Slowly, carefully, she pushed her way under the furs, pressing her now naked body against his bare chest. A smile coming to her lips, as he murmured slightly, before moving his arm over her. She didn't want to disturb him; he looked so beautiful when he was asleep. All concerns, all stresses, all pressures taken from him, as he softly slumbered.

She had never thought that she would find her mate, when the gods had sent her with a message for the boatbuilder in place called Kattegat. She had just believed that it would be one of her usual nocturnal trips to Midgard. That she was just being the intermediary between gods and mortals that she was; yet when he had seen him, she had realised that nothing would be the same. That she could never truly leave Midgard again. Not until his soul was taken by the Valkyrie to Valhalla, that was.

She should not still have been in Kattegat when she had seen him; but the day had been so perfect, the view of the fjord and the towering hills that surrounded it from the branch upon which she had sat, quite taking her breath away; but when her eyes had fallen on him, everything else just seemed to pale into insignificance. Everything created by Odin and his brothers Vili and Ve from the slayed body of the giant, Ymir, were as nothing when compared to this mortal man. Her heart racing, as she had watched him joke and laugh with the other young men that he was with.

Not for one moment had she noticed that his legs did not work like others did; and even if she had, it would not have mattered. His dark hair, beautiful eyes, and mischievous smile were the only things that she could see; the only things she wanted to thing about. Her eyes never leaving him, as he fought and practiced with the others. The dark mortal, just as strong and brave as any she had seen before.

She had continued to watch him for some time. Learning his name, that the others who were usually with him, were his brothers. That they were all the sons of the man called Ragnar. Her sharp ears listening as he and the old boatbuilder would talk. Finding that she was losing her heart more and more, with each moment she spent in the mortal realm; sure that it could mean only one thing...........that this beautiful mortal, was the one she was destined to be with. Taking her chance to finally meet him, when she had seen him one night, come out from his cabin and take a seat; his eyes trained on the stars in the sky. She had laughed to herself when he had jumped, as she had silently flown towards him. His eyes wide, as she had come to rest not far from him; her head twisting from side to side as she took in his beauty.

After a moment, he had smiled at her; his whole face lighting up as they just stared at one another for a few minutes more. Then slowly, ever so slowly, he had dropped himself to the floor, and carefully crawled over to her; obviously doing his best not to scare her away. Not that she would leave even if he had been able to stomp over to her; for she knew that she was too much in love to care.

"Its alright..................I won't hurt you............." He had said, almost in a whisper, as he had came to settle in front of her. Her eyes watching as he had slowly reached up and placed his fingers softly against the feathers on her head. Her large, dark orbs closing, savouring the moment, as he had begun to stroke her.

"And where did you come from, pretty one............?" He had continued. His confidence seeming to grow, as she let out a small screech in reply.

"Well, it is nice to meet you too. My name is Ivar............" Another of her soft screeches, making him chuckle.

"That is a very beautiful name, for a very beautiful lady, but a little difficult for me to say.........perhaps.........perhaps I will name you for the goddess of the night. Perhaps I should call you Nótt..........." His smile growing broader, as she had opened her eyes. Moving her head around in agreement.

And so it had been since then..........she had stayed in Kattegat; spending her time watching over Ivar. The connection that she felt with him growing stronger, until she knew when he could not sleep. Until she knew when he needed someone to talk to, to confide in. Listening quietly, as he would tell her about how his brother, Sigurd, had angered him. About how he would berate him, call him a cripple; tell him that he was no man. She just wishing that she could appear to him. That she could let him see her, that she could tell him that she loved him..........that she would always love him. But she knew that it would anger Odin, if she did. That her choosing to stay in Kattegat instead of returning to Asgard, had probably angered the allfather as it was. Yet she could not leave him, she could never leave him. Choosing to remain as she was, to let him only see the owl.

"Shhhhhh..........." She soothed, as Ivar moved again. The youngest son of Ragnar seeming to settle, as she combed her fingers through his hair.

"Sleep my beautiful prince..........sleep and dream of me........" She added softly. Leaning in and placing a kiss to his lips, before closing her eyes and resting in his embrace.