My footsteps followed the way gracefully and peacefully but no sooner than mid-day I heard the sound of water. I started to run, I finally noticed the ache of my feet at that moment but water could be both a relief and something that could as easily drown me in my sleep.
As my eyes met the river, it was clear that I had to cross it, the giant made it so that I could see the path on the other side. The river was radiating with beauty in the bright razes of the sun and all the small insects that flew above it and near it gave it life. The green banks were filled with small bushed and some of them with early spring flowers that gracefully filled that image.
I could see at a distance to the left side of the river, a big deer with his horns standing like royalty next to the river, drinking water. Peace at long last.
Peace would not last as I had to cross that river, it was small but dangerous enough that I could drown if I made one mistake. As I grew close to the banks of the river I could see small families of fish dancing in the water making it almost a regret that I had to ruin their harmony.
But I had to take this step, the way was clear, I needed to follow the way. The water was cool and refreshing as I started to move through it. Tiny fish move around my feet and tickled and cleaned me of anything I could have gotten on the way there.
As I got deeper and deeper into the river my body relaxed in such a way, a way that I have not been for a very long time- it was pure bliss – I remember my home in the summer when daily I would go to the river to play and swim, it was one of the first things my father ever thought me. I forgot for a minute all the hard times I had and all the pains I had to endure. The memory of my home and of me leaving my parents behind.
I quickly found my way across the river with no sign of any ill or foul things that might happen to me, it was weird in way, my mind was used to a constant state of stress and anxiety and the relentless need to watch my back and/or survive but things back then seemed serene and beautiful.
Leaving the river in my wet clothes and me following the road, the way, once more without rest was, in general, a bad idea but I was a kid.
The way needed to be followed by a strong heart or the path can easily be lost even if it is obvious and clear. When following the way one must be wary both mind and body to it as the way can be both a friend and an enemy, one must know when you are at war with yourself, others or the way for all can be cruel enemies.
Walking was relaxing even if the cool spring wind cut through my wet skin making me somewhat cold but the anxiety of meeting my mentor at long last kept me going for all that way, it was my first day without sleep and my second day without food, compared to the weeks spent in the wilderness, it was child's play, literally.
The way quickly found itself leaving the tall grass and going into a small swamp that had a huge tree in the middle. A big white line of smoke could be seen from where I stood and it was even clearer that Hathor was there and while my heart wanted to go there running, my mind commanded otherwise.
It was not the time to rush things, the way was there, but the swamp was not the way, this time I needed to make my way. The bog was not cruel but rather welcoming, a trap of nature surely. My feet made the way while my head kept finding it in front of me, while my spirit looking behind.
That became my philosophy for my entire life, while not knowing it then, it is obvious both to me and it will be to you eventually that it is so. A man's mind must always be kept in the present while the spirits focus on the past, the eyes to the future and the dreams beyond that. That was my way, my creed, and my noose.
I found the path through the swamp quickly and quietly because my mind was dead set that this was not the end of the road, there will always be another road to,, Follow". And unfortunately for me and lucky for you I was right, and the story won't end with the tree or with the swamp, the ending of the story can be found both in the letters and in your hearts as well if you know the right way to look.
Never mind that bit, I was just getting a bit of old geezer wise advice for young people, going back to the swamp I remember the distinct smell I smelled as I got closer to the tree, Death was nearby, watching over someone, taking his right over the possession of their soul, but he was waiting for now.
The giant tree seemed endless with grey branches reaching outward toward the sky and thick roots reaching down both into the ground and into the bog.
Two crows had their nest inside the hollow side of the tree, while a wolf's skull was laid on the top of that opening, blood-like substance reached down from all the holes found on the old bark of the tree. The tree was my last trial, it was Nature itself, looking down on me from the sky and praying on my death from below.
It seemed that Death and Nature had a lovely relationship both contributing to their survival and role in the land, and it was clear to me that the right way was the tree, I had to be there.
When I stepped on the shores of the Tree's island I observed the charred ground that gave away the clue that someone left a fire there and that it was intentionally put there so that anyone that might come, will know that there is someone here, waiting for their arrival.
If it was not me Hathor that came this day, what would have happened to you, I still can't believe he took another risk with me, but that time I did not disappoint. My initiation was over, at least for now.
As I got closer to the tree I couldn't help touching it, he's presence there stopped giving me an aura of death and swapped it with the soothing song of a family of hawks that nested inside its bark.
The mother hawk looked at me with fear as it approached threatening me for coming near its nest. It's brown feathers and white neck stood out in the dim light of that mid-day, and the sound of her innocent hatchlings, made it feel serene and again pure.
Its threatening approach stopped when she reached the end of the tree and taking her small head outside to look at me. I stopped in my way and went down on my knees, making a small bow, paying tribute to let me intrude onto her home, she quickly came close to me inspecting my body.
She curiously stepped closer to me and seemed a bit interested in my hair, then without hesitation took a small handful of hairs from my head and quietly went back into the tree to put it inside the nest to keep her sons and daughters from the cold winds, spring wind was still cool, it was no place for hatchlings.
I took off my shirt or what remained of it and covered the entrance as best as I could, it was all I could have done back then. I needed to thank Nature for aiding me in my survival and at the same time testing me all the way through.
She was my first mentor. As soon as I got back to my feet the father hawk came back and rested on my shoulder and rubbed its brown head to my right cheek, I brought my finger to him so I could return the favor.
He gracefully accepted and let me pet him for a little time. The hawk did not let me do that too long, he had duties and a family that was waiting for him. He quickly flew back to the nest to inspect his family.
Family, once it was the only thing I had and the only thing that seemed important but weirdly so, it still was but on another level and perspective, even if revenge was on my mind for all the things I had to endure and I knew I had to follow the trail of my parents and found the answers I was looking for, I knew it was not the right time because I lacked the means to do all I wanted. I needed the way. But the way is shut for now. It was required that I find the key.
When I turned my back to the tree and I started to move to the other side I could notice the bright yellow bloom of mid-day sun that passed through the clouds and by the veil of the swamp water reached the surface of the island and tree, making an image of golden specters dancing around the three and ultimately, around me.
And the amazing spectacle of light was amplified by the presence of sinister fog that crawled in from the right, running over everything it could reach.
The grass on the margins of the swamp made it look like thousands grey soldiers hiding behind the fog, waiting for the right moment to strike.
The two crows that stood watch on top of the tree glamorously jumped and flew past me with amazing speed and settling on a medium-size tree trunk that stood branchless in the middle of the fog.
The image quickly became shrouded in mystery when a tall man sat next to the trunk, grasping it with his hand. He was tall and broad with, what it seemed like a long coat that reached the ground. T
he only thing that stood out to me more than that was that immediately after noticed him the ravens rose to the skies and flew towards me with the tall man disappearing at that exact moment.
The royal flight of the blackbirds made it look like they were swans, not crows as one of them came and sat on my shoulder while the other flew past me and settled on the tree.
The crow looked at me with curiosity getting closer to inspect me. As soon as I reacted it flew behind me and sat next to the other. No sooner than that a big, heavy hand rested on my shoulder.
That feeling startled me, making my heart pump hard and fast and my blood to run circles through my body. My whole body was shaking like a puppy's in a cold winter blizzard.
As I turned around my face lit up with joy as the familiar face of the giant pierced through my memories and burned my body. He put his other hand on the other shoulder and as he kneeled down to embrace me I couldn't help but cry when I gazed upon his weary big eyes and beard.
His arms came around me like a loving father's welcoming his wayward son back home.
I barely opened my mouth when Hathor told me:
'Keep your words to yourself for now, I know all the hardships you had to endure but there are other things to consider and important things to discuss.'
Hathor kept looking at me, at the bandage, at the dirt, at the bruises of my hand, I don't know if he expected me to be more hurt or even to be there at all, I was after all a 6 year old.
Hathor turned around and put his hand in a well of black tree sap that clustered up beneath one of the tree's main roots, he then chanted something as he drew markings on both of my hands.
I can still remember every word of the chant :
...skeggjöld, skálmöld,
skildir 'ru klofnir,
vindöld, vargöld,
áðr veröld steypisk...
You will find out eventually what it all means and where I found out about this. The signs he made on my arms where on one hand, a diamond shape cut in half by a line that at the bottom was split into three and over that two diagonal lines that came from the middle of the diamond to the right.
He told me its meaning was that of the wolf, for the wolf took me under his arm and protection.
He told me at the time the story of Fenrir, the chained wolf that would bring about Ragnarok and the one that cut the hand of the god Tyr.
The second marking he did was a circle from which eight forks like lines came out if it. It was the dream rune said to both protect me against nightmares and give me soothing and relaxing dreams.
The ritual was one of admittance, I was finally part of his family, I believe that was the reason for why he started shaking a bit and crying just so much as three tears could reach the ground when he quickly took me in his arms and lifted me up.
His heavy arms felt like the paws of a great brown bear. He welcomed me to his family, to his culture, I was not Viking yet, but it was the beginning as Nature, Death and the Gods themselves apparently accepted me and granted me the right to walk the earth as their champion, there was fire burning inside me and I felt my dream getting closer to me.
But Hathor's gaze quickly turned sour as he put me down and said that there was something I had to see that it would be my final test.
Hathor turned around and walked around the tree for a bit, his steps grew more silent by the inch and the squeeze on my wrist was tighter and tighter.
I could see that he is hesitating to show me that, but he knew that it is important that I took part in the next trial even if it would drive me mad, that was the will of the way.
Hathor suddenly stopped, it was apparently the place in which he took camp, the fire was burning still, his bed was there, but there was a sign that another sleeps there.
The blanket was dragged all the way to the top covering the face and the smoke from the fire almost like circled the bed, while the smell of the swamp stopped for the duration that I was there, and with no warning, it started to rain.
The giant's wet hands and hair looked at me with pity and sorrow and asked me if I was ready. Probably my silence gave off the answer and he unveiled the mysterious figure. It was Maha, her dark smooth skin shined in the orchestra of the falling drops of water and the reflection of the glimpses of sun light that passed now and then through the clouds.
The rain of sorrow fell from the sky like the fallen angels of the Bible, and the weight of them landing on me felt like the beating of a thousand rocks, as the sorrow started to creep into me and the regret of not being there sooner, I didn't know her at all but that does not mean it was without meaning, she was a sign, and then it was when I realized that she was the key, the way didn't end with her but on the contrary started.
The silence that surrounded us was not interrupted for a whole hour when we stood around watching her, he protecting me while I wrestled the thought of what she did, of course, I knew she was the way but I didn't know the way to take.
I asked Hathor how did it happen. He answered that the sickness of the bog grabs all who enter unprepared and that it was impossible to escape, no medicine, god or man can cure one of this sickness, that's how this place managed to stay hidden and not be cut down for thousands of years.
The way he made for me was to prepare me to survive the bog, only those who passed the initiation of surviving a night inside the Dusk Wood could be allowed entry or only the true Norse, I didn't know that until I stepped foot with her near the tree and that the ravens of Odin where watching, it was too late.
He then added that he tried to keep her alive at least until I arrived but the will of the forest is not one that could be easily swayed to your side.
It first started with a mild fever and coughing but it quickly turned bloody and with red spots all over her body. It took about 8 hours until she lost consciousness and fell and then three more hours until...
It was too late for me to do anything, all I had left in me was to accept that she was with her ancestors, I remembered the kiss she gave me on the forehead as she advised me back then but it was a memory of happiness that this one could not push around.
I will not be humanity's downfall but its Paragon its Hero. I accepted Nature's decision on this one and made peace with the presence of Death near all of us, and that I would dedicate my existence to the Norse way, but I needed to find the right way.
Hathor approached me when he realized the conclusion that I came to, he then kneeled in front of me and put his hand on his arm ring and said:
'I once swore that I would not harm you and that I would protect your family, but I failed. The Gods look down on me with shame but I want to serve them still for it seems I still have a purpose.
I will dedicate my life to make you Viking, to show you our ways, to guide you through the way of my people until you find your own.
I give my life to you and that of my family to you, forever.
The sheer feeling I received when that giant of a man reached out to me took over my body as I fell to my knees and grabbed his hand with both my hands. My head also fell over his hand.
My tears started to crawl out of my eyes and calmly falling down my cheeks and unto the ground as I raised my head and said happily a short humble yes.
He took red paint from a hidden red vein found inside the bark of the tree and told me to close my eyes. He covered them and drew one line that reached from my eyes and down onto my cheeks and another one from my mouth down onto my neck. He told me to go near the water of the swamp, kneel and put my head inside almost like a bow.
The rain started to crash harder this time and while I reached down on the water I could feel my body moving by itself, the trance made me lose my eyesight as soon as I touched the surface of the water.
While I dived head straight into the water, the only thing I heard was the voice of Hathor in my back whispering but shouting and the same time, being angry and happy, old and young – his voice woke up something in me that raged in me uncontrollably ever since.
The words he uttered were:
'The reason for all of this was blood, the blood of the king, the blood of the aesir will forever be a threat to the humans of Midgard, it is your duty now to lead the people from their way and into your way. Farewell Klaus...'
In that exact instant my head rose up ghoulishly from underwater and as I took a glimpse through the thick fog I couldn't help but notice the fog started to show a path, and a way to follow, when I looked into the water my dark brown eyes turned bright golden yellow.
My hands started to shake uncontrollably, it was impossible what just happened. The cruelty of all my past came out of something I didn't understand yet, I needed to find all the answers, all the riddles, and the puzzles.
My heart was raging inferno and my mind was like a glacier, the voice, all the figures in the fog and the water, my soul had been broken months ago but reformed before my very eyes, even though my life still had no meaning, it is cleared that the first issue I had to address was my parents, I had to find them.
When I turned around I noticed Hathor standing next to me almost like a stone statue, he was petrified when he saw the yellow hue of my eyes but immediately his face became normal when he said that my eyes went back to normal.
The strange feeling in my eyes would forever mark my meeting with some people, binding them to my service or it would be the reason they want to kill me.
As soon as Hathor stopped talking, lightning struck the giant tree, that feel down in the water, miraculously evading me, the fire was quickly put out by the rain but it was because there was a new symbol of Norse in Europe or one that has not yet come.
We buried Maha at the roots of the tree and put her to rest with all the belongings that she carried with her, it was unfortunate that one such as her had to die so that I could regain my soul, but it will not be in vain, all of their sacrifices will be the pillar on which the new world will be born, that is my way...