Hel Lokidottir of Asgard

Chapter Two

A young girl ran through the halls of the Asgardian Palace, startling most of the servants rushing about. The girl could hear the whispers about her, "hair as dark as Niflehiem," "skin as white as Jotun snow," "eyes as green as the fields of Alfheim," she didn't bother correcting them. Her hair was actually a dark blue hue, grated it was almost black, her skin was slightly tanned, and her eyes were a blue-green. The girl had more pressing matters on hand though. "Father! Father? Where are you?"

"Right with you as always my princess," Loki said, appearing behind the little girl and lifting her up, "Now what is it you would like Hel? Another scroll? Perhaps extra lessons of sparring with Lady Freyja? Or would you like to sit in the library with me?"

Hel giggled at her father's requests, of course she'd like another scroll to read, or another scroll, or extra sparring lessons, and she'd absolutely love to go sit in the library with her father, but she had another thing she wanted, more than anything else at the moment. "I would like to learn magic father," Hel said, holding her head high like a true warrior, just as her father had taught her.

"Magic darling? Are you sure? Once you learn the art of spellcasting, there is no turning back," Loki warned, walking through the palace with Hel on his hip. This was a common occurrence, all the servants in the castle knew Loki loved no one more than Hel, and he would go out of his way to show his love. Many strange things such as a small girl running through the halls of the Asgardian palace were considered normal now. Luckily, most of the servants in the castle did not have magic, or had very limited magic, they could not sense Hel's immense potential power, they could get a small whiff of it, but nothing much,

"Yes, father! Grandmother Frigga informed me that you were about my age when you learned magic, I would like to start as well," Hel said with the spark that all youth had. Hel was extremely close to her Grandmother, Frigga had not had a daughter, only sons, so she loved treating Hel with womanly things that she could not give her men. Even though Loki was genderfluid, he chose to remain in his male form most of the time.

"I see you are training to have my silver tongue. We shall go to your chambers and I will go and work magic lessons into your schedule," Loki said, carrying Hel in the direction of her wing of the golden palace. The palace covered so much land, yet not many people lived in it, so Hel had a small little section all to herself, which was nice since Loki was able to protect easier this way.

"You will teach me, father, right?" Hel asked wrapping her dainty arms around her father's neck to stabilize herself as Loki carried her.

"Who else but I would teach you?" Loki questioned, throwing out an arm and opening the always locked doors that led to the small section of the palace that belonged to Hel. The lock could only be opened by magic or by a handprint of one of the guards or family members, except for Odin, though, he had never tried, he never visited Hel, and Hel only knew her grandfather from the books and scrolls where she read about the all-powerful god. The door had a lock because, although Hel did not know it yet, she had immense power, many things would be out to capture her and use her as a pawn or take the life force of the poor girl. The lock also protected her from the grandfather she read so many stories about and admired as all younglings did. The lock was just a cautionary, Hel could open it from the inside, so it wasn't constricting for her.

"Why have you answered my question with one of your own?" Hel asked with cool fire in her voice. Loki opened Hel's bed chambers and set her down on her bed before answering, "Why, my princess, you have answered my question, which answered your question, with yet another question."

Hel giggled, knowing the smirk Loki gave her was a smile of agreement, "Thank you, father!"

Loki's smirk turned into a soft smile with love, "Of course Hel, I will ask if your magic lessons may be placed after your etiquette lessons with Grandmother Frigga, now, it is late, run along and get ready for bed. I will send a maid to bring you a scroll of stories."