The runes know the story.

One night long ago, after Máni's sojourn with the moon and his chariot was spent, a light winked in the haze of midnight. Winked once, then twice, then suddenly blossomed into a silvered plume that arced across the sky. As the light approached the towers of Asgard, a star within it became visible – a star that tripped while on its metered trek. Perhaps a breath from Muspelheim, perhaps a sigh from Niflheim that crossed its path and caused the tremble. The world knows not.

The wayward star faltered, and suddenly skittered over the sea, tumbling itself to a stop in a low valley where the grass grew soft and primrose scented the air. There, the star erupted into blinding light, a wave of warm wind rushing out from the place where it lay. And from the warmth and light, a tiny cry. The warm wind cascaded to the feet of Gna, handmaiden to Queen Frigga; she, the queen's messenger and bearer of breezes, looked up in surprise at this new breath from the valley. It beckoned her forward to where the star now lay, the fierce light dying as the cry grew in strength. Surprise hastened her steps, intrigue drawing her forward. The grasses, softened and curling against the warmth, filled the air with the scent of earth and green – of life. As she approached, Gna paused, gasped.

Amid a fading, crumbling berth that sparkled all shot through with silver, lay a babe. Her infant cries bid the handmaiden forth, and she knelt and tenderly gathered the tiny one to her breast. The babe trembled, then quieted, the celestial glow dimming away like a lamp turned down. In the last of the fading light, Gna beheld the babe was a girl child. Hair, dark as Odin's raven, glistened with a dusting of silver as the babe quieted at the handmaiden's touch. Her tiny fist found the rosebud mouth, and she suckled hungrily. A tender smile bloomed on Gna's face as she cuddled the infant against her, pulling the folds of her robe up to shelter her from the cool breeze.

"Hello, little starling. Welcome!" As she turned towards the path back to Asgard's halls, she pressed a kiss to the downy head. Behind her, the silvered spot that held the babe faded into the darkness, leaving only a newly bloomed primrose, petals silvered and shining in the dim light.