Elation illuminated Queen Íssla’s lovely face. She majestically rose to her royal feet and held her crystal goblet high. “Tomorrow, we shall meet our fate and battle darkness. But tonight, we honor love, life, and light as we celebrate the wedding of Elfi and Njörd. Let the Moonstone Hall fill with laughter and song. And let the dancing begin!"
As lively notes from lyres and lutes floated into the herb-scented air, Njörd led Elfi down the carved moonstone steps at the end of the dais to the center of the polished stone floor. All eyes watched as the bride and groom led the first dance, then others joined in the celebration.
Njáll swirled Luna, Bodo twirled Sif, and Haldor held Úlvhild against his chest. While a few of the couples exchanged partners, and Lugh accepted Elfi so that Njörd could dance with his mother, Haldor refused to share Úlvhild. “We’ve been apart for eight long winters,” he snarled, holding her tight. “Now that we’re finally together, I will never let go you.”
In the middle of the dance floor, he swooped down like a falcon to claim her lips as prey.
And seared her soul with a scorching kiss.
TheBlóðsmiðrandÚlfhéðnarhowled in roaring approval.
As she danced all night with her beloved Falcon, the melody, movement, and magic of being in his arms made Úlvhild’s heart soar but also clench in sorrow. For one day soon, Haldor would dance like this with Svanhild at their own wedding inSigurðshöll.The Orkney jarl’s lovely blonde daughter would be as beautiful a bride as Elfi.
And bear Haldor five strong, healthy sons.
The throttling thought nearly brought Úlvhild to her knees.
As if he sensed her suffering, Haldor murmured into her ear, his breath hot against her cheek. “I burn to see your bare skin.” Warm, eager lips suckled the side of her throat. “I hunger for your taste.” He lowered a hand from the center of her back to her hips, pulling her against his hardened length. “I cannot wait to sink into your firm, wet flesh.”
Just as Úlvhild’s legs went weak with desire, the music stopped and a hush swept across the hall when Njörd’s skald Stig appeared beneath the entry of the twin moonstone doors.
A silver circlet bearing the carved image of a striking wolf head with glinting eyes of lapis lazuli set low upon his brow. Dark curls fell to Stig’s slim shoulders, his long beard braided with sparkling blue beads. Beneath a white wolfskin pelt fastened with a wolf head clasp, the poet’s deep blue tunic was edged with Nordic runes, crashing waves, and snarling wolves embroidered in silver thread.
Cradled in his slender hands was a wooden lyre of pale, polished birch, carved with runes and swirling scrolls, its nine strings shimmering in the soft light. A whalebone flute—similar to the one Elfi played, which had once belonged to her brother Dag—hung over his shoulder in a leather sling of grey sealskin.
Raising the whalebone flute to his bearded lips, the skald played a haunting melody as he entered the Moonstone Hall and slowly approachedElfi and Njörd, now encircled by the standing wedding guests who had been dancing. When Stig reached the bridal couple, he released the flute and began strumming the gleaming lyre.
His mellow voice deep, rich, and clear, Stig sang hisSong of the Siren and the Sea Wolf. the wedding ballad he had composed for Elfi and Njörd. As he enthralled the throng, he strummed his lyre, alternating with the flute between each verse. Like a cresting wave, the melody rose, swelling and surging through the hall, carrying the hearts of the wedding guests across the Nordic Seas. As the final note faded, a reverent silence fell over the awestruck crowd. A few moments later, joyous applause and jubilant cheers erupted, their spirits lifted by the skald’s sublime song.
Njörd released Elfi’s hand and stepped forward, obviously moved by the soulful wedding song. Fixing Stig with a steadfast gaze, he raised his deep voice to ring out the skald’s praise."Your stirring song of the sea wolf’s roar and the siren’s call has swept this night into legend.”Removing a silver torc from his upper right arm, Njörd presented it to the exceptional skald. In the firelight and moonglow of the radiant hall, waves and wolves danced on the sea of silver. Once again, Njörd’s deep voice carried across the hushed hall.
“May this torc, carved with the strength of the sea and the spirit of the wolf, remind all of the skald’s song that honored this wedding night.”
Beaming with pride and profound gratitude, Stig accepted the silver torc and, with a wry smile, secured it over his right arm, reducing it from Njörd’s enormous wolf warrior size to his own much leaner limb. When he spoke, the skald’s lyrical voice quavered with emotion. "Your gift bears the strength of the wolf and the song of the sea. I will wear it with honor, and sing your praise as long as winds flow over waves." Stig raised his lyre in a musical tribute to the wedded couple, a humble smile stretching across his radiant face.
While her royal attendants refilled the drinking vessels of guests seated at tables, and others provided new goblets to the bridal couple and guests gathered in the center of the dance floor,Queen Íssla rose gracefully from her crystal throne. She raised her goblet to toast the skillful skald, her regal voice filled with admiration and awe. "To Stig, whose voice has woven our hearts together with Elfi and Njörd’s wedding song. May his words sail far, and the winds carry wide, theSaga of the Siren and the Sea Wolf.”
The Moonstone Hall echoed with her blessing, and the guests lifted their cups in unison, voices rising in a joyful cheer. “Skál!”
As the evening wound to a close, the wedding guests congratulated Elfi and Njörd, bowed before theLjósálfarqueen, and exited the fortress ofÍslyrato return to the village at the base of the black mountain. Úlvhild overheard grunts and growls from theÚlfhéðnarabout wanting to find a willing woman to warm their beds the night before battle.
Since Haldor was sharing a room with Úlvhild, Skjöld decided to lodge in theÚlfskáltavern with theBlóðsmiðrand the crew of their five ships moored in the harbor. He said goodnight to Haldor and Úlvhild, agreeing to meet them near the docks in the morning.
Where Skugga and theDökkálfarwould undoubtedly attack.
Íssla wrapped her arms around Njörd and kissed his bristled cheeks. “Now that I know of the waterfall cave in the Mermaid Cove, I can come visit you in Étretat. And you can return here throughÁlfheim—at least as long as Elfi is with child and carries yourLjósálfarblood.” The queen gripped Elfi’s hands and kissed both of her new daughter’s smiling cheeks. “We’ll spend the winter solstice together. And I’ll be sure to come see my beautiful granddaughter when she is born. Have you chosen a name?” Íssla searched Elfi and Njörd’s beaming faces.
“Nyssara,” Njörd replied softly, wrapping an arm around Elfi and pulling her to his side. He kissed the shining hair beneath her silver bridal circlet. “Maiden of the Sea.”
“A lovely name for the daughter of asjóvættirmermaid and theWolf of the Nordic Seas.” Íssla inclined her luminous head to her remainingguests, who bowed before the departing queen. “I bid you all goodnight. We’ll meet here in the morning fordagmál.” With a swoosh of silvery silk, she followed her royal sentinels and swept from the Moonstone Hall.
“See you in the morning. We’ll finalize plans for battle.” Njörd nodded to Haldor, Bodo, and Njáll as Elfi kissed Sif, Luna, and Úlvhild goodnight.
Arm in arm, the blissful bridal couple disappeared down the candlelit corridor to culminate their wedding night in their private chambers.
Bodo and Sif slipped away, as did Luna and Njáll, each pair retiring to their respective shared quarters.
His piercing gaze primal and raw, Haldor grasped Úlvhild’s hand.
