Clapping his hands over his ears, the Chief looked to the skyward looming beast in abject dismay. Before him was a beast the size of the Giants of Jotunheim and made of the stones and flame of the earth itself! "Great Odin!" exclaimed the Chief.
Placing a hand on the frightened man's shoulder the Priestess said calmly, "Hold your heart steady warrior. You may not need call upon your gods for aid just yet." Stepping forward, the Priestess held out her hand to her husband. In it he placed the Great War Spear and the Priestess suddenly exploded in a flash of amber light. Now standing a head taller and covered in shining armor the color of blued-steel, the Priestess spread her silver and black-tipped wings!
The Mountain looked down to see its ancient adversary and said in that thunderous voice, "I know thou hast not broken our agreement mine ancient enemy. I felt the crawling of fell creatures gnawing at mine insides with ill intent! Doth these vermin belong to thee mine enemy?"
The Chief already flabbergasted to find himself in the presence of both a giant and now a goddess, flinched like a frightened maiden as she suddenly ascended the sky with one powerful flap of her great wings. Looking toward the Black-skinned Knight, the Chief felt shamed.
The warrior stood ready for battle before so fearsome a beast as he did against his men. Picking himself up the Chief readied his iron-bound round shield and drew his axe and said, "I'll be damned before I let a black killer of men and beasts enter the Hall of Valhalla before I do!" The Knight looked over to the Chief and shot him a grin only those who have stood in the face of death and survived could appreciate.
High above the land the Priestess came to eye-level with the Elemental. She knew if the Mountain were allowed to vent his rage, the Lake too would rise in anger. The damage from the two Elemental's previous war took the land ages to heal! The fragile band of life having grown between them and nurtured by her all this time would be erased in an instant and only she could prevent that. Now in her true form, the Priestess' voice was powerful enough for the Mountain to hear her as she replied to its inquiry.
"Yes my ancient enemy the foolish young ones within you belong to me. They are of a span of existence which does not allow knowledge of our conflict except from stories and songs. So much time has passed they did not believe so great a being such as you could exist. I am certain they believe it now. Normally, I would say keep them and as their punishment take them to the roots of the world where you rest. But because they are so fragile and short of time such a punishment would be wasted on them."
The Elemental rumbled with anger that spread across the land and then said, "Mine rest is not to be trifled with! How canst I forgiveth such pitiful creatures for so great a transgression? Perhaps the full force of mine wrath shalt fall upon them as payment for their foolishness...."
Not wanting that to happen at all the Priestess interjected. "Pardon me my ancient enemy, but you do realize such action would rouse the River now turned Lake? In the time you have slept, your other ancient foe has grown much more powerful yet is content to not make war long as you sleep. Look upon the world as it is now. No longer is the earth the ruin it once was because of your battles.
Through both your powers and restraint a living world in which those who live here owe you their thanks. I know you have heard their thanksgivings over the ages my ancient enemy. Can you truthfully say that you are not pleased by what you see?"
Turning its great head about the great crescent shaped valley the Mountain saw the verdant landscape of forests and the vast patchwork of fertile fields within it. Looking across the Valley the Mountain could see its old nemesis the River no longer tore at its roots which was the point of contention during their epic battles. That the River had grown vast in a lake contained by a great bulwark of earth and stone from their struggle was also plain to see.
The Mountain realized the wisdom of not raising its enemy for the River's new power could tear away its very roots in one mighty flood. Most pleasing to the Mountain was the great pulse of life it could feel even whilst it slept. His tiny but powerful enemy was correct. This was a much better arrangement now than of times of yore. Turning its great head back to its brightly glowing enemy the Mountain asked, "So mine ancient enemy, what doth thou suggest?"
Relieved the Priestess replied, "Return the young ones to me. Their new found fear and respect for thee will be past down for many generations. You will not be disturbed for ages until they forget again. At that time, you will again awaken and make judgment upon what you see as to whether the world pleases you or not."
Long moments passed as the Mountain thought it over. Yet the wind began to slow and the Mountain replied, "It shall be thus. I shall offer up these irritating vermin under the condition they and their get stand guard over mine slumber until I again awaken."
Nodding, the Priestess agreed. "It shall be done as you wish my ancient enemy."
With a rumble of the earth the Elemental began to descend back within its resting place. As it descended it asked, "When I again awaken, whilst thou be present my ancient enemy?"
Smiling, the Priestess replied, "Time itself will stand judgment on that my ancient enemy!"
The Aesir Chief watched in awe as the Giant was again covered by the land as if nothing had happened. When the Goddess descended to earth, he fell to his knees and placed his forehead upon the ground. Once more he heard the gentle but authoritative feminine voice say, "Rise Chief of the Aesir." Quickly, the man gained his feet and looked upon the face of the woman he first saw.
Humbled, he started to speak but was cut off. "Did you hear the conditions of the Mountain?" Nodding his head sharply the Chief replied, "Yes Goddess, I did!" Pointing up the new mountain trail she commanded, "You may ascend the Mountain to retrieve the young ones. It will be your responsibility to instruct them on their role as its guardians.
You and your men are welcome to stay, even to venture forth and bring your families here if you wish. However, all who come must abide by the laws set down by the Lake and Mountain without exception. Am I understood?"
This time, the Chief bent his knee as he would to an Aesir Chief and said, "It shall be as you command Goddess." Dark gentle hands upon his shoulders guided the Chief to his feet. With the shorter woman looking up at his face she suddenly grew stern and said, "One more thing. Call me Priestess."
A sudden tear of joy crept from the Chief's weathered face as he said, "Aye ma'am, uh, Priestess." Gracefully, she stepped aside and the Chief set forth up the mountain trail with the full intent of putting 'foot to arse' to those damn fools when he caught up with them!
Looking at her husband who stood smiling the Priestess said, "You don't look sorry to have not shed blood this day my husband."
Falling in beside her as they started the long walk to find their runaway horses the Knight replied, "Eh, it was nice to see even a Mountain can't win an argument against my wife!"
Playfully, the Priestess struck her husband's shield with the haft of the Great War Spear and said with a grin, "Well we never did completely finish our 'argument' from earlier this morning."
Placing his shield arm around his wife's shoulders he replied, "Well my 'ancient enemy' I will be happy to engage in such battle with you for many years to come."
It was then the clouds continued to break up and once more a persistent shaft of sunlight struck the Priestess' eye. Hugging her husband's brawny arm she sighed, "You win."
The End
© 2010 H. Wolfgang Porter. All Rights Reserved.
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