The Aesir waited, alert for battle as the strangers approached. Heimdall, whose sight surpassed the most gifted of eagles, frowned and poised his spear at shoulder height, ready to be thrown. Thor, his strength somewhat excessive for the sheildwall crouched beside him. As the newcomers approached, the Aesir gasped with surprise and disgust. They bore no weapons, many walked naked as new born babes while others sported green skin and flowing hair unknown in Middle Earth. Their spokesman, an elder with long silver locks and a cloak of gull feathers came forward. He halted four spear lengths before the bridge's guardian and addressed the Aesir in a loud confident voice.
'I am Njord, Nertha's child and father to the house of the Vans. We come to demand settlement on harm done to our folk in Middle Earth.'
'What harm?' asked Heimdall.
'I speak of a tribe defeated in battle, every life destroyed, every homestead burnt, every wife raped and every thing of worth broken and hurled in a marsh. All this was done in the names of Tyr and Odin, let them come forward and offer payment for this outrage!'
Tyr laughed 'Those folk deserved to lose all! They fought with the skill of drunken grandmothers. They are well gone and our tribes will keep their lands, and any other lands that are so badly defended.'
'Such an attitude will only lead to war between our folk.' Njord warned.
'So it be.' replied Odin 'Go and fetch your arms and we will fight, and then we will see who will be in debt.'
'We came ready for battle.' Njord replied coldly.
'Then die well.' said Odin, and hurled a spear high above Njord's head so it landed among the throng of the Vans, with its head embedded in the fiery surface of the bridge. The Aesir clashed their swords against the sheildwall bellowing their battlecries and bracing for the attack, but no warriors came forward from the ranks of the Vans. A man and woman stepped forward, both naked and matched in height with the same yellow - golden hair. The man was a handsome fellow, with a rampant manhood that would give a horse pride, while the woman had curves which sparked desire in every one of the Aesir menfolk. The couple linked hands and started to chant softly, the unfamiliar words grew louder until the air rang with deafening song. The ground in the god's enclosure shuddered and the great boulders of Asgard's wall's tumbled down from the defences. The golden couple advanced on the horrified Aesir, now feeling vulnerable without their sheltering walls.
Thor leapt forward intent on stopping whatever witchery the Vans planned shouting 'No I can't let you do this..', the woman glanced at the desperate thundergod. With a single word she halted him, her magical power grappled with Thor's mind and with a brief tortured cry he collapsed unmoving at her feet. The god's scream was echoed by his loyal housekeeper Sigyn, uncaring of the danger and with tears streaming down her cheeks she rushed to his side and struggled in vain to revive him.
'How dare you.' accused Odin 'How can you fight with such unmanly arts, have you no sense of decency?'
'Magic is considered honourable among my people, as might is amongst yours.' replied Njord.
'Pah! How can you say this, witchery is the resort of the lowest of woman, and no greater shame could such women know, even if they were to bed their own kin.'
'But we do bed our own kin, and our women are hardly humble ditchwives, the pure blood of Nertha yields excellent stock.'
While all attention was on Odin and his caustic reply Tyr crept from his place in the sheildwall leaving Hermod to hold his shield in place. A young Van woman stood alone and to one side of Njord and the golden couple and Tyr was eager to improve the Aesir's ailing position. Striking quickly he put his knife to the girl's throat and dragged her back to the Aesir line. 'One more spell from you bastards and she's dead.' he cried.
Njord frowned 'So you want to take hostages do you? Very well.' He leant down and pulled Sigyn upright, restraining her in his strong arms. 'You treat Beyla well if you want to see these two again. We will return when you are prepared to discuss terms.' Vans came forward and lifted the thundergod and the whole gathering of Van folk turned their backs on Asgard.
The Aesir lowered their shields and took their ease. They were quiet and sullen at their defeat, however great their sword skill the warriors were helpless against such magic as the Vans had used. Bitterly angry, Odin paced over to the captured Van girl, who still had Tyr's knife pressed against her throat. 'Well girl, can you work magic?' The girl returned his gaze, any fear she felt for the Aesir was well hidden. She nodded once. Odin swore 'Wonderful, now were have a hostage who needs watching night and day! Loki!' The trickster god came forward nervously 'Think you can keep a girl restrained?' Odin asked, his contempt clear.
'I hope so.' Loki replied. 'Then take her out of my sight. Mind you stay awake until your watch is relieved.' Loki led the girl to his chambers in the rambling halls of Valhal. He wasted no time in admiring the naked Van walking beside him, noting with delight her firm high breasts, lithe curves and wispy silver-blond hair. Beyla followed Loki into his rooms and stopped in surprise. A large table dominated the first room cluttered with models made of timber, cloth, leather and twine. There were tiny boats, war catapults and even a jointed bird figure so carefully made it looked as if it could take flight. All around sheets of vellum were scattered covered in neat sketches, symbols and tally marks. The walls bore shelves of all manner of artefacts from sculptures to sea shells and deep stacks of scrolls. Loki grinned as Beyla's darting eyes struggled to take in the scene.
'Strange,' she commented, 'somehow I was expecting piles of weapons and a couple of troll heads mounted on the wall. You don't seem much like the other Aesir.'
'I am not' Loki responded 'so don't try any of you magic on me, because I will retaliate in kind.' He cleared space on the table and fetched two drinking bowls and a jug of wine. 'So how do Van women like to pass the time, when you are not humbling war gods that is?'
He poured the wine and Beyla took her cup gratefully. 'I like to be with my bees and honey vats, I make all the mead for the Vans.'
'Well there are no bees in here' said Loki 'so what do you do when you are not working?'
'I dance with the elf folk, sing love charms and have sex.' Beyla replied simply. Loki stared, the woman of Asgard were never so blunt on that subject.
'What are love charms?' asked Loki. 'They are poetry, songs and spells combined, they are sung before sex to make the men hard and the woman moist.'
'I wish you could demonstrate' sighed Loki 'but I am supposed to be guarding you.'
'I could swear not to try and escape.' Beyla suggested.
Loki considered, but not for long. 'Very well swear that you will not use your magic to escape me, and may the manhood of every Van you love never rise again if you deceive me.'
Beyla frowned and sat in silence. Loki feared he had asked too much, but she did answer him 'I can see it would be in the interests of peace between our folk. So I will oblige you.' She repeated the oath with all due seriousness. 'Are you ready?' Loki nodded. 'You must surrender yourself to me' cautioned Beyla 'open your mind and your loins to me and do not resist.' Loki agreed eagerly, already aroused. Beyla sang, her poem oddly harsh with its course words but skilfully worked nethertheless. The first stanzas awoke her own body, she caressed her breasts and womanhood as she sang, shuddering with awakened passion. Then her song called to Loki, unprepared for the magic's power he cried out as each word tore at his very being, lust longing filling him like the blade of a burning sword and he wept for wanting her. She straddled him and plunged down, and sang of the union of man and woman, of two becoming one. Loki suddenly became aware of Beyla's own body as well as his own and felt an overwelming rush of sensations both male and female together. Humbled by pleasures never know, Loki sank into a sea of passion.
……
Thor stirred, his head groggy, and groaned, Sigyn gripped his arm 'Are you well?' she asked full of concern.
'I think so' the thundergod muttered. 'Where are we?'
'They brought us to Elf Home. Take care, we are surrounded by them.' she whispered. Thor gazed blearily around. They both sat on a thick rug in the centre of a forest clearing. Around its outskirts Vans sat attentively watching them in a great circle, there were twelve of them, men and women, most of them were naked. The woman who had led the attack on Asgard saw he was awake and walked over to speak to the Aesir.
She introduced herself 'I am Freya, the Lady of the Vans, I can speak for my people.
'You must release me!' Thor growled, 'I am needed to defend Middle Earth against the trolls and giants!'
Freya was not intimidated by the angry thundergod 'Has it not occurred to you that Beyla might be equally missed here?'
'Beyla? Who is Beyla?'
'The hostage taken from us by the Aesir. We carried you back with us to ensure her safety, otherwise you would still be in Asgard. You are not returning until peace has been agreed.'
'Oh.' Thor's rage subsided slightly, 'I see.'
'We need you to help make the peace between the Aesir and the Vans. If you do this, maybe you can return, but as things stand you are not stirring from this spot.'
'And who is going to stop me if I do not agree?'
'I am.' Freya replied smugly 'Or need I remind you of my powers of persuasion?'
Thor remembered the burning pain, his last memory of the battle at Asgard's gate. He surveyed the clearing, each of the Vanfolk surrounding him was poised and watchful, ready to render him unconscious at any threat. Humbled the thundergod sulked. 'Using magic against a warrior, it isn't fair play.'
'Do you see any weapons here?' asked Freya.
'No.' Thor replied 'And not many clothes either.'
'How do you think your ways of war appear to us? You who stride through your foes with slashing blades tearing flesh and stealing lives. Magic is clean, it can leave the innocent unharmed, a advantage which has worked in your favour.' Thor was silent and sullen. 'Well think on it.' said Freya 'I will send one of the elves to you with food and refreshment. We will speak again later.'
Soon after an elf woman approached carrying a tray heaped with loaves, butter, and fresh herbs, she had a large earthenware jug hooked through her arm. The elf was modestly covered in a simple white dress, the Vans were clearly trying to make their hostages more comfortable. She filled two horn cups with a liquid that looked like ale, Thor took his gratefully and drank it down, then stared at it in surprise. 'This ale, it is sweet!'
The elf giggled, 'It is not ale, it is mead, made from honey.'
'Alcoholic honey? Well that's a new one.'
'Beyla makes it, or did while she was here, I hope she comes back her bees are pining for her.' The elf sat on the soft springy grass beside them, waiting while they ate. When they were done she cleared away the platters and returned to the Aesir 'Would you like to have sex now?'
Sigyn laughed unable to help herself, Thor blushed beneath his beard 'You expect me to copulate in front of that rabble?' he indicated the watchful circle of Vans at the clearing's edge.
'Forgive me' the elf smiled, 'I forgot you Aesir are shy when it comes to lovemaking. But should you desire sex I am available and a mate can be found for your housekeeper too.' No one had ever accused Thor of being shy before, his hair bristled.
'It is a kind offer,' said Sigyn 'but not now, we like privacy.'
'I understand' the elf replied, 'I will fetch a game of tables instead.' She returned soon with a wooden board and a leather bag which rattled. Despite their misgivings the Aesir watched close and intrigued as she placed bone counters from the bag onto the marked board. 'We call this Freyr's game or tables which would be tafl in the Aesir tongue. The game is a battle between the white men with their king and the red men.' Time passed swiftly as the two Aesir struggled to learn the unfamiliar game, and the three were soon laughing merrily. The elf girl called for more mead and the Aesirs' discomfort with the Vans started to lift.
Freyr walked into the clearing with his sister on his arm, 'It is time we made plans, the goddess Nertha has come to her holy shrine in answer to our summons. We will take you there and she will advise us on what needs to be done.'
Frey and Freya led the two Aesir down thickly forested slopes to the edge of a lake, a wide earth road emerald green with thick moss stretched out to an island glade. They followed the causeway, its verges thick with rushes and yellow flag. In the centre of the island there was a clearing dominated by a towering oak, two white oxen grazed on the grass. Beneath the great tree a veiled woman sat on a throne of rough limestone, several women sat around her feet counting bundles of rune staves.
'Here is our mother.' said Freyr 'The great goddesses Nertha. She knows all the secrets of the earth and hears the wisdom whispered by the wind. She will tell you how peace can be wrought between our tribes. But before anyone can speak to the goddess or even look upon her they must swear to serve her. This is the first law of the Vans, those who break it are drowned, herein the holy waters.'
'I cannot swear such an oath.' Thor replied.
'Then no peace will be agreed' said Freya 'and you will never return to Asgard or Middle Earth. We are not trying to trick you Thor. Any peace must be forged from trust, so trust me now when I tell you that no harm will come to you or your kin from this.'
'Very well,' Thor sighed 'but I cannot swear unlimited obedience to a goddess of whom I have no knowledge. I can swear to show her respect and honour, to listen to her and to aid her if the cause is worthy, but no more. Will this suffice?'
Laughter came from beneath the lady's veil. Freyr smiled 'It would appear that Nertha is prepared to accept your compromise. You give your word?'
'I do' Thor replied.
Freyr looked at Beyla. She nodded 'Yes I agree to that as well.'
'Then come.' Freyr led them both before the throne.
Nertha's attendants lifted the goddess's veil over her crown of may blossom. She had a kindly face with piercing eyes, which to Thor was startling familiar. 'So, do you know me now boy? This woman you claim to have no knowledge of?' Her voice was also familiar and the baffled thundergod found the answer he was searching for.
'Jord?'
'Indeed. It would seem your captors have picked a fight with their own kin.'
'What is this?' asked Freyr 'Is this Aesir related to you?'
'He is Freyr. I shall explain to you all, for here is the answer to your stalemate. 'Long ago before man came to the nine worlds, I built halls in Middle Earth, Elf Home and at Urd's well. I travelled between them and made a son to serve me at each hall. The child at Middle Earth was Perun, the child at Urd's well was Fjorgynn and the child at Elf Home was Njord. As time passed and the boys grew I took them as lovers and bore many children. In Elfhome I bore Freyr and Freya and from them come the Vans. At Urd's well I bore Verdandi, Urd, Skuld, Frigg and Sybil. While in Middle Earth I bore the thunderer.
'I was wild in those early days, short of temper and a hard mother, wanting my way in all things. This displeased Perun and Fjorgynn. They challenged me. I took the form of a terrible dragon to subdue them and in my rage they were slain. Then a mother's grief tore through me and mellowed my fierce spirit. I withdrew to Middle Earth and left the other realms to my children. Njord stayed loyal and received Elf home from me, which he has since granted to Freyr as a toothgift.'
'Then this is excellent news.' said Freyr 'We must acknowledge these Aesir as our own blood and seek a middle ground between our tribes.'
'The Aesir are not one family' Nertha cautioned 'some are kin to the giants of the Outlands, Odin is of the house of Borr, Heimdal is the offspring of Ran's daughters, Tyr is the child of Hymir and Loki is the son of Laufey. It is Thor and the goddesses you must look to for peace, and the others will follow.
'I can see the threads of wyrd as my daughters can. Odin Tyr and Loki will soon be bound tight into our household. Three marriages are near which will draw all together as one tribe.'
'I cannot see the Aesir being keen to have close ties to the Vans.' Thor objected 'Naked magic workers? Incest? In Asgard? I cannot see this.'
Freya sighed 'As Freyr says, we must find a middle ground. If our nudity displeases you, let us travel to Asgard wearing clothes like the Aesir and speak to Thor's people. Will you come with us Nertha?'
'I will' she replied 'but so that I may speak with the Aesir freely, I will go as Jord, Thor's mother.'
The Van's made preparations for travelling. Frey's servant Skirnir was sent ahead with Sigyn to arrange a meeting between the Aesir and the Vans at Urd's Well. The Vans dressed in their best finery and harnessed their finest horses to carved wagons. The procession set off at a sedate pace to the hall of the Norns in the centre of the nine worlds.
So the gods met in the glade by the sacred well, the Aesir on one side, the Vans on the other and in the middle the Norns stood outside their hall. The welfare of the two remaining hostages was confirmed. Beyla still determinedly unclothed stood at Loki's side among the frowning and sullen Aesir. Nertha stepped forward from among the Vans, she had removed her queenly trappings to resume her humble identity as Jord. She addressed Odin 'The Vans have agreed that I may speak on their behalf and also for yourselves if you are willing, do you give your consent?'
'You are known to us and well regarded.' Odin answered 'I have no objection.'
Jord asked 'Do any object to the hostages being released to their kin?' Silence followed and the goddess gestured to Beyla and Thor. Beyla ran joyfully and embraced Freyr, Freya and old silver haired Njord. Thor stepped beside his mother.
'And now' added Jord 'there is something you Aesir should know. You are aware that Thor is my son and the Norns are my daughters.' The remaining Aesir nodded uncertain of her purpose. 'I am also the mother of the Vans.' The Aesir stared at her, then turned to the Norns who only nodded in confirmation. Jord continued 'It is my wish and the wish of the Vans that both your tribes should live together in peace. The making of this peace is not my concern, for I no longer live among you. Beyla, Thor, you have lived with your new friends, I suggest the two of you take over from here.' Jord turned her back on them and started her journey back to Middle Earth.
Odin had recovered from his shock 'I refuse to have anything to do with these people and their cowardly witchcraft.'
Freya smiled sweetly 'I could teach you all how to work magic.'
'Magic is not for warriors, it is mere women's trickery.'
'Some of the giants are not so particular, 'said Freya 'they could walk into Asgard as easily as we could and there would be nothing you could do to defend yourselves'.
'She is right.' said Loki 'I think we should agree to her offer.'
'Oh yes' scoffed Odin 'you have never been worried by perversion have you!?'
'Well I wouldn't mind knowing how she deal with Thor.' said Heimdall. 'She is quite correct, we cannot defend ourselves.'
Tyr stepped forward 'I do not believe you are even considering this, they sleep with their own kin, Beyla told me, that is disgusting.'
'Why?' asked Freyr 'Are we mortals that we should worry about such things, it does no harm to us.'
Thor stepped forward losing patience. 'These folk are stronger than we are, like it or not. So why are you judging them so harshly? Freya is offering her knowledge, they wish to live with us peaceably when they could have taken anything they wanted from us. We need to give in return.' He turned to Freya. 'What do you want from the Aesir?'
Freya smiled in gratitude, 'I am prepared to stay here in Asgard and offer the wisdom of the Vans. I will need an estate of my own and a stead for a hall that I may live in the manner of the Aesir.'
'That is fair.' said Thor 'Anything else?'
'I suggest that one of the Aesir goes to live among the Vans to teach us your own skills, sword craft, house raising and the working of metal.'
'That is also fair.' Thor addressed the Aesir. 'Who will live among the Vans?' Hoenir the silent stepped forward and nodded in agreement. Beyla came to Freya's side and whispered in her ear.
The Lady of the Vans smiled 'I have been reminded that you find our openness about sex to be disturbing. We will honour your customs in Asgard, though what we do behind closed doors is our own concern. As for our mating between siblings, that has long been our way, and such it will continue. Furthermore you will never again encourage your tribes in Middle Earth to attack ours. That is all.'
'Is this agreed?' asked Thor. The Aesir voiced their approval with varying enthusiasm.
Four Vans came forward carrying a large soapstone cooking pot, the smell of honey filled the air. 'And now' said Beyla 'we shall work some Van magic. To mark our new friendship and the peace between our folk all present should spit in this pot, that all our essences may be mixed together.' Such customs were also known to the Aesir when they made bargains so they were happy to oblige. All the Aesir, all the Vans and all the Norns filed past the pot and spat into the honey. Beyla borrowed Hoenir's sword and stirred the honey until the spittle was completely mixed in. The Van women chanted and the pot began to glow. A man rose from the pot, his hair and eyes the warm amber of the honey itself. The Norns brought a tunic to him and he pulled it over his gleaming bonze skin to cover his nakedness. He was a fine figure of a man. He opened his mouth and sang:
Hail to the holy High gods of Asgard
Wassail to the wise Wights of Van Home
Called am I Kvasir Kettle born bard
Sprung from spittle Spawn of honey comb.
Odin and Braggi came forward delighted to meet a fellow poet. There were not likely to be disappointed for every time Kvasir opened his mouth to speak he poured forth verses. Kvasir was led of between them to the Odin's hall.
The peace between the gods was celebrated in Thor's own lofty residence, which would be Freya's home until her own chamber could be built. The Vans beat their drums and shook their rattles as their women danced about the hearth fires. Sigyn, restored to her own domain, busied the servants to carrying platter after platter of choice foods from the kitchens. She noticed that her master was strangely bashful in Freya's presence, and positively reddened when the Van queen mentioned her duty to teach magic to all the Aesir. Sigyn grinned, that one, she thought, will have him dancing to any tune she pleases.
Little is known of the battle between the two houses of gods, the myths tell of it going badly agaisnt the Aesir, of exchanges of hostages and the birth of Kvasir from the spittle of peace but that is about all.
The Aesir and Vanir seem to represent two different religions which have been combined. This would explain why the deities duplicate one another so closely, especially Freya and Frigg, and Frey and Thor.
The main differences between the households seen in the old myths are the Vanir's greater reliance on magic and their brother sister marriages.