Hearthstone

Hearthstone, more commonly known as Hearth, is an Elf formerly disguised as a homeless man, and a companion of Magnus Chase.

History
Hearthstone was born in Alfheim and was rejected by his parents because of his deafness. When he was younger he lost his brother, who his parents said should have lived while he should have died. When he drank from Mimir's well he was given two choices. One was to gain hearing and be accepted, the other was to practice magic. Hearthstone chose the latter. While under Mimir's service he was tasked along with Blitzen to watch over Magnus. He took the day shifts, as he needed light to survive, while Blitz took the night.

The Sword of Summer
Blitz wakes up Magnus one morning and tells him he should to go talk to Hearth.

After breaking into his uncle Randolph Chase's house, Magnus looks outside the office window and sees Hearth standing next to a statue of Leif Erikson. Hearth uses sign language to try to tell Magnus to get out of the house, but it was too late as Randolph returns home and comes upon Magnus and tells him that they don't have much time and "they" are coming to kill Magnus now that he's sixteen. Hearth and Blitz attack Surt in order to protect Magnus. Hearthstone is swatted away and lands by the railing. He helps a woman get her children out of their stroller and takes them to safety at Magnus' urging.

He and Blitz find Magnus in his room. Before they can explain why they where watching him, the squirrel alarm sounds. They flee to Midgard while Magnus' hall mates distract the wolves and the Valkyries, they land in Fenway. He and Blitz explain that they were told that he was a son of Frey and to watch him. They show him his obituary and the three plan to sneak in to the funeral home before his service starts. He and Magnus plan to meet up with Blitz on the first T stop on Arlington after they get the sword. When on their way to the funeral home, they spot Gomez, a police officer who knows them, and hide. He explains Alfheim to Magnus while they hide. While at the funeral home he stands watch while Magnus finds the sword. He is knocked out and wakes up in an ally. He hobbles into the funeral home and gets Magnus. The two then meet up with Blitz and tell him the sword was not there. They then spot Sam and follow her. When they lose her they decide to go to the charles, Sam then attacks them. He and the former Valkyrie fight until Magnus disarms her. They then let Sam join them. the four head to a dock where Blitz throws Mimir's head in the water to hydrate it. He and Sam bow in his presents. After he tells them to find the sword and that they have a week to do it. He offers them knowledge in exchange for their service, but they decline. After Mimir leaves they talk it over during lunch.

When they get to the transportation building's food court, he and Blitz grab a seat and have an argument in sign language. When Sam and Magnus get back, a pigeon threatens to starve them unless he listens to them about the sword. Magnus agrees despite the others urging not to. The pigeon gets their food in the form of an eagle and eats the whole thing. Sam then claims it a jotnar. When it takes off with Magnus they follow them and find him on the Boston public library. When he gets down and tells them what he learned they reprehend him for making a deal with a jotnar nut to go fishing.

When they get to the docks he and Blitz are denied the boat while Sam and Magnus are. He stays behind to help Blitz find shelter and agrees to meet the demigods at the library later. During that time he and Blitz do research as to what to do next. They wait for Magnus at the public library and talk with Big Boy while they wait. When he leaves Magnus appears. The three compare notes and Blitz is worried. The Dwarf gives them sandwiches and sleeping bags. Hearth is the first to go to sleep.

In the morning he, Blitz, and Magnus meet up with Sam in the public garden to get to Nidevillir. While Magnus is opening the rift he casts a spell to keep the advancing Valkyries and Einherjar from catching them but classes soon after. When Magnus opens the rift he is aided by Sam and Magnus into it. The four climb the world tree until they find a knothole the sword wants to enter. He gets stuck and before they can free him Ratatosk, a huge squirrel appears. Blitz drags Magnus into the knothole while Sam hides him and herself in her hijab.

While they hide he helps Sam along as she is recovering from her squirrel's shrieks, as it's shrieks are insulting. They wonder around the world tree and avoid getting attacked by deer until the reach Alfheim, much to his displeasure. They meet up with Magnus and Blitz in Nidavellir where he hugs Blitz and the four fill each other in. Blitz then tells them Junior challenged him to a crafting contest, loser gets decapitated. After that Blitz takes him and the demigods to his apartment. Blitzen is asked about his story, and Hearthstone tries to stop Blitz from telling his story, which the dwarf says he is fine with sharing. After Blitz heads to his room he tells Sam and Magnus that Blitz is good at crafting but not under pressure and shows them the tanning bed Blitz made for him. He signs that people cheat in the contest, but they can get away with it if they make it look like accidents. He suggests Sam do what she did on the World Tree, she leaves in rage when she hears it. He does not answer Magnus when he asks what that was about and heads for the tanning bed. During the competition he alternates between aiding Blitz and standing guard. When Magnus asks him about Sam, he does not answer. When Blitzen was declared the winner he jumped for joy. After getting the earrings and rope it was discovered Junior lied about knowing the location of the Fenris Wolf's island and saying it was classified information but that Thor might know. He and the others ran for their lives when Junior claimed Sam was a shapeshifter and says she cheated. While running the others duck into an alleyway but he keeps running, he meets up with the demigods and asks where Blitz is and notices the sword is floating. After an explanation he shows them a river leading out of Nidavellir. They three jump when the dwarves find them.

Magnus heals Hearth but senses a lot of grief. The elf tells him he will tell him later. He gets nauseous in the dimly lit Jotunheim. He suggests that they use Jack to find Thor and he rides Otis along the way. Heath gives Magnus a perthtro rune to hold as he rides Otis. When they meet Otis' brother Marvin he says Thor is drowning and to save him or he will kill them, and it is good to meet them. When Magnus slays the giantess attacking Thor he is splashed into a tree and invited to dinner by the Thunder God along with Sam and Magnus, which is Marvin and Otis. Hearth signs that he thinks Thor is annoying but Thor thing he is complimenting him. He is then assigned to find Mjolnir. He aids Blitz when he falls out of a tree and shares a tent with him.

Hearth leaves Otis and Marvin's head by Thor when they head out. They spent the day climbing a cliff to get to Geirrod's fortress. Once they get to the top they rest and discuss how to get across the chasm. He summons on of Sleipnir's sons and passes out. He is aided on to the horse who jumps off the cliff. When Stanley lands he is helped off the horse and signs out random words. He stays behind with Blitzen as backup. He and Blitzen free Gunilla- who he holds, and help Sam and Magnus. The five run into Gerriod and barter for Thor's weapon. The giant agrees in they play catch with him. They anger and he throws hot coals at them. He dodges them until Magnus causes Geirrod to collapse the ceiling on himself. He dusts himself off and signs complaints to Magnus, who notices Gunilla is gone. He tries to use rune magic against her but she threatens to kill Blitz if he does. He detracts Gunilla by pointing and Sam sends her back to Valhalla. The retrieve Thor's staff and the Thunder God appears. Hearthstone signs his annoyance that Thor can not help them fight Fenris wolf, which Thor thints is a compliment. The God sends them where they need to be.

Hearthstone wound up at Mimir's well. The head said that Hearthstone was now a master of Alf Seidr and gave him a two-pronged staff made of polished oak. He meets up with Blitzen and pathetic demigods at Long Wharf. Magnus gives him the Pertho rune which he attaches to his staff. The four find the dwarf brothers and Blitz says they well try to rob, kill and abandon them. They buy four tickets regardless. Along they way he is practicing summon going and banishing his staff. When they dock he and the others are left on the island to face the wolf.

When they find the wolf he is the only one unaffected by his taunts. He stops the other from approaching him. Soon after Gunilla appears along with two other Valkyries and Magnus' hall mates. When Gunilla orders their arrest Magnus's hall mates refuse. Then Surt arrives he ignites his staff in golden fire. He goes with Magnus, Sam, and Blitzen to re-bind the wolf. Hearthstone uses a shield spell to create more heather. When Fenris slashes Blitzen's throat he uses his strength to form a barrier between Blitzen and the wolf and brands the symbol of Tyr on the wolf's forehead. He aids Blitzen in getting to Magnus and Sam when they re-tie the wolf. When the island starts to fade he and the others race to the shoreline. When T.J. pulls out a Frey Boat everyone gets on. He and Blitz have an argument in sign language about who had a dumber plan but were too tired they ended up having a poking contest.

When they arrive at the hotel they are escorted to the feast hall to have judgement passed. The thanes call him Blitz and Sam Magnus's questionable companions. Just as the thanes are about to pass judgement X reveals himself to be Odin. Once the all-father explains what he has been doing the past two years he awards Magnus and his friends' awards. He offers Hearthstone private lessons with himself to home his skills in rune magic. Hearth is shocked and accepts Odin's offer. He grants Hearth full access of all nine of the worlds. 

He attends the funeral for the fallen Valkeryies held in the public garden. He is excited about studying under Odin and agrees to help Blitzen move into his store.

Appearance
Hearthstone is a tall pale man with short, spiky hair so blonde it's almost white and pale grey eyes. He wears a black leather jacket, black motorcycle pants and pointy-toed shoes, and a red and white striped scarf.

Later on, Magnus begins to notice the non-human details in Hearth's appearance - the elf's pupils are strangely reflective, like a cat’s, while his veins are more green than blue under his translucent skin. Also, despite his disheveled appearance at times, Hearth does not ever reek like a normal homeless person – body odour, alcohol, stale grease. Instead, the elf smelled more like pine needles and woodsmoke.

Personality
Hearthstone is loyal to his friends as when he helped Blitzen fight Surt to defend Magnus. Deep down he has emotional pain from his parents rejecting him.

Abilities

 * Alf Sign Language: As Hearthstone is deaf he is able to communicate via Alf Sign Language.
 * Rune Magic: Hearth is skilled at rune magic. He can open doors. He can stop enemies from approaching. He can give someone a burst of energy. However, he becomes faint after using a spell.
 * Deafness: While Hearthstone can not hear, his lack of hearing gives him an immunity to sound-based attacks. Such as when he and Sam were hiding from Ratatosk and he was unaffected by the squirrel's screech. This also protected him from The Fenris Wolf's taunts.
 * Alf Seidr (Elf Magic): When Hearthstone wound up at Mimir's well Mimir said he was now a master of Elf Magic and gave him a staff.
 * Lip-reading: Being deaf, Hearth had to learn how to read lips in order to understand and communicate with other people.

Magical Items

 * Rune Stones: Hearth uses rune stones to cast spells.
 * Staff: When Mimir told Hearthstone that he was a master of Alf Seidr, he was given a white oak two-pronged staff which now holds the rune most meaningful to him: Perthro, the empty cup.

Trivia

 * Hearth is deaf and knows Alf Sign Language, which abbreviates to ASL.
 * It is stated that his parents never accepted Hearthstone due to his deafness, as well the death of his brother.
 * Magnus mentions that Hearth cannot read lips well while moving and that it required his full focus.