A short story I wrote for school.
Bragi and the Sun Horse
Brikenya Jackson
In
the long ago past, the sun rose in the west and set in the east. It had done so
from the dawn of the world, and had for many centuries. So it was, until the
coming of the Bragi and the Sun Horse.
Halfway
between the heavenly path of the sun, lay the land of Norway, home of the
Vikings. Their greatest hero was Bragi, a powerful chieftain. His arrows always
found their marks, even many leagues away. His horses galloped for weeks on end
through the icy winter. He slew giants and conquered lands, always with his
wife, Valkari, at his side. She was also a warrior, and fought battles by his
right hand.
At
dawn, on the longest day of the year, Valkari looked to the east and saw a
great flame. Her mind was filled with dread, for she knew the Kingdom of the
Dragons lay to the east. She turned and brought her tidings to Bragi.
“Valiant
husband of mine,” said she, “the Dragons are gathering their might about them.
I have watched the sky, and seen the sun carry tremendous power to their realm.
Soon, they shall unleash their force upon Norway.”
Bragi
turned his face to the sky, and beheld the sun, and he knew Valkari’s words to
be true.
“I shall
go to the forest,” he said aloud, “and seek the council of Sigrunnr, the king
of the trees.”
Valkari
remained behind as Bragi mounted his night-black steed and journeyed to the
wood. For a night and a day, the strong horse ran, strengthened by Bragi’s
strong spirit, bearing its master with all haste to the deep forest.
On
the edge of the tall trees, he dismounted and bade his horse return to its
home. Away it sped as a black star streaking across the sky. Drawing his sword
as a beacon of courage, Bragi entered the mysterious wood.
Through
the darkness and silence he went, till at last he came to the heart of the
forest. There, surrounded by all manner of woodland beasts, stood the Sigrunnr,
the Forest King. A wreath of leaves twined about his head, but his eyes
glittered as the crystal stones that lie buried in the earth.
“What
brings you from afar to my domain?” Sigrunnr questioned the Viking lord. At the
sound of his voice, the trees rustled and shifted their roots as they awaited
Bragi’s reply. The brave hero cast his sword to the ground, in a gesture of
peace, then spoke his task.
“Lord
of the Trees and those that dwell within them, I come to you to gain knowledge,
for you hold many secrets.”
The
Forest King gazed upon the man, and then offered his wisdom.
“What
is it that you wish to know?”
“How
I may prevent the heavenly star from bringing power and sustainment to the
Dragons, for they have grown strong in number and power.”
Sigrunnr
beheld Bragi and knew he had spoken truth, and thus knew the danger.
“You
must go to the Old Giants and capture Sunhild, the Sun Horse. She will take you
to the sun, and there you must take it from the Dragons.”
The
Forest King, his words said, then vanished into the shadows of the huge trees.
His animal companions followed him into the deepness.
Taking
up his sword, Bragi journeyed over the mountain pass known as the Old Giants, with
these fateful words in mind. He knew he must reach the topmost peak, for there
was the lair of the Sun Horse. His great strength drove him up the steep
slopes, and he reached the summit.
There,
shining as a daughter of the sun stood Sunhild, the Sun Horse. Her mane was as fire,
rippling over her graceful neck, and her hooves brazen. Her two ruby eyes
glowed in her noble countenance.
With
all the care of a true horseman, Bragi approached the rare creature. Perhaps
she saw he meant her no harm, or she knew of his quest, but Sunhild came closer
to him, and spoke to him and did not flee.
“Mount
me,” she said, and her voice was as the bright dawn. “And I will carry you through
the mist, and past the moon.”
Bragi
mounted her, and she strode to the edge of the cliff, her hooves light and
noiseless. She stepped off into the sky; the air and wind bore her, and she
glided away, up, up, above the clouds, to the point of the sun’s zenith.
The
sun was far in the east, crowning the accursed Land of the Dragons. Nevertheless,
Bragi felt no fear within his heart. He urged the Sun Horse to the high flames
that bordered the Dragon land, and she obeyed with all swiftness.
They
followed the path of light left by the sun, and just before the sun went down
into the Dragons’ lair, the Sun Horse’s golden hooves touched the dark ground.
The tall crags and black castles of the city of the Dragons surrounded them.
From
a dark stone mountain that belched smoke and liquid fire, came Skelkingr, the
legendary and much-feared Dragon King. He wore armor of bone and steel upon his
black and steaming hide. Blood swam in his eyes, and his mighty wings beat the
darkening sky.
“Come!”
he roared. Flames danced around his cruel fangs, and the earth trembled at his
voice. “You come to your death! My young ones shall feast upon your flesh, and
never the light of the sunrise shall you see again!”
However,
Bragi was unafraid. He leapt from Sunhild’s back, and drew his long white
sword, the warrior spirit within him flashing as fire in his eyes. He cried
aloud and defied the Dragon King.
“Nay!
I have brought my sword, and you shall taste its blade before the night has
fallen!”
Skelkingr,
wreathed in fury, let loose a mighty wave of fire from his mouth. Bragi threw
himself to the side. The edge of his cloak was singed, but he had received no
injury. He weaved his way around the Dragon King, though the enraged monster
thrust many flaming stones his way.
Bragi
swept beneath the Dragon King’s belly and drove his long glowing blade through
the soft scales. Skelkingr shrieked, the sky shook, and the earth split open at
the sound of his terrible voice. A great plume of steam arose from the Dragon
King’s belly, and with the unearthly crash of thunder, he fell.
The
Dragons lost heart at the sight of their dead King. With loud cries, they took
to the air, and hid within their dreadful lairs. Bragi raised his sword in
triumph, and cut off Skelkingr’s head. Ever after it hung, a magnificent
trophy, in his great hall.
The
Viking lord once more mounted the Sun Horse, and took a long line of golden
rope. With this, he snared the sun as it sank into the dark void, where it
vanished in the night. There he dragged it out, and on the magical Sun Horse
took it back, across the sky, and let it go down to sleep in the west. Ever
after, the sun has risen in the far east, and gone westward, where it rests
during the dark night. The great power harnessed in the sun is now lost to the
Dragons, for it carries it far from them, beyond the land to which they are
bound, whilst they sleep in the cold morning.
Bragi
spoke to Sunhild, and gave her charge over the sun, to guard it and keep it on
its course, and so she has done for centuries, even to the end of the Viking
age.
Bragi,
the mighty hero, tamer of the Sun Horse, and slayer of Skelkingr, then returned
to whence he had come, and dwelt with Valkari in peace to the end of his days.
