The wolves were howling, chasing their prey through the woods. Ylva's heart was pounding fast, she was excited and hungry - the wolves snarled when the scent of the deer got stronger.

Soon, they would tear their teeth in the bare flesh of the animal and Ylva wished she could be a part of pack, but she wasn't, she was only dreaming -

"Ylva!"

Someone shook her violently, and the young woman opened her eyes. Instantly, her dream was gone, only leaving a strange metallic taste in her mouth.

"You should not be late" her father's voice sounded angry.

Ylva brushed her hair out of her face. The sun was only raising - she wasn't that late.

"You're having those dreams again, aren't you?" her father Ralf asked, this time a bit softer.

"Yes, father" Ylva nodded. She didn't understand why Ralf was so worried, but since the day she had told him about her recurring dream, her father acted strangely.

People from the village often came to him to have their dreams and visions explained, the only time they actually dared coming to the small hut near Vernwood.

Ralf left the room, mumbling something into his beard while his daughter got dressed.

The man was tall and strongly built, the dark hair and harsh features striking fear into everyone but his daughter. Yet he was only a lumberjack, not a warrior. A lumberjack with the rare gift of the sight.

Ylva picked a simple, lavender colored dress and braided her thick hair into a braid over her shoulder. It was the first day in the royal palace, and although it had been destroyed in parts by the Dark Elves, Ylva was excited to see the remains of Asgard's splendor.

The young woman had spent her entire life in Vernwood, apart from the people of the village.

She knew they were afraid of her father.
Except for the visitors who asked for Ralf's dream interpretations and a few errand runs in the village, Ylva had more contact with their dogs and horses than with people.

And now Ralf Akesson was sending her away into the big city of Asgard, as if he had suddenly grown tired of her company.

"Goodbye, Ylva" Ralf muttered and kissed her daughter on the forehead. Ylva swallowed hardly. She was excited, yes, but she was also terrified.

"What if they don't take me?" she asked quietly, watching her father's reaction closely.

"They will" he simply said. Ralf Akesson had never been a man of many words.

Silently, he watched his daughter walk away, the young woman he had deeply cared about for 19 years. Ralf Akesson was heartbroken to lose the girl, but he knew she could no longer stay near Vernwood. The further she stayed away, the more she was among people, the less her heritage would actually break through.

OoOoO

"Imagine the gardens! Oh and the golden balconies! We will probably see Thor as well, he is so handsome, too bad we can't marry him" Kari gabbled happily.

Kari the farmer's daughter was one of Ylva's few friends. Just like Ylva, she was supposed to apply as a servant in the royal palace. Together with the twins Astrid and Ana, they spent two day travelling to the great city.

The young women's parents hoped they could not only gain position in the palace, but also learn how to behave like a lady and find an attractive husband.

The three girls spent their time chatting, while Ylva stayed silent, watching her feet while they walked the path up to the palace. The towers were already to be seen in the distance.

"Ylva, you're so quiet. Aren't you happy you can leave the woods for once?" Astrid asked, smiling teasingly.

"Hopefully they are in need of lumberjacks in the palace. I guess that's the only thing your father taught you" Ana added.

The twins had always been bold and insolent, but Ylva knew they weren't bad.
"Don't listen to them, Ylva. We both know they would be too scared to even talk to Ralf Akesson" Kari chuckled, and Ylva smiled at her friend.

She was happy she didn't have to start her new life alone.

With every step she took towards to the palace, Ylva felt a tension leaving her shoulders. It was like the sun suddenly piercing through dark clouds, and Ylva began to imagine her encounter with Thor, the warrior three and the Allfather, King Odin.

OoOoO

Ragna Ragnasson filled the room with her presence. The woman was in her thirties, with a loud voice and bouncing red curls. Her pointy nose and thin lips made her look deprecative, but the chief servant warmly welcomed the new servant girls. Although neither of them had any experience in serving, Ragna just waved her hand in a dismissive gesture.

"Many servant girls have left us because of the recent battle. They are afraid" Ragna explained as if being afraid of Dark Elves attacking the palace being totally displaced and ridiculous.

"You can't be worse than them. And the royal family will remember who stood by them in times of need" Ragna Ragnasson declared.

Although Ylva doubted the royal family even cared about the servant girls, she nodded in agreement.

Without further complications, the four women were named servants, dressed in the tradition clothing and sent away to the kitchen.

The palace was still overwhelmingly beautiful, but Ylva and Kari had little time to process their new surroundings. Everything was big and golden, so different than the green forrest of their home.

Ragna kept her servants busy, and so she spent the whole day peeling potatoes and carrying baskets of food.

"Sent that to Lady Sif's quarters. Tori, show the girl the way" Ragna commanded, and Ylva was sent to the other side of the palace to deliver dinner to the legendary warrior.

Sif's quarters were far away, and Ylva felt like walking through he palace took forever.

Suddenly, they stood in a big hall where marble columns were shattered on the golden patterned floor. The throne room, Ylva realized and looked to the older servant.

Tori whispered: "The passage ways around have been destroyed. We go quickly and silently, don't look up. The throne room is bigger than you think, the Allfather will not see us from here."

Ylva nodded and followed Tori. Her knuckles turned white from holding the plate tightely, and a sudden instinct draw Ylva into the room.

She wanted to see the Allfather.

She hid begind the columns, letting Tori walk away.

Ylva could not explain why she was disobeying on her first day of work.

She walked closer, thinking that she was already sensing the Allfather's magical presence.

Then - she could see his boots, his armor, his face - Ylva shrieked. The plates slipped from her hands and shattered on the floor.

Welcome to my second Loki fan fiction! I couldn't resist writing another one :D
If you're interested in reading more, please let me know! :)
xoxo & Liebe Grüße