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Poem 431 : The Thread Of Life

10/31/2018

Poem 431 : The Thread Of Life

At the moment of conception, they chose the first white thread,
Searched among the many dyes, would my hair be blonde or red ?
They watched over my mother, decided which day I was to be born,
When I breathed in my very first breath, it was chosen by a Norn.

Verðandi began to weave my life, at the moment of my birth,
While Urðr studied the material, to judge what I was worth,
With an eye to the future, Skuld carefully watched me as I cried,
For she had already measured my life, and set when I had died.

Everyday they watch over me, take care to check my health,
Occasionally a gold thread is weaved, adding to my wealth,
If my Hamingja abandons me, and I should meet misfortune,
The Norns will add another thread, and return to me a portion.

The Fates walk along with me, like a doppelganger in the night,
They bring to me much happiness, but sometimes cause a fright,
I curse the Norns for each bad deed, but thank them for my luck,
Look to them for care and guidance, ask for help when I am stuck.

But now the strong threads are worn, with age the ends have frayed,
Like a dream lost to an awakening, the past is now beginning to fade,
The Norns will watch me to the end, every stretch of thread to save,
And when I lay down for my final rest, they will lay them on my grave.

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2018.

' The Seer ' : Chapter 11 : Kjallandi's Vision

10/31/2018

The Seer

Chapter 11

Kjallandi's Vision

Kjallandi was almost a third of the way to the lake, known as Sandvatnet, when she stopped at a gurgling brook for a drink. The gentle trickling of crystal clear water, over the rocks below, gave her a feeling of serenity, and forced the corners of her mouth to curl up in a smile. As she cupped her hands to place them in the cool water she saw an image appear where her reflection had been only moments before. What Kjallandi witnessed transpiring before her eyes made her gasp in horror.

The first image remained there for only a moment before the water carried it away. It was quickly replaced by another, and and another, until the images told a complete story.

" No ! " she cried out when she saw the warriors carrying her mother down the mountain path.

Kjallandi wanted to look away, but just as her mother often became entranced by the flickering flames of a fire, she became mesmerized by the images in the water, and could not look away no matter how terrible the scenes she was being shown became. A cold chill ran up her spine when she witnessed one of the warriors throw her mother up onto the saddle of his horse, and she began to shake uncontrollably as the brute reined his horse around and kicked it forward into a fast gallop. However, when Kjallandi recognized one of the warriors who stayed behind at the cave, apparently to wait for her return, her fear turned into shock and anger.

" You bastard ! " she yelled as she slapped at the watery image of Orrusti.

When the water became calm once again Kjallandi saw another image reflected back at her. Six riders were coming from the east towards Hårteigen. One of them she instantly recognized as King Siggautr, but to her dismay these warriors were too far north to cross paths with Orrusti's men, and therefore could not help her mother. In an instant she knew exactly what she had to do !

Kjallandi left her bedroll at the brook and ran back to Hårteigen as fast as her legs would carry her. In the water she could not judge the distance the king was from her mountain home, nor could she tell for certain if she would make it back in time to warn the king, who had treated her mother so kindly over the years. But she had to try,...., she just had to try !

King Siggautr needed to see the old seer on a most urgent matter as quickly as possible. He had ridden long and hard from his great hall to have Grottintanna tell him which was the best path he could take in his dealings with the chieftain of Hagafoss, who had begun inciting rebellion against him throughout Haddingjadalr. In the past the king had to deal with many foreign enemies who wanted his land, and of course his high-seat, but this was the very first time that he had ever been threatened from within his own kingdom.

Despite the urgency of his mission Siggautr could see that he was pushing his horse, and the horses of Lyngvi and his men, much too hard and ordered everyone to slow their mounts to a walk to rest them. With the mountain now in sight it would not be much longer before he was standing at the mouth of the seer's cave, and injuring one of their animals seemed an unnecessary risk.

As they passed to the south side of Hårteigen King Siggautr had his eyes glued to the notch at the base of the mountain, where the ascending path led up to Grottintanna's home. Lyngvi, however, was more interested in the safety of the king, and when he spotted someone in the distance running towards them he reined his horse to his left and called for two riders to come with him to investigate. King Siggautr, unsure of what exactly was happening, called out after the leader of his guard.

" Kill him only if he attacks you ! " he instructed.

Lyngvi slowed his horse to a trot as he approached the lone runner. To his great surprise, and delight, it was not a man after all, but was instead an attractive woman who was trying to make contact with them. As the woman stopped a few feet in front of his horse she bent over out of breath. Despite inhaling deeply, she managed only three words.

" Must warn Siggautr....."

Lyngvi jumped down off of his horse and grabbed the woman by both arms and forced her body upright. With a glaring stare he asked :

" What must you warn our king about ! ? " he insisted on knowing.

Kjallandi winced in pain as the warriors grip pinched at her arms.

" I must warn the king about Chieftain Lefvini, and Orrusti ! " she stated loudly.

Lyngvi picked up the woman and carried her over to his horse. With more care than he had shown the woman only moments before he lifted her up onto his saddle, before mounting the horse himself.

" Hang on ! " he shouted over his shoulder, as he reined the horse around and headed back to King Siggautr.

As he pushed his horse on faster with his spurs the woman wrapped her arms around him and placed her head on his shoulder near his left ear.

" I am called Kjallandi ! Your king knows me, and he will very much want to hear what I have to tell him. " she shouted above the loud footfalls of the warrior's horse.

Lyngvi turned his head slightly towards her and yelled back :

" If not he will probably order me to kill you Kjallandi ! " he told her with a slight grin.

When Siggautr saw that it was a woman who was with Lyngvi he thought it quite odd, but when she lifted her head, and peered around his shoulder, the king knew at once who she was. King Siggautr pulled his left foot out of the stirrup, and lifted his right leg over the saddle, allowing him to slide off of his horse in a much practiced motion. The king hit the ground hard, and waited impatiently there for his guard to pull up alongside him.

" Kjallandi ! What has happened !? Are you injured !? " he asked, shocked to see the young woman out of her mountain home.

Kjallandi jumped down off of the warrior's horse, and threw her arms around the king.

" Chieftain Lefvini ordered Orrusti to abduct my mother, and he is now waiting on the top of Hårteigen for me to return . He commanded Orrusti to bring me to Hagafoss as well ! " she told the king as tears ran down her face.

Siggautr pushed her away for a moment and asked in an incredulous tone :

" The chieftain has already kidnapped Grottintanna ?! "

With lips that were quivering Kjallandi answered.

" Yes ! And Orrusti is here to take me as well ! " she replied again, as if the king had not heard her the first time she spoke.

King Siggautr turned around and stared back at the mountain top angrily.

" And how many warriors does Orrusti have with him ? " he asked.

Kjallandi looked deeply into the king's eyes as she replied.

"  In the water I saw only one warrior with him. " she explained.

King Siggautr frowned.

" In the water ? " he inquired suspiciously.

Kjallandi nodded and then moved closer to whisper in his ear.

" Mother uses fire to see, but I see the future in water. " she explained to him.

King Siggautr nodded that he understood.

" I should have known that you would have the same powers as your mother. " he replied softly.

The king turned and looked over at Lyngvi.

" I believe it is time that we go to the cave and kill those who came to take Kjallandi ! " he ordered his guard.

The king turned and began to walk toward the path followed closely by his guards.

Kjallandi shook her head and ran after them.

" No ! You must take off anything that will make noise, or they will hear you coming. And I must lead you to the ledge,... or several of your men will die ! " she told the king.

Siggautr frowned.

" How do you know this ? " he asked.

Kjallandi grinned as she stared into the king's eyes.

" Your eyes are like pools of water. I have seen the future. " she informed him.

The king nodded and looked over at his warriors.

" Take off anything that can make a sound. Carry only your weapons to the top of the mountain ! " the king commanded.

The sun had disappeared, but the sky was still fairly well lit when the warriors, led by Kjallandi, reached the ledge. The king motioned to the seer's daughter that he would take two of his men to the left, while Lyngvi would go the right with two of the other warriors. When they were in place the king nodded to Kjallandi, who pulled herself up over the ledge. To call attention to herself she began to hum an old Dwarf tune that her father had once liked.

Orrusti and Ottar turned away from the fire they had been warming themselves in front of and ran for the entrance to the cave the moment they heard the woman's voice outside. As they exited the dark cavern Orrusti instantly recognized that it was Kjallandi who was standing near the edge of the ledge. As they approached her Orrusti thought it odd that she did not try to run away from him, or even speak to him. He was about to draw his sword when he heard noises behind him !

As he turned, Orrusti saw Ottar being run through by two warriors simultaneously, while a third split his skull in two with his axe. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a glint of steel, and heard a grunt. The searing pain registered in his mind only moments later as the point of the sword penetrated through his stomach and out of his back. As he fell to his knees he looked up and saw King Siggautr looking down at him. As the king withdrew his sword from his body Orrusti fell onto his back. It was then that he saw Kjallandi's face staring down at him as well.

" Your mother was right. She told me I would see you one more time before I died. " he told her before the light went out of his eyes.

King Siggautr angrily wiped his bloody sword on Orrusti's shirt.

" Your mother should have let me kill him the last time he was here ! " he told Kjallandi.

Kjallandi looked over at the king and shook her head slowly from side to side.

" Occasionally the threads of time, that have been woven by the Norns, cannot be torn apart no matter how badly we want to change their pattern. " she informed the king sadly.

- End Chapter 11

- Next : Chapter 12 : Grottintanna's Prophecy

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2018.

Poem 430 : The Raid

10/29/2018

Poem 430 : The Raid

From every large town and small village in Norway they poured,
A promise of quick wealth was the main reason they were lured,
The stoic drumbeat they marched to was in time to the sound of thunder,
Their heads pounded with thoughts of how they would pillage and plunder.

They slowly rowed out of the gentle fjord, set their sails in the open sea,
The current drove them onward, as a brisk west wind set their souls free,
Across the rolling ocean they gently glided, as if carried on an eagle's wing,
To pass the time the warriors would tell tall stories, or sometimes sing.

It is hard, however, for even an experienced sailor, the weather to gauge,
When they approached the coast of Britain a violent storm began to rage,
Like a toy played with by Gods their ships were tossed from wave to wave,
Gold and glory soon lost all value as their vessels they struggled to save.

Offerings were made to Njordr for safe harbor, and maybe a place to dock,
Instead their sails ripped, masts splintered, and each wrecked on a rock,
While the unsettled ocean crashed all around them with a resounding roar,
The survivors bobbed in the whitecaps, trying desperately to swim ashore.

The lucky ones struggled forward, pushed by strong waves onto the sand,
Those not as fortunate never awoke to the rising of a sun in a new land,
The chieftain counted heads, half of his warriors were found to have died,
The consequences of their loss, to their grand plans, could not be denied.

Many wanted to leave this cursed land, but their leader could not be swayed,
He had come to Britain for gold and glory, and he demanded that they raid,
With bruised muscles that fairly ached, and with throats dry and parched,
They reluctantly followed their chieftain, and inland the army marched.

They found water in a valley, and the army of Britain waiting on a hill,
The mist was heavy as the Vikings approached, the air cold and still,
To most it seemed surrealistic, almost as if they were caught up in a dream,
Reality quickly fell over the battlefield at the first screech of the war scream.

Sword and axe crashed into shield and flesh, and so began the slaughter,
Appendages were cleaved from bodies, and blood ran as freely as water,
The fight raged for many hours, the fury of the battle lasted nearly a day,
When the king of Britain was killed the Vikings had won the right to stay.

Despite the chieftain's insistence to constantly move forward and be bold,
In a land not their own, what they had rightly won they could not hold,
During a series of quick battles the Vikings were pushed back to the beach,
All they had longed for, and dreamed of, was now and forever, out of their reach.

With great vigor, and a deep sense of desperation, one ship did they repair,
And as arrows whistled overhead, they rowed away to end their nightmare,
Despite such trials and tribulations, they were hailed as heroes at home,
With great pride skalds praised their exciting exploits in song and poem.

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2018.

' The Seer ' : Chapter 10 : Unwanted Visitors

10/24/2018

The Seer

Chapter 10

Unwanted Visitors

Grottintanna gently shook her daughter to release her from her dreams. When she did not wake the first time the old seer shook her harder until Kjallandi's eyes popped open, and she became aware of her surroundings.

" Did I oversleep " she asked after yawning.

Grottintanna looked down at her only daughter with a deep concern in her eyes, and a serious expression on her face.

" I would like you to travel south to the meadow, the one on the other side of Sandvatnet, and pick me some mugwort, sweet cicely, and fennel. " she told her daughter in an unusually cold tone.

Kjallandi stretched as she yawned a second time.

" Can't I sleep just a little longer before I go ? " she asked sleepily.

Grottintanna threw the bear blanket off of her daughter, and pointed to the cave entrance.

" No ! I need you to leave now ! " she replied impatiently.

Kjallandi pouted for a moment before she sat up and dangled her legs over the side of the bed.

" Then I will leave at once ! " Kjallandi replied somewhat angrily.

Grottintanna helped her daughter to dress, and then handed her a bedroll.

" I have placed plenty of food in your bedroll for the journey, and as you know there are many streams and brooks along the way where you can obtain fresh water to drink. " she explained as she hurried her along.

Kjallandi quickly began to believe that her mother was trying to get rid of her when she followed her part of the way down the mountain.

" You do not need to see me off mother. I have traveled to Sandvatnet many times. Besides, your knees ache after you descend the mountain. " she told her mother.

Grottintanna stopped and nodded.

" Then I will wish you a safe journey from here . " she told her daughter.

When her daughter had walked out of earshot, the concerned mother whispered to herself.

" Soon you will understand why I sent you away ! "

Grottintanna climbed back to the top of the mountain, looked south, and watched as her daughter became a mere speck on the horizon. Then she turned her gaze to the north. As she had envisioned, a dozen riders were kicking up dust as they galloped their horses hard towards Hårteigen. Assured that her daughter was now safe the seer walked back to her cave and awaited their arrival.

Orrusti was not happy with the task he had been given. He had no problem when asked to kill a dozen, or a hundred monks or warriors from Britain, Wales, or Scotland, but he was not comfortable with kidnapping an old seer and her daughter. As he pulled his horse up in front of the now familiar path that lead to the top of Hårteigen he looked back at his comrades who were already dismounting.

" We are here to take the old woman and her daughter back to Hagafoss,..., by force if necessary. But under no circumstances are either of them to be injured ! " he told them in no uncertain terms.

Ottar was the first to acknowledge the command, but the others quickly followed his lead, agreeing not to hurt the two women.

Orrusti was dismayed by how much his men complained as they climbed up the five thousand five hundred foot mountain. At the halfway point the commander had had enough of their belly aching and yelled back to his men, who seemed to be falling back.

" The next man who asks how much longer it will be before we reach the top will be thrown off the summit by me personally ! " he told them angrily.

When Orrusti reached the ledge he was surprised that Kjallandi was not waiting there for him as she head each time he had come before. This oddity made the commander cautious as he climbed up onto the slab of rock that led into the cave. He became even more suspicious when he peered into the dimly lit opening, and was met only by the sound of a crackling fire.

" Grottintanna ?! Kjallandi ?! " he yelled into the darkness, as his comrades scrambled over the ledge behind him.

Because Orrusti received no reply he waited for his men to come up behind him before entering the cave. As he slowly walked into the smokey cavern the commander kept reminding himself that there were only two women in the cave. With one of them being quite old and feeble. And yet the fact that this ' old woman' could see the future scared him more than he cared to admit.

Grottintanna did not turn away from the flames of the fire when she heard the shuffling of the feet of a dozen men as they entered her abode. Before she was taken away from her mountain home, in which she had lived for centuries, she wanted to see as far into the future as the flames would allow. When she had seen enough she finally turned and faced the man Lefvini had sent to abduct her and her daughter.

" I know why you have come, and I will not struggle. I have seen this coming and it is my fate to go with your men back to Hagafoss. " she told the commander.

As his eyes became acclimated to the dim light Orrusti looked around the cavern and saw that Kjallandi was not there.

" Where is your daughter, old woman ? " he asked.

Grottintanna chuckled with amusement.

" Did you really think that I would allow my daughter to be taken as well ? " she asked in return.

Orrusti's expression changed from pity for the old woman to anger in a short moment.

" Where is she old hag ! I wish to see her now ! " he demanded loudly.

The seer smiled.

" I sent her away to a place where she will be safe, and where you will never find her. But do not worry,...., you will see her one more time before you die ! " she assured the commander.

Orrusti pounded his right fist furiously into his left hand !

" Nipingr ! " he yelled.

A large warrior stepped forward and bowed slightly.

" Yes, commander ! " he replied instantly.

Orrusti pointed to the seer.

I believe that ten warriors should be enough to take one old witch back to Hagafoss. Ottar and I will wait here for her daughter to return. " he told Nipingr.

Then he quickly added :

" Make absolutely sure she arrives safely to Chieftain Lefvini's great hall ! " he reminded the warrior.

- End Chapter 10

- Next : Chapter 11 : Kjallandi's Vision

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2018.

Poem 429 : That Bitch Named War !

10/23/2018

Poem 429 : That Bitch Named War !

Library of Congress photo.

War Goddess, most filthy whore of death,
Maker of mighty heroes, taker of breath,
Mistress of the chaos, and all slaughter,
Killer of the husband, son, and daughter.

Queen of great selfishness, evil and greed,
She is the bitch who plants the hatred seed,
Siren of misery, she sings a bittersweet song,
Blurs the difference between right and wrong.

Her touch kills, all will feel her mighty wrath,
Follow, and she will show you a bloody path,
The old hag will tell a tall tale of fame and glory,
But beneath her lies she knows it is only a story.

Spirits broken, bodies mutilated, minds shattered,
The witch grins as she leaves lives torn and tattered,
Celibate, War has no time for such things as love,
And even less for the concept of mighty Gods above.

As War is perpetuated, and the casualties increase,
We search for the answers, we strive to find peace,
We think that we have learned, tell her "no more" !
But she will one day return, that bitch named War !

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2018.

' The Seer ' : Chapter 9 : " She Is My Seer,...., And Mine Alone ! "

10/22/2018

The Seer

Chapter 9

" She Is My Seer,...., And Mine Alone ! "

Chieftain Lefvini could not help but smile from ear to ear as they sailed around the northern tip of Britain. Not in his wildest dreams could he have ever imagined that he would be able to take so much gold and silver from one location. Everything in the Iona Monastery, or Abbey as some called it, seemed to have been made of one of these precious and very valuable metals. Candlesticks, chalices, bowls, jewelry, and small statues depicting their savior, or saints, were all either made of pure gold or silver, or were coated in these most prized metals. And the cache of gold and silver coins that Vermund found hidden in the basement of the main church was immense. Three large chests were removed from the cellar, and another smaller chest of valuables was found in the room of the bishop.

The chieftain of Hagafoss had only one regret about his first Viking raid into the British Isles, and it was something he had not considered when he had drawn up his plans. Lefvini and his Vikings had taken all they could lay their hands on in the monastery, and the surrounding countryside, but there was one valuable commodity that he had no room for on his eight ships. And to his great disappointment that marketable property was slaves.

" The next time we will bring more ships, made to hold cargo, to carry back some of these people of Britain. " he told Orrusti, who stood quietly next to his chieftain.

Orrusti grinned.

" I hope that you do not mean those weak monks with the strangely cut hair . " he replied .

The chieftain patted his friend on the shoulder.

" No ! I will have Randver drown them each and every time we see those kneeling bastards ! " he assured his new second in command.

Both men stared back at Randver, who despite being at the tiller seemed to be lost in his own deep thoughts. Orrusti glanced back at Lefvini and took a deep breath before expressing his view on that subject.

" I am not sure that sending him to kill the monks was a very good idea. He confided in me that he has no problem killing an armed man, or even a shield maiden if threatened, but he was deeply affected by having to watch the monks, in their heavy robes, as they slowly sunk to the bottom. " he told the chieftain.

Chieftain Lefvini reluctantly nodded.

" You may be right my friend. He is far too valuable to us as a navigator to lose, and I plan to come back to these lands and plunder many times ! " he explained to his commander.

Orrusti leaned into his chieftain slightly, and whispered into his ear so no one else could hear.

" Then you will be going back to see the seer ! " he stated.

Chieftain Lefvini grinned.

" Of course ! " he replied in a hoarse whisper.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chieftain Lefvini and Orrusti left the column of warriors while they were heading back to Hagafoss, and rode to Hårteigen mountain as quickly as they could. When Randver inquired where they were going Lefvini answered tersely that it was none of his concern. To soothe the navigator's feelings he placed him in charge of his men until he returned.

Orrusti was not surprised to see the young woman Kjallandi waiting for them near the ledge that led into the cave. Her mother was obviously a skilled seer and he could not see how anyone could sneak up on them in their mountain home. Orrusti greeted her warmly, but Lefvini pushed by her and quickly entered the cave.

The old woman appeared to Lefvini to be standing almost exactly where he had left her months before. As she stared deep into the fire, that burned under the cauldron, the chieftain was certain that she was aware of his presence. He was about to speak, but hesitated when she suddenly spun around to face him.

" You have returned with great riches, and people will soon speak of you in the terms usually reserved for great heroes. But I can see the marks of greed etched deeply into your face. Men such as yourself are never satisfied, and always want more. " she remarked in a frail shaky voice.

Chieftain Lefvini laughed.

" Did you really need to look into your fire to see that ? Of course I want what every bold adventurer wants ! Gold, glory, land, and power ! " he told her bluntly.

Grottintanna pursed her lips tightly together before asking :

" And how many will you kill next time ? " she asked coldly.

Lefvini walked over to the table in the middle of the room and pounded his fist down hard upon it.

" As many as is necessary ! " he responded angrily.

The chieftain quickly calmed down, reached into his pouch, and pulled out ten gold coins. He threw them on the table, and then pointed an impatient finger at the old crone.

" There ! I have paid your fee ! Tell me where I should go to raid next ! " he demanded.

The seer turned and stared deeply into the flickering flames. As they danced before her black eyes they told a story that only she could read.

" There is s place in Britain called South Wales. Here you will find Morgannwg, a monastery of great riches. And while you become wealthier the monks and people of this land will receive only grief, slavery, or death. " she told him with great bitterness.

Chieftain stared suspiciously at the seer for a moment.

" Is there anything else I should know ? " he asked.

Grottintanna shook her head dejectedly from side to side.

" No ! They will offer little resistance. " she assured him.

Orrusti was flirting with Kjallandi when the chieftain emerged from the cave. With an annoyed looked pasted on his face, Lefvini pointed to the base of the mountain.

" We have no time for women folk. We must secure our gold in Hagafoss, and then rush back to our ships. Our next target is the monastery at Morgannwg in South Wales, Britain. " he informed his commander.

Orrusti nodded politely goodbye to Kjallndi, and then led the chieftain over the ledge.

" It is good then that King Veigr allowed us to keep our ships in Sygnafylki. " he told Lefvini.

The chieftain smacked his lips.

" Yes ! For a fee the king of Sygnafylki will let you do almost anything ! " he replied sarcastically.

Then he quickly added :

" And I am sure that he will saddle us with Vermund again ! "

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The raid on Morganwg was even more successful than the first one on Iona. King Veigr had allowed the chieftain to " borrow " six more of his ships, for a small fee of course, and the raiders were able to bring back not only a great horde of gold, but also fifty prisoners to be sold into slavery as well. King Veigr, upon their return, demanded that half of everything that his ships carried was rightfully his, but even this did not diminish the great riches that Lefvini brought back with him to Hagafoss. The chieftain quickly became a powerful man in Haddingjadalr, and one that the other chieftains had to be increasingly wary of.

Lefvini's greed did not stop there. Upon returning to the Northlands he once again went to visit the seer to obtain his best possible future. This time the location he was given was Rechru, in Northern Ireland. After once again safely storing his riches he led his Viking raiders across the sea to Britain, and then around its northern edge south to Ireland. The raiders once again outdid themselves, and came back with riches beyond their wildest dreams. Kintyre was next, followed by Jarrow in Northumbria. Each time Chieftain Lefvini returned he was richer and more powerful than the time before.

Orrusti noticed, however, that when they returned from Northumbria the chieftain was not as eager to return to Britain any time in the near future.

" What will you do then ? " he asked Lefvini.

The chieftain looked off into the blue Hagafoss sky and grinned.

" I do not wish to risk everything I have fought for by dying at sea on my way to another raid. My army has grown almost as large as King Siggautr's and I am as wealthy, if not more so than he. Why should he sit upon the high-seat of Haddingjadalr instead of me ? " he asked his commander.

Orrusti nodded.

" Then you will make war on King Siggautr ? " he asked.

Lefvini grinned.

" Yes ! But first I must stop the king from visiting the seer ever again. For she is my seer, ..., and mine alone ! " he told his commander.

- End Chapter 9

- Next : Chapter 10 : Unwanted Visitors

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2018.

Poem 428 : In Me They Fare

10/20/2018

Poem 428 : In Me They Fare

With an ever growing curiosity I gaze up at the glittering starry night,
Asking where in the heavens does Asgard orbit around its solar light ?
Do our Gods reside with us in our galaxy, or could it be in the next ?
The answers do not come easily, causing a feeling most perplexed.

Was that streak of light across the black void really a shooting star ?
Or could it have been All-Father Odin riding swift Sleipnir from afar ?
A peaceful smile comes upon me as I gaze upon Mani's pockmarked face,
I worry though that our crescent friend, to Managarm, will one day lose the race.

The morning mist reminds me of Niflheim, I wonder how the dead are faring,
Hel, thrown into deep poverty and deprivation, and yet still she is caring.
As Nott bows gracefully to Dag, and the forest retires each and every beast,
Like an old friend, warm and comfortable, beautiful Sunna rises in the east.

The realm of Midgard, moments before dark and scary, now becomes a haven,
Odin's children awaken, and begin their chores, watched by a mindful raven,
Jord, instantly bathed in sunlight, allows her inhabitants to bask in all her glory,
And in the dawn, and through the morning, Mother Earth she shares her story.

Midday heat, the steaming noon, Thor rides on his swift chariot from cloud to cloud,
His spinning wheels cause the air to shake, and the clapping thunder to rumble loud,
The energy builds, the lightning strikes, and the dark clouds quickly begin to drain,
With Freyr's help, and Freyja's magic, the heavy moisture falls to earth as rain.

I watch as a child playfully splashes in a puddle, and I think of Frigga's love,
It reminds me that we are not alone, for she is watching from high above,
As the light once again recedes into darkness, I suddenly become aware,
And with a little grin, I walk away, knowing now it is in me that They fare !

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ) © Copyright, 2018.

' The Seer ' : Chapter 8 : Gold, Silver, And Glory !

10/18/2018

The Seer

Chapter 8

Gold, Silver, And Glory !

It took a full day for Lefvini to regain his confidence, and his nasty attitude, but as their fleet rounded the top of the British Isle, and headed south towards the land of the Scots, the chieftain was once again in rare form.

" Tie that off correctly, or I will have you thrown overboard ! Row harder you dogs ! " I did not know that I had enlisted a bunch of maidens to man my dragon ship ! " were just a few of the insults that Lefvini flung at his warriors like an axe.

Orrusti, now that his stomach had finally settled, tried his best to calm down his chieftain, and to prevent an all out mutiny aboard the dragon ship. To accomplish this end he brought their boisterous leader back to Randver, who was tending the tiller, to discuss their raid against the monastery. To Orrusti's great surprise it worked ! Lefvini, who had many questions, became so engrossed in conversation with the old warrior they he completely stopped berating his men.

" So you think we should reach the monastery at Iona sometime tomorrow ? " the chieftain asked his navigator.

Randver nodded.

" If this religious site is where you say it is,...., then I would have to agree. " he replied.

Lefvini thought for a moment.

" Now,...., what if this monastery is on a hill with a rocky coast,...., and we cannot beach our ships to get ashore there ? " he asked.

Randver shook his head in disbelief at what he had just heard.

" I doubt that this will be the case. I find it very difficult to believe that a religious order would have built its temple in a place where it was difficult to land ships. I am sure that there will be a harbor, if not directly below this monastery, or very close nearby. " he responded, trying hard not to sound sarcastic.

Orrusti gave the navigator a look of disbelief.

" How can you be so certain ? " he asked.

Randver grinned.

" Because these Britain folk do not build their ships with a shallow draft like we Norsemen do ! They would need a harbor to anchor, or tie their ships up in. " he explained.

Chieftain Lefvini placed his hand on Randver's shoulder.

" Tell me about the warriors who will be guarding this monastery ? " the chieftain inquired quietly so his warriors would not hear.

Randver laughed.

" Well ! Thirteen years ago the Lindisfarne monastery was not guarded at all ! We hit the beach running, and quickly made our way up to their buildings. We easily brushed the monks aside who tried to get in our way, killing all the ones we could catch, and then went room by room in their stone structures taking anything and everything of value. " he told Lefvini.

Orrusti frowned.

" It all seems too easy ! " he told the navigator.

Randver nodded that he agreed.

" Thirteen years ago it was ! Now, after repeated attacks, they may have fortified these religious sites, and placed a small army to guard them. " he explained.

Chieftain Lefvini, who very much appreciated Randver's experience raiding in the British Isles seemed to agree.

" Possibly, but I believe we will know more tomorrow when we come within sight of this monastery. " he told his comrades.

The Vikings did not have to wait for the morning light to show them where the monastery was. Just after midnight, in the pitch black of a cloudy moonless night, a lookout spotted lights on the shore up on a small hill. To everyone's relief, and delight, the navigator had been correct. A small bay lay below the monastery, giving them an easy access to the shoreline.

Chieftain Lefvini ordered the rest of his ships to remain out at sea, while his dragon ship, expertly navigated by Randver, carefully made its way in to find a safe place to beach their ships. Before he peeled off from the rest of the Viking fleet the chieftain informed Vermund that he would signal with a white flag when he had found a good place to beach their ships. With the sail down, and the oarsmen slowly and silently rowing, they glided through the water, passed the empty docks, to what appeared to be a muddy beach. Sounding quickly showed Randver that the depth of the water was gradually giving way to the shoreline, and the mud on the sounding stone gave him reason to think that the shore would be soft and very conducive for them to beach their ships without incurring damage. With a few final long hard pulls the oarsmen felt the ships jolt to a stop on a soft surface.

Randver nodded to Chieftain Lefvini, who waved the white signal flag vigorously from side to side. The chieftain, wanting to be certain that Vermund saw his signal, did not stop until he saw all seven of his remaining ships beginning to row in towards the shore. Then Lefvini ordered his men out of the ship and they all began to quietly heave on the strong rope to pull the massive vessel out of the water.

One by one the ships landed quietly and disembarked their men, who then brought their ships to safer, and higher ground, where they could not be pulled out again with the tide. When all gear was stowed, and the ships secured, they formed up on the shore to hear Chieftain Lefvini give the attack orders.

" I will choose fifty men to remain behind to guard our ships, the rest of you will, as quietly as is possible, follow me up the hill. We will remain at the base of the monastery until the dawn is upon us. Then, and only then, will I give the order to attack. " he explained as he walked up and down the men gathered on the shore.

Vermund, who had remained at the front of his warriors, added to those orders after Lefvini was done speaking.

" Kill everyone, and take everything of value ! " he informed his men.

Randver was not happy with being ordered to stay with the ships, but it was hard to disagree with the chieftain's logic. Vermund might have one or two warriors among his people who could find their way back home, but among the Haddingjadalr there was no one but himself who could guide their ships back to the Northlands. As the sky turned from pitch black to an ashen gray all he could do from his distant location, was watch, listen, and hope that all went well.

Chieftain Lefvini gave Orrusti a place of honor next to him as he waited for their to be just enough light to order the attack. Also, if the witch had lied, and all did not go well, he wanted Orrusti close by so he could kill him personally ! The former leader of the king's guard had no grand illusions about his fate if things did not go as planned. He knew that his death would be quick !

Just as the sky turned from gray to a slight reddish hue Lefvini gave the order to attack. As they ran up the hill they saw two huge wooden gates that barred their way into the monastery. The lead warriors dug their axes deep into the British wood and used these as steps to climb up the gates. Once on top they used their coats of mail to cover the spiked wooden posts on top. This was all done with surprising quickness and stealth, and soon enough warriors were inside the compound to lift the heavy wooden rail that held the gates locked, which allowed their comrades to rush inside.

The few monks who had risen early to prepare breakfast were caught by surprise and quickly killed in the courtyard. A few begged on their knees, and with folded hands, to be spared, but to no avail. Mercy was not the order of the day, nor would it be for anyone the Vikings met this day.

The monks inside the monastery itself knew all too well what was taking place. They had just recently recovered from the last attack from the scourge of the Northmen, just two years before, and immediately began to fortify the great oak doors of the main church with dining tables, chairs, and anything else that had some weight to hold back the Vikings from entering their holy place.

Lefvini watched as his warriors tried to knock in the doors of the main structure with the rail that had locked them out of the compound, to no avail. Infuriated by the sturdiness of the doors the chieftain sent a half dozen berserkers forward with their long axes to hack the doors apart. At the same time Lefvini sent Vermund's warriors around the compound to try and find another way in.

Whereas the rail did nothing to damage the doors, the long handled axes, swung by the strongest men in their army, began to compromise the doors fairly quickly. With every stroke the wood became weaker, and the great iron hinges began to loosen along the frame. Finally, a berserker named Oraldr, became so frustrated that he shoved everyone else aside, lowered his shoulder, and ran at the doors like an elk defending itself from a bear. To everyone's amazement the doors parted like a wave before the bow of a ship, with the left one coming clean off of its hinges. The Vikings did not wait for the order to attack, they poured into the structure, knocking the debris out of their way as they went.

Twelve terrified Scottish warriors stood with swords in hand to stop the onrush of a hundred Vikings who had their blood lust up. Though they fought bravely, they alone could not hope to keep out the horde of Northmen who faced them, and all were quickly killed.

Seeing that they no longer had any protection the monks ran throughout the monastery like frightened mice who had been exposed to the light of day. Most were killed immediately, but some, about seventy in all, made their way to a smaller church where they knelt before images of their Lord, and saints, asking for help and salvation. Nothing, however, in this world, or the next, could prevent the Northmen from breaking down the doors of this church as well.

The bishop tried in vain to explain to Chieftain Lefvini and Orrusti that they were men of God, but the only Northman who spoke any of their language was Randver, and he was with the warriors who were left on the shore to guard the ships. Lefvini, feeling that these monks might be useful in finding the gold and other valuables that might be hidden on the Monastery's grounds, instructed his warriors not to kill them just yet.

" We will torture them one by one until they tell us where every last ounce of gold, and valuable relic is hidden ! " he commanded as his warriors rounded them up into the center of the church.

This became a mute point, however, when Vermundr, who had gained access through a back entrance, explained to Chieftain Lefvini that he had caught several monks trying to hide their valuables in a hidden passageway that ran under the church. With no need to keep the bishop, or his monks any longer, Lefvini ordered that they be brought down to the harbor, placed on their ships, and taken out to the deepest part of the bay and thrown overboard one by one.

Lefvini, knowing that the monastery was secure, left Orrusti in charge, and with Vermund, and his Sygnafylki warriors in tow, left the monastery to pillage the surrounding villages and towns. The chieftain ravaged the countryside looking for more silver and gold to bring back to Hagafoss with him. He killed everyone, burned everything, and stole anything of value he could get his hands on. Randver, on the other hand, was given the unenviable task of taking the monks out and drowning them. **

** To those who think that some of what I write is too violent, or does not accurately portrait the Viking Raiders of this age, sixty-eight monks were drowned in what became known as Martyr's bay in the 806 Viking attack on the Iona Abbey, which forced them to relocate to the new Abbey of the Kells in Ireland. I write fiction based on actual history. I sometimes change the dates, which aren't always accurate anyway, to suit my own timeline, but I try to add as many facts to my stories as is humanely possible. This was a violent age, and I cannot change what took place.

- End Chapter 8

- Next : Chapter 9 : " She Is My Seer,....., And Mine Alone ! "

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2018.

Poem 427 : Goddess Of Many Names

10/16/2018

Poem 427 : Goddess Of Many Names

Freyja, of the Vanir, is the great mistress of the sultry night,
With a mere flutter of her lovely eyes she can easily compel,
As Mardöll she is a conjurer of the unlimited cosmic light,
With magical ancient words she can cast a mighty seidr spell.

Hörn uses her persuasive passion as a weapon to assault,
Every curve of her body can drive the male mind to madness,
She has been known to flaunt her powerful sexuality to a fault,
Gefn cares not that she leaves men behind in deep sadness.

Much like a beautiful golden coin Sýr's personality has two sides,
In one hand the mighty Thröng holds a sword, in the other a shield,
When to the bloody battlefield, with Valfather's Valkyries, Skjálf rides,
The power to choose the dead is just another weapon for her to wield.

Great Odin takes his fill of the einherjar, ValFreyja takes the other half,
On the homestead in heaven, called Folkvang, Thrungva rules as queen,
At her hall Sessrumnir, the slain are served by maidens from her staff,
Here, among the lovely meadows, her hall stands majestic and serene.

But not all is perfect for the Goddess of love, and magic, at her home,
In a golden carriage, pulled by her faithful cats, her husband she seeks,
In a search for her wanderer husband Óðr, Freyja must constantly roam,
With eager eyes she scans, while red-gold tears course down her cheeks.

Freyja shows herself to be a most complicated Goddess of many names,
She has attained great beauty, sexuality, honor, glory, and unmatched power,
Some may say that these are faults, to which no God or human truly blames,
Without doubt she rises above all others in the heavens like a blossoming flower.

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2018.

' The Seer ' : Chapter 7 : A Harrowing Journey

10/11/2018

The Seer

Chapter 7

A Harrowing Journey

By the time Chieftain Lefvini sailed his ships down to Rygjafylki, and beached them in the shelter of the bay there, Orrusti and Randver had become very good friends. The former leader of the king's guard, over the past weeks, had told the old warrior the chieftain's plan right down to the most intricate details. The only thing he left out was how they knew where the monastery was, and that fact, of course, had to remain a secret.

When Orrusti and Randver rode down to the bay to greet the chieftain they were both struck immediately by the number of ships that lay on the shore.

" I thought you said your chieftain had but six ships ? " Randver asked.

Orrusti tried to hide his surprise, but he failed miserably.

" When I left they had just finished the sixth ship, and were making ready to leave. I am not sure how, or why, he now has eight. " he informed the old warrior.

As they dismounted their horses, and began to walk down to the shoreline where the Vikings were disembarking, Orrusti
heard a familiar voice call out to him.

" Do I have a navigator to guide my ships across the ocean ? " it asked.

Orrusti quickly spotted where the voice was coming from, and shouted back to the chieftain.

" Yes ! He stands here with me presently to greet you ! " he replied, pointing to the man who stood next to him.

They said nothing more until the three men came face to face with each other. It was Chieftain Lefvini who spoke first.

" I thought as much ! " Chieftain Lefvini told Orrusti as he looked the man over carefully. " He has all the characteristics of an old crusty seaman ! "

Randver reached out and grabbed the chieftain by the forearm in a warm greeting.

" It will be a great honor to guide your ships across the sea to the Isle of Britain. " he informed Lefvini.

The Chieftain appreciated the firm grip from the old man and returned the honor by grasping his forearm just as tightly.

Orursti watched the two men closely for a moment before asking :

" Our fleet seems to have grown since I last saw it ? " he interjected, breaking the friendly moment.

Lefvini smacked his lips angrily.

" KIng Veigr asked if he could send one hundred of his own men on our raid. There was little, or nothing, that I could do to dissuade a powerful king such as he. Veigr allowed me to launch my ships in the Hardangerfjord, held a feast in my honor, and presented me with this beautiful sword. What could I do ?! " he explained to Orrusti as he tapped the hilt of the weapon.

Orrusti grinned.

" And he had a twenty thousand man army at his disposal, while you had but two hundred and fifty warriors at yours. " he added.

The chieftain nodded.

" Yes ! There was that of course ! " he agreed.

Randver laughed for a moment before he suddenly became much more serious.

" When do we leave Lefvini ? " he asked.

The chieftain turned and watched for a moment as his men began to make their camp for the night.

" At first light ! " he replied forcefully.

Randver turned and pointed back up the beach towards his village.

" Then tonight we will feast and drink our fill ! " he told the chieftain.

Lefvini's eyes lit up for only a moment before his chin fell dejectedly down against his chest.

" Then, unfortunately, I will have to invite the leader of the Sygnafylki warriors, and cousin of King Veigr, Vermundr to join us ! " he replied unhappily.

The next morning Chieftain Lefvini awoke early and made sure that Orrusti, Randver, and Vermund were with him as he rode down to the bay long before the sun rose in the east. When they reached the shore, where the ships were beached, Lefvini was disappointed, to say the least, when he saw that most of the camp was still sleeping. Like a madman the chieftain went through the camp shouting derogatory insults at his men, and kicked those who did not respond quickly to his shouts to rise and get ready to sail. Lefvini knew his boundaries, however, and allowed Vermund to awaken his own warriors. Orrusti and Randver could not help but grin as they witnessed the leader of the Sygnafylki mimicking the chieftains actions.

The first sails were hoisted over the bay just as the sky lightened to the east, and by the time the great Goddess Sunna shone down upon them they were already heading due west at five knots with the help of a slight easterly breeze. The first day was fraught with many little problems as the land warriors tried to find their sea legs. Sails were rigged incorrectly, the oarsmen had trouble keeping cadence, and one man tripped over his chest and fell overboard, which made everyone, including Chieftain Lefvini, laugh hysterically.

By the second day, however, the warriors fell into an almost rhythmic routine and began to function well together. The raising of sails was done with near perfection, the rowers kept time, and the men at the tillers steered the ships good enough to keep them all in formation. The bickering and foolishness of the first day was replaced by the great feeling of accomplishment of men working together for a common good.

Everyone in the small fleet followed Lefvini's dragon ship closely. Every turn was matched, no matter how slight the deviation, without hesitation, and it became clear right from the start of the journey that Randver was a navigator with great skills.

On the first two days Randver was able to navigate using the sun during the day, and the stars at night. On the third day, however, Chieftain Lefvini and Orrusti were intrigued, and quite mystified, at how their navigator was able to use a sun stone to find the sun when the cloud cover had become so thick. And on the fourth day Randver impressed the chieftain further by plotting his course simply by following the currents, and watching the flight paths of sea birds.

Everything seemed to be going well until the fifth day out when a terrible storm blew up and raged through the North Sea. While many in the crew asked Njord and Aegir to calm the turbulent ocean Randver, with a serious look upon his face, called Lefvini and Orrusti over to the tiller, that he was personally manning, to speak to them privately.

" We must be on the lookout for land. If I have steered correctly we should pass between a large island on our right, and the land of the Britain peoples on our left. " he shouted to the men over the fury of the storm.

Orrusti who had been sick ever since the storm began widened his eyes, and raised his eyebrows in a display of sheer panic.

" And if we do not see these lands ?! " he asked in a frightened tone.

Randver laughed.

" Then we will either sail into the great unknown,....., or crash upon the rocky shore of North Britain. " he explained to his shipmates with a slight grin.

Chieftain Lefvini was not amused, and stood glaring at the navigator for a minute with his hands glued to his hips. On hearing this news Orrusti stumbled over to the side of the ship and vomited once again.

" Is that the best you can do ?! " Lefvini shouted to the navigator.

Randver's humorous expression disappeared and was quickly replaced by an angry scowl.

" We are in a raging storm, with rain coming down almost sideways in our faces ! Visibility is less than a quarter of a mile, the twenty foot waves are tossing us around like a child's toy in his bath, and we are beginning to take on water ! I suggest, Chieftain Lefvini, that you either help your warriors bale, or practice your swimming stroke ! For men who live landlocked should not tell those who have sailed the seas their entire lives how to do their jobs ! " he shouted back angrily.

Chief Lefvini remained quite enraged. Not at the insolence of his navigator, but because he felt as helpless as a child who was being forced to rely on his father to watch over him. Lefvini started to say something, but when an especially large wave crashed over the side of his ship knocking him down into the ankle deep water that had collected at the bottom of the vessel, the chieftain quickly cupped his hands and began to bale along with the other men. Seeing the fear in Lefvini's eyes Randver handed him his metal helmet.

" Here use this ! " he shouted to Lefvini.

Lefvini looked at the helmet for a moment before nodding and taking it from the navigator.

The fury of the long night slowly gave way to a welcome calm in the morning. The rain dissipated to nothing more than a sea mist, and the ocean swells became merely gentle waves that lapped harmlessly against the bow of the ships. When Randver felt that the danger had completely passed he ordered the sails to once again be raised by the exhausted, but much relieved crewmen. As most of the crew slept a weary Chieftain Lefvini looked up from his baling. He rubbed his blurry eyes once, and then twice, before pointing to his right.

" Land ! " he shouted like a happy child.

Lefvini spun around and looked to his left. Another huge land mass reared up out of the ocean there as well. The chieftain turned to Orrusti first, but he was sleeping, before glancing over at Randver.

" Britain ? " he asked hopefully.

Randver could not help but laugh at how happy the chieftain looked.

" Yes, Britain ! " he assured the ecstatic leader of the Viking raiders.

Randver grinned as he added :

" And in two days we should be in this Scotland you spoke of ! "

Chieftain Lefvini was so glad to be alive, and within sight of Britain, that he did not even notice that all six of his ships, and both of Vermund's, had weathered the storm and were still sailing with him.

- End Chapter 7

- Next : Chapter 8 : Gold, Silver, And Glory !

- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2018.

<<Previous

Poem 431 : The Thread Of Life​

The SeerChapter 11Kjallandi's Vision​

Poem 430 : The Raid ​

The SeerChapter 10Unwanted Visitors​

Poem 429 : That Bitch Named War !​

The SeerChapter 9" She Is My Seer,...., And Mine Alone ! " ​

Poem 428 : In Me They Fare ​

The SeerChapter 8Gold, Silver, And Glory ! ​

Poem 427 : Goddess Of Many Names

The SeerChapter 7A Harrowing Journey​

Categories

Archives

Poem 431 : The Thread Of Life

The Seer

Chapter 11

Kjallandi's Vision

Poem 430 : The Raid

The Seer

Chapter 10

Unwanted Visitors

Poem 429 : That Bitch Named War !

The Seer

Chapter 9

" She Is My Seer,...., And Mine Alone ! "

Poem 428 : In Me They Fare

The Seer

Chapter 8

Gold, Silver, And Glory !

The Seer

Chapter 7

A Harrowing Journey