A/N - Finally you will see some more than usual training and there is a cliffhanger for you at the end of it. Read and Review
o-0-o
"You know what's today?" Thor asked as he looked at Harry. They were sitting in one of the numerous chambers of the Citadel, light was pouring into the room through the large stained glass windows, bathing everything inside of it in a plethora of colors.
Harry was silent for a moment, until it clicked inside of his mind and his eyes widened in a surprise, he didn't realize that the time was flowing that fast. "31st July on Midgard and my birthday." He said with a wide grin on his face.
"Exactly" Thor nodded with a smile and ruffled Harry's hair who huffed at this sign of affection. It was one of few things that he disliked about his dad.
"So gifts?" Harry asked with a cheeky grin.
"Yes" Thor nodded with a smile and placed in front of Harry a wooden, elaborately carved box. "Open it."
Harry looked at it, opened and his eyes widened in a surprise when he his gaze landed on a thing that was inside. It was a saxe knife placed on a soft velvet, yet it wasn't a normal one as the hilt of it was carved out of a single piece of horn and inscribed with thin runes inlaid in gold. The blade was made from steel and he could see a thin layer of protective oil cover it. To the side of it was laying its leather scabbard.
"It's beautiful." Harry whispered as he picked the blade up, he could feel its perfect balance and master craftsmanship.
"It's now yours." Thor said with a smile and added more seriously "Be careful with it as it is a dangerous weapon and you can injure someone when careless. Also ask Sif to show you how to use it as it is a bit different from a sword and much more useful as it is more than a weapon, it is also a tool."
"I will be careful." Harry said as he grabbed its scabbard and slid it into it, it slipped into it with a soft click and he looked at his dad. "Thank you."
"No problem, son." Thor said, lightly hugged Harry and looked at him, some amusement visible in his eyes "You can expect a whole lot of gifts, sooner than later."
Harry smiled at those words and took a better look at the saxe knife he was holding, fully appreciating beautiful craftsmanship and how good it belt in his hand, it felt as if it was specifically designed for him. "Cool."
"You can do whatever you want to do." Thor said "I never told you how proud out of you I am."
Harry blushed and smiled. "Thank you, dad."
Thor laughed, Harry picked up box with the saxe knife and disappeared out of the room. If he could have fun away from the court, he was going to have it. Especially considering the fact that he enjoyed much more being far away from the loudest part of the court. Also Sif said something about more training for him and training with her was usually a nice way to spend time, or at least he thought so.
o-0-o
Harry jumped out of the way of Sif's strike and blocked the next one that came towards him with his shield. He grunted when he felt amount of power that slammed into his arm when her strike connected with the surface of the shield. It felt as if an avalanche crashed against his arm and wanted to bury it under itself.
"Why do you need to hit so hard?" He asked her as he looked at his arm, trying to see if all of his bones were in one piece. He felt as if something or someone turned most of them into a finely grounded dust.
"Because you make stupid decisions." Sif bluntly told him "You should have avoided that strike, yet you decided to do the most stupid thing you could have done and decided to block it."
He glared at her, dangerous light in his eyes.
"She is right, ya know?" Hrolf asked him from the side where he was busy sharpening his axe. "Don't assume that everybody with whom you are fighting is on the same or below your level, imagine a duel against let's say your grandfather or maybe even my father.
Harry looked at him and the moment he imagined such duels he paled. "I guess that you are right, but than – he moved a round shield he was holding in his left hand – what's the point of this?"
"To stop strikes that don't come from things that can kill you with just one strike and to protect you from projectiles." Sif explained "It's better to dodge or evade, unless you are fighting in a tight formation than you are forced to block."
Harry glowered at her, but after a moment nodded. "I guess that I was wrong and that you are right."
"I'm older and wiser." Sif said "So I'm supposed to be better and more experienced than you are." She paused and looked at him "Do it once again, but try to dodge or parry it with a sword."
He nodded and gripping comfortable and a very familiar hilt of Tyrfing, he focused on her and her moves, trying to predict where she would strike. The moment he saw her muscles move, his hand shot forward and he managed to push her sword to the side and away from his head.
"Better." Sif nodded approvingly and sent several more strikes his way, making him dodge and attempt to block them, most of them successfully. "Much better." She nodded several moments later and sent powerful overhead strike aimed at his chest.
"Ugh" He grunted from exertion as he blocked it, their blades sending showers of sparks, he was forced to kneel onto one knee before he was able to fully stop it. He tried to move his arm to push Sif's sword away when he felt pain flare up all over his back. He dropped his blade onto the sand of the arena and grabbed space just under his shoulder blade.
Sif's eyes widened in surprise when she saw him drop his blade and she barely stopped her own from crashing into his side. "What is it?"
"It hurts." Harry only said as he held his back, he never ever before felt similar pain, it felt as if someone was pushing white hot iron and twisting it there. His knees buckled under and he would have crashed against the ground if not for Sif who caught him.
"What is it?" Sif asked as she looked at him, her blue eyes looking into his emerald green.
"I don't know." Harry weakly said as tears started to pour out of his eyes. "It just hurts."
She nodded, her palm gloved green and she swiped it over his body, when she did it her brows furrowed and she did it once again. She sharply turned her head to the right where Hrolf and Ulf were looking at her with some worry. "Hrolf, find Her Grace and ask her to meet me in the chamber of the Soul Forge, Ulf the same thing with His Highness."
She grabbed Harry's body and lifted him of the ground, she saw him loss consciousness, but she didn't care about it, as it was a lesser of her worries. And could wait for a moment, while things that she saw with her simple spells couldn't.
She briskly walked through the corridors of the Citadel, heading for the Healer's Halls and the Soul Forge Chamber inside of them. The moment she crossed their threshold healers that were inside looked at her and than at who she was carrying. Their eyes widened and they pointed her in a direction of a Soul Forge Chamber.
"Your Grace" She titled her head when she entered it and inside saw Frigga looking at her and at the unmoving body held by her.
"Sif" Frigga said as she placed Harry's body in the Soul Forge "What did happen to him?" Queen of Asgard asked, worry and care visible in her voice. While she was a ruthless diplomat when needed, she was also a caring mother and grandmother to her family, not to mention one of the finest healers.
"We were training and he said something about pain of and around his back."
She could feel Queen of Asgard gaze slip over her and than turn to her grandson. "That's an interesting thing." Frigga muttered several phrases under her breath and around Harry's unmoving body formed a net of red lines that were the main part of the Soul Forge, in the air also appeared several holographic displays that were showing his life functions and simplified genome. "Peculiar." She murmured
"Peculiar, Your Grace?"
"His body is trying to grow something." Frigga said and than her eyes widened "Of course, so that's what it is." With a wave of her hand she enlarged image showing Harry's DNA and to its sides appeared two smaller ones. "One in the middle is his DNA, to the sides is DNA of a mutant from Earth and of a wizard." She explained and indicated Harry's body "It decided that it is ready to start showing mutants traits and this pain of his is associated with the first of them."
"What is it?"
"His bones will become hollow, his sight will sharpen even more than our normal is and his lungs as well as muscles around his chest will become more efficient and bigger." Frigga explained and at the same time Thor walked or more properly run in. Ulf almost chasing him as he tried to keep up with the Thunderer.
"What is going on?" Thor asked and than his gaze landed on the body of Harry, who seemed to be asleep, breathing slowly and evenly, as if he didn't care about the world around him. "What had happened to him?"
"Nothing bad." Frigga said in soothing, calming voice. "His mutation just started to manifest in a painful way." She saw his eyes darken and she raised her hand "Don't get rash as he should be fine or mostly fine."
Thor grumbled, but Sif could tell that he decided to stay silent and let them do whatever they were doing, it surprised her a little as he wasn't known for being the most patient being, but it seemed as if having a son and more responsibilities made him able to think first and act second.
Frigga with a wave of her hand made Harry's body rotate so that she could see his back and she hummed quietly as she looked at it, with another wave she sent his shirt to a side where it folded on its own and she took a better look at his back, there were two barely visible protrusions that tried to push through the skin. "No wonders he felt so much pain." She muttered and at the tip of her middle finger appeared a thin beam of raw magical energy. She moved it towards one of those protrusions and opened one of them.
Some blood flowed out the moment her knife punched through the skin, but more importantly something feathery came into the view, it was a wing or at least a beginning of one as it needed to grow to reach its full size. She did the same thing with the second protrusion and afterwards with a wave of her hand she made all the blood vanish and healed all the cuts that she had done in his flesh.
When it was done she caught Harry's body and looked at Thor. "Take him to his room and afterwards I wish to talk with you about few things."
Thor carefully picked up Harry's body from her and meekly nodded "Of course, mother."
o-0-o
Thor looked at Jane who walked out of the side corridor, he didn't expect to see her here. "What are you doing here?" He asked as she joined him.
"I was also asked by your mother to join her, you and your father in his study." She explained "I wonder what is it all about."
"I have a feeling that I know about what it is."
"Oh, amuse me." She smiled sweetly and looked at him "You seem weirdly silent and grumpy."
"It's about Harry." He finally said after a moment of silence.
"What did he do this time?"
"On his own nothing, but a certain thing showed up." Thor said as they turned around the corner and arrived almost in his grandfather study, it was at the end of the corridor. "His mutation appeared and she most likely wants to discuss it."
"You didn't mention it to her, did you?" Jane arched an eyebrow
He paled as he realized that he didn't mention anything about Harry's mutation or the possible one. "I might not have mentioned it to her."
Jane sighed and looked at him, flickers of amusement visible in her eyes "And now you are wondering why she wishes to meet you."
"Point taken." He nodded and waved his hand to open doors in front of them. The moment he stepped inside he saw that his parents were there and his brother was leaning against the wall, usual smirk on his lips.
"Good that you decided to grace us with your presence." Odin said and looked at Frigga "Can you explain to me why did you decide that all of us need to meet here and now?"
"It's about Thor and something that he omitted or forgot to tell us." Frigga said "Mainly the fact that Harry is a mutant and what is his mutation."
"I knew about it." Loki said with a sly smile on his face "It was quite obvious for me since I started to show him some of magic that is explained through sending images and emotions instead of talking."
"But the point still stands." Frigga said and Thor winced as he felt her gaze bore into him "So why didn't you tell us about the fact that he is a mutant and that it will take a form of wings?"
"I don't know." Thor said and sighed "I wanted to enjoy having him around and do not bother about such details."
"Details?" Jane arched her eyebrow "I wouldn't call them details, it's one of those things that you should have told them, you didn't have too many qualms about telling about them to me, Wanda or Sirius."
"Can we cut the chase and focus on the biggest problem?" Loki asked "Bringing all the dirt from the past will give us nothing and we will only lose our precious time, one that we could use in a much better way and more productive way."
"Yes" Thor nodded and looked at Loki, who seemed smug and sure of himself, that is more smug and sure of himself than he usually was. "I think that you already have a plan ready, care to enlighten us about your brilliance and wisdom?"
"Indeed, I have a plan." Loki agreed and smiled "But in truth it's a pretty simple one and it was suggested to me by Jane and Wanda, as well as my own travels all over Midgard." He paused and Thor could see a smirk on his face that wouldn't bring anything good, at least for some people "On Midgard there is an academic institution called Xavier's Institute For Gifted Youngsters and it is focused on teaching mutants on how to use their powers in a safe manner and more importantly his cousin will be attending it, sooner rather than later."
"And he needs to have friends and acquaintances on Midgard as well as he has a family there." Frigga said "So I can see where you are going with it and I like it, as it should be a good thing for him. Question is only when we should send him, Jane?"
Jane was silent for a long moment before she spoke "I would say that once he turns twelve or so as he is going to starts Hogwarts when he is fourteen, so having him spend a year or two at the Institute isn't a bad idea. I know some of people from it personally and two things that I'm sure about them is that they will teach him a lot and that he won't mind this idea."
"Very well." Odin said, he was silent for most of the time, listening to them and giving them time to show their opinions and ideas. "He will be sent to this Institute once he turns twelve, Thor, you are the Crown Prince and while lies are sometimes needed in the politics, I don't want to learn through some other means about things that you had forgotten to mention to me."
Thor paled and nodded "Of course, father, may I go to see him?"
"You can."
o-0-o
Ugh, what happened to me?" Harry asked as he woke up, with massive headache that seemed like it didn't want to stop and weird sensation around his back, as if something new had appeared there, also his memories of what had happened earlier were a little fuzzy.
"You lost consciousness and certain powers of your appeared." Thor said and handed him a mirror "See yourself in it. You will see what I mean by that."
Harry nodded, took the mirror and when he saw himself in it, around his shoulder area he saw two black protrusions. He couldn't believe what he was seeing, it looked like he had wings. He was used to weird things, but people having wings weren't one of them.
"Do... I... Have... Wings?" He stuttered, not sure if he was seeing things right. He felt them and when he touched them, he could say that they were rather sensitive and real, but it still seemed impossible and hard to believe thing.
"Yes." Thor nodded as he sat at the edge of Harry's bed and looked at him. "You inherited the potential from your mother's family, which has appeared in the past, but she and I thought that it had disappeared. They usually manifest at birth or shortly after, but since you didn't have them; we thought that the potential hadn't manifested in you."
"My life won't be normal?" Harry half asked, half pouted. "I hoped life here would be without any major surprise."
"Normal isn't always good." Thor said reassuringly "I lived for over thirteen hundred years and I can say normal that can be boring rather fast. Weird or interesting on the other hand can be good and certainly more enjoyable and interesting.
"I hoped to have a typical and boring life here, not a surprise being thrown at me every few weeks or months." Harry pouted as he looked at his father who had a mischievous flicker in his eyes.
"Talking about surprises and good news for you." Thor slowly said "I might have two pieces of them, one that you have one more cousin on your mother's side of the family and two that you might get to Earth sooner than for Hogwarts."
"I hope that he is better than Dudley." Harry growled
"He is as his father would best out of his head any of such ideas."
"So when I'm going to meet him?" Harry asked, hope and longing visible in his voice.
"Unfortunately not soon, as around your twelfth birthday." Thor said seriously "You need to learn many things before you are ready to go to Midgard and it will take some time for you to learn them all."
He huffed and glared at his father, challenge visible in his eyes.
Thor looked at him "It isn't as safe as you have it here and you will need to be better in your weapons handling and magic before you will be safe there." He paused and sighed "It's not that you should need those things, but the place where you would go tends to draw a lot of attention and you might need to know those things there."
"What place?"
"Xavier's Institute For Gifted Youngsters." Thor said with a thin smile "You should have heard about it."
"Who didn't?" Harry asked, excitement visible in his voice "X-Men are rather popular and I remember uncle Vernon complain about them."
"Your cousin should be attending and if you want to attend you can do that."
"I would love to." Harry smiled
"Good" Thor smiled and ruffled his hair "Now rest and tomorrow or so you will have lessons with Sif."
Harry nodded and watched his dad leave his room, he yawned and looked outside the window, he could see the third moon become visible on the night's sky. He moved to a more comfortable spot on his bed, pulled up the quilt and closed his eyes. He felt tired and needed his precious sleep, or more properly his body demanded it.
o-0-o
Sirius looked up from his tankard and saw Thor enter the inn, one thing that he enjoyed about Asgard were multiple inns and taverns with a variety of beers and ales to choose from. The fact that he could drink as much as he wanted or needed was nothing to sneeze at.
"Once again getting drunk?" Thor asked as he sat down and moments later one of serving girls arrived with another tankard full of ale.
"No" He shook his head and sipped his beer "Just contemplating the past events and what the future will bring. And trying to come to terms with the fact that my friend is the Crown Prince of Asgard of all places and is a nearly immortal being."
"I can just die like you or anybody else." Thor said quietly "We don't want to admit it, but we are as mortal as almost any other species is."
"But you live thousands of years."
"True" Thor winced and looked at him "Harry is a mutant and that's sure."
Sirius's eyes widened in shock and surprise. He took a long sip of his beer, enjoying the bitter smell of it and looked at Thor. "When did it happen and how?"
"When he was training with Sif. Somehow he overextended himself and well, his wings decided to show up."
He was silent for a moment, considering those words, they were a bit surprising. "So you plan to send him to Charles?"
Thor nodded "He is the only or one of few that I would trust with teaching Harry how to use powers that he will have. Also Harry needs to learn about his mortal relatives and this is one of the best occasions and places for him to do so."
Sirius laughed, barking and ragged "He will love meeting his cousins and mutants from Xavier's."
Thor smiled and nodded "Aye, he will."
Sirius sipped his ale and looked at his friend. "You know that he will have issues because of that at Hogwarts? They might point at him and at his wings."
Thor growled "Let them try." At the same time above the inn rumbled a loud thunder, shaking everything and startling other patrons.
"Calm down and control your powers." Sirius said, trying not to chuckle, he failed it miserably and started to laugh.
"Sirius" Thor sighed "I love you like a brother, but sometimes you are an annoying person and I will punch you through the wall."
Sirius paled for a moment and nodded "What about the fact that I'm still a wanted person by the Ministry of Magic and they might do something stupid?"
"I think that you won't need to worry about them for a lot of time." Thor smiled "You can stay here for as long as you want or wish to, on Midgard I think that Fury will make sure that the Ministry won't chase you."
Sirius was silent for a moment, considering those words and trying to compose an answer. He didn't expect to hear such things from Thor, he thought that he was here only for some time and that he would need to leave this realm, sooner rather than later. "I would like to stay here until let's say Harry goes to Xavier's and after that date I would like to return to Earth. I'm honored by the hospitality of your father and the fact that I'm allowed to stay here, but I don't want to overstretch it."
Thor nodded and smiled "Since you are going to stay for so long, what do you plan to do?"
"Teach Harry how to be an animagus and to relax." Sirius said and laughed "After seven, almost eight years of Azkaban I want to have a long, nice holidays, away from Earth and in a nice place."
"Animagus?" Thor asked "When did you decide to do that?"
"It was more of him asking us." Wanda said with a smile as she joined them. "He goaded us into doing it" She sighed and looked at Thor "He is a convincing person, I know how to deal with such, but he played me the way he wanted to do it."
Thor looked at her and later at Sirius "You were convinced by a child? I know that he is my kid, but still."
"Y…Yes" Wanda admitted after a moment "He is… He is convincing and resisting him is hard."
"Do you know that he spends an awful lot of time with my brother?" He asked them
"That would have explained it." Sirius nodded and made a note to speak with Loki about Harry and what he knew, he was getting genuinely scared of him and it seemed that Loki found a worthy apprentice, one that had a mind like a sponge and wanted to learn.
"Yes" Wanda agreed and looked at Thor "You want him to attend the Institute?"
"Yes" Thor nodded
She winced and looked at him "You know what is my opinion about it and how do I like Charles."
"Can we not bring it up?" Sirius sighed "During the war your bickering with Charles almost destroyed the Order."
"Fine" She nodded, finished her ale and walked out of the inn. Sirius looked at her and could tell that the next few days were not going to be good, as her temper tantrums were interesting.
"Thank you." He dryly said and followed her out of the inn, leaving the Thunderer behind.
o-0-o
Harry feared that the three years that he needed to wait until he could come back to Earth or Midgard would stretch into infinity, but he was wrong as they passed in a blur, he didn't even feel the flow of the time and it was already a summer when he would celebrate his twelfth birthday, probably the most important one or one of the most important ones for a young Æsir.
During those three years he had changed and grew up, grew up a lot, while previously he was kind of small, now he was standing at a very respectable five feet and several inches tall. He could feel that he was even stronger, faster and more agile than he first arrived here. Not to mention the fact that now on his back were huge black wings. On Earth he didn't have friends or a family in the true meaning of this word, here he was surrounded by such people.
He looked at the reflection of himself in the golden doors of the Throne Room and briefly smiled, he was wearing a full plate armor forged out of mithril and steel, every single inch of its surface was covered in elaborate carvings and was beautifully decorated, making it look more like a piece of art than an armor. He corrected the cloak that was falling down his back and looked at the guards that stood along the sides of the doors. They pushed them open and he stepped into the Throne Room, entering the room his gaze swept over the crowds that were inside and a narrow corridor kept open by two rows of guards.
At the other end of the room he could see his whole family standing around the throne where sat his grandfather. He slowly walked down the stairs onto the floor of the chamber and with his head held high he walked across it, hearing cheers from the whole gathered room. Coming to the stop in front of his grandfather's throne, he knelt on a one knee, took the helmet of his head and placed it to his side on the ground. He was looking at the stone floor of the room, not at his grandfather's face as protocol banned him from doing so, the fact that he was his grandson didn't matter.
For him it seemed like an eternity before his grandfather decided to speak, his voice loud and perfectly heard by everybody in the room. "Do you, Harald James Thorson swear to uphold values precious to Asgard and swear to protect them?" Odin asked as the silence fell over the entire throne room. Rustling of the leaves outside of the room and banners lazily flapping on the wind could be heard.
"I do." Harry loudly said as he still didn't dare to raise his head, as according to the protocol he couldn't. Even if he was a grandson of Odin and in the future would sit in his place, now he needed to show that he submitted to his will.
"Do you, Harald James swear to be a fair and just ruler?"
"I do." Harry loudly said
"Do you, Harald James swear to protect all inhabitants of Vanaheim from both external and internal threats?" Odin asked and there was heard some surprised muttering as not many expected those words to be said.
"I do."
"Raise, Harald James Thorson Shield of Vanaheim, Lord of the West March, Jarl of Södermars and Black Forest." Odin loudly said as he nodded at one of squires that were waiting to the side of his throne. He was keeping a signet ring with a large diamond in the middle of it, it was a sign of Shield of Vanaheim. Second one being personal banner showing a running wolf on a green shield.
Harry stood up, slipped signet ring onto the ring finger of his left hand, picked up his winged helmet and walked onto the steps that led to the dais on which was placed throne of his grandfather. It was one of many ceremonies that would be held on the day and during the rest of them he would with his family.
"You did good." Thor whispered to him as he slipped into an open spot to his father side.
"Thanks, dad." He said and focused on the room and what was going inside of it. He didn't miss the looks Jane was exchanging with his father, tomorrow would be their wedding. He smiled briefly as he tried to imagine how loud and long those celebrations were going to be. Especially considering the fact that they were combined with his own birthday and that would make them even louder.
o-0-o
Harry entered into the banquet hall, looked around and smiled briefly when he saw how many people and beings were inside of it, he was used to it being full, but it seemed to be even more full than it usually was. His eyes swept over it until he found one of people that he enjoyed talking to.
"Atalanta." He said softly when he pushed his way through the crowd and managed to find her.
"Harald." She nodded "I guess that congratulations are in order."
"Thanks." He smiled and looked at the sun that was slowly hiding behind the horizon "Are you looking forward to those tournaments and celebrations that will follow this feast?"
"Who isn't?"
"Point taken." He nodded "Its just that the length of them annoys me a bit."
"Why?" She arched an eyebrow, the only sign of how surprised she was.
"They're getting boring for me after certain point." He explained "I know that it sounds silly, but it's just me."
"So how true are those rumors that you will travel to Midgard for most of the next year?" She asked as they walked onto the terrace and stopped at the railing, enjoying the view.
"Very true." He nodded "I want to meet with one cousin of mine and have some fun away from most of the nobles and all of the rules of the court."
"Lucky you." She said and her eyes widened when an eagle screamed above them. "What was that?"
"Hábrók." Harry smiled as he extended his arm forward and the eagle landed on it, digging its claws into Harry's clothes. "Gift from my godmother." He added with a smug smile.
"You know that eagles are a sacred animal of my grandfather?" She asked, somewhat pale on her face. As if afraid of something.
He lightly ruffled some of Hábrók feathers and looked at her. "And what?"
"It's just that he might have issues with you having an eagle."
He laughed softly and looked at her "Are you aware that eagles are also a sign of kings and emperors all over Midgard?"
She looked at him as if he was insane and than shook her head. "He is a member of the Council and you want to bring something like that? I knew that you were a bit foolhardy, but that is pushing it hard."
"I'm not planning to showing up anywhere close to him for as long as it is possible."
"Still, that's pushing your luck to its extremes and even when dueling with Sif you tend to be less stupid."
He looked at her and was silent for a long time, she once again looked at her and could see corners of her lips rise. "Are you having fun out of me?" He asked her seriously.
"No." She chuckled softly and looked towards the banquet hall from where could be heard the sound of a horn. "It seems that the feast is about to begin."
"It is." He smiled and glanced at her "Shall we head inside?"
"We shall." She nodded with a smile, Hábrók jumped off his arm and flew into the air, and he followed her inside.
o-0-o
On the day of the wedding whole Asgard was decorated in banners in colors of hours of Odin as everybody prepared for the usual procession through the city, starting from Heimdall Observatory and ending at the Palace where would be the main ceremony and after that feast after feast. Guests from every realm arrived bearing beautiful and extremely expensive gifts for newlyweds as well as their best wishes.
Harry stood alongside his grandparents and uncle as they waited for arrival of Thor and Jane from the ride through the city. Steps leading to the Palace were lined by the Royal Guard in their winged helmets and standing still. All around them were packed various nobles, ambassadors and vassals as well as commoners and other people that managed to get place there as many almost lined the main alley leading into the palace.
Sun was shining above their heads as the sky was cloudless and there was light breeze coming from the sea that made standing still in crowns and heavy clothes with summer sun above somewhat bearable. Yet even with that Harry shifted uncomfortably in his ceremonial armor, wishing for everybody to move faster and get it done sooner. He felt as if he was slowly being roasted over a large fire.
"Here they come." Loki quietly whispered as the beginning of the column emerged in their view, white horses of the guard easily visible, following them was even more guard, followed by an open carriage with Thor and Jane, which was followed by even more guard. They slowly rode through the city and above them banners lazily flapped in the wind.
Several more minutes of ride carriage came to halt in front of the corridor formed by the royal guard. Thor was first to leave it and helped Jane descend onto the ground as in her dress getting out of it was a little challenging without any help.
Once both of them was on the ground they passed through the corridor made by the guard who stood silent and still as if they were sculptures. As they were passing through that corridor, cheers that previously were loud, now became even louder as Thor was beloved Prince of Asgard.
o-0-o
"I knew that dad was popular, but this is crazy." Harry whispered as he looked at Loki. He could heard quite a loud shouts and cheers coming from the crowds.
"He is that popular." Loki replied with a smile as he looked at the crowds, Thor and Jane slowly walking through the corridor made by the guard. "Generally all of us are liked, even I."
"I noticed that." Harry said as he remembered how he was greeted when he was with his uncle or dad visiting one realm or another.
Odin smiled as he saw his son and his bride walking up the stairs to the place where the rest of royal family stood. They stopped in front of him and lightly bowed their heads, in that way they showed their respect for him and the fact that he was their liege.
"We gathered here to be witnesses to a marriage between my son Thor and his bride Jane. Do any of you oppose this marriage?" Asked Odin as he slammed his spear into the floor and silenced the crowds, starting the ceremony.
There was only a silence as nobody wished to challenge Thor, especially on his day and he was their beloved Prince.
"Do you swear to treat her fairly and justly? Do you swear to love her?" Odin asked as his attention landed on his son.
"I do." Loudly said Thor
Odin gaze landed on Jane "Do you swear to obey him? Do you swear to love him?"
"I do!" Said Jane
"Than I declare you husband and wife!" Announced Odin and looked at them. Thor grabbed Jane and kissed her passionately among the cheers coming from the crowd. Harry tried not to sigh as he followed them into the Citadel as it meant the beginning of the next round of feasts and he was already bored by them.
o-0-o
On the following day Harry was forced to wake up early as celebrations would start in the morning and would last for the whole day and into the night. After quick and small breakfast he headed for bathroom and to get dressed, today he would be wearing armor that was forged for him by dwarves few weeks ago. It consisted of mithril chainmail which was heavily gilded and covered in gems, onto it went mithril breastplate with holes in the backplate to allow wings to stick out through them and giving them full range of movements. It was a huge headache for ones that were making this armor for him, but after few days of playing with magic and science they managed to came up with a solution. His legs and arms were protected by further plates forged out of mithril and once again were covered in heavy gilding. To it was also horned helmet, but for today he would wear his coronet, there was also cape that was short and wide enough not to get tangled in his wings or between legs.
Harry took last calming breath and walked out of his chambers and headed for part of the palace where tournament would take place. After several minutes of walk through the maze of hallways and corridors he finally arrived in the box of the royal family, where rest of it was already gathered. Frigga looked at Harry and nodded approvingly as he looked good in that armor and behaved natural, while some had problems with it as a lot depended on fitting armor to the user.
"I have something for you." She said getting Harry attention, who looked at her as she fished out of her clothes ring made out of red gold with triskelion in the middle of it, chiseled out of ruby and bracelet made out of four gold wires with yet another triskelion chiseled out of ruby in the middle of it. There were also two far simpler bracelets with them, they seemed to be simple bands of steel inscribed with rows, upon rows of runes. "Ring is enchanted to be a hiding place for your sword, press triskelion in it and it will appear. Bracelet is hiding place for your shield, while those two will help you control your strength when on Asgard
"Thanks, grandma." Said Harry fondly as he put on ring on middle finger of his right hand and bracelet went onto his left arm. He pressed triskelion on his ring and from it appeared Tyrfing. He did that once again and it was gone.
Odin looked over the crowd and slammed his spear into the ground, silencing them and opening the tournament that would last for next two days and at night there would be huge feasts. Doors leading onto the arena opened and the first pair of fighters entered.
o-0-o
As Harry was used to big feasts, this one was way bigger than the ones that he previously saw, layout of the room was changed as there were several more tables in the room to accommodate additional guests that arrived for the ceremony and feast after it. From his seat at the high table he could see guests from almost every single of realms, there were graceful and tall elves from Alfheim, fair-haired and gentle Vanir from Vanaheim, powerful and proud dwarves from Nidavellir. Envoys and ambassadors from other interstellar empires, even few gods from Olympus if his sight was right. As well as hundreds of Æsir that were here to celebrate marriage of their beloved Crown Prince Thor.
Harry excused himself from the feast rather quickly as he wanted to rest and in morning be full of energy as it was another day of loud, really loud celebrations and tournaments. Also he was a bit bored by them and he didn't see a point in sitting there, while trying not to yawn too openly.
o-0-o
Harry leaned against the railing of the balcony outside of the banquet hall as he stood there with his friends. It was second day of the tournaments and tomorrow would be a giant feast and celebrations as it was wedding day and such events in the royal family tended to get big and loud. They were a show of power of the royal family and how important they were.
"So far those tournaments look interesting." Ulf said as he looked at his friend. He quickly took liking of Harry, he was a bit annoying for a few times, but after that he was a nice and a good friend. Also their constant duels were one thing that made sure that they were training at their highest level.
"Yes" Harry agreed "I spotted few that might be my sworn shields and swords, grandfather agreed about them and they will be sworn on the day after tomorrow."
"Your Highness." Said someone as he approached them. Harry took a better look at him and was able to tell that it was Wolf Prince of Vanaheim. He was a tall man with golden eyes, tanned skin under which were visible wiry, hard muscles, he had mane of unruly black hair and was wearing similar clothes to Vanir. Also his canines were extending beyond his lips and gave him slightly feral appearance.
"Wolf Prince Hrimhari, to what do I owe this pleasure?"
"You have fine wolves." Hrimhari casually said as he looked at Freki and Geri who were laying nearby. "They seem to be fond of you."
"You can speak with wolves?" Harry asked, more than a bit shocked, as he didn't expect such things.
"Yes." Hrimhari nodded as Freki whined softly looking at Wolf Prince. "We do not talk freely about it as we aren't liked everywhere, but we can talk with wolves. You probably know that we can transform into wolf or somewhere in between."
"Yes, Heimdall mentioned that when he showed me Vanaheim." Harry said and frowned "But why you aren't liked everywhere?"
"It's not us per se." Hrimhari said as he scratched Freki, behind the ears "But our cousins, ones touched by the curse of Wulfen or Fenrir, you may know them also as lycanthropes or werewolves. They can't control their wolf spirit during full moon and are rather savage during that time. Because of that they are hunted on Midgard wherever they are spotted or even when there is a rumor about one being nearby."
"Not only there." Atalanta said quietly "On Olympus they aren't liked and are hunted as they are hated by my aunt Artemis, because they bit one of my cousins, a son of Apollo."
"So you aren't liked because of not your actions, but because of your cousins?" Harry asked as he looked at Hrimhari.
"Yes." Wolf Prince said sadly. "Same can be told about elves as light ones aren't liked everywhere due to their dark cousins that waged war against your great-grandfather in their foolish attempt to destroy Nine Realms and bring back the eternal darkness."
"I see."
o-0-o
"Harry doesn't know that but he causes quite a shock among nobles." Loki quietly said as he stood near Thor, who only raised eyebrow. "He is talking with Wolf Prince Hrimhari of Vanaheim."
"That will be interesting." Thor quietly said
"It will be." Loki agreed "Many are jealous that Hrimhari gets attention of Harry, but this friendship will help him."
"It will as they are a loyal people and one that you want to be friendly with."
"Who is this Hrimhari?" Jane asked
"One of the biggest and most powerful vassals of Prince Freyr of Vanaheim and leader of Wolf People." Explained Thor as he looked at Jane. "They can change shape from wolf to human or somewhere between. Excellent trackers and hunters, they will track down everything you need to be tracked."
o-0-o
In front of Odin kneeled six Aesir, ones that impressed him or other members of the royal family during two days of tournaments that were held as a part of celebration of Harry turning eleven. Most of them were second, third or fourth sons of various nobles of Asgard, it was the best chance for them to make a name for themselves as well as to get titles as royal family payed generously to their guards.
"Do you swear to protect Prince Harald Thorsson, even at the cost of your life?" Odin asked them as their swords laid bare on the stone of the floor in front of them.
"Yes, I do." Every single one of them said.
"Do you swear to obey Prince Harald Thorsson? And to follow him into the battle."
"Yes, I do."
"Than raise, sworn shields and swords of Prince Harald Thorsson." Odin as they raised from the ground, at the same Sif moved forward to the front of the crowd. "Lady Sif will tell you about your new duties as well as show you your quarters inside of the palace and armory."
o-0-o
It took over two weeks for the feasts, tournaments and other celebrations to finish and it took a further week before Harry was ready to travel back to Earth. He sighed as he looked at his godmother and dad quietly arguing about something, he sighed and looked at them. "How long I will need to wait until you are ready?"
They looked at him and later at each other. "What about now?" Thor asked
"Yes" Wanda said, Harry could tell that she wasn't happy about something. "The sooner we are done with it, the sooner I can do something else."
"Thank you." He said with a smile "As I was getting bored by your argument."
Thor ignored his remark and glanced at Wanda "Can you open a portal for us."
"With pleasure." She smirked and in front of them appeared a vortex of energy "Step through it and you will land in the Avengers Tower."
She was the first one to step through it. Harry glanced at his dad and together they stepped through it, he could see that his dad was changing into his James Potter form. He himself was eager and ready to see what Earth would bring to him, also he was eager to meet his supposed cousin – Warren Worthington III. To be continued….