The moment that was most vivid in Fenrir's memory was opening his eyes and seeing twin pools of emerald staring down at him. His tiny frozen body was then lifted into strong arms and he was cradled against a sturdy chest. Although not warm, he sensed that he was finally safe. The next thing he knew a bowl of sweet, warm milk was placed before him, and the soft voice of a female and the deeper voice of a male was winding into his ears and mind as he filled his belly with the fortifying meal. Little did he know that those two voices and those they were attached to would become his family.

Abandoned by his own mother as the runt of her litter of cubs, he was close to death in the middle of that frozen fen. With barely any memories of the pack that had deserted him, he quickly accepted his master and mistress as his family and focus. As he grew, and the others that inhabited the golden structure where he was taken to live saw how large he became and detested him for it, he could smell their fear and unease whenever he was near. He chose to protect his master and mistress more fiercely than ever because of this.

The master was a magic wielder, something Fenrir had sensed the moment his body was satisfied by food and rest. The scent of it was like fire and honeysuckle, impregnated by the crackle of lightning just before a storm. It was something that drew him like a moth to a flame. The pull of it was maddening at first; stirring deep in his mind and making him wish to be closer to it. However, as he grew, he learned to keep that from his mistress as she worried after him, keeping him near her and becoming sad when he lost himself to the magic and growled at those who came too close. He learned to control that savage part of himself that ached to rip into soft flesh and taste the metallic, hot blood of the two-legged creatures that hated him, to ignore it completely until he was able to go hunting with his master, chase down another animal, and take out his rage on it.

His master recognised that he needed the constraint that only magic could give. And so, after one particularly wild hunt where he nearly attacked the mount his master rode, after ripping apart another wolf which made the mistake of wandering nearby, his master used his power to mute Fenrir's sense of magic. After that day he settled. There were no more bloodthirsty thoughts, no fight against his baser instincts, and no way he could harm his master or mistress.

His master had also used magic to change him. His body grew even larger in size, the power coursing through him making him strong, fearless, extremely hard to kill, and above all, he provided a link for his master to watch over his mistress.

Then, as he grew even further, he was tasked with solely protecting his mistress. He never left her side unless she willed it, and even then, he would follow her secretly. He saw her and his master grow in their love for one another, and the happiness in his mistress whenever the master was near.

And then the worst happened. His master's plan went wrong. His mistress was attacked and the offspring Fenrir had sensed growing within her was mortally wounded by a powerful, frigid energy like nothing he had ever known. The little one was lost and his master fell, leaving his mistress broken and alone.

For seemingly endless days she grieved, her power unbalanced and dangerous; linked to his master in a way others of their race didn't understand until his master's mother tied her magic.

Fenrir knew more than the average Asgardian wolf. Amazingly and in the most unsettling way, his eyes reflected his knowledge. He knew the smell of magic in the air or the scent of it permeating flesh, blood and bone. He knew the allure of power in any form, the hunger of man for more, and the darkness that was inevitable when one gave into that hunger – it was what ruined his master in the end. He knew the sly glances and whispered words of vanity and envy, love and hate. He knew the pain of losing a loved one. He knew the joy of finding a family. He knew the goodness of some and the cruelty and fear of others.

When the assassin had crept into his mistress's chambers, a dagger clutched in his hand, Fenrir gladly gave up his life to save her, and when he breathed again, filled with strong magic that burned and healed together, he took the throat of the intruder between his jaws and quickly ended his life.

Now, as he sat by his mistress's still body, fighting the smothering swirl of magic that had burst forth from her as she broke the levee holding back her power, he knew he would need to watch over her as she was vulnerable now more than ever. The force of her magic returning to her had caused her to fall unconscious and she lay at his side as if in a deep sleep, her heartbeat slowed so that he breathed twice between each thump of her heart.

He felt his master in his mind then, asking about his mistress. Unable to explain, Fenrir allowed the master to see through his eyes and memories. The calm that washed over him from his master was unexpected. Should he not worry more of her ability to survive this?

Again, his master tried to calm him, and again he refused, unable to relax when the one he had sworn to protect laid out, barely breathing and pale as death at his feet.

Whining low in his throat, Fenrir lowered his immense form to lie beside his mistress. He hoped the heat of his body would warm her and perhaps encourage her to wake.

He had never seen her like this, her body cold when he touched his nose to her cheek, her chest barely rising and falling with each breath.

The call of his master for information was strong, but Fenrir's loyalty to his mistress was stronger. With an inner snarl, he cut his connection with the master, if only to protect his mistress. He glanced down at her as she moved slightly, a flicker of pain crossing her face before she stilled, silent and unmoving once more.

It would be a long wait, he knew, but she would survive even if he had to give his life to make it so.

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Note: The first chapter of the second book of Maryn and Loki's story.

Hi everyone. Thanks so much to all of you who have stayed with me and my story so far. It's a great honour to be able to share my ideas with you and to be able to have the opportunity to put my own spin on things. I have heard from some of my readers already and I hope to continue to hear your thoughts and questions. That is part of the reason that I write and post on this sight. So, if anyone has any comments or questions please feel free to let me know.

I know Maryn has been through a lot, and her life isn't going to be easy yet, but she is growing into her power and knowing what she wants. Loki has a lot to answer for and she will make sure he knows that.

Welcome back to my story.

Enjoy!

Dust motes in sunlight