When Lyanne awoke from her cold, hungry daze, she saw the most unlikely of people sitting before her. It was Bruce Banner. He looked calm, but concerned. She shifted ever so slightly against the wall to get a better view, and was startled to see him reaching one of his thick, rough hands through the bars. Uncertainly, she placed her own frail, cold fingers upon his and he squeezed. His grasp was warm, sympathetic; he said a thousand words with one simple gesture, and she found herself cracking within. She yanked herself away from him and curled back up into a ball, turning her back to the bars and weeping so that he could not see. She heard him get up and leave as quietly as he had come, and she shivered with the cold and with her sobs.

"Cheer up, darling," Amora said, distant, foggy. The six days of near-starvation and constant icy temperatures were taking their toll on her and the Enchantress could tell without even looking at her. "They haven't broken you yet."

"But they will," she wept. "I know it, now - I'm not strong enough. That's why Loki ditched me - he knows how weak I am."

"I know you're hungry, but don't become delusional. Nobody knows for sure what's in that man's head; just relax."

"I can't. I'm going to die down here."

"Then so be it."

Whatever will be, will be.

Her motto swam back to her so fast and hard she became dizzy for a second. Her heart tried to race inside her chest but she was so hungry and so cold it was difficult for it to do much more than make her feel queasy and frightened.

"If I die, tell Loki…"

"Silence," Amora snapped.

"I really don't think I'm going to make it," Lyanne tried reasoning, slurring her words, but Amora shushed her.

"Someone's coming," she said.

Lyanne tried straightening up, but was so weak all she could manage was to roll back towards the bars, slumping against them lazily. The door to the prison chambers opened, and suddenly standing in front of the bars was Steve Rogers, Bruce Banner positioned behind him with his arms crossed awkwardly.

"I told you, Steve - she's going to die down here."

"Amora's fine," he responded, though doubtfully.

"She's an Asgardian - Lyanne's not. She's slowly starving and freezing to death."

"We can't do anything without Fury's permission."

"You mean without Stark's or Thor's?"

Steve shook his head irritably, grimacing at the names.

"Let them do what they please," he said. "But we can't do anything that contradicts orders."

"Are these the orders you thought you'd be following?" Banner asked seriously.

"It doesn't matter what I think is right, orders are orders. I can't disobey just because I find their methods of gaining information repulsive."

"Would you allow this to happen if it were someone you cared about?"

"Who says I don't care about her?" he hissed back.

"She's a traitor, Steve," Banner responded calmly. Rogers tried to snap something back, but Bruce cut across him. "But you and I both know that she doesn't deserve this."

Steve sighed and wrapped his fingers around the bars near Lyanne's face. All she could do was stare back blankly, eyes half-open, exhausted, pleading and yet distant.

"Fury said she'd crack," Steve said in a low tone. "Giving in to her now could mean the difference between finding Loki or letting him walk free."

"Steve," pleaded Bruce, his tone urgent. "I know you. You're not this heartless."

"Well then what do you suggest?" he added in a nasty tone. Lyanne had never heard him this gruff before - she wondered what had set him off, but she concerned herself only mildly. She was so tired… so tired… she began to drift away into darkness, the cold ebbing away, her hunger fading, knowing only dreamless sleep and solace.

She awoke to someone slapping her face hard. It was still distant; she hardly felt it anymore. Lyanne felt it again and her eyes fluttered open; there was a blurry vision in front of her and she squinted to see, but figured it would not be worth it and tried to go back to her blissful rest. But that was when hot water was tossed upon her. She gasped, sitting up, her skin practically on fire from the shock of something hot against her. She tried to scream but nothing came out. She grasped in front of her with her hands and caught flesh under her finger nails, hearing a shriek in response.

"Lyanne, it's Steve!"

She shook her head, trying to clear her vision, but Steve suddenly picked her up like she was nothing and began to carry her. She was vaguely aware of going up some stairs before she began to struggle with the last of her reserves.

"Hold her!" came Bruce's voice, foggy and distant. Steve held her more closely, but she continued squirming, her nerves waking up from the hot water finally soaking into her. She became more aware of her limbs, her sight, her hearing, the feel of her empty stomach. It began growling and she placed a hand upon it, but it was a moment before she realized the growling was coming from within her throat. She felt the familiar tickling on her skin as she began to grow fur, the prick of her claws against her stomach as they grew on the tips of her fingers, her spine expanding into a furry tail, her mouth lengthening into a snout full of sharpened, angry fangs. She snarled and Steve finally dropped her upon the stairs, but she had enough energy not to tumble down them all. Lyanne clutched the walls, steadying herself from the vertigo that had taken her from standing up so fast. She began to pant as the last of her energy coursed through her in the form of adrenaline.

I am free.

"Lyanne?" Steve asked unsurely, but she turned back, baring her fangs and snarling. Before they could react, Lyanne launched herself back down into the prison chambers and straight towards Amora's cage.

The barrier is specialized only against magic, and myself.

Lyanne threw herself through the magic wall and clutched Amora's chains tightly, pulling with the last of her strength. She felt the left cuff begin to give way, then suddenly, it snapped clean off and the Enchantress's hand was freed. In an instant, she flexed her fingers in an elaborate dance and the rest of the chains began to snap and tumble away. Lyanne backed away, suddenly doubtful of what she had just done, but Amora stood, stared at her in calculating disbelief, then looked back quickly towards Steve and Bruce making their way down the stairs. Lyanne's legs shook and she was getting dizzy again; her body did not have enough to fight one of them, let alone one of them and the Hulk. Suddenly, Amora grabbed Lyanne's wrists in her own, concentrating, and a hot, strange feeling overtook them both. The wall before them shimmered, turning into a sickly dark gold and purple orb and surrounding them. Amora kept concentrating, straining, sweat pouring down her brow, and before Lyanne could even worry about what was happening, they were pushed through a hot, unbreathable atmosphere and out into burning, blinding daylight.

"Run," Amora snapped. They did, though neither could see much of what was ahead of them. They ran towards the darkness before them, the shadows seeming to sway in the sweet breeze Lyanne thought she would never feel again. As they got closer, it was quickly apparent they were entering the woods that bordered SHIELD headquarters; there were still healing scorch marks on the ground from last month's battle with Sif and the Warriors Three. Lyanne smirked to herself, glad her eyes were adjusting to the brightness, but still grateful they were entering the shadowy wood. Amora was as fast as Lyanne, perhaps because they were both tired, but after what seemed like 10 minutes, they found it necessary to stop.

"Here," Amora gasped, pointing down a rocky slope to a nearby brook. Lyanne followed her directions easily, chasing the riverbed for several minutes, a dull roar coming closer and closer as the pace of the water picked up. Suddenly Amora stopped, holding her arm back to stop her companion; a waterfall dropped down before them. She smirked and flexed her hands carefully, hesitating at first but falling quickly into a beautiful pattern of movements. Lyanne looked below her and saw the rocks beginning to break away magically from behind the waterfall, forming a slippery staircase for them. When she was finished, they followed the steps slowly, carefully down into the hidden cavern the Enchantress had just made for them behind the waterfall. When they entered, Amora brought enough of the boulders back to afford them cover, letting the others fall down into the depths far below. They lay on the wet stone for at least 30 minutes, gasping and collecting themselves.

We are free.