Twisted Hearts

Imaginings - Part 2 (Heimdall)

The All-Father was expecting me. I had cut my morning patrol short because of it. Lately he had been focused on his new bride, showering her with gifts, instead of paying attention to the usual affairs. But this morning he wanted an update on my progress with Budli and his daughter.

I entered the great hall where father kept his seat of power and was immediately reminded why I hated this place. Most people did not share in my refined tastes and their stench, clamor, and duplicitous thoughts crammed the very air in the great hall. Usually, I tried to only come here when most would not be around, but with lady Freya, now Frigg with her new Aesir name, moved in, there always seemed to be something going on.

There was a loud meow that came from the ground. I sidestepped one of Frigg's many cats she had brought with her. These cats were supposedly able to drag a chariot made just for lady Frigg, but I had my doubts the persnickety creatures could do anything more taxing than licking their own assholes.

I continued to rush out of the great hall, avoiding all eye contact. The noise quieted down as I entered the hallway that led to my step-brother Thor and his family's living quarters as well as All-Father's study. Pausing for a moment, I tried to sense if any of the stupid gaggle were about. It would be ideal to avoid all of them if possible.

There had never really been a time where Thor and I had gotten along. He was older than me and was often my opponent in training growing up. The All-Father saw great things in us and made us train until our bones cracked. It was painful, but now I was so fast that I doubted Thor could touch me in combat even if he called lightning down upon me.  Thor had served father well over the years and his sons had proven to be useful mindless killing machines in the war with the Vanir. But it was quite obvious to everyone that Thor could never complete his duties with as much style as I could. No one would ever call Thor to do a job that needed to be done quietly, or with any amount of subtlety, anyway.

I sensed no one. The All-Father's door was just ahead. The silence allowed me to hear voices from inside the study. Most could not have heard something so quiet but I could. It was Frigg speaking with Odin.

"Will you really not tell me what the gathering tonight is for?" Frigg implored.

Laughing, Odin replied, "No my dear, you'll find out soon enough. I promise you'll like it."

"Well if your previous gifts are any indication, you will be quite right."

I heard a flapping of feathers and looked up to see Huginn, a raven of special importance to my father. Well that ends the eavesdropping. I walked over and took the new pause in the conversation to open the door. Walking in the room the joy and good feelings practically dripped from the ceiling. It was disgusting.

"All-father, Lady Frigg," I nodded to each of them as I spoke.

"Heimdall! My boy you must have sensed I had something to talk to you about." Odin smiled.

It was hard not to grin from ear to ear. It had been forever since Odin had called me that. Father never liked exaggerated expressions of emotion. I settled for saying, "Yes, All-Father."

"Well," he folded his hands. "Go on."

With lady treason waiting to happen in the room? Was he serious!? I did not like the new wife. Just as I had not liked every side piece father had filled his bed with over the years. There had been a few types over the years. The ones who tried to mother me (a poor choice leading to the harshest consequences from me), the ones who ignored me, and the ones who thought I was a second option to stay in the All-Father's circles and who would inevitably flee faster than Odin had left them. This one, was a new and much worse type: a not so former enemy. She did not need to know about Brynhild, already suspected of treason or of connection to treason, or any whisper of other potential traitors she could plot treason with!