Chapter Text
“Are you sure you’ll be alright here?” Hela’s headdress faded away and her hair cascaded down her shoulders once more. She walked to the dead janitor and extracted your sword from him. You noticed that the sword she made for you was bigger than the ones she threw at the others. It was also distinct, with more ridges on the blade but softer shapes on the handle.
“With you, I am,” you replied. Hela gave a “Tsk.” and handed you the sword. She grabbed your waist and pulled you both together.
“So sentimental,” Hela’s tone was annoyed but she was touching and kissing you, ever the contradictory woman she is. You wrapped your arms around her and the sword in your hand landed on her backside. Hela let out a gasp. “Mm, careful with that.” She taunted.
You grabbed her ass.
“Oh, come on,” Hela complained, “We need to see my palace first.” She reluctantly broke away and pulled your arm to walk on the glistening bridge of the bifrost.
You took in the sight of Asgard. It was disgustingly bright to look at you could throw up. You actually might.
Hela looked back at you worriedly and you pushed back whatever ill feeling you were developing just then and stepped forward, walking with her towards the empire.
“It's come to my attention that you don't know who I am,” Hela announced to the massive crowd of Einherjar, all their weapons at the ready and pointing them at the both of you.
Hela didn’t seem worried at all, however, and whatever fears you may have of dying by their hands were quelled. She seemed so confident she could overpower all of them. You shivered involuntarily.
You stood just slightly behind her, letting her have her moment and the audience.
“I am Hela, Odin's first born, Commander of the legions of Asgard, the rightful heir to the throne, and the Goddess of Death,” Hela’s voice projected in the tense silence, “My father is dead. As are the princes— you're welcome.”
Hela’s speech of how Asgard once reigned in the cosmos was met by disdain from a soldier in the crowd.
“I’ve come to protect us all, a great force in the cosmos will one day wipe everything away,” Hela hissed. She actually listened to you. You smiled beneath your mask.
“Whoever you are... whatever you've done, surrender now! Or we will show you no mercy.” The man stupidly yelled.
“Whoever I am? Did you listen to a word I said?” Hela growled.
“This is your last warning!” The man pressed on.
Well, things were about to get violent.
“I thought you'd be happy to see me,” Hela’s voice cracked and she gave you a sad glance. You gripped your sword and positioned yourself at the ready, signalling you would fight for her.
They start attacking, barrels of arrows shot to the both of you.You used your sword to swat them away easily. The man from earlier put up a surprisingly good effort of deflecting Hela’s swords, but ultimately he was thrown to the ground. The einherjar swarmed Hela, and you tried your best to help her, but really she did not need much help as it is.
One of the soldiers managed to stab their spear through Hela and it fueled a rage within you so hot you felt like it could kill you. You charged at them and your sword went right through their face, splitting it in half.
“My beloved knight,” Hela cooed. You looked at her and touched her shoulder, signalling your worry. Hela only giggled and pulled the spear right out of herself. “I’m alright.” It was true, she was unscathed.
Just how powerful was Hela?
You didn’t have time to ponder more as a hoard of soldiers approached you. You and Hela make quick work of them.
Soon, all the bodies littered all around you.
You were struck with a sense of familiarity as you remembered your dream from many cycles ago.
Surely it won’t end in your untimely death, though?
Hela was gleeful as she turned to you.
“Oh, I've missed this. Still, it's a shame. Good soldiers dying for nothing...all because they couldn't see the future. Sad.” Hela sighed, “Let’s go, my dear.”
The citizens of Asgard cowered as you walked past them. Hela intertwined your fingers with hers and held you by her side as she walked proudly.
“I don’t think I’m helping your image, my poison,” you said to her. Hela only held your hand tighter.
“I don’t care,” she said, “let them cower before us.”
The guards of the palace barely put up a fight. Their numbers were sparse and hopeless. You didn’t know why they hadn't surrendered already.
Hela’s mood was getting somber as she saw the throne in the distance.
“Does no one remember me?” She said sadly, looking up at the fresco above. You followed her gaze and saw a mural of Thor and Loki, and what you assumed to be Odin and his wife. It depicted peace and prosperity across the nine realms, things you did not see when you were travelling through them before. “Has no one been taught our history? Look at these lies. Goblets and garden parties? Peace treaties?”
You knew very well what it’s like to be forgotten. Though in your case perhaps more so ignored. Your father remembered you, so did your people. They just pretended you didn’t exist. A shame to the Harudheeniksel cause.
“Odin... proud to have it... ashamed of how he got it, ”Hela threw spikes into the ceiling and the mural came down around you, narrowly avoiding crushing you.
Underneath the plaster was paintings of Hela and her father, riding into battle in glory. The nine realms subjugated under Asgard’s rule.
You narrowed your eyes at the picture of Harudheen trampled by Asgard. It seems he even took credit for things before his time. Bor was the one that won against the Dark Elves.
“We were unstoppable. I was his weapon in the conquest that built Asgard's empire. But then, simply because my ambition outgrew his...he banished me, caged me, locked me away like an animal. Before that, Asgard's warriors were honored, their bodies buried as heroes beneath this very place.” Hela’s voice was shaking. You approached her and circled your arms around her form.
She gripped your chestplate and slumped her head on your shoulder, anger and sadness coming to her all at once.
“Come with me,” she whispered.
.
.
She took you to the palace vault, where all the treasuries were kept.
As the door opened, you felt something shift within you.
Hypnotized, you stepped forward ahead of Hela and approached a red source of light at the end of the hall. Your heart was beating so loudly you didn’t hear Hela approach you as you stared unblinking ahead.
The Aether.
There it was, locked away in a case, gilded golden and made of Asgardian steel.
Its light shifted in your presence and you could feel its power pulling you in.
Perhaps you were called to Asgard for a reason, perhaps the Aether had beckoned for you to save it, wield it once more—
Hela stood between you and the case, grabbing your hand. You didn’t realize you were reaching for it. For some reason, a rage built up within you and the words came out of your mouth before you could stop it.
“You still don’t trust me?”
Hela’s expression became hurt and she threw your hand away from her.
“Fine then,” she spat, side stepping you and walking away, “wield it again and let it kill you. Make me watch you die right here and now.” She didn’t look back and her voice faded as she turned the corner.
You watched her leave and faced the Aether once more.
It wasn’t because she didn’t trust you. She just didn’t want you to die.
The red light pulses but you don’t feel it calling you within anymore.
You hope to Sleep the steel won’t burn you as you gripped the handle. Thankfully, your armor was enough to protect you. You fastened the case on your hip and ran to Hela.
She was standing in front of a big flame.
“I am sorry,” you said, “I didn’t think…” Hela turned to you and made an annoyed expression as she saw the case on your hip. “I won’t wield it,” you stated, “but we must keep it safe.”
Hela sighed. “Promise me,” she muttered, stepping close to you, “don’t die on me now.” Hela repeated. She was putting on a stoic demeanor but her lips trembled as she looked into your eyes through the mask.
“I live for you, erve kirath,” you said.
Hela let out a laugh at the nickname, her smile returning with only a hint of sadness.
“Very well,” she held your head and pulled you down to touch your foreheads together, “would you like to meet Fenris?”