The Purging of Asgard

Chapter 28

Váli runs to the Enchantress, whispering something to her as the doors to the throne room burst open, and a dozen more Hel-Hounds flood in. Loki charges the hound that is on your back, running it through with one of his blades. He pins it to the ground, and brings his other sword down on its neck once, twice, finally beheading the beast.

"Sigyn? Sigyn, mitt hjärta, wake up." He inspects your back momentarily, hardly touching you, not wanting to hurt you more. "Sigyn, please..."

"My Friend!" Fandral bursts into the room, running straight to Thor's side, dodging and cutting down wolves in his path "These hounds have been wreaking havoc all through the city, but they seem intent on coming here."

"It is good to see you, Fandral." Thor says, stealing a short moment to greet his old friend. They fight beside each other, brothers-in-arms once more.

"Save some battle for us!" comes another voice from the hall

"The warriors three together with the Mighty Thor once again." Volstagg and Hogan try bottle-necking the dogs as they try to enter the throne room,

"It is good to see you, my friends."

The Warriors, Sif, and Thor fight valiantly, the only way the knew how, crying out when they are bitten or tackled, and running to each others aid. But Loki sits be your side, unable to move, unwilling to leave you, when he sees Hela, standing near the steps to the throne, seemingly enjoying the carnage taking place around her and gets an idea.

"You will not walk away from this, Hela." Enchantress says, she stands beside Odin by the throne, both of them looking down over her.

"Oh, I don't plan to go anywhere. You, however, will be leaving my Palace, now." She reaches toward Odin, having broken free of her bonds. Loki jumps forward, swinging Hela's Nightsword, reclaimed from Thor, severing her right arm at the elbow.

"No!" she screams, surprise and pain distracting her. She stumbles back a step, holding her bloodied limb, "What have you done?" Loki lets the blade rest against her neck,

"That is enough, Hela. On your knees." Behind her, there is a yelp and crash as Thor bludgeons the last Hel-Hound.

"What will you do?" She asks, her defiance melting away into fear, "Will you kill me? You know that will only help me. Imprison me? I will not be held captive."

"For the mass homicide of citizens of Asgard, Vanaheim, Alfheim, and Nidavellir;" Odin begins,

"im Namen von Bor , Vater der Götter , und durch die Kraft des Odin..." <in the name of Bor, father of gods, and by the power of Odin> Enchantress speaks softly,

"...for the attempt of usurping the throne of Asgard;"

"What are you doing?" Hela asks shakily,

"...Ich binde Sie hiermit in das Reich der Hel..." <I hereby bind you to the realm of Hel>

"No! You can't do this!" She yells, falling to her knees,

"...and for the theft of righteous souls from their place in Valhalla..."

"...Nie wieder , um den Platz des entehrt verlassen..." <...Never again to leave the place of the condemned...>

"I Odin All-Father, take from you your title, your rights..."

"...Im namen Odin..." <...In the name of Odin...>

"...and your gifts."

"...Sie verurteilt warden." <...you are condemned.>

"No." She screams once more, reaching with her left arm, but nothing happens. "You can't..."

"You no longer possess any power in any realm. No authority, no rights, no name." Odin almost sounds regretful as he finishes her sentencing.

"Momma?" Váli says, peeking out from behind the throne, "Momma!" he runs down the steps, Hela holds out her good hand, ready for him, but he runs right past her, toward Sigyn.

"Aren..."

"Momma, wake up!" he kneels beside you, jostling your shoulder, his hands coming away bloody,

"Váli, no. Do not shake her." Loki runs to his side and tries to hold him back from you,

"Fix her!" her screams at Hela, trying to wriggle away from Loki, "You did this, now fix her!"

"She cannot. We have taken her abilities, she is nothing now."

"Then you fix her." He says to Enchantress,

"I'm sorry, my boy, there is nothing I can do."

"No!" He finally breaks free of Loki, diving forward, slipping on your blood. "I dreamed this, you can't leave me. You don't leave me." He lays his hands on your back again, his eyes sliding closed, "You stay with me."

Loki reaches for Váli, but stops short; a light begins to build on your back, growing brighter until Loki has to shield his eyes, "Come back." Váli whispers, the light flashes suddenly, lighting the whole of the room. For a moment everything is silent, no one speaks, they hardly breathe until you heave a labored breath.

"Sigyn!" Loki gasps in surprise and dives forward, he and Váli help you to sit up,

"What happened?" you ask, your voice gravelly; throat raw from screaming. Loki looks between you and Váli, trying to answer, but he doesn't know how to explain it.

"Your boy has his own gifts." Enchantress says, more than a little wonder present in her voice, "Congratulations."

You look around the room, still dazed, seeing the bodies of dozens of Hel-Hounds, and Hela on her knees, clutching what is left of her right arm, looking defeated.

"The hounds... Are you alright?" you ask Váli. He nods, throwing his arms around your neck, you look over him, at Hela,

"She has been taken care of," Loki says, "she cannot hurt us anymore." You look at her warily, but she shrinks back, staring at Váli brokenly; Loki fills you in, that she is without her power, condemned to Hel, now having lost her son, you almost pity her.

After a moment, she stands slowly, then, in a flash, disarms Fandral of his dagger and runs to the window.

"Stop her!" Thor yells. She turns back at the window's ledge, her back to the waning daylight. She holds the knife to her own neck, stopping everyone in their tracks in their surprise. Váli watches from your arms, a tear rolling down his cheek.

"Do not look, child." She says to the boy she raised, then slides the blade firmly along her own throat.

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