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keller-marie · 7 years

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RAVENTHIEF

“For all-seeing ravens, you two were fairly easy to catch.”

Huginn stepped in front of Muninn, raising his wings and hissing at the human that sneered at them from the other side of the bone bars to their cage. Shaking his head, Huginn could feel the hazy fog-like remains of an unknown spell clinging to his senses. He could see the blue flare of his eyes reflecting in the human’s dark irises and it only made Huginn raise his wings higher and caw louder.

Whatever spells that were imbued into the bones had been hidden from them, making it seem like nothing more than the remains of an old kill. It had been the vision of blood and sweat that had lured them to that field. The scent of death was heavy as they soared over the mud trampled ground, looking for those who would be worthy of passing through the gates of Valhalla.

The battle had been fierce, rival clans rising up and surging against one another until few were left alive and those that remained were soaked in the blood of their enemies. Huginn and Muninn had seen it all, from the first horns at the break of dawn, to the last warrior’s victory cry around high noon.

Crows from their flock swooped in, screaming to the Valkyrie who waited to guide fallen warriors to the great hall. Huginn and Muninn had watched for a time before joining their kin in finding Odin’s chosen throughout the carnage. Soaring high above the field, the remains had caught the ravens’ attention; both deciding to investigate why none of the other ravens would go near it.

Powerful sorcerous magics were carved into those dry bones and Huginn knew it was going to take serious effort on their part to break the spell and be free of their hold. Maybe it had been stupid to take a closer look at the animal carcass that seemed so out of place in the middle of the battlefield, but curiosity had gotten the best of them in the end.

Huginn hissed, blue eyes glowing with his anger and he raised his wings in aggression as he stood tall on his feet. Muninn ducked low, his red eyes catching the heat of the fire as he screamed in rage at being put on display.

“Odin’s Great Ravens,” the human started, misbegotten pride in his voice. There was no honor in capturing them, and both of them knew Odin’s wrath would soon be upon the wretched human. It was not within their power to place a sentence to the human’s crime, but they would enjoy watching the outcome just the same. “Tomorrow you will tell me what glory awaits me so that I may go out into the world and claim it.”

The crowd of humans gathered round, roaring to life again with drunken cheers and shouts of congratulations. There was whispered talk of the gods’ vengeance, but it was hushed and drowned out with more ale and the temptations of hot food.

Muninn laughed at the human’s words. “You may not like what it is that we have to tell you,” he hissed, his voice low like the echoing remnants of a yell on the winds. “You may not like what it is that fate has in store for you.”

Their captor’s eyes went wide as he stood, grabbing his mug from where it sat beside their cage. “I will be the one to decide that,” he growled before turning and disappearing back into the crowd.

The two ravens huddled close to one another on the single perch in the cage, pressing their bodies flush and lowering their heads until they touched. Huginn could only feel rage at the situation, his thoughts narrowed to defending his other half. Despite their imprisonment, Muninn was calm, soothing Huginn and lulling him to sleep with his whispered promises of gaining freedom. He still didn’t exactly know how it was going to come about because the waters of Muninn’s visions were murky thanks to the spells cast upon them, but he reassured Huginn it was going to happen.

Muninn clacked his beak, red eyes focused on the people dancing and singing about the open room. Huginn stepped close, lifting his head to peer through the crowd in an attempt to find the one who had captured them. An unusual presence caught their attention and both ravens twisted to look to their right as a warrior approached their cage. He was carrying a large drinking horn, half falling into the seat at the end of the table near them. Resting his left arm on the wooden surface, the warrior crossed his legs at the knee and took a long drink from his horn, eyes surveying the crowd that danced and sang around them. “Funny, seeing you here.”

Muninn’s eyes began to glow as he hissed at the man. “Thor,” he started, weaving back and forth on his feet. “What brings you here?”

Huginn narrowed his eyes. “Do you come to mock us,” he asked, cocking his head to the side to focus his glare on the disguised god.

The thunder god waved his hand to dismiss their words. “I heard word of a feast and so I decided I would come to see what it was about. Imagine my surprise when I see that you two are the main attraction.” Smirking, Thor raised his drinking horn, casting a lazy gaze around the room before turning to face them. “That’s some powerful magic in those bones.”

“You can feel it, too,” the ravens questioned. The thunder god turned back to the crowd.

“Aye.” Thor nodded, keeping his eyes forward and suddenly sounding and acting far more sober than he led on to have been. He lifted the horn to his lips, taking a small sip before resting it against his thigh. “I would know that power anywhere. I am surprised you haven’t figured it out for yourselves.”

“It is masked from us. It’s fooling our abilities from finding the truth to the spell.” The two birds spoke as one, their shifting tones coming together to form one powerful voice. One that could only be used in the presence of the gods themselves.

“Give the man what he wants.” Raising his empty hand, Thor pointed off to the far left of the room where the human who had captured them stood talking to a few other men, a young woman pressed close to his side. “Tell him what you see.”

“This cage binds us until we have done so.”

“Ah, yes; well, that makes sense.” Thor picked up the horn one final time, draining it of its contents before fully turning his head to meet the eyes of the two ravens. Huginn lifted his head, blue eyes glowing as the power he controlled hummed through him. Next to him, Muninn shifted on his feet, making the perch they stood on shake with his irritation.

Reaching out, Thor tapped the center bar to the cage, sending a tingle through the entire structure. The magics used to carve the runes into the bone cage became clear and both birds hissed at the same time, their feathers bristling as their rage bubbled to the surface. “Loki,” they both screamed, their loud caws echoing around the room.

The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Huginn and Muninn, but they didn’t notice as their eyes flared with their fury at the trickster god. Both of them watched as Thor stood, closing his eyes as he tipped his head in a slight nod. “The spell will be broken as soon as you tell him what it is he wants to hear.” With that, the god spread his arms wide, laughter in his voice. “Is the celebration over simply because the Great Ravens have screamed for the trickster? Let us drink and forget all of this!”

Cheers rang through the room and the two birds were soon forgotten. They stood there, feathers still puffed in irritation as they brooded silently; waiting for the moment that human would come to them and ask for his future. Then they could break free of his hold and be gone from this place.

It was long into the night, mere hours before the dawn when the merriment finally died down. The fire spit and hissed in its hearth, the once roaring flames licking quietly at the bed of hot coals they rested in. Most of the humans who had entered the large building had gone, while some slept with heads resting on crossed arms at tables. In the corner one man slumped against the wall, a beer mug dangling from his fingers.

Their captor was nowhere to be seen. Muninn dozed, his red eyes slipping closed, the low grinding of his beak bringing comfort to Huginn. Thor was gone, his presence simply vanishing hours before. His indifference angered Huginn, as well. The thunder god could have easily broken Loki’s spell, but instead he’d simply changed it, incurring their wrath and testing their patience.

Huginn briefly wondered if this human was a champion of Thor’s, but decided, it didn’t matter. He would consider it a better justice to see the human off to Helheim, carried away on the silent and stagnant wings of death, instead of being lifted to Valhalla. Muninn’s stance may have been different than his own, but he wasn’t about to wake him to argue over trivial things. In the meantime, Huginn counted the quiet popping of the dying fire until he, too, fell asleep.

Finally as dawn approached, the sun just cresting the mountains surrounding their location, their captor appeared. Wordlessly, he walked up to the cage, his gait heavy and staggered. Huginn thought him still drunk, taking in his unkempt appearance. Narrowing his eyes, the human threw the fur blanket from the day before over the bone cage, picking it up and moving from the table.

Muninn stirred from his sleep, his red eyes glowing in the shadow of the fur. Huginn leaned down, unable to see where they were going thanks to the length of the furs, but able to catch glimpses of the ground instead. They sat in a pensive silence as they observed their captor leave the lodgings to walk along a dirt path before finally crossing over onto grass. A few minutes later they were set down and a hand fell to the top of the cage, rattling the bones and startling a screech of anger from Muninn.

“I had a dream last night; a vision,” the human murmured quietly. Both ravens looked to one another. The tone of their captor’s voice was much quieter than it had been previously and they silently listened to his words. “The great Thor came to me and with him, the mighty hammer, Mjøllnir.”

The fur came away and the ravens blinked as the sun shone down upon them. The human sat on a rock a step away, hands laced together as he rested his forearms on his knees with his head bowed. Huginn and Muninn took in the look of the young man that sat before them. He seemed somber this dawn, even if still slightly drunk. The two ravens stepped close to one another on their perch, their vision becoming one as they prepared to tell this human what he sought and be free of his hold.

“We do not care what the thunder god told you,” they spoke as one, their voices rising from a barely audible whisper to a loud shout that made their captor jerk away even from where he sat. Huginn and Muninn weaved back and forth on the perch, both of them wondering why it was that Thor had decided to visit the human in his slumber.

“I have always been fearless; seeking out battles to prove my strength and worth. Capturing you was another test of my valor. That was how I felt last night when I fell asleep and it is still how I feel now.” The human’s voice remained low and with the exception of the occasional flick of his eyes to look at them, his gaze remained on the ground as well.

The young warrior’s face hardened, his mouth set in a thin line as he picked his head up to look at the ravens. “Thor warned me of your wrath, but it’s already too late for me to change that. Tell me what I want to know.”

Huginn and Muninn felt their powers flood through them at the human’s command. Their eyes were glowing as the life of the man before them flashed through their vision. For the first time, they abandoned their anger to objectively contemplate the soul who lay bare in front of them; following the twisting ties of his life as it spidered out, weaving and intertwining with others until his dying breath.

“Stian,” Muninn hissed, weaving back and forth on his feet, red eyes glowing brightly. “One who will wander.” The human— Stian —sat up straight even as a frown tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Huginn could already see that he was displeased with what they were going to say and all they had managed to breathe out was his name. He couldn’t help the surge of glee that ran through him; Stian deserved every bit of hardship they could see in his future. Rearing back, Huginn spread his wings as much as the cage would allow, screeching at the human as he did.

Settling down, Huginn pressed against Muninn as they continued to speak. “You will find what you desire far from these lands,” they started together, speaking as if their voices echoed one another.

“Will my name be known and feared throughout the lands that I cross? Will I acquire vast amounts of wealth and live like a king? Will I fight many battles for the glory of Odin and drink from the golden horns that sit on the tables in Valhalla?” Stian leaned forward, new excitement in his words as he rambled his questions in one hurried slur.

Munnin inhaled to speak. “All that you seek—”

“And more,” Huginn added resentfully, unable to stop the words tumbling from him.

“Shall be yours.” Muninn’s voice rumbled through Huginn and he knew that it shook the very bones in Stian’s body as well. He felt the other raven stiffen, his head tossing wildly as the words continued to pour from his beak. Huginn stepped closer to him; the urge to protect him overwhelming. When the other raven fell deep into his premonitions, nothing could shake him free until he was done. As Muninn continued, his eyes were glowing as bright as the early morning sun. “Man and woman alike will fear your name, yet seek you out on the battlefield, and after you accomplish great things, you will eventually die, carried to Valhalla on the wings of the Valkyrie.”

Stian’s face lit up, Muninn’s words pleasing him and he nodded. His mouth parted as he licked his lips in preparation to ask more questions, however, a low hum filled the air, cutting him off, and with a resounding crack, the spell broke on the cage. The carved bones splintered and shattered as the magic that held the ravens captive gave way.

Wings flaring, both ravens took to the sky, circling over Stian and screeching their displeasure. Their former captor stood, head tipped back toward the sky, watching them. Huginn was impressed that Stian did not flinch, even as Muninn dived at him; threatening him with taloned feet extended only to break away at the last moment to swoop back into the air.

“I am not going to apologize for my actions, Great Ravens.” Stian’s voice carried on the wind as Huginn and Muninn rose higher into the sky. He cupped his hands around his mouth so his words could be heard. “But I must thank you for giving me what I sought and I only hope to live up to the warrior that you have seen in your visions.”

Muninn looked over at Huginn, his red eyes still glowing and Huginn could see fire dancing in the other raven’s irises. He knew that Muninn was still very upset; not only at being unable to see their capture, but at the life of renown the human below was going to lead. Despite capturing them, the gods still seemed to keep him in their favor and Stian would eventually gain all that he sought in life. There was nothing more that they could do here. With one final dive at the young man, the two ravens took to the sky, letting the winds carry them high into the clouds and letting Stian fall from their thoughts as they flew out of sight.

It wasn’t until years later that Huginn and Muninn thought of the young man once more. They both sat on the top of Odin’s high backed chair in the great hall of Valhalla, dozing where they perched as they listened to the merriment around them. Munninn ground his beak together, crimson eyes falling shut as he leaned on Huginn, who stood firm, looking out across the many tables to the drunken cheering and boisterous laughter of the numerous vikings who sat around them.

Without warning, the hall’s doors were pushed inward, opening silently under the strength of the Valkyrie. Both ravens fluffed up their feathers, but thought nothing of the group of warriors that were entering, each one accompanied by one of the maidens of Odin. As the warriors came forth, many found friends, family, and even occasionally a lover among the tables. The roars and cheers that rose to welcome the newly fallen echoed off the high ceilings, vibrating through the two ravens. It was common, comforting, and Huginn found himself slipping into slumber as he stood on the back of the highest chair overlooking the rest of the hall.

When Odin stood, pushing the chair back, both birds were startled fully awake, wings flaring to keep their balance as they cawed in irritation at their master’s actions. Odin, himself, seemed displeased as he raised a hand toward one human who dared step up to his table. While Odin didn’t mind sharing his hall, his food, and his wine with his warriors, few dared to draw near the great table where the mightiest of their gods sat.

“Let him speak,” Thor spoke from Odin’s left side as he picked up his beer stein, swallowing a large mouthful. “Surely one of my champions has great reason to approach us.” Odin looked down at the thunder god before he slowly sat back into his chair.

“Ah,” Loki began, sitting forward in his chair on Odin’s other side and lacing his fingers together. “I remember you.”

The warrior in question fell to one knee, bowing his head forward before he spoke. Huginn and Muninn turned their heads in interest and listened to his words. Despite the noise, the man’s voice rang loud and clear to those of whom were willing to listen. “Mighty Odin, I come before you to humbly ask a request.”

“What is your name? I would know who it is that comes to my table.” Odin nodded as Huginn and Muninn looked on with curiosity. It could have only been a combination of Thor’s words as well as the humble approach that kept Odin from simply sending the man away.

“The name given to me by my father is Stian Tougard.” The man’s voice was solid; with not even the slightest hint or waiver of fear. The two ravens looked at one another, that name sounding familiar from a time they had forgotten. “But you may better know me as Stian Raventhief.”

“Raventhief,” Odin asked as both ravens screamed in rekindled anger. They remembered him now; the one who’d managed to capture them with the help of Loki, was champion of Thor and walked the lands knowing what lay in store for him in his future. “Aye, I have heard of you. You’ve proven yourself a great warrior over and over. My son did well in finding you.”

Odin fell silent as Huginn and Muninn continued to yell their rage at seeing Stian again. “How dare he come to this table,” they screamed together, their voice as one. “How dare he approach after what he did to us!”

“Settle down.” Odin waved a hand at the two birds and they shied away from him, while still glaring down at Stian, who had not spoken another word. “What is it you would ask of us, Stian Raventhief?”

“I ask to address the Great Ravens.” The warrior remained where he was kneeling, the tension in his shoulders visible. Muninn cawed once before hopping down from their perch to stand on Odin’s shoulder. Stepping foot over foot as he walked down their master’s arm, the red-eyed raven drew closer to the table, gaze never leaving the man. Huginn followed suit, coming to stand on the table next to Muninn as they cocked their heads to the side in question. This warrior, who knelt at the foot of the table, was not the same man who had schemed to capture them years before. Not only was he a fair bit older and battle-worn, but even his soul seemed different.

“My ravens have not rejected your request,” Odin began, giving a nod. “Stand and speak.”

Only now did Stian lift his head, meeting the red and blue-eyed glares of the ravens. He remained where he knelt, taking a deep breath and never looking away. “Please,” he started, looking to each of them in turn. “Huginn, Muninn, forgive me for my foolishness when I was young; I know now that I was wrong.”

“Interesting,” Loki purred from where he sat, raising an eyebrow as a smirk played at the corner of his mouth. “Such noble words.”

“Spoken like a true warrior!” Thor raised his mug in cheer, tipping his head back to drain it fully before someone appeared to fill it once more.

“Hush, both of you.” Odin gave each god a glare before turning back to Stian. Huginn knew that Odin’s eyes were upon them, wondering what it was the two birds were going to do. Huginn, himself, was unsure of how to respond to such an apology and he turned to look at Muninn for guidance in this matter.

Muninn was staring directly at the man, his red eyes dimly glowing as he looked Stian over. Huginn didn’t sense the same hatred he had previously from the other raven; instead he felt only a reservation of judgement. Clacking his beak, Muninn leaned forward, hunching his shoulders and partially flaring his wings. “Why is it that we should forgive you for your selfishness when you were young? A fool is still a fool, even if he has had the gods’ protection.”

“Have you not gained all that we foretold,” Huginn hissed, stepping close to Muninn as his blue eyes flared in anger. “Were you not happy with the future you stole from us?”

“I was very happy, for a time.” Stian shook his head, his voice low and even. All around them voices roared with laughter and song; the other warriors enjoying the hot food and good drink. Yet, instead of joining them, Stian had first come to seek their forgiveness. “I soon found my happiness tasted bitter, like ash in my mouth, and I began to loathe the knowledge I knew.”

“So you harbored ill will toward us all these years?” Muninn hissed the words, pacing back and forth along the edge of the table. His eyes flared brightly and he cawed in rage at the human who still knelt before them. Huginn was grudgingly impressed at that. He had yet to even try and move from his vulnerable position at their feet.

“No,” Stian’s face dropped and he truly seemed taken aback by Muninn’s words. “No, Great Ravens, not at you. You did everything that I asked of you, even if it was through trickery and wrongful doing.”

Loki laughed before trailing off with a sigh, but otherwise remained silent where he sat. Neither Odin, nor Thor spoke at all as they watched. They all seemed to understand that this was between the two ravens and Stian and there was no need to interfere.

“Then what,” Huginn demanded, spreading his wings. “What caused you such grief that you could not even enjoy the spoils you ripped from us?”

“Myself,” Stian spoke plainly. “It was my own greed that took away the joy of the life that I lived. There were parts of it that I still found comfort in— my children for one —but knowing I would obtain fame and glory before I did so ended up not being as fulfilling as I thought it would when I asked it of you.”

“Ah,” Thor finally spoke up. “The Seer’s Curse. There is a reason they talk in riddles.”

“Only you came to the purest source. A source that doesn’t speak in the twisted tongue of the Seer’s game,” Loki added knowingly.

“What is it you are saying, Stian Raventhief,” Odin asked, head held high and voice rumbling with thunder. Huginn and Muninn twisted their heads back to look at their master, their anger slowly abating as they, themselves, wondered what it was that Stian was after.

“I am saying, I regret knowing what lay ahead of me and that I fear I may have missed some of life’s greatest lessons before my journey was complete.” Stian bowed his head once more. “And I beg for the Great Ravens forgiveness for my selfish acts when I was young. I thought myself clever when I was nothing but naïve and foolish.”

“Naïve and foolish is what you still are if you think your words alone can placate us.” Muninn raised his head high, looking down to Stian as the man lifted his head.

“You trapped us, humiliated us.” Huginn bobbed his head, weaving back and forth on his feet. “Demanded of us and now you want us to simply forgive that treachery?”

“I have nothing but my words left to offer you.” Stian’s voice remained low, his tone humble and apologetic.

“You have much to offer us,” Muninn hissed, eyes glowing brightly. “And we will take it.”

Huginn felt Muninn’s thoughts flood his mind and he jerked his head back as the idea struck him. He’d never thought of such a thing, but as he looked over to the other raven, he knew Muninn’s mind had been made up. Huginn stood with Muninn, nodding in his agreement to the other raven’s unvoiced words.

“We want your soul.” Muninn paced across the table, eyes trained on the crown on Stian’s head. “We demand payment and since we cannot have it in blood, we will take it in the only means we can.”

Stian looked up, eyes widening in hesitation before he licked his lips. “Whatever it is that I can offer you to make up for my wrongdoings, I will gladly give you, Great Ravens.”

Huginn narrowed his eyes as he studied the character of the soul that flowed through Stian as he knelt before them. Indeed, this truly wasn’t the same selfish human that had captured them long ago. He’d grown, he’d changed; Stian had matured. Despite having led the life of a brave warrior, he was honest and humble before them now as he waited for whatever judgement they were about to pass on him.

“We demand that you are to join our flock.” Muninn craned his head back as he spoke, eyes trained on Stian, who remained unmoving where he knelt.

The last word had barely left Muninn’s beak before Loki spoke up, interfering like he always did. “Excellent.” The tricker snapped his fingers, a resounding crack echoing throughout the hall, drawing everyone’s attention, including the ravens. For a moment there was absolute silence as everyone looked on. Loki grinned, feral and cat-like as he waved a hand to dismiss the entire occurrence. “It is done,” he commented, gesturing with his hand toward where the human had been.

When they turned back to Stian, a black raven stood before them, dark eyes looking up at the Great Ravens in horror and fear. Stian’s thoughts flooded Huginn and Muninn’s mind, as did the thoughts of all raven kind. Stian was unsure of how to react or what to think, his heart pounding in his chest and blood rushing through his veins.

Next to Huginn, Muninn’s aura hummed in approval and flooded with calmness as he directly spoke to Stian. “You should be thanking us, truly. You will be one of our many voices that watches over the human world.”

“The freedom this opportunity gives you is more than you deserve,” Huginn added, watching as Stian spread his wings and tested their movements. The two ravens looked on, a sense of foreign pride swelling in their chests as Stian took to the air, flying gracefully around the hall before disappearing into the rafters with the numerous other ravens that dwelled there when not out scouting across the world.

“He will remain that way until the Great Ravens feel they have been given their justice.” Loki’s voice was barely above a murmur; the soft spoken god grinning madly as he picked up his cup to take a drink. “Only their word can break that spell now.”

The leg of a goose was pointed directly at Loki as the thunder god yelled, voice ringing out across the hall. “What have you done to my champion?”

Loki raised his hands in mock-surrender, quietly going back to his meal even as a smirk made its way onto his pale features. Huginn and Muninn turned their attention to Thor. “Stian Tougard,” Thor firmly reminded the ravens. “Is my champion and you have no right to treat him this way.”

“The Raventhief,” Loki butted in once more. “Wanted to know his future and was granted the means to do so, the Great Ravens have every right as far as they are concerned.” The trickster chuckled despite the glare being cast his way by the thunder god.

“This was all your doing to begin with, Loki,” Thor spat at the other god. “Just stay out of it.” Thor waved a hand toward the rafters. “I think he has paid his due, by his own words, he regrets ever asking such things of you. Let my champion be free of your wrath, Great Ravens, and allow him to drink his fill at my father’s tables.”

Huginn and Muninn cawed in disdain at Thor’s demand. Huginn could feel an annoyance bubble through Muninn that matched his own, and was not surprised when the other raven spoke. “He is ours now and we will free him when we feel he has atoned for his wrongdoings.” Thor scowled at them, rising to his feet and jabbing a finger in their faces as he inhaled to speak.

“Do not think to sway us,” Huginn added, cutting off what they knew would be an attempt to change their minds. “He will remain ours until the end of time.”

“That is not fair,” the thunder god snapped, flinging a hand into the air. “He is one of my chosen, a great warrior, and he deserves the afterlife all Viking warriors receive.”

“He also sought out the Great Ravens and trapped them to gain that knowledge. Are you one to reward such selfish behavior, Thor?” Odin spoke up, casting his stern gaze toward his son.

“He humbled himself when he first approached your table, Father, asking for forgiveness.”

“And the ravens have not granted that.”

“Father—”

“Sit down and stop making a fool of yourself, Thor!” Odin’s voice cracked with thunder as he spoke. From their place on the table, Huginn and Muninn hissed, just as angry that the thunder god tried to gain what he was after by swaying Odin himself. “The ravens have spoken. Stian Tougard is theirs now.”

Thor slammed his mug down, splashing ale across the table, but he didn’t speak further, instead brooding in silent anger at his father’s side. Huginn and Muninn turned their attention to Stian, who perched in the rafters above the gods’ table, was already mingling with the other ravens that called Valhalla home. There was no need for them to speak as they both looked at the small raven.

Huginn and Muninn still felt a hatred toward him, most likely never forgiving what it was he had done to them. Already Stian’s voice was mixing with the rest of the flock and it wasn’t long before neither Huginn or Muninn could single out the once-human’s voice from the rest. The Raventhief was theirs, and would remain so, even after they fell from grace, as all gods did eventually.

#original work #long post #Norse mythology based #Huginn and Muninn #writing

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