The Guardian and the Usurper

Torches and goblins

I look around me, and all I see are the four cobblestone walls that I have come to grow accustomed to and a few torches. The burning scent of their flame is comforting, though I know not why.
A loud bang resounds across the small, dimly lit room, and the door on the wall across from me slams against the wall roughly and without mercy. The sudden noise causes me to jump. A tall, lanky man strides confidently into the room. It's been so long since i've seen anyone, or heard anything other than the sound of my own breathing.
It takes me a few moments to remember that my hands and feet are bound, and I can be naught but a sitting duck. No longer am I a fearless warrior. I am less than a bound dog, waiting for the muzzle to be removed from my sore mouth. No longer am I considered powerful.
For as long as I have been alive, I have been a warrior: A spirit wolf. My soul is sewn into one of the guardians of the Infinity stones. In battle I am ferocious, and not to be trifled with. Ruthless, cunning, persistent, and meticulous. The Usurper of the Allfather's throne has taken me hostage and locked me in what looks to be a lowly cellar, away from the rest of the prisoners and civilization as I know it. That ignorant bastard, he has no idea what he's done. It's never wise to cage a wolf. As I think this, I feel my gums and jaw ache with agonizing pressure, and my canines start to slide downwards to show themselves.
My ears twitch as I observe him. He is donned in green and black leather and a golden helmet with horns protruding from the front. Tall, with high cheekbones and a prominent brow, he practically oozes arrogance and disdain. He stalks in a circle around me, like a predator. Little does he know that I am the predator, and he, the unsuspecting prey. Just another stupid rabbit taunting the jaws of a wolf.
¨I believe you could be of use to me.¨ he leers down at me, and I find myself just dying to slap that look off of his face. ¨You see, you have something I want: And I will go to any measure to get it. There is a resurrection and regenerative quality in your blood. I want it for my own personal use, and you can either comply with my wishes, or deal with the consequences of a bleak existence behind these atrocious cobble stone walls..¨
He continues to slowly circle the chair that I have been bound to for what seems to be an eternity. Suddenly I feel the restricting weight that was once placed on my jaw lift, and the bindings on my hands fall away like autumn leaves from trees. I rub my raw wrists, and reach up to rub my extremely sore jaw. My canines shoot down into their normal position and I shiver at the release of my natural form. My tail twitches aggravatedly behind me as I stare him down. My eyes have returned to their scalding blue, and I see a slight flicker of uncertainty run through his eyes.
To the untrained eye, he looks completely sure of himself: To my very sure and steady observation, he looks like a small boy who is in the process of debating on whether he should steal cookies from the palace kitchen.
¨I am not some young pup, waiting for your command. You have no idea what you're dealing with. I am a Spirit Wolf, a Guardian of the Infinity Stones. You believe yourself to be the predator, but in reality, you are the helpless rabbit, and I, am the ever circling predator, and the utmost possibility of death.
¨You claim to be the god of lies and mischief. I am here to tell you that you are dawdling in nothing but child's play. I can see right through you, Loki Laufeyson. The dark prince of Asgard and the forgotten heir to the Jottun throne. You cannot hide behind the mask of deceit, silver tongues can be pulled out, you know.¨
He seems shocked. At my statements his eyes widen and his brow lifts. He quickly composes himself and continues to try and negotiate. ¨I should have known that you would know everything, but you have yet to see everything,¨ he replies smoothly.
¨What do you want with my blood?¨ I say as I quirk an eyebrow and twitch my right ear. ¨That is my business, and my business alone,¨ he says in a clipped tone. He begins to pace in front of me, and I begin to sense there is something else that he has yet to inform me of.
¨There is something else that you have yet to tell me, What is it?¨ he looks up from his pacing and grins. ¨Good girl, expecting ulterior motives. You will be a perfect pawn to add to my board,¨ he lets out a throaty chuckle. ¨I need you on my arm. You will be my queen, and my source of control. That's why you are here.¨ I begin to chortle in disbelief. His eyebrow darts upward at my reaction to his words.
¨You want me, a Guardian of the Infinity stones and a spirit wolf, to be your wife? You are farther gone than I thought you to be. I am a fearsome warrior, and you have no right to me, no mark, no claim- nothing. Besides, it takes more than a simple Asgardian ceremony to bind a Spirit Wolf to their mate. Like I said, you have no mark, and we have no blood bond. It's not going to happen.¨
he scoffs and pulls aside the neck of his black leather armour, moving his raven black tresses away from his alabaster neck to reveal my mark. My eyes feel as if they will soon pop out of my skull and roll across the stone floor.
The dark black mark is intricate and beautiful, it's tendrils wrap around four puncture wounds and form small flames, inside the flames, a wolf is stepping through the fire. It's eyes are the same biting blue as my own. My hands go straight to my neck and I feel the lifted ridges left by the stone's bonding magic.
A feral growl rips through my body and my lips curl into a snarl. With my fangs fully exposed and claws extended I launch myself out of the chair and at his throat. The binds wrapped around my ankles snap at the sudden force of my movement. With my hands wrapped in a death grip around his neck, I pull him down to my level and growl angrily into his ear.
¨This is not possible, you would have had to completed the blood bond and drank from me. If you do not tell me what you did to achieve this in the next two seconds, I will not hesitate to rip your throat out.¨ I tighten my hold and let my claws dig into his throat. I quickly remind myself that I cannot kill him due to the mark: at least not until I find a way to remove it and it's magic completely.
He begins to pale considerably as he stutters for a response.¨I-I used a sleeping spell to incapacitate you, mixed with a raven lily to erase your memory me ever coming here before now. While you were asleep, I triggered your defense instincts and you bit me. Once that was out of the way, I cut a small incision on your neck and drank from you.¨
¨So you mean to tell me, you mated us without my consent?..¨ Nostrils flared in anger, I begin to speak again. ¨Do you understand the magnitude of the offence that you've just committed? Do you??!!¨
I slam him into the wall and it cracks around his frame. He looks at me in anger and astonishment.
¨How dare you. I am a god, and I-¨ I push him down, cutting off his meaningless words and pull my face even with his, fangs fully extended and blue eyes slanted in rage. ¨You stole the only chance I had for my real mate. You have stolen everything I have every wanted. You have bonded us illegally, outside of the eyes of the stones and against my will, You have stolen what does not belong to you, and there is no way out. None except death....¨
I sigh pinch the bridge of my nose.
¨I will not apologize, seeing as i'm not sorry. As for your whole ¨mate¨ deal, that's not my problem. Now, I will show you to our chambers.¨ he states firmly as he grips my arm. I look at him and my lip begins to curl in disgust. ¨Our chambers?¨ The thought of having to share a bed with him makes me sick.
¨Yes, our chambers. If you are my queen, you will have to share my quarters. Otherwise people will start sticking their noses where they do not belong.¨
¨Fine. If you try anything, I will rip your head clean off of your shoulders.¨ I sneer, knowing that there is no way out of this at the current moment, and let my claws retract.
He looks at me through his dark eyelashes and gives me a sardonic grin. ¨Oh, I wouldn't dream of it.¨ The sarcasm is laced thick in his voice. Something in me decides to sleep with one eye open.
He leads me out the door and down a long corridor. We make a left and two rights and then we are facing a magnificent mahogany door with green and gold inscriptions. Typical. He opens the door and we step inside.
Here we go, I think as he struts over to a giant wardrobe and opens its huge doors by their wrought iron handles. Inside are beautiful gowns of all different colors with shoes to match, night clothes, long black cloaks, leather boots, chest plates to go with black tops, silver forearm cuffs, silver and leather waist pieces, and black leather pants.
To the left of the clothes and on the inside of the door is mounting places for weapons, And to the right there was jewelry. I'll have to get rid of all of the dresses with the exception of few, and the jewelry with the exception of what I can turn into a hidden weapon or tool. The Usurper begins to speak and brings me back from my thoughts.
¨Do you find everything to your liking?¨ he smirks as he says this. ¨Yes, Though I will have to make some changes to the wardrobe to accommodate to my needs.¨ I say as I gesture to my tail.
I cannot believe I am complying. Curse this mate bond: I will have to make a plan of escape soon.
¨Don't worry yourself with that, I will have it taken care of.¨ He replies easily. ¨There is a bathroom down that hall and to the right, I suggest you bathe and get into a new change of clothes. The smell of the prisons lingers on you.¨
His face twists into that of disgust as he points to a small hallway on my left. I nod and walk over to the wardrobe, making sure to send a scathing glare his way, and grab some leather pants, a thick black top, and a belt before heading towards the bathroom. The hall is short, and the bathroom is easy enough to find.
I open the door and step inside: the grandeur of this bathroom is awe striking. The bathtub is big enough to fit at least ten people. There are candles and different types of soaps and shampoos and conditioners stacked along the sides of it.
The sink is elegant and bowl shaped, made out of white marble and sporting a large mirror mounted to the wall above it. I walk over to it and look at my reflection. I probably look absolutely haggard. I was in that damned cell for what seemed to be and eternity: oh yes, he will get his when I recover. That I can promise.
There are newly formed bruises from the muzzle and streaks of dirt and blood contrasting with my pale wan skin: large dark bags accompany these, sitting under my eyes like black and blue paint, my cheekbones carry the look of starvation and illness. I look exhausted. I am intent on avoiding the sight of that insufferable man's mark.
I sigh as I begin to peel away my tattered clothing. Once I am done, I take a step back and check my body for any unknown injuries. I am extremely skinny, skinnier than I have ever been. My bones jut out at sharp angles, and my ribs are extremely visible. My thighs have gained a large gap that I am not fond of, and almost all of my muscle tone is gone. My nails and hair have become brittle to the touch due to starvation.
My skin is mottled in old and new bruises, and I am reminded of the day that the Usurpers guards came to take me here, away from my home, and away from the stones. I grimace at the memory and quickly shove it away. Turning around to face my back towards the mirror, I peer over my shoulder and stretch my neck to inspect the damage.
Old scars and new wounds intermingle until I cannot tell them apart. My shoulder blades stick out like daggers and the ridges of my spine cascade down my back like rolling hills. My tail is dirty and blackened bloodstains blend in with it's ashen grey fur. The skin that surrounds the joint that connects it to my body is brandishing a painful blue and purple bruise. Great, I probably shattered a vertebra or two. I quickly turn to face the mirror and check my ears.
There is a small tear in my right ear, and blood trails down the inside of it, matting the small hairs that protect my ear canal. My hair is a complete wreck, it's white strands are tangled together with dirt, ash, and blood stuck in between.
I sigh and walk quickly over to the tub, turning on the water spicket and plugging the drain. If the water is cold, I will most definitely castrate him. A sigh of relief fills me as the water begins to steam. The tub soon fills up and I slip in happily. The water is scalding, but it takes the tension out of my muscles and soothes my aching joints.
I snap my fingers and the candle wicks ignite, sending a pale, soothing glow over the bathroom. My eyes drift shut and I spend those few moments just breathing in the peaceful silence. taking in the subtle scent of vanilla, I let myself forget about the problems I will have to face when I get out.
After a few moments of this, I reach over to the soaps and pick one that smells like citrus and get to work. The dirt rolls off of me like smoke over a hill, and after what seems to be an endless amount of scrubbing I am finally able to see my normal skin- with the exception of a few bruises and cuts of course. Old blood mixes with soot, ashes and dirt, and soon the water is an opaque grey.
I shake my head and scoff at this. Reaching down into the tub, I pull the plug to let the water drain out. It makes a gurgling sound as the water rushes down the drain, something quite similar to the dragons in my realm of the in between. The house of stones, my homeland of Sharden. Thinking of this causes homesickness to sear through
Once the water has completely drained, I plug the drain once more and turn on the spigot. The tub quickly fills and I slip into it, sitting on my knees this time, as I grab the shampoo and conditioner. I squirt the shampoo into my hands and go to work on my scalp: I cannot even grasp the words to tell you how refreshing this is.
Soon, all of the dirt, blood and ash has left my hair and I rinse it. I then grab the conditioner and begin to work it all throughout my hair from roots to ends. Once it has sit for a while, I rinse it, being careful to keep the water out of my ears, and step out of the tub. Letting my eyes wander around the room, I spot a fluffy, white towel hanging on the back of the bathroom door. I pad over to it, I slip it off the rail it's hung on and wrap it around my frail torso. I think i'm actually beginning to hold semblance to my normal cleanliness. I quickly dawn my clothes, which I immediately notice are extremely big. With bare feet I walk out to the main room of the chambers.
¨Well, with the exception of the bruises and cuts, you clean up nicely..¨ He states with mirth in his eyes as his gaze follows me.
¨I wouldn't have these bruises and cuts, or be so frail if it wasn't for you.¨ I mutter bitterly as I grab some socks and a pair of boots. I pull on the socks slowly and one at a time, so I don't agitate my wounds. Next come the boots: they are heavier than I expected, but I manage. While pulling them on, I notice two hidden sheaths for daggers-one in each boot, and I immediately smile. I'm definitely keeping these.
I can feel his eyes on me as I lace them up: I'm not sure what to think about that. Once my boots are on, I walk back over to the open wardrobe, and slide on my arm cuffs, waist piece, and breast plate. The cuffs slide down my arms, and it seems that every piece of armour i've put on is too big for my sickly frame. I growl at my wanness and pull off the armor, shoving it into the wardrobe and closing it in irritation. The sound of it slamming echos off the walls, causing the pseudo king to snicker.
¨Whats got you so irritable, dearest?¨ He asks bemusedly as he watches me grow more and more agitated. As a sign of my frustration, my tail twitches slightly behind me, and my ears begin to draw back in anger.
¨Take a guess, oh wise one. Or do I have to spell it out for you?¨
His eyebrows twitch upwards at my sarcasm, but I don't stop there.
¨You have taken me from my home, forged a mating bond illegally, and kept me in those wretched prisons for months until my body had finally become so sickly thin that it will take ages before I can regain my strength. And by that time i'm assuming the mating bond will have been completed, and I will be bound to you for as long as you are still alive: the worst part is, I can't even kill you! If you die, I die, and vice versa.¨
At this point my chest is heaving and my canines have fully extended. The Usurper begins to laugh- no, excuse me- full on cackle, at my misery.
Luckily for me, I have an advantage. My guardian blood will help me recover in no less than one week. Granted, if he's as smart as he lets on, he'll catch on within about three days- but I can play it off like I am weakened by my absence from the stones. I should have an escape plan formulated by the end of the week, contingency plan included. It takes more than a petty little boy with a personal agenda to keep me caged.