Frostbitten

The Monster and the Maiden

Note: I got the idea for this chapter from mischiefandmagic's story: A Short History of Swordhand and Silvertongue, so general credit goes to them. Oh and if you can't read what's in the picture, its a scene from one of the Thor comic books where Loki tells Sif that he loved her when they were children ;D

A young boy frowned as the sound of laughter interrupted his thoughts. Quickly, he slammed the book he was reading shut and stomped over to the others. "Keep it down, some people would prefer not to hear the annoying sound of your voices!" he growled, his emerald eyes flashing with annoyance.

"Oh come on, Loki, you're no fun." Whined one of the children. His hair was shoulder length and blonde, his eyes as blue as the sky.

Loki rolled his eyes, " I don't need to be fun. "

"Well at least try and be. Come play with us." A light voice said from the back of the crowd. Loki raised an eyebrow and out stepped the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on. She was short and she too, had long blonde locks of hair, though they we far longer than those of the boy's. Her eyes were chocolate brown and her skin was pale like his.

"Um...I suppose I can give it a t-try." Loki stuttered.

The girl smiled. "Good," She said after motioning for him to stand beside her. "I'm Sif." She whispered.

"Loki." He smiled.

"You must be Thor's brother," Loki nodded and cast a quick glance at his brother who was now telling some sort of joke to the others.

"I believe you and I are going to be good friends."

"Ok, what do you guys want to play?" Thor asked.

One of the other boys spoke up," I think we should pretend to rescue a maiden from an evil monster."

Thor smiled,"Good idea Fandral!"

He began to scan the group, "You, me, Volstagg, and Hogun will be the warriors. Sif you'll be the maiden-"

"But I don't want to be the maiden. I wanna be a warrior too." Sif whined.

"You're the only girl though," Volstagg pointed out.

Sif crossed her arms and Thor continued, "Lastly, Loki, you can play the monster."

"I'm always the monster, Thor. Can't we all just be warriors?"

"You're the best at playing the monster, though. You can even cast spells!" Thor pointed out.

Loki frowned but agreed none the less. After the game started, Loki conjured a few things to keep Thor and his friends busy as he stepped over to talk to Sif. "Don't let him get to you," he said as he sat down beside her.

"I'm sick of people treating me like I'm just a stupid woman who is constantly needing saving!" Sif confessed.

Loki looked down at his feet, then back at her, "You know, one day, I'll bet you'll be the fiercest warrior in all of Asgard. You'll prove all the others, including Thor, how wrong they were for doubting you."

Sif smiled," Thanks, Loki." She leaned over and pulled him into a tight embrace that surprised him at first, but he hugged her back only a moment after.

"And you know what; I'll bet you will be Asgard's greatest hero one day." She smiled. "And every monster will cower at the mere sight of you."