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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