The Love of Hildr
by Kevin Murphy 






















I


'Til the day she found the child
On the field, so cold and lost
Found the one she could not take
She wept and tallied the cost

She knelt on the blooded field
Holding the child so dear
Knowing her end was soon to come
Odin's wrath drawing near

Her fate was cast so long ago
Woven by the Norns 
Her death would be most swift
Driven by the storms

She stood silent holding the child
She drove her sword into the ground
The battle raging about her still
The child cried not a sound

Odin came hard and fast
He spoke with steel hard words
"Upon this Earth you shall remain
And this child Kian you shall serve"

Odin loomed upon his steed
"A Valkyr lost and forlorn
A Valkyr again you shall be
A Valkyrie once more reborn"
 
Thus was ended Hildr's rage
Thus would end her strife
This child and the clan of DubhGhaill
Bound to them was now her life ... 









II


Daganord swore his oath to Chaos
Swore he would bring down the world
Drew his blade and cursed all men
The banner of evil now unfurled

He sought his enemies to bide his time
Marked them one by one
Found those who could stem the tide
Of the Darkness by him would come

Throughout the ages he searched the world
Sent his minions to slaughter the clans
To purge his enemies growing strength
Before they could know his plans

Of most they died not knowing why
Fighting to the bitter end
A war through time that would not cease
The reign of man would end

He found the clan of DubhGhaill 
Made his strike for the kill
He did not know of the Valkyr's Watch
He did not know of Odin's Will

Daganord attacked the child
And brought the Valkyr's wrath
Hildr fiercely drove back the horde
With mighty blows she attacked

"This one you shall not take"
She bellowed loud and clear
The enemy wavered and broke
Hildr raged for the child so dear

Daganord redoubled his strokes 
The Valkyr's strength yet held 
He swore his vengeance upon her head
"Upon my spear you will be impaled"




Watching from afar 
Thor heard the Valkyries cries
Standing upon the edge of Asgard
Viewing with angry eyes

Hildr fought with a fury
Unwilling to yield the trust 
Barely holding back the horde
Weakening at every thrust

Thor watched his sister struggle to hold
Against an overwhelming doom
Determined was her enemy to take the child
Hildr's fate woven by an unholy loom

To her knees she was driven again
The battle was being lost
Thor could not stand aside
Knowing the ultimate cost

Hildr legs gave way and she knew her fate
And thought it was all and done
But she heard the coming of the storm 
And knew that Thor had come

Together they drove back the host
Together they drove them into the abyss
Daganord had to once more bide his time
Suffering Mjā¸lner's steel caress 

Thor held his sisters hand
Told her "how brave art thee"
Hildr spake to Thor and told him
"With opened eyes I now see"












III


Years did Hildr stand and guard
And the child was now a man
Upon Hildr his eyes did open
A love his heart did span

Hildr stepped back in truth 
Not knowing what to do
The man named Kian held out his hands
And said "I give my heart to you"

Hildr daughter of Odin was immortal 
Kian but mortal man would die
But there was a love for him in her heart
She knelt and began to cry

He reached for her and she held his hand
She spoke softly thus "My heart is given to thee"
Kian fell to his knees and held Hildr in his arms
"Together bound in love to be"

Yet Odin with his one eye saw
His child holding this man
No mortal could love his daughter 
He contrived a secret plan

He summoned Hildr to Valhal 
Reluctantly she flew
Odin forbade them to be together 
Of pain and despair they knew

Kian that night wept to slumber
And Odin came to him in his sleep
Challenged Kian to the test 
For the hand of Hildr to keep

Odin spake to Kian in his dream
Told him what he must do
"Return the Horn of Storms to me
Survive and I give Hildr to you




"The Frost giant Ymir has this horn
Guarded by a mighty thrall
Slay him and unlock the door
Bring the horn back to my hall

If you do what must be done
Live and return the horn to me
I will give thee Hildr 
To live together eternally"

Within the great hall 
Hildr wept and bowed her head
Knowing Odin's test to be impossible 
Knowing ere long Kian would be dead

In Valhalla Hildr walked alone
Fearful of losing her Kian		
Knowing she would never seem him again
Alone she was again a Chooser of the Slain

Odin bade her to fly to the battlefields
To perform her Valkyr's role
To the fate of her beloved
Should could never know



IV


Three days each did Hildr go
Spake with Odin on Kian's fate
Wishing her love would be fulfilled
She the one Kian's spirit to take

Odin scolded her with anger to abide
"Kian taken to Valhalla will not be
Neither by you nor by your sisters
This man in Valhalla you will not see

For the test he has been given
He will not achieve 
Into the lands of Ymir he will end
His soul we shall not receive"


Hildr walked away 
Her tears falling like the rain
Heart broken and her soul shorn away
None knew the depth of her pain

Frigg angered at Odin she glared
Knowing the end of her husbands cruel deed
"Why do you play with their hearts?
You know each other they need"

Odin spake "It is the lesson they learn
And punished for their foolish pride
She does not need to know his true end
To be the reason he died"

Kian knew his task was doomed
He knew that he would die
But forth he rode into the dark
Under the storm raged sky

Into the lands of Ice and Snow
He rode his mighty steed
Within his steel blued armor
To achieve the impossible deed

He needed to stay alive 
Through this impossible quest
To fulfill Odin's demand
His heart must beat through the test

He rode the desolate lands of ice
Through its breadth and length
Through many tempests blown
Testing the ends of his strength

And then he came upon the ice castle
Of the frost giants lair
He steeled himself for the end of his quest 
And stole up the frozen stair

Through the halls of icy blue 
He searched the giant's home
Finally came upon the chamber
And was no longer alone


A Troll was chained 
Guarding that chamber door
He knew grim work was ahead 
The struggle of blood and gore

He stepped forth needing not to hide
And spoke these words did he
"I am upon Odin's task 
I demand you give me the key

The Horn of Storms must be returned
To Valhalla it must go
Let me pass and you will live
Deny me and your blood will flow"

The troll awakened
He looked upon this man
He gnashed his teeth and clasped his weapon
And roared "defeat me if you can!"





V


Kian charged and engaged the troll
And they fought with mighty blows
Fierce they struck with speed and strength
Of the victor only Odin knows

Kian's sword found its goal
And slew the trolls black form 
He now stood in the chamber
Holding the Horn of Storms

But the trolls long spear 
Had found its mark
Kian was run through 
The spear had pierced his heart

In his mind was the beautiful Hildr 
As he gripped the horn
"My beloved I have failed you ... 
My heart is rent and torn

I die an ignoble death
And you I shall not see
No wings to carry me to Valhalla
Our love is not meant to be ... "

Odin watched the brave Kian fall
Knowing the time of Hildr's pain to end
Seeing the heroes hand clasp the Horn
And Olrun Odin did send

Kian collapsed to the floor 
Horn still in his hand
He did not hear the beating of wings
Come to take him to the Heroes Land

Hildr stood alone in the dark chamber
Lost in a love she would never feel
Odin bade her to come to him
"Come my child there is something I must reveal"

Slowly she stepped into the Great Hall
Weeping for her Kian she did so adore
With tear blurred eyes saw Olrun smiling  
And Kian stride through the door