The Lay of Njøltholir

“‘Once was time immemorial,

Dark were hearts, red were swords.

Great kings fought battles long,

Monsters great, men did slay.

Till beast of fire, from night sky fell,

Great wings did buffet, claws did slice.

All warriors, great and small,

Bones did crumble, flesh did whither,

In breath of beast, unconquerable.

None could slay great Falgroth.

From mountains under, skies above,

Falgroth’s brothers, to eat of men, did come.

In terror ran, great kings,

Heros strong, at knees did quake.

On high mountain, did Falgroth reign.

Upon throne of stone, wyrm unconquerable.

One rebelled, hated Falgroth, wyrm unfeared.

Brave Njøltholir, with blade of light,

Hunted foul beasts, slayed wyrm’s brothers.

With him took, strongest of warriors,

Sentinels of Light, named themselves.

Though brought darkness, they, to beasts of fire.

Falgroth’s anger, could contain no more,

Remaining brothers, with him took,

To slay mighty Njøltholir, in slumber deep.

Sentinels they devoured, in fire and maw.

But Njøltholir, was fleet of foot and strong of arm,

Bright blade slashing, wyrm blood spilled he

Killed Falgroth’s brothers, fellow warriors avenged.

Falgroth angered, Falgroth feared,

Struck with vengeance, hatred filled.

Yet Njøltholir, quicker still, danced round mighty Falgroth.

Light of heart, with smile of vict’ry, plunged bright blade,

Deep in dragon’s breast.

Mortal pain gripped heart of wyrm,

With claws lashed out, face of Njøltholir did mar.

Scream of fury, tore from warrior’s lips,

Still defied, young warrior, fierce.

From hand upraised, jumped white light.

Consumed and burned, wyrm unconquerable.

Njøltholir, warrior greatest, sword of light,

Falgroth’s bane, slayed beast of fire.

Called him King, all mortals, saved.

Ruled he not,

Restless were feet,

Ready was hand,

To banish evil, e’re he strayed.

Light-Bringer, him called his foes,

Ever-feared, destroyer of darkness.

Power wielded, greatest of all,

In light enrobed, wise, unconquerable.’”