by Hart, Joan
She woke with a start, the sound of hooves were real. Sitting up she saw Grani the magnificent grey horse heading towards her; and on his back was a fair haired and quite handsome man. So this was Sigurd. He dismounted easily and greeted the Skard warmly. Grani trotted over to Cat and she stood, arms around his neck, kissing his velvety nose.
“Kiert is dead Grani,” Cat whispered to the horse. “I shall always remember what he told me when I first met you. He said to trust you. He told me to tell you how scared I was. He knew you would look after me. Oh Grani I do miss Kiert.”
The horse nuzzled Cat gently and blew into her hair as if in understanding. After a few moments Cat turned round to find Sigurd looking directly at her.
“Grani does not usually allow such intimacies; you are truly honoured. I am pleased to meet you Cat Skard.”
Cat looked into the sparkling blue eyes and blushed hard.
Being the only female in an all male group was beginning to get to Cat. She didn’t know how to break into the small group of men sat around her, for the conversations were all of heroic deeds and war, something of which she had little experience. She found herself once more walking towards Grani. He greeted her warmly especially as she found the special spot behind his left ear. Cat rubbed gently and his eyes closed as he rested his chin on her shoulder. As she stood caressing the horse Cat began to think once more of her good friends. She wondered how they were getting on, and, more importantly whether Thor had been right in thinking Kiert could be returned to them again. She hoped so for she had become fond of Kiert. For a boy he wasn’t so bad, she hoped they could stay friends.
She came to with a start as a hand was laid on her shoulder. She turned to find the Skards face inches from hers.
“I’m sorry. We have neglected you.” He put his arm around her and steered her towards the main group where a place had opened up to allow both to sit, “We were talking about how Sigurd can overcome Fafnir.” The eyes of the Skard turned towards Cat and the friendliness encouraged her to put forward her ideas.
“You told me that Sigurd is the greatest Volsung of them all.”
Murmurs of agreement rippled around the ring of warriors. “Well he won’t want me around while he kills Fafnir will he? It’s afterwards he will need me. News of Fafnir’s death will travel quickly. It is here I shall need to keep watch and it doesn’t stop there. Once he has the treasure I shall need to return the amber talisman to Andvari’s sword. He will also come under Andvari’s curse and I shall have to find a way around that too. I’m working on that,” she added hoping that would stop any awkward questions.
Sigurd gazed at Cat for a moment then turning picked up his sword saying to the assembled warriors “Tomorrow we will begin our journey. May the Gods go with us.”
The Journey to Hel
They were nine days in the saddle. The first five saw them riding up fells and across screeds where broken trees grew out at angles above grey stones. Along narrow pathways where they were forced to go in single file, where ledges of cliffs overhung their way. Further and further north they rode. The last few days were spent riding through deep shadowy valleys whose air was tremendously oppressive; and all the way the girls felt as if they were being watched. Thor’s goats too were uneasy, but with Thor’s steadying hand they had continued on their way.
On the morning of the tenth day they reached the river Gjoll that flowed at the edges of the underworld. The two girls dismounted and stood gazing across the wide deep expanse of the river towards the land on the other side. It was not at all what they had expected. It was beautiful. The shores of the river gently rose to greet the tree line and appeared golden in colour, like clean sand. Trees were in full leaf and in a vibrant green reminiscent of early spring. In between, shrubs and climbers dotted the green backdrop with cascades of multi coloured large flower heads. Away to their right, and as if suspended in the air itself hung a golden bridge, which shone and sparkled in the clear air.
“Wow.”
“Yeah, wow!”
The girls stood, mouths open almost as wide as their eyes as they took in the view, trying desperately to find words to do the scene justice... and failing.
Thor strode up behind them placing huge hands on their shoulders and turned them round to face him.
“The men are ready, we will cross over to Hel BUT before we go we need to understand one another. From now on, whatever I say or ask you to do you will agree. NO Amanda there is no discussion in this matter. Dissension will be seen as a weakness and if that happens we will fail in our quest. You must promise by all you hold dear that you will not argue or cause our group to split up. Promise.”
“I promise I won’t let you down,” said Amanda “Neither will Sharon. It’s too important a journey to mess up. Kiert means a lot to us.”
Solemn now both girls shook Thor’s hand, and after a satisfied nod Thor led the party towards the golden bridge.
Holding onto each side of the bridge the girls bounced their way across, following Thor as best they could, for each step Thor took sent the bridge skittering from side to side. Out of breath, arms shaking but with both feet on terra firma the girls turned to watch the progress of the warriors behind them. They were not there, and more worrying still, neither was the bridge.
“Hel has decided that we are to meet without the aid of our warriors. Come.”
Meekly the girls followed. It was becoming obvious now that this last part of their journey was deadly serious. Both girls resolved to help Thor release Kiert from the underworld as best they could.
A pathway magically opened up in front of them. Cautiously they took it, following its winding course leading them further and further away from the bright and vivid colours of the day down towards a gigantic and ornately carved set of gates. Thor took Mjollnir from his belt and held it up.
“I am Thor the Thunderer; awesome in strength and afraid of no-one. I come to talk with Hel and will not leave until I do.”
Silence.
Then the ground beneath their feet began to tremble. Out of the darkness behind the gates strode a huge figure. Icicles and hoar frost hung about him and the air turned cold.
“A Frost Giant,” whispered Thor to the girls.
“Yes Thor. We know you are here. You, your fame and your temper. But what does the mighty Thor need these puny things for?”
An icy blast pushed the girls backwards into the strong support of Thor’s legs.
“The future of all our worlds lie with these puny things Giant. Open up. Don’t waste our time. Take us to the palace.”
Reluctantly and with very bad grace the Frost Giant opened the gates and without waiting turned and headed back into the darkness. They followed. After a while the darkness lifted and in front of them there came a dimly lit spot on the river bank. On the far side of the river sat an old woman. Alongside her an enormous book lay open and caskets of jewellery sparkled around her. She looked up at their approach.
“I am the Welcomer,” she called out across the water. “You are not allowed to pass. You belong to the living. Go away.”
“We cannot,” Thor called back, “Until we have met and talked with your mistress. Your future depends on us seeing her.”
“Future?” cackled the woman, “There is no future here. Go away.”
Thor began to tell the woman about their adventures. “So you see,” he continued, “Future generations need to be able to read about, understand and enjoy our sagas. They need to know that there was a foundation of truth that ran through them. Our sagas will show them how every day people can become heroes. People who can help society, people who do super human things to help others rather than themselves. Without this understanding our future is doomed. No one will know about the great and good heroes of the past, we will die away, all the treasures of Sigurd will be lost and all that remains will be evil. Your
mistress had one of our group mistakenly brought here by her brother. He was brought before his time. He too is part of our quest.”
A small boat appeared at the bank side. Thor helped the girls in then gingerly sat down on the middle seat. Slowly the boat moved away from the bank and bore its occupants downstream. The journey was a quiet one for neither Sharon nor Amanda was in the mood for conversation. The boat slowed and bumped into the shallows. As they stepped out an archway of flaming torches lit up illuminating their way. An ornate palace came into view. Lights and raucous singing came from open windows, a contrast to their sombre journey. Thor pushed open the huge wooden doors and with the girls on either side he strode into the hall. Fires blazed, trophies hung from walls and torches burnt brightly but the hall was empty. The hairs on the back of Amanda’s arms and neck rose. She knew that just moments ago this place was full of men singing but now it was empty or was it? She leaned forward to look across Thor to Sharon. Her arms too were covered in tiny hairs all standing rigidly to attention.
“Welcome.”
The voice immediately behind them made both girls start. They turned. The woman was beautiful. Tall, graceful and with a kindly face. If this was Hel she was not at all what the girls were expecting.
“You must be hungry.”
Hel clapped her long white graceful hands together. A long trestle table appeared and onto it huge horns of wine settled gently down onto the surface. Several large well cooked haunches of meat sat dripping their juices onto the accompanying wooden boards Chunks of bread lay by the side of the meat ready to be used to soak up the delicious smelling juices. Quickly Thor sat down and began to eat voraciously. As nothing bad happened to him the girls tucked in too. A resounding belch indicated Thor had eaten well. He stood.
“Our reason for being here,” he began but was stopped by a wave of Hel’s hand.
“I know why you have come Thor. But your information is false. We do not have the young boy here.”
“What do you mean you don’t have him here? Your brother always brings his ‘prizes’ here, he knows no different.”
“Not this time Thor. That boy was too young to be brought to such a heroic stronghold. I tell you again he is not here. You are of course free to search for him if you wish.”
Despair hit Amanda full in the stomach. She had fully expected to find Kiert here and walk away with him. How could he not be here, he died a hero after all.
“Search? Search? How can I search when spirits not the living surround us. I know many men are here yet I cannot see them. How am I to carry out a search when I cannot see faces or bodies?”
“That is no problem.”
The quiet voice was in sharp contrast to Thor’s loud tirade. Suddenly the room filled with ghostly faces then bodies. They solidified slowly until they became surrounded by hundreds of Viking warriors. Doors opened, hundreds more marched in filling the hall; all eyes fixed on the adventurers. Recognition dawned on many of the warriors and soon a low chant filled the air.
“Thor, Thor, Thor.”
Although pleased at this recognition Thor held his hand up for silence.
“Brave warriors. I come in unusual circumstances. I search for a young boy named ‘Kiert’. I know he was brought here. Jormungander snatched him from us before his time. Show me where I may find him.”
The men remained mute. Hel stepped forward.
“They do not know of him. I tell you again he is not here.”
“I do not believe it” Thor turned away and strode out of the hall shouting over his shoulder “You two stay here. Do not move.” Then he was gone.
“There are many rooms in this palace,” Hel was looking at the girls “He will be some time.”
“Then we’ll wait here as he told us” said Amanda firmly.
“As you wish” Gracefully Hel glided towards the doors Thor had so forcefully exited, followed by her spirit army. Amanda waited until the doors had closed before turning to Sharon.
“She’s lying Sharon.”
“How do you know?”
Amanda’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Tell you later. We’ve got to get out of here. Hel told the truth in one way. Kiert isn’t here in this hall but he is around here somewhere. Hel has got to have her own place. That’s where Kiert will be. Come on.”
Together the girls ran from the hall back through the main doors from which they came, the thought of Kiert had injected enthusiasm and a need physically to ‘do’ something. Their search proved fruitless. They could find nothing to fit their idea of a palace. After all Odin had set up Hel in her own palace so it should look pretty impressive. They sat together Amanda doing most of the talking.
“He has got to be around here somewhere Sharon. My Talisman glowed when I asked whether Hel was telling the truth. Sharon?”
“Amanda we’ve been stupid. Listen. Hel has this fantastic place for the warriors. Right? It’s there because they are seen as important; you know, heroes. Right?”
“So, what’s your point?”
“Hel won’t have a spectacular place; that’s for heroes. So we are looking for a modest building. Kiert won’t be there with those other spooks ’cos he’s alive! Hel was right. Kiert wasn’t there in that palace. He is with her!”
They resumed their search.
“There!”
A hand on Amanda’s arm slowed the girls down. The friends changed direction and headed to a modest looking building tucked away down by the river. Gently they pushed the door open and cautiously crept inside. A huge fire burned brightly. Piles of wood tied with twine and kindling was stacked either side of the fire, and in a wooden cot placed to one side of it lay the white faced and inert body of Kiert. The girls rushed to his side calling his name, gently touching the young boy’s hair in their concern. His eyes remained closed, his skin white and cold and along his forehead and around his neck, raw red tear marks showed where Jormungander’s teeth had held him as Kiert was dragged from the boat. With shaking hands Sharon brought out her talisman. Starting from his head she drew the Ash Tree Twig gently down over the whole length of Kiert’s inert body. Once she reached his feet the twig burst into flames and the remains fell onto the floor. The girls held their breath. As they watched, the raw red wound began to heal leaving a port wine coloured scar over forehead and neck. They watched as his skin became pink and his chest began to move rhythmically up and down. Slowly the eyes opened and the emptiness filled with life once more. Sharon and Amanda flung their arms around the boy laughing and crying with joy.
“I’ll take brains over brawn every time.”
The voice of Hel stopped all celebrations.
Hel stood in the open doorway, her face set grimly, her beautiful features had disappeared. Her skin sagged and was a dirty grey colour. Her beautiful arms and long legs were now just ghastly strips of grey leather.
“You are becoming quite a nuisance to me.”
“Let us go then and we won’t trouble you any more,” said Amanda edging towards the door followed by Sharon and Kiert.
“NO!”
Hel raised her scraggy hand and blue light flashed from her fingertips slamming the door shut.
“No,” she said more quietly. “You must prove yourselves, then I will consider your freedom.” Hel turned and paced the room deep in thought. The children could only look on in despair.
An evil smile broke over Hel’s face. “Three tests, and if you pass them, you may go free. The boy must prove himself and fight the Frost Giant for his necklace of icicles. The red haired one must outwit me in magic and you,” she said pointing to Sharon, “Must survive a night in the woods with my brother Fenrir. You have already met I believe.” Hel turned and strode from the room saying, “We begin at dawn tomorrow.”
“How do we know we can trust what you say?” Amanda shouted
at the closing door.
Fiery words burnt themselves into the closed door. Amanda read “My word is my bond. But you will fail.” The words disappeared.
The girls slumped down against the wall. “What can we do?” mumbled Amanda, “There’s no way we can win.”
Kiert stood defiantly. “I may not win,” he said proudly, “but I shall fight. I will give such a fight that I will indeed remain in Valhalla and be talked of forever.”
“You’re wasting your time Kiert,” said Amanda. “You are too small to even get near that Frost Giant, and even if you did you would only scratch him. Talk about David and Goliath.”
“That’s it!” Sharon punched Amanda in the arm. “That’s exactly it. David and Goliath. What we’ve got to try and make is ... ”
“A catapult,” finished Amanda catching on quickly.
While the girls searched frantically through the chopped wood and sticks by the fire they quickly told Kiert the Bible story. “It would work” he nodded smiling now and began searching the floor and walls for pebbles and small pieces of stone. Amanda was the first to stop the search.
“Elastic! Sharon it’s not invented yet. What can we use?” The girls stood deep in thought. It was Sharon who spoke first.
“Pass that twine from around those bundles of sticks. Thanks. Now, turn round. Both of you.”
“What?”
“Both of you, turn round and face the wall; and don’t turn back until I tell you.”
A few minutes passed.
“OK you can turn round now.”
The pair turned. In her hand Sharon was holding a small ball of what was undoubtedly elastic, and the twine was nowhere to be seen.
Amanda’s eyes opened wide and laughter erupted from her.
“Oh knickers!” Tears slid from her eyes with so much laughter. Kiert stood by not understanding the girls merriment.