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' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn ' : Epilogue

4/6/2019

 

Forbidden Love : 


A Story Of The Goddess Lofn



​

Epilogue 

The hand-fasting ceremony joining Heinrekr to Myrgjol took place in a beautiful flowering meadow on the border between Herjardalr and Jamtaland. Where the folk from both kingdoms had once taken up weapon and shield in bloody war, they now stood toe to toe thrusting drinking horns filled with mead and ale towards one another. "Skal " echoed throughout the meadow as toast after toast was offered to the kings and queens, the bride and groom, and of course the Gods and Goddesses. Not surprisingly Lofn, the great ' Goddess of Permission ', received the most toasts of honor.      

Despite this new found friendship, forged through alliance, there was still a great uneasiness that hung over the wedding like a dark cloud which might rain blood down upon the happy ceremony at any moment. This prospect for violence forced the kings of both kingdoms to have all weapons confiscated from their folk before they entered the meadow. This disarming only added to the strangeness of the moment when old enemies faced each other for the first time, not in battle, but on a field of peace. 

This odd situation was made easier for all by the friendliness that King Harjulf and King Vifinnr showed towards one another, and their new in-laws. It was difficult for the folk from both kingdoms to act on old hatreds when their leaders had obviously left the past behind, and were now looking ahead to a bright and peaceful future. To watch the kings drinking and playing games together you would have thought them to have been life long friends. 

Queen Helga of Herjardalr and Queen Jorunna of Jamtaland, however, were writing a different story this day. Neither thought that the other's child was good enough for their family, and both did not like the fact that their husbands had left them completely out of the process of forming this alliance of blood relations ! 

The two new in-laws were further annoyed when each tired to outdo the other in the planning and execution of the hand-fasting ceremony. Right from the outset both queens did everything in their power to make themselves look better than the other in the eyes of their folk. Everything from decorations, and food, all the way down to the style of dresses and jewelry that they wore on this day was meant to raise the one above the other. Both failed miserably in their cause because the day belonged to their children. In time, after the birth of their many grandchildren, both learned to love their children, and grandchildren, and eventually to tolerate each other.       

With all the tension hovering over the wedding feast, and the drinking and pageantry, no one noticed the three uninvited guests who walked among them. Two were an older couple named Grimnir and Frija. Another was introduced to strangers as their daughter Lofn. Each of these Gods in disguise had come not to gloat over their obvious success, but merely to wish the mortal couple a good start to their life together. 

Odin was well satisfied that the war, despite not being the one he would have hoped for, was as exciting and filled with intrigue as any other that he had been involved with over the many years. While Frigga was simply delighted to have once again beaten her husband at his own game. 

Lofn, however, had not ulterior motive for what she had accomplished. Her charge, which of course came from the All-Father himself, was to get permission from the parents of the warring kingdoms to allow their children to marry. Her joy, and deep sense of satisfaction, came when the loving couple's hands were bound together, and the rings were exchanged. Lofn could not help but be well pleased with the outcome as she observed Odin and Frigga holding hands. And with a little grin she thought to herself that this time everyone had won ! 


- The End 


- Next : Story No. 83 : When Magic Ruled The Worlds



​- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2019.                       

' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn ' : Chapter 17 : " For The Greater Good ! "

3/31/2019

 

Forbidden Love : 

A Story Of The Goddess Lofn




Chapter 17


" For The Greater Good ! " 
​

Almsteinn rode over to his father's place in the line and with a wide sweeping motion of his arms told his blood soaked father what was happening all up and down their battle lines. 

" They are beginning to retreat to the northeast father ! And as the Swedes flee they are being outflanked and pushed further north by a division of the Herjardalr army led by Heinrekr ! " he shouted over the din of battle which still raged in the distance. 

King Vifinnr narrowed his eyes as he looked over at his son. The expression etched upon Almsteinn's face told his son that all was not well despite the advantageous flow of the battle in their favor.    

" We may have won the battle, but I wonder if we have truly won the war ? " he asked in return. 

Almsteinn did not understand his father's melancholy attitude at such a glorious moment. Confused, he sought to find the meaning to his father's concerns. 

" What has happened, father ?! " he asked. 

King Vifinnr looked at the ground and shook his head in disgust. 

" King Harjulf has taken Myrgjol. Therefore, I have very little choice in the matter. I must go and see what terms the King of Herjardalr wants for her release. " he replied sadly. 

Almsteinn could not hide his shock.

" Then I will go with you father ! " he shot back dutifully. 

Vifinnr looked off into the distance and saw that the battle was still raging along parts of their line, where a Swedish rear guard was fighting a delaying action, and quickly decided against this. 

" No ! You will remain here and guide our forces. The Swede army is still a very large and dangerous threat that could at any moment surge forward an attack once again. I will go see King Harjulf with only my personal guard. " he told his son before riding off to the south, followed by his warriors. 

King Harjulf dismounted and was trying to remove his blood soaked coat of mail when the King of Jamtaland rode up with twenty warriors in tow. The Herjardalr king's guards immediately rode forward to block the Jamtalanders, but were quickly shouted off by King Harjulf. As Vifinnr dismounted the King of Herjardalr was beginning to remove the blood and guts from the many Swedes he had killed with a towel. 

" Why have you taken my daughter,...., and what is it that you want for her return ! ? " The King of Jamtaland demanded to know. 

Harjulf laughed and pointed to several riders who were coming towards them from the north. 

" I will tell you my terms once they have arrived. " he replied as he continued to wipe the filth from his body. 

King Vifinnr watched as six horsemen, who seemed to have surrounded a single rider, slowly came closer and closer. At first the King of Jamtaland assumed that the rider in the middle was one of the Swedish king's sons, but when they were within hailing distance he heard the rider shout something quite odd. 

" Father ! I had the Swedes on the run ! Why was I replaced by a subordinate ? ! " he demanded to know.

As they reined up next to him King Harjulf laughed as he threw the blood soaked towel on the ground.

" I could not risk having my only bargaining chip killed in battle ! " he shouted up at his son. 

King Vifinnr and Heinrekr let out a very loud and confused, " What ! " , at the same time. Vifinnr then pointed to Heinrekr before addressing Harjulf. 

" What has your son to do with the release of my daughter ?! " he asked in a bewildered tone. 

Heinrekr's face could not hide his own shock. 

" You kidnapped Myrgjol ?! " he asked his father anxiously. 

King Harjulf looked over at his son and gave him an angry stare. 

" Be quiet boy ! " he shouted at his son. 

Vifinnr had by now grown impatient and wanted answers.

" Once again I will ask you for your terms for the return of my daughter ! " he demanded bitterly. 

King Harjulf grinned as wide as the Jotun Loki. And he waited a long time before replying.

" First you will enter into an alliance with the Kingdom of Herjardalr, in which each of us will, from this moment forward, come to the aid of the other when either of us are threatened with war by our neighbors. And second we will seal this alliance in blood. " he explained to the King of Jamtaland. 

King Vifinnr's eyes almost popped out of his head with rage when he heard Harjulf's terms. 

" You are going to kill my daughter and your son to, " seal the alliance ! " he shouted angrily.   

This time it was King Harjulf who could not hide his expression of total disbelief. 

" Are you mad ?! For the greater good of our people I am proposing that our alliance be sealed by the marriage of my son to your daughter ! " he explained with a little grin. 

King Vifinnr tried not to look stupid, but the sudden turn of events made his reaction look almost comical. 

" Well,....., yes,....., that might be a way to assure that our,...., alliance endures. Yes, that might just work. " he managed as he stuttered like an idiot.

This awkward moment was broken when three riders approached from the south. Despite the distance Vifinnr could easily make out the silhouette of his daughter as she rode between two Herjardalr warriors. His smile grew as she pulled up her horse next to him and dismounted. To greet his daughter, Vifinnr held his arms out to embrace her. To his surprise and dismay, however, Myrgjol ran past him and into Heinrekr's arms. 

King Harjulf laughed as he walked over to the disappointed King of Jamtaland. To console his counterpart he placed his arm on his old adversary's shoulder. 

" It looks as if this alliance will cost us both dearly ! " he told Vifinnr with a wink. 

As King Vifinnr watched Heinrekr and Myrgjol kiss he placed his hand on Harjulf's shoulder. 

" It is a price I am willing to pay ! " he replied. 

KIng Harjulf and King Vifinnr laughed heartily for a moment before becoming more serious. Vifinnr then turned to his new ally and made a suggestion. 

" Why don't we leave them alone and speak of how we are going to drive these Swede bastards out of my lands ! " he said with a little grin.


- End Chapter 17


- Next : Epilogue


- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2019.            

                      

' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn : Chapter 16 : " Move Against Their Flank ! "

3/30/2019

 

Forbidden Love : 

A Story Of The Goddess Lofn 





Chapter 16 


" Move Against Their Flank ! " 
​

King Harjulf's scouts came back to his army riding hard with alarming reports of King Vifinnr's warriors being pushed back by a much superior force of Swedes, and most predicted that the King of Jamtaland might soon be overrun and decimated by King Ring's army. The King of Herjardalr quickly began to regret not remaining with Vifinnr, and an old adage began to resound through his mind like the crackling of lightning. 

" The enemy of my enemy is my friend ! " he heard over and a over again.   

" What will we do father ! ? " Heinrekr asked his father in a tone that revealed his feelings of helplessness. 

King Harjulf patted his son on the shoulder and pointed to the northeast. 

" We are almost upon the Swedes. I will take the better part of our army and attack them from the south. I want you to take your division and hit them from behind as they try to regroup. Hit them hard, and continue to move against their flank until they either retreat or surrender ! " he told his son.   

Heinrekr nodded that he understood. 

" Then I will get with Trosti, and move out at once ! " he assured his father. 

King Harkulf reached out and grabbed his son by the arm, pulling him close, and nearly knocking him off of his horse.

" No ! Trosti will lead a division of our army to bolster the Jamtalanders. If King Vifinnr cannot hold the Swedes in his front then all will be lost. " he explained to his son. 

Heinrekr could not hide his surprise. 

" I will lead the division on my own ? " he asked. 

Harjulf smiled and patted his son on the back. 

" One day you will be the king of Herjardalr, and possibly more. It is time that I trust you to be my equal. " he told his son, before pushing him away as a sign to leave and prepare his division to move out. 

King Vifinnr's heart sank when he spotted another small army marching up from the south, apparently to join up with the Swedes and attack him from the rear. If the enemy had gotten in his rear then this brief pause in their running battle with the Swedes would soon be at an end, and all might be lost. Not long after, however, a rider came galloping up to inform the King of Jamtaland that Trosti would soon be on the battlefield with a division of the Herjardalr army to assist him in holding back the Swedes. The messenger also explained that the commander of the Herjardalr division respectfully wished to know which position on the battlefield would be most beneficial to the Jamtaland king. King Vifinnr breathed a sigh of relief as he responded. 

" On our right ! That is where we are weakest ! " he instructed the courier, who reined his horse around to return to Trosti immediately after receiving the king's request. 

After the rider left, King Vifinnr turned to his son Almsteinn and drew a line on the ground in the loose soil with his boot.

" We will not retreat past this line ! Set up our defenses one hundred yards beyond this point. If we remain to the north of this line we will be victorious,...., and if not we will be defeated ! " he told his son. 

Almsteinn looked up at his father and nodded to him with a huge grin upon his face. 

" Glory or death father ! " he shouted as he drew his sword and pointed it to the heavens. 

Vifinnr tried to share his son's enthusiasm, but it was clear to Almsteinn that his father was greatly troubled by the enormous weight of his responsibilities as king. 

" Also, bring your sister, and her division of shield maidens, back into our main lines before they are wiped out by forward elements of the Swede army. They will no longer be needed to scout out the enemy's position. Soon they will come to us. " he commanded.   

Almsteinn nodded again. 

" Yes, father ! " he responded faithfully. 

As Harjulf came upon the left of the Swede formation, commanded by Edmund Ringsson, he could not believe what his eyes were seeing ! The entire Swede division appeared to be stalled in place by a counterattack by a small force of shield maidens, who were lobbing volley after volley of arrows at the Swedes. These mighty eastern warriors were forced to hunker down in place with their shields over their heads to protect themselves. As Harjulf looked more closely at the shield maiden line he laughed with sheer delight when he saw who was at the front of these women warriors leading them. 

" By Odin's beard ! I am beginning to like that little bitch that my son wants to marry ! " he whispered to himself. 

With a wide grin, that stretched all the way across his face, the King of the Herjardalr drew his sword and pointed to the space between the shield maidens and the cowering Swedes and shouted.

" Let us relieve these shield maidens of their burden and drive a wedge into the Swede army ! "  

With a deafening roar the Herjardalr warriors ran forward screaming at the tops of their lungs like madmen. Moments later they fell upon the Swedes like locusts descending upon a field of wheat. And like locusts feasting upon a food source they decimated a large swath of the enemy's front ranks as they went. It was not long before the Swedes broke and began to run back to their main army. 

When victory seemed certain King Harjulf broke away from his warriors and rode with a small contingent of his personal guards over to the shield maiden line.  As he reined his horse up in front of Myrgjol he reached down with one of his massive hands and grabbed hold of Viffinr's daughter. With a mere flick of his wrist he lifted her up, and swung her behind him onto his saddle. Then, before the startled shield maidens could loose an arrow at him, he pointed to the rear. 

" Return to your lines ! The Herjardalr army is now on the field, and we will continue the fight that you have so valiantly started ! " he shouted to them.  

The king then turned to one of his guards. 

" Almod ! Take several warriors and bring Myrgjol back to our baggage train. If anything happens to her I will personally kill you ! " he told the warrior in no uncertain terms. 

Almod reined his horse up to King Harjulf's mount and transferred the stunned shield maiden onto his saddle. 

" Yes, my lord ! " he stated before he kicked his horse into a fast gallop towards the rear. He was quickly followed obediently by two more of the king's guards. 

As the shield maiden's slowly, and somewhat reluctantly, retreated back to their own line, now bolstered by Trosti's division, there came a loud roar from the rear of the Swede battle formation.

Harjulf knew exactly what was transpiring behind the Swede line, but King Vifinnr once again wondered if the Swede army was being reinforced by another division. When the King of Jamtaland saw the Swedes forming a defensive line in his front, however, he assumed that someone was attacking King Ring from the rear. With a feeling of great joy that he had not felt for weeks King Vifinnr punched his fist into the air and shouted. 

" King Harjulf has arrived ! And we may yet win the day ! " 

King Vifinnr's exhilaration and relief was quickly tempered, however, when moments later the shield maidens returned and informed him that King Harjulf had taken Myrgjol to the rear of the Herjardalr army. Vifinnr hung his head low, as he slowly shook it from side to side. 

" The war against the Swedes may soon be over, but it seems that King Harjulf wishes to continue our conflict ! " he admitted dejectedly. 


- End Chapter 16


- Next : Chapter 17 : " For The Greater Good ! " 



- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2019.               

          

 


' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn ' : Chapter 15 : A Fateful Decision

3/24/2019

 

Forbidden Love : 

 A Story Of The Goddess Lofn




Chapter 15


A Fateful Decision
​

Myrgjol rode straight through the Jamtaland encampment startling warriors and jumping her horse over any obstacle that was in her path. When she spotted her father, off to the left, by an old elm tree talking to her brother Almsteinn, she reined her horse around and kicked it into a fierce gallop. As Myrgjol approached her father she had a choice to go around a group of warriors huddled around a fire, or to jump it. She chose the latter. 

Like Sigurd leaping his great steed Grani, a descendant of Odin's horse Sleipnir, over the flames to reach Brynhild, Myrgjol leaned back and held on tightly to the reins as her horse, a gift from the King of Eystridalir, hurdled over the raging campfire. Warriors scattered in all directions to avoid the sharp hoofs of the airborne horse, and soon curses followed in her wake. If not for the fact that she was the king's daughter they would surely have gone after her and given her a good thrashing for such a dishonorable deed.

Myrgjol pulled back hard on the reins to stop her horse, which skidded to a halt mere inches in front of her startled father and brother. As she swung her right leg over the saddle to dismount, she began to tell her father of the imminent danger. 

" Father ! Brother ! King Ring has deceived us ! The King of the Swedes has turned his army around and is marching here at this very moment ! " she shouted despite being out of breath from her hard ride. 

Almsteinn frowned. 

" And how do you know this sister ? " Almsteinn asked sarcastically. 

Myrgjol pointed back the way she had come before replying. 

" A woman named Lofn escaped from the clutches of the Swedes and was a witness to this event brother. " she explained in a slightly annoyed tone. 

Vifinnr placed his hands on his hips and grinned. 

" Lofn,...., like the Goddess Lofn ? " he asked. 

Myrgjol shot her father an angry stare. 

" What difference does her name matter !? Mother has a handmaiden named Freyja ! King Ring will soon be here with his entire army of Swedes, and we must prepare at once for his arrival ! " she reiterated with a hint of frustration in her voice. 

Almsteinn glanced over at his father and exhaled slightly. 

" If only King Harjulf had not left.... " he began but was quickly cut off by Myrgjol. 

" Heinrekr has ridden south to bring the Herjardalr army back. He suggests that we draw the Swedes south with a fighting withdrawal. " she informed her father and brother. 

King Vifinnr's chin slipped down to his chest in an involuntary show of despair.

" But will Heinrekr be successful ? "  he asked to no one in particular. 

_______________________________________________________________________________________________


After several hours of hard riding Heinrekr caught up with the rear guard of the Herjardalr army. After explaining the situation to Rumfari, the captain of the flank, the warrior gave Heinrekr his fresh mount to make his way to the front of the column as quickly as possible. As Heinrekr passed to the right of the long line of marching Herjardalr warriors only one thought stuck in his mind. " Would they be in time to save King Vifinnr, and defeat the Swedes. " If not both kingdoms would be lost ! 

Heinrekr was not surprised when his father, who led the Herjardalr army south, did not stop, or even slow his horse, as he pulled up next to him. King Harjulf refused to even look at his son as he spoke to him. 

" What is the matter son ? Did that little bitch spurn you and return to her father ? " he asked coldly. 

Before his son could answer he laughed.

" Did you really think I did not know where you went ?! " he added. 

Heinrekr narrowed his eyes, and let his mouth spew forth all the venom that had built up inside of him over the many years of abuse he had endured from his father.

" You never liked me, so how could I possibly expect you to love and accept Myrgjol. If I had been a female you would have had the midwife take my body out to the forest to die ! All I am to you is an heir,...., someone to keep your good name going after you are long gone. Well let me tell you something father, I will one day marry Myrgjol and rule over this kingdom, and everyday I will travel to your grave and piss on it ! In the meantime, however,...., father,  the entire Swede army has returned to Jamtaland with the intention of conquering the Northlands ! " he shouted at his father bitterly. 

Harjulf raised his hand and the entire army began to halt behind him as though an invisible force was stopping them. With a look of great suspicion on his face the King of Herjardalr turned to his son and asked: 

" How do you know this ? " 

Heinrekr stared into his father's eyes angrily as he responded. 

" Because that, " Bitch ", came across a slave woman who had just escaped from the Swedes and warned her ! " he fired back furiously.

King Harjulf sat on his horse and did not move for a long moment. As he saw it he had two choices. Either leave King Vifinnr to fend for himself, and build a defensive line in his kingdom to await the inevitable invasion that would come after his defeat, or turn his army north to aid the Jamtalanders, and try to stop the Swedes before they came after him. He knew it would be a fateful decision. 

Then, as if he were suddenly transported to another place and time, he was once again tied down and felt the sharp sting of an axe against his back. He winced involuntarily in the saddle with each blow, and when he felt King Ring's hands reaching into his body he rose up in the saddle as though it were as red hot as a furnace. 

Heinrekr gave his father an odd stare. 

" Father ? " he asked. 

King Harjulf returned from his memories of that horrible nightmare, and after waiting for a little shiver in his spine to recede he turned to his son. 

" I have decided to help King Vifinnr. We will march back to the Jamtalanders encampment at once ! " he told his son. 

Heinrekr shook his head violently from side to side. 

" No ! Myrgjol has told her father to engage the Swedes in a fighting retreat towards our border. " he explained to his father. 

King Harjulf reluctantly nodded. 

" That is good. Now help me to turn around my,...., our army. " he ordered in a voice that was suddenly more fatherly than that of a king. 

Before his son rode toward the back of the line Harjulf added : 

" Myrgjol may have saved all of the Northlands from Swede domination. " he told his son with an unexpected look of respect on his face. 


_______________________________________________________________________________________________  


Frigga looked over at Lofn and smiled at her handmaiden. 

" Very well done my dear ! Every man has a weakness, and you played upon King Harjulf's fear of being blood-eagled to perfection. " she told Lofn happily. 

Lofn nodded, but her face continued to reflect her concern. 

" What will Odin think of me, All-Mother ? Will he not be angry because I used trickery to win what he considers to be merely a game ? " she asked nervously. 

Frigga laughed. 

" You need only worry about King Harjulf and King Vifiinr. Continue to turn their minds to permitting this marriage, and allow me take care of my husband. I will deflect his anger from you my dear. This I promise you ! " she told her handmaiden with a little grin. 


- End Chapter 15


- Next : Chapter 16 : " Move Against Their Flanks ! " 


​- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2019.  


                         


' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn ' : Chapter 14 : One God Versus Two Goddesses

3/23/2019

 

Forbidden Love : 

A Story Of The Goddess Lofn





Chapter 14


One God Versus Two Goddesses  
​

Odin, though proud of the Goddess Lofn for her work in bringing the lovers Heinrekr and Myrgjol together, was  not satisfied with how easily it had been for the two Northland leaders to expel the King of the Swedes from Jamtaland. The Lord of Asgard felt that it had not brought Harjulf and Vifinnr to trust, or depend, on each other enough for their children's marriage, if it came about at all, to be a lasting one. And although the God of wisdom and knowledge could have left things as they were,...., this is not his way......        



Lofn stood quietly behind the high-seats where Frigga and Odin sat in deep contemplation of what had just occurred on MIdgard. She had done all she could to bring the kings of Herjardalr and Jamataland together, and yet as she watched the viewer she was deeply concerned that some other fate was intervening in the conclusion that she had toiled so hard to bring about. Both kings agreed that their children had done well and that they may have saved their kingdoms by capturing Edmund, the son of King Ring, but other than agreeing to discuss, at a later date, an alliance to guard their eastern borders they parted ways angrily after the release of the Swede prince. 

Frigga looked up from the viewing porthole, and despite having a pleasant smile upon her face, frowned at the Goddess who hovered above her. 

" What vexes my maiden so ? " she asked with a hint of concern in her voice. 

Lofn gazed into the Queen of Asgard's eyes for only a moment before diverting her stare. 

" I feel as if I have failed you my queen. I have not achieved the goal of gaining permission from the parents of Heinrekr and Myrgjol for their marriage, and therefore I place myself at your mercy. I am ready to be punished as you see fit. " she told the All-Mother. 

Frigga glanced over at her husband suspiciously before responding. 

" I fear that there are other forces at play here, and that this is not your fault. " she replied. 

Odin quickly cut his wife off as he laughed nervously at the handmaiden's discomfort. 

" Come here child ! Sit on my,...., the arm of this high-seat and watch, for you have done much more than you know. " he told her. 

With a grin turning up the corners of his mouth, and under his breath, he then added in a whisper.

" And I have added to the body of your work." 

As Frigga narrowed her eyes, to see exactly where her handmaiden became seated, Odin pointed to the viewer, and with a smile spoke to Lofn softly, the way a father speaks to his daughter. 

" Look closely my dear, and you will see the seeds that you have planted blossom. " he told the handmaiden. 

In his mind he added : 

" With a little cultivating by myself. " 

Frigga, who was all knowing, shook her head from side to side grimly. 

" Unfortunately my husband has decided to feed your " seeds " with blood instead of water ! " she whispered to herself, but in a tone just loud enough for Odin to understand. 

The All-Father pretended not to hear his wife's sarcastic remark as he opened the viewer with his mind and pinpointed a specific place and moment in time on Midgard. 


______________________________________________________________________________________________

​

King Ring was greatly relieved when Edmund came riding into the Swede camp unharmed. After a long tiresome day of marching out of Jamtaland, in which he ranted and raved to everyone and anyone who would listen about how his son was to blame for everything bad that had happened to him from Edmund's birth to the present day, he now took out his anger on his son. In front of the whole army he embarrassed his son and demanded that he explain his deplorable behavior in allowing himself to be captured by the Northlanders. Edmund, however, turned away from speaking about his, " unfortunate incident ", as he described it, and instead told his father of a great opportunity that still offered itself to the Swedes. 

" Father, the Northland armies have gone back to bickering with each other. And as they released me King Harjulf was taking his army and leaving Jamtaland to return home. Vifinnr is now all alone, and vulnerable to attack ! " he explained to his father with a wicked grin plastered upon his face.     

Erik, who was listening to every word his brother said, grinned from ear to ear. 

" Then we must return and finish what we began father ! We need to restore our honor by exacting revenge upon these Northlanders for the damage they have caused in our kingdom, and to avenge the losses of our folk ! " he told his father. 

King Ring turned his gaze away from Erik and looked back over at Edmund.

" You are absolutely certain that the Herjardalr army was leaving ? " he asked in a harsh tone. 

Edmund smiled. 

" Yes, father ! " he replied. 


______________________________________________________________________________________________



Frigga glanced up at Lofn and nodded to her discreetly. Lofn winked one eye to let the All-Mother know that she understood what she was telling her. The handmaiden then stood and bowed slightly to the All-Father before addressing him. 

" If war is what you are interested in, my Lord, then I will leave you to your work. " she told him with a smile, but in a bitter tone. 

Odin grinned. 

" Do not pout Lofn ! In the end they will be together. Come back in a while and you will see the future that I have helped you to weave. " he replied in a self satisfied tone. 

Lofn left Hlidskjalf without saying another word. Frigga, however, could not help herself from commenting. 

" My handmaiden deals in matters of the heart, not in the brutality of war ! " she told her husband angrily. 

Odin chuckled. 

" Lofn must understand that she cannot have everything her way. Heinrekr and Myrgjol will get married, but under the rule of the King of the Swedes. The foolish bickering of their fathers have not earned them the right to rule as kings ! " he told his wife callously, before rising up and leaving the hall. 


______________________________________________________________________________________________
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Heinrekr had not ridden with his father south to Herjardalr, but had instead gone to see Myrgjol who was waiting for him just outside of the Jamtalanders encampment. The two lovers had decided that if their fathers would not permit their marriage then they would ride off and make a life together for themselves in another kingdom without their consent. As the wind blew his long blonde hair back with every gallop of his young steed he finally felt free from the bonds of his domineering father and mother. 

The sight of Myrgjol in the distance standing next to her horse lit a fire in his heart.  As he came closer the son of King Harjulf was surprised to see that Myrgjol, at such a young age, had brought with her a handmaiden, but he was more than happy to bow to anything that his wife to be wanted. In a show of flamboyancy Heinrekr reined his horse up hard in front of the ladies, and jumped off of his saddle, landing with a bow. His boyish smile turned into a worried frown, however, when he noticed the worried look upon Myrgjol's face. 

" What is wrong my love !? " he quickly asked, as he gently grabbed her by the arms and looked deeply into her eyes. 

Myrgjol collapsed onto his chest, and held him tightly for a long moment before revealing what she had learned from the woman who stood next to her. 

" This woman is named Lofn, and she has just escaped from being held by the Swedes. She says that King Ring has no intentions of keeping his word, and is, as we are speaking, marching his forces against my father's army ! " she cried out.

Heinrekr pushed Myrgjol away to arms length. With eyes opened wide in shook and disbelief he asked: 

" Are you certain ?! " 

Lofn answered for Myrgjol. 

" If you cannot convince your father to bring his army back to Jamtaland King Ring will destroy King Vifinnr and his army, and then he will turn south and wipe out your father's army. In the end both kingdoms will be lost ! " she assured the Prince of Herjardalr. 

Heinrekr let go of Myrgjol and pointed in the general direction of her father's encampment.

" Tell your father that King Ring is marching back into Jamtaland ! Have him fight a defensive battle, retreating slowly back toward Herjardalr ! I will bring my father's army there as quickly as possible ! " he assured her. 

Myrgjol's eyes welled up with tears. 

" Are you sure that you are stong enough to convince your father ? " she asked nervously. 

Heinrekr thought for only a moment before replying. 

" Let us hope so ! " Heinrekr told her before jumping up onto his horse and riding away. 

Myrgjol dried her eyes and ran over to her horse. 

" Come Lofn ! We must ride to warn my father ! " she yelled to the former captive. 

The maiden shook her head.

" No ! You will ride faster alone ! " she told the impatient human. 

Myrgjol did not argue, for there was no time to waste. As she galloped away she shouted back over her shoulder to the woman :  

" I will send someone back for you ! " 

Lofn, however, had disappeared before Myrgjol had finished the sentence. Before she vanished Frigga's handmaiden whispered up at the sky knowing full well that Frigga was watching, and listening. 

" One God against two Goddesses ! You never had a chance Odin ! " 
​


- End Chapter 14


- Next : Chapter 15 : A Fateful Decision


- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2019. 
​ 

  

                         
                                             

' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn : ' Chapter 13 : The Ultimatum

3/10/2019

 

Forbidden Love : 

A Story Of The Goddess Lofn


​
​

Chapter 13


The Ultimatum

Lofn winced slightly as she listened at the two kings as they reluctantly negotiated an alliance. Despite having seen their own deaths, if they fought the king of the Swedes alone, the two monarchs were speaking and acting more with bravado, and much less with common sense, than she cared to see or hear. Both kings were very glad to see that King Ring's son Edmund had been captured, and the two men were proud of their children for the role they played in bringing him here as a bargaining chip against the Swedes, but there was little else that Harjulf and Vifinnr could seem to agree upon.   

The bickering continued when King Vifinnr demanded the privilege of leading the attack against the Swedes, but then, when he realized that his army would bear the brunt of the attack, he decided graciously to allow Harjulf the honor, to which the King of Harjardalr promptly said no. After much discussion, and arguing, it was decided to split each of the armies in half making four divisions. The king's would attack together, with the two other divisions held back in reserve. Of course when Vifinnr told Harjulf that his son Almsteinn would lead the other half of his army, Harjulf immediately announced that his son Heinrekr would command the other half of his forces. This led Vifinnr to argue that Heinrekr had no business in command of a division due to his lack of experience in battle. 

Just as everything seemed ready to fall apart Heinrekr and Myrgjol stepped in and added common sense ideas, and points of compromise, to the overall plans. Heinrekr suggested that he be allowed to lead his father's second division, but that his father's senior most commander Trosti would ride with him in battle. Myrgjol then added that her brother, much to his chagrin, was also not as experienced a commander as some of his senior warriors, and should also have someone ride with him to give wise council during the heat of battle. After much bargaining back and forth both King Harjulf Hornbriotr, and King Vifinnr, finally agreed on their formations in battle, and they decided to move out their armies at first light. 

The next morning not even Sunna's warm smile could placate the kings as another minor point of courtesy arose. On the width of a battlefield the two armies could easily fight side by side, but on the narrow forest paths and country roads the armies needed to march in ranks no wider than four or six wide. Once again the point of which king, with their army, would lead the way reared its ugly head. The argument became so heated at one point that all feared that what seemed like a simple matter would become an alliance breaker. 

This time it was Almsteinn, King Vifinnr's son, who was tired of all the bickering, that came up with the solution to another problem that he considered trivial. 

" Why don't you settle this dispute with a contest of archery. The king who hits the bullseye the most with ten arrows will lead the way ! " he shouted at the two kings angrily. 

Despite both kings feeling slightly upstaged by Almsteinn's angry outburst, they agreed and two targets were set up on large oak trees that stood only feet apart. Each king took their time aiming and releasing their arrows, and when the competition was done King Harjulf had hit the center mark eight times, while Vifinnr had only struck it six. With a wicked grin on his face Harjulf moved his division of the main army to the front while King Vifinnr remained in the rear glaring at his son for his obstinate suggestion, that had caused him to lose face in front of not only King Harjulf but also the entire Herjardalr army. 

The two armies marched for several days before the scouts returned with information on the exact location, make-up, and numbers of the enemy. The Swedes appeared, according to the reports, to be equal in numbers to the total strength of the two Northland armies, though they did seem to have an advantage in mounted warriors. More disturbing, however, was the fact that they were already fifty miles into Jamtaland. 

Upon hearing the news King Harjulf turned to King Vifinnr, and with a reflective change of heart, asked the king of Jamtaland to ride up front with him. 

" King Vifinnr ! This is your land, and I believe that you know the terrain better than do I. It would be best if you were to travel up front with my army. " he told the King of Jamtaland with a touch of bitterness in his voice.    

Vifinnr nodded his agreement. 

" Yes ! With the whole of the Swede army in our front now is not the time for us to allow past differences to affect our futures. "  he told the King of Herjardalr. 

Two days later, from the hill they were encamped upon, the Northland kings could see fires burning in the distance. Both leaders knew that what they were seeing was a village that had been sacked and set on fire. For the first time these two enemies saw themselves not as Herjardalr or Jamtalander, but as Northlanders defending themselves against a common enemy from the east. 

" Tomorrow we should send Almsteinn and Heinrekr out, under a flag of truce, to inform King Ring that we have captured his son, and that we are willing to exchange him for a guarantee that he will leave our lands and never return ! " Vifinnr told the King of the Herjardalr. 

​King Harjulf instantly agreed.       

" At first light we will send them into the valley below to set up a meeting with the King of the Swedes. " the King of Herjardalr responded as he pointed to the location where the meeting should take place. 

As the sun rose over eastern Jamtaland Almsteinn and Heinrekr rode out from their camp, with Prince Edmund under the guard of a small contingent of warriors, to the center of the valley below. From a hill on the other side of the shallow plain King Hring carefully observed their every movement. He was about to dismiss this obvious peace overture when his son Erik informed him that his brother had gone missing. It was then that the King of the Swedes noticed that one of the riders below was surrounded by the others who had their swords pointed at the warrior in the middle. 

" Is the King of the Jamtalanders among those below ? " the king asked. 

Erik, whose vision was much sharper than his aging father's eyes, carefully examined the faces of those below in the valley before answering.

" No, father ! " he finally replied. 

After taking a deep breath, and slowly exhaling, the king issued his order. 

" Then you will take an equal number of warriors and see what terms they are offering for your brother ! " he commanded. 

Erik quickly left his father and gathered up two dozen men to accompany him down to the valley below. When they reached the flat plain, and approached the Northlanders, they slowed their horses to a slow trot. A few moments later, when they came within hailing distance, Erik raised his hand and halted his warriors. 

" My father, King Ring of the Swedes, wishes to know what are the terms for the return of his son Prince Edmund ! " he stated both coldly and angrily. 

Almsteinn, being the eldest of the two sons of the kings of the Northlands, spoke for both kingdoms. 

" I am Almsteinn, the son of King Harjulf  ! When you leave our lands, King Harjulf of the Herjardalr, and King Vifinnr of Jamtaland will release the son of KIng Ring. " he shouted back defiantly. 

Erik's eyes lit up like stars in the night ! His father had told him that they only faced a small army of Jamtalanders in their front, but if there were truly two armies that stood before them then that changed everything ! Thinking logically, but quickly, Erik responded calmly to the son of the King of the Herjardalr.      

" My father, I am sure, will want to speak with both King Harjulf and King Vifinnr directly before he makes a final decision on this matter. " he told the Northlander. 

Almsteinn nodded. 

" When Sunna reaches her apex the kings of Herjardalr and Jamtaland will come to this place to meet with the King of the Swedes. " he replied arrogantly. 

Before he rode away Erik shook his head with disgust and shouted to his brother Edmund. 

How could you allow yourself to be captured brother ? ! " he asked in a tone that did not hide his disgust. 

Edmund, embarrassed by his predicament, remained silent with his head hung low against his chest. 

King Ring could not believe his ears when his son returned with the news that not one, but two armies opposed him on the other side of the hill. He asked again and again if his son was certain that this was a fact, and not simply a Jamtalander deception. 

​" That is why I asked for the kings of these Northlands to meet with you father. " he explained. 

Ring smiled and patted his son on the shoulder. 

" A wise decision indeed, my son ! " the king replied. 

Later that morning a scout reported to King Ring that riders were coming down off of the opposing hill. Immediately the King of the Swedes, along with his son, and his royal guard, mounted up and rode down into the valley to see what these Northlanders were truly up to. 

For what seemed an eternity the Northland kings, and the King of the Swedes, sat stoically on their mounts staring at each other silently. Finally, King Ring, angered by the presence of the two Northland kings, and impatient to get this over with, spoke first. 

" What are the terms for the release of my son ? " he asked without any signs of emotion. 

King Harjulf allowed Vifinnr to answer because it was his land that was at the moment being invaded by the Swedes. 

" You will leave my kingdom at once ! When your army is off of our sacred soil then, and only then, will we release your son ! " he told the Swede in no uncertain terms. 

Ring pointed a finger at the King of Jamtaland.

" And if I should refuse ?! "

Vifinnr grinned.

​" Then you will have your war,...., but no son ! " he replied sarcastically.  

King Ring fidgeted in his saddle. 

" And what compensation do I receive for the carnage and devastation that you Northlanders caused on my lands, and to my people !? "  he asked angrily in return. 

King Harjulf could no longer hold his tongue. 

" Our two armies have been engaged in battle for many months ! It was not either of our kingdoms which attacked your sovereign territory ! " he angrily yelled back.  

King Ring frowned deeply as he responded. 

" King Vifinnr, is this true ?! " 

Vifinnr nodded. 

" It is ! " he replied. 

King Ring glanced over at his son with a look of sheer disgust on his face before answering.

" Then we will leave your lands King Vifinnr ! " he stated somewhat reluctantly. 

Erik shot his father a cold stare before joining in the conversation. 

" Father ! How can we be sure that these Northlanders will keep their word, when our people clearly saw their invading armies flying the broken horn banner of Herjardalr, and the raven flag of Jamtaland ! ? "  he stated to his father as fact.     

King Vifinnr pointed a finger at Erik as he spoke to the King of the Swedes. 

" Why does this boy speak in the presence of kings ? " he asked the Swede. 

Ring grimaced. 

" It is true that my son has spoken out of turn, but his question is a valid one. How can we be sure that you will keep your word ? " he asked. 

King Harjulf answered first. 

" Because we do not want this war. We have a multitude of problems of our own to deal with, without our eastern neighbors causing us even more difficulties ! " he shot back. 

King Ring gave the Northland kings an angry stare, and took a deep breath, before responding. 

" Then I will march my army back across your border into Northanstig,...., where I will impatiently wait for the return of my son Edmund ! " he replied before reining his horse around and leading his warriors back to their camp. 

As the King of the Swedes rode away Harjulf and Vifinnr glanced over at each other. 

" Do you think he will actually leave ? " Vifinnr asked. 

Harjulf shrugged his shoulders as he answered. 

" I do not know . " 


- End Chapter 13


- Next : Chapter 14 : One God Versus Two Goddesses 


​
- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2019.                  

     

               

     

' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn ' : Chapter 12 : An Uneasy Alliance

3/9/2019

 

Forbidden Love :


A Story Of The Goddess Lofn




Chapter 12


An Uneasy Alliance
​

Prince Heinrekr's warriors felt ill at ease as they rode west to meet up with King Harjulf's army. They liked and understood Heinrekr's plan to use King Ring's son Edmund as a pawn to stop the Swedes from invading their lands, but they saw little use with involving the Jamtalanders in the scheme. And not one of these brave warriors considered it right and proper for the son of King Harjulf to be consorting with the daughter of their sworn enemy, King Vifinnr, when she could be used as a bargaining tool against her father.   

Heinrekr was relieved, when he reached a midpoint between his father's army and the Jamtalanders, to see that the two antagonists were not yet engaged in battle. His men became further perplexed, however, when the prince told them that they would be making camp here for the night and not continuing on to join the main army. 

" Why do we stay here Prince Heinrekr ? " one warrior asked in a worried tone. 

Before the prince could answer another quickly joined in with a question of his own. 

" Should we not hand over our prisoner to King Harjulf as soon as possible ? " 

Heinrekr narrowed his eyes, and bit his lip angrily, before answering. 

" I doubt that Prince Edmund will be enough of a deterrent to stop the Swedes from invading our lands. If, however, we can combine the Herjardalr and Jamtaland armies, then, and only then, do I believe that we will have the might to make King Ring bargain with us as equals. " he told his men. 

" And how will you convince your father to join forces with his sworn enemy King Vifinnr !? " a third warrior asked sarcastically. 

Myrgjol, who had been quietly standing in the shadows, stepped forward and answered for Heinrekr. 

" We will both convince our fathers by simply stating the obvious and stark reality of the situation that our kingdoms are currently faced with. If they continue their war against each other then both will lose their kingdoms, and quite possibly their lives. Only together, as one fighting force, can either hope to retain their autonomy, and secure their futures, and those of their folk. " she replied eloquently to Heinrekr's warriors. 

Heinrekr nodded that he fully agreed with Myrgjol's assessment of the situation. 

" We will camp here tonight. Tomorrow I will visit my father, while Myrgjol will go and see King Vifinnr to convince him that our plan is the only viable option left to us. If all goes well we will return here tomorrow to formally form an alliance against our common enemy the Swedes. " he informed his men. 


________________________________________________________________________________________________



Lofn watched from Hlidskjalf as both King Harjulf and King Vifinnr lay down to sleep. The Goddess of Permission had stood by over the past several days and allowed the natural progression of events to play out on Midgard. Few, if any of the Gods, knew these Midgardians better than she. Lofn understood all too well that there was a time to allow the future to flow like a stream in the direction of least resistance, but that there was also a point where the time stream needed to be diverted, pushed to a more convenient point to suit her needs. It had now become the time for the latter. 

Lofn waited patiently for the restless kings to fall into a deep sleep before she permeated both of their dreaming brains to show them the images that she wished them to see. To change their minds, and push them away from the years of hatred that these two leaders felt towards each other, she had first to instill such fear in them that this new greater emotion overcame all their other impulses. And she would accomplish this all from nightmares. 

Frigga's handmaiden first went to King Harjulf. In his pliable mind the Goddess showed him visions of himself proudly fighting the Swedes, while mounted gallantly on his great stallion. At first all went well. The sun was shining brightly, and the battle was apparently going in his favor. But then a dark cloud hovered above him and as if the heavens were weeping for him the Swedes broke his line and all was lost. His last memory of the fight was being knocked off of his horse, and hitting the ground with a hard thud.

King Harjulf awoke feeling cold and defenseless. A chill ran up his back as he looked up into the face of King Ring who was running a knife gently up and down his spine. 

" My judgement against you is death ! " the King of the Swedes spat in his face. 

Then the king laughed maniacally. 

" A larger kingdom for me,...., enslavement of your people,...., and the blood eagle for you ! " he shouted. 

Harjulf tried desperately to pull himself free from the restraints that held him down, but it was no use. As the sharp point of the blade cut into his back his brain screamed a split second before it echoed out of his mouth. As his mind and body tried to deal with the shock and agony of the intense pain Harjulf braced himself for what he knew would come next. 

Each time the axe head cut through his back and severed another rib his body convulsed involuntarily from the sheer agony, and by the time the final connection was broken his body and spirit had been broken. There was, however, one more torture to endure before he died. As he felt King Ring's hands reach into his back, to pull out his lungs, he screamed one last time ! 

Harjulf found no mercy from King Ring in his dream, but the shrill sounds of his own screams drove him away from the nightmare and back into the world of reality. As his eyes fluttered open he looked up to see that his guards had gathered nervously around him. Each and every one of them had the same look of worry and fear upon their faces as they gazed down upon their trembling and sweaty leader. 

After stretching several times the king pointed to the flap of his tent. 

" I am fine now ! You may leave me ! " the king told them as he wiped the sweat off of his brow. 

King Vifinnr found himself confidently leading his army down a steep hill on foot towards the Herjardalr army. In one hand he held a golden shield, and in the other a silver sword. When he reached the base of the hill, however, his heart sank into his stomach as the Herjardalr battle line suddenly turned into a massive Swede army led by King Hring. When he looked back down at his shining shield it had turned from gold to rotted wood, and his sword was rusted and bent. As his mind tried to deal with such a horrific reversal of fortunes, he was suddenly attacked violently by King Hring, who was wearing a majestic purple robe. 

Valiantly Vifinnr tried to defend himself, but each of the Swede's sword strokes ripped his shield apart, and chipped pieces off of his rusted weapon. When the King of Jamtaland held only the leather strap of his shield, and his sword was no longer than a small dagger, he could not stop the Swede's sharp weapon as it was swung at his neck. A piercing pain raced through his body like a lightning bolt as the blade did short work on his flesh and bone. 

Vifinnr became dizzy as his severed head rotated in the air before slowly tumbling to the ground. With his last moments of clarity the King of the Jamtalanders watched from the mud as his body slowly tipped over and fell. He tried to release his horror in the form of a scream, but his mouth would no longer open. 

Myrgjol shook her father several times before he finally stirred. 

" Father ! Father ! Did you have a bad dream ! ? " she asked in a frantic tone. 

Vifinnr quickly looked around the small tent several times, and when he realized that he was truly safe, the king finally answered his daughter. 

" Yes ! I believe that it was merely a bad dream. But I must meet with King Harjulf at once ! " he stated nervously as he tried to shake off the affects of the nightmare. 

Myrgjol was so astonished by her father's words that she was rendered speechless. 

Heinrekr too had quite a shock when his father agreed, without any prodding, to meet with King Vifinnr in the fields between the two armies. As the two leaders approached the encampment, where Prince Edmund was being held, Heinrekr and Myrgjol feared that the two men's hearts would be hardened by the mere sight of the other. What the Prince of Herjardalr, and the Princess of Jamtaland, did not know, however, was that both kings had seen, and felt, their own demise and had good reason now to form at least an uneasy alliance. 


- End Chapter 12


- Next : Chapter 13 : The Ultimatum


​
- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2019.       

​               

                                  

' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn ' : Chapter 11 : The Bargaining Chip

3/8/2019

 

Forbidden Love : 

A Story Of The Goddess Lofn



Chapter 11


The Bargaining Chip
​

Lofn looked down upon the sleeping Queen of Herjardalr and smiled as she placed her hand gently upon Helga's forehead. The queen's eyelids began to flutter almost at once as the dream took hold and her eyes began to follow the events taking place in her mind. With a power known only to the Gods the Goddess Lofn transferred her visions into the subconscious of the mortal Midgardian. 

Helga looked out of the doorway to their great hall and saw coming from a great distance a horde of warriors dressed for war and covered in blood. In a state of sheer panic the queen shouted for her personal guards to help her escape from the menace that would soon be upon her. At first no one came to her aid, and she began to scream for someone, anyone, to help her. When her guards finally showed themselves they seemed to have no idea what they should do to protect her. In a state of shock and bewilderment they ran around in circles seeking a remedy to their predicament. 

Queen Helga began to cry as the Swedes reached the edge of their village. The Swedish horses belched out flames from their nostrils as they galloped faster and faster towards her great hall. Through her tears, which distorted her vision, she saw the bony skulls of the Swedes peeking out from under their helmets. Maggots wiggled in their eye sockets, as snakes slithered in and out of their mouths. Helga tried to run but her legs would not obey her command to move. Seeing no other option but to remain and die the queen screamed ! 

Suddenly, and seemingly out of nowhere, a great white horse rode up and stopped in front of her. A strong hand reached down and grabbed hold of her. The faceless hero pulled her up onto the saddle with barely an effort, and then kicked the horse into a fast gallop to escape the fast approaching enemy. As she turned and looked behind her she saw her personal guards on their knees begging for mercy. They received none ! When she turned away from the horrendous sight of watching her guards being slaughtered she realized that the hero who had saved her was her son Heinrekr. 

With her work done Lofn removed her hand from the queen's forehead and broke the connection between the two. Before the mortal Helga could wake up the Goddess disappeared like the God Mani behind a cloud. 


Helga awoke to the sounds of a commotion just outside of her bedchamber. The queen quickly wrapped herself up in her bearskin blanket and ran out into the great hall to see what was the matter. When she entered the torch lit hall she saw three of her guards holding a messenger down on the floor. 

" I must see the queen ! " the courier shouted as he struggled against the guards who had him well restrained. 

" Queen Helga is sleeping ! No one can see her now ! " one of the guards shouted back at him. 

Helga ran over to where the man was held down helplessly and slapped the nearest guard, a warrior named Kvigbjorn, on the back of the head. 

" Let the man up ! I will hear what he has to say ! " she commanded forcefully. 

The guards immediately realized their mistake and released the man. After the messenger righted himself he bowed to the queen before delivering his message. 

" My queen ! King Ring has crossed our border and is heading this way with a portion of his army. I estimate that they will be here in a day, or two at the most. " he informed the startled queen. 

Queen Helga glanced over at her personal guards with great disdain before issuing a series of orders. 

" Release my son at once ! He will now lead my personal guard and whatever warriors you can enlist from the village. Have Heinrekr's horse and mine saddled and ready to ride as soon as possible ! " she commanded. 

Just before they left to join King Harjulf to the west another rider came into the village and gave the queen, and the prince, an update on the position of the enemy. 

" My queen and lord ! The enemy line now extends all the way north to the border with Finnmark ! " the rider exclaimed. 

Heinrekr's heart sank as it pounded wildly in his chest. His thoughts turned away from their own plight for a moment and he considered Myrgjol's situation, who he feared would be waiting for him at the River Slyan, which would soon be in the path of the invading Swedes. He did not want to leave his mother, but he felt he had to do something. 

" Kvigbjorn ! " Heinrekr shouted back to the captain of the queen's guard. 

" Yes, my lord ! " he obediently called back. 

" You will escort the queen northwest to meet up with my father's army. I am going to take twenty warriors and head northeast to scout the position of the enemy personally ! " he ordered. 

Kvigbjorn nodded. 

" Yes, my lord ! " he again replied as he moved his horse to the head of the column. 

Queen Helga, with the nightmare still fresh in her memory, tried to protest but Heinrekr assured his mother that he would quickly ride out, assess the situation, and return to the column as soon as possible. He of course made no mention of Myrgjol as he spurred his horse away from the village with twenty of his best warriors. 

The queen's guards followed Heinrekr blindly to the border between Herjardalr and Jamtaland, for they had no reason to doubt their prince. To scout ahead to see how far their enemy had penetrated into their kingdom made perfect military sense to these battle hardened warriors, and they were proud to have been chosen to join Prince Heinrekr on this mission. Furthermore, the prince's willingness to risk going to the border of their enemy Jamtaland  to accomplish this only further showed the guards his courage. 


________________________________________________________________________________________________

​

Edmund, despite warnings from his father King Ring, and some of his best warriors, decided to explore deep within Jamtaland near the border with Herjardalr. Scouts and Swede villagers had reported a horde of Jamtalander warriors in this area who seemed to be gathering for another attack upon their kingdom. The evidence on their side of the border seemed to bear this out as well. Crops had been destroyed, whole villages burned to the ground, and hundreds of displaced Swedish folk were streaming east away from the area to seek safety further away from the border. And yet, as Edmund moved his army west into Jamtaland he found no evidence of this, "ghost army ", as he came to refer to it, along the way. Other than a few Jamtalanders, who had banded together to try and stop his army, there appeared to be no one to stop him. 

As the sun began to set Edmund and his six warriors came upon a stream, which they followed to a river. In the distance the son of King Ring spotted a young woman sitting against the trunk of an old oak tree. 

" Let us see if that maiden can tell us where the Jamtaland army can be found ! " he informed his warriors before kicking his horse into the three foot water to cross the river. 

By the time they reached the tree the maiden had mysteriously disappeared. 

" Find her ! " Edmund commanded. 

As his warriors rode off in all directions the son of King Ring dismounted and stared up into the gnarly branches of the tree to see if the maiden were hiding among the thick foliage from him. Despite his best efforts, however, he could not see her amidst the leaf cover. He was about to mount his horse and join his warriors when he thought he heard something from the other side of the large tree trunk. Slowly Edmund drew his sword as he cautiously walked around the huge oak tree. As he peered around the corner Edmund thought he saw something move in the hollowed out rotted part of the trunk, and he squinted his eyes as he moved  in for a better look.

​By the time he saw the crouching maiden, the arrow had already struck him, and knocked him backwards onto the ground with a great force. As he slowly regained his wits he saw that the maiden had placed another arrow on her bow. He also heard the distant hoof beats of his warriors returning. Despite the throbbing pain in his shoulder Edmund grinned from ear to ear. 

" Lower your bow, and I may let you live ! Release your arrow and my men will surely kill you ! " he shouted angrily at the maiden who had dared to attack him. 

Myrgjol was about to answer the Swede's threat when she heard a familiar voice call out to her. 

" Myrgjol ! Don't kill him !! " the voice called out to her. 

Myrgjol looked up from the Swede's now confused face, and as tears filled her eyes she called out to the man she loved in a bewildered voice. 

" Heinrekr ?! " she yelled as she ran over to greet him. 

As they hugged Heinrekr's warriors, minus the one killed in the battle against the Swedes, surrounded Edmund. Myrgjol, after a brief kiss, called out to Heinrekr's men. 

" Kill the Swedish bastard ! " 

The Herjardalr warriors did not respond to the Jamtalander maiden's command, but instead waited for Heinrekr's order. 

" No ! We can use the son of King Ring as a bargaining chip ! " the son of King Harjulf commanded. 


From Hlidskjalf Lofn clapped her hands together joyfully as she watched her plan work to perfection. Tears of joy filled her eyes as she watched the two lovers embrace and kiss a second time. 

" The Valfather, and the All-Mother, will be most pleased with the results of my intervention. I must not become apathetic now, however, for there is still much to do ! " she whispered to the viewer. 



- End Chapter 11


- Next : Chapter 12 : An Uneasy Alliance 


​
- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2019.   
    

​   

                          

          

' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn ' : Chapter 10 : New Priorities

2/24/2019

 

Forbidden Love : 

A Story Of The Goddess Lofn



Chapter 10


New Priorities
​


For days King Harjulf had chased the Jamtalanders all over Herjardalr and now, at the border between their two kingdoms, he had caught up to his nemesis King Vifinnr. Once again the King of Jamtaland had positioned himself on the top of a small defensible hill. This time, however, King Harjulf did not see a way to outflank his enemy without entering Jamtaland and possibly becoming trapped in the territory of his enemy. The King of Herjardalr carefully assessed the situation he tried to decide whether he should risk attacking King Vifinnr on his formidable hill, or allow him to slip back into Jamtaland without a fight. As he wrestled with this difficult decision two riders galloped towards his position from the south at a hard gallop. Judging from the way they were pushing their mounts Harjulf deduced that they had important information to convey to him.     

" Possibly it will be good news ! " the King of Herjardalr whispered to himself. Unfortunately he had never been so wrong in his entire life. 

" King Harjulf ! King Harjulf !! " the lead rider screamed from a hundred yards away. 

When the messenger came within twenty feet he pulled up his horse, and slid out of his saddle onto the ground before his mount had fully stopped. The frantic warrior stumbled forward a few feet before kneeling before the king. 

" King Harjulf ! Queen Helga has sent me to inform you that the Swedes have massed their forces on our eastern border, and it is believed that King Ring has declared war upon both us and the Jamtalanders, my lord ! " he conveyed to the king despite breathing very hard. 

Harjulf could not believe what he was hearing ! With a look of utter disbelief plastered on his face the king rubbed his head nervously as he let sink in what he had just been told. 

" We have always been on fairly good terms with King Ring. Why would he suddenly, and without any warning, declare war upon our tiny kingdom ? " he asked no one in particular. 

When the second courier reined in his horse next to the first messenger he remained in his saddle, while the first to arrive  stood up before answering the king's question. 

" I do not know my lord, but the queen urges you to see if any of our allies can come to our aid. " he told the king. 

Harjulf shook his head out of sheer frustration. 

" I am engaged with the Jamtalanders. There is no time to make alliances, gather forces, and march off to defend our kingdom from the damned Swedes. The only army close enough to help us has fortified the hill in my front and is, as we speak, awaiting our attack ! " he shouted angrily at the messenger. 

The terrified courier swallowed involuntarily before he asked his next question. 

" Then,...., what should I tell Queen Helga, my lord ? " he reluctantly asked.

King Harjulf looked around at his commanders as if he were hoping that one of them would have the answer to this most perplexing dilemma that they now faced. When he saw that none of them seemed to know what to do either he exhaled and shook his head again. 

" Tell the queen to retreat with her guard north and west as quickly as she can ! " the king told him. 

After the messenger mounted his horse, and quickly galloped away, the King of Herjardalr turned and gazed off into the distance at the Jamtalanders he had only moments ago been considering to attack. Suddenly, however, that enemy did not seem all that important to him. 


________________________________________________________________________________________________
​


Almsteinn quickly led his guards out to stop the rider who was galloping from the north towards their hill position at full gallop. Long before the rider was able to reach his father, King Vifinnr, they intercepted him and boxed him in with their mounts. 

" Halt ! State your business ! " Almsteinn shouted at the rider. 

The warrior pulled on the left reins to turn his horse to face the warrior who had addressed him. When he faced the one who apparently was in charge he bowed slightly in his saddle.

" I am Thorvald ! Queen Jorunna has sent me to inform the king that the Swedes have declared war upon us ! King Ring, along with his sons Edmund and Erik have marched divisions of the Swedish army to the eastern borders of both Jamtaland and Herjardalr ! And the queen fears that they will attack any day now ! " he shouted impatiently to the warrior who was stopping him from relaying his message to the king.   

Almsteinn turned his horse and rode up the hill. As he galloped away he turned and shouted back to his warriors. 

" Bring that man ! My father will want to speak to him ! " 

King Vifinnr listened intently to everything that Thorvald had to say. With each discouraging word his heart sank deeper and deeper into his stomach, and the king began to wish that he had never begun this never ending war with the Herjardalr. When the messenger was finished Vifinnr turned to his son and lowered his head. 

" What can I do ? I am pinned down here on this hill by King Harjulf's army. If I try to escape east to defend my border against the Swedes I will open myself up to an attack from the rear, and might have to fight a battle on two fronts. And I doubt very much that the King of Herjardalr will agree to a general peace and allow us to leave unhindered. " he said dejectedly. 

Almsteinn had never seen his father so worried. In the past he had always stood firm and resolute against all obstacles, and he had never allowed himself to be distracted, no matter the circumstances. Now, however, faced with a dilemma of epic proportions, the man he looked up to, the King of Jamtaland, seemed confused by a situation not of his making.    

" What shall we do father ? " Almsteinn asked, fearing his father's response almost as much as the Swedes, or the Herjardalr. 

Vifinnr slowly looked up at his son, and suddenly he looked old and weak. With a shrug of his shoulders, and a shake of his head he responded. 

" I do not know. " he told his son sadly. 


- End Chapter 10

​

- Next : Chapter 11 : The Bargaining Chip



- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ), © Copyright, 2019.                                 

              

' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn ' : Chapter 9 : King Ring Declares War !

2/24/2019

 

Forbidden Love : 

A Story Of The Goddess Lofn 


​

Chapter 9 


King Ring Declares War ! 

Sigmund and Sinfjotli listened intently to each and every word their lord and commander spoke as they sat at the head of the king's table in the golden hall of Valhalla. When the Valfather finished the two great warriors, who had become legends throughout the Germanic-Norse world, glanced at each other with their eyebrows raised high onto their foreheads, and astonished expressions etched deeply upon their faces.       

Sigmund bowed his head slightly to Odin before asking : 

" We are to attack Swedish villages all along the border with Herjardalr and Jamtaland, burning everything in our path, but we are to harm no one ? " he asked in a sharply incredulous tone. 

Odin took a long drink of his ale before replying with just one word. 

" Yes ! " 

Sinfjotli could not help but ask the very obvious next question. 

" You have trained us for many years now to be the best warriors in all the nine worlds. We are as violent as wild beasts, and as uncontrollable as any berserker in battle. How can we now be expected to restrain our urge to kill ? " 

Odin slammed his horn down hard upon the table, and pointed to the two greatest warriors in the hall with a threatening finger. 

" Are you questioning a command from your lord and master ! ? I did not have my valkyries pluck you from the throes of eternal death Sigmund only to have you defy me here in my own hall ! " he told Sigmund first before turning his attention to Sinfjotli. 

" And you ! I came to Midgard personally and carried you, Sinfjotli, back to Valhalla ! Is this my reward for that kindness ! ? " he asked angrily. 

Sigmund and Sinfjotli bowed their heads in shame, and out of a great respect for the Valfather that had grown over many years. It was Sigmund who humbly replied to the Lord of Valhalla. 

" Valfather ! I assure you that we meant no disrespect. We are simply surprised by the strangeness of your plan. We will undoubtedly follow you to Niflhel and back, if you so command us my lord. " he assured Odin. 

Odin grinned, for he knew that one day his einherjar would fight the minions of Hel in battle. As he rose up off of the golden bench he slowly pointed a finger around the great hall.

" Does anyone here intend to defy me ! ? " he shouted. 

A loud " No " rang out from those seated in the great hall. This was quickly followed by a chant of, "Odin, Odin, Odin ". When the hall had quieted down Valfather drew his sword and pointed the weapon at the massive golden doors.

" Draw your weapons, raise your shields, for today we start a war ! " he shouted so loud that it echoed throughout the cavernous hall.


________________________________________________________________________________________________
​


Sigmund led his army of the dead against a large village that lay just across the border from Jamtaland in Nordanstig. Many of the villagers ran for their lives when they saw the massive army marching across the fields towards them. Some, however, warriors and shield maidens alike, led by their chieftain Sven, went out to meet them, despite being outnumbered a hundred to one. The Swedes fought with great determination, but were far outmatched by the skills of this marauding professional army, which flew the simple raven flag of Jamtaland.

Despite Odin's warning many of the Swedes were wounded, some severely, before being captured. None, however, died because Odin sent the Goddess, who is known as the Best of Physicians, to heal those who might otherwise have perished. Eir thought it odd to be asked to heal those that Odin's warriors had injured, but the Goddess did not question the Valfather and performed her duties with great skill and caring. 

Sigmund personally took Sven's sword, and ordered that he and his folk be locked in his great hall at the edge of the village. Sven's heart sank when he heard the door of his hall being nailed shut, for he expected that at any moment the hall would be lit on fire, and that they would all burn to death. Shortly thereafter all inside the chieftain's hall heard their village being torn to pieces, but it wasn't until smoke began to filter into the hall from outside that those confined inside began to panic. 

Just as Sven was about to order his people to rush the door, and force their way out, he heard the sharp cracking sound of wood breaking at the entrance way to his hall. With one hand he held back his folk while with the other he gently pushed on the door. As it slowly creaked open Sven cautiously peered outside. The chieftain looked carefully to his right and then to his left. Not seeing any of the marauding Jamtalanders, however, Sven slowly made his way out of the hall. 

What the chieftain saw demoralized, and astonished him. Pets and livestock alike lay slaughtered in the roads between the huts, and every structure in the village was on fire except his great hall. And as he gazed through the thick smoke bellowing forth from the fires Sven caught a glimpse of the Jamtaland army disappearing in the distance, burning their crops as they left. 

A cold shiver ran up Sven's spine when he suddenly became aware of the presence of someone standing near him. Slowly he turned his head and gazed over at the dirty faced shield maiden who was watching their village burn to the ground next to him. 

" Why did they not kill us ? " Brinda asked. 

Sven turned his gaze back to the devastation, shrugged his shoulders, and shook his head in utter disbelief. 

" I do not know,......., I do not understand. " he replied in a state of shock. 


________________________________________________________________________________________________



Odin had chosen to ride with Sinfjotli into Sundhed because he was younger and much more impetuous than his uncle Sigmund, and the Valfather was also concerned that he might not heed his warnings about sparing the Swedes. He need not have worried, however, because Sinfjotli led his Ghost Herjardalr army against the Swedes with great fury, but also with much restraint. Odin, who carried the broken horn banner, which was the symbol of the Herjardalr army, was much impressed by the skills and good judgement of Sigmund's nephew. Sinfjotli following his scorched earth protocol to the letter, and because of his diligence only a few Swedes were severely injured, and those once again were saved by the healing touch of the Goddess Eir.      

Together Odin and Sinfjotli rode through the Swedish countryside causing havoc and fear. Deeper and deeper they went into the old kingdom destroying everything in their path until the Valfather was absolutely certain that the King of the Swedes would have no choice but to mobilize his army to defend his lands and his folk. Only then did they return to Valhalla.  


________________________________________________________________________________________________
​


King Ring was furious when the messengers began to arrive from all over his kingdom with news that the Jamtalanders and the Herjardalr had suddenly, and without warning, decided to encroach into his territory burning and plundering as they went. The fact that these Northlanders were releasing his people after capturing them was most perplexing to the king, but the destruction left behind to their crops, stores, and villages left the King of the Swedes only one option. 


" As of this moment we are at war with Jamtaland and Herjardalr ! " King Ring informed his sons, before officially announcing his decision to the entire army. 

Emund and Erik were both very young, but each was eager to demonstrate to their father that they would someday be the right choice to succeed their father as the King of the Swedes. Both quickly offered their support, and their loyal services to their father. 

" I am pleased that my sons are ready to fight for me ! " he stated proudly. 

King Ring sent Emund south-west, with a small contingent of his immense army, to the border with Herjardalr, and Erik he sent north-west to the border with Jamtaland to see what the enemy was doing there. Before they left the king gave them strict instructions. 

" Observe, but do not engage the enemy ! I want to know how large their armies are, and where they are located. Report back to me as soon as possible, and I will then formulate a plan on how to deal with these people who have dared to invade my kingdom ! " he instructed them. 


- End Chapter 9


- Next : Chapter 10 :  New Priorities 



​- Glenn Bergen, ( Ravensheart ) © Copyright, 2019.                                      
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