Freya

 

It was an ordinary day of fighting giants and slaying fire breathing dragons. Freya and her two kitties Aster and Adam were tired and it was self-care time.  

“Let’s go home kitties, I am beat.” Freya breathlessly commanded. Meow, meow the kitties answered in a sleepy voice. 

Back at the castle she took a warm bath, had an ambrosia drink and went into a deep sleep. Kitties curled up next to her as usual and the two little balls of fur fell fast asleep. 

Tomorrow is a new day. 

Freya woke up and had her usual breakfast. Smoked fish that she shared with Aster and Adam. Cup of lemon tea and fresh bread.  

Since she is a goddess, she spends a lot of time listening to the petitions of her followers. The day is usually filled with requests of love, fertility, winning battles and delaying death, finding gold, doing magic, casting spells and divining the future.  Also, since her father is Njord the sea god some petitioners asked she put a good word in for them for a good days catch.  

Another ordinary day of a working goddess.  

Sitting on her throne with Aster and Adam curled at her feet she saw a young mother with a baby passing by. Freya felt deep sadness; she did not know who her mother was. No one knows. No one will tell her even if they knew because her father Njord the sea god would drown them for telling.  

Freya sort of remembered the softness and smell of her mother’s skin. She sort of remembered being breast fed. She sort of remembered how much her mother loved her. She sort of remembered her mother go missing never to be found again.  

That night Freya had a dream. Nerthus her mother came to her. Her mother spoke to her. “I have been waiting for you to think of me, I am no longer here on earth. There was a terrible event and no one told you. My body was never found. I have been watching you and I love you so much. I never wanted to leave you. I am always with you but I am restless. Find my body for a proper burial. I love you.” And her mother was gone. 

Freya woke up suddenly, she needed answers. Freya set out to the sea to see her father Njord.  

“Come Aster and Adam time to set up the chariot.” Freya called. Aster and Adam dutifully complied. The kitties grew to size of horses and the horsemen harnessed up the kitties. Aster and Adam hissed and growled impatient to move. “Onward kitties, off to the seaside, quickly.” Freya shouted. 

As goddesses can do she flew her chariot to the sky in a moment and sliced through the clouds landing on the beach. With a conch shell she bellowed a low sound.  

There appeared Njord. “Freya, I am so happy to see you. Are you OK, do you need something,” Njord sounded concerned. 

“Father, I had a dream about mother, she said she died in a terrible event and is no longer alive. She wants me to find her body so she can rest in peace. “Njord was stunned. He was silent. He dropped his head low. Freya was confused. “Father?”  

Njord swam away with no other words. Freya couldn’t follow her father.” 

“What is this mystery?” Freya yanked the harassed cats and flew away back through the clouds landing in the castle yard. Aster and Adam, as magical kitties, reduced to rat chasing size. The horse men put the chariot and harnesses away. 

Freya decided to do some astral traveling to find her mother.  

Njord was so ashamed, how can he tell Freya, his beloved daughter that it was his carelessness that killed Freya’s mother Nerthus. Freya’s mother was half mortal. She had the physical strength of one hundred men and marksmen with bows and arrows. She could conjure fire with her mind. But she cannot breathe under water like Njord. Njord mistakenly left Nerthus in a cave and the cave filled with water and there was no way out. It was Njord’s carelessness that killed her.  

As Freya fell asleep, she beckoned for her mother. Nerthus appeared in glowing white robes. “Go to the black cave. That is where I died.” Freya heard her mother, woke up and immediately left with an army of loyal soldiers.  

They arrived at the black cave and at low tide Freya and seven soldiers they battled sea weed, poisonous snakes, smelly dead shell fish and a blue monster with bulging eyes and green slime dripping out of his mouth. The blue monster knew it was Freya. The blue monster said “I have been guarding Nerthus for you; it is time to put her bones to rest.”  “Thank you.” said Freya.  

A small glowing light from a florescent fish swam flicking its tail to keep its light on. Glowing fish have been keeping vigil for a very long time waiting for the bones to be retrieved.  

There they were the bones of Nerthus. The soldiers gracefully with the honor of a queen gathered Nerthus bones and placed them in a green velvet box.  

Off they went to the castle. Freya planned the best most fabulous incredibly distinguished and noble funeral. The entire countryside was there. Except Njord. He was too ashamed to show up. 

After the official mourning time was over Freya went back to the ocean. She called for her father. Nothing. She waited a whole day and night calling for him. A whale showed up and carried her petitions to her father.  

Njord showed up with his trident.  Freya looked forlorn. “Talk to me father,” she asked.  

Njord explained what happened and cried so much that waves and waves of salty tears as he spoke. “I am so sorry Freya; I never wanted to hurt Nerthus.”  

Nerthus’ spirit materialized on the ocean, Njord and Freya saw her clearly. Nerthus heard the whole story. “Be at peace Njord, I forgive you.” “Freya I love you and I am always with you, call on me when you need me.” With that Nerthus floated up and out of sight disappearing into the guiding light of heaven.  

Freya and Njord changed that day. Freya’s mystery was solved about her mother and Njord was forgiven. Each went back to respective lives and vowed to spend more time with each other. Freya went back to goddess duties and Njord went back to managing the ocean. 

The End (for now) 

Georgia P