High atop the snow covered Mountain, soft rays of dawn could be seen stretching their way across the massive Lake and out over the verdant Valley. Life was so abundant here its power radiated from this former wound upon the earth like a great wildfire. To the observer it was irritating. Long had this place been hidden from the Observer’s view. Now with it revealed, there was much work to be done. Much work indeed. But it would have to be done subtly for great powers protected this place.
One of the guardians lay far below the roots of the Mountain deep in slumber. Far across the Valley, another guardian lay within the waters of the Lake. Its awesome power held in check by a great natural dam. There was another guardian here with similar might laying hidden somewhere down in the Valley itself. The first two guardians could be easily manipulated. The third would be more difficult. Yes, there was much to do today and it was time to get started.
A mighty yawn escaped the bearded maw of the Aesir Chief as he stretched and rose from his pallet. For once he was able to get a decent night’s sleep for upon the Mountain’s slopes, cooler temperatures kept the summer baked air at bay. After long months of training, the youths of his tribe and the local people were nearly ready to fulfill their roles as the Mountain’s caretakers. They were now familiar enough with their duties and he no longer had to follow them around wiping their asses anymore. Picking up a water-skin, the Chief took a long hard pull and swirled the cool liquid in his mouth. Giving a sharp spit, the water splashed upon the ground and kicked up a small cloud of dust near a pair of fur-skinned boots. Looking up the Chief barked, “What in Nifelheim?”
The cool morning breeze abruptly died stilling the forest canopy blanketing the Mountain. The sudden calmness and quiet did not escape the notice of the Aesir Chief as he looked upon the strange visitor. Dressed in a battle-worn breastplate, a short fur-trimmed skirt and complete with a winged iron helm, stood a beautiful blonde warrioress. Bright blue-eyes shined as she raised broad sword and shield to the ready position. “Thor’s Hammer!” exclaimed the Chief as he looked upon her stunning yet grim visage. Upon her black shield lay a faded gray Death’s Head marred from weapon strikes and dried blood. The Chief’s eyes narrowed with understanding as he growled, “You are not a Valkyrie. There are no battlefield dead for you to claim here! Who are you?”
Looking up from her morning sweeping, the old woman watched with rheumy and graying brown eyes as a two children made their way up the boulders of the Lake Dam. They were much too far for her to call to, but the old grandmother knew no good would come of it. “C’mon! It’s right up here! I think you’re too afraid to come up this high! You’re just like a little baby chicken. Cheep! Cheep!” The sudden taunting of the girl leading the boy up the boulders of the great dam didn’t sit well with him. When the very air around the dam started echoing her taunts, his face and ears burned with youthful fury. Pointing to the dark-skinned girl whose long thin braids hung in a shining black horse tail the boy shouted, “I’ll show you! I’m as brave as the Valley Knight!” Despite his declaration, the boy was ready to run home. If his adopted parents, the village elders or Mountain and Lake forbid the real Valley Knight found them upon the dam and not on the walkway .... However, to the boy it was worth the risk of being discovered just to shut that snooty girl up!
In spite of the swirling dread growing in his belly, the stinging sweat from his exertions and fighting the nagging urge to look down, the boy struggled up the face of the natural dam. What irritated him most was that annoying girl seemed to have no trouble making her way up! Finally, both had reached the highest point of the dam. Far below the large boulders comprising the natural barrier looked like smaller stones. The boy’s heart and stomach felt like they were in his mouth and if he unclenched his teeth, they’d fall out! Looking over at the girl, the boy momentarily forgot his fear as he saw her standing aggravatingly unafraid on the very spot where only the Priestess stood. The girl smiling said, “See, I told you! Right down there is a hole where no one can see but from up here. I heard my brother talking about it. He and his friends came up here to prove their bravery by jumping into the hole from here. He said that anyone who could do it would become brave and strong as the Valley Knight!
The boy looked at the girl like she was daft. “Why would you want to jump in that hole? Everybody knows a girl can’t be strong like the Valley Knight! You’re so stupid!” Balling her small fists the girl snapped back, “Can too! Besides, I bet the Priestess did it and she’s way stronger than the Knight!” Now livid the boy replied, “Uh, uhhh! You take that back!” With surprising speed and strength, the girl angrily shoved the boy and shouted, “Nuh-uhhh!” As the boy fell hard upon the flat boulder, the girl lost her footing. Unable to grab a handhold, the girl slid over the edge! In a frantic scramble, the boy grabbed for the girl but came up short. He watched in horror as she fell screaming from the high precipice down towards a natural opening among the boulders. The boy suddenly saw the girl catch the gently increasing slope of silt built up over the years and slide down into the darkness of the hole. The boy had the sudden insight that there would be water down there left over from when the waters of the lake were released for the spring flood of the fields. Without hesitation, the boy jumped after her.
The Priestess’ eyes opened with a start. There was a golden shaft of light shining down into both of them as she lay upon the summer bed. Shielding her warm brown eyes the Priestess said annoyed, “What is it now?” After an instant she sat up and said, “Husband, you are needed!” From what looked to be a dead sleep, the man lying next to her sat up with eyes open and clear. The Priestess looked at her young husband and said exasperated, “For the life of me, how do you do that?” Already cinching his wide leather belt over his half tunic the man replied, “Habit. What is amiss my wife?” The Priestess took a moment to shake the cobwebs from her head. She suffered yet another night of stories and drinking that swill the Aesir Chief brewed, only to arrive home and have her young husband ravage her like a stud bull until just before dawn taxed even her endurance! Now with her mind clearer the Priestess answered, “Go to the Mountain. The Chief needs you. Help him you may, but don’t do so unless he asks.”
Cocking his head at his wife’s quizzical answer, the Valley Knight agreed. “I understand. Where will you be?” As she handed him his sword and hammered shield the Priestess replied, “There is an unwanted presence in the Valley. I must see to it.” As the Knight reached for the Great War Spear hanging over the fireside he said, “Will you be needing this?” Quietly the Priestess replied, “Maybe.” That gave the Valley Knight pause. ‘Maybe’ was a word his wife only used during their love talk. His concern visible upon his strong features, the Knight held the long bladed spear out towards her. The Priestess looked into his stern brown eyes and knew to take the spear. Though she could end his life with but a gesture, the Priestess followed her husband’s unspoken command and took the weapon from him.
In the time she leaned the spear against the wall and cinched closed her robe, the Valley Knight was astride his copper and bronze striped horse. The light spirited mount turned as he pulled the reigns and the sun flashed off his hammered iron shield across the window. Momentarily blinded, the Priestess heard her husband heel his mount towards the road in front of their modest home. A sudden odd thought struck the Priestess. The house faced the sun and it was not possible for a reflection to strike her eyes from the direction it did. Without thinking, she held out her hand and the Great War Spear leaped into her grasp. A hollow but familiar voice outside her door mockingly said, “Now is that anyway to greet a dear old friend?”
© 2011 H. Wolfgang Porter. All Rights Reserved.
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