Prologue:

Stepping into the already darkened bedchamber, a tall and well built man trudged with heavy steps over to the chair that sat waiting for him in front of the fire. With a sigh, he collapsed into the heated cushions of the seat, slouching just ever so slightly as he rested his hands beneath his chin. A look of deep contemplation remained on face as his grey eyes, shimmering with unspoken wisdom, stared into the orange flames that were licking hungrily at the burning wood.

Caught up in his thoughts, the man failed to take notice of the soft rustling of sheets coming from the other side of the room, followed by the gentle swish of silk and the light padding of feet across the floor. "Rowen?"

Hearing the soft, husky feminine voice of his wife, the man's faded blonde head turned over his shoulder and spotted the slim form of his beloved clad in her pale blue nightdress as she made her way to his side.

"Did I wake you, love?" he asked.

His wife, with her long auburn tresses shook her head, "Hardly...I wasn't really able to sleep. You left so suddenly at dinner...and locked yourself away in your study for hours, I was beside myself with worry that perhaps something was wrong." she explained.

Rowen offered his dear wife a half smile as he reached out to the lovely woman and offered her a hand to take. "I'm sorry to have caused you to worry, Astrid..."

Placing her smaller hand in his, the lovely woman let herself be led around the chair before she was pulled into the welcoming lap of her husband. "I'm sure you had your reasons, yes?" she returned, her vivid blue eyes staring knowingly into Rowen's.

With his arms wrapped tightly around her waist, Rowen held his woman close, "Something like that." he replied as he brought his attention back onto the flickering flames roaring in the fireplace.

A silence fell upon the candle lit room.

Reaching a hand out, Astrid turned her husband's face back to her, "You are troubled..."

Catching her hand in his, Rowen pressed her soft palm into his cheek, "I've received word from Asgard..." he answered.
At the given information, Astrid's brows furrowed with confusion, "And that's a problem?"

"Not at all...in fact...it is quite the opposite." Rowen met his wife's puzzled blue eyes and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze, "The All-Father has sent us a formal request."

The room fell still for a long second or so, "What kind of request?" Astrid asked in a lowered voice. But something already told her she knew the answer.

And the look in her husband's eyes confirmed her thoughts.

Stiffening in Rowen's arms, she wiggled her way out of his lap and stood once more back on her feet. "No..." she whispered as she turned away and began to lightly pace back and forth across the floor in front of the fireplace, "No, Rowen." she spoke again, in a much firmer voice this time, "...she's just a child."

Rising to his feet as well, the bulky man made a move to reach for his wife once more, "I know, dear..."

"It is far too soon!" Astrid pointed out as she stopped her pacing and faced Rowen head on. It was then that his large calloused hands came to her hips and he pulled her back into his arms to help ease the obvious distress she was feeling.

"Ssshh...I know." he murmured as he stared calmly down on his spirited wife who was still attempting to push him away.

" Rowen, no..."

"Astrid."

Hearing the authority behind his tone, his wife fell silent as she stared up into his face.
Drawing a deep breath of air in, her chest swelled for a moment as she fixed Rowen with a demanding gaze that couldn't quite match her voice when she actually spoke, "Did you accept?"

The words came out in a whisper.

"Odin is our greatest Ally..." Rowen explained, "...and a very old friend."

Hearing the truth in his response, Astrid's hard features fell before she laid her head down on her husband's muscular chest, "Which one?"

"Come again?"

Astrid released a heavy sigh of defeat, "Odin of Asgard has two sons...which one will get our daughter?"

Rowen could do nothing but shrug a shoulder, "The All-Father will decide in time."

The auburn haired woman nodded her head once in understanding though she wasn't quite satisfied with the answer. "Our Erica is just a little girl, Rowen..."

"Yes..." he agreed. Leaning down, the once blonde man pressed a tender kiss upon his wife's head, "But she won't always be..."