TEUTONIC MAGIC - Awaken Video

when you stop, the noises stop also. As you move onward, the sounds grow louder; it is as if something is
sloshing through the mud behind the hedge of elk-grass, taking great care not to raise its head too far from
the salty marsh. Now and again you think you see the quick flurry of a dark scaly tail or limb behind the
high sedge.
Ahead of you, the hedge that surrounds you ends at the bank of a dark pool. The pond’s surface
is roiled, as if something moved just below it. A deep loathing stirs in your guts as you watch the ripples
on the water. You back up a few paces, listening to your hidden hunter sloshing closer and closer to the
black mere. It moves quickly, breaking from its cover to leap into the stagnant pond. It is shaped like a
man, but larger, gnarled and hideous, covered with blackscales. Its head comes up again at once and it
begins to pull itself out of the water in front of you.
Without stopping to think, you pluck a handful of the elk- sedge that had warded you and toss it
at the grim thing. It keens, covering its eyes with webbed hands as if burned, while the pieces of elk-grass
grow into a thick hedge before you. The creature slides back into the water. You wait a few moments but
it does not come up again.
A movement catches the corner of your eye, and you look up to see a great white swan flying
slowly overhead. There is something in the powerful beat of her shining wings, the cleanness of her
feathers and the freedom of her wind-path that catches at your breath and brings tears to blur your eyes as
she circles above you once and flies on. Eyes fixed on her, you hurry quickly after, heedless of the
betraying mud beneath your feet.
Without stumbling or stopping you follow the path of the swan, who always moves just slowly
enough for you to keep in sight of her, until you are out of the marsh and standing at the foot of the great
yew-tree that unites Asgardhr, Midgardhr, and Hel’s kingdom. The swan flies straight up to the crown of
the tree, dwindling to a bright speck. Imploringly, tears streaming down your face, you raise your arms
and head towards her. Her upward flight slows, then stops, and she begins to circle down again. When she
is close enough, you see that the great white wings now support a surpassingly beautiful woman, armed
and dressed in chain mail and leather. Her features are very like your own but perfect in a way that brings
an ache of longing to your heart.
She halts halfway down, holding her arms out to you. You see that she stands on a bridge of
shimmering rainbow fire, her feet near its end. She beckons to you, but there is no bridge and no way for
you to climb the huge bare trunk of the tree. As you stretch your arms upward, however, you begin to feel
a stream of golden power flowing into you from the end of the bridge, a shimmering holiness that seems
to lift you up even as it brings the rainbow bridge and the swan-maiden nearer and nearer to you; yet you
are aware that your feet still rest on the earth, its solidity balancing the heady wave of power flowing into
you from above.
At last you are close enough so that the tips of your outstretched fingers just touch the tips of the
maiden’s. The shimmering light glows around you; you sense the mighty love, wisdom, and guidance of
your valkyrja. You set one foot on the end of the rainbow bridge. Its fire does not burn you, but it is so
strong that you cannot yet go any farther up it.
Your valkyrja bends down to kiss the top of your head.Her touch is a crown of warmth,
enfolding you in her power and wise warding. You return slowly to your body, feet firmly planted on the
earth, knowing that guarding and guidance which you may always reach through the power of the rune
elhaz.
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