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In the time of the Norse, great stories were told about a warrior, Thlar Hunrison, and his love Laufrayer.
Many say that they were gods, others tell the tale as if they were just mortal lovers. Whatever they were, all know that they and their love will live forever.
Their tale begins, as all good stories do, at the beginning.
They lived together, deep in the blackest forests of Midgard, in the land of Nidavellir, the land of mountains, caves and dwarves.
They were deeply in love, more than any had known. They claimed that they had been gifted with this love by Odin himself, so that both would live forever in the arms of love.
Laufrayer bore Thlar a son. A fine young boy, blonde and strong, they called him Allson, after Odin, the god they thanked for their love. And for the first year of his life, Allson was the happiest child.
But unfortunately, as winter came, Allson grew sick, and died with the coming of the snows.
Thlar and Laufrayer were heartstricken. They had lost their only child, long before his time.
For many nights they wept in each others arms.
But eventually, with the passing of winter, Thlar took hope. He realised he still had the love of Laufrayer, he still had his home, and his future.
He could never forget his wondeful son. But he knew that Allson would be happy in Odins care, strong and content for the rest of time in Valhalla.
But Laufrayer could not cope. She did not tell Thlar, but she blamed herself. She thought that Thlar loved her no longer. That he had never loved her and could never, for she was the barer of his now dead son, the one he would love forever. She felt shameful and alone, but refused to tell anyone.
And, with her heart heavy, she packed her things, and left Thlar alone that night.
When Thlar awoke, he searched everywhere in Midgard for Laufrayer. From the great sea of Jormungand, to the mountains of Jotunheim. No place he left untouched, no soul left unquestioned.
He had searched the entire land, from shore to shore, and still could not find his love.
Eventually, he decided there was only one thing he could do. That was consult Mimir, god of Knowledge.
With a heavy heart, Thlar journeyed to the Fountain of Mimir where the great god awaited his coming.
“Great Mimir, you know what I seek..... so tell me, what must I pay to learn where my wife now is?” said Thlar, as he knew Odin had had to remove his eye and even kill himself for the knowledge he sought from Mimir, so Thlars information would come at a price.
Thlar awaited Mimirs request for payment, but it never came.
“Little Thlar, you are a great and kind man. Fate has told me you should find your wife, for she has journeyed to Niflheim. Go there, take her home, and do so with my blessing. And know that one of the almighty gods looks out for you.”
And with that, Thlar began his trek to hell, to get back the love of his life.
Along the way, Thlar passed a one eyed beggar at the side of the road. He was holding a young baby. For a moment, he looked familiar, but another look showed he was another stranger.
Thalr did as he always did, and reached in his pocket for whatever he could to give to the man. Thlar had walked for many moons, and his supplies were low. But still Thlar gave the man all the coins in his pocket, and a loaf of mill bread.
“Thankyou kind stranger” said the beggar, “but I cannot accept these gifts. Instead, I will buy them from you. Here, take these pretty stones, I have no use for them....”
And so Thlar unwillingly took the stones, after the man insisted, placing them in his pocket without a second thought.
For nine days, and nine nights, Thlar wandered the wilderness, North from Midgard. As day broke on the tenth morning, Thlar reached Niflheim.
Thlar wandered the snowy wastes, burned by the icy wind. Great icy mountains rose up in the distance, and rolling hills of ide surrounded him. As he walked, he saw flickering shapes circling him, but each time he tried to see what they were, they dissapeared.
Monsterous forms ran across the skyline, casting hideous shadows, sillouetted against the constant grey sky.
Eventually, Thlar reached the gates to hell.
Before him, the great beast wolf Garm guarded the gate.
Thlar knew he needed to pass by Garm, without his notice, as Garm would not hesitate to tear Thalr asunder.
For many nights he pondered this, and decided to sneak around the beast.
He lured the shadows that had followed him as he wandered the land, so they circled him some more. He moved toward Garm, slowly.
And as Thalr had thought, Garm attacked the shadows, leaping on them, and tearing them apart in his mighty jaws.
Using the distraction, Thlar ran quickly past the great wolf, and through the gates of hell.
Before him streatched the mighty halls of Niflhiem.
Fiery chambers, filled with legions of the worst of humanity.
But beyond them all, he saw what he came there for.
Laufrayer......
Without hesitation, he ran through the halls of sinners, clear across the chamber to her.
For a moment, she hesitated, wondering who he was. Then, realising he had come all the way to hell to find her, she opened her arms to hold him.
For a moment, they embraced, their arms holding one another, realising they were together again.
“Come” pleaded Thlar, “we must leave. This place is no place to stay. Come home with me.”
“But I thought you did not love me. I thought you hated me for the death of Allson” wept Laufrayer.
“My love, how could you ever think that? I love you more every day. Yes, I miss my dearest child, but Odin chose his time, not you. It was his place to go, I would never blame you.”
Thlar took Laufrayers hand and ran through the hordes of the damned toward the gate.
But before them stood the great hell hound Garm.
Without the shadows to distract him, Thlar thought they were lost.
“Laufrayer, run ahead, I will deal with Garm” said Thlar, as he stepped toward the hound.
Garm leapt through the air, as Laufrayer ran on. Thlar knew that he would die, but held strong, knowing Laufrayer would be free.
Garm threw him toward the wall of the fire filled chamber, bellowing a howl filled with the remorse of the damned.
Thlar fell, bouncing off the wall, his body broken, his mind resigned to death.
As he hit the wall, the stones given to him by the beggar fell to the floor.
Each and every one started to glow, with a white and mystical fire. As Garm drew near, for the kill, he turned to see the white glow.
From the stones, came the form of a great warrior, twice the height of a mortal man, dressed for war.
“I AM ODIN, LORD OF ALL GODS. GARM, GO BACK TO WHENCE YOU CAME. THIS ONE LIVES IN MY GRACES, STRIKE HIM AND DIE.”
Garm knew Odin meant these words, and, tail between its legs, ran back to the darkest recesses of hell.
Odin reached down, taking Laufrayer and Thlar in his hands, striding forward, leaving Niflheim far behind.
“CHILDREN, I AM ODIN. KNOW THAT I WATCH YOU ALWAYS. YOUR LOVE IS A TREASURE BEYOND THAT OF THIS WORLD. LOOK AFTER IT ALWAYS.”
Thalr and Laufrayer huddled together in fear.
“I WATCH YOUR SON, ALLSON, EVEN NOW. HE WILL ONE DAY BECOME MY MIGHTEST WARRIOR IN VALHALLA. HE WILL AWAIT YOUR JOINING HIM. BUT FOR NOW, GO HOME AND CONTINUE TO LOVE AS YOU HAVE BEFORE. MY WORLD IS NOT READY FOR YOU YET. YOU BOTH HAVE MUCH TO DO.”
With that, the great god Odin set the two lovers down in the forests of Nidavellir, before he dissapeared.
And for many years, Thlar and Laufrayer tended the lands of Midgard, in the knowledge that one day, they would return to see their only son once again.
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