Maryn awoke to the feel of Loki's lips on her neck and smiled, her eyes remaining closed, as she leaned into him. "Good morning husband."

His fingers slid over her hips and ribs before continuing their journey into the loose strands of her russet curls, "Good morning, wife," he murmured against her skin, his breath playing over her flesh sending goosebumps up and down her body before he spoke elatedly into her ear, "It is snowing."

With an excited gasp Maryn's eyes flew open, and she pushed him away so that she could sit up and look out of their balcony doors at the white world beyond. "May we go out in it, Loki? Oh, please say we will. It does not snow in the main city of Mithros and I have not seen snow for years."

Her husband grinned at the excitement that made her almost bounce up and down where she sat. His gaze then travelled down her torso. In her haste to see the snow she had sat up, and the sheet that had been covering her glorious, nude curves from his eyes, was now pooled around her hips. "We will do whatever you wish, sweet one. I have begged us off our duties with Frigga and Odin today so we have the entire day to explore the snow covered forest."

With a very unladylike squeal, Maryn launched herself at him. He caught her in his arms and leaned into her tight hug before whispering suggestively into her ear.

Pulling back Maryn blushed but nodded her head allowing him to hook her thigh over his hips and roll her under his body.

An hour later, after cajoling a picnic lunch from the kitchens, the couple walked hand in hand out of the palace gates, Loki's steed ambling along behind them, their packed lunch forming a large bulge in one of his saddle bags.

Maryn laced her fingers through Loki's and pulled her cloak a little tighter around her body as the frigid wind nipped at her fingers and nose. Even with the long sleeves of her cream gown with the silver embroidery at the cuffs, shoulders, high neck, and bodice, she still felt the cold chill her skin.

They walked in silence for a while before Loki suddenly reached up and spoke a spell, Maryn's hair fell from its elegant low bun and her curls tumbled in waves down her back to her waist. With a sly smile he then wrapped an arm around her waist and dropped to his back against a bank of snow, Maryn held tight to his chest.

The air left her lungs in a soft oomph and Loki laughed at her affronted glare. "Loki, I'm already cold enough without you burying us in snow." Even though she was annoyed at him, she couldn't help but feel her heart flutter in her chest at the sight of the happiness dancing through his bright eyes and the white snowflakes dusting the midnight strands of his hair. The collar length locks were no longer slicked back and framed his face in messy curls.

He grinned impishly, his hand cradling the back of her head and pulling her face a breath away from his. "Let me warm you, sweet one," he purred, his voice deepening with each word, her loose tresses curtaining them from the world around them.

Maryn crossed the small distance between them eagerly and pressed her lips to his, drinking in his scent and the warmth of his body that was a wonderful contrast to the freezing cold of the snow under them. His fingertips, however, were almost as cold as the white powder, and Maryn gasped into his mouth when they closed around the wrist of her hand which was lying against his chest. A shock went through her as his thumb brushed across the pulse of her wrist, just under the cuff of her sleeve, the delicate skin there humming with each caress. She pulled back from his lips only when her lungs protested their need for air and she leaned her forehead against his, not wanting to break the connection between them quite yet.

"I love you," the words were out before Maryn even realised she was speaking and she pulled back a little to see Loki's eyes ablaze with the same love she felt burning deep within her heart.

He didn't need to say the words back to her and they didn't move from the snow bank until Maryn started trembling from the cold. Loki bundled her up in his cloak and then lifted her onto his mount, swinging up behind her.

"Do you not need your cloak?" she asked leaning into his chest as he manoeuvred his stallion through the snow drifts and into the forest toward their lake. She had realised where he was leading her the moment they had left the palace gates and smiled remembering the day they had spent there alone after the Autumn Celebration.

"Cold wind or snow has never affected me as it does others. I enjoy feeling the wind against my skin." His lips brushed against her temple, "Besides, I relish seeing you dressed in green."

Shaking her head and feeling her silver and gold veined jade earrings tap against her skin at the movement, Maryn curled closer to Loki's body. "Of course you do, my love. What male does not take pleasure in marking his mate as his only?"

Scoffing, Loki slipped his cool fingers beneath the layers of fur and heavy material wrapped around her and brushed his hand over her stomach, but he didn't deny her words and Maryn grinned as she lay her full weight back against his chest, closing her eyes to enjoy the slow sway of the stallion's gait.

"Maryn," Loki's hushed voice caught her attention and she followed his gaze to see a small black mound dusted with frost trembling in a sea of white snow. It was in the middle of a clearing that Maryn realised was a frozen marshland. When they moved closer Maryn saw that the mound was fur and then a small head popped up and her heart melted at the sight of the tiny wolf cub's face.

Loki gazed around them before swinging down from his mount, "It seems to be abandoned," he said taking a few steps toward the creature. "Should we save it from an untimely death?"

Maryn's heart broke when the cub let out a small squeaking whine and struggled to drag itself to its feet sensing them nearby. "Pick him up before he freezes, Loki. The poor little thing must be so cold and hungry."
With a soft murmur of agreement, the Trickster strode forward, ignoring the cracking of ice underfoot, and scooped the wolf cub up into his arms before it had a chance to run. It struggled a little in his grip but was too tired and malnourished to put up much of a fight before it collapsed against him, and instead, wormed closer to the warmth of his body. When Loki was standing beside his stallion once more he carefully passed the pup up to Maryn, and watched as she gently cradled it close to her body under their cloaks.

"It's so tiny, Loki," she whispered as if the animal would flee if she spoke too loudly, "May we keep it?" she looked at him expectantly and he couldn't refuse her.

With a nod he once more swung up behind her and picked up the reins.

They made it to their lake and Loki helped Maryn down off his steed once he had dismounted. She moved to a small outcropping of rock that created a shallow cave. Once inside she muttered a spell and the small pile of wood Loki had conjured there for her before he went to unload his horse burst into flame. Laying out a blanket near the blaze, Loki helped Maryn settle herself down on it, and then joined her with the saddle bags filled with their food.

The wolf cub stirred when the heat of the fire started to warm him and then yawned widely before nuzzling Maryn's belly searching for sustenance.

"Here," Loki spoke quietly so the little pup would not be frightened. Maryn turned her attention to him and saw that he had a small bowl of milk in his hands. "It is warmed milk sweetened with honey. It will fortify him and he may survive if he has no infection."

Taking the bowl from his hand Maryn smiled at the way he seemed to care for the wellbeing of the animal, before she turned her attention to the softly whimpering pup as he lifted his nose at the smell of the milk and honey. With a small smile she held the bowl near his snout and watched, fascinated, as he eagerly lapped up as much milk as he could, one rather large paw dipping into the vessel in his rush to drink. She laughed softly and looked up at her husband, "He will be a very large wolf once he is grown. Look at the size of his feet."

Loki moved to sit with Maryn curled into his side as they watched the little wolf drink until his belly was stretched wide with milk and his mouth was ringed with the liquid. When his hunger was finally sated, he rolled to his back, his distended stomach making him look as if he had swallowed a ball. Maryn smiled fondly down at the small creature, running her fingers delicately over one of his small ears, making it twitch, before he leaned his head into her touch. "What should we name him, my love?"

Loki tucked a lock of her hair back behind her ear and kissed her temple, "What would you have us call him, sweet one?" he spoke against her skin.

With a considering smile, Maryn turned her head to look up at him, "I think his name should be Fenrir. We did, after all, find him in a frozen fen."

He glanced down at the peacefully sleeping cub and nodded, "Fenrir suits him."

Maryn pushed up to press a kiss to his lips, earning a smile from her prince.

The couple relaxed back against the wall of the cave and let the fire warm them through as they talked together and enjoyed the many delicacies that had been packed for their lunch.

Once they were both full, Maryn lifted her eyes from the leaping flames of their fire to the flurries of snowflakes falling outside the cave. "Do you still dream of my death?" the words slipped from Maryn's mouth before she could sensor them and, when Loki tensed beside her, she had her answer.

"Why do you ask?" his voice was quiet and he made no move to look at her.

Sighing, her stomach dropping at the anxiety she knew he felt because of the nightmares, she murmured in a change of topic, "I was wondering if you dreamt of anything else."

"And what do you dream of, sweet one?" he asked her, ignoring her question, his fingers lacing with hers as he stared into the flames of the fire.

"I dream of our life."

He scoffed bitterness leeching into his tone, "What, this existence as fodder for the rumour mill and spiteful lords and ladies of Asgard?"

Maryn carefully lifted Fenrir off her lap and lay him down on her cloak before turning to look up at Loki, her hand cupping his jaw, the muscle clenching under his pale skin, "This, or another life. We are not tied to this world as others might be." She whispered. "I do not have a people to rule as I once did, and you could choose not to rule Asgard if your father asked it of you." She searched his shuttered gaze, "We could leave, travel; see what else is out there. None of it matters without you by my side. As long as we were together we could make a life, here or another place."

Loki's gaze was locked, unfocused, on the winter world outside their cave, "And if I want the throne?"

Maryn pressed her fingers to his cheek, turning his chin so that he was looking down at her, "Is that what you wish; to rule Asgard?" She saw that he seemed almost reluctant to answer, his body language revealing that he appeared to be embarrassed of his desire to rule, something she had never seem in him before.

His gaze flickered away from hers as he answered, "I want the opportunity to show them I can rule. Even to be considered for the crown would make me feel as if I had done something worthy."

His words angered her, "You do not need their consideration, Loki. You are already better in every way than half of those men; and equal to the other half!"

With a sudden grin, the Trickster kissed her lips, "Your passion for my cause is heartening, my love."

Maryn huffed out an irked sigh, "And their stupidity does my head in."

Loki's laugh made her smile, as did the touch of his hand to her waist as he pulled her into his lap so that she was straddling his thighs. "Your anger is arousing, Maryn," he spoke plainly earning a blush from the beautiful princess pressed intimately up against him.

Winding her arms around his neck she allowed him to bunch her cream coloured skirts around her knees before his hands disappeared under the soft material. "And your vulnerability when you made your admission has caused me to love you even more, my lord husband."

Loki didn't look too pleased that she thought of him as vulnerable but was distracted when she started to unhook and unlace his heavy leather and metal tunic that was a part of his outfit that day. Once it was undone Maryn pushed the garment off his shoulders, missing his touch as he took his hands from her to shrug off the article of clothing. Once he was free, she leaned up to kiss his lips, his tongue sweeping into her mouth while his long fingered hands set to work unlacing the back of her gown.

"What if someone sees us?" Maryn spoke against his lips but her lust was quickly ridding her of any inhibitions.

The Trickster groaned at her words and lay her down carefully on the blanket, the fire to her right and the sleeping wolf lying near her head. He covered her body with his own and pressed open mouthed kisses to her throat and jaw while he worked on pulling her bodice down. "No one will see us, Maryn."

She moaned and arched into him as he freed her upper body from the confines of her gown and thick winter chemise, leaving her in nothing but her corset. She was not cold, however; his touch and the heat of the fire kept her from the harsh winter elements, and she laced her fingers through his hair needing to feel more of him.

He seemed to know what she wanted without her saying a word and in a moment his linen shirt was gone and he knelt above her naked to the waist. His pale skin glowed in the gold and orange light thrown out by the fire, each ridge of muscle moving hypnotically beneath his flesh causing heat to settle low in her belly. Maryn wondered if she would ever tire of the sight of his eyes darkening from a bright forest green to a deep emerald with desire.

Loki leaned down over her, his hands taking all of his weight where he pressed his palms to the blanket either side of her head, "You do not seem to care if anyone sees us now, my love," he murmured with a distinct gravel tone to his voice that made her ache with need.

Lifting her hands to his torso, Maryn traced the contours of his chest which she had memorized since their wedding night, "I would rather my Dark Prince took me than waste time worrying if we will be interrupted."

He smirked, before commenting dryly, "It is heartening to know my wife is more interested in satiating her carnal desires than decency."

Biting her bottom lip, Maryn reached down to begin unlacing his breeches, "And it is amusing to hear you speak of morality when we are both all but nude in a cave in the forest." She leaned up and pressed her lips to his neck feeling the pulse quicken under his skin, "Make love to me, Loki."

He looked into her eyes, "As my queen wishes."

Later, they lay together under Loki's cloak. Fenrir, having awoken moments before, was snuffling around the cave and sneaking closer and closer to the remnants of their lunch which they had repacked into a saddle bag once they were full.

"Will he be allowed at court?" Maryn spoke into the comfortable silence between them, her head pillowed by Loki's chest. She rolled, throwing a leg over one of his thighs and propping her chin on her hand which she laid above his heart. "I don't want to bring him back to the palace if he is going to be driven away. It would not be fair to him."

Loki opened one eye and lifted a dark brow; an arm folded beneath his head and the fingers of his other hand brushing up and down the valley of her spine. "The Goddess of Compassion and Animals." He closed his eye once more, "Your empathy is unparalleled, my lady."

Maryn rolled her eyes at his lofty tone. "I would like a serious answer, Loki."

With a smirk, the Trickster looked down at her, "Very well. There will be some that do not wish to have him in the palace. However, he will be our charge, in our chambers, and for that he will have safety and care. Does this satisfy you, my lady?"

Maryn nodded seriously before grinning up at him, "He will enjoy being doted on by our friends and he will especially enjoy sleeping with us in our bed." She sat up and called the little wolf to her as Loki tensed at her words.

"He will not sleep in our bed, Maryn," the prince growled sitting up to see she wasn't paying any attention to his words as she cuddled the pup to her chest and giggled when he licked her shoulder. "Maryn, do you hear me?"

She sent him a mischievous grin and then held up the cub talking to him softly, "Your father does not wish for you to sleep close to your Mama. Isn't he a grumpy Papa?"

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Loki let out an unhappy huff, almost wishing he had never agreed to save the animal in the first place.