Half-way through the night, Glorfindel had joined them at their dinner table, and it switched from her answering questions about her life, to the two elf lords exchanging embarrassing stories about one another that at one point had her in tears, though a large part of that could have been the wine she was sipping a small bit at a time. Loki had switched it out for a sweet white that was much less strong than Thranduils concoction, though it still relaxed her all the same. Apparantly the lords had a history of pranking one another, and had a wealth of tales to tell. Loki stayed mostly silent, though she could see him quirking his lips every once in a while.
"Megaloceros took forever to forgive you after that little accident! ""Glorfindel crowed at his friend, slamming down his barely empty glass. "You really should have known better than to trust that trap of yours!" He turns to Ashley, giving her a wink and refilling his drink. "He thought he would set up a bucket of fresh berry juice to drench me as I walked though the barn door, instead he drops it all over his giant elk, who ends up blue and purple stained for four months. Megaloceros bucked him off nearly every time he rode for three years after that."
Ashley giggled as Thranduil rolled his eyes at his friend, leaning back and swirling his wine glass. "It doesn't change the fact that he never let you ride him at all, he had more sense than that. Not after the shaving incident with the horses."
"Good grief, you two sound worse than most of my pack, and they're all teen-agers. Well, except for Loki and Derek, that is. Do you at least think before you rush into things, or do you need babysitters too? "
Loki does snort at that, loudly, not looking apologetic in the slightest when the two look over at him. "What? After being stuck being the sense with Thor and his merry band of idiots for so long, it's nice to hear someone else get lambasted. Though, from what I hear, you run into danger quite a bit yourself." The last part he says to Ashley, who stops giggling and flushes, pink in the cheeks. "Not that I had to hear it either, I was with you in New York, remember? "
"Oh, this I have to hear. " Thranduil says, Glorfindel next to him leaning forward in anticipation. "Does it happen to go along with why Lord Odin let you free? "
"Yes, which means you know a good portion of it. " Loki replies with a side glance towards the two elves. "What you probably didn't hear is that she jumped into the middle of a battle with the Chitari to help guide a group of children to safety. However, that ended with her running back for a child who tripped, then shielding all of us from the attack fire until our backup arrived in the form of her stalwart, pagan hating Angel friends."
"Hey now, the only one who dislikes pagans is Lucifer, not that it means anything. " She says quietly, cheeks still red and looking down at her plate, the wine making her strangely shy.
Thranduil quirked an eyebrow at the two of them as Glorfindel sang her praises, standing up to join Thor and his group roaring drinking songs with a clearly uncomfortable Jane. "A noble reason to jump into danger for sure, but what do you mean, she shielded all of you? Were you cornered while she fought them off? And where were you during this time? Letting a female do your fighting for you? "
She stops Loki before he can retort, the sharp glint in his eyes promising the whip of his tongue the best way he knows how. " For your information, Loki was trying to heal one of the children that was shot by the Chitari. " She says, standing shakily to her feet and looking Thranduil dead in the face. "Loki doesnt need anyone to fight for him, though I don't ever mind fighting with him. And I'm honestly not sure what I did, or how I did it, but I was able to raise some sort of barrier around us that blocked everything. " She loses some of her confidence, and looks over to Loki for a minute, giving a miniscule smile before glancing back. "I don't remember most of it clearly to be honestly, and I slept a solid 8 hours as soon as I dropped it. Another surprise from my Angel boys. Loki, do you mind escorting me back to my room? I'm feeling a bit tired. Goodnight, Lord Thranduil. Thank you for an entertaining dinner. "
Thranduil stood up as Loki took her by the arm, giving a tiny bow. "Goodnight my Lady. Sleep well." As Loki leads her away there is a contemplative look on his face, and he tunes out the loudness of his fellows around him, wondering how he could possibly procede from here and wishing his sons travel party was here already. Everything would just be easier if it was, though at the same time just as difficult.
( )*
Once she was safe in her guest room, Ashley got comfortable in her sleep shorts and tank top, the wine slowly leaving her system but leaving her running a bit hot. However, as she laid in the bed to try and sleep, it just seemed to ellude her, and she tossed and turned for who knows how long, Gwen next to her and burrowing next to her every time she moved. Generally she could sleep easily after a couple of glasses of wine, but for some reason there was a current of something echoing through her body, something she really hoped wasn't her grace acting up again. It was almost a call, though where it wanted her to go, she wasn't sure, and she wished it would stop and let her rest.
As she finally thinks she is drifting off, there is a loud bang and she sits up sharply, Gwen tumbling off her chest with a surprised yip. Thinking it was at first someone pounding on her door, she jumps when it sounds again, finally recognizing it for the thunder it was. Sighing in relief, a part of her at first was glad that it was simply the start of a storm, and she walked to the balcony to open up the doors, walking through and seeing the lightening make the sky glow, practically touching the water beyond. Another part of her thought it was strange, having a storm in a place like this, though with having a god of thunder it really shouldn't be.
However, as she stares out at the brewing storm, she feels the current running through her again, along with a very slight pull this time. She tries to ignore it, but before she realizes what she is doing she is sneaking through the halls of the palace, still in her sleep shorts, Gwen padding behind her silently. She doesn't even have shoes on as walks, evading guards even though she is a guest at the moment, finding herself in the gardens leading out into the city and the docks. As the thunder belts out again out of the blue she yelps, looking around to see if anyone heard her. Seeing the shadow of a guard approaching she looks around for a hiding place.
Suddenly a hand grabs her and yanks her back into a dark corner, picking her up and sitting her down on a marble railing while at the same time covering her mouth with a large hand, stopping any more noise from escaping. Panicking, she jolts her head up and looks up into the amused eyes of Thranduil, who places his pointer finger over his lips and smiles at her, and they both wait there in silence as the guard passes by, her heart beating a mile a minute. As the footsteps finally stop echoing, he takes his hand off of her mouth, mirth dancing in his eyes as he takes her in. "What do you think you're doing? " She hisses at him, jumping slightly and the thunder once again rolls.
"I believe that should be my question. We may both be guests here, but you are the only one sneaking about, dressed like that no less. Is this the heighth of Midgardian fashion? "As he says this, she becomes very aware of the fact that not only is she wearing next to nothing, but he is standing extremely close to her, for once nearly at eye level with him since he placed her on the railing. Swallowing hard, she self consciously adjusts her tank top, trying to ignore his smirk as she feels the current, stronger out here.
"I... really wasn't thinking when I left my room. I was trying to sleep but my mind kept running, and I felt... something, urging me out. "
Thranduil lifts her gently off the railing and places her back on the ground, checking around both corners before pulling both of them out of the shadows and towards a corner close to the exit, where they likely won't be seen even with his height. She notices that he isn't wearing his usual robe, but instead a darker one left open, a tunic, long boots up to his knees and a pair of leather pants, making him look more casual than last she saw him. "So you followed an urge to leave your room, dressed like that, with no shoes, and felt the need to avoid the royal guards?"
"It sounds stupid when you say it like that." Ashley says with a blush, wishing she had in fact dressed more for walking about, as Gwen sits next to her feet, waiting to see where they will go next, having already relieved herself in one of the bushes and left a tiny smoking black area of grass.
"On the contrary, I merely am curious as to what kind of urge you're feeling to make you venture out like that. Things happen differently here than you are used to, are you sure the urge is benevolent? " Ashley pauses at that, having not even considered that in the first place, which considering everything that she had seen with the Winchesters was pretty dumb of her. She starts walking towards the garden exit, looking out and seeing the dock off in the distance, and the beach, Gwen following her, as well as Thranduil.
"I think so? I've kind of learned to follow my instincts with this kind of thing, especially since my friends decided to gift me a couple of things. While it can sometimes get me into trouble... usually the trouble is worth it. " As she stares out towards the water, bolts of lightning streak across the sky, and the thunder rocks again. Tiny droplets of water start hitting the ground, and she gives a shiver.
"So what do you think it is then? " He asks curiously, looking out with her.
"I'm not sure. All I can do is follow it I suppose, and hope for the best."
"Well, I suppose, considering your current state of dress and lack of escort, I should accompany you. " He says loftily, smirking as she throws him a look. "It isn't as if Prince Loki is here to do so, and any guards we might run across should be discouraged from accosting you if I am there."
"So you're going to protect little ole me? " She asks sarcastically, rolling her eyes at him but grinning all the same. "I have to say, the way Loki described all of you, you were all going to Lord over me, being the superior beings and all that jazz. Hell, I've seen it from the Asgardians for sure, it's one of the reasons I've mainly stayed in my rooms, and I'm really not looking forward to any one on one time with Sif and the warriors three."
"I don't blame you in the slightest. Asgardians are a vain bunch. And yes, I understand the irony of that coming from myself. Their rigid belief in their way being the best way, especially when it comes to war, and following the path laid out for you. I was like that once, and learned the hard way that it's better to be more flexible. It led to me making peace with someone I once considered an enemy, and welcoming their refugees to my home lands. " Ashley glances over at him, at the serious look on his face, and he gives a self depricating smile at her. "Even those as old as myself can learn to forgive and change. "
There is another loud rumble, and she frowns at the incoming weather. "Is it normal to have storms here? Loki led me to believe this was an annoyingly idealic place, weather included, and this just doesn't sit right, somehow. "
"Normally he would be right, though Asgard does get the occasional rain. However, with the convergence approaching, the weather will be strange everywhere, storms where there shouldn't be, eclipses, that sort of thing, along with the portals opening throughout the realms. It won't last too much longer, however. Why, are you scared of a little storm? I could escort you back if you like, no need to follow strange urges. "
As she goes to reply, she feels a bolt run through her, one that makes her hair stand on end, an unknown terror splashing her body like an ice bath. Whipping her head back towards the water her eyes widen as a huge bolt of lightning hits something in the distance, fear running through her as the signs of a fire is barely visible from where she is. She can't fathom why it would cause her so much distress, but the urge to head towards it grows, a slight burning from her grace mark now emerging. As her feet slowly start moving towards the docks, her mind races, trying to figure out what she is missing. A whining from next to her has looking down at Gwen, long bushy tail tucked between her legs as they move, thunder and lightning all around them.
Looking at the tail, wolfish in nature from Gwaine fathering her, it suddenly hits her as the fire grows in size, even from this distance.
Fenris. The lightning had struck his island, and it was now burning. Burning, and he couldn't move to get away from it.
"No... " She whispers out loud, and before she knows it her feet are pounding over the stone road down towards the water, Gwen following beside her. There is a faint ache in her feet but she ignores it, eyes on nothing but the fire growing slowly larger. Thranduil curses and follows after her, long legs catching up to her with ease, not understanding what is causing her distress but knowing he can't leave her alone in this, not in this weather, dressed as she is with nothing to protect her. Though, as he runs alongside her, he senses a faint power coming from her, hidden deep but trying to emerge, so perhaps not helpless.
As she makes it to the edge of the water, feet throbbing, she realizes her grace is pressing against her as well, and though the two tiny bits have melded together have grown, she can feel definate remenants of the men, the angels that gave it to her. Lucifer, the distress of any being trapped and caged with fire, and Gabriel, the injustice of being trapped and pinned down for a crime that hadn't been thought of, much less commited, and both pulsed that she needed to get to that island right now. However, the problem now lay in the fact that she had no idea how to drive one of the boats, which was the only way to the island, and while she could faintly see the blue lines of grace on her, she also knew a controlled transport would be a no go.
"Why are we here? " Thranduil asks as he stops beside her, not at all out of breath, though his hair is slightly askew. "As lovely a view this is, it's not the time for sight seeing. Are you going to be allright?" He pauses, noticing the pale blue lights going in and out on her skin, once again feeling the rush of trapped power.
"I need to get to the island! " She replies in distress, pacing back in forth against the waters edge. "I can feel him, he doesn't like it, it keeps growing closer and he can't get away! "
"Who? " He asks, confused at the change of pace.
"Fenris! They put him there for no reason, the only crime he commited was being strong, and fierce, so they trapped him here and left him to rot, and now his home is on fire! I need to get to him! " As she says this last part she turns to him, tears in her eyes, eyes now partially glowing celestial blue and gold as she looks up pleadingly at him. "Please, can you help me get there? "
Wiping away one of her tears, he looks down at her with more concern than she would have thought from the ages old being. "Even if I wanted to, I can't drive these boats, they require a crystal to start in the first place. I also would suggest swimming, these waters can get dangerous, and not worth your life to try."
"Damnit! " She kicks the sand, smearing the tears on her face and narrowly missing Gwen, who jumps out of the way and runs back towards her, nuzzling her leg and whining. Ashley looks down and bends, letting her lick her hand before frowning at the little hellhound. The hellhound that keeps popping into places she should without a care in the world. "Gwen." She kneels down on the ground, looking Gwen in the face. "Do you remember going to see Fenris? The big wolf? We need to get to him but can't use the boats, do you think you can take us there? " Gwen stares at her, contemplating almost, before giving an excited yip and wagging her tail furiously.
Ashley stands up decisively and looks to Thranduil, holding out her hand. "You said you were going to be my escort. Are you going to follow me there as well? Or are you one of those too scared of the big bad wolf? "
Thranduil stares her down, eyes resolute and fierce, before rolling his own and taking her hand and pulling her close. "Why do I feel like you're going to be more trouble than I counted on?" He mumurs quietly as Gwen jumps into Ashley's arms, and before he knows it the hellhound pups eyes glow red, before a heat engulfs his entire body, and between one blink and another the heat becomes very real as fire surrounds the three of them on all sides, right beside them a gigantic wolf largest than any warg, pinned to the ground by a sword through the snout.
Ashley cries out and pulls towards Fenris, however, Thranduil holds her back. When she turns to him in confusion, he shakes his head silently, before grabbing the bottom of his robe and ripping a long strip of it off and tying it around her face, covering her mouth from smoke inhalation, before finally letting her go. Ashley nods in thanks before pulling away, walking over and kneeling down to Fenris, Gwen already there and crying for him, nuzzling his foot. Thranduil watches for a moment before turning to the fire, wondering how he got himself into the mess with her again. He spies some large broken branches and makes to try and hold the fire back somehow, after trying another strip around his own face.
Ashley kneels down to look onto the tired eyes of Fenris, fresh blood on his snout as he had lowered himself down on the sword so he could lay down, smoke not as thick close to the ground. "What are you doing here again girl? " He growls softly, looking her in the eyes. "Wasn't one visit enough? Come to see me burn to a Crisp? Suffocate just enough to suffer from the smoke?"
"I told you last time, I don't want to see you suffer. " She says in return, wiping the blood from his snout tenderly. "I'm here to help. There's no Loki here this time to stop me. "
"Ha! " Fenris laughs harshly, eyes narrowing at her. "How can you possibly help me? These chains are unbreakable, and I'm pinned to the ground. Not only that, but even if I was somehow freed, Odin would just find me and put me somewhere worse. "
"I have a couple of ideas for that, and you current position gives me more power than you think." She replies lowly, and Thranduil turns to look at her as he senses another thrum of power as he burns a circle around them to try and stem the inferno from getting closer. Fenris looks closer and sees her eyes glowing brilliant blue and gold. "And Loki isn't here to stop me this time. Tell me, if I was able to free you, would you be willing to promise not to take revenge on Odin Fuckface and the others who did this to you? Would you be willing to become pack, and part of my family? I wouldn't let him keep Loki, and I'll be damned if I'll let him keep you."
Fenris stares her down in smoke hazed confusion, not understanding how such a little thing(compared to him at least) could sound so fierce, so sure of herself, surrounded by fire with a strip of cloth around her face and no weapon to speak of. He turns to stare instead at the elf Lord, who had managed to clear a semi circle and was now hovering at the girls side, hand on a dagger that could just be seen under his now partially shredded robe, due to the strips around their faces. "What about you elf? Do you agree with her decision go attempt to free me, fruitless as it might be? You know as well as I Odin doesn't forgive, or forget."
"You almost sound like you're trying to convince us to give up. Would you rather not be set free, or are you afraid to see what will happen if you are? " Fenris growls low and deep at that, a sound that would intimidate most, but Thranduil merely gives a sardonic grin, hidden beneath the strip of cloth, and continues. "However, you might not realize this, but my people argued fiercely that imprisoning you without a trial or, indeed a crime, was immoral and that we would have no part in it. I am merely her escort in this endeavor, and if she wishes to attempt to rescue you I will not stop her, I will only step in if her life is in danger."
Ashley looks up at him gratefully, eyes glowing still, before looking back at Fenris. "Well, you heard him, he won't stop me, Loki doesn't know I'm here to stop me, and Odin can suck a dick. A bag full of them as far as I'm concerned. What do you say? "
He stares at her for who knows how long, a light rain finally sprinkling around them, before he finally huffs and closes his eyes. "Do as you wish, I won't be angry if and when you eventually fail.". She narrows her eyes at him stubbornly before standing up and turning towards Thranduil.
"I'm probably going to need your help at some point, but npt with the actual freeing. Once I get it done, I'll have Gwen bring all of us to the inside of my room. That's when things will probably go south for me, the grace tends to tire me out pretty badly once whatever I'm doing with it ends, it's why Loki is trying to help me find an anchor. Plus, I've been having headaches, like something in my head is crumbling, though whether it's for good or bad I don't know. There's a good chance you'll need to bring me to either Frigga or Loki, because I'll either be passed out or in pain. And Fenris will need to be hidden in my room until I can get back. Are... you willing to help me with that? I know I shouldn't as for anything else, but you're already here, and I don't know who else to ask. Please."
She takes his hand in hers as she pleads with him, eyes bright blue and gold swirls still, and he can't help but think of another time, not so long ago, when he was begged for help by a young woman not so different from her, worlds away, to set her friends free instead of keeping them locked up. He hadn't done so then, and she had taken things into her own hands then, as well. That had ended with many senseless deaths.
"On my honor, I will help. " He assures her, placing his hand over both of hers, longer and more elegant fingers completely enveloping hers. "I can't guarentee it will end well, but I will do as you ask. Friends help each other, do they not?"
"Are we friends, Lord Thranduil?"
"If not now, perhaps soon. If it helps, once you meet my son, you will definately be friends. Now, shall we begin? "
Nodding, she turns back to Fenris and kneels once more, the light patter of rain making it muddy and squelchy when her knees hit the ground. "Before I start, two questions. Do you promise not to take revenge on Odin and those who took part in you capture? Remember, as much as you would like to, it will just prove his point, and make him look a fool when you don't."
"I, Fenris Lokisson, do swear not to take my revenge on Lord Odin and those who aided my capture, lest my sister Hela take my soul forevermore." He growls out, eyes glowing gold as the oath sets in. "What is your other question? "
"Where do you want your pack mark? The other males asked for the palm of their hand so it wouldn't be as obvious when it glowed, but it's up to you."
He stares at her for a moment before he laughs, deep and raspy, despite it making his snout jiggle on the sword. "I should have known you meant a true pack girly, and not just in name. Put it on my right cheekbone, that way Odin can get a good look at it when I'm finally free of him." Nodding at him, she places her thumb where his cheekbone might be, closing her eyes and concentrating as her own mark glows, searing its way onto Fenris's face with only a slight tingling. Thranduil, who hadn't known about this little trick, watches in wonder as golden light emanates from where she is pressing her thumb, and after about 2 minutes she removes it, leaving a glowing rose with falling petals.
Fenris breathes in deep once it is done, feeling lighter than he has in a long time, wondering how he didn't realize she was a human Alpha, or an Alpha at all, considering it was obvious now that he sported her mark, and that he was an Alpha in the truest since. However, before he can think further on it, she stands, eyes and body glowing with lines all over, stronger with her mark applied. "Thranduil, I'm about to try something that has only happened once, and not on purpose. However, it should take care of the sword and chain so... just, watch out. "
As he nods and takes a step back, she summons a sword to her hand from her archangel blade, holding it in both hands as she closes her eyes and concentrates on the part of her grace crying for justice for him, asking it to help her, to give her this one little thing that can free him. Thranduil watches as her entire body bursts into light for a moment before dulling back to normal, and slowly flames begin edging their way up and down the blade. When her eyes fling back open, the sword is completely engulfed in blue flames, ignoring the pattering rain.
She then takes a stance, eyeing how much space she at the top of the blade pinning Fenris down and, readying herself, she brings her arms back, swinging them back down where the blade meets the hilt, cleaving it straight off with only a momentary ping when the two swords meet. The rest of the sword slowly breaks away into dust, much to the surprise of both the males watching. Thranduils mouth gapes open in shock, while Fenris takes the first chance he has had in centuries to open and close his mouth without pain, except that lingering from where it had originally pierced, blood slowly oozing from the wound. However, before either can focus on it, she moves on to the chain, edging around his body and eyeing it with disdain, the raw skin on his leg where the chain constantly rubs.
She looks at it carefully, trying to decide where to strike, before lifting the blade over her head, sending a prayer out to whoever might be listening, before bringing it straight down onto the ankle brace itself, slicing enough of it off that the circle is broken, and as with the sword, the rest of it dissoves into dust, finally freeing Fenris.
She goes down on one knee as he realizes he is no longer chained down, trying to take a step but stumbling as his leg isn't completely up to snuff. Instead he turns, facing her to give his thanks, but pauses as he notices blood dripping from her nose. Thranduil is there before he can say anything, scooping her up before she can fall over and cradling her in his arms. They eye each other suspiciously, however, she thumps Fenris softly on the nose, making him look at her. "Stop it, no fighting. " She murmers, already close to passing out and sword gone. "We need to get back so we can get you fed and healed. Gwen... " The hellhound pup leaps into her arms once more, and she places a hand on Fenris's head. "Take us back to my rooms please. " She barely speaks in whisper, and the two males share a worried look as once again there is a feeling of heat all over before they are deposited back in her rooms.
"Thank you, Thranduil... " She manages to get out before she passes out, still covered in rain and mud and blood from her nose and in the elf lords arms. Thranduil sighs and looks towards the wolf, who has sprawled out on the plush carpet, enjoying freedom for the first time in centuries, snout not bleeding anymore but still raw, much like his leg.
"Will you be able to keep out of trouble while I take her to be healed? Your are house trained, correct?" Fenris opens his eyes and growls at the elf, before slowly shifting forms into that of a tall, ripped, naked, dark haired man with an injured face and leg. Grabbing a blanket from the bed, he wraps it around his waist and limps forward, getting in Thranduils face.
"I'll be fine elf, I just need to bathe and eat to regain some of my strength, and I can hide quickly if anyone comes by. Just worry about her, say you found her passed out in the garden or something, that will account for the mud. Grandmother will wonder why she was out there, but should take her for healing right away."
"I know how to spin a story wolf, I've done so for years." Thranduil snipes back before swirling around and towards the door. However, as he makes his way down the hall, Ashley starts moaning, her nose still bleeding as clutches her head, still passed out but writhing in pain. Panicking, he runs to Lokis room instead, closer, and starts pounding on the door.