Photo is an excerpt of a Sif drawing on the Viking Herald.
This is the fourth story of a four-story-arc. The first story in the series can be read here. The second story in the series can be read here. The third story can be read here.
It was a day like any other in the heavenly Vanenheim. Balder was out exploring the fertile fields, with his golden-haired sister Sif by his side. She had just turned of age and their mother Freya was looking for a suitable husband. Balder knew that he would have to get used to the idea of sharing his little sister. But no God who had been brought before them, seemed to be good enough so far. Today, their father Odin had invited all of the Vanir and the Asen to his humble home, for a party of the ages. His most precious daughter’s birthday needed to be celebrated with all the pomp and circumstance such an event demanded. Sif was walking on cloud nine all day, enchanted with her own importance. And Balder indulged her, for there was no creature he felt more love for than his sister.
In the afternoon, their aunt Mother Holle arrived at Odin’s castle, her full entourage in tow. Sif sighed; she had never seen so many beautifully spinned garments before. Everybody knew, Mother Holle dedicated her life and those of her subjects to the spinning wheels of the world. Part of Mother Holle’s entourage though, were also a few mere mortals. She had made a pact with an earthly king; to use his lands for her endeavours and as a favour repaid, she would show him some of the more heavenly delights on offer. This king had a handsome son, with ebony hair and emerald eyes, called Donar. They were a seafaring country and Donar had sunkissed skin and an air of the pirate about him. When Sif spotted him, her heart was quickly captured. Who could not fall for such a daring youngster. But it was not only Sif who fell for the rugged princeling, also her brother Balder, was drawn to him.
As the festivities commenced that evening, Prince Donar found himself in the midst of the youngest Gods and Goddesses of Vanenheim. Everyone wanted a piece of him, most of all Balder, who knew the oldest tricks in the book to enchant a mere human. Though Donar was not so easily swayed. He had spotted Sif earlier in the day and had straight away fallen for her long golden locks and frankness of face. Now though, she was nowhere to be found. When he mentioned the beautiful young Goddess, Balder immediately flared up with jealousy.
“Oh, that is just my younger sister. Awfully shy girl.” And for good measure he also threw in: “She’s promised to another God already. What a shame, such beauty wasted on another God.”
Balder had meant it as a flippant joke, but Prince Donar seemed to fold in on himself. “She’s promised to someone. How serious is this engagement?”
Considering the fact that Balder had made the whole thing up, his answer came quick off his tongue. “She has to marry tomorrow, if not, my father will make her a mortal.” Prince Donar gasped with shock and for the rest of the evening, he was nowhere to be found.
During this whole exchange, Sif had been watching her brother and the handsome prince from afar. She wondered whether the prince would fall for her brother’s charms, or if he would come looking for her, like she hoped. They had exchanged some heated glances all through dinner and Sif knew that her hair and her dress were working well in favour of her. Prince Donar could not look away from her, even when his own father came to consult him on something.
Balder though was a different story. Sif knew how cunning her brother could be. As much as she loved him, she was also afraid of him and his powers. She knew never to cross him, his wrath unleashed on the world would not end pleasurably. Yet this night, Sif could not help herself but send out her siren call to Prince Donar. Just once in her life she wanted to do something for herself, not for her family. Her mother and father wanted her to marry a God, any of them would do. But Sif knew she didn’t love any of them. Maybe she could love the Prince.
When her brother Balder was not paying attention, Sif approached from behind and pulled the Prince with her, in the direction of the enchanted forests. She smiled at him and signalled to be quiet, and like a dog on a lead, he followed her swiftly. When they had reached a peaceful meadow, where the sounds of the party could reach them still, Sif stood and turned towards the Prince. With wonder in his eyes, did he take her hands and went on his knees.
“You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.”
Sif chuckled at this sweet declaration. Of course, she knew of her beauty. She wanted to be praised for other things. “I know that. Tell me something I don’t know.” Sif challenged the Prince. Donar swallowed visibly and shifted uncomfortably on his feet. Sif waited for him to come up with an original answer. When an idea came to him, a luminous smile spread on his adorable face.
“Well, I must say, you seem to be the most cunning woman I have ever met as well.”
Now Sif laughed out loud, for she found amusement in his daringness. “Yes”, she said, “I am cunning, and I am smart. You will not find my match with mortal women.”
“With any woman, I dare say”, Prince Donar declared. “May I come closer?” He added in a whisper. Sif nodded and as he approached, her self-confidence dissipated. She had never been this close to any other man except for her father and her brothers. A breath later, Donar was already kissing her, and Sif melted inside his arms. The feeling of belonging there was overwhelming and when they came up for air, Donar declared his love to her most eloquently.
Nine months later, Sif was living with the mortal Prince in the mortal lands. Married and pregnant. Mother Holle had helped the young couple escape Vanenheim, once presented with their undying love for each other. Sif had lived her happiest days in this kingdom by the sea, yet every day she lived in fear of her brother and father. They had not wanted her to lower herself to the human world. Yet for Sif, there had been no other path available. She knew that there was a good chance, she wouldn’t live through labour, as a Goddess outside of Vanenheim rarely survived a birth. Mother Holle had promised to help her in any way she could but the night of her daughter being born, Sif found herself completely alone in the world. Her husband was out celebrating the impending birth, Mother Holle was on her final travel before the birth and most servants were off to pray to the Gods of Vanenheim. The irony was not lost on Sif. So it happened, that the most fertile of Goddesses found her end in the birth of her one and only child. Nobody there to support her, Sif made it through the birth but died shortly after. When Donar returned home, he found a crying child next to the corpse of his beloved bride. A moment later Balder appeared in the room, drawn by the death of his sister. In his endless grief, the God cursed Donar and the child. Then he took Sif in his arms and disappeared from the human realm. Donar named the child Aurora and gave her to Mother Holle to be taken care of. He thought her safe with Holle, little did he know, that his daughter would suffer the most from the curses laid upon them by Balder. Some say the girl is still asleep, in Mother Holle’s castle. Waiting for her father to return and break the curse. Next to the sleeping beauty sits only a little man, keeping her the most loyal of company. Legend says she saved him from an untimely death. Whether she will be saved, is up to the Gods. So, Rumpelstiltskin prays for Aurora, every day of her eternal sleep.
