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The sorceress was like nothing Kenna could have imagined. She was cloaked in dark armor and a cape swirled in an unnatural wind around her. Her skin and hair were snow white. The sclera of her eyes were black like Kenna's, but the iris nearly glowed an eerie frosty blue in the surrounding darkness. She stood before them lithe and powerful and it took every piece of courage Kenna possessed to hold her ground. She couldn't help feeling inadequate and small standing before the ancient and powerful woman. But she was Ljosalfar's heir, and she refused to show fear to the thief of her people's legacy.

Loki rose slowly, every movement precise and controlled like some great cat. He released her hand to tower over the other woman. The power burned through him and made him seem even taller and more powerful than before. His cape snapped out behind him as though he stood in the center of a hurricane, but there was no wind, only the power of the light elves.

Kenna was shuddering as she kept contact with the crystal. She wanted to close her eyes, but she found she couldn't tear her gaze away from Loki. The connection binding them was strong and she could feel the power blazing between them, but if she let go, even for a moment his connection to that power would snap and they would be left at the mercy of the sorceress.

"Kneel," Loki growled sounding nothing like himself. His voice was a deep baritone, thickly laced with the borrowed power.

The look of curiosity on the dark elves face vanished into one of flat defiance as she fought Loki's command. But the connection she had forged with the power was strong and she couldn't ignore the command of it's master. Her body dropped to it's knees seeming against her will. Her beautiful face was pinched and angry.

"And who might you be?" The dark elf  growled in the elvish language of Svartalfheim. Her eerie glowing eyes flickered back and forth between Loki and Kenna.

Kenna lifted her chin. "We do not answer the questions of a war criminal," Kenna quickly interjected, unsure if Loki was able to think clearly past the power he was struggling to control. Light Elves were the ones known for naming, but there was always power in a name and they couldn't allow the sorceress any advantage.

"War criminal?" she asked in surprise, her voice was like the tinkling of bells. A sly, sensual smile pulled at one corner of her lips. "And what have I done to earn such a title?"

Neither Loki nor Kenna bothered with a response. Loki closed his eyes as he fought past the surging magic that threatened to consume him. It would be so easy to just let go, to allow it to flow through him entirely, to command every piece of the light and raze Harokin's army to the ground in a glorious blast of light and life. They were abominations to life and through the power he could feel that. The only thing that stopped him was the knowledge that not only would it kill him, but forcing that much power through Kenna could kill her as well. Only thoughts of her kept him firmly gripped in reality. She trusted him.

Unable to completely contain the power he sent a surge into the dark elf. He didn't even need to direct the Magic. So much of her power was rooted in necromancy the power of the light elves hungrily attacked it's natural opposition. The sorceress dropped to the floor, screaming in pain. He pulled  back, drawing the power back into him and his gaze flickered over to Kenna. He wouldn't risk drawing more until he knew she was still safe.

Kenna remained crouched over the crystal. She felt every drop of magic Loki called into himself crackle first through her veins. It was overwhelming, like she was channeling lightning. Every instinct she possessed demanded she pull back from the crystal, that she wasn't strong enough and it would kill her. But Loki needed it and she forced herself to keep her palm flat against the smooth surface of the crystal as long as possible.

The sorceress managed to push herself back up to all fours. She was panting past the pain and she narrowed her eyes cruelly on the duo before her. "Well isn't this adorable. The frozen hearted prince," she ground out the words, her eyes locked on Loki, and when her eyes flickered over to Kenna Loki stepped between them. "And his pet. I didn't realize a single light elf had managed to survive the holocaust," her eyes were hard as she regarded Kenna. "Little more than relic of a time long since past. Clever to use her to channel the power Princey, right up until it kills her."

Loki didn't hesitate. He blasted her again with power. Every time he used it he could feel his strength dwindle. And if he was failing he couldn't imagine what it was doing to Kenna. Magdol's words fed his fear and without making the conscious choice more power surged into her.

Magdol screeched and flailed on the ground before them. Somehow through it all he felt something snap within the power. He backed off, unable to sustain it much longer hoping it was her connection to her soldiers.

She laughed as she rolled over onto her side. "What's the matter princey?" she taunted. "Don't have the stomach for it? I thought Loki Odinson had ice in his veins." She laughed maniacally from the floor.

Loki hesitated, his hand still outstretched. He glanced back at Kenna. Sweat had matted her hair around her face and she was shaking with the effort to continue to draw the power for him. He conjured a dagger easier than he ever had in his life and stepped towards her menacingly.

"Yes Odinson, show the princess of light and life all you are capable of," Magdol taunted.

Loki tightened his jaw and took another step towards her. Kenna had seen him kill before. Kenna herself had killed. It was nothing new, and they had to end this.

"Ah," Magdol smiled cruelly. "Feel that?" she asked and her eyes found Kenna's. "Can you feel everything yet?" she asked her. "I can feel your power burning through you. What will happen when the princess of light realizes her prince feels nothing when he kills one of her own?"

"I'm nothing like you," Kenna spit out, but she was overwhelmed by all she felt. Every feeling surging inside of her felt brighter than a star and she didn't know how to contain it.

The sorceress regarded Kenna shrewdly. "I feel your growing power, use it to taste my truth. You may not be a dark elf, but we are cousins. The light and dark, two sides of the same coin...and neither of them mean a thing to those sitting on the throne in Asgard."

Kenna blinked at the dark elf, trying to come up with something clever to say in response but she was at a loss for words. The sorceress was right, she and her kind meant nothing to Odin. But Loki wasn't in Asgard. Loki was standing in the mud and ashes of her fallen kingdom risking his life because it was the right thing to do.

The sorceress was just trying to wind the up. Keep them talking. In that moment Kenna realized the sorceress wasn't just talking, she was stalling. She had felt something move within the magic but she had assumed it was Loki making progress with the link to the talisman's. But what if it had been her reaching out to Harokin? If she and Loki could be bound this close there was no reason to assume the ancient sorceress couldn't do better.

"Loki, where's Harokin?" she asked, turning away from the woman on the floor.

In that moment she heard the slap of boots in the hall. Her head snapped towards the door and even though he couldn't hear anyone approaching, Loki trusted her senses. She felt him draw more power into himself, like he was taking a deep breath. Exhaustion settled right down to the marrow of Kenna's bones. It was nearly overwhelming, as was the fear of failure that consumed her. If she failed him, he would die.

"Magdol!" a frantic voice screamed from the hall. Both Kenna and Loki turned towards the door in preparation for the new threat. But they had both made a mistake. The sorceress was ancient, and one didn't live to see the passing of millennia without having a strong survival instinct. In their moment of distraction Magdol struck. She didn't leap at Loki however, instead she went for Kenna.

In that second a man who could only be Harokin rounded the corned, his eyes flashing wide with desperation. Magdol blurred past Loki and just before she reached Kenna Loki unleashed a violent, fear driven blast of power.

Magdol collapsed, screaming but Loki couldn't hold it. Black spots danced around the edges of his vision.

Harokin bellow angrily. The ancient general lifted his battle hammer and pointed it at Loki. He charged. All Loki had was a single dagger in his hand and it was all he could do to stay on his feet. Loki dodged and darted, swinging out of the way of the general's attacks, but there was only so much he could do while he struggled to keep hold of his connection to the power. His foot caught on something buried in the ash and Harokin's war hammer slammed into his left side. He clenched his jaw as he felt the bones snap and give way in his left arm and ribs. But he didn't waste the opportunity to bury his blade in the general's throat.

Harokin staggered back away from him, falling to the ground as he pulled Loki's dagger out from his neck. Blood dripped from the general's mouth, but before Loki's eyes the wound healed itself. He had failed to break the connection. Magdol still kept him and his soldiers alive. The pain radiating through Loki's body was an after thought as he struggled to come up with some way to get them out of this.

Lightning crackled overhead and there was a surge of wind as Thor slammed into the middle of the room between Harokin and Loki. "Running off so soon?" Thor quipped cheerfully. "We were having so much fun," he said whirling his hammer.

Loki's hand shot out towards Kenna desperately sending an illusion to cover and conceal her from Thor's sight. Then he turned back towards the sorceress drawing as much of the power away from her as he could, before slamming it back into her as an attack. She screamed again but it wasn't enough.

"Magdol!" Harokin screamed her name desperately as Loki advanced on the woman.

Loki drew as much of the power into himself as he could and lashed out again and again. He was hurting her with every strike, but it didn't seem to be doing any permanent damage. Meanwhile he could feel Kenna weakening every time the power rebounded through her back into the crystal.

Thor drew lightning to him and struck, slamming his hammer straight into Harokin's chest. Harokin flew back, his body limp. Thor walked up to him a confident smirk on his face. He kicked the body and turned back to his brother. "Dead," he called smiling.

Thor's happiness quickly melted away and his eyes widened in shock as Harokin slowly began climbing to his feet.

"You're dead," Thor said narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

Kenna wondered how the men outside had fought for so long without realizing the men they faced couldn't be killed. She glanced around them realizing Thor had left his men behind. Her eyes flickered to the large hole in the wall that used to be a balcony overlooking the plains below. Even over the rumbling thunder she could hear the clash of battle below. Thor had chased after Harokin seeking the glory of killing the infamous general himself while his men were hopelessly outnumbered outside.

"Brother!" Thor called as he backed away from Harokin.

Loki glanced towards Thor, but he couldn't give Magdol time to recover. He whipped around, throwing daggers the landed in the general's back. Harokin howled in pain, but Thor immediately engaged him, not giving him time to dislodge the daggers.

Loki turned back to Magdol. She lay on the ground before him, her midnight armor smoking from the effects of his attack. There was a shout and chaos erupted as soldiers of both Harokin and Asgard poured into the room.

Loki drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes, reaching out to Kenna through their connection. Speaking to her through it felt so delicate it took every ounce of his focus.

Kenna

Kenna flinched and her eyes shot to Loki. Her eyes were wide and fearful as she fought to curl herself into a smaller ball so the soldiers wouldn't accidentally hit her.

I'm going to try something different. Loki told her.

I'm so tired. Kenna struggled to keep her thoughts straight and focus on keeping her hand on the crystal. Her arm was starting to go numb and it was becoming difficult to make sure her hand was still touching the smooth surface.

I know. Just hang on a little longer. He implored. He wasn't sure how much Kenna was retaining. He could feel her slipping away from him. Kenna was well protected by his illusion, but the soldiers battling around them threatened his focus. He had to end this now.

Magdol had left power behind, only taking what she could handle. If he couldn't draw enough out of her to make her weak enough for him to fight, then he had only one other option. He only hoped he was right and she had left it behind for a reason. He would draw all the power of the light elves through him, channeling every bit of it into the dark elf. It was a risky move. If he was wrong, then he had just armed their opponent with even more power than she herself had been able to draw. And they were all dead.

Loki teleported across the room so he was beside Kenna. He reached for her. She was shaking with the effort to maintain her connection to so much power. She was holding on by sheer force of will alone. He laced his fingers with her's.

Just a few more seconds, he whispered through her mind, but he didn't know if she heard him. He took a deep breath and he opened to the power. Loki screamed as it seared through him, it felt like every vein in his body was on fire, but still he pulled more. He remembered his mother once explaining to him what could happen to a magic user who became too greedy, one who pulled more power than he could handle. She had told Loki they would burn from the inside out. That was exactly what this felt like. Like he was burning to death from the inside.

"Magdol!" he named the power and he shoved it into her without hesitation. Anything to get it away from him.

If Magdol had been at her full strength she might have been able to resist or protect herself somehow. But he had weakened her, become master of a power she was tied to, and named her. There was nothing she could do to resist the flow of overwhelming power.

Kenna's hand tightened around Loki's. As he drained the power from her she was able to think more clearly. He shoved every bit of it through the tether and into the sorceress. It took more effort than he could believe to siphon every bit of the power out of the crystal.

A crack echoed through the chambers, throwing them all to the floor. Loki and Kenna fell in a tangle of limbs. It took a moment for Kenna to realize it was the crystal itself that cracked. She panicked for a moment as she realized she had let go of the crystal. But Loki squeezed her hand reassuringly. Her part was done.

The sorceress screamed as the power overtook her. She was right on the edge, she just needed one last push. Loki drew on his own power. Keeping only what he needed to shield Kenna separate he slammed it into her, giving it freely. It would weaken him, but if he could kill her, Thor could take care of the rest.

The last bit of Loki's personal power tipped the scales. The talisman's of all the soldiers around them popped and cracked and the men wearing them collapsed like puppets with their strings cut. Their armor and swords clattering loudly as their lifeless bodies fell.

Kenna looked around them in wonder. Only a few remained alive and the only thing she could think was that they hadn't died and been resurrected yet.

Thor and his men cheered triumphantly and killed the remaining handful easily.

Loki pushed himself up off his knees and swayed dangerously on his feet. The power was gone, and he could barely stand. He felt hallowed out. Empty. Exhausted. Without the power he could feel every bone in his body that the general had broken. It was agony.

Thor raised his hammer over his head, shouting his victory and his men cheered triumphantly. Loki meanwhile stepped back into the shadows drawing Kenna with him. He reached down catching her small hand in his good one.

Kenna was overwhelmed with emotions she couldn't begin to name or identify. But none of that mattered just now. Only Loki mattered. Kenna looked up at him. He was pale, sallow even. The magic took more out of him then he let on. His left arm was held tightly against his side and as hard as he tried to look as though he were not hurt she could see it in his eyes. She glanced back at Thor, where his army cheered for him and praised him. Then back to Loki, the brother who had risked it all, who would receive no glory. She ground her teeth at the injustice of it. She wound her fingers tighter through his so he would know she was with him.

"Let's get you back," she said in a low voice.

Loki blinked down at her slowly. He was in too much pain to be thinking clearly. He had to get Kenna back. He had to get her to the palace where she would be safe, before anyone missed her so she wouldn't be punished for helping him. His strength was low, and she looked so tired. Her hair was sweat dampened and her midnight eyes were exhausted, but somehow she still looked lovely standing on the battlefield.

Loki shook his head. His thoughts were scattering, going places he would never allow. He needed to keep control and remain focused. It would take a lot to teleport the two of them, but she couldn't be caught here.

"We need to get you out of here," his voice came out as a rough croak.

Kenna nodded in understanding her eyes glinting with determination. She tugged gently on his hand and led them out of the palace and back towards the caves.

"We need to get you back before Heimdall sees you."

She frowned up at him, not understanding. Loki wasn't making sense. He stumbled a step and she reached out to try and catch him. Her hands glazed over his left ribs and he cried out. She jerked back, afraid to touch him again.

Loki shifted, moving her to his right, uninjured side. She slipped under his right arm easily given the height difference and wrapped her arm carefully around his waist to support him. She grunted under his weight. He was much more dense than he looked, as all Asgardian's were. She was about to open her mouth and ask when she felt the strange tingling sensation of teleportation. In the next heartbeat they were standing at the mouth of the cave.

She looked up at Loki in protest, but he collapsed into her.

"I-" he started to say, but he couldn't finish. Sweat was dripping down his face but his skin was cold to the touch.

Kenna had a terrifying moment where she was certain he was going to die on her. She didn't know enough about what his magic did to him to help him.

"I can't get us further," he panted. "Just yet," he leaned himself back against the rock wall, his whole body shaking. "If I do anymore I might lose control of the illusion."

She shook her head, unable to follow his seemingly random trains of thought. "What illusion?" she asked.

"The one keeping you safe," he panted. His words were thick and he sounded almost drunk. "The spell keeping your from Heimdall's gaze."

She looked up at him in alarm, he was still trying to use magic despite how weak he was. "Drop the illusion," she commanded.

Loki made no move like he heard her and real fear settled into the pit of her stomach as she realized she could still lose him. "Prince Loki," she snapped, her fear making her angry. "You need all of your strength to heal!"

He just shook his head. He couldn't do it. If she was found, Heimdall would be honor bound to report her as a runaway slave to the Allfather. The penalty for runaways was not something he could bear to think on. Fifty lashes and a month in the dungeons if the slave lived. The dungeon master responsible for such punishment was even larger than Volstagg, he could not imagine Kenna surviving. She had risked everything to help the very people who kept her bound. He would do everything he could to protect her.

He pushed himself up, swaying dangerously. "We need to get you back," he gasped.

She couldn't believe he was still thinking about her. She reached out and pulled his arm across her shoulders once more and started the slow, painful walk through the caverns.

Loki wished there was something he could do to help. Something more than just keep moving, but his body was too weak. He was too weak. Using so much magic at one time had depleted his power dangerously. He had never been so close to the edge. All the while fighting to maintain the tenuous connection that kept Kenna safe.

It was the injury that was the real problem. Now his body had no reserves to heal itself and he was continuing to put out what little power his body was regenerating to maintain the illusion. He wouldn't start healing until he stopped spending the power as quickly as his body recovered it.

Every few minutes he attempted to gather what little he had to test if he could teleport them, and every time he stumbled as a wave of dizziness went over him. He staggered to the side dangerously and Kenna caught him against her. He felt her stagger beneath his weight but she gritted her teeth and held strong.

"We're about to pass through," Kenna whispered to him. She glanced once over her shoulder and frowned.

"What is it?" he asked, panting.

She shook her head. "Nothing," she promised. She took a deep breath and led him across the threshold. The pressure was so much worse this time, going so slow, but she grit her teeth and dragged him along with her. He was slowing down, but if they stopped before crossing through she didn't know what would happen. It felt like they would be crushed, or worse, suspended permanently feeling like they were being crushed to death, but never truly dying. She couldn't imagine a worse fate, and that fear gave her the strength she needed to pull him along behind her.

As soon as they were clear she glanced up at him. "We're back," she told him, not entirely certain how coherent he was. "You can drop the illusion."

He just shook his head, his teeth clenched and his jaw set. "Heimdall would be curious why we were here. We have to get to the palace before I can drop it."

Kenna grit her teeth over the stubborn Asgardian prince and continued. When they reached the mouth of the cave she glanced down. Darkness was coming and she had no idea how she would be able to lower him down the sheer cliff face, get him into the boat and back into the palace without anyone seeing. She leaned him against the rock wall of the cave and crouched down beside him. His skin still felt dangerously cool, but she was no healer and knew next to nothing about Asgardian physiology. Perhaps it was a side effect of his powers being drained.

"Loki," she said his name quietly.

He looked up at her as he fought to drag in his breath. "I'm alright," he promised her with a faraway look in his eyes.

She frowned down at him, not liking that his attention seemed to be shifting and he appeared to be having trouble focusing on her. She touched his cheek, he looked feverish but his skin was still cool to the touch.

Loki's power was returning slowly and he thought perhaps he had enough now. He glanced up at Kenna where she crouched over him, down to the necklace that rested just over her heart. "I can get us back to the palace." He told her. The connection between them had changed and he wasn't certain what it meant, but it was still there. He could feel it like a small ball of warmth and light resting in his chest.

Kenna frowned at his words, she could feel the 'but' coming. She arched a brow, inviting him to continue.

Loki looked almost sheepish as he spoke. "I would need to channel some of your power."

She scowled in confusion. "I have no power without the crystal."

He shook his head, fighting to keep focused but it was difficult. "You are the last heir of the wisdom of the light elves. You are an empath. Even Mag-Magdol felt it...you have power," he promised her.

Kenna swallowed at Loki's words as trepidation ran through her. She didn't know what any of this meant, but she knew they would figure it out.

She reached for his hand. "What do I have to do?"

He swallowed thickly. "Just hold onto the necklace...I will do the rest."

His hand was cold and clammy in hers and it made her nervous when she felt how weak his grip was. "Are you sure you should be-?" she started to ask.

He pushed himself up on his feet and met her gaze. With the sea in the background his eyes looked more blue than green, and she found she didn't want to look away. "When we get back I will be weak. You mustn't take me to a healer," he said.

Her eyes widened as she looked him up and down. If ever someone needed a healer it was the prince. "But-" she started to say.

He cut her off. "Promise me," he said, his voice beginning to have the first hints of command in it once more. "They can never know," he growled roughly.

She pinched her lips together in disagreement but finally nodded. She wouldn't betray the Loki's trust. "I promise."

As soon as she said the words she felt the skin itching sensation she had learned meant they were teleporting. It felt different this time, not as strong. She had a moment of fear when she also realized it was taking longer than before. What happened if it failed halfway through? Where would she end up, what would she do?

But moments later they appeared in a chamber in the palace. Loki stood beside her for only a moment before he swayed dangerously and collapsed. She grabbed for him. She wasn't able to stop him from falling, but she managed to catch his head before it stuck the cool marble steps that led up towards the bed. She collapsed with him until she was on her knees, cradling his head in her lap. He was unconscious. Somehow he was even more pale, his skin seeming to have a glimmer of faint blue tinge. Her breath caught in her throat as her trembling hands fell to his neck. She breathed a sigh of relief as she found a pulse, albeit a slow one.

She shifted her weight so she was more comfortable and looked around them. She had expected him to take them to the library. It appeared they were in private chambers, she wondered for only a moment who they belonged to. There were stacks of books piled on nearly every surface and green, gold and black were prominent colors. She must be tired, it would be foolish to think Loki would take them anywhere but his own chambers. The bed was on a raised dais several marble steps up. She pinched her lips together and looked down at the prince. He was huge and heavy compared to her, but she couldn't leave him to lay on the floor.

Grabbing his arms she hauled him up the stairs. It was slow going but finally she managed to get him up onto the bed. She frowned down at him. He was still wearing his mud and blood covered armor. He had told her not to take him to a healer, but he hadn't said anything about her helping him. With shaking hands she started undoing the buckles and straps that held his armor in place. When it was all removed it left him in leather pants and loose fitting black linen shirt. Some of the buttons had popped despite it being under his armor. She lifted the shirt gently and grimaced as she saw the horrific purple and black bruising that marred his smooth pale skin.

She swallowed, she needed to do something to help him. She looked back at his face, which was covered in small nicks and there was bruising along his jaw. She had stupidly lay him on top of the coverlet and so she grabbed the other half of it and folded it over him, hoping it would help him regain some of his heat.

She moved over to the fireplace and kicked some kindle inside. She froze as she looked around for matches. Of course there wouldn't be any. Why keep matches around when you could call fire forth from your fingertips. So she needed to get matches and a few herbs from the garden in order to make a salve that would aid his healing. It was late, and there wouldn't be many moving about the palace, but one glance in the mirror revealed she would not be able to do so herself without garnering a fair amount of attention. She stepped into the prince's bathing chambers and helped herself to one of the towels and the small bowl of fresh water that was sitting out. It felt odd using his personal things. She only hoped he wouldn't mind after all they had been through.

Once she was reasonably cleaned up she slipped down to her own chambers and retrieved a few items. One of which was a clean dress. As comfortable as the clothes she wore were, she couldn't be seen in what amounted to Light Elf armor. She was anxious to get back to the prince and so she carried the dress with her, intending to change there.

When she returned she saw he had not moved. She stepped carefully next to the bed and laid her fingers against his skin. He was still cold. She quickly lit the fire, using the bellows sitting there to bolster the blaze. Once heat started spreading across the marble room Kenna pulled out the small amount of supplies she had brought. Without fresh herbs the salve she made was fairly rudimentary, but she hoped it would help. Stealing herself, she unbuttoned his shirt and began to rub the sweet smelling salve onto his bruised skin as gently as possible. His skin was cool to the touch, the muscles unforgiving beneath her fingertips. She felt her face redden as she thought about it and she was glad the prince was unconscious. There would have been no end to his taunting had he been awake to witness her blushing.

With him unconscious she didn't worry about him feeling the pain, but she didn't want to cause any further damage. Once she had used half the small bowl she had mixed up she set the concoction aside, covering it with a small towel for use in the morning. She quickly rebuttoned his shirt and pulled the blankets back over him. He looked so peaceful in sleep, young. She reached for  a strand of hair that had fallen into his face and froze. She pulled her hands back guiltily. He was a prince.

She turned back to the fire. It was amazing how quickly she had become accustomed to the green flames Loki normally provided. It felt strangely lonely looking into the blaze.

Exhaustion suddenly ran through her, as though she had been keeping it at bay simply by continuing to move. But with her fear for the prince temporarily abated she allowed herself to slump down in the large chair near the fire. It was well worn and obviously a favored reading place for the prince as there were piles of books sitting within reach.

She frowned as she recognized one sitting on top of the pile closest to the chair. It was the book of elvish fables she had been reading when she had fallen asleep in the library. She wondered at the possible coincidence of the prince also selecting the title. But no, she had never put it back. She had run out of the stacks as soon as he had given a hint she was permitted to do so, failing to return it to it's spot on the shelves. Loki must have picked it up and brought it back to his chambers. The mystery was puzzling but the warmth from the fire was too much and it soon pulled her under.

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So...what did you think? I hope you enjoyed the update!