The Bifrost Bridge, Chapters 2 & 3

Chapter II

Princess Hanne could not help but grin as she leaned against the bow of the knarr ship looking out at the sea sparkling beneath the blue sky. She loved the way the wind blew against her face and through her hair as the ship cut through the waves. Her father’s new cargo ship offered a much smoother ride on the waves in comparison to his long boats.

As she looked up at the carved dragonhead at the top of the bow, she giggled to herself about King Eric’s decoration. It seemed silly to make the boat look fierce while they were travelling to Norway for a summer celebration . Hanne knew her father conducted business with her uncle, King Harald, on these summer vacations, but she still thought her father went to an extreme with the decorations. The dragon head carving and the red and white striped sail made the knarr ship look more like the warships Harald’s sailors often used to go a viking for booty on the coast of England.

At the same time, Hanne admired her father’s passion for sailing. King Eric participated in every aspect of the sailing from manning the tiller, to steering, to tying rope knots, and to securing the sail. As the king, her father could command the sailors to do everything for him, but his love for the ships made him want to be a part of it all.

King Eric’s passion also involved building the ships and Hanne embraced his interest in order to spend more time with him. She had frequently accompanied her father to the shipyard where she watched the carpenters transform the sixty-five oak logs into planks, and as the boat began to be assembled by overlapping the oak planks, she had even joined her father in hammering a few of the iron rivets to fasten the timbers together.

King Eric adored Hanne’s enthusiasm for his new knarr boat, but he did not fully understand why the boat mattered to her. Hanne did indeed enjoy spending time with her papa during the boat construction, but the actual completion of the ship was her real objective. The finished vessel would mean a return to Norway where she could be with her beloved friend, Silje.

Turning away from her view of the sea, Hanne focused her attention on the crew. The fair weather allowed many of the sailors some time to relax. A few crowded together playing dice while others sat around listening to the bard her father had brought along. He stood with his arms in a dramatic pose, his great purple cloak flapping in the wind as he told a story about a great Danish king who had slain a dragon.

As Hanne was about to walk away from the bow, King Eric stopped his discussion with a sailor and swooped her up into a big hug. As he held his precious daughter, he took a moment to gaze upon her face. Hanne had just turned ten years old, but he could see the striking woman she would be become. His daughter’s long platinum hair, her emerald-colored eyes and her high cheekbones would make her a classic beauty. Hanne hugged her tall father and gently stroked his red beard.

“Are you enjoying the voyage, my sweet Hanne?” asked King Eric.

“Yes Papa,” she replied with a grin. “You built a wonderful ship.”

“We built it together,” said King Eric. “Do you enjoy the view at the bow?”

“Oh yes!” agreed Hanne. “The bow is my favorite place on the ship.”

“I understand,” replied King Eric. “It does offer the best view. We are still in the open sea, but it won’t be long before the coast of Norway comes in view. I need to have a sailor start watching for land now. Why don’t you go enjoy the bard’s saga or visit with your mother.”

“Yes Papa,” consented Hanne, hugging him as he kissed her forehead. The sailors playing dice all stopped and politely nodded to their princess as she walked past them. The fifty-foot length of the knarr ship seemed short in comparison with her father’s long boats, yet it remained large enough for everyone to move about with a sense of freedom. As she approached the mast in the middle of the boat, the bard’s charming voice became easy to hear despite the wind. The stories always pleased Hanne, but she was too excited about visiting with Silje again to concentrate. Fortunately, Queen Inga, her mother, motioned for Hanne to come sit beside her.

“It won’t be long now, Hanne,” said Queen Inga as her daughter kneeled down next to her. Wrapped in a red cloak, Queen Inga sat comfortably in the boat with her ladies in waiting. Hanne cuddled up against her mother and looked up at her approving gaze. Everyone at the ring castle at Ribe always remarked that Hanne looked like Queen Inga, and the princess could not have been happier with these assessments. Hanne loved the soft skin of Queen Inga’s face and her emerald colored eyes. Even huddled on a knarr ship on a windy day, Queen Inga always maintained a regal and graceful appearance.

“Your father thinks these fair winds are going to sail us to Norway ahead of schedule. How are you doing? Are you hungry?”

“No Mama,” replied Hanne. “I am too excited to eat.”

“You’ll be with Silje again soon enough,” assessed Queen Inga knowingly. “I want you to try to eat something before we get to shore. It may be a while before Queen Lena can prepare a banquet for us. We also need your hair brushed, and I want you to change into your new apron dress before we arrive.”

“Yes Mama,” agreed Hanne. “May I brush Solskin first?”

“Of course, but you should go do it now,” her mother answered. “I don’t want to rush getting ready for the arrival ceremony.”

“I will hurry, Mama,” said Hanne as she jumped to her feet. She walked further toward the stern where her dun-colored pony rested in the brilliant sunlight with other animals.

“Hey Solskin, I have a treat for you!” whispered Hanne as she reached into her belt pouch and pulled out piece of dried apple. Her pony offered a grateful whinny as Hanne raised the fruit to his muzzle. Hanne had always loved ponies, but Solskin was special because he had been sent to Denmark by Silje as an early gift for her tenth birthday. The Norwegian Princess and her father had personally selected the fjord colt and sent it to Hanne as a surprise.

Even more special was the way in which the Gods and Goddesses of Asgard blessed the pony in honor of Hanne’s birthday. The sagas told of princesses having been granted magical gifts at the celebrations of their tenth year, but it was hardly an expected tradition. Heimdall, the watchman of the Bifrost Bridge, chose to honor this tradition by coming down to Denmark where he commanded King Eric to shoe the pony and always keep the animal with his daughter.

Since that time, Solkin had grown quickly. The stable hands at her father’s ring castle in Ribe admitted that they had never seen such a healthy colt. Solskin’s body had become thick and sturdy like a work horse, but he still ran with the speed of a lighter breed. Everyone had expected the colt would grow to the size of a pony, but Solskin had already grown fifteen hands high. Hanne loved Solskin’s flowing white mane. She had never seen a horse breed with a mane so thick and shiny. She enjoyed Solskin’s mane so much that it had made brushing her pony far more of a pleasure than a chore.

“We’ll arrive soon, Solskin,” whispered Hanne as she gently pulled the brush through his mane. “I know you will like being back on solid ground. And when we get there, you and I can go riding with Silje and her pony every day. Won’t that be fun? But here is the best part; I am going to give Silje a magic gift she can keep forever. It is just going to be a secret for now between you and me. How about that?”

“Land ho!” exclaimed the sailor up at the bow. All the crew cheered and King Eric hurried back to the stern where he personally took over the tiller to steer the ship more toward the northeast for a direct route to Tunsberg.

“Hanne, we can have your pony tended to in the stables after we arrive,” said King Eric with a grin. “Go let your mother and her servants prepare you for our arrival in the harbor.”

“Yes Papa,” agreed Hanne as she brushed Solskin one last time.

Chapter III

The next morning, people were still talking about Molock’s visit to Tunsberg as they went about preparing for the much-anticipated visit of the royal family of Denmark. King Eric, Queen Inga and Princess Hanne were expected to arrive any day now.

Preparations had been going on for weeks. A special guard had been posted on the hills and in the harbor to alert King Harald when the royal ship was spotted out to sea.

Silje stood in front of the looking glass in her room, admiring the new apron dress decorated with the silver brooches she would be wearing to the banquet for the Danish royal family, when a servant girl came and told the princess her presence was requested by her mother, Queen Lena.

Arriving at her mother’s room in the longhouse, she was greeted by her mother and Lady Weilew, Silje’s favorite lady-in-waiting. Lady Weilew was a sweet little elderly woman in a plain brown apron dress, whose round face always widened with a big grin whenever she saw the princess.

“You look lovely, Silje,” observed Queen Lena. “We should look our best for my sister’s family.”

“Yes Mama. Thank you,” replied Silje

I have called you here because I want Weilew to fix your hair in braids before the arrival. Your father thinks they may arrive before nightfall.”

Just then a shout went out that the Danish royal ship had been spotted. Weilew quickly brushed and braided Silje’s hair as the king and queen hurried to get ready to meet the ship when it docked in the harbor.

Silje and her parents rode in the royal carriage, which was escorted by the ring castle guards, down to the harbor where the Danish royal ship was anchored. There, among the crowd standing on the dock, was a large group of visitors who had come to Norway to celebrate the summer solstice with the two royal families.

All eyes fell upon the Danish royal family as they stepped onto the dock. Silje’s eyes were especially on eleven-year-old Princess Hanne. The Danish princess was slightly taller than Silje now, and had long blonde hair. She carried herself with an elegant stillness. Hanne’s apron dress was beautiful, but her necklace was particularly eye-catching. It was made from pure gold, and the chain’s design was very delicate with each link of the thin chain shaped like a yew tree leaf. Attached to the chain was a gold pendant shaped into the rune symbol of an elk. In the stunning outfit, Silje could easily see Hanne as a regal queen in the future. Princess Hanne’s face lit up with a huge grin when she saw Silje. It took every ounce of her will power not to run over to her beloved friend.

Everyone cheered as the two royal families greeted each other. After the herald announced the Danish royal family, Silje and Hanne ran up to each other and threw their arms around each other in a warm embrace.

“Hello, Silje. It’s wonderful to be with you again!” exclaimed Hanne..

“I missed you so much!” agreed Silje. “Did you enjoy the voyage?”

“Yes, it was fun,” said Hanne. “Papa helped me fish and Mama played games with me. Best of all, Papa let me bring along the horse you sent to me.”

“How wonderful! What did you name him?” asked Silje.

“Solskin,” said Hanne. “I named him that because his golden coat and his fluffy white mane made me think of the sun. Wait until you see him! He has grown so much, and she has magic horseshoes now.”

“Magic horseshoes?” asked Silje, amazed at what she was hearing.

“They’re only for an emergency, but they let Solskin ride on the rainbow bridge up to Asgard!”

“The horseshoes let you cross the Bifrost Bridge? You can really ride over the rainbow?” exclaimed Silje.

“Yes! Isn’t it exciting? I was warned to never use the magic unless I am in grave danger, but I can go ask the valkyries in the Valhalla Tower for help if ever I am in trouble.”

Silje knew about the valkyries. They were the angels who lived up in Asgard with the gods. She wondered what it would be like to ride over the rainbow to Asgard, but she would think about that later. Right now she wanted to talk about the ponies. “I have a new horse too. Her name is Draumur. I saw her in a dream before I got him, so that is how she got her name. I’m looking forward to riding with you.”

“Yes, it will be fun riding together this year,” replied Hanne. “And I cannot wait to meet Draumer.”

“Come along girls. It’s time to leave,” Queen Lena called to them above the noise of the crowd.

“Mama, Hanne brought the horse that I gave her. May we go to the stables to visit with Draumer and Solskin this afternoon?” asked Silje.

“That’s a good idea. It will keep you busy and out of trouble,” replied Queen Lena.

Queen Inga put her arm around Hanne and said, “Queen Lena tells me that there will be lots of dancing at the solstice banquet like last year.”

“Dancing? That’s wonderful!” exclaimed Princess Hanne.

“I thought you girls would like that,” answered Queen Inga. “Silje can teach you a new dance she learned during the winter.”

“Perhaps Hanne can stay with me and teach me new Danish dances,” suggested Silje.

“Oh, yes. That would be fun,” agreed Hanne.

Queen Lena smiled at the two cousins and said, “I’ll leave instructions for Hanne’s trunks to be taken to Silje’s end of the long house. Now let’s return to the ring castle.”

“May we stay here and ride back with Hanne’s horse?” asked Silje.

“No. You’ll be in the way down here on the docks,” replied Queen Lena.

“Yes, you will have lots of time to visit the ponies later,” said Queen Inga.

It took several carriages and wagons to get everyone and all the trunks to the ring castle. King Harald pointed out the sights to the Danish royal family during the ride. It was very hard for Silje and Hanne to keep quiet, because they were so excited.

The girls ate with the adults, impatiently waiting for Solskin to arrive from the ship. Once they were given permission, they ran to the stables to visit the ponies and to feed them carrots as a treat.

One of the stable boys held up one of Solskin’s hooves so that Hanne could show Silje the magic horseshoes. “How did Solskin get his magic horseshoes?” asked Silje.

“Heimdall, the watchman of Bifrost Bridge, came down to Denmark to visit Papa. He reminded Papa about the tenth birthday blessing tradition and he said Odin commanded the light elves make the magic horseshoes for Solskin. Then he told Papa that Solskin could now live beyond the normal years of an ordinary horse and he would always bring good luck to me.”

“How amazing!” said Silje. “Let’s ride around the inside of the ring castle a few times. No one will mind if we keep the horses at a trot and stay off the walkways.” Hanne nodded in agreement, so the girls mounted their horses and stayed near the edge of the fence as they proceeded around the ring castle. Hanne noted the palisade walls seemed a little taller than at the ring castle where she lived at the village of Ribe, and the gate tunnels at the four entrances also seemed longer in length. Regardless, being inside a ring castle reminded Hanne of home, and she grinned with delight as she trotted next to Silje.

“I have always loved your father’s ring castle,” said Hanne. “It is smaller than our ring castle in Denmark, but it is beautiful and I love it up here on the hilltop.”

“Thank you,” replied Silje. “Mama always makes certain the ring castle is spotless, and she is always finding new ways for the royal craftsmen to decorate with their carvings.”

After a few laps, they returned Draumer and Solskin to the stables, and then went back to the royal longhouse to admire their dresses and practice their dancing.

After dinner, they went to bed, but neither of the girls felt drowsy. Hanne got up, went to the center of the longhouse, and returned with a codfish oil lamp.

“Silje, are you awake?” asked Hanne.

“Yes,” replied Silje. “Are you having trouble sleeping?”

“I don’t really want to sleep while I am here,” answered Hanne.

“Why not?” asked Silje.

“Because we only get to see each other once a year, and spending time with you is so special,” explained Hanne.

“Oh I know how you mean,” agreed Silje. “I wish we could spend more time together.”

“Maybe we can ask our parents if we can winter together in Denmark,” said Hanne. “It would not be such a hard thing to do. So many Norwegian ships come to Denmark every year. You should come be a guest at our ring castle for a long visit before we run out of time.”

“What do you mean about running out of time?” asked Silje.

“We are princesses, and the future will be about arranged marriage for both of us.” sighed Hanne as she stared into the fire. “I’ve heard rumors that the King of Sweden is interested in me as a future wife for his son.”

“But you’re only ten years old!” exclaimed Silje.

“Yes, Silje, but I will be married after five more summer solstices,” replied Hanne. “A time will come when we won’t be able to ride and dance together anymore.”

“Let’s not think about the future,” said Silje with a sigh. “Right now, I am just happy being with you. You are family, and you will always be my best friend.”

***



The next day was a whirlwind of activity getting ready for the banquet. The two princesses had a lot of fun getting dressed together and showing off their new dresses to everyone.

During the banquet, the princesses giggled and talked to one another all through dinner. The royal families feasted on pork and mead as harps and flutes filled the hall with music. Afterward, the princesses danced for hours with Guardsman Brandt’s twin sons, eleven-year-old Bragi and Wiglaf. As the lead Guardsman in King Harald’s court, or Hirdsman as they were called in those times, Brandt was both counselor and good friend to the king. Wiglaf’s obvious attraction to Hanne kept the princesses whispering and grinning as they twirled around the hall.

When the banquet ended, the two princesses climbed up to the ring castle gate balcony to look at the calm sea in the midnight sun. The night temperature had become cool, so they cuddled together under a blanket as they looked at the horizon.

“I wish this Solstice would last forever,” said Silje after sitting awhile in silence.

“Me too, Silje, me too,” replied Hanne flashing a ready smile. “And you were right about what you said last night. We will always be friends no matter what happens in the future. Let’s go to the royal longhouse and get warm by the hearth before our parents make us go to sleep.”

Silje nodded in reply. She and Hanne linked their arms and walked back to the royal longhouse.