#azalearoseshield

Eventually they reached a door that lead to the ceremony space. Loki’s brow twitched only slightly as he hid his confusion. Was Thor to be crowned King? Surely not, as he had made it quite clear he had no intention of taking the throne.

Through the door, he could hear the dull roar of the crowd as the spoke, cheered, and laughed amongst themselves. When the door opened, the sound grew exponentially. Loki stepped out and took the spot he had always taken, his eyes daring anyone to challenge him. No challenge came and he looked around, surprised to see that Thor was standing beside Odin. So this was not the crowning of a new king after all.

Odin stood from his throne and a hush fell over the crowd. The desire to speak up and ruin the moment was nearly overwhelming, but Loki held back. He did not know what this ceremony was, and a part of him hoped it was for his release. He dared not dwell on the idea however, for fear that he might raise his hopes.

The crowd began to whisper, unable to stay entirely silent as a young girl began to walk through the middle. She was very young, maybe 5 or 6 but appeared quite small for her age. She had jet black hair that was curled and fell down her back in ringlets. Her hair was adorned with flowers of every kind, carefully woven through the strands. Her dress was a simple nude color that was covered with a fine layer of glitter. She looked nervous as the crowd watched her eagerly and half-way to the staircase she stumbled slightly. The girl paused and took a breath before lifting her head once more, her expression determined as her confidence grew once again. Loki couldn’t help but admire the child’s spirit. But who was she and why was she here? Perhaps an alliance was made with another realm?

“Hela.” Odin’s voice rang out loud and clear and all whisperings ceased. “It is time that you be given your rightful title.” Loki looked at Thor, hoping for some sort of explanation, but the God of Thunder did not turn. “It is customary for the King and Queen to crown a Princess. I see it fitting that your mother takes the role that my Queen would have had.”

Loki’s brow rose at the word Princess and he stared at his brother in earnest, willing him to turn around. Thor glanced to the side and Loki mouthed ‘Yours?’, still shocked by the revelation. A look of amusement crossed Thor’s face and he shook his head ever so slightly before turning his attention back to the child. Loki was getting extremely frustrated, unable to sort out everything that was going on. Spending so much time in that mind-numbingly boring cell had dulled his usually sharp wit and he was enraged by it.

“Hela, I ask you to invite your mother to join you.” Odin said, looking down at the girl. The child turned, her eyes meeting Loki’s for a slit second as she did so. His breath caught in his throat. Her eyes were a striking green. The exact shade that he had seen so many times looking back at him in the mirror. He could not think of what to do, of how to react. The girl’s mother joined her and Loki recognized her instantly. Angrboda. He did not dwell on his feelings for her, however. Instead, his eyes followed the child as she turned back to the All Father.

“Hela, daughter of Angrboda and of Loki, you have shown great intelligence and determination in your studies. You are exactly-”

“You hid her from me?” Loki’s voice cut off Odin’s and there were a few shocked gasps from the crowd. 

Odin’s eyes bore into Loki’s. “Silence!”

Loki could not be silenced, not with his daughter standing mere feet away. A daughter that was hidden from him. One he was not allowed to know existed. “You hid her from me?” His voice was louder this time, rage flowing through him. “You had no right! She is my daughter!” He was shocked by his own reaction, by the instinct to wrap the child in his arms and run. The idea of having children was never something Loki hoped for. It was never something that he believed would bring him anything but irritation. But seeing this child, knowing that she was his, changed something inside of him.

He stared at her and she stared right back, completely unafraid of his outburst. In fact, she seemed to be challenging him. “Have you known, child?” He asked her, his voice much quieter.

Hela seemed to think through her answer, taking her time as guards surrounded Loki once more. “I knew, but I did not care. You are just a prisoner.”