Nobody challenged Hela as she entered the palace at the centre of Asgard.

Her hair was dark waves like the sea at midnight; her eyes the green of polished emeralds; her garment silver armour, with luxury fur and a green cape that trailed after her like a crazy stormcloud in her wake. She had such a presence, even though she looked as if, had she been a Midgardian, she could be no more than fifteen, that the guards in their resplendent gold felt like ants beneath her slim, booted feet. She was, after all, a princess of Asgard.

  With a flourish she slammed her palms into the main doors with a mighty force to be expected of such a girl. No matter her slender profile, her noble features; she radiated power the way the sun radiates heat. Her voice was high and clear, like a bird's song, but of a higher volume and with an insulting, impertinent quality and a lofty pride. "Why, how dare you think of doing this without me?"

  Odin Allfather sat on his throne high above. He shifted in his seat and looked down at her with expressionless eyes - or rather, eye. "Your presence was not necessary, Hela Lokidottir. And you are not required now, so remove yourself."

  "I am afraid you are mistaken, O great king." She gave him a mock bow, unable to curtsy in a man's armour. "I spoke to my father; and not of this, but rather of the incident which you undoubtedly now discuss." With these words, she walked to the side of the man in the centre, each step echoing in the brittle silence, and for the first time gave a genuine smile. "Loki."

  The man turned slightly to look at her and he grinned, a flash of white teeth. His eyes matched the shade of Hela's perfectly; as did his hair, which was slicked back to flick upwards at his shoulders. His armour was similar to hers, but exchanged silver for gold and black, metal and leather combined. "Hela, my darling daughter. How lovely to see you."

  "I want an answer, Father." She raised one perfectly arched eyebrow. "You and I could now be rulers of Midgard, yet you are in chains and I merely an Asgardian princess."

  "My sincerest apologies," he replied, mouth twisting into a wry smile, "but do remember I hardly had it end this way to serve my own ends."

  "Enough!" Odin's harsh bark cut off any reply from Hela. "If this be your only remorse, that you did not bring with you your daughter into this evil madness-"

  Hela raised a hand like a schoolgirl. "Forgive me,  O mighty Odin, but he would hardly have brought me. I would have gone gladly."

  "Be that as it may, I shall add to your punishment."

  The girl's face shifted uncertainly and she glanced instinctively towards Loki. This was not the movement of a wicked, sarcastic warrior princess; this was the glance of a mere child looking to her father for reassurance. "Your punishment?" she echoed.

  For the first time, Loki did not meet her eyes, and looked only up at Odin. "You have locked me away and you are to keep my mother from me. What more do you intend to do, father?" The word was more a challenge than a title.

  Hela bit her lip; her way of showing when she was nervous or upset, which only Loki knew. Locked him away? Not to see Frigga, who, despite Odin's qualms, had always loved her adoptive son and additionally his daughter unconditionally? She could see him, that was her comfort. Even if it had been forbidden, she was not the god of mischief's child for naught. But not to go outside? Not to feel the sunlight?

  Was it forever?

  Odin met his "son"'s eyes without faltering. "Lady Hela is hereby banished to Midgard."

  Hela gasped; Loki cast one wretched look at her and turned back to Odin. "You cannot!" He was displaying emotion. Without a single lie, or hidden motive. He must be desperate.

  "I can, and I will." Odin beckoned the guards, who, reluctantly, almost nervously, grabbed Hela by the arms. She pulled away in an attempt to free herself.

  "Father!" she cried. No more Asgard, no more home, no more a princess, no more Loki! Only Midgard, and the mortals worth less than the most insignificant insect!

  In his chains, Loki could not move to stop them take her; it would have been no use if he had. He used his only weapon left to him - his voice - with vicious sarcasm. "So this is the grand justice of Asgard. A daughter punished for her father's crimes!"

  "It is necessary, Loki. The pair of you cannot be allowed to communicate."

  Hela found herself dragged away, the sheer number of guards and a block of any magic in the room making her escape impossible. Her calm demeanour nearly snapped, she was unable to force back the horrified tears and a choking sound in her throat.

  Loki tried to twist around to see her, to stop this, but the chains and guards prevented him. Hearing her cry, he stamped his foot on the floor, demanding attention. "You have taken all else from me, Odin! Let me have my daughter, at least!"

  The king watched without showing anything of sorrow, of compassion. Now he looked down upon his so-called son, his look one of patronization and cold rage. "And how many daughters of Midgard would you have sent to their deaths, Loki, had you been allowed to continue you with your slaughter and your rule?"

  Hela let out one last cry of, "How could you? I have done nothing! Father!" and the doors slammed behind the princess in silver and green and she was gone.

  News of his imprisonment, news of his failure, news of his mother kept away from him, none of it had broken Loki. At the news of a daughter exiled, he fell to his knees before his father - some father that would do this to his son - and the spirit of the prince was, for the moment, broken.