Swords, Schemes, and Skepticism
When he emerged from the pit of the cave, Ikol was waiting for him. The Disir were released to do what it is half dead creatures do until Loki summoned them. For what, he was still frightfully unaware. He stopped at the mouth of the cave to speak with the mysterious bird.
"What was the point of me releasing them from Mephisto's care?" Loki wanted to know exactly.
"Seek the Sword of Twilight," was Ikol's unhelpful reply before flying off and leaving him.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Loki called after him to no avail. The Sword of Twilight? Was that what was going to help him defeat the Serpent? It sounded useful.
Garm was still there in the path, not having found anything else to do but lay down and rest. He lifted his enormous head when he saw Loki returning.
"Don't tell me," Loki said humorlessly before Garm could say anything. "You were hoping once again that I was not going to return."
"Or that you were dead."
"Right," Loki said before pulling himself onto Garm's back. "Take us into Hela's realm."
With little more grumbling, Garm did as he was bid to do. As they retreated out of Mephisto's Hell, the air began to cool around them, the ground turned into a barren wasteland of grey broken and jagged ash. It was almost hard to breathe. Even Garm slowed his gait, his great head sagging. Ikol flew above, his wings a flash of black, his caw an echo against the emptiness.
After what felt like miles of nothingness, the ruins of a once great fortress appeared in the distance against a vengeful sky.
"Stop," he told Garm. "I'll walk from here."
"Suit yourself."
Loki approached from there with Ikol flying ever watchful ahead. He made his way through the rubble into the desolation of Hela's court. Her throne pressed back against the only standing wall, its pillars crumbling. The steps leading to it were cracked. When Loki came closer he noticed someone standing near Hela's seat.
She had hair black enough to rival Ikol's feathers. Her face was pale, making the green of her eyes glow. Her green dress encompassed her from high collared neck to the hem dragging on the floor. Prude wasn't the only word that came to mind when watching her stare down her nose at him.
Loki stopped within speaking distance. "Hello," he began, feeling a bit odd. Her frigidness didn't make it any easier. "I seek an audience with the Lady Hela."
"She's busy," the girl that didn't appear to be a whole lot older than him replied.
"Well can you tell her that Loki is here to see her on very important business?" Loki tried.
"I cannot," she told him with tight lips.
"You can't or you won't?" The girl narrowed her eyes at him. Loki raised his hands apologetically. "Okay, how about we start over. I'm Loki, and you are…?"
"Annoyed."
"Clearly," Loki shot back, losing grip on his patience. "Look, can't you just go tell her that I'm here? It's important that I speak with her."
"There's no need," the girl informed him coolly. "She already knows."
At that moment a swirling green portal edged with the deepest black appeared on the wall beside Hela's seat. A woman stepped through with a nearly fluid motion. Her green dress draped over her breasts and dipped lowly on her back. The crown upon her silken black hair spiked out behind her head. Her eyes briefly glowed red before dimming to glow green.
She hardly glanced at Loki before turning to sit upon her throne. The silk of her dress rippled down the steps.
"Loki Laufeyson," she paused, "or is it Odinson? I can't keep up with which side you're on."
Loki tried to cover his grimace with amusement. "Loki will do just fine, Lady Hela."
"Why are you here?" she demanded. "I'm busy and have little time or patience to listen your schemes."
"I assure you that you'll want to hear what I have to say. I'm certain you've become aware of the one known as the Serpent."
Hela leaned back to drape herself across her throne. "Indeed I have. I've been in conference with his emissary."
The information sent a shock through Loki as if he'd suddenly been plunged into frigid water. He'd felt like he'd walked into a trap. Loki had a sudden suspicion Ikol knew about this information and withheld it intentionally. He'd have a few words with that stupid bird sooner rather than later.
"Oh?" Loki said shortly to cover his shock. "And what does the Serpent wish of you?"
"He's come to ask which side I propose to take in the impending war. He wishes to form an alliance." Hela gestured to the girl standing on her right side. "Leah here thinks I should take him up on his offer to align himself with me. Maybe then I can finally destroy your friend Mephisto once and for all?"
Loki tisked and shook his head. "You don't want to do that," he told her.
"And why not?" she demanded.
"I really don't think you're so dense that you believe he'd ever actually form an alliance with you."
"Watch yourself, Trickster."
Loki ignored the jab, driving his words into her thick head. "Despite what you believe, the Serpent's just seeing how much effort he's going to have to exert when screwing you over."
Hela leaned forward, frowning deeply. He could tell he was getting to her. She believed Loki was privy to some information that she wasn't. Loki was simply putting two and two together. Mephisto had revealed to him that the Serpent was in possession of an somewhat aggressive nature. A type that demanded expansion. For now he was battling for Midgard and winning. It was only a matter of time before he set his eyes on other realms next.
"Think about it," he urged her. "The Serpent intends to take Asgard. What makes you think he won't take Hell just as forcibly? Alliance or no, he will take Hell and leave you realmless."
Leah scowled just as harshly as her mistress.
"And what do you suggest?
Loki hesitated. What was he suggesting? It was obvious to him that the Serpent wasn't keen on keeping up any alliances once he had what he wanted. Loki's only option was to stop the Serpent from gaining any more power. Then and only then would he be able to save Thor. Since no good men would help him do that, he'd have to recruit some bad ones.
He'd come this far and what wasn't he willing to do to save his brother?
"Cut off the head of the snake, if you will," Loki grinned.
"Kill the Serpent," Hela said incredulously. "Thor wasn't able to defeat him," she pointed out. "What makes you think you can?"
"With your help of course." Hela looked skeptical, distrustful even. Loki didn't want to lose her. Without her aid, there was no hope of saving Thor. "I need the Sword of Twilight."
Hela shook her head and laughed. "You must be mad," she told him. "Surtur has claim on the Sword of Twilight. Not I."
Frustration made Loki's jaw clench. "If you help me get it, I will get rid of the imminent threat upon your realm. I will leave four of the Disir to patrol your borders to protect you from the Serpent and Mephisto. All I ask is that you help me get that sword."
"Why should I trust you to be so charitable? That there is not some other scheme involved in you obtaining that sword?"
Loki visibly settled back into himself. "Saving Thor is my only concern. The rest is all meaningless."
Something flashed across Hela's eyes. A sort of knowing that made Loki feel exposed.
"Leah will show you the way. She will see you through until your task is finished."
It was Loki's turn to be skeptical. "Why?"
"Leah will make certain you keep your word to me." She rose up out of her seat. "And you seem like you could use all the help you can get."