It is good to be back! I hope everyone reading is doing well and as always I will be replying to reviews here.

Master of Dragons God: I am glad you've been enjoying my story so far. :D

EmeraldGuardian7: Indeed, poor Dorian had to take the difficult challenge of not only solving the riddle...but discovering the burden of being a king the hard way.

PasiveNox: Thank you for your kind words!

And on that note...on with the show!

Now at his quests end, Dorian stands within the halls of Giants. Can he acquire the sought after weapon and return in time, and if so...what will await him in his struggle against the youngest son of Thor?

Dorian bowed low before the colossal king, his eyes looking over the young man quizzically.

"All hail in the presence of King Ymiron, lord of these mountains and the Jotnar people," an impressively armored giant proclaimed. The room lit up with a thunderous applause that shook the very walls.

"What brings you before me," the king boomed, fingers tightening around his throne as silence fell upon the masses once more.

"I am here to see the dwarves of Nidavellir your grace," he replied tactfully. "I am in great need of their services to save someone close to me. I humbly beseech you to…"

The king immediately started laughing, but not mockingly or with the intention to belittle him, rather it was similar to Vidar's jolly commanding laugh.

"I…I am sorry," he apologized, wiping away a tear. "I could not resist, of course we were informed of your errand by Asgard's Allfather. You must have enemies indeed for so many of my men to forsake their king in favor of your death."

"I don't know why they would have attacked me," he explained. "My errand is of no threat to the Jotun people."

"That could be disputed, long was Mjolnir the bane of my subjects, you need such a weapon to rival Modi's and enforce justice. Is this correct?"

"You speak truly, though I would never harm your people other than in self-defense," Dorian continued. "I apologize for any ceremony or tradition I have skipped to reach here, however the matter…"

"Dire and urgent, gotcha," the imposing giant stood from his throne, causing his guards to tense as they prepared to follow him. However, he only walked forward enough so he was standing before Dorian…though standing over him would be more accurate. "Regrettably, the splendor of my halls has been besmirched in the past, I insist that courtesy be upheld and you join us in celebration. The mead will flow for days and you can drink your fill. If any of my serving maids catch your eye and you catch theirs feel free to indulge…if you feel up to the challenge."

The entire room let out a guffaw to match the king's, even Ratatoskr joined in briefly.

"It…is greatly appreciated your grace," Dorian replied with only slight hesitation in his voice. "However, time is of the greatest of essence. Would it be acceptable to partake of the festivities at a later date?"

The room fell quiet, even more so than before, the previously friendly smile of Ymiron had flattened, he did not look pleased.

"Declining a king is NOT the best start to a conversation," Ratatoskr whispered in his ear. "It's barely been two days; we got party hardy and then head over to…"

"I can't be sitting here drinking and partying while Rose is sitting in a cell!" He whispered back harshly. "We need to get in, get the weapon and…"

"That is most disagreeable to hear," the king spoke up at last. "In the past, guests have visited us from Asgard and Vanaheim, your mighty Thor was among them centuries ago. They made similar words of expedience and I heeded them, only for slander of my halls to follow in their wake at the lack of courtesy offered them. Our relations have improved, this is true, but if such words were to return I fear there would be no recovering in the eyes of the remaining realms. I INSIST that you remain until the conclusion of the festivities."

"I would never slander your halls good king," Dorian continued. Ratatoskr could only shield his eyes and hide behind him. "I give you my word that no such words will pass my lips; I have seen no discourtesy to claim."

"Words alone are not as strong as they once were. What assurance do I have that you would never speak false ills of our land?"

This is…insanity! Dorian screamed internally, his calm collective state slowly eroding. His attempt to force courtesy is the only discourtesy here! I cannot…I will not waste a single moment in this place in revelry. There MUST be something I can…

And then it hit him, Dorian thought of the only thing that might sway the immovable king. In a gesture unexpected by all present, Dorian's frustrated face flattened as he fell down to his knees, lowering himself as low as he possibly could.

"I swear, King Ymiron, on not just my word, but on my life and position as retainer to Lady Freyja Goddess of Life and Fertility before yourself and gathered subjects, that no false or imagined discourtesies of your hall shall ever cross these lips. Here and now I do swear that should such words ever be uttered, I shall return to Jotunheim in the greatest of haste to offer my life in repentance."

The king looked at him with a serious expression, it took only a few steps before he was upon the young man, with a single hand motion he ordered him to stand.

He started to laugh again.

"A golden tongue indeed, I accept your oath and shall reduce the courtesy required to a single drink with me!" He slapped Dorian on the back, his palm gigantic and encompassing almost all of him. "Bring my cup!"

A pair of Jotun women dressed in gowns produced an enormous goblet filled to the brink with deep red wine. The cup was nearly as tall as Dorian. The king took a great sip before laying it on the ground for Dorian to take.

"Let this toast reinforce the peace between our people that has held for so long!"

"Um," Ratatoskr tried to interject. "I don't think he can lift…"

A flash of gold light interrupted him as Dorian's Sacred Gear activated; with both hands he seized the base of the mouth of the cup. With apparent ease he tilted it up the smallest of amounts, just enough to take an admittedly larger than intended gulp of wine. The Jotun king eyed the newfound device curiously.

"And of course, a gift from the host to his guest." The king pulled out a pouch from his breast pocket, lowering it to Dorian. It was so small it sat in the center of his palm and appeared to be made for a normal human size. "Within this bag rests a finger bone of the first serpent I ever tangled with, take it with you in remembrance of this meeting."

The room burst into applause once more as the king genuinely smiled. Dorian bowed low again as he nestled the gift within his tunic, unknowingly right next to the box containing his first two rewards since setting out from the Bifrost.

"You honor me your grace. To be given a gift that is likely so dear to you. I do not feel that I…"

"Am worthy?" He finished. "We are not blind to the passes beneath our mountain; you have been monitored since you stepped out of the Bifrost. Did you not save a child, one who perhaps would have perished to leave a grieving father to blame himself until the end of his days? And did you not relive one of the darker annals in our lengthy history, making a choice that our…previous king should have in order to prevent a mere boy from taking power before his time?

Previous king…his father?

"Well, now that those revelries are passed," King Ymiron suddenly broke from the somber feel of his words. "I believe there was a pair of dwarven smiths you had to meet with quite urgently?"

Back in Asgard

"Delivered, as promised," the god of mischief informed the newcomer remaining in the shadows of his chamber.

"Excellent," he replied, his voice low so as not to risk discovery, however the pompous tone bled through his restraint. "We are in the process of acquiring the other swords as well, with Hrotti added to the mix, not even your lands will be able to stay out of the war entirely."

"Any more blades you have your eye on?"

The more the merrier to bring about Ragnarok…

"Of course, but you need to know it. Rest easy knowing that, should we succeed, each mythology will have a stake in the war to come…one without end."

It will indeed end, along with all else.

"I have heard reports that your theft was not wholly without incident," his words caused Loki's false smile to flatten. "Should we be concerned?"

"Hardly, he was a necessary pawn to open the vault, but has served his purpose. It was only through him being an abomination that allowed his survival. He will not be a nuisance much longer."

"He cannot expose us?"

"Even if he survives, he is in the dark; Modi has made an excellent distraction if nothing else. However, he must first make it back before the weeks end in order to exonerate our little Valkyrie and the storms surrounding the mountain of King Ymiron can be quite…temperamental."

"Then farewell Loki, son of Farbauti. I will look for you again when next we meet amidst the blood and fury of renewed conflict."

In a flash, the ally was gone, naught left behind to prove he was ever there save the medium required to summon him in and out without arousing suspicion…a single tall black feather.

Forges of Jotunheim…

A procession of Jotun guards led Dorian and Ratatoskr to the forges, to those watching it would seem like the two were prisoners, but they knew better. After the attack outside, the king was unwilling to risk any harm to his guests, they were ensuring the retainer of Lady Freyja and his companion reached their destination.

"I'm pretty sure he would have let us pass regardless of your acceptance of the party," Ratatoskr explained to him as they walked. "There's no way he was so unreasonable, he was testing your diplomacy and determination, not many who visit the giants from Asgard are so good with their tongues. He must be one of the wicked clever ones."

The escort stopped before a large chamber, taking up positions on both sides.

"The smiths are within and aware of your arrival, you may enter when prepared."

"Thank you," Dorian nodded to the lead soldier towering above him. Breathing in deep, he pushed the massive doors open, revealing the workshop within.

The heat assailed his face; even Ratatoskr retreated behind his head despite never having been affected by temperature before. He immediately felt sticky and hot as he had in the lush jungles below. Dorian had removed his armor as it was no longer needed and remained only in a tunic and other casual wear he had packed for the trip; he quickly rolled up his sleeves and loosened it as best he could for some relief.

He was greatly surprised, almost underwhelmed. After the grand structure and other impressive constructs of Asgard and the Jotuns, he had expected an entire planet devoted to smithing within, or at least a small continent. Instead, there was but a single forge, larger than most but not to any incredible degree. Dorian was no smith himself, but could recognize the forge, a cooling tank, a very impressive looking anvil and various other tools of the trade. The room was bathed in a dull gold light as a result of most of the walls being lined with gold interlaid into the stone surrounding them. Between the front entrance and the equipment was a simple wooden desk as if it were a shop. Slowly, Dorian approached, taking note of the two forms working the bellows and forge in the back.

They were clearly the dwarves as far as Dorian was aware even just looking at the impressive beards stretching down to their knees. They were quite short, being over a head or two below him with stout frames that seemed inappropriately disproportioned. Their arms however, put Dorian's to shame, each one was rippling with muscles upon muscles as thick as tree trunks. It would not have surprised him to learn that they spent all day and night working their craft.

"E-excuse me…" he started, however the first raised a finger to demand silence, cutting him off.

"Ssshhh, very delicate stage, so help me if the vibrations of your voice throw it off…"

"Done!" The second blacksmith screamed at the top of his lungs, causing the first to jump, groaning in embarrassment. "I told you it would work!" The first dwarf grumbled, finally turning towards Dorian.

"Welp," now that subtlety has been shot dead on arrival, I suppose you be the one looking for our services. The names Brokkr, this here little shit is my brother Eitri."

"You're the shit!" The other dwarf, Eitri, shouted as he continued to work the forge. "Must you always introduce me like that?"

"When you stop acting like it, I'll stop introducing you like it!"

"I like these guys," Ratatoskr almost looked giddy as the two went back and forth.

"So," Brokkr finally asked, leaning over the desk. "What can I do for ya?"

"I…was told you two were the best at forging weapons. That you can make a weapon to go against Modi's mace." Brokkr immediately turned and spit behind the counter, something caught fire and ignited for half a second before he returned his gaze to Dorian.

"That little ingrate, do you know that whoreson, no offense to the lady Sif, came down here ages ago for us to make that mace he likes to swing about?"

"I had heard you made it."

"Precisely, favor to his pop. The bugger comes all the way here, spends a week partying with the illustrious king and keeps us waiting, only to turn up without a single raw material for us to actually make his weapon with."

"Raw material?" A lump formed in Dorian's throat. "What do you mean?"

"Well," Brokkr laughed. "We can't very well make a weapon out of thin air now can we? The parts have got to come from somewhere. The big baby threw a tantrum until we drove him out. He showed up almost a month later with the finest ore and minerals found throughout these mountains. We made him what he asked for, but it was still very embarrassing for him. Well, sorry about that trip down memory lane…what do you have for us?"

Dorian looked like a deer caught in headlights. Brokkr and Ratatoskr both sighed in tandem, their facepalms perfectly in synch.

"I didn't know I needed any materials!" Dorian shouted as his calm shattered. "I was never told…"

"What do you got on ya kid? Maybe we can make a letter opener or something."

"My weapons and armor are being kept in King Ymiron's armory!" Dorian was fuming. "Could they be melted down and used?"

"I saw your gear kid, it's nice but it's still standard steel reinforced with seals and magic. I could do it, but Modi's is of vastly superior quality. He spent a month gathering plenty of normal steel, titanium…somehow the bugger even got lucky and found enough ore to make a bar or two of Asgardian Steel!"

"I must have something! I…I can't take a month; the Rite of Challenge against Modi is in barely four days! If I don't win, Rossweisse will be…"

"Look, I get what's going on, I really do," Brokkr laid a hand on his shoulder. "But for it to be YOUR weapon as per the Rite of Challenge, it must be made of YOUR accomplishments. What do you have with you right now?"

Dorian slammed his fist onto the table, tears of frustration welling up in his eyes. He immediately took off his boots and presented them, Brokkr was not impressed. He undid his cufflinks, pulled off his tunic and started emptying his pockets and satchel. Supplies, a compass, a few eating utensils, his lyre, Ratatoskr even offered his acorns, nothing that could be made into a weapon of real worth. He had left Asgard in such a hurry he had only packed the essentials. Perhaps he could beg the king for the materials; he'd give up his soul if he had to!

As soon as Dorian thought that, he reached the bottom of his satchel pulling out the chest he had been given by the Jotun father, the sack presented to him by King Ymiron resting on top. It was like a chef getting a whiff of a rival's cooking, Brokkr and even Eitri suddenly locked their gazes on the containers, eyes widened in wonder.

"What…are those?" They asked, their nostrils flaring with inhalations as if they actually could smell something.

"I was given the chest from a Jotun father down at the waterfall, I didn't get his name. He said it held an…an…"

"Ember of water," Ratatoskr reminded him. "I think he said that, though my Jotnar is a tad rusty."

"And the rest?"

"There is a vial in there of tears of a statue, and King Ymiron just gave me a finger bone from a serpent."

The smiles on the dwarves faces were practically manic, how they could look so happy yet so obsessed at the same time was mind boggling.

"And, you never thought those names were rather odd?" Brokkr led on, clearly trying to make a point. "Water doesn't leave embers, I ain't ever heard of statues crying…and how many snakes do you know with fingers?"

Dorian was very confused now.

"I assumed they were titles, I mean for any of those to exist would be…"

"Impossible!" Eitri finished, abandoning his post to join them. "Ya are holding in yer hands three items that do not exist any longer!"

"How can that be?"

"Jotunheim be the land of untamed wilderness that has been untouched since the creation of…everything. Many things existed back during that primordial age that did not last."

"And that's good?"

"Good!?" Brokkr and Eitri broke out into raucous laughter; even Ratatoskr seemed to understand and joined in. Dorian shot him a nasty look which quickly silenced him.

"How do you fight against the impossible?" Ratatoskr finally interjected. "You may have heard of the chain that bound Loki's son Fenrir long ago…Gleipnir! It was made from the sound of a cat's footfall, the beard of a woman, the roots of a mountain, the sinews of a bear, the breath of a fish and the spittle of a bird. Working with impossible items is the dwarves bread and butter!"

"I have, but didn't he escape from it in the end?" Dorian remembered the history lesson in Lady Eir's class. After being trapped by the chain Fenrir, the god-devouring wolf, had received aid from his sons' Skoll and Hati and escaped its binds without breaking them.

"It was made of six impossible items and took the efforts of multiple gods for him to escape," Brokkr completed the lesson. "To challenge the impossible requires near-equally impossible power beyond the one who made it. And I can tell ya…Modi's mace is impeccable, but was made using real-world materials."

Dorian's face lit up.

"You mean, you can take these, and make something that can beat it!?"

"I swear on our mother's chest hair!" Brokkr proclaimed," he didn't have time to make another statement as Dorian had already laid the materials on the table and thrown his arms around the smaller dwarf, crushing him within a heartfelt bear hug and lifting him slightly off the ground. "Now now kid, don't get sappy on me, save that for your Mrs. Valkyrie."

"How long will it take," Dorian asked as he released the man, ignoring his flushed complexion at the mention of Rossweisse as his "Mrs."

"Two days, no more, no less."

That'll barely leave two days to get back…

"Is there any way to expedite the process?"

"Not unless you want to risk impurities, can't guarantee the weapon's impossible nature if I do. I need to start immediately. Now, what kind of weapon do you want?"

"I am proficient with the sword and spear," Dorian announced proudly. Those two weapons he felt he had grasped best during his time with Thrud.

"Okay…so which do you want it to be?"

Dorian thought hard about it, either one had their advantages and disadvantages but he didn't have time to ponder. In the end he decided on his answer.

"Surprise me."

"My favorite words to live by! You guys give us some privacy, we got work to do and no peeking! Fortunately for you, I know just the place for you to relax while waiting out the next two days…"

Hot Springs…

"Best…hero quest…ever," Ratatoskr remarked to Dorian as they soaked.

The two had been permitted to use a natural hot spring built on the outskirts of the king's mountain. Despite the subzero temperatures a mere few feet away, the two could not have been more comfortable. Dorian was relaxing with his towel abandoned nearby while Ratatoskr only had a tiny hand rag wrapped about himself like a toga. Despite the relatively short amount of time since his rebirth in Asgard, Dorian had honed his figure far beyond what it was as a human. He retained his relatively normal size, though his muscles were toned and impressive, no doubt requiring little more input before they would start to grow.

Dorian was trying to relax, but he could not help but worry. Here he was, resting in a spring atop a mountain while Rossweisse was sitting in a cell. A soft melody filled the air as he had brought his lyre in with them. The young warrior plucked at the strings, he had to have been improving, it'd been hours since Ratatoskr had last commanded silence.

"So, I don't suppose you know anything about…this," Dorian asked, setting down his lyre and summoning his Gear. "If it can improve my strength AND manipulate nature to a degree, there has to be more to it."

"Sorry, but I'm more stumped than Iggy," his small companion answered while performing a backstroke. "Sacred Gears were designed by the old God of the Bible, never seen or heard of her messing around with em."

Ygdrassil is a girl?

"Then how did I get one?"

"No idea, I'm sure you'll figure it out. Make it a good last second reveal when needed most, that's how most heroes do it right?"

"I just want to keep learning," Dorian sighed as he leaned back, not even bothering to put it away. "We got the weapon, now I have to get better to fight Modi."

"Can't help ya there. Despite the insults we throw around, he's no pushover. He may be the weakest in his family, but that's not saying much."

"I have two days, I need to train, practice…once we're done here I can…"

"Phwaaaaah that hit the spot!"

Dorian and Ratatoskr froze; the voice had clearly come from the entrance to the bath and was getting closer. The voice was unmistakable.

The Blood-Maiden Ygritte burst through the blinds, entering the steamy outdoors wearing a smile on her face and nothing else.

"Oh, Dorian, Ratty," she exclaimed cheerfully as if it was the most natural meeting between people in the world. "I thought you'd be out by now, it's that good huh?"

Dorian's gaze shot to the sky while his companion's just stared on mesmerized.

"Wh-what are you doing here Ygritte!? Don't the women have their own bath?"

"It's been mixed for years," she laughed, absolutely loving his embarrassed expression. "Your friend doesn't seem to mind."

"I told you," Ratatoskr whispered as the warrior maiden lowered herself into the steaming hot water. Thankfully she had picked the deeper end and sunk almost up to her shoulders. "Their women…best assets across the nine realms."

"We also have amazing hearing," Ygritte retorted, having heard every word. "Didn't you remember? I'm spoken for."

"It doesn't mean I gotta like it," the rodent pouted, allowing himself to sink beneath the water.

"So," the monstrous woman asked after a few awkward moments of silence between the bathers. "What do you intend to do for the next two days?"

"Train and practice," Dorian answered immediately. "As soon as I am out of here I have to improve, I have to fight the son of a god after all."

"The news reached us here of your battle, if it matters to ya, most of us hope you cleave his skull in."

Dorian let out a sarcastic chuckle.

"The guy tore me apart in one swing last time I faced him, and that was barely two weeks ago." The young Einherjar was finally able to vent his frustration now that he had accomplished as much as he could and was able to consider the future. "I…I just don't know what to do."

"You got your Sacred Gear," Ratatoskr tried to reassure him, tapping the bracer on his right arm. "You are pretty beefy when it turns gold, and now you even have a nature tentacle attack! Japanese school girls are going to love you!"

"If you are so unsure of your strength, why did you challenge him?" Ygritte asked. Her parts requiring modesty were now covered by the water and steam, allowing Dorian to finally look at her again.

"I had to, if I didn't, Rose would have had no defense from his lies."

"Rose?"

"Rossweisse," Ratatoskr clarified. "The big man Odin's bodyguard herself, Casanova over here has to save the Valkyrie from being wrongfully executed."

Ygritte's eyes burst with light at the words; she had such a proud smile on her face.

"A task worthy of a true Einherjar, were it me in her place I have no doubt my Ragnar would be doing the exact same thing! To face a foe many times your better for her…she is truly lucky to have a beloved like you!"

"We…aren't like that," Dorian muttered under his breath, sinking deep enough that his mouth was covered.

"She has another?"

"No, according to my classmates she's never even had a boyfriend somehow."

"Then…she is hideous?"

"NO!"

Ygritte finally just shook her head in confusion, leaning back into the spring.

"You think too much, when I met Ragnar we knew each other barely a day before we were sneaking away from the hunt for some…"

"Aaaaannnnnnd I think I'm done!" Dorian announced, shooting out of the water so fast he almost missed the towel. Covering himself, he quickly made for the men's entrance.

"I watched you fight on the mountain," Ygritte interrupted his hasty retreat, her voice suddenly becoming quite serious. "Ye were good…but not god good. If you think it will help, I'd be more than happy to beat some last minute training into you."

Dorian turned to the soaking giantess, her own gaze relaxing into a serene smile, the offer totally genuine and sincere.

"That…would mean a lot," he replied, allowing himself to relax a bit.

"Perfect, I must warn you I am a difficult Task Mistress. For my first command, get back in the spring boy. It will do your skin and soul good while getting you used to appreciating the female form a little more as you very well should. Play a few strings of the lyre; your Rose will appreciate both I assure you.""

A small splash signaled that Ratatoskr was already back in the spring before she had finished her sentence, it would undoubtedly be a long two days…

Asgard…

"Double time ladies!" Herja commanded as the rest of the class continued their preparations.

It would not be long until the day of the fight and unlike most of the community, they were certain Dorian would make it back in time. While they were forbidden from directly helping him, making sure the audience was cheering their classmate on was not beyond the bounds of the rules. They had signs, posters and other assorted displays to have his name spread across the stands. Misty had even gotten approval to have his name lit up in fire overhead three times. She wanted to save one for when he won.

"He has to win!" The young Valkyrie grasped her hands together. "For the young Einherjar from a far off land set out into the realm of giants to pluck his wilting rose from certain doom!" She was as over the top as ever, for once though her classmates did not mind.

"If we can't help out in the field of combat, we go for the morale; we hit Modi with everything we've got!" Brynda asserted. The fight would be quite the public event, privacy was permitted, however it seemed that Modi had wanted as many spectators as possible. Such was his right as the wounded party.

"Knowledge can be just as great as morale," came a voice from the hallways. The class turned in unison.

The elderly Valkyrie walked into the hall where the girls had gathered after class let out. She had been told of the class that Dorian attended by Thrud and sought them out.

"L-lady Göndul!" Herja bowed in reverence along with the rest of the class, she was a legend among the Valkyries. "We were not expecting you here."

"My granddaughter's life is on the line, where else would I be?"

"I mean…here specifically ma'am," the normally confident Valkyrie in training shifted uncomfortably. "We were just getting ready for Dorian's big fight."

"As am I," she replied resolutely, stepping inside. "Please, the rest of you continue your work. You have it cut out for you."

Göndul beckoned the blonde girl over, wrapping an arm familiarly around her shoulders as if she required her support to stay standing. In actuality she pulled her in to speak more privately.

"I here tell this young man is somewhat adept with magical seals, is this true?"

Herja nodded quickly.

"H-he somehow learned how to do a double layer pretty quickly; even I haven't touched upon that. He said he had a private tutor…but it was none of us."

"Hmmm, good man," she muttered to no one in particular. "As I was saying, we can help your Mr. Held in more ways that cheering him on."

"How!" Herja perked her ears up. "What could we hope to do?"

"What can you do? Little one, all YOU need to do is complete your posters. Though, be sure to add this to as many as you can."

Göndul pulled out a slip of paper, upon it was drawn what would have looked to most like a unique border design, but Herja knew better, it was a magical seal. She was sure it was, but it was so incredibly complex she couldn't have hoped to guess what it did. She stared at it for several seconds, realizing the elder Valkyrie's plan.

"Isn't this interfering?"

"How so?" She returned a sly smile. "All we are doing is putting a delightfully extravagant border on Mr. Held's posters. Whether or not it actually means anything will be entirely up to him in the end."

Forges of Jotunheim…Day 5

Dorian stood before the dwarf smiths once more, massaging the sore spots on his arms. Ygritte had pulled her punches in training due to needing him in once piece for the fight, but they still hurt like crazy. Regardless of the pain, Dorian could not have been more grateful. Thanks to the impressive giantess, he had gotten more comfortable with the strength boost and the nature-based abilities he had since gleamed from his bracer. He had confirmed that each one did indeed sap some of his energy from protracted usage. The last two days had the same effect as working out a particular muscle, ensuring he had the stamina to use them well.

After a long two days, the moment of truth was at hand, Brokkr and Eitri were presenting the object they had created from the three provided ingredients…an impossible weapon.

The two smiths walked side by side, carrying an ornate wooden case lined with red velvet inside. They could not have looked more proud.

Within was the weapon, Dorian looked it over in an attempt to take in what they had made. The entirety of it from pommel to tip was a deep bronze, giving off an ancient, almost forgotten ambiance. A red cloth similar to the velvet of the case was wrapped around the handle. The base appeared to be a standard longsword; however on either side of the metal above the hilt were wide edges curving inward to the tip, making the blade itself as thick as a greatsword. He could not help but admire the engravings going up the length of the blade he did not recognize.

They made this from those three objects...how?

"Does it have a name?"

"That's up to ye lad…what've you got?"

Dorian looked it over, all he could think of what how radiantly it shimmered, like a light in the darkness.

"How about…Bright Star!

"Bjarta Stjarna," Eitri repeated in their tongue.

"Works for me kid," Ratatoskr jumped in. "Well…don't just stand there, give her a whirl!"

Dorian flexed his fingers, reaching out and gripping the sword by the grip, lifting it out of the case. It was quite heavy, were he a normal human there'd be no way he could have held it one-handed, however with the boost he had received as an Einherjar and his physical training, it was quite easy now. He swung it a few times to get a feel, finally gripping it powerfully in both hands.

"Won't have to worry about THAT breaking against Modi, got a sheath for it too that'll go across yer back." Brokkr smiled. "Ye said you liked spears too, right?"

"Right," Dorian replied by instinct, barely paying attention versus the beautiful blade glimmering in front of him.

"Well, grip the handle here and here," he showed him points around the red cloth. "Aim it away from anything you don't want to die, aaaand twist."

The handle elongated, spearing through the nearby wall as Dorian had twisted a second before he was supposed to. The blade went clean through the stone, causing him and Ratatoskr to jump suddenly, the dwarven brothers could only laugh.

"You said to surprise ya kid…surprised?"

"Pleasantly!" Dorian marveled at his hybrid weapon…a swordspear! "How can I ever repay you?"

Brokkr scoffed at his words. "You allowed us to work with objects that no longer exist, haven't got to do that since Mjolnir and Gleipnir…if anything I should be paying you, though if you tell anyone I will vehemently refute that statement was ever uttered! It's too bad you have to go so soon, given a few weeks and we could have infused it with an element of your choosing…lightning is quite popular."

"I will have to make a return trip someday," Dorian promised, slinging the large scabbard onto his back. It was awkward, but he was able to sheath the sword within it. With practice, he'd soon be able to use the extendable nature of the haft to make the process much easier. "We can use flight runes again…with two days to get back down the mountain we'll have plenty of time. We have to go now!"

"Godspeed kid," Brokkr and Eitri reached out an arm each. Dorian grasped them up to the elbow, gripping tight to pass on just how appreciated their efforts had been. "Kick that whoreson's, no offense to the Lady Sif, teeth in."

He motioned behind him, a portion of the ancient stone wall slid away to reveal a rather modern-looking television flat screen.

"We get the best channels down here," he smirked. "We'll be rooting for ya."

"I'll certainly take a few teeth with me if nothing else," Dorian forced a chuckle, still uncertain even after the rounds he had gone with the ten foot giantess. "I must head out at once, please give King Ymiron my regards and tell him…I will be sure to take in the full courtesy he thinks I can handle when next I come."

"Oh you can bet on it, he'll be watching too…the king has a bigger screen than I do."

Mountain Outskirts…

Dorian was flying high…literally, with the restriction of proving his worth lifted he had no limit to what he could utilize to get back to Asgard. With the runes he had etched into his boots reinforced along with the one that protected against the biting cold.

"Slow down kid…KID!" Ratatoskr called out from his hunkered safety of the satchel. In a flash, Dorian complied, braking to a stop while floating in mid-air.

"What is it Rat?"

"Don't you smell that?" His tiny nose rose up high and flared with each inhalation. Dorian mimicked his companion, but could only smell the cold in the air.

"No, what is it?"

"Magic…powerful kind too, enough to…LAND KID NOW!"

Dorian instantly complied, slamming into the soft snow with a poof, he was not a moment too soon. Seconds after landing, a terrifying gale whipped through him, cracking his seal of resistance and biting to the marrow. Had they been in the air it would have been much worse.

"Wh-what the f-f-hell is going on," Dorian chattered as his teeth refused to stay still.

"Someone REALLY doesn't want you getting back, allies of the guys who jumped us? That'd be dumb even for them; this cold could drop a Jotun!"

The pair ducked behind the edge of the nearby mountainside. Even in the few minutes it had taken to find it in the blinding torrent, Dorian's seal of protection had shattered three times and his fingers were numb. He couldn't keep up. For some warmth he formed an offensive seal of magic, a torrent of fireballs emitting from it though even they threatened to blow out amidst the storm.

"Clever bastards," Ratatoskr theorized. "They waited until we were far enough from the palace we couldn't make it back, but even further away from reaching the jungle below. We need a plan bucko, I'll be fine but you'll be dead in about thirty minutes, an hour max, and you'll be unable to move long before then seal or no seal. Certainly wasn't Modi, no imagination for it."

"N-no, not after we've c-c-come so f-f-far!" Dorian was livid, the anger burning in his heart one of the few things keeping him going.

"Ya gotta open a path kid, the Roads are your only way out of this!"

"I c-c-can't open it that wide. J-just big enough for you."

"That's what she said on your wedding night," he slapped Dorian if only to keep him conscious. "It'd be wasted on me! I can't feel any of this. We need it big enough for YOUR fat ass!"

Dorian raised his right hand, the bracer shimmering to life with the azure gem glowing within. He clenched his fist as hard as he could, focusing on the gem as he had before. Sure enough, a familiar pool of blue shimmered to life above it…barely bigger than a foot across.

"Bigger! Isn't your life enough determination!?"

Dorian gritted his teeth, Rat's normally funny rants now getting on his nerves. The portal widened a touch, still far too small.

"Figures, not able to get it going when the getting's good!"

"Shut it Rat!"

Unnoticed by Dorian who had turned around to berate his companion, the portal had opened a smidge.

"Shut what?" He continued, realizing what was happening.

"Your mouth! We need to think of something, clearly that wasn't working…"

"You gave up too easy, right at the finish line!"

Sorry kid, gotta push you.

"I did EVERYTHING I could!" His stutter had vanished; clearly his boiling frustration was keeping him warm better than any seal.

"Only when it was being presented to you! A new life for you, dropped in your lap, a pair of beautiful instructors, given to you…legendary smiths…you were told where to go!"

He was almost there, the portal behind Dorian was getting larger, just another push. He was starting to worry for his safety; Dorian's face was beet red.

"You know, it's probably best for you to freeze to death here, your little Valkyrie will be following soon after. Better her to go that way than see what a limp dicked worthless Einherjar you turned out to be!"

Dorian snapped, lunging at Ratatoskr, behind him the portal exploded in size, Ygritte could have fit inside.

"Sorry kid!" he screamed, moving faster than him. As he had done to save his life in the vault, the small squirrel launched forward, tackling Dorian in the gut. The young man flew backwards, disappearing along with his friend into the shimmering blue a fraction of an instant before the portal closed right behind them. The two were saved, in a matter of seconds they were deposited within the Road Between Realms, greeted by a familiar calming world covered only in what snow had blown through the portal with them. Unfortunately for Ratatoskr, that calm had not yet reached Dorian.

"You don't know a thing about me!" Dorian shouted, his hands continued to strangle his companion beneath him. "You don't…!"

"I give…I give….kid…KID!" his companion shouted, tapping the floor as if they were in a wrestling ring to tag out. "Look where we are!"

Only then did Dorian stop, looking left and right as the truth sank in. With a confused, lost expression he looked back at his friend.

"How did we do that?"

"Apparently the portal is linked with your emotions, anger was the easiest to poke…I wasn't about to serenade you and get you to fall in love with me. I'd have rather let you freeze to death."

Dorian's anger vanished in a heartbeat, he still gripped the spectral squirrel and pulled him close, but no longer to throttle him.

"You…are…the…best…friend…EVER!" He proclaimed, kissing the rodent on the top of his head again and again between every word. "I will buy an entire ACRE of strawberries!"

"Okay okay, I don't care, just stop kissing, you're freaking me out!" At his request Dorian released him, letting the red squirrel to bound free atop an overgrown branch nearby. "The throne room of Asgard is down that path." He pointed down a nearby passage across Yggdrasil.

"Then we can finish this!" Dorian stepped forward but stopped as an acorn thrown by Ratatoskr nearly struck him.

"Look at you; you're tired, half-frozen and angry. You need to calm your non-existent tits. Remember, time moves differently here, we have a day and a half left out there, but in here…skies the limits."

"Then what do you suggest we do?"

Ratatoskr leapt off his branch, standing as tall as he could before Dorian. To his wonder and horror, his pint-sized companion started to grow. His fur grew out, his limbs extended and his bones to match. Within a matter of seconds he was now even size with the young Einherjar, his bushy tail towering over them.

"Y-you are…" Dorian gasped as Rat broke off a nearby branch, wielding it like a makeshift bowstaff, grinning wickedly.

"You'd be surprised what I can do in here, and the first thing I feel we need to get into…is some last minute intensive training."

Dorian has entered the Road Between Realms once more on his return to Asgard. But before then, he must work with the resident that has lived among the boughs of Yggdrasil since time immemorial. Will this be enough to turn the tide rising against him? As Always, Read and Review…but most of all Enjoy! :D