Guuuuys. I am truly honored by the kind reviews that were left on the first chapter. :) I am so happy to hear you are enjoying my little story! Thank you so much for the kind words, and I'm sorry about the long wait. Hopefully I can get on track with updating this story at a not-so-ridiculous schedule. Please enjoy chapter 2! :D

"You're crazy," she breathed. She yanked her hand away, tears threatening her eyes. "You're insane."

"Why is it that when you mortals don't understand something, you claim it to be abnormal?" Loki posed curiously. "It is never the fault of your own narrow minds."

"You really expect me to believe that you're a Norse god? You really think I'm that—that—gullible?"

"Gullible? No. Believing what I have to say would only prove that you have some semblance of intellect."

Amelia's eyes narrowed. I'll show you intellect, you cow! Swift as she could, she reached up and grasped one of the long golden horns of his helmet and yanked, pulling the ridiculous accessory off his head. Before she could even swing it round to hit him in the face with it (as had been her oh so very intellectual plan), she let out a yell and fell to the ground, the weight of the headdress pulling her down. She gasped, landing painfully on her knees and letting her jaw drop open. She heard him chuckle and immediately reset her face in a stern frown as she attempted to pull the helmet back up. It lay innocently on the ground before her, deceiving her with its sleek and light design.

Loki kneeled down in front of her, resting an elbow on one knee. "Shall I help you?" he posed mockingly.

Amelia let out a quiet rumble from the back of her throat. "Fuck off," she said pointedly. She released the helmet and stood again, watching as Loki stood also. He pulled himself up regally, towering over her once again, that infuriating glint in his eye. He was enjoying her confusion, had enjoyed watching her struggle with the helmet – he was taking pleasure in every one of her plights. Ass, she thought bitterly.

"If you are a Norse god, Loki, then why don't you prove it to me? Show this poor, pathetic mortal the extent of your godly powers." No way he can weasel out of this one. I'm not leaving here before I make him realize that he's full-crazy. Although…he must have some kind of superpowers to be able to wear that ridiculously heavy helmet.

"Normally I would never stoop so low as to prove myself to a mortal," Loki began lazily, "but for my new servant, I believe I will make an exception." He smirked. "Allow me to demonstrate."

"Go ahead then," Amelia challenged, childishly sticking out her tongue.

Loki's smirk grew, and he shook his head softly. "Put your tongue back in your mouth, you foolish girl."

Immediately, Amelia slipped the appendage back through her lips. Frowning, she shook her head minutely, confused. Why did I do that? And what's…that? She turned her attention to the ring, where the skin underneath the band was warm and tingling.

"Kneel before me," Loki continued. This girl would be much too easy to subjugate; her fierce temper was only a front for her frail resolve.

"What?" Amelia asked loudly. "No way!" But even as the words left her lips, she felt her body gravitating towards the ground, her knees brushing against the soft carpet once again. Her eyes widened. What's going on? she thought. It's like I don't have any control over my own body. "What did you do?" she asked quietly. "What did you do to me?"

"Oh, owning the ring of a god does not come without its perks," he assured her, circling around her kneeling body. "Did you think I would offer up a fraction of my power to mere mortals without a bit of insurance?" He tapped her bare ankle with the tip of his boot, thrilled at her wide eyes. "In exchange for a fraction of my power," he continued, "the ring grants me a fraction of yours: the power of free will. In case you ever step out of line, I have the ability to draw you back in."

Amelia stood suddenly, causing him to stop in his tracks. She clenched her fists at her sides. "So you're telling me that you can just…control me whenever you want?"

"Oh, yes," he said charismatically. "But you needn't fear. I only intend to use it when you're being unreasonable." He grinned."Now what shall I have you do next? I know. You have delayed me from my rest long enough. Help me prepare for bed."

Amelia blew a raspberry at him, folding her arms across her chest. "No." The skin underneath the band of the ring grew warm again, and she shuffled her fingers uncomfortably.

"Do not think to defy me, girl. Come forth and remove my breastplate."

Her face flushed a deep pink and she sputtered, trying to keep her composure. "I—in your dreams!"

Loki's eyes narrowed. "Come forth and remove my breastplate," he repeated sternly.

"No!" she returned forcefully.

This time when Amelia felt the band of the ring go warm, she tried to fight the pull of her legs, tried to will her arms to stay at her sides, but the more she fought, the hotter the ring grew, and she finally cried out when it burned the sensitive skin of her finger. Her body flew towards Loki's as soon as she stopped resisting, and tears threatened the corners of her eyes. Loki reached forward to gently move the ring up her finger a bit, staring at the bright red flesh. He tutted, shaking his head. "I will be gracious this once, but remember that this is what happens when you try to resist." He closed his fingers around the burn, whispering words that Amelia didn't understand. A deep chill seemed to seep into her finger, going straight to the bone, and she shivered, closing her eyes. When she reopened them, Loki had removed his hand and she stared at the base of her finger, now perfectly pale and no longer aching.

Her mouth dropped open. "How did you do that?"

"I am skilled in many types of sorcery," he said simply. "Healing a small burn is child's play."

"No, but I mean—sorcery?"

"You did ask for a demonstration," he teased.

Her mind spun, and she felt her head grow light. "Oh, man," she breathed. "Sorcery. He's a sorcerer. He does magic." Amelia stepped away, holding a hand to the side of her head. She took in deep, steady breaths. "You really are him. You're a…a god."

"Indeed. And now that we're done with show and tell, I believe I ordered you to remove my breastplate."

With numb hands, Amelia moved towards him and fumbled with the contraption before finding the latches and undoing them. She pulled the heavy garment off his shoulders, and in another effort to be rebellious, threw it haphazardly to the floor. Loki sighed. "I suppose your bitterness is to be expected. No need to worry, though. I will relieve you of your attitude soon enough."

"That'll be pretty difficult, considering I'm gonna' blow this joint the first chance I get."

"You are my new servant. Do you think I will let you leave so easily?"

"You're missing the point, bud. Ain't about what you think. I'm out of here whether you like it or not."

"And if I were to absolutely forbid you from leaving?" Loki asked haughtily.

Amelia narrowed her eyes. "You wouldn't dare," she said slowly.

Loki chuckled. "Tell me your full name."

Amelia bit her tongue, but when the ring began to scald her finger, she yelped. "Amelia Jennings! Fuck! Stop it!"

"Amelia Jennings," Loki began lowly, "you are absolutely forbidden to leave my service unless I release you from it. You are to be my personal handmaid and follow my every command, and you are not to leave my side without my explicit permission. And be forewarned, a small burn on your finger is not the only punishment you will receive if you attempt to defy me again."

Amelia felt her face heat up in anger. She felt the tingling on her finger spread through her entire body, and she shivered despite herself. "You—you! You absolute ass!" she screamed. "How dare you!" She shoved Loki hard in the chest, making immediately for the door. "You're a piece of shit, and I'm not going to stand around here any longer! I'm leaving!" She yanked open the door, and raised her foot to step beyond the threshold, but at that exact moment, her entire body stiffened. She willed herself to move, but her body seemed to be frozen in time. She shuffled her eyes, hearing Loki's footsteps behind her.

"You intend to leave, but I have forbidden you to do so. If you'd like to move again, try turning around."

Grudgingly, she set her mind to turning around, and her body followed her will smoothly. "This is bullshit," she spat. "Fix it! I'm not going to follow you around like a puppy. And I'm certainly not going to be your servant!"

Loki grinned again. "I'm afraid you don't have a choice. I will not renounce the command."

"Oh yeah?" she challenged. "We'll see about that." How the hell am I going to get out of this? Wait! Loki of Asgard. Let me see, didn't he have a father? Odeon? Odeen? No, Odin! That's it! If there's a chance that I can find someone else, especially Odin… "Help!" she called out suddenly, backing away from Loki. As long as she was facing him, she wasn't technically trying to leave his presence, right? "Help! Someone help me!"

Loki rolled his eyes, following her lazily, his arms folded across his chest. "And just what do you hope to accomplish with all that screeching? You are my servant. There is not a soul inside this palace who can assist you now."

"Oh, no? What about Daddy-dearest? Surely he won't take too kindly to your kidnapping someone from another world?"

Loki laughed outright. "You don't mean to say," he continued, still chuckling, "that you intend to tattle on me? You ridiculous child."

"I'll do whatever it takes to get away from you," she said lowly. She raised her voice, catching his gaze sternly. "I'm not going to be held a prisoner here!"

"Loki."

The deep voice made her blood run cold. Her back straightened, a shiver wracking her spine. Amelia turned around slowly, her eyes landing on the unyielding figure before her. The aged man was rigid, his face strict and serious. A deep frown marred his features, and his brow was furrowed.

"Father," Loki said tightly.

"Father?" Amelia whispered. Man, this is Odin? He's scarier than I thought he'd be. Either way, though… "Hey, listen here. Your son has—"

"I am well aware of what Loki has done, young woman," he said firmly. "Come. We will move to the throne room. We will discuss this further."

"What?" she squawked. "You're kidding me, right? We don't need to discuss anything. Just tell him to send me back!"

"That is no way to address the Allfather," Loki said severely from behind her. "Apologize, you mindless human."

Amelia bit her tongue, breathing out angrily through her nose as the ring began to warm. "Sorry," she spat out disingenuously.

"You have already bound her to you," the Allfather said, his frown deepening.

"The bond was made before she appeared here," Loki said passively. "There was little I could do to stop it."

The Allfather sighed, hanging his head. Amelia could tell that, despite his authoritarian demeanor, he was weary. Maybe he's ill, she thought suddenly. He does look a bit…er, ancient. "To the throne room with us, then," he said slowly, turning his back. He made his way out of Amelia's sight and she frowned, following him on unsteady feet.

"Where do you think you are going?" Loki questioned from behind her suddenly.

"To the throne room, you moron," she responded immediately. "I'd rather listen to him than to you." One foot managed to make it over the threshold before her body froze once more, her ability to move inhibited by the spell. "God damnit!" she yelled, turning around.

Loki smirked at her irritation, stepping forward. The tunic that rested underneath his armor would have to suffice for their audience. If he commanded the girl to redress him, she was likely to hold them for hours with her complaints, and the Allfather did not like to be kept waiting. He offered his arm to her. "We will enter the throne room appropriately."

She narrowed her eyes. "I hope you don't expect me to touch you willingly, you pompous jackass."

"Certainly not," Loki returned, rolling his eyes towards the ceiling. "You will take my arm, Amelia Jennings, and I will escort you to the throne room as is expected of a prince." Loki saw her eyes flash and he graced her with a mocking smirk. "And you will not let go."

Amelia cursed underneath her breath, reluctantly winding one arm through Loki's. The touch made her stomach churn, and she frowned deeply. Loki began to lead her out of the room, and with each step she took, the weight of her situation began to settle into her mind. With each step further into the elegant hallway, she began to realize there was no way she could be on Earth. The marvelous sight of a grand foyer, spotless marble molded into illustrious columns that lined the shiny, granite floor: her mind spun like a top, all the thoughts tangling together. Her sudden appearance, her inability to resist his commands, the healing of her finger – she was beginning to get a headache, and she longed to lay down, go back to sleep, and wake up from this nightmare. As they entered what must have been the throne room, she felt the air leave her body in a great sigh. The shining gold interior made her dizzy, the grandness of scale making her feel inferior. It was all so magnificent, royal. Worthy of the Gods, she thought in measured awe.

Loki led them up to the front of the room, and bowed his head to the Allfather, who had returned to the throne. "Bow," he hissed lowly, leering sidelong at her.

Amelia glared right back, making a show of curtseying ridiculously. "Your Highness," she said sarcastically.

Loki turned towards her fully, his hard eyes bearing down on her. She didn't flinch away from the gaze, refusing to be intimidated by him. "What?" she snapped. "I did what you said."

"Impertinent girl!" Loki snapped. "You make a mockery of the Allfather. I will not allow you to disrespect—"

"Loki," the Allfather said sternly. "That is enough. Explain what has happened here."

Amelia glanced to the man at her side, who seemed to be trying very hard to hide his sudden delight. "The Ring of the Mare."

Odin's eyes widened furiously. "Loki, I explicitly told you to destroy that wretched ring!"

"Oh, but Father, I thought I had." The tactful innocence in his voice made Amelia want to vomit. "You yourself watched me throw it into the Bifröst. How was I to know it would land in Midgard?" Standing with his arms behind his back casually, the ghost of his smirk whispered on his lips.

Odin's frown steeply as he realized he had no rebuttal. "How is it that the ring brought her to Asgard?" he demanded. "That power is meant to lay solely with the Bifröst."

"I know not," Loki admitted readily. "I do not have the authority to summon beings of other realms, nor should the ring."

Amelia looked distastefully down at the ring that was still snugly round her finger. She gave it a great yank, hissing when it snagged on her knuckle.

"The ring is binding, you ridiculous girl. Tugging won't help you."

"Yeah? Well, what if I tug something else? Like your head? Off your shoulders? Would the ring come off then?" Amelia glared at him ferociously.

"Your petty threats hardly frighten me," he responded lazily.

Amelia huffed. "If you're so powerful, why don't you just take it off?" she asked, waving an arm expressively.

"Are you deaf? The ring is binding. It cannot be taken off until it has fulfilled its purpose."

"Purpose? What purpose?" Amelia asked loudly. "There is no purpose!"

"Oh, there's a purpose, rest assured." Loki's eyes darkened, and Amelia took half a step back, the dark flash of his eyes making her spine quiver.

"Enough, Loki," Odin said sternly. "You needn't worry, child. No harm will come to you here." He fixed his gaze on his son.

"Worry?" Amelia repeated, clearing her throat. "Who's worried?" She fisted the bottom of her shirt, her stomach churning. "Just send me back home and we'll all be back to our lives."

Odin nodded. "You wish to go back to your own world – I understand this, but unfortunately, it is not so easily cured."

Her eyes snapped open. "Why?" she demanded immediately.

Odin turned his gaze to Loki, who sighed. "Amelia Jennings," he began quietly, "you are free to leave my presence."

Amelia blinked, confused. "What?"

"You are free to leave my sight," Loki repeated. "Why not try to leave the room?"

Amelia pushed out her lower lip in surprise. "Don't have to tell me twice," she muttered, turning on her heel. She walked swiftly to the door of the throne room, smiling as two guards pushed it open for her. She walked through, her head held high.

Uh, not that I know where I'm going, but…Whatever. At least I'm away from that jackass. She strolled a bit further into the foyer, taking in the sights, folding her hands behind her back. This place is actually pretty nice, she thought offhandedly. Really beautiful. Oh! Look, there's the gay rainbow bridge! She shielded her eyes from the sun as she peered out the window into the distance, watching the way it shone in the light. I wonder what—hey, what is…that…

Amelia cried out, holding the side of her head as a sharp pain ripped through it. She collapsed to her knees, tears forming at the corner of her eyes as the throbbing pain spread quickly throughout her body, each of her limbs burning. Her throat began to close up, and she struggled to breathe. She gasped, gripping her hair tightly and trying to keep her eyes in focus.

As soon as she heard his voice, the pain began to ebb. "I will say it once more: the ring is binding. Not only is it bound to your finger; the ring binds you to me. Return to the throne room."

Still in shock, Amelia followed him quietly, the dimness at the corner of her eyes fading slowly. She stopped in front of the throne once again, Loki's hand on her lower back. With her will to fight seeping out her ears, she didn't have the energy to pull away from the touch.

"As you can see," Odin said, tightening his grip on his staff, "you cannot leave Loki's presence –I suspected as much. Not only that, but without knowing how you came to be here, it may prove difficult to send you back to Midgard."

Amelia stuttered. "D-difficult? You mean you can't do it?" She turned to Loki. "You can do it, can't you? This is your stupid ring! Make it send me back!"

"I'm afraid I can do nothing. The Ring was not meant to bring you to Asgard – that was not in the original enchantment."

"Loki," Odin spoke tightly. "Is there nothing you can do? She speaks the truth. That wretched ring answers to you. Can you not remove it?"

"I cannot. As I have said, the ring cannot be removed until it has fulfilled its purpose. However, if the ring brought her here of its own will, then the enchantment on it may have been damaged."

"Can you repair it?"

"There may be a possibility. I would need to examine it closely, perhaps experiment, to find out exactly what has happened to it."

"And these experiments?" Odin narrowed his eyes.

Loki shrugged. "There are a handful of them that will not harm her."

"A handful," Amelia repeated. "Oh, that's very reassuring." She sighed. "Why can't Loki and I just use the Bifröst to go back?"

"The predicament would be much the same," Odin responded. "Loki would be stranded on Midgard with you until he was able to repair the enchantment."

Amelia blinked, her eyes burning. She turned between father and son – King and Prince, both gods, the stuff of legend right before her eyes. She began to sway, her knees growing weak. What am I doing here? she thought desperately, pressing a hand tightly over her mouth. Breathing through her nose, she hung her head and felt the warm tears slip down her cheeks.

What am I going to do?

So there you have it! As always feedback/criticism words of love (or hate) are welcome! Your voice keeps mine going! (; Until next chapter! x