"Are you sure he won't notice anything?" Ylva asked, watching Loki breath deeply. He was asleep, and Ylva felt a sting of guilt thinking about what she was going to do to him.

"He won't wake up, Ylva. Hurry now," Skadi said cooly. Her chin-long hair seemed almost silver in the dim light.

Ylva had prepared a letter, a few words she hoped would explain her actions to Loki. It was for the best. For him, for Asgard, for the people she loved.

Ylva followed Skadi outside the palace, wondering why no guard was in their way.

With a look to the goddess, Ylva understood. Apparently, the goddess of hunt was working a spell to cloak them.

"How long is it going to take?" Ylva asked, tugging the woolen blanket tighter around her.

"Not long. A few hours" Skadi explained. Outside the palace, Ylva looked back. She was terrified, and she felt guilty, but she knew there was no other way. She hoped Loki would not hate her for it.

Two horses were waiting for them, and Skadi helped the young woman mount hers.

After a few hours of riding through the harsh cold, Ylva opened her eyes again. Skadi had guided the horses, and Ylva was frozen to the bones.

"It's time," Skadi whispered, her voice almost ghostlike.

"Ullr," Ylva said through her clenched teeth as soon as she recognized him.

"My dear child. You don't have to do this," the Pack Leader's eyes were glowing in the light of the full moon.

"Just tell me you're sure it is going to work," Ylva answered as he helped her from the horse.

They were standing in a clearance in the woods, and the trees were reaching high into the sky around her. A rectangular rock laid in the middle of it, almost as if it had always been there, as if it naturally belonged there. But there were ancient symbols carved on it, and the sight of it made Ylva think of warm, damping blood running down the stone.
It was terrifying. Ylva freezes, unable to move.

"It's old magic, but it will certainly work. Skadi and I will be able to cast a spell that protects Asgard from the Darkness Thanos has send our way"

"Has someone ever done this before?" Ylva asked, her voice trembling.

Ullr raised his hand and caressed her cheek, his yellow eyes soft with compassion.

"There was a time where everyone in Asgard knew about old magic. Even in Midgard, they sacrificed their cattle or crops to the Gods. Sacrifice bears great power, Ylva. The greater the sacrifice, the more power you can draw from it"

Ylva nodded. Skadi had already told her that much.

"Is it enough to beat this… cloud of Darkness of whatever this is?"

"It is. Ullr and I together, with this kind of sacrifice, it will give us all the strength we need," Skadi said, unusually soft.

Ullr and Skadi together looked more powerful than anything Ylva had ever seen, and their aura was sending shivers over Ylva's body.

"Ylva. You are one of my own. My pack. I would not suggest this to you if I wasn't sure," Ullr said, almost pleadingly. Ylva felt in her heart that he was right. He was the leader. There was nothing she wasn't ready to do for him.

Ullr handed her a rosty, old knife, and then leaned forward to kiss her on the forehead.

"Thank you, Ylva. You truly deserve your place in my pack"

Ylva's hand was clenched around the grip of the knife. It was her duty.

Wolves were brave, she repeated again and again in her head.

Loki was dreaming of Jotunheim. He was being covered in snow, while his skin slowly turned blue.

"Prince Loki? Loki? Please? Wake up!" someone was shouting in the distance, but something was keeping Loki asleep, something was preventing him from leaving the dream.

"Please. Come on. I don't know what to do!"

Loki realized his dream wasn't right. It was like he was himself imprisoned under tons of snow, and he was unable to move.

"LOKI!"

he started to fight. His mind was strong enough, and after a while wich seemed to last forever, he opened his eyes. This wasn't right. Someone had bewitched him, Loki thought.

The girl standing at his bed was certainly not the one who had done it.

"Thank the gods, you are awake! I didn't know you would be such a heavy sleeper!" she bursted, her cheeks reddened.

"Kari, what are you doing in my chambers!" Loki cried out, realizing he was only wearing linen pants. Memories of his night with Ylva came into his mind, but she was nowhere near him.

"I am sorry!" Kari cried back. She looked truly distressed.

"Listen, I hate to say it, but Ylva is going crazy. Again. I just came here to check on her, because after the ball I realized she was gone and I had left with Ullr, who I don't ever want to talk about again and then she was not here but this letter and - "

"Kari, breathe!" Loki commanded, forcing his mind to collect the pieces.

Kari stopped and handed him a letter. "Read it" she simply said.

Dear Loki,

I am sorry for lying to you. Last night at the ball, I had a vision. Thanos is sending something dark on the way to Asgard, and it will destroy the whole realm. I can't let that happen. Skadi and Ullr know a way to stop it, but they need my help.

I won't be coming back, Loki, and I am truly sorry. The twins will create a wall of ice around Asgard, and promised they'll tell everyone you did it. Maybe then, you can finally reveal yourself of the people of Asgard. You are a great king.

I hope you can forgive me. Take care of Kari and my dad for me. I love you. Ylva.

"Tell me what this means!" Kari demanded, tears in her eyes. "What is she doing? She won't be coming back? I don't understand!"

Loki swallowed hardly. He wanted to feel hate and anger, the feelings that had fueled him for the last years. Now he felt nothing.
"Neither do I. Let's go ask someone who may does. And then, let us find Ylva" he said, his voice sounding like a stranger's.
If Ylva's letter meant what he thought it did, then he had lost her already.

Thank you so much for your reviews! :) I hope you enjoy this chapter!

xoxo & Liebe Grüße