The feasting, dancing and merrymaking in the cavernous great hall was in full swing when Maryn and Loki walked through the tall silver doors a step behind Lord Barson. Laughter echoed up into the arching ceiling and every dwarf seemed to be in high spirits. Those nearest Lord Barson, Loki and Maryn stopped and bowed as the small group, Tora and the guards following behind; made their way to the high table and the elegant king and queen seated there. Once standing before the raised table laden with delicious smelling food and copious jugs of the fragrant wine the dwarves were known for, King Hreidmar raised his hands and the entire hall fell silent. Standing, his queen in her velvet dress and golden crown rising at his side, the bearded king smiled at his people and guests.

"Welcome, Prince Loki and Princess Maryn of Asgard. I, my queen, and our people welcome you to this great hall. Your visit with us, though short, has been much anticipated and we encourage you to enjoy all that Nidavellir has to offer."

As the dwarf people around then applauded Maryn curtsied deeply to the king and queen while Loki bowed at the waist. Once they were standing they were ushered up to the high table, Loki seated to the king's right and Maryn to the queen's left.

"Welcome, Princess," the small queen smiled when Maryn was settled at her side.

Maryn returned the gesture noticing the delicate chains of gold and diamonds entwined in her thick, rich auburn hair. "My thanks, your Majesty. Your hospitality has been unparalleled."

Inclining her head the queen's brown eyes twinkled with light while she poured Maryn a goblet of the dwarfish wine.

Maryn glanced around then, taking in the different shades of brown, grey, red and black the courtiers and royals were wearing. She realised the dark hues allowed the jewels and precious metals of the jewellery they were all draped in to contrast beautifully with their clothes and hair. She also noticed that most of the dwarves only reached her ribs and very few were tall enough to stand to her shoulder.

"Your palace is beautiful, Your Grace," Maryn turned to smile at the queen while servants served meat, bread and roasted root vegetables onto their plates, the delicious aroma of the food causing her mouth to water in anticipation.

Smiling with those deep eyes the queen thanked her, "I suppose it does not compare to the golden halls of Asgard, or, as I'm told, the pale sandstone of the palace of Mithros."

"Oh, no," Maryn assured her, "The beauty I see here comes not only from the architecture but also from the people who dwell within it."

Once again the queen was smiling at her, "Your diplomacy speaks of years of knowledge in court, young one."

A blush rose in Maryn's cheeks at the queen's words and she turned her eyes to the food before her, "You are kind to say so, Your Majesty."

Leaning in conspiratorially, the queen, who looked to be the same age as Frigga whispered lowly so only Maryn could hear, "And you are fortunate to have Prince Loki look at you as he does, Princess; do not take that for granted."

Glancing up Maryn caught Loki's sharp green gaze and blushed, her lips tingling with a phantom touch. She wondered if she imagined it or if Loki had used a spell to somehow conjure it. Nodding her thanks to the queen Maryn smiled shyly at her betrothed and then turned to her meal. She was drawn into conversation with both the dwarf king and queen soon after and noticed a slight change in the way Loki addressed her and the look in his eyes when she spoke up about her thoughts on the treaty between Asgard and Nidavellir. It was as if he was proud of her responses and took in her thoughts, mulling them over to ask about later when they were alone.

As the night progressed she was drawn out onto the dance floor by many a young courtier, every young dwarf male appeared to want to jest with her and it seemed as if they were all trying to elicit a blush from her, but her gaze always turned back to Loki to wordlessly ask his permission to dance with another man. By her fifth pairing she was sure that the young men of the court were enjoying her crimson cheeks a little too much.

A large hand pressed to the small of her back just as the orchestra positioned in one corner of the stone cavern struck up a new song, causing Maryn to jump and then smile when Loki spoke into her ear, "Dance with me."

She turned and nodded, allowing the tall prince to lead her back out onto the dance floor. After a few moments of comfortable silence between them, Loki turned his eyes from the crowd milling around the dance floor to Maryn's face, "The young Nidavellir males enjoy making you blush, sweet one." Maryn raised her eyes to his, her cheeks reddening at his words. "If I hadn't kissed you before and seen what truly makes you flush I would have been overcome by jealousy."

Maryn couldn't stop her gaze from dropping to his tempting lips as he spoke, "And what would you have done with that jealousy, my lord?" she asked breathlessly as she forced her eyes to his once more, even as her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of crimson.

Loki's grin was mischievous through and through. He leaned down so that his cool breath brushed over her ear and neck as he spoke, still leading her perfectly through the steps of the dance, gooseflesh rising on her skin as he spoke, "I would have made my way through the crowds to you, taken you into my arms without a care as to who may be watching, and pressed my lips to yours in a kiss that would have left no doubt of who you belong to, sweet one."

"Please," the soft whisper was out of her mouth before she could stop it and hot blood filled her cheeks as she swallowed hard, beyond mortified that she had said such a thing.

Before she could utter another word, Loki's eyes darkened and he pulled her flush against his body, his mouth slanting over hers hungrily.

It took a moment for the shock at his boldness to disappear and Maryn's eyes slid closed as she melted into the taste of him, his cool tongue sliding into her mouth and brushing over her own, his lips both firm and soft.

The couple broke apart a few moments later, a promise flashing in Loki's eyes that made Maryn's stomach flip with excitement. He seemed to then be able to go back to dancing and acting as if nothing had happened, the darkened colour of his eyes the only change in him. Maryn felt envious of his apparent unflappable calm while she was left with a pounding heart, pink cheeks, and the unnerving desire to beg him to kiss her again.

The rest of the night seemed to pass in a blur with the small brunette's mind replaying Loki's kiss over and over again. She caught herself pressing her fingers to her lips a few times through the night and hoped her conversations with the queen and various other ladies of the court didn't let on how distracted she was.

It was well past midnight when Loki made their excuses and led Maryn from the great hall; the princess at his side so distracted by him being so close that she was silent the entire walk back to their room.

When he had excused himself to go and wash, Maryn stepped behind the privacy screen set in the corner of their bedroom, Tora helping her strip out of her gown and jewels before she pulled on a white shift and padded over to the dressing table to take the pins from her hair letting the dark waves fall down her back.

When Loki emerged from the bathroom barefoot and dressed in a pair of soft cotton black pants and a dark green long-sleeve shirt of the same material, Maryn felt her heart speed up with the knowledge that they would be spending the night side by side. Although they had slept in the same bed when she had nearly collapsed soon after her fight with Coros, she had never slept a whole night at his side; and now that they had shared their first kiss, the tension between them had changed and she wondered what he would expect of her now. But Loki just crossed the room silently and slipped under the bed-sheet and blankets to lie down beside her. She tensed when he turned and curled around her body, pulling her back to his chest and entwining their legs.

"You're trembling, love," his breath brushed across the nape of her neck as he spoke sending delicious shivers down her spine.

Ignoring her nerves, Maryn looked over her shoulder at him, "We…we are merely sleeping, nothing more."

His smile eased her mind and he nodded, "Merely sleeping, sweet one." He lifted himself up onto one elbow so that he could look down at her as he spoke, "But I may decide to steal a kiss or two if you will let me."

She smiled up at him, turning fully so that he had better access.

He lowered his lips to hers but stopped a moment before they touched, "Ask me, Maryn."

She realised what he wanted and lifted her hand to slide her fingers into the soft strands of his hair at the back of his head, "Please, Loki…please."

His lips caught hers and she was lost.

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Loki awoke to Tora stealing across the room to Maryn's side of the bed. "What is it, lady?" he whispered his velvet voice a little rough from sleep.

"Do not fret, my lord, I am only checking to make sure my mistress is sleeping well," the little maid assured him.

"And why would she not?" he asked not daring to move as Maryn was curled into the protective curve of his body, her face buried against his shoulder and one of her hands twisted into the front of his tunic while the other lay in a fist under her chin like a child.

Tora's voice held a hint of surprise when she spoke again, "She has not stirred or seemed unsettled?" Loki waved his hand and conjured a blue lamp to lighting itself, the faint glow it threw out enabling him to make out Tora's astonished look, "Maryn has suffered night terrors since before I became her maid. I was told by her mother that they started when her father first died but I have always had my suspicions that Coros had something to do with them. She rouses screaming and in floods of tears but does not remember the nightmare in the morning nor the cause for her distress if she wakes properly during a terror. I have very rarely seen her sleep so peacefully."

"Coros hurt her?"

"I have long believed that he did, yes," Tora nodded glancing up to see the rage flit across Loki's face before she lowered her eyes to her mistress's calm face, she was still in a deep, peaceful sleep. "She will not speak to me about it. Perhaps she will talk to you..." she trailed off sounding hopeful and almost contemplative. The maid lifted her gaze from her mistress to the dark prince holding her so close, "You do more for her than you realise. And, if it is not too bold for me to say, my lord, the two of you do more for each other than either of you will ever know."

Unable to do anything else, Loki nodded to her and watched her turn with a small smile and walk back to her chamber. He glanced down at the small woman so trustingly pressed into him, her dark eyelashes brushing over her cheekbones and her soft, bowed lips slightly parted in sleep. Waving his hand once more he extinguished the lamp and then lay back down silencing his thoughts so he could fall asleep once more at Maryn's side but made a mental note to mull over the information her maid had just given him when he had time to himself.