Disclaimer in Chapter 1.
Death appeared in the opulent courtyard of Asgard and was immediately greeted by flinching guards, followed closely by spear points.
If Death had eyes it would be rolling them.
"It would be unwise for you to continue that course of action." It announced, gliding forward, easily evading the weapons pointed at it.
"Stand down." A strained voice called. The guards complied as Odin stepped from the palace and made his way down toward Death with soldiers flanking him.
Death watched, amused, as the one-eyed king and his soldiers set themselves in an attempt to intimidate it, something that was ruined by the undeniable fact that the soldiers were shaking at the mere sight of the personification of Death. "I am here to retrieve the first of the God of Mischief's brood."
Death blamed its Mistress almost entirely for the hope that sprung up in the center of its consciousness. The hope that the Asgardians would make things…difficult, so it could have some fun. As it was Death was already looking forward to how many Asgardians may pass through the veil when the Great Wolf and World Snake were retrieved.
"We have not had sufficient time to prepare for your request." Odin answered smoothly.
For a moment, the boney grin of Death's current form was a true one. "You did not have sufficient time to walk to your stables, attach a lead to the only eight-legged stallion in existence, and lead him out to me?" Oh dear, it was already picking up some of its Mistress' habits, Death could only imagine what it would sound like by the next century.
"No." Odin gritted out, "Perhaps we can take this time to talk while Sleipnir is readied for travel."
"Of course." Death returned patronizingly, "We wouldn't want you to rush and harm the child. My Mistress would be most displeased if one of her new children were harmed on the way to her."
"I will send some soldiers to make sure that he is being treated as carefully as possible." Odin offered stiffly, three soldiers darted off without any more prompting, eager to be out of Death's presence. "Would you care to come in while we wait?"
"I hope it won't take that long. I would like to return before my Mistress gets bored with showing the God of Mischief the reapers." Death rasped, "Sudden mass deaths can be a pain to deal with. I'm sure you're familiar with just how much."
Odin's jaw ticked, "Then we may just walk over to the stables and converse on the way."
"A novel idea." Death responded, amused once more as they turned to walk side by side toward the royal stable.
"May we know the name of your chosen?" Odin began.
"My Mistress has many names. However, unless you gain her permission you may address her as the Mistress of Death, The Mother of Reapers, or the Consort of Mischief." Death rattled.
Odin's face soured more with each title, "Of course." He replied begrudgingly, "You mentioned earlier my son's brood being her 'new children', does your Mistress have children? Will it be safe for Loki's offspring to go to them?"
"Your…concern is touching, but my Mistress' son is a wolf known for bringing many strong magic users to their knees." Death said, enjoying the poorly concealed horror that rose on Odin's face at the thought of his Mistress' powerful child. It was not as if Death was lying, he saw no reason for lies, but misleading language was always fun. Death had seen his Mistress' little werewolf godchild bring witches and wizards to their knees, but mostly from how adorable he was. "I'm sure her child will get along nicely with Mischief's Brood. The Great Wolf will surely be a close companion of the cub as he continues to grow in his own power."
"I'm sure." Odin said stiffly.
Death let out a hum, "Yes, I think the God of Mischief and his small family will mesh perfectly with my Mistress'. She is the sister of a King, a dragon charmer, a goblin, a siren, and two demons." Death listed off, watching with amusement as Odin grew paler and paler. "I'm sure that an eight-legged stallion, a giant snake, a giant wolf, and a half dead queen will be welcomed enthusiastically."
"What manner of being birthed these…"
Odin was cut off by a high pitched panicked whinny.
Death abandoned the one-eyed king and shadowed directly to the source of the sound. What Death found within the walls of the royal stable was extremely displeasing.
Sleipnir was a truly magnificent steed. He was enormous, easily on par with Midgardian Shire horses. His coat was inky black until, at his eight powerful legs, the color began to fade out to white until it met his shimmering hooves that mimicked the Rainbow Bridge. Sleipnir's mane was a luminescent white that looked like the light of the moon. His eyes, currently wide with pain, intermittently glowed gold.
It didn't take Death long to see the problem.
Apparently the Asgardians believed that readying the stallion to leave his life of servitude meant that Sleipnir needed saddled and armored as if heading into battle. In the haste caused by Death's presence however, they were none to gentle as they scrambled to tack up Sleipnir. The poor stallions was being pinched in several places by the too tight saddle and the crinet was digging painfully into his neck.
"Cease this foolishness." Death ordered in a chilling tone, making every living being in the vicinity freeze. Sleipnir stood, half in his tack with his withers heaving and his breaths coming out in harsh gusts, and stared Death down defiantly. Death gave the stallion a tiny nod of approval before turning it's hood toward the cowering guards and stable hands. "I have come to take the child to his Mother, not to take him into battle." Sleipnir's ears perked up curiously, "Remove that gaudy gold tack. He will have no further need of it."
"Yes Death." The bravest of the Asgardians squeaked. Sleipnir gave a startled snort as many hands descended on him to pull off the offending bits of gold and leather.
As Death watched over the proceedings, Odin finally managed to catch up and come to stand next to the eldritch being. "One would think that a warrior culture such as yours would ensure that you Asgardians would work better under pressure." Death commented to the disgruntled King, "Had serious injury come to the child because of such a weakness we would be having a very different discussion."
"I…apologize, for the oversight." Odin said sourly. Death didn't bother to respond to such a poor apology.
They watched in silence as the tack was carefully removed from Sleipnir until, after several tense minutes, only his bridle was left and the stable hands were all pressed fearfully to the walls. Death angled it's hood over toward Odin, "Now the bridle that binds an innocent to your will." Death prompted icily, "It can only be removed by you, isn't that right Allfather?"
Odin gritted his teeth and started forward slowly as Sleipnir locked eyes with the old King. The stallion was tense, his muscles coiled tight in anticipation. As Odin reached up to Sleipnir's head to unhook the bridle he narrowed his eyes at the horse who narrowed his eyes back in challenge. Death fought the urge to chuckle, the God of Mischief's children really would fit in perfectly with the Weasleys and the rest.
Odin loosened the strap and carefully moved the headpiece over Sleipnir's ears, dragging the top half of the bridle down until he could grip the ends of the bit. The sole part of the magical bridle that was still keeping Sleipnir silent and docile.
"Some time this century Allfather." Death prodded after almost a minute of hesitation.
Odin looked back into Sleipnir's eyes, "We've had a few good times…right?" Odin hedged pleadingly.
Sleipnir let out a short noise which could only be interpreted as a laugh.
With a quiet sigh, Odin steeled himself and pulled the bit free as quickly as possible.
The second the bit left his mouth, Sleipnir darted forward and latched onto Odin's ear with his teeth. The Allfather jerked back with a surprised yell but the stallion held strong. In a swift motion, Sleipnir reared up and kicked out with his front legs, effectively ripping Odin's ear off as he was sent flying past Death to slam into the doors of the stable.
*Who's slow now you old cow?!* rang out triumphantly through the space before several guards rushed forward in defense of their King. The two who thought to take Sleipnir from behind were bucked in the chest by Sleipnir's powerful back legs, sending them back into several stable hands. Of the three charging Sleipnir's front, one was lucky enough to get a spear strike in to Sleipnir's neck, the stallion reared up again and snapped the guards spear with a single hoof strike. The guard stumbled backward, landing on his back in front of the enormous equine who drove his fore hooves back down, right on the guard's head, splattering pristine white hooves in blood and brain matter.
Sleipnir gave a pleased snort as the last two guards backed away in fear.
Death let out a raspy chuckle as it gathered the soul Sleipnir had so kindly freed of a body. "Death by crushed skull. It has been some time since I've had the pleasure to witness that one." It commented as it sent the trembling soul past the veil and into the hands of an obedient reaper with a simple flick of its hand. "Have you finished?" Death asked Sleipnir, "Your Mother is waiting at your new home."
Sleipnir stepped delicately over the remains of the guard he had killed to stand closer to Death, *The stable hands were talking about you.* Death inclined it's head, *What is my Mother doing with Death?*
"He has found his Soulmate in my Mistress." Death rattled.
*And your Mistress has accepted my Mother? With full knowledge of who he is?* Sleipnir asked warily.
"She is fully aware of who he is." Death chuckled, "And as they both just set up a prank for her brothers for when they finally come out of their stupor I would say that she has accepted their connection with no hesitation."
*She allowed him to prank her siblings?* Sleipnir snorted in disbelief.
Death titled it's head, "She appears to have explicitly told him to do so."
Sleipnir gave a startled snort, *Really? Well I have to at least meet the one who embraced and encouraged my mother's chaos.* He took another step forward as Death's shadows reached out to drape over him.
Death turned it's hood to the Allfather who was struggling to get up from where he had landed, blood still pouring from where his left ear used to be. "I will return for the next of Mischief's brood in three days. Do try to come up with a better excuse for stalling next time or this will get very boring very fast." With that, Death shadowed itself and Sleipnir away to where it could feel its Mistress at the edge of their property.
They arrived in a large fog-logged empty field in enough time to hear Loki say, "I do not understand why you insisted on the prank so firmly. I thought our greeting of them after they awoke the first time to be enjoyable enough."
Haven gave a small smirk, "Fred and George's hero worship for you will get super inconvenient if they can't even function around you. Pranking them will start a prank war which will relax them around you. Best of both worlds, worship and fully functional geniuses."
Loki inclined his head thoughtfully before turning around to face his son, "Sleipnir!" he greeted, a soft smile making its way on his face as he went over to hug the stallion.
Haven's eyes went soft when she saw this and she gave a pleased hum as she walked over to stand with Death, "I did not expect you back so soon Mistress."
"Fred and George completely freaked out." Haven giggled, "Even after Hermione knocked them out and they woke back up they could hardly function. Nothing would have gotten done. Mione will send me a report later."
"The afternoon was only half a success then." Death mused.
Haven looked up at him with a raised eyebrow, "Things went well then?"
"I was able to collect the soul of an Asgardian." Death answered tonelessly.
Haven snorted, "So regardless, you enjoyed yourself."
"I did. I gave them a time limit of three days to retrieve the next child."
"Good, that will give them time to settle in." Haven replied, watching as Loki moved to check Sleipnir over, noting the blood in the stallion's mouth and on his hooves at the same time her mate did. "Do you think you'll have a harder time with the next?"
"Perhaps." Death rattled, "However, while Odin attempted to get information from me I may have dropped some misleading language about the Weasleys. He may grow a brain in the next couple days and decide not to antagonize a family full of dangerous beings."
"Haven." Loki called as he stepped back from Sleipnir and held out his hand to her. The red-head smiled and took her soulmates hand, allowing him to pull her to his side. "Sleipnir, I want you to meet my soulmate, Haven. Haven, this is my first born, Sleipnir."
Haven beamed, "It's a pleasure to meet you Sleipnir!"
'I am pleased to meet you as well.' Sleipnir projected, 'Soulmate or not it is strange to find someone who actively encourages my mother's work.'
Haven laughed, "Yes, well, it will make my brothers more comfortable around him. My whole family really. We get a bit fidgety if there isn't some sort of commotion going on."
Loki raised an eyebrow at her while Sleipnir tilted his head in disbelief, 'Really?'
"Oh definitely." Haven replied, "Wouldn't have it any other way."
"Mistress." Death interrupted, "Perhaps we should move this inside. I feel a storm coming in off the coast."
Haven nodded and looked back to Loki and Sleipnir, "I think you might want to see your new home anyway."
"I admit to being interested." Loki conceded, "I've seen very little of it."
'As long as the stable isn't drafty or damp I will be content.' Sleipnir replied.
Haven hummed slightly even as she pulled out of Loki's grip, "We don't have stables." She said unworriedly as she turned back to the foggy field, "I'll have one of the reapers adjust a room for you." Haven raised her hands out in front of her and began drawing runes midair with her volatile magic.
Sleipnir gave a disbelieving snort. 'Until stables are built?'
The red-head wrinkled her nose, "I suppose if you'd be more comfortable in a stable we can get some built." As she came to a stop the runes glowed and disappeared, silver vines began to grow from the ground and weave together. "But there is plenty of room in the house." When the vines stopped moving they had formed a delicate archway. She smiled back at Loki and Sleipnir, "Come on in." she stepped past the archway and completely disappeared, Death fell to shadow not a second later.
Sleipnir edged closer to his mother and they both stepped through the arch.
The sight that greeted them was a complete shock.
As soon as they passed the archway, the foggy field disappeared to be replaced by a dense forest, pressed up against the shear face of an enormous cliff. Built into that cliff seemed to be the crumbling ruins of an ancient castle where nature began to invade in any open spaces provided. The center of the castle face was mostly intact, holding grand double doors with a triangular symbol set in silver in the center of the two. As the ruins began to crumble on either side of this however, it allowed a peak into a few rooms that had been housed along the front. One apparently being a sitting room, where several vines had snaked their way up the legs of a very comfortable looking chair. Another seemed to be a corner of a library, the walls no doubt spelled against any weather that may harm the precious tomes within. A third, a dining room.
The forest that edged this whimsical sight only added to the general air about the place. The trees were dense and the sky above them seemed to be night, despite the fact that it should have been the afternoon. Starlight gave the forest a dreamy feel which the wildlife seemed contented with. Thestrals lazed about the clearing, fanning their wings and calling to each other in melancholy coos. Lethifolds played in the underbrush, diving through leaves and twisting between the hooves of thestral colts who were prancing around.
Haven herself stood among all of this, looking relaxed and right at home. The starlight made her hair shimmer like freshly drawn blood and her pale skin never looked softer. Loki felt his mouth dry up as the sight of her in this haunting domain overwhelmed him. Haven gave him a soft smile, "So…this is it."
As her voice sounded in the clearing, many of the animals took notice. A brave thestral colt bounded over to her and nuzzled into her side happily. Haven just smiled down at the colt and scratched at its neck. Lethifolds floated over to greet Haven as well but were soon drawn to the fresh blood on Sleipnir. The little flat beings darted in and suckled the blood and brains from Sleipnir's hooves, making the stallion shuffle as the strangely soft tongues swiped at the seam of his hooves.
"It's beautiful." Loki told Haven, eyes still on his mate.
Haven dipped her head slightly with a blush before deflecting, "I can't take credit for it, Death made it for me, but I do love this place." Her smile turned to a slight grin, "It's even better inside though. Come on."
"Mistress." Death interrupted, appearing next to Haven once again, "You should grant them the sight before entering the castle. Unless you wish to look crazy."
'The sight?' Sleipnir questioned.
"The ability to see beyond the veil." Haven explained as she looked down at her hand with an intense look of concentration, "There are Reaper servants within the castle and you'll need to be able to see past the veil to look at them." A wispy white light enveloped Haven's hand and she nodded, looking back up to them. "It will also allow you to see them when we leave the castle as well and give you the ability to see souls once you master it."
Loki looked extremely interested in that and didn't move when Haven placed her glowing hand over his heart, he felt something latch onto his magic and sink deep into his core before Have pulled away. His vision swam for a moment before it cleared and allowed him to take in a couple more beings in the clearing that hadn't been there before. There was a group people feeding the thestrals and lethifolds, all dressed in black formal attire. There were also two more females standing at a respectful distance behind Haven, both dressed in smart looking suits and standing at a parade rest. In fact, all of the beings who had appeared where dressed formally in clothes of the realm, looking like the attire one would wear to a funeral. Loki assumed that these were the reapers.
As Loki took in the clearing again, Haven was approaching Sleipnir more slowly. She offered her hand to the stallion and he eyed her warily before lifting his head up to allow her access to his chest, Haven laid her hand gently on him. Sleipnir startled a little as the light sank into his magic, Haven stepped out of the way just as he jerked a little harder as the other beings appeared suddenly in his line of sight. "Easy." Haven said softly, "They won't hurt you. I promise."
As if to prove Haven's point, the two reapers behind Haven bowed deeply to Loki and Sleipnir, "It is an honor to meet new members of our Mistress' family." They said in unison.
Loki let a mask fall into place on his face even as Sleipnir cocked his head at the two, 'We've only just met her.'
The one on the left, a rail thin and delicate female with short dark purple hair, straightened and looked directly at Sleipnir, "Time is irrelevant in death." She pulled a little black book from her suit pocket and a pen appeared from nowhere, "I have been tapped to prepare your room Lord Sleipnir. What would you like?"
'Like? Like what?' Sleipnir questioned in confusion.
"Materials you wish for your room and your comfort Lord Sleipnir." The reaper replied smartly, "Do you prefer your shifted form? If not what material would you like your bed sheets to be? Do you like wood or stone? Firm pillows or soft? Do you need clothes? If you would prefer a turnout blanket perhaps you would enjoy silk? Wool?" she tilted her head with the same blank expression, "I will need to take the measurements of both of your forms."
Sleipnir had just stood there, frozen in shock.
Loki put a hand on his son's neck, "Sleipnir can't shift." He interrupted before the reaper could start up again.
Haven and the reapers all looked to Loki with frowns.
"That never seemed odd to you? Your other children can." Death asked in monotone.
Loki scowled at Death and patted Sleipnir's neck, "I never really considered it a possibility, considering who his father was. If he could, it certainly would have happened as his magic developed."
"Did you not present him to Odin before that could happen?" Death inserted.
Loki paled a little and looked to Sleipnir, "I never…I would have..."
"Odin has placed a restriction on his very soul." Death commented, making Loki jolt, "Even now it is connected."
"Is that what that is?" Haven asked, "I thought that line was connected to Yggdrasil."
"It seems the one-eyed one has intertwined this closely with the child's connection to the Tree." Death continued as Loki's breathing started to pick up, "Most likely so the power he pulls to travel so easily between realms didn't overwhelm the restriction."
Haven hummed in acknowledgement but had shifted her focus to her mate, she walked over and took his free hand gently. "It will be alright." She soothed, "Death will remove it." Loki's head whipped around to look down at his mate, her green eyes met his and she gave him a soft smile, "He'll be fine. Just breathe."
"Indeed." Death said as it swept over to the still shell shocked Sleipnir, "I will do so happily. Not only for this child who stood so defiantly before me earlier, but also because at this distance, the restriction will snap back quite painfully on Odin."
Loki, who had been trying to match his breaths to Haven's, looked over to Death, "Good," he bit out maliciously.
Death chuckled as it waved it's bony had in a strange pattern around the now trembling stallion. After a tense minute, a pale golden glow appeared around Sleipnir before retreating toward the sky with a snap. Death tapped the stallion lightly with an ice cold finger and Sleipnir jumped about a foot in the air in shock before he was surrounded in a puff of green smoke.
As the smoke cleared it was clear that the enormous stallion was nowhere to be seen. Instead, sitting awkwardly in the grass was a boy who looked about nineteen. He had discreet muscles under skin that had clearly never seen the sun. His eyes were a deep gold, his hair black that faded to white at the tips, and his nails had an odd rainbow shimmer to them.
The boy examined himself curiously, seemingly undisturbed by the fact that he was starknaked, before he looked up at Loki with large innocent golden eyes, "Mother?"
A crinet is the neck part of horse armor.