CHAPTER 5

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CHAPTER 5 Loki of Asgard

Upon her return to the throne room, Hel could barely keep herself upright. She had a hard time trying to remember when she had last used so much of her power at once. As soon as she had assured herself, that Loki was still lounging casually on the golden throne, his chin resting in one of his hands, the other holding the sceptre up, the young goddess practically fell to her knees behind the throne and out of sight.

Despite herself, Hel must have fallen asleep for some time, because the next thing she remembered hearing, were footsteps nearing the throne. "Thor," she heard her father say with her grandfather's voice as he swiftly rose from the throne. "You have returned." A shuffle and swish of fabric told her that Thor kneeled before the throne. "You were successful."

"Yes, father."

Silence followed the short exchange, which Hel used to shift her position ever so slightly to watch what was happening before the throne. Although she could still not see her father, at least now she could gauge the reaction of her uncle and react in case he noticed something. "You once said there would never be a wiser king than me," Loki began his speech. "You were wrong." What? Is he mad?

"The alignment has brought all the realms together. Every one of them saw you offer your life to save them," the king continued. "What can Asgard offer its new king in return?" Dad, what the hell are you doing? You have the throne! That's all you ever wanted and now you give Thor the chance to take it from you? Hel didn't believe her ears. She looked over at her uncle, who looked up at Loki completely oblivious to anything going on behind closed curtains. Thor shifted his posture slightly, as if he didn't need to think about the question at all, but still had the courtesy to attempt to do so, if only for a second.

"My life," he responded sternly. Hel watched in amazement as her uncle rose from his knees to proclaim that he could not be king of Asgard. "I will protect Asgard and all the realms with my last and every breath, but I can't do that from a chair." The young goddess had to suppress a yell of triumph for it not to foil all her father's plans. Did he know this? Is that why he kept Jane out of the whole New York affair in the beginning? What better way to get back at his brother than by threatening her? Only, if he truly wanted to get Asgard, then all he now has to do is ask. That's brilliant!

"Loki – for all his grave imbalance – understood rulers as I know I never will," Thor went on and Hel could picture her father featuring a small, self-satisfied grin. Just like a cat that had caught a really dumb mouse. "The brutality, the sacrifice. It changes you," the blond god went on. Oh, if only you knew.

Thor still didn't notice anything. "I'd rather be a good man than a great king." Which is what you'll be, if you go down that path. Hel thought about playing a bit on his strings to keep her uncle on track, but decided against it. She was only now registering her powers slowly restoring themselves and hibernating was not necessarily her favourite free time activity. Maybe at least until I return home to Helheim. Then I can nap all I want. The ghosts will have to make do without me for some time.

Before her, the show went on undisturbed. Loki now took his cue to play along the great father, who had warned his son about the feebleness of mortals and the danger to love them. "Is that my son I hear or the woman he loves?" The inquiry sounded slightly mocking, as if Loki was only barely able to contain a full-blown sneer. "When you speak I never hear mother's voice," Thor replied without pause. Hel inhaled sharply. Is he aware whom he's talking to? I mean, yes, Frigga was Odin's wife, but she also is the woman to look after Loki the most. She trained him in battle. Is this a roundabout way of signalling that uncle knows he's talking to his brother?

"This is not for Jane, father," Thor emphasized and Hel felt her panic falter, hearing the audible sigh Loki made at that comment. "She does not know what I came here for to say. I forbid me to see her or say she can rule on my side." Hel heard her father sink back onto the throne with a heavy breath. "It changes nothing," Thor went on, his face set in stubborn determination. Loki cut in calmly: "One son, who wanted the throne too much, another who will not take it. Is this my legacy?" Clever question father, Hel mentally congratulated him. After all, it already is Odin's legacy for all we know, he now lives in the streets. His legacy will be the battle for the throne between his only two sons and neither of them will succeed. Well, officially anyway.

Thor took a small step towards the throne. "Loki died with honour. I shall try to live the same. Is that not legacy enough?" The young woman felt her lips twitch upward at her uncle's antics. He thought his brother was a hero and – considering he had claimed just that to said brother's face, her father would be most pleased to have inspired him so greatly. In fact, Hel was almost sure Loki would look down upon his brother with a hidden smile, a proud glimmer in his eyes, while still upholding the illusion of being their strict father.

Thor shifted until he held his hammer out towards Loki. Now Hel was curious. Her father could not lift the hammer whereas Odin had been capable of it. What would he do now? She heard a slight shift from the throne, then Odin's voice proclaimed: "It belongs to you." And as if realising his voice had sounded a bit too fatherly, too soothing, Loki quickly added more sternly, "If you are worthy of it."

Thor looked down at Mjølnir in his hand, before lifting his gaze back towards his father. "I shall try to be."

"I cannot give you my blessing. Nor can I wish you good fortune", Hel heard Loki say. Yes, because what good could a blessing from the god of mischief bring? And fortune? Please don't.

Her uncle merely nodded his head in understanding. His eyes shone with an emotion Hel couldn't quite pinpoint. Regret? Sorrow? Maybe forgiveness? "I know", was all he said before turning around towards the exit and Hel still had no idea what in the nine realms her uncle was thinking. Loki on the other hand didn't seem to be done with his brother just yet. He raised Odin's voice once more. "If I were proud of the man my son had become, even that I could not say." It had the desired effect. Thor turned back around towards the throne; now wonder shining in his eyes. Wonder and gratitude for finally being acknowledged and feeling his father's love…in twisted ways but those were the ways of Loki.

"It would speak only from my heart," Loki went on in that fatherly tone even Hel heard rarely. "Go, my son." The blond Asgardian stared at him a little longer, then a smile found its way on his lips. "Thank you, father." And with a short nod of his head, Thor, former Crown Prince of Asgard, turned on his heel and left the throne hall. His red cape billowed behind him.

Hel crawled out of hiding once she sensed the shift in the air as her father released his illusion. Loki sat on the throne, one arm resting on the armrest, the other holding out the spear. His face mirrored a different kind of gratefulness than his brother's had just moments before. "No," Loki purred, a wicked smile spreading across his features. "Thank you." The young woman crossed her arms over her chest and observed her father a few moments longer. He obviously hadn't noticed her presence yet, which was rare enough, so Hel decided to use her time to the fullest. To her surprise, Loki stared after his brother with that wicked smile slowly turning strangely nostalgic.

"Don't tell me you miss your brother already?" she said, enjoying her father's startled look and slight jump upon hearing her voice. Loki stared at her mutely for a whole minute. "Surprise," Hel said in a singsong voice. "What are you doing here?"

"Um, looking how my newly resurrected father deals with impersonating his own father?"

"He is not my father."

Hel rolled her eyes: "Sure he isn't. That's why you played him so well and even gave uncle Thor a twisted declaration of fatherly love on the way. Which, by the way, I never heard for myself and I saved your live how many times?" Loki looked at her without letting on what was going on in his head. "You look pale," he finally said. "I heard a little sun might help."

"Yes, well, I am the goddess of death. You could argue that's my working clothes." Hel walked in front of the throne. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some very whiny ghosts to take care of. Your Highness, it was a pleasure to play with you." She bowed deeply before her father, who still looked slightly startled. "Mischief managed." The last thing Hel saw of her father before her portal took her back home was a broad, mocking smile.