Hel

> You have a good heart, Sigridr. And it will be the death of you.
>
>

Hel is one of Loki's daughters, and the older sister of Fenris and Jormungandr. She was banished by Odin to Niflheim for treason.

## Biographical Information

### Titles

Queen of Asgard, Goddess of Death (formerly), Mistress of Niflheim (formerly)

### Siblings

Fenris, Jormungandr, Sleipnir (half-brother)

## Series Information

### Appearances

Monster Ridge, Midnight Son, Polar Knight, Mist Gallows, Nameless Queen (forthcoming)

## Appearance

Silje describes Hel as having "otherworldly beauty" and that she doesn't seem to belong in the dark and desolate landscape of the underworld. She is noted to have long blond gray hair in a thick braid that reaches all the way to her ankles, a single green eye, and half of her body obscured in shadow.

In Hodr's memories, she first appears as a child of about seven or eight with light blond hair braided to the waist, pale but somewhat sunburned skin, freckles, and "dazzling green eyes."

## Personality

She has a very strong sense of personal loyalty. She's clever and a schemer, especially fond of exploiting loopholes and tricking others into tripping over themselves. But she doesn't like unnecessary violence and death. She also has particularly strong caregiving/maternal instincts.

## History

### *Early Years*

Geiravor grew up on Asgard and was particularly close to Hodr, though she also trained with Baldr under Tyr. She likes apple bread and braiding Hodr's hair.

Later in her teens, Fenris and their Jotnar allies break into Asgard to whisk her away. She refuses to leave without Hodr, however, delaying their escape and leading Baldr to intercept them. He tries to burn her alive with his runes. While the Jotnar successfully escape, she is believed to be dead after that.

Hodr was so grief-stricken by her supposed death that he nearly wipes out Muspelheim when Odin sends him to bring the fire giants to heel.

Baldr recalls seeing someone who looked like her in Alfheim during his betrothal to Nanna.

### *War With Asgard*

At some point Geiravor becomes queen of Jotunheim. Hodr swears fealty to her, which Odin considers an act of war. Baldr is sent to attack Jotunheim and captures her and Hodr. Odin banishes her to Niflheim in punishment.

### *Banishment*

In Niflheim, Geiravor hears the names of the Dead in the wind. She eventually takes up the task of welcoming the souls washed up on the banks of the river Gjoll. The Dead start calling her Hel.

Over the years, she becomes revered by the Dead that they make her their queen.

Hodr also dies at some point, and they're reunited in Niflheim.

### *Preparing For Ragnarok*

While in Niflheim, she and Hodr learn of the Prophecy. He is particularly concerned about preparing for it, but she hesitates to put her people (the Dead) through another war and their final deaths.

Later on, Frigg, the twins' mother, reaches out to her to bargain for the release of Baldr's soul. There is unrest in Asgard and a plot to unseat Odin, but they have no one to rally behind. Hel tricks Frigg into a life trade, but instead of Baldr, she pulls a twin switch and sends Hodr, reasoning that Frigg "only said she wanted her son back, she didn't say which one."

### *Hotel Fen*

Odin expects Hel and the Dead to do his bidding at Ragnarok, but Loki reminds him that they aren't his to command.

### *Monster Ridge*

When Silje first sleeps after portaling into Laguna with Hodr, Hel appears to her in a dream and tries to get her to listen to something she has to say. But the dream is interrupted and Silje wakes up before they can have a proper conversation. She, however, leaves a breadcrumb of "ask Hodr," which Silje chases. Hodr reveals through his memories that Hel was his childhood friend and lover, but Odin did not approve of their relationship and deemed it an act of treason. She was Erased and banished to Niflheim in punishment.

She reappears in Silje's dream later, where she admits that she'd sent Hodr to steal Gjallarhorn as a means to Odin's end. She warns Silje, "You have a good heart, Sigridr. And it will be the death of you."

At the end of the book, it is implied that something bad happened to her that led to Hodr's powers going haywire and kickstarting Ragnarok's prophesied three-year winter. Hodr asks Tyr what Vali is doing in Niflheim, to which Tyr answers, "You took something from Father. So he's taking something from you. No. Someone."

### *Mist Gallows*

Victor and the group decide to head to Niflheim to ask Hel to talk Hodr into stopping the winter on Midgard. Hel gives them a warm welcome along with her siblings, but when Silje tries to talk to her about the matter, she refuses to stop their plans and declares that there is no other way. When Silje tries to argue, she calls Silje a coward and orders them to leave in the morning. At the last minute, Silje remembers to ask what Hodr had let slip about her and Victor's souls and something that Freya did, to which Hel reveals that Freya had used their souls as Odin's chains, thus why Fenris had been trying to kill them again and again, the Hotel supposedly being the last instance (ninth chain).

Unsuccessful with Hel, Victor brings the group to talk to Baldr, but Baldr reveals that his allegiances have shifted and that he sides with Hodr (and Hel). When Niflheim is attacked, Hel is last heard over the Niflheim's PA system leaving her secretary Germaine in charge as she heads out to lead the defense herself.

When the group reaches Jotunheim and confronts Hodr, they meet Sigyn, who is revealed to be Hodr and Hel's daughter and not actually Loki's wife. Hodr doesn't explain, only says, "I'm not going to explain to you the lengths I've had to go to keep my family safe."

Hel next appears on Vigrid, leading the army of the Dead, initially disguised as Loki. She is, however, heavily injured in the fight against Odin.

Hel becomes queen of Asgard after the war (since with Baldr dead, Hodr is next in line to the throne). She stays behind to take charge of Asgard while Hodr travels to Midgard to reverse the Great Winter he'd inadvertently caused. In the epilogue, she meets Victor in Niflheim to offer him the chance to bring Silje back. It is also revealed that she's pregnant and will be traveling to Midgard with Hodr to go on vacation in Paris, and that William Shakespeare has written a play about her and Hodr's story with Loki, now free and somehow hanging out in Niflheim, playing all the parts. It is implied that she ceded Niflheim to Fenris.

## Trivia

* The "Valkyrie statue" in the fountain of Hotel Fen mentioned at the very beginning of the first book is actually in homage to her, as is one of the paintings in the lobby.
* The song *Helfire* was written specifically for her.
* She will be the main character of the planned prequel duology alongside Hodr.