Page 52 of Song and Sword
Present Day
Hakon’s mind wandered as he dreamed. He tried to remember what had brought him here. There had been a battle, and he had prepared for his death as the cost of saving Sif. His brother had been there at his side. Hakon had looked up at the red-stained head of the war hammer hanging above him, and…something had happened. He was standing here, alone, in a mountain meadow, listening to the quiet rushing of a stream and the songs of birds.
“I was a moment away from welcoming you to Folkvangr, young Hakon, but it seems that you still have time to spend on Midgard,” came a silvery voice from behind him.
Hakon whirled and gasped as he beheld a woman of otherworldly beauty. “Lady Freyja,” he murmured and dropped to one knee. The goddess laughed. “The men of your family have such excellent manners,” she said, smiling. Hakon frowned as he pondered theimplications of this, but his mind quickly returned to more pressing matters.
“Lady,” he ventured, “how is it possible that I am still alive? That creature had my life in his hands.”
“Because of someone’s destiny, carried bravely for many years, brought to the right place at the right time,” she replied.
“Who—” Hakon began, confused, but Freyja shook her head. “It is not my story to tell, nor yours to know,” she said firmly.
Hakon blinked then shook his own head as if to clear it. “So is it over, my lady? The threat that you showed to my woman? I saw the ships of the Jomsburg sail up the river to meet our enemy. Surely the Skraelings are no more?”
“Almost, young warrior, almost,” said Freyja. She lifted a hand to forestall his questions. “The Skraelings have been defeated and lie dead upon the field of battle. You and your brother have defeated the enemy champion. But the source of all this mischief yet remains.”
Hakon had stopped listening at the mention of his brother. “Gunnar!” he cried, remembering the sight of his brother stepping between Hakon and the warhammer’s fall. “My brother! Is he alright? What happened?”
“Your brother is alive,” replied Freyja. “You will have to ask him about what happened, once you awaken.”
“WhenwillI awaken, lady?” asked Hakon. He hastened to add, “I mean no disrespect to you and your company, goddess, but my woman, my brother, my family, are all in the waking world.”
Freyja laughed once more. “I do not take offence, young warrior.” Then her face grew serious. “But I need you to understand that the task you and Sif have taken up so bravely is not yet complete. As I said, the source of all this mischief yet remains.”
I am so tired, and all I want is my woman.Hakon did not allow the words he thought to cross his lips. Instead, he rose to his feet, looked at the goddess, and said, “Tell me what I must do.”
“All of this—the wolf in my meadow, the darkened skies that cut off the sun, the rise and attack of the Skraelings—all of this began with Surtr,” said Freyja. “The terrible fire giant threatens us once again, just as he did with theBrennari.He is breaking through into Midgard, through the eruption of a fiery mountain far to the North where the Skraelings live. Every day thatmountain pours fire onto the earth and belches smoke into the sky, Surtr is closer to breaking free of his realm and working his evil upon both human lands and those of the gods. The mountain’s rage must be cooled, or we all face a terrible ending in flame.”
Hakon’s mind raced. How could Freyja possibly imagine that mere humans could cool the fire in the heart of a mountain? Not unless—
“No,” he said. “Not Sif.”
“She is the only one with the power,” said Freyja gently.
“You are a goddess!” protested Hakon.
“Hemmed in by the danger of Surtr’s dark wolf,” replied Freyja. “It is a cruel trick. As long as the sun is hidden, the wolf’s power is greater than mine. I cannot cool the mountain without first defeating the wolf, and I cannot defeat the wolf without first cooling the mountain.”
“The mountain must be weeks away.”
“She can travel there within her mind,” observed Freyja.
“I will not let her face this alone,” said Hakon stubbornly.
“You don’t have to. You can travel with her.”
“How is that possible?” demanded Hakon in disbelief.
“Ask the Elder witch, Baedi. The method is old, with deep roots, and very powerful. Now go, young warrior. You have great deeds still undone.”
Hakon opened his eyes and was back in the world. Above him, gazing down with tenderness and concern, was the woman he loved more than life itself.
“Oh, Sif,” he murmured. He pulled her close, and kissed her tenderly, losing himself in her soft lips and the feeling of her hair cascading down around him. Reluctantly, he broke off the kiss and held her face in his hands.
“My love,” he said, “I have much to tell you.”
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