With a gruff chuckle, he lay down beside her, cradling her upon the soft, dark hair which covered his broad chest. “Mmm,”he hummed, the deep reverberations rumbling into Elfi’s bones. “Let’s do this every day after training. All next week until Lugh comes.” He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her with brawny, intricately inked arms. “The sensation of the icy waterfall…diving into the cool water to wash away the sweat…and then plunging into your luscious body…by the gods, it’s Valhalla on earth!” He rocked her in a snug embrace. “Thank you for bringing me here.”
She nuzzled the dark hair on his chest and twirled it with gentle fingertips. “Dag and I used to swim here as children.” She raised her head, immersing herself in his deep blue eyes, inviting as the turquoise waters of the sheltered inlet below. “I used to pretend I was a mermaid, so he named this the Mermaid Cove.”
Njörd pushed a strand of long, light brown hair away from her face. “Perfect for my siren with the sea goddess eyes.” He kissed her softly and sighed in resignation. “I must return to my men. We’re installing the palisades along the western wall. I need to work for a few hours before tonight’s wedding celebration and feast.”
Elfi arose and reached for her satchel. “I brought a change of clothes for us. I knew we wouldn’t want to don our sweaty armor after a glorious swim in the Mermaid Cove.” She handed Njörd the tunic and breeches. “These belonged to Dag.”
Compassion shone in Njörd’s grateful gaze as he softly thanked her. “Takk, elska minn.” He accepted the clothing and donned the breeches, securing the drawstring waist.
As Elfi pulled the linen gown over her cotton chemise shift, Njörd spun his head, instantly alert, as if he had heard something outside the cave.
“What is it?” She quickly tied thetrollkorstalisman behind her neck and tucked it inside her gathered bodice.
Njörd handed Elfi her sword,Shadowbane, which she strapped on her hips. “Stay hidden in the recesses of the cave until I return. Use the blade to defend yourself—but only if directly attacked.” He squeezed her hands for reassurance, but dire warning flared in hisfierce gaze. “My lupine senses are superior to my human ones, and I run much faster as a wolf. Remember, stay hidden until I return.”
In a sudden shimmer of otherworldly light, amid contortions of muscle, claws, and fur, an enormous white wolf now stood before Elfi. His thick white fur was wiry, dense, and coarse, his massive jaws revealing rows of sharp, pointed fangs. But in the mesmerizing depths of his intense blue eyes, Elfi recognized Njörd. And sensed the innate bond between them in the essence of her soul.
He nudged her with his cold, black nose, as if reminding her to hide in the darkened passage around the corner.
When she retreated toward the concealed area behind the curve in the limestone wall, the mammoth wolf bounded out of the waterfall cave.
Elfi waited in the darkness, her limbs shaking from adrenaline. Thetrollkorstalisman—imbued with powerful Norsegaldrmagic and Njörd’s lupine blood —lay securely beneath the bodice of her gown. The prophetic words of Úlvhild, the mystical Vikingvölvawhose striking blue face was streaked with black runes, floated to Elfi on the briny saline breeze. “The man who hunts you has allied with the Dökkálfar Dark Elves and a shapeshifting troll. But your talisman will alert you if a Dark Elf is near, for it will become warm. Andshould you come in contact with a troll, the amulet will become hot, warning you of his presence that even the Úlfhéðnar cannot detect.”Struggling to calm her racing heart, Elfi took comfort in knowing that if aDökkálfaror a troll did indeed touch her, the defensive wards of the iron amulet would burn her enemy from the inside out.
Mouth dry, muscles twitching, she waited in the darkness for what seemed like hours before she finally heard him return to the cave. “Elfi, I’m back. You can come out now.”
Relief flooded her at the reassuring sound of Njörd’s deep voice. He’s in human form again if he can talk.When she rushed out to greet him, he wrapped her in a snug embrace. “It was just a doe and her fawn. No trace of anyone else.” With a curvedfinger, he lifted her chin and kissed her softly. “Let’s go back to the castle.”
Elfi released the breath she was holding. “Odin be praised it was just a deer. I was terrified that I would encounter a troll.” She strode across the cave, placed her leather armor inside the satchel, and strapped the yew bow across her back. While Njörd slung her quiver of arrows on his shoulder and laid his leather armor over his arm, Elfi said, “Sif is so excited about dancing with Bodo at tonight’s wedding feast! She dyed a gown purple and embroidered it with silver thread. She’s hoping my father—when he returns to Étretat—will grant her freedom, and that Bodo will ask for her hand.”
Njörd gave Elfi her shield and grasped his own. He lifted the slow-burning torch, the pine resin of the glowing tip a stark contrast to the dim resignation in his sorrowful gaze. “Bodo does not plan to come to the feast tonight. He says he can’t dance with a maimed foot. Nor can he bear the look of pity in Sif’s eyes. He insists she deserves a man who is whole. Not the lame stonecutter,Bodo le Boîteux.”
“Sif will be crushed if he does not come. She’ll believe he doesn’t want her because she is a lowly thrall.” Elfi gazed up at Njörd, imploring him with pleading eyes. “Could you speak to him? Convince him to come? Even if they don’t dance, he could sit with her near the fire.” She adjusted the satchel on her shoulder. “Bodo’s maimed foot is of no importance at all She cares for the man, not his ability to dance.”
Njörd’s mouth curled up into a wistful smile. “I’ll try my best. But he thinks Áki is a better choice. He’s noticed how Sif has caught Áki’s eye.”
A wave of panic surged through Elfi. “As a thrall, she would not be able to refuse Áki. He’s a Danish warlord, who could demand the right to bed her. I’ll have to keep Sif busy as my personal attendant whenever he comes around.” Elfi spotted a few wild roses growing in the grass just outside the waterfall cave. She plucked a few and explained to Njörd as she tucked them into her bodice. “Theseéglantineswill make a fine offering to Freyja. I’ll pray that the Goddess of Love hears my plea. And makes Bodo come to the feast.”
With a deep chuckle, Njörd held the lighted torch high and escorted Elfi back to the sacred grove.
Chapter 19
Wedding Feast
“You look beautiful! Bodo won’t be able to take his eyes off you.” Elfi wove the sweet violets and wild thyme blossoms into the two delicate braids which joined at the back of Sif’s dark, shiny tresses. The floral fragrance and hint of spice from the wildflowers wafted on the saline breeze through the open window. At the sound of waves crashing against the white chalk cliffs, Elfi remembered Njörd’s powerful body pounding into hers in the waterfall cave of the Mermaid Cove. A delicious thrill washed over her at the thought of going there with him again tomorrow. Smiling to herself, she directed her attention back to Sif’s glorious mane. Unlike most thralls whose locks were kept shorn, Sif’s dark brown hair—like Elfi’s—tumbled to her narrow waist.
“Thank you for allowing me to wear this amethyst necklace. It’s the same color as my gown. I absolutely love it.” Sif ran long, appreciative fingers over the dark purple glittering gems.
“And the silver embroidery that you did around the neckline will sparkle like stars in the firelight.” Elfi leaned forward to hug Sif’s shoulders.
Sif, her pretty face alight with delight, rose from the seat at the vanity table. “Now, it’s your turn. I’ll weave these bluebells into your braids. The fragrance is wonderful!”
Elfi admired Sif’s work as she observed her reflection in the polished silver mirror. Blue wildflowers were artfully woven into her long, light brown hair. The emerald, turquoise, and lapislazuli gems in the necklace that Njörd had given her glittered at her throat in the slanted rays of the setting sun. And, suspended beneath the three tiers of teardrop shaped beads, the Nordic runes and dark blue gems of thetrollkorstalisman glistened withgaldrmagic.
As if summoned by her thoughts of him, Njörd appeared in the doorway. His eyes widened with awe and admiration as he took in her deep blue gown, the necklace he had given her as a bridal gift, and thetrollkorstalisman with sparkling lapis lazuli gems. “My siren with the sea goddess eyes…” he strode across the room and swept her into his arms, planting a glorious kiss on her smiling lips.
Elfi laughed with joy, reveling in his ardent, amorous attention. When she withdrew from Njörd’s embrace, she noticed Sif’s crestfallen face.
“Bodo isn’t with you?” Sif looked beyond Njörd into the hallway, searching in vain for the stonecutter she so desperately hoped to see.
