You settled into a comfortable position within the carriage and prepared for a long and perilous journey through inhospitable lands. Yet, not long into the trip, the carriage came to a halt, and Loki opened the door from the outside. 

"Are we here already?" You ask confused.

"Yes, sweetheart, we have reached the site of the recently diseased produce. If you inspect these, I'm confident you'll discover a solution, and you won't have to traverse more potentially hazardous terrain."

You peered at Loki, brows furrowed.

"The roads were hardly difficult, and the journey was a breeze, so I'm perplexed as to why you feared my participation on this trip." You state.

"We are indebted to Ovahh for the smooth ride, as he possesses exceptional skill." Loki extended a courteous nod to Ovahh, and Ovahh returned the gesture.

You found the entire exchange peculiar because Ovahh never nods, not when he has the opportunity to brag with his voice. In addition, the journey was too effortless and too brief, and now your senses told you that something was aloof. However, you continued to act ignorant.

Loki held your hand and assisted you in exiting the carriage. As soon as your feet touched the snow, a slight shiver ran up your spine.

"Brrrr, chilly," you remark, having been toasty warm within the compartment.

"Come darling, I'd like you to meet Eroe, the elderly Jotun near the bio dome." Loki pointed into the distance, and when you looked in the direction he indicated, you observed an elderly Jotun waiting for your arrival.

As you approached Eroe, you surveyed your surroundings and found it strange that you didn't see any infected trees. Usually, you could smell a disease in the land, and despite the snow slightly masking the soils natural scent, you detected no illness here.

"The tree's don't look diseased, Loki."

Loki looked at you sheepishly. "That's because the crops are contained within the dome, where we can regulate a warmer environment for their growth. The spoiled ones are inside"

"Ah I see." You now felt somewhat ridiculous for your suspicion. Perhaps the disease had not spread beyond the bio-dome produce. If that were the case, your previous assumption could be discarded, as the ailment on the crops would likely be the result of human error.

You perk up a bit, feeling relieved.

"Eden, this is Eroe; he is in charge of cultivation beneath the domes; he has reported spoiled crops and requests your assistance."

"Good day my king, Lady Eden." Eroe bowed in greeting.

"I will assist in any way I can, Elder Eroe. However, please tell me, do you cultivate only within the dome or do you also make use of the lands?"

Before responding, he gazed nervously at Loki.

"Not only from the dome, my lady, but also from the lands in the springtime."

You found it strange that he only mentioned land harvesting in the spring, as you plainly observed an orchard of fruit trees, some of which bear fruit year-round. You also sensed he was not being truthful due to his fidgety demeanour.

"But those trees, they look like opal berries, which I believe grow all year round in Jotunheim? They also do not appear sickly."

"I... I.." Eroe stutters, while giving Loki imploring eyes.

"Uh, come along darling, let Eroe take you inside, there is no time to waste." Loki ushered you inside the giant greenhouse.

"Wow, this is impressive, Loki" You praise as you gaze around in awe. "It's no wonder Jotunheim doesn't require the food trade of other realms, you're self-sufficient."

"Thank you, my love, we are gradually introducing additional trials of cultivating various plant species. Not all endeavours are fruitful. But we are continually advancing."

"I'd love to help, I believe my abilities could aid in the propagation of even the most difficult of vegetation, including grains."

"You think Jotunheim could grow grains!" Eroe suddenly interrupted, his tone excited.

You smile. "I do. With a few minor adjustments to your structure and the finest seedlings from Embrodi. I am confident that we will succeed."

Eroe exhibited the widest smile you had ever seen on a Jotun's face. However, his smile dimmed when he noticed Loki subtly signalling him with a nod. It was evident that Eroe was not keen in whatever was planned.

"Lady Eden, the sick plants are just ahead." He said lowly.

You remain with Eroe as Loki and Ovahh lag behind, muttering to each other in hushed tones, oblivious to your awareness of their conversation.

You stopped when Eroe did and regarded the small patch of vegetation that he gestured to with confusion.

"These are the plants that are sickly?" You ask, dubious. "These are the diseased crops?"

"Well, sweetheart, this is the location of the newly afflicted plants. The problem is identical elsewhere. Find a solution to these, and I will instruct my guards to do as you have done at other locations." Loki smiles, nervously.

Even without touching them, you could tell what was amiss with the plants. You detected it as soon as you walked in. However, for their satisfaction, you approached a leaf and lightly stroked it. Right away, the withered plants returned to their once-healthy appearance.

After hearing several loud, exaggerated gasps, you turned around to see Loki and Ovahh, both of whom were grinning broadly.

"Well done darling, you have saved these crops."

"It appears I did," you say flatly.

"Thank you, princess Eden, my plants are saved." Eroe exclaimed, genuinely impressed by your talent.

"Ovahh, please inform our land warden of the issue so they can handle the remainder." Loki issued his command, and Ovahh immediately proceeded to depart. But you spoke up just as he approached the exit, causing him to stop.

"Don't you first wish to know what the issue was? How could you possibly instruct your land warden about the cure when I haven't even shared my findings with you?"

Each of the men gave you uneasy glances, but Ovahh also gave off an air of defeat. The realisation that he had been exposed left him with no desire to continue acting. He dragged his feet back to Loki and whispered in his ear. "I told you this wouldn't work."

As opposed to listening to Ovahh, Loki persisted in his charade.

"I'm sorry my love, I neglected to ask in my haste. But now I wonder, what went wrong with them?" You sensed that Loki already knew.

You scanned the dome until you discovered a small switch. You quickly approached it and pointed to the dial.

"This...this was the problem with them. Someone had intentionally increased the temperature setting. The plants have withered because they require water. This error was made by man, not by disease." You glared at the three individuals. "But you knew that, didn't you?"

After receiving nothing but silence, you storm out of the dome. Loki followed you out, and found you stood underneath an opal tree.

"I know this isnt the site of the effected crops, Loki! We have barely moved past populated lands, the terrain hardly hazardous. This agricultural spot has not yet been affected by the disease. And I don't know if it's because you don't believe in my ability to assist you or because you feel I'm too frail to endure the actual long journey."

"I know you are strong, and I see how gifted you are. But you saw it yourself darling, in the dome, the plants... they were sick.."

"They were simply thirsty!" You shout. "You have forced poor Eroe to act dishonestly and pretend that his plants were genuinely unhealthy! Why?"

Loki fidgeted with his fingers, and you recalled how Queen Frigga did the same when she was anxious. However, he maintained his stubborn stance.

"I don't know what you mean, Eden."

"I told you she wouldn't fall for it." Ovahh whispered.

"Hush!" Loki curtly ordered.

"So you want me to believe that the widespread disease is not an urgent matter. And to simply return to the palace because water and adequate heat are all that is required to resolve this issue?"

"It was you, darling, who cured them. If that is all that's required, I guess it wasn't as terrible as we thought."

"Then I suppose you won't mind if I eat these opal berries that I plucked directly from these outside trees?" You open your hand to reveal a handful of berries. You rapidly pop one into your mouth, but before you could chew, Loki teleported to your side and squeezed your cheeks together, forcing the berry out of your mouth.

"Are you crazy! Eden," he cried, swatting the berries from your hand before forcing his fingers inside your mouth and scraping along your inner cheeks, desperately trying to wipe away any remnants of the fruit.

You yank his arm downwards in a furious effort to remove his invading fingers from your mouth.

"These trees are not even infected, but you dread the disease from the real site so much that you won't even let me eat their fruit. Stop messing with me, Loki! Utilise my expertise and transport me to the actual affected area!"

"I can't! ... I won't!"

"You refuse my help?" You say incredulously. "I never took you for a selfish king."

He looked at you with hurt and then, when rage took over, with anger. "Selfish! One could say that you were being selfish. You run towards danger without even thinking of the consequence should anything happen to you. Without you, Embrodi is without a queen, Jotunheim is without a queen, ME! ... I am without a queen!"

"So I am right, it is because you think I am so frail. You probably think that one little bump and I'd fall down dead!"

"Don't say that, Eden; please do not mention your death." He pleaded. His heart tangibly ached in response to the disturbing thought.

"We will all one day depart this world, Loki. The gods have written our death long before we were even born, it is the only decision on our path that we have no control of." You paused to gaze at his teary eyes. "What is one life compared to the thousands that reside here? I am a dot among the masses, and my life is not worth more than the lives of your people."

Loki's glistening eyes begged as he firmly grasped you and drew you near. "Please, Eden; I can't lose you." A teardrop trickled down his cheek.

"Have faith that the gods have bestowed upon us a long and happy existence together, my love. Because I do. I am so confident that I can make you a promise. I promise that I will never leave you." Your own eyes were filled with tears, as the air fogged with emotion.

Loki gently connected his forehead to yours and spoke with conviction. "Like the tragedy that is Romeo and Juliet, I cannot exist without you. Do not break that promise, Eden."

Upon understanding the deep meaning of his words, an alarm sounded in your mind. He saw your aghast expression and moved his lips to yours, kissing you passionately as though you hadn't seen each other for centuries.

Eroe moved forward and spoke up unexpectedly.

"I apologise for my dishonourable deceit. True, I intentionally neglected my plants. But do not blame our king; he was only attempting to safeguard our future queen." He pleaded for mercy. "The dome sustains us for the time being, and my king has ordered us not to consume from the trees outside, despite the fact that they exhibit no symptoms of the disease. We, the people, recognise that what is occurring in the northlands may spread here, and we applaud our king's precautionary measures."

"I'm sorry, Eden. Im sorry that I tried to trick you." Loki was sincere in his apology.

"It's because we care for you, Birdy. We had to try." Ovahh spoke.

You push away your anger with a deep breath. "Let's put the apologies behind us and concentrate on moving forward." You proclaim and look to Eroe. "Your king is correct; for the time being, you should not consume food grown on the cultivated lands, utilise only the domes. However, I will need to know the precise location of the affected area."

"The affected crops are located to the north, well beyond our populated areas and on the very edge of the badlands. Because our soil is not as fertile in the inner regions as it is in the northlands, we station Jotuns there to harvest deep-rooted vegetation." Eroe replied.

"I see, I was curious as to why you couldn't simply grow more centrally. It stands to reason that more virgin soil untouched by man, would produce the finest sources of nourishment."

"Yes, my lady. That is why the majority of our domes are located inland. However, few Jotuns are willing to farm close to the badlands."

You hear the term badlands again; at first, you thought you misunderstood him, but hearing it repeated, piqued your curiosity.

"What is this badlands you speak of?"

"A place we don't need to venture to, Eden." Loki curtly asserted. "Our path will bypass that section and proceed directly to the northlands border. It is near the lake, which houses the elder tree, so you may inspect that too."

You frown; recognising that Loki is withholding information from you. But you don't press him for more details; you were thankful he agreed to transport you to the northlands, the initial location you needed to visit. However, you made a mental note to mention badlands at a later point.

"Be wary of the Docats, I have heard that they approach the borders edge, my king." Eroe's words of caution added to your confusion.

"Yes, thank you elder, Eroe." Loki quickly ushered you towards the carriage.

"Docats? Badlands?... Why do I have the feeling I'm being kept in the dark?"

"Nonsense sweetheart, anything I feel you should know, I will divulge."

"Yes, because you don't conceal anything of importance, do you, my love." You look at him with an accusatory glare before entering the carriage.

"Do you wish to resume the trip, dear?" He grinned.

You narrowed your eyes. "Clearly."

You promptly take a seat inside the carriage and as you fasten your seatbelt, Loki glanced at you from the doorway.

"So, we are now heading west," he stated.

"Incorrect!" You declare. "I do believe Eroe said north, far far north. Towards the very border of the badlands. Do not attempt your trickery again, for I will not be so cool mannered next time."

"That was you behaving coolly? ... Attempting to eat diseased fruit to make a point?"

"It was not diseased."

"It could have been, and you would not have known." He looked horrified as he pondered the thought.

"Am I not a Gaia? I can detect the odour of a land's ailment well before stepping foot on it. And yes, I was indeed well-behaved."

"Fine. We will proceed north for fear of witnessing your unruly conduct. But put on an extra cloak, it will get extremely bitter soon enough." Loki pointed to the wooden trunk. "I've packed essentials. You will find everything you need inside. I will join you soon."

You give him a smug smile before he closed the carriage door, and joined with Ovahh up top.

~

Loki sighed as he sat beside his friend and guard.

"So, we head west?" Ovahh enquired.

"No, we head north, far far north."

Ovahh glanced at Loki. "So the badlands then?"

Loki gave him the same look of unease. "Northlands; badlands... is there really any difference?"

"Well look at us, willingly heading towards the badlands. Oh what joy!....." He exclaimed sarcastically before gesturing with his reins for the horses to depart.

"I concur, Ovahh. I concur.." Loki murmured in the same subdued tone.

***

As you travelled to the extreme north, where the climate was harsh, the snow was deep, and the wind was bitingly cold, you realised why Loki and Ovahh were hesitant to travel this far.

You were still astonished that both animal and plant life could survive amidst the glacier-sized, snow-capped mountains that dominated the landscape. And yet, as you gazed out the window during the first few hours of the journey, you could not help but be awestruck by its deadly beauty.

"Are you warm enough, darling?" Loki inquired, draping his arm around your shoulder to hold you in place as the carriage shook from the uneven ground.

"I'm fine." You fib. You were unable to feel your face or feet.

Loki squinted his eyes as he peered at you. "You don't need to lie to me, Eden. Let us be truthful."

You sighed. "I am a little cold."

Loki promptly turned up the heating element that sat in the corner of the carriage. It was a magnificent invention that functioned as a portable fire. However, he also rummaged within the trunk and extracted a another thick cloak with a fur hood. This made the total number of coats you wore to three.

He swept it around you, and you were immediately comforted by the extra layer. To your surprise, he knelt on the ground and began carefully unlacing your boots, removing each one to reveal your feet.

He started gently massaging, applying force to various pressure points to stimulate the blood flow in your feet, resulting in their immediate warming. You cooed and leaned back, immersing yourself completely in his touch. Loki beamed when he peered up and saw the adorable facial expressions you made as his magical hands caressed every inch of your extremities.

"You are extremely talented with your hands, Loki."

"Sweetheart, I have many talents you have yet to encounter."

"Is that so? Then perhaps when in our cave for the night, you can be first up in the talent show."

Loki peered up and looked at you. "And will you be taking part in said show? Or will I be the only performer?"

"What's a talent show when you only see one act?" You sit up and draw close to his face, seductively lowering your voice to a whisper. "It is not only plants I breathe life into, my skilled mouth works wonders elsewhere too." You slinked back and observed his lust filled expression.

"Don't tease me with a good time, darling. Jotun's don't do well with fluctuating emotion."

"I'm well aware." You grin. "I promise to keep the teasing to a minimum.."

Loki impulsively lifted your foot to his mouth and began kissing the bottom of your heel, nipping at the skin with his teeth. You emit a gentle whimper, and he interprets it as a request to continue.

He extends his tongue and runs it along the contour of your sole before reaching your toes and engulfing two of them into his mouth. He groans with pleasure while sucking, and you bite your lower lip, forgetting all about the cold. The fiery sensations he created in you was like a warm spring, it heated your entire body.

Feeling a surge of pleasure, you instinctively reach for your dress and scrunch it up around your knees. Loki's eyes flit to your newly-exposed thighs, and without warning, his lips trail up to meet them.

As he nuzzled your inner thigh, you felt his head anchor itself securely between your legs. He saw your enticing slit through the fabric of your panties, and proceeds to lick a moist strip along the length of it. You arch your back at the unexpected thrill; the pressure of his strong tongue against your sex reached your aroused nub even through the material of your underwear.

After teasing you enough, he moved your panties to the side and found your clit swollen with arousal. He chuckled, his eyes gleaming in delight. "My delicious, we meet again."

Even though you were completely absorbed in the sexual excitement he evoked and were intoxicated by his pleasurable touches, you still burst out laughing when you realised he was speaking to your private parts. He poked his head out from between your thighs and looked at your curiously.

"My delicious?" You stifle an additional desire to giggle.

"Would you prefer, my precious?" He grins, knowing full well you enjoy Tolkien's literature.

You sit up, and pull his face to yours. "You may call it whatever you like, but I wonder what I will call yours once I have tasted you."

The notion that you would perform the same erotic act on him, surprised and delighted Loki, causing his heart rate to surge.

"You wish to use your mouth on me?" He was sceptical.

"Why is that surprising to you? Did you fail to understand my remark about my talented mouth?"

"My assumption was obviously incorrect; I believed you meant more kissing."

"Oh Loki," you giggled. "You really are as inexperienced and as innocent as me. I adore it. However, please explain why you're so taken aback."

You noticed that he was apprehensive to speak due to his embarrassment.

"Tell me, my love." You urge.

"Fine." He sighed. "It's because of, Fandral"

He saw the look of confusion on your face.

"He at times remarked that proper ladies, other than those of the night, would never engage in such explicit acts, so I assumed the upper class disapproved of it."

"Perhaps that was their excuse to refuse Fandral." You chuckle.

"I had thought of that." Loki mused. "But still, I would not be so bold as to presume you would wish to engage in this type of sexual favour with me."

"I assure you, you will experience the same pleasures that you give me." You cradle his face, bringing your lips close to his in preparation for a kiss. However, Loki spoke abruptly before you could connect with his lips.

"When?" His visage resembled that of an eager schoolboy, something you found amusing. "When, Eden?" He pressed you for an answer, grabbing your rear and pulling you forward so that he could nestle more intimately between your thighs.

"My, my, one is such an eager king this morning." You tease.

"You taunt me with the knowledge that I will receive a gift, yet you don't tell me when to expect it?" He paused, anticipating that you'll respond with a date only after the nuptials.

"Perhaps, we can continue our intimacy at night?" You say timidly.

His eyes widened. "At night? Which night? I will need specifics darling, as my expectations have soared in the hopes that you mean this night, this evening."

You simply grinned, relishing his plight as he awaited your response.

"Eden!" He cried out your name. "Put an end to my suffering."

You laughed heartily at his dramatic spectacle. 

"This evening, my king. I will charm you with my tongue and savour your essence."

Lust filled his eyes upon hearing your words, and now knowing he would soon receive immense pleasure, he pushed you back and quickly parted your legs. You shrieked as he began devouring you with power, the thought of your lips curled around his girth fueling his feral movements.

***

The swaying motion of the carriage roused you from a short nap. You glanced around in search of Loki, only to discover that you were alone. A moment of dread ensued as you thought the worst had happened, but then you heard the low voices of Loki and Ovahh talking to each other outside, easing your panic.

It was clear now, that after Loki had pleasured your body and satisfied his craving for your natural nectar, you fell asleep, prompting Loki to join Ovahh while you rested.

You gaze out of the window and observe an empty expanse of white, yet on the occasions the sun peeked through the clouds, the pearlescent snow shimmered, highlighting the breathtaking beauty of the land.

You look more closely as you surveyed the landscape and spy a black dot moving swiftly in the distance. You squint your eyes and observe it intently, still not discerning it's shape, yet hearing a sudden piercing howl made you instantly recognise it.

"A dire wolf." You whisper, feeling fearful.

You rapidly rummage through the chest that contained extra furs, but become frustrated when you find neither a weapon nor a stick.

You bang the roof of the carriage with your balled fist in an effort to capture the attention of Ovahh. "I told you to pack me a large stick!" You yell out.

The compartment within the roof slid open and Ovahh peered in. "And I told you, a dire wolf can not be fought off with a simple stick!" He argued for the umpteenth time.

Another canine cry sounded from outside and now you felt the beginnings of anxiety loom over you.

"It's following us." You state aloud.

Loki made an appearance and glanced down at you from the open hatch.

"Good afternoon, my queen, did you sleep well?" He grinned, his demeanour still elated from your earlier declaration that you will orally please him later. 

"How are you so cheerful, did you not hear the dire wolf?" You spoke with a frantic tone. "Perhaps you should come inside, as they may attempt to leap and capture you." Loki smiled in response to your concern for him.

"They have been tracking us for some time, Birdy. But they will not attempt to hunt Jotun's, Loki and I are perfectly safe out in the open."

"Then why are they following us?" You ask confused.

Ovahh chuckled. "It's because—"

"Ssh!" Loki abruptly muzzled Ovahh. "Don't worry sweetheart, we are safe from dire wolves." He reassured.

You hurriedly step onto the seat, raising your body up so that your head can poke out of the roof compartment. Instantly, a sharp frost hit your cheeks and your teeth began to chatter. The weather had never felt so icy.

"Ovahh, continue what you were saying before Loki interrupted. I want to know."

"Darling..."

"No loki... I wish to be kept aware."

He sighed, and Ovahh took his exhale as a signal to continue. "Well birdy, as Jotun's, dire wolves cannot touch our skin, unless they want a prominent injury or death. But they track us because... well, because they smell something sweet, something warm."

You stared at him with more confusion.

"Your blood darling, they smell the heat of your blood that pumps around your body."

Loki looked at your startled face with remorse.

Struck by that notion, you lowered yourself down and slumped back in your chair. "Yes, perhaps keep such knowledge to yourself next time, Ovahh."

Ovahh laughed, yet quickly reminded you of your recent stance with a wolf not long ago, armed only with stick. Your gut lurched as he recalled the encounter.

"You remain in the carriage at all costs okay, sweetheart."

You nodded to Loki. You really didn't want to be a tasty meal for a pack of dire wolves. You knew that without a storm helping your invisibility, you'd have no chance of survival against one.

Ovahh abruptly steered the horses away from a frozen glacier partially concealed by snow, causing you to be flung to the opposite side of the carriage.

You struck your shoulder hard and grimaced due to the sudden onset of pain. But before you could open your eyes and examine the source of the agony, Loki was already at your side, ripping at your cloak to locate the injury. When he saw the severity of it, his eyes swelled with rage. Your bone had become dislodged from its socket.

"Don't look sweetheart."  He did not want you to see how bad the situation was.

As you looked away, Loki's power glowed across your skin and a heat penetrated to your bones as they began repairing; soon, the searing anguish had subsided to only a dull ache.

"You really must teach me that trick." You mused.

"It's a promise, my love." He planted his lips on the newly healed area and kissed it better, placing two more cloaks over you to keep you warm.

"Are you and Ovahh alright?" You ask, concerned.

"We'll live darling, Jotun's are robust."

You smile with relief before asking, "What happened?"

"Hidden ice occurs frequently in these regions; we will need to repair the wheel and travel more slowly. Stay inside while I assist Ovahh." Loki got up to depart.

"Can I not stretch my legs?" You implore.

Loki turned around to address you, and took note of your pleading gaze. "Out of the question, Eden." He firmly stated with no ounce of humour in his tone.

You frowned.

"You can give me death glares all you like, but my answer is set in stone." He exited the carriage and closed the door tight.

You reclined back and folded your arms across your chest, huffing and puffing in frustration.

~

"I'm sorry, my king, I didn't see the shard of ice." Ovahh said apologetically as he knelt in the snow and assessed the damage to the wheel. "Is Eden, ok? Was she injured?" He glanced at Loki, full of concern.

Loki joined him in kneeling. "Had you not have swerved, the ice would have pierced the undercarriage, endangering Eden's life considerably. You made the right choice, Ovahh." He patted him on the shoulder, and Ovahh smiled in response.

"I'm glad she wasn't hurt." He sighed in relief.

"Me too." Loki agreed, keeping the truth that you were hurt to himself.

Loki proceeded to aid Ovahh with the repairs, which were difficult but not beyond fixing for two Jotuns.

Yet, as the adjustments were nearing complete, Loki and Ovahh sprang upwards upon hearing a wailing sound emanating from a distance. They gazed into the vast white for a moment, their hearts racing as they inspected every inch of the void with utmost precision.

Both men turned to each other with panicked expressions.

"Perhaps we should make haste, Loki." Ovahh spoke with a tone of alarm. 

Loki grabbed Ovahh's arm as he rose, preventing him from leaving. "How far away do you think it is?" Loki needed to be sure.

"Based on their wail, I estimate that they are somewhere over the ridge, but in our direct path."

"Is there another passage?" Loki inquired, his mind whirling with potential scenarios and viable escape routes.

"The alternative path is risky. It also deviates from the crops we wish to inspect and leads directly to the frozen lake."

"To the elder tree?" Loki said in surprise. "We near it already?"

"Yes, but it is on the wrong side of the lake, it passes through Docat territory, and you know that Jotun's and Docat's do not mingle well."

"Better we face a Docat tribe than encounter a group of Wesson beasts." Loki stated.

"Then we must cover our scent. We do not need the wrath of the Docats should we lure Wesson beasts to their region. We must cover our scent glands with julup moss, it will deter them." Ovahh instructed.

"I saw a wilting julup tree just ahead, I will fetch the moss." Loki began to move in its direction.

"I must go with you." Ovahh demanded. "The bark is frozen and will need the strength of both of us to pull it apart."

Loki contemplated his request but was hesitant to grant it since it would mean leaving you alone in the carriage while they trekked to retrieve it.

After a moment of deliberation, Loki hesitantly spoke.

"Give me your dagger, I will not leave Eden unarmed."

Ovahh removed the small dagger from his belt and gave it to Loki, who then unsheathed his own dagger with the intention of providing you with two weapons as an extra precaution.

~

The abrupt opening of the carriage door startled you.

"You gave me a fright." You giggled nervously, seeing Loki hover in the doorway.

"I apologise, sweetheart; that was not my intention." He smiled upon observing your flushed cheeks, an indication that the heating element he installed in the carriage was effectively keeping you warm. "Here, please take these." You gazed in confusion at the weapons he was handing you.

"Um... Why exactly?" You query.

"As a safety measure. You will not need them, but it will give me peace of mind to know that you are armed."

"I don't understand Loki, and now you really are scaring me."

"Ovahh, and I need to trek ahead and retrieve something, but we'll be back in no time at all. In the meantime, do not let these slip from your hands, and lock the door from the inside." Loki wrapped your trembling fingers around the hilt of the daggers and planted a passionate kiss on your lips.

He drew back and promptly shut the door, taking one last look at you through the glass window. As he did so, he saw the motionless, yet nervous look on your face, and in that moment he felt a pang of pain deep within his chest. He couldn't discern if the heartache was urging him to quickly leave or to remain, and he was fraught with making a choice.

You gaze back at Loki. The sudden need to arm yourself left you feeling utterly overwhelmed. You were also mildly irritated that he did not afford you the opportunity to object to his thrust of weapons or even offer you the chance to accompany him. He departed too quickly, presumably anticipating that you would object to being left alone.

As you observe him through the glass, he silently mouths the words, "I love you," and swiftly leaves. You glanced back down at the daggers he forced into your hands and an oppressive feeling of unease washed over you.

~

"Did you instruct her not to open the door and to remain silent if she heard the wails?" Ovahh said as he and Loki strode towards the julup tree.

"If I told her that, how do you think she'd react? She already looked frightened, I can't divulge that we are being tracked not only by dire wolves but by wesson beasts who are immune to the icy touch of a Jotun and resemble our size."

"Good point"

"Enough chatter Ovahh, let us move."

~

Without the sounds of Ovahh and Loki conversing or repairing the wheel, the surrounding area became eerily silent. It was only the noise of the wind as it whipped ferociously around the carriage that you could hear, and with each gust, it jolted the entire compartment.

To escape the reality of being alone in the more desolate regions of Jotunheim, trapped in a broken down carriage with wolves who can smell you, you try to think of happy thoughts.

You recall your father and Sanfil, and all the happy memories they provided you. Until you felt a deep sadness overrule their memory. It felt like decades had passed and not merely weeks since you last saw them.

You were mildly content as you thought of your father when another burst of wind shook the carriage, sending you back in your seat. Yet you found it peculiar that there was no noise this time. Typically, the wind would howl or whistle as it blew.

You walk towards the door and gaze out the window. You cast your eyes about, hoping to spot Loki in the distance. But all you could see was a sea of snow and ice, along with the swaying of bare tree branches.

Your entire body vibrated as the compartment rattled again, and you frantically grab the seat when the tremor grew more intense. However, it was the horse's abrupt whinnying that alerted you to the fact that something was amiss.

Dread passed over you when a sudden ominous thought entered your mind, and when a low intimidating snarl was heard from outside your door, it confirmed your suspicions.

It was not the wind as first assumed making the swooshing noise, and neither was it the strong gusts that moved your carriage. Dire wolves moved with speed, and now they were encircling the horses and the carriage.

More growls could be heard as the wolves purposefully made their presence known in order to instill fear. The horse's neighing and clomping caused you to worry for their safety. You dash to the door and grab the handle, but when you see a wolf hiding in the snow and preparing to pounce, you retreat back.

You realise that the horses were too difficult for the wolves to handle. It would require too much effort to slay one, and it would be an impossible task to drag it through the snow before other predators detected its blood and fought over it. The wolves were merely scaring the horses in an attempt to bait you into coming to their defence.

When the cunning wolves failed to convince you to leave, they began frantically clawing at your door in an attempt to gain entry. You were too enticing, as you were considerably simpler to dismember and drag back to their lair.

You stumbled back and forth, frantically attempting to sustain your balance as the combined movements of the wolves and horses violently jolted the carriage.

You hear a loud crack and instinctively tighten your grasp on the daggers while assuming a defensive stance. Your heart began to pound wildly in your chest when you looked towards the door and noticed the wood beginning to split. As the determined murderous wolves finally breach the only defence you had against them, you fixate your gaze on the expanding hole in the door. You tremble in fear and emit a bloodcurdling scream when the nose and fangs emerge.

~

"Pull harder Ovahh, just a little bit more!" Loki strained as he and Ovahh used all of their strength to break the julup tree's thick bark.

A sharp crack was heard, and Ovahh joyously exclaimed.

"Finally! You would not have accomplished that by yourself." He panted out of breath.

"You are right. The trek alone would have been pointless."

Loki peeled the bark from the tree to expose the moist, wet sludge, and then proceeded to scoop it into a bucket. But after the first retrieval, he heard a piercing scream that sent shivers down his spine.

"Eden!" He cried.

He dropped the bucket and dashed back towards the carriage, his heart pounding rapidly as he ran faster than he had ever run before.

As soon as the horses came into view, he noticed their obvious claw wounds, and as he surveyed the rest of the scene, the shock caused him to stop moving, and freeze.

He followed a fresh blood trail in the snow, which led him directly to the carriage. When he looked up, he saw the compartment door barely attached to its hinges and smeared with more blood.

He heard the unmistakable gurgling of something dying, as if they were taking their final breath. He was numb and in a state of shock, fearing that his greatest fear was about to be discovered. He slowly moved towards the open door with grieving in his eyes.

He peered inside, certain he would see your unmoving body ravaged by the beasts. However, he let out a stuttered gasp when he discovered a bloodied and lifeless dire wolf in the middle of the compartment instead of your expected dead body.

He frantically scanned all corners of the carriage while calling your name, but when he didn't see you in plain sight, he spun around and searched the immediate outside through teary eyes.

Unable to find you, he fell to his knees, overcome with unfathomable suffering as his broken heart mourned you. The pain that came with the belief that you were dead was too much to endure.

However, his ears pricked up at hearing a faint noise originating from inside the carriage and he promptly looked inside. His eyes were drawn to the shadowy corner, and he let out a relieved breath when he saw you emerge from the wooden chest that housed the extra furs.

"Eden!" He sobbed.

You crawled out of the chest and sat on your knees, still gripping the bloody daggers as you stared at the dead wolf, oblivious to Loki's presence in the carriage.

Loki noticed your obvious shock and quickly grabbed the dead wolf by its legs and dragged it outside, discarding the body in the snow. He spoke quietly as he hovered in the doorway, attempting to get your attention.

"Eden, my love. You are safe now. They are gone, and I am here."

You continued to gaze at the bloody footprints on the floor without responding or making eye contact.

"Look at me Eden." He spoke with urgency. "Look at me right now!" He increased his volume.

You immediately fixed your gaze on him, your brows furrowed. "Loki?" You whimper.

He smiled as a wave of relief swept through him. "Yes, darling, I am here."

Suddenly, something leaping from behind Loki drew your attention, and you yelled for him to watch out.

Loki reflexively spun around and grabbed the dire wolf by the throat as it lunged at him. His large Jotun hand only narrowly missed being shredded by its razor sharp teeth when he thwarted the wolf's surprise assault.

Loki was infuriated, and his whole body heaved in anger as he assumed his dominant role as the alpha predator in this beast on beast fight. The wolf howled and writhed in agony as Loki's touch seared its body.

Ovahh finally caught up with Loki and witnessed the remaining wolves creep towards his king with the intention to attack. He reached for his blade before remembering that you had it. He quickly looked around for anything that could help and saw a large stick. He picked it up and began striking at the ones that lunged closer, the wolves still desperately trying to get to you.

Loki let out a sudden intimidating growl, and all of the dire wolves retreated, too terrified to continue their aggressive assault. He tightened his grip on the now lifeless wolf and stared into its dark eyes, his rage not extinguishing.

"It is dead, Loki, you can let go now." Your voice trembled as you spoke.

Loki glanced at you when he heard the evident fear in your quavering voice. He flung the wolf's charred corpse aside and softened his vengeful expression.

"Don't be scared of me, Eden. I won't ever hurt you like I have them." He misread the shuddering in your voice as an indication that you feared him.

The sight of all the blood horrified Ovahh as he rapidly approached the carriage. He was frantic with concern for you, not knowing if you were still alive or not.

"Eden! Is she... is she.." Ovahh couldn't bring himself to ask if you were alive or dead. He was terrified of the answer.

"She is safe." Loki confirmed, putting Ovahh's mind at rest.

You heard a long sigh of relief as Ovahh hunched over and attempted to calm his anxious heart.

Loki assumed his Asgardian form and cautiously entered the carriage to approach you.

"Please disregard my killer instincts, Eden. I took their life because they were going to cause you harm. I would have simply frightened them off otherwise."Please do not view me as a savage." He inched closer, afraid to approach too quickly in case you injure yourself with the daggers you were still clutching.

Your pulse remained elevated as you try to process what just occurred.

"Please my queen, talk to me."

"You left me." You murmur quietly.

"I should never have left you. I made the wrong choice. Forgive me, Eden, please."

Loki regarded you with regret as he gazed at you. He was furious with himself for making a foolish decision; he realised he should not have left you alone.

"Do not leave me ever again." You sob. "I go wherever you go, we stay together."

His heart leapt at your words as they proved that you still wanted him.

"I promise darling, I promise." He said as he crept towards you.

He carefully uncoiled your fingers from around the daggers and after stowing them away, he drew you into his body and clung to you desperately. You adhered to him with the same ferocity as his passionate embrace, taking in his comforting scent with every breath.

"A king that protects his queen could never be deemed a savage." You whisper into his ear before drawing back to look into his eyes. You still saw the turmoil on his face.

"I should have protected you; I should have been here." He sobbed with remorse. He took your face in his hands and cradled you. "I thought I had experienced pain before, but when I believed you had departed this world and I had lost you, the agony and the misery that consumed every ounce of my being were sufferings I never wish to endure again. You are my everything, and without you, I am nothing. For you are the bones that support me, the sustenance that nourishes me, and the breath that sustain me. You Eden, feed my soul, and I would rather die with you than lose you."

"Oh, Loki. You won't ever lose me."

You weep as he draws you in again, swooping his large arms around your body before passionately kissing you. He deepens the kiss when he tastes the salty tears that run down your cheeks.

The both of you recognise the sudden sound of a throat being cleared, and you turn to look at Ovahh.

"I apologise for interrupting, but we have moss to smear on our bodies and a new path to navigate through."  Ovahh set the bucket of moss on the floor of the carriage.

"Moss?" You furrow your brow, feeling more confused than ever.

"It's to eliminate our scent and deter the Wesson beast from trailing us." Ovahh spoke unintentionally.

Loki glared at him. He didn't want to divulge that information. Not right now.

Both Loki and Ovahh observed the look of surprise on your blood smeared face.

"Ovahh, I require my stick!" You assert.

Ovahh was still clutching the stick that he used to fend off the ferocious wolves. The basic weapon that he claimed would never be effective against dire wolves, despite you saying so.

With a sheepish grin, he awkwardly offered it to you.

"I think from now on, a large stick should be incorporated into our inventory of primary defence weapons," Loki stated. "What do you think, Ovahh?"

"I completely agree," Ovahh said, quickly nodding.