After Loki's confession Maryn sought a meeting with her cousin. She spoke to him of her wish to see if anything could be done to make sure her people were happy with their new government. He suggested that he would go back to Mithros and bring back any of her mother's advisors who were still living so that they could also tell her what the majority of her people wanted. Maryn agreed and she asked for an audience with Odin and Frigga, Loki, Thor and Zan at her side.
It was agreed that Loki and Thor would accompany Zan to Mithros as envoys and to show that a war was not what Odin or Asgard wanted.
The day they left Maryn stood with Odin and Frigga outside the Bifrost, her chest tight with anxiety and hope. Loki kissed her deeply, whispering a promise to be back in a few days. She forced a smile that didn't fool him.
Leaning forward he pressed his lips to her forehead, speaking against her skin softly, "I will return, Maryn, of that have no fear." She nodded into his touch and then pulled away, her hand reaching out for Frigga's as the two women watched the men they loved most in their lives mount their stallions and ride them through the gold arch of the Bifrost machine.
For the next two day Maryn was in a constant state of worry. Something about the trip did not sit well with her and she needed to know why. However, whenever she used the pendant to see Loki, Zan or Thor, it was as if some spell or magic was interfering with it and she couldn't find them. The picture would waver and dissipate before it had become clear and only made Maryn's unease all the more potent. Her magic was also acting strangely. She was tired a lot of the time and there would be periods when it would feel as if she was fighting off the sorcery of another even when there was no other magic wielder close enough to do so, save Tora and Frigga.
Concerned by what was happening to her good-daughter, Frigga urged her to go to the healers and ask them to find out if she was with child, or if there was any other ailment that could cause her such upset.
With a mixture of hope and hesitation Maryn did as the Allmother asked. With Frigga by her side she walked to the healing rooms. The head healer had her lay on the table beneath the Soul Forge and Maryn watched the golden symbols and pictures move fluidly above her. Once the examination was done, she sat up on the edge of the table, and looked into the kindly face of the older woman who was also head of the healing guild in Asgard.
"I am sorry, my lady," the woman spoke softly, her gaze sympathetic, "You are not with child."
Maryn nodded, not sure how she should feel even as Frigga pulled her into a tight embrace, "I am sorry, my child," the Allmother murmured in her ear. "Perhaps when my son returns…" she trailed off and hugged Maryn again.
With a small smile, the princess pulled away and nodded her thanks to the healer before excusing herself and walking away from the two women with their concerned but compassionate looks. She made her way to her chambers, still trying to sort through the jumble of emotions racing through her. Not a step inside her ante room she was bombarded by questions from Gaia and Kersin. Tora, seeing the confusion and growing distress on her mistress's face, adeptly manoeuvred the two younger maids from the room and sat down with Maryn on the edge of the bed.
"I am not with child," Maryn spoke the words carefully, tasting them in her mouth and listening as they filled the air between her and Tora.
To her credit, Tora did not coddle her or suggest Maryn could fall pregnant once Loki was home once more, instead she took her mistress's hands in her own and squeezed them gently, bringing Maryn's gaze to her own; "Did you wish to be?" she asked quietly.
Eyebrows pulled together in thought Maryn bit her bottom lip and considered the question for a few moments. Her answer surprised her, "I do not know."
Nodding Tora smiled softly, "Then perhaps it was not meant to be and it is a good thing that you are not pregnant."
Looking at her close friend once more, Maryn nodded with the beginning of an accepting smile turning up the corners of her lips, "Perhaps," she agreed.
Hugging her, Tora then stood and brushed down her skirts, "I will call for some spiced honey-wine and you must rest. Whatever is happening on Mithros, your link with Prince Loki's magic is taking a toll on you."
Maryn's head shot up and she stared at Tora, "What do you mean?"
The redhead blinked, taken aback by Maryn's lack of knowledge of the binding spell she and Loki had cast, "The stronger controls the other, Maryn. When you tied your magic to Loki's that was the price you paid. His magic and control are more powerful and so he feeds more strongly off your power and his emotions feed into your own. Have you not sensed it; your emotions becoming a little too forceful, or feeling as if they are not your own?"
Understanding dawned and Maryn's cheeks paled at the realisation that the anger she had felt so powerfully since her attack was not all her own. Dropping her face to her hands she squeezed her eyes shut, "Valhalla, I have been a fool."
This time the tears did come and Tora gathered her up into her arms, rocking her and humming a childhood lullaby into her hair to try and sooth her distress.
When she had regained control of her emotions, Maryn sniffled softly, "Mother never told me that this is what the link would do; that this is how I would feel."
Tora sighed softly, "I do not believe she thought you would choose to bind yourself to any man after what Coros had done." She continued on even as Maryn flinched slightly in her arms at the name of her tormentor. "It is best you take care now, my lady. The Prince's strength, magically and emotionally, is the likes of which I have never seen before outside of your family. You need to build barriers so that his sorcery or reactions do not overwhelm your own."
Taking a breath Maryn nodded and then composed herself, sitting up and wiping the tears from her cheeks, before smiling gratefully at her oldest friend, "Thank you for your knowledge, Tora. I need to speak to Loki when he returns."
Recognising the gentle dismissal, Tora rose from the settee and smiled, "I will go and order a goblet of the honey mead for you. Rest now, it will be at hand when you awake."
Feeling the emotional day catch up to her, Maryn nodded and made her way to her bedroom. Once there she stepped out of her silk slippers before curling up on top of the satin coverlet on the bed, hugging Loki's pillow to her chest. She didn't care that she was still dressed in the silver and cream gown she had put on that morning. Ignoring the way the beaded neckline and woven silver waistband made laying down a little uncomfortable, the princess pulled her feet up under the silver embroidered hem of the gown and closed her eyes, falling into a deep sleep almost instantly.
Searing pain across her torso woke her some time later. She sat up with a soft cry, her hand flat against her chest. When she pulled the neckline of the gown away from her upper body she saw an angry red burn race across her skin. Swallowing down the bile that rose with the white hot pain she stood at the side of the bed, only to stagger and nearly fall as her legs gave way. Not wanting to scare Tora or her other maids Maryn refused to call for help, and instead stumbled across the room to the jug of water sitting in the washing bowl which was set into a small table standing near the balcony doors.
Wetting a cloth in the tepid water she rung it out and then hesitantly pressed it to the burn. She knew that Loki must be the one that was injured and, thanks to their link, she was echoing the wound. The water helped sooth the pain a little and Maryn was just about to put the cloth back into the water when her bedroom door flew open and Kersin burst into the room.
"My lady! Prince Loki and Prince Thor have returned with a large group of people from your world. They are injured!" the young woman all but cried out.
Paling at the knowledge, Maryn waved her away and dropped the cloth into the wash bowl. Turning, she hurriedly pulled on her slippers and snatched up her cream and light beige cloak with its fur lining. The weather had turned cold as summer became autumn, and with the pain of her new wound she needed to stay as warm as possible.
Running through the halls toward the courtyard that led to the Rainbow Bridge, Maryn couldn't have cared less what Kersin was still babbling on about. The maid had followed her out of her chambers but Maryn's running feet and worry for Loki had left the other woman behind. When she was closer, she transported herself to the courtyard in time to see Loki sink down off of the back of a dappled mount, Thor falling to his knees ungracefully beside his dark brother.
"It was an ambush," a man who was undoubtedly Mithrosian spoke from the back of another steed, his side wet with blood. "The entire resistance has been cut down."
Ignoring all else as Loki's eyes lifted from checking on Thor to her face, Maryn tore across the courtyard which was quickly filling with guards and others from the palace, and barrelled into his chest. He caught her up, hugging her tight, his face buried in her hair which had fallen from its demure plaited bun in her rush to get to him. She was kissing him before he had a chance to speak, his hand rising to cradle the back of her head, holding her as close to his body as he could.
Odin's voice broke through the uproar growing in volume around them, "Take the wounded to the healing rooms. When their injuries have been bound I would like to speak with my sons."
Hearing a heavy thud behind her, Maryn shifted slightly in Loki's arms only to hear him groan lightly. Pulling away and ignoring the stab of pain that went through her chest simultaneously, she saw the damage done to his armour and knew he was badly injured. "You must go to the healing rooms," she gasped trying to pull away so she wouldn't hurt him further.
But he was reluctant to let her go and pulled her into a deep kiss once more, only to groan again when he pulled her to him at the wrong angle and his wound was jostled.
Maryn grit her teeth so she wouldn't show how much she was hurting and moved away, holding him at arms-length, "You must have your burn looked at." His eyes narrowed slightly at her words and she realised there would be no way of her knowing that he had been burned. She covered her slip as smoothly as possible hoping to keep him ignorant of her own injury, and its cause, for as long as possible, "Or are you cut? Loki, please, let us go to the infirmary."
He studied her for a moment longer before refusing, "I do not need the touch of a healer, sweet one. Take me to our rooms and you can bathe my burn if it will calm your worry."
She searched his face but seeing that he didn't look to be in too much pain now that she wasn't pressing on the wound in some way, Maryn agreed and turned to lead him back into the palace only to nearly stumble over Thor's hammer. Shocked to see it without its wielder the princess looked up at Loki. "What happened on Mithros?"
With a shadowed look in his eyes, the Trickster glanced up to see his brother watching him as he was helped to his feet by Volstagg and Fandral, "We were ambushed," was his simple reply.
"And Thor's hammer?" Maryn asked softly, stepping up under his arm when she felt and saw a wave of pain wash over him. Loki almost doubled up at the force of it but having Maryn bear some of his weight helped. They started the laborious trek back to their chambers. When he didn't reply to her question, the princess let silence wrap around them until they were back in their rooms, Loki sitting on the side of the bed and Tora and the other maids, who were near feinting in shock, were sent back to bed.
Maryn moved quietly to take the cloth, the bowl of water, and its jug from where she had left them on their stand and moved to kneel before Loki. She waved her cloak over to a chair and put the implements down on the floor beside her before helping him unlace and unbuckle his armour, removing it piece by piece and sending it to float away and settle on a side table. Once he was naked from the waist up, Maryn saw the extent of his wound. Biting back her tears, she swished the cloth in the water at her side and rose up on her knees from sitting on her heels. Gently she pressed the wrung out cloth to the burn and winced at Loki's hiss of pain and the spike of echoed discomfort that ran through her chest.
"I'm sorry, my love," she murmured before pressing the cloth to another part of the wound.
"No, no," he grit out, "The water helps, Maryn." They then fell into a tense silence.
Once she had washed the burn she conjured strips of cloth to bind it and stood between his knees. As she was tying off the ends of the bindings, Loki reached out and cupped her jaw, coaxing her gaze up to his, "Why are you crying, sweet one?" he asked softly.
She leaned into his touch, wrapping her hands around his wrist and closing her eyes before she leaned forward and pressed her forehead to his. "I do not think I could have survived if you had died," she whispered, her voice breaking as tears slid down her cheeks unchecked. And then a sear of pain, stronger than the ones before, raced through her chest and she gasped out, her hand flying to her bodice at the same moment Loki hissed in a breath and groaned, his own hands lifting to the linen strips around his chest.
When he had recovered he saw the pain on her face, "Maryn?" he asked sounding shocked.
She tried to brush off her reaction, even though she could feel the blood had drained from her cheeks. "I am fine, Loki." Her words were punctuated by another burn of hot agony and she doubled over with a soft cry.
Loki reached out and held her arms, and then something caught his eye. Before she could stop him he pulled the neckline of her gown aside to see the top of an exact replica of his wound marring her delicate flesh. "What is this?" he snarled panicked by the anguish he could see plainly on her face.
Panting a little as the pain receded, Maryn looked up at him with her tear-bright grey eyes, "It is the binding spell," she whimpered. "I am tied to you emotionally, magically and physically. If one is hurt the other carries the scars."
Loki helped her sit on the edge of their bed; stripping her gown from her and pulling open the chemise laces at her neckline so that the whole burn was visible to his eyes. "Why did you not tell me?" he asked moving quickly to use his magic to help the wound heal quicker as well as washing and binding it as she had done for him. "The wound is from a spell, even with my magic it will still take some time to heal." His sharp gaze lifted to her face and he asked again, "Why did you not tell me, Maryn?"
A tear tracked down her already wet cheeks at his question, "It didn't matter. You were hurt and I needed to bind your wound."
His gaze dropped to her torso as he finished tying the bindings securely. He didn't speak for a long while and when he did Maryn felt her anxiety rise. Knowing now that some of her emotions were his she took a breath and calmed down.
"Is this why you have been different of late? Why you seem…darker?"
She looked down at his large hands where they lay on her thighs as he waited for her answer. "…The stronger controls the other. When we bound our magic it was a part of the spell. The one that has stronger magic and emotions will influence the other. I did not know that it was so until Tora spoke to me earlier today after I had been to the healers." She stopped realising what she had let slip and looked at Loki.
His jaw worked in frustration before he asked, "And why were you at the healers?"
She bit her lip and looked away. Swallowing hard she pulled out of his touch and closed her shift over the bandage, "Your mother was worried for I was tired and my magic was…misbehaving. She thought…she assumed I was with child." She glanced up at the Dark Prince's unreadable face and then away again. "Frigga needn't have worried. I was only out of sorts because it seems you were using your magic."
The silence between them stretched out and Maryn felt her heart beat rise with each moment of stillness.
Loki spoke first, "Do you want…would you want children?" he asked sounding uncharacteristically hesitant and inarticulate.
Maryn dropped her hand from where she had been fiddling with one of the crescent shaped earrings hanging from her earlobes with its etched moon-flowers and moonstone drops, and turned to look up at him. Seeing the unease on his face as he waited for her answer, she swallowed her worry and smiled, "Only if they are yours, my lord husband."
For a moment he just stared at her before his shoulders relaxed and the smile she loved so much curled his lips, "Who's else would they be, little wife?" he asked moving toward her.
She shrugged stepping into his arms as they wrapped around her body, "If the gossips of court are to be believed, my child could be fathered by anyone," she smirked up at him.
He scoffed, "If the court rumours were true we would be out in the forest, dancing around a fire nude in celebration of the dark magic we use."
Maryn saw the glint in his eyes at his words and stepped out of his embrace when he leaned down to kiss her, "Not until you explain what happened on Mithros, Loki," she said putting her hands on her hips and her chin lifted defiantly.
The tall prince glared for a moment before sighing and giving in. "We were ambushed an hour's ride outside of the capital. The resistance which Zan promised came to our aid but the numbers were overwhelming. There was a traitor among the resistance fighters who had leaked information of the meeting and our envoy to the government. We lost many men and had to find sanctuary in the ruins of a castle near a cliff."
"Gratas Castle. It was once the castle of the royal family until the palace within the main city was built," Maryn murmured, her eyes glassy as she stared down at her hands where they twisted together in her lap. She had moved to sit on the edge of the bed while Loki was speaking.
"Your cousin said as much," Loki nodded and then continued with his recount, pacing backwards and forwards in front of Maryn as he spoke. "We were there for a day and a night. The magic of your people must act as a shield. I had to break though it to call Heimdall to bring us home."
She realised now why he looked so pale and there were dark shadows ringing his eyes that hadn't been there when he left. It also explained why she had become exhausted while he was gone and also the way her magic had fluctuated and 'misbehaved' as she thought of it.
"We were found just before Heimdall opened the Bifrost portal. The strongest magic wielders if the spells they cast were any indication. Thor was wounded and I had to help him to the portal, I picked up his hammer thoughtlessly and carried it with us." Loki spoke as if he was far away and then he seemed to shake himself to leave the memory behind. Maryn jumped when he stopped before her and cupped her face, lifting her gaze to his. He leaned down, brushing his lips over hers before he spoke, his forehead against hers, "Zan was cut down. I could not save him."
It took a few moments for the words to sink in before Maryn felt her heart squeeze in her chest, "He-he's dead?" she whispered realising she hadn't seen him in the courtyard and, with guilt crawling her throat, she realised she hadn't spared him a thought she was too wrapped up in caring for Loki.
The Trickster pulled away slightly and looked down at her, "I'm sorry, sweet one," he murmured gently. "I could not save him."
She lifted her hand to her mouth as great sobs started to wrack her body, tears falling from her closed eyes in a steady stream. Gasping she pressed her face to his neck, wrapping her arms around his shoulders needing the comfort only he could provide. "My family is gone," she whimpered brokenly. "There is no one left."
Loki wrenched away and stared into her tear filled eyes sternly, "You are not alone, Maryn. I am your family and you are mine," he growled out searching her face to make sure she was listening to him.
When she finally nodded in understanding he pulled her to his chest again and lay them down on their bed, muttering a spell that would lock the door and bar everyone entry so that they could be alone together. Maryn curled into him, her face pressed to his shoulder and she slowly calmed down and relaxed into him.
"You are not alone, my love," were the last words she heard before she drifted off to sleep in his arms.