#rivervale_lodge

A look at Kerri, "I'm glad to see you're over that nasty plague. is it true Connor went on a quest for you?"

Kerri gives Dagmar a nod, then she heads for the kitchen. "I'll get to work on that food."

"Oh! Yes, he did. He brought back fruit that was nothing short of miraculous. I believe you had a hand in that?"

"We're all glad Kerri is back."

"Just a bit of advice from older folks" He says "Now," He looks at Dagmar "What's this about Valentine's day if I can ask without being too nosey? "

"Mm-hm." She gives him a skeptical look that it was all just casual advice. "Excuse me, you two." And she's off to the kitchen.

"And if I am being too nosey, you let me know and I'll meander about old stories" He adds

"Oh, well, I'm going to the dance with Nadeen..."

"Oh?" He says

"Uh-huh. She asked me."

"Oh!" Realization "I thought you two might have not had dates and.." and he chuckles "Well, no, now that you say it, it makes sense. Even fits the stories."

"Stories? What stories?"

"Well, you must understand, at times, and particularly with what was left over by Christian monks that wrote them down, the tales of Norse Gods and heroes could be very traditional."

"Yeah?"

"But Changelings know of deeper stories, tales lost to mortals, eddas and sagas that are lost to the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. And, one tale that is lost to them, is the story of two valkyries, who were far closer than anyone today remembers. They were not just comrade at arms, they were true hearts, she and she... and their love would steal the Eye of Ymir from Hel's halls before she could spread a blight upon all of Midgard. Their names are lost to most, but those few that heard it, never forget the names of Ravensong and Goldenaxe"

"Two valkyries? But I'm not... I'm not Goldenaxe, I don't think..."

"Oh you're probably not either of them, but then again, maybe you were..who knows? It's the lesson of their story that matters, not where you fit into it. You don't have to be parto f the story to see truths in one. You see, at the time, Valkyries were not allowed to ..be together like that...." And he spins a tale of a growing but forbidden (at the time) love between the two choosers of the slain, equals in arms and magic, if different in styles. And of how How Hel's plan involved a double curse that no one untouched by Death could enter the vaults where the Eye of Ymir was held....and yet only a living love might succeed. And how the two women, bound by duty, tried, but it was their love that made it possible.

There is derring do, dangers, and darkness! There is blood and gore, and hands holding and kisses when no other could see! There are spells and curses and wonders!

And in the end, the two won stole the eye, and no Asgardian could call their love wrong, and the gods themselves blessed their union.

"And to this day, it is said when two women who die bravely , back to back in battle, Ravensong and Goldenaxe are the Valkyries who come to then, to make sure their souls are not separated, even in death" He finishes up

Dagmar listens, rapt.

"..Wow."

"You never heard that one? I need to fuss at Tove. What with her making a sequel to it she should have told you the original"

"A sequel?"

"Well, some stories are lost even to us, or only have pieces left. There were mentions in old eddas of a girl who ...well, a mortal girl... and in that mention, despite the fact she was alone, Goldenaxe and Ravensong 'prized' her. Tove got it into her head that that meant she was a mortal girl who was adopted by the couple, and raised as their daughter. She made this whole saga about the little girl growing up weaker than the gods and heroes around her...but as brave as any, until she went on a quest to gain the strength of a goddess herself so she would not longer 'shame them' , silly girl, her mothers were never shamed. But in her quest for it, she becomes a hero, and not because of the power she gained, but because of the people she helps on the way. I fuss a bit, because it's wishful thinking and a lot of extrapolition, what you'd call 'fan fic' but.. honestly it's a good tale. One of the first stories she ever crafted."

"Oh, I can't wait to hear it!"

"Just tell her to keep the number of monsters slain consistent. Sometimes she gets excited in telling it" Amused

And she can tell by his look that he's done the dad thing to Tove where you rile your daughter because she's the adorbs when you do it.

"Sure, sure..."

"Oh my look at the time" He says "Childlings are about to come in. I've got them... why don't you go see what Nadeen is up to? I bet you're curious."

She blushes and nods. "I will. See you later, Torin."