The Nøkken and the Huntress.

9.) The day the news came.

This is just a filler of sorts. Nøkken and Eføy just hangout/sleep half the time. Near the end serious stuff to the story starts.

The next day I awoke the gentle breeze grace my chest and face. I slowly opened my eyes and looked to the door. There, I saw my sváss Eføy standing in the doorway eating a bread slice watching the early morning fog rise from the lake. She was wearing a deep blue long-sleeved dress and a black blanket around her shoulders. Her calm face contorted into a yawn as she turned towards the bed. She gave me a loving smile and in return, I smiled and rose from the bed. "Good morning Nøkken." We lovingly wrapped our arms around each other and I kissed the top of her head. We pulled away and Eføy finished her food. "Good morning Eføy."

She walked over to a chair where her uncle's bed used to be as she sat down she winced a tad bit. I took notice. "Are you alright?" My voice was full of concern. She managed to smile up at me. "Yes, I'm fine... just sore from last night." She blushed. I couldn't blush but I did my best to keep a straight face. I walked towards her got on my knees and laid my head on her lap my hands on her thighs. I could feel the sensations of her fingers running through my hair. I heard her close to my ear whisper. "You know how to use your fingers." She kissed my head and I smiled. "I liked the teeth more though my flower," I growled in agreement.

I think I dozed off because of the next thing I remember Eføy's hand tapping me on the head. "Wake up. Wake up. Come on hvíld head. I can't stay here forever." I lifted my head up groggily. I turned my head and realized it must have been mid-morning. "Sorry," I muttered out as I stood. "It's alright you're just tired and it was early when you woke up. I head back to bed and looked at her with a smile rubbing one of my eyes. I settled on the warm bed and she came over to me and placed a kiss on my head. She walked away and I immediately closed my eyes and slept.

I woke back up to the smell of something cooking. I propped myself up and could see Eføy standing over a cooking spit stirring something. She looked back at me and smiled. "Have you rested well?"
"Yes, I have. You don't mind this do you?"
"I'm alright with it. You're tired." She turned all the way around and sat on the edge of the bed and rested a hand on mine. "I love you Eføy."
"I love you too."

Her face changed the expression to one of concerned curiosity. "Do you need a water source because it looks like your body is cracking?" Her eyes flittered up and down my arm quickly.
I lifted my arm in front of my face and did take notice of the splintering and cracking.
"Umm yeah, I think I should." She helped me out of bed and I made sure to quickly run to the lake and waded in. I didn't want to draw attention from guard's posts now did we? Especially since it's around noon.

I swam around under the depths occasionally watching my beloved move to and fro around the house that I could see anyway. At sunset I heard the distant clopping of horses I looked in said direction then snapped my head to Eføy. She took notice as well and stood in the doorway and stepped out as she must have known who was arriving. She signaled me to go hide and she started to walk towards the arriving company.

I ducked under and made my way to a deeper spot but within earshot.
Though distorted this very exchange is still remember till this century. It was what changed my life forever.

"Eføy!" An excited man called out.

"Sven!" I heard Eføy greet in equal excitement.

"Eføy I'm happy to see you but I'm afraid us Speakers aren't here to share a meal and stories this time. I heard from the villagers about what happened to your Uncle. How are you holding up?"

She didn't answer instantly so I'm sure she was in thought. "I am alright now. I've been seeing someone and he has helped me cope."

"That's wonder-"

"Sven! Tell her what's happening in Sviar!" A man in the party ordered.

I felt my heart fall and my breathing faltered. 'Oh no.'

"Eføy, there's this group of people called the Odin's Valda. They're people who were given a blessing by Odin and who are sworn to protect Freyja's harp. They're killing worshipers of Näck due to his treachery."

"Wha.. What?!" How I wanted to rise up and comfort her.

"What did Näck do?"

"My sources told me that the Valda say that he tried to take the harp and erase The Midgardians."

"Oh gods." Eføy let our breathlessly.

"Tell her what became of Näck." I heard another woman say.

"Very well." Sven sounded like he was going to regret speaking.

"Näck was stripped of his powers. He is seriously burned mainly in the eyes and hands. He sought us out. He told us that when he recovers that if we give him the harp he'll use it to end the Valda to spare us. Until then we need to stay hidden from the cult. Eføy please do something with your altar. For your safety."

"I... I will. Thank you for telling me Sven. Stay safe."

"We will try. I've been speaking to Näck he's still very hurt but he assured me that he will be healed sometime soon. Him being immortal I'm not entirely sure if soon is the same as ours. I will let you know Eføy. Gipta gœfa."

"Gipta gœfa Sven. Stay safe."

I heard the horse leave moments after. Like before I waited till the sounds receded completely until I left to her side. I made my way hastily out of the water and her alarmed eyes met mine. She quickly walked to me and hugged me tight. I returned the favor.
"Eføy don't be afraid I'll protect you. I promise."

"Don't make promises you can't keep. I need to hide my altar piece for your brother. Come inside."

Sviar is apparently the old Norse word used for Sweden back in those times. I couldn't find the records of it for the 5th century so I'm using Viking Era words for it. Same with the various other words you've read throughout this book. In my old Norse dictionary I am using there's various versions of the same word so yeah. It might be different from what you may have learned. Valda means chosen, gipta gœfa is a combination for good luck, and sváss is beloved. Hvíld means rest.

The Odins Valda are a group of people you can kind of encounter in the game. They're either trees or dead. They lived in a village called Helburg that was secluded in Sweden. The town was abandoned by the 1940s and in 2017 when the game takes places you'll only see remnants of what happened to them and the normal villagers.