Page 53 of Thor

“Actually, I do. When you leave today, I will be the one in charge. And as your successor I have the right to give up the throne if I want to, and to give it to whomever I deem the strongest and best to lead your people. And I choose Thadren.”

Thadren looked as if he weighed his options. “I’d rather not fight.”

Surtr bellowed and leapt at Thadren; sword raised. Elle unleashed her magic but it flew past Surtr and slammed into her mother’s throne knocking it over. Surtr turned and looked from the throne to Elle.

Elle concentrated and envisioned a rope. She pulled her arms back and then threw her hands forward. Ropes flew through the air and wrapped around Surtr’s torso, pinning his arms down and dropping him to the floor.

Surtr roared and pushed against the restraints, but nothing happened.

“They may not burn you, but they cannot be broken.” Elle wasn’t completely certain that was true.

“Let me out of these, or I’ll kill you,” Surtr yelled.

Elle closed her fist and turned her wrist. The ropes tightened against Surtr and he struggled to breathe.

Without warning Tanngnjóstr reared back and head-butted Surtr, sending him flying into the stone wall. Surtr crumpled and Tanngrisnir kicked him in the stomach.

Surtr groaned and rolled on his back. “I’ll eat both of you and break all your bones so you can’t come back,” he roared at the goats.

The dangerous looking woman strode through the crowd and pushed the giant goats aside with ease.

“All right you giant walking sweaters, I can handle things from here.” She stopped, directly over Surtr and lowered her trident to his chest.

He flexed against the ropes and one of them snapped. “I will kill you daughter.”

Hel pressed her trident into his chest as another rope snapped.

Surtr yelled out and Elle threw more fiery ropes at him. The new ropes sprouted clawed hooks at the ends that bit into Surtr’s skin drawing blood. He pushed against them harder and Elle tried to figure out something stronger to bind him with.

“Don’t worry,” said Hel. “I got this.” She turned to Surtr. “Surtr, king of the fire giants. Murderer of Asgardians. I, Hel, daughter of Loki and Goddess of Death do hereby commit you to the depths of the underworld, as a prisoner. Never again to hurt anyone.”

Before Surtr could protest, Hel pressed the trident into his chest. It passed through him and hit the floor below him. Surtr screamed in agony as the black smoke encircled him. It started at his chest and swirled outward until he was completely cocooned. Elle’s ropes disappeared under their inky depths.

A giant black pit opened in the floor, and he dropped through.

Long after her father disappeared, Elle still made out the curses he spewed at her and Hel about how he was going to kill them.

The stones of the floor rolled back into place, and the black smoke sucked back into Hel’s trident and snaked up her arm and disappeared into her dress.

That was unsettling.

Hel turned to Thor. “I believe that concludes my reason for being here, yes?”

Thor nodded. “Thank you, cousin.”

Hel smiled. “No. Thank you, cousin. I haven’t had this much fun since... forever. And now I go to make sure Surtr is completely uncomfortable in his new abode.” She winked at Elle. “Be sure to come visit me when you have time. I’d love to pick your brain about the best ways to torture Surtr.” Hel backed through a portal and disappeared before Elle answered.

No one moved for several seconds as they stared at the spot where Surtr had previously lain.

Thor finally turned to Elle. “Are you all right?”

She nodded.

He inspected her and the lighting in his eyes vanished. “I’m sorry Elle. I’m so sorry.”

“No,” she said. “I am sorry. I should have told you.”

He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t care who your father was, I only care who you are.”