Chapter 1

All she wanted

NOTES:

Hi everyone,

First of all, welcome!
Secondly, thank you so much for showing interest in this fic!

For those of you who have read my other stories, this story has a similar feel and writing style as "All I did for you" and "Little Loki's big adventure", though this fic will have a little bit more drama and adventure into it, cause, well… Odin… and Asgard… and three children who could have grown up to be the strongest trio in all the Nine Realms, but, yeah… their father… XD

Anyway! without further ado, please enjoy the first chapter of this story!

P.S. I have now written 5 chapters and have absolutely NO idea how much more there will be
P.P.S. I am Dutch so English is not my native language. If you find any syntax or other mistakes, please let me know and I will be happy to correct them. :D

'Mother! Mother, I did it! I am the best in my class!'

A child's voice echoed happily, proud. Small shoes running down the wide-open corridor, tapping against shining marble.

'Everybody is so nice to me now, I do not feel lonely anymore!'

She sounded jubilant, panting softly as she had run straight from the learning halls towards the bedroom courters.

'I am okay now, mother. Even without father!'

She came to an abrupt stop and placed her small hands against a heavy wooden door, pushing it open as her raven hair outlined her bright red cheeks.

'Look at me, mother! Look mother!'

The smile on her face that was beaming with happiness froze, giving way for a hint of nervousness.

'Mother…?' Hela walked into the large bedroom, cautious not to make any rough sounds. She stared at the hundreds of flowers decorating the chamber, warm summer light making the colors shine even more brilliant. Yellow, pink, blue, red, orange and purple, creating an ocean of vibrant hues against the white walls, the sweet smell of anther dust breezing through the air. 'Mother, I really did it…' She almost whispered, her eyes resting on the heavily pregnant Queen of Asgard as she lay still in her bed.

'Hela,' an all to familiar voice sounded and the young girl turned around, meeting the warm brown eyes of Eira, who was her mother's personal servant before the raven-haired girl was even born. 'My princess, what is it you are doing here?' The young woman made a quick bow, her long and bright-red curls falling over her shoulders before looking up again.

'I wanted mother to see, w-well, to-' The six-year-old stuttered nervously as she took a step back. She knew she should not be bothering her mother, especially now that she had grown weary and feeble, but she just could not contain herself from barging in. 'I just wanted to show her something…'

'Oh, my princess, I do apologize, but I believe it is best for you to take your leave.' Eira smiled kindly, offering her hand to guide the small child out of the bedroom. 'Your mother is resting, you see, and we must not wake her.'

'But…' The young girl pouted as she looked at the wooden floor beneath her leather shoes, her hands clasped around the fabric of her blue dress. She had not seen her mother for at least two days as the queen had to stay in bed. Frigga was not sitting next to her bed at night anymore to read her a bedtime story. She was not there at the breakfast table in the mornings to wish her a safe and prolific day and she was not there as she would come home from classes to help her with her studies. She had not been there for over four weeks, cooped up in her bedroom to rest as much as possible. 'I just wanted to see her…'

'I know, child,' Eira gently guided the girl to the door, feeling truly sorry for her. 'and I am certain that your mother would have-'

'Hela?'

The Queen's drowsy voice sounded, causing both Hela and Eira to turn around in surprise.

'Mother!' the girl shouted happily as she ran back, her small hands now resting on the edge of the bed. 'Mother, I-!' she then lowered her volume, continuing in a mumble. 'Did I wake you?'

'Of course not, love,' Frigga's smile was overflowing with affection, her hand moving to the young girl's face to tuck a strand of raven hair behind her ear.

'My Queen,' Eira bowed, her eyes then quickly darting towards the young girl before looking at Frigga. 'My apologies, Your Majesty, I will-'

'It is quite alright, Eira, could you please leave us be, just for a moment?' Frigga asked kindly though gesturing at the door, leaving her servant no room to object.

The young woman opened her mouth, wanting to protest, but eventually gave her a polite nod before walking out of the room.

Frigga managed a smile, knowing Eira meant well, but she was just so very happy to finally see her baby girl again. 'Have you come running all this way to see me?'

'I have!' Hela's smile was as bright as the flowers surrounding them. She climbed on top of the bed as Frigga had motioned her to come and sit next to her. 'I wanted to show you something, mother. Here, look at this,' her voice was filled with excitement as she raised her hand, concentrating on the tips of her fingers.

Frigga stared attentively, looking at a second of bright green energy that flickered through the girl's fingertips.

'There!' Hela smiled, trying again. 'Did you see that, mother? I learned of Seiðr today!'

Frigga sighed softly, feeling guilt and regret weighing down on her. She had always dreamed to be the first to teach her girl about Seiðr, to be the one who was there when she would use her power for the very first time. However, being heavily pregnant with her second child left her feeble and she had no choice but to follow the advice of the royal Healers to take as much rest as she possibly could. 'That is… That is amazing, Hela,' she smiled, 'you still have such a long way to go, but to be able to conjure Seiðr at such a young age, well, I could not be prouder.'

Hela crawled next to her mother on the large and fluffy pillows, her arms clasped around the goddess' body as Frigga held her in her warm and protective embrace. 'I miss you, mother.'

'I know, sweetheart,' Frigga instantly felt tears pricking in her eyes at the girl's small voice, though she blamed it on her emotional imbalanced state that came with her pregnancy. 'but it will only be for a week or so, and then I will be here for you again.' She placed a hand on her belly, 'and you will have a little baby brother of sister to play with.'

Hela looked at her mother, an unamused frown on her face, 'I do not want a brother or sister.'

Frigga chuckled as her daughter crossed her arms, 'Then what is it you do want?'

'… Nothing,' Hela stated determinately after thinking this through. 'I just…' her expression softened, 'I only want you and father…'

'It will not be long before your father returns, Hela.' She wrapped her arm around the small frame, pulling her closer and covering her in warm fur blankets.

'He has been gone for over six months.'

'… Yes,' Frigga nodded slowly.

'Do you not miss him, mother?'

'Every day,' the goddess pressed her lips against Hela's temple, a sudden overwhelming grief washing over her as she felt the ghost of Odin's warm embrace on her body. She swallowed heavily before continuing, 'but he is needed, elsewhere.'

'He is needed here,' Hela stated as she heard the sorrow in her mother's voice.

'Such a small girl yet so clever,' Frigga sighed. 'Your father is in Jötunheim to… talk with King Laufey. It must be done, Hela. Not only for our own safety, but for all of the Nine Realms. Do you understand?'

Hela remained silent for a moment, only to mutter, 'Six months is a long time to talk.'

'It is,' Frigga felt her eyes tearing, a smile quickly forming on her face as she forced herself to be brave. 'Not to worry though, he will come home this week. Now, would you like me to read you a story?'

'No,' Hela's answer surprised the goddess greatly, 'I want you to tell me one. Tell me about your adventures, mother. About your travels to different Realms and the creatures you have encountered.'

Frigga blinked her eyes but nodded as she saw the excited expression on the small girl's face. 'Alright, dear. Now, let's see, have I ever told you about the great forests of Vanaheim?'

Hela's eyes sparkled as she listened breathlessly to her mother's story, envisioning all the strange creatures and landscapes she described. She was happy to hear her mother's words, to feel her warmth and to just be near her again.

'-And then, as the trees turned into bright shades of blue and purple, the creatures of the Tranquil Forests of Freyr had all returned and were able to live in harmony with the Vanir.' Frigga ended her story in a whisper, noticing how her daughter's breathing had grown heavy as she lay in her arms.

A knock on the door caught her attention, 'Yes?'

The servant girl entered, carrying a tray. 'My Queen,' Eira bowed reverently, 'I have brought dinner.'

'Oh my, has time moved so fast?' the goddess looked outside through a window, only now noticing how the sun had started to set.

'I do not want to leave, mother.' Frigga heard a voice mumble softly, a small arm wrapping tighter around her chest. 'I want to stay with you.'

'Hela, look at me, love,' the deity placed a hand on her cheek, waiting for the child to meet her gaze. 'The Healers told me that it will not be long before the baby is born. After that, I will be able to spend time with you until you wish I was still bedridden.' The joke managed to conjure a smile on the girl's face. 'Now, go and eat your dinner, take a bath and then it is of to bed with you, understood?'

'… Yes, mother,' Hela wrapped her arms around her mother's neck, only to let go as Eira gestured her to follow. 'Good night, mother,' the raven girl said as she reluctantly followed the servant towards the door.

'Pleasant dreams, dear,' Frigga smiled, meeting the girl's gaze as she would not move from the hallway until the door was completely closed.

Hela quietly walked through the palace towards the dining hall, a few feet separating her from Eira as she followed suit. She did not pay any attention to the guards, who would stand in salute as she passed, her eyes glued to the floor beneath her feet. She did not enjoy the sweet flavor of her tomato soup, nor the smell of freshly baked bread.

With only half her dinner eaten, she made her way towards the bathing quarters, letting her small body soak in the hot water for at least thirty minutes before making her way to her bedroom.

'You will have to attend one more day in the learning halls tomorrow,' Eira said as she neatly placed a clean dress on the girl's desk chair. 'and then you will have two days off.'

'I know,' the girls said as she crawled underneath her blankets, her black plush wolf wrapped in her arms.

Eira remained silent for a moment, eventually deciding to sit next to her on the bed. 'I know the past few weeks have been hard for you, princess. With the Allfather gone and the Queen having to rest, well,' she then took a deep breath and sighed, not really knowing what to say as the girl did not even seem to listen to her. 'I do think both your parents are very proud of you.'

Hela did not say a word, her only response being that she crawled deeper into her soft blankets and turned around in her bed. 'I must sleep. I promised mother.'

'… Of course, my princess.' Eira nodded before leaving the girl's room, closing the door behind her.

Hela remained completely quiet as she listened to the sounds on the other side of the wall. She heard Eira walking away and two guards made their way to stand dutifully at each side of her door.

She threw her blanket off and crawled out of bed as she was certain that no one would enter her room anymore. She walked towards an open window, a soft breeze leaving her nightgown to flutter. She let her head rest on her arms as she was barely tall enough to lean in the window opening, standing on the tip of her toes. She sighed as she took in the view of the courtyard, a feeling of numbness filling her as, just like the last six months, everything seemed to go according to schedule.

The stablemen walked their last round to make sure all the horses were well-provided for the night. The guards on the high castle walls stood firm like statues, unmoving, but ever heedful. Some Einherjar- elite Asgardian soldiers- cleaning their weapons after a long day of practice. The men smiled as servant girls would wave at them, playfully giggling and playing with their hair as they walked past.

Nothing had changed.

Hela kept staring for hours on end, predicting every scene at the exact right time, before finally turning her gaze towards the large gates of the courtyard. She folded her hands and mumbled some soft prayers. Just like every other night, she prayed to the three wise Norns and ask them to bring her father home. And just like every other night, the gate would close, the King of Asgard unreturned.

Not expecting anything, yet still feeling disappointed, Hela crawled back into her bed again, keeping her stuffed animal close to her chest as she lulled herself to sleep.

NOTES:

And that's it for the first chapter.
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