Elfi shuddered visibly at the ominous warning.
“But first,” he continued in a more lighthearted tone, “I must craftLjósálfarweapons for your protection. From the bones of the sacred white wolf.” He grinned at an astonished Njörd, a radiant shine in his deep verdanteyes “This too, I glimpsed in my Elven Mirror.”
Adrenaline surging in his veins, Njörd retrieved the leather wrapped package from the scabbard strapped to his belt. “My father Brökk sent hishámrspirit in the form of a white wolf to protect me as a boy in Norway. When I became a man, the wolf died, and my father’s voice told me to wear the white wolfskin fur for protection in battle. And to save these two jawbones, for weapons which would defend my future mate.” His palms damp, Njörd handed the parcel to Lugh, who unwrapped and meticulously perused the contents.
Njörd’s body pulsed with power, like the lupine bones thrumming at Lugh’ssummoning touch.
“Your father was one of theÚlfhéðnar,a shapeshifting wolf warrior descended from Odin.” An otherworldly brilliance illuminated Lugh’s radiant gaze. He flashed a pearlescent grin at Elfi. “With these lupine bones, I can craft a weapon capable of killing a troll.”
As his long Elven fingerstraced the smooth ivory, Lugh seemed immersed in creative contemplation. “I’ll affix agildirstarstone, like the one in Dag’s enchanted swordGaladir. But imbued with intensified powers of reflection. So that, in sunlight, you can transform theDökkálfar--or even a troll--into stone.” He gripped one of the bones, holding it like a dagger, then eyed the flute in Elfi’s hand. Satisfaction spread across Lugh’s luminous face, as if he’d arrived at an important decision. “Meet me here in nine days. I shall have the weapons ready for you then. Summon me with your flute when you arrive in this waterfall cave.” Rewrapping the bones carefully inside the leather pouch, Lugh tucked them into the belt of his greendragonscalearmor. “Come prepared for the voyage to theÎle de Sein. Bring sufficient provisions for three days of training with theGallizenaemermaids. When I arrive with the white wolf weapons, I shall escort you directly through this portal to theÎle de Sein.” Lugh bent at the waist to kiss Elfi’s hand.“Fardu vel,Heiress of Étretat.” His long, luminous hand shook Njörd’s in parting. “Vertu sæll, Wolf of the Nordic Seas. I bid you both a fondfarewell.” Lughbowed his silvery blond head and disappeared into the dark depths of the waterfall cave.
Elfi collapsed into Njörd’s arms. “We met aLjósálfar!” Her pulse raced as she gasped for breath. “Lugh knew my mother… and both of your parents!” She looked up into Njörd’s astonished gaze. “Did you see how the gems in my necklace glowed under his touch? He exudes a magnetic aura—an otherworldly power that emanates from him, like heat from a flame.” Elfi laid her head over Njörd’s pounding heart. “I cannot wait to wield my mother’ssjóvættirpower. And the Elven weapons from the bones of your sacred white wolf.” Nuzzling her nose in the chest hair beneath his beard, she hummed with audible contentment. “I am so grateful that you’re mine. You introduced me to thevölvawho cast the runes and revealed my latent power. You brought the white wolf bones to Lugh, for him to craft myLjósálfarweapons. You gave me a superb bow and arrow. You’re teaching me to hurl a dagger. And you’re helping me hone my skill with a sword. I thank the Nordic gods for bringing you into my life.” She raised up on tiptoes to brush her full lips against his.
Like a wave crashing against the white chalk cliffs, irresistible desire inundated Njörd.
He removed the white wolfskin, laid it on the ground at his side, and crushed Elfi against his chest. Tilting his head for better access to her tempting mouth, he plundered her delicious depths with an exploring tongue while she responded with equal ardor in his arms. Her taste tormented him, making him crave her even more.
“Lugh might still be here.” She pulled away, peering into the dark recesses of the cave where theLjósálfarhad disappeared.
“He’s gone. I can sense when he’s near. Like I can with theÚlfhéðnar.”Njörd pulled Elfi close, murmuring into her open mouth. “We’re all alone.” An otherworldly aura permeated the cave, enshrouding them in a mysterious mist. He lowered his lips to claim hers, his tongue probing, prodding, and penetrating. The roar of the waterfall reverberated in his bonesand thundered with the rhythm of his heart.
Pulsing painfully as he pressed against her soft belly, his aching body throbbed with irrepressible need. Yet his yearning for Elfi transcended the human realm, for Njörd felt inexplicably compelled to mate with her here. To merge his essence with hers. To plant his seed in her fertile womb. Here, in this mystical, otherworldly realm. An irresistible pull drew them together, as if the Norns had entwined their fates in this majestic waterfall cave.
Thoughts raced through Njörd’s mind.We can’t make love on the hard, stone floor of the cave. But we do have the soft wolfskin fur…
As if to answer his unspoken question, Elfi slipped her hands under his tunic, running her fingers over his bare back and moaning softly into his ear. She reached up to pull his face down to hers, swallowing his lips, drinking him in, swept away in the same tide of passion. “I want you, Njörd. Every part of me craves every inch of you. Please make me yours. And become mine. Here in this waterfall cave.”
A raw, ravenous hunger for her raged through him. Body, mind, and spirit. Everything about Elfi beckoned him.
Her intoxicating scent. Her tantalizing taste. Her incredible skill with a sword.
Her mermaid spirit, her ethereal music.
His siren with the sea goddess eyes.
They belonged together. The Norns had interwoven the threads of their fate and linked their destiny. He and Elfi were fated mates. And an otherworldly, inexorable force had brought them to this waterfall cave.
For them to join here as one.
Njörd removed his tunic, boots, sword, and breeches, standing naked before Elfi.
She moaned, stroking and nuzzling the dark hair on his chest. Her eager lips and exploring tongue followed her roving fingers. “I love your scent. Your taste. Your touch.” She gazed up at him, her eyes as enticing as the deep waters of the Mermaid Cove. “And the sight of you makes my knees weaken with want.” Elfi lifted her dark blue gown up over her head, laid it on the stonefloor of the cave, and removed the linen shift she wore underneath. She placed it on top of the dress and carefully unfastened her necklace andtrollkorstalisman, nestling them protectively amongst the soft fabric of her gown. Her light brown hair, streaked with gold, cascaded in long waves down her slender arms, like the sparkling waterfall which concealed the mystical cave. When she stood nude and turned toward him, her beauty beckoned like the sea.
Tall and lithe, her pale skin glowed like a goddess. Small, pert breasts with soft pink nipples were impossible to resist, and he bent down to suckle them, supporting Elfi’s back as he lowered her to the wolfskin cloak spread upon the floor of the cave. He devoured her, trailing kisses over her luminous skin, savoring the sumptuous nectar between her long, lean legs. She was salty and sweet, like the freshwater spring of the waterfall which flowed into the Narrow Sea.
He lapped at her tender skin, reveling in her tangy taste, until waves of pleasure made her quiver and shudder in blissful, sublime surrender under the relentless rhythm of his ravenous tongue.
She gazed up at him, lovelight aglow in her sea goddess eyes, opening her arms and legs to welcome him in. “Please, Njörd. Come inside me.”
He slipped his hands under her rounded hips. Tilted her up to receive him. And plunged into her warm, wet womb.
Arms clasped behind his back, long legs wrapped around his thrusting hips, she held him tight, clenching him inside and out. Like a thunderous wave crashing against the shore, he emptied himself into Elfi. And filled her with his seed and his soul.
Limbs entwined, their passion spent, they lay together amidst the roar of the cascade and the salty mist of the sea. Njörd shifted his weight onto one arm so he wouldn’t crush her, and kissed Elfi’s soft, smiling lips. “That wasparadise. At long last, you are finally mine.”
She suckled the side of his neck where it met his shoulder and hummed into his slightly sweaty skin. “And you belong to me. I love you, Njörd. As deep as the endless sea.”
He laid down on the wolfskin at her side and pulled her into his arms. “And I love you. My siren with the sea goddess eyes.” Njörd caressed the golden strands which shimmered in her long, luxurious hair. He leaned down to kiss her softly. “I simply had to have you. I couldn’t resist—I felt an inexplicable, undeniable urge for us to make love. Here in this waterfall cave.”
