The Son Of Frey

long ago, beyond the forests of Finland, the reindeer herds of Sweden, and the islands of Denmark, there was a land called Norway. Norway was unique because it was the birthplace of one of the most powerful sons of Frey – the god of nature – that was ever to live. and his name was Hølðen-Olaf Agnarr I of Norway.

Hølðen-Olaf – or Olaf, as he liked to be called – was a prince. he had a brother, named Arnfinn. Arnfinn was a very nice prince, but he had the unfortunate habit of blaming other people for the trouble he caused – and he caused a lot of trouble. still, his parents – the king and queen of Norway – always thought of him as the better of the two brothers. this was because Arnfinn always found a way to weaken the rumors about him, until the rumors were nothing but small pieces of praise once they reached the king and queen. the cow incident, for example. he had found a way to turn the truth – him murdering the livestock of a wealthy noble – into a lie that said the opposite of the truth – the livestock of a wealthy noble was saved from wolves by Arnfinn. Olaf wasn't fooled, though. he always followed Arnfinn around from the shadows of buildings and – when he could – the shadows of the tree foliage as he crouched on a branch. he watched him stealing food, setting fires that burned down whole towns, and encouraged loggers to cut down entire forests. one day, though, Olaf had had enough. he watched from a tree branch, preparing his ambush as he watched his brother catch live falcons, tie them up, blindfold them, and hang them by the feet. Olaf had been trained in swordfighting, as he was destined to be the "leader of the army" by his parents. what he saw, though, was another opportunity to get killed by being bossed around by his brother. and he had a secret. he wasn't Norwegian. he wasn't even human. he was more powerful, calculating, wiser and charming than his brother. because he was an ice wraith.

when he was ready, he climbed out onto the farthest branches. he spread his wings and blotted out the sun. his brother looked up. Olaf could see that, in his eyes, he knew that Death had arrived. Arnfinn stumbled back as Olaf leaped from the branches, longsword drawn, snarling menacingly, a wicked glint in his eyes. Arnfinn barely had time to draw his sword before his brother slammed him into the ground, his talon on his neck, eyes blazing with malice. Olaf stabbed at his brother's chest, and Arnfinn was no more. after freeing the falcons with his sword, Olaf returned to human form. he kissed his brother's cheek, and said, "I'm sorry, brother. hopefully we'll meet in Valhalla one day." he then went back to the castle. he rushed through the doors to his parents' room, sobbing as he told them that a bear attacked them, and that Arnfinn was gone. then he showed them. a few days later, Olaf disappeared into the forest, never to be seen again.

some stories do not have happy endings.