to become part of Odin's esteemed army, but none of the warriors would train with her and even mocked her. She'd been left doing battles for shows in the arena, something Sif found to be distasteful and a complete waste of her skills.
Seraphina couldn't of agreed more, but Odin wouldn't step in and help. He had a Captian to his army for those decisions. After all, the king had more to think about than one woman's journey to become a respected warrior. The war in Muspelhiem had carried over, there were talks that the fire demons had plans to attack Asgard. Seraphina's father had his own hand-selected troops waiting should Odin need the extra manpower.
Rolling her eyes, Seraphina walked into the bathroom and grabbed a wash cloth. She soaked it in the cold water sitting untouched in the basin and as Thor wretched some more, mostly dry heaving at this point, she patted down his forehead with the cloth to help ease the headache he was sure to get.
"Why are you here?" He managed to ask.
"I've come to kick your ass back into the light." She replied. Though she half meant it, she really would kick his ass should the need come, but today she mostly meant talking to him. Trying to make him think clearly. The prince was becoming a embarrassment to the throne. Frigga was worried sick and Thor wouldn't listen to her and he avoided his father like the plague. Odin was too busy to come see Thor himself and well, as far as Odin was concerned, his son was just having a tantrum, the impending possibility of war forced Odin to turn the other cheek on Thor's behaviour.
Frigga had asked Seraphina to talk to Thor, something about Seraphina being able to brutally explain things while not taking anything said back to her to heart. It was true, Seraphina prided herself on not forming emotional attachments, aside from her family of course.
"Kicking a man while he's down," Thor lifted his head and grabbed the cloth from her hand, "how brave of you." He mocked and pulled himself to stand.
"You're acting like a child, and you know it."
"I thought you were here to beat me, not scold me." Thor walked, or rather stumbled out of his room and face planted on his bed.
"Shut up," Seraphina said. "Thor I know you feel like you've been humiliated..."
"My own wife beat me in front of those who hold high respect for me." Thor growled.
"High respect? Wow, let me pop that ego for you, no one respects a man who turns to sex and drinking to heal his wounds. A real man strives to do better. You feel like Sif de-man'd you somehow? Screw you, it's your own fault for allowing yourself to be blinded by anger. You lost that battle, you embarrassed yourself and you continue to do so now. You think people in the streets talk about how you lost to Sif? You're wrong, they talk about what Asgard will be like once a drunk dolt like you ascends to the throne."
With a roar, Thor pushed himself off his bed and grabbed Seraphina by her throat, or he would have had she not sidestepped him, grabbed his outstretched arm and bended it behind him painfully. "How dare you," Thor yelled.
"Are you angry because I said it or because it's true. You are losing any respect you might have gained for your pervious battles by acting like the child you are. People are seeing your true colors, Thor the drunken fool." Seraphina grunted as Thor pushed back and they both fell over. Seraphina landed on her back and Thor on top of her, the back of his head smashing into her face and making her nose spew blood.
He freed himself and rolled, pinning her beneath his heavy frame. He lifted his fist back and hesitated. "You should not have come here." He growled through gritted teeth. His face was red and the only thing Seraphina could think was 'please don't throw up on me'.
"You can change all that Thor, you can prove yourself to still be that warrior people look for in their king. You can prove to be the man that will take care of this realm not abandon it when things go wrong." Seraphina hadn't bothered to struggle and she knew Thor could feel her calm demeanour below him. His fist had lost its tension and his eyes had softened, still he had anger inside him.
"Sif is gone, my wife is only that because my father refuses to grant us a separation. I have failed her, I have failed myself, I have failed Loki and my family. Tell me princess, what do I have to fight for?" For a second Seraphina could see the vulnerable look flash across Thor's face before he looked away.
"Forgiveness." Seraphina replied. "Loki once fought for Cephera's forgiveness, you can still fight for Sif's."
"Our marriage will never be the same."
"Don't try to make it that way. You were friends once, albeit a short time but still, you can still find friendship and maybe, one day you'll find more. But don't go looking for more, look for what's in reach first." Thor got off Seraphina and landed back on his rump, one leg propped up and one arm resting on that knee.
"I will not apologize." He scoffed.
"No one is looking for an apology, not even Loki who you dragged into your problems with your wife. People just want to see you back to being Thor the future king, not this drunk, sick, and philandering dickhead." Thor gave her a half glare before running a hand through his tangled blonde hair.
"Getting drunk is becoming overrated." He replied after a moment.
"Good, tomorrow morning meet us in the arena during practice hours. The warriors three have missed you and are sick of me kicking their asses." Thor smirked. "Oh, and Thor, showing Sif even a little support over her warrior skills would be a big help. When people see their prince shunning his own wife for fighting or not even acknowledging it, then they also think it's a joke."
"I have supported her." Thor interjected.
"Did you? Cause I never noticed, and I'm a friend. All I saw was the two of you growing apart because of your dreams pulling you in opposite directions." Thor frowned.
"I married her despite her wanting to be who she was. I accepted that part of her." Thor reminded her.
"No Thor, you married her to prove a point. You hated to think anyone would think you to be so shallow as to leave some one because they wouldn't be everything you wanted them to be, at least that's how I saw it." Seraphina never approved of the sudden decision to marry and perhaps she was wrong as to why he'd done it. But sometimes people made decisions without accepting the real reason behind them and only until someone else points them out do they realize they are right.
Climbing to her feet, Seraphina left the room to give Thor time to think about what she'd said and hopefully he'd arrive to the training grounds the next day.
(Loki)
"I don't know why you don't just up and move all of your things to my room," Loki said to Cephera as she searched for a gown to wear. His mother lavished quite a bit on Cephera, well at least in dresses. Cephera loved dresses and Loki loved her in them.
"No way, we keep separate rooms." She insisted. "I will not have me fetching my things in the midst of our breakup should one ever happen." Loki grabbed Cephera by her arm softly and turned her to him.
"That will never happen." She offered him a soft smile but nothing near compared to the brights ones she once had. Since Amora had been admitted to the healing room and she'd told on Loki, Cephera had been different. She tried not to be, but Loki knew she felt conflicted.
Loki wished he could feel remorse for what he'd done, but he couldn't and he wasn't a fool, he knew Cephera knew him to be the liar that he was. And he wished he could ease her worry, but he didn't know how. Loki let Cephera ease herself out of his grasp and go back to her dresses.
In the meantime, Loki strolled around her room and paused at a shelf he'd long forgotten about. The stack of letters hidden within their protective cloth still sat there, but looked larger than Loki remembered. Unabashed, Loki reached up and took them down.
He unrolled the cloth and chose the very top letter.
'Dear Princess,
I am sure you recall our last meeting and I humbly beg your forgiveness. I spoke out of anger and frustration. I overstepped my boundaries and when I realized I might have ruined any chance I ever had to be with you, I snapped. I'm not a good man, and I'm certainly not perfect. I spoke of hurting you, but I never would, I swear it.
I've heard news that there may be a union in the future regarding you and the man you currently court. I cannot tell you how afraid and sad I am for you. I know in my heart that he will never make you happy, not like I could. Come home to me. We were born to be with each other.
Forever your beloved servant,
Krystoff'
Loki scowled at the letter and crumpled it in his fist. "What are you doing?" Cephera asked. Loki hadn't heard her walk in. He turned to see her in a long gown of silver and blue. She was staring at the letters. "Loki," she began.
"He still writes to you." Loki turned back to the stack.
"It's nothing." Cephera replied. Loki had never told Cephera how much he knew regarding Krystoff and as of late he'd forgotten about him.
"What does he mean, overstepped his boundaries?" Loki asked clenching the letter harder in his fist.
"It doesn't matter, that was a long time ago now." Loki didn't like her avoidance. What had happened that he didn't know about?
Becoming angry Loki threw the letter to the floor. "I know who he is and what he's capable of. Your sister filled me in years ago, what has he done?" Loki demanded.
"He's harmless." She insisted and her defensiveness only proceeded to anger him more.
"During your coming of age party do you know what I witness?" He grabbed her by her shoulders, fully aware at how rough he was being. "He was with his sister, she was transformed to look like you. He partially ripped her clothes from her body and brutally fucked her. His sick little fantasy of how he wanted you." Cephera's face twisted in horror and her eyes widened.
"Loki drop it." She pleaded.
"I will not." He growled. "Tell me,"
"No! You've proven to me that killing or being a part of death doesn't phase you, if I tell you I'm afraid you'll have blood on your hands and start a war in the process." Loki froze, is this what he'd done? Made her fear to tell him anything that might set him off?
He let her go.
"I only want you to be safe."
"I know, and I am. He's world away and has no access to Asgard. The Byfrost is for use of my family only and anyone my father sends through. He would never send Krystoff. When I go home I have guards to watch out for me. I promise you I am safe." Cephera placed her hands on Loki's chest and he put his own over them.
"I've lost your trust." He sighed looking down.
"No, I trust you, but I don't trust your anger. Loki you have issues, we all do, but killing shouldn't be one of them." Her fingertips touched his face.
"I'm not okay with only half your trust," he admitted turning his face to kiss her hand. "Please tell me what happened?"
Sighing Cephera blinked in consideration before responding. "He kissed me and made it very clear what more he wanted from me." She summed it up, he knew she was coating it.
"But he didn't touch you further than that?" He ventured.
"He attempted but I stopped him and then he and I exchanged words, angry words. He threatened me, threatened to hurt me and that I'd be his one day, one way or another." Loki narrowed his eyes and pulled her closer.
"That will never happen." He promised. "You belong here anyhow and if you go to your realm I will go with you. I will never leave your side knowing he is there to take advantage of it."
Cephera wrapped her arms around Loki's waist and pressed her cheek to his chest. "He spoke of us Uniting." He noted after a moment.
"Ugh, ignore it. That's my father spreading rumors and being happy that I am happy. A union would work in his favor for the future of the alliance already in place." Cephera rolled her eyes and Loki chuckled.
"It's not such a outlandish thing to think, you and I." Cephera glared at him.
"Maybe some day, but we will not become another Thor and Sif. We will be patient until we are BOTH ready." Loki smiled and pressed his lips to her forehead.
"Agreed." He replied. Marriage wasn't really something at the forefront of his mind right now, but it was worth it to tease her.

Notes