| “ | My sign, my family’s sign. | ” |
–Hearthstone on the perthro rune in relationship to him and his companions in The Sword of Summer. | ||
Hearthstone, more commonly known as Hearth, is a deaf Elf, the son of Alderman and Greta, and the brother of Andiron. He is a skilled and cunning user of Rune Magic.
History
Birth
Hearthstone was born in Alfheim and was rejected by his parents because of his deafness.
Death of Brother
When he was eight, his brother Andiron was killed by a brunnmigi, a shapeshifter that lives in wells. He couldn't hear his brother due to his deafness. Their father killed the beast but made Hearthstone skin it, they placed the pelt in his room as a reminder to pay his brother's wergild, a debt that must be paid to the deceased.
His parents said Andiron should have lived while he should have died. They placed whiteboards in his room for chores and rewards. Chores were granted a small amount of gold, while rewards cost a large amount.
Meeting Blitzen
While trying to practice rune magic, Hearthstone accidentally landed in Nidavellir. Since elves can only survive in sunlight, he would have died were he not saved by Blitzen. In Blitzen's home there is a tanning bed that he made for Hearthstone.[1]
Serving Mimir
When Hearth drank from Mimir's well he was given two choices. One was to gain the ability to hear and be accepted, and the other was to stay deaf and practice magic. Hearthstone ultimately chose to practice magic. While under Mimir's service, he was tasked along with Blitzen to watch over Magnus Chase. He took the day shifts, as he needed light to survive, while Blitz took the night.
Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard
The Sword of Summer
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Blitz wakes up Magnus Chase one morning, and tells him a middle-aged man and a teenage girl have his name and picture and are looking for him, and he should go find Hearth in Copley Square. 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 is too late as Randolph returns home and comes upon Magnus, informing him that they don't have much time and "they" are coming to kill Magnus now that he's sixteen. Hearth steals a cupid bow and arrow at a local toy store and attacks Surt with Blitz 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 at Hotel Valhalla. Before they can explain why they where watching him, the squirrel alarm sounds. They flee to Midgard while Magnus' hallmates distract the wolves and the Valkyries, landing in Fenway. He and Blitz explain that they were told that he was a son of Frey and instructed 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. While on their way to the funeral home, they spot Gomez, a police officer who knows them, and hide. Hearthstone 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 alley. 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 River, where they are attacked by Sam. He and the former Valkyrie fight until Magnus disarms her. They allow Sam to join them, and the four then head to a dock where Blitz throws Mimir's head in the water to hydrate it, he and Sam bowing in his presence. Mimir informs them that they have a week to find the sword. He offers Sam and Magnus knowledge in exchange for their service, but they decline. After Mimir leaves, the group talks it over during lunch. When they get to the transportation building's food court, Hearth 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 it about the sword. Magnus agrees despite the others urging not to. The pigeon retrieves their food in the form of an eagle and tricks them into letting it eat everything. Sam then declares the bird a jotun. When it takes off with Magnus they follow them and find him in the Boston Public Library. When he gets down and tells them what he learned, they reprimand him for swearing on his troth to the jotun, Big Boy, to get him an immortality apple from Ran in exchange for the instruction to go fishing for her. When they get to the docks Hearth and Blitz are denied the boat while Sam and Magnus are allowed on-board. 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, whose real name is Utgard-Loki, 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 Nidavellir. While Magnus is opening the rift, Hearth casts a spell to keep the advancing Valkyries and Einherjar from catching them, collapsing soon after. When Magnus opens the rift, Hearth is helped through it by Sam and Magnus. 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, the huge squirrel who had chased them out of Valhalla, appears. Blitz drags Magnus into the knothole while Sam hides him and herself under her hijab. While they hide he helps Sam along as she is recovering from the squirrel's shrieked insults. They wander around the World Tree avoiding being attacked by deer until they reach Alfheim, much to Hearth's 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 Eitri Junior, another dwarf, has challenged him to a crafting contest in which the loser is decapitated. 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 accidental. He suggests Sam do what she did on the World Tree, and she angrily leaves. 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. Blitzen eventually wins the crafting contest, retrieving the earrings requested by Freyja and the magic rope from Junior, and discovers that Junior lied about knowing the location of Fenris Wolf's island. Junior claims the location is classified information, but that Thor might know. Hearth and the others are forced to flee when Junior correctly accuses Sam of being a shapeshifter and claims she used this power to help Blitzen cheat. While running, the others duck into an alleyway but Hearthstone, not realizing he has been separated, keeps running. When he rejoins the rest of the group, he asks where Blitz is and notices that the sword is floating. After an explanation he shows them a river leading out of Nidavellir, all jumping when they are found by the dwarves still in pursuit. Magnus heals Hearth, who is half-drowned and hypothermic, but senses a lot of grief. The elf tells him he will explain 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. Hearth gives Magnus a perthro rune to hold as he rides Otis. They meet Otis' brother Marvin, who informs them that Thor is drowning and threatens to kill them if they do not save the god's life. When Magnus slays the giantess attacking Thor, Hearth, Sam and Magnus are thrown against a tree by the current and invited to dinner by the Thunder God, which is Marvin and Otis. Hearth signs that he thinks Thor is annoying but Thor, who does not understand ASL, assumes he is complimenting him. They are 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 heads by Thor when they head out. They spend 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 one of Sleipnir's sons, who Magnus dubs Stanley, but passes out in the process. He is aided on to the horse, who jumps off the cliff. He regains consciousness when Stanley lands and is helped off the horse, deliriously signing random words, and stays behind with Blitzen as a backup. He and Blitzen free Gunilla, currently stuck in her swan form, and help Sam and Magnus. The five run into Gerriod and barter for Thor's weapon. The giant agrees on the condition that they play catch with him, then begins to throw hot coals from the fire. Hearth 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 distracts Gunilla by pointing and Sam sends her back to Valhalla. They retrieve Thor's staff and the Thunder God appears. Hearthstone signs his annoyance that Thor can not help them fight Fenris Wolf, which Thor again assumes is a compliment. The God sends them "where they need to be." Hearthstone winds up at Mimir's well. The head declares that Hearthstone is now a master of rune magic and gives him a two-pronged staff made of polished oak. He meets up with Blitzen, Magnus, and Sam at Long Wharf. Magnus gives him back the perthro rune, which he attaches to his staff. The four find the dwarf brothers who will take them to Fenris's island prison, and Blitz warns that the brothers will try to rob, kill and abandon them at the first opportunity. They buy four tickets regardless. Along the way, Hearth practices summoning and banishing his staff. They dock, and he and the others are left on the island to face the wolf.   His Staff When they find the wolf, Hearth is the only one unaffected by his taunts because he cannot hear them, and stops the others from approaching him. Soon after, Gunilla appears, along with two other Valkyries and Magnus' hallmates. When Gunilla orders their arrest, Magnus's hallmates refuse to comply. Surt arrives, scimitar lit with golden fire and an army of giants behind him, and they begin destroying the island, burning away the protective heather on the ground that Fenris cannot walk through. Hearth 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, Hearth hits Fenris in the head with his staff, branding the symbol of Tyr on the wolf's forehead. He aids Blitzen, who is unharmed due to his bulletproof ascot, 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. T.J. pulls out a collapsible Frey Boat and everyone gets on. He and Blitz have an argument in sign language about who had a dumber plan, but are too tired and end up having a poking contest instead. When they arrive at the hotel they are escorted to the feast hall to have judgment passed. The thanes call him, Blitz and Sam Magnus's questionable companions. Just as the thanes are about to pass judgment X reveals himself to be Odin. Once the All-Father explains what he has been doing for the past two years, he rewards Magnus and his friends. He offers Hearthstone private lessons with himself to hone his skills in rune magic. Hearth is shocked and accepts Odin's offer. He grants Hearth full access to all of the nine worlds. Afterward, Hearth attends the funeral for the fallen Valkyries held in the public garden. He is excited about studying under Odin, and agrees to help Blitzen move into his store. |
The Hammer of Thor
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Hearthstone and Blitzen have been hiding out in one of Mimir's safe houses. After one of his private lessons with Odin, he predicted that Blitz would die on a mission. He and Blitz met up with Sam and Magnus in Provincetown to retrieve Mjolnir. He tells them that this is dangerous for Blitzen but finds that he is the best person to find the hammer. When they find the wight's tomb, he opens it, however they fall in and he breaks his ankle. After Magnus heals him he investigates an iron coffin and opens it with a runestone. Hearth stops cold in his tracks when he sees Gelir's sword, Skofnung. He warns his friends about the blade and readies himself for battle when the zombies draw their swords. Hearth uses the uruz rune to increase his size and strength. He destroys the draugar and Gellir before Magnus calms him down. After that, Loki and Randolph appear. He clings to Blitzen when the sword is drawn, and is shocked when Blitzen is stabbed. He cradles his wounded friend, blaming Sam for allowing the injury to happen. Loki reveals that injuries caused by the Skofnung sword can only be healed by the sword's whetstone, and will otherwise bleed until the wounded party is killed. Magnus tries and fails to heal the wound anyway, before as a last resort opening the shaft of the tomb and allowing the sun to petrify Blitzen, to be undone once they have the means to heal him. He, Sam, Magnus and the petrified Blitzen head to the Provincetown Airport. He is angry about what happened to Blitz and refuses to talk. He uses the last of his magic to summon bubble wrap and tape to keep his friend safe. When Barry and Amir arrive, Amir recognizes Hearth as one of Sam's 'math friends'. He puts Blitz on the plane, and they fly off to his home world. As they are about to take off, he is confused by everyone's reaction to Barry. He sits across from Blitz and looks worried about his friend. Before he and Magnus jump, he straps Blitz to himself with his scarf. They land on the Makepiece property in Alfheim, and Hearth gives Magnus sunglasses to block out most of the world's bright light. On the way to his house, they are stopped by two police officers. They ask him if he was on the Makepiece property. Once Magnus informs them that Hearthstone is deaf, they recognize Hearth as Alderman's son. They then take the two to Hearth's father. When they arrive home, they are greeted by Inge, one of the housing staff. His father then arrives and berates him for using ASL before inviting his son and the son of Frey in. When he signs, his father tells him to use the slate. Alderman tells Hearth that since he left, his mother has died. Hearth is reassured by Magnus that he is with him. He and Magnus are led to Hearth's old room. Magnus is shocked and angered by what his friend's parents had him do. Inge suggests they rob the Careful One, a dwarf named Andvari living in Alfheim. Hearth says it is too dangerous and they could easily die, but Inge has faith in him. The next morning Inge tells them where to find the Careful One. He hugs her goodbye and she goes away blushing. Magnus teases him about this before they left.   Alderman, his father. The next day he, Blitz, Sam, and Stanley wait for Magnus and Alex at the park. He is wary of Alex at first due to her being a child of Loki, but Magnus reassures him. While the others ride Stanley to get to Jotunheim, he flies with Sam. The two of them arrive at Utgard-Loki's palace a day before the others and claim guest rights. They are nearly killed seven times and tricked with illusions. The others eventually show up and the king releases them, he also tells them that they must compete in a tournament to gain the giant's trust and the information they need or die trying. They discuss strategy until the giant king comes over to them and says that an alliance between Loki and Thrym would oust him as king. After Sam deduces that her opponent is fear itself, Hearthstone requests to compete at arcade games of his and his opponent's choice. The giant scores a thousand in skeeball, while Hearth scores over five million in pinball. After Blitz wins his own challenge and Alex and Magnus tie, Utgard-Loki tells them that Loki plans to use the Skofnung sword and stone to free himself. He tells them that he can give them two choices: either die at that moment or find the hammer themselves before the giants give chase at the end of the five minutes they had to speak with Utgard-Loki. Before they can be killed, he and his group are saved by the goddess Sif. She gives Hearthstone a bag of runes made of rowan wood, but says it is missing othala, the inheritance rune, and that he will one day have to retrieve it. She sends them to find Thor in his man-cave and tell him of the information they have regarding Mjolnir. They meet up with Thor and explain everything to him while the thunder god misinterprets his signs. While Sam, Alex and Magnus get ready for the wedding, he and Blitz are given a pass by the thunder god to let them into Valhalla so they can recruit einharjar for help. He, Blitz, T.J., Mallory and Halfborn arrive in Loki's chambers and fight the giants. He freezes the last of Loki's bonds, but Randolph chips away at it and the last of the restraints are cut, freeing Loki. He watches as the trickster kills his serpent warden and flees as the gods arrive. Hearthstone laments that he would likely have been able to stop Loki if he had all his runes. He commiserates with Vidar in sign language about hearing people after watching Thor misinterpret Vidar's signs the way he always does with Hearth. Back in Valhalla, he is too preoccupied with Loki's escape to enjoy the feast. Helgi asks him and his friends to come to his office. He tasks the group with capturing and rebinding Loki, and he and Blitz retire to spend the night in Magnus' suite. Hearthstone is the first to fall asleep, and is gone by the morning, leaving a bed of daisies in his place. |
The Ship of the Dead
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Hearth and Blitz are waiting to be picked up when they are attacked by a sea monster who, unbeknownst to them, was the pet of the Nine Billow Maidens. Hearth and Blitz are then taken captive by Aegir, who plans to eat them. Their friends manage to free them. Just as they are about to eat, one of Aegir's daughters calls out Magnus. After they get Aegir to talk about mead, he explains to Magnus what flyting is. After they convince Aegir not to kill them, he decides to let them escape if his daughters can't catch them. He uses his lagaz rune to turn the maidens into puddles for a few seconds. Magnus tells him to use it to take out a wall, which he does when Njord arrives, and they escape. They surface and he, Magnus and Blitz speak with Njord. He tells them that they should got to skadi's harbor, as it is the safest passage, and to get Kvasir's mead, to help with the flyting with Loki. He also tells them that he and Blitz could die getting the mead. Njord tells them that he and Blitzen must find Bolverk's whetstone. They agree after some debate and tell Magnus he can meet up with them later. They say goodbye to Magnus and Njord sends them away.   Alderman, now a dragon He and Blitz scout out the ruins of his father's mansion, which he has no legal rights to, before the two materialize on the Big Banana and tell Magnus they need his help dealing with his father. They return and venture deep onto the property and find a cave; they then know Alderman is in. His father emerges momentarily from the cave in the form of a dragon. Hearth says the only way to stop Alderman is to kill him. He volunteers for the act, but is discouraged by Blitzen when the dwarf says it would taint his wyrd. They decide to let Magnus and Jack do the deed. He picks up the othala rune by his brother's grave and plans to switch as a distraction. He practices his magic until it is time. He summons his brother's spirit to distract Alderman and when his father charges at them Blitz defends him. He says goodbye to his brother and confronts his dying father. He frees Jack and asks the sword to cut out his father's heart so he could cook and eat it. He decides to eat the heart to learn more about his father and asks Magnus to take over so he could sign easier. Magnus accidentally destroys the heart and takes in the blood. Hearth looks angry yet relieved and they head back to the Big Banana. They return and tell the crew about what happened and they give him their condolences. He and Blitz head below deck to sleep and they stay back when the others scout Fläm for a train station. He and Blitz sleep through Baugi's attack and learn about the attack when they wake up. They leave Fläm and reach Jotunheim by morning. Hearth summons a fire to keep everyone warm, and they decide to walk to shore when the ship can not get past the ice. His fire gives out when they reach shore and they are invited in by Skadi to explain themselves. They bathe and have a hot meal while they explain what they are planning. Hearth is pleased Skadi knows Alf Sign Language. She tells them Loki will launch Naglfar by noon the following day, and lets them spend the night. When Magnus wakes him up, he signs I am not here before giving in. They eat breakfast and get ready to ski to Naglfar. When they reach the ship, he, Blitz, T.J., Halfborn and Mallory separate to give Magnus time to flyt Loki. He gives her his othala rune and they head out to put their plan in motion. He summons the thurisaz rune to strike fear into his enemies and vaporize a few, and the isa rune to freeze half the ship. When a ceasefire is called for the flyting he is supported by Blitz and they watch the match. He watches Magnus, concerned, but is pleased with the compliment about being the greatest rune magician in the Nine Worlds. Magnus reveals to the giants that he faced his father when he turned into a dragon, overcame Alderman's abuse with his mother and his brother's death, and broke a curse. Hearth carries Blitzen on his shoulders and summons Stanley with a rune. The group jumps off the boat at Sam's request and land on the backs of water horses who swim out of the harbor just as it is freezing over. They spend the next three days at sea. During this time Hearth and Blitz make sure everyone has what they need. He and T.J. talk about his war stories. They land on Vigridr, where the chosen of Odin will die during Ragnarok, and are greeted by the gods. Odin applauds his use of magic during the final battle and gives him a signed copy of his new memoir. When they return to Valhalla Helgi makes him and Blitz honorary einharjar. They leave and agree to meet Magnus the next day for his plans for the mansion. He and Blitz help out at the Chase Space, working as cooks, and he teaches the kids sign language. He cooks food for the Fourth of July on the roof. |
9 from the Nine Worlds
This Little Light of Mine, I’m Going to Let It Shine
When thinking of ways to stop Alviss from killing Thor, Blitz mentions the elf when looking at his tanning bed, giving Blitzen an idea.
Speaking of Trolls...
Hearthstone is using the dagaz rune to speak aloud curses to T.J., who wants to learn more curse words to beat out Mallory Keen and Halfborn Gunderson. Suddenly, the bracelet that Inge gave him starts to light up and vibrate. Realizing she is in danger, Hearth rushes to Magnus' room for a quick way to Alfheim and rushes to save her. He lands in the rubble of his old house and rushes to find Inge. Hearth’s bracelet leads him to an estate guarded by Wildflower and Sunspot and he uses runes to have one of them give him his bullhorn and melt the gate. As he is heading to the front door, a troll appears.
Hearth uses rune after rune but they all prove to be ineffective against the troll. The troll grabs his rune bag and holds it out of reach. Hearth retreats and hides in a rose bush. He thinks of ways to stop a troll and remembers the names his father called him. He then remembers that the only way to best a troll is to learn its name. Hearthstone plays dumb to trick the troll into underestimating his abilities. The troll recognizes him as the Alderman family's deaf son, and says he will pretend to let him go before killing him, believing that Hearth cannot understand him. He picks a rose and offers it to Hearth, who accepts it, feigning happiness. Soon after, the troll lets slip his name, Siersgrunnr, and Hearthstone slowly walks towards the bullhorn. Before Siersgrunnr can do anything, Hearth turns to bullhorn on max, uses the dagaz rune and finger-spells the troll’s name. While the troll is stunned, Hearthstone uses the tiwaz rune to turn the rose into a club. He uses the club to break the Troll’s knee and knock him out. Sunspot and Wildflower, after seeing Hearth take out the troll and holding his runes and club, run as far away as they can from him. As he approaches the front door, Inge is shoved out and is happy to see him. Just then, Thor comes jogging by and says a quick hello before jogging off. Having missed Inge's company, Hearth decides to stay with her in Alfheim for a little longer.
I Play with Fire
When he receives word that Alex Fierro went to Muspellheim to fight Surt on her own, he goes to the land of fire along with Blitz, Samirah, T.J., Halfborn and Mallory to help. He uses a rune to shield himself and the others from the intense heat and when they get there they find the child of Loki standing over a defeated Surt.
Appearance
Hearthstone is a tall, pale elf with short, spiky, pale blond hair and pale gray eyes. He wears a black leather jacket, black motorcycle pants and pointy-toed shoes, and a red and white striped scarf. After losing said scarf in The Ship of the Dead, Alex Fierro gives him a pink and green scarf as a replacement.
After learning Hearthstone is an elf, Magnus begins to notice more inhuman elements 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 odor, alcohol, stale grease. Instead, the elf smells more like pine needles and woodsmoke.
Personality
Hearth is a very loyal friend and has risked his own life multiple times to save both Magnus and Blitzen. He is shown to have a dry and self-deprecating sense of humour which he often exercises when annoyed or happy. He is guarded with his own emotions as he was constantly downtrodden and ridiculed by his father and the elves around him due to inability to hear (as elves cannot tolerate imperfections). However, with Magnus and Blitzen his personality and self-confidence evolves as he is around people who truly appreciate his talents and empathize with his weaknesses.
Abilities
- Alf Sign Language: Hearthstone is able to communicate via Alfheim Sign Language. It also happens to be the same as American Sign Language.
- Lip-reading: Being deaf, Hearth had to learn how to read lips in order to understand and communicate with other people.
- Pinball Skills: Hearth has a talent when it came to pinball.
- Deafness/Audiokinetic Immunity: 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 Fenris Wolf's taunts, and later the security Nøkks' mournful music at his father's party.
- Archery: It is revealed in The Sword of Summer, that Hearth is skilled in archery. We see a limited exhibition of this characteristic when he fights Surt with a toy set of bow and arrows.
- Pyrokinesis (limited): Using the rune of Loki and Surt, Hearthstone can control fire.
- Heat generation spell: He can generate a small flame to warm others (but it feeds on his stamina).
- Clauditiskinesis: He has a rune that can unlock any door.
- Prophecy: Hearthstone (after training with Odin) can use runes to see others futures.
- Teleportation: He has a rune that can teleport him and others to the other worlds.
- Atmokinesis: Using the certain runes Hearthstone can manipulate the weather.
- Hailstorm conjuration: Hearthstone can conjure a hailstorm.
- Food conjuration: Hearthstone conjured up food for his friends with the gift rune.
- Hydrokinesis: Hearthstone can control and manipulate water.
Magical Items
Hearthstone's staff.
- Runestones: Hearth uses runestones to cast spells.
- Rowan-Wooden Runes: Given to him by Sif, their magic is supple and malleable and easier to use than his stone runes.
- Staff: When Mimir told Hearthstone that he was a master of rune magic, he was given a white oak two-pronged staff which now holds the rune most meaningful to him: Perthro, the empty cup.
- Golden Bracelet: After freeing Inge from his family’s service, Inge gave Hearth a bracelet made from her hair, intended to alert him whenever she is in trouble.
Relationships
Family
Alderman, Hearthstone’s father.
Hearthstone has a negative relationship with his father. Alderman would berate his son for being deaf and tell him he should have died rather than Andiron. After the attack, he forced Hearth to pay his brother’s Wergild by performing chores in exchange for small amounts of gold and offering rewards (and basic necessities) that cost large amounts of gold, making the debt impossible to pay. Hearthstone eventually left, but came back years later for the Skofnung Stone. He finally managed to pay off the debt and was free. However, he left his father in a state of madness due to a cursed ring.
Months later he returned to Alfheim to retrieve a runestone and, seeing his father as a dragon, chose to kill him. In the end, Hearthstone saw the man who berated him all his life with pity for his greed and bigotry.Not much is known about his relationship with his mother, but he was shocked and saddened to learn of her death. However, Greta was no better than Alderman in terms of treating Hearth. She too was upset about him being born deaf and had just as much involvement in forcing him to work off Andiron’s Wergild as Alderman did. Despite this, she was distraught when she heard that he had left to practice magic.
Hearth was saddened by his brother’s death and felt responsible for many years. Hearth used the othala rune to summon his ghost, in order to distract their newly-draconic father so that Magnus could kill him, and Andiron informed Hearthstone that he harbored no ill feelings towards him, that his death was not Hearthstone's fault. In the end, Andiron was the family member Hearth had the best relationship with.
Friends
Blitzen, his friend.
Hearthstone and Blitzen met when Hearth tried rune magic for the first time and accidentally transported himself to Nidavellir. Blitz saved him by making him a tanning bed, so he wouldn’t die. After that, the two became close friends. Blitzen’s learned ASL for Hearth. The two later both worked for Mimir and were assigned to watch over Magnus, with Hearth taking the morning shift and Blitz taking the night shift. The two are mostly inseparable, and like to bicker and tease each other. Blitzen thinks that Hearth is the best magician, even if he is the only magician. Blitz also thinks he is a romantic who longs for the old days. The two also told each other about their pasts.
In The Sword of Summer, Hearth and Blitz robbed a toy store together to protect Magnus from Surt, and later broke in to his room to break him out of Hotel Valhalla, with them arguing about if it was the right room. The two later ate lunch with Sam and Magnus, with them getting their own table and arguing in ASL. The two later spent the rest of the day researching in the library. The next day, after Hearth and Blitz were separated when Hearth was in Alfheim, Hearth was so excited to see him that he couldn’t sign and tackled him out of his chair. Hearth comforted Blitz about what happened with Junior, and didn’t let him put himself down and wallow in self pity. Hearth also helped Blitz tell the others about his past. Hearth was afraid that Blitz was going to die in the contest with Junior and encouraged Sam to Sabotage Junior to save his friend. Hearth comforted him during the contest and they both later shared a tent in Jotunheim, with Blitz calling him a tent hog. The two fought Fenris Wolf and Surt on Lyngvi, with Hearth doing a protection spell to save Blitz, and the two having an argument that eventually turned into a poking contest.
In The Hammer of Thor, Hearth read Blitzen’s future and saw that he was going to die on their next quest. Because of this, Hearth was terrified and he and Blitz hid in a safe house, watching TV and ordering pizza. Eventually, Blitz wanted to protect Magnus and not hide anymore, but Hearth didn’t want him to die. Hearth eventually caved in, but didn’t want anything to happen to him. When Blitz was stabbed while looking for the Skofnung Sword, Hearth was upset and furious and blamed himself and Sam. Hearth even faced his father, Alderman, again, just to save his friend. When he and Magnus healed Blitzen, Hearth gave him a huge hug. Blitz reassured him that it wasn’t his fault, or Sam’s.
In The Ship of the Dead, the two faced Alderman for the final time, and Blitz stood up for Hearth and yelled at Alderman, calling him a sorry excuse for a father. In 9 from the Nine Worlds, Hearth called Blitz one of his best friends.
Magnus Chase, his close friend.
Magnus and Hearth met when Hearth was working for Mimir, where he was assigned to pose as a homeless man to protect Magnus. Hearth took the day shifts, while Blitz took the night shifts. Hearth and Magnus hung out, and Magnus thought that Hearth was a little weird, not showing much emotion, they became friends. Hearth taught Magnus ASL and they ate burritos out of trash cans. The other homeless people Magnus knew jokes about Hearth being Magnus’s mom.
In The Sword of Summer, Hearth and Blitz robbed a toy store to save Magnus from Surt, and later broke in to Magnus’s room to break him out of Hotel Valhalla. Magnus found out Hearth’s full name and how he was an elf. Magnus was very grateful for Hearth protecting him, was glad to see him, and they became close throughout the book. Magnus and Hearth later go to his funeral and see his body, and Magnus mentioned how Hearth is one of the people he wanted to see his funeral. Hearth also told Magnus about the Nine Worlds. Later, when Hearth almost died in Jotunheim, Magnus healed him and felt his pain. Hearth was very thankful for him, and called him his brother. Magnus was very shocked about all of the pain Hearth felt, and wondered how he didn’t run around screaming all the time.
In The Hammer of Thor, Hearth and Magnus reunited after six weeks, when Heath was in a safe house, and they were ecstatic to see each other. The two later went to Alfheim to face Alderman, where Magnus learned about Hearthstone’s abuse by Alderman and stuck by his side, comforting him and supporting him. Hearth did not blame Magnus for what happened to Blitzen.
In The Ship of the Dead, Magnus helped save Hearth from Aegir and the Nine Billow Maidens, and was sad for him to leave when he had to go back to Alfheim. Magnus later helped Hearth face Alderman for the last time, and comforted him. Magnus also accidentally ate Alderman’s heart, sparing Hearth the pain of having to. Later, during the flyting against Loki, Magnus praised Hearth for his deeds to Loki, and called him is brother, making Hearth extremely happy and grateful.
In 9 from the Nine Worlds, Hearth called Magnus one of his best friends. Hearth also volunteers at Magnus’s homeless shelter, the Chase space.
Samirah al-Abbas, his close friend.
When they first met, Sam knocked the elf unconscious while looking for Sumarbrander. Hearth thought that Sam was a spy for Loki at first. Sam didn’t know Hearth was deaf and thought he was making rude gestures at her. They reluctantly agreed to join forces with each other to find the sword. On the quest, the two became allies and close friends. Sam protected Hearth from Ratatosk and hid him under her hijab, and took him to Alfheim for protection, where she learned his story. Hearth and Sam got into a fight later, when Hearth told her to Sabotage Junior in Blitzen’s crafting contest, but they make up. By the end of the quest, the two are close friends, and Sam even starts learning ASL for him.
In The Hammer of Thor, the two hadn’t seen each other in six weeks, and happily reunite to find the Skofnung. However, when Blitzen is stabbed by Randolph Chase, Hearthstone blamed Sam for what happened and was angry at her. He refused to speak to her, even when she flew him and Magnus to Alfheim. However, Blitzen told Hearth to not blame Sam for what happened, and Hearth forgave her. Sam later flew Hearth to Jotunheim and they almost got killed together seven times.
In The Ship of the Dead, Sam and the others calculated a plan to save Hearth from Aegir and the Nine Billow Maidens. Sam also heard the story about Hearth killing Alderman and felt sorry for him, and comforted him.
In 9 from the Nine Worlds, Hearth called Sam one of his best friends.
Alex Fierro, Hearthstone’s friend.
Hearth and Alex met in The Hammer of Thor. Magnus introduced them and Alex promised that she wouldn’t kill him. Since Alex didn’t know ASL, her comrades had to translate everything Hearth said back to her. Alex also called Hearth’s personal rune, perthro, depressing when she found out the meaning behind it. Hearth also got angry at Alex when she said that she didn’t like Sif and crossed his arms, not wanting to talk to her at the moment. Hearth also joked with Alex when she was going to marry Thrym, saying she would have happy years and many children.
In The Ship of the Dead, Alex had learned a little ASL at that point. Alex helped save Hearth by telling Aegir that eating elves and dwarves was against her religion. Later, Alex heard how Hearth faced his father and expressed sympathy, saying that it was awful and she couldn’t imagine. Alex also sewed Hearth a new pink and green scarf, which Hearth was very grateful for.
In 9 from the Nine Worlds, Alex called Hearth a rune master, showing how much she respected his magic. Hearth later rushed to Muspellheim to help her when he found out that Alex was facing Surt.
T.J., Hearth’s friend.
T.J and Hearth met in The Sword of Summer, and didn’t know each other well, but T.J helped Hearth break out of Valhalla with Blitzen and Magnus. The two fought alongside each other against Fenris Wolf and Surt, and again against Loki in The Hammer of Thor. The two were later both crew mates on the Big Banana in The Ship of the Dead, and T.J listened to Hearth’s story about facing his father. Later, on the way back from Niflheim, Hearth listened to T.J’s war stories as well.
In 9 from the Nine Worlds, T.J and Hearth have been spending time together, with Hearth teaching T.J curse words in sign language to compete with Halfborn Gunderson and Mallory Keen. T.J was interested in learning ASL, unlike the others on floor 19. T.J was concerned when Hearth had to go to Alfheim to save Inge, and Hearth wished he could give him an explanation.Trivia
- Hearth is deaf and knows Alf Sign Language, which abbreviates to ASL and is coincidentally identical to American Sign Language.[2]
- 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.
- According to Blitzen, Hearthstone snores.
- Hearthstone is skilled at playing pinball. His skills earn him the title of "Pinball Wizard" by Blitzen.
- Hearth's "pinball wizard" title may be a reference to the 1979 song by the Who: the song sings about a deaf pinball player, and that matches Hearth's description; Utgard-Loki also says that Hearth "plays a mean pinball" a line in the song "Pinball Wizard."
References
- ↑ Riordan, Rick 2018 This Little Light of Mine, I’m Going to Let It Shine by Blitzen. In 9 From the Nine Worlds Pp. 40–52. New York, New York: Disney-Hyperion.
- ↑ Recently Heard