Hela opened her eyes to see Loki sitting at her bedside. The weight was gone from her chest, and as far as she could tell, she was no longer under Odin's curse.
"Father?" she asked, not believing her eyes.
Speaking of her eyes, why was her vision so clear?
Loki sat up with a start, having nodded off while keeping watch over her.
"How are you feeling, darling?" he said, smiling a little. Hela bit her lip, taking a moment to assess her condition.
"I'm…better I think. Where's Jormagundar?"
"He's free. You're all free." He said, carefully twisting a lock of her hair around his finger.
"But the spell…Odin said if you freed Jormagundar…" she began. Loki shook his head, taking both her hands in his. Hela gasped when she saw that her left hand was healthy looking.
"Odin underestimated my skill in seiðr. Now you and your brothers are freed." Hela looked confused. Before Loki could do anything Hela threw her arms around his neck, burying her face in his chest, tears running down her cheeks.
"I thought you had…you'd…chosen my brothers over me…I'm sorry, father." Her thin body shook with sobs. Loki felt a tear slip down his cheek, realizing again how close he'd come to losing her. What father wouldn't be afraid of alienating his daughter so soon after regaining her trust? He kissed the top of her head, gently rocking back and forth.
"I could never willingly do anything to harm you, my dear girl. I love you." He reached down and gently wiped her cheek with his thumb. Normally such a gesture would have caused her pain, but Hela was surprised to feel only warmth. Her eyes widened, and she lifted a hand to her face. Smooth skin, warm and living, met her questioning fingertips. For a moment she couldn't believe it. Loki smiled.
"Do you wish to see yourself?" he asked. Hela nodded, scarcely able to breathe. Loki held up a small looking glass and handed it to her, making her sit up on her own. Hela stared at the reflection as though it were a stranger. Lively green eyes stared back at her, and ivory skin covered her entire face, a faint flush of peach staining her cheeks. Her lips were full and smooth, and her teeth even and white. And she looked young again, a mere maid-child of 13. She couldn't even remember having looked so young. She was delighted beyond words
"How…?" the question died on her tongue.
"The spell binding you was what changed your appearance."
"But I wasn't bound." Loki shook his head slightly.
"You were, but it was such a subtle spell that even you were unaware of it." Loki kissed her forehead. "But no longer. It is my gift to you." Hela put her arms around him again. He closed his eyes in contentment. He had his children back, and that was all that mattered at the moment.
A quiet knock sounded on the door. Loki glanced down at Hela.
"Your brothers have been worried about you. Do you mind having visitors?" The girl shook her head.
"They can come in." Loki went over to the door and opened it slowly. Fenrir and Gunner bounced in both in normal Asgardian attire. They ran and jumped up onto the bed next to their sister, hugging her tightly. Loki excused himself and went out into the hall. Frigga met him, motherly concern practically radiating off of her.
"How is she?"
"She's doing far better than I had hoped."
"Has she forgiven you?"
"Yes." A peal of laughter interrupted the conversation. Loki opened the door and was shocked and a little amused to see three pairs of ruby-red eyes staring back at him. Frigga smiled when she saw them.
"Was I right?" she asked. Loki looked puzzled.
"About what?"
"I told you that you may yet find happiness." Loki smiled.
"I've found part of it. There is still something yet to be sought out. Else I would have no reason to continue searching." Frigga nodded.
"Well put, my son." Loki was silent for a moment.
"So where exactly did you send Odin?" Frigga looked grave.
"I think it's better you don't know…"
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Odin opened his eyes to see harsh lights above him. He sat up to see the he was in a cell somewhere, though he wasn't sure where. He had seen something like this before. Then it hit him. Loki had been in a similar cell while the king had been watching him.
Surely Frigga wouldn't have…
He stood up and glanced down the hall. Two SHIELD agents stood with their backs to him. He recognized the emblem from watching Thor. One of them turned to see him standing up.
"Oh, look, our prisoner's awake." He said patronizingly. Odin clenched his jaw, unwilling to let his fear show. Well, fear wasn't exactly the right word for it. Anxiety, maybe? Not knowing how to react in his present predicament. That had to be it.
"Release me, mortal." He demanded imperiously.
"Nice try, Loki." Odin stepped back in confusion.
"What did you call me?"
"What, you forgot your own name?" Odin slammed his fist against the glass wall of his cell.
"I'M NOT LOKI!" He took a closer look at the hand he pressed against the glass. It was most certainly not his hand. His hands were supposed to be gnarled and scarred from the many battles he had fought. These hands were pale, slender…relatively unscathed. He recognized these hands.
No…it can't be…
He backed away in shock, getting a full glimpse of his reflection. He was the exact image of Loki. So this was the nature of his wife's punishment. He sat back down completely at a loss. SHIELD would not be letting him go any time soon, then. Not until he 'proved himself worthy'.
A/N: So, I've reached the end of the main part of this story. I'll post a couple fluff chapters. I realize that some of the readers wanted to see Sleipnir, but I think that might be a good place to start with the sequel. Thank you all for your support. You're all amazing! Keep your eyes open for the next installment!