A new day came.

But it wasn't a good one. At least it didn't feel like it.

A chilly wind brushed your face as you lifted your head to look out of the window.

The sun was not quite up yet. The sky still showed some patches of orange and purple. Clouds passed by like a dense blanket of cotton wool.

You groaned tiredly and let your head fall back onto the pillow.

But it didn't stay quiet for long.

All of a sudden, an icy cold wind chased through the room. Goose bumps grew all over your body and you began to shiver.

With a frown, you pushed the blanket aside to close the window, but a pair of black eyes stared at you instead.

Surprised, you jumped back.

The raven crowed.

"Huh?!", you asked, startled. "Good morning?"

The raven bowed its head.

The rattling of its beak jolted your senses out of the last bit of sleepiness.

Confused, you tried to calm the bird. But as you came closer, its wings fluttered with more force. You took this as a sign not to come closer.

But you didn't know what else to do.

With pitch-black eyes, the raven looked at you as if it had to make sure that the right person was standing in front of it.

Then something changed all at once.

A spark of poisonous green flashed in the eyes. The raven fell silent. Its wings lifted to reveal a small scroll tied to one of the bird's barren legs.

A green ribbon held the message securely closed. And on this ribbon rested a seal of golden wax.

Curious, you risked a glance.

The bird hopped closer. Apparently the message was for you.

You untied the knot.

The scroll was barely bigger than the palm of your hand. The paper was old, white with stains, but it felt soft. Like fresh grass growing on the banks of a river.

When you had taken the message, the raven lifted its head, let out a loud squawk and spread its wings.

Its behaviour puzzled you. It had something vain about it, as if it wanted to announce its presence to all of Asgard.

All at once the loud cawing fell mute and the black eyes went blank.

The beak parted in a low sound of exhaustion.

Then the raven burst and all that was left was a storm of black feathers.

Struck by surprise you let out a small yelp.

The hairs in the back of your neck stood up straight.

For some reason, the feathers under your feet didn't feel the way nature intended them to. It was as if glass was drilling into your soles.

And it brought with it a strange feeling of discomfort.

Hastily you lifted one foot after the other to wipe away the feathers that stuck to your (H/C) skin.

But a strange dark mark still remained. As if the outline of the feathers had burnt itself into your soles.

It even sizzled a little.

But you shrugged it off as your mind playing tricks on you.

Your attention turned back to the scroll.

With curiosity shimmering in those (E/C) eyes of yours you turned the piece of paper in your hand to look at it from all sides.

The smell of pine needles was in the air. As if a forest was slumbering inside.

Your gaze wandered over the seal that hid the message from the outside world.

It was a simple pattern, a feather crossed with a spear.

You almost mistook it for the crest of Odin.

But that couldn't be.

Could it?

At the thought, your body didn't know how to react.

A queasy feeling made your stomach twist and turn. At the same time, your heart pounded with excitement.

With trembling fingers you dared to put a little pressure on the wax.

A crack appeared but it did not open completely.

You hesitated.

What would the Allfather want from you?

There was no reason to ask for a simple peasant like you.

Or was it because of Sleipnir?

Odin took great pride in his mount.

Had you made a mistake and not cared enough?

Could he have been angry?

No, you quickly shook off the thought. It was not good to worry before something had happened.

With a deep breath you broke the seal and unrolled the message.

Black runes danced across the paper. Ink mingled with golden sparks.

You could not read what was written, but your mind understood even without knowing what the words meant.

Cold sweat crawled down your spine.

An unsure yet slightly worried smile appeared on your lips.

With a soft sigh you closed your eyes and leaned against the foot of the bed for support.

It wasn't a message nor a request. Not even a warning.

The Allfather had send you an invite to the great lodge. In the name of Thor.

"Gods...", you mumbled and rubbed your eyes to massage away the headache that was about to make your nerves tingle.

There was no way you could decline this invitation. It also seemed urgent, so you didn't have time to think about it.

You needed to go.

But how would you manage work that day?

Erik wouldn't be able to do it all on his own. Not just because he was lazy but also because most of the creatures seemed to have a disliking to him.

He would get hurt if you wouldn't help him out.

Thinking, you chewed on the inside of your cheek.

There were only limited options you had.

But since there was no specific time stated in Odin's invite, you figured it would be fine to stop by the stables before.

It was only fair to inform Erik that he was on his own for the day.

A sigh escaped your lips.

He wouldn't be thrilled by that.

Besides, it made the hairs in the back of your neck stand up straight at the thought of eventually meeting Heimdall again.

After the evening before, you felt like he despised you in a way you didn't even dare to think was possible.

Besides, you did not wish to upset him any further.

But what other option did you have?