Hela-Loki's Daughter

Chapter Sixteen

AN-Hey there, the timeline here is getting a little messy. I'm currently having it set as after most of the happenings of the MCU. Loki was initially imprisoned on Midgard for crimes not necessarily related to the Battle of New York in the first Avengers movie. Despite all this, I'm taking definite creative liberties here regarding the timeline of this story, and the MCU. I hope this offers some clarity.
BTW, I love when I see you guys comment, it's super encouraging to me. Anyways, Enjoy!

LOKI'S POINT OF VIEW

I could hardly believe I was on Asgard yet again. Truly, I was home as a free man and most importantly with my daughter. I had dreamed about this day for so long, seeing my princess finally in her birthplace.

This moment, this opportunity had kept me going for so long. Every day trapped in prison, under the curse of the Titan, and especially through the death of my mother, the hope of this day coming to fruition had allowed me to keep fighting.

I only had two regrets. The first being how long I had prolonged this day from coming. And the second being how desperately I wished that Sigyn could have been here to see this. To see our daughter in the shimmering lights of Asgard's palace. I knew her death was not by my hand but so often I wondered what I could have done differently. I should have paid her more of my attention, perhaps I should have been stricter. Nevertheless, I had no doubt that Sigyn would have adored her if only she had been able to meet our Hela. Despite Hela not knowing anything of her mother, I saw so much of my wife in my daughter. The way they played, their stubbornness, and yet their everlasting grace in all that they did. Most importantly, I saw Sigyn's reflection in Hela through their kindness. Sigyn had been a healer, compassionately caring for all Asgardians whether their ailments were physical or spiritual. I saw this in Hela through her compassion for the souls that so often tormented her. Despite her fear, she understood her role, sacrificing her comfort to help others. All of these similarities made my heart ache.

Oh Sigyn, how I wish you could see her.

As I reminisced over all this, I talked with my brother and father regarding Hela and I's stay.

"Nursemaids have already prepared your old residence in the South wing," my Father explained, "And directly to your left, I have made sure Hela is completely taken care of in a room of her own."

I nodded, "I suppose we should get settled then. Hela are you-"

Looking down at her, I saw her eyes practically gloss over. Hela's knees buckled underneath her before she swiftly began to fall.

Quickly, I picked my daughter up. Holding her tightly in my arms.

"Hela, darling," I said, becoming increasingly worried as I tried to garner a response. Brushing her dark hair away from her face, she looked as if she were simply sleeping.

"Brother, I'm sure she's alright," Thor assured me, coming to my side, "It's been a long day for her."

Frantically, I checked her pulse, her breathing, everything. I was so terrified that I had perhaps done something wrong or harmed her in any way. She was alright, I knew she was, but I couldn't help but worry.

"You're right," I sighed, holding Hela close.

"I'll send a healer to your wing," Odin said, "Just to make sure she's alright." I knew he could sense my worry was nearly inconsolable and he hoped that a healer might be able to ease my anxiety regarding my daughter.

I walked alongside my brother, Hela in my arms, to my wind of the palace.

It had been ages since I had been there and the last memory I had of my chamber was that of my wife laying cold and dead in our marriage bed after the birth of our daughter. As I walked there, memories flooded my mind, sending chills up my spine. These memories of Sigyn seemed to live within the walls of the palace. They haunted me.

"Loki," Thor said softly, whipping my attention back to the present, "We're here."

Standing outside the large wooden doors to my wing of the palace, I took a deep breath before managing a smile. My brother was easily fooled by this as he quickly grinned back at me. I refused to let him see how difficult this was for me. I had to stand tall, proving that I deserved to be here and stand with my daughter as her father.

Thor pushed the heavy doors open allowing me to walk in with Hela still in my arms.

Everything looked just as I had left it.

The lavish velvet sofas, the dining table that Sigyn's father had carved us, the mountains of books, all were in their proper place. Sigyn's house robe was even still hung by the door, just waiting for its owner to put it on. Upon the common table laid the countless gifts Sigyn and I had received when she had still been with child. Not a thing had changed since the day Sigyn passed.

Slowly, I walked through our rooms, taking it all in with the utmost caution. Thor followed close behind me, talking on and on about something. I couldn't really hear him, I felt suffocated by my surroundings and was unable to listen to anything.

Walking through, I eventually made it to the far side of my wind, to the bedroom. Standing outside the doors, I couldn't bring myself to open them and walk-in. As I stared at them, it was almost as if I was able to see through them.

12 years ago I had stood outside these same doors, watching as my mother sat at my wife's bedside weeping as the nurses pronounced Sigyn dead. I remembered that scene with full vividness. The lump in my throat that I had felt that day returned to me at that moment.

I turned away from my bed-chamber, flashing yet another fake smile at my brother.

"Shall we go see Hela's residence?"

"Of course! Right this way," Thor said enthusiastically, leading me out of my rooms and to Hela's.

As I looked down at Hela, sleeping so soundly in my arms, I felt a small twinge of relief. I had to remind myself that I was here for Hela. I knew that I had to push through the past, ignoring the ghosts of my wife that laid here. I had to stay in the present, for Hela, for her.