When gods Weep

The heavens were covered in a quilt of ebony; the stars outlining its creases in speckled glory. Small azure waves gently rolled over the golden sand onto the tranquil shore, creating a peaceful atmosphere. A being slowly made his way out of the ocean, creating a pathway of dry sand to his beloved who rested upon the coastline.

She was a beautiful maiden, her hair the color of the rising sun, and her skin as pale as the moon. Sapphire eyes glimmering  in the surrounding starlight, her face warm and merry. 

 He was a handsome figure, his tan rugged skin slowly dried off as he continued onto the land, his hair as black as the world around them. His umber eyes held both hurt and hope, but he held his emotions back as he looked at the damsel. 

Their eyes met, and a bittersweetness filled their hearts. He reached for her unblemished hands, but she pulled away.

“Njörðr, you know this is a farewell,” she spoke, her voice smooth as silk.

“Who says it cannot be a reunion as well, my love?” He spoke desperately, grabbing for her hands again.

This time she did not turn away from him, embracing his warm, calloused fingers. She looked at him again, her cerulean eyes dancing with hidden sorrow.

“You know I wish to return to the mountains, my love, for my heart is not truly with you, nor has it ever been.”

Njörðr nodded slowly, casting his eyes downward. 

“Skaði,” he started before pausing, for he knew not what to say. 

“I cannot go with you, For I have my duty taking care of the sea, and those who prosper from it. I beg of you one last time: Please - stay with me.” He whispered, tears falling from his deep brown eyes.

Tears formed in her eyes as she looked to him in passion and love, but her heart had never truly belonged to him, for she first loved Balder, and now her heart turned towards her mountain home. 

“Let us not dwell on the heartbreak laden path ahead, but let us reminisce of the joyous past this one last time,” She offered, sitting on the sand, extending her hand out to her betrothed.

He took it, cracking a small smile.

“Remember when we first met, before I picked you, or should I say your feet?” Skaði laughed, Njörðr following.

“Of course, my dear, how could I forget? You were so angered at Loki for stealing your spear you yelled at me when I mentioned your armor was falling off.”

“And once I apologized, you complimented me on my swordsmanship, and after that, it was like we had known each other for years upon years,” Skaði finished.

A bitter silence fell between them as each held their own feelings about that day.

If they had never met, they wouldn’t be surrounded by agony and heartbreak. 

They wouldn’t be saying goodbye.

And if they had never met, they wouldn’t have fallen in love and made so many wonderful memories.

“I’m sorry, my love.” Skaði’s voice cracked, and she broke into tears. 

Njörðr held her in his arms as she cried, his own tears slowly streaming down his face. He thought it would be okay. No, he figured he’d see her again sometime. He had to.

“My dearest, I truly believe you are better off heading to your homeland than mourning this tragedy alongside me.” Njörðr caressed her cheek, praying that maybe she’d decide to stay.

It was a far-fetched dream, not even close to hope, but Njörðr thought maybe, just maybe, she’d stay.

But she slowly pulled away from his loving grasp and stared into his glistening eyes. 

“Yes, you’re right,” She whispered heavily. 

They both stood up slowly, still holding the other’s hand. Skaði was the first to try and break away, but Njörðr clung to her.

“I’m afraid to let go,” He cried out, falling to the ground, weeping. 

His sudden outburst of grief made his clasp on her weak, and Skaði took this moment to run. She turned to the hills ahead of her and ran. She ran towards her homeland, ran towards where her heart truly longed to go. 

Njörðr looked up in shock as cold air replaced the warmth of his wife’s hand. Her golden figure outlined against the blackness that slowly swallowed her offered him no comfort, and he clenched his fists, lifted his head, and cried out to the universe. 

How could the allfather have been so cruel as to take his love away?

A coldness filled him as he screamed into the night, a heavy grief that acted as a burden upon him.

And as Njörðr looked up to the sky, he knew he’d never see his beloved again. His time with her was gone, and he could do nothing about it. She had vanished, and he’d never have the chance to tell her how much he missed her, how much he still cared for her….

Njörðr sobbed on and on into the vastness of the night, his tears emptying into the midnight blue ocean, raising the tide ever so slightly. His heart already longed for her, his tormented feeling of desolation immense.

That’s when the ‘what if’s’ entered Njörðr’s mind.

What if he could have convinced her to stay?

What if he had noticed how homesick she truly was and taken her on a holiday to the mountains?

What if he had gone with her?

What if he had been enough to make her stay?

But he’d never know - and knowing this wounded him immensely. It felt like someone had struck a spear into his aching heart and had torn it in half.

He realized now, his heart had belonged in the mountains because it had belonged to Skaði, his beloved. But it was too late to turn around and fix what had already been broken beyond repair.

As Njörðr looked up into the heavens, the stars started to dim, almost as if the allfather had seen his anguish and had quieted the skies, as if the world was mourning with him.