Disclaimer: I do not own the His Dark Materials series.

A/N: Hey everyone! I've got another part of the story up. This is definitely turning out to be a little Marisa x Asriel along with the whole mother/daughter thing, but it seems very natural. We'll see where it goes, but here's what's in the here-and-now!

And thank you so much for all the reviews! I truly appreciate them, especially those who've stuck with this entire story so far. Keep all the reviews coming so that we can better shape and hone this story! Have a good day!

10.

Creatures Combined

"Where are we going?" Though it was a windy, barren sight of snow, rock, and ice, Mrs. Coulter had serious doubts that Asriel was taking them to Trollesund. The golden monkey lashed his tail in agreement, his fur starting to stand on end, and likewise, Mrs. Coulter felt a strange sort of chill grapple at her stomach.

"We're going somewhere safe for the time being." Glancing to look at him, Mrs. Coulter saw deep hostility nestled in Asriel's dark, sparkling eyes. "Thanks to you and your puppets, if I were to take one step into the town square of Trollesund, I would be shot and imprisoned immediately."

There it was: that mocking sense of sarcasm. Looking down at Lyra, whose little chest was slowly rising and falling in the midst of her sleep, Mrs. Coulter didn't want to admit how frustrated he made her feel. He had a sinister way of making himself seem superior and stronger than her; he had an audacious way of belittling her and showing dominance. As impressive as he was, she knew, so was she. Yet after all these years and all of Mrs. Coulter's triumphs, it didn't seem to even matter.

"Perhaps you hadn't considered that you would be safe if you arrived with me?"

"Oh, I indeed considered that." He paused to glare over at her. "And I also considered that you would take that opportunity to turn me in and proclaim self-defense."

"Ever so narrow minded, Asriel." Mrs Coulter couldn't help the snarl in her voice. It was as if nothing had changed; it was as if she were still that pretty, shallow-minded prize back at that party in Jordan. "I'm glad to see that you think so highly of me."

"I'm surprised you even need my validation. It's not exactly a secret how you've scorned and ruined me."

There was a strange hostility in the air now, colder than the wind and sharper than its sting. The golden monkey hissed at Stelmaria, whose ears folded back in the midst of her growl, and Mrs. Coulter felt her heart start to beat faster.

Sometimes, it seemed that she would never get anywhere with this man. He was so bold, so obnoxious, so selfish; so inconsiderate of the delicacies of things. He'd haunted her for the past fourteen years of her life, from their courting to this moment, and she always found herself coming just short of beating and mastering him.

Yet now, in the middle of a snowstorm with all of their lives on the line, she felt some kind of undeniable urge to break through to him. She didn't know why and she certainly didn't know how, but it seemed that all that mattered was that she make it clear how utterly helpless and harmless she can be.

"Asriel, I was… young." The words almost felt stuck in her throat. "I was… Not ready. For anything."

He was silent now, not looking at her yet not quite looking away.

"We were both young and we were both foolish. I was but twenty-three, and I didn't know how to handle it." She felt her breathing grow strained and some odd sensation tickle at her throat. "I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't mean for any of that to happen."

For the first time, it seemed, he was actually listening. Stelmaria's ears perked back up and Asriel turned his head towards her ever so slightly. "I know that, Marisa." He paused. "But it doesn't take anything back."

"What's happening?" Lyra lifted up her head, wincing as tears stemming from the cold fell and then froze on her cheeks. Mrs. Coulter quickly blinked and ran her frosted glove over her increasingly warm eyes. "Why en't we there yet?"

"Shh," said Mrs. Coulter, frowning slightly as Lyra nudged her away and sat up more fully, looking at her father.

"Lord Asriel, where are you taking us?"

"To a place right outside of Trollesund," came the curt response. Stelmaria peeked out from her perch beside Lord Asriel's left leg. "I'm afraid to say that your mother has made it impossible for our particular trio to return to the actual town."

Something jolted through Mrs. Coulter at the phrase "our particular trio." The golden monkey hissed at her, but she couldn't help but feel a strangely warm emotion at Asriel's combining the three of them. In a way, it was almost like he was admitting that they were a family, which they weren't in the most literal sense, but still. Why was she thinking all of these ridiculous thoughts?

"Yes, darling," said Mrs. Coulter, pulling Lyra to her in order to shield her face from the wind. Asriel was staring at her. "There's a bit of trouble going on with the Magisterium, but we'll work it out."

Pressed against Mrs. Coulter's chest, Lyra still didn't seem completely satisfied, but the cold seemed to be too intense for her to question anything. Pan changed into an ermine and curled up around her neck, and the two were fast asleep after a few minutes.

"You'll work it out, will you?" There was a hint of a challenge in Lord Asriel's voice.

Taking a deep breath, Mrs. Coulter looked up to gaze at him, her blues eyes stern yet soft. "No, Asriel. We will. We've got to stop attacking each other like this; we've got to start working as a team to make some progress."

He turned to look at her again, his dark eyes still hostile and distant, yet Mrs. Coulter caught a subtle change in the way he was looking at her. She couldn't quite figure out what it was, but somehow, it seemed encouraging.

"For Lyra?" she added, her eyes never leaving his.

After what seemed like ages, he finally turned away. "For Lyra."