An uncomfortable story and a LOT of pun opportunities :D

Hello legend-lovers!

How are you? What have you been reading or watching lately?

When I was looking for a legend for this week, I came across the Viking Sigurd Saga accidentally, and started reading it. I was quickly enthralled (HAH Viking pun not intended but I’ll take it XD) by the characters and the circumstances. This would be an awesome story to share! I thought.

Until suddenly… it wasn’t. Very quickly my urgency to share the story became a growing desire to slowly close the book and tuck it away and pretend that I’d never read it. A growing desire to find a different story, one that wasn't that little bit icky and... uncomfortable.

Maybe you've read a book that portrayed or even endorsed something that you think shouldn't be written about. Or maybe you've watched a movie that used a word or phrase that shocked you. Maybe you've encountered themes and discussions that went in directions you didn't like.

What did you do with that story? What can we do with them?

On the one hand, what we read and watch has an impact on our thoughts and beliefs. We do, therefore, have a certain amount of control over how we think, speak, and who we become. So what we read doesn't just depend on what we like, but also how it might influence us. It would be wise to be careful what we put into our minds, and be aware of how it affects our minds.

For example, there was a time when I really enjoyed murder mysteries, both reading them and watching shows. But I started to think a line had been crossed when I saw a folded up tarpaulin out of the corner of my eye and thought for a moment that it was a body bag 😬 😅. Because I'd been reading about crime scenes and death, it started to affect how I see the world.

But on the other hand, I’ve been challenged and blessed by books that confront my worldview. I recently read Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé and I hated it. All the white characters (except one love interest) make it their collective goal to set up and then violently tear down the two main characters. Reading it was like being in an argument where you both get so angry that no one has any logical argument anymore and you just start shouting emotional nonsense at each other 😂. It was a pretty angry and dark and bitter book.

But Ace of Spades also made me think more deeply about systemic racism. It made me see that some of the things I think and believe are racist, and gave me the courage to confront those thoughts and beliefs, rather than deflecting or making excuses. It made me think about how so many of my immigrant friends are in unskilled jobs, when they had degrees and careers in their home countries. It made me wonder who they were before they came to Australia, and what they gave up to come here. And why they had to give it up.

I wouldn’t recommend Ace of Spades. But at the same time, I’m kind of glad I read it.

I see both sides. And all of that said, I won’t stop you from reading the Sigurd Saga. It’s really interesting, and the issues that I found weren’t exactly hot political topics (incest isn’t a very divisive topic; it's just not one I'd write about here). But we will get to witness a different part of the Saga. This section is still full of sin and brokenness, but... in a different way.

*has to find it again because silly Debbie didn’t bookmark it or remember the page*

This is The Treasure of the Dwarf King!

Remember a few stories ago, how we travelled across campfires, to the depths of the old Minnesotan forests? We're going to Fire-jump again, this time to an ancient Viking campfire, where a dwarf prince tells his terrible story to the Norse hero Sigurd. We now stand in the ancient dining room, the smell of roast meat (I'm not going to ask what it is) and wine wafting around us and making us hungry. Grab a seat, a goblet and a plate, my friends!

Before we begin, let me introduce the prince's father, King Hreidmar, the Dwarf King. He has three sons: the Princes Fafnir, Otter and Regin. Fafnir is famously fearless, and a powerful prince. Otter is a witty hunter, skilful with the net and snare, and has a special power: he is a shapeshifter. (Don't worry, he's easy to remember because soon he'll turn into an otter.) And Regin--the Prince who is here with us tonight--is wise and good at making things with his hands. He created the King's magnificent palace, setting it with jewels and gold, and just after it was built, it stood guarded by Regin's brave eldest brother, Fafnir.

Regin's story begins with three Norse gods: Odin, Hoenir and Loki. They were walking past King Hreidmar's palace, when Loki saw an otter enjoying a sunbeam. Of course, this was none otter (sorry) than Otter in otter form. But Loki loved to destroy and kill things. He killed the otter and flung it over his shoulder, planning to cook and eat it later.

The three gods then went to visit King Hreidmar in his palace. As they came in, Loki threw the dead otter down on the floor. And when the Dwarf King saw it, you can imagine how angry he became! (otter-ly angry! Okay, that was the last one, promise.) Before the gods had time to draw their weapons, the dwarves had them tied up on the floor. The King announced that he wouldn't let them go until they could satisfy his greed with enough gold to cover the skin of the otter inside and out.

This might seem like an easy task, but the otter began to grow in size, larger and larger, until the gods had no chance of covering it in gold, especially tied up on the floor. They made their case to the king, and he relented, releasing Loki to go to the waterfall of the dwarf Andvari, who was rumoured to have an enormous gold horde.

Loki went to the famous waterfall, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't find the dwarf. Finally, he realised that the salmon that had been watching him was probably Andvari in the form of a fish (*opens mouth to make a fish pun* *sees the look on your face* *closes mouth*). Loki caught the fish in a net, and forced the dwarf to give him all his gold.

Andvari began to bring out his treasures, reluctantly adding each artefact to the pile, until the only thing that was left was a magical ring, that attracted gold to itself like a magnet. Andvari tried to hide it, but when Loki realised what it was, he ripped it off Andvari's finger. Andvari was furious, and shouted that the ring would cause many deaths.

Meanwhile, Loki ran back to the dwarf king's home, and began to place Andvari's fortune on the otter skin, piece by piece. But as he put each object on the skin, the otter only grew larger. Each precious item was reluctantly surrendered, until finally, only the ring was left. And that too, had to go on the skin.

As the ring touched the otter, Andvari's curse began to take effect. Both Fafnir and Regin wanted a share in the gold, but Hriedmar wouldn't let go of even one item. Fafnir's greed grew so great that he killed his father and exiled his brother to the place of men. Fafnir's love of gold turned him into a terrifying dragon, that breathed fire on anyone who came near his horde.

Regin lived among the men and taught them how to sow and reap, work metal, sail, tame horses and cattle, build houses, spin, weave, and sew. He taught the men the skills they needed to survive; skills they hadn't known until now. As he taught them, Regin waited for a man strong enough to defeat his brother and avenge his exile.

Now Regin can only look to Sigurd, the brave and strong hero. Regin has waited many years for this opportunity, and now he--and we all--can only anxiously watch Sigurd's face as he decides whether he can and will be the hero to avenge Regin.

With a small nod, he accepts the mission.

But there are two conditions--one, that Regin will make a sword for Sigurd to take to his fight with the dragon. It must be an unbreakable sword, one that can split an anvil without a dent to its blade.

And two... Regin must take the curse of the ring upon himself.

Will Regin accept?

He must, if he is to be avenged.

---

You may be wondering... what makes this part fine, and the other part too awkward to share? This chapter is rife with greed, family in-fighting, murder, and theft!

I agree. It's not a heart-warming story. But not all books with difficult themes or scenes are bad. In Regin's story, these issues aren't treated lightly, or put forward as exemplary behaviour. Instead, we get to see the pain and damage that selfishness, greed and murder can cause, and how difficult it is to fix it. People aren't pretty, and sometimes seeing the brokenness of the world helps us to confront the brokenness deep inside ourselves. And sometimes it works to warn us against it.

But... perhaps only sometimes 😅. It's a case-by-case issue, different for each person and each book.

What about you? What do you do with a book or film that makes you uncomfortable? Have you ever persevered, and been rewarded for it? Or... not?

You know that I always love to hear from you. I hope you have a wonderful week, my friends!

PS keep an eye out for some exciting news coming your way in the next email! Key words will include books and composing music and my small business and... launch!! 🤩

PPS if you're still wondering about the unexpected pun, Viking slaves were called thralls. Get it now? En-thralled? And it’s a Viking Saga? Heh yeahhhh

(Sorry if you didn't get it at the time, that probably didn't help 😂)