Harry was not happy. His meeting with Eitri had ended shortly after the revelations of Asgard's past. He had promised to return, no matter what happened, because of what he found. Eitri's people had been made to bend a knee more than two thousand years ago. Back then King Odin and later his daughter Hela had decided to conquer the Nine Realms, until Odin had a change of heart and banished his own daughter to Hel, where she still resided. Trapped on a planet where the dead make their home.
Harry kept his voice in line when he entered the throne room, not surprised to see his brothers and mother there as well. The rest of the room was empty. Harry knew Heimdall had warned Odin, so he walked up to the man and asked, "Well?" as he crossed his arms.
Odin looked wearily at him, "Do you not even greet me, before you make such heavy demands of your father?"
Harry's eyes fell as did his arms to the side of his body. "I'm sorry." he apologised. "Hello father." he said with a nod of the head. "I'm sure you understand the cause for my agitation this day?"
"Hello my son. I do indeed know what troubles you." Odin nodded his head. "This is about your sister, Hela."
Thor looked at Odin askance, "Father?"
Odin, having realised Harry was maintaining control, decided to go to a less formal setting, "Let's adjourn to the family room, where we can discuss this in peace."
The family followed him, with varying degrees of concern pointed at the two who had spoken. Thor was looking at his father, while Frigga was worried about Harry and Loki's attention was on both Harry and Odin. Harry was worried for Loki's reaction to hearing this. If Odin could banish his own flesh and blood, what would he not do?
When they arrived at the family room, Odin took a seat at the head of the reasonably small breakfast table, where they had eaten as a family many times. He hoped to draw on the good memories there to bolster the family, who he feared would turn against him soon.
When everyone was seated, he began, "Many years ago, I was an ambitious youth who yearned for battle, not unlike Thor himself not too long ago. I did not have a father that pulled me aside and tried to teach me the virtues of peace. Nor do I hate the actions of my youth today. I cannot say how the realms would have fared without me, but the delicate peace between the worlds we have now did not exist then.
"Combining the worlds under one banner seemed the only way at the time." Odin said, before looking at Harry. "If we had your gifts for artifice and your vision for uniting a people based on what we could do for each other, I suspect we could have saved many lives, but we were not that fortunate back then.
"As I said, I enjoyed battle and when my daughter Hela came of age, she joined me on the battlefront. She was magnificent with a sword and soon carved out a name and aspect for herself that nobody could argue against, and so she became the Goddess of Death, for she could not be bested and all who stood against her was met with death.
"When I hungered for battle no longer and saw the worlds were at peace, I realised we had no need to make war on any of the nine realms over which we ruled, but Hela wanted to expand on our domain, forever growing what we control and subjugating as many as she could. I tried speaking to her, but her mind was set and she could not be made to see reason.
"When I realised there was no speaking to her, that her bloodlust ran too deep, I banished her to Hel, where her connection to Asgard was severed and she could not muster the power to return to our realm or bring war and ruination to others." Odin finished.
There was a long silence, before Harry turned to Frigga, "Mother, what do you say on this matter?"
Frigga looked at her son and he could see the edge of fear in her eyes, "Hela is not my daughter, but that of a previous consort of Odin's. Still, she was a beautiful girl as she grew up. Mischievous, but not malicious. She liked to spend time with the Valkyrie and hear stories of battle. I suspect now that she had leanings toward battle even then, but it wasn't as all-encompassing as it became. Allowing her to join Odin in battle was my choice and I blame myself for that choice even now."
"So, you're saying that she has a bloodlust now that she didn't have before?" Thor asked. He had a sister, but she sounded lost. He too, had seen the edge of fear on Frigga's face. He could see now that perhaps his father had made the correct decision. He had never seen this kind of fear in her eyes before. It seemed wrong, somehow. That being said, Harry had been able to bring Loki back from the edge of madness…
Odin nodded in agreement. "When we failed to pull her from her crazed desire, we had no choice. She was driven to acts of violence and she had killed some of her attendants in fits of pique."
"You're saying there's no reasoning with her. That she would attack any who approach?" Harry asked.
"Harry, my son, please don't do this." Odin pleaded. "I can see your mind is already being made up, but I must implore on you to not go there. To reconsider."
"How could I?" Harry asked. "I have no memory of that place. I do not know where to find it even." He looked Odin in the eyes, "But when I find out where it is, I will be going there. I can't believe you would banish someone to such an existence. If she is alone in Hel, and has been for thousands of years, then she is surely mad. Wouldn't it be better to put her out of her misery?"
"You are no match for her strength." Odin said. He knew he couldn't refuse Harry, now that he knew of Hela. It was simply not in his character to leave someone to suffer. "She would attack you even if you were her only chance of escape, as soon as she realises you cannot be made to give her passage back to Asgard."
"Then I will take precautions." Harry said stubbornly. He took his scabbard in hand, "I am also not as defenceless as you seem to think." His sword shot out of its sheath and aligned itself with the floor before it started growing. "My new blade is enchanted to withstand nearly anything and to defend me automatically. Even Mjolnir could not destroy this blade by my reckoning."
Thor didn't hesitate to try this theory, as he swung his hammer and slammed it against the sword. There was a mighty clang as the Adamantium was hit, but the vibranium core did what it was supposed to and internalised the impact as the sword stood its ground, without a dent. "Impossible!" Thor exclaimed. "You have made something that can stand up to a weapon made by the dwarves?"
"He made something that can destroy weapons made by the dwarves." Natasha said as she came out of invisibility, having followed Harry. No chance was she leaving him alone in this state, after all. "I saw him doing just that, earlier today."
"To be fair, I used the advantages of two uniquely qualified metals to achieve that feat." Harry said. Then he turned to Odin as Frigga got up to hugged Natasha with a sad smile. She was glad Natasha had gone with him. She really appreciated that Natasha would always be there for Harry. "What say you now, father? Do you still think me ill prepared for this journey? Who better to face your daughter, my sister, than me? I am, after all, the Master of Death."
"What?" Loki spoke up for the first time. "When did this happen?"
"It is part of Harry's gifts from before he came to our reality. He is not proud of it and does not advertise it." Natasha said. "Please don't think badly of him for not telling you, as he only told your family when he had no choice, when you dragged him to Asgard against his will that first time."
Loki looked like he was going to object, but decided better and remained quiet. If Harry thought he was going to meet this Goddess of Death on his own, though, he had another thing coming.
Odin looked upset. A kind of anger, which Harry could tell was not new on Odin's face, but it soon gave way to reluctant acceptance. Odin knew he could not stop his youngest from making strides to speak to his eldest. "If you do this, I cannot condone it. It is forbidden by law to set foot on Niflheim." he said, once again the face of a ruler who had to follow the rules he made.
"I understand, father." Harry said. He could work with that. "If that is the law."
Odin could tell Harry was planning something, and was slightly relieved that at least Harry was engaging his higher brain functions. If Harry could somehow bypass the law without breaking it, he would not have to take action against him. He'd just have to hope Harry lived through the experience. "As long as you do not break the law, I will not be forced to take action." he spoke his thought. There was a twinkle in Harry's eye. It was subdued, but he knew Harry had caught his meaning. Good. "Let us no longer speak of this. Instead, tell me about this weapon you have created."
Harry knew Odin had read his intention to defy the law, but he also knew when he was given a clue. Odin would not help him, but if he got around the law, some other way, he'd be safe from reprisal. That's why he let the subject drop. He took a moment to handle his emotions while Natasha retold the story of Eitri's test.
When he was done collecting himself and putting his emotions in check, Natasha was almost done with the retelling, "That's when he walked up to the dwarven guard and offered to fix the sword. The guard thought it was impossible, but Harry lifted his hands and even I could tell his magic was flaring and there was this visible glow around him. When the two halves struggled to come together, Harry's aura doubled in size and the other guard fell to his knees, joining the first one, in shock. The next moment the sword was one, and King Eitri was standing there with his mouth open. We later found out Harry's magic had restored the enchantments on the blade even."
"Truly?" Odin asked with shock written on his face. He looked at Frigga, who looked just as shocked, but nodded. "It seems we have found his divine aspect then."
"Wait, what?!" Harry asked.
"Harry James Potter Odinson, God of Artifice and Enchantment." Odin said. It made sense. They should have known with everything Harry had made for them since even their second meeting. "Congratulations, my son."
"How can you know?" Harry asked. "I just fixed a sword, for goodness sakes!"
Odin shook his head, "You fixed a dwarven-forged blade, with unknown enchantments, but your ability was such that it could find the grain of the enchantment lines and combine them and restore the flow of magic. Eitri would be able to sense such things, which would explain his awe at the feat."
"Grain?" Harry asked.
"That's right." Odin said. "Normal dwarves don't have magic they can wield like you or I. They do, however, have the ability to affect the flow of magic in items and imbue weapons with powers, as long as those who wield the weapons have sufficient power to suffuse them. Eitri is the exception to this. He is a master smith who has developed ways in which to imbue weapons with such awesome might, that they take so much energy that only we Aesir, with our gifts, could wield them. Only Eitri himself has enough power that he could claim to do the same. His ability to sense magic and its flow is how he can do what he does. No other dwarf is so blessed."
"That explains how he sensed Natasha when she was invisible." Harry said. "He couldn't see her, but he knew she was there."
Harry explained a bit more about the weapon, but as he did so, his mind was already on a new project. By the time he and Natasha left, nobody there was convinced that he had heard all that was said, and they'd be right. Harry was preoccupied to say the least. He was building a plan and while it was not complete, yet, he'd be damned if he didn't give it all his attention until he did.
As Harry and Natasha left, nobody saw that Loki had disappeared, as their attention were on the leaving couple. "Loki?" Thor asked when they were gone.
"I believe he has gone with your brother, to help ensure that whatever scheme he is cooking up doesn't land him in trouble." Odin said pointing at where the portal had just been.
"Then I should go, too." Thor insisted.
"You cannot, my son." Odin said sadly. "You, who are about to be coroneted, are the one that has to enforce the rules. If they make a mistake or get caught breaking the law, one of your first acts might just have to be to rule judgement over them."
Thor looked in shock at Odin, but he could see the sorrow there. Frigga placed a hand on Odin's shoulder. "Heavy is the head that wears the crown." she said while looking at Odin, before turning to Thor. "It brought me no joy to keep your sister from you. Your father wanted to spare you the pain of seeing the monster she had become. As King, it was also his duty to punish her severely for her transgressions. Should she ever return to Asgard, those who freed her, would be considered traitors to the realm."
Thor wanted to speak up, but he realised she was giving him a warning. He needed to consider what he would do. If he didn't uphold the rules the same way his father did, it would call into question his ability to rule. He hoped Loki could keep an eye on Harry. Even more, he hoped they succeeded, in such a way that he was not forced to take action.
Back on Earth, Loki had decided to become visible. He knew Harry would find him out somehow, since he always did. It would be best if he could speak to Harry anyway. "Greetings brother." he said with a smile when he was spotted. "I know that gleam in your eye. It has been directed at me a time or two, after all."
"What do you want, Loki?" Harry asked, not denying his statement. "You know what I plan to do may not be legal, right? If you come with me, you'll be considered an outlaw if something goes wrong."
"What is the saying, again?" Loki asked with an easy smile to hide his nerves. "Ah, yes. Been there, done that." he smirked.
"Your contract prohibits you from breaking the laws, Loki. You know the consequences of breaking the contract is permanent loss of your powers, right?" Harry asked.
"Don't be silly." Natasha said, hugging Harry from the side. She had known he was still not alright and intended to stay with him. "Your contract with him clearly states that he is allowed to protect his people. As long as you are his brother, he is allowed to try and keep you out of trouble."
She had always been able to read Loki more easily than most. Not that he minded, really. Her strength would only be a boon to his brother. "Fine." he said, suddenly sobering. "I'm not going to stand in your way, but I'm going to try and help you to do this without breaking Asgardian law, okay?"
Harry contemplated his statement, but seeing the determination in Loki's eyes, he nodded. It actually touched him a bit that someone would be that protective over him. Being adopted himself, Loki seemed to be his staunchest supporter. "The guest bedroom is open. You can stay there for tonight. I'll be making a trip back to Nidavellir in the morning, if you want to come." Harry then turned and went to bed with his girl.
That night, as they lay in bed, Natasha asked him, "Harry? What are you planning?"
Harry just kept looking at the sky through the enchanted ceiling. "I'm not quite sure yet, but I think I may be considering bringing Hela back to the Island."
"Are you sure you can control her? She sounds very strong." Natasha argued lightly. She knew Harry would not allow her to hurt any of the inhabitants of the island, so he must be planning on controlling her somehow.
Harry nodded, "There are many ways that I can attempt, but I'll probably end up having to have her sign a blood oath."
"Blood oath?" Natasha asked. She'd not heard that term before, not from Harry anyway.
"Blood magic is one of the strongest, and most easily abused forms of magic." Harry started. "Blood and life are considered to be the same. So is life and magic…"
"So blood can have a direct correlation to magic?" Natasha finished his thought for him.
"Blood, either willingly given or forcibly taken, can be used to empower magic." Harry said. "If I made a magical contract that could bind her power, my power may not be enough to bind her to it, if Odin is to be believed."
"But if she signed in blood…" Natasha said with understanding in her eyes.
"Then her own power would bind her power." Harry nodded.
"How will you get her to sign? Or do you intend to try forcing her?" Natasha asked.
"For this kind of magic, she needs to sign willingly. I could get her blood and add it to the contract myself, but if she signs, it would be impossible to break without consequences." Harry said. "I'll have to make her an offer she can't refuse."
"And if she's insane?" Natasha asked.
"Then I'll put her out of her misery. If that means I have to break the law, so be it." Harry said irrevocably.
"I love you, Harry." Natasha said as she curled up to him. Harry would not be made to kill one of his own family. Not if she could help it. Even if he meant it as a mercy, it would hurt him to be forced to do something like that.
"I love you, too." Harry said as he closed his eyes and allowed himself to be drawn into sleep.
The next morning found Harry, Natasha, Loki, Tony and Rocket walking through the portal to Nidavellir again. King Eitri had told him where he may use his magic to arrive. Upon arrival, the guard, whose sword Harry had repaired, walked up to them, having apparently been awaiting them. "Greetings, King Harry and guests. I have been appointed as your guide, upon your return." the dwarf said with a quick bow. "I will have you announced and brought to King Eitri. He has much to discuss with you, I am told."
"Thank you, Master Dwarf." Harry said nodding at the dwarf, as bowing would be below the station he was portraying himself at. "Could I enquire as to your name?"
"I am called Radek, King Harry." the now identified Radek introduced himself.
"Would it be customary for me to refer to you by name?" Harry asked.
"I don't see why not." Radek said with a broad smile. "Come, let me take you to the King." he said as he waved them on.
"Thank you, Radek." Harry said as he lifted himself up and levitated his friends with him, so that the Dwarf didn't need to slow down for them.
"You have many hidden skills it seems." Radek mentioned upon seeing Harry and his friends floating along behind him. "Is this an ability gained through artifice?"
"Yes." Harry said simply.
Loki wasn't so easy to silence though. "It is a simple feat for my brother." he said. "It is, after all, within his divine aspect to create and imbue."
"Is it, now?" came the voice of Eitri as they entered the room where they had held their discussion the previous day. "It would explain much." Eitri said.
"King Eitri." Harry bowed. The others followed his example, before they were seated at the table again. Harry was not happy about people referring to him as divine. He preferred blessed. He'd never consider himself a god. Even one with a small 'g'. It was just not something he was interested in. He knew people like Voldemort would have loved it.
"My brother's aspect has only recently been identified by Odin, himself." Loki continued once he was seated.
Harry supplied the same barrel as the previous day and when Loki looked at him through narrowed eyes at seeing the Asgardian Firewhiskey, Harry shrugged, "King Eitri was kind enough to offer us of his drink at our last meeting, so it was only fair to return the favour."
"And did you inform King Eitri of the value of the gift you so easily bestowed upon him?" Loki asked.
"He did not, but I can tell it is of the highest quality." Eitri said. "We would be willing to pay for such services in the future." he assured them.
"Consider this one a gift." Harry said. "I did, after all, stop by without calling first. To that end," he said sticking a hand into his pocket and removing a shrunken mirror from it, "I offer you this. It is a communications mirror. All you need to do is hold it in your hand and speak my name, 'Harry Potter', and you will be connected to me. Likewise if I wish to speak to you, I will say 'Eitri' and be connected to you." Harry showed him how to accept and close the connection. "If Odin permits, you may also call for him on his mirror, but I would suggest you speak to Heimdall first. He has one of these as well." he said.
"What an interesting enchantment." Eitri nodded and inspected the mirror. Harry had reinforced it and decorated the back of the mirror with a steel image of two fists grasped together. He hoped the gift would be seen as the first step towards reconciling the differences between Asgard and Nidavellir. "I find it strange how your magic seems to cling to your enchantments. Ours are inlaid in the metal, during the crafting of the weapon."
"It's how my magic works." Harry said.
"How long do your enchantments last? I can tell it won't last forever, like mine does." Eitri said. "Except for your sword. Part of its enchantment was ingrained through the use of symbols of power, which uses your magic or ambient magic to operate, correct?"
"That would be rune magic." Tony spoke up. "Hi, we haven't been given the chance to talk, really. I'm Tony Stark. Billionaire, inventor, philanthropist, Iron Man, Rune Master and space explorer. In that order." Harry had wondered when this would happen. Tony had been uncharacteristically quiet of late. Apparently he had been waiting for a subject that they could communicate about.
"And I'm Rocket. I'm learning the rune magic too, but my real passion is weapons and making things that explode." Rocket said.
"Loki, Prince of Asgard and God of Mischief." Loki said.
"Natasha Romanoff. I'm Harry's bodyguard and partner." Natasha introduced herself.
"You have a relationship with your bodyguard?" Eitri asked.
"To be fair, most of the time we protect each other, but when we're on mission and I'm visible, she usually isn't and sometimes it's the other way around." Harry said. "The relationship happened before all that though. Remind me to send you an invitation to our wedding next year."
Eitri was taking all of this in stride as he sipped from his mug. "You surround yourself with capable people and share your power so freely. I can detect your magic all over them. Why did you imbue your friends with such power?" he asked.
"To keep them safe." Harry shrugged. "They are my friends and loved ones, after all."
"Your perspective is naive, but noble." Eitri allowed, then he sat more upright. "What do you want of the dwarves, King Harry?" he asked.
"I told you to call me Harry." Harry reprimanded. "And to answer your question, nothing. We want nothing that you don't want to give. An alliance would be nice, but friendship can be just as rewarding. Weapons would be useful, but we can survive without them. Besides that, we would like to start trading with you."
"Trading." Eitri said, finally seeing what they were after. "What would you offer for the wealth of Nidavellir?"
"What do you want?" Harry asked. "We can offer supplies, transport and access to other realms, different forms of enchantment and I might even offer my services to repair broken items…"
"There is no need for repairs. Very few have the power to destroy weapons made of Uru." Then he got a gleam in his eye, "Perhaps if you share the secrets of how you created Urubane?"
"Urubane?" Harry asked.
"It is what my people have started calling your sword." Eitri chuckled. "I told you a sword of such power required a name."
"It is a good name." Loki said with a nod. "Prestigious. Not many can claim having earned it."
"Only those with the greatest of power, who can exceed both the power of the original enchanter and that of the forger can claim such." Eitri agreed. "Since Uru becomes more powerful for those who have more power to bestow, I suspect you would struggle only against those of exceeding strength. Perhaps Mjolnir with Thor wielding it?"
"Thor already tried his hammer against Urubane." Natasha said with pride. "He couldn't even move it."
"I may have made that look easier than it was." Harry said. "I felt the impact, though the nature of the sword did make it considerably easier."
"You and I will have much to discuss about our crafts at some future date, I suspect." Eitri said. "I would have given much to see Thor's entitled face as his favourite weapon failed him."
"We can arrange for a viewing of the memory at some other stage." Harry said with a nod. He'd have to be careful sharing that memory, as he didn't want to share his conversation with Odin with just anyone. "As for Thor, Odin has seen to it that most of his entitlement has been humbled."
Eitri smiled, but before he could speak, Tony decided it was his turn again, "We've been working on an alchemical process that will change gold into Adamantite. Harry tells me your people know metal better than anyone in the universe. Do you think you have anyone around that could help us with that? It would be something we'd be willing to trade for."
"We don't have anything like that here, but we have many who would be interested in such a process, not that I know what this 'Adamantite' is." Eitri said.
"It is the Midgardian word for a very rare type of Star Metal." Loki supplied. "They call Vibranium by the same word though."
"Truly?" Eitri asked with large eyes. "We have worked with many kinds of strange metals. What are the properties of this Adamantite?"
"It's very rare. So rare in fact that our other sources have run dry." Harry said, referring to Yondu. He had not been able to find any more and they were now pressed to start producing as needed. "The metal in its natural state, can be used to channel Magic. Once melted and put through a specific process to bond with other elements, it becomes nearly indestructible. One of the strongest alloys we know of in fact. Only those with a lot of power can even affect it. I'm fortunate that it reacts well to my magic otherwise I couldn't reuse the supply I have."
It was true. When they found the recipe it had taken a bit of work, but they soon had the indestructible metal bubbling away in a forge. When it cooled down even a little it had solidified into a block of solid Adamantium. Tony had been distraught at the loss of so much adamantite, but Harry had focussed his magic and found that he could transfigure the metal into a liquid state to use as needed. More often than not as a coating. They later found he could do the same with Vibranium, but they needed to feed it energy to the point that the metal could not take any more, before it became usable and that took a lot of power. Harry cheated by using Fiendfyre whenever he wanted to melt the vibranium down.
"Would it be possible for me to inspect some Adamantite?" Eitri asked.
Harry actually hesitated for a moment, before he opened two portals. He retrieved one of the few remaining bars of Adamantite through one portal and a brick of Adamantium through the other. When both of them were in his hands, he levitated them across to Eitri. "The one on your left is the unmodified base metal. The one on the right is the Adamantium alloy."
Eitri was inspecting the Adamantite closely and Harry could feel his power was running through the metal, inspecting and almost tasting it. "It seems you are familiar with something very similar to Uru."
"Adamantite was used in my world as a magically conductive metal. We use it for magical circuitry now. Once it is turned into Adamantium, however, it loses that property." Harry said.
"Uru is much stronger in its base form and has much the same property, but once infused with magic, it becomes more durable and retains its conductive ability. It could even be compared to this Adamantium in strength." Eitri said as he picked up the Adamantium brick and tested it too. "Though I have to admit, the Adamantium is even stronger than Uru, though it should not be able to destroy a weapon made from Uru, especially an enchanted one. Not on its own at least." As he said this he narrowed his eyes at Harry, "Unless you used Vibranium to help protect the blade form impacts?"
Harry just smiled, but didn't confirm anything one way or the other. He was close, but the magic of the runes added even more durability and sharpness. Never mind the expansion and shrinking he used during the process.
"You are wise to keep your secrets, but I don't think I'm wrong." Eitri said as he slid both pieces of metal across the table.
"The difference, of course, being that Harry's enchantments work differently than yours." Loki said.
"And that he uses multiple types." Tony said, before looking over at Harry. "You use what, three different kinds now?"
"Four." Harry said, shaking his head.
"Are there that many?" Eitri asked doubtfully.
"Sure." Harry said as he lay a hand on his scabbard. "I'm not sharing my construction techniques, but I can tell you the kinds of magic." Eitri just watched as the sword removed itself from the scabbard and expanded to a truly massive size, for the first time showing its true capability. "The growing enchantment is my standard kind of enchantment." He shrunk it down and slashed at Loki at a truly inspired speed, stopping an inch from his face. To Loki's credit, he didn't even flinch. "The movement and control is Asgardian magic, from which I worked out an enchantment." He conjured a large block of steel and had the sword cut clean through it. "The strengthening and sharpening enchantments work on both my normal magic and Rune magic. The last kind I can't demonstrate, but you have seen it. When your guards attacked me and the sword defended me on its own. The ward magic which protected me without my needing to summon the sword or be aware of the attack, is a blood magic ward."
"That sounds like a dangerous kind of magic." Eitri said.
"Blood magic can be abused," Harry nodded, "but this one responds with equal force and only to defend. The world where I come from had people who did abuse blood magic, though. They could do almost anything, from making people their willing slaves to darkest resurrection rituals." Harry rubbed at his scar from when he had been used in just such a ritual.
"Like Harry told you last time, King Eitri. His world is gone." Natasha said. "Since he is the only person with the knowledge of these magics, we have to trust that he will not abuse his powers."
"Indeed, he has shown us that he is truly only interested in helping people." Loki said. "I was once prisoner for actions against the Crown, but he offered me a deal to save my soul, bound me by contract and later used the self-same blood magic to adopt me by blood into Odin's family."
"If that's not enough for you, he's got a pet Phoenix, too." Rocket said. "Seriously, he just shows up whenever Harry says his name. It's neat."
"Fawkes is a familiar, not a pet. They have a connection of mutual trust and understanding." Natasha said, looking at Rocket.
"Why did you answer for him?" Rocket complained. "If you said nothing he would have called the bird."
"I would not mind seeing a Phoenix." Eitri said. If this was true, then Harry truly was a good person. "Even I who has lived a thousand years, has never seen the fabled creature, let alone heard of it creating a familiar bond."
Harry looked up and, instead of calling urgently, asked nicely, "Fawkes, would you mind joining us? We're sitting with a new friend who'd like to meet you." Harry continued staring up for a bit before looking back at Eitri. "He said he'll be here in a moment. I think he's making us wait on purpose. He recently informed me that I keep on interrupting him while he's preening his feathers, so I'm asking nicely now instead of calling him, like I used to."
"To be fair, I've never seen him preening, so Harry might have a point." Natasha said.
Eitri looked at Harry and wondered if he was not quite right in the head, until the Phoenix in question appeared in a ball of fire.
"Awesome." Rocket said. He loved the way the phoenix appeared.
Eitri was staring as the bird hovered seemingly weightlessly in the air, while Harry just looked at it. Then he looked at Eitri. "Hold out your arm." Eitri did as requested and the Phoenix alighted on it, growing slightly until he was proportionally the right size. "Huh, I didn't know he could do that." The phoenix chirped, to which Harry responded, "Well, how was I supposed to know that I should ask?!"
"You truly have a bond to an actual Phoenix!" Eitri said. No matter what Harry did, Fawkes always stole the show.
"Why would I lie?" Harry said.
"There is much to gain from the dwarves, and many have tried to fool us into gaining our favour." Eitri said. "With Fawkes here, you have proven that we can trust each other." He looked at Harry and said, "Thank you for offering us a hand in friendship, rather than asking us what we can do for you."
"Actually," Harry said having a though, "there are a couple of things we could use your help with, but this would be in trade." He opened two portals and deposited the metals back where they came from. Then he summoned one of his dearest items. The Sword of Gryffindor. "This sword was crafted by the best smiths in my home world. Goblins had much the same legendary fame as the dwarves do here. And this is one of their works.
"I was told that all goblin steel had the ability to adapt and take in only that which makes it stronger. This was proven when a young boy was able to slay a thousand-year old Basilisk with this very sword. Since then, its edge has gained the ability to destroy anything, including things that are supposed to be indestructible, just as basilisk venom is said to be capable of doing." Harry said levitating the sword closer to the smith. 'Much like Fiendfyre', he thought to himself. "Be careful. One knick and you will die."
"Unless Fawkes decides he likes you enough." Natasha put in. "Phoenix tears can cure anything."
"Fair enough." Harry conceded.
Eitri was holding his hand close, but not touching the sword, "You modelled Urubane off its design, but with some changes to accommodate your process, I see." He ran his energy through the blade and his eyes widened. "That's impossible!" he said.
"What?" Harry asked.
"This sword lives!" Eitri said. "It's sampling my magic as I test it and growing immune to my magic as it does so. Magnificent!" he exclaimed excitedly.
"So the Sword of Gryffindor finds your interest?" Harry asked.
"Verily." Eitri said. "I would give much to study this blade. If I could find the process used, I could create something like I have never done before. Something that sits at the zenith above all weapons ever made!"
"I'm glad I could interest you with something." Harry said.
Rocket looked like he was going to explode from excitement. "Could I help?! I would very much like to help make a weapon that makes all other weapons seem like toys."
"This study might take me decades." Eitri said. "Much as the craft of the dwarves took millennia to perfect, these Master Smiths from Harry's old world likely hid much of their processes with magic and with what I have seen from Harry, it is entirely possible that this sword used blood as a catalyst for its capabilities. Understanding that, let alone copying it, would be a life's work for one as short lived as yourselves." he apologised.
"Short-lived my furry behind!" Rocket swore. "Stark and Banner will have immortality figured out in the next couple of years, then I can spend many lifetimes on research and blowing shit up." he said crossing his arms with a victorious smirk.
"Immortality?" Eitri asked.
"It's something they will likely reach as they continue their study into alchemy." Harry said.
Eitri considered this. "It is possible that a magic from your old world will be needed to recreate this wonder." he said pointing at the floating sword. "Perhaps a bit of combined effort?" he offered looking at Tony.
"I don't see why not." Tony said. "And if, while we're in the process of figuring that out, we stumble across a way to make the conversion of metallic transmutations more efficient, then that will just help us all in the long run."
"How do you intend to use the adamantite?" Eitri asked.
"Have you ever heard of something called a quantum super-computer?" Tony asked.
"Hold on. Before you go down the rabbit-hole that is Tony's plans for computing excellence, I need to ask you a favour, off the books, as it were." Harry asked.
"What can I help with?" Eitri asked, wondering if the other shoe was dropping.
"I need two things." Harry said as he pulled out a contract. "Tony can tell you about this contract and what it does in a bit, but for now, I'd like to know if you can tell me where Niflheim is."
Harry was soon directed to follow Radek to go speak to one of their elders. It had been a long time since anyone was allowed on Niflheim after all, and there were none alive among the dwarves who had been there, but there were records of a path the dwarves once knew of. When Harry arrived in the library, he was pointed to a blind old man sitting in a corner of a room filled with books and caressing an old tome in his hand.
"Excuse me, sir?" Harry asked respectfully.
"Yes? Who am I speaking to?" the old man asked looking up. "I don't know your voice."
"I am King Harry of New Atlantis." Harry said. "Prince of Asgard."
"Are you now?" the old man asked with a smile. "I have heard tales of a mighty wielder of magic by that description."
"That would be me." Harry said. "I was asked to come speak to someone called Varko about the location, or a path to Niflheim?"
"You've found him." Varko said as he stood up and started walking down an aisle. As he walked, he unerringly placed the book he had been holding in its place, between a set of other books. The writing was strange, but Harry could tell the old man had returned a book to the rest of its set. As he reached the end of the aisle, he turned right and went down another aisle, before stopping and reaching out to pull a book from its place. "This is what you are looking for."
Harry had needed to activate his flight to follow the old man, so he levitated the offered book out of the old man's hand. "Thank you sir, but I was hoping someone could read this for me. I'm not exactly from around here and this language is foreign to me."
"You mean you are illiterate?" the old man asked.
"No, sir." Harry replied calmly and respectfully. "I can read and write, but only in my native tongue and a few others from my home world. And I can only do that thanks to magic."
"Well, don't look to me for answers." Varko said, grumpily. "My eyesight left me years ago. The only reason I still have a use is because I still know where everything is."
"I am sorry to hear that sir." Harry said. He had a thought, then. "If you suddenly found yourself capable of reading again, would you be willing to help me?"
"If you are playing a trick on an old dwarf, you're a cruel man." Varko said dangerously.
"I do have the capability, but I don't know for certain if it will work with your physiology." Harry said. "I am willing to give it a try if you are?"
"If you can help me read my books again, I'll read you a book at bedtime till the day I die!" Varko said vehemently.
"Okay, then. Let's go back to your bench. I'm going to try and cast the magic on one of your eyes first." Harry instructed. The old man moved faster than Harry thought possible and was soon seated in his seat. Harry chuckled. "Do you prefer an eye for my first test?" he joked.
"The left one." Varko said instantly. "It was always my weaker eye."
Harry shrugged and started gathering his magic. He didn't need a lot, but he needed it to be precise, but also malleable. It needed to look for the optic cluster and input what his eyes should be seeing directly into that part of the brain. "Now don't be shocked if you start seeing flashes or anything. And don't be shocked if you see something only for it to fade. I'm casting the spell, temporarily only, to feel out if it works. If it does, I'll enchant something for you to see with, okay?"
"It sounds like you know what you are doing." Varko said excitedly.
"Good." Harry said. Then he raised his hand and focussed his will on the task at hand. When he released the magic it went into the left eye and Harry could feel it working. "Let me know if you see anything." he instructed.
He felt as the magic moved around looking for something until it stopped, apparently having found something.
"I think… I think something is happening." Varko said as he opened and closed his eyes rapidly. After a minute he sighed disappointedly, "I thought I saw something for a moment, but it was gone before I could focus on it."
"You should have said so then." Harry shook his head. He had let the magic go when Varko was quiet too long. He reapplied the same magic. "Now tell me if you're seeing anything, even if you can't make it out." he instructed again.
"I'm seeing something, I think, but it's fuzzy." Varko informed him.
"Perfect." Harry said. "I can work with fuzzy."
"I can't! How will I read?" Varko objected.
"Don't worry, Varko. I can take care of that too." Harry said as he looked around. "You don't happen to have used glasses in your life did you?"
"Glasses?" the dwarf asked.
"Never mind." Harry said. "I'll just quickly pop home and fetch some supplies. Stay right where you are." Harry quickly popped to Friday's fabrication warehouse. "Friday, I need some glass and stainless steel."
"Hello Harry." Friday greeted him. She asked him some question and he soon had what he would need. He opened a portal again and went back, to find the old man still sitting exactly as he had been.
"I'm back." Harry said. "I think I've got what I need, too." Harry started moulding the wire-frame of the glasses with his magic and soon placed it on the dwarf's face, asking the old man if it was comfortable. Harry didn't wear glasses anymore, but he was familiar enough with bad ones to know how to get them to sit better.
When that was done he separated just enough glass from the rectangular block he had been given to make basic clear glass for the glasses he was making. That would be the minimum requirement and all he'd need, since they don't need to be prescription for them to send the correct information to the brain. The enchantment handled focus, after all. It should also fix any issues he had originally.
When that was done, he removed the glasses from the old man's face and enchanted them right then and there. It took him all of ten minutes. When he was done, the glasses were even damage-resistant and had a charm to make it look like his eyes weren't milky white. He had made them the same colour as Radek's, except for a slightly paler shade of blue.
He handed the glasses to the old man and instructed him to put them on. Varko did as instructed and Harry monitored the magic as it felt around again and settled into the right spot. "Well?" Harry asked.
"I'm seeing something, but it's strange. It's like everything is upside down and out of focus still." Varko observed.
"Of course!" Harry realised. "Your eyes are bigger, so your retinas work differently." He took hold of the glasses with his magic and turned the glass around so that the enchantment would send the info into the brain the other way around. Then he adjusted the input slightly for a different focus, trying to accommodate for how the old dwarf's brain would have interpreted sight. "How's that?"
Varko was quiet as he looked around the room for the first time in years. "Those bastards!" Varko objected as he shot up and started rearranging his books. "I can't be certain who has what at this rate!" then he stopped and looked at his hands as he realised what was happening. "I can see." He whispered. Then, "I can see!" he yelled and jumped up and stomped his feet on the floor.
He kicked up such a racket that other dwarves came running, weapons drawn, thinking the visitor was surely trying to kill the old dwarf. When they saw him dancing about as he laughed and repeated the same phrase over and over again, "I can see! I can SEE!" they changed their minds. Their visitor might be small, but he was mighty. None had seen Varko in a good mood in years.
Suddenly the old man stopped and looked indignantly out the door. "What are you looking at? Can't an old man celebrate being given the gift of sight again?"
"Sorry, Varko." came the repeated apologies of the men that had come to see what was going on.
"Then off with you! I promised King Harry help with finding some information." Varko said, with a stern look on his face. When they left he mumbled, "Not used to anything are they?" Then he smiled and winked at Harry. Harry decided he liked the old man. Something about him reminded him of a combination of Moody and Dumbledore. Then he picked up the book that was lying next to Harry, "Is this the book I gave you?"
"Yes, sir, it is." Harry said.
"Damn, I was afraid of that. It seems that my filing system is no longer trustworthy. These are the records of the war during the fifth dynasty of… Anyway, it's not what you are looking for." Varko walked back to the section the book had been. "Oh, well thankfully it was close by." He returned and opened a new book on a table. "Let's see here."
"What is that book about if I may ask?" Harry asked.
"Asking is free." Varko quipped with another smile. "It's a book on the locations where the Terrors invaded our realm from Niflheim."
"Terrors?" Harry asked. That didn't sound good.
"Flying demonic creature that drives you insane and makes you relive your worst memories." Varko said. "When we still lived on the planet, it was our greatest fear. They would strike when people were sleeping. You'd wake up the next day only to find out you'd lost a family member and all that remained was an empty shell."
"Dementors!" Harry swore. "Of course Niflheim has Dementors. Couldn't leave Hela on a planet with flowers could we? We just had to put her on a land filled with creatures that tortured you with your worst memories for a snack. Damnit Odin! What were you thinking?!"
"Probably that she'd be safe there." the old dwarf said as he continued to scour the book.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"The Aesir are immune to Terrors, aren't they?" Varko asked. "Best guards you could think of for someone who is immune. Doesn't allow someone to visit, but also keeps enemies away." Then Varko seemed to find something he was looking for, "Here! This will be your entry-point." He moved the book so Harry could see.
There, clearly marked on a map of Nidavellir's largest continent, was a symbol Harry had hoped to never see again. It was the mark of the Hallows.