Time seemed to slow down. You felt Loki's tense body next to yours standing close to you as you watched the dark and large figure of the beast in front of you. It snarled showing its white and sharp teeth while a deep gurgling sound came from its chest. It lifted a clawed hand towards you as the thick fog slowly left the area around the boat in a fifteen feet radius. You could only watch the beast reach for you and Loki's grip tighten on your arm when suddenly something pulled or more like pushed the beast off of the boat making it swing wildly again. You gasped as you could breathe again and looked to the side where the beast and the blur which pulled it disappeared.

'What was that?!' asked Sif but before any of you could answer her you heard splashing and gurgling on the left side. Loki sent a globe light over the water so you could make out the hairy beast and its enemy. The beast had glowing red eyes and deathly teeth and claws while the one who fought it seemed to be hairy as well but… somewhat less hairy. It looked human enough by the form of its limbs. You could smell blood but you couldn't look away. You heard one of them howl and whine painfully and watched as the beast which jumped on your boat retreated with a large wound on its side onto the shore of the river. Thor was the first to approach the side of the boat after none of you could see the other creature.

'Hrrr-erl…p' it gurgled as it slowly started sinking into the water. You hurried over to the side too and grabbed its large hairy hand but you weren't strong enough to keep it. You started falling over the boat's side but a pair of strong hands grabbed you while Thor grabbed your savior and pulled it into the boat with gritted teeth. It was more a he. He had hairy body, which was well built, yellow claws on his hand instead of nails while his face was somewhat animalistic but held similar features to humans.

'What is he?' asked Loki furrowing his eyebrows.

'Maybe the legends were true…' you said quietly still not believing your eyes. 'He must be one of the beasts of the Arthras.'

'You mean werewolves' corrected Sif looking skeptically at your savior. You placed a gentle hand on his chest your hand glowing slightly and soon he started coughing water and blood. Thor helped him sit up while you looked at his injuries. There was a large cut across his side and one over his thigh and several more, smaller bruises along his torso and neck. You went to search for your potions and herbs and when you found them you turned back to the wounded werewolf and started applying them gently. He hissed at the contact but you could calm him down with your mind as you reached for him. I'm trying to help. Stay still.

He stopped fidgeting so you could have better access to his wounds and soon you were bandaging him with gauze.

'Thanks…' said clearly and humanly your new companion. All of your eyes widened at that not expecting him to know how to speak. He chuckled revealing his sharp teeth a bit. 'I do know how to speak your language. Not elven but human language.'

'Why did you help us?' asked Loki suspicion in his voice.

'Grum was going to kill you' he answered. 'And he is one of my enemies.'

'You have more than one?' quirked an eyebrow your Trickster. You wanted to smack him in the arm for his rudeness but you were curious too.

'I… am… something like your kings are… even if I do not call myself a king… I only lead my pack and try to protect them.' shrugged the werewolf.

'Grum, as you called him looked more animalistic than you. You don't have as much fur as he has' you frowned making him chuckle again.

'There are types of werewolves. A long, long time ago a werewolf met a human and they fell in love. Their children became the half-bloods. The half-bloods had children with humans or other werewolves. Grum is from the ancients while I am only a quadroon.' explained your new companion. 'My name is Royd. Nice to meet you.'

'We should learn more about your species… our nations could work together, help each other' you couldn't help but ask him to let you know about his species more. You were always eager for knowledge and your curiosity was something you couldn't shush. Royd decided to let you have the knowledge of his origins and his nation's but refused to create and alliance between your nations.

'You can always pass, I will make sure in the near future to not have any atrocities like today's but my nation needs to be hidden from humans and elves. It will help both of us to keep the peace we have now.' told you Royd to your disappointment but you nodded with understanding and kept asking him about the history of werewolves. What you failed to notice was Loki's irritated expression and his glare on you and Royd.

A few hours later Thor asked if Royd would be able to leave your boat and let him go back to his pack so you had to check his wounds. You examined them again and told the werewolf lord that he needs to wait for at least two days. He was healing faster than a normal person would and it was fascinating and surprising at the same time.

'I hope I can heal faster… I need to get back to my pack' he sighed heavily. 'My wife is expectant… she can have the pups soon.'

'I do what I can' you smiled at him reassuringly. 'If you want I can use my magic-'

'Please, do not' he shook his head in dismissal. 'My species are not compatible with your elven magic.'

'How do you know?' you asked furrowing your eyebrows in confusion.

'That is… something I wish to not share with anyone' he looked away from you hurt showing on his features. You sighed and nodded. You still had a long journey in front of you to make before you reached Ellesméra.

In the coming days while Royd stayed with you he only took as much food as he could survive with which was not too much. He was polite and had an aura around him of a big brother who would always protect the smaller ones. Soon the day came when he was healed enough to travel on his own. You took off his bandages and checked for the last time his wounds.

'Thank you for your kindness, my friends' bowed deeply the werewolf before he stepped out of your boat at the shore you stopped. You waved at him as the others nodded him their goodbyes except Loki who just crossed his arms and waited impatiently for you to continue your journey. As Royd disappeared in the fog and Thor pushed the boat back onto the water you turned to Loki with furrowed eyebrows.

'What is it with you?' you asked placing your hands on your hips.

'What do you mean?' asked the Trickster back.

'You were a jerk with him' you pointed to the now fading shore of the river. 'Do you have a grudge against werewolves?'

'I do not have anything against the beast' huffed your Trickster and turned away from you.

'Then what is your problem? You are not talking to me since he arrived!' you couldn't help but get angry at his actions. Since Royd saved your lives Loki kept ignoring you. You missed how he used to embrace you, how his hands touched yours or how his lips met yours.

'Merely because I have nothing to say to you!' snapped Loki turning back to you his handsome face scowling.

'Oh, well, I think we have a lot of things to share because we lost so many years!' you yelled back at him.

'Who left me behind not even sharing what was happening truly?!' yelled back at you Loki.

'You would've done the same thing! All of us know that you would've gone to war without a word for Asgard! This is my home! I was raised to fight for my home and that is what I should do as the crown princess of Ellesméra!' you cried out tears pricking at your (e/c) eyes as you watched his angry expression. You took a deep breath and continued now quieter. 'Believe me when I say that I would've gone back to you. I would've betrayed what I had for you and I cannot count how many times I regretted coming home for that battle. If I would've stayed in Asgard Srunugr would still live.'

You sighed heavily and walked down to the boat's only cabin used for storage food and water and sat down on the ground curling up in a ball with a warm blanket. You couldn't believe that Loki still couldn't move on from that topic. Couldn't he forgive you for leaving him to protect your home? Was he really that selfish? But it didn't matter. You already felt guilty for leaving him behind and you would always forgive him no matter what he done.

Loki's PoV.

He watched as (Name) stormed into the cabin of the boat with a blunt pain in his chest. He felt bad for using that card against her again and again. He sounded selfish for always whining about it. Loki punched a barrel placed on the side in his anger before he walked to the back of the boat. Thor and Sif just ignored him knowing it wouldn't do any good if they would say a word.

As time passed and the four of them arrived at the end of the Arthras and into the Alagaësian lands the days became brighter by the sun and the fog was left far behind. The air was warm and smelled good because of the flowers here and there in the grass, birds were chirping happily and sometimes they could see a deer or a fox near by the river.

(Name) still ignored Loki at most times but she was acting the same with Thor and Sif. She hid in a shell and hid her true feeling and her smiles. Loki missed her cheerful giggles and smiles, how her eyes smiled with her kissable lips but most of all he missed her touch, her lips on his and her body pressed against his. He felt miserable not being able to touch her and not even getting her attention even just for a moment. The God of Mischief wanted to apologize to her but she walked away or started making conversation with Sif or Thor whenever Loki tried to speak to her. He messed up and he was angry at himself but the jealousy he felt during those days Royd was present was something he couldn't suppress. He couldn't stand imagining (Name) in another man's arms smiling happily at him.

They almost arrived at the lake called Eldor when he had enough of this. It was dark already all of them in their sleeping bags or blankets. (Name) was sleeping alone in the cabin when the door slowly opened quietly and closed behind Loki. Tonight he will apologize to her and never let go of her again.

To be continued…