What Daddy Doesn't Know... [shortly after Sigyn and Loki's wedding] (tag: Sigyn)
Sitting on the rock under the warm sun, Hel took a deep, cleansing breath. She had almost forgotten how blazing sunlight felt, or the warm summer air. She'd all but lost track of the time since moving- or rather, being moved, to Niflheim. Very few birthdays had passed since Odin had sent her to rule an unknown and harsh world. At first, it was made easier by her father's visits. Then, gradually, they became less frequent and now she understood why.
Her father had gotten married again.
It would have been nice if he'd let her know ahead of time. Not that she could have attended; while she had been "gifted" Niflheim, it was still a banishment from Asgard, and she would not have been able to witness the wedding had she wished it. Still, it would have been nice to have been told before it had already happened. Hel felt a little put out by the whole thing. Almost as if she was being abandoned all over again. But Daddy had at least come to tell her himself, rather than letting her find out from someone else. So all could have perhaps been forgiven. He seemed happy and that was what should matter, wasn't it? Except for one small thing.
Loki had forbidden Hel to meet his new wife.
Forbidden might be a strong word. He had simply said something along the lines of it not being a good idea, a loophole Hel was using to her full advantage and running with. She knew that was cheating. She was outright disobeying her father. But she was now a grown woman, albeit still very young, and a queen in her own right (something she still longed to somehow shove down Frigg's throat). That meant, as it did to most young adults, that she knew it all, including how best to handle the situation. Hel was going behind her father's back with the sole intent to meet this new wife of his.
Through her conversation with her father she learned the woman's name. A goddess, but one Hel had never heard of. At least it wasn't another giantess. Or a horse. Hel giggled at the thought. Her father as a pregnant mare- she really wished she could have been there to see that!
What she didn't know was how to find this Sigyn person. Asgard was off limits, and inviting the woman to Niflheim was not exactly a good idea. Daddy would not appreciate it if Hel lost his new wife in the frozen mists (understatement of the year). Hel didn't know how often the new bride (bride, yuck! They were probably doing that nasty thing adults did, eww! That was her DAD!) actually crossed the rainbow bridge. But she really saw no other way of hoping to meet her. So every day, for a few hours each afternoon, Hel came to this rock, far enough away that Heimdall would have no need to sound any alarms, but still easily able to view the road should anyone pass by.
This had been going on for weeks now. Waiting was not really an issue. Nothing really moved very quickly in the land of Death. Although those two ridiculous servants did take that to another lever. She was going to have to look at adding to her staff at some point if she wanted her tea before next Woden's Day. Even so, Hel's patience was beginning to wear thin. Pretty soon she would have to give up, or find another way to meet the lady. Maybe a message to meet somewhere in Midgard, but that would require a means of actually getting the message to her. Not an easy task. Beyond that, Hel was fresh out of ideas.
She tried not to itch the dying skin as she waited, knowing it would only make things worse. Hel had learned a trick or two about disguising her "disfigurement", but there was no way she was going to put on a show for her new stepmother. Much as she wanted to at least meet her, it was also a test. Not that Hel wanted to get all chummy with her. As far as Hel was concerned, she'd stolen her father. If they had children of their own....Hel pushed the awful thought from her mind. Worry enough about that if it comes. But she did want to see Sigyn's genuine reaction to her true form. It would be the fastest way to find out what kind of woman this was.
It certainly worked for Frigg. And most of the rest of Asgard. Hel didn't expect this one would be any less repulsed.