When we got up, the children were out playing with Ash and Em. Father was chopping wood by the sound of things. Mother and Mora were sitting in the long hall deep in discussion with Odin. So much for such a perfect morning I thought. I love my father, but with him comes babbling about being queen, I wasn’t interest.

“Good morning Odin, Mother, Mora” I said with a smile. Raven went straight to the kitchen. I sat and he returned with food for us both. Odin continued talking about, well I don’t recall what he was talking about actually. Raven and I ate and I guess I listened. Soon Odin and Raven began talking about repairs in the West. Mother and I discussed making clothing for the children. Time went by as we all sat and talked. After a while Odin motioned to Mora and rose from his seat.

“I’m taking Mora to be a maid for my new bride” Odin announced. I almost choked on my eggs! “Do you expect me to be alone forever girl” he boomed. I just shook my head, no, coughing as Raven pounded on my back. “It’s time I had a new wife, now that the two of you are finished destroying everything in sight” he said with a smile. “Yes, Father but who is this new wife” I asked finally. “Her name is Hiila and she is from the seasons, I hate to say it to ye girl but she will be a suitable replacement to your Mother, not to you mind”. He said softer. I just nodded in agreement.

With that we all rose to walk them to the door. Father helped Mora into a carriage, then turning back to us before stepping in himself, he said “I give you till Spring, plan to be re-crowned on the date of your coronation, enjoy the winter”. With that he hopped into the carriage and the driver lurched it into motion.

Spring, that was it, all the time I had. It was October now, I had until May. “It will suit fine” Raven said reading the worry on my face. “Aye, I guess it must” I replied.

The day passed fast. Raven had won over Izzy with that simple sleepy smile that morning. Neil however was another story. He had already warmed to everyone but Raven. It worried me and that night in bed Raven asked if he could take Neil off tomorrow on an adventure. I agreed. Tomorrow turned into everyday for a month. Every morning the two would rush off on their secret adventure and be home in time for lunch looking extremely pleased with themselves. Finally the suspense was killing me, as I told you before I’m extremely nosey! So Em and I waited until after they left one morning and followed.

It wasn’t long into the walk that they lost us. We wandered around for the longest time before I heard it. Neil yelping and cheering at the top of his lungs and as we came out into the clearing of a large field I saw why. Raven had shifted to dragon form, and Neil was on his back darting through the clouds. The dragon in me burned to join them, but I pushed it back down. This was their way of bonding and I could not intrude. Em and I watched them for awhile until they dipped low and we lost them. Finally our curiosity satisfied, we headed home.

Again for the hundredth time in a matter of weeks, I thought to myself, everything will be fine.