tell us a story, laurie!

"Skirnismal" ("Skirnir's Journey: the Wooing of Gerd")

Odin was away on a journey and Frigga was off doing something else, so the High Seat "Hlidskjalf" stood stood empty in the Valaskjalf Hall. From this ornately carved high seat both Odin and Frigga could see and watch over the Nine Worlds. It was known only the Valfaðr and Almoðr had the "right" to sit there. Freyr knew he should not but did so anyway and took his seat within the Great highbacked elaborate carved throne of the Gallows Lord.

Out North towards Jotunheim, Freyr looked with narrowed eyes to see if anything was amiss. Out of a large handsome hall he saw a woman leave. This was the Jotun, Grymir's hall, and the woman was his daughter. How comely she looked, seemingly made of light and as she raised her arms to close the hall's door the whole Earth and the Great Sea encirculing Midgard grew brighter. In a flash, all the Worlds were were in hidden from veiw.

The more he looked, the more he longed. Freyr's eyes burned like fireballs; his only desire was to woo and win Gerd. He watched as she crossed the courtyard into her father's hall and the Worlds grew shadowy as she left inside. Freyr turned his gaze away, climbed out of "Hlidskjalf" and crept away.

He had seen more than he ever thought to see. His heart ached with sad longing for one more sight of her. He spoke to no one and wished no one to speak to him. Freyr could not sleep. He lost all appetite and thirsted only for her. He could neither escape his desire nor satisfy it. His father and stepmother, Njord and Skadi, (God of safe harbors and ships, she of the Hunt), grew concerned and Skadi called on Freyr's servant and friend, Skirnir, to go ask what upsets Freyr so? What makes him so angry or so sad he will not share his feelings?

Skirnir went to Freyr and asked why he stays in his hall day and night, shunning company. Going without food, drink, or even sleep? "What good would it do?" came the reply. "No amount of talk will blunt this anguish of mine. And what if elf-beams shine and brighten the day.....my mind is full of gloom."

But Skirnir managed to persuade his childhood friend to unlock his heart. To open the wordhoard Freyr held inside and confide in his long trusted companion. Freyr confessed to Skirnir how he slipped into Valaskjalf and sat in the empty High Seat. Looked over into Jotunheim and saw Gerd outside her father's hall. Greater than Sunna, her radiance brightened all of the Nine Worlds, of his longing for her. "No man" he said, "has ever loved a woman as I love her. And no god will ever agree to our union". Skirnir just nodded and listened.

"Go!" Freyr said. "Whether her father likes me or not, bring her to me and I will give you great rewards". "Give me a horse that follows its nose through the dark and will not bridle at magick and flickering flames". Give to me the sword that will fight against all Jotun of its' own accord". Freyr handed over two of his greatest treasures and off Skirnir rode to Jotunheim.

Through the deepest dark, the horse galloped. His hooves striking sparks as he went over fells and lifeless flatlands. With Skirnir on his back, the horse did not balk at a sudden curtain of fire rising up on a mountain pass. They both rode right through and away towards Grymnir's hall that was found in a flatland covered with grey, sour grass. Gyrmnir's hall was in the middle of it with his daughter's hall next to it. A high fence was around it and the gate guarded by a pair of watchful guarddogs.

Skirnir looked the places over and saw a herdsman nearby. "Nothing escapes your eyes," he told him. "How can I muzzle the hounds and get into Gerd's hall?". "Are you daft?" came the stony reply. "Are you doomed to die ro dead already?" "There is no way you can see her, talk to her, much less get near her hall to begin with!". Undaunted, Skirnir rode off down to Gerd's hall and dismounted. Gerd welcomes him as is custom and asks if he is a god or elf to have traveled so far and passed through the curtain of fire. But he tell her the truth and why he had come.

At first, Skirnir tries to lure her with offerings of eleven Apples of Youth and the ring, Draupnir, if Gerd would come with him and promise herself to Freyr. But she spurns his offerrings saying icily: "No one is going to buy my love with the promises of youth and golden apples. Gold enough I have within my father's hall...I will not share a roof with Freyr!"

Then Skirnir resorted to threats and pulled out the Freyr's fiery sword threatening to cut off her head with its keen edge. But she replied: "Force will get Freyr no where and I will not be threatened by him or anyone else. But if my father were here, he would be flexing his muscles right now."

Putting down the sword and picking up his own staff, Skirnir finally resorted to magickal threats, saying:

"I will touch you with this magick wand. I will teach you and tame you. You will go beyond the sight of men. Sit on the eagle's hill, aloof from the world to at Hel's gate. Although you must eat, all food will seem vile. You will become haggard and wasted so that even the worst of the frost jotun will stare with disgust. Rage and longing, tears and torment will rack you. However you try, you will not excape your fate: a troubled heart, a double dose of misery."

"Here in Jotunheim, evil spirits will pick at you. Never shall you wed, lust will lash you, woe will waste you. I went to the dark wood and searched to find this staff. All the gods will be enraged with you, Freyr will lose no love for you. Listen Frost Giants! Listen Rock Giants! Sons of Suttung, listen! I forbid this woman to meet with any man. I forbid this woman joy of any man!"

"Only the frost shrouded Hringrimunir will ever enjoy you in the gloom of Hel's gate. Rotten corpses will offer you horns of foul goats stallings. I have carved three "thurs" Runes on this staff and will carve three more of lechery, lust and loathing. But as I have carved these, so I can scratch them off, if I have a reason."

As Gerd listened to Skirnir's spells, she began to tremble. Her eyes no longer icefilled but full of tears. Finally she raised her eyes to him and said:
"Skirnir, you are welcome here. Drink from this crystal cup, filled with mead. Never had I thought I would swear love to one of the Vanir."

Skirnir lowered his staff and took the cup. But before he drank, he asked the before he rode home where would she meet Freyr. "In a forest called "Barri", Gerd replied, "that we both know well" "It is beautiful there and peaceful." There I would give will give myself gladly to Freyr nine nights hence."

Skirnir left the hall and rode back to Asgard. There Freyr stood impatient and anxious for any news, but Skirnir, smiling, took his time getting off the horse. Freyr could not wait any longer and asked: "Before you unsaddle, before you set one foot further.....Tell Me!" "Did you speak to her! Did you bring my heart's esctasy or anquish out of Jotunheim?"

Skirnir smiled and said (while wrapping his cloak around him): "There is a beautiful and peaceful forest called "Barri", that we both know well. Gerd will give herself to you there in Nine nights time."

"One night is long
Two nights are longer still"
How shall I for three be yearning?"
Often a month seems less to me."
-------------------------------------------------------

Although the "Skirnismal" seems terrible enough with the threats, both Gerd and Freyr are always depicted as a loving couple. There many hundreds of small gold bractates showing a "loving pair" holding each other close and kissing. These have been found in Vanic Cult sites in Sweden and elsewhere dating back from before the Viking Age. Freyr is one of the three major gods described as being in the Temple at Uppsala by Adam of Bremen in the late 10th Century. As Freyr is an important fertility god and Gerd representing the "frozen earth" ("Barri" is the Barley), the lay makes sense and is seen as a mythic story of the Seasonal fruitful joining in the Spring.

But there are two levels here, one as a passionate, moving love poem (despite Skirnir's threats) of Freyr's desires for Gerd and her subsequint "melting" for him. Secondly, as story of the Norse longing/celebration for the coming sunlight and growth after being winterbound for so long.

I guess they don't call her Deep minded for nothing. How do you fit all of that in there?

laurie ownz all!

give us another story sometime soon, pleeeeeeze? *looks cute and adorable*

"APPLAUSE"

Nice story Laurie :)

Another coming soon!

w00tage!

Loki's Flyting/Lokesenna
 

Sometime after Balder's death when the grieving was softened to speak of him in calmer voices and quieter thoughts (although the forebodings were still there). The seagod, Aegir, decided to hold a feast on his island of Hlesey after acquiring Hymir's huge cauldron with Thor and Tyr's help.

Thor had gone off to Jotunheim on a quest and was not able to attend but the list included Odin and his wife, Frigga. Thor's wife, Sif, Idun and her husband, Bragi. So did Tyr, who despite his one hand was given thanks by the gods for his help in wresting the cauldron from his father's hall five miles deep. Njord and his wife the huntress, Skadi, came as did the Vanir Twins, Freyr and Freyja. Freyr's servants, Byggvir and Beyla, came along. Lastly Odin's son, Vidar, came.

A host of other Aesir came and a throng of the Ljosalfar (Light Elves)too in thier terrible beauty, Bright gold nuggets lit the hall instead of fire. Aegir's servants, Fimafeng and Eldir, rushed about to help seat the guests and keep the alecups flowing as others brought out the feast offerings. Soon the peaceful hum of good talk filled the room.

However, Loki was not invited and so decided to crash the party. He sat down with the rest but soon found all this goodwill and praise for Aegir's servants too much to bear. So he rose up and attacked Fimafeng, killing him with a knife. The rest of the gods rose up and drove him out into the darkness of the island's forest. Soon the angry voices settled back down and the feasting went on.

But Loki was not through yet and came back to the hall. He ambushed Eldir outside and asked him what the gods were saying while not slopping their ale or slurping their soup. "They are comparing their weapons and their prowess in battle, Eldir said. "Not one word of good do they say about you. Neither from Elf or God"

Loki's handsome face twisted with a hideous grin..."Never mind, I coming back in anyway. To fill their hearts with hate and grief, to mix poison with their mead."

"They will rub your face in your own filth" Eldir said. But Loki just scowled back and elbowed his way in. He stood looking around and at his presence, the gods stopped talking to look.

"Its a long journey back to Aegir's Hall" he said, scornfully. Would one of the bright gods care to bring me an alecup full? Why so silent, you dismal gang of gods? Can't you speak? Either make me room at the feast table or show me out! (Turning to Odin) "Remember Odin, how...long ago....we mixed our blood in brotherhood. You swore then that you would only drink if a drink were brought to us both".

Odin glared but told his son, Vidar to move over to let the Wolf's Father have a place. He did not want anymore trouble in Aegir's Hall. Vidar poured a cup of ale and gave it to Loki. He took it and looked around at the faces watching him. And began insulting each one in turn.

Of Bragi, he accused of being a braggart, a drunk and coward whose arrows struck nothing and hid behind a shield in battle. At this Bragi came back with a challenge and would have twisted Loki's head off then and there if it were not for the Peace called for in the Hall. Idun rose to quiet them both and called for her husband to think of their love, the children and the Gods. To ignore Loki's insults.

To this Loki turned on Idun with withering abuse but she kept her composure and would not trade insults. The goddess, Gefjon said: "Everyone knows Loki revels in foul mockery and hates the gods in Asgard." Loki returned with worse saying he knew how she got the necklace she wore.

Odin rose: "Loki, you are mad to anger Gefjon who sees the future as clearly as I do." Loki shouted back that Odin could never be even-handed, letting weaker men snatch victory in battle." AllFather answered in kind that may be true but he knew Loki had lived under the earth for eight winters as a woman, birthing children and giving milk.

Loki came back with the accusation of Odin behaving like a woman while learning the Seidrlore (women's form of Shamanism). Then Frigga rose and tried to quiet them and to not to rake up things best forgotten when younger. But Loki would not and accused her of being born a whore and sleeping with Odin's brothers in the bargain.
---------------------------------------------

Frigga answered: "If I had a son. A son much as Balder sitting beside me in Aegir's hall, you would not get away without being badly beaten."

Loki scathingly stated: "Ah! Frigga, I can see you would like to know more about my skills. It was I who arranged things so you would never again welcome Balder home."
----------------------------------------------

Then with cutting words, Loki heaped his hate and bile on each of the guests in turn. Accusing Freyja of sleeping with everyone. Freyr being such a dunce to losing his sword for love. Tyr for being so stupid as to let his hand be taken by Loki's son, Fenris, for the sake and safety of all in Midgard and Asgard. Tyr countered with "I may have lost a hand but you lost your son to be fettered and chained up. That if Loki did not stop, he would find himself bound and chained too."

To Skadi, Njord's wife, Loki confessed to leading the way for the gods capturing her father, Thjasi, and getting him killed by Thor. Her icy reply was Loki's name would be cursed in all her halls and hofs. That he may be quick with his tongue but it would not be long til he would bound with his own son's ice cold guts.

Heimdall called Loki drunk and should set down. Overindulgence loosens the tongue in both old and young. But Loki would have none of this. Calling Heimdal to go back to his eternal, menial post as a mere "watchman".

Sif rose and challenged him with a toast. As all knew of her love for Thor only and no fault had she. Loki then accused Sif of letting him sleep with her that one night and "setting her aflame" when he broke into Thor's home (and only cut her hair as a "calling card")....he neglected to hear a jarring, rumbling sound coming closer to the hall. This only meant Thor was returning.

Unabashed, Loki turned and shouted: "Here is the Son of Earth! What a bully and braggart you are. Will you brag after you grapple with Fenris and see Odin swallowed by him?"

Thor: "Quiet miserable wretch. My Foe Hammer, Mjollnir, shall rob you of your speech as I strike your head from your neck."

Loki backed off saying he had to go as he knew Thor would make good his promise but before leaving said:

"Ale you brewed, Aegir, but again you will have such a feast. Flickering flames will gorge on this hall and destroy everything you own. Your own body will be flayed by fire".

At that, Loki turned and left but his cutting words echoed in the hall. For a long time the Aesir, Asynjur and elves sat silently, shaken and grieving. In silence they rose and left.
--------------------------------------

"Loki's Binding"
 

Now Loki knew his days of freedom were numbered and fled to hide in a remote Mountainous place near the head of a steep valley. There was a lake close by that was fed by Franang's Falls. With rubble and rocks, Loki built a low hut with four doors to keep watch out of. The Trickster quaked and started at every whistle, rattle and shake of any sound he heard. Leaping up in alarm that he would be discovered. The days passed without a visitor and his anxiety grew worse.

Finally he could stand it no longer and changed himself into a salmon to hide beneath the lake for long periods. It was not a question in his mind of whether they would but when he would be caught. As fearful as he was, hunted and in hiding, he was more fearful of their revenge and vengeance. Finally, he heard voices in the distance and rushed out to the lake and changed his form.

Kvasir came into the hut and saw that Loki had been there. He noticed a pattern in the coals and saw it was a fish net. "Let us go fishing" he said after duplicating the pattern with some twine.

Thor, Heimdal and the rest went trawling the net across the bottoms and nearly caught Loki once. Then as he tried to leap over the falls, Thor caught him near the end of his tail.

They took him to Midgard as the gods did not want to spill blood in Gladsheim halls. And threw him down bound. Then Three huge slabs were pulled up inside of a dang cave and bore a hole in each. By then, Loki's sons had been found and ripped apart to bring to the cave. Loki was stretched out on the slab and bound with his sons' ice cold guts. Trussed his shoulders to one slab, his loins to another and clamped his knees to the last. As soon as this was done the guts turned hard as iron.

Then Skadi carried a poisonous snake into the cave and fastened it to a stalactite high up so that it's venom would drip down onto Loki's face. For all his wiles and wit, Loki could do nothing. Only his faithful wife, Sigyn, stood by with a cup to catch the drops as they came down. When it was full, she would turn to dump the liquid into a rock basin full of the fermenting stuff. Then start all over again.

His writhings and shudderings from the pain are so much, the ground would shake. He cannot escape and it is said this is what makes earthquakes.

There he will stay until Ragnarok. He is still a force to be reckoned with. His evil is too great to be entirely contained and remains capable to create havoc.

Bump

And a really nice bump.
Those stories are amazing.

a bumptastic-bump.

let's hear another laurie, or at least some sources (and maybe books) that are a good places for more stories.

and where could i find an asatru "bible"?
i could have sworn i heard some where you were asatru.

i personally do not beleive, i am a total atheist, but i would be interested in seeing it.

Hastings Ragnarsson's "Joke"
 

"How to get into a Fortified Town without Really Trying" Or "How to play a joke, Hasting the Norseman style"

Hasting led a fleet of 62 ships into the Mediterranian about 860s. Harrying the coastal cities held by the Saracens, fought and captured King Garcia of Navarre (who was held for literally a "King's Ransome") and managed to reach Pisa before returning home. Richer but with only 20 ships.

Shortly after battle with King Garcia, Hasting and the other Norse leaders marched back with thier loot by another route to get back to thier ships that had been left beached and guarded by a third of his original force. On the way, the Norse came across a well fortified Saracen City and found the whole garrison outside ready to fight them. The walls were lined with women yelling and screaming for the Norsemen's blood.

Some of the Norse leaders were spoiling for a fight but Hasting knew he could not afford to loose any more men than he had to but he did not what this challenge to go unanswered either. So he called his leaders together and offerred a plan so cunning and skilful...so "sweet".

"Let it be a sport not war. It is a joke to be played on those black bearded fools to laugh at all our days, and the less bloodshed, the better. The man who has to use a weapon or a rope to win his prize gets thrown in the river, and be sure that your game is fair game".

So they marched within arrowcast of the foe. Then instead of letting fly, to disjoint his lines, the Norse began to mill about and shout, as though their ranks were in rebellion against their leaders. This was a fine site for the foemen, so fine that he failed to see how deftly the Norse warded with their shields the blood bees sent against them. Surging forward and back, it whetted the Moslem leader's appetite for easy slaughter. With horns and "Allah Akbar!" they charged.

However, Hasting and the Norsemen knew just where they were going and when to turn. No easy maneuver but they had the discipline of long practice to pull it off. Instead of turning and falling upon their pursers, the Norsemen led them in a long circle back toward the city walls. By this time, even the gatesmen were rushing out to join their comrades for easy pickings. Suddenly veering, Hasting and his leaders dashed through the city gates, flung them shut behind their rear guard and shot home the iron bolts.

From behind the walls, the Norsemen could hear the shouts of baffled fury. The women who were screaming for blood before were now yelling for another reason. The rules that Hasteinn had laid down were only the young and buxom would have to run for their honor and if fought back, were to be left alone. Old women and children were to be left unharmed.

The idea was for the Saracens to "take the joke" as long as it was not too bloody and not follow the Vikings to the next town. The tactic used was the "pretended rout" with a variation on the Viking game "Halatafl" or "Fox and Geese".

Very nice :) I really love your stories.

Bravo! Laurie, start new story threads. It would be better than all in one thread I think.

Can we get a story about Hel? I like her!

wow
 

and where can no soul to sell get his "Asatru-Bibel", deep minded wise one?

:angel: cuz you didnt answer directly, didnt you?

( *[DS]F3NRYR's head crashes the earth, cuz he bows down a bit* )

LOL :idea:

yeah, seriously laurie.... i feel //so// unloved by you...

at least mooney baby still loves me... *strokes moone's hair*

Ah gee, soul....

As F3NRYR later found out, in another thread, there is no "Asatru Bible". We have the Prose and Elder Eddas that form the basis of the stories we know. There are the Sagas as well.

In case you folks are interested in the details of what really happened in the ancient Norse sagas, do visit http://www.norse-myths.com.

Good day!
Xeon.

Hmmm... all these stories are really nice Laurie. Though I have read them before in the Book of the Old. You write them really nicely and all, but there is one thing.

Are these stories written from what you know? Or are these stories taken out of a book you have?

Mostly from what I know. I also have the Prose Edda, the sagas and other historical text to draw upon. It is part of what I do in real life as gythja and a mother raising two children. Both of them now grown.

Have you ever considered writing a book & get it in print?

No, I have not. Thank you for the suggestion though.

Compliments to the Author.
 

Your a decent author. I especially liked my mention...
:!!!!: :!!!!: :!!!!: :!!!!:

I like this one. I hope you've got nothing aganist a translation Laurie.
I translated it in German:



Das Skirnislied („Skirnirs Reise: das Liebeslocken um Gerda“)

Odin war auf einer Reise unterwegs und Frigga war mit etwas anderem beschäftigt, somit stand der hohe Thron „Hlidskialf“ in dem Saal Walaskialf völlig leer. Von diesem verziert und gemeißelten Thron worin beide, Odin und Frigga saßen, konnte sie alle neun Welten überblicken und alles sehen und hören, was getan und gesagt wird. Es war bekannt, dass nur Valfaðr und Almoðr das Recht hatten auf diesem Thron zu sitzen. Freyr wusste er sollte den Thron nicht besteigen, trotz dem tat er dies doch und nahm Platz an dem hochrückigen und kompliziert gemeißelten Thron vom Galgen Herr.

Im Norden in Richtung Jötunheim, besichtete Freyr mit verschmälerten Augen um zu sehen ob etwas nicht in Ordnung sei. Außerhalb eines riesigen Saals sah er eine Frau verschwinden sehen. Das eine Jötunn, im Saal von Gymir, und die Frau war Gymirs Tochter. Wie anmutig und hübsch sie schaute, scheinbar aus Licht gemacht. Als sie ihre arme ausstreckte um die Türen des Saales zu schließen wurden die ganze Erde und der Große See rings um Midgard heller. In einem Blitzlicht verschwanden diese dann aus der Sicht.

Je mehr er schaute, desto mehr sehnte er sich nach ihr. Freyrs Augen begannen zu brennen wie Feuerbälle, sein einziges Verlangen war Gerda zu locken und zu gewinnen. Er sah sie, als sie den Hof überquerte und in den Saals ihres Vaters rein ging. Die Welten wurden mit Schatten übersehen, als sie rein gegangen war. Freyr wendete seinen starren Blick, stieg vom Hlidskialf und kroch weg.

Er sah mehr als er je gedacht hätte zu sehen. Sein Herz schmerzte vom trübsinnigen Verlangen nach einem Anblick mehr von ihr. Er sprach zu niemandem und wünschte auch nicht angesprochen zu werden. Freyr konnte nicht schlafen. Er verlor all seinen Appetit und durstete nur nach ihr. Er konnte sein Verlangen weder loswerden noch stillen. Sein Vater und seine Stiefmutter, Njörd und Skadi (Schutzgott der Seefahrer und Fischer, und sie die der Jagt), wurden besorgt und Skadi rief den Freund und Diener von Frey, Skirnirr, um zu fragen was ihn so bedrückt. Was macht ihn so wütend oder traurig, dass er nicht seine Gefühle mitteilt?

Skirnir ging zu Freyr und fragte ihn, wieso er Tag und Nacht über in seinem Saal bleibt und die Gesellschaft meidet. Wieso er nichts isst, trinkt und nicht einmal schläft? „Wozu wäre es denn gut?“ war seine Antwort. „Kein Maß an Gesprächen wird meine Qual mildern. Auch wenn der Schein von Elfenstrahlen den Tag beleuchtet… meine Seele ist voll von Trübsal.“

Aber Skirnir hat es bewältigt ihn durch seine Freundschaft aus der Kindheit zu überzeugen, ihm seine Seele aus dem Leib zu reden. Um seinen Wortschatz zu öffnen hielt er Inne und vertraute auf seine treue Kameradschaft. Skirnir gestand, wie er im Walaskialf einschlich und am leeren Thron saß. Sich Jötunheim anschaute und dort Gerda außerhalb ihres Vaters Saal sah. Größer als Sunna, ihr Schein reicht weit über all neun Welten, sehnsüchtig nach ihr. „Kein Mann“ sagte er, „hat jemals eine Frau geliebt wie ich sie liebe. Und kein Gott wird unserer Vereinigung jemals zustimmen.“ Skirnir nickte und hörte ihm einfach zu.

„Geh!“ sagte Freyr. „Ob ihr Vater mich mag oder nicht, bring sie mir und ich werde dich großzügig belohnen“. „Gib mir ein Pferd das mit der Nase durch die Dunkelheit läuft und sich bei Magie von flackernden Flammen nicht zurückhält“. „Gib mir das Schwert, welches selbstständig gegen alle Jötunn kämpfen kann“. Freyr reichte ihm zwei seiner größten Schätze und Skirnir ritt nach Jötunheim.

Durch die dunkelste Dunkelheit, galoppierte das Pferd. Seine Hufen schlugen Funken als es über kahle Berge und leblose Tiefländer ritt. Mit Skirnir an seinem Rücken, scheute es keinen einzigen plötzlichen Schleier von Feuer, welches an Übergängen von Bergen erschien.
Beide ritten gerade aus entlang zum Saal von Gymir, welcher in einem Tiefland verborgen von grauem und bittererem Gras liegt. Gymirs Saal lag mittendrin und seiner Tochters Saal direkt darnach. Ein hoher Zaun umriegelte es und das Tor wurde von einem Paar wachsamer Wachhunde bewacht.

Skirnir sah sich um und fand in der Nähe einen Hirten. „Nichts entgeht deinen Augen“, sprach der Hirt zu ihm. „Wie kann ich den Hunden einen Maulkorb verpassen und in Gerdas Saal gelangen?“. „Bist du verrückt?“ kam eine gefühllose Erwiderung. „Bist du zu Tode verurteilt oder bereits Tod?“ „Es ist unmöglich sie zu sehen, mit ihr zu reden und noch weniger in die Nähe ihres Saals zu gelangen!“ Unerschrocken ritt Skirnir zu Gerdas Saal herunter und saß sich ab. Gerda empfang ihn gepflogen und fragte ob er ein Gott oder eine Elfe sei, dass er so weit gereist ist und den Schleier vom Feuer überwunden hat. Er erzählte ihr die Wahrheit und wieso er zu ihr gekommen ist.

Zuerst versuchte Skirnir sie mit Geschenken zu locken. Mit sieben Äpfeln der Jugend und dem Ring, Draupnir, wenn sie mitkommen und sich Freyr versprechen würde. Doch sie lehnte all seine Geschenke ab und sprach eisig zu ihm: „Niemand wird sich meine Liebe erkaufen können, in dem er mir, mit Versprechungen von Jugend und goldenen Äpfeln ankommt. Gold habe ich genug in meines Vaters Saal… Mit Freyr werde ich kein Dach teilen!“

So begab sich Skirnir ihr zu drohen und zog das glühende Schwert Freyrs, drohend ihr den Kopf mit der scharfen Kante abzuschlagen. Doch sie antwortete: „Gewalt wird Freyr zu nichts bringen und ich werde mich weder von ihm noch sonst jemanden drohen lassen. Wenn mein Vater hier wäre, würde er auf der Stelle seine Muskeln walken lassen.“

Niederlegend das Schwert, holt er seinen eigenen Stab raus. Schließlich begibt er sich der magischen Drohung und spricht:

„Streifen werde ich dich, mit diesem Zauberstab. Ich werde dich lehren und zähmen. Du gelangst jenseits der Sicht von Männern. Sitzend an einem Adlers Hügel, distanziert von der Welt am Höllentor. Auch wenn du essen musst, wird alles Essen abscheulich erscheinen. Du wirst verstört und am Ende sein, dass sogar der abscheulichste Frost Jötunn von dir ekelt. Zorn und Sehnsucht, Tränen und Qual werden dich plagen. Was auch immer du versuchst, deinem Schicksal wirst du nicht entkommen: Ein leidendes Herz, und ein doppeltes Maß an Elend.“

„Hier in Jötunheim werden alle bösen Geister auf dir herum hacken. Niemals sollst du heiraten, die Lust wird dich auspeitschen, Leid wird dich veröden. Ich war im dunkelsten Wald um diesen Stab zu finden. All die Götter werden von dir erzürnt sein. Freyr wird keine Liebe an dich vergeuden. Hört mir zu ihr Frostgiganten! Steingiganten! Söhne von Suttungr, hört mir zu! Ich verbiete dieser Frau sich mit irgendeinem Mann zu treffen. Ich verbiete dieser Frau auch nur an irgendeinem Mann Freude zu empfinden!“

„Nur das von Frost umhüllte Hringhorn wird an dir Freude in der Finsternis des Höllentors finden. Verrottete Leichen werden dir Hörner von faulen und abgewürgten Ziegen anbieten. In meinem Stab sind drei Thur Runen eingeritzt und drei weitere werde ich hinzu ritzen, von Lüsternheit, Gier und Hass. Auch wenn ich sie bereits eingeritzt habe, kann ich diese wieder abkratzen, wenn ich einen Grund dazu habe.“
Als Gerda den Bannen von Skirnir zuhörte, begann sie zu zittern und vor Furch zu beben. Ihre Augen nicht mehr länger von Eis erfüllt, sondern voller Tränen. Letztendlich erhob sie ihren Blick zu ihm und sagte: „Skirnir, du bist hier willkommen. Trink aus meinem Gefäß aus Kristall, gefüllt mit Met. Niemals hätte ich gedacht meine Liebe einem der Vanir zu schwören.“

Skirnir senkte seinen Stab und nahm das Gefäß. Aber bevor er trank, fragte er bevor er nach Hause ritt, wo sie Freyr gerne treffen würde. „In einem Wald namens „Barri“, antwortete sie, „den wir beide ganz gut kennen. Dort ist es sehr schön und friedlich. Dort werde ich meinen Willen und mich selbst mit Freude zu Freyr in neun Nächten hingeben.“

Skirnir verließ den Saal und ritt zurück nach Asgard. Dort stand Freyr ungeduldig und besorgt nach Neuigkeiten, doch Skirnir, lächelnd, nahm sich Zeit vom Pferd zu steigen. Freyr konnte es nicht mehr abwarten und fragte: „Bevor du dich absattelst, bevor du einen Fuß weiter setzt… Sag’s mir! Hast du mit ihr gesprochen!? Hast du den Rausch meines Herzens mitgebracht oder aus Jötunheim gepeinigt?“

Skirnir lächelte und sagte, während er seinen Umhang einwickelte: „Es gibt einen wunderschönen und friedlichen Wald namens „Barri“, welchen ihr beide ganz gut kennt. Gerda wird sich dir dort in neun Nächten hingeben.“

„Eine Nacht ist lang
Zwei Nächte sind noch länger.
Wie soll ich dem Verlangen nach drei Nächten trotzen?
Selbst ein Monat kam mir schon des Öfteren viel weniger vor.“

Obwohl das Skirnislied genug von Drohungen erfüllt scheint, sind beide, Gerda und Freyr immer als liebevolles Paar abgebildet. Es gibt viele von hunderten kleinen Brakteaten, die ein liebliches Paar zeigen, welches sich eng zusammenhält und küsst. Dies wurde in einer Seite des Vanischen Kultes in Schweden gefunden und vor der Wikinger Zeit auch woanders. Freyr ist einer der drei Hauptgötter, beschrieben als anwesender im Tempel um Uppsala bei Adam von Bremen des spähten 10. Jahrhunderts. Da Freyr ein wichtiger Fruchtbarkeitsgott ist und Gerda die gefrorene Erde darstellt („Barri“ kommt von Barley „Gerste“) macht das Lied einen Sinn und scheint eine Mythologische Geschichte des jahreszeitlichen fruchtbaren Eintritts des Frühlings zu sein.

Aber es gibt hier zwei Ebenen, eine als leidenschaftlich bewegliches Liebesgedicht (außer Skirnirs Drohungen) von Freyrs Verlangen nach Gerda und ihrem nachträglichen „Dahin schmelzen“ für ihn. Die andere, als eine Geschichte der nordischen Sehnsucht/Feier für das kommende Sonnenlicht und Wachstum nach einer langen Winterfessel.

_____________________________________
Special mythological words can be found here:
http://www.sungaya.de

No problem at all and "Thank You!" :sun: