The Norse goddess associated with the afterlife is Hel, who presides over the realm of the same name. Hel governs those who die of illness or old age, representing a different aspect of the afterlife compared to the warrior's paradise of Valhalla. Her character reflects themes of acceptance, mortality, and the inevitability of death, as well as the idea that every life has its unique journey, inviting contemplation about existence beyond the physical realm.