The Purging of Asgard

Chapter 18

The howling outside is distant, but it reminds you of something, some time you can't quite put your finger on. Suddenly a white hot pain rips through you, a memory of torture, you double over with a shout, falling to your knees. The howling. You hear their voices screaming for help, bodies pressed together, tearing at each other in a frenzy, burning as they cry out but never feeling the relief of death. Someone wraps an arm around your shoulders and smoothes your hair back.

You look into Balder's face, creased with concern,

"I remember." You say suddenly, the memory fading, the pain a dull echo of what was, "I remember how I got out."

Now with their full attention, you slowly relive Hel.

"I don't know how long I was there. It felt like a thousand lifetimes, I couldn't even remember our life before." You nod at Loki, "The constant physical and emotional anguish, I kept hoping I would grow accustomed to it. I never did." The horror of that life gives you chills. You see Loki try to reach for you, jerking against his chains. "Hela came to me one day, as she had so many times before. Adding to my torture with my memories of my family." Your heart aches dully remembering that emptiness and your hand rests again on your stomach.

You feel an arm wrap around your waist, and turn to see Loki pulling you to him. Balder stands behind him, holding his unlocked chains.

You bury your face in his chest, holding fistfuls of his shirt as he wraps you in a tight hug.

"She took him, Loki." You say brokenly, your head resting on his shoulder.

"Who did she take?" He whispers,

"I made a deal with her. She would take me and spare you... and our child. But when she came to me, she held an infant. It was him, I know it was!"

Loki tenses, his anger beginning to boil but he still looks at you skeptically.

"Are you certain he was ours?" He asks, needing to be sure.

"I would know my own son, Loki." You try to convince him, of course you would know your own child. "She took him. Then she threatened to take you as well. I couldn't let that go unchallenged. I don't think she expected the revolt that followed. I got close enough I was able to steal her Nightsword, but I was too weak to kill her. Her wound was enough for us to escape, those who were wrongly taken during the Purging. Some made it home, but we were sent here, so until we could find a way home we hid."

"But what of your memories?" Loki asks,

"That was my doing." Balder says, "Or rather, I called in a favor of... Someone who was in my debt."

"Who?" Loki presses,

"He's talking about me." On hearing a smooth voice behind the group, you all turn toward the door, "Sorry I'm late, all."

"Valkyrie..." Sif begins,

"I prefer 'Enchantress'." She croons, and Loki's grip on you tightens, "Balder called on me to manipulate your memories and cast a charm to hide you from Hela, with the understanding that if you were ever to unlock the truth, the charm would be rendered useless and she would be able to find you. Obviously you remember, so I assume we are all in rather grave danger." She leans, nonchalantly, on the door frame, looking almost bored,

"We must strike tonight." Odin says, "If she has called on her army, she must be ready for battle. Her attack is imminent."

"And the child?" Sif asks,

"We treat him as a hostage until such a time as he poses a threat."

"Loki," he looks down at you, your eyes wide with worry, finally understanding, "tonight... This is it... Isn't it?" Everyone in the room pauses, feeling the weight of what is to come, even the Enchantress seems grave.

"Yes, darling." He replies softly, "this is it."