Page 34 of Wolf of the Nordic Seas (Valiant Vikings #2)
Invocation of the Sea Gods
When Elfi arrived with úlvhild and the women down near the docks, a crowd had gathered on the grassy meadow to watch the three ships depart. The Ljósálfar and úlfhéenar stood in formation around the Danish warriors from Ribe who were sailing with them into battle. In the center of the assembled men, a small fire burned, encased in a circle of smooth stones.
Elfi spotted Njord among his úlfhéenar pack , their monstrous wolfskin cloaks both magnificent and terrifying. Gilded in the golden sun, the glorious dragonscale armor and luminous weapons of the Ljósálfar exuded an otherworldly glow. Chain mail hauberks, conical helmets, polished axes, spears, and swords of ninety Danes glistened in the flickering firelight and radiant morning sun. As the Danish Jarl of Ribe and commander of the warriors sailing into battle, Njord would remain with his men for the blood ritual. But he flashed Elfi a brilliant smile that made her sjóv?ttir spirit soar.
The Danes were kneeling in neat rows of ten men across, with three lines of warriors flanking the fire on each of three sides. Forming a semicircle behind them, the úlfhéenar and Ljósálfar stood at attention facing the Narrow Sea.
As Elfi watched in wonder with Oda, Sif, and Vilde, úlvhild began chanting a vardlokkur to summon benevolent spirits, thumping her moonstone staff on the grassy ground. Swaying slowly with the rhythm of her chant, the volva led Ylva, clutching the willow basket of wildflowers, and Vivi, reverently carrying the silver chalice of mead and a brush made from a tree twig, to the altar consisting of three large stones which she had grouped together parallel to the sandy shore. Ylva and Vivi joined in úlvhild’s ethereal song, the three melodic voices floating on the sea breeze like soft, billowy clouds.
Luna glided to the shoreline, the long sleeves of her luminous white dress fluttering in the gentle wind. She placed the crystal basin of sacrificial fish upon the altar at úlvhild’s feet, beside a shimmery silver cloth draped over the center stone. Pale blonde head bowed in humble reverence, Luna slipped back up the grassy bank to stand beside Elfi while Ylva, Vivi, and úlvhild continued the vardlokkur chant.
Vivi set the silver chalice of mead on the flat stone to the right of center, and Ylva laid the willow basket of wildflowers upon the altar rock to the left. As the haunting, lyrical vocalizations of the trio of voices increased in intensity and the chant curled into a vibrant, harmonic swell, the volva handed her staff to Ylva and slowly withdrew Freyja’s Whisper from its gem-encrusted sheath.
Selecting a turbot from the crystal basin, úlvhild gripped the fish in her left hand, positioning it over the silver bowl which would collect the blood. With her right hand, the volva meticulously sliced the pale flesh of the fish, carefully collecting the precious blood in the silver bowl inscribed with runes and adorned with glittering gems. One by one, úlvhild ceremoniously sliced the living fish, harvesting the sacrificial blood she would use to anoint the ships and bless the warriors and crew. With each strike of Freyja’s Whisper , the vardlokkur voices rippled through the salty air, their resonant crescendo rising with the level of liquid in the silver bowl. As the last drop of blood dripped into the basin, the furious chanting peaked— almost frantic in intensity, like a storm about to break. A primal call to the gods, the final note of the vardlokkur lingered in the air, leaving a hushed, sacred silence in its sonorous wake.
With majestic reverence, úlvhild lifted the silver cloth and carried the sacrificial fish to the water’s edge, a sacred offering to the gods as she released them into the Narrow Sea. Golden sunlight glimmered on the waves and shimmery silk, bathing the volva in sublime luminescence. As the fish drifted out to sea, symbolizing the acceptance of the sacrifice by the gods, úlvhild’s voice rang out in divine invocation. "Hail Njord and Rán, God and Goddess of the Sea, accept this sacrifice in tribute and grant us your favor. May your winds fill our sails and your waves carry our ships. Guide our warriors to their fates and return them safely to these shores.”
úlvhild inclined her head to Ylva, who brought the willow basket of fragrant purple wildflowers to the water’s edge, tossing the blossoms into the waves which lapped at the soft white sand. “Goddess Rán, mistress of the sea, we offer wildflowers and seek your favor. May the fragrance of the land enhance your underwater realm as you bless the ships which transport your granddaughter Elfi, who sails to her wedding in ísland.” When the volva gestured to Vivi, the young blonde priestess approached with the ornate silver chalice, ceremoniously pouring the contents into the frothy waves along the shore. “O Njord, God of the Wind and Sea, accept this golden mead and grant us safe passage. Guide the drakkar ships of the Danish jarl who bears your divine name. Njord ívarrsson, Wolf of the Nordic Seas. ”
A hushed silence swept over the sheltered beach and grassy meadow, the crackle of fire and the lapping of waves the only sound. The rapt crowd watched with bated breath as úlvhild removed her catskin gloves, handed them to Ylva, and carried the silver bowl of sacrificial blood to the three drakkar longships beached upon the nearby sand. Dipping her bare fingers into the blood, she anointed the dragon prows of each drakkar ship, invoking the blessing of the gods.
“O Rán and Njord, by the sacred blood of this sacrifice, I bind these ships to you. May the sea grant them safe passage, the wind fill their sails, and your divine favor guide their course." When she finished sanctifying the ships, she returned to the group gathered in the glen. “Elfi Thorfinnsdóttir and Njord ívarsson, come forward, that I may bless your forthcoming wedding.”
Elfi separated from the group of women standing at her side and strode across the grassy meadow, while Njord withdrew from his úlfhéenar pack and the Danish warriors kneeling before the ceremonial fire. As they met úlvhild in front of the reverent throng, the volva joined their hands together, dipping her fingers in the sacrificial blood and marking the rune Algiz— symbol of divine protection — on each of their foreheads. “With this blood, I mark you both, bound by sea and wind, blessed by Rán and Njord. May your union be as unbreakable as the waves, as enduring as the winds. May this rune etched in sacred blood bless your voyage, your marriage, and your fate.”
As sleek as a swan gliding upon still water, úlvhild floated among the Ljósálfar , then the úlfhéenar,, cradling the silver bowl of sacrificial blood against her breast, anointing each with the same Algiz rune of protection marked upon their foreheads. "By the blood of the sea, I bless you, warriors of light and wolves of Odin. May this rune be your shield, the sea your strength. May Rán and Njord guide your ships to victory and a triumphant return upon these shores."
úlvhild gestured to Ylva, who returned her catskin gloves, which the volva donned with fluid grace. She then nodded to Vivi, who brought forth the small wooden brush made from the twig of an ash tree. With a reverent bow of her head, úlvhild accepted the brush, dipped the tip into the sacred bowl, and ceremoniously splattered blood across the Danish warriors kneeling before the fire. Her resonant voice resounded across the hushed glen. “From the ash of the sacred grove, where the souls of valiant Vikings rest, I bring the strength of their spirits to bless you on this historic voyage.” Circulating among the Danes who had removed their helmets — their rapt, bearded faces upturned to receive her divine blessing — she marked each man with droplets of sacred sacrificial blood. “By the gods of the sea and the wind, I bless all who sail upon these ships. May Njord's winds carry you swiftly across the waves, and may Rán’s savage sea infuse you with her fury as you sail into battle. May the sea gods grant you victory, and may your names live on in skaldic legend and epic song."
The divine invocation and blood ritual complete, úlvhild announced it was time to embark. "The winds and tide are ready. The sea gods have blessed our voyage. Let us board the drakkar ships and sail to our fates. The journey to ísland awaits."
A saline breeze blew across the hallowed glen as the Danish warriors arose and flocked to the shore. The clang of metal armor echoed across the Narrow Sea as they boarded the three ships lined up like waiting wolves, the sculpted dragons of their prows gleaming in the morning sun. Amidst the creaking of ropes, the rhythmic thud of shields being placed along the sides of the ships, and the low murmur of men, úlvhild carried the silver bowl to Sif’s side. She dipped the ash twig in the blood and painted the Algiz rune on Sif’s bowed forehead. “May Rán and Njord bless you, faithful servant of the bride, on this crucial wedding voyage to ísland. And bring you safely home to the Land of the White Chalk Cliffs.”
Njord distributed the Ljósálfar and úlfhéenar evenly among the three ships. Elfi noted that Bodo lingered at Sif’s side and Njáll remained with Luna. They would sail on the Drakkúlfr ship with Njord and Elfi , along with Lugh and Ildris. And Stig, Njord’s personal skald, who would sing their wedding song in ísland and compose an epic ballad of the battle to entertain Thorfinn’s guests when—gods willing — they returned triumphant to étretat.
úlf, having fully recovered from his heinous wound, would serve as commander of the Hrafnvarg longship. He boarded his drakkar with the two Ljósálfar named Olvir and áryndor. And Hrólf Redbeard, leader of the third ship, Skollrokr, embarked with his úlfhédinn brother Flóki and two Ljósálfar —Runar and Veldar. In this way, each drakkar warship had at least one wolf warrior and two Light Elves, in addition to thirty armored Danes.
úlvhild strode to the water’s edge and poured the remainder of the blood from the silver bowl as a final offering to the sea. She rinsed out the container and returned to join Elfi, Luna, Ylva, and Vivi. The volva handed the gem-studded silver bowl to Ylva, and the ash twig brush to Vivi. "Guard these well, daughters of the hearth. Protect them until my return."
Vivi gazed up at her mother, honor and pride shining in her bright blue eyes.
Ylva beamed at Elfi as Oda approached to say goodbye, with Vilde at her side.
“May the gods guide you and Njord to fulfill the prophecy… and bless your Ljósálfar wedding in ísland.” Oda kissed Elfi’s cheeks, her voice quavering with emotion. “Ylva and I shall ensure a proper feast to celebrate your faeir’s return with Jarl Rikard .” She squeezed Elfi’s hands, tears filling her crinkled eyes. “We’ll also plan a splendid celebration to welcome you home, and a glorious tribute for Dag’s burial with Galadir in the sacred grove. We’ll decorate the castle for your Yuletide wedding — when you and Njord marry a second time in Chateau Blanc. Before all the Norman nobles and Danish warriors of the Viking Pays de Caux .”
While Elfi hugged her amma and friends goodbye, Njord returned to her side, the thrill of the impending sea voyage gleaming in his fierce lupine gaze. “The ships are ready. The tide is right. Let’s board.”
Sk?rde strode across the glen with Bjarke and Varg to bid the voyagers farewell. “We’ll defend the castle and étretat until your return,” he promised Njord and Elfi. “May the gods grant you swift victory and a safe voyage home.”
Njord grasped Sk?rde’s forearms, respect and gratitude blazing across his dark, bearded face. He firmly shook hands with Bjarke, Varg, and Jorund—áki’s replacement as commander of Njord’s Danish army remaining at Chateau Blanc. “I am honored that the Dragon of Denmark and the valiant Vikings of Normandy shall defend us against the Frankish threat. étretat—and all of the Pays de Caux — shall be safe in your most capable hands.” He inclined his head in homage, then donned his chain mail coif, pulling the white wolfskin headpiece firmly into place over the metal helmet. When Njord offered Elfi the crook of his elbow, she linked her arm through his.
The Wolf of the Nordic Seas led the final group to board the Drakkúlfr longship.
Njord, Bodo, Lugh, and Njáll waited on the sand with Elfi, Sif, úlvhild, and Luna while the crew lowered a thick, sturdy board made of solid oak from a gunwale on the side of the drakkar for them to board. Njord escorted Elfi up the plank, followed by Njáll and Luna, Lugh and úlvhild, and finally Bodo and Sif.
When all were safely aboard, the crew secured the plank and affixed their round, bossed shields to the gunwales on each side of the ship. Painted a deep blue like the ocean, the round oak shields were rimmed with a repeating pattern of three runes, the metal boss in each center engraved with the fierce image of a snarling wolf — the visual representation of the Danish jarl they served.
Njord ívarrsson, the indomitable Wolf of the Nordic Seas.
As they prepared to depart, all three drakkar ships hoisted the heraldic banner of the Wolf of the Nordic Seas to the top of their tall masts. Elfi gazed up at the fearsome face of a fierce white wolf embroidered on the background of deep green. Along the border of the banner, outlined in metallic silver thread, a trio of runes— Laguz, symbol of the sea, Uruz, the strength of the ox, and Ansuz, the divine protection of Odin— shimmered in the morning sun. While Njord’s emblem flapped in the whipping winds, the sea wolves maneuvered the Drakkúlfr longship into the lead position of their triangular formation, unfurled the dark blue square sails painted with the striking image of a white wolf, and headed out of the inlet toward the Narrow Sea.
Elfi stood with Njord at the prow of his longship, behind the intimidating dark green dragon figurehead whose enormous scales, fangs, and striking sapphire eyes were intricately detailed with shiny silver . As the drakkar sailed out the harbor of étretat, Kjartan — one of Njord’s Danish warriors on the deck — blew a massive elkhorn engraved with Nordic runes. The deep, resonant blare echoed off the white chalk cliffs, announcing that the voyage had begun.
Together, she and Njord would travel to ísland, where they would meet his Light Elven mother and marry in a Ljósálfar wedding . Elfi would wield the white wolf weapons crafted by Lugh and slay the shapeshifting troll. With his father Brokk’s Dwarven sword, Njord would brandish úlfsongr to fulfill the fateful prophecy.
Fates entwined by the Norns, ships blessed by the Nordic gods, Elfi and Njord were at long last embarking on their momentous journey as future mates bound by the sea.