In the Eastern lands ruled great King called Brennan and also his wife Queen Caoilfhionn. Brynhildr Amsvarsdottir had come to serve their longhouse and was sent to guard the land’s most precious treasure, the Queen. It was the fiftieth year, on the seventh day of nóvember, after Gormánuður but before Ýlir, that Brynhildr was called to the Crown Tournament in the holdings of the Hersir of Bergental. Because she had served with joy and abundance, she was given the right to bear arms, ____________________________________ and take the title Hefdharkona. The King had his poet and scribe make for her a ring of word-gold to be read and seen that day.
The linden of the battle-wall
lifted her slender hands
to join the Njords of swords.
Shield-bearer now arms-bearer
Silver-goddess of the raven-field
You are worthy to hear an ode
war-valiant one, wrought for you*
King Brennan and Queen Caiolfhionn made their names on it.
Brynhildr is a fighter and man-at-arms to Sir Brennan, who has been a brother to me. I was thrilled to be able to write text for her. Norse sagas frequently used prose and then called out a poem of praise (or insult, on occasion too!). I used the same technique to do this. I had to edit mercilessly – the original wanted to be longer, but sometimes we just have to live by the word count. I pulled directly one line from the Sagas of the Warrior Poets, because I wanted her to have that direct connection to the past in this piece. (I try to do that with pretty much all my text.)
Below are my working notes to produce this piece.
(The longer piece)
In those days the ruler of the Eastern lands was a great Chieftain called Brennan. Beside him ruled his wife Caoilfhionn. Now Brynhildr Amsvarsdottir had come to serve the King and was sent to guard his most precious treasure, the Queen. Brynhildr wore a shirt of silver plates against which her dark hair shone like trees against the moon. After she had served for a full year and more, at the Crown Tournament in the holdings of the Hersir of Bergental. It was held on the seventh day of nóvember, after Gormánuður but before Ýlir. Brynhildr was called to court that day where she was given the right to bear arms
________________________________________ and be called Hefdharkona. The King had his poet make for her a ring of word-gold and it was read.
You are worthy to hear an ode
war-valiant one, wrought for you* (31 in Sagas of the Warrior Poets)
The linden of the battle-wall (the shield maiden)
has lifted her slender hands
to join the Njords of swords. (the gods of the swords)
Silver-goddess of the raven-field
from shield-bearer to arms-bearer
- Gormánuður (mid October – mid November, “slaughter month” or “Gór’s month”)
- Ýlir (mid November – mid December, “Yule month”)
http://oldeuropeanculture.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-riddle-of-odins-ravens.html
kennings:
Linden birch goddess
Holder of the king cup
Shield sister
Man at arms
And so the king bade a verse to be made for her
1,2,3, 1234 / Sagas of the warrior poets