Choices

Chapter 59
Thor doubled his blow and sent Hogun to the dirt below them. Hogun shook his head as Thor placed his polearm at Hoguns chest to signal victory. Afterwards, Thor offered his hand down to help his friend up. Hogun nodded in respect and appreciation and left to stand off to the side. "Who's next?" Thor asked them.
"I suppose that'll be me." Volstagg said, was it just Thor or had Volstagg packed on a few extra pounds? He certainly seemed heftier then he once was. All in all Volstagg had always been a larger fellow, solid and firm for his shorter stature, but as of late Thor noticed changes in him. Volstagg had always been the biggest eater of all of them. Half the time he would eat others leftovers so they wouldn't go to waste. Perhaps he'd finally hit an age in which his body no longer shed fat so easily.
Nevertheless, Volstagg was still a mighty warrior and not to be taken lightly. Were Hogun had stealth and cunning and Fandral had his elegance and grace, Volstagg was raw power. You wouldn't want to be caught infront of the heavy swing of his axe.
Two short tomahawks is what his dear friend toted with him now. They each choose to train with a different weapon each week. After all, in battle one could loose their own weapon and need to rely on another. They'd long since upgraded to real steel instead of sticks. There was no better way to motivate anyone to fight their best battle than using slick cool steel.
Volstagg twirled his mini axes, easily catching them in his fingers before clutching them into his fists. His stance was open wide and slightly bent at the knees. Thor was poised just a little side-on, his polearm gripped in the center by both hands. Volstagg opened up by leaping forward and bring one axe crashing down, Thor swiped his polearm up catching the edge of the tomahawk and hooking it into the long end of his weapon.
Volstagg second tomahawk came up under knocking the polearm off his other weapon and proceeding to swing at Thor's midsection which was also blocked. Thor gave his polearm a rough twirl which shifted the tomahawk awkwardly in Volstagg's grip and inevitably sent it flying into the dirt.
Thor clenched his teeth when the second of Volstagg's weapons clanged against the end of his pole and the vibration numbed his fingers. Even as that happened Volstagg caught the inside of Thor's elbow bending his arm unwillingly and nearly knocking the polearm out completely.
Thor kicked his friend backward and he landed on the ground with an 'ouff' noise. Volstagg struggled to right himself, he was forced to roll onto his knees but by then Thor had his polearm pressed to the back of his friends neck. Volstagg raised his hands in defeat and accepted Thor's hand to get up.
"I don't mean to stir trouble, but we have an audience," Fandral told them.
Thor turned and peered into the stands to see Seraphina, no big surprise there, and Sif, which did come as a surprise. Thor weighed his options. He could continue acting like a child and ignore her, or he could do as Seraphina suggested and at least attempt friendship or at the very least a less awkward acquaintance.
It was so strange, Thor had thought he knew this woman so well and had been blinded by many things as to why he wanted to be with her. Now that they had both changed they seemed nothing more than strangers. Even looking at her now didn't stir any previous feelings of love, just confused bitterness. She didn't deserve his bitterness, he shouldn't have rushed her into marriage.
Dropping his polearm, Thor made his way toward the spectator stairway and noticed Sif rising from her seat. She was dressed in tight leather armor that hung to her curves, those curves he remembered well, that was one thing that hadn't changed about her. Seraphina stayed in her seat as Sif meet Thor halfway down the stairs.
"Lady Sif," Thor said the words spilling just as awkwardly as they sounded.
"Just Sif," she replied.
"Sif," Thor corrected himself and inclined his head respectfully. Why was this so uncomfortable, it should only feel natural talking to her but it didn't. Far from it, Thor felt as though he was meeting her for the first time after having a run in with some bad rumors that would make him almost biased against her. "I'm glad you've come."
"You are?" She genuinely sounded surprised. "I was unsure if I should, but Seraphina insisted. Thor, this void we have between us..."
"Needs to be closed?" Thor finished and she nodded.
"I miss you, all of you. It's complicated being friends with your friends but avoiding you at the same time." She explained.
"Agreed." There were short pauses between their thoughts and words. Both of them making sure to speak what they meant and not rush into saying things they would regret. This talk that he'd dreaded for so long wasn't going so bad after all.
"I'd like the opportunity to join you all in training when the time is right." Thor wasn't sure he was ready to battle Sif for any reason.
"You are welcome to train against the warriors three in the meantime, whilst I am here. There is no need to avoid each other." Thor offered and she smiled. He always loved her smile, he remembered that now.
"Thank you. I'm glad you've recovered from... everything." She finished taking care to not tread on soiled ground.
"Thank you. We were just getting ready to have another go at it. Would you like to lead us off?" There was no time like the present and Thor was afraid that should he tell her to wait another day that he would continue to put it off.
"Sure." Sif replied and followed him down to the sands.
(Seraphina)
Seraphina grinned as Sif left to join the warriors three and Thor. With that small detail finished, Seraphina made her way to the Byfrost. That morning she'd received a curious letter and who was she to pass up something so odd.
The gatekeeper didn't questioning her leaving, after all she was allowed to go home at any time. He was cute, the gatekeeper.
Arriving home she made her way into the crystal forest, the meeting place described in the letter where the pixie rocks stood. Could be a trap, but Seraphina wasn't afraid. A meek girl was waiting for her. Brown hair matching her brown eyes. "Princess," Seraphina recognized the voice and narrowed her eyes. "Don't speak my name, I come here with a warning."
"Why should I trust you?" Seraphina asked Katarina Fevour who was disguised as this smaller girl.
"I don't have an answer to that. I guess you can decided. You need to put a leash on Loki."
"A leash? Really?"
"He came here yesterday, approached Krystoff." This was news to Seraphina and if she was a betting woman, which she was sometimes, she'd guess Cephera didn't know either.
"And?" Seraphina kept a passive look of boredom.
"They fought and Krystoff almost killed him, was going to kill him." Seraphina glared.
"Why would you warn me about this?"
"Because that's not what Demos wants." Seraphina took note of how Katarina didn't call her family by brother or father. She really was trying to keep her identity a secret from prying ears. Was she afraid? "He doesn't want to see the Prince killed. Krystoff he's out of control, more and more each passing year he strays from Demos's orders. I'm warning you so that you can stop Krystoff from getting a second chance at killing the prince."
Why was every one coming to her to get between others. First Frigga having her go talk to Thor, now Katarina wanting her to speak to Loki. Did she have therapist written on her forehead?
"I'll see what I can do." She agreed, "but I owe you nothing." She added. Katarina didn't answer, she nodded, turned and fled. Seraphina didn't stop her.
***
Seraphina waited for Cephera to leave for her afternoon visit with Frigga to approach Loki. "We need to talk." She told him catching up to him in the hall.
"No we don't." Loki replied waving her off.
"About your little trip we do." He stopped and turned to look at her. He seemed to be deciding whether or not to act dumb and she was glad he didn't.
"Fine," Loki agreed. Together they ventured to his tower where no one would overhear them. Loki sat down in his chair leaning back his fingers enter locking casually. "What would you like to talk about exactly?"
"Everything, I was told you visited Krystoff and you fought and he nearly killed you."
"Nearly killing me is a little exaggerated." Loki shrugged.
"This is not funny nor is it some kind of game. Krystoff is dangerous." Seraphina felt annoyed. Why did this man feel he could always just do what he liked without consequences.
"Yes he is, and the sooner someone puts him down the better." Loki snarled. "For too long he's gone untouched and able to terrorize Cephera. Do you know he plans to make a birthing mule of her, using dark magic?" Seraphina was taken back.
"What?" She asked wide eyed and for once fearful. Dark magic was never to be used for such things. So many things could go horribly wrong. Magic in general was never to be used to create humanoid life as even that had side effects, black magic was worse.
"That's right, for years Krystoff's been ingesting Lycile. He's not just getting more powerful princess, he's also stronger than you can imagine. If he doesn't get put down now he'll eventually be unstoppable. The dark magic within Lycile will consume his body, his mind and his free will. He'll rage out of control."
"I know what Lycile is and what it can do, but can you prove it?" Loki had stood his palms on his desk and now his face fell.
"I shouldn't have to prove it, your father should just put him to death while he still can. That's what parents do for their daughters."
"Please, you know as well as I that kings can't just go around killing subjects with no reason. That only instills distrust and causes uprisings. Where do you think we'll all end up if my father gets taken off the throne and then Demos put in his place. I can guarantee you that worse things would happen to both myself and my sister should that happen. I will not risk it." Loki looked about as angry as she did, but she knew she was right and so did he.
"I cannot just let it go." Loki growled.
"What if we wait it out? I mean we are safe here in Asgard. What if Krystoff does go crazy from the Lycile? We wouldn't have to do anything. The hotter his fuse gets the closer he gets to screwing up and doing something that will give my father a real reason to step in. Until then Cephera will stay here."
"That could take centuries." Loki glared.
"Do you not plan to keep her at your side that long?" Seraphina watched Loki blink back to a more calmer self.
"I plan to have her for as long as she'll have me." He replied.
"Good. From now on anything that happens regarding Krystoff we share with one another, maybe we can find a way to speed things up." Loki grinned his mischievous grin.
"Perhaps," he replied as he being to ponder hard on her suggestion.

Notes