Author's note - Hello True Believers! I have broken through my block and started writing my Avengers story. This is the sequel to Prophecy and Peril. Also please note I do not own any characters other than my OC Amaliya and her family.

Shout outs -

Alex - What would I do without you? I certainly never want to find out!

Robert - Thank you for all the help, it is much appreciated!

Fadil - You are awesome! Thank you for all the confidence boosts and chats.

Loki - This would not be possible without you, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

As always please enjoy, read, and review! I am dying to know what you think!

Loki stood, his stance was protective of Liya, and his only thought was to safeguard her after all that occurred. The creature that addressed them was enormous, his skin a dark and dull purple. There was a sinister grin fixated on the giant's mouth.

"I am Loki, of Asgard, rightful King to the throne."

"A king," the being cackled out, his small eyes moved to Amaliya, "And who is this, your queen?"

Liya tried to cower into Loki as the creature drilled holes into her. Loki's hand gently cradled her head holding it firmly to his hip. The Trickster nodded, "Yes and she is injured," his voice slightly faltered.

The giant tilted his head thoughtfully, "Can you carry her," his voice turned somewhat soft and Loki nodded. "Follow me," the creature told him before turning from the couple walking away.

Loki knelt down, "Come Dove," he said quietly. He very tenderly put his arms underneath her lifting the princess off the rocky ground. Amaliya winced being jostled by the Trickster but she wrapped her arms around his neck holding onto him as tightly as she could.

The Trickster followed the purple being across the planet; the atmosphere was different but not completely dissimilar to Asgard. Liya assumed it once held life but now it was desolate. Dust plumed around the couple with every step and the gravity was no longer consistently stable. The planet gave off an amber hue, and there were giant monoliths of destruction that made up the scenery. The couple stood before a giant ship, its bay doors open wide.

The creature bid them entry and they followed albeit somewhat hesitantly. Loki's boots echoed throughout the cavernous ship and the air turned cold making the princess shiver. Loki held her tighter to his body pushing what warmth he could into her. The ship seemed empty however Liya was shaking again and it wasn't from the cold.

Loki felt her cower into him, 'What is it Dove,' he thought to her.

She looked at him with fear stretched across her features, 'It's a trap.'

"She's right," the giant said his deep voice resonating through the vast ship.

The Trickster stopped moving holding Amaliya as close as he could, "Who are you?"

"I am Thanos of Titan," he told the couple stalking up to them. It was then they noticed someone behind Thanos.

This being behind Thanos while shorter than the Titan still towered over Loki. His skin was grey and ashen and had a wrinkly texture; his face had no nose that could be seen. His small eyes were extremely intelligent as he fixated on the princess; it was as if he knew who she was and the power that she held. This alien held his hands at chest level with his fingers steepled and a grin growing on his thin lipped mouth.

Another being came into the light behind the Titan and stood as tall as Loki. Its face was obstructed by a gilded cage made around its mouth however the rest of its face was covered by a dark hooded cloak it wore. There was a sick grin on its face as it faced the couple.

"Maw," Thanos addressed the taller of the creatures.

Maw walked to the Titan's side, "Yes, Sire?"

"Take the girl to the med bay, heal her injuries and wait for my instructions."

The grey alien nodded reverently then gave a small wave of his hand lifting Liya effortlessly from Loki. "Come Princess," he said in the smoothest yet most unsettling voice Amaliya had ever heard. He moved her floating body in front of him as he walked down the sterile and frigid hallway.

Liya took this chance to get a better look at the creature, his half crowned head of hair moved wispily as he moved. The princess tried to cover how scared she was, it helped that her midsection throbbed with every breath she took. The pain helped cover her fear or at least she thought she glanced back at him to see Maw had a small but menacing smile on his disfigured face.

"I've never worked on someone from Vanaheim," he told her in that same smooth voice as they turned left down another hallway.

"You're a telepath" Liya questioned quietly.

"As you are your Highness," he told her.

A pair of doors opened silently behind the princess. Maw moved her into the brightly lit room. The lights a stark contrast from the hall making Liya shut her eyes tight trying to adjust to the sudden brightness. She slowly opened her eyes to see the med bay. There were several metal exam tables that lined both sides of the room with restraints and overhead lamps at every table. Two shiny metal stations with cabinets and drawers stood opposite each other. The air felt colder than the hall and ever more arid and smelled slightly of some type of antiseptic.

Maw gently set Amaliya down on the closest metal table and goosebumps flooded her skin as the garments she was wearing provided the very least protection. The alien silently went to work removing her clothes and the ruined bandages and disposing of them. The salve Hogun used only gave a small barrier from the elements.

"What caused these burns, I wonder," Maw asked with genuine curiosity.

"A…a…a F…f…f…frost Giant," Liya shivered out, her teeth landing hard against each other as she said the words.

"How I would love to see such a creature," he remarked cleaning her skin. He worked on her so clinically, so detached, and efficient. He hardly gave her naked body a glance fixating solely on her injuries.

He left her momentarily walking to the nearest cabinet opening them silently gathering a few tubes and canisters floating them over to the princess's table. Maw worked a few ointments and oils into Liya's skin taking away the red and raw appearance leaving it milky white, much lighter than the skin that hadn't been frostbitten. He then levitated her body once more turning her over to inspect the charred star burst pattern she received from Gungnir.

"Also the work of a Frost Giant," he questioned emotionlessly.

"No," Liya told him choking back a sob, "that was the result of an Asgardian weapon."

"My, my Princess," he sounded somewhat impressed by her fortitude, "I wonder what other torments you could survive."

Maw's voice sounded curious to see if he could perform those torments on her himself. The thought of it made Amaliya shudder.

"Not to worry your Grace," he said applying the same salve and oils into her back, "I will only carry out such atrocities as Thanos sees fit."

Liya thought, 'Is that supposed to comfort me?'

"No Princess," he responded calmly, "you will find little comfort basking in the glory that is Thanos."

He finished his work without another word before turning her to face him again. Maw looked over his work with intricate scrutiny; once he was satisfied with his finished task he administered a sedative so her wounds could heal without complication and to let her rest. She would need to rest. He stood over her trying to imagine just how much suffering she endured before covering her with a blanket. If Thanos agreed to it he would try and replicate what she went through and push her limits. Maw left the bay still rather stirred at how much damage Liya had withstood for someone of her specifications. Clearly there was more to the petite princess than just a Vanir physiology.