the cuckoo's child, by invitation

[purposeful_glory]

It is obvious from the time Loki learns to walk that she is not going to be very good at it. Normal toddlers fall, and often; she does it more, and longer. She has been practicing at walking for years before she can cross a floor smoothly nine times of ten, even if she does not sprawl completely every time she missteps.

She winces when she trips, not so much out of embarrassment or because she's hurt herself, but because the reactions are never good.

Falling is not a princessly thing to do.

Comments

[pythbox]

"I cannot imagine everyone agreeing to that," says Frigg.

[alicornucopia]

"Why not?"

[pythbox]

"Because they do not believe it, and they do not want to believe it, and so they won't."

[alicornucopia]

"Why don't they want to? They could do more things, then."

[pythbox]

"But they do not want to do those things," says Frigg. "Most women do not want to be sorcerers. They want to be warriors."

[alicornucopia]

"I don't think they should have to do them, but do people like not being allowed?"

[pythbox]

"There are many things people are not allowed to do, that they accept because it is better to live that way than not," says Frigg. "We are not allowed to steal, or murder, or disobey our queen; it is dishonorable to lie, to cheat, to betray friends and allies. And it is against the nature of women to do magic, and against the nature of men to take arms except in great need."

[alicornucopia]

"How do natures work?"

[pythbox]

"What do you mean?"

[alicornucopia]

"What about me being a girl means no magic? Where in me does it live? Can I take it out?"

[pythbox]

"It lives in all of you," says Frigg. "You cannot take it out. For a girl to do sorcery would be - well, it would be worse than a boy trying to be a true warrior."

[alicornucopia]

"Worse?" says Loki. "Why worse?"

[pythbox]

"There are worthy reasons for a man to fight - in defense of his home or his family, when all else has failed. I learned the use of a dagger myself, once. But there are no worthy reasons for a woman to do sorcery."

[alicornucopia]

"But can't sorcery do all kinds of things? Flying would just be for fun, but there's - healing magic, and stuff, that could be really important."

[pythbox]

"If healing must be done, a healer can be sought," says Frigg.

[alicornucopia]

"You could say the same thing about warrior-ing though."

[pythbox]

"Have you become a warrior since last we spoke, little one?" he asks, amused.

[alicornucopia]

"No-o-o, but, you could, couldn't you?"

[pythbox]

"You could, but you would be wrong," he says.

[alicornucopia]

"Why couldn't you go get a warrior the same way you could go get a healer?"

[pythbox]

"Because when you are looking for a healer, the injury or sickness you want to fight will not be holding a sword to your throat," Frigg says gently.

[alicornucopia]

"No-o-o. But it could have you bedridden or you could be missing a leg and then you couldn't go looking for a healer very well, could you?"

[pythbox]

"Ah," says Frigg. "You see, I was thinking that you wanted this imaginary healer to help someone else."

[alicornucopia]

"Maybe not. Or, maybe you mustn't go anywhere because you could be contagious and someone has the disease worse?"

[pythbox]

"It would be very selfish to dishonour your whole family with unwomanly conduct so that someday you might not die of a disease you might eventually catch."