Loki's Daughter

Epilogue

Loki looked at Hela's pale face and wiped his tears away. He couldn't deny it any longer. Hela was dead. Loki held Hela in his arms as he and Thor stood up.

"Can we go back to Asgard now?" Loki asked.

"Sure." Thor replied softly.

Thor wished Jane goodbye and promised he would return. Thor called down Heimdall and soon he and Loki were taken up into Asgard by the Bifrost.

"I see you have returned." Heimdall told them.

"Good afternoon, Heimdall. We need to speak with father urgently." Thor said.

"He is in the throne room. Loki, how is Hela?" Heimdall asked.

Loki looked up at him and Heimdall could see the wrinkles on his face and the bags under his eyes. Loki began to walk away as he held Hela's lifeless body close to him.

"What happened, Thor?" Heimdall asked.

"Malekith's plan was to put the aether in Hela, knowing that it's power was too much or her to handle so when it was removed, she would be killed. Malekith was able to get his plan done." Thor explained.

"My condolences to Loki, my prince." Heimdall said, bowing his head.

Thor nodded and walked after Loki. The two walked into the throne and saw Odin sitting on the throne.

"You've returned I see." Odin said.

"We bring good and bad news, father." Thor told him.

"Yes?" Odin asked.

"The good news is that the aether is contained and Malekith is dead along with the others." Thor replied.

"The bad news?" Odin asked.

Thor patted Loki's shoulder and he sighed.

"Malekith's plan for Hela was all a sham. He knew the aether's power would kill her if it entered her body. Because  my negligence to stop Malekith, he was able to put the aether in her. Once I had him remove it, Hela died in my arms." Loki explained.

Odin inhaled sharply and looked at Hela's body in his arms.

"The Lost Princess of Asgard is dead...because of me." Loki said softly.

Loki put his head down and Thor patted his back.

"Bring her to the healing room. She will be put in the ceremonial attire and made ready for her funeral. Her death shall be announced all over the realm and her funeral tonight." Odin told them standing up and leaving the room.

Loki sighed and looked at Hela again. Moments later, bells were being rung around the realm, signaling the death of royalty. Each person had a specific bell played. Hela's bells were soft and the way the music sounded was supposed to be sad, but to Loki, it sounded fun and loving, just like Hela was. Loki wished that Hela would have heard his bells before he heard hers. Moments later, the bells stopped and Loki made his way to the healing room. There, the maids took Hela's body and placed her on a table. They gave Loki a few minutes to spend with her before they went to work. Loki knelt down by her side and placed his hands on her face.

"Hela, I love you so much, darling. I wish you could have stayed in Asgard so I could have watched you grow up and blossom into the beautiful girl you are today. If only your mother was alive to have seen you. But, you're going to see her now. In Valhalla. You're going to see your mother and grandmother. Your mother is going to love you so much, Hela, just as much as I have. You were my life, Hela. I wanted to give you everything. Spoil you until the end of time. I always bragged to everyone about you when you were just a little baby. I told them about how you would grow up to be the greatest princess in history. I bragged about how you were the cutest and the most loving baby in all the nine realms. You were my everything. But then, they came and took you away. Sent you to Midgard. I wanted to be there for you. You grew up without anyone to love you and I am so ashamed that it had to be this way. If Malekith wanted my life and not yours, I would have given it in a heartbeat if it meant that you were safe. Then, this all would have been over. I feel terrible for not remembering about that spell earlier. If I remembered, the Dark Elves would not have come for you. Your mother and I could have lived a long life with you. Watched you grow up, get married and have your own kids. I just wish that things were different, Hela. I loved you so much and I tried my best to give you all I had in those ten months I knew you. And even in these two weeks I've seen you again. Funny how I only knew my own daughter for ten months and two weeks. Anyway, the point is Hela, I failed you. I vowed to protect you and keep you safe and look what happened. You're dead. I know you forgave me, but you must really hate me for failing you. But, no matter what, I will always love my sweet baby girl." Loki told Hela.

Loki kissed Hela's forehead and stayed like that for a few moments. When he pulled back, the maids entered the room and Loki held Hela's hand one last time. He walked out of the room and back to his chambers. There, he got himself prepared for the funeral. Night rolled around and Loki got outside by the river and held a blue orb in his hands. All of Asgard gathered around to mourn the death of Hela. Shortly after, Loki saw the boat floating down the river and tears threatened to fall from his eyes. Hela looked so peaceful to Loki. There was a faint smile on her lips and she held a calla lily in her hands. Loki smiled weakly and wiped his tears away. Once she was out in the sea, an archer lit the boat on fire and before it fell over the waterfall, Odin banged his staff on the ground and Hela's spirit formed into stars. Loki watched as they flew up into the sky and created a new constellation. The boat fell into the abyss and everyone let go of their blue orbs. Once everyone had left, Thor and Loki remained outside, staring at the night sky.

"Can you see her constellation?" Loki asked.

"Yes." Thor replied.

"What does it look like? I can't tell." Loki asked.

"It looks like a...um... like a doll." Thor replied.

Loki covered his mouth as he smiled brightly.

"Baba." Loki whispered.

Once the funeral was over, Loki demanded he be sent back to the prisons. He had no reason to live. All the people he loved most were killed. Sigyn, Frigga and Hela. He had no one to care for him. Thor told Odin of how he wanted to go to Earth, bring Jane back and have her as his. He also talked about how Loki changed and how he was a better fit for a king. Odin finally agreed with Thor and told Loki of the news, but Loki declined. He didn't see a point in being king if his queen and princess were not at his side. Thor tried to persuade Loki to come back to court and be recognized as prince of Asgard again, but Loki saw no point. Loki spent the rest of his days in the prisons, wondering about what he could have done better.