Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or the Avengers.

Authors note: I know it's been two months since I last updated but I have been busy with work. Unless you live under a rock, you know about the Coronavirus and the devastation it's leaving. I live in England and we are on lockdown and you can only leave your house for a few reasons, one of them being if you have a specific job which can't be done at home and you are considered a key worker. I am a key worker; I work in social care. I am begging you all, please, please, please stay at home. I know people that have already died from the virus and it's not nice and I am putting myself and my family at risk every day I go to work.

If you live in the UK or any country that is on lockdown and you are still going out to meet friends and other people, shame on you. If you have no care for yourself then think of others, your friends, your family, random people you walk past in the street are someone's child or perhaps have a child that you are putting at risk in going out and then think about the people who are still having to work to make sure the country is running and people are getting the care they need. The only way to stop this virus is to limit your contact with other people so please do it. For those of you following the rules and staying home or social distancing, thank you so much. Other key workers and myself are worried every day that we are going to get sick or give it to those in our households that we end up in tears so thank you. Stay safe everyone and we will overcome this.

Thank you to those of you who reviewed and welcome to the new followers and favourites.

Chapter 17

A little over three weeks had passed since Falcon had completed the second honour challenge and everyone who knew about them was wondering when the third and final one would be but there was no sign of Lord Loki making him do the challenge. Whenever anyone asked when it would be, they would be met with silence, even Falcon who believed the silence was worse and was watching his back at every moment, believing his love's father would strike at any moment. For the god of mischief, he was being rather patient which made everyone nervous.

Dahlia, however, saw what her father was doing, trying to make Falcon nervous before his challenge. He would watch the young man and just look at him without saying a word, usually that would drive anyone mad but Falcon was cautious about how he acted. Loki was currently stood at the top of the stairs looking over the training area, he watched as Death was training, going over skills he already knew and had been training for centuries. Everyone knew the god of mischief was watching, they just weren't directly looking at him.

It was then that Dahlia arrived and stood beside her father and looked down. She saw soldiers, both of her brothers, Micah and Falcon all training together but it was the man beside her she was more interested in. She saw Falcon glance up quickly at the newcomer and she couldn't help herself as she said, "come on, dad. When are you going to put the poor man out of his misery?"

She was greeted with silence as usual when it came to the matter and she was about to turn and leave when he said, "I need you to do something for me".

"What?" she asked.

He turned to look at her and answered, "I need you to go find your sister and tell her that I know about her and Falcon. Tell her that I have found out they courted but don't mention anything about honour challenges or anything else, just that I have found out and that I am here attacking him and trying to kill him".

Dahlia looked nervous as she looked between her father and where the boys were training and asked, "and will you be trying to kill him when I leave?"

"Yes," he answered bluntly, "so find her quickly".

Dahlia then turned and ran down the halls as Loki looked at the training scene below and walked down the steps. He took off his jacket and threw it to the side near the bench which attracted everyone's attention and they stopped fighting as Loki picked up a sword of his own. He walked to Falcon and said, "third and final challenge".

Falcons eyes widened slightly in hope, finally he was being given the last challenge so that he could make Hela his wife.

"Kill me," Loki said and the god could see all hope fade from Falcon's eyes. Loki smirked and said, "you want to be the man in her life, you want to be Hela's husband, kill me and prove you can protect her".

Falcon looked around and couldn't believe that people were actually backing up to give them space to fight while they watched. He then looked to the god and shook his head and said, "I won't kill you".

"Well that is unfortunate…for you," Loki said then swung his sword and Falcon raised his to block it from hitting him, "fight".

"No," Falcon said and pushed the sword away from his as the two began to circle one another, "you're her father, if you killed me, she would forgive you eventually, she would never forgive me if I killed you. Her family together is all she's wanted for a thousand years; I won't ruin that".

"Then you're not the man I thought you were. Perhaps Dahlia was right, perhaps she should be looking elsewhere to find a man suitable for her sister. Perhaps the next suitor will be man enough to complete all three challenges and have my blessing and Hela can marry him," Loki said and saw Falcon tighten his grip on his sword, clearly jealousy was an issue for the young man. "Fight," Loki said again and this time they did.

Dahlia ran through the corridors as quickly as she could but she couldn't find her sister. She wasn't in her room or office or the throne room but then she ran to the council chambers believing her sister might be in a meeting and she was right. Just as she arrived, several members of the council were walking out while Hela spoke to them. They all looked up when they saw Dahlia running and Hela said, "Dahlia, calm down. Breathe".

Dahlia took a few deep breaths as she was panting and then said, "Dad. He found out, he found out about you and Falcon, he knows. They're on the training field, he's trying to kill him".

While the council members began to whisper to one another, Hela froze for a single moment before she took off running. Dahlia was right behind her and tried to keep up as Hela said loudly to her, "why would you tell him?"

"I didn't," Dahlia said defensively, "everyone can see you're in love with one another, dad has just figured it out and Falcon doesn't seem to have denied it".

When they arrived at the training grounds, they saw that a large crowd had gathered and they were just able to see over them to see the fight. Their father seemed to be in lead, Falcon was bloody and was leaning to the side slightly as if he was injured but their swords were crossed before Falcon managed to twist his so both flew to the side. Loki didn't take this as giving up or a chance to get another weapon, he swung his fists instead and Falcon fell to the floor before Loki got on top of him and began to hit him over and over again.

"PAPA, STOP!" Hela shouted and ran down the steps.

Fenrir and Jörmungandr jumped up from where they were sat and ran to their sister and held her back. They held an arm each so she couldn't get to her father and the man who held her heart. They held her as she screamed for her father to let go of Falcon, they held her as tears began to stream down her cheeks as she watched her love being beaten.

Hela looked between her brothers and clenched her fists before her magic began to emit from her and she pushed against their grip, using her magic, and threw them into the air. They landed hard on the ground almost twenty feet away from her. Hela then swung her hand when her father looked to her and he flew in the same way as his sons but Hela didn't look to them, she immediately ran to Falcon and dropped to the floor.

His face was swollen, covered in blood and he tried to open his left eye which was swollen. She helped him sit up but once he was sat up, he tried to push her back and struggled as he said, "go, go back inside".

"No," she said and shook her head. She then saw her father standing and walking towards them and she moved to the other side of Falcon so she was between him and her father and held up her hand and said, "stop". Loki stopped a few feet from her as she said, "no more, papa, please just stop".

He saw the tears falling down her cheeks, he saw her trying to control her breathing and to stop the tears but she couldn't. He didn't wish to see her cry but he had to know if their love was true. He gestured to the pair of them and said, "he wanted this, he wanted to do the honour challenges, to be with you, this is his challenge from me. Step aside, Hela".

"No," she almost snapped, "I don't care that he wants to do the challenges, I will not let you harm him".

Loki saw that the hand that was still stretched out towards him was slightly glowing. Falcon put a hand on her shoulder and said, "Don't do this, Hela. He's your father, just go back inside and I will handle this".

Hela shook her head as her eyes locked with her fathers, not looking away for even a moment. He saw the determination in her eyes, he knew it all too well, from the time she learned to walk to the time she became the queen. Falcon tried to tug her away, but her protective stance in front of him was clear to all that no one was getting past her to harm him.

Loki looked at her hand and questioned, "you would use your magic on me?"

"…Yes," she said without hesitation, but with regret.

"No, she won't," Falcon said and a hand went around her waist while the other went to her shoulder as he tried to turn her. He couldn't but she turned her head to look at him and he said, "I'm not worth attacking your family over".

"I'll decide what I think is worth fighting for".

"You love him," her father said and she looked back to him. Loki reached for her hand and she hesitated before she stopped her magic and took his hand as he helped her stand. He then let go and cupped her cheeks and wiped her tears away and asked calmly, "tell me the truth, do you really love him?"

She finally nodded, admitting for the first time to her father the truth she had kept hidden for so long. She answered, "with all my heart".

Loki gave a small smile then leaned close and kissed her forehead then pulled back and said, "then be with him".

"What?" Hela asked shocked and eyes wide and she glanced down to Falcon to see he was just as surprised.

Falcon even gasped in pain, "but I failed, I didn't kill you".

"You passed," Loki answered and smiled slightly between the young pair and said, "Falcon here was challenged by Fenrir to fight a Khixulius and bring back an eye and he did. The challenge tested his strength and bravery. Jora had him collect a necklace from the sirens but the necklace was not the goal, he had to swim through hundreds of sirens, all singing to him to tempt him. He resisted all of them, showing his loyalty to you and his mental strength. But my challenge was not truly about whether he had the strength to kill me".

"What was it?" Falcon asked and tried to stand. Hela helped him and wrapped an arm around him to help him stay upright.

Loki almost shook his head at the couple, at how they easily reached for one another and said, "while strength and bravery and loyalty are all good qualities, I wanted to see if you would put her happiness above your own. She has wanted her family back for a thousand years, I wanted to see if you would fight back and take a member of that family away. You could have killed me but you didn't, you barely fought back".

Falcon struggled to breathe and had his arm around his chest, his ribs clearly broken. He groaned, "you knew I would".

"We're getting you to Saida," Hela said then forced Falcon to turn and walk to the castle. Fenrir and Jörmungandr approached and offered to help and Hela was reluctant to hand him over but did as she could tell Falcon couldn't stay up for much longer. She walked up the steps with them, casting a glance to her baby sister as she walked past her at the top.

Loki quickly followed them while Dahlia stayed at the top of the steps and couldn't help but look down at the grass where a small puddle of blood was. The soldiers in training seemed to ignore that and went back to training as Dahlia observed. A voice soon said, "he seems to have passed".

She looked down the steps to see Micah coming up and she said, "I should have known this would end in blood".

"It started with him bleeding, so why not end in it. Besides, he is alive, that's more than what most would think if they heard he was doing honour challenges for Hela Lokidottir".

"True," she said with a smile.

"So," he said with a similar smile, "it seems all that stands in the way of a wedding in the future is your sisters answer. Which we all know she will say yes. Have you had anymore thought on our dance at said wedding?"

She laughed and so did he as she said, "you really want that dance?"

He shrugged and replied, "just want to make sure I have a dance before others ask".

"And who are these others?" she questioned.

"These royal weddings have a tendency to be big and it'll be the first royal wedding on Niflheim, I have no doubt many guests will be invited, not just on this realm but off realm".

"Well as I have said before, I haven't yet decided if you annoy me or not for that dance".

"Oh have you not?" he teased.

"Not yet, no," she said then turned as she continued to smile then said, "I should be getting to my sister, I should see if I can help with damage control after all this".

When they boys dropped Falcon off in the hospital bed, they quickly left as Hela fussed over Falcon and Saida quickly came with potions and ointments among other things to help with his healing. As Saida assessed his injuries, Hela noticed her father was standing at the door and walked towards him and said, "you didn't have to beat him as badly as you did, you knew he wouldn't fight back".

"I did," Loki said with a small nod, "but the final challenge was not only for him but for you".

Confused she asked, "What? How?"

"I have seen too many young girls say they are in love and marry as soon as they become of age and later realise, they truly wouldn't give up everything for the man they claim to love." He turned to her and she turned to him as they now stood face to face and he said, "Hela, you are my little girl, always have been, always will be. I have never had any doubt in my mind how you and Falcon feel for one another. In fact, I suspected you would one day be together these past few centuries, I just didn't expect it to be this soon. This final challenge, I asked your sister to get you because I wanted to see how you would react to Falcon being in danger by a member of your family. You swore since you were a child that you would never use your magic to harm a member of your family, the fact that you were willing to do so to keep him safe tells me that you really do love him with all your heart".

"I really do," Hela said with a smile as tears built up in her eyes with happiness, "you're not mad then?"

"No," he said then frowned, "however, not telling me you were courting did upset me slightly but I understand why you didn't tell me. I just wish you had come to me before you broke off your courtship".

Surprised she exclaimed, "you knew even then?"

Loki gave a slight tilt of the head, "of course. The way the two of you were drawn to each other when Dahlia was hurt, the way you dance and no one looked at you surprised with how close he held you. I was very close to confronting him, I think I would have if not for Dahlia".

"Wait, so she knew that you knew about us? Did she tell you?"

"No but if your sister did anything to pressure Falcon into telling me about his love for you, you shouldn't blame her. I gave her my word I would not kill him as long as she didn't tell either of you that she knew that I knew. She was a little reluctant but she was sure that Falcon would come to me and fight for you".

Hela closed her eyes for a moment and sighed, regretting telling her sister off for pushing Falcon like she had. Now it seemed her sister wasn't putting her love in danger from their father, it seemed she was helping them be together without telling them the truth. When she opened her eyes, she noticed movement behind her father and moved to look to see said sister coming down the corridor.

Loki looked behind him and when Dahlia was close, Hela said, "speak and she shall appear".

Dahlia frowned and asked, "why are you talking about me?"

Hela answered, "papa here was just telling me why you pushed Falcon so much. Thank you".

Dahlia looked between them before she smiled and sighed, "finally. Now, you can both be together".

"Go," Loki said and gestured to the room, "go tell him that I give you both my blessing".

Hela leaned close and kissed his cheek then said, "thank you, papa". She sent a quick smile to Dahlia before walking back into the room.

They watched as Hela took over from Saida, she sat in the chair as Falcon sat on the edge of the bed as she helped clean the blood from his face. Father and daughter both stood at the door and watched for a few moments before Dahlia said, "don't worry, dad, he'll treat her right".

"I know," he said and put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to kiss the side of her head before they walked away, leaving Hela and Falcon alone.

"You still have me, dad. I don't plan on getting married anytime soon," Dahlia said hoping to cheer him up.

Loki laughed and said, "I've known Falcon for a thousand years, since he was a small child, that gives him some leniency in the honour challenges. Any man who dares ask for your hand in marriage, he best have an army behind him".

"I'll remember to tell that to whoever tries to marry me," Dahlia said with a roll of the eyes but was happy her father was that protective of her. It made her feel loved and special.

Hela and Falcon didn't say a word as she tended to his wounds. Saida had given her the diagnosis, concussion, cracked skull, cuts and bruises to the face along with his left eye swollen so badly, she had advised that Falcon just keep it closed. Then onto his chest where he had a large cut going across his upper chest where her father managed to strike him, thankfully with a sword that wasn't blessed, so they didn't need to worry about him taking an antidote and his advanced healing being affected. Bruising was already forming everywhere, Saida claimed almost every rib must have been broken and even scolded Falcon for not fighting back or defending himself better and swore she would be having words with Akio in order to go over training with Falcon again, even though she knew he didn't need it.

Saida gave all the potions and remedies to Hela as she could tell the couple needed to talk to one another in private and the healer didn't wish to be there. Knowing the two since they were small children, she knew they were both incredibly stubborn and there was a potential for this to turn into an argument but she also knew they loved one another wholly and truly and could get through anything.

Hela sat in the chair with a basin on her lap filled with water and a sponge in hand. Falcon sat on the bed with his shirt off as she cleaned up the blood on his face and applied the ointment to the bruises on his chest. They didn't speak until all the blood was cleaned up and she was applying ointment to his face. He reached for her hand and put his over hers and leaned into her touch then kissed her wrist.

"You should have told me," Hela said and began to stroke her thumb over the swelling around his eye.

"We both know you would have stopped it, begged me not to go through with the challenges and we both know I wouldn't have been able to say no to you".

"I want to keep you safe, it's what I have always wanted. You're the only person, the only living, breathing, person that has never left me or that has been forced to leave me. You pulled me from the darkness when I was lost, you reminded me every day how to love and how it felt to be loved. I don't know what I would do if I lost you," Hela said as a few tears escaped her eyes and ran down her cheeks.

He took a slow breath and moved closer and cupped her cheeks, even though it pained him, and wiped her tears away. He shushed her, "I'm here, I'm okay and I'm never going to leave you".

"You're hurt," she almost sobbed.

"I'm alive," he said, "even if I wasn't, I wouldn't leave you, because I can't go on without you. I knew I could do the challenges; I knew our love was strong enough to guide me through".

"When?" she questioned, "when did they begin? Tell me everything".

"Before the Durilian's went home, holding you in bed for the first time in so long made me realise I couldn't not hold you. We spent so many years together and suddenly nothing and I couldn't do it. It felt like a part of me was taken away and I needed to get it back. The next morning after the Durilians went home, I confronted your father and told him I love you and that I would do the challenges. A week later I did the first challenge, Fenrir's, fighting a Khixulius and bringing back an eye".

"The cut," she said and reached to touch his stomach where the cut was now healed, "you said you got it from a prisoner".

"I lied," he gasped at her touch, "I thought you might catch my lie but you were so tired. The very next day, that was when I did Jörmungandr's challenge. He used the sirens on Midgard, the necklace they gave him, he gave it to them and told me to go and get it, they gave me an hour and I had to do it without the use of my magic. I swam to their city but I now know that wasn't my challenge, my challenge was being faithful to you".

Hela pulled away from him and looked down as she fiddled with her dress and said, "it doesn't matter if you weren't. Sirens get into your head, feed into your every temptation, make you see what they want you to see or what you desire. Being in a city full of them, I understand if you-"

"I didn't," he interrupted her not wanting her to think that he had betrayed her. She looked in his eyes and saw honesty and he added quickly, "I won't lie, I almost did. A siren made herself look like you and I was so close but I didn't, I swear to you I didn't".

"I believe you," she said with a small smile and reached for his hand to hold.

"I just thought about you, how you were here waiting and I pushed her away and then I saw what she really looked like. I swam through the city, all the sirens singing in my head, driving me to madness but I could only think of you," he raised her hand to kiss it. He then said, "my queen waiting for me at home, not some mind-altering sea creature".

"You really mentally fought off a city full of sirens just to stay loyal to me?" she asked in amazement.

"I'd do it all over again if I had to. I love you-"

Before he even finished talking, Hela almost lunged forward, attaching her lips to his. The kiss filled with want and need and was their first kiss without having to worry who saw them or if anyone found out. They were done hiding and they would never hide again. The kiss didn't last long, when their arms wrapped around one another, she forgot about his injuries and he hissed and she pulled away.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I love you," Hela said quickly.

She tried to pull away further but he held onto her tightly and said, "love is worth a little pain, we both know that…now, I really need to lie down, whatever substance Saida gave me is making me tired". Hela giggled at that. "Lie with me?" he asked.

She seemed hesitant and looked towards the door but then looked back to him and gave a slight nod and he positioned himself lying on the bed before making room for her. She snuggled into his side and she said, "we're free, my father has given us his blessing".

"Amazing, isn't it?"

She turned her head to look up at his smiling face and she smiled just as brightly and said, "I am never going to let you go again." He leaned down and placed a kiss to her head before wrapping his arms around her tightly as she tucked her head under his chin and he tucked his nose into her hair, falling asleep to her scent and the warmth of her being in his arms without threat of being taken.

Authors note: Please review and stay safe.