Dorian and Kara make their way to the palace of Asgard under the cover of night. On a mission to visit Rossweisse and present to her a gift from his labors, Dorian has no idea the turmoil he is about to set foot into…

It was well past midnight before the party started winding down. Due to the dormitory curfew, the other Valkyries were unable to return to their own rooms and instead held an impromptu slumber party for the night. Dorian had offered the beds, couches and every square inch of open floor space for his classmates, assuring them he would find a spot. None suspected his and Kara's plot to sneak out.

He was completing final preparations before leaving. Many of the girls had just fallen asleep wherever they could without a cover or pillow to be spared. Before leaving, Dorian made sure that every towel, blanket and sheet available was being used to keep one of them warm. He had no idea how he'd found so many, it certainly helped that many were clustered together and the sheets for the bed were enormous.

As he lowered a comforter meant for the sofa onto a snoring Herja, he silently stepped over her. Kara was at the door, hopping up and down impatiently while checking her watch. She was in quite the hurry despite plenty of time remaining of darkness. Once he was over, she slowly clicked the door shut, not a girl within stirred.

"Okay," Kara checked her watch again. "Follow me, I know a shortcut."

Dorian complied; bag in hand containing the last gift for Rossweisse, fortunately his tunic was thick enough to hide it within. He spotted the little squirrel watching him from the tree. Sadly, he had to raise his empty hands, letting him know he didn't have any more food that night.

"Don't worry little guy, I'll have some tomorrow."

The school was not very far from the palace, Valkyrie were expected to be among the defenders in the event of an attack, students included. There were patrols of course, yet Kara seemed to know their paths by heart. Anytime the silver-armored guardsmen drew near, she knew the perfect place to duck down, somehow never drawing suspicion.

"Have you snuck into the palace before?" Dorian whispered as they neared their goal.

"Loads," she giggled. "Rossweisse isn't the only one to have boring tasks around. I make things more fun and…interesting."

I can believe that, he chuckled. Though I get the feeling I don't want to hear the details to those stories.

"Ms. Rossweisse is certainly lucky to have someone like you," Kara muttered as they finally reach the walls. She started feeling up and down the sides as if in search of something. "Before you came along no one took any interest in her except the Allfather…likely for less than pure reasons. Get down!"

Kara pushed him against the wall, obscuring them totally in shadows as a trio of guardsmen walked by; another second and they would surely have been spotted. The three were laughing without a care in the world as they made their rounds.

"You'll drink him under for sure," he heard one proclaim to the first, guffawing the whole way. "None can match you at the art of inebriated eloquence!"

"Tis not my doing but my muse," the second guard retorted. "Were it not for the fairness of her visage truly I could not come up with such words of pure expression."

As the three continued, guffawing all the way, Kara pressed onto Dorian closer, pinning him against the wall not too dissimilar to how Thrud had embraced him in the cave. He wanted to ask her to back up, but didn't know how far the guards had gone. She was looking into his eyes with the hungriest expression, her chest pressing up against his own.

"U-um Kara…we should probably try…mmpphh!"

Without warning, the young Valkyrie pressed her lips onto his, silencing his protests. Dorian had no idea how to respond as she pushed in closer, the soft footfalls of the guards receding into the distance.

The experience brought back memories for Dorian, times he briefly spent with his friends he made then lost as he moved across the world. More than once there was a prank or secret rendezvous under cover of night after hours. Though he could honestly say it was the first time someone had kissed him during such an outing. It was not until the silence of the night returned as the guards departed that Kara pulled back with a smile.

"I told you…fun AND interesting."

Kneeling down, she moved a section of an innocuous bush, revealing a shimmering runic portal of some sort hidden beneath. Without another word she beckoned him inside, disappearing into its depths first.

What just happened? The young man pondered, absolutely perplexed before sliding into the aperture feet-first after her. He had no way of knowing that it would seal behind him, blocking off the only unguarded entrance or exit into the palace of Asgard…

Asgard Vault…

Dorian emerged from the connecting pathway onto the cold marble floor he had become intimately familiar with at Thrud's hands his first day there. From his point of view, he had just entered the opening outside and suddenly was within one of the deeper chambers of the palace. Kara was already on her feet glancing down each hallway, she did not even offer him a hand getting back up.

"We're clear," she whispered, motioning him down a flight of stairs, always keeping just ahead of him.

No guards? Dorian was confused. My first day here they had hundreds in the courtyard. I didn't expect too many at night during times of peace, but none save a few border patrols?

At the bottom of the final stairway towards the end of the hall stood a very ornate door, Kara stopped in front of it, clearly their destination. There was no sign of Rossweisse.

"She must be inside," Kara surmised. "Come take a look at this."

Dorian approached the door, it certainly looked grander than an insignificant trophy room, however the same could be said for everything he had seen in Asgard. The similar design patterns to the rest of the palace were clearly evident. A depiction of the sun and moon could be seen at the top, twin wolves etched on either side as if in pursuit. All around them was wrapped tendrils and roots, unmistakably personifying Yggdrasil, the world tree which binds them all together. At the base, proud warriors in armor stood resolute, spears in hand.

"What is that?" She pointed towards the sun and moon, Dorian raised his right hand to touch it.

A blinding light burst forth from his arm as his Sacred Gear activated, forcing him to shield his eyes. Kara watched on unaffected, a truly sinister sneer crossing her lips which quickly passed once Dorian could see again.

The image of the sun lit up, though naught else occurred. The door remained as sealed and intimidating as ever.

"Try a double layered seal!" Kara shouted all pretense of subtly gone.

Dorian didn't even consciously try to; at her words, the skill she had taught him just came to life. The simplest of seals appeared, rocketing out of his grip towards the illuminated sun sigil. In a heartbeat, the second layer did the same, lighting up and overlapping the moon. He had no idea that two keys made of Yggdrasil itself were needed to gain entry, a requirement his Sacred Gear coupled with a double seal fulfilled...

The effect was instantaneous, once both emblems were glowing bright, the door started to shift. Slowly and loudly, it shifted, rolling to the side and exposing the interior.

"H-how…did that work?"

"Who knows, come on, she's surely waiting for you!"

Dorian liked this less and less, but it was far too late to turn back. With cold feet and jittery hands, he stepped inside. It was too bad he had not looked around the corner that Kara had checked or perhaps he may have noticed the half dozen guardsmen, their bodies stacked together…necks snapped to the last man.

Dorian immediately knew this was no hideaway stash of old trophies, regardless of his lack of understanding of Asgardian architecture, this was a grand vault. The door had appeared so small upon reflection as the room stretched on and on, the ceiling so high he could scarcely see it and even had clouds passing by overhead. This room alone appeared larger than the entire Bifrost platform, though that should be impossible based on the size of the palace. Dorian had yet to understand the mechanics of pocket dimensions hiding immense structures within spaces as small as a marble.

Pedestals flanked the walls, a grand carpet going down the center. He could not tell if the items within were meant to be hidden or shown off. Dozens of swords, halberds, shields and other assortments of war could be found, every one of them a weapon of legend. And that was just from what he could see in the small section before the main entrance. The skulls of dragons, wyverns and creatures Dorian could not name dotted the area going back as far as the eye could see. He especially cringed back at the sight of a troll skull that was taller than he was. He could have spent a month in that room and not seen half of what there was, the paths just went on and on.

"Halt! In the name of…Dorian?"

Rossweisse had emerged from behind a container fully armored with a dozen offensive seals generated and trained on him. He instinctively raised his hands in surrender, his wrapped gift held high.

"What are you doing here? How did you get in the vault?" Her face was frantic and confused; far from a woman bored protecting an insignificant door.

"I…I wanted to give you something," he held out the package slowly. "I didn't have a chance before and I…"

"You shouldn't be here," she lowered her seals to step forward. "How did no one spot you? Let's get you back before anyo…"

Dorian inhaled deeply as a cold sensation passed through his chest. He couldn't feel the pain or anything at all. The worst part was the look of sheer terror on Rossweisse's face. In a deadpan, almost uninterested fashion, Dorian glanced down at his chest.

A two foot shard of ice was jutting through his chest where his sternum; the tip slick with blood having passed cleanly through him. Dorian could feel tears flowing down his face unbidden, his body already in shock. He could barely move as he saw Rossweisse fly into the back wall, struck by an invisible force. She crumpled to the floor and did not stir, despite every fiber of his being screaming for it, he just couldn't move.

"Well that was easy, thanks for getting her to drop her guard, the bitch might have put up a fight otherwise."

Dorian rotated his neck slowly; Kara was standing behind him, another four ice javelins floating over her head. She had the most wicked smile as she flexed her fingers at him in mockery of a wave.

"K-Kar…" Dorian could feel himself blacking out. The moment he lost consciousness, a flash bathed the room in azure light as his Sacred Gear activated. A pool of blue appeared behind him, but Dorian just stood there, wobbling, barely staying on his feet. After several tense seconds a small, round shape tackled him in the gut just below his injury, sending him tumbling into it. As quickly as it had come, the portal vanished.

"Where did he go?" A familiar gruff warrior entered the vault, looking at the assorted weapons. He had completed clearing out the standard guardsmen patrolling the area; none could report what actually transpired.

"It does not matter Modi," the Valkyrie Kara replied as she stepped away. With each inch of the room she crossed, her appearance started to fall away almost like a melting candle. By the time she reached her destination, only the god of mischief remained, the illusion based on the former appearance of his daughter no longer necessary. "He can run to another realm, but that wound is mortal…he'll be dead within the hour."

"What about her?" The youngest son of Thor motioned towards the unconscious Valkyrie. "Can I…?"

"No, you cannot," Loki scoffed at his ally through convenience. "If you intend others to believe your tale, she must have as few injuries as possible…as I have told you already."

The robed god glided past every weapon, trophy and item of power to a very specific sword hanging on the wall. It had the appearance of a two-handed claymore, but was clearly far more than that. The blade shimmered like moonlight and was thicker than most, giving it an almost diamond-shaped appearance. The hilt was incredibly ornate with a red gem affixed within a black hilt.

"The gate and key to Fafnir's hoard…Hrotti," he whispered to no one in particular. "I will ensure this finds its way into the hands of our associates."

"And?" Modi grunted. Loki sighed heavily; barely able to believe he was working with such a simpleton.

"And…once our allies have the power they require combined with our own not even the senile Allfather will be able to stand in our way. When that day comes…you shall sit the throne of Asgard."

For however briefly…before the coming of Ragnarok.

Modi just laughed, barely containing breaking out into a great guffaw. His twisted sneer stretched from ear to ear. Loki could not help but find his inability to look beyond the present quite entertaining.

"Now then, I shall be on my way, good luck with…apprehending the one responsible for this heinous crime." With that final word Loki snapped his fingers, before him emerged a wall of seals and runes. A line of light split down the middle, parting them like a door. Without a word, the Norse deity disappeared within, the gate fading from existence as quickly as it had come.

Modi approached the unconscious Rossweisse, he was disappointed he could not do more to her, but even he knew better than to cross Loki. Puffing his chest out and cupping his hands around his mouth, he prepared for the greatest act of his life.

"Guards!" He bellowed loud enough to echo across the palace. "Guards! To the vault! We have been attacked! And I have located the traitor herself!"

Somewhere Else…

Fire again, a great red form lay dead in the snow, hundreds of people were scattered around it. Dorian wandered the barren wastes, traversing the landscape seeking anyone else still alive despite knowing deep down it was a futile gesture. He barely realized the snow falling from the sky was in fact ash until a few motes fell onto his lips. Licking them away instinctively he tasted the burnt flavor of desolation.

As he trudged along, he could finally make out a pair of shapes in the distance, upon closer inspection it was clearly a pair of women. The smaller looked like a little girl with black hair, no matter how hard he focused he couldn't make out her features, like she was constantly shifting and swirling akin to a fog as the morning suns burned it away.

Her companion had long emerald hair reaching the small of her back; she was clothed in an extravagant white gown though he could make out seams and designs sewn together from roots and other assortments of nature. She was looking off to the side and he could not make out her face.

"Who…are you?" He asked, not hearing her reply despite her lips moving right up to the moment he awoke.

Dorian's eyes sputtered open, a stinging sensation upon either cheek. He did not have time to adjust to his surroundings before a strong slap struck his face again and again.

"Wakey waky, but don't even think of eggs or bakey," the snarky voice taunted as it slapped him again and again. His assailant's hands appeared quite small.

"I…must still be dreaming," he contemplated upon spotting his attacker. He was being slapped back to consciousness…by a squirrel. "OOWWWW," the rodent sitting on his chest had proceeded to pinch his face hard. Dorian sat up with a start, casting the ball of fur from his chest.

"About time, if you are expecting a wake up kiss I wouldn't hold your breath though I have received compliments of my skill."

Dorian could now tell, he was not hallucinating, without a doubt it was the same red squirrel that had taken to living in the tree outside his room. He didn't appear to be in Asgard anymore either. A thick blue fog hung around him sprinkled with starlight, it took a few moments for his eyes to focus and adjust to the alien ambiance.

His mouth dropped open as he beheld the sight around him; he was sitting atop a large winding path made of bark and wood. The size of the path was what caused him the most shock, winding on endlessly in both directions and forking at seemingly random intervals. Following the trails was fruitless as they kept twisting and branching again and again into eternity…and then he saw it.

In the center, unmissable due to its size was the trunk of a tree, bigger than a planet, bigger than a sun; he could make it out from such a vast distance away. It had to be thousands of miles away, perhaps more. Despite how far it was, its image took up the majority of his vision, the never ending paths all started from it and snaked outward into the dark blue void. The squirrel jumped up, smacking him on the head again to snap him back to the moment.

"Hey, buddy, eyes are down here! Take your foot out of your mouth; you act like you haven't seen a creation-encompassing carnation before!"

"I…haven't…who are you?" The obvious question finally popped into his head amidst the myriad of others. The squirrel stood up to his full height, still barely reaching Dorian's ankles and bowed low in an over-the top manner.

"It's about time, I was afraid you'd be calling me 'little guy' for the rest of our relationship. I swear if you hadn't fed me so many strawberries I'd have gnawed on your head in your sleep…Oh, you can call me Ratatoskr."

"Ratatoskr…" Dorian repeated, barely keeping up with his new companion's rapid fire ramblings of insanity. "What happened? Where am I?"

"What happened was you got wrecked son," he held back a slight snicker as if he found it hilarious. "That little lady penetrated you from behind pretty good…if it weren't for the bauble on your arm she would have gone all the way." He paused as if contemplating what he had just said. "Huh, that could be taken the wrong way; I like it…better write that down…"

Dorian felt his chest, his shirt still had a hole the size of the javelin that had pierced him and there was a fresh scar beneath, yet the wound was gone with only dried blood remaining.

"How did I survive?"

"You can thank me later and pay me back in more strawberries. Old Iggy there sensed your trouble and opened a portal to get you out. You were pretty gone upstairs though, yours truly knocked you into the doorway myself…you're welcome by the way."

"Iggy…?"

"Yggdrasil!" Ratatoskr facepalmed as he groaned loudly. "I'm fifty-three pages ahead of you kid, start skimming, you'll live longer and enjoy it more. The part of her stuck to your adult-time hand! Welcome…to the Road Between Realms!"

"It's…beautiful," Dorian asserted as he used the opportunity to look over the vast swathes of wonder surrounding them. It almost reminded him of the photographs he had seen taken from space; only instead of black nothingness was the magnificent, almost ethereal blue mist matching the gem on his bracer.

"Eh, it's alright but I call it home. Iggy has been growing since the creation of everything, so it needed room to expand. Think of this place as…the scaffolding left behind inside a building after it's finished. You aren't supposed to see it, but it's there helping to hold everything up. Not even the Pervert Lord himself can access here easily."

"But I thought Asgard watched over Yggdrasil."

"The physical tree, yes indeedy, though to most of them she is little more than a computer making sure their seals and runes run smoothly. If you're twice as smart as you look you can keep up with that image, think of this as the cyberspace behind that computer, her soul if you want to get sappy on me. You didn't think the legends of Yggdrasil physically binding all of creation together was exaggerated THAT much did you?"

Dorian felt overwhelmed, less than two weeks prior he had been introduced to worlds he thought only existed in legends. It seemed even that was just the tip of the rabbit hole he found himself inside, the space before him was endless, like a self-contained universe. He surmised he could live a thousand lifetimes and not be able to follow every path he could see just in his immediate area.

"How long was I out?" He finally asked, deciding that focusing on something so infinite was rather pointless before the immediate situation.

"Eh, between your Gear and my tender loving care…bout a week…maybe 10 days."

"Ten days?" Dorian shouted, standing onto his shaky legs. "I have to get back! What happened to Rose? Why did Kara attack me? I have to warn Lady Freyja…"

"Slow down boyo, or so help me I will slap you again! To them it's only been half a day at most. Time moves differently here. How do you think you survived that little case of bodily impalement? Out there you'd have been a goner before you could say 'check please!"

"I still need to get back! I am truly thankful for you saving me, I'll repay you anyway I can…but they attacked Rose too! Do you know what happened after?"

Ratatoskr just shrugged his shoulders.

"I've been here tending to you kid, I can't even open portals between here and there, that was all you. Though I can't imagine what's happened since then can be any good."

"All…me?" Dorian looked over his right arm, the bracer still active and glowing. "So can I get back?"

"You can open the gate, but that one would send you right back where you came in…not the best idea if you are planning to voice your innocence to entering the Grand Vault of Asgard."

"The Grand…" Dorian facepalmed hard.

She lied…about everything. Dorian wasn't stupid, at least he kept telling himself that. It was clear now that the double layered seal technique was needed in conjunction with his gear to open the vault somehow. How far in advance had Kara planned this?

"These paths will lead anywhere touched by Iggy…if you know the way."

"Can you show me? A way back to Asgard?"

"I could," the mischievous squirrel stroked his chin in thought. "What's in it for me?"

"Wh-what do you want?"

Ratatoskr cupped his tiny chin harder; he was clearly thinking it through.

"You ripped me into your world last week when you first fired off that sucker. I hadn't been in Asgard, or anywhere else for that matter, in forever. I want you to be at my beck and call, to open portals for me when I want to have fun in your realm or have the fleeting wish to return home."

"I suppose I…"

"AND…as many strawberries as you can buy are reserved expressly for MY use."

Dorian could not help but smile at how serious he was taking it. He let out a soft chuckle despite the situation before responding.

"Done…now, which way do we go?

Asgard…

"Modi, there must be some kind of misunderstanding!" Thrud called out to her brother once again. He was not hearing it.

"There is no misunderstanding dear sister," he proclaimed louder than necessary. They were in the throne room now filled with spectators from the palace. It was obvious he was inciting them as much as possible, all the while Odin and Freyja presided from their seats of power. "As I patrolled these very halls, I came across our slain soldiers. By the time I realized the vault was their target I was too late. The…traitorous Valkyrie over there simply handed over the mighty blade Hrotti with a smile on her face. Her hooded accomplice escaped through some form of teleportation!"

"It's not true!" Rossweisse professed her innocence. Nonetheless, she was restrained without her armor by the guardsman of Asgard. "We were attacked, Dorian was..." Spears emerged at her throat, commanding silence.

"Do you have any evidence to back up your claims?" Freyja demanded, gripping her armrests with such force they threatened to cave in. She couldn't believe what had occurred, Hrotti stolen right out from under their noses, the mightiest of the Runic Blades. Worst yet was Rosseisse's assertions that Dorian had been slain at the vault, however no sign of his body had yet been found.

For it to be Rossweisse? I don't believe it, she has been an exemplary Valkyrie for years, her decision to become that lecher's bodyguard notwithstanding.

"Our fallen men, the stolen sword and the word of a son of Thor should be all the evidence you require honored grandmother." He replied with unexpected tact for him, almost as if it had been rehearsed. "Unless evidence to the contrary has been located?"

"It…has not," Odin admitted. Despite his men combing the vault ever since the attack, they had found no sign of what transpired to refute Modi's words. Rossweisse was unconscious, supposedly by Modi's hand. The blade was gone and the barest trace of magic used for teleportation, but it was so faint they could not even determine the exact spell used.

"Then why delay the retribution, we shall bring her allies to their knees…but until then we must make an example of those who would betray the Allfather!"

Murmurs of agreement started to spread throughout the crowd, high ranking warriors, politicians and Valkyries among them. One by one they sided with Modi's words, the theft of a grand treasure and the death of so many guards fueling their minds towards instant reprisal.

A loud clang shattered the voices, allowing silence to reign once more. Odin had slammed his scepter Gungnir into the floor with a single hand, yet the resulting sound had been above all others.

"I rule these halls," he boomed loudly. "Not the masses."

Modi looked afraid for a moment before regaining his composure, bowing once more before his grandfather.

"Ah, but even the Allfather must be beholden to the laws set by the first? Without those rules and mores, we are but savages. And what does it say of traitors?"

Odin did not answer, there was no need. It was common knowledge that any accused of betraying Asgard and the throne would be put to death, such was their way. With the word of a son of Thor, such loss of life and no evidence to her defense, Rossweisse was sure to…

A crack of energy cut through the air, capturing the attention of the entire room due to the silence commanded by the Allfather. Freyja shielded her eyes as a portal of blue energy rippled to life above their heads. A familiar young man emerged from the dimensional schism, falling at incredible velocity right on top of Modi, flattening even the demigod into the ground. Another smaller shape plopped on top of him, gracefully before bounding to the floor below.

"Dorian!" Freyja called out, rising out of her seat in surprise. He had been reported missing by the class as they awoke in his room and Rossweisse had claimed his death at the vault, however with the situation surrounding Rossweisse and the theft they hadn't time to begin a search. "What is the meaning of this?"

"She's…innocent," he gasped as he struggled to his feet, accidentally stepping on Modi's face several times as he rushed forward, falling to a knee immediately before them once clear. He had overheard part of the previous conversation while traversing the pathway between realms. "Lady Rose is no traitor; she was caught unawares and bested in an instant."

Rossweisse looked on, shocked by his sudden appearance and more than a touch embarrassed to be addressed by that name before the assembled crowd. She looked truly happy to see him still alive.

"And how do you know this?" Odin asked next, taking a place beside his wife.

"Because I was there Allfather," Dorian's diplomatic nature kicked into full gear, picking carefully the precise wording to prevent any misunderstanding. "I was...tricked into entering the vault; my Sacred Gear somehow undid the locks. Lady Rose lowered her defense upon seeing me and was struck down. I was very nearly killed myself," he showed off the scar adorning his body through his shredded clothes. "I would surely have died had It not been for Ratatoskr."

The red squirrel approached the throne, standing tall and bowing low.

"I knew it was you that came through last week," Freyja sighed heavily, remembering the unbearable antics of the inhabitant of Yggdrasil's boughs from years long past. "A small unidentifiable rodent was seen near the locker and changing rooms throughout the palace on several occasions..."

"Long time no sees your ladyship," Ratatoskr replied, though the mocking tone remained despite his polite words. "Ever happy to see you well; your breasts are as full and perky as ever."

Good lord, now there are two of them. Odin had to resist a smirk at the newcomer's words.

"Is Mr. Held's words true?" She glared at the newcomer, eyes narrowing in annoyance.

"Every word," he confirmed. "That blue haired bimbo did him in good, if it weren't for the kid opening a portal back to the Road between Realms, he'd have been dead right quick."

"The Road?" Freyja and Odin simultaneously exclaimed. "Your Gear sent you there?"

"Yes my Lord and Lady, which is the only reason I am still alive."

"Preposterous!" Modi called out. "It is obvious that this…boy is lying to protect her. How can you believe that this talking rodent speaks the truth?"

"Rodent?" Ratatoskr scurried up the nearby podium and hopped to a ledge above so he was looking down on Modi. "I've been gnawing on the bark of the symbol of your people's power since before your GRANDFATHER was a twinkle in Borr's eye! I should be the one demanding why an insecure little ponce like you sees fit to talk back to his elders AND betters in such a manner!"

Not…quite as diplomatically said, despite his reservations at Ratatoskr's words, Dorian agreed with every one and could not help but grin at the absolutely flustered and enraged look on Modi's face.

"Mr. Held," Odin stepped from his throne towards him. "You admit to opening the vault?"

"Yes," Dorian went on to describe the trickery orchestrated by a fellow classmate named Kara. He had no idea of the vaults importance due to the lack of security until it was too late, his eyes widened as Odin explained the slain guards now clearly meant to present the illusion as so.

"I do not recognize this…Kara name," Freyja interjected as he concluded his story. "Lady Eir, come forward!"

The elder Valkyrie teacher had been among the crowd and immediately approached, falling to a knee beside Dorian.

"Please describe this Kara, why would she have betrayed us so?"

"I…wish I could my Lady," she started, clearly nervous as to what she was about to say. "I have no student by such a name in my class."

Dorian's heart sank into his gut at those words. What was she talking about? She had been there since the first day!

"We shall discuss this new evidence in private," Odin commanded, slamming Gungnir down once more. Immediately and without protest, the room started to empty for all save the Allfather, Freyja, Lady Eir, Thrud, Ratatoskr and Dorian himself. Modi continued to fume in silence, not daring to interrupt Odin's commands.

Dorian threw a concerned glance towards Rossweisse as they led her out. She saw him; a look of utter sadness was etched onto her face. He prayed she could read his lips and that he'd never see such as sorrowful frown on her ever again.

"I'm sorry."

"You see?" Modi stepped up again. "The boy lies! He claims the fault of someone who does not exist!"

"She WAS there!" Dorian asserted. She's been in my class since the first day I joined. Kara sat right beside me, she was the 21st Valkyrie! She's been rooming with me since I came here, she said that the Allfather approved her stay in my dorm…"

Freyja's eyes locked angrily on Odin; clearly such an event was not beyond him.

"As much as I would have gladly aided the young man's foray into manhood dear wife," Odin responded to her fiery gaze without even looking at her. "I swear on our matrimonial vows that I have taken no action to counter your…reasonable request on Mr. Held's living arrangements."

"I am sorry Mr. Held," Eir interrupted. "But…my class has only had 20 Valkyrie's this year. YOU were the 21st student. The seat beside you has been vacant."

That's…impossible, I know it! She taught me the layered sealing technique, lured me to the vault…she…

Then it hit him, Dorian could have kicked himself so powerful was his hindsight. Kara had always been the silent one, always retreated to the corner to study, and never interacted with any of the other students. She had even asked him to not mention her status as his roommate to anyone. He had assumed she was a social outcast as Herja had described Rossweisse as having become. She had never been so much as acknowledged in the entire week since joining the class, not once.

That's what happens when you assume…I am such an ass…

"Well, whoever she was," Ratatoskr jumped in, realizing Dorian's internal reflection. "A rather sultry little lass with bright blue hair impaled Dorian through the chest last night…or do you think he gave himself that lovely scar?"

"I will NOT have my word insulted by some poor excuse for an Einherjar who dares to call me a liar!"

"Call me whatever the hell you like!" Dorian snapped, his calm melting away under Modi's assertions of Rossweisse's guilt. "But Ms. Rose did NOT do what you are accusing her of. I am not necessarily calling you a liar, you are mistaken at best…knowingly passing the blame to another at worst!"

"How…dare you!" Modi stepped forward, backhanding Dorian across the face. The blow was stern and drew blood yet was clearly far from the demigod's full potential. "The challenge is set then, I hope you make peace with whatever gods you pray to."

With powerful, angry strides, the youngest son of Thor left the room, retrieving his legendary mace with a wave of his hand before disappearing into the hall. Freyja and Odin's faces were awash with worry; Lady Eir could do naught but stare.

"What was that about?" Dorian asked, wiping away the smear of blood across his face.

"You challenged Modi's word in a hall of law," Odin explained.

"Of course I did, he is wrong about Ms. Rose, she would never…"

"So you say," Freyja continued. "But there has been no evidence located to corroborate or refute either of your stories. Normally, more time would be given…yet it seems Modi has opted for the Rite of Challenge."

"Rite of Challenge?"

"When two warriors provide conflicting information in a ruling of law, yet the veracity of their statements can be proven by naught but their words, the opposing parties must face each other in combat. He who emerges the victor will be deemed to speak the truth. With the seriousness of this situation, the outcome will determine what becomes of Rossweisse."

"Then I will face him!" Thrud asserted, stepping forward. "I will gladly…"

"The accuser is your brother," Freyja cut her off. "It was Dorian who placed doubt on Modi's testament and blood-kin may not interfere with this matter. Not even your father could intercede if he attempted; you know this full well child. I am certain Göndul is already en route to the city to attempt the same thing you are despite her knowledge of the law."

Thrud gritted her teeth, clearly having hoped for an exception or loophole that did not exist. She was a peerless warrior among Asgard, but no politician.

"I have...to fight Modi?" Dorian's visage paled. He would gladly fight to save Rossweisse's life, but against a literal demigod and son of the legendary Thor...he felt real fear course through his body. Modi's strength was at least comparable with Thrud's and the young Einherjar had yet to land a single blow on her.

"The challenge is till either one yields, is unable to fight…or dies." Odin explained. "If you back out now you can live, however the verdict will be decided immediately in his favor."

"NO!" Dorian shouted without hesitation, his selfless, protective nature overriding his analytical side screaming how little chance he stood. "I'll knock that bastard down if I have to, what are the rules."

"You will fight without armor," Freyja started, the fringes of a smile blossoming on her lips at the young man's determination in the face of certain death. "Individual skills and inborn abilities are allowed, and each are permitted a single weapon from their own stores."

"I can choose from the ones I hunted the troll with."

"Nay, for those were of my armories, the weapon must belong to yourself or a family member, even we are forbidden from supplying one. Regrettably, even if we were allowed, Modi's mace was forged by the dwarves of Nidavellir in likeness to his father's hammer, though it pales in comparison. Any of the finest blades in my armory save for the most legendary would shatter in an instant against it."

"Then what can I do?" Dorian growled in frustration. "I have to face him with my bare hands?"

"Not necessarily," this time it was Odin who interceded. "If I may, as you have learned over the years my love, I have become quite apt at interpreting statements to my own ends. We cannot provide Mr. Held with a weapon to face Modi, but there is naught that says we cannot point him in the right direction to acquiring one…if he is certain of his path."

Dorian clenched his fists, this was his fault. If he hadn't been so stupid and blind to follow Kara, Rossweisse wouldn't be in the position she found herself. Even if it cost him his life, he had to make sure he could fix this.

"Tell me."

Rossweisse stands trial for treachery most foul, perpetrated with the unknowing aid of Dorian. Left with a challenge against the son of Thor, will the new Einherjar be able to locate a weapon mighty enough to compete with the likes of Modi and save the woman whose words brought him to Asgard in the first place? As Always, I hope everyone Reads and Reviews…but most of all Enjoys! :D