Chapter 97 - Banquet For Freyja Before The Yule

In the center of town, Laura and Daven were sitting biting a small popsicle of honey.

As they watched Papa Einar and the warriors were using many ropes around the large tree, they had brought.

"Daven isn't that wonderful that big tree they brought for the Yule festival, even the one last year was much smaller."

Daven scratched his small head and tilted it slightly as he looked doubtfully at Laura.

"I really don't remember what the tree looked like from last year, as I was more excited to see my mom.

But what really amazes me is that Papa Einar can manage to lift that big tree just using ropes.

Even yesterday I heard from some children in the village that Papa Einar had also managed to climb the big tree through a hill, and that is even more surprising. "

Laura who was enjoying the sweet taste of her honey lollipop stopped for a moment and looked closely as they were tying the big tree with different ropes and asked.

"Is it really more surprising to climb that big tree up a hill than to lift it up like they are doing now?"

Daven nodded and pointed to one of the many hills that could be seen far from the village.

"Do you remember what Daddy Einar explained to us in math class a week ago?"

Laura closed her eyes and tapped her head "If I can remember correctly it was something related to gravity ..."

Daven smiled and using his small hands he made a mound of snow on his feet and then took a small rock and placed it on the mound of snow.

Laura watched as the small rock rolled into the snow mound and when the rock descended completely from the mound, Daven put his small hand on Laura's shoulder.

"As you could see, the rock came down the snow mound due to the weight and the force of gravity pulling it down."

Laura looked at him with some curiosity, "Daven, how could you possibly have remembered the explanation that Papa Einar gave, I can barely remember what I ate yesterday."

When she finished saying those words, Laura remembered everything that had happened with Daven.

"Now that I think about it, you are younger than me and you have always been better in everything we do. Are you sure you did not receive the blessing of Papa Einar?"

Laura said as she looked at Daven, intrigued and curious.

He laughed at Laura's words and shook his head "I don't know if I received Papa Einar's blessing or something else, but I can understand all the information that Papa Einar says.

Besides, I'm not better than you. Although I can remember and understand part of what Papa Einar says, I still can't be better than you in music. "

Laura blushed a bit at Daven's words and tapped him on the shoulder.

"Don't think that because you use good words, you will make me happier, but I think we should pay more attention to the tree they are about to raise."

Einar who was supervising all the warriors gave the order that they will start pulling certain ropes to lift the tree in the middle of the village.

As if it were a magic trick or something else, the large tree that was lying down slowly lifted up creating a large shadow that covered much of the center of the village.

All the members of the tribe and even the slaves who were working on the wall gulped due to the impressive tree that was rising above the center of the tribe.

Asgot who was at the entrance to the great hall spread his hands and looked at the beautiful tree that was fully raised above the center of the village.

'Odin, this day a new era will begin for your followers and it is all thanks to your herald ...'

With the tree completely stopped, Einar began to coordinate the warriors to tie the ropes to specially prepared wooden posts.

In this way, the air and any inclement weather should not move the tree and cause misfortune.

After having the tree ready and secured, the entire tribe took a break from their work. When they resumed their activities, they came to see the beautiful tree of the Yule festival.

Sven who wiped the sweat from his forehead nodded proudly "This will be one of the best festivals in the tribe."

After a while, Einar and his father began to prepare the great fire that would be lit at the festival.

To do it, they gathered a large amount of wood to form a huge pile, which they covered with leather to prevent snow from moistening the wood.

Looking with satisfaction that they already had the main items for the Yule festival, Sven held onto his son's shoulder.

"Einar, tomorrow is December 20, so at night as tradition dictates we will have a banquet to celebrate Freyja.

Where we will have to cook food for the women of the tribe as a form of gratitude, both to them and to our ancestors.

Remember to come after breakfast as we have a lot to prepare for the Yule festival as well. "

Einar nodded and later entered the great hall where he had dinner with his family, and after that, they retired to their home.

The next day Helmi who was drowsy because she had just woken up watched as Einar left the house so she smiled and turned to see Kassia.

"Kassia, what do you think Einar is going to cook for us at night."

Kassia who had her head looking up at the roof of the house closed one of her eyes.

"Maybe I'm going to do something interesting because there are grains of wheat, barley, plenty of vegetables, and meat.

At this banquet it is normal for a large part of the tribe's food reserve to be occupied, so knowing Einar I am sure he will create something fantastic. "

The two women continued talking throughout the morning until Einar came in and began to prepare breakfast for them.

After breakfast Helmi took Einar's robe and together with Kassia, they took a bath and later entered the thermal water pool.

After leaving the comfortable and relaxing hot springs Helmi and Kassia, they arrived at their home where they changed into special clothing, which the women of the tribe could only wear that day.

The clothes were of a beautiful white color, which was adorned with some blue ribbons and some embroidery.

In the case of Helmi, because she was the daughter of the Godi of the tribe, the embroidery was made with gold thread, while Kassia had an embroidery made with silk thread that she had brought when she left Constantinople.

When she finished dressing, Kassia helped Helmi to comb her hair, for this she made her a beautiful braid in which she combed her white hair.

Helmi also helped Kassia to style her brown hair, which unlike Helmi's was longer, so at Kassia's request, she made her two braids that accommodated her beautiful hair.

The two women already cleaned, dressed, and combed left the house to go to the great hall.

On the way, they noticed the eyes of the slaves who seemed to lust after them due to how beautiful they looked.

But neither Helmi nor Kassia was concerned because there were quite a few warriors in the place and in case they try to be attacked these warriors will not hesitate to kill the perpetrators.

When they reached the great hall, Helmi said goodbye to Kassia and began to walk towards her father since, being her only daughter, she had the obligation to give a small speech in the evening.

When she reached the room where her father was, she opened the door and could see him sitting on a chair while decorating a beautiful wreath of winter flowers.

"Helmi, it's good you're here, come over and let your father prove that the flower crown he made just for you."

Helmi, who felt the warmth of her father's words walked towards him and bending down, allowed her father to place the flower crown on her.

Asgot seeing his daughter's smile could see his wife's face reflected, so some tears came out of her eyes.

"Daughter, you look just as beautiful as your mother when she was young, I'm sure my grandchildren will have your face too.

I can't wait to have the wedding and to see my grandchildren. Your mother would be proud to see how you have grown to become a true woman. "

Helmi who could not contain her tears hugged her father and started crying on his shoulder. Father and daughter hugged for a while, ignoring everything around them.

At night Helmi, who was much more animated, left the great hall and walked safely to her place, while on her way everyone looked at her amazed by her beauty.

His place was located in the middle of the central table, taking a small bell.

She performed a small ritual in honor of Freyja and all the women of the tribe, both living and dead.

After finishing, she placed the bell on the table and it was then that the banquet began. All the men left the great hall carrying a large quantity of food with them.

To the surprise of all the women, the dishes in front of them were quite different from what they had ever eaten.

Laura who was sitting was surprised when Papa Einar put a plate of what appeared to be a beautiful soft white bread.

With some curiosity and hunger, she took it with her small hands, to give a small bite.

Opening her eyes in surprise, Laura felt the taste of bread and meat, which almost melted in her mouth because of how soft they were.

Unable to contain his hunger, she began to bite her food with her small mouth as if she feared it might disappear.

This not only happened with Laura but all the women of the tribe who had also liked the taste of the food ended up with everything that the men put on their plates.

At the end, when all the food was finished, Einar came out of the great hall along with a group of warriors and handed all the women a delicious dessert.

Which was a small but sweet milk jelly with nuts, which was so popular that none of the women left a single trace of its existence.