Everything in italics is a dream.

The Seer sat in complete silence, as the wanderer took the unconscious female into his arms. She should not have been allowed to leave Asgard; as the child of Sleipnir and Freyja's night-mare, she was usually watched over by all in the kingdom. A treasured child, that just like her grandfather, Loki, was able to change her form. To transform from the beautiful, winged mare; to that that currently lay in the wanderer's arms. A female that like her mother, was the symbol of Freyja's unbridled passions and sexuality; and therefore, had been dotted on by many a god; and spoken of as a possible bride for Freyr, or even Thor. Yet instead of being content in the land of the Æsir, she had always had a desire for adventure; to see the other realms, Midgard in particular; having spent many an hour listening to the stories of her grandfather and Odin; having met many of the warriors that had been chosen not only by the allfather, but also by Freyja, from those who had been deemed worthy on the battlefields. Yet not for one moment, had anyone believed that she would leave the safety of Asgard. But here she was, his precious one, hurt and unconscious.

"Get out............." The wanderer said, as he turned his attention to the disfigured Seer.

"But............"

"OUT!" The large man said again. Not caring to listen to the old man's arguments about his inability to see. The wanderer slowly lowering, the female's head from his lap, before getting to his feet and making his way over to the Seer; dragging his bony carcass up from the stool and pushing him out of the hut.

"Leave me with the child..................."

                                                        >>-------------------------------------<<

Ragnar looked around. The last thing that he could recall, he had been wishing Flóki, a good night, before making his way back to his rooms. The pair having continue to talk about the mare that had become the woman; yet now, now he was back in the forest that he had dreamt of the night before. His eyes wide again, as he looked up to the canopy that towered over him in leafy arches; the dense fog that had hung around his feet on his previous visit here, now creeping up around his legs in smoky tendrils. The king sure that at one point, they appeared as long fingers grasping at his flesh, as they made their way up his body. It suddenly feeling as though he was being pushed from behind, by the ghostly appendages. Pushed further and further through the trees. Ragnar having the strangest feeling that this was the way that he had run after the stag, before coming upon the two men sat in the clearing. The two men that Flóki had been sure were Loki and Odin. The Northman allowing the invisible force to guide him. And then, there it was, what appeared to be the same clearing; yet this time there were no men playing their game. This time it was her; the beautiful woman that he had carried from the hunting cabin; and beside her sat a golden boar, apparently enjoying the fact that she was combing her fingers through its bristles. His heart thumping violently in his chest, as she looked up at him. The boar letting out an annoyed huff, as she stopped stroking him, and got to her feet. The angry pig moving forward and grunting at the king.

"You will have to excuse Hildisvíni. He can be a protective old thing.........." She said, the breath catching in Ragnar's throat, as he heard the sound. Her voice the sweetest thing that he had ever heard. It, the most wonderous music, to his ears.

"Hildisvíni.........?" Ragnar questioned, as the name of the boar finally sunk into his overwhelmed mind. The pig letting out another grunt, as Ragnar dared to take a step closer.

"Yes. Freyja sent him to watch over me. I will be in trouble when I return to Asgard. I am not supposed to leave there, unless I am accompanied to Vanaheim by Freyja or Freyr. Not that grandfather or Odin like me leave the safety of their watchful eyes; but............." The lady taking a few steps closer, ignoring the grunting protests of the golden boar.

"But I had to meet you..................."

"Me..........?" Ragnar countered in disbelief. His heart fit to burst as she looked at him and her smile grew.

"Of course. You are Ragnar, called Lothbrok. I have heard tales of you from the men and women that have been called to Fólkvangr and Valhalla. Even Odin speaks of you as his line. They tell me that you are a great man, the strongest and bravest of the Vikings. That there is no other man like you in the whole of Midgard, and I knew that I had to come here and find you. That I had to see the man that Odin and Freyja were arguing over. Both of them wanting you, when your time in this realm, ends." She explained, before hesitantly reaching out and resting her hand on his cheek; Ragnar's eyes closing, as he felt the warmth of her touch against his flesh.

"And you appear to be everything that they told me you would be. More in truth; for not one of them told me what a handsome creature you are. Such a visage will make it difficult for me to want to return to Asgard. Not that I fear the punishment I will face for disobeying Odin and my grandfather; they can never stay angry with me for too long. Though my injury will mean that they will watch me even closer from now on. No, I fear that if I leave, I will not be able to get to know you better, Ragnar Lothbrok; and I would really like to get to know you better." She continued. Ragnar's eyes flying open, as he felt a pair of lips on his. The king finding himself pulling her close and kissing her back.