As the Bifrost's light dimmed, Hela stood alone, taking in the grandeur of the palace that had once been hers to command. The hall shimmered in golden hues, once adorned with grand tapestries depicting victories from across the nine realms. Yet none of the tapestries are there instead there are paintings of Odin who is making treaties with various people. Every corner of this place seemed to scream of time passed—of battles fought, decisions made, and of a kingdom that had moved forward without her.
Her eyes lingered on the walls for a long moment. Hela didn't know much of what had happened during her exile, but she knew one thing for certain—this Asgard wasn't the one she had left behind.
As she turned away from the hall, memories of her days fighting alongside her father stirred within her. Her conquest, her hunger for power... these things had defined her. Yet now, after years traveling with Harry, her thoughts were not as clear as they once were. She felt different. As if the Hela who had once threatened the very existence of the nine realms was no longer the person standing here.
She moved toward the grand balcony where she could look over the city, her fingers tracing the cool marble railing. Asgard gleamed beneath her, a beautiful, powerful city. But there was a distance between her and it—a gap she wasn't sure she could close.
Harry had sent her a message, letting her know that he would be nearby if she needed him. She glanced down at the mithril bangle on her wrist and smiled slightly at the thought of him. Always looking out for her, even when she felt she should be the one protecting him. He would hover in Gryffindor, invisible and waiting, while she faced her past.
She took a deep breath and prepared herself for what was to come. If Odin had called for a feast, it was likely the beginning of something larger. She hadn't seen her father since the day he banished her. She wasn't certain how she felt about it all yet. Her mother's embrace had softened the initial fear, but her father's tense posture had set her on edge.
As she turned to head back inside, footsteps echoed in the hall behind her. Hela paused, glancing over her shoulder to see her father, Odin, standing there. His eyes met hers, still sharp, still powerful, though there was something behind them now that hadn't been there before. Age, perhaps. Regret, maybe.
"You've grown," he said softly, his voice betraying a hint of emotion Hela had never expected to hear.
Hela raised an eyebrow. "Have I?"
Odin walked closer, his footsteps slow and deliberate. He was not the imposing figure she had once feared, but there was still a power about him, an aura that commanded respect. "I see you've changed, Hela. You're not the same woman who left here all those years ago."
Hela crossed her arms, leaning against the balcony's railing. "People change, Father. Some of us even learn from our mistakes."
Odin's gaze fell away from hers, and for a moment, the weight of history hung between them. Neither of them spoke for a long time, both lost in their own thoughts.
"I've summoned Thor and Loki," Odin finally said, breaking the silence.
Hela blinked, surprised. "Thor and Loki?"
"Yes," Odin nodded. "Your brothers."
The words hit her like a hammer to the chest. Brothers. Hela frowned. She had no memory of siblings. For so long, it had been her and Odin, side by side, conquering the nine realms. Brothers? How could she have brothers?
She turned sharply toward Odin, her confusion evident. "Brothers?" she repeated. "I had no idea you had other children."
Odin hesitated. "Much has changed since you've been away, Hela. Thor is my eldest son now, the God of Thunder. He has protected Asgard in my stead. Loki… well, Loki is another matter entirely."
Hela's mind raced. Thor, God of Thunder? Loki? What had happened to Asgard while she was gone? Had Odin replaced her so easily, found new heirs to continue his legacy without her? The bitterness that had long simmered in her heart stirred once more, but it was tempered by the years spent away, by the lessons she had learned traveling with Harry.
"I see," she said quietly, her voice betraying nothing of the emotions swirling inside her.
"They will return soon," Odin continued, watching her carefully. "You will meet them."
Hela turned her back on her father, staring out over the horizon. Her brothers—strangers to her, yet somehow a part of her story. What would they think of her, the sister they never knew? And what would she think of them?
"I don't know them," she said finally, her voice soft but firm. "I've been gone too long."
"Perhaps," Odin replied, "but you will. We are family, Hela. Even after all that has happened."
Hela's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "Family. Right."
She said nothing more as Odin left her on the balcony, retreating to prepare for the feast. Her thoughts were scattered, her emotions conflicted. She had wanted to return to Asgard to confront her past, but now that she was here, the weight of it was heavier than she expected.
As the night deepened, the palace bustled with preparation for the grand feast Odin had declared. It would be a night of celebration, a night where Asgard welcomed back its wayward daughter. But for Hela, it would be a night of questions, of facing the new Asgard that had risen in her absence.
Hela sat in her massive chamber, the grandeur of the room doing little to ease the storm of emotions swirling inside her. The bed was large enough to accommodate three, the walls adorned with golden ornaments and carvings that told the stories of Asgard's might. But not her stories. She had been a part of that power once, a part of Asgard's legacy, and yet now... now it seemed like she had never existed at all.
She reached into her bottomless pouch, her fingers brushing against the cool surface of the two-way mirror Harry had given her. She pulled it out, taking a deep breath before activating it.
Harry's face appeared in the reflection almost immediately. His familiar, comforting smile reached her before his words did. "Hela," he greeted, his voice gentle. "You okay?"
Hela smiled slightly, grateful for the sense of normalcy Harry brought with him. "Harry," she said, her voice softer than usual. "I... I don't know how to describe it. I knew coming back here would be difficult, but I wasn't prepared for this."
Harry's brow furrowed. "What happened?"
She leaned back in the large chair by the window, the evening light casting shadows across the room. "Odin… he's replaced everything, Harry. The paintings, the tapestries. All the conquests we fought for, the blood we spilled, it's all gone. He's erased my history—our history. As if I never existed."
Harry's face remained calm, but his eyes were filled with understanding. "That must be hard," he said softly.
"And it gets worse," Hela continued, her frustration bubbling up. "Odin has two sons now. Thor and Loki. Brothers I never knew existed. It's like I was forgotten, like I didn't matter at all. Most of the Asgardians don't even remember me."
She paused, her grip tightening around the mirror. "It's like I was just… replaced."
Harry stayed silent for a moment, letting her words sink in. "I'm sorry, Hela. I can't imagine how that must feel."
She sighed, running a hand through her dark hair. "It feels… strange. I thought I'd be angry, furious even, but instead, I just feel empty. I spent centuries in exile, and for what? For Odin to move on, to have new children, new heirs?"
Harry's voice softened further. "You're not forgotten, Hela. Not by me. And Odin… he's made mistakes. We both know that. But just because things have changed doesn't mean you don't have a place here anymore."
Hela leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees, staring into the mirror. "I don't even know what my place is anymore. I was the rightful heir once. The Conqueror. Now… now I'm just a ghost of the past."
"You're more than that," Harry replied firmly. "You've grown. You've changed. That's why you're not the same person who once stood by Odin's side. You're stronger now. And maybe your place in Asgard isn't the same as it was, but that doesn't mean you don't belong."
Hela let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Harry always knew how to ground her, how to bring clarity to the storm in her mind. "I don't know, Harry. I'm not sure I want a place here anymore. This isn't the Asgard I remember."
Harry nodded slowly. "Maybe it's not. But you've also changed, Hela. And you deserve the chance to figure out what you want. Whether it's here or somewhere else, that's up to you. But you're not alone in this."
Hela felt a weight lift slightly from her chest at his words. She gave him a small smile, genuine this time. "Thanks, Harry. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"I'll always be here," he replied, his own smile softening. "And if you ever feel like you need to get out of there, Gryffindor is ready to take us anywhere."
She chuckled softly. "I might take you up on that offer sooner than later."
They both fell into a comfortable silence for a few moments, just looking at each other through the mirror. Despite the weight of everything, just seeing Harry's face gave her a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time.
"Alright," she said finally, standing up from her chair. "I suppose I should try to rest. Big feast tomorrow. Odin's summoning my new brothers, apparently."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "Your brothers, huh? That'll be interesting."
"Interesting is one way to put it," she said dryly. "I don't even know them."
"You will," Harry said with a smile. "And who knows, maybe they'll surprise you."
"Maybe," Hela said, though she wasn't entirely convinced. "Goodnight, Harry."
"Goodnight, Hela," he said gently. "Call me if you need anything."
As his face disappeared from the mirror, Hela placed it back in her pouch, her mind swirling with thoughts of the past, the present, and the uncertain future. Asgard may have forgotten her, but she wasn't done with Asgard.
Hela was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to process all the emotions of the day when a soft knock interrupted her thoughts. Her gaze shifted toward the door. She hesitated for a moment before rising to answer it.
As she opened the door, a servant stood before her, dressed in the traditional Asgardian attire. "My Lady," the servant said with a polite bow. "The All-Father has requested your presence for a private dinner."
Hela raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected Odin to invite her for something so intimate, not yet at least. With a brief nod, she stepped into the hallway, following the servant.
As they walked, Hela glanced at the servant, curious. "Do you know who I am?" she asked, her tone casual but probing.
The servant glanced back at her with a slight smile. "No, my lady. I do not know your name. But… many of us suspect that you are Prince Loki in disguise."
Hela's eyes widened slightly, taken aback. "Loki?"
The servant nodded, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Oh yes. Prince Loki is notorious for his tricks and illusions. He often enjoys creating elaborate disguises, and you… well, you bear some similarities to him."
"Do I now?" Hela mused, a smirk tugging at her lips.
The servant continued, oblivious to the truth. "Yes, my lady. You both have striking black hair, a pale complexion, and those piercing green eyes. It wouldn't surprise anyone if this was just one of Prince Loki's games. We've come to expect it."
Hela chuckled to herself. Loki, she thought. Her mysterious brother, who she had only just learned existed, apparently shared a few of her defining traits. The thought amused her more than it should have.
"You don't seem particularly alarmed that Loki might be pulling such a trick," Hela said, her curiosity piqued.
The servant smiled warmly. "Oh, we've grown used to his mischief, my lady. As long as it's harmless, we usually play along. The palace could use a bit of laughter now and then."
Hela found herself almost laughing aloud at the idea that she was being mistaken for some trickster prince. It was ironic in so many ways. But she kept her amusement to herself as they continued walking through the grand halls.
After a few moments, they arrived at a small, private dining hall. The doors opened to reveal a room filled with soft, golden candlelight. It was much smaller than the grand banquet halls she remembered from her past, but it still exuded the elegance and refinement of Asgard. A long table stretched out in the center, and at the far end sat Odin, looking as regal as ever and sitting next him, her mother smiled warmly at her.
The servant bowed and stepped aside, leaving Hela to approach her parents alone.
Author's Note:
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