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- "I know a bloke like you, back on Earth – Midgard. He's like you, but he doesn't even have your skill with weapons, and believe me, you have skill. Those people praising me after the fight? I haven't been around Asgardians long, but the impression I get was that they wouldn't have done it if you haven't been good," Harry said. "He's good at other things, but… they don't get seen much. So most ignore him or compare him to his brothers. And he envies me for my fame." He shook his head. "I think I should explain. I'm famous back on Ea –Midgard for amazingly not dying as a baby when a powerful Dark Lord tried to murder me. He'd killed my father, or his mortal body anyway. Then faced my mother. She refused to let him past. She was unarmed and she was begging him to spare me. She wouldn't move. So he killed her."
- Uhtred had, by now, mostly recovered, but hadn't moved. Asgardians have a weakness for a good story. It was part of the reason why Loki was actually quite popular.
- "Then, for some reason, thanks to what she did, his curse bounced," Harry said, drawing aside his hair to reveal his scar. "She died well. And I got left alone. Famous, my face known by everyone in my community, admired, surrounded by people who practically worshipped me… but unloved. My guardians hated and feared me for my abilities. Even a whole bunch of my school friends did, though that was because they thought I was controlling a giant snake that was trying to kill people." He paused. "I killed that snake, by the way. Twelve years old, no magic to use, just a magic sword which I'd never used before against a sixty foot snake with scales like armour and a poison that had no cure that had been bred by Loki and enslaved by the spirit of the Dark Lord who tried to murder me. And I killed it. But not before it killed me."
- Uhtred stared at him, jaw hanging slightly loose.
- "I didn't die all the way, I think," Harry said. "A Phoenix came, a magical bird, and healed me. But I remember knowing that I was going to die. And do you know what I thought?"
- Uhtred, sitting up now, shook his head.
- "Not that it was a good death. Just that I was tired. And that I wanted to see my parents again," Harry said quietly. "I didn't have any family growing up. I don't have a mother. And…" he shook his head. "I'd give everything I have. My money, my position, my magic… all of that to be where you or my friend Ron are. With a family." He stood up. "You get all tied up with honour because you want to prove yourself to your family and all of Asgard, to get the attention. That's why you're angry at me. Because I came in, and, without any real effort, outfought you, took everyone's attention away from you and humiliated you in public. All while being a tiny magical Midgardian." He turned away from Uhtred. "So before you get angry at me again and come after me, seeking to avenge your honour and all that, or eventually go on some quest to prove yourself… remember what you have. Remember that I would do anything to have that. Compare yourself to me and see what you have to lose." He looked over his shoulder. "Because being really, properly alone, like an orphan? It's a crock of shit."
- "Maybe I have misjudged you," Uhtred said quietly.
- —- Chapter 33, Into Darkness
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