Valkyr's Price

And now for something completely different!

This week I'm gonna step away from the shorter stuff, and in someways, step away from love. We are going to journey back into my "Women in Myth" series with Valkyr's Price, one of my favorite and most personally influential pieces. "Valkyr's Price" was written shortly after I had moved to Telluride, during my first winter there, and while I don't necessarily draw much from our physical world when I write, I do remember taking a hike to the frozen Bridal Veil Falls. In the middle of winter, staring at the blue veined ice, I tried to absorb the spirit of the Norse; of the fridged north they hailed from. Winter doesn't play much of a role in "Valkyr's Price" but I like to believe that some of that energy found it's way in, anyway.

I was already beginning to dig deeper in to myth, and in particular at the time of this piece, into Norse mythology. I had begun with summaries of the mythology. These annoyed me. I never felt as if they were giving me enough. So I went out and found good translations of the Eddas, searching eagerly for the things I thought were missing from the retellings. Turns out, the Eddas didn't have the information either. But one thing the translations had over the retellings lies in the skaldic verse itself. The structure of the Norse tales, and of kennings intrigued me. There was a richness to them that the prose retellings left out. Artistic licence is one thing, but I wasn't looking for modern art; I wanted ancient myth. I wanted the original meat and bones, or at least as close as I could, before I would develope my own ideas. I found the myths, found the spirit, and now I wanted to play.

Within the Eddas, there are three tales of Helgi and Sigrun; all the same, and all different. I loved the stories, and so when I retold it in "Valkyr's Price" I tried to blend all three together, and at the same time, I wanted to detail a little more about the Valkyrie. "Valkyr's Price" is, in the end for me, a tale about the price of love, and how high a cost love can be for a Valkyrie. I like to believe I kept true to the original tales, to my sources and to the spirit of the Norse; that my modern interest in the cost to Sigrun only adds to the mythological whole. I hope you enjoy this excursion into olden lands, in a style, not strictly skaldic, but close in energy.


Valkyr's Price

From Valhalla begets our tale,
The hall of Odin, Allfather
Whence Sigrún the Valkyr dost hail,
The hall of Odin, Allfather.


Gold shield shingled stands Gladhome Hall
Forty and five hundred doors pierce
High Vallholl’s spear supported wall
Where byrnie banded benches hie.

Sits Odin, the Hall of the Slain
Called Valfather, the One-eyed Lord
With Freki and Geri there lain
Sated by corpses, Odin fed.

In Valhalla, the Einherjar,
The gathered slain from battles all
The mighty warriors of war
Valfather’s favoured among men.

On Sæhrímnir’s flesh they do dine,
The Einherjar in Valhalla
That hearty feast which all men pine
And drink Heithrún’s all flowing mead.

The Valkyr in Valhalla serve,
The shield-maidens with Einherjar,
White armed maidens who Odin serve,
Ever virgin battle-maidens.

Then dawning unto Gladhome came,
The Einherjar refreshed and whole
Decked in the armor of their fame
To battle before Odin’s Hall.

Through the gray clouds flew two ravens,
Munin who spoke what he had seen
Of men and gods in their havens
And Hunin who spoke what meant all.

Forward Byrnie Maidens went,
Upon horses as clouds they flew.
Across Bifröst were sent
The nine in blood-red corslets.

There were men who were Volsung called,
The Ylfings who did hatred bear
The sons who in Hundland stood walled,
Feuded they with Hunding the king.

Helgi wast a son of Volsung,
Born of Sigmund and Borghild
Whose fosterage of Hagal wrung
The fifteen years ere he a man.

Then forward went hearty Volsung
To dance swords with feud-bourn Hunding;
Mighty clamor-of-swords was sung
And Helgi, Hunding-Slayer, made.

Then Sigrún cast a knowing rune,
O’er the dead Hunding battle flew
She would the Hunding-Slayer soon
So bold the warrior descried.

There Helgi’s fleet in Bruna Bay
Tired from battle they homeward go
Windless brine-hogs o’er Ægir lay
Cattle raiding, the hungry crew.

Came Sigrún in Himin’s Meadows,
Gold-red hair in blood-red corslet,Sigrún hunting for Hunding’s foes
Enamored in Volsung hero.

The Valkyrie hailed from on high,
Helgi’s silent sea-stallions,
Wither windless warder ply
And who dost them cliffward steeréth.

Hid Helgi behind Hamal’s name
That Hlés Isle they hight as home
Who windless to Bruna Bay came,
They who eastern journey bidéth.

Then did Sigrún ask whence came they,
Armor coated in dew-of-wounds.
Where fed they Odin’s birds of prey
Upon fields in flights-of-arrows?

“Forward from Braga Grove come we,”
Spake the hidden Hunding-slayer
Unto young maiden valkyrie,
“Where fed we well Hjálmberi’s hounds.

Then Sigrún who did bold truth know
Asked who wast he when Hunding fell
Whilst he the sword-din blood did sow
Among Hunding’s sons and his kin.

“How knowést thou kinsmen’s return,”
Quested Helgi of Sigrún’s speech.
“Of athelings who battle yearn
Many, likewise sons, so arrayed.

“When yestermorn the battle broke
Cast I His Yggdrasil-won runes.
They, the Hunding-slayer bespoke
Ere I came upon becalmed fleet.

“Now Atheling, Volsung hero
Dost himself from valkyrie hide.
Yet what brave Helgi could not know,
Runes, to Hogni’s daughter, him shown.”

Then fair valkyrie the sky rode,
As a wind filled the mast-tree sails.
His dreams after her likeness strode
Bold Helgi, the Hunding-slayer.

Soon gathered there many high kings
And Granmar’s son who Hothbrodd hight,
Who praise of Hogni’s daughter sings,
Thus Hothbrodd plighted to Sigrún.

Soon as she engagement heard;
For Hothbrodd was weaker son;
Had a mighty gale Sigrún stirred
As she rode cross Himin’s Meadows.

Erstwhile Helgi at Loga Falls
Met Hunding's sons for Freki’s feast
‘Neath the raucous of raven’s calls:
So sought Hunding’s sons, Helgi slain.

Yet lay Hunding’s sons as reaped wheat
For Helgi’s whetted wand-of-wounds,
They could not against it compete;
Was Hunding-slayer to them all.

Then as storm clouds ‘pon horizon
Came Sigrún and her valkyries
Hie, unto Volsung’s mighty son
Battle worn beneath Eagle Rock.

Lay she her arms round hero’s neck,
The joyful warmth of lover’s sight,
Did lover’s kisses ‘pon him peck,
The shield-maiden and Sigmund’s son.

“Hast I from my family fled,”
Spoke Sigrún unto Helgi’s ear
“Am with Hothbrodd soon to be wed
So well did Hothbrodd, Hogni find.

“Yet fain would I such coward lie
When with Hunding-slayer would be:
Whom heart harried ere seen in eye,
Counter did I, my kinsman’s wish.

Turned Sigmund’s son to Valkyr maid,
“Fear not family to foemen
For Helgi fears not Hogni’s blade:
Would fair valkyrie hight as wife.”

Then gathered atheling, war brood,
From Hethin’s Isle across the sea,
As had before in Hunding feud,
Helgi did ready make for war.

Then beating oars did Helgi sail,
His low-neck ships gold shield adorned.
Did keels ‘gainst Kolga’s sister rail,
High hoisted sail, his doughty men.

Than Ægir set daughters upon
Helgi’s hearty sea-stallions,
So baited were the nets of Rán,
Sought eager she atheling men.

And as the sea, so storm arose
Dark clouds came on high crested waves,
Rain and lightening with wind blows
‘Gainst high hoisted Helgi’s mast-trees.

Yet above mast-tree Sigrún flew,
She and the valkyrie maidens
That though the high seas eager blew
Came heroes safe from Gnipa Grove.

Stood Granmar’s sons upon the cliff
As Volsung ships the harbour knew.
Knew they not what heroes or if
Did come to them in Una Bay.

Then Guthmund, son of Granmar wend,
Seaward to find what fleet there calls.
He did forward inquiry send
Who armored so would set the land.

Sinfjotli inquiry return.
Hunding-slayer for Hothbrodd comes
For Sigrún’s heart which both dost yearn
Yielded self to great Volsung’s son.

Then Guthmund hie Sólheim Castle
To kinsman speak who comes by sea;
How spoke he with Helgi’s vassal,
The Ylfing comes coated for war.

Then Granmar called forth other lords,
His sons, the kings and Hogni’s kin
To forward with Helgi cross swords
For Sigrún’s dowry, blood be shed.

Then flights-of-spears at Freka Stone
Met Helgi, Hothbrodd’s wand-of-wounds,
Where blood, in glory, battle shown,
And dew-of-wounds the ground beclothed.

Through Hunding-slayer’s might lay slain
Granmar and his sons, most Hothbrodd.
To Sigrún’s love and Hothbrodd’s bane,
Save Dag; Hogni and his kin dead.

Then fair Valkyr to Geri’s feast
Found Hothbrodd yet alive a-field
And spoke she ere his life had ceased
How ne’er have she of Seva Falls.

Then forward found at Freka Stone
Hight Hunding-slayer, battle called,
The joy of life, Sigrún’s love known,
Whole beneath the hail-of-arrows.

Yet he unto his love did say,
"Slew I thine father and thy kin
As we in battle swords did play,
Save Dag, thine brother who’s yet whole."

Lamented not Sigrún her foes
Who fell beneath her lover’s sword,
But that her kin did beget her woes,
She wept for family fallen.

Yet her brother swore to Helgi;
Great oaths unto Volsung hero,
The fair atheling of the sea;
For which slayer his life did spare.

Then took of Helgi Sigrún’s hand
And swore upon bold Mjolnir’s haft
As they afore the gods did stand,
Where Helgi made of Sigrún, wife.

Then did happen as Sigrún knew,
When she in bed with Helgi lay,
Did Valfather’s blessing undo
And a valkyrie be no more.

Yet most happy as Helgi’s wife,
Though lost did she Valhalla home;
She many sons brought unto life;
Such happiness with Helgi knew.

Yet then did Sigrún’s brother pray,
Offered unto Odin prayers
That might Volsung hero slay,
Fair justice for what kinsman slew.

And Dag did Odin’s blessing ‘cieve.
Great Gungnir from Sleipnir’s saddle
Did Allfather unto Dag heave,
That might the Hunding-slayer slay.

Then unto Fjotur Grove Dag went
Where fell Gungnir in Helgi’s side,
Odin’s blessing by Dag’s hand sent,
In Fjotur Grove whence Helgi died.

Thence winter came to Seva Falls,
When love taken from Valkyr maid,
The hero whom Valfather calls
Leaves saddest snow on fertile fields.

So Dag unto his sister came
With tidings of inflicted woe,
Quote he Fjotur Grove, Helgi’s name,
Who he with mighty Gungnir slew.

There upon Dag laid strongest curse,
No aid receive by sea or sword.
Wished Sigrún ‘pon her brother worse;
Wretched life of ravenous wolf.

And Dag who aghast there withstood
Such ire of sister for husband
That weregild and half their lands would
Unto Helgi’s wife and his sons.

“Seva Falls light has dimmed,” quote she,
Sigrún who once of Valkyr kin,
How no weregild would sadness flee,
Lest he on Vígblær’s back return.

“That feared hero who foemen fled,
Was greatest bound for Gladhome hall,
Many wolves his wand-of-wounds fed,
Hunding-slayer, the stately stag.

Erected they high o’er Helgi
Baleful barrow to bear Ylfing;
Volsung Hero Valhalla see
Though sad bears Sigrún’s sorrow.

Then whilst bondmaid was barrow bound,
Saw Hunding-slayer horse astride
Whence feared did she Ragnarok found
That dead atheling homeward ride.

“Not for Ragnarok hither came,”
Quote the gory ghost unto maid.
“And though this ghost bears Helgi’s name,
Nevermore is Seva Falls home.

Went forward to Sigrún her maid,
How spied she Helgi, his barrow,
How his blood from ghost never stayed,
Gladsome Volsung in restless grave.

Go did Sigrún ‘neath full moon’s light
Unto the howe where Helgi hie
To see what was within her sight,
Dew-of-wounds from ghostly side.

Came there whom hight Hunding-slayer
Where Sigrún stood in Helgi’s sight.
“Whyfore dost bloody byrnie bear,
What I, to stop the flooding dew?”

Then grave did atheling bespeak
How sorrowful Sigrún’s slow tears
Did likewise blood from Helgi leak;
Drop for drop in darkened tomb.

Then did Sigrún a bed prepare
Within the barrow where Helgi lay
That might with Volsung son bed share,
Ere forever gone, the Ylfing.

Night did pass with the lovers twined,
Yet with dawn did Helgi arise
That again would Valhalla find,
Though Sigrún must yet earthbound stay.

Then when fallen Valkyr awoke,
Found her love with night had gone,
Yet hoped she when night again broke
Would Helgi, his barrow, return.

Yet when her tears had ceased to flow,
No longer Helgi unto home hie,
And greater still, Sigrún, sorrow know
Such winter as hid Seva Falls.

Nor did Sigrún long him survive
Whose broken heart in sorrow dwelled.
Living’s cause no longer alive;
Left she heroic sons behind.

Yet Odin no valkyr forget
As passed Sigrún from life to death,
That Bifröst crossing he her let
To again shield-maiden become.

Came she on cloud-steed, Gladhome Hall,
Sword-maiden in Einherjar home,
The welcome sound of raven’s call,
And misséd sight Valhalla known.

And found she ‘mong the Einherjar
Helgi whom Valfather bestowed,
The Chief of those who gloried war,
The Valkyrie maiden, her lord.

Happy reigned the Hall of Odin,
Valkyrie and Hunding-slayer,
Where battle always revel in,
And lover’s love did always know.