Old Woman on the Hill
Rated: K
Characters: Thor, Loki, Odin, Frigga. Mention of The Warriors 3
Summary: A woman appears is Asgard.
Hmm, who do I say the Asgardian royal family belongs to? MCU, myths and legends or themselves? I'll just say all three. Not making any money. If I was, I wouldn't be rolling pennies to buy sandwich meat.
Some people call her Mother. Some call her The Old Woman on the hill. Or just The Old Woman. But Thor, and by extension, Loki simply call her friend. No one is sure where she came from. She said she's from an alternate Midgard. But she has no proof. She is human. Or at least mostly human. She does have super strength. The guards found that out the hard way when they tried to make her leave the hill she'd appeared on in a flash of light, screaming and crying. She ages like a human. Gets sick like one. Has to eat and sleep. Does everything a human does. She just can't be removed from the hill. After awhile, they leave her alone. Oh, people come to visit. She is friendly and seems to enjoy the company. She just refuses to leave the hill. When she'd 1st appeared, she was young. 25 Midgardian years. An infant here on Asgard. When Odin arrived with Thor and Loki and the Warriors 3 at his side, she'd glared. Then shocked everyone when she told the All Father to stop being a jerk to his youngest. No one was more shocked than Loki. Except for Frigga, his mother, no one had ever spoken to their father like that. And no one had ever spoken up for him like that. Loki took an immediate liking to her. He would join her on her hill almost every day. Bask in her laughter as he told her story after story. Usually ones that embarrassed Thor. Smile as her eyes would light up with wonder every time he showed her his magic, no matter how many times he did it. Once he made her a rose of light and she cried. She had been there 5 years. It was the 1st time she talked of her children. She told them how her youngest daughter loved roses. So beautiful, representing love. And how, like love, they can hurt you with thorns.
Thor enjoyed showing off his battle prowess. And from her, he learned not everything can be solved with violence. But still, he would tell her stories of hard fought battles just to hear her say, "Then what happened ?" with a slight lilt to her voice and a sparkle in her eyes. Almost as if she already knew. She had been there on her hill 10 years. That was the 1st time she talked about her brother. A soldier that had died along with a quarter million others when weapons of mass destruction had been used by a mad man to wipe out an entire country. "He was a warrior who only wanted peace. I hope he found it." She said.
Frigga enjoyed talking about cooking with her, of how stubborn husbands and sons could be. She had been with them 20 years by then. It was the 1st time she talked of her own husbands and sons."2 husbands. One dead of a plague. The other...well, I hope he's dead. A real asshole." she laughed bitterly." Michael, my boy, was 3 when I came here. He'd be 38 now. I hope he found him a family that loves him like he deserves"
Odin would talk with her about Midgardian history, legends and myths. He was the one she told why she wouldn't leave the hill. "The light, whatever it was, took me from my family. One day, it'll take me back. My family is waiting. If I leave I could miss it." She had been with them 15 years then. Odin had a small cottage built for her, made sure she had food and clothing."She reminds me of another." he'd said with a sad look at Frigga.
When she came to them, she was young. 25 Midgardian years old. When she left, she was old. 100. Everyone saw the light. Loki beat Thor there thanks to his magic but not by much. What looked like a wormhole, as tall as Thor and twice as wide, hung suspended in air. Through it they could see green fields against a blue sky. And standing there smiling, was a group of people. One man stepped forward. Tears streaked his face. He looked just like the old woman. "Michael" she'd whispered, barely heard. But still heard by those closest. He held out his hand. "Time to come home, mom." he said. She stepped forward only to stop. She turns and looks at those gathered behind her. There is hesitation in her eyes. It seems all of Asgard has gathered on her hill. Loki is the one who steps forward."It's okay. You've waited long enough." he says, tears in his own eyes, Thor at his side. They'd spent almost every day for the last 75 years with her. And though they were much, much older than her, it still felt like they were losing a mother. She looks at Thor then wraps her arms around him." Wrap your strength in kindness, Future King." Letting go, she allows him to step back and he nods. Loki is shaking by now. Like his brother, she wraps him in a hug."Forgiveness cannot be demanded or taken. It must be given, freely and truly. Otherwise, it's not forgiveness. Never forget, Young Prince." she tells him. He clings to her, sobbing.
Loki knows he has to let her go. She has waiting so long for her family. But he doesn't want to. She has been the only one that has not only understood him, but accepted him, flaws and all. Finally, with a deep breath, he lets go. She presses a kiss to his forehead. And it feels like a blessing. Loki can feel his brother beside him. He leans toward him and without a word spoken between them, without Loki even having to ask, Thor wraps an arm around him. As it has always been with them. With a final look around, and a nod at Frigga and Odin, she finally takes her son's hand and steps through the portal.
As the portal closes, something occurs to Thor. "Wait! Tell us your name!" he calls. She turns and looks directly at Odin and Frigga. "Hela. Daughter of Odin and Frigga." At these words, half her face turns into a corpse. "You are forgiven, father. Mother." She says, and then the portal closes. The brothers turn to their parents in shock. Their mother is on her knees, sobbing into her hands. Their father doesn't look too far behind. Thor and Loki look at each other. Questions must be answered. And as they look at each other, there is a silent agreement. Questions will be answered, whether their parents want to or not.
The End
End Notes: I know that in myth, Hela or Hel, is the daughter of Loki. But I'm going by the MCU.