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' 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.                                      

' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn ' : Chapter 8 : The Ghost Army

2/23/2019

 

Forbidden Love : 

A Story Of The Goddess Lofn





Chapter 8



The Ghost Army

Lofn left Hlidskjalf in a great hurry and rode to the boggy homestead of Fensalir to see Frigga. She wanted to speak to the All-Mother, about her unorthodox idea to allow the Midgardian couple to marry, before presenting it to Odin. The ride was not a long one but her horse had difficulty walking through the spongy turf that surrounded Frigga's abode which slowed her arrival. This delay gave her time to go over in her mind exactly what to say, and how to say it, so that the All-Mother would not think that she had completely lost her senses.  

After being greeted warmly by Frigga the Goddess nervously explained her plan to bring the people of Herjardalr and Jamtaland together, by forcing them into an alliance against a common enemy, and thereby gaining the consent of the parents to the bonding of Heinrekr and Myrgjol in marriage.   

Frigga listened intently to every word before voicing her opinion. 

" Do you really intend to kill thousands of innocent people to bring about the marriage of just two Midgardians ? " the Queen of Asgard asked in an incredulous tone. 

Lofn bowed her head respectfully. 

" No one need die in the plundering and pillaging that takes place to bring the third party into this war. But you are correct, my lady, I cannot predict what will happen once the real war begins. " she replied humbly. 

Frigga nervously rubbed her brow, which had become furrowed into a deep frown.

" How can anyone pillage and plunder without causing any loss of life ? ! " she asked sharply. 

Lofn nodded that she understood Frigga's confusion. 

" I was hoping that the All-Father could bring together a ghost army to accomplish such a difficult task. " she replied hesitantly. 

Frigga could not help but laugh when she thought of her husband's reaction to such a request. 

" Odin would absolutely love that ! " she told Lofn. 

Frigga looked off into the distance for a long moment as though she was considering something very important. Finally, with a nod, she called to her handmaiden Fulla. 

" Fulla ! My dear, will you have Hermod bring my carriage to the front of the hall. " she commanded in the form of a sweet respectful request. 

Fulla nodded and left the hall at once. When the door shut behind the handmaiden Frigga turned back to Lofn and smiled. 

" Shall we travel to Valhalla to see what my husband thinks of your idea ? " the All-Mother asked. 

Lofn, despite Frigga's warm smile, swallowed hard as she nodded her approval. 

Odin was thrilled when he heard Lofn's plan ! He especially liked the fact that many of the details were to be left up to his discretion. Several days before he had sat dejectedly watching Queen Helga, not only reject her son's request to marry Myrgjol, but also imprison the young man under the watchful eyes of her guards at their great hall in Herjardalr. Now, however, he felt hopeful and energized by a plan that had many intricate facets which relied heavily upon his skills of peace and war. 

" A ghost army that will not harm the Midgardians that they attack. Hmm, ...., that could be a bit tricky. I do have the ability to raise the dead,....."

Odin stopped and grinned. 

" But then again I do not have to raise up the dead. I have the einherjar to do my bidding ! " he shouted joyfully. 

Frigga could not help but smile at her husband's growing enthusiasm for Lofn's daring plan. 

" My husband, have you decided who this ' Third Party ' will be ? " she asked. 

Odin's eye lit up like a star as he replied to his wife's question. 

" Of course I have ! It is the most important part of my,....., Lofn's plan ! Only King Ring of the Swedes is powerful enough to force King Harjulf and King Vifinnr to put aside a generation of hatred and band together in an alliance against a common enemy. " he explained. 

Lofn knelt down in front of the All-Father and looked up at him. 

" Can the einherjar be trusted not to injure any of the innocent Midgardians, and yet still do enough damage to force the King of Swedes into a war ? " she asked somewhat meekly. 

Odin's smile disappeared for a moment as he replied. 

The einherjar are mine to command ! " They will do as I ask ! " he assured Lofn in an annoyed tone. 

Odin dissipated his anger with a deep breath before rising up from his high-seat and walking towards the golden doors of his great hall. The Valfather said nothing as he left Frigga and Lofn behind, for his mind was weighing every option available to him to make this complicated plan work to perfection. 

Frigga, seeing that Lofn was perplexed by her husband's quick exit, called after husband.

" Odin ! Has our meeting ended ? " she asked. 

As he reached out for the golden door handle Odin, with a glint in his eye, quickly turned and shouted back to his wife.

" If I am to start a war I must prepare my army for battle ! " he replied with a chuckle. 

Lofn gave Frigga a questioning frown, to which the All-Mother responded to with a gentle laugh.

" You have made my husband very happy ! " 

Frigga's joyous smile quickly changed to a more serious expression. 

" For our plan to work, my dear, I will need for you to allow Heinrekr to escape the clutches of his mother. " she stated with a wink. 

Lofn nodded with a grin. 

" Understood, my queen ! " Lofn the handmaiden replied. 
​


- End Chapter 8


- Next : Chapter 9 : King Ring Declares War ! 



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

 


' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn ' : Chapter 7 : " How Do You Stop A War ? Simply Start Another ! "

2/17/2019

 

Forbidden Love : 


A Story Of The Goddess Lofn





Chapter 7



" How Do You Stop A War ? Simply Start Another ! " 
​

For hours Lofn sat upon the God's lofty high-seat at Hlidskjalf and watched as the armies of King Harjulf and King Vifinnr played a dangerous game of cat and mouse. King Vifinnr of Jamtaland had penetrated as far south into Herjardalr as he dared, and now he was circling back around to try and make his escape north back into his kingdom. King Harjulf, who had been thwarted in his attempt to surround the Jamtalanders when they abandoned their strategic position on a hill and made good their escape, were now being chased relentlessly by his angry Herjardalr army. From here, several solar systems away in the vast universe, Lofn could feel the intense hatred that these two kings felt for each other, and worse yet was the animosity that existed between the common soldiers in each army.     

Lofn, using logic and wisdom, listed in her mind what the people of Herjardalr and Jamtaland had in common. It was a long list, but not one that was particularly helpful in finding a solution to the difficult problem that Frigga and Odin had placed in her hands. Both people had a great loathing for one another; they had a long history of conflict and war; and in their minds and hearts they could each remember losing a husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister, or a friend to the other side. 

The despondent Goddess shook her head and tried to go back even further in their history to find a common denominator that she might be able to manipulate in her favor. 

" Well, they share a common border, which they are now killing each other over. Both may have come from different clans, but they have a common Germanic ancestry,.....that neither can remember,.... and they both share common resources, such as water, timber, and minerals,..., for which they are willing to kill each other to gain more of ! " she whispered to herself dejectedly. 

Lofn nervously began to twirl her hair in between her fingers as something close to the border in between the two kingdoms caught her attention. The young man named Heinrekr was holding both of Myrgjol's hands and was twirling her around and around. Both of the lovers were laughing with the great joy and innocence of youth as they playfully expressed their love for one another. As Lofn focused her attention further she was able to hear them speaking.   

" Don't be afraid ! I won't let you go ! I will never let you go ! " Heinrekr shouted happily to Myrgjol as her feet slowly lifted off of the ground. 

" Put me down ! Put me down !! " Myrgjol shouted back at Heinrekr nervously. 

Slowly, not because he wanted to stop playing the game, but because he was tiring, Heinrekr slowed his rotation until Myrgjol's feet once again touched the ground. For a moment they continued to dance around in a circle, but eventually exhaustion, and a loss of equilibrium, finally overcame them, and the young couple fell into each other's arms, before collapsing onto the ground. As they lay there holding each other tightly Lofn heard Myrgjol whisper into Heinrekr's ear. 

" What will we do Heinrekr ? Our parents will never allow us to be together ! " she told him as her lips quivered nervously. 

Heinrekr gently pushed Myrgjol's head off of his shoulder, and kissed her passionately on the lips. When their lips parted Heinrekr pushed her out to arm's length, and looked deeply into the eyes of the one he loved with all his heart.  

" I am going to tell them today that I wish to marry you.  No ! I will demand It ! " he explained to her. 

Myrgjol tried to smile, but she knew all too well that despite her lover's sincerity there was little or no hope of gaining the permission of his parents for their union. And she knew with absolute certainty that there was no way that her parents would allow a marriage between them, because it would also join their kingdoms together. 

" King Harjulf and Queen Helga will not give their blessing to our marriage, and you know it ! " she replied bitterly as tears welled up in her eyes, and a sad pout rose up on her lips. 

Heinrekr reached out and caught a tear rop before it reached Myrgjol's chin, and rubbed it against his lips. The salty taste of her tear seemed to embolden him to new heights. 

" I will tell them ! And I will make them agree to our marriage ! And if they say no,...., well,..., then we will run away to the land of the Swedes together ! " he shouted for all the world to know. 

Myrgjol allowed her head to fall dejectedly to her chest. 

" They will say no. And you know as well as I do that the Swedes do not like Jamtalanders, or Herjardalrs very much, and would not welcome us into their kingdom. " she replied with a whimper.           

Heinrekr lifted Myrgjol's chin and kissed her gently where the tear had left a wet track upon her cheek. The brash young man then turned and ran to his horse. After he mounted, he reined his horse around and grinned at Myrgjol from ear to ear. 

" And I am going to do it right now ! " he exclaimed before kicking his horse into a fast gallop. 

Gentle Lofn felt something well up inside of her as she watched Myrgjol meekly wave goodbye to her brave lover. Her heart ached when she saw Myrgjol collapse onto the ground in a heap, and burst into tears, as Heinrekr disappeared into the distance. Then, much like a kettle of water that had begun to boil, something deep within her began to set her senses in motion. And when the helplessness locked within her made these feelings turn to anger Myrgjol banged her right hand on the arm of the high-seat angrily. 

" Instead of sitting here feeling sorry for myself I should be fighting for these two lovers. Everyone on Midgard seems to be against them, but I am a force that will somehow bind them together. If I have to, I will declare war on both the Herjardalr and Jamtalanders myself ! " she shouted at the viewer as if it could somehow understand what she was saying. 

Then, suddenly, as if Thor had had struck her with a bolt of lightning, she jumped up from the high-seat, and with wide eyes and a little grin she added : 

" Yes ! That is it ! How do you stop a war ? " she asked herself. 

" Simply start another ! That is how I will bring these people who hate each other together ! " she shouted happily. 


- End Chapter 7


- Next : Chapter 8 : The Ghost Army



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

' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn ' : Chapter 6 : Gentle Lofn

2/16/2019

 

Forbidden Love : 

A Story Of The Goddess Lofn 




Chapter 6


Gentle Lofn

Lofn was not surprised when Sjofn informed her that Odin and Frigga were asking to see her. Many times over the past millennium she had been called upon to mitigate a love that was forbidden by one, or both families of the children. In her dealings with such matters she had gained great wisdom as to how to turn the minds of humans, and was awarded with the honor of high praise from both the All-Mother and the All-Father for her successful work. On the world known as Midgard she was so highly regarded that a form of her name had come to mean their word ' Praise '. 

What did worry Lofn, as she made her way up the golden path to Odin's great hall, was the simple fact that Sjofn had told her that Odin had called the situation, " Dire ", and that it involved not only the parents of the lovers, but the populations of two entire kingdoms. She had at times been asked to change the minds of grandparents, and others in the lover's extended families, in addition to the parents, but she had never tried to change the opinions of so many, and it concerned her greatly. 

As she reached out for the large golden handle, to open the immense doors at Hlidskjalf, it suddenly swung inward away from her. After stumbling forward slightly Lofn looked up to see Syn standing stoically before her, with the door handle in one hand, and a mighty spear firmly held in the other. 

" Welcome Lofn. Odin and Frigga are waiting for you in the viewing room. " she stated with all the warmth of a blizzard. 

Lofn nodded to the warrior Goddess, who Odin personally chose to guard his hall in addition to his wife's abode at Fensalir, before returning her greeting. 

" Thank you Syn ! It is so good to see you once again ! " she replied with all the warmth that Syn's greeting had lacked. 

As Lofn stepped forward slightly Syn quickly closed the door behind her. Syn then returned to her post, at the side of the entrance, where she guarded the king and queen of Asgard. The protector of the hall waited for a moment, but when Lofn dawdled at the entrance she pointed to the rear of the hall before reiterating her earlier statement. 

" Odin and Frigga are waiting ! " she repeated with a hint of impatience. 

Lofn turned to face the warrior, pursed her lips, and bowed her head slightly before spinning around in such an abrupt manner that the bottom of her dress twirled around as though she were doing a dance. 

" Then I am off to see the royal couple ! " she stated firmly but pleasantly as she began to walk up the aisle between the feasting tables to the rear of the hall. 

Lofn drew in a deep breath when she finally reached the archway that led into the viewing room at Hlidskjalf. The cold reception she had received from Syn had only served to reinforce her concerns, and made her realize how, "Dire ", this situation must truly be. She waited a moment for the feeling of being flustered to pass before entering the great room. 

Both the lord and queen of Asgard turned in their high-seats when they sensed the presence of the Goddess Lofn. As she passed under the archway the Goddess was not surprised by the attention she had attracted. For she half expected them to know that she had arrived, if not through their abilities to see the future, but by the tapping of her heels that echoed through the cavernous hall. As she stopped just beyond the archway Odin addressed her. 

" Come in my dear ! " The All-Father stated warmly. 

Frigga quickly joined in. 

" Yes ! Come in Lofn. It seems that once again we are in need of your unique abilities to change the minds of humans to accept the love between their child, and another's child, despite their objections to the union. " she told Lofn as she pointed at the floor. 

Lofn bowed slightly before walking over to a spot between the two high-seats and kneeling there. The Goddess craned her neck slightly forward to glance down at the viewing porthole, that had been first opened by Buri, shortly after he was licked from the block of ice by the proto-cow Audhumla. 

" You have summoned me o' great ones ? " she asked after not seeing anything of interest in the images below.   

Odin motioned for her to rise, and then tapped the arm of his high-seat. 

" Come sit here next to me. I have something I wish you to see. " he told her. 

Frigga's eyes narrowed angrily as she countermanded her husband's request. 

" You may sit on the arm of my chair, my dear ! " the All-Mother told her abruptly. 

It was now Odin's turn to sound indignant. 

" My dear wife ! It matters little to me which seat arm she sits upon to see that which I want to show her ! " he replied in a harsh tone. 

Frigga raised an eyebrow at her husband's sudden show of anger. She had tried to understand Odin's infidelity over the years, telling herself that he had slept with these females for the greater good of Asgard and Midgard, or for the acquisition of wisdom and knowledge. Over the years, however, the list had grown long with Jord, Rindr, Grid, and Gunnlod, to mention only a few. And when Odin had chosen Syn to guard his great hall, as well as her abode, it made the Queen of Asgard wonder what her husband's true motives were once again. 

With a hint of bitterness in her voice she responded to her husband's terseness. 

" Fine ! Then she will sit with me ! " she quickly shot back. 

Odin rolled his eye and shook his head as he pointed below to the porthole which showed a meadow in the realm of Midgard. Suddenly, from the far right of the viewer two riders, on fast horses, shot across the landscape in what appeared to be a race. 

" The young man is Heinrekr. He is the son of King Harjulf Hornbriotr, and his queen, Helga. The female is called Myrgjol. She has just recently,...., come of age,..., and has fallen in love with the young man. Unfortunately her father and mother are from the Kingdom of Jamtaland, and they are the sworn enemy of King Harjulf's kingdom of Herjardalr. " Odin explained calmly. 

Lofn, despite being made to feel very uncomfortable by the bickering of the royal couple, watched intently as the couple raced across the meadow. Her attention was diverted only when she felt a hand grip her forearm. 

" So as you can clearly see, my dear, we have quite the conundrum here. Not only do we have to turn the minds and hearts of the parents away from their hatred for one another, but we must somehow make those who live in these two kingdoms put aside their hostile attitudes towards each other which have existed for several decades now. " she explained as she gently squeezed the arm of the Goddess. 

Lofn first looked over at Odin, and then back to Frigga, before returning her attention to the images below. 

" That is much to be accomplished in a short time. It can take years to build trust and friendships, and only a day to destroy the very foundation that they are set upon. " she told the royal couple.  

The question is how do we erase decades of hatred ? " she asked no one in particular.

Odin slapped the arms of his high-seat before rising up and motioning for his wife to leave with him. 

" Well ! We will leave you to your task. Take as long as you need here at Hlidskjalf to come up with a solution to this complex dilemma. " the All-Father told the Goddess. 

Frigga rose up as well, patted Lofn on the cheek, and stroked her hair before heading to the archway with her husband. A moment before she left Frigga turned and smiled back at Lofn. 

" I know that you will not disappoint us,...., for you never have in the past ! " she said happily before disappearing around the corner out of sight. 

Lofn, with a look of horror painted on her gentle face, slid off of the arm of Frigga's chair, landing on the seat with a thump. The task that had just been given to her by the most powerful Gods in the cosmos was almost too much for the docile Goddess to bear. As she sat there shaking her head in disbelief Lofn watched the couple dismount from their horses and embrace. The Goddess had not seen who had won the race, and it did not seem to matter to Heinrekr and Myrgjol. Lofn could not help but smile despite her grave concerns. 

" How am I to change the minds of thousands of Midgardians who hate one another ? I doubt that even Freyja with her powerful seidr could perform such a feat ! " she whispered to herself. 


- End Chapter 6


- Next : Chapter 7 : " How Do You Stop A War ? Simply Start Another ! 



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

' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn ' : Chapter 5 : Frigga Demands, Odin Relents

2/12/2019

 

Forbidden Love : 

A Story Of The Goddess Lofn


​

Chapter 5


Frigga Demands, Odin Relents

Odin pounded his fist on the arm of his high-seat angrily, and repeatedly, as he watched King Vifinnr change his mind, and remove his army from the hill near the border between Herjardalr and Jamtaland. If only Vifinnr had waited one more day to leave the hill the Herjardalr army would have completely surrounded the Jamtaland forces, and possibly killed them all, allowing Odin to claim victory in the game of war he was playing with his wife. As it turned out, however, the king of Jamtaland was able to escape southward, through a narrow corridor in between the two divisions of the Herjardalr army before they could spring their trap. 

Despite Frigga's adamant denials to the contrary, Odin found it very difficult to accept that his wife had nothing to do with King Vifinnr's sudden incursion southward deeper into Herjardalr. It seemed highly unlikely to the Valfather that a human, on his own, would suddenly have changed his mind and decided to leave prime defensible high ground, that the king of Jamtaland had only days before considered to be the perfect location to destroy the Herjardalr army.     

Odin knew oh too well that his wife had the ability to reach out to the minds of those weaker than herself, and plant a seed of hope, or doubt, that could not only change a decision already made, but also redirect the course of history. The All-Father, as strong as he was, had himself been the victim of his wife's " persuasion " once or twice in the past, but over the years he had carefully trained his mind, and now felt confident that he could resist her will. Her smile, and wonderful charm, however, were also potent weapons that had to be carefully dealt with. 

Frigga entered the viewing room and sat down next to her husband. She watched with great interest as Vifinnr led his army deeper into Herjardalr to escape King Harjulf's army. As she looked up from the viewer, and glanced over at her husband, she could not help but notice that Odin's expression mirrored that of King Harjulf's confused and disappointed look down on Midgard. The All-Mother quickly decided that now, during what appeared to be a lull in the war, would be the best time to change the direction of this game. With a casual wave of her hand the image below moved away from the armies that opposed each other near the border of Jamtaland and Herjardalr, to a young man and a young woman kissing near a river further to the east. 

Odin stared down at the new images for a long moment before turning to his wife and asking exactly what it was that she was showing him. Frigga smiled pleasantly at her husband before responding to his question in a very nonchalant manner. 

" Well,....., it seems as though while we were playing our game of war, love has been forged between the children of the kings which we are using as our pawns. " she told him. 

Odin shook his head from side to side in a most menacing manner. 

" If you are trying to distract me from making my next move by complicating the game I must tell you right now, my dear, that it will not work ! " he explained to her in no uncertain terms. 

Frigga shrugged her shoulders innocently. 

" Why,...., I surely do not know what you mean. I am merely trying to comply with the edict that we both agreed upon all those years ago about protecting those who become involved in what I believe you termed ' forbidden love '. " she replied with a little smile pasted upon her face. 

Odin narrowed his eye, and stared at his wife for a very long moment before reluctantly looking back down at Midgard. He watched as the son of Harjulf, Heinrekr, playfully chased Myrgjol, the daughter of Vifinnr, around a large oak tree. The Valfather winced slightly when the young man caught the young maiden and kissed her passionately on the mouth. It was all too much for Odin to bear and he quickly looked away from the viewer. Once again he reluctantly turned his attention back to his wife. 

" Summon Sjofn at once ! " the All-Father bellowed.

Frigga nodded to her husband. With a little grin upon her face, and using the force of her mind, she called out to the handmaiden, the Goddess Sjofn, who only moments later walked into the great hall. Odin watched his wife closely, as the Goddess of Love approached their high-seats, to see if he could detect any deceit in his wife's eyes, or in her mannerisms. He saw nothing, however, and turned his glaring eye to the handmaiden of Frigga. 

" You have called for me my lady ? " Sjofn asked politely. 

Frigga nodded. 

" Yes, my dear. I believe that my husband has a few questions to ask you. " she explained. 

Sjofn nodded. 

" It would be my pleasure. " Sjofn responded pleasantly. 

Odin glanced over at his wife suspiciously again before redirecting his attention back to Sjofn. 

" Look at the viewer, please. And tell me, did my wife instruct you to make Heinrekr and Myrgjol fall in love with one another ? " he asked in much the same manner as a prosecutor tries to lead a witness in court. 

Sjofn tried to remain calm, but her eyes widened with indignant rage.

" No, my Lord ! I would never do such a thing ! I only bring together those who have a passing attraction for each other, but who, through circumstances beyond there control never have a chance to fall in love. What you see here below is what some might call ' love at first sight '. I would never think of forcing a man and a woman together. " she replied as tears welled up in her eyes. 

Odin could not help but see that his redirection of anger from his wife to Sjofn had hurt the Goddess of Love deeply, and he immediately regretted accusing her. The All-Father's expression immediately softened as he once again addressed the Goddess. 

" Forgive me, my dear. I did not mean to place into question your integrity. I am merely trying to find the best way to handle what could become a dire situation. For these two lovers, by my own edict, need to be somehow given permission to marry, despite the fact that the people of their separate kingdoms hate each other, and their father kings are currently at war with one another. " he responded in a much kinder tone. 

Sjofn's smile reappeared almost immediately. It was rare for the All-Father to apologize, and she accepted it graciously. 

" My Lord ! If anyone can find a solution to such a complex problem I am certain that you can, great one. For your wisdom and knowledge is unsurpassed in the nine worlds. " she told him with a gentle bow of her head. 

Odin took a deep breath and stroked his beard several times before thanking the Goddess of Love for clearing up the matter at hand. As she turned to leave Odin called out to her. 

" If you would be so kind as to ask Lofn to come here, I would be most grateful to you. " he told her in the form of a  request.

Sjofn turned and nodded. 

" It would be my honor, Great One. " she replied with a smile. 

It took all of Frigga's willpower to hide her sly grin. No, it had not been Sjofn who had brought the Midgardian couple together. It was she who had made Myrgjol go bathing in the River Slyan, and she had given Heinrekr the hunting dream, and the impetus to peek at the maiden. The rest of course was human nature and did not need a push from a Goddess, or anyone for that matter. Love was stronger than any Aesir's persuasion, or even any form of magic. And although Freyja had once told her that the fertility God's seidr could make humans fall in love, she did not really believe that it could. But then again the Vanir were a strange lot that the All-Mother did not fully understand. 

" You are wise indeed to bring Lofn into such a dire situation as this. For it is beneath your status as Lord of Asgard to dabble in affairs of the heart. And only Lofn is truly skilled with bringing those together whose love is forbidden. " she told her husband with grin. 

Odin stared deeply into his wife's eyes for the deceit that he was sure lurked behind her sky blue irises. Once again, however, he saw nothing. After a few moments of reflection he responded. 

" Yes ! I will allow Lofn to heal old wounds, and bring together those who are destined to be together. " he stated with a touch of bitterness. 

After a momentary pause Odin added to his statement. 

" But I will continue to watch this situation very, very closely ! " he warned his wife. 


- End Chapter 5


- Next : Chapter 6 : Gentle Lofn



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



                

               

' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn : ' Chapter 4 : Two Moves Are Better Than One

2/10/2019

 

Forbidden Love : 

A Story Of The Goddess Lofn




Chapter 4 


Two Moves Are Better Than One

The All-Mother was appalled, but not entirely surprised, as she watched her husband interject himself into the game of war to gain what she considered to be an unfair advantage. In a rare moment of anger she clenched her fists tightly and whispered words that were unkind about her husband. When she eventually calmed down to the point where she was thinking rationally once again, and idea suddenly popped into her head. A small grin lifted the edges of her lips as she nodded her head slowly up and down. 

" Well ! If my husband can introduce himself onto the game board that is Midgard then so too can I ! " she whispered angrily.

" I believe I will take this game in a whole new direction ! " she said slyly. 

Then suddenly her grin turned into a full smile and she laughed out loud. 

" A dream can be a most potent weapon. " she told herself. 


________________________________________________________________________________________________



Myrgjol, the daughter of King Vifinnr and Queen Jorunna, awoke from her nightmare shivering and in a cold sweat. Though she could not remember the entirety of her dream, which had caused her present state of confusion, and anxiety, she knew enough to know that she now felt dirty and violated. When she realized that the dream had only mirrored her monthly condition, she was both relieved and disappointed. To cleanse her mind and body of the " curse ", as she called it, Myrgjol decided to take a ride south to the river Slyan to bathe in private. After quickly dressing she called for her man servant to saddle her horse. 

It was a beautiful day in southern Jamtaland. The sky was blue, with only a few white puffy clouds to block out Sunna's  glorious warming rays. As Myrgjol kicked her horse harder and harder the breeze seemed to blow away the " curse " of womanhood that had come upon her so suddenly. Her mother had told her that becoming a woman was a blessing from the Goddess Frigga, but Myrgjol simply could not see this horrible malady in that light. Despite the fact that her mother was married at fourteen, and had Almsteinn at sixteen, Myrgjol, who was now thirteen, did not look forward to marriage, and motherhood. 

As Myrgjol slowed her horse down to a trot, along the muddy bank of the River Slyan, she glanced over to find a spot that was deep enough to bathe in, but which did not have too swift of a current. She quickly found a deep pool shaded beneath a gnarly old oak tree, and dismounted. Before going into the water she tied her horse to the trunk of the tree, and then looked all around to make certain that she was truly all alone. Only when she was sure that there was no one else near did she begin to undress. 

When the tip of her big toe broke the top of the water she recoiled from its cold touch, and retreated back to the bank. She stood for a long moment on the river's edge, with her arms crossed, before taking a deep breath and jumping into the cold mountain fed water. As she surfaced Myrgjol swam over to the shallow section of the pool, that was not shaded by the branches of the great oak, and began to wash herself in the cool water. 

With every rub of her hand Myrgjol was not only washing the dirt and sweat from her skin, but she was trying to rid herself of the frustration and helpless feelings of becoming something that she felt she was not yet ready for. The cool water relieved her cramps and feverishness, but it did nothing to subdue her crankiness over her unwanted plight. As her hands washed over her stomach she touched herself lower and felt an inner shiver run through her body, that was not caused by the cool river water. 

Slowly her fingers manipulated her genitals until each new feeling of ecstasy made Myrgjol become lost in a new type of dream world, one which she had never experienced before. As her body contorted with orgasmic pleasure she began to think that maybe this new chapter in her life might not be quite so bad. The " dream " ended when she heard a twig snap nearby. And although Myrgjol did not know why she suddenly felt embarrassed she swam out into deeper water to hide her nakedness. 

That morning Heinrekr awoke to the disappointment of another day. He wished that his father, King Harjulf, had taken him along with the army, but his mother Queen Helga would not allow him to go, stating that he was still too young for such adventures. " I am fifteen now, mother ! " he had complained. As usual, however, his mother prevailed and the army had left without him. 

He had not planned on hunting this day, but the night before he had a vivid dream of killing a huge deer, and had left at first light to make that dream a reality. He had been tracking deer and elk near the River Slyan when he heard a large splash from the direction of the river. Thinking it must be a deer, or better yet a herd of deer crossing the river, he quickly dismounted and quietly went over to investigate. What he saw in the water intrigued him much more than a deer or even a whole herd of elk ! 

Heinrekr slowly moved forward, inching his way ever closer to the river, where the naked girl was bathing herself. He had almost reached the bank when he stepped on a twig alerting the bather to his presence. 

" Do not fear me ! I mean you no harm ! " he quickly shouted to the frightened girl. 

With her face blushed red with embarrassment Myrgjol asked the stranger an angry question, in a most indignant tone. 

" How long have you been watching me ?! " 

Heinrekr grinned boyishly. 

" Not for as long as I would have liked. " he answered slyly. 

Myrgjol shook her fist violently at the stranger, which caused her to bob up and down in the water exposing her budding breasts. 

" An honorable man would not have stood there leering at me, but would have graciously announced his presence with his back turned ! " she scolded the stranger. 

Heinrekr chuckled. 

" If I had known from the start that it was a beautiful woman, and not a deer which had jumped into the river, I would have surely called out to you earlier. " he explained. 

Myrgjol could not stop herself from blushing again. She had never been called " beautiful " before by any of the boys in the village, and the word made a warm feeling run through her that she enjoyed very much. 

" Well ! I will forgive you for your indiscretion this time if you will turn your back and allow me to leave the water and get dressed unhindered by your stare. " she told him with a smile that she could not hide. 

Heinrekr grinned from ear to ear. 

" Will this do ? " he asked as he turned around. 

Myrgjol narrowed her eyes as she carefully observed the stranger's stance. 

" I believe that will be alright. " she replied in an unconvincing tone. 

Heinrekr could hear the maiden as she slowly splashed out of the water, and with every footfall that fell in the sucking mud along the bank he felt something rise up inside of him. Eventually the temptation became too much and he could not resist taking a peek. As he watched her dry herself off he noticed a small stain appear on the cloth. 

" Are you injured ? You are bleeding ?! " he asked.  

Myrgjol turned her body away from the young man, who had broken his oath not to look, and scolded him again. 

" My body is no concern of yours ! " she told him, as she continued to clean herself up. 

Heinrekr was both pleased and embarrassed that he had looked and been caught.

" I will not apologize. It was well worth risking your scorn to see how lovely you are. " he told her. 

As Myrgjol finished putting on her dress she asked the question that should have been asked much earlier. 

" May I have the name of the rascal who has seen me naked ? " she inquired angrily. 

The young man turned back around and smiled at her. 

" I am Heinrekr, the son of King Harjulf Hornbriotr of Herjadalr. " he replied proudly. 

Myrgjol instinctively pulled her knife out of her belt before responding.

" And I am Myrgjol, the daughter of King Vifinnr of Jamtaland ! " she informed Heinrekr while brandishing her seax menacingly at him. 

Heinrekr slowly put his hands up in the air. 

" I surrender to your great beauty. " he told her graciously. 

Myrgjol knew that she should have run over and tried to kill the son of her father's enemy, but there was something in his smile that prevented her from reacting to her instincts. As she placed her weapon back in its sheath she stood staring at the young man with the boyish smile. Then, suddenly, as if everything her mother told her had come true, she thought to herself. 

" Is this what it feels like to be a woman ? Is this what it is to be in love ! "


________________________________________________________________________________________________



From her high-seat at Hlidskjalf Frigga grinned from ear to ear. 

" If I may say so myself, I think I played that rather well. " she whispered happily to herself as she glanced down at the viewing portal. 

" I do believe that every once in a while dreams do come true ! " she quickly added. 

Then, as if someone had tickled her, she began to laugh heartily at her own joke.               


- End Chapter 4


- Next : Chapter 5 : Frigga Demands, Odin Relents



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

' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn ' : Chapter 3 : One Eye, Plural Vision !

2/9/2019

 

Forbidden Love : 

A Story Of The Goddess Lofn 




Chapter 3



One Eye, Plural Vision ! 

Odin, despite having only one eye, sees more than most when evaluating the merits of any situation.  Although one of his eyes was missing the Valfather has what is essentially a third eye, an inner eye of wisdom, that allows him to quickly assess and determine the best course of action to take to obtain the optimum results. This third eye has great peripheral vision, especially when it comes to the art of war. 

" I am going to return to my bedchamber, my dear, to weigh my options before making my next move. " Odin told his wife before getting up from his high-seat at Hlidskjalf and leaving the viewing room. 

Frigga, with a smug grin turning up the corners of her mouth, responded just as he disappeared.

" Yes, my dear ! Dwell on it long and hard because it may well be the most important move in our match. " she whispered under her breath. 

Odin had no intention of retiring to his bedchamber. On the contrary, the All-Father had already decided on his next move, and was slipping away to implement his plan. Passing his bedchamber he continued on to the front doors of the great hall, and flung them open. Placing two fingers into his mouth Odin whistled for his great horse Sleipnir, which arrived before he could remove those same fingers. Odin walked over to the horse, that had been a present from Loki, and gently patted the neck of his eight-legged mount. He then whispered into its ear with a broad smile upon his face. 

" To Midgard, old friend ! " was all he said before placing his left foot into the golden stirrup and mounting the great beast. 

Sleipnir's ears pointed straight up when it heard Odin's command. And when he felt the rider safely balanced in the saddle its ears dropped and a puff of smoke wafted out of each nostril before it broke into a fast gallop. With all eight legs pounding the road to Bifrost at an incredible speed Odin had to hold onto the reins tightly so not to be forced out of the saddle by the horse's long strides, or the blast of air that violently rushed passed both horse and rider. 

Heimdall could tell by Sleipnir's pace that the All-Father would not be stopping to chat with him at his post. The great stoic guardian opened the gates to the Rainbow Bridge, and then quickly moved off to the side to avoid being trampled. Sleipnir flew by at such a high rate of speed that the Guardian of Asgard barely had time to nod his respect to his lord and master. 

Odin emerged from Gullfoss with a refreshing splash of fresh water upon his face. The Valfather pulle on the reins, turned his horse, and immediately headed east across the great ocean, kicking up a vast spray that fell as rain behind them as they went. Quickly horse and rider crossed this immense body of water and were soon back on the terra firma of the Northlands. Moments later they arrived in a dense wooded area just west of King Harjulf's army. 

Odin slid out of his saddle and before his feet touched the Midgardian soil he transformed himself into the wanderer known as Grimnir. With staff in hand he made his way towards the Herjardalr army. When Grimnir heard the pounding of hoof beats coming his way, however, he hid himself behind a tree at the edge of the woodlands. And it was from here that he would begin to play the role of a defenseless wanderer. 

Grimnir stepped out from behind the tree just as King Harjulf's horse was about to pass. Startled, the horse reared up and protested the sudden appearance of the intruder by kicking its front legs to defend itself. The wanderer pretended to protect himself by shielding his head with his arms as the horse's metal shoes flashed close to his face. 

" Forgive me my lord ! I did not mean to frighten your horse ! " Grimnir explained humbly.

As two of the king's warriors placed their horses in between the king and the elderly man, Harjulf shook his head and waved them off. 

" Why are you wandering around out here in the woods so close to the border with Jamtaland ?! " the king demanded to know. 

Grimnir slid his hand halfway down the walking staff, and knelt on one knee before he responded. 

" Again I ask for your pardon, my lord. I was trying to escape the clutches of King Vifinnr, and his army. That, my lord, is why I am out here lost and all alone in these dark forests. " he stated in a meek voice. 

King Harjulf leaned over the neck of his horse and stared down at the man with a great look of concern on his face. 

" Is King Vifinnr's army near ?! " he asked. 

Grimnir grinned slightly despite his best effort not to. 

" I fear, my lord, that he is only a few miles up ahead,...., and he is waiting for you on top of a great hill that overlooks the surrounding meadow. " he replied. 

Harjulf straightened himself in his saddle and pounded his left hand against his leg. 

" It is a trap ! " the king said to no one in particular. 

Grimnir grinned a little more as he responded to the king's concern. 

" Traps can be avoided, my lord. " Grimnir stated with a gleam in his eye. 

The king frowned suspiciously at the prostrated man as he asked : 

" What do you mean old man ! ? " 

Grimnir pointed behind him, first to his left, and then to his right. 

" There are narrow, but thick forests, that pass on both sides of that hill. If you were to split your army and quietly march through these woodlands you could get behind the Jamtaland army and cut off their incursion into your lands to the south. " Grimnir replied. 

King Harjulf turned to Ramundr, one of his best scouts, and pointed southward. 

" Ride ahead and see if what this old man says is true ! " he commanded. 

Ramundr nodded. 

" Yes, my lord ! " the scout shouted before kicking his horse forward into a swift gallop. 

King Harjulf then turned to his warriors.

" Keep this man here until we find out if he is telling the truth, or if he is leading us into a trap ! " he ordered. 

The king's guard quickly obeyed and surrounded the old man.

A short while later Ramundr returned and reined his horse up hard in front of the king. 

" My lord !! King Vifinnr is indeed positioned in battle formation on a hill up ahead. And there are forests that pass the hill to the east and the west. " he explained clearly despite being slightly winded by the hard ride. 

King Harjulf grinned from ear to ear as he reached into the pouch he had tied to his belt. He looked down at the old man for a moment before tossing the coin to him. The king was surprised, and chuckled slightly, at how spry the man was as he caught the coin in midair. 

" You may go ! " he told the cloaked man. 

The king was about to order his army into two divisions when he instead glanced back over at the old Herjardalr man who had turned to leave. 

" What is your name ? " he suddenly wanted to know. 

Odin, in the form of the wanderer, turned and looked up at the King of Herjardalr. 

" I am called Grimnir, my lord. " he answered.   

King Harjulf smiled and nodded to the man. 

" Thank You Grimnir ! " the king responded with a rare sense of kindness. 

Grimnir bowed his head slightly before turning and disappearing into the dark woods as quickly as he had appeared. 


- End Chapter 3


- Next : Chapter 4 : Two Moves Are Better Than One



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

        

     

' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn : Chapter 2 : " They Are Nothing More Than A Pestilence ! "

2/3/2019

 

Forbidden Love :

A Story Of The Goddess Lofn

​


Chapter 2


" They Are Nothing More Than A Pestilence ! " 

" Why did we not stay and fight longer ? ! " Almsteinn asked angrily as he kicked his horse harder to keep up with his father's powerful steed.  

" And why are we heading south before turning back for home ? " he quickly added before his father could answer the first question. 

The king turned in his saddle to look back, and shot his son an evil look as he answered his second question first.  

" I intend to circle around so as not to meet King Harjulf's army again. " 

" And to answer your first ridiculous question, what purpose would it have served me to stay and wait for King Harjulf's entire army to arrive ? ! " King Vifinnr fired back. 

Almsteinn shrugged his shoulders. 

" It might have given King Harjulf pause to attack us again ! " he responded. 

King Vifinnr shook his head slowly from side to side. 

" You need to start thinking like a king and not as a boy pretending to be a great warrior ! We were extremely fortunate to find a small division of Harjulf's army separated from his main army. We caught them by surprise, in their own territory, and were able to destroy them with few losses to our own army ! But that terrain was flat and gave us no advantage if and when Harjulf's entire army came up in support. Besides son, the Herjardalr are only one of many enemies of which I have ! To the west Sparbyggjafylki, Verdaelafylki, and Stiordaelafylki would love nothing more than to take land from us ! And to the east, of course, the damned Swedes can never seem to be able to decide whether they wish to be our ally or our enemy ! These people from the north are merely one of many who wish to take from me what is rightfully mine ! They are nothing more than a pestilence ! And I will not risk my entire army on ground where I have no tactical advantage over my foe ! Is that not a good enough reason for you, boy !! " he screamed at his inexperienced, but eager son. 

Almsteinn hung his chin low against his chest, and allowed his horse to fall a few steps behind his father's mount, so he could not witness the tears that welled up in his eyes. To be admonished by one's father was no disgrace, but to have it done in such a harsh fashion in front of part of the army was quite an embarrassment for him. Even more so at this moment because the Jamtalanders seemed to be in good spirits over their easy victory over King Harjulf's army. 

What fueled his father's hatred of the people from the south Almsteinn did not know. Many kings, and Jarls for that matter, had tried to encroach upon his father's kingdom, or usurp his power, but in those instances he remained calm and approached each calamity with wisdom and restraint. When it came to King Harjulf, and his people, however, there seemed to be no way for him to stem his fury. The mere mention of Harjulf's name would set off his father into a profanity laced rant that could last for quite some time, and propel him into the next war with the Herjardalr. Of course what set off the king's tirade was much less important than staying out of his way until it had ended ! 

As he watched his father bobbing up and down on his horse he could almost see in the tenseness of his shoulders, and the stiffness of his movements, that what he had asked had set his father of again. And he was not surprised in the least when his father reined in his horse and pointed to a hill in the distance. 

" There ! On that hill over there ! On that rise we will set up our defenses and wait for King Harjulf to meet us in battle on terrain that I have chosen ! " he shouted angrily to his commanders. 

As King Vifinnr watched his warriors being positioned on the hill the stabbing pain, that reached down deep into his soul, and which had plagued him off and on for some time, slowly began to ease, and once again he began to feel like himself. As the tension slowly eased it was almost as though he could not remember what had compelled him to fight here in the first place. But to stand and fight on this hill was his destiny.


________________________________________________________________________________________________

​

Frigga laughed as her husband pounded his fist upon the golden arm of his high-seat at Hlidskjalf. Odin narrowed his eye and his lips tightened with anger as he realized that once again he had been outmaneuvered. His wife, using only the power of her mind, had cast a spell over King Vifinnr which clouded his mind and filled him with anger. Although she could not be certain that this move would win her the war, she was confident it would greatly upset her husband's strategy in the game. 

" Did you really think that I would be satisfied with such a small victory ? No, my husband, I want to win the entire war ! " she asked, and then answered her own question. 

Odin narrowed his eye, and stroked his beard furiously, as his able mind shot back and forth between the many options that were available to him. 

" No, my dear ! I may have underestimated you in the past, but I am now older and much wiser. I fully understand how well you play the game of war. You have become as skilled as any man ! " he told her.

Frigga smiled from ear to ear.

" Well, my husband, I believe it is your move ! " she responded happily. 


- End Chapter 2


- Next : Chapter 3 : One Eye, Plural Vision !

​

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

Story 82 : ' Forbidden Love : A Story Of The Goddess Lofn ' : Chapter 1 : Hatred Most Intense

2/1/2019

 

Forbidden Love : 

A Story Of The Goddess Lofn




Chapter 1


 A Hatred Most Intense
​

Not all Norse tales were put to song by Pagan skalds, or written down by Christian Monks. A few were woven into the fabric of reality by the Norns, and played out by the Gods, using Midgard as a living game board, and the children of the Gods as their pawns. This is one such story.....       


​
King Harjulf sat upon his favorite steed Gulltoppr, a white horse with brown speckles, and a mane that was light brown but which looked gold in the sunlight. As he rode his horse slowly he stared around at the bloodstained battlefield. The meadow, which lay directly on the borders of Herjardalr and Jamataland had just the day before been a scene of blooming flowers, and hopping hares in a field of beauty and tranquility. Now that serene picture was gone, replaced by a horrifying view of the aftermath of battle known all too well as human slaughter. When the sea of the dead became to thick to navigate from his saddle the king dismounted.    

As Harjulf slowly guided his horse forward among the mutilated bodies, the great steed resisted his pull as it carefully stepped in between the tangled bodies and appendages that seemed to lie everywhere. With its eyes opened wide, and its head thrust back in a manner that showed the animals revulsion to what it was seeing, it reluctantly made its way through the sea of bloated bodies that gave off an odor that made both the horse and the king wince with every breath. 

At times such as these Harjulf liked to escape the present and think back to how he arrived at this point in his life. At one time he had been the bearer of the king's banner at the head of King Halvdan Svarte's army. That honor ended when in a drunken fury he killed the king's favorite commander with a silver horn. The blow was so severe that not only had he crushed the man's skull, but he broke the king's horn as well. King Svarte quickly put a price upon his head and outlawed him. With no other choice he was forced to flee the king's lands or be killed. From that moment on he was known to all as Harjulf Hornbriotr ( Harjulf Hornbreaker ).            

Harjulf smiled when he recalled how he had sought out, and found refuge, with the king of Uppsala. King Anund at first welcomed him with open arms, but when he was discovered in bed with Anund's kinswoman Helga, they both were forced to flee from the Swede's wrath.   

Not quite knowing where to go to find freedom from those who wished to do him harm, he traveled to the north, winding up in a lonely valley. Here at a place called Sliarosvellir, where a river known as the Sylvan flows, he and his wife settled down and found peace. Making himself the king of what he declared was now Herjardalr he built up an ever increasing army to conquer more lands to add to his new kingdom. At first the acquisition of land was fairly easy. After defeating a few weak Chieftains, and minor Jarls, most others were more than eager to join his army and become commanders, or even hirdmen under his leadership, to avoid banishment or death. With his massive army he rode proudly under a banner with the image of a broken horn upon it, and marched his warriors south, east, and west, pushing aside what little resistance the local folk could muster with ease. When he struck northward, however, he met the man who would become his arch nemesis. For here, in Jamataland, resided a most determined king called Vifinnr, who would neither join him, or surrender to his will. And so began a bitter war that had now lasted six years, and killed thousands on both sides. 

King Harjulf Hornbriotr was not quite certain what fueled his intense hatred of his rival to the north, but his loathing towards Vifinnr had grown exponentially over the past six years to the point where he now spent all of his time, and much of his kingdom's wealth, trying to destroy the king of Jamataland, who was at this moment trespassing on his lands to the south.

With each dead body that he passed on the bloodied battlefield, most of whom were from his army, Harjulf's fury grew to the point where he could no longer hold it in . When he finally reached the outer perimeter of the battlefield he pointed his finger southward. 

" I know that you can hear me King Vifinnr ! We will meet again,...., and this time I will kill you !! " he shouted to the empty hills that surrounded the meadow. 

King Harjulf Hornbriotr was hoping that the king of Jamataland could actually hear him, though he suspected that in all probability Vifinnr was actually miles away. What the king of Herjardalr did not realize, however, was that he was being watched very closely by a king, and a queen, who were much more powerful than any human monarchs !            


- End Chapter 1


- Next : Chapter : 2 : " They Are Nothing More Than A Pestilence ! " 



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

      
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