Turning to him she glared accusingly, throwing her hand out in the direction of the weapon's vault, "Tell me what you did, Loki."
His eyes narrowed the moment she confronted him and Maryn had to fight the urge to slap him. "Tell me, Loki. Did you find a way to smuggle the Frost Giants into the vault? Did you want them to steal the Casket?"
He flicked his hand out, enchanting the room so that it was soundproof and no one could enter unless he allowed it, "No, I did not want those creatures to take the Casket."
He spoke so calmly Maryn stopped short. Taking a breath, she folded her arms over her chest, "Why then did you show them a secret way into Asgard?" It was then she saw it, the pain and anger he had been keeping bottled up burst through his emotionless mask and the furniture and ornaments scattered throughout the room trembled with a dangerous wave of energy as it rolled out of him.
"He is not fit to rule, Maryn," he hissed out, "I love my brother but he does not choose our people before himself." He ran a hand through his dark hair and Maryn had to fight the itch in her fingers to reach out and touch him. "He would lead this world to ruin. Look how quickly he called for war when three Jotuns tried to take from us. Thor is blinded by his arrogance and lust for battle. He knows not how to reign."
Seeing the sense in his words but unable to understand the lengths he took to achieve his goal of stopping the coronation, Maryn hugged her arms around her torso and shook her head, "Speak to the Allfather, Loki. Tell him why you did what you did and he will understand. This will continue too far; it always does when your brother's pride is wounded."
He started pacing before her, his face a mask of anger and worry, "Odin will not listen, Maryn. Do you not see? He is as blind as my brother. He does not see the faults of his heir."
"Loki-," she tried again but he turned to her, reaching out to cup her face between his hands, cutting her off.
"It is done, Maryn. My brother will have his battle and my father will finally see what he truly is."
Tears filled her eyes and she shook her head, "If your brother starts a war the blood will be on your hands, my love. Please, end this now," she pleaded, reaching up and wrapping her hands around his wrists.
He searched her face, and she could see the thoughts racing in his mind. Finally, his shoulders sagged and he leaned his brow against hers, his eyelids fluttering closed as he inhaled the sweet scent of her skin and hair. "I will speak to him, my love," he promised. "I will try and make him see sense."
Releasing a breath of air she didn't realise she was holding, Maryn relaxed against him, stepping into the curve of his body and pushing up onto her toes to press her mouth to his. Breaking the kiss, she smiled gratefully up at him, "Thank you."
His eyes were bright with purpose as he kissed her again before undoing the privacy spell he had cast on the room, and taking her hand, leading her through the palace to the feasting room where Thor had closeted himself away to stew in his anger.
They entered the room just as Thor stood from where he had been sullenly lounging in a chair and overturned the banquet table laden with food with an almighty roar. Startled by the noise and violence, Maryn took a step back, her hand tightening around Loki's as he turned his body to shield her. Giving her a reassuring smile, the Trickster lifted her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles before letting it go and walking swiftly to the steps his brother was making his way towards. He stayed on the opposite side of the columns at the top of the stairs, keeping out of sight until Thor had taken a seat on the steps.
Maryn watched him sit beside Thor and they began to speak before she turned to assess the damage her brother-in-law had done to the feast table, benches, implements and food.
A horrified gasp from the entrance had her turning to see Volstagg nearly stagger at the sight that met him, the other Warriors and Sif when they entered. "What's this?" he looked pale at the sight of food strewn over the flagstones.
Thor and Loki glanced up to see their friends make their way to one of the tables that was yet untouched, before returning to their discussion.
Maryn smiled at Sif who strode to her side and gave her a meaningful glance before nodding to the Trickster and the God of Thunder.
"I do not know," Maryn spoke softly, the brothers' conversation coming across to them as they continued.
"If they found a way to penetrate Asgard's defences once, who's to say they won't try again? Next time with an army." Maryn's head snapped up at Loki's words and she felt panic well up inside her at his words. Was he trying to help or was he still ensuring Thor would bring about his own fall from grace.
"Exactly," Thor agreed, his tone still seething with rage.
"There's nothing you can do without defying father." Loki's words calmed her dread until she saw Thor turn to him with a calculating look in his eyes. Loki knew exactly what that expression meant and his face fell, "No, no, no. I know that look." He watched as Thor stood, the older of the two speaking up.
"That's the only way to ensure the safety of our borders," the blonde Aesir growled out.
"Thor, it's madness," Loki tried again to stop his brother but by then it was too late.
As Volstagg weighed in on the discussion, Maryn picked up her skirts and made her way passed Thor to stand in front of Loki. "I thought you were going to stop him," she whispered for his ears only.
He gave her a look that was a mixture of hopeless and pleading for forgiveness. Her heart sank.
Volstagg, not seeing the discussion between the couple, looked to his friend and leader, "Madness? What sort of madness?"
Maryn closed her eyes as Thor answered the rotund Aesir, "We're going to Jotunheim."
As the Warriors Three and Sif tried to talk Thor out of his foolhardy plan only to be persuaded to accompany him, Maryn sat between Loki's knees, watching as he massaged his temples with one hand, his eyes closed at the foolhardy actions of his brother and their friends.
"Hel," Maryn cursed when one by one the four friends agreed to go with Thor. Catching the spark of delight in Loki's eyes at her cursing, Maryn leaned back against his calf, her body turned so that she could see the others as well as his face. "I blame you for this, you know," she murmured to her husband.
He looked offended for a moment before he sighed deeply and tucked a stray lock of her hair behind her ear, "I will do my best to bring us all back safely," he promised.
"You say that as if you want to assure me, Loki, as if I will not be accompanying you on this fool's mission."
His eyes grew dark with annoyance, "I speak in such a way because you will not be joining us, little wife."
She leaned her head back on his knee and wrapped both her hands around one of his, "Yes, my love, I will be joining you."
The muscle in his cheek jumped as he clenched his jaw, grinding his teeth together to get a hold of his anger, "No, Maryn, you will not."
She considered his words and tone for a minute before leaning up to kiss him deeply, allowing his tongue to slide leisurely into her mouth and tangle with hers, before she pulled back running her finger over his bottom lip as she looked into his eyes, "…Yes, Loki, I will."
His nostrils flared as he huffed out a breath and his emerald gaze burned with fire at her insolence.
However, Thor interrupted his reply. "Sister, will you be joining us on our journey for revenge?"
She pressed a fleeting kiss to Loki's lips as she stood and answered quickly, "Yes."
A grin bloomed over the blonde god's face and he turned with a nod, leaving the room to saddle his horse and prepare for battle.
Maryn followed him and their friends, her hands shimmering with silver magic. Black breeches and a black long-sleeved shirt, a brown leather corset, as well as a black hooded cape and black leather boots replaced her gown, jewels, and satin slippers. The pins disappeared from her hair, the heavy mass falling to her hips before she braided it in a thick rope down her back, tying the end with a leather strip. Her weapons appeared in criss-crossing scabbards on her back. The two swords she had learnt to wield like an extension of her own body, their pommels, handles, and hilts plain, made of dark metal and black leather. The thin blades themselves formed from the black metal that was native to her home world. Many black metal daggers and throwing knives, etched with powerful runes and spells were also hidden on her person. All her weapons were enchanted to never grow blunt or break.
She had just stepped into the stables when Loki caught her wrist, turning her to look at him.
Her face remained blank and he growled lowly in annoyance, "Would you rather I leave him and our friends to their fates?"
His simple question made her anger vanish. Even if Thor thought this trip to be an easy victory, she knew the consequences of angering an entire ancient race that was thirsting for blood. Stepping close to him, she laid her palms on his chest, her sad gaze lifting to his face before she looked away again, "No, Loki."
He cupped her face, lifting her chin so that she looked at him, "I will not let them die for my brother's ridiculous vendetta, Maryn."
"And I will not allow you to be the only one to carry that burden, my love," she pressed her forehead to his, savouring the closeness of his body.
An angry growl was the Trickster's last show of frustration, before he sighed deeply and laced his hand into the hair at the back of her head, cradling her head as he tilted it back so that he could press a soft kiss to her lips. "You stay by my side, Maryn," he told her quietly, his emerald gaze searching her grey eyes for her answer.
Leaning into his touch, she nodded, "I will stay at your side, husband."
He stood for a moment, merely looking at her, before he kissed her again, deeply. He pulled away just as they were both panting slightly and then moved away to ready his own mount.
Once all seven warriors were ready, they rode out of the stables toward the gates. Maryn saw Loki speaking to a guard before he mounted his stallion and then the group was away. The ride to the Bifrost was silent and the smiles on the faces' of her friends made Maryn worry even more. She knew Aesir were amazing fighters and hard to wound or kill, but they were not immortal, no matter what the human legends surrounding them said. One mistake and not even her magic or Loki's would be enough to save them.
The groups' first and biggest hurdle came in the form of Heimdall, who stood outside the Bifrost sphere, his eyes following their ride from the moment they exited the last golden gate on the Rainbow Bridge.
Alighting quickly, Maryn followed Thor and Loki to stop before the Guardian, the Warriors Three and Sif a step behind her.
"Leave this to me," Loki told his brother with a smirk, stepping forward to speak to Heimdall. "Good Heimdall," he began, only to be interrupted by the large Aesir.
"You're not dressed warmly enough."
"I'm sorry?" Loki asked.
Knowing that the Guardian saw everything, Maryn watched as he spoke to Thor who pushed his way forward, the anger that had been in him at the feast hall easily read in the way he spoke and the dark look on his face. Seeing Heimdall's eyes flick to the Dark Prince as he spoke of an enemy slipping past his all-seeing gaze, Maryn felt her ire rise at the accusation in the golden-eyed god's look. Although he was right in suggesting Loki had been the one to cause the breach in Asgard's defences, she could not help but want to defend the one she loved. Stepping forward as Loki's chin rose defiantly, she pulled her hood over her hair and the thick veil she wore over the lower half of her face when fighting, Maryn kept silent as Thor strode into the Bifrost, the others following him. She grit her teeth when Volstagg teased Loki for having Heimdall see through his honeyed words. Huffing out a breath she then followed them, Loki a step behind her but his long legs ate up the distance to the front of the Bifrost where they stood in a loose group waiting for the portal to open.
The first time she had travelled through the Bifrost had been a tense and horrifyingly sad day and she was aware of the feeling that this time was no different.
Once the portal opened, Heimdall spoke up once more, "Be warned, I will honour my sworn oath to protect this realm as its gate-keeper. If your return threatens the safety of Asgard, the Bifrost will remain closed, and you will be left to die in the cold wastes of Jotunheim."
"Couldn't you just leave the Bridge open for us?" Volstagg asked nervously.
"To leave the Bridge open would unleash the full power of the Bifrost and destroy Jotunheim with you upon it," the droll answer came and Maryn took a steadying breath.
"I have no plans to die today," Thor spoke up sounding excited at the prospect of having his revenge.
"None do," Heimdall murmured before pushing his sword into the activator of the Bifrost.
Maryn gasped as the magic Bridge pulled at her, her own power singing through her veins as the Bridge transported her from the entrance of the Bifrost to the Frost Giant's world.
Everything moved about her so quickly she only just made out what looked to be stars and galaxies, before her boots hit the frozen grey rock that made up the Jotunheim planet. Cold wind bit at her and she took a deep breath through her veil, calming her magic as she took a moment to look at the dark wasteland around her. They were standing on the edge of an abyss so deep she couldn't see the bottom, snowflakes fell all around but she didn't enjoy this snow as she had the winter on Asgard. There were also strange rock formations before them, as if the side of a huge wall had been broken through in places leaving only parts of the structure intact.
"We shouldn't be here," Hogun spoke into the unnatural silence that blanketed the place and Maryn felt a chill run up her spine.
She moved to Loki's side, looking at him to see that he was glancing around, no doubt lookin for hidden danger. Wanting to reach out and lace her fingers with his, she held back forced to be content with staying at his side as Thor lead them toward the rock edifices, his chin up and his hammer clenched at the ready in his hand. She couldn't understand how any of them could feel so calm, the entire atmosphere made her skin prickle with fear and there was an odd power that lurked here, brushing against her mind. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before. However, there was something almost recognizable about it, as if she had sensed it before although she knew that was ridiculous.
It took only a few minutes of walking for Maryn to realise two things; one, the rock formations were the ruins of what had once been a monstrous fortification of some kind, and two, she recognised something of the power around her. It held the bitter taste of death and decay.
Still, Thor led his warriors deeper into the ruined castle, his thirst for battle overshadowing all else. Confused, Maryn studied the others around her wondering if they also felt the unnatural power around them and the fear it instilled, but they had been hardened by war long ago and she knew they were not as sensitive to magic as she was, but even Loki's face seemed void of all recognition of the magic around them.
As they walked deeper into the razed palace, Sif asked, "Where are they?"
Maryn winced at Thor's loud answer, "Hiding, as all cowards do."
Finally, they came to what was only recognisable as the shell of a once great throne room. A gravelled voice spoke out of the darkness, "You have come a long way to die, Asgardians."
Maryn let her gaze flit over the ruins around them, a small knife clutched in her hand and her free hand ready to grab one of her swords.
"I am Thor Odinson."
"We know who you are," the voice creaked out from above them and Maryn could just make out a shadowed figure sitting upon a throne atop a ruined balcony.
"How did your people get into Asgard?" Thor demanded.
The figure was bare-chested with an emerald green spaulder on each shoulder and a loincloth of the same colour wrapped around his hips. The colour almost blended into his grey skin-tone until the light touched it. He turned his head to look down at the warriors with blood red eyes, the small black pupils zeroing in on them and the scarification on his skin making Maryn's stomach roil in fear and disgust.
"The house of Odin in full of traitors," the figure spoke and Maryn realised suddenly that this was Laufey, ruler of the Frost Giants.
Thor raised his hammer and took a step forward at the insult, "Do not dishonour my father's name with your lies!" he snarled.
The Giant stood, his anger matching the God of Thunder's, "Your father is a murderer and a thief! And why have you come here, to make peace? You long for battle; you crave it. You are nothing but a boy trying to prove himself a man."
Hearing footsteps, Maryn glanced around to see Jotun warriors step out of the shadows and surround them as Thor continued to insult the Frost Giant ruler.
"This boy has grown tired of your mockery."
Seeing some of the warriors use their cold magic to form maces of ice around their fists, Maryn looked to Loki, his gaze moving from hers to his brother before he moved quickly to his side.
"Thor, stop and think," he murmured to his brother. "Look around you. We're outnumbered."
Thor wrenched his arm from Loki's grip, "Know your place brother," he growled, his attention never leaving the Jotun king.
"You know not what your actions would unleash," Laufey spoke. "…I do," he said looking down and in that moment Maryn saw decades of war and loss etched into his already scarred face. He turned his crimson eyes onto their group once more. "Go now, while I still allow it."
A warrior, standing head and shoulders over even Thor, stepped out of the darkness under the balcony and glared down at Thor and Loki.
The Trickster dipped his head, "We will accept your most gracious offer."
Thor glared at his brother but with an inaudible sigh of relief, Maryn saw him lower his weapon and some of the tension melt away from his rigid shoulders.
"Come on brother," Loki spoke quietly to him. Thor stared down the warrior for a moment more before turning to leave.
Maryn watched Loki and Fandral do the same only for everyone to tense as the warrior spoke in his gruff voice to Thor, "Run back home, little princess."
Her heart dropped and she heard Loki murmur, "Damn," before Thor grinned and gripped his hammer, pivoting and slamming the end into the soldier's face, throwing his body into the crumbling wall behind him hard enough that Maryn knew he would never get up again.
"Next," Thor called with a smirk before throwing himself into the skirmish, maiming and killing as he went.
With no other choice, Maryn and the others had to do the same. She tried to only knock unconscious those that she could, but was soon overwhelmed enough by Frost Giant warriors that she had to draw out one of her swords and use that as well as her magic to stay alive. She ducked, spun and dodged, cutting down any Jotun warrior that refused to step back and knocking out those she could with spells and the pommel of her sword.
Thor was making matters worse by mocking the enemy every chance he got and Maryn was almost tempted to throw a silencing spell his way. Her attention was dragged from the Frost Giant she was fighting when she saw one barrelling toward Loki. He stood on the edge of a precipice, and her heart stilled for a moment as the warrior barrelled into him, only for the illusion to break and she saw the Giant fall through the double before it shimmered and dissolved.
With a startled cry, Maryn was grabbed from behind and off her feet, the veil ripped from her face and the hood from her head as ice-cold arms tightened around her torso. Gritting her teeth, she swung her feet up toward her chest before bringing them down and back, kicking the warrior as hard as she could in the knee. There was a loud pop and the Jotun grunted, dropping her to her feet as he collapsed to one knee. Refusing to take his life, her hands glowed silver and she pushed a wave of her energy into his chest, throwing him back into a rock wall and effectively knocking him out.
Frustrated by what Thor had caused, Maryn turned to see the chaos around her. Volstagg calling out that the touch of Frost Giant would burn the skin, Loki killing a warrior with his dagger, Fandral impaled by a large shard of ice forming from the ground only to be saved by Loki, Hogun and Volstagg, and Sif calling for the God of Thunder to stop while he laughed at the battle he was waging. Knowing that there was very little any of them could do, the princess called on the magic she could feel around her. It wasn't hers but it answered her call, gathered in her chest, building until she felt like her body would buckle under the pressure of it. The only other time she had done such a thing was the day her mother died and the magic she had called had been so close to her own it was as easy as breathing. This magic felt like ice running through her veins but she knew it was her only choice if she wanted to stop this battle.
She lifted her eyes to the Jotun king as he watched his people fight and felt the power of his world rush into her chest. "Enough!" she cried out, her voice reverberating around them as every Jotun warrior around her collapsed at the wave of energy that followed her scream. The ground beneath her feet shook and a blast of silver magic followed the invisible wave, not harming, but ending the fighting for a moment.
The cold energy she had called to her had burned her, her chest and throat feeling raw and hollow. There was silence around her as even Thor stopped mid-swing.
Laufey looked down at her, his crimson eyes narrowing as he studied her, "You have power, small one."
"And you have the authority to stop this now, Your Majesty," she spoke as her hair was tugged by a cold breeze, snowflakes floating down to melt into her skin.
He smiled coldly, "You speak as if I wish for this to end, girl."
Jaw clenched against her anger, Maryn sensed Loki step toward her, "And you speak as if that was my only act of magic against you and yours, Laufey. If this does not end now I will do worse."
He leaned forward, his massive hands curling around the cracked and gouged edge of the balcony where he still stood, "Your threats mean nothing, and your words anger me."
She saw his fist close and knew what he would do, even before the spell flew toward her. One moment she was on her feet facing the Jotun king, and the next she hit the ground behind a large boulder, a strong body pressing her down into the snow. Blinking up into emerald green eyes, Maryn relaxed as she saw Loki studying her, making sure she was unharmed.
"I am alright, my love," she murmured quietly, the sound of the battle continuing around her causing her to tense. However, it was the sharp, angry glare Loki sent her that made her heart stutter in her chest before he wordlessly pulled her to her feet and toward the Warriors Three and Sif.
The ground beneath their feet rocked suddenly as Thor called his hammer back from decimating fifteen Jotun's in a single throw of his weapon. They all turned to see what had once been a frosted over statue of a towering, hideous, four-legged creature had come to life and broken out of the ice that encased it.
"Run!" Volstagg yelled, Fandral slung over his shoulders, the wounded Aesir unable to walk on his own.
Thor refused to listen and continued to fight as the others started to escape, Loki's hand tight around Maryn's to keep her at his side.
The creature roared and then started its pursuit, gaining speed, its long legs eating up the space between it and them. Its huge spiked tail swung down at Sif who barely dodged the lethal barbs in time.
"Loki!" Maryn gasped out, her chest aching and exhaustion blackening the edges of her vision. She had used too much magic and the cold power of the planet clawed at her mind searching for a way in once more now that it had settled inside her once. He stopped long enough to wrap an arm around her waist and all but carry her toward the cliff where the Bifrost portal had opened. There was an almighty rumbling crack behind them and she glanced back once to see the creature fall into a crevice in the ground that formed where it ran. Drawing from Loki's energy and magic, Maryn reached out with her free hand and threw another surge of magic at the Frost Giants following them, knocking a good many down.
As they were almost at the portal sight, Volstagg called for Heimdall to open the Bridge but there was silence.
Sagging against Loki's side, Maryn didn't even have the strength to start when the creature Laufey had reanimated made an appearance again, dragging itself over the cliff's edge with its deadly claws. It roared once before raising itself onto its hind legs to no doubt deliver its killing blow, when a streak of red and silver shot through its open mouth and out the back of its head. It dropped to the ground, dead, before falling backward over the edge of the abyss. Thor dropped to his feet in front of the group, turning with a smirk at having defeated the beast, only to see what Maryn had sensed the moment the creature died.
She turned with the others to see Laufey and his people standing ready to fight, thousands with only their destruction on their minds.
"Come, small one, and I will spare your friends," Laufey spoke suddenly, his hand extended toward Maryn.
She felt Loki stiffen beside her, his arm tightening around her waist and his body angling in front of hers. Smiling tiredly, Maryn drew herself up, her power shining at her fingertips, "We both know that is a lie, my lord."
Laufey studied her for a moment before he nodded and his warriors' tensed. In the next breath, they moved as one, running toward her and her friends.
With a clap of thunder and flash of light, the Bridge opened behind them and Odin appeared on horseback in full battle armour.
"Father, we'll finish them together!" Thor yelled, his hammer raised above his head.
"Silence!" Odin snarled before Laufey moved to speak with him.
Maryn couldn't concentrate on their words, her head spinning and her legs trembling, threatening to give way. "Loki," she whispered.
He turned to her and must have seen how pale she was because his forehead creased with concern and he reached out, restoring some of her energy and magic with his own, his emerald power mixing with hers to make gold when he touched the skin of her cheek, neck and chest. When she was able to stand on her own, she pressed her forehead to his chest for a moment before looking up to see Laufey try to attack Odin. A split second later, in a flash of bright light, they were carried back to Asgard on the Bifrost Bridge.
Once in the Bifrost portal room, Maryn stepped away from Loki's grasp as Odin and Thor yelled. Sif helped her toward the healer's rooms while Volstagg and Hogun helped a limping Fandral.
However, once they were outside the healing rooms, she turned to her friend, "I must see Frigga."
Nodding Sif smiled, "I will help you to the Allmother's chambers."
Gratefully, Maryn took Sif's offered arm and they moved slowly to Frigga's private chambers. When she was ushered inside, Sif excused herself promising to update Maryn on Fandral's condition while the princess eased onto a comfortable chaise lounge, stripping off her weapons and boots.
"I heard you followed my foolish son into battle today," Frigga spoke softly, sitting beside Maryn and handing her a warm pottery mug.
Looking down at the mug she was holding, Maryn felt tears fill her eyes, "What is it for?" she asked in a small voice.
Frigga reached out and tucked a loose curl behind her ear, "It is to help calm you and hasten the return of your magic to full strength."
Nodding Maryn sipped at the floral brew before looking up at the older woman, tears starting to slide down her cheeks, "Oh mother, I fear we have ruined everything."
Shocked at her tears, Frigga took the mug from her shaking hands and set it down before pulling her into a tight hug, "Everything will be alright, sweet daughter," she murmured as Maryn sobbed against her shoulder, "Everything will be alright."