With eyes so dark that the light was swallowed up by them, you stood with your arms folded in the shadows, watching what was going on in the great hall.

There was drinking and eating, just like any other day. However, this time the mood was different, sombre.

Probably it was because this time it was not only Heimdall who was loitering between the benches to spy for the Allfather. No, this time at the end of the largest table sat a god so tall that no one could pass behind him without provoking a fight.

Everyone in Asgard knew that Thor had an impatient temper when he was drunk. The expression on his face already showed a hint of anger.

At the very least, he was displeased.

You had no desire to get involved with him now but the timing would never get better.

He had come to you. Even if he tried to spy for Odin, that would probably be the only time he would face you without a bloodbath.

Even if you didn't want it, it had all happened just as Tyr had predicted it would begin. Even the quarrel and your rejection of him had happened.

In the end, there was no escaping fate.

With a deep sigh you closed your eyes.

It took you a moment to find the necessary courage to overcome it.

Even if the beginning was exactly as it should have been, you wanted to at least try to avoid some things in the prophecy. Not only out of spite but also because you knew that this was not what you wanted for yourself.

The murmur of the gods reached your ears as you made your way between the benches.

Thor must have noticed you. Eyebrows drawn together, he let out a deep breath and glanced over his shoulder.

You pretended not to pay him any attention.

But for the breath of a second your eyes met. It was enough to send shivers through your body.

His eyes followed you, every single one of your movements as if he could absorb them forever and never forget them.

When you reached his level you stopped just long enough to give him time to listen to what you had to say.

"If you really don't play dog for Allfather, meet me tonight at our old spot.", you moved on. "And I'm warning you. Don't try to fuck me over."

Not saying a word, he just nodded slightly and took a sip from his mead.

The gleam in his eyes revealed that he had already drunk more than just the jug he was holding. Maybe that would reduce your chances of reaching an amicable agreement.

But you had to at least try.

He had to prove to you that he was serious. You couldn't just trust that he had changed.

If a single word strayed to the All-Father, you'd be dead.

Of course, you could have just trusted Tyr's prophecy. But you were just too paranoid. Your master had been a wise man, but no matter what he had taught you, you never understood how he could have been guided by an invisible force.

In the end, he had trusted fate so blindly that he had been wiped out by Odin despite his knowledge. He had known that the All-Father distrusted him and would do anything to prevent Ragnarok.

And yet he had let it happen.

You yourself would never have accepted that.

You stopped in front of the exit.

Doubts grew in your stomach.

Frowning, you glanced over your shoulder.

Thor had disappeared.

The smell of rain filled the air. A wave of electricity swept across the ground.

It made your entire body shiver.

You remembered this feeling.

For a long time you had felt it regularly. It had been a part of Thor's affection. He had always teased you with little flashes only to cause a pleasant feeling in your muscles when he put his hand on your cheek.

His lips had brought a slight crackle with them. Kisses had tasted like thunderstorms smelled.

You almost missed it.

But only almost.

As soon as Sif's face appeared in your mind's eye you felt nothing but anger again.

Now she has all of this.

Not only had she stolen him, he had run blindly into her arms like the idiot he had always been. You just didn't want to admit it.

Trapped in your own bitterness, you pulled a face and gritted your teeth. An annoyed hiss pressed out from between your lips.

Sif wasn't the issue.

Of course, she was a snake in the grass, a goddess who had been after a son of Odin for all the expected reasons. An engagement with Thor had promised all the things she had been trying to achieve, status, more power and the most important thing, some form of safety from Odin.

Of course those had been her reasons to go for one of his sons. The one who was the easiest to catch, to add to that.

After all, who didn't want to be part of the Allfather's kin?

All she had had to do was give the bloodline a few heirs and stop Thor from going against his father.

And for a long time she had done just that.

Until the day she decided she wanted to go against Odin. Probably she saw more advantages for herself. Or she had realised that loyalty to the Allfather brought nothing but dead sons.

Now she was obsessed with her only daughter and demanded that Thor be a man. For a long time she had been the reason why he had become softer. He had said yes and amen to everything she had asked of him.

And all she had given him in return were reproaches and complaints.

With a wife like her, you would also have spent most of your time in the tavern.

A deep sigh left your lips.

All these problems would soon become yours if you continued to follow Tyr's prophecies. All you wanted was peace of mind and to finally escape the clutches of the Allfather. But to do that, you had to follow destiny. And that included dealing with Sif as well as Thor.

"Cursed fate!", you growled and pushed open the door.