Chewing restlessly on his lower lip, Heimdall paced up and down the great hall while his eyes were obsessively glued to the raven perched above among the candles.

Pale eyes wandered over the faces as if they were searching for something. Or rather someone.

All of Odin's ravens were connected to each other. They were independent beings with their own minds that the All-Father had subjected to his will.

Sometimes, when Odin's power was compromised by his emotions, his influence would spiral out of control and a rift would open through which Heimdall could enter the birds' minds.

As a child he had often used this to find out where his father was so he could follow him. The older he had become, the more he had given it up so as not to sow discord.

But now he saw it as the only way to ease his conscience.

Hundreds of voices filled his head. He could not tell if they belonged to the gods or the ravens.

His head was already hurting so much that he could feel the dissatisfaction growing inside him.

With clenched teeth, he tried to stand so that he could look directly at the bird.

Alarmed by the movement, the raven looked down at him.

Dark eyes met those of Heimdall.

Suddenly there were the voices of hundreds of girls. They all spoke the same, yet it sounded like an echo from afar.

The prisoner, they whispered, as excited as they were worried. We must report to the Allfather. Captive must remain captive. Faces. We see faces. Not this one. Not one like the prisoner's.

All at once, the blood froze in his veins.

Eyes wide open, teeth clenched in icy rage, he stared at the raven as if it would be enough to make it burst into flames.

No, it was not the bird that should burn. It was the Allfather.

How could he?

After all Heimdall had sacrificed for him, after he had given everything for Asgard, how could he take from him the one thing he desired from the bottom of his heart?

Never before had he asked for anything. Never before had he uttered a word of dissent.

Perhaps it was all the years that had built up. Or maybe just the resentment of the last few days.

But at that very moment Heimdall made a decision.

Without a single doubt, he turned and took the path down to the Allfather's study room.

He knew exactly where his legs had to take him.

Odin had a special place for all the things he found useful. Even if he needed leverage, he had a very special storage for it.

A simple prison was too easy to escape from so he did what a suspicious mind did and had secured all possibilities with magic.

Anger burned in Heimdall's eyes. He almost couldn't control himself.

His hands wanted to smash something. He felt the urge to draw his sword and thrust it into someone's body.

But as soon as the big door appeared in front of him, the flame of anger in him died out again.

A trembling breath left his lips.

Suddenly he felt so cold.

Sounds reached his ears from the other side of the door.

The Allfather was speaking.

Loki's thoughts flooded Heimdall's head. He was bored, annoyed and yet trying to understand everything for his own benefit.

It was bizarre but the god could see a spark of himself in the boy. He would never be his father's equal and yet he tried everything to get close to the legacy.

Heimdall would have liked to curse him for it.

"Come in.", Odin's voice suddenly commanded.

Surprised, he awoke from his thoughts.

How had he noticed him?

Heimdall always tried to remain unnoticed. His footsteps were barely louder than the fall of a feather.

Above his head, wings suddenly fluttered.

His gaze followed the sound.

A raven was perched above the door.

So the Allfather was indeed paranoid. Now he already had the entrance to his study guarded.

Ragnarok was really close when even Odin was particularly vigilant.

"Heimdall.", Odin called out again, but this time more grimly.

The god swallowed hard.

His hand pressed down on the cold wood.

But all at once the hesitation was back. His mind fought back.

And yet.

He knew there was no other option.

Either he seized this moment now or it would be over.

So he pushed open the door and stepped into the dark room.

Dim candlelight fell across his face as Heimdall approached the table where Odin stood with his guest. His shadow climbed over the map that lay spread out.

"Allfather.", Heimdall found it hard to hide the distaste in his voice.

For a moment Odin looked him up and down.

"You have come at the right time.", he said, and let a raven rest on his arm. "Loki here wishes to prove his loyalty to me. You will accompany him."

Without refusal, the god of foresight nodded.

"As you wish.", he bowed his head, but let his eyes wander to the boy to make sure he was still negative towards the All-Father.

"Yeah, yeah...", Odin did a gesture as if he tried to avoid any more words coming from Heimdall's mouth. "Loki will know what to do. You just keep an eye on him. Oh, and Heimdall?"

"Yes?"

"Try to be manageable. We don't want to scare our guest off within his first day."

With these words, a circle of ravens formed around his feet and the Allfather was gone. All that remained were black feathers swaying in the wind.

Silence spread through the room.

"So...", Loki began in an uncertain tone.

Immediately Heimdall silenced him with a raised finger.

"I know why you are here.", he looked at him out of the corner of his eye one last time to be sure. "And don't try to lie to me. I know everything. With a furrowed brow the boy shrugged his shoulders."

"How do you know what I want?", he asked.

"Because that's my job. But that's not important now. What is important is that I know you want to strike Odin down. I'll help you if you help me in return."

"I thought you're loyal towards Odin."

"I was."

The boy seemed to doubt his honesty.

"What changed?"

"Nothing of your business."

"Fine, how will you help me then?"

Heimdall hesitated.

"If you help me...", again he stopped. "I'll blow Gjallarhorn for you. To summon Ragnarök."