The sound of the river was distracting, at least initially. Hel guessed that Styx was probably so used to it, she didn't notice it. Or would only notice it if it suddenly stopped. Rather like a chiming clock- the home owners never noticed it, but guests always would.
The quick view of Styx's home put Hel a little more at ease. Just a hall, like any other hall, more or less. She wondered why Styx's children were on Olympus, rather than in the Underworld. Hel tried to remember if Nyx had ever mentioned anything about those particular granchildren, but at the moment she was drawing a blank. It would be rude to ask, without better knowing this gracious goddess, so Hel kept her tongue.
"Cold." It was the first thing that came to mind in answer to the question posed her. "Well, I mean, obviously. Especially compared to around here." She meant the mortal world, of course.
Yet it wasn't just the weather of Midgard, or even Asgard, that Hel was thinking of. It was the people and the atmosphere. Her realm was even worse.
"My own home is even more so. The darkest and coldest of our worlds. Misty. Barren. At least for non-dwellers. There place of rest is...better, I suppose. At least it is more suited to them as a land to reside for now."
Everyone knew about the prophecy. Her subjects would tangle with Odin's warriors. That seemed to be clear. What wasn't was what would happen after? Where would the dead go then? Would the Einherjar return to Valhalla without their great leader? Would she remain where she was, and would her subjects return to her? Or would they all be consumed into nothingness, her realm emptied to wait for new arrivals? Such questions sometimes plagued her, now that the end was certainly coming.
Her father had not been bound that long, but one thing was certain to her young mind- Loki would not remain there long. Hel's father was strong, verile, and not the sort to let life pass him by. She was actually rather surprised he hadn't broken free already. Hel had thought about seeking out the cave, offering her assistance if he needed it to get free, but in a way it also seemed to mean it would bring about the final battle, and then he'd be gone.
What did he intend?
Hel forced her thoughts back on her hostess and the question she'd been asked. "Anyway, yeah, it's cold. For the mortals, winter can be brutal. for the non-mortal..." Hel trailed off and simply shrugged. This wasn't the time or place for Asgard-bashing.