Disclaimer: I own nothing. This is done for entertainment and I receive zero currency from these writings. sigh...

Training began indeed. Over the weeks and months, Harry was led through many training exercises by older warriors, most of whom had apparently fought in the war against the Frost Giants that Loki mentioned when he first arrived. He knew they took it easy on him as his strength had not fully returned and his body was still healing. Before they taught him anything advanced, the warriors slowly introduced him to the concepts of fighting with two weapons. First the staff, as Harry needed to understand attacks from further away before working towards the hammer and close range combat.

It was strange not to rely on magic to further his attacks but the warriors were under strict orders not to allow him to use his magic until his strength had fully returned. According to Frigga, using his magic slowed the healing of his injuries to the point that his wounds were reopening each time he used his magic as it drew away from his core the necessary energy his body needed to sustain the healing process.

Harry was practicing his staff work, sweat dripping down his face and plastering his hair to his head. He paused to catch his breath when he saw the boys spying on him from across the courtyard. Harry grinned and trotted over to them, feeling good. Sore and tired, but good.

"Loki and Thor, what a wonderful surprise," Harry said ruffling each of the boys' hair in turn. Not that he was surprised to see them as the two often snuck away from their tutors to watch him practice.

"Harry...your hand," Loki said pointing. Harry looked at his good hand noticing nothing. Then it hit him, he was holding his weapon with his bad hand. He switched his weapon to his good hand and studied his ruined hand closer. The painful scars were less defined. The new skin almost the same looking as old skin. Over all his hand looked healthy. A little beat up, but normal. He flexed his fingers to find no stiffness, no tender pull of stretching repairing skin and muscles. When had it healed? Harry could not pinpoint when he had last felt pain from his injuries. He felt...healthy. Fit. Like he could run a mile and still not need to pause and catch his breath.

Harry glanced down at his staff and a thought came to him...I wonder… Harry felt for his magic and this time easily found it. He felt it warm him with a familiar tingle. "Expecto petronum" Harry breathed, feeling the magic flow from him to his staff which he lifted to point across the courtyard. Immediately, a ghostly white buck flowed out from the staffs tip and trotted around the yard. Loki strained forward in curiosity as the unfamiliar animal ambled near. When he reached out his hand, all he felt was a warm mist but he could hear a gentle voice singing a lullaby, voices laughing, the thrill of rushing wind and weightlessness, and thousands of other things that brought joy.

Harry canceled the spell with a quick "finite."

"What was that creature?" Frigga's voice broke the stillness.

Harry turned to see her surprised face from where she stood behind her sons. Both of whom, jumped at her presence.

Harry answered, "It's a male deer. A buck. A kind of plant eating forest creature from home. It's my...well...it represents my soul in that spell. That spell is used to ward off these creatures of darkness called dementors. They can drain all your joy, hope, and peace; making you feel every bad thing and remember every bad moment in your life until they either drive you insane or suck out your soul. Vile monsters. That spell creates a shield that is fueled by your happiest memories. The shape the spell takes is determined by who you are as a person. Deep down."

"And what does your spell say about you?" Frigga asks gently.

"They say that a buck will die to protect its herd. Its family. It will fight with all its might to save everyone else," Harry said, quietly.

"And you would do this?" Frigga asked, pushing at something that she knows is there, waiting to be out in the open.

Harry sighed and looked out beyond the courtyard as if looking at the Bifrost which was on the other side of the walls of the city. "I already have. I've died before. I came back to the living ready to do it again. I will do it again if need be. Death is as easy as falling asleep. Life...life is much more painful."

Frigga's heart broke at those low, soft words. Great was this man's suffering. His sacrifice. He knew the measure of life and death and pain and misery. And yet here was this infinitely kind, gentle, patient man who has embraced life despite knowing the respite death would bring.

"Despite the pain, life is so much more… fulfilling. The sights, sounds, tastes, feelings, the people, and places. Death is just the absence of everything. It's easy. But nothing worthwhile is ever easy," Harry said, turning back to smile his gentle warm smile. He turned his face upward and closed his eyes, letting the breeze play over his sweat slicked hair and damp clothes. Staff held loosely in his hand. Frigga sensed a peace wash over him.

Later that night, Frigga and Odin spoke of the young man's progress. Both felt that the warriors' sickness would not destroy him but make him stronger. Harry was going to be a worthy ally and member of their family.

Author's note: OMG! I am so sorry I left you all hanging like that. I had writer's block and then I moved and had to find a new job and things have been nuts. I will try and post more as I get it written.

Thanks for not abandoning me!

-Randompersonality