Chapter 4: Reunion

"Shall I escort you, my lady?"

Vidarr held out a hand and gave a little bow. Embarrassed, Maren took his hand and curtsied in agreement. Maren's dress billowed behind her as she walked. The sash tied around her waist swished back and forth in rhythm of her walk. The sky had turned dark, shining with the brilliant stars. Vidarr led her out the door and Maren signaled for Gunner to follow.

"You're not going to bring the beast, are you?"

"It's Gunner, Father. And yes, I am. He's sure to turn some heads," Maren patted the warg's enormous muzzle with a hearty strength.

"You'll turn heads enough."

"I don't want them to look at my body, Father. I want them to see what I've accomplished while in the Wild Realm. Gunner will prove my worth and gain me the respect I deserve, not the body that I've grown into. That is of no importance to me," Maren scowled at her father.

"I'm sure you're likely to impress one of Odin's sons," Vidarr decided to save himself.

"Enough, Father," Maren shouted. She had had enough of the beauty treatment and had enough of being treated like a child. Neither spoke on their way up the steps to Odin's palace until they reached the top where they met a crowd of people. Not all of Asgard had shown up, only friends and family, all dressed in glorious ball gowns.

"Ready?"

"Absolutely not," Maren shivered but she kept her head held high and walked with certainty, able to hide her fear.

"At last! She arrives! The guest of honor, Maren, daughter of Vidarr!" Odin's voice boomed across the hall, causing everyone to turn toward Maren and begin applauding. There were many faces that she knew: Sif, Fandral, Hogun and Volstagg. Thor stood beside his father, taller and more built than she had left him so long ago.

Gunner reached the hall behind them, startling many of the party-goers, a few wielding their weapons to prepare to attack. The warg growled in response but Maren laid a hand on his side to calm him. Thor smiled, letting out a little laugh at the creature's arrival.

"It's okay, Gunner. We can do this. We'll be fine," Maren assured him. The beast ceased his growling while the party-goers sheathed their weapons. Maren, Vidarr and Gunner made their way across the hall through the crowd of people to Odin. Maren could hear whispers.

"What is that thing?"

"Is that her pet?"

"She certainly has grown up."

"She looks lovely."

The words made Maren blush in embarrassment. They reached Odin who opened his arms to her taking her in with an unreserved hug.

"Your presence has been greatly missed in these old halls and your return is most welcome. Please, enjoy your party. Mingle, and soon we will head off to feast," Odin looked down at her with great pride. Maren returned the look before turning to Thor.

"It is very good to see you again, Maren," Thor hugged her.

"It's good to see you, too but…where is your brother?" Maren's eyes darted across the room for Loki's slicked back dark hair and his harsh blue eyes.

"He'll be here," Thor eyes, too, searched for his brother. When Maren brought her attention back to him he brushed off his angry expression and smiled brightly.

"Shall we mingle, as my father says?" Thor's hand guided her waist back down to the audience. The two joined the group, smiling gratefully for their attendance but the faces were turned away, engrossed in their own conversations. Gunner pushed his way past the crowds to catch up with Maren. Maren smiled and hugged the beast's muzzle with an arm.

"He's quite an amazing creature and has seemed to take a liking to you," Thor commented, eyeing Gunner with a respect.

"He is a good friend," Maren beamed at Gunner, scratching behind his ear.

"He is magnificent! How did you come past him in the Wild Realm?" Sif butted into the conversation.

"Yes! This is a story that must be told!" Volstagg joined the group, shortly followed by Fandral and Hogun.

"I-I'd rather not talk about it," Maren scooted away from the group, turning toward a side hallway.

"Maren, please come back!" Vidarr noticed her rushing off. Maren looked up to where she was fleeing to. Her eyes found the icy skies of Loki's eyes. She halted, throwing her braids over her shoulders. She was frozen to the spot, unsure of how to react as was he, so it seemed. His eyes widened, lips slightly parted. A small smile grew across his face as he looked at Maren with creased eyebrows that made him look sorrowful. There was sadness in his eyes as though he had been emotionally hurt by her appearance.

"I apologize for my tardiness, I-," Loki could not get the words out as Maren ran into his arms, flinging herself onto him and wrapping her arms over his shoulders, "Well, then. I've missed you, also," he laughed, returning the hug.

"Where've you been?" Maren spoke into his shoulder, refusing to let go.

"I could ask you the same thing," Loki laughed.

Maren pulled away looking sad, "Really Loki…Where were you?"

"I-I'll talk with you later tonight…We have company," Loki looked up with a serious face at the group that started to swarm in their direction.

"Brother! It is about time!" Thor patted Loki on the back with a strong hand, "The feast is about to start. Come!"

The group oozed its way to the dining hall where food had flooded the golden table. Everyone took their seats, Loki across from Maren, Vidarr to her left, Thor to her right and Odin at the head of the table.

"Everything looks delicious," Vidarr smiled, digging in.

"Eat, Maren!" Thor spoke through a mouthful of food.

Maren looked up and down the table, at the people and the food. She had not seen so much food in one place for a long time nor so many people. She smiled at them all, turning back to Loki who she noticed was watching her in amusement. Her smile got bigger when she caught him smiling at her and she turned away, blushing. She could not understand why, though. Everyone was laughing and conversing with one another around Maren. She listened on their conversations over battles and politics, fashion and far away realms. Thor was becoming restlessly drunk beside her.

"You know, Maren, you are definitely not the raggedy little girl I once played alongside when we were young. Look at you! Look at you, now! You are stunning! Beautiful!"

"And you are drunk," Maren replied snidely. Everyone laughed at her joke as Thor receded.

There was a sudden clamor at the head of the table as Odin clanged his fork to his goblet of ale and the room went quiet.

"I would like to thank you all for coming here this evening," Odin stood gaining the entire table's attention, "to honor our brave and beautiful Maren, daughter of Vidarr who has returned to us today from the Wild Realm after being there for a very, very long time."

The room laughed at this. Maren, however…did not.

"I would like to congratulate Maren for her great accomplishments in the Wild Realm and coming back with a warg!" Odin continued. Maren turned behind her, watching Gunner sleeping as his tail brushed against her legs.

"Maren," Odin looked down to her, "Before you had left, I felt you were like a daughter to me with no disrespect to your family, of course. You have come back to us now and I want you to know that you are always welcome in the palace of Odin and that even if you have changed since going away to the Wild Realm, you are still like a daughter to me. So…enjoy this day that is yours, Maren and may you live a long and happy life, my dear."

As Odin sat, the rest of the table clapped except for Maren who blushed and hid her face beneath her hair. She looked up at Loki, who winked at her when he knew he had caught her eye. She smiled slightly. Music suddenly started from the orchestra behind Odin. People stood in pairs as they made their way to the open space beside the long dining table. People began to dance. Maren was entranced by their movements as dress gowns flowed like silk in the rhythm of the music. The women were elegant and she had only hoped at that point someone had taught her how to dance.

"How 'bout a go?" Loki's voice startled her from behind. She turned to see him…and Gunner at an aggressive stance, rearing to growl and his eyes focused on the tall unknown.

"I've no idea how to dance," Maren laughed.

"Couldn't be too hard, now can it?" Loki held out his hand.

"Come now, Maren! Do not disappoint my brother! He's only waited his whole life for you to come home!" a drunk Thor butted into their conversation.

Maren stood, taking Loki's hand. Gunner started to growl.

"Gunner, stop that! Go back to sleep," Maren brushed the creatures face before walking off to the dance floor.

Loki took Maren's waist once they made it to the open floor and the two began to dance most effortlessly with Loki leading Maren gently.

"Is he always like that?" Loki asked.

"He's just jealous," Maren laughed.

"Are you enjoying your party?"

"Honestly…"

"I thought not."

"I missed you."

Loki's smile was hesitant and sweet as he looked down at their synchronized footsteps. He was blushing and Maren saw it. He looked back up, his eyes meeting hers with an intense stare.

"You have no idea," the words escaped between the breathy laughter.

"Let's get out of here," Maren stopped.

"What?"

"Let's ditch this place. I've almost forgotten the palace and its halls. Let's go on an adventure!" Maren's voice was almost childish in nature, her eyes brimming with excitement and an eager lightheartedness. Loki took up her hand in his and the two snuck off unnoticed, smiling slyly.

They rushed down the empty hallways, turning into a round room that had towering ceilings where their quiet laughter travelled and got lost. Loki stopped suddenly in the room, looking up at the ceiling and smiling as he panted from running. His chest rose and fell with each heavy breath. Maren watched him a ways off. She walked toward him.

"I've so many questions, Loki. How so much has changed…and some things have not…" Maren was in arms-length from him, "I don't know where to start."

"At the beginning, would be nice," Loki did not take his attention away from the ceiling, his neck stretched back, revealing the delicate dip in his collar bone. Her eyes traced the edges of his face.

"Had you forgotten me?" Maren's smiles faded and Loki brought his attention back down to her.

"Not a day. Even if I tried, I could not," Loki responded, his eyebrows creased into frustrated wrinkles.

"Then why were you late?" Maren's frown only increased with his response.

"I-I was scared," he looked at her, concerned, "How was I to know if you were to come back to me? Many a day I believed you to be dead and I tried to force myself to move on. So many years had gone by…I…only missed you more each day that passed."

Loki looked down with sad eyes, only to retreat his gaze back to her lavender eyes. His eyebrows had changed direction making him look almost pathetic. Maren moved closer, placing a soft hand on the right side of his face with great delicacy as she felt him almost break under the pressure of her hand. He closed his eyes, drinking in the moment.

"I've spent many a lonely year thinking I would not see this face again and I will not let it escape me," Maren slowly stood up on her toes, leaning her face up toward his. Her lips pressed gently against his. Loki reciprocated the kiss, wrapping his arms gently around her waist, pulling her in. Her body was pressed against his as their lips greeted each other with care. Their overwhelmed hearts raced to the distant music heard back in the dining hall. The two separated, keeping their eyes closed and held on tightly to the moment.