A M O R A

With each teleportation, Amora could feel her energy waning. She had searched every place that Loki could be, but no sign of him could be found. Even the guards were unsure of his whereabouts.

Marching through the many aisles of bookshelves in the palace library, her mind raced furiously with each indignant thought.

How could Loki do this? This is treason--no, it is more than that. It is a coup, and with those Frost Giants on there way, it will only end in blood.

Then, a single low rumble reverberated through the palace, coming from the lower halls. Amora's heart nearly stopped; she knew what is was: the summoning thud of Gungnir.

Loki.

Focusing on the origin of the sound, she closed her eyes to the books and opened them to the dark halls beneath the palace. Her heart seemed to pound harder and harder as she drew closer to the imminent confrontation; the thumping was practically echoing through her ears.

But then, the ground shook with the sound, making her pause. And with the next pound, the walls creaked in response. This was not caused by a mere heartbeat.

What is Loki doing?

Amora broke into a run, racing down the hall. She rounded a corner and immediately skidded to a halt. Before her loomed the sound's source and Odin's primary line of defense for the palace: the Destroyer.

A significant part of her mind screamed at her to run, despite her knowledge of the machine's allegiance to Asgard. The metal figure had stopped upon seeing her in its path and paused, waiting for her to move.

But she stood her ground. If this is Loki's first act to take Asgard, then I will not allow it.

Now viewing her as a hinderance and, therefore, a threat, the Destroyer's "face" opened and prepared its fiery beam. Tapping into the soul crystal for her defense, Amora braced for the deadly blast.

"Stop!" Loki's panicked voice echoed.

Without hesitation, the Destroyer stood straight and closed away its primary weapon. The king strode rapidly around the machine with Gungnir in his hand and a mix of fear and frustration in his eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

Just the sight of him made tears form in Amora's eyes, but she fought to keep them at bay. How could he have fallen like this? With all of the rage and apathy driving him, she barely recognized him now.

"Was this your intent?" she asked, ignoring his question, "To banish your brother, kill your father, and take the throne for yourself?"

Loki's gaze immediately went blank, hiding whatever thoughts churned in his mind, before he finally let out a cold scoff. His familiar smirk was now cruel.

"This is some ploy to get Thor back, isn't it? I expected better from you, Amora." his voice was eerily amused but quickly became stern, "But I told your friends that we were done with this discussion, so..."

His eyes trailed behind her and he called, "Guards, would you please escort Lady Amora back to my mother's chambers."

Heavy footsteps drew near but the sorceress whirled around to face the guards. "No," she ordered, "You will leave us."

Both soldiers paused before obediently turning and leaving the pair's presence. Amora turned back to Loki and countered, "You told our friends that this discussion was over, not me."

He looked down and sighed before taking a few steps towards her. "Amora," he said deceptively soft and sweet, "do you really think that I would do such things to my own family?"

"Oh, don't even bother, Loki," she gritted, only fueled by pain, "I can see through your lies with the same ease as when I saw through your veil over Jotunheim."

"How--" Loki closed his eyes and muttered, "Heimdall. That traitor."

But he then attempted to recover and offer a reassuring smile. "Do not fret, Amora. When this is over, everything will be alright. Those are your own words, are they not? 'Everything will be alright'."

Amora's mouth almost went agape at his earnestness. He truly believes that this is the right thing to do.

"No," Amora berated, "Everything is not alright. That was a naive lie that I kept repeating in the hopes that it would become truth."

She let out a heavy sigh, feeling her desperation build and creep into her voice. "How could you conspire with the father that abandoned you to kill the father that raised you, that loved you?"

Loki's jaw clenched. "Do not try and make this a family matter, Amora."

"This already is a family matter! How is it not?"

"Because I have none," Loki burst, "I am alone!"

"No, you are not, Loki! You still have a family. But if you do this, then your family will be lost. Thor banished, Odin dead, and Frigga..."

Her eyes widened with terror. The queen was at her husband's side and if those Frost Giants came, then she would be slaughtered alongside the king. How could Amora have forgotten to take any actions to ensure safety of her mentor as well as her king?

"Oh, Norns," she breathed, "Frigga."

She turned around and took a running step towards the healing halls, but a firm hand gripped her arm and stopped her.

"You cannot go back to those halls," Loki said sternly but a slight tremor broke through his words, "It is too dangerous."

Indignant, Amora whirled around and said, "I have sworn an oath to the healers and to my king, Loki. I will do my duty."

"I am your king," he snapped, his eyes alight with anger.

"My king did not have to steal his throne."

Her heated response made Loki go silent once again before he let out a weak and humorless laugh, "See? I have even lost you, now. The one who said--no, promised--that you would never abandon me. The one who was meant to be by my side."

The break in his voice and the hurt in his glistening eyes fractured Amora's heart. She stepped towards him and tentatively rested a hand on his cheek, stroking it with her thumb.

"Loki," she said softly, "I am still here. I want to help you. It is not too late to end this."

His gaze softened and he reached up and put his hand over hers, holding it closer. Barely turning his face into her touch, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Amora felt a bubble of hope rise in her chest as he nodded his head.

But then, he released her hand and said defeatedly, "It is too late, love."

She opened her mouth to protest, but her willpower seemed to fail as a sickening sense of helplessness overtook her.

With a heavy sigh, Loki mirrored her earlier action and rested a hand on her cheek. His sad eyes scanned her face as though attempting to commit every detail to memory.

"I am sorry, Amora, but I can not allow you to interfere," his soft whisper then became firmer, "and I will not allow anything to happen to you."

Her brow furrowed and she shook her head. "What--"

Before she could continue, he abruptly moved his hand down to her neck and gripped the chain of her soul crystal. With one swift movement, he took the necklace and Amora's body failed under fatigue. Her knees began to buckle, but Loki was ready and took her in his arms.

Her fuddled mind noted the return of his hand to her face, but this was different. It was not quite the soft caress from earlier; it was more purposeful. Then, a faint green light emanated from his fingers and her eyelids grew extremely heavy.

"No..." she barely managed before she became limp.

The last thing she heard was Loki's distant voice say, "I'm sorry."

And then everything faded away until there was only darkness.

* * *

L O K I

Loki could only stare at her unconscious form in his arms after her eyes closed. At least he was no longer subject to the heartbreaking disappointment in her gaze. And her interference was too great a threat to his plan to allow her to continue.

Carefully scooping her up and holding her close to his chest, he teleported to Frigga's chambers. With the imminent Frost Giant attack, the healing halls would be far too dangerous for Amora, especially with her tendency to put herself in harm's way for her patients.

After laying her on Frigga's sofa and covering her in a throw blanket, Loki simply sat and observed her steady breathing.

This is a disaster, he thought miserably. How could he consider his rise to the throne a success if Amora hated him? How could she possibly forgive him?

Something dark churned in his heart, wanting to hate her for not understanding, wanting to blame her for being selfish--for betraying him--and not seeing his vision. But when he looked at her serene face, the darkness crumbled and left only a feeling of helplessness.

This is not fair, he thought, well aware of the childishness of it.

Thor had nearly thrown Asgard into war and he still had the loyalty of his friends and family. He even had the affections of that woman on Midgard.

Loki had acted to avoid his brother's impending reign and war, and he had lost everyone's faith. Even the woman whose affections he cherished the most had acted against him.

Something cold fell on his clenched hands. Looking down, Loki realized that it was a tear and roughly wiped his cheeks. He could not show such weakness.

Taking a deep and shaky breath, he mentally reasoned, I can fix this. She is only angry because Odin and Frigga are in danger, but I will save them. I will stop the Jotuns. I will fix this.

With this newfound purpose, he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on Amora's forehead before standing.

"Everything will be alright, Amora," he vowed softly before taking Gungnir and making his way towards the throne room. He still had a nuisance on Midgard and a treacherous gatekeeper to deal with.

* * *

The end is near!!!

I makes me both sad and proud to say that the end of Enchanted is now only a chapter and an epilogue away! However, a SEQUEL will come soon! More information on that will be given in a special chapter after this story is complete.

Thanks!!