Part 5
When Gerard returned from his morning ritual he found his room empty. He donned his armor, gathered up his weapons and went to the stables. To his surprise he found Hela there, astride her own horse in full armor.
"Don't look so worried," she said, "I must return home. My servants will meet us tomorrow morning. At least I will have one more day with you."
"Balder and I will ride ahead," said Thor, "to make sure the way is clear."
They rode out and Gerard and Hela talked more as they travelled.
"I've been talking to mother," Hela said. "How interesting it would be to be your child!"
"Do not count on your mother's desires coming true," said Gerard.
"Do not count on their NOT!" replied Hela. "But then again I remembered your people's charming custom of taking a wife, each from a different race. What if I came as a beautiful dark skinned maiden? I understand you have a fondness for them." She looked serious for a moment. "It was very kind of you," she said "to convince Odin to let his ravens be maidens at night. Your words are true. A punishment should not go on forever. One way or another it must end. I still hate your Lords," she said some time later.. "I think They are cruel and despisable, and I cannot understand why you are so loyal."
"It is our way, Hela, as it is your way to be loyal to your Father, Odin. I have not one father, but hundreds, and I love each one just as much. For each one gave as much to their people."
"And some of your Lords are mothers, too," said Hela. "I suppose I should not be so critical. You accept our way so easily. I should be more considerate of yours!"
"Let us talk of other things," said Gerard, "I do not want harshness in our parting and we have few hours left. Night already approaches. We had better catch up with our companions and find a campsite."
There was an excellent campsite not far away, and Thor and Baldar agreed it was best to settle in for the night. A nice fire was built, their meal cooked, then Thor asked Gerard what he was like in Midgard, and before Gerard could stop her Hela told Thor and Baldar all she had seen.
"It is hard," said Thor, "for a great warrior to be sickly, and to depend on others for protection. If I was there, by Odin, no man would ever strike you and live! But I would not be as harsh as Hela. It is a greater man that when he is hurt will not use his mighty strength. Though I fear if I were you, those who misused me would walk about feeling their way. Now, it is late, and light will come early. We should be safe here, but I trust nothing. Balder, and I, will take both watches tonight."
"No," said Gerard, "I will take the first, and Hela will stand with me. Then I will awake Thor."
"As you wish," said Thor. "You two take the secluded place between the rocks and the fire, with the fire on one side and us on the other you will be safe enough."
There was no trouble though, that evening, and in the morning they journeyed on. A party of eight riders, four men and four women met them about two hours before noon and Hela journeyed off with them without a word. Their good-byes had been made earlier. As they journeyed on, Gerard took the lead with his two companions slightly behind him, on either side.
With each passing mile it got colder and dimmer. Gerard hummed as he rode. "What is that music you make?" asked Thor.
"It is a battle song," Gerard answered, "belonging to one of the warrior groups where I come from. That's what I feel like right now...a marine about to hit a beachhead."
"Siing it for us!" said Balder.
Gerard began to sing. "From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli..." When he finished Thor gave a great cry.
"Good song!" he said, "I like it! Let us sing it together! Start again, Gerard!"
So as the three travellers moved over the land of Asgard the "Marine Corps Hymn" echoed across the countryside. They made camp a second night and Gerard stripped of his armor. "I'm going to take a look around," he said. "In order to do so, I'm going to change form. I won't take my weapons. I'll move faster without them."
Thor backed off. "You're not going to do that 'trans' thing are you?"
"Only slightly," said Gerard, "not like when I recharge."
A shimmering glow appeared around him, and when it faded he was smaller and leaner with tanned skin. He waved to Thor and Balder, then ran off into the night with incredible speed. Thor and Balder simply looked at each other, built their fire higher, and waited. It was not long before Gerard returned.
"There's small groups of strange men all around us," he said, "short, withered-looking, blue-skinned. As cold as it is they wore only a loin cloth. Each carries a small shield and a small stout sword about half the size of mine."
"Frost Demons!" said Thor. "But we should not see any of them for two or three days!"
Gerard had taken on the form they were used to, and donned his armor.
"We're at least another day and a half from our goal. We'll wait and see what happens. Let's not bother them unless they bother us."
The others agreed. It was about noon the next day when a hiss filled the air as they rode.
There was a loud thud and Gerard reached down and pulled an arrow from his leg. As it came out, the flesh healed
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