A brush of cool wind blew through the village as it began to die down for the night. The moon was already at the highest point in the sky, a full moon was the most beautiful when complimented by the thousand stars that made their consteallations, their history and of course, their future.

While everyone was getting ready descending to their tents for the night, there was a girl sitting on the edge of the cliff that belonged to the mountian that they all lived on. Gazing out into the horizon, where she could faintly see the sea past the vast forest that protected it. Watching and waiting, was a girl. She was small for her age, but she was still very strong. Beautiful blonde hair that sparkled in the thankful light of the moon, some of the long strands were placed into braids while it was put up to keep it out of her pale face. Sapphire blue eyes were watching for anything out of place. Waiting for something to happen.

"Shouldn't you be in bed, Kristin?" The child jumped upon hearing her name being called, but regained her poster and turned to look who had called out to her, it was simply one of the men she sparred with. Kristin just stared at Loki with a stern face; it meant she didn't wish to retire to her own bed while her land could be under a possible threat of a Viking raid. Loki sighed, running a hand through his chesnut brown hair, sitting down besides her, not caring for the snow that got his clothes wet.

"C'mon, Krist. Nothing is going to happen. Sure, Denmark managed to invade England and Sweden went somewhere in the east, but that doesn't mean they'll come running to us." Kristin listened to his words, feeling slightly more secure about her lands, but she trusted his judgement.

"..You promise?" She turned her head to look at him, her bangs getting in the way of her stunning blue eyes. Loki laughed and hit his chest with his fist before reaching over to brush her bangs out of her face.

Although they looked nothing more than just friends, they were arranged to be married by the beginning of spring. Kristin wasn't really the type to be forced into a marriage, but she's known Loki since they were children, they shared everything together. Everything, except the fact that Kristin was the very personification of the land they lived on. She was older than she originally looked.

Sighing, she took one last look at the black sea before her; thinking that Loki was right and nothing was going to happen. She got up from her seat, brushing the snow off her cloak and started to make her way back to her tent. Despite what Loki said, she still felt so uneasy. Loki noticed this and sighed, reaching over to grasp Kristin's cold hand within his own warm one. "If you still feel so uneasy..I can stay with you for the night."

Kristin just stared at him. Sure, he's offered to stay with her whenever he noticed her uneasyness..she declined everytime. However, she thought she might need him for the night for the comfort. Nodding her head, they walked in silence, hand in hand to the Norwegian female's tent, holding the opening for Loki to step inside-which he did, dragging Kristin inside as well.

"..Do you ever have a fire burning in here? No wonder you're always cold to the touch." Loki said simply as Kristin shrugged and took off her cloak, setting it at the foot of her bed, taking off her boots, throwing them by the door. Kristin only felt the temperature of her country, if it was below freezing in the winter, that's how her skin would feel. If it was above 100 in the summer, she'd feel that way, too. Some people thought she had hypotherma, but she didn't. She just could never feel the intense heat or the insane cold.

Loki said nothing else to her as he just watched her. Sure, he's known Kristin for a long time, but she's grown to a beautiful woman, that much he had to admit. Kicking off his boots, but keeping his cloak on since he was more cold inside of Kristin's home than outside! Norway noticed this and let a small laugh erupt her throat before crawling into her bed, nuzzled under the covers. Loki wrapped his arms around her skinny waist, holding her close.

Kristin felt secure in his arms, even though it was the first time they've slept together. Breathing in his scent, she nuzzled her head against his chest and quickly fell asleep. Despite feeling her cold body temperature against his own body, Loki had no problems falling asleep.

o.o.o.o

On the shores of Norway, ships were being settled on the sand. Inside of the ships, were Danish vikings. Getting their weapons ready, they stepped out of the small ships and onto Norwegian soil. One of the Vikings, was an over confident, rather annoying, but was a very good fighter when provoked. While the other's were planning how to take down Kristin's home village, he went ahead.

Kristin woke up in cold sweats. Sitting straight up in bed, her breathes were laboured as she jumped out of the bed, grabbing her cloak and quickly throwing it on, the same with her boots as she grabbed her bow and arrows. Loki, hearing the commotion woke up, looking up at Kristin, he yawned softly and sat up. "Krist..? What's wrong?"

Kristin didn't respond as she put her arrows and bow over her shoulder. She was about to leave the tent, but was stopped by Loki's hand grabbing her arm. "Hey! I asked what's wrong!" The Norwegian said nothing still and turned her head to face him. Loki noticed something was wrong by the way her eyes looked and her skin was so clammy.

"Just stay inside and don't go anywhere.." It was the only words Kristin spoke as she planted a quick but sweet kiss against his lips, shoving him away and left. Loki was still so confused on what was going on, he wanted to do as he was told..but hastily put on his cloak and boots and followed her at a distance.

Running through the thick forest, Kristin was careful not to trip over any roots, snow or fall over at the steep. Hearing someone coming in her direction, she quickly hid behind a tree. Getting an arrow ready to fire, she waited until she could see the shadow and the footsteps became louder. She was ready to fire, but suddently, the footsteps stopped.

Blinking in confusion, Kristin carefully stepped out from her protection, she saw nothing. Shrugging, she thought it was just an animal or something and continued on her way down the slope. However, something grabbed hold of her ankles and she fell into the snow. Dropping her bow, she tried to get up, but something was holding her down. Sighing heavily, she thought she got trapped in one of her own traps for capturing deer for food, she sat up in the snow, trying to cut the wire that held her captive..however, she noticed someone's shadow hover over her body and quickly turned around to see who it was; but her world became black before she had a good enough look.

"Is she even alive?" Kristin heard someone's voice and let out a small groan, slowly regaining consciousness.

"Of course she's alive, you idiot! Mathias just knocked her out." Letting out another small groan, Kristin opened her sapphire blue eyes, her vision was blurry for a few minutes before she noticed a group of men crowd her and flinched back.

The supposed leader of the group stepped towards her; Kristin stared up at him with hate burning clearly in her blue eyes. He had beautiful aquamarine eyes that made the day sky seem jealous, spikey blonde hair, he wore a red cloak that covered most of his other clothing, had bandages on his large peach coloured hands and strapped to his back; a large battle ax. He looked at her with a stupid smirk on his face before he finally spoke; his voice stern and serious. "Well, now that you're awake, mind telling us where your village is?"

Kristin said nothing. Not willing to betray her people and averted her sight somewhere else. Mathias sighed in annoyance, reaching over to harshly grab her chin, forcing her to look at him again. "Listen here, girly, we aren't playing games here. So, if you value your life..you'll tell u-"

"Kristin!" Hearing her name being called, Kristin looked past the group of men to see Loki. Panic rose in her body as she watched him trying to act tough.

"You idiot! I told you to stay home!" Mathias let go of the Norwegian's chin, pushing past his men to grab hold of the boy's throat. He could tell that there was something important between the two. So, if he was threatened with his life, Kristin would tell them anything. Loki gasped for air as his throat was mercessly squeesed and thrashed in Mathias' large hand. Kristin tried to get out of her binds, but failed.

"Leave him alone! It's me you want, isn't it?" Mathias grinned as he continued to suffocate the boy. Grabbing a knife from one of his men, he pointed the tip at his chest.

"Tell us where your people are, and I'll let him go."

"Please! Don't hurt him!" Kristin cried out as she watched the tip go near his chest. She knew the Dane was only using Loki as a trap, but if she wanted to save him..she'd have to sacrifice her people.

"Well..what's it going to be?" Feeling tears burn her eyes, she bowed her head, she was going to open her mouth to speak, but Loki spoke up despite his lack of breath;

"Don't tell them, Krist! They trusted you and you're just going to tell these filthy barbarians where our home is? I thought you were stronger than that!" Mathias felt rage fill his blood before he constricted his throat as much as he could and pulled the knife back to strike the boy in the chest.

"Shut up!" Pulling the blade out of his body, which was struck rather deep in his body, he threw the boy back into the snow to slowly bleed to death. Kristin watched and mentally snapped, trying to force her way out of the binds she was held back with. Knowing that she couldn't help him and started to cry, her world becoming blurry and hard to function. She couldn't even save one person..how could she protect her own people now?

Mathias turned back to her, watching her cry as he tossed the blade back to it's rightful owner and walked back over to her. Feeling his hand touch her cheek, she didn't pull back. "Well..?"

Although she didn't want to tell, she knew she had too if she was going to get out of this. Keeping her head bowed down; she spoke up. "In the mountians. Within the Nærøyfjord..everyone is asleep and no one is expecting the raid." Mathias grinned at her words and instead of letting her go, he picked her up and threw her into one of the boats that would take them back to the main ship.

"Thanks for the help, Norge~" Before Kristin could yell at him, her world once again, became pitch black. The last thing she remembers is hearing Loki scream her name with his final breath.