Page 98 - Red Feather Book 2

Reading Comprehension. The Aesir
Part Three: The Valkyries and the Final Battle
The Valkyries were the young, beautiful, courageous, and kind daughters of mortal kings or gods. They served Odin by guiding the souls of worthy soldiers from the battlefields into the afterlife of Valhalla. These young women rode on magnificent white steeds that resembled clouds at sunrise. They wore helmets made of silver and gold and with shields and spears flashing; they rode into the battlefields, gently kissing the worthy warriors who were now being sent to Valhalla.
Sometimes, the maidens of Odin liked to travel to Midgard to enjoy themselves and rest. To make the journey, they donned the plumage of swans, brilliant, white feathers that covered their bodies. Once on earth, they searched for a cool stream or small river in which to bathe. They left their swan’s plumage on the banks of the water, and delighted in swimming in the warm sunshine.
On occasion, mortals spotted the Valkyries while they were bathing. If one so desired, it was possible to prevent the maidens from leaving the earth by stealing their swan costumes. This happened one day to three Valkyries, Olrun, Alvit and Svanhvit. Three young and handsome brothers were walking through the woods when they heard the young women playfully laughing in the stream. They approached them quietly and stole their swan feathers thus they were forced to stay with the brothers and live as mortal wives, although it is said, they eventually fell deeply in love with their captors. After a time, however, the maidens longed to return to Valhalla, they found the swan feathers that had been hidden in the forest and flew away. When the brothers discovered what had happened, they were heartbroken. Two of the brothers decided to go out and seek their wives, but the third one, Volund, decided to remain behind, believing that one day his wife would remember their love and return to him.
Volund was a master craftsman who enjoyed making extraordinary ornaments. Out of sorrow, he spent his days recreating the ring his beloved wife had given him. He made seven hundred copies of the ring; he never got tired of his work. One day, while he sat and admired his rings, he discovered that one was missing. He felt happy because he thought that perhaps it was a sign from his wife that one day she might return. That night, while
The Aesir 95 Norse Mithology