Norway
Astrid was filled with both apprehension and excitement. With her company and a Sami guide named Sondre, Astrid was quickly approaching the Sami winter camp. Astrid had contacted Sondre through a friend at the University weeks earlier. Sondre assured her that he had spoken to one knowledgeable storyteller who was willing to put aside deeply imbedded hostility towards Norwegians and speak to Astrid's group.
Soon enough, Astrid found herself seated before Sondre's knowledgeable storyteller, Olaf with legal pad on her lap and a well-used pencil griped tightly in her hand. Once the pleasantries were concluded, Olaf began to speak in the tone of a storyteller, yet in Norwegian for Astrid's banquet. Per and Lars got out their own notebooks and settled down next to Astrid with all the other Sami who spoke Norwegian and were not otherwise occupied.
"Long ago our ancestors lived far south from here near a bay called Forochel by the Kings of men who lived even further south in a kingdom called Arnor," began Olaf. "The land was colder then and men said that the chill came from some great southern evil. Our people kept to themselves and did not interact with the people of the south until our people came upon a starving King named Arvedui.
"A group of our people were camping near the bay when they beheld the strange sight of a group of bedraggled men headed for them. They cried out for food and offered some useless trinkets he carried in exchange, calling us the Lossoth, snowmen. Our people did not care for these and feared to help the men in any event, for they learned that these men were at war with the great Witch-king, Angmar, the one who could create frost and ice as he wished. These men had resisted the Witch-king until they were forced to hide in the old Dwarf mines. Finally they were recently driven by hunger to seek us out. No, our people did not wish to help these strange men, but were finally persuaded to feel pity at the plight of their starved bodies. They built the men houses of snow and gave them some food.
"Several of our people looked upon them with contempt. They knew nothing of the cold and how to conserve heat. They looked upon their new houses with surprise. Only Arvedui had the courtesy to thank us profusely. One young man even heard one of Arvedui's followers call us a savage people. Realizing we were their only hope, Arvedui apologized for his man. We could hear some strength of rage come into his voice that evening directed at his men, though we could not make out the words.
"Arvedui became very impatient in the early days of his stay until he realized that he had no choice but to wait for help from the south. Slowly, his eyes opened to our people, and we slowly open our to him. He marveled at our sleds and once even tried to join the children in skating on the ice. Though in the end he was welcomed, Arvedui still kept a signal fire alight on the shore, a beacon to any aid that may come, and come it did.
"One morning we were greeted by the sight of a large wooden vessel far out to sea. Arvedui and his men saw the vessel to and were filled with joy. Arvedui said it was the ship of an Elf named Cirdan come to rescue them. We partook not in their joy, for some deep foreboding griped our hearts. Nevertheless, we brought Arvedui and his men out over the ice on our sleds until they were within reach of the ships small boats. We bid them farewell and good journey but returned to our homes with heavy hearts. Not long after a storm such as was seldom seen, blew up out of the sea. Although we did not hear for certain for many, many years, we were certain the ship had perished in the storm. That was the last we heard of the people of Arnor for many a long year."
________________________________________________________________________ For more information on Arvedui check the Return of the King Appendix A, Part I subpart iii I knew next to nothing on the Sami before starting this. If anyone notices any technical errors, please let me know.
Astrid was filled with both apprehension and excitement. With her company and a Sami guide named Sondre, Astrid was quickly approaching the Sami winter camp. Astrid had contacted Sondre through a friend at the University weeks earlier. Sondre assured her that he had spoken to one knowledgeable storyteller who was willing to put aside deeply imbedded hostility towards Norwegians and speak to Astrid's group.
Soon enough, Astrid found herself seated before Sondre's knowledgeable storyteller, Olaf with legal pad on her lap and a well-used pencil griped tightly in her hand. Once the pleasantries were concluded, Olaf began to speak in the tone of a storyteller, yet in Norwegian for Astrid's banquet. Per and Lars got out their own notebooks and settled down next to Astrid with all the other Sami who spoke Norwegian and were not otherwise occupied.
"Long ago our ancestors lived far south from here near a bay called Forochel by the Kings of men who lived even further south in a kingdom called Arnor," began Olaf. "The land was colder then and men said that the chill came from some great southern evil. Our people kept to themselves and did not interact with the people of the south until our people came upon a starving King named Arvedui.
"A group of our people were camping near the bay when they beheld the strange sight of a group of bedraggled men headed for them. They cried out for food and offered some useless trinkets he carried in exchange, calling us the Lossoth, snowmen. Our people did not care for these and feared to help the men in any event, for they learned that these men were at war with the great Witch-king, Angmar, the one who could create frost and ice as he wished. These men had resisted the Witch-king until they were forced to hide in the old Dwarf mines. Finally they were recently driven by hunger to seek us out. No, our people did not wish to help these strange men, but were finally persuaded to feel pity at the plight of their starved bodies. They built the men houses of snow and gave them some food.
"Several of our people looked upon them with contempt. They knew nothing of the cold and how to conserve heat. They looked upon their new houses with surprise. Only Arvedui had the courtesy to thank us profusely. One young man even heard one of Arvedui's followers call us a savage people. Realizing we were their only hope, Arvedui apologized for his man. We could hear some strength of rage come into his voice that evening directed at his men, though we could not make out the words.
"Arvedui became very impatient in the early days of his stay until he realized that he had no choice but to wait for help from the south. Slowly, his eyes opened to our people, and we slowly open our to him. He marveled at our sleds and once even tried to join the children in skating on the ice. Though in the end he was welcomed, Arvedui still kept a signal fire alight on the shore, a beacon to any aid that may come, and come it did.
"One morning we were greeted by the sight of a large wooden vessel far out to sea. Arvedui and his men saw the vessel to and were filled with joy. Arvedui said it was the ship of an Elf named Cirdan come to rescue them. We partook not in their joy, for some deep foreboding griped our hearts. Nevertheless, we brought Arvedui and his men out over the ice on our sleds until they were within reach of the ships small boats. We bid them farewell and good journey but returned to our homes with heavy hearts. Not long after a storm such as was seldom seen, blew up out of the sea. Although we did not hear for certain for many, many years, we were certain the ship had perished in the storm. That was the last we heard of the people of Arnor for many a long year."
________________________________________________________________________ For more information on Arvedui check the Return of the King Appendix A, Part I subpart iii I knew next to nothing on the Sami before starting this. If anyone notices any technical errors, please let me know.