The strength of the wind was something you've felt before. But riding on a dragons back while it chased through the clouds was entirely different from a breeze in the midst of winter.

The speed, mixed with the breathtaking height made the air feel as string as sheets of ice that hit and shattered at the impact of your body. Your (H/C) hair was dancing through the whistling waves while little flakes of snow and hard rain kissed your face and left deep, dark spots.

But despite the damage that was caused, you didn't want to turn away and seek cover. This feeling of no ground below your feet and the taste of clouds was everything you've ever imagined and more. It tasted like a whole new world, like a life you've only ever dared to dream of.

Your hands rose, trying to catch something, a bird, the clouds or even the sun that was shining even higher above.

Baldur's arm wrapped around your torso, pulling you tight. He grabbed your hands to pull them back down.

"You'll fly away if you do this.", he breathed into your ear and patted the dragons armoured neck. "Slow down boy! We're almost there."

With a curious shimmer sparkling inside your (E/C) eyes, you let your hands rest on his and watched as the vail of fluffy white tore apart and revealed a lake.

Statues of stone grew out of the deep blue, almost black, surface. From above, they looked barely bigger than toys, but reality was that they were pictures of gods, bigger than mountains.

All of a sudden, your attention was caught by a strange sound. Your head turned around, in search of the source of those unknown, yet funny sounding noises. A soft gasp escaped you as you spotted some birds.

In a small group, the birds flew next to the dragon to take advantage of the shelter that his huge wings offered from the weather. Their feathers were mostly white, with light, grey sleeves stretching across their back and wings while their feet and beaks shone in a bright orange.

Every other moment they let out those strange noises that sounded like a mocking, shrill laughter.

"What are those?", you asked and tried to reach out for one of them.

But the bird dodged your hand and flew away.

Confused by your childish interest, Baldur frowned.

"Birds.", he said and raised a hand so that one of them would land on his fingers as if he was its master.

Gasping, you dared to stroke the birds white neck while those yellow eyes watched your every move.

All of a sudden, it tore its mouth open, leaned forward and started screaming again.

Struck by surprise, you flinched and wanted to jump back.

But his arm was still tightly wrapped around your body. Instead, your back hit his broad chest.

"Why is it screaming?", you asked, pulling lowering your head out of fear.

With an amused smirk and a huff, Baldur released the bird.

"It's a seagull.", he said, still mesmerised by how simple it was to make your eyes shine with excitement. "They scream."

"But... why?"

He shrugged and signalised to his dragon to fly a half circle, away from the lake and towards a forest of orange and yellow trees.

"I don't know. They just scream."

"Scary...", letting out a deep breath, you pulled your head in and pressed your back further against him.

At that moment, as you sought shelter from the sharp wind and icy air, you noticed how cold Baldur himself actually was. His skin felt barely warmer than the world outside and that was probably just because wind and ice were raining from the sky.

Your fingers stroked over his hand in an attempt to create some warmth.

He didn't notice. Only when he picked up the movement of you looking at him, he looked down.

"What is it?", he asked, laying his hand onto the same spot where the print of his fingers was still showing on your cheek and pressed down to make sure his mark wouldn't fade.

"You're cold.", you said, one eye squeezed shut to endure the stabbing pain. "Aren't you freezing?"

His eyebrows drew together.

Pressing your lips into a thin line, you gave him an apologetic look.

"I forgot."

He let out a long breath that rose like a cloud from his lips.

"It's fine.", his grip around you tightened.

The cold wind stroked your cheek, making it feel like the skin would tear apart any moment. However, the hand with which he held your face, protected a large part of it.

The gesture made you feel something warm, like a gush of heat that rose from your chest upwards to make your face glow.

"Baldur?", you asked, grabbing his arm with both your hands.

"What?", he asked, his gaze fixed onto the ruins of an old human civilisation.

"I'm cold."

He huffed. The hint of a smile appeared on his lips, amused but a bit angry.

"How does it feel like?"

"Like knives? Have you ever been stabbed?"

"Yes."

"Did it hurt?"

"I don't know."

You frowned, but couldn't help and smile in disbelief.

"I'm so jealous..."

He shook his head, but didn't answer anything.

With a pat that seemed gentle but sounded brutal, he ordered the dragon to sink down and land between the sharp mountains and thick trees.

Snow filled the air like fog and swallowed the world for a moment.

The ground shook under the width of the creature.

As everything calmed down again, Baldur slid over the lowered wing and set foot on the icy ground. Without saying a word, he raised his arms as if he wanted to welcome you and waited.

Unsure, you slid to the edge of the dragons back and looked down to him. The creature was huge, but looking down from such a height made you feel dizzy.

With a worried expression, you grabbed a leather strap and refused to move.

"It's too high.", you said and looked up to the sky to prevent a wave of unconsciousness.

"I'll catch you.", he assured.

"What if you don't?"

"I will."

"Promise?"

He nodded, stretching his arms out even further.

With a deep breath, you squeezed your eyes shut and let go.