^^ Reverse Étoile de Sang ^^
(Black and red color profile, dragons.)
--- Dimitri ---

I sat on the edge of the bed, next to Tamil. "How you feeling?" I asked amicably.

She frowned. "I. Am. Fine." She growled.

I frowned. "You passed out, delirious. We're just being careful, Dear Tamil. We do not joke about sickness here. Especially in my house. You elves have a bad habit of saying 'I'm fine' when you actually mean 'I'm dying, but I don't want to tell you.' So you'll stay here until the doctor is sure you're fine." I said sternly.

She blinked slowly. "I'd forgotten your mother had the Argent-Eyes. I'm sorry for that... the memory, I must've dredged up when I collapsed."

I nodded slowly. "It did... but just rest. Or if the doc says it's okay, you can come watch me work on the Rune-Forge." I grinned mischievously.

Her eyes sparkled. "Ooh, I like that idea! Sounds great, let's do it!"

I chuckled and looked at Petrie and Helen's Mother, the village healer. "Is she alright for a few hours sitting outside?"

She nodded. "She's fine, she just needs to stay off her feet for a few hours, then you keep an eye on her. If she stumbles or falls asleep, bring her to me immediately. Other than that, you're free to go." She patted Tamil's knee, and then stood, shooing Petrie out of the room.

I smiled and picked Tamil up. "Gives me an excuse to carry you, eh?" I winked.

She flicked my nose. "Shut up and mush! I will not be stuck inside any longer! I despise being inside stone buildings." She explained.

I nodded and carried her out, setting her on a bench next to the Town Square, the center of the village, and the home of the Rune Forge.

She gasped softly. "It's huge!"

"Giant Forge, dear." I smirked, and then approached, to find it warm, but not hot enough to light anything.

I nodded and crushed the Star Stone in my hand, making Tamil gasp. "Where did you get one of those?!? And why are you destroying it?!?" She hissed.

I sprinkled it evenly over the coals, then started placing diamonds in the forge, making a spiderweb pattern, so each are got equal heat when they started burning.

I donned the Fire-Dragon suit of leathers, then tossed her my coat. "It's about to get... hot." I smirked, then walked back to the Forge, and nodded. "Ignite." I muttered, calling some lightning.

The resulting conflagration was so hot that even the Fire-Dragon leather got a little scorched, but not damaged, thankfully.

Tamil yelped a bit. "Holy-"

I laughed wickedly and slid a bar of silver into the new flames, which burned a blinding white. The silver melted, upon contact.

I tsk'ed and then laughed again, pouring the case of diamonds, sapphires, and rubies into a small area, which melted immediately. The diamonds didn't combust as hot, with the addition of sapphires and rubies, so I reached into the fire, and started mixing it, folding the sludge as best as possible, adding metals and gems until I had the right consistency.

The metallic substance I was left with was beautiful, a mix of black with reddish-purple ribbons running through it from the folding process.

It hardened as I worked it, still inside the fire, and I laughed, calling more lightning to continuously strike the fire, heating it to the original heat of combustion. My eyes were nearly completely blind by now, so I closed my eyes and worked by touch, healing my eyes as best I could.

The metal was done, and shaped as best I could get it, so I pulled my hammer off my belt, and began hammering, pouring magic into every strike.

The blade came into existence swiftly, as if it was being shaped by fate, not me. I recognized what I was making, and poured more effort into it, grinning. I plunged the still-hot sword into a vat of boiling Obsidian, as a final quench.

The blade, upon completion, was the most beautiful I'd ever created. Abyssal-black, with long, curving streaks of blood-red that managed to shine through the paper-thin skin of crystal, which I removed after it was finished cooling.

I smiled and sharpened it, using the fire and lightning to help, because it simply ground through my whet stone in one pass, a testament to the nigh-indestructibility of the blade.

The handle was next. I knew it needed some embellishment, but I wanted everything to be functional, as well, so the curled guard was also a trap for enemy swords, and the dragons in the hilt had bladed spikes on their necks, to further catch the blades. The braided metal handle would increase traction. The empty looped pommel was for the Rune-Stone I planned on implanting in it.

Lastly, I used the very last of the metal to add a filigree in the shape of a stylized F for Fell, colored gold, on the base of the blade.

I cut a leather sheath for it, setting it aside for now, and began the Rune-Stone, after testing the balance, and deciding on the necessary weight for the pommel.

I placed a piece of volcanic gold into the fire, as the heaviest thing I could use, and also one of the most beautiful stones in the realm.

It heated slowly, absorbing all the magic in the fire in a second. I quickly tried to carve the Eihwaz, a Defense Rune, into it before the Magic solidified.

I somehow tripped, and ended up leaving the stone blank, as an Odin Rune, the Unknowable Rune. The rune of Fate and Magic.

I paused, and pulled it out of the fire. "Is this... supposed to be funny?" I asked the air softly, and sighed. I placed the tear drop shaped rune-stone into the pommel, and it pulsed gently, settling. I turned, holding the completed sword, and froze.

--- Tamil's POV --- (squee!)

I covered my face quickly when the lightning started striking, flooding the entire square with fire, but it simply dissolved when it hit the coat he'd given me, so I hummed, and buttoned it closed, flipping up the collar.

He began molding something in the fire with his hands, making me wince, and a soft voice spoke from next to me. "He is a very good Smith, even for a God or Giant."

I looked, and a tall, thin man with golden skin sat next to me, his hands primly placed on his thighs.

He saw me staring at his golden skin, and smiled. "Don't be shocked, dear... look. I am not the only divine who hungers for this blade." He pointed covertly at someone else.

A tall warrior, wearing nothing but his crystalline-white skin and a flaming wolf-skin coat, was leaning against an also-flaming spear, his one eye watching the Giantling Forge.

Across the square, people started to appear. All odd, completely random, and most studiously staring at the forge, not even squinting at the insanely bright flames.

Holden, who had been leaning against the wall easily, noticed the crowds belatedly, and gasped, then knelt before a being who towered over everyone, made of stone and wood.

"Ymir, the father of Dwarves and the very earth itself." My helpful god whispered.

Another golden-skinned God sat next to me, and smiled. "My brother bothers most. Ignore him." She said conspiratorially.

I instinctively liked this woman, which was odd. I didn't like people until I knew them.

"If you think you don't know me, think of your love in the forest, the joy of the hunt, the exhilaration of letting an arrow fly towards an enemy. I am these things." She winked, and then turned to look at Dimitri.

I breathed deeply. 'Calm, keep calm. They're just Gods... Dimitri says he meets them from time to time... it's normal here...'

"No, it's gods, lower-case. Let's not make this weird, babe." What could only be Apollo whispered.

His twin smacked his head. "Lecher. Leave the girl be. She is pregnant."

He shrugged.

Dimitri started hammering, and I could no longer hear their bickering, or anything else, for that matter.

Golden fingers tapped my ears in sync. "That should do it." They said at the same time, glaring at each other.

I frowned. "If you're going to bicker, I will fetch your father. Do not make me do so." I snapped at them, then covered my mouth, horrified. I'd reacted like they were small children, instead of gods.

They didn't react with righteous fury, and instead sat down demurely, glaring balefully at each other.

I relaxed slowly, just as Dimitri tripped, making my heart stutter.

He growled something softly, then sighed, and placed a rune-stone into the pommel of the sword. The blank surface quickly had every god in attendance glaring at the Wolf-cloaked god.

He just smirked, and gazed at the sword with undisguised greed, which was mirrored by the other gods.

What had to be Artemis smiled and patted my shoulder. "Watch this... the Gods are little better than rabid dogs when it comes to Giant-Forged weapons... no matter what he chooses, he makes enemies today."

I nodded. "I will fix it, just watch."

She raised an eyebrow, and smiled. "Alright, then..."

I stepped forward as the entire forge quieted, then snuffed itself.

Dimitri turned, holding the weapon reverently, and froze at the view of the Gods around him, inching closer.

I snatched the sword before he could do anything stupid, and turned to them, smiling.

--- Dimitri ---

I raised an eyebrow at Tamil, watching as she gazed at the gods around us confidently.

'The River-Walkers are known for their Diplomacy...' the scrap of a conversation came back to me, and I decided to allow her to help with this.

"Assembled beings, welcome, and thank you for your interest in the Forge-Work of my friend, Dimitri the Dwarf. As you all know, there is only one sword, and as such, only one recipient. Now,-"

"The sword bears my Rune, girl. Step aside." Odin stepped up to claim the sword.

She smiled. "One moment, sir. Now, as there is only one recipient, and we don't wish to make enemies of any god in attendance, I call for each of the gods who wish a claim to the weapon to select a champion from amongst your chosen, and enter them into a little... tournament, of sorts."

I grinned as the gods around us immediately shifted their focus from the sword to her.

"Of course, it is not a battle, but instead a selection of Quests, I think... three should do the trick? Yes. Three. You will vote, amongst yourselves, on three quests that test a variety of skills, from battle to intellect." She smiled.

"Who are you to dictate to gods, little Elf?" Odin growled.

"Many of your gods are elves, are they not? Hmm. Moving on. One hero will succeed in each quest, and the last three will answer a complex riddle." She quipped back fearlessly, and he leaned away from her slowly.

"Riddles... always riddles..." he growled.

"Whoever is still able to answer riddles after the others fail wins the competition, and will be given the sword, to act as your champion amongst us, until their death, when the sword will go where it goes. The losers, however, must gift divine protection upon the Clans of the Giants whom your realm protects. Such as the archers for Apollo, and women warriors, for Artemis." She continued as if she hadn't been rudely interrupted.

Apollo hummed. "I like this rule. It's a worthy gamble, I think." He nodded.

I gingerly took the blade from Tamil's shaking hands. "Indeed. My dear Tamil speaks my will, more eloquently than I would. In five months' time, on the winter solstice, you will cast your votes for the quests, and put forth your heroes. One month later, and hopefully you will have your Victor." I said firmly.

"And you would keep it for yourself, I suppose? Why am I not surprised... Giants and their lack of Honor..." Odin growled.

I gazed at him. "You realize I take great offense to that, yes? Where was your father's honor when he hunted and genocided innocent Giants?"

"A mistake. He clearly didn't finish the job!" Odin barked back.

"YES, BECAUSE WE FUCKING KILLED HIM FIRST!!!" I roared, laughing.

The crowd silenced, and his godly essence started to leak out of his pores as he raged internally.

"Now let's all calm down-" Tamil started.

"Shut your mouth, elf. The men are speaking." He growled.

Artemis raised an eyebrow slowly, and Frigg, who I saw sitting nearby, raised both. "Watch yourself..." I swore I heard her murmur.

"And there you go, insulting everyone, making more enemies than friends. Odin, Allfather, God of Burning Bridges!" I snarled at him.

Apollo snorted, and Odin took a step towards me. "Do not test me, boy."

"Then don't you dare question the Honor of a Giant, puny god. Your own closet is so full of skeletons it has opened and spilled itself into common knowledge." I growled.

He growled back and leaned into my face, only for Tamil to place hands on both of our ribs, and shove us away from each other with a surprising level of force.

"ENOUGH! I WILL NOT BE IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR COCK-MEASURING CONTEST!!! YOU ARE BOTH GROWN MEN, NOW ACT LIKE IT!!!" She roared at us both.

I smirked at the show of strength, and he snorted. "Small girls ending men's arguments... what's the world come to?"

Frigg appeared next to him, her smile very much at odds with the godly aura leaking from her pores. "That's quite enough, love." She smiled kindly at Tamil.

"A moment, woman, I must-" he began.

"We. Are. Leaving." She said firmly.

He paused, and then hummed. "I still don't like the sword staying in Giant Country, where we can't get to it-"

"The blade will stay with its maker. Any attempt to remove it, or interfere with the tournament in any way, either by your own hand, or by an agent of yours, will disqualify you from the runnings, and mark an immediate loss. Thank you for your interest in my work. Good day." I bowed deeply to the gods present, all of them, and then set the blade on my belt.

He grumbled, but his wife simply started walking, forcing him to escort her by holding his elbow in her hand.

They disappeared in a flash, and the other gods went their own ways, except Ymir and the Golden Twins.

Artemis walked up, and hummed at Tamil. "I like you, girl. You've definitely got a warrior's spirit. How would you like to hunt with me?"

"I do not hunt, Lady Artemis. I apologize." She bowed her head.

"No, no, not to eat. I hunt monsters that threaten the realms of gods and men." She waved a hand to clear the air.

Tamil laughed softly. "That sounds interesting, but not right now, I suppose. I would raise my child, at the very least. I thank you for the offer."

"I can top it!!! Wanna ride the Sun?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

She raised an eyebrow slowly.

Artemis sighed. "I hate when you say that like that. He means to ride the Chariot."

He looked at her, confused. "No, I meant to ride me, the sun, but the chariot is cool, I guess." He shrugged.

She growled and tackled her brother to the ground, choking him quickly. He tapped, and she released him, kicking him off of her lazily. They kissed Tamil's cheeks, then disappeared, still arguing.

I looked at Tamil, who was still a little star-struck. "Welcome to Giant Country, love." I shrugged.

"Wait, so you piss off Odin often enough not to be worried?" She asked.

I shook my head. "No, I've never met Odin before. Thor is cool, especially if you want to fight a god and part friends, he's your guy. Loki is just..." I shivered. "And Freya... my gods..." I shrugged.

She laughed. "Pun intended, huh?"

"Oh yes. Very much so. All goddesses of beauty are insanely beautiful, it's just their way. Most have bad personalities, though. Freya... her personality is on the fence, in my experience. She's not necessarily evil, but she definitely doesn't have a problem doing evil and good things on equal measure." I shrugged again.

She nodded. "And Artemis and Apollo? I expected them to be less... that. And Artemis was... affectionate?"

I blinked. "Yes, she did show some interest in you, why? Does that make you uncomfortable? She's not like her brother, she'll leave you be if she thinks her advances aren't reciprocated."

She blinked. "What about her vow of chastity?"

I roared with laughter, clutching my stomach. "Chastity? What?!? What type of harebrained moron thought Artemis, the goddess who, in her first couple of years as a goddess, amassed a Harem of hot and fit women to her side, would take a vow of chastity?" I laughed some more, and started walking towards my house.

She hummed. "So... she didn't?"

"Not to my knowledge... and if she did, that vow is broken from glass into sand." I smirked.

She raised an eyebrow.

"What?" I asked.

"So you've... gotten proof this vow doesn't exist?" She asked slowly.

"Oh yes. Ask Helen's mother how she lost her virginity, it's a great story." I grinned.

She chuckled, blushing. "Maybe I will... and what about Ymir? He's still standing there."

"No he isn't. He is a Planet, Tamil, think about that a moment." I gazed at her.

She blinked. "Oh... so what's that golem-looking thing?"

"Just the Husk of an avatar he made from materials he gathered. He does that from time to time. I think the first Golem was actually made from one of his Avatar's Husks. He's technically dead, but he lives on, in a weird, cosmic way." I nodded.

She grinned suddenly. "Show me the sword!!! I didn't get to see it. I want to see it." She demanded.

I nodded and drew it carefully, holding it horizontally and flipping it gently for her to see.

She hummed and gripped the handle, hefting it with a grunt. "Jeez... this isn't easy to wield... I know you're strong and all, but..." she hefted it with both hands, which the long handle was fully equipped for.

I chuckled and gripped the handle with one hand, picking it up and sheathing it. "Anyone worthy of it would wield it easily, in a time of need. It's enchanted. You don't need it, so drawing it for fun would make it heavy. If a human or elf tried to lift it in a time of need, it would judge them, and then decide its weight."

"It's sentient?" She asked incredulously.

"Did you not see the amount of magic I poured into that forge? Yes, dear Tamil, this sword, Étoile De Sang, is very much sentient." I chuckled.

She hummed and nodded, then stepped up the carriage steps.

"What are you doing? Come, you'll spend the night in my house. If you don't like it, I'll grow you a tree big enough to sleep in." I shrugged.

She laughed and nodded, following me inside.