Bifröst
Chapter 17: Bifröst
“And you have packed everything?” Lord Blekk asked for maybe the tenth time as you sat with him for breakfast at the archives.
“I have, my lord.” You said with a smile as you grabbed for another roll of sugar bread.
“Sleeping bag? Compass? Drinking skin?”
“All of them are packed.” Lord Blekk sighed and took a reluctant bite of his buttered toast.
“And you have consulted Eir like I have asked you to?”
“I have and she gave me her permission to join the travel party to Alfheim.” You said and then gave lord Blekk a knowing look. “As I am sure you already know.” There was no doubt in your mind that lord Blekk had gone and asked lady Eir herself on your condition.
“Fine.” He grumbled and dropped his toast, before he pointed a finger at your chest. “Wear that brooch at all times so people know who you are and do not get in your way.” You nodded your head while taking another bite.
“Of course, my lord.”
“Now take another roll of bread or some fruit. You will need your strength for the long ride.” That reminded you of something you had wanted to ask him.
“Lord Blekk? Do you perhaps have a map of Alfheim? I would like to know the route we are going.” His eyes widened at that.
“I knew you would forget about something! By the Norns, girl, how are you supposed to travel without a map?” You felt a little irritated at that. It’s not as if you had forgotten, you just assumed that only the princes were allowed to have one, given that they were leading this travel party.
“The princes have one and they’re leading this-“
“And what if you got lost? Don’t forget that this is your very first expedition or adventure as you like to call it. You need a map at all times, Svinnr.” He then got up and shuffled towards a chest full of scrolls, all the while mumbling to himself. When he finally found what he was looking for you had already finished your breakfast and were cleaning up the table.
“Here it is.” He said as he spread the map over the part you had just cleaned. “The place Heimdall will drop you all off is here.” He said and pointed to what looked like open fields. “Grænir Reitir. The ever green fields. Ýdalir or the hall of Ullr will be your first stop. Then you depart along the Dökkar Varnir to reach Andlang, the stronghold of lord Folduin Naeyra. I shouldn’t be telling you this, because I place myself above gossip, but since that you have met ambassador Skírnir, I think I can excuse this for one time. Lord Folduin is the one who had him banished from Alfheim by consulting the king in private. That’s why the ambassador avoids this place like the plague.”
“But doesn’t he have to pass there every time he visits prince Frey’s court?”
“Theoretically yes, but there are other roads as well. He mostly travels by less busier routes and sleeps at local inns. The lords and the royal family of Alfheim are not thrilled with the ambassador’s presence and definitely not with prince Frey’s choice to appoint a convict as his most trusted servant. Although ‘most trusted’ are big words, especially where ambassador Skírnir is concerned.” He cleared his throat and continued dragging his finger across the map until it stopped at another black dot with the name Vídbláin above it. “This is the residence of Prince Frey, where the feast will take place.”
“Do you perhaps know where the Silverwood is?” Lord Blekk gave you a confused look, so you clarified. “Prince Frey spoke of showing me the Silverwood and I admit to be quite excited to see it as I have read about it and its unparalleled beauty.”
“Well, you’re in luck. Ýdalir lies at the heart of the The Silverwood or Terth skógur.” To proof this fact he pointed to the dot with the name Ýdalir above it and you could see little trees drawn around it with the name Terth skógur. He then rolled up the map and gave it to you. “Do not lose it.”
“I won’t, I promise.” You said and took the map from him with a smile. You then did something that neither of you had expected you to do, you opened your arms and hugged him tightly. It took lord Blekk a moment to get over his shock, but once he did, he returned your embrace with gentle arms that held you close. When you let go of each other you both had a smile on your face.
“Good luck, little one and safe travels.” You were taken aback and also quite saddened that he was already saying his goodbyes to you. Did this mean that he wasn’t going to see you off at the gates of the Bifröst? He seemed to understand the sudden fall of your smile and the sadness that must have showed itself into your eyes as he snorted.
“Don’t worry, Svinnr, I’ll be there to see you off, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to be so open with you there. I have a reputation to uphold as a grumpy old man, you see.” That made you laugh. Truly it was hilarious to think that you were once afraid of this man, while he had been so good to you. It had all been part of this act he had taken upon himself.
“Well in that case, would my lord allow it if I too spoke openly with him now?” He nodded his head with a smile.
“You may.”
“I thank you for the map, this opportunity, the apartments, the care, the protection, the guidance and above all your friendship. You are a good man, lord Blekk and I am so lucky and overjoyed to have met you and have you believe in me.” He grabbed hold of your hand and gave it a squeeze. Even though you both worked with books every day and penned down thousands of words, in this moment you both didn’t need any more words to understand. With a parting smile and another hug, you left the archives to go to your apartments once more to pick up your things and go to the soldiers’ stables to get Léttfeti saddled up. It didn’t come as a surprise when you spotted Egil in front of your door.
“On Guarding duty, I see.” You said as you approached him. He turned his head to watch you come closer with a big smile on his face.
“Actually, I made room for you in my busy schedule to help you with your things and also with Léttfeti.” You gave him a beaming smile as you thanked him and let him into your apartments to get your stuff. “Have you packed everything?” He asked and you couldn’t help but laugh. “What? What is so amusing?”
“Nothing, only that lord Blekk has asked me that same question over and over again.” You chuckled and he did so as well. “I have only one more thing to pack, though and that is this map.”
“And that’s it? Did you pack your insanely scandalous trousers too?” He asked and you hit him playfully on the chest while he laughed.
“As a matter of fact, I did.” You both laughed. When the queen had heard that you were going on this trip and therefor going to ride a horse, she had a dressmaker send to you who kept mumbling about it not being proper for a girl to wear such scandalous things. She kept going on about the fact that it followed the curve of your legs and left nothing to the imagination. You disagreed, but you never told her that to her face. Eventually she managed to create two different trousers. One in some kind of soft material for the hot weather and another one out of leather to keep you dry when it was raining. That’s all you managed to get out of her where trousers were concerned. She did however complain less when she began creating the dress you were going to wear for Ostara. You told her you were fine with wearing the dress your mother had given to you, but she wouldn’t have any of it. And that’s how you ended up with a beautiful purple silken dress that now lay carefully wrapped in paper at the bottom of your travel bag.
Egil took the heavy travel bag from your hands and swung it over his shoulder while you kept your rolled up sleeping bag under your arm.
“How much did you pack, Svinnr? It weighs as much as an adult sea serpent.” Egil said which made you blush a little. Maybe you did pack more things then were necessary, but then again you might need the books when you had to set up camp somewhere in the woods to block out your mind from hearing scary noises. You followed Egil out of your apartments, into the halls and all the way outside. It was still dark and early as the princes had ordered to leave at first light, but you could see that the time of your departure was slowly creeping closer as the sky was slightly lighter than it was before. Egil and you were just following the path to the stables when you ran into the princes themselves.
“Ah, I’m glad to see that our little adventurer is up and getting ready for departure!” You expected prince Loki being the one to address you, but no, it was the crown prince with his booming voice. You had never spoken to him apart from that one night at the tavern and you had thought that he hardly even remembered you existed. You must have been staring for too long as everyone looked at you.
“Yes, your highness.” You didn’t really know what else to say and if you were being honest with yourself, you couldn’t even remember what he had said because you were a little too busy being shocked about the fact that he had spoken to you at all. “I’m glad to be part of this adventure.” You added a little awkwardly.
“And what an adventure it shall be! Mother said you are Vanir, so travelling must be in your blood.” Actually you weren’t really Vanir, you might have been born there but none of your parents had Vanir blood. You, however, didn’t tell the prince that. Instead you gave him an awkward smile and a tiny nod.
“I certainly wish to see Alfheim for I have heard and read so much about it.” It was true that you had pretty much forsaken any other topics of books as you ‘prepared’ yourself for Alfheim. You had been so pumped for this adventure that you would have been utterly heartbroken if Egil had deemed you unready for it, but this past week had showed him that you were in fact more than ready. You still couldn’t believe you were going and it made you smile like an absolute madwoman every time you thought about it.
“I can tell by the way you are smiling so brightly!” Thor beamed and patted you on your shoulder. You believed he held himself back to be more gentle towards you, because you had seen what his pats on the back could do to someone. “Come! Let’s venture towards the stables to ready the horses.” He said and began walking away. Egil and you exchanged a smile as you followed the two princes down the path towards the stables, only to come to a halt a little later. The soldiers’ stables were to the left, but the princes kept going straight. Prince Loki was the first to realise Egil and you had stopped following them.
“Why have you stopped?” He asked which made prince Thor turn around and look at you as well.
“I’m sorry, your highness. It’s just… the soldiers’ stables are to the left.” You said with uncertain eyes which you quickly lowered to the ground. You still had a little trouble speaking to any noble let alone a royal.
“And why would you want to go there?” Prince Loki asked and you could feel Egil shifting a bit beside you.
“My horse is there and I am going to lend it to her, your highness.” Egil supplied while adjusting your travel bag on his shoulder. A moment of silence passed in which you could feel prince Loki’s eyes on you.
“No. That won’t be needed. You can have a horse from the royal stables.” Now you did look up to meet his eyes. Was he being serious?
“Thank you, your highness, but if it’s alright with you, … I’d rather ride with Léttfeti since we have bonded a bit over time.” You didn’t really know what his eyes were telling you nor his posture, but it was sending shivers down your spine. A moment of intense staring on his part went by before he opened his mouth again.
“Fine.” Was all he said in a monotone voice as he turned back around and walked away with his brother. You didn’t know what to make of it. Was it wrong of you to turn his offer down? Was this some kind of breach in etiquette? After all when a prince or someone of nobility offered you something, weren’t you supposed to always accept it?
“Come on, little one.” Egil said and his voice brought you back to reality. You followed him down the path to the left, all the way to the soldiers’ stables were you were greeted by a stable boy who was already readying Léttfeti who neighed happily at your approach.
“Hello, beautiful.” You said as you patted his muzzle affectionately. You and Egil then helped the stable boy with adjusting the last straps and tying up your travel bag and sleeping bag to the saddle. Once everything was in place and Egil was contented with the result, you grabbed for Léttfeti’s reigns to guide him outside.
“Wait.” Egil said and when you turned to look at him, he looked a bit sheepish and maybe even nervous.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just wished to give you something.” You let go of the reigns, trusting Léttfeti to not stray off, and approached Egil. “I wanted to give you this.” He said and held out a leather belt with a dagger attached to it. You could tell that it was his, given that his name was carved into the handle.
“Egil, …. I-I can’t take this.” You said a little bit more emotional than you wanted to show.
“But I want you to have it.” He said. “Please, Svinnr. Then I can sleep a little easier once you’re gone, knowing you can defend yourself if you have to.” He too sounded emotional, so instead of awkwardly taking his gift while supressing the flood of tears, you took a step closer and hugged him tightly. He immediately returned the embrace with as much vigour as he squeezed you tightly against his chest. You stayed there for a while, safe and sound in the caring arms of your dear friend.
“Thank you, Egil. If it means so much to you then I will wear it always.” You said and as an answer you received a kiss on your temple.
“Promise me to be safe on your travels, Svinnr.” He said with a soft voice that simply made you feel so warm and cared for.
“I promise, Egil. I won’t do anything rash.” That however made him laugh.
“When have you ever done something that wasn’t rash?” Now you too laughed.
“Shut up you and just hold me.”
When the sky had turned a beautiful orange and the first signs of the sun were visible, you found yourself at the gates of the Bifröst bridge on Léttfeti’s back surrounded by various Einherjar, nobles and even some servants. The warriors three, the princes and even the queen were there as well, saying their goodbyes to the king who had bid you all a safe journey. You had manged to spot lord Blekk among the crowd of people with some sort of proud glint in his eyes as he waved at you. Egil was there too, patting Léttfeti and giving him an apple. The surprise of the day however was Rydigg who had come down to see you off and had even brought you a giant flatbread for along the way.
“Compliments of Djúpvitr.” She had said with a mischievous smirk which had made you laugh. Eventually prince Thor gave the signal to move out and so with one last glance at Egil, Rydigg and lord Blekk you spurred Léttfeti to take the first step towards adventure.
“First time on the Bifröst bridge?” A voice asked and when you looked to whom it might belong, you were once again shocked. The lady Sif was beside you and greeted you with a smile.
“Y-yes.” You all but stuttered. “How did you tell?”
“I had the same look of wonder in my eyes the first time I walked over it.” She said with a smile which you gladly returned. “It is quite something isn’t it?”
“Yes it is. I never thought I would get the change to walk over it one day.”
“And yet here you are. I must say I’m happy that there’s another woman joining our company for once.” That made you frown.
“Surely I haven’t been the only one to have accompanied you for so many years?” Sif only chuckled.
“You’re right, but either they hid themselves away in carriages or they rode side-saddle, because they were all of the opinion that a lady should never ride like a man, let alone wear trousers.” That made you laugh. It was good to see another woman who hardly gave any thought to expectations, traditions and proper etiquette.
“Well, in that case I am happy not being the only woman to share such fondness for scandal.” You thought perhaps that your jest was a little too risky, but when Sif laughed you felt a great relief for finding another possible friend. It was true that apart from Sif, the queen, Fulla and you there were no other women present. Perhaps the nobles didn’t feel like bringing their wives, but surely they too were allowed to celebrate Ostara? The queen seemed to have that idea as she had left her own husband at the palace to celebrate ‘the greatest Ostara feast the nine have ever seen’, as prince Frey had promised. She rode in a carriage even though something told you that she too would have loved to ride a horse like you and Sif were. Unfortunately she was the queen and a queen’s life was never her own. She had to hold herself to these forms of tradition and etiquette to become the very face of modesty for her people.
It saddened you that she couldn’t simply be herself even though she played her role without any flaws. You sighed and turned your attention back to the lady Sif and asked her about her first time on the Bifröst and where she had gone to. She was just indulging you with a story about the time she had to rescue lord Volstagg from getting stung by giant killer-bees on Vanaheim because he had disturbed their nest to get to the heavenly honey, when you heard the roaring of the sea falling off the edge of Asgard. You had always wanted to see this! The dark blue water fell into nothing but clouds of purple, green, pink and black. The edge of the world! And you were going beyond it on this bridge that was fabricated out of the same colours as below. Even though you felt the sun on you, the stars here were visible and you wondered what they might look like at night.
All of your daydreaming stopped when you walked underneath a golden dome that you hadn’t even realised was there because you had kept your gaze fixed on the roaring sea below and the stars and all the beautiful colours on the side of the bridge. The dome was huge, but that wasn’t what made you hold in your breath. It was the man standing in the middle of it, the man you knew to be the gatekeeper whose gaze saw all. Heimdall.
“Morning, travellers.” He said and you pretty much melted for his voice was the most soothing thing you had ever heard. It was so deep and relaxing that you felt it in the deepest of your core and your very soul.
“Morning, good Heimdall.” Prince Thor beamed. “How fares Alfheim?”
“It’s going to be hot today as it has been for a while now. I predict the temperature will continue to rise.”
“Well, we best be ready for it.” Thor said as he let that information get to him.
“Good Heimdall, what of prince Frey?” The queen asked as she poked her head out of the drapes of the carriage she was in.
“Prince Frey has been informed of your departure. He will await you at Andlang, my queen.”
“Thank you, Heimdall.” The prince nudged his horse a bit forwards then and was quickly followed by the others who all awaited what was to come.
“If you feel nervous, it’s okay to close your eyes.” Sif whispered to you and you looked slightly confused until an unspeakable force seemed to pull you forwards as soon as Heimdall had sheathed his sword into a golden something. And in a blink of an eye the golden dome had disappeared and vibrant colours surrounded you, Léttfeti and the rest of the party as you kept going faster and faster. You wanted to scream, but your body seemed to be frozen as it ignored every command you gave it all the while your eyes remained open to let all the colours consume you completely.