Iceland x Child!Reader - Folk-tales from Iceland

The weather was lovely that night. A low wind blew through the trees and bushes, whipping up loose leaves and having them dance to the amusement of the woodland creatures. Owls hooted and the sound of branches creaking were heard as great night birds took flight. In the middle of the woods, or at least somewhere in the middle, under the great, yawning darkness of the sky, lay a small hut- a cottage to be more precise.

There lived only two people in that humble abode, a creature that was neither man nor beast and had lived for hundreds of years and a small child, barely of 10. They two were content with each other. The creature had found the child in the woods and seeing as it had many, many more centuries more to live, the man-faced creature decided to look after the human child for as long as it could.

“Emil!” a small voice called out into the darkness. A groan was heard followed by the striking of a match and then the small cottage was filled with a soft yellow light.

“(name), what are you doing up so late?” the creature, known to the child as Emil but to the rest of the world as Iceland, asked, a sleepy look in his purple eyes.

“I can’t sleep.” she admitted. When he had found the child, she knew no language or speech. Besides the clothes on her back she had nothing, no name, no parents, seemingly no future. She was learning now, though, under Emil’s careful tutorage; she was coping with the wonders and dangers of the world behind safe walls.

“Aren’t you tired? You were out playing all day.” Emil looked to be only 17, perhaps older. His silver hair had that healthy glow and his attire was similar to that of most well-brought up youths his age. But his eyes told a different story. Lilac as the lavender that grew in thick shrubs all over his country.

“But I’m not sleepy yet.” she reasoned, poking her head from under the thick coverings her guardian had given her.

“Well, try to go to sleep. Count sheep.” Sighing, the male turned to go back to his bed before the (h/c)ette called out, a more frightened tone to her voice.

“What if something attacks us? Like when that man almost attacked you!” (name) was referring to an incident that had happened almost a year ago. Iceland had thought it was high time (name) saw that there were other personifications of countries besides himself. And so he had decided to get his family to meet her. It was the biggest mistake and long story short, (name) was convinced that Denmark was an ax-murderer.

“Why would anyone want to attack me? I’m protected you know.” and an idea sparked in the young man’s mind. A small smile spread on his lips as he settled himself on the edge of the girl’s cot, “Want to hear how nothing can harm me?”

“Yes!” automatically (name) was pulling herself up straighter on her bed, eyes wide and sparkling, no hint of fear or sleepiness evident. With a sigh, Emil began his tale.

“Long ago, when Odin still roamed the land for knowledge, a powerful magician once came to my lands to invade it.” as he intricately settled the set of the plot for the little girl to imagine, he felt a tingling of nostalgia.

Fleeting memories of humans telling him these stories as he met king after invader after ruler. Iceland was protected. No harm would ever befall it. Over the centuries he had come to believe it. Even after learning that it was not so, he could be invaded, his childhood tales lay hidden, safe from prying eyes, in his heart. And tonight, he decided to give a piece of said heart to (name).

“He came in the form of a mighty whale. Nothing could stop it as it thundered through the sea but from there he saw that spirits roamed my land. Thinking quickly, he came upon my East coast and there he was met by an even mightier dragon. There, at the Fjord of weapons, teeth like daggers and claws like knives, the dragon and many other spirits with it, were ready to fight the invader off. Terrified of the beast to the east, the magician left and tried its luck to the North of my land.” as he spoke, Emil’s smile was becoming even more tender and his heart was warming up at the memory.

“What spirit was to the north?” (Name) asked, excitement in her voice as she urged the male on.

“Calm down, calm down. To the North, he was met by a brave bird so huge it’s wings spread from one mountain to the next, all across the valley!” spreading his arms out wide for emphasis, he heard (name) gasp and felt that childish wonder spread through him. That was his reaction as well, so many years ago. “With the mighty bird were other birds, large and small. The magician hurried away, taking to lands towards my south. Over there, as soon as the magician landed, he was met by another spirit.”

“Was it a horse, Emil? Was it?”(name) was leaning towards him, not wanting to miss a word.

“No, it wasn’t a horse. It was a giant bull. Horns like metal and hide as thick as rock, the bull waded in from the water, eyes blazing. Behind the giant were many, many other spirits. Frightened once again, the magician transformed and went to the sea, escaping the bull at the Wide Fjord.” the candle by his bedside was flickering nervously but neither of them cared. This story had them both enraptured as the splendour of the mythical guardians comforted and amazed them.

“Is the bad magician going to go away? Or will he still try?” (e/c) eyes stared earnestly into warm lilac ones.

“After running away from the Wide Fjord, the cowardly magician swam even further south, going all the way into the Sands of Vikar. Remind me to tell you that story another day, anyway. When the magician reached he was halted by the greatest spirit yet. A creature so tall it’s head was above the mountaintops.” once again, he tried emphasising it, “It was a great Rock Giant and with him were many, many, many other Rock Giants. Defeated yet again, the magician ran away from my lands, too fearful to challenge the might of the guardians over it.”

There was a peaceful silence then as both of them slowly came away from tales of past and remembered the tales that were to come. A smile was spread on both their faces, excitement and that sparked thrill of adventure mirrored. Emil’s hot blood had been ignited and there was no going back now. He settled himself further on (name)’s bed and the girl allowed him. The candlelight continued to flicker but it mattered not, the light from the moon was enough.

“Hey, (name),” Emil whispered, trying not to break the intricately spun web, “Want to hear another story?”

“Yes!” the girl whisper-yelled, making the nation chuckle.

“Alright. This is about a sorcerer named Loftur. Loftur was interested in magic, all forms of it…”

As he trailed away with another story, his audience attentive to his every word and action, the wilds of Iceland called out. The faint cry of a great bird, the roar of a dragon, the bellow of a bull and the thundering of a rock giant. But these went unheard to all but those who wished the silver-nation harm.