A tall, statuesque woman entered the feast hall amidst loud chatter and laughter, followed by two Asgardian guards.
The chatter diminished some as she walked smoothly by the long table, her long cream-colored dress trailing behind her. She was remarkably attractive, with very long, dark brown hair that curled gently at the ends and lay smoothly across her shoulders. She had strange piercings in her ears and one small diamond in her nose. She wore no other adornments except for a shapely barrette that held up on half of her hair, its shape mimicking the Yggdrasill tree, the center of all the nine realms.
She looked straight ahead as she walked, and by the time she reached King Odin, the hall was completely silent. The woman came to a gentle stop a few feet from his throne, and the guards did the same, standing on either side of her, their staffs held firmly in their grips. They slammed them into the ground at the same time, the sound echoing off the warm, golden walls.
Odin turned his gaze upon her, his one good eye staring intently at this woman no one had ever seen before.
She knelt gracefully to one knee and bowed her head, crossing her right arm across her chest. "Your majesty."
She could feel the eyes of every man, woman, and child staring at her.
"You may rise, stranger."
Rising to her full height, she clasped her hands together and held them against her pelvis.
"And you are?" Odin asked; he sat casually upon the throne, perhaps a little weary, but still remarkably majestic and wise.
"My name is Morphia, daughter of Nyx. I come from Vanaheimr, the third realm."
Odin's one good eye, gleaming blue and clear, remained upon her firmly. "You are a goddess," he said matter-of-factly.
"I am born of a goddess, your majesty."
"And I suspect you have power."
Morphia nodded gently, smiling. "I do. And I am here to offer my services."
A very tall, masculine, and muscular man sitting to the right of Odin, stood. He bore the crests of Asgard upon his chest and wore a red cape. His long blonde hair was combed neatly back. "And what services might they be?"
Morphia smiled again. "Dreams, Thor, Odinson."
The hall burst into muffled whispers, but Odin and his son stared at her, looking bemused.
"Dreams?"
The question came from behind her, and when she gazed over her shoulder in search of the voice, her eyes fell on a tall, dark-haired man with extremely clear blue eyes. He held his hands behind his back as he awaited an explanation.
"I am the bringer of dreams. I can offer for the truth that lies in the subconscious, and draw false dreams out. Whether you wish to merely be ruler of the nine realms for the hours of the night or seek out your destiny, I can offer both."
"Loki, that dream might be your only chance to rule!" a robust, largely bearded man shouted from the table. The room laughed and Morphia looked back to Loki who laughed as well, though she could see no humor in his eyes.
Odin waved his hand and laughing ceased. "A goddess of dreams. I have heard of you."
"My services are free, your majesty. I only ask for lodging in exchange. And I do not intend to stay forever. I will travel to other realms."
"And what if we don't want your free services?" again the voice asked from behind her.
She smiled sweetly and looked at him again. "Then you do not ask for them, Loki, Odinson."
Loki blinked and she heard a small chuckle from Thor. Returning her gaze to Odin, she smiled softly and awaited his answer.
After a very brief moment, Odin nodded and raised his hand in gesture. "You are welcome in Asgard. Please, stay for our feast and we'll show you to a room."
"Thank you, your majesty." Morphia bowed once more and took the proffered arm of Thor as he brought her to the table. While the talking and feasting resumed, Loki stood alone at the end of the hall.
She gazed over at him once to find him looking at her, but she turned back to the table and answered a multitude of questions about her power. She promised to begin offering her services the following night.