Drip...
There were always four drops. Evenly spread. Every morning. I sit up with resignation, as the cold seeps down into my skin. Shaking off the last vestiges of sleep, I don't know the time. The sun hadn't fully risen yet, dampness in the air, and as the blanket falls the cold climbs its way into every fibre of my being. I refuse to give in to it, though. I refuse to shiver. That's why I tell myself anyway, there is every possibility I have lost the ability to shiver. I pull the sheet away from the wall, peering at the scratch marks in the stone where I have marked my days in captivity.
I can't prove it, but I swear whenever I am removed from the cell, the guards adjust the total. At least thirty groups of five adorn the wall.
I am strength. I tell myself as I struggle to stand, my cell door opens, and a bowl of what loosely resembles porridge is thrown into my room. The mixture is so thick that all the porridge and the spoon remain within the confines of the bowl. The same act every morning they used to bring me the bowl. Place it delicately atop my bedsheets.
Then I used the sheets to snap the necks of two guards, and was down the end of the hall before I became outnumbered and overpowered. I shuffle over to the bowl, grunting as I bend down to pick it up.
I am grace. Whatever grace I possessed is long since gone. I collapse on the bed, pulling my feet underneath me. Spoon abandoned, I use my hands to pick up the mix of oats and water. Whatever taste and whatever sweetness the mixture should have, had been cooked out. It is more bread than porridge, but it provides nutrition, no matter how little. My throat fights in protest; it is dry and my lips are parched yet no liquid is provided. There is no relief, no doubt, part of the punishment for the time I used a glass as a weapon. Instead, I would need to wait until we were dragged out into the yard for the morning count, then as everyone went to work I would be able to finally satisfy my thirst.
I am resilience. I do not know how long I have been here. My body aches, my skin a pale imitation of what it once was. My skin sags, as the muscles below have faded into atrophy. I can remember a time when I could run the gauntlet with the best of them, hold my own on the training court. Sparring came naturally and easily, both within the arena and the debate circle. Few could go toe to toe with me. Now? I am held together with nothing more than spite and hope. Fear continues to tickle around the edges of my centre; I can feel it alongside the coldness creeping through my chest. Seeking to puncture my heart. I can feel it, trying to burrow its way in, chilling every point it could reach.
I can't let it win, for once it has won. What will become of me?

Sif clung to Mjolnir with all her might, but she could feel her grip slipping steadily. This hadn't been planned; she had been at the Bifrost bridge speaking to Heimdall. Next thing, there was commotion from the city, and as she had turned to ask Heimdall what he saw, he allowed the faintest smile to creep into the corners of his mouth. "Be prepared to catch, my sister." She had turned to face the bridge, as there was a roar of energy as the rift between the realms of Yggdrasil opened. Alas, that couldn't be so. For a rift to open Hofund needed to be used; she had never heard of anyone other than Heimdall or Odin himself being able to access the Bifrost.
As Mjolnir came into view, she understood. Wherever Thor was, or whatever he was doing, he needed help. Only Thor would be able to call Mjolnir from its resting place within the throne room. Even Odin had been unable to move it, much to his annoyance. Yet here it came, screaming towards... well she wasn't entirely sure where it was going, yet Heimdall told her to catch. So she did, her joints screaming as she was pulled off her feet and into the multi-coloured madness that was the Bifrost Bridge. Various shapes, sounds, and smells assailed her as she was transported between the realms, all the while trying to maintain her grip on the handle of Mjolnir. Who, if she wasn't mistaken, was speeding up. Finally, her crip faltered as the hammer turned suddenly and shot out of view.
She wanted to scream, wanted to shout, yet no sound escaped her lips as she tumbled helplessly into the abyss. No way to know where she was going. Was Thor at the other side? Had he sent Mjolnir away? Had Odin somehow turned it around? Perhaps Odin had finally had enough, but had left her behind to serve as a lesson for disobedience. Sif screwed her eyes shut as suddenly her eyes were assaulted by the blinding rays of a midday sun. She could feel a cool winter air as she fell through the air, but before she could twist herself the air was knocked out of her as she formed a small crater. There was a loud obnoxious honking and screeching sound, she could hear voices. They didn't sound like trolls, or giants, which had been her first concern.
Pushing herself to her feet, she stumbled slightly.
"Hey theres a woman down there!"
"Where the hell did she come from?"
"What the hell is she wearing?"
"Woah, that's a lot of woman."
"How is she alive?"
Bending her knees, she pushed off. Clearing the hole in one go and landing on what appeared to be some form of wide path. Buildings stood at either side, and smaller buildings on wheels seemed to be using this path as a throughway. Midgard. Ofcourse, it would be Midgard. Thors affinity for the mortals here had always landed him in trouble, in their youth they had spent much time here. Thor had always told her the stories of what it had been like before, when Gods and Monsters vied for the allegiance and worship of mortals. She was never entirely sure if he had missed it, or if he had missed the feeling of being needed.
Now it is he, that needs my aide.
Looking around at the wide eyed group of mortals surrounding her, Sif singled out a woman who appeared less scared about Sifs sudden appearance. "You-!" All colour dropped from the womans face, as she looked behind her hopefully, and then pointed her hand at her own chest.
"M-m-me?"
"Aye-" Sif stepped forward, and everyone else stepped back. "-tell me. What do you know of Thor?"
Drip...
Drip...
Drip...
There were always four drops. Evenly spread. Every morning. I sit up with resignation, as the cold seeps down into my skin. Shaking off the last vestiges of sleep, I don't know the time. The sun hadn't fully risen yet, dampness in the air, and as the blanket falls the cold climbs its way into every fibre of my being. I refuse to give in to it, though. I refuse to shiver. That's why I tell myself anyway, there is every possibility I have lost the ability to shiver. I pull the sheet away from the wall, peering at the scratch marks in the stone where I have marked my days in captivity.
I can't prove it, but I swear whenever I am removed from the cell, the guards adjust the total. At least thirty groups of five adorn the wall.
I am strength. I tell myself as I struggle to stand, my cell door opens, and a bowl of what loosely resembles porridge is thrown into my room. The mixture is so thick that all the porridge and the spoon remain within the confines of the bowl. The same act every morning they used to bring me the bowl. Place it delicately atop my bedsheets.
Then I used the sheets to snap the necks of two guards, and was down the end of the hall before I became outnumbered and overpowered. I shuffle over to the bowl, grunting as I bend down to pick it up.
I am grace. Whatever grace I possessed is long since gone. I collapse on the bed, pulling my feet underneath me. Spoon abandoned, I use my hands to pick up the mix of oats and water. Whatever taste and whatever sweetness the mixture should have, had been cooked out. It is more bread than porridge, but it provides nutrition, no matter how little. My throat fights in protest; it is dry and my lips are parched yet no liquid is provided. There is no relief, no doubt, part of the punishment for the time I used a glass as a weapon. Instead, I would need to wait until we were dragged out into the yard for the morning count, then as everyone went to work I would be able to finally satisfy my thirst.
I am resilience. I do not know how long I have been here. My body aches, my skin a pale imitation of what it once was. My skin sags, as the muscles below have faded into atrophy. I can remember a time when I could run the gauntlet with the best of them, hold my own on the training court. Sparring came naturally and easily, both within the arena and the debate circle. Few could go toe to toe with me. Now? I am held together with nothing more than spite and hope. Fear continues to tickle around the edges of my centre; I can feel it alongside the coldness creeping through my chest. Seeking to puncture my heart. I can feel it, trying to burrow its way in, chilling every point it could reach.
I can't let it win, for once it has won. What will become of me?

Sif clung to Mjolnir with all her might, but she could feel her grip slipping steadily. This hadn't been planned; she had been at the Bifrost bridge speaking to Heimdall. Next thing, there was commotion from the city, and as she had turned to ask Heimdall what he saw, he allowed the faintest smile to creep into the corners of his mouth. "Be prepared to catch, my sister." She had turned to face the bridge, as there was a roar of energy as the rift between the realms of Yggdrasil opened. Alas, that couldn't be so. For a rift to open Hofund needed to be used; she had never heard of anyone other than Heimdall or Odin himself being able to access the Bifrost.
As Mjolnir came into view, she understood. Wherever Thor was, or whatever he was doing, he needed help. Only Thor would be able to call Mjolnir from its resting place within the throne room. Even Odin had been unable to move it, much to his annoyance. Yet here it came, screaming towards... well she wasn't entirely sure where it was going, yet Heimdall told her to catch. So she did, her joints screaming as she was pulled off her feet and into the multi-coloured madness that was the Bifrost Bridge. Various shapes, sounds, and smells assailed her as she was transported between the realms, all the while trying to maintain her grip on the handle of Mjolnir. Who, if she wasn't mistaken, was speeding up. Finally, her crip faltered as the hammer turned suddenly and shot out of view.
She wanted to scream, wanted to shout, yet no sound escaped her lips as she tumbled helplessly into the abyss. No way to know where she was going. Was Thor at the other side? Had he sent Mjolnir away? Had Odin somehow turned it around? Perhaps Odin had finally had enough, but had left her behind to serve as a lesson for disobedience. Sif screwed her eyes shut as suddenly her eyes were assaulted by the blinding rays of a midday sun. She could feel a cool winter air as she fell through the air, but before she could twist herself the air was knocked out of her as she formed a small crater. There was a loud obnoxious honking and screeching sound, she could hear voices. They didn't sound like trolls, or giants, which had been her first concern.
Pushing herself to her feet, she stumbled slightly.
"Hey theres a woman down there!"
"Where the hell did she come from?"
"What the hell is she wearing?"
"Woah, that's a lot of woman."
"How is she alive?"
Bending her knees, she pushed off. Clearing the hole in one go and landing on what appeared to be some form of wide path. Buildings stood at either side, and smaller buildings on wheels seemed to be using this path as a throughway. Midgard. Ofcourse, it would be Midgard. Thors affinity for the mortals here had always landed him in trouble, in their youth they had spent much time here. Thor had always told her the stories of what it had been like before, when Gods and Monsters vied for the allegiance and worship of mortals. She was never entirely sure if he had missed it, or if he had missed the feeling of being needed.
Now it is he, that needs my aide.
Looking around at the wide eyed group of mortals surrounding her, Sif singled out a woman who appeared less scared about Sifs sudden appearance. "You-!" All colour dropped from the womans face, as she looked behind her hopefully, and then pointed her hand at her own chest.
"M-m-me?"
"Aye-" Sif stepped forward, and everyone else stepped back. "-tell me. What do you know of Thor?"




