Ravensblood Forest the eye of odin

God and Mortal - for the moment co existing within the Viking’s body as a single, cohesive unit - watched her sniff out her prey with eyes that did not blink and did not deviate from the fawn colored shield maiden even as the ravens prickled restlessly upon Ragnar’s shoulders. Her progress was watched, icy oceanic eyes alive with the otherworldly presence of Odinn as Thistle shuffled out of sight after her prey, Huginn taking flight to follow after her so it would be relayed back to Odinn with his return to Asgard. Thistle’s return was known only be the return of Huginn whom beat her into the clear lighting back down upon the shoulder he had briefly abandoned his talons finding their original piercings into Ragnar’s shoulder causing him to wince against the sharp pin pricks of pain. Their weight was barely felt in comparison to the sluggish and lead-like weight of the God that possessed him, partially, allowing Ragnar conscious knowledge and insight as to what was going on. The Allfather’s presence was enlightening heaviness aside, and Ragnar could feel the ghost of his empty eye socket, could feel the eternal flame licking at the blackened flesh that was left there as if it consumed his own eye yet did not burn (because Ragnar’s eye was not really on fire, merely he could feel it).

To Frigg Thistle Cloud spoke first, pushing her sacrifice forth. The Goddess moved with the ethereal elegance of a otherworldly Queen, crossing the distance between them so that both women were standing nearly nose to nose, the only thing between them being the squirrel that Thistle offered her. Freya’s coat was draped the color of warm sand, not all that different from Thistle’s own fair coloration, the Goddess’ dandelion yellow eyes fixed upon Ragnar’s wife. It was in that moment, breath baited with what he was seeing and feeling that Ragnar wished with a desperation that Thistle could see them too - just as he did. That she could experience the grand phenomenon happening around her. Ragnar watched, subdued as the Asgardian queen looked to him - or rather Odinn who lingered within him. “fá sási gjǫf, Frigg, eða ykkarr Freyja,” The Allfather commanded of them aloud the old norse carrying in the silence of the forest like a guttural lullaby to Ragnar. “verja sási víf Eða Þar nið".” Odinn spoke to the Goddesses who whispered upon the wind their acceptance and their vows of protection and aid in old norse making it sound admittedly more appealing than the Allfather did.

“They accept your gifts and vow to aid and protect you and your progeny,” Ragnar’s attention focused upon Thistle, made easier by Odinn’s own focus upon her, watching for a reaction - any kind at all that she too had been granted such a rare and magnificent gift as to be allowed to see them as Ragnar was. Thistle’s azure eyes were upon him then, and Ragnar wondered if she could see Odinn within him, behind eyes that were too wise even for the curious and clever Ragnar, or if she saw only Ragnar who two ravens perched upon his shoulders not a God in a mortal body but just the mortal. Would Odinn glamour them all from her too? Or would he peel it away for her like layers of paint until their wraith like forms appeared to her eyes. “Tell me child,” The Allfather began, forcing Ragnar’s body to move - like a puppet on marionette strings - though one could not call Ragnar’s approach awkward. Forced, but with the prowling grace of a cat. “Do you, Thistle Cloud Loðbrók make the choice today and for every day forward in life and in death to embrace your life as a Viking?” Ragnar felt his lips move to the questions the Allfather asked of her, ready to either turn her away or accept her depending solely upon her answer.

It was her choice, after all. She had not been born into them and therefore it was a choice only she could make for herself.