Chapter Text
There was nothing and then there was too much. It felt moist and free all at the same time noises constantly making it flinch. A cry fell out of its lips. Confusion and uncertainty coursed through its being as something cradled it, soothing words, filled with pain, make their way to its ears.
"þú eru beautiful minn daughter"[1]
Worried shouts came from around the new creature. Protests and anxiety-filled words that it did not understand were filling the room.
"líf þitt verður erfitt og langt, svo þoldu."[2]
The voice said, sounding strong despite the pain. It felt something touch its skin and linger as it calmed down. The being holding the new creature pressed it to its much larger body as if the small thing would attempt to escape its grasp.
"Ég er svo hrædd um að fara frá þér."[3]
This body the being was in felt something else grab at its flesh, raising it away from the sad voice. This one's essence in the room was strong and the small creature opened its s and flawed eyes, as the other person closed theirs.
This new creature was not aware of it then, but the owner of the soothing sounds, the being laying in the small bed, who had just crossed existence, aided by its own essence, as was its would later learn its mother.
And she had been beautiful in her death.
.•.
This one's mother had left her sisters in charge of me after her departure.
Frdr was its oldest aunt. Five feet nine inches of pure stubbornness. Deep brown hair and equally brown eyes, with the smallest specs of green. She was a relatively peaceful person, borderline on being lazy. She never did more or less of what she had to do. She never got into conflict, if she could help it.
It didn't matter to this ones' other aunt, Hildr. Who, very much like her name, was a battle to deal with. Her light brown hair, delicate-looking eyes, towering frame, and fit, strong body are all indicative of her path in battle and blood. Hildr is very proud of the number of slain enemies by her hand, and of course, so are we the family, and we, this ones' collective.
Frdr always took charge in teaching this one of my household chores and keeping me in line with my education, teaching me of the skies, our gods, our nature, herbs, and how to make our clothes. Hildr always took to the initiative in training me for battle, she always tells this one that she wanted to make my body strong, so strong that no woman, nor man, could take anything or anyone from this ones' grasps.
We lived in a relatively big village, filled with strong Vikingr and Shield-Maidens. Every single one of them off to their next excursion for land or glorious death amidst a glorious battle, and gain entry to the golden halls of Valhalla.
The name my mother blessed me with was Sjádís, Knowing Goddess. Knowing of what? I don't know, there is plenty I don't know. I had been granted dark hair, and my mother's piercing green eyes, or so my aunts say. I laid my eyes upon the surface of the clear lake, in the backwoods of our home and rose to stand. This one fastened my belt as I strolled through the trees and stepped into the commons of the village.
Everyone in the village was vibrant to its eyes, all of them looking very alive. The full-grown adults all seemed strong, and to me, they also seemed small, even when they towered over me. The people my age were always congregating at the center of the market, Loki's touch present in their everyday mischief.
Early on in my childhood, Aunt Frdr had attempted to introduce me to several toddlers. An attempt fueled by the worry that spending too much time with adults had made me a recluse. The attempt failed, and the one after that when I was older, and the one to have me be friends with older people as well, but nonetheless, I gained some valuable insight into myself.
I will never be able to connect with people who have not seen more of life than just what's in front of them.
Why that is? I don't know myself.
I myself haven't seen what's out there, I have not seen the gods, nor the frost giants from our stories, I've never gazed at great magics, nor beings that my human hands can't destroy.
But a part of me knows, that my very essence filled me with power and ethereal knowledge.
I always feel like I have forgotten something that I have never learned.
As I stepped into my home both of my aunts were already there waiting for me at the dinner table. Hildrs' weapons and battle satchel were prepped on the table surface.
"Ertu tilbúinn til bardaga, Sjádís?" [4]
My eyes didn't waver as I gave my answer.
"Ég var fæddur til bardaga."[5]
.•.
I tasted the blood and fire of war not a week later. And three years we spent traveling to find another battle to win or die in.
Vikings rushed off to battle with their exited War-cries. Bodies filled with adrenaline and fear, fighting for their lives. Madmen, and Madwomen, laughed as they slaid another enemy.
My young hands gripped my bloodied sword. As my stance dropped, my eyes hardened once more. I raised my sword, and my enemy matched my movements, wasting no time blocking my strike.
I utilized my lower body and kicked the man's knee, with a shattering force. I grin, and he screams.
He drops onto his good knee, and I raised my sword once more. I strike his head clean off.
Then, I am struck from behind. My head dropped and I looked at my stomach, the tip of a sword greeting my eyes.
My strength left my body as my knees sagged onto the ground.
I laid there, as my eyes glazed over, and I waited. A feeling of peace, of going back to what I once was overcame me, my essence joining with my existence, I was whole again.
And I died.
.•.
I guess now I knew what I had forgotten. I was the beginning of nothing and the end of everything. My very existence is made to hold your hand as you go on to live you next, and my mouth is made to eat those that don't deserve a chance to carry on.
I remembered, who I was, what I was before, and what triggered my first birth.
" Are you Death?"
"Yes."
The unlived soul had claimed my name as his. And carried it with both pride and loneliness. His tortured eyes make me feel, making the extension of my being feel for the first time.
I became interested then.
Nevertheless, it was time to sleep once more.