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]

"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."

[alicornucopia]

"Why would it dishonor anybody besides me?"

[pythbox]

"That is how dishonour works, my child," says Frigg. "Sometimes. Especially with the young. If you were to learn any magic now, it would be a shame to your mother and I. Perhaps even to Thor, as your elder sister."

[alicornucopia]

Loki frowns. "What about when I'm older?"

[pythbox]

"I do not think the day will come when it would not be a shame to your mother."

[alicornucopia]

"I wouldn't be ashamed if Thor learned magic. I would think it was interesting."

[pythbox]

"Your mother feels differently."

[alicornucopia]

"Why?" pleads Loki. "I wouldn't do anything bad with it."

[pythbox]

"To Odin, the fact that you did it at all would be bad enough."

[alicornucopia]

Loki pouts. "I don't think any of this makes any sense. And she doesn't like me anyway, because I fall."

[pythbox]

"Falling is not a thing you choose to do," he says, "so it is far less of a disappointment. And Odin's word is law whether it makes sense to little girls or not."

[alicornucopia]

"Is it against the law for girls to do magic?"

[pythbox]

"It is against custom."

[alicornucopia]

"What makes that different from law?"

[pythbox]

"When you break the law, the penalties are named and understood. When you break custom, they are more subtle."

[alicornucopia]

"What happens if people break this custom, then?"

[pythbox]

"Shame and dishonour," says Frigg. "And many enemies."

[alicornucopia]

"What actually happens, though - with the shame and dishonor?"

[pythbox]

Frigg hesitates, then shakes his head.

"I don't know, child. A princess of Asgard has never done such a thing before."

[alicornucopia]

"Oh," says Loki, and she sighs. "I don't really want to be a boy, but I want to be allowed to learn whatever I want."

[pythbox]

"You cannot be a boy," says Frigg. "And if you were determined to learn sorcery, I am sure I could not stop you. But I am also sure there would be consequences, and perhaps grave ones."