1993 October, 1st

It felt as if I was staring into the sun. I could feel the grime and the ash stick to my skin and my hair. I couldn’t keep myself from smiling. I was standing before my families forge. More than a thousand years old and hidden to all but a handful of people. It was alive with molten fire. I watched carefully as I melted iron with the bone dust of a bear I had killed last winter and with the charcoal I’ve collected from all the past hall nights of the past four months. It mounted high and I needed it hot.

“We have been warriors since our first ancestor.” Mama said, next to me as we worked the bellows. Her belly was sticking out far, but still she came. Not even a child sitting in her at eight months was enough to stop her from seeing me through today. We have been doing this since early morning, or late last night. It was hard to tell, the two had merged together. “We have the blood of a valkyrie in our veins.”

“And the fire of combat in our souls.” I recite.

“And strength in our bones.” She finished, wiping sweat from her brow. “There now. Let’s see how you did.”

We moved to the forge. I grabbed the tongs as Mama opened up the forge. Heat blasted me, seeking relief from it’s prison. Pushing past what was almost 1700 degrees celsius, I reached forward with the tongs and pulled out the glowing cylinder of fire from within. The fruit of my labors so far. I placed it on the anvil, as Mama grabbed a hammer.

She looked to me, with a sly smile. “Are you ready, my darling?”

“Yes.” I say confidently. This was the first test. If I got our formula correctly there would be no impurities, they would fall away and leave nothing but steel.

She struck the hammer home. The outer coating of bone dust and coal exploded into broken shards, like pottery, leaving a glowing ingot in its place. Once all the pieces were blown away, Mama struck again, and only the smallest of sparks danced off it. I grinned widely as Mama nodded. “Well done Hildr. But now the real difficult part begins.”

I nodded. Now we would be stuck at this anvil for the next eight hours. We would hammer away to shape the sword. This would take time, patience, and care.

The sun rose and fell around us as we worked. Not even taking moments for food and water. This wasn’t so much part of the process of forging my sword. I was fasting for my right of passage before the gods and kindred. The sword was my right of passage before my ancestors. And they were smiling upon me. I returned the gesture with every hammer blow. I felt their eyes upon me. Their hands on my shoulder. Their presence among the forge. Their strength in my steel. They showed me favor. They showed me love.

After awhile, Mama left the forge. I did not notice her leave. Or that she was even gone while I engraved MEDVED into the blade, until she returned carrying a long stone cylinder filled with bears blood. It was time to quench the blade. This would be the true and final test of my work. If the steel wasn’t properly crafted, we’d soon hear an audible pop as the blade cracked and all my hard work would be for nothing.

I took a deep breath. I was nervous. This was my blade. My ancestors would be carried with me through this blade. It was a sign of my new standing. A right of passage into adulthood. I muttered an invocation to Thor, and thrusted the blade into the blood.

I looked to Mama as the blood sizzled. She smiled encouragingly, and nodded. I pulled it out towards my ear, even as the blade burst into white flames. I listened very carefully, and heard...nothing. I grinned as I blew out the flames.

I had a sword.

“It looks dirty.” I said, studying my success. Feeling the warmth of my ancestors. And the forge.

“Yes.” Mama agreed, placing the tools back on the wall.  “And guess who’s gonna fix that?”

“Elves?” I try, holding my blade in different positions with the tongs.

“Wouldn’t that be nice.” She said, hands on hips. “Come. I have the materials to shine it at home.”

I entered my home, cradling the blade wrapped in leather. I heard a cry of excitement. “Hillie!” Shrieked a small form that grabbed me by the leg. “Hillie! Hillie! Show me show me!” my little brother shouted, jumping up and down, reaching for the leather bundle.

“Erak what are you still doing up?” Mama smiled.

“He wished to help prepare his sister for her journey.” Papa said, walking in with his old grey assault back, with a quiver of arrows and a crossbow strapped to the side, and my bear cloak folded on top of it.

“Helped!” Erak said, fists on his hips proudly.

I picked him up and hugged him tightly. “Yes you did!” I cooed. “Thank you Erak! You are such a good helper!”

He yawned, curling into my shoulder. I handed him to Papa as he laid his pack at my feet. “Are you ready my little soldier?”

I threw the cloak over my shoulders, and slowly placed the bears head over my own. It trailed behind me. Even as much as I’ve grown, it showed me how much I still had to go. Even today. I wondered if I’d ever fill it, as my parents looked to me expectantly. The beat of my heart felt like thunder. A motherly voice that felt like it came from just the edge of my memory came to me. Whispered in my ear. I couldn’t place it, but I knew I heard it before. It simply whispered to me one word. Yes.

I nodded. “I’ll return soon. It’ll be back later tomorrow.”

“You remember what you’re searching for?” Mama asked.

I scowled at that. “It’s not like ‘follow the clues into the woods, find the monster, and bring it back’ is hard to remember.” I say in annoyance.

Mama raised an eyebrow. “Well if you say so. One second.” She disappeared down the hall. A moment later she returned with a small bag.”For the sword. Remember to be careful, my darling. Or you’ll damage the edge or the inscription.”

“Thank you Mama. I need to be heading out.”

“Of course.” She nodded, as Papa hugged me.

“I’ll make you proud.” I say to him.

“You do every day. I cannot wait to see you finally gain the place you’ve earned in our halls years ago.”

I nodded, smiling. I threw the pack over my shoulder, turned around, and made my way to the starting point.