Asgard was far larger than Hela remembered. She could hardly even see the peaks of Valhalla until she was well out of sight of the bifrost. And then it seemed to rise forever, tower after tower appearing until Hela and her brother approached the so-called Plaza of Valor. Hela counted 18 towers in total.

The Plazas of Valor, Honor and Triumph were all ringed with towers of their own. They blended seamlessly into the architecture, yet all were manned and boasted menacing ballistae. Armed skiffs patrolled overhead. Clearly, none were meant to pass without Odin's sufferance.

Well, I'm here now, old man.

The crowd parted respectfully before Thor, but most spared no second glance for Hela. Those that did, though, quickly backed away. Hela didn't know whether she should feel insulted or amused. Perhaps it's the red cape. She noted that no one in the crowd wore anything of the shade that Thor so brazenly displayed. The colour of fresh blood.

The plaza of Triumph was deserted, but the siblings were greeted at the palace gate by a large contingent of gold-plated guards and a tall, reedy elf with pale gold hair. He was dressed in the fashion of Alfar nobility, yet stood as though he was in charge.

"Asgard welcomes you both, Thor Odinson and Hela Odinsdottyr. It has been a long time," the elf spoke in the flowery tones of Alfheim. Hela instantly disliked him. How did he know of our coming? Hela had not seen any messengers riding ahead of them.

"And you are?" Thor asked. He sounded vaguely irritated. So he is not as much in charge as he pretends.

"Oh, forgive me. How very discourteous of me. I had forgotten how long you have been away from us," the elf bowed to the waist, then rose with his hand on his chest. "I have the honour of being Almynd Milkvein, First Minister to the All-father, and Regent of the Nine Realms in his absence."

"Regent of Loki," Thor was far from pleased by Milkvein's introduction. "You are dismissed, Minister." He nodded to the guards and added, "But I should like you to deliver a message to Queen Aelsa. She and her court are cordially invited to the funeral of Odin All-father, to be held upon the next turn." If Milkvein was surprised to hear of Odin's death, he betrayed no more than a slight widening of the eyes. "You may leave on the morrow," Thor continued, "But the bifrost shall remain closed today."

Enough of this. Hela stepped forward, edging Thor aside. She drew herself up to her full height, looking Milkvein in the eye despite standing on a lower step. "Odin's funeral shall be preceded by my coronation," she declared loudly, "You may stay for that. Then you may inform Queen Aelsa of the elves that no elfqueen is expected at the Allfather's funeral."

Milkvein remained composed, his face a studied mask of indifference. But Thor grabbed Hela by the wrist. "What madness is this?" he demanded in a low voice, "Queen Aelsa and her Alfar have always been our truest friends!"

Hela couldn't help but laugh at that. Friends with elves?! "I don't know what fantasy you've been living, brother, but the elves would slit our throats as easily as they mix sugar in their tea, and do it as copiously," turning away from her stunned brother, she addressed the guards, "And you, brave sons of Asgard, do you serve this chalk-skinned conjurer? Did your king truly lift this charlatan to such a high rank? Or was it Loki, my youngest brother, who committed this atrocity?"

The guards looked at each other uneasily. Milkvein seemed to have sensed his danger at last. He bowed deeply once more, then, head still bowed, he spoke: "I shall inform Queen Aelsa of these… renewed policies. But for now, I beg your leave to retire to my quarters and arrange my departure."

"I think not," Hela said harshly. "Einherjar, show Milkvein to his new quarters." Seeing the confusion on the guards' faces, she added, "In the dungeons."

For the longest moment, they hesitated. Hela curled her fingers, ready to stab the nearest one. Finally, one of them stepped toward Milkvein, his every move dripping with uncertainty.

Just then, a hammer descended upon the steps between Hela and Milkvein, the marble cracking under its weight. "Hela," Thor called out, "If you would be queen, perhaps you should start by picking up the hammer of kings."

Hela looked at the hammer distrustfully. "I wielded Mjolnir once," she said, "I prefer something sharper."

"It is a weapon fit for a king," Milkvein quipped. Hela drew a curved knife and raised it threateningly, but then she noted the apprehension in the guards' eyes. They all looked to Thor and Mjolnir, and their hands jumped to their weapons faster when it was Thor doing the commanding. It seemed the hammer had become a royal symbol. "Very well, then," she released the knife. "Perhaps you shouldn't have surrendered such a treasure so easily," she smirked at Thor, curling her fingers around the handle. The leather was worn and supple, and she could feel Odin's magic flowing through it. A weapon fit for a king.

"Pick it up and you are my queen," Thor said as Hela pulled on the handle. The hammer was heavier than she expected. Strange. Thor had not seemed so strong on Midgard. She pulled again. The hammer seemed to be stuck to the ground. "Lift it and you shall rule Asgard," Thor said again, clearly enjoying himself. Hela could sense her dignity draining away with each moment, so she whipped around to face him. "What trickery is this?" she demanded, "You dare to make a fool of me?"

Calmly, Thor raised his right hand and the hammer – that accursed hammer – flew straight into his grip.

"A rigged toy. I had not taken you for a sorcerer."

"The enchantment is Odin's very own," Thor said solemnly, then intoned, as if reciting from memory: "Whosoever possesses this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor. Mjolnir has judged you unworthy," he declared, pointing the hammer at Hela.

"A weapon judging a queen?" Hela looked around, expecting laughter, but found only stern, disapproving faces. She sensed that she had lost the initiative, and her smile curdled on her lips. A warning sounded in her mind, urging patience and caution. But I cannot allow anyone to look at me like that again. Furious, she drew two massive swords and flung them at both sides, expecting to slice cleanly through two of the einherjar. But Mjolnir flew like a silver blur, deflecting both in one instant. Out of the corner of her eye, Hela saw Thor lunging up the stairs. In a blind rage, she whirled and stabbed him, driving two needle-thin blades right through him.

As Thor collapsed, Mjolnir crashed on the stairs, throwing bits of marble into the air. Hela turned to look at it but found only a dazzling shower of sparks. Before she knew what was happening, Hela was drawn into a kaleidoscope of brilliant patterns, shifting and morphing anytime she tried to focus on one. Elf magic, she thought to herself, yet she was helpless to escape, as she could not even feel her own limbs.

Milkvein redoubled his effort as he struggled to contain Hela's mind even as her body slid down the stairs. "Confine her!" he gasped, and the einherjar rushed to obey. Hopefully Asgardian chains would hold her long enough to secure her in a cell, but he daren't let her regain control of her body till then. "Help the prince!" he said, though Thor was already getting to his feet, his hands bloody.

"Tell Hogun to secure the gates," he muttered to one of the guards as they rushed him into the palace. It seemed everyone had forgotten that both royal siblings had revoked Milkvein's privileges before the fight broke out. I'll count this day as a success, then. Milkvein's smile never showed on his face.

Thanks for all the reviews! It's been a long time since my last update and I fear some change in style, but I think the story's going in a direction I like. Thanks for sticking around!