The next installment in my Marvel story series. If you have not read my others they are Through the Years and Echoes and Memories. You do not need to read them before this one but if you want to follow my story series then you should read those first - Dust motes
Maryn walked behind her mother as they stepped out of the Bifrost and onto the Rainbow Bridge; head bowed, hands clasped in front of her. The warm wind wafting off of the sea beneath the bridge tugged at her long black dress and the veil hiding her face from the world. Heimdall had allowed them and their delegation entrance into Asgard where they were met by a handful of the palace guards who were escorting them to an audience with the Allfather, Odin. Slowing her pace a little, the petite brunette tried to change her stance enough to relieve the aching in her ribs and left hip but it was no use. Happy that no one could see the bruises on her face because of the thick black veil she was forced to wear, she continued now but a few steps behind her mother the queen. They were met by the Allfather's captain of the guard halfway across the bridge and offered the use of a skiff for her and her mother and horses for their delegation to use. The ride to the palace was tense, Coros having refused the horse and made sure he was able to ride in the skiff with Maryn and her mother so that they couldn't ask anything of the king's captain.
Once at the palace, they disembarked, the delegation a few steps behind; and moved toward the entrance of the palace's great hall. They were stopped by the Allfather's captain and told they were to meet Odin, Frigga and their two sons in a small meeting room off of the main throne room.
Hearing this Coros pulled Maryn and her mother aside, "If you try anything to have the Allfather question me it will not be a beating your precious daughter receives this time." He hissed.
Swallowing, Queen Nia nodded. "Of course, Lord Coros." She murmured before taking Maryn's hand and leading her toward the heavy golden doors of the meeting room where the Allfather's guards and his captain stood waiting silently, just out of earshot. Once inside the opulent room filled with gold, velvets and rich colours, Maryn and her mother made their way silently toward where Odin sat, Frigga to his right and his two sons to his left.
"Welcome, Queen Nia and your delegation." Odin's deep voice reverberated around the room as he and his wife stood from their thrones and bowed from the waist to Maryn and her mother.
The two women stopped before Odin and his family and curtsied silently. Before Maryn had taken a breath she and her mother dropped to their knees. "We ask for sanctuary, Allfather." A wave of power surged from Nia and Maryn knew that Coros and his men were frozen in place. "He has killed my husband and now uses my daughter against me to force me to pass his agendas into law. My people suffer, my lord."
Maryn flinched as a choked scream rent the air and Nia's spell broke throwing Maryn, Nia, Frigga and Loki to the ground.
"Dead witch!" Coros yelled. His power dragged Nia to her feet and across the golden flag stones to his grasp. With a loud snap she fell at his feet, her eyes lifeless and staring and her body twisted unnaturally.
Maryn screamed as she struggled to her feet. She ripped the veil from her face and stared at the man who had taken everything from her. His body froze mid step and his gaze snapped to hers. "You will see my face as you die!" her hand fisted at her side and twisted away from her body. "You are not worthy of your magic." His body jerked, a splatter of blood across his lips the only sign of what she had taken from him.
"You will die too." He gurgled and grabbed for something on his belt. His hand shot out and a small golden orb clattered across the cold floor. It rolled to a stop and cracked open, black smoke leaking out of it.
Two pairs of soft hands grabbed Maryn and pulled her back, "Please, my Lady, it will kill you."
In her rage Maryn barely recognised the gentle voice of her handmaiden, Tora. "You have taken everything from me, Coros. And now you will lose everything you hold dear." A blast of magic pulsed through the room but did nothing to harm Coros or dissipate the black smoke leaking from the cracked golden ball.
Coros smiled, "You will be the one that dies, little witch, and then I will have everything." The smoke started to affect Maryn, stealing her breath and strength. She fell to her knees, her magic starting to ebb from her body.
"Loki, contain the spell and destroy it! Before it kills her." Frigga ordered from where she stood trying to hold Maryn up even as she felt the effects of the spell herself.
All Maryn saw was Loki stepping in front of her. Moments later, in a glow of emerald light, the ball and black spell disappeared and she was left gasping.
She saw Coros step forward but with a flash of lightening and a crack of thunder, he was but remnants of ash. In the deafening silence that followed, Maryn pulled away from the gentle hands holding her up and curled in on herself, tears falling from her large grey eyes as she stared at her mother's body.
"My lady?" Tora murmured tearfully, placing her hand on Maryn's arm.
The princess gasped in pain, pulling away at the contact.
"Drop the glamour from your face." the darker of the two princes ordered stepping forward from his brother's side.
Maryn lifted her agony filled gaze to his and let the glamour slip from her face revealing her split lip, grazed cheek and black eye. "Now you see me, my Lord." She said with a cold smile. "Does it please you?" she forced her battered body to push to her feet and stood swaying before the tall, dark prince. "Does it make what I did just?"
"Enough!" Odin ordered as he stepped from his throne and stood at his wife's side. "You will have sanctuary here on Asgard and our protection. Your mother warned me of Coros' betrayal. That is why you are here to marry my son. It's why Coros had to die, and it's why your mother sacrificed herself for you." He nodded to his sons, "Take her to the healers and then to her new quarters. We will talk when you are well, Lady Maryn."
Realising she was being dismissed, Maryn moved to curtsy only to feel feint and then everything went dark and she collapsed, unconscious.
Loki moved quickly when he saw the small woman before him sway. He caught her before she hit the ground and swung her up into his arms before turning on his heel and starting toward the infirmary, Thor and the princess's blonde handmaiden in tow.
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Maryn awoke to golden pictures and symbols wavering above her. She looked away from the Soul Forge projection to see Tora standing beside the examination table where she lay.
"My Lady, you have awoken. Your betrothed will be glad to hear it. He was worried you had expended too much energy using your magic as you did."
Maryn turned her face away from her closest friend, "You should have let me die." She whispered brokenly, a solitary tear sliding out of the corner of her eye and into her chestnut curls.