Maryn awoke the next morning to the heavy weight of Loki's arm over her. She turned her head to look at him, his countenance relaxed by sleep. He always looked so young when he slept, the cares of the world melting away.
Turning her eyes to the white ceiling above her head, Maryn sighed softly. Despite everything they had been through her love for the man beside her was stronger than ever, and for the first time she knew without a doubt that it could very well be the end of her.
Loki opened his eyes slowly. He had been asleep longer than usual his senses told him. The chill in the room meant his barrier of ice over the walls of the cell still stood.
Movement beside him brought his eyes to Maryn as she sat up on the side of the bed, the sight of her nude back and tangled curls making his blood rush. With a sly smirk he reached out.
Maryn started slightly at the feel of Loki's cool touch against her side. She stilled as he shifted and then smiled at the soft caress of his lips against her shoulder blade.
"Why are you leaving my bed, sweet one?" Loki's voice was a husky murmur which sent shivers of heat down her spine.
She turned to watch him out of the corner of her eye as he pressed another kiss to her shoulder. "They will be wondering where I am, my love. I have never stayed here overnight, and mother and father expect me to break my fast with them."
His arms wrapped around her waist as he pressed his chest to her back, pulling her heavy locks away from her neck to lay an open-mouthed kiss to the pulse beating frantically in her throat. "Cancel," he murmured against her quickly heating skin.
Maryn reached up, suppressing a moan as he kissed her neck again, she laced her fingers through his hair, "You know I can't do that, Loki."
"Then you will be late," he growled, his arms tightening around her and his hands starting to wander under the sheet she still clutched to her chest.
Her eyes fluttering closed, Maryn pressed back against him, "Yes, my lord."
A while later Maryn pushed the last of her combs into her hair, and smiled at Loki who lay back against his pillows in the middle of the bed, the sheets mussed around him, "I will see you later in the day. Your mother wishes to speak to me."
"You needn't return," he said making her still, "If that is what you want."
Maryn released the breath of panic she had been holding and sighed. Sitting on the edge of the mattress she reached over and cupped Loki's cheek. He leaned into her touch and she smiled sadly, "Why do you continue to push me away, Loki?"
He turned and pressed a kiss to her palm before pulling back, his gaze turned away from her as well, "You need to think of what you will do next, Maryn. I will not keep you to myself any longer. The Allfather will grant me a request for an annulment of our marriage and you will leave and see the universe as you were meant to."
Maryn spoke firmly, "No, I will not." His gaze flashed to hers and he opened his mouth to speak again but she interrupted him. "Loki, all my life I have been told what to do. I was controlled by Coros. Told to marry you. My magic was cut off from my home world. Everyone told me to move on when we thought you had died. Tora broke our bond without my permission. You have told me to leave you. All my life I have been controlled by others." She smiled softly, looking into his eyes. "And now, as we come closer to the third anniversary of our wedding day, you tell me you will have our marriage annulled so I can leave." She leaned forward and spoke gently but firmly. "I don't want that. I never have and I never will. Loving you was my choice; a choice I will never give up no matter how much it hurts, no matter how many times you push me away. I promised to love you forever…" she spoke truthfully, her lips a breath away from his, "My heart, body and spirit are yours, now and until we meet in the heavens after death."
Loki searched her gaze but stayed silent.
She smiled before leaning into him and pressing her lips to his in a light kiss. As she moved back his hand came up to the nape of her neck and he pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. They broke apart slowly, their foreheads touching, and eyes closed as they soaked in the quiet around them.
Maryn smiled again before stealing another kiss and then standing, clasping her cloak around her neck she pulled up the hood, "I will return later, my love."
He nodded silently and watched her turn and walk through the ice barrier with ease.