Legendary

We had a wet spring in Valhalla so I didn't get to spend much time outside on the big chair. Steve had put an oil finish on it to protect it and the next scrimmage brought over a can of the stuff so that it could be reapplied when necessary. We kept the cushions in the shop and as I needed less sleep, I took to sitting in the shop, spinning my rabbit fur. It was a pretty, fluffy yarn, and there was enough to knit a hood for the next winter, with a capelet that extended down over the shoulders to keep the neck warm under a cloak. I kept it in its natural white color; it was a nice contrast with my hair.

Hela came by for a visit and a consultation with Tony and Bruce, who usually worked with Tony in the shop. Since I was improving, they agreed to come and finish the installation of the lights in the library and I thanked her personally for the rabbit fur. She asked if there was anything else I wanted, and I asked if I could have some of the cotton seeds. She said that since I wasn't up to agricultural efforts yet, that they'd plant it in Helheim and she could bring the harvest to me. Cotton hadn't caught on there for some reason, but I still loved it and wanted to have more summer clothes made from it. And I wanted to experiment with a heavier cloth that I could brush to create flannel. It's a versatile fabric, flannel is; warm and soothing. She brought us up to date on the news in her halls, and mentioned that since the population of Helheim was so much larger than Folkvangr and Valhalla put together, she was going to loan Frigga and Odin workers to help with the shearing and flax harvest. Frigga and Odin still had to contribute workers, but they'd have help since there was no way the depleted valkyrie corps could manage it. The shearing was still going, late this year, due to the inclement weather, and I was just as glad to miss it.

I was getting stronger, but progress was frustratingly slow. Odin said that replenishment of the life force took time, but brought the bond back into sight so that I could see that it was in fact strengthening. I wouldn't admit it, but it was reassuring to see it getting better. Maybe I really would recover. Tony and I started taking our meals in the Great Hall again; it was nice to see something beyond the workshop and our quarters. The short walk gradually became less tiring.

The valkyries didn't come by to visit until a couple weeks had passed, shortly before the next scheduled scrimmage. I was starting to think that they wouldn't. I was dozing by the fire in the shop when I heard the door open. Tony and Bruce were working in Helheim and nobody really came by the shop, so I woke up abruptly. I still didn't really trust the inhabitants of Valhalla to refrain from payback. I looked around to see Irene, Dagny, and Carol clustered by the door uncertainly and waved them in. They perched on stools, and there was an awkward silence.

"You're looking better," Carol finally said.

"That's better?" Irene asked, and I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, actually." Odin and I had had a chat the prior week about my role as a valkyrie, and it had come up that the creation and establishment of the bond always involved the use of vitality, which usually wasn't a problem. It was an issue right now because I was a couple quarts low and the bond used the vitality almost as quickly as it was created. "I won't really get stronger until the bond is repaired completely, which is still a ways away." The bond also had to work against my reluctance to be here. I'd accepted the charge again but didn't really want it, and that interfered with the bond. But surprisingly, Odin urged me not to change my attitude anytime soon because if the bond was unimpeded, it would suck away my vitality faster and he wasn't sure if I could handle that. So I was stuck with a crappy attitude, chronic weakness, and a stubborn bond.

"Do you know what you'll be doing, valkyrie-wise, when you get better?" Carol asked.

"Souls, cloth production, scrimmages, and teaching Thor's kids combat skills. I can have my own smithy too, and that will be built back here once I finalize the design."

"Are you going to be moving into the new complex?" That was Dagny.

"No, I don't think so. I'm happy here with Tony."

"You ought to claim some rooms, though," she said. "By all signs, Ragnarok is a long ways away, and you might need your own space from time to time. And it's the valkyries' building, you really made it possible. So you should have a place there, even if you don't really want to be a valkyrie. And it would be better to claim it now rather than later when it's full."

"That won't be for awhile, though," Carol said. "We've been bringing in souls, but he hasn't made any new valkyries." I suddenly wondered if he could. What if he was stuck until the bond healed? That would mean that he was contributing to the bond too. It made sense. The damage was on my end and he might not be able to fix it himself but had to live with the disruption until it was healed. I was a bad person, because the thought of Odin having to struggle with the imperfect bond too cheered me up.

There was a little more chat about what they'd been doing (the backlog of souls and helping with the shearing, mostly), then Carol, looking very uncomfortable, apologized. "Your uncle was right, you deserved more than a hug and a goodbye. We're friends, but I didn't treat you like one. And you did all that work for us when it wasn't going to benefit you, and it wasn't pleasant."

"I was happy to help. I didn't know what it was costing at the time. Bucky's just frustrated and worried, or he wouldn't have mentioned it at all. It's not really his business."

"It's nice that he cares for you so much," Irene said. "But he is scary when he gets riled up."

At that moment, the door opened and the man himself came in. Carol flushed and they all got up, Dagny giving me a hug. "We should get going, there's that scrimmage," she said, and they left quickly. Dagny nodded at Bucky as they passed.

He studied my face after hugging me. "You're looking better, sweetie," he said. "I brought some muffins for you, Emma made them."

"Oh, thanks," I said, peering into the basket eagerly. There was spiced apple and blueberry. I brought him up to date on my condition, and he nodded understanding as we nibbled on the muffins. Yum.

"Where's Stark?" Bucky asked, looking around.

"Helheim, working on the lighting for their library."

"I'm surprised he's taking time away." My uncle's voice was neutral.

"I am recovering fine, Uncle Bucky. It's going to take time and patience, is all. He coddles me outrageously, but he needs to burn off his energy and work, and Hela pops him back each night. He's happy to be working and it's nice to have some space. I really appreciate his care and attention--yours too, for that matter--but it's nice to have a break from the constant concern."

"Tony's more nurturing than I'd have thought possible," Steve said, coming in in his armor. "It's nice to see how you dote on each other."

My uncle grinned and patted my hand. "I understand. I just hate to see you hurt, I saw enough of that in life."

I shrugged. "It happens, and it only feels like it's taking forever. Every time Odin shows me the bond, it's a little better."

"That's good to hear," Emma said, coming in. She handed me a sealed paper packet. "I finished reshanking Tony's MIT ring as you asked. It should last a good long time," she said with satisfaction, and I thanked her. She'd done the same for my ring ; it had gotten dangerously thin on the shank from wear and tear, and I'd hated to run the risk of losing it. We talked some about what they were doing in Folkvangr, and then I noticed an omission.

"Where's your sword, Steve?" I asked curiously, and he shrugged.

"It broke during a practice. The smith can't get to it yet, so I'm back to using my shield this time."

I got up and found the broadsword I used when I worked with Sif. "Use this one. It's got a decent blade. Once I get up and around again, I'll make you a good one. The blade is a little shorter than what you're used to, but that might not be a problem. Tell me what you think, " I ordered, and he grinned.

"Yes, ma'am," he said, and we were able to talk a little longer before they had to go. Bucky kissed my cheek goodbye, and they were off for the battlefield. I started planning. Bucky's sword was utilitarian, a slightly better blade than Steve's had been, but he deserved an upgrade too. I started to sketch some possibilities, but took a nap before I finished.

I woke up in the twilight at the sound of the door, recognizing Tony's silhouette and relaxing. "How did it go?" I mumbled, stretching, and he came over, pulling me to my feet for a hug.

"Good. Really good. I'm making progress. It's cold in here, Tiger, let's go over to our quarters, get you all warmed up before we go down to dinner." He built up the fire from the coals in the fireplace across from the bed, and handed me my shawl. I was a little chilly; the fire in the shop had gone out while I slept.

He asked how my day went, and I told him about the muffin delivery and my plans to make swords for my uncle and Steve when I got better. "That's the first time I've heard you make a firm plan since this bond business went critical," Tony said approvingly. "I think you are feeling stronger."

"Yep." And I told him about the valkyries' visit.

"Took them long enough," he said critically. "I know they were probably embarrassed after Barnes shut down Carol, but they should have womaned up before that. But they have a good point about claiming a room in the complex, Alex."

"Kicking me out already?" I said, smiling, and he shook his head.

"Nope, but however conflicted you feel, you're still one of them and you should have a room in the place you were so instrumental in getting built. Plus, an eternity's a long time. I can see that there might be times when you'll want a little space, and that gives you someplace to go. Even your uncle and them have their own rooms in their place," he pointed out.

I reached out and brushed his cheek with my fingers. "We might need a little space from time to time, but I can always see us coming back together, Sparky."

"You bet your sweet ass, Tiger." He kissed me tenderly, then we went down to dinner. It was a rowdy crowd, the Valhalla side had won the scrimmage, and I was glad to get away from all the noise after we ate. We picked up the muffins on the way home, and settled in on the bed to snuggle.

I opened the packet and handed him the ring that Emma'd repaired. "Yay," he said enthusiastically. "She does good work." I nodded, then shook out the second ring.

"Tony, nobody gets married in the afterlife, but I wondered if you'd wear my ring anyway," I said, holding up a thick, satin-finished gold alloy band.

He sat there so still it was like there was a gorgon lurking over my shoulder. "You don't have to," I said uncertainly, folding my fingers around the ring and lowering it.

"No, it's just--it's unexpected. ...Are you sure, Alex?"

"Am I the indecisive type, Tony? I wouldn't have commissioned the ring if I didn't want you to wear it." My tone wasn't as abrasive as my words.

He took my hand and carefully pried the ring out of my grip. He slid it on the ring finger of his left hand and kissed me, achingly tender. We made love for the first time since returning to Valhalla, slow and passionate, the intensity of my emotions making me feel raw and completely vulnerable. I couldn't tell where my skin ended and his began.

After, he rolled onto his back so that he could clutch me to him firmly. "Is there an inscription?" he wheezed, still out of breath. "Not going to lie, I'll be disappointed if there isn't."

I laughed and kissed the mess of scar tissue on his chest. "A^2 ex vita amore. Anthony and Alixzandrya, so A squared, from life, love."

He sighed. "That's perfect. So perfect. I can't top that. I'll have to come up with something different for yours." I looked up at him and smiled.

"Can't wait to see it."

A few days later, he woke me up with a kiss, a bag of tiny cookies, and a slender band of shining gold. Inside, the inscription read "Love you more than science." I laughed, then put on a sorrowful face when I looked up at him, waiting anxiously.

"You still love MIT more than you love me," I said, and chortled at the look on his face. He signed in exasperation.

"There's not a lot of room to catalog the things I love you more than," he said reasonably. "And I would rank everything as second behind you."

I popped that thing on my finger so fast and held it up to admire. "It's wonderful," I said with pleasure. "Just like you." He looked smug, and we took the day off from my heavy schedule of napping to celebrate with cookies. Later, as the rain sheeted down, we lit a fire and sealed the formalities with leisurely, marathon sex. It was all I needed with him. Our feelings were acknowledged and our commitment out there for everyone to see. I didn't need a dress or a ceremony or anything else. We caught the end of dinner, then hurried back to our quarters for more celebrating.

A week later, Tony brought me home bags of cotton bolls and the gin he'd made. "Hela says to keep it," he reported, and I set to work, ginning the cotton to separate the seeds and plant matter from the fiber, then preparing it for spinning. I put a sheet on the floor to hold the fluffy mountain of roving waiting to be spun. I made about a third of it into a thicker thread that would be easier to raise a nap from for the flannel I wanted to make. The next third would produce a lightweight, sturdy cloth, and the remaining third was very thin and tight in order to produce a gauzy fabric to make an airy, floaty dress for summer. My spinning wheel made short work of the mountain of fiber.

My mood had really improved, and I was more pleasant to Odin than I'd been since since I'd originally left Valhalla for Helheim. But I was unprepared to see how much the bond had repaired itself; there were still weak places, but they were no longer the frail, delicate things they'd been at the beginning. "Huh,' I said, bemused, watching the energy sparkle. It hadn't been doing that at all.

Odin was similarly taken aback, but pleased. "Start preparing now for the resumption of your duties," he said. "Regain your strength and skills and finish the design for your smithy, so that it can be built." I had to admit, the prospect of actual work, not laying around like a sick cat, was enormously appealing. I finished my sketch, complete with measurements, appended a list of necessary equipment, and turned that in to Odin. Construction began a few days later. I finally showed up at the valkyrie complex and chose a room; the returning valkyries were mostly in one building and I was the only one in the third wing. I chose an end room , on the second floor, with a view of the cherry orchard that I really liked. It faced south, so there wouldn't be any issues with the rising or setting sun shining in too brightly. The furniture was cherry, pretty and graceful. I brought over a few things, including the valkyrie armor that I'd reclaimed from the smiths.

The wool was starting to come in, all washed and ready for spinning, so I first set up a big loom to weave my cotton, then started spinning the wool. The storehouses were anxiously awaiting the production of any cloth. A few woodworkers asked to examine my spinning wheel, and they produced their own versions for the valkyries who were the best spinners. It sped up the process a lot, and it wasn't before the big looms were being warped. I finished the heavy cotton cloth, dyed it a vivid cobalt, and made a small tool that would raise the nap and make it nice soft flannel. I had enough fabric for two shirts, and overdyed the cobalt with a red to produce a rich violet for the second one. I carved plain buttons from curly maple at night and stained them to bring up the grain. Then I put the cotton aside to help with the wool fabric, starting with the heaviest weight first.

The valkyries kept back a portion of the fabric that we produced, in accordance with the terms of our agreement with Odin, in anticipation of outfitting new valkyries. We had been amply supplied while in Helheim, but hopefully new valkyries would be joining us to make up the numbers. The store room complained, I just shrugged as we placed the stacks of fabric on the counter. "Take it up with the All-Father if you have complaints," I said indifferently. That shut them up, but I was not popular. Not that they dared show it much. Odin made it clear that random insults to the valkyries would be dealt with by us. Repeat offenders would be dealt with by him. And I was always armed.

When I wasn't weaving, I was trying to recover my form with my weapons. I also began to work on the broadswords for Steve and Bucky. I had to take frequent breaks, but they weren't too difficult to make. I made a nice sturdy sword well-suited for Steve's 'slash and bash' style, ran some fullers up the blade to reduce the weight, and engraved a star inside concentric circles near the hilt. I traded tailoring a couple dresses for two leather scabbards from Carol and finished Bucky's sword; more of a shorter gladius than Steve's longer version, it was well suited to his preference for stabbing but I also raised a keen edge for cutting. I wrapped both hilts in cord for a more secure grip but didn't engrave Bucky's blade, choosing to enhance the folding pattern in the metal with acid for decoration. Then I summoned up some nerve and popped myself over to Folkvangr to deliver them and retrieve my own sword. I could feel a little strain from exercising that ability, but not too bad.

"Wow," said Steve, twirling his sword in a circle.

"Don't--" Bucky and I said at the same time, just as Steve dropped it accidentally. He smiled sheepishly.

"I have my own chorus of trainers," he said, picking it up. "You look a lot alike, particularly when you're frowning." I looked at my uncle and we burst out laughing.

"This is wonderful, sweetie," my uncle said, examining his sword. "You do fine work." I glowed at his praise. Then I watched as they squared off in a practice bout to make sure that the swords were as good as I'd tried to make them. Emma wandered up to watch, and afterword she looked at them with her ability and said that they were well-forged, very strong, and should hold up to a lot of use. We started to talk about steel as them men retreated for another round, and she offered me a special steel alloy to try; she'd have it ready the next time I was there. Nifty. A supercool new toy to play with.