American Girl: An Avengers FanFiction

Chapter 43

Beth:

 While I was asleep the elves held trial for Loki and inducted him as an Ayllarian citizen. Now it is just before midnight and the entire Falcon House, well the Dowager is off traveling somewhere, is about to wake Loki for the first stage of his training as decided upon by his keeper Krizzy. 

Someone levitates a bucket of water over his head, and then releases it. He wakes up instantly and yells something in  ancient Norse at us. Krizzy just says "Castle gate, you have ten minutes."

She leaves with that. Luc adds, "You best put on your fancy armor and hope that shield works."

At that the rest of us file out, Luc remaining just outside his door to conduct him to the gate. We race to the gate. Krizzy and the first legion, the archers, have been all over the forest just outside the gate setting all kinds of lovely traps for Hide and Seek  tonight. As seekers they have the right to set traps as they are considered to be the "Home" team. The hiders, the second legion, primarily swordsmen and women, will be hiding. Which mainly means not be caught by the archers, they are not required to remain in the same spot but can move freely as they are not "hit" by one of the blunt practice arrows the archers will be using. Loki will be placed on the hiding team as he is not an archer, as will Eliza. Ig will not participate but is tonight's referee. The seekers number 122 and the hiders will number 102. 

Soon enough Loki arrives with Luc, while all of the elves are in some kind of camo, Loki stands out like a spotlight in his elaborate gold armor and swirling cape. Seeing how everyone is dressed, he uses an illusion to camoflouge himself. Every one laughs. Eliza taps him on the shoulder and whispers, "Dude, you know they all easily break that illusion, right?"

"I am Loki, my illusions cannot be broken by mere mortals."

"Whatever, your funeral. They all know the illusion is there and an illusion is only as real as you allow it to be."

"Hiding begins now!" Ig announces loudly, "Stay within the blue glowing boundaries."

..............................................................................................................................

The seekers were released five minutes later, most of the archers hoping to be able to take a shot at Loki of course. But they want to toy with him first. A spell has been cast by one of the witches living in the castle so that no one can use magic during the game so we are all on equal footing, magically speaking that is. The elves practicallly grew up in the forest, so they are infinitely familiar here and have a cat like grace and ease in the forest. I breathe in and feel the spirit of the forest invigorating me. A wolf howl sounds in the distance. I climb as quietly as I can up into a tree and wait, watching. A figure runs past on the ground I draw and hit them with the blunt tipped arrow leaving a blue stain on their clothes. 

No sign of Loki yet, oh there he goes just walking past. I climb down from the tall, tall tree and slip up behind him. I clip my clothespin to his sleeve. Other clothespins decorate his cape and other parts of his get up, he seems oblivious to him. This is the real game they play with him tonight, to see if he can catch them, to test his vigilance.  For the rest of us though, we play hide and seek. Loki will just be allowed to wander around, not catching of any one unless he is caught by one of the traps, until the end of the game at dawnslight. The hiders left uncaught at dawn get the week off from military exercises. 

The rest of the night passes by, fading into dawn as the game draws to a close. Loki is covered in clothes pins and clueless. Everyone is cracking up, giggling behind their hands or just flat out laughing; even his own teammates got him. Pinning the newbie is a long standing tradition. Most of them are a bit better prepared, obviously whatever training he has done in the past, he has always been able to rely on his illusions for stealth. These next few days are going to be great.