They say the gods are watching over us in Valhalla. I don’t know if I believe it or not. I keep staring at the sky, waiting for some sign in the storm. Plenty of thunder, but no lightning. This storm has been going for a while now, and I’ve stayed cocooned in my little hut watching through the window. The candle had to be moved from the open space as the rain threatened to stop its light. Another crash of thunder pounds and my ears perk up. That sounded different. Something wasn’t right. A great spark of lightning hits the sky, within the flash I could see the shape of a man falling. A second flash of lightning shows another man shortly after him. I watch closely trying to see where they would land. One last jolt of lightning and a loud crash simultaneously hit nearby. I grab my coat and wander outside, looking onto the field down the hill.

The two men were fighting. Small sparks of light erupt around them so I can see. The one man is tall and muscular, holding a hammer that he’s wielding above his head. As he brings it down it hits a shield held aloft by the other man. This man seems a bit skinnier than the first. I watch the scene engrossed in the battle of these very able fighters with such agility and skill.

I can see the second man’s will become less fierce. He fought gallantly, but it was the next thing that shocked me. The taller man had gotten his shield away from him and had his hammer above his head. I some him utter some words before he brought his hammer down, sparks and all - onto the man’s head. His brute strength meant he had just one hit to kill him, but I was in awe at how easily he had done so.

I must have gasped as before I knew it he looked at me. He began to approach me as I was running back to my hut. I had just got into the hut when the door flew off behind me. I turned around and gasped. This was no mere man. This was a giant. About seven to eight feet tall, he towered over me in my modest hut, bending down so his head did not hit the ceiling.

‘You, mortal.’ The boom of his low voice filled the room. ‘What did you see?’

I stuttered in response, but he seemed to hold his impatient thoughts.

‘I saw you fall out of the sky... f-fighting...’

‘Be sure no-one hears of this. Or my father will be mightily displeased.’

‘Your f-father..?’

‘Yes.’ He looked as thought he was about to say more, but he turned and walked out. He swung his hammer and flew into the sky. A crash of thunder blew again, and within moments the storm cleared.

I sat for a moment in disbelief. The Gods are real, after all.