Angelo lands in Asgard...

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...right in the middle of a battle. He manages to save the Elf prince's life, and gets taken in by the Light Elves to be trained in the sword. Elves played by Rossi.



Angelo landed heavily, on rough ground. Glancing around, somewhat disoriented - he'd been on the softball field only a few minutes ago, hadn't he? Where the hell was he now? - his eyes widened and he ducked as a spear flew closer to his head than he liked. Taking in his surroundings, he realized he was in the middle of a pitched battle between a troop of small ugly goblin-like creatures, and... what looked like elves, of the Tolkien variety, and apparently in imminent danger of random death.

Seizing the spear that had embedded itself in the ground close to him, he waded into the fight, slicing at anything that came too close (mostly only hitting goblin-things) aiming at first only to get himself to a safe distance. But as he observed things more closely, it seemed clear that the elves were the good guys, and also that they appeared to be losing ground. Maybe what they needed was a surprise extra fighter...

Calin slashed at another goblin, cursing to himself the ill-luck that had dropped his party into the middle of an ambush. The goblins were swift and brutal in their attack, and whilst his people were no weaklings, they had no joy for the shedding of blood, even the foul black ichor that ran in the veins of their enemy... He stumbled, his wandering attention an apparently fatal error as a sword descended towards him, the goblin wielding it intending to cut him into ribbons.

Angelo spotted this just in time, diving towards the elf in the most immediate danger, and who appeared to be their leader - or at least was dressed the best, which was generally a good indication - and blocking the sword-thrust with the blade of his spear, before stabbing the goblin with it without a second thought.

Elves pride themselves on their ability to contain their emotions, but Calin had trouble not gaping in surprise at his sudden rescue. The creature - man-shaped, but with grey-hued skin and odd clothing - grinned down at him and extended a bloody hand.

Cautiously Calin took it, hoping it was to help him up and not to rip his arm off.

Angelo rolled his eyes slightly at the elf's caution - he'd just saved his life, what more did he want? - and pulled him to his feet, giving him a quick once-over for obvious wounds, in case he needed to hand him off to one of the others, and seeing none.

"You are civilised, for a monster," Calin said, in the common speech of Asgard, but the creature looked at him blankly, clearly not understanding him. "Or not."

There was no time for further speech, however, as the goblins pressed their attack again. Calin's rescuer was thick in the fray, laying about him slightly clumsily with the spear, but no less effective for all that.

Angelo was, by now, caught up in the adrenaline rush that always came with a good fight, in control only enough to make sure he only got the actual enemies in this particular battle, swiping and slashing with his new weapon.

The creature's enthusiasm for battle proved the turning point - in what seemed only minutes of chaos, those goblins that remained alive had fled, leaving their fallen brethren. Calin turned to the grey-skinned one, his look appraising, and came to a decision. His father would be greatly interested in this creature, who looked like nothing they'd ever seen and who fought like a demon. He nodded at his men, who took the creature's weapon and held him by the arms, gently but firmly - if he struggled, the gentleness would end.

"He comes with us," Calin announced. Then, speaking slowly in the hope the creature might understand, he added: "We will give you sanctuary."

Angelo's first instinct, the adrenaline not yet quite worn off, was to shake off the grip on his arms and run - but he had come down from the high enough to realize they didn't seem to be trying to hurt him, even if they'd taken his spear away, and there was nothing but interest on the leader's face - and after all, he didn't know where he was or where might be safe to run to. So he stayed quiet and let them lead him away.

The march back to their camp wasn't far, which made the goblin attack all the more disturbing. Calin hoped that his father would see the potential inherent in the creature, rather than order him destroyed outright. His pondering was only interrupted by the sight of brightly coloured silken tents throught the trees, and he knew they were home.

Quite the crowd had gathered by the time he reached the large tent that housed his father's Court. Everyone, it seemed, wanted to gawk at his prize.

Angelo, for his part, was gawking right back, both at the tents that made up the camp and at the elves that populated it. With the communication problem, there didn't seem to be much point talking, so he didn't bother, content to simply take in every detail he could see.

With a word to his men to watch the creature, Calin spoke to the guards at the entrance. One ducked inside, and after a few minutes, returned, nodding at Calin.

"Your father will see you," he said, giving Angelo a frankly curious stare. "As long as the creature is made harmless, he may enter as well."

"He shall be." With that, Calin entered the tent, his men and Angelo following. His father's Court was large and airy, with little furniture save piles of brightly coloured cushions and the odd low table, light and easily transportable. The King himself was seated on such a pile, going through a collection of maps to determine their next destination, the filtered light gleaming softly on his long silvered hair and the circlet around his head. He looked up as Calin approached, climbing fluidly to his feet.

"My son, I hear you are lucky to have returned! Are you unhurt?"

"I'm well, Father-King," Calin said, bowing. The escort bowed as well, still maintaining their grip on Angelo.

Angelo was trying, mostly successfully, not to stare at the king. If the elf who had been the leader of the group he'd first met was bowing to him, it was obvious he was someone of power, and the only sure way to deal with that kind of person/elf/whatever was to keep your head down and stay quiet. So he did.

The King looked with curiosity at Angelo. "And what is this you bring me? A trophy of the sortie? Or perhaps a prisoner?"

"Neither, Father-King," Calin replied. "He appeared in the midst of the battle as if conjured by magic, and took up arms in our cause. To him I owe my life." The King looked even more keenly at Angelo at that, raising one perfectly-arched eyebrow. Calin continued. "I brought him back with us because I feel he may be of some use to us, strange and repellent though his appearance is. He slew many of the goblins, showed no restraint. I believe, with training, we may be able to shape him into a mighty warrior."

"A warrior, you say? Hmm, perhaps, perhaps... He is a skinny one, for a warrior." The King rubbed his chin thoughtfully, and walked around Angelo, taking in the strange clothing and grey skin. "Do you have a name, warrior?"

Angelo, not understanding a word of what was being said to him, was unable to answer the question, but raised his head, pride and annoyance flaring in his eyes as the King studied him like an object.

"He knows not our speech," Calin explained as the King nodded approvingly as Angelo's posture straightened defiantly. "Or he does not speak - I have not heard him utter a word since his arrival."

"If he can be taught, he shall be taught," the King said, coming to a decision. He met Angelo's gaze and tapped himself slowly on the chest. "Andin," he said slowly. "My name is Andin." There were muffled gasps from the guards at the King sharing his name with a commoner, and a strange creature at that, but the King ignored them. "Andin," he repeated, and then tapped Angelo lightly on the chest. "Your name is?"

Now that, Angelo understood - obviously, some things really were universal. "Angelo", he answered simply.

The King nodded, pleased. The creature had both a voice and a brain. "Angelo," he echoed, stumbling over the sounds a little. He turned to Calin. "We shall train him, and he shall fight for us. You have done well, my son. Now, let him be refreshed and clothed properly, and fed - since you owe him a life debt, the task of teaching him our language shall be yours. I shall speak to the Swordmaster about the rest." Returning to Angelo, he added: "You are safe here, Angelo."

Angelo still wasn't understanding the words, but the King's friendly intent came across clearly, and he just smiled and nodded on hearing his name, letting himself be led away by the servant who came to do as the King had ordered.