The man jumped, crashing into the ground with a shockwave that sent his opponents flying backwards through the air. He rose up slowly, a wide grin on handsome face as he pulled twin swords from his back. The goblin like creatures scrambled up on all sides of him, readying their weapons in anticipation of the Asgardian's next move.

"Come on then!" He yelled. "Who fancies their chances?"

There was a moment of hesitation amongst his enemies. A moment later, they charged, all of them at once, overwhelming the warrior. He fell to the ground under the sheer weight of them as they piled on top of him in a hail of axes and swords, colliding with his body again and again. One by one, his enemies dropped to the ground from inside, and in less then a minute he was standing in a circle of their dead bodies, not a scratch on him. The rest of the oncoming forces stopped, and stared over at him, silhouetted in the bright sun of the alien planet.

Baldr stood proudly on the battlefield as an arrow whizzed past him. The arrow found its mark, and the opposing general collapsed to the ground, the head of the arrow protruding several inches from the back of his head.

"Nice shot, brother!" Baldr called over his shoulder. It took a few moments for his brother cross the vast distance between them, the rest of the Asgardian army trailing behind.

"You always were the one for showing off." Hödr smirked, notching another arrow as the opposing army readied themselves again, attempting to rally without their leader.

"Always good to beat the Odinsons to the punch."

As if alerted to their name, the princes of Asgard emerged beside them. "Impressive." The elder of them said, brandishing his hammer. The younger brother was silent as he glared daggers at Baldr. Bladr glared them back. The pair had a long history behind them. Not noticing the silent feud, Thor swung his hammer forwards, flying into the enemy ranks. And the battle began.

Baldr wove his way through enemies as if it were a dance. His blades flashed in the sunlight, the black blood of his alien opponents spraying through the air, covering him head to toe. Not a drop his own own was spilled, despite what hit him. Blades slid across his skin without leaving a scratch, and arrows bounced harmlessly off him. Energy blasts managed to slow him down, knocking him backwards, but nothing harmed him. Nothing could. At least, almost nothing. As long as it remained around his neck, the only thing that could touch him one of the rarest metals in the nine realms. Mistilteinn.

The rune stone amulet held steadfast to his chest as if it were glued on, nestled between his collar bones, and it glowed a brilliant green with every impact that landed on him, which in his current situation meant it was near constantly glowing.

A large, troll like creature charged towards him, swinging down a massive club, which broke clean through Baldr's swords as he braced himself, slamming into his head and releasing a shockwave across the battlefield. An unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. Bladr jumped upwards, digging the shattered stumps of his blades into the creatures neck as he slid down its back. He hit the ground, and several of the goblin creatures pinned him down. It took three on each limb to contain the Asgardian's strength. A final one leapt up and brought a dagger into Bladr's chest, where it shattered with a brilliant glow from his amulet.

"Interesting." The creature hissed. It reached down for the rune stone, its claw like nails digging into the amulet as he tried to pull it from the Asgardian's  chest, where it pulsed with energy as it was peeled from Baldr's skin.

"Brother!" The warrior screamed over the noise of battle. "Hödr!"

Hödr heard the cry from his perch atop a cliff, where he was sending volleys of arrows down into the enemy ranks. His senses, enhanced by the finest Asgardian technology, heard the cry, and his eyes closed in on his brother. The man was always getting into trouble. He reached back into his quiver... And his hand closed around nothing. He was out. He could hear Baldr scream again, more panicked this time.

"An arrow!" Hödr screamed over his shoulder. There was no one there. Hödr scrambled upwards, looking around him. "Anyone? I need an arrow!"

"How about a blade?" A voice growled, as a goblin creature leapt from the tree line. Before it could reach the archer, a dark haired figure dropped from the trees, stabbing it in the neck.

Loki, prince of Asgard, rose up, pulling his daggers from the creatures neck. "Loki! I need an arrow!" Hödr yelled.

A grin flickered across Loki's face, as he reached behind his back and pulled out the projectile. He threw it to the archer. "Go. Save your brother."

Hödr caught it, and was surprised by the weight in his hands. The arrow was completely metal, solid and heavy. It shone a dark metallic chrome in the sunlight. "What is this made-" He turned to find the prince gone. Hödr ignored this and notched the arrow. Without a second thought he aimed, fired it towards where he brother was pinned... Only a fraction too late...

Baldr threw his head upwards, head butting the creature on top of him, which stumbled backwards. One pinning left his arm reached for the amulet, and Baldr managed to pull his arm free, punching it in the face. The warrior fought his way onto his feet, fighting hand to hand in the wave of armed opponents. He began to grapple with one, catching it in a choke hold... When the arrow finally hit.

There was a sickening sound of tearing flesh, and Baldr released the creature, collapsing into the dirt, the Mistilteinn arrow protruding from his heart.

* * *

There was a resounding crack as the young mans nose snapped. Stian reeled backwards from the hit, blood flowing steadily down his face. "Nice one." He said, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the dirt floor. His opponent swung again, and he ducked, springing back upwards and clocking the man under the jaw. The man stumbled back, tripping over his own feet and slamming into the ground, cracking his head on the floor. There was a cheer from the crowd around them in the tavern. Stian stood triumphant in the centre of the area.

The opening of a door silenced the crowd, and Stian blinked at the harsh light streaming through from the streetlights outside. There was a slow clap. "Stian Baldrson." The woman sighed, taking a few steps into the bar.

Stian reached up and snapped his nose back into place. He squinted at the light, before bowing, swaying a little on his feet. "Lady Valkyrie."

The crowd parted as she made her way towards the ring, which was set up behind a barrier in the large open space at the end of the tavern. "Congratulations. I believe you've you've just won yourself free drinks for the night?"

"Yes ma'am." Stian nodded, wiping the blood from his face onto the rags that were wrapped around his fists.

"Good." She nodded. "Come and buy me one."

Stian soon found himself at the bar beside the Valkyrie. He glanced over his shoulder as the brokers dragged his opponent out of the ring, and the crowd collected their winnings and returned to their seats. "He'll have a headache in the morning." Valkyrie nodded.

"As will I, if all goes to plan." Stian grinned, waving over at the barman. "Svenson? Two pints, some ice, bowl of water and a towel please."

"Just water actually, Svenson." Valkyrie corrected him. The barman nodded.

"Sobering up ma'am?"

"Someone has to." She sighed, gulping down a mouthful. "And stop with the ma'am stuff it's really over the top."

"Fine by me." Stian took a swig of his drink, and began to unwrap his hands, washing the blood from his knuckles and face in the bowl of water. "So to what do I owe the pleasure of a meeting with someone so important?"

Valkyrie sighed, growing serious for a moment. "You need to stop, kid."

"Stop?" He asked, pressing the bag of ice against his nose. "Nothing wrong with a little friendly fighting is there? I'm getting rather good at it, I think."

"Oh no, no problems with that. Love that, really. Good entertainment, boosts business here, right Svenson?" The barman gave an over the shoulder agreement as he served another patron. "No, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Leave him alone."

Stian dropped his jovial demeanour. "I want to speak to him."

"I'm afraid thats not possible right now."

"Well when will it be possible?"

"I don't know."

"One conversation, thats all I-"

"You can't just rock up at his door kid, he's your king!"

"Well then he should act like one!" Stian slammed his fist into the bar, which shook violently and managed to gain the attention of several other patrons. He stayed quiet for a moment, until everyone had resumed their conversations. "He sits up there in that shack of his doing gods know what while you lead us from down here. I have requested an audience time and time again and every time I'm turned down. All I want are some answers about my father."

"I'm sorry, kid, but he doesn't want to talk to you. Or anyone, for that matter." Valkyrie said, finishing off her glass.

"My father was a nobleman of Asgard. A respected member of Odin's court. They were close friends, I know that much. I just want to know what happened to him."

The woman sighed, massaging the bridge of her nose as Svenson brought her another drink. "Can't you just ask your uncle? His brother? I'm sure he has better answers."

Stian leant against the bar, finishing what was left of his drink. "He doesn't talk about him. Never has, and never will. Do you know how long 900 years is to go without answers, ma'am? Because let me tell you it is a hell of a long time."

Valkyrie tapped her fingers on her empty glass. "Again, I'm really sorry that you don't have your answers, but there are more pressing matters on my- I mean his hands right now." She stood up. "I'll ask him again for you, but I can already tell you exactly what his answer will be. Enjoy tonights victory, Baldrson." She moved towards the door. "And hopefully many more to come."

* * *

"Bring him in." The All-Father announced. His sons stood flanking either side of his throne as two guards dragged the man into the throne room, his appearance disheveled from days in prison.

"Lord Hödr." Odin boomed.

The archers eyes wove their way up to his king, peering through the mess of his blonde hair that was hanging over his face. "All-Father." He said hoarsely.

"You stand here, accused of the murder of your own brother." Hödr was silent. "Lord Baldr was a member of my court. The sentence of course for a crime such as this, is death."

"I did not murder him." Hödr said flatly. "I did not murder my brother."

"You deny it?" Odin asked, leaning forwards in his seat.

"My brother was not murdered at my hand. My bow may have landed the killing blow, but it was not my arrow, nor my intention."

"Your intentions were quite clear." The All-Father snapped. He nodded to a man in robes to his left, who stepped out before them. He tapped a few things on a tablet, before an image appeared floating between Hödr and the royals of an amulet. Baldr's amulet. "You brother was gifted with an item. Made from one of the rarest metals in the galaxy, and imbued with technology now lost to us, which when worm left him immune to everything. Except, of course-"

"Mistilteinn." Hödr finished. "I am aware, All-Father."

"In fact, you were one of the only people aware of this weakness."

Hödr was silent for a moment. "Yes, All-Father."

The image before them shifted, and the visage of the arrow hung in the air. "And it is true that during the battle, the Mistilteinn arrow that pierced your brothers heart, the only known one in existence, was fired by your hand, from your bow."

"It was not my arrow! I was unbeknownst of it's nature when it was given to me, All-Father."

"Father, if I may," Interrupted Thor, the kings eldest son, "I know this man better then both of you. He would not wilfully kill Baldr like this."

Odin considered this for a moment. "And who, Lord Hödr, gave you this arrow?"

Hödr was silent for a while, as he looked between the royals. "Prince Loki, All-Father. Your son."

"Insolence!" Odin cried, slamming his staff on the ground, an action which made even the guards flinch. "You dare to attempt to involve my son in the murder of Lord Baldr? Consider yourself lucky I don't have you executed on the spot."

"Actually father, perhaps Thor is right." Loki cut in, stepping down from beside his father and approaching Hödr. "Death seems an exaggerated measure, if he was indeed unaware of the arrows composition." The prince stopped in front of the prisoner. Hödr saw the twisted smile on his face, hidden from the All-Father.

"And what do you suggest instead?" Odin asked.

Loki turned on his heel and walked back towards his father. "Let him keep the arrow, as a reminder of what he was done. Take his title, of course." He shrugged. There was a wickedness in his smile as he turned back to face Hödr. "And... His eyes."

"So be it." Odin nodded to the guards.

"No." Hödr said, as the guards began to drag him away. "No! No!"

The doors to the Asgarian throne room slammed shut behind him, leaving the room in silence...

* * *

Stian was rudely awoken by the violent banging on his door. "Hold on..." He grumbled. The harsh light streaming through the window shutters of his room felt like daggers in his eyes, and his head pounded. His hand grasped around until it landed on a pair of sunglasses. He slipped them on. There was another banging on the door. Stian sighed, dragging himself up and out of his bed. He found his necklace, which was lying on the floor beside his bed. It was the only thing left he had of his father. Stian didn't wear it often, since it's protective properties tended to gather unnecessary attention. Not to mention they would have gotten him banned from the fighting ring. He slipped it on over his neck, and opened the door.

His uncle stood behind it. Hödr had a silk blue bandage tied around his missing eyes, and he leant on a tall metal walking staff. "Ruben is already downstairs."

"Good for him." Stian muttered, rubbing his temples and pushing a strand of his blonde hair behind his ear.

His uncle chuckled. "Come on smart-ass. You need to leave for Oslo in an hour." Hödr felt his way back down the stairs with his cane, Stian trailing behind.

"It's alive." Ruben said, taking another bite of his breakfast.

Stian rolled his eyes ay his cousin. "Morning to you too."

"Theres eggs in the pan. And a gatorade in the fridge." Ruben smirked. Stian moved straight for the brightly coloured drink, and collapsed into a chair. "By the way, that blonde girl said goodbye on her way out."

"I hope you made her breakfast as well." Stian chuckled.

"I have always wanted to run a catering service for whores."

"She wasn't a whore, Ruben." Stian snapped.

Ruben stood up and placed his plate in the sink. "No, that would imply that you paid for her. You're too cheap for that."

Stian was out of his chair in a flash, grabbing his cousin by the collar and pinning him against the fridge. "Call her a whore again. Go on. I dare you."

"Boys!" Hödr yelled, slamming his cane into the ground with a resounding metallic ring. "Enough! Get yourselves together already and stop acting like children."

Stian stepped back, letting go of Ruben's shirt. "Yes sir." They said in unison, as Stian started to rummage around in the medicine cabinet for some painkillers.

Stian was relieved to be back in New Asgard by mid afternoon. He and his cousin had found work on a fishing boat in the years since their people had arrived on Earth. The boat made regular trips outwards to catch fish, along with regular trips inwards to the capital of Oslo to trade them. Being Asgardian the mens strength was superior to that of the native humans, and their presence had been greatly welcomed by the local fishermen, a welcome which had come with a reasonable pay check.

"You should come out and watch." Ruben said as they entered their home. "It'll be good fun. I'll even let you take a few shots when the competitions over." He elbowed his cousin in the ribs.

Stian shook his head. "There's no skill in shooting guns for sport, cousin."

"Oh I beg to differ." Ruben smirked. The young man was introduced to firearms soon after the Asgardian's had settled on earth. He soon learned he had quite the knack for shooting, and was often invited to competitions at the local shooting range, which he nearly always won.

"Let me rephrase myself," Stian decided, "There is no fun in shooting guns for sport. No challenge, no adrenaline. You point and aim but there's nothing urgent, nothing that keeps you on your toes."

"There's less broken bones, however." Ruben laughed. He picked up his rifle from inside a closet, and turned to once again head out. "Tell father I'll be back tonight."

"Of course." Stian shrugged. "If I'm around." He muttered under his breath. He wasn't planning to stay in either. Today, he was going to get answers.

Stian trudged up the hill on the outskirts of the town. He looked around him as he reached the house perched atop it, making sure there was no one there to stop him. It wasn't going to end well if Valkyrie caught him. Several kegs of beer were piled up on either side of the door. Empty on one side, full on the other. He knew the drill. He'd been the one to carry the kegs up occasionally.

Stianbanged on the door. There was no response. He banged again. "Go away!" I man yelled from inside. Stain continued to pound on the door. There was the sound of movement inside, and eventually, the door swung open. A large, rock creature stood in the doorway. "Hey man," it said down to him, "He said go away."

"I need to speak with him."

"Yeah well, he doesn't really want to talk to anyone right now, hey." The creature said, trying to close the door. "So uh... Piss off." Stian wedged his foot in front of the door, and managed to duck in under the rock creatures arm. "Oh man, you shouldn't have done that kid."

Stian ran through into the house, turing corners until finally, he ended up face to face with the Asgardian king. The sight was not what Stian was expecting. The man lay across a chair. His hair and bear were long and unkept, and his clothes were several sizes too small for him, which made him appear more overweight than he already was. "Who the hell are you?"

Stian took a second to catch his breath, before bowing. "My name is Stian Baldrson, your majesty."

"That's very nice for you," Thor muttered, waving a beer can towards the door, "Now get out of my house."

Stian shook his head, "Your majesty I just want to ask you a few questions-"

"Korg!" The king shouted down the hall, and the rock creature came jogging down, shaking the house with each step.

"Sorry man, couldn't keep him out." Korg grabbed one of the mans arms. "He's a little slippery."

"Please, I just want to ask about my father. You knew him, he was a noble in the court of Asgard. You have to know what happened to him!" Stian said urgently.

Thor pushed himself up out of his chair unsteadily. "Your father?" He chuckled. "Baldr, right?" Stian nodded. "He's dead. That's what happened to him."

Stian managed to wrestle himself free from Korg. "You don't say." He spat. "I just want to know how he died."

Thor stumbled over, getting right in close to Stian's face as Korg managed to grab him again. The teen could smell the beer in the kings breath. "Your father was shot through the heart with a magic arrow, by one of the only men who knew his weakness. His brother." He pulled back. "Get out of my house."

Stian didn't even fight as Korg threw him quite roughly into the dirt outside the front door. "Aw, sorry about that hey? Just uh... Don't try and come back here no more man. It's probably not gonna end too well." He said as he slammed the door shut.

Stian spent a while lying in the dirt before he dragged himself up to his feet, and walked as if in a trance back down the hill. That wasn't possible. His uncle couldn't have... There was no way in the Nine Realms Hödr would have killed his brother. The man didn't have it in him. And besides, he was blind. He had been for as long as Stian could remember. Unless... Unless he wasn't always blind. Stian threw open the front door, and stopped in the doorway. His uncle was moving from the stairs to the living room. "I didn't expect either of you back to soon." Hödr chuckled, cocking an ear to face the doorway.

"Uncle..." Stian breathed. He couldn't form the question. It simply didn't feel right on his tongue. "Uncle, did you... Did you kill my father?"

Hödr stopped dead, his smile vanishing. It took him a long time to respond. "Who told you this?" He asked.

Stian stepped closer, letting he door swing shut behind him. He repeated himself, slower this time. "Did you kill my father?"

"You shouldn't ask questions like that without the full story, Stian."

Stian rushed forwards, grabbing his blind uncle by the collars and slamming him against a wall. "Did you shoot the arrow that killed my father?" Stian yelled.

Hödr sighed. There was a very long silence between the two. "Yes, Stian. I fired the arrow." Stian panted, his hands shaking. He didn't know what to say. He had nothing to say. He just stood there, with his uncle against the wall, silent. "Now let me explain-"

Hödr was interrupted by a gunshot.

There was a flash of green light from the amulet as Stian felt the bullet bounce harmlessly off his neck. He spun around, releasing Hödr who fell to the floor. Ruben stood in the rooms doorway, his rifle aimed at Stian's head. "Back away from him."

"Put the gun down, cousin." Stian growled.

Ruben cocked the gun again. "Step away from my father."

"Ruben stop..." Hödr said, pushing himself upwards.

"Put it down!" Stian snapped, taking a step towards Ruben.

There was another gunshot. A dull thud, and a flash of green light as the bullet bounced off Stian's shoulder. And a sickening squelch as the bullet ricocheted off him, piercing straight through Hödr's neck.

The two cousins were silent for a moment as the blind mans body fell to the ground, blood pooling around him as he made horrible wrenching sounds, gasping for air. "F-Father!" Ruben yelled, rushing forwards. Stian tried to move towards his uncle, but Ruben wheeled around, cracking him in the side of the head with the but of his rifle. "Don't touch him!" The young man yelled, cradling his fathers body.

"The arrow..." Hödr gasped. His blood stained hand reached upwards towards his son, but fell limply to the floor beside him. "In the attack... The arrow..." He said in a gargled voice, spilling blood onto the floor with every word.

"Father... Father?" Ruben asked, tears streaming down his face, blood soaking into his clothes. There was no response. He laid his fathers body on the wooden floor. He turned to Stian. "Get out." He growled.

"Ruben, I-"

"Get out!" The man screamed, grabbing his gun back off the floor. "This is your fault."

"I didn't-"

"Get out of my goddamn house!" Ruben screamed, swinging his gun like a bat, forcing Stian to jump back towards the door. "Get out!"

Stian stumbled out backwards into the lawn, where Ruben continued to shoot at him, the bullets bouncing harmlessly off him. "I swear to the gods if you ever set foot back here again-" But before he could finish, his cousin was already gone.

Stian ran. He didn't know where he was running, but he ran. He ran until he physically couldn't anymore, and with his Asgardian abilities, that was a very, very long way away indeed. He stumbled onto the side of a road, where he collapsed against a tree. The country road was dark and empty, illuminated only by the crescent moon overhead and the occasional car which passed by, none of which paid him any attention.

It was now that it all began to sink in, and he began to feel tears stream down his face. He wanted to go back, to apologise. He didn't know to who, but he needed to. But he couldn't. Not anymore. There was no way he would be allowed back in that house, in New Asgard, ever again. Not after what had just happened.

Stian didn't know how long he sat there on the side of the road, simply staring blankly into the darkness for hours as the night continued around him. He could barely even move anymore. He was so... Tired.

A pair of headlights slowed to a stop beside him. The window of the car rolled down, and a young woman stuck her head out. "Erm... Okay, uh. Er du ok... mann?" She asked.

Stian's eyes wove their way up to her face. "Listen I... I really can't translate Norwegian right now."

"Oh thank God you speak English." The woman chuckled. "And you're not dead. Are you alright?"

Her words bounced around in his tired mind for a while. American, he realised. He finally found an answer to her question. "Not exactly."

She drummed her fingers on the side of the car door. "Do uh... Do you need a lift?"

Stian considered it for a moment. He didn't have anywhere to go back to now. "I guess I do."

"Hop in." She said, reaching over and opening the passenger seat door. "Where are you heading?"

Stian staggered over and climbed into the seat. The interior of the car was warm, and inviting. "Anywhere away from here." He yawned.

"Well." The young woman smirked, brushing a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. "Off we go then. Just please don't be like a-" She glanced over, only to see that the Asgardian was fast asleep in the chair beside her. "Like a murderer, or something." She finished, smiling shook her head. She pressed her foot down on the accelerator, and the car sped along down the empty country road...

* * *

The door to the small blacksmiths creaked open, the bell above it ringing. The man behind the counter in the workshop looked up. "Ruben Hödrson?" He asked. "Haven't seen you in here for a while."

Ruben nodded, approaching the counter, a long wooden box in his hand. "Not since we first landed on Earth." He said.

"So, what can I do for you?" The Asgardian metalworker asked, placing his hands on the counter.

"I need some bullets." Ruben said flatly, taking one out of his pocket and placing it on the counter. "Like these."

The blacksmith looked puzzled. "Can't you just... Buy them?"

Ruben shook his head. "No no, I need them made of something... Special."

He placed the box up onto the counter. It was long and thin, carved from a wood that never had and never would grow on Earths surface. He flicked open the dust covered latch, and opened the box. Lying inside, neatly nestled amidst shimmering blue fabric, sat a long, metal arrow, which shone a dark metallic chrome in the sunlight through the window. "I need them made out of this."