The palace was in an uproar. The day for Odin to announce which of his sons would be his heir was getting closer and closer and he still had not informed Thor or Loki of his decision.
Maryn had been keeping her distance from her husband. He had become morose ever since the feast, taking to drinking Asgardian wine as he sat staring at nothing in their rooms, or disappearing for hours on end only to return exhausted and still sullen.
Fenrir stayed by his mistress's side, sensing her anxiety and fulfilling his master's command to protect her.
It wasn't until two weeks before the official announcement and ceremony that Odin called his sons to a private meeting with their mother.
"My lady," Tora ran towards Maryn where she was relaxing in the gardens, Fenrir's large head in her lap, the princess's eyes on the cloud of butterflies populating the gardens and flitting from flower to flower with fluttering grace.
"Tora, what has happened?" Maryn stood, brushing dust from her sleeveless, green, velvet gown with its gold band around the waist.
Her lady caught her hands, her face serious, "The Allfather has asked for Prince Thor and Prince Loki to meet with him and the Allmother in their audience chambers. They are there now."
Heart starting to pound in worry and hope, Maryn nodded and put her hand to Fenrir's head, transporting him, Tora and herself to the large gilt doors outside the audience chambers. Once there she allowed Tora to slip away but her wolf stayed at her side as she waited for news on who would be crowned Asgard's next ruler. Pacing, she wrung her hands, her magic rising and falling within her like waves. Knowing she could do nothing but wait Maryn chewed her lip anxiously and only managed to stand still when Fenrir butted his head against her hip begging her to ruffle his ears.
She was brought out of her thoughts at the sound of the doors to the Allfather and Allmother's audience chambers opening. Lifting her gaze she watched with a heavy heart as Loki strode out of them, his face a blank mask but his eyes stony. She watched him stalk down the hallway and disappear around a corner but before she could make a move to follow him, two muscle-thick arms banded around her waist, and she was lifted off her feet in an enthusiastic bear hug by her brother-in-law. She couldn't help but smile as he spun her around once and then put her down on her feet, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
"Are you happy for me, sister?" Thor asked with a wide grin, his large hands engulfing her shoulders.
Mustering up a small smile Maryn nodded, "Of course I am, Thor. But I must also show my support for your overlooked brother."
With a good-natured eye roll, the blond God of Thunder folded his arms over his wide chest, "Loki should know he cannot expect to receive all of life's blessings. A pretty little wife will cheer him, but who would have comforted me if I had not been chosen?"
Remembering the giggles of the crowd of court women that always seemed to follow Thor around like colourful tittering birds, Maryn raised an eyebrow, "I believe wholeheartedly, that you would have been mollified by the women who always seem to follow you around court, dearest brother. Not that the loss of the crown would have been felt as keenly by you as it is by Loki."
Thor feigned a hurt look and put a hand to his heart, "You wound me, Maryn; losing the crown would have been a heavy blow."
Mimicking his stance from a few moments before, Maryn crossed her arms over her chest, "Enjoy the hours upon hours of mind-numbing council meetings and court appearances, my lord."
The smile faded from the boisterous god's face and he narrowed his eyes at her, "Your jest is unkind, sister."
Tilting her head to the side Maryn grinned with a teasingly dark glint in her eyes, "Jest, Thor? This is no jest, you are to become ruler of the Aesir and one of the most powerful worlds in the universe. What do believe the Allfather does to fill his days, take hunting parties out into the forest for hours on end perhaps, or make wagers on who will drink the most beer? This is serious, Thor, you are the future king of Asgard."
The blond prince was silent for a few moments before he grinned, pulled Maryn into another hug and then let her go with a chuckle, "You worry for naught, sister." With another booming laugh he kissed her cheek once more and then left her standing in the hall as he strode off in search of his friends and a few mugs of ale if his loud call for a servant to bring him a celebratory drink was anything to go by.
In disbelief at his complete lack of respect for the honour his father had just given him, Maryn shook her head and straightened her spine before marching over to the large doors and opening one, stepping inside the room beyond. She announced her intent to see Odin and Frigga to the guard just inside the door. He nodded and walked over to where the Allfather and Allmother were conversing quietly, seated in a pair of golden chairs, their heads close together and Frigga's delicate hand laying on her husband's gauntleted forearm.
She watched the soldier speak lowly in Odin's ear.
The old Aesir's sharp blue eye lifted to Maryn's face, but to her incredulity he waved her away, "Not now, daughter."
Anger, all her own, raced through her at his dismissal and Maryn glared as she stepped toward the two people who had become parents to her in the relatively short time she had been at the palace. "No, you will listen to what I have to say," she said as she crossed the large room to come to a stop before the armoured Allfather and elegantly dressed Allmother.
Anger flashed over Odin's face at her disrespect but he reigned in his ire and nodded for her to continue.
"Why?" Maryn breathed the question feeling the emotions of the past few minutes wash over her all at once. Frigga opened her mouth to speak but the small brunette continued; "Why would you choose an unmarried Aesir, who wishes for nothing to do with ruling, over a prince who has a stable marriage and would rule this world to the best of his abilities. Loki's only wish is to have you give him a chance to show his passion for the prosperity of this world?"
Odin stood, tucking his hands behind his back, his sharp gaze spearing her where she stood, "So you are angry because you will not be queen? You feel we have cheated you of your last chance to rule as is your birth right."
Insulted by his assumption Maryn glared, past remembering whom she was speaking to, "No, I am angry because you have chosen the wrong son to rule."
The room seemed to swell with tension as Odin glared down at her, "You dare question the Allfather's decision?" he all but growled at her.
Struggling to keep her anger and magic under control, Maryn stepped closer to the king and queen, her gaze moving from Odin to Frigga. "No, Your Majesty," she curtsied and spoke as she stood straight once more, her stormy gaze darkening with her anger, "However, you may have lost him because of your decision, right or wrong though it is." Looking at Frigga one more time and seeing the hurt in the older woman's sapphire eyes, Maryn turned and left the chamber before she spoke more words in anger.
She did not see Frigga drop her head to her hand as Odin turned to stare out the balcony window, one hand still tucked behind his back and his other laying on his wife's shoulder in a small measure of comfort.
Making her way quickly through the palace with Fenrir at her side all the way, Maryn burst into her and Loki's chambers and waved her ladies away with a quick order to leave her be. Tora tried to speak to her but she ignored her friend's words and stepped over the threshold of their bedchamber, only to freeze at the sight of Sigyn sitting on the edge of their bed with as vengeful smile curling the corners of her scarlet-tinted lips. The older woman was dressed in a low-cut gown of dark green, the colour clashing horribly with her spiteful blue eyes. Maryn turned her head to see Loki leaning in the open doorway that led to the balcony of the bedroom, a goblet of wine in his hand and his intense gaze on the carpet under his feet. Ignoring the other woman in the room for a moment, Maryn studied her Dark Prince, seeing the tension in his shoulders and the tight grimace as he pressed his lips together.
Without looking up he spoke, "I found her here when I came back from the meeting with Odin and Frigga," he spoke calmly and Maryn felt her heartbeat speed up at his tone knowing it masked a boiling anger underneath.
Trying to keep the snake from seeing Loki's pain, Maryn glanced at Sigyn with a raised eyebrow, "Did you?" she asked blandly.
Sigyn's eyes flicked to Fenrir where he had padded over to his master's side and sat down, watching her with an unnerving, unblinking stare. "I came to offer my condolences," the lady recovered and smirked at Maryn before crossing one long leg over the other, the thigh-high slit in the side of her gown revealing her leg almost to the curve of her hip. She looked over at Loki once more, "If there is any way I can help…relieve you of this disappointment, Your Grace, please let me know."
Loki lifted his gaze to her. Maryn watched as his eyes slid over the other woman's figure, his eyes dark with rage and not passion. However, the over-zealous woman didn't seem to know the difference or the danger she was in if she continued to play her little game and turned a smirk toward Maryn as if to say she had won.
Turning his back on the room, Loki drained his goblet and refilled it from the jug Maryn hadn't seen he was also holding, "Get out."
The smirk fell from Sigyn's face and she sputtered, "Wh-what?" when the Trickster didn't speak again she became angry. Maryn watched in fascination as she stood up and stamped her foot as if she were a child, "You still want me, Loki, I know you do." She pointed at Maryn, "You've had her for nearly a year. Her body is used and boring to you now. I know all the ways you enjoyed, I know how to make you forget everything but your own pleasure." She made to take a step toward Loki but a soft growl from Fenrir stopped her in her tracks, "Loki, I-I am with child…your child." Maryn couldn't help but laugh at the blatant lie and Sigyn lost all poise when Loki still stood silently with his back toward her, "I could have had the future king of Asgard and instead I came here!" she screeched.
Fury rolled through Maryn at her words and she snapped. Crossing the space between her and Sigyn in a few long strides she grabbed a hand-full of the taller woman's blonde locks which were artfully woven with thin gold chains, dragging her around until they stood face to face. "My husband told you to leave, wench." Her eyes glowed with her silver magic and Sigyn blanched, "I suggest you leave before I throw you out." That was when she saw the truth. The blonde's eyes filled with fear and complete desperation. The rumours she had been hearing around the court of Sigyn losing all of her fortune to gambling and high living had been truthful.
Wrenching out of her grip, Sigyn ignored Fenrir snarling at her as she launched herself at Loki, grabbing his arm and tugging him around to face her, his wine sloshing from his goblet over her bodice as she reached up and pulled his head down, her lips pressing to his in a rough, anxious kiss.
Even knowing what she was trying to do and that it would not work, Maryn's leash on her anger snapped and growled low in her throat. Crossing the room as Sigyn looked up at Loki with tear-filled eyes and the prince stared at her emotionlessly, Maryn twisted her fingers roughly into the other woman's hair and turned, dragging her from the room and through the audience chamber beyond that, ignoring her cries and tears from Loki to help her please. Opening the chamber's large door, Maryn threw the blubbering woman out into the hallway beyond, glaring down at her where she sobbed brokenly. "Do not come near him again, Sigyn," she spoke calmly despite the anger still coursing through her.
"P-please, my lady, please, I have nothing," Sigyn sobbed, crawling toward her and kneeling, her hands clasped before her in supplication.
Steeling herself Maryn shook her head, "I gave you everything once and you turned on me. I cannot help you."
Sigyn shook her head and grabbed onto Maryn's skirt, the action meaning the guards on either side of the door stepped forward to restrain her, only stilling when Maryn raised a hand to stop them. "Please, Your Majesty, have pity. Please, I have nothing."
Leaning down Maryn lifted her chin and looked into her eyes seeing the very real fear there. Taking a breath, she called Tora to her.
"Yes, my lady," Tora curtsied when she came out and saw Sigyn sobbing at Maryn's feet.
Turning to her, Maryn spoke, "Take Lady Sigyn to the Allmother. Implore her to find a home for her and a small allowance to enable her and her child to live comfortably." She looked back down at Sigyn seeing the question behind her eyes, "I know you had hoped to pass the child off as Loki's if your seduction was successful. I do not let my enemies go without keeping an eye on them; I know everything you have done since you used Bjorna against me. Go with Tora and plead with the Allmother for a life for your child." When Sigyn had stumbled to her feet and begrudgingly curtsied, Maryn caught her wrist and tugged her close, her voice low with a threat; "If I ever see you at court again, Lady Sigyn, you will lose your allowance." She looked into the woman's eyes, her gaze turning deadly, "And if you ever touch my husband again you won't live to see the next sunrise, am I clear?"
Starting to shake, Sigyn nodded jerkily before Maryn let her go and turned, leaving her shaking in the hallway without a backward glance. She closed the door and leaned against it with a deep sigh, her eyes closed as she tried to come to terms with everything that had happened that day. After a few deep breaths, she straightened her spine and made her way back into the bedchamber she shared with Loki, her gaze instantly finding him where he still leaned in the doorway his eyes staring unseeingly at the horizon passed the palace boundary.
She stepped forward and opened her mouth to speak to him but his words stopped her short.
"Leave me!" he snarled. Ignoring when her gentle hand pressed to his forearm, he shrugged away from the doorway and stalked onto the balcony.
Taking a breath, Maryn was just about to follow him when he whorled and threw his goblet, the silver cup clanging as it hit the stone balcony railing, crimson wine splattering over the golden flagstones before Loki also threw down the jug, a pool of wine splashing out around his boots.
Tears in her eyes, Maryn crossed the distance between them ignoring the fragrant liquid soaking into the hem of her gown and her satin slippers.
"I said leave!" Loki turned on her, his hand flashing out to wrap around her upper arm, his green eyes bright with rage and tears as he dragged her chest to chest with him.
She shook her head, "No," she whispered.
His hand tightened painfully on her arm and then his grip slackened and dropped before he sank slowly to his knees in front of her, his head bowed and his shoulders slumped in defeat.
Maryn's heart felt as if it was breaking. Stepping closer she sifted her hands through his dishevelled hair, biting back her own tears as he reached up to wrap his arms around her waist, his face pressed to her torso, his body starting to shake with silent sobs. She had never seen him so distraught, angry yes, even sullen, but never as heartbroken as he was in that moment.
Blinking back tears, she cradled him to her as she would a child until his sobs had quietened and then she silently watched him stumble to his feet, his gaze downcast. Taking his hand in hers, she turned to lead him to their bed only to have him stop when he understood what she was doing. Turning to look up into his sad eyes, Maryn reached up and cupped his cheek, "Let me, my love," she murmured gently before leading him into the sanctuary of their bedchamber.