Hela's offer seemed too good to be true. She was offering to send you home to your husband and children, alive and well and with even more power than you'd already had. All she seemed to be asking in return was for the Valkyrie to be able to return to Asgard safely.
It didn't make sense.
Loki was king now and absolutely idolized the Valkyrie. He and Thor had since they were children. Neither of them would ever harm one of the Valkyrie (not that they could) or allow them to be harmed or disrespected. Hel, they'd wanted to be Valkyrie.
Yes, Odin was still alive and technically still in power. He was teaching Loki to rule, training him properly on all the things he'd focused on teaching Thor his entire life. Loki would be the one grateful to Hela for this chance for you to come home, and he wouldn't be in power for awhile yet.
So what was Hela gaining in this?
Allies in Asgard?
An alliance with Loki?
Goodwill from home?
An end to her banishment perhaps?
Surely, she wanted her Valkyrie safe, but there had to be something else. You didn't want to agree to her proposal until you found out what it was.
Suddenly it hit you what the real price of going home was. You could have everything you wanted. You could go home to your husband and children. You could return to your throne and ruling Asgard, could return to our duty. But the price, besides the small favor to Hela, was a high one.
A higher one than what you'd been expecting.
You should've known better.
To return to your life, you had to give up your guaranteed chance to go to Valhalla. If you stayed, you would go to the desired afterlife, to eat and drink in the halls of Valhalla until Ragnarok. The valkyrie escorting you had already confirmed that you would go to Valhalla, that dying in childbirth was a worthy battle to die in. You had earned the best afterlife an Asgardian could hope for.
If you returned to Asgard, returned home to your husband and children, you were taking the risk that you might not be able to go to Valhalla when you died a final death. You would have to earn your place in Valhalla again.
Still, there was no question over what the right thing to do was.
You had to go home.
Loki wouldn't be able to survive and raise the twins without you. He needed you. He needed his wife, needed your love and support in his rule. He needed someone besides his mother to love him unconditionally.
Your children needed you, needed to know their mother, needed you to raise them.
You looked up at Hela. There really was no decision to be made. You'd known what your decision would be the second you stepped before you and heard there was a chance, no matter how slim, that you might be able to go home. "I wish to return to Asgard and my family. I will take your deal, Queen Hela," you finally replied with all the conviction in your voice as you could muster.
Hela inclined her head and you could see her glee. You hoped you hadn't made a mistake. Gods, she looked so like Loki at his most contrary. "Very well, Lady Sigyn," she replied and gestured at you.
You cried out as horrific pain seared through your body. You fell to your knees, cradling your arm to your chest as you fought not to writhe at the horrific pain in your shoulder blades.
You cursed loudly when you realized that your wings were growing in.
You couldn't even wonder why you felt so much pain when you shouldn't have a physical body as you were dead. That was irrelevant with how much pain you were in. You felt the wings rip through your back. Hela's spell was not gentle with you.
"Becoming a valkyrie is not easy," she at least had the decency to sound sympathetic. It was the least she could do when she was putting you through this for her own purposes.
That was unfair of you to think. She was letting you go home when she didn't have to.
But still, it fucking hurt like Hel.
Eventually the pain stopped, and you remained on all fours, panting. You felt the wings across your back, their feathery weight solid and you knew on instinct that they were big and powerful enough to hold your weight in flight. You glimpsed on out of the corner of your eye and saw the raven feathers. Apparently all the valkyrie had black wings, no matter their hair color. Good to know.
After another minute, you were able to return to your feet. Hela smiled down at you. "Wings suit you, Princess Sigyn, soon to be Queen,"
Soon? Odin wasn't planning on stepping down for awhile yet. Not until Loki was secure in his position after the children were a little older.
"Soon?" You asked her, pressing her for an answer.
"Your husband will take the throne soon, but that is all I will say on that matter. For now, return to him and your children. Raise them well and treat your Sister valkyrie well when they return to Asgard,"
You nodded your agreement. "I will. Thank you, Queen Hela," you told her and bowed. It didn't feel right to curtsy with heavy wings on your back.
Hela nodded again and gestured.
The world went dark again.
You struggled up from the darkness to heavy limbs, hearing gasps and shock around you. It took so much effort just to open your eyes, but you somehow managed and found yourself looking up into Loki's concerned tear-streaked face. "Witchling?" He asked in disbelief, thinking you dead.
He had a right to think that.
You HAD been dead.
You jolted up and wrapped your arms around his neck. "Loki!" you exclaimed as you held him too tightly.
Home.
You were home with your Loki.
