Happy Birthday to one of my best friends (online or otherwise)!
Jikkasjärvi, Sweden
"A hotel made out of ice?!" Wheeler exclaims. "How is that possible?"
"Pretty cool, huh?" Linka giggles at her bad pun.
"Literally."
"We are lucky. These rooms are usually booked far in advance. I was fortunate to call when I did. They had a cancellation and did not think they'd be able to fill it on such short notice. I got quite a deal too because the others who cancelled were obligated to still pay the first night's fee, so it is only costing me the second night."
"Nice! So, you wanted to come to northern Sweden in December…I feel like this is your way of trying to compete to see who can tolerate the cold more…a New Yorker or a Ruskie."
"I have a feeling it is going to be more than either of us have ever experienced. But the best place to see the Northern Lights is away from light pollution and far north. And Sweden has less tourists coming to see the aurora borealis than Norway, Finland, and Canada."
"I'm pretty excited. The brochure said there was a photography tour. Glad I brought my camera along on your world tour."
"I am glad too. I am sure you are getting much better photos than I am with just my phone."
"I got some pretty good ones on my phone too," he comments, thinking of the photos he snapped of her at their previous destinations. "We have a few hours to kill. Wanna wander around town?"
"Da, I think that would be nice. I saw a few booths with local vendors. It would be nice to support some of the small businesses."
"You don't need to put a spin on the fact that you're dying to go shopping, Babe. I'll go with you no matter how you say it," he chuckles.
She rolls her eyes and shakes her head, an action she's beginning to realize is something she does quite frequently when she's around him.
As they walk around the booths, many of them are related to Norse mythology and Viking Age goods. Linka is drawn to a ring that depicts what she knows as an Ouroboros, a snake eating its own tail.
"That's pretty interesting," Wheeler comments, making her jump, as she'd been deep in thought while examining the piece.
"It is an Ouroboros. It is supposed to represent the cycle of life. Birth, death, and rebirth. In some religions, it is a symbol of fertility. The tail being a phallus and the mouth representing the womb."
"Oooh, I love it when you talk nerdy dirty to me, Babe."
She can't help chuckling at his comment.
The merchant manning the booth approaches them, looking to finalize a possible sale.
"It is true what you say about the Ouroboros. In Norse mythology though, that is Jörmungandr, which translates to 'huge monster.' One of the stories is that he is the middle child of Loki and the giantess, Angrboda. Odin threw him into the sea and the serpent grew so large, that it was able to encircle the whole earth and grasp its own tail. His greatest enemy is Thor, and the story goes that when Jörmungandr releases his tail, Ragnarök, or 'the fate of the gods,' will begin as a series of events that includes the death of many great figures, some you may have heard of such as Odin, Thor, Loki, and Freyr, natural disasters, and the submersion of the world in water."
"Damn…kinda seems like we might be in the middle of Ragnarök now," Wheeler comments.
"Or perhaps it has already happened. The surviving gods returned, and the world was repopulated by two humans. If you are familiar with the beliefs of Christianity…"
Linka completes his statement.
"Adam and Eve. Or Noah's Ark."
"Oh wow," Wheeler muses. "So different beliefs still have some similarities in their stories."
"It is why I believe there is no 'right or wrong' religion or belief system. Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Vikings, and the more recent religious teachings of the last 2000 years…It is just how the stories are told. Good and evil. Doing right and not causing harm. Most people are well intentioned…but still flawed."
"Cool…do you have any books on Norse mythology? I think that's actually something that I'd like to read more about," Wheeler asks.
"I only have this hand forged jewelry, but my friend three booths over has various books on Norse mythology and the stories of the gods. His name is Ulf. Tell him Jonas sent you. He is married to my youngest sister, so he is family. I trust him to give you the best book."
"Great, I'll check it out next."
"Do you have a ring like this in a smaller size?" Linka asks. "I normally wear a ring on this finger but have taken it off recently and keep feeling like I am missing something. Perhaps having something else there will help."
"I do," the vendor says as he pulls a lockbox out from under the table. "There is a little bit of room for adjustment because the tail is not connected to the mouth so you can give it a little squeeze to tighten it, or a little tug to widen it a bit. Try this."
Linka slips the ring on and it's a perfect fit.
"I will take this," she says as she rubs her thumb over the silver serpent encircling her finger.
"I offer a discounted rate if bought in pairs. Many couples who have an appreciation for Viking lore buy them as wedding bands," he says, looking at Wheeler. "No pressure."
"Uh…" Wheeler hesitates, remembering what they said earlier about not correcting people when they assume the two of them are a couple. "Yeah, sure. I also am missing a ring and think it's a good idea to try and help ease the panic of thinking I've lost it by putting a replacement ring on in its place. But I'm buying."
"Nyet, Wheeler. It was my idea."
"I'm not making you pay for my added expense."
"What is mine is yours, Lyubov," she says, keeping up with the couple's act.
"Fine. THIS time. I got the next purchase though."
"Deal."
Wheeler tries on the ring that Linka had originally been looking at and it fits. It may not have the power that their Planeteer rings have, but he still feels there is something significant about it. He feels like they're also in an endless cycle, chasing his tail.
While Linka has made her way to a booth of women's apparel, Wheeler heads for the booth that Jonas referred him to in order to pick up some literature. He can't believe he's found something that he's interested in reading that isn't a comic book. He considers the inclusion of Thor in these stories as a justification. I'm not a nerd. Thor is the coolest Avenger…Sorry, Captain America. He spends some time talking to Ulf about who he should read about first and then bids him farewell.
On his way back to find Linka, something else catches his eye. There is a merchant set up in a store front instead of a booth on the street like many of the others. The sign in the window is what has drawn his attention. It depicts a blonde beauty wearing a cloak of feathers and riding in a chariot being pulled by lions…no wait, those are cats. Bigger than your average domestic short hair, but definitely not a lion, tiger, or cougar. The blonde on the sign bears a striking resemblance to Linka. A warrior, based on her braided hair and spear. He needs to find out more about her so that he can read about her story in his book.
He enters the shop and does not see anyone.
"Umm, hello?"
"Hallo," someone calls from a back room before emerging. It is an older lady, with longer blonde hair streaked with white. It is similarly styled in braids like the woman on the sign.
"Uh, hi…do you speak English?"
"Yes, of course. It is necessary as most of our visitors are tourists. Welcome to Freyjulundr. How can I help you?"
"Is that you on the sign out front?"
She laughs.
"In a way, I suppose…that is Freyja. Freyja can represent all women."
"And your shop…it's Frey-?"
"Freyjulundr. 'Freyja's Sacred Grove.' I must admit though, most of my patrons are female."
"Well, I must admit, I don't know much about Norse mythology, but I'm very interested in learning more," he says holding up his recent purchase.
"Did you come in here expecting to find that beautiful woman on the sign?" She asks with a smile.
"Nah, I already have." He pulls out his phone and shows the shopkeeper a photo he took of Linka on their recent trip to France. "The resemblance is what brought me in. I wanted to know who she was. What she's known for."
"Ah yes, there is a strong resemblance. To answer your questions, Freya is the goddess of love, fertility, beauty, and war. Another of Freyja's names is 'Horn' which means 'linen' or 'flax.' Linen began to cultivate during the Viking Age. Scandinavians believed that linen could protect them from evil and brought fertility to the land. Bridal dresses began being made of linen and so Freyja became a patroness of weddings and love as well. She often supervised battles and deaths during the wars. It is believed that she shared half of the warriors with the god, Odin. Some went to Valhalla with Odin and some with Freya."
"Interesting. My friend, the one who looks like your sign…she's actually been having some fertility struggles. Is there something Freyja would do to help?"
"You have come to the right place. Many believers pray to Freyja for love, marriage, and childbirth. There are rituals that honor Freyja. I have all of the items you need before beginning the ritual, packaged together in a kit for sale."
"How convenient," he says skeptically. "How much?"
"Five hundred Kronor."
"Holy shit! I think we'll just stick to the modern scientific methods."
"I am sorry…perhaps if I told you what that amounted to in US dollars, it would seem less?"
"Oh…uh yeah. I forgot about that."
"It is around fifty dollars."
"Oh…well that's not so bad. What's all included in the kit?"
"You must first know that Freyja's sacred colors are red and silver, her sacred flowers are daisies and primrose, and her sacred fruit is strawberries. The flowers and strawberries are not in the package, but I do have them in the store and include them when the kit is purchased. It is just that those items cannot be pre-packaged like the others. You start off by decorating your altar with the silver, red, and flowers."
"Altar? Is this some kinda witchcraft? Cuz I don't really believe in that, and I know my friend isn't gonna go for it."
"It is a ritual. No different than any other religious ceremony. Do you go to church?"
"Uh, I used to, sometimes. With my grandparents when I was a kid."
"Think about the things you saw and heard. See anything ritualistic about it?"
He nervously scratches the back of his head.
"Uh, yeah. I guess so…just as long as there's no animal sacrifice involved in what you're telling me."
"No, there are 'offerings' but not sacrifices and not animals."
"Ok. Tell me more then. I don't wanna rule anything out that may be helpful. I mean, we just came from Lourdes, France and swam in 'healing water,' so we're pretty much open to anything that might work."
"There are four silver candles in the kit. Put them at each corner of the altar to represent the four corners of the world. Then make sure you have the proper offerings. It can be flowers, honey, jewelry, pork, apples, or strawberries. As I said, I include the strawberries since it is Freyja's sacred fruit. Then you will cleanse the altar with the frankincense. I have included a flowery and sweet one as the best choice. Finally, light the four candles and call each side of the world with the words on the index card that is provided. After you have done that, continue reading the next verse on the card to invoke the spirit of Freyja. Be sure to thank the goddess for all of her blessings and help. Spend a few minutes in meditation to feel her spirit around you. Be grateful for her presence by expressing words of gratitude. Once you are done meditating, take the offerings outside for nature to consume."
"Is all of that written down somewhere?"
"Yes, it is in the kit. Friday is considered the best day of the week to invoke Freyja since the word Friday is translated to Freyja's Day."
"Ok. Tomorrow is Friday. We can try it then."
"Oooh, tomorrow is Friday the 13th."
"Wait, that's bad luck. Should we wait?"
"No, Freyja's sacred number is 13 since there are 13 lunar cycles in a year. Friday the 13th is actually the best day to make a ritual dedicated to Freyja."
"This has all been very interesting, Ms…?"
"Anderson…but I am known around here as Anifrid…or Frida."
"Very similar to Freyja."
She gives him a sly smile.
"I appreciate the time you took to give me a lesson on Freyja. Do you happen to sell anything with the picture that is on the sign outside on it?"
"There is a print of it in the kit. I figured it does not hurt to have a visual of Freyja when calling to her."
"Awesome. Thanks so much."
"I wish you and your lover luck in trying to conceive."
Wheeler is a little taken aback and blushes. He wishes they were trying the traditional way, but unfortunately, that's not the case. He nods sheepishly says,
"Thanks."
When he gets outside, he doesn't see Linka, but gets another idea and goes back to the jeweler.
"You are back. Did you lose your girlfriend?"
"Yeah, but it kinda worked out. I just got done learning some more mythology from Frida in Freyja's Sacred Grove."
"Oh, so you went from purchasing wedding bands to planning for a family in the span of 10 minutes?"
Wheeler chuckles.
"While we're here, may as well get it all in one trip…do you happen to have anything representing Freyja? The sign outside of Frida's store…I can't get it out of my head. It reminds me so much of…my girlfriend. I'd like to get her something. Like a necklace maybe?"
"I have the perfect thing. Freyja also had a necklace that she was famous for. The Brisingamen Necklace. It was her most valuable possession. She found four dwarves making the gold necklace and was so drawn to its extraordinary beauty that she offered the dwarves any amount of gold for the necklace. The dwarves were tricky though and said they did not have any need for money. Instead, they offered her the necklace in exchange for sleeping with each of them. Bewitched by the sparkle of the beautiful necklace, she was overcome by madness and forgot about her husband."
"Eww. That's terrible."
"Worse yet, Loki was there to witness it. He always seems to be around when evil was brewing. He used the information against Freyja. Stole her necklace while she was sleeping and showed it to her husband, Odr, as proof of her infidelity. Odr took the necklace, tossed it aside and left Asgard to travel to distant lands. Freyja woke to find both her necklace and husband were gone. She traveled to Valhalla to confess to the father god, Odin. Odin forgave her, but as penance, he took the Brisingamen Necklace from Loki and commanded that Freyja wear it for eternity as she wandered the world in search of her lost love, Odr."
"Hmm, that's pretty depressing. Maybe I don't want that after all," Wheeler says.
"Come over here. My sisters, Malin and Jenny, make jewelry as well. While I work mostly with metal, they make things using amber."
He calls over the blonde and brunette women who have been chatting with their neighboring merchant and explains to them what Wheeler is looking for.
"My sister, Jenny, is very knowledgeable on Norse mythology. It is either why she and Ulf get along so well, or it is what drew them to each other in the first place. She can help you find the perfect piece of jewelry much faster than I can," Jonas explains.
Jenny shows Wheeler to a case of amber pendants.
"Amber is common in Scandinavian jewelry. As Freyja cried tears because of how much she was missing her husband, the tears that fell to the soil turned to gold in the rocks and those which fell into the sea turned to amber." She picks a pendant up out of the box. "This one here has the rune symbol for 'Freyja' carved into it."
"Hmm," Wheeler ponders. It's cool, but not really something he can see on Linka.
Sensing the American's disinterest in that particular piece, she picks up another piece of amber that is carved into the shape of a cat.
"Freyja had a gold chariot given to her as a gift from Thor. Instead of being pulled by horses though, it was pulled by her cats, Bygul and Trjegul. Cats are often associated with femininity and fertility, even in ancient Egypt."
Wheeler likes the idea of the association with fertility, but never really considered Linka a cat person.
"Hmm. She likes all animals, to include cats, I guess…but I just can't see it as being something she'd wear often."
"What animal does she like? Freyja has also been associated with riding a wild pig named Hildisvini, which means battle pig, when not riding in her chariot."
Wheeler shakes his head.
"She likes birds. Do you maybe just have a heart shaped amber pendant? I guess the amber is closely associated with Freyja. I can make that work."
"Birds? Wait!" Jenny looks through her display and not seeing what she is seeking, says something in Swedish to her sister.
Malin pulls out another box from a storage container and exclaims, "Ah! Here," when she finds what they are seeking.
She hands Wheeler an amber pendant carved into what looks like a pair of angel wings.
"An angel?"
"It is Freyja's feathered cloak," Jenny explains. "She wore a cloak of falcon feathers. It was magic and enabled anyone that wore it to fly. Freyja herself was able to fly in the form of a falcon when wearing it."
"Yes! This is perfect!"
"Wonderful. I am glad to have found something meaningful. We will put it on a suede cord necklace," Jenny says, handing the pendant to her sister to put it on the necklace. "Would you like it gift wrapped?"
"That would be great. I'm gonna give it to her tonight while we watch the Northern Lights."
"Very romantic."
"Yeah," Wheeler says thoughtfully as he imagines the possibilities.
Once the gift is wrapped and paid for, Wheeler thanks Jonas and his sisters again for their time and finds Linka has bought each of them some authentic Viking tunics, gloves, and a woven wool blanket to help them keep warm while watching the light show. He likes the idea of wrapping his arms around her under the blanket. They head back to the hotel to have dinner and get ready for their evening.
To Be Continued…