Troll Blessed

by Martin Calderwood

 

The baby cooed and wiggled and gazed up intently at the tiny figure that balanced somewhat precariously on the edge of her crib.  Developmental science and common sense proclaimed vehemently that a seven month old child could not possibly recognize and discern such a creature as a Troll.  Yet the attention of this infant was completely focused on the little being who, at that moment, danced and posed in an array of antics that would make a stone chuckle.   On the other hand, most scientists and child development experts did not believe in the supernatural or such a ridiculous thing as magic.   However, if anyone of them were to ask Hannah Marie, at that moment, if magic and trolls were real she would answer that they most definitely were.  

For his part, the family house Troll enjoyed welcoming in the newest addition to the clan he had watched over for several hundred years.  Not only in this country of America but back in the ‘old country’ just over a century ago.  He had high hopes for this brand new generation, but given the way people were falling away from the ‘myths and stories’ of Norway, he did not hold any extraordinary expectations.  Still, there were things that had to be done, and he was not about to let the disbelief of the parents prevent him from completing his duty to this family and his own predecessors. 

With a wink and a tumble, Maas landed in the crib, bouncing forward a foot or two before placing his hand into the hand of the infant who now smiled broadly as she watched him curiously.  When his hand touched hers it was she who closed her grip and in the blink of an eye the crib was empty except for the faint smell of baby powder and magic.

*****

Matriarch, Mother, Grandma, Great-Grandma.  Such titles reverberated through the home on Bromley Road in West Jordan, Utah.  To be honest she was equally honored by all four.  A new Granddaughter and her first Great-Granddaughter had both been born within the past year lifting her spirits.  They had sagged drastically since the passing of her husband of 56 years the previous year.  Sarah Grace and Hannah Marie were the two most beautiful girls she had ever seen.  It buoyed her to realize that great-granddaughter Hannah and granddaughter Sarah were close enough in age that they would become companions and friends as they grew up within a couple of miles of each other.  As the senior woman of the clan, she was going to do all she could to encourage this union of generations.   So at two a.m., as she puttered around the upstairs half of her home she did her best not to disturb her youngest son and his family who lived below.  She especially did not want to wake baby Sarah who was only now beginning to sleep through the night.  Unable to sleep herself because of a number of aches and pains, she was up doing some chores she had not wanted to do earlier in the day.  She found work somewhat therapeutic,  allowing her mind to focus on the positive rather than the things that often crept into the lonely mind in the dark.                                                                

Tonight, it amused her to think of what her eldest son, who became a grandpa himself with the birth of Hannah to his second daughter, had said about little Sarah.  He had pointed out that she had been conceived within two months of ‘dad’ passing away.  Her youngest son and his wife had been trying for twelve years to have another child, so he figured that Sarah was Dad’s final gift to the family whom he loved so much.

She did not even turn when she heard the soft shuffle like sound on the carpet behind her.

“Go away!” she said softly.

“Glugh.” came a noise from behind the couch.

“I said, ‘Go Away!’  People already think I am loopy enough without them learning that I still talk to our house Troll..... which, incidently, most don’t even believe in to start with.”

“Glugh!”  The voice was becoming more insistent.

“I have no time for your nonsense right now,” she muttered under her breath. 

“Glugh!” came the noise that more resembled a choking chicken than a word.

“What?” she demanded smiling in spite of herself.  “I remember when you were content to just eat the porridge we left in the barn.  Now you come up here as bold as ever and ‘Glugh’ at me like you have nothing better to do but to pester an old lady who cannot get to sleep.”

“Glugh, Glugh!  Glugh!!” came the insistent voice.

Suddenly memory came flowing back to her and for a moment she was almost fifty years younger.  “Is it that time already?” she asked as the short House Troll named Glugh came strolling out from behind the couch.

“Yes,” came the simple reply.  “Grandma Natalie okay?  Rough time.”

“It has been a tough year or two.  I am glad you have been here off and on to make it easier.”

“Glugh happy helper.  Ready?”

Natalie Bernson Calderwood nodded.  “I will need a few minutes.  My bladder is not what it used to be.  Are Sarah and Hannah ready?”

“Hannah gone.  Sarah wait.  Say she ready.”

“Smart girl.  Go get Sarah and I will be ready to go.”

Glugh nodded and seemed to vanish in a swirl of shadows and light.  Grandma Natalie walked quickly to the back of her house, noting how nice it was to do so without as much pain as she usually experienced.  Minutes later, her hair brushed and her teeth combed (as her late husband had often joked) she stepped into the living room where a small infant sat cross legged on the large green chair that sat in the corner.

“Hello Grandma!” said the infant excitedly.  “Isn’t this exciting?”

Hearing full sentences from an infant was something that she would probably never get used to but it thrilled her that for at least the next few hours they would be able to communicate on an equal footing.  Inwardly she smiled that some of her ‘intuition’ about this child would come as a result of their conversations this night.  

Natalie had become the matriarch of the clan early in life and as such had presided over the ritual known as the Troll Blessing for nieces and nephews and later her grandchildren and others.  No one, aside from the Matriarch and occasionally the Patriarch of a family or clan were allowed to participate in the Ceremony.  To her knowledge, a family patriarch had not been involved since Great-Grandpa Bernt had been allowed to participate.  Natalie wished she could include her eldest son but since her brother Eugene, the current Patriarch, was uninvolved, Martin could not know anything until nature took its course.  As for the position of Matriarch, it would either fall to her niece, Cynthia, Eugene’s eldest daughter, or her own daughter, Meredith.  Who believed the most was still an unanswered question.

“Yes, it is very exciting.  Has Glugh told you want to expect?”

Sarah smiled.  “Of course.  I wish things like this could keep going but I understand why it cannot be.  I must say that it is a bit frustrating when your spirit knows what it wants and your body cannot communicate it.”

Her Grandma nodded.  “I understand perfectly.”

“Ready we are.” said Glugh softly as he took the babies hand.  To accommodate his two charges he now stood just under a meter tall.  Sarah seemed to take this in stride but it still gave Natalie a bit of a start as she took his proffered hand.  In the flash the room was empty except for a pair of Trolls who stood holding each other atop the dining table.  With a smile they turned and began to dance once again to the music of the night.

*****

The polished walls of the Great Hall seemed to enhance and magnify the dance of the flickering firelight from a half dozen fires built strategically within.  Shadows of Humans and Trolls wove in and out of the reflected flames as if they were trying themselves to avoid being burned by the echoes of the fire that surrounded them.  The ancient cavern in all its glory was the epitome of what the Vikings dreamed Valhalla would be like.  The high-domed cathedral ceiling rose over eleven meters above the assembly supported by tree-trunk sized  pillars of stone that even the heaviest core of the mountain above could not weigh down.  Great wooden crossbeams, decorated with elaborate tapestries of flaming caves and wondrous forests, seemed to grow out of the deep brown earth that formed the columns.  Fire-Earth-Forest and Wind symbols were meticulously carved on the wooden and stone beams that hung suspended between the outer pillars along the walls.  The cavern had been perfectly shaped by the elements over hundreds- perhaps thousands-of centuries and given color by the natural shades that flowed within the earth.  Rich blues, bright rusty oranges, and flaring reds swooped and swirled over lush green and yellow landscapes, dancing around images of gray foreboding towers of rock and majestic mountains. 

Water, the final element, was represented by a single waterfall that flowed South from a cool natural spring hidden a few hundred meters away.  The stream, formed by the falls, split in two and flowed evenly around a circular island upon which a single meter-and-a-half tall stalagmite rose directly in the center.  The two ‘branches’ reunited on the far side of the ‘island’ and vanished into a hole that took it into one of the great lakes a few kilometers away.   Two narrow bridges at the remaining compass points allowed troll and human guests to cross onto the island, Trolls from the west and Humans from the east.

The cacophony of excited infant voices and adults who had not seen each other in ‘ages’ along with a blend of troll intonations, brought additional life to the ancient structure.  The rich babble grew rapidly as small groups of twos and threes popped into the exceptional structure.                 Thus was the scene when Sarah, Glugh and Natalie appeared amidst the throng.

  Sarah and Hannah could barely contain their excitement as they rushed into each others arms the moment Glugh let go of Sarah’s hand. 

“Oh it is so good to meet you in life!” cried Sarah as she embraced the smaller child.  “I have missed you so.”

“And I have missed you.  It was only a moment ago I left heaven but here it seems like so long.”  replied Hannah stepping back to look at her cousin.  “Grandpa and all the others send their best.”

“I know.  Are they busy?”

“Very, but they like being with God,”  exclaimed Hannah “Are you happy?”

“Oh yes.  It is wonderful to.....”  Sarah’s voice faded as an elderly Troll rose in the midst of the gathering.

“It is time,” he said in a low almost whispering voice that carried great weight and wisdom.   “Matriarch’s, please take your places.   Those families who have other representatives please come up as well.”

Sarah took Hannah by the hand and following Glugh’s instructions, she confidently lead her cousin over the east-side bridge to the south side of the central circle.  There she joined over a score of other children, the oldest being perhaps a year and a half old.  The girls, now silent, took up a position just right of center and turned to face the circle in the closest of two arcs formed by the young ones.  Adults filed across the bridge and moved to the north side of the circle, their backs to the waterfall. They too formed a half-circle-arch that faced the children.  Natalie took her position so she could see her two charges.  When she caught their eyes she smiled reassuringly and gave them a quick wink.

For their part, the Trolls gathered and created an evenly spaced circle on the other side of the streamlet that surrounded the humans.  The largest Trolls took up the points of the compass with the north and south individuals easily straddling the water.  These massive creatures of the Earth stood three and four meters tall.  One, a two headed Troll, took the north position while an   old hag took the south.   Perhaps two score or more others spaced themselves with the oldest on the north and the younger on the south sides of the circle.  Glugh and Mass were both close to the center of the circle still on the southern half of the assemblage.   Both smiled at their families as they took their places and focused on the form in the center of the circle.

            To the world, it was the stuff that nightmares are made of.  But to the humans and trolls who knew, it was the experience of a lifetime. Though in the morning it would be recalled, if at all, as only a dream, yet the participants all knew that it would somehow affect them for the rest of their lives.  It was then that the Troll children filed in and took their places between the human children who made way for them.  They had been ‘held back’ ceremonially because they were the newest of the Earth and they were fewer in number.  Hannah and Sarah were both thrilled that their chosen position allowed them to have a troll child on either side of them and though almost twice their size, the two girls looked up and smiled at them Broad mouths smiled back in return.  To Hannah’s left was a two headed child which surprised and pleased her greatly.  It was all she could do to keep from starting to talk with him but, she restrained herself as silence fell on the group. 

As the final hush rolled through the Earthen Cathedral, the old Troll who made the announcement moved slowly away from the water fall where he had been standing.  With slow and deliberate steps supported by his sturdy cane he walked around the outer circle of Trolls who parted so he could cross the West bridge.   Wordlessly he moved up beside the central stalagmite and cleared his throat.

“It is time,” he said softly.  “Let the Rite of Invocation begin.”  He then turned and, with a surprising quickness, returned to his position beside the waterfall.

As he crossed the bridge the stalagmite opened his eyes and smiled.  “It seems they get younger every year,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes.  “It’s either that or I am getting older..” he paused for affect “....but I sure don’t feel any older.”

In spite of the solemn occasion the group could not help but chuckle or smile briefly.   The Ancient, or “Ancient” as he was called, had lived in this underground cavern since time out of mind.  Only a few of the greater mountain trolls could recall the young Troll who had been struck by a shaft of sunlight when the place where he was hidden for the day collapsed in a sudden quake of the surrounding earth.  His friends had pulled him into the shadows but not before his body had been damaged beyond repair and proper use.  But by some cruel twist of fate, as he interpreted it then, his mind and heart had continued to live.  His body could not move from the neck down but it still needed nourishment and care.  His friends had carried him deep into the mountain where they hoped the earth’s strength would heal the unfortunate troll.  It had not.  Eons had passed and the Earth changed.  Ancient’s body was covered up to the neck.  The building Earth had formed a stone cap on top his head, and for all the world he looked like part of the cave where he dwelt.  Over the last dozen or so centuries friends and other Trolls had cleared the caverns of rubble and created the magnificent cavern in which they all now stood as an eternal hall for the ceremony that was about to transpire.

“Children of the Earth,” intoned Ancient.  “Welcome.  You, who are born of the five elements, are now invited to join hands and within your hearts bear record to this Rite that has united us here this night.  All of you are here because you are the descendants of Trolls and Humans who became friends some under the most trying of circumstances.   The words of this Rite are a solemn reminder of what all life shares, and though most of you will recall this night as you would a dream what is said will become part of your inner heart, giving you strength and knowledge to draw on when all seems the darkest.   Like your fore-bearers you will have insights and wisdom shared by only a few of your peers and no matter where your life takes you I promise that it will be made more sweet by what you hear now if you allow yourselves to remember.   Your unity of purpose as individuals and as a collective spread throughout this world, will become a beacon that you may choose to share and others may choose to follow.”

Ancient paused and looked around.  If they could have answered both Hannah and Sarah would have told you that he looked at each one of the participants and seemed to see into their hearts.  Even the adults, human and troll, were not immune to the scrutiny even though many of them stood behind the southward looking being.  As he started the only sound was that of the water flowing pure and clear toward the lake and the crackle and sparks of the fires.

 Ancient began to speak: the Rite of Invocation had begun.

“The visions and powers of old are unchanging.  Knowledge and power are continually  expanding.  What the Earth’s inhabitants so proudly continue to discover, in the many wonders, information and powers of this sphere, is but a small portion of what has been known to the Gods and Nature since the beginning of time.  Never forget that what is known today will always be just  the beginning of creature kind’s discovery of that knowledge and power.   You must also never forget that the understanding thereof can only be accomplished in a unified and harmonious manner.  A harmony between all that exists up this world.   If that harmony is not found then the process of discovery will slow to a trickle.  We can not afford to let the ‘creation of the new’ overbalance the ‘proven of the past’.  We must always understand that ‘new is not always better’, convenience is not always faster and fast is rarely higher quality.  Seek you balance and harmony then between these while clinging to the values that change not: Love, Honor, Respect, Hard Work, Integrity, Honesty and above all service and charity.  Show valor by doing your best in all you do for that is what your ancestors did to allow you to be here this night.

You will never lack if you can look into the eyes of your Elders and tell them that you have done your best.  Notice I did not say ‘The best you know how’ because most often doing your best means learning more than you knew to start with.

Remember, also, the adage that it is better to dig for good than to scratch for the bad.  The world is good, nature is true, the true Gods are fair and just.  Seek harmony and peace with them and your life, no matter how demanding and painful, will be sweet and enlightening.

Finally, remember, nothing is lost.  You are and always will be eternal, the uniqueness that is you will go beyond this realm.  Your nature and individualism will go on and you will receive according to that which you do along the way.  The True and the good will bring good rewards and opportunities for growth.   The reverse is also is true.  Never, over the eternal progress of life will the Good be forsaken and those that choose to violate the great values will never be rewarded beyond a temporary respite.  This is the vision of old and of the future.

Children of the Earth, go forward.  Learn the truth of these words that I have spoken.  You have all been born with an inner light that knows these things are true.  Keep that light shining for all to see and I promise, no matter what happens in life and regardless of whether it be long or short, it will prove sweet as you continue into the eternities.  And if Eternity is tomorrow or if you live the life of a stone it will be well with you.  Now go in peace and be happy.”

For several seconds all was silent, then one woman sniffed as tears of joy rolled down

her cheek.  Most of the children toddled or ran to their presiding adults and began to hug and chatter in excitement.  Hannah, however, turned to the two headed child next to her.

“I’m Hannah!” she said shyly.

“I Bok,” said the left head.

“I Kar,” chimed the other.  “You happy?”

“Very!” replied Hannah softly.  “I just wish I could remember it all.”

Bok nodded.  “Human world strange.  We remember for you.  Come see you.”

“In America?   To Utah?” she exclaimed excited.

“Utah.  Someday.” said Kar with a wide smile.

Hannah returned the smile just as Grandma Natalie called her over.

The ‘magically’ awakened infant moved carefully through the milling humans and trolls.  Already soft pops told of the departure of some of the participants.  Others seemed desirous to stay forever.  Hannah extended all her senses to imprint upon her mind the events of the night in hopes that something would remain with her when she awoke the next morning.  Finally she reached her family, who had watched her progress with delighted amusement.

“They said they would visit me someday!” she exclaimed brightly.

Maas looked over at the two headed child who was already joining his parents, both sporting only one head, and smiled.  He then turned his attention to Hannah and the others.

“Go now.” he announced knowing that it would still take several minutes for the cousins to say their heartfelt farewells and to make their promises to live true to the Invocation.   Finally he took Hannah by the hand and together they watched as Sarah, Natalie and Glugh vanished in a gentle puff of air. 

Hannah gave a final wave and then looked up at Maas with tears trickling down her face.  “I do so wish I could remember.” she whispered.

Maas nodded and in a heartbeat he stood as tall as she was.

“Know,” he said fully understanding.  Her mother, Trina, had been the same way as had her Grandpa.  “Remember in here,” he said touching her heart.

Sarah sighed and squeezed her friend’s hand.  Moments later Maas gently pulled up the blanket on the sleeping infant.

“Love Sarah.” he whispered.  “Remember for you I will.  Time right you will know.”

With a smile he turned away and hopped down to the floor, knowing that Glugh was saying about the same thing to Sarah.  He then peeked in on Trina and her husband Cam before slipping out into the night to return home.

*****

Grandma Natalie gazed silently at the statue of the dancing troll couple she had received a few years back and thought for the thousandth time of her husband.   She did not recall falling asleep in the soft green corner chair, nor could she fully recall the dream from which she had just awakened.  The television, in the opposite corner across the hearth, showed the off air sign and the soft static buzzed incessantly in her ear.  With a sigh she stood, clicked of the TV and started toward her bedroom.  A soft rustling sound behind her caught her attention.  She glanced down into the kitchen and noted that the cream and dab of butter she had left in a bowl by the door was gone.

“Good night, Glugh,” she murmured sleepily.  “Please turn off the light before you leave.”

Behind her a soft chuckle echoed through the air as the light blinked out leaving the room dark quiet and peaceful.  With a deep sense of satisfaction and hope the Housetroll named Glugh stood on the couch and surveyed this part of his domain.  Satisfied that all was well, a gentle and somewhat mischievous grin spread across his face. 

“Glugh, glugh.  Glugh,” he intoned raspily.  “Blessed Night!”

No one in the house heard the main door locks click shut nor the gentle thump of the outer door as it ‘kooshed’ shut.  At that exact moment, downstairs in the protective comfort of her crib, a tiny child smiled and entered a very sweet dream.