Disclaimer: All characters, with the exception of Hlin, belong to the MC Universe. Hlin also belongs to Norse folklore, being the Goddess of Protection associated with Frigga but for the purpose of my story I've incorporated her character into the Thor universe.

Chapter One

Before there had been Thor and Loki, there had been Hela and Hlin.

Sisters in arms, twins, the growing people of Asgard had rejoiced for their Alfather as Frigga birthed him two heirs for his army and kingdom. Hela; with hair as dark as night and obsidian green eyes that held a ferociousness to them and Hlin; born with a crown of spun gold with startling blue eyes to match. They'd been a blessing for Frigga, the missing pieces Odin needed to help him execute his plan to grow his power.

Growing up in his quest to seize control over their neighbouring realms, the daughters of Odin Borson had flourished magnificently in the arts of war and chaos. Hela had grown into an ambitious and ruthless young woman who dominated the battlefield as Odin's prized executioner, Commander of the Einherjar and Goddess of Death. Hlin, similar to her sister, had excelled in battle and in battle tactics also. Commander of the Valkyrie, Hlin was feared almost as much as her sister as the defender of Asgard and Goddess of Protection. For many years they fought side-by-side, killing, destroying, conquering all in the name of their father and their people. And for all those years' blood had been spilt, the more guilt and shame festered in Odin's youngest daughter.

Hlin was supposed to protect people, and she had, Hela had reminded her harshly that she'd protected their people and their family many times. But what kind of Goddess of Protection was she if she could only defend her people and not the other innocent civilians slaughtered in the wars they had waged. Her mother, Frigga, had shown more tenderness to Hlin growing up – something Odin had reprimanded her for and something Hela had always told her made her weak.

But Hlin was different than her sister, Frigga knew, abler to withstand the power of greed better than her other daughter who thrived on it. That's why she always told Hlin, cloaked beneath a veil of magic to make sure neither her father and sister heard, that being the Goddess of Protection meant essentially she was also the Goddess of Life. To protect was to preserve all forms of life, keep innocents from slaughter and unnecessary death and yet, Hlin thought bitterly, hadn't that been exactly what she'd done? Killed innocent beings, let her sister wreak death and misery on every planet they'd been to?

The want for power, the greed, it had corrupted her family. Hlin could see it now, understood why her mother told her she was basically the Goddess of Life. Her sister, her beloved twin, needed to be stopped – and somehow, somehow, Hlin would be the one to do it.

Perhaps it was fate. Twin sisters, two halves of a whole, one born to kill and maim and the other to protect and defend. The battle between them seemed inevitable, Hlin thought, with Hela being the Goddess of Death and she the somewhat Goddess of Life – it was just bound to happen. The realization that she'd need to put a stop to her own kin to carry through her duty as protector of all left Hlin in utter turmoil, torn between her job to her people and her love for her sister that she let a single tear roll down her tanned cheek in despair.

She was standing out alone on the grand terrace of the palace, basking in the silence she seldom got to herself while her sister and everyone else celebrated their latest conquest inside. Relieved of her duties for the evening, Hlin leaned on the rails of the terrace and stared out at the murky blue water that surrounded the border of their Kingdom. She was no longer dressed in her golden battle armour and instead dressed in a sky blue dress that fell from her slender shoulders and hung from the small of her back. Her golden hair had been curled and pinned up elegantly for a more appropriate look for the evening's festivities.

Instinctively her body tensed, the magic flowing through her veins alerting her to the sudden presence of another person behind her, before just as quickly, a surge of warmth washed over her. Immediately her body sagged, no longer anticipating a vicious strike. She was safe. It was only him, he who would not harm her. "Why do you cry?" Asked the person in a soothing rich voice, closing in on her. Quickly cloaking them beneath a veil of invisibility, Hlin looked slowly over her shoulder to meet his knowing gaze. "It is nothing, Heimdall." She replied softly, lovingly, wishing to spare him from her troubled mind. "Truly, I am fine."

Hlin did not know when she had grown to care for the golden eyed warrior who fought under her Command, and when that affection had manifested into pure, honest, love. Heimdall was a valiant warrior, always fighting to protect the throne of Asgard and anyone else of their kind. He'd been her adviser for over a century now, a battle tactic Hela had made, considering his capillary senses were far beyond that of any Asgardian. Every victory Hlin had won on the battlefield, she'd admit, wouldn't have been won without Heimdall by her side.

"I see everything, Hlin." Heimdall mused softly, almost amused. "Something plagues your mind."

A small bubble of laughter fell from Hlin's lips, and a ghost of a smile curled at the edges of her lips as she gazed at him. That was Heimdall, always knowing, and yet, still asking all the same. "Who do you fight for, Heimdall?" Hlin asked, holding his gaze intently, "The throne or our people?"

Heimdall contemplated her question in silence, expression unclear. Drawing a breath, Hlin felt a shiver run down her spine as the Asgardian before her exhaled softly, his warm breath caressing her skin lightly. "I fight for both. To serve the one who sits on the throne is to serve the people of Asgard, and every other realm in our domain. Afterall, isn't that what the person who sits on the throne fights for?" He answered, finally.

Hlin nodded, a frown marring her features before quite suddenly, Heimdalls large and warm hand travelled up to her cheek. Gently, too gentle for someone who had fought in many wars, Heimdall wiped the lone tear track from Hlin's face. His touch sent a collective of goose bumps to appear on Hlin's arms, and overwhelmed by the rush of affection that washed over her, Hlin closed her eyes and lean into his touch.

"What troubles you?" He asked, again, more softly this time.

Opening her eyes once more, Hlin met the gaze of the man she loved brokenly. "Things have changed, Heimdall." She answered, distraught. "No longer do we fight for the prosperity of our realm, nor do we fight to achieve peace between all. My family, my sister, have strayed from the ways of old. She only fights for her own gain. For so long I have let her continue the way she is, now I hardly recognize her, and I realize now that leaving her be will only lead to our ruin."

Slowly, Heimdalls hand fell from her face, before just as slow his hands enveloped hers. "Have you spoken to Alfather? I'm sure he would surely know what to make of your worries." His suggestion caught the Asgardian princess off guard. Between her parents, Frigga had seemed like the more reasonable choice to seek council with, but judging from the knowledgeable look that swam beneath Heimdall's eyes Hlin felt herself nod. Usually, she'd think her father would be too stubborn to reason with, but if Heimdall hinted for her to go to him rather than her mother must've meant he saw something.

"There you are, Heimdall. Always directing me in the right direction." This time, Hlin was the one to release her grip from his warm arms, before just as he had done earlier, she trailed one of her hands to cup his cheek. "Thank-you." She whispered, leaning forward to press her lips against his. Their kiss was slow and soft, comforting in ways that words would never be. For Hlin, the intimacy of it made her want to cry in happiness and rage all at once, so much so she was torn from melting into the kiss more and asking Heimdall how he could possibly allow this to happen. How he could possibly be letting her kiss him after all the atrocities she had done, been a part of.

Almost as if he'd sensed the internal battle raging within her, Heimdall wound his arms around the small curve of Hlin's waist, pulling her closer to his staunch body that she could physically hear the sound of his heart beating.

"Commander Hlin."

In an instant, Hlin and Heimdall broke away from one another, chests' heaving. Raising her finger to her lips in a silent plea for him to be quite, Hlin glanced over her shoulder. "How'd you know I was here, Brunnhilde? I'm pretty sure the whole point of an invisibility spell is for me to be, I don't know, invisible." Glancing over slightly to see the silent laughter dancing in Heimdall's golden hues, Hlin released herself from his embrace, facing her second-in-command and unveiling only herself to her.

Brunnhilde paid no mind the pinkish tint of Hlin's cheeks, nor did she comment on the bruising of her peach coloured lips. Instead, she smiled at her Commander, amused. "Yes, but you forget I've also fought by your side for more than a century. I know your tricks. That and the fact you always come out here after a battle is a major giveaway as well."

The amusement on her face died after a moment of silence, and the air seemed to turn thick with tension when she spoke again. "But I've been tasked to come escort you to your father. Whatever it is, he doesn't want anyone else to notice so he sent me to fetch you once I announced my leave from the celebration. He's waiting in his chambers with your mother."

Hlin pressed her lips into a thin line, feeling a wave of dread wash over her.

"Thank-you Brunnhilde." Hlin tried to offer her friend a reassuring smile, forcing herself not to turn to Heimdall in case Brunnhilde caught on. "Now; Shall we?" Linking her arm around the younger woman's, Hlin peaked over her shoulder once more as Brunnhilde began to pull her through the large doors.

There, standing on the balcony, Heimdall held her gaze- an almost worried and even fearful look etched across his usually stoic features and just with one little look from him, Hlin knew. The reason why he suggested meeting with her father, the meeting her father wanted her for, Heimdall had seen it.

She and her mother weren't the only ones to think the same. Somehow, sometime, her father had realized the ugly truth also. If they truly wanted to achieve peace between all, then Hela needed to be stopped. And judging from the severity of her father's gaze as she slipped through his door, Hlin knew then that that day would be coming sooner than she'd thought.

Next Chapter:

- Hlin has a very dreadful conversation talk with Odin

- Hlin and Brunnhilde friendship fluff

- More Heimdall/Hlin romance

- A battle between sisters/ The end of Hela and Hlin

A/N: Hey guys, so this is my first time writing on and honestly, I'm pretty stoked. I wasn't quite sure what story to write a fanfiction on, or if I should transfer my stories from Wattpad and Quotev on here until I saw the gem that is Thor: Ragnarok. But yeah, feel free to leave a comment. About the story, any questions you have, or even if you have tips for me as a new writer on here.

- Hannah