Seven Times A Charm

The mountains had been silent for centuries.

Snow covered the ancient peaks, filling the valleys and burying the remains of forgotten roads beneath white.

At the center of the highest valley stood the temple.

It had been carved directly into the mountainside, its enormous doors framed by two pillars bearing the symbol of a hammer surrounded by lightning.

Baldr stopped his horse.

"There."

Thor looked up.

She had been unusually quiet since they entered the valley.

Something about the place bothered her.

Or perhaps it reminded her of something.

"I know this place," she said.

Loki looked at her.

"From before?"

Thor nodded slowly.

"I think so."

Baldr dismounted.

"This is where I found Jarngreipr."

Atreyu looked at the temple.

"And the giant?"

Baldr pointed toward the entrance.

"Inside."

Mara looked at Thor.

"Friendly?"

Baldr thought about it.

"No."

Thor sighed.

"Wonderful."

Loki smiled.

"You've fought worse."

Thor looked at him.

"Not recently."

Aurethar landed behind them.

The dragon's wings sent snow swirling through the air.

"Then we should be prepared."

Thor summoned Mjolnir.

Lightning crackled around her.

"Let's go."

The enormous doors opened before they reached them.

A deep rumble came from inside.

Then a voice.

"Go away."

Everyone stopped.

The voice was deep.

But there was something strange about it.

It sounded almost like a child trying to sound frightening.

Thor looked at Baldr.

"That's the giant?"

Baldr nodded.

"Yes."

Thor called toward the doorway.

"We've come for Jarngreipr."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because they belong to Thor."

Thor looked at Loki.

Loki shrugged.

Thor called again.

"I am Thor."

There was silence.

Then the giant answered.

"No, you not."

Thor blinked.

"What?"

"You not Thor."

Thor frowned.

"Yes, I am."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Thor is Thor."

Loki covered his mouth.

Mara looked at him.

"Don't laugh."

"I'm trying."

The giant's enormous face appeared in the doorway.

He was huge.

Nearly twenty feet tall.

His gray skin was covered in scars.

Stone-like armor covered his shoulders.

His enormous hands gripped a hammer that looked as though an entire tree had been turned into a weapon.

But his face was not cruel.

It was almost innocent.

He looked at Thor with wide blue eyes.

Then he frowned.

"You look wrong."

Thor raised an eyebrow.

"Wrong?"

"Real Thor bigger."

Loki whispered:

"I like him."

Thor ignored him.

"I've had several lives."

The giant shook his head.

"No."

"You don't believe me?"

"No."

"Why?"

The giant pointed at Mjolnir.

"That Thor's hammer."

Thor lifted it.

"Yes."

"But Thor holds it."

"I am holding it."

"No."

The giant looked deeply confused.

"That not how it works."

Thor sighed.

"Apparently not."

The giant stepped outside.

The ground shook beneath his feet.

Thor looked up.

The giant stared down at her.

"Where is real Thor?"

Thor pointed at herself.

"Right here."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

The giant frowned.

"You lying."

Thor's eyes narrowed.

"I'm not."

"You don't look like my Thor."

The words stopped her.

"My Thor?"

The giant nodded proudly.

"My Thor."

He smiled.

"She most strongest."

Thor lowered Mjolnir slightly.

"Tell me about her."

The giant brightened.

"She had red hair."

Thor smiled faintly.

"Yes."

"She laugh very loud."

"Yes."

"She hit giants."

"Yes."

"She help little people."

Thor's expression softened.

"Yes."

"She save me."

Thor went still.

"You knew her?"

The giant nodded enthusiastically.

"She save me."

"From what?"

"Bad giants."

His expression darkened.

"They very mean."

Thor's grip tightened around Mjolnir.

"And she stopped them?"

The giant smiled.

"She hit them very hard."

Loki laughed.

"That sounds like Thor."

The giant pointed at him.

"You be quiet."

Loki immediately stopped laughing.

Thor smiled.

"I think I like you."

The giant frowned.

"You not Thor."

Thor sighed.

"Still?"

"Still."

The giant lifted his hammer.

Thor looked at him.

"You're going to fight me?"

The giant nodded.

"If you not Thor, you not have Thor things."

Thor sighed.

"I don't want to hurt you."

The giant's face brightened.

"Thor wouldn't say that."

Thor smiled.

"She probably would."

"No."

The giant raised his hammer.

"Thor fights."

Thor raised Mjolnir.

"Then let's fight."

The giant charged.

The ground shook.

Thor barely moved before the enormous hammer came down.

She raised Mjolnir.

The two weapons collided.

Thunder exploded across the valley.

Thor's feet slid backward through the snow.

The giant's eyes widened.

"Strong, but not Thor strong."

Thor grinned.

"I'm just warming up."

She swung.

Mjolnir struck his chest.

The giant staggered backward.

He looked surprised.

Then delighted.

"Again!"

Thor laughed.

"All right."

He charged.

Thor met him.

Hammer collided with hammer.

Lightning exploded.

Snow flew.

Stone cracked.

The giant swung again.

Thor ducked.

The hammer demolished a pillar behind her.

Thor jumped onto the giant's arm and ran up it.

She struck him in the shoulder.

He roared.

Then grabbed her.

Thor was thrown across the courtyard.

She landed on her feet.

The giant grinned.

"You strong."

Thor smiled.

"So are you."

The giant charged again.

Baldr moved to intervene.

Thor held up one hand.

"No."

Baldr stopped.

"Thor—"

"I've got this."

The giant swung.

Thor blocked.

He swung again.

Thor blocked again.

The blows became faster.

Harder.

More violent.

Thor's arms began aching.

The giant was stronger than almost anything she had fought in this life.

But she refused to yield.

The giant struck her across the chest.

Thor flew backward.

She slammed into the snow.

The giant raised his hammer.

Thor stood.

Blood ran from the corner of her mouth.

The giant hesitated.

"You hurt?"

Thor wiped the blood away.

"A little."

"Stop."

Thor shook her head.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because you think I'm lying."

The giant frowned.

"You are."

Thor smiled.

"Then prove it."

She summoned lightning.

The entire valley flashed.

Mjolnir roared.

The giant's eyes widened.

Thor charged.

The battle became something almost beautiful.

Thor fought with everything she had.

The giant fought with everything he had.

Neither wanted to kill the other.

Neither wanted to surrender.

The giant admired strength.

Thor respected devotion.

Their weapons crashed again and again.

Thor struck his shoulder.

He struck her side.

She rolled beneath his legs.

He turned.

She summoned Mjolnir back to her hand.

He roared.

She laughed.

For the first time, the giant looked happy.

"You fight like her!"

Thor froze.

"What?"

"You fight like Thor!"

Thor smiled.

"I told you."

The giant shook his head.

"Not enough."

He raised his hammer.

"Show me more."

The giant charged.

Thor planted her feet.

She lowered Mjolnir.

Lightning gathered around her.

The giant swung.

Thor met him.

The impact shook the mountain.

For several seconds, neither moved.

The giant pushed.

Thor pushed back.

Her boots dug into the stone.

Her arms trembled.

Then Thor smiled.

"Remember when your Thor saved you?"

The giant blinked.

"Yes."

"How did she do it?"

The giant thought.

"She stood in front of me."

Thor nodded.

"Exactly."

She pushed harder.

"I've always stood in front of people."

Lightning exploded around her.

"I've always protected people."

The giant stared.

"And Thor always protects."

Thor raised Mjolnir.

"Yes."

The giant's grip loosened.

He looked at her.

Really looked.

At the hammer.

At her armor.

At the lightning.

At the determination in her eyes.

Then his enormous face crumpled.

"You really Thor?"

Thor lowered her weapon.

"Yes."

The giant dropped his hammer.

It struck the ground with a tremendous boom.

Then he dropped to his knees.

"I finded you."

Thor stared.

The giant smiled.

"My Thor came back."

Thor slowly approached.

"Yes."

The giant reached out.

Thor placed her hand against his enormous palm.

He smiled.

"I missed you."

Thor smiled.

"I missed you too."

Loki whispered to Baldr:

"This is adorable."

Baldr nodded.

"Very."

The giant introduced himself as Bruni.

He had been born long ago in the mountains.

Thor had saved him when he was young.

She had defeated a group of cruel giants who had been abusing him.

Afterward, she had taken him beneath her protection.

She taught him that strength was meant to protect those who couldn't protect themselves.

Bruni had never forgotten.

"She my hero," he said.

Thor looked up at him.

"I don't remember everything."

Bruni nodded.

"You don't have to."

Thor smiled.

"But I remember enough."

Bruni smiled.

"Good."

Bruni led them into the temple.

He opened the enormous doors with ease.

Inside was a long hallway filled with ancient carvings.

Thor ran her fingers over one.

It depicted her holding Mjolnir.

Another showed her fighting giants.

Another showed her standing beside Odin.

Another showed her laughing with Loki.

Yet another, clearly carved by Bruni, showed a stick figure Thor standing in front of a small giant, defending him from a group of larger giants.

Loki stared.

"They remembered me?"

Bruni nodded.

"Sometimes."

"Wonderful."

"There are bad pictures."

Loki frowned.

"Show me."

"No."

"Why?"

"You look stupid."

Mara laughed.

Loki sighed.

"Even ancient artists hated me."

Bruni led them deeper.

At last they reached a massive circular chamber.

A pedestal stood in the center.

Upon it rested a pair of iron gauntlets.

Jarngreipr.

Thor stopped.

She stared at them.

Bruni smiled.

"Those Thor metal fingers."

Thor stepped forward.

The gauntlets lifted from the pedestal.

They flew into her hands.

The moment Thor touched them, lightning erupted through the chamber.

She gasped.

The iron flowed around her hands and forearms.

They fit perfectly.

Thor clenched her fists.

The air shook.

Bruni grinned.

"Very Thor."

Thor laughed.

"Thank you."

Beyond the chamber was another door.

Bruni opened it.

"The vault."

The Watch entered.

Ancient relics rested within.

Some were broken.

Some had faded.

Others remained untouched.

Then Lisbeth's falcon cloak caught Thor's attention.

"Freya."

The cloak rested inside a glass case.

Its feathers shimmered with magical energy.

Mara carefully retrieved it.

"One down."

Thor pointed.

"Two."

A belt rested on another pedestal.

Dark leather.

Metal fittings.

Ancient runes.

Megingjord.

Thor stared.

"Oh."

Loki smiled.

"That looks important."

Thor put it on.

The belt tightened.

Power surged through her.

She nearly stumbled.

Bruni laughed.

"Thor get strong fancy belt."

Thor grinned.

"I noticed."

Baldr continued searching.

Then he found something else.

A nest.

Inside were two enormous black eggs.

Loki approached.

He stared.

"Raven."

Baldr nodded.

"Huginn and Muninn?"

"Descendants, probably."

Mara carefully examined them.

"They're alive."

Loki smiled.

"Then we're taking them home."

Bruni looked at the eggs.

"Bird babies?"

"Yes."

Bruni smiled.

"I like birds."

Loki looked at him.

"Do you?"

Bruni nodded.

"I feed them."

Loki looked at the enormous giant.

Then at the eggs.

Scattered around the eggs was various types of fruit and what looked to be the leg of a deer.

"Of course you do."

Once everything was secured, the Watch prepared to leave.

Bruni followed them outside.

Thor looked at him.

"You aren't staying?"

Bruni frowned.

"Where are you going?"

"Home."

"Where?"

"Concordia."

Bruni looked toward the mountains.

"I go with Thor? No more metal fingers or big door to guard."

Thor smiled.

"Of course."

Bruni's face lit up.

"With Thor?"

"With me."

"And Mighty Thor Hammer?"

"Yes."

"And Thor metal fingers?"

Thor raised her hands.

"Yes."

"And fancy belt?"

She nodded.

"Yes."

Bruni grinned.

"Then I come."

Loki whispered:

"We've adopted a giant."

Baldr smiled.

"I think he adopted us."

The journey home took several days.

Bruni was not particularly good at subtlety.

He tried.

But a twenty-foot-tall giant walking through the wilderness was difficult to hide.

He also asked many questions.

"What is Concordia?"

"A city."

"Big?"

"Very."

"Is Thor king?"

"No."

"Why?"

Thor laughed.

"Because I'm not."

Bruni frowned.

"But Thor should be king."

Thor shook her head.

"Lexander is king."

Bruni looked at Lexander.

He studied him carefully.

Then nodded.

"Who that? Thor papa?"

Thor smiled.

"Yes."

Bruni looked at Lexander.

"Then okay."

Lexander laughed.

"Thank you."

When Concordia finally appeared on the horizon, Bruni stopped.

His eyes widened.

"Big city."

Thor smiled.

"Very."

"Thor lives here?"

"Yes."

Bruni grinned.

"Then I live here."

Thor laughed.

"We'll find you somewhere comfortable."

Bruni nodded enthusiastically.

"Good."

The gates of Concordia opened.

Everyone inside stared.

A twenty-foot giant walked through.

Children pointed.

Merchants stopped working.

Guards stared.

Lisbeth stepped out of the palace.

"What in the world is that?"

Thor waved.

"That's Bruni."

Bruni waved back.

"Hello."

Lisbeth blinked.

"Hello."

Then Io appeared.

She was holding Seraphina.

Lexander carried Ignatius.

The babies immediately noticed Bruni.

Seraphina's eyes widened.

A tiny flame appeared.

Bruni leaned down to get a closer look.

"Fire!"

Thor laughed.

"That's Seraphina."

Bruni looked at Ignatius.

Golden light appeared around the baby's hand.

Bruni stared.

"That baby glow."

Lexander nodded.

"That's Ignatius."

Bruni smiled.

"Good babies."

Seraphina produced another tiny flame.

Ignatius immediately healed the singed edge of her blanket.

Bruni laughed.

"They are like Thor."

Thor smiled.

"Maybe."

That evening, Bruni sat outside the palace.

He had been given an enormous chair.

He was still trying to figure out how to use it.

Thor sat beside him.

For the first time since her return, she had someone who remembered her not as a god from legend, but simply as the hero who had once saved him.

Bruni looked at the city.

"It is good."

Thor smiled.

"Yes."

"You save many people."

"I tried."

"You still do."

Thor looked toward the palace.

At Lexander.

At Io.

At the twins.

At her friends.

At her family.

"Yes."

Bruni smiled.

"My hero."

Thor laughed softly.

"You're never going to stop calling me that, are you?"

Bruni shook his head.

"No."

Thor smiled.

"Good."

Far away, Surtr felt another piece of the old world return.

Jarngreipr had been recovered.

Megingjord had been recovered.

Freya's falcon cloak was back in the family's possession.

Two possible descendants of Huginn and Muninn had been found.

And now the giant who had once served Thor had joined Concordia.

The family was growing stronger.

Not merely in numbers.

In memory.

In unity.

In power.

Surtr stared into the flames before him.

"They are becoming whole."

And for the first time since Ragnarök, there was something in his voice that sounded dangerously close to fear.

Meanwhile, in Concordia, Seraphina sneezed.

A tiny stream of fire came out of her mouth.

Ignatius immediately healed the singed blanket.

Io sighed.

"Again?"

Lexander laughed.

Thor looked over.

Bruni stared in fascination.

"Good babies."

Io looked at him.

"Would you like to babysit?"

Bruni's eyes widened.

"Yes."

Io smiled.

"Excellent."

Lexander immediately looked concerned.

Thor burst out laughing.

Loki quietly walked away.

He knew better than to get involved.

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