Dyrfinna

Name: Dyrfinna Helgisdottir
Gender: Female
Age: 21
Occupation: Volva
Sexual Preference: Bi-sexual
Status: Single
Hair: Red, to the middle of her back
Eyes: Blue
Skin: Fair, but lightly tanned
Height & Weight: 5'7", 130lbs
Traits: Insightful, principled, passionate, altruistic, creative, reluctant to open up, prone to burn-out
Likes: Teaching Freydis seidr, practicing seidr, healing people, foraging for herbs, making potions and salves, cooking
Dislikes: Egil

Dyrfinna was born to one of King Sigurd's hersir, a man named Helgi, and his wife, a shamaness named Dagny. She was followed by a few miscarriages, and a little brother who was six years younger than she was. Dyrfinna grew up learning to forage for herbs and plants to use for medicinal purposes, as well as spiritual purposes. She learned how to make healing potions and tonics and elixirs and salves. She grew up learning how to deliver babies, as Dagny was a skilled midwife as well as healer. Dyrfinna grew up learning how to care for a baby as well, as she helped care for her little brother.

Most importantly she learned the art of seidr magic through going into ecstatic trance. At first Dyrfinna had to use henbane to experience it, but with enough practice she was able to get to that state naturally simply through focusing on her breath. That particular way to reach the transcended state took longer than using henbane, however. Her mother told her nothing of reaching ecstatic transcendence through physical means, Dyrfinna had to learn it was possible on her own.

She had had several male partners, but had to put an end to those relationships when the men began to display signs of possessiveness and jealousy. That was simply not a lifestyle she wanted to live in. Dyrfinna chalked those guys up as learning experiences, both for seidr and for learning boundaries.

Her most important and most serious relationship came in the form of Freydis Sigurdsdottir, who originally came to her to learn the art of seidr. Dyrfinna taught her the way she had learned... first by taking henbane a few times, then by learning to reach that state naturally. Freydis was so beautiful, Dyrfinna thought to herself several times while keeping a watch over her while she reached the transcended state and then came back to Midgard.

When Freydis had mastered those(and she was a natural and a quick learner), she asked Dyrfinna if there were other ways to reach that state. Dyrfinna could feel her face flushing as she admitted there was. Freydis leaned in closer to Dyrfinna and said in a low and sultry tone,"I'd like you to teach me." Dyrfinna could no longer resist her urges and kissed Freydis, who passionately kissed her back. From that point on, every chance they could get to practice seidr together, they would.

As much at they loved each other, though, they both knew that Freydis would not be able to remain loyal to her, which was what Dyrfinna was looking for in a partner. So they agreed to remain friends, however from time to time Freydis would come to Dyrfinna's home to practice seidr together.

It was one of those times that Dyrfinna received a vision of the fall of Birka. She saw a bear with fur so dark it was black trample everyone down, including Sigurd, then pinned Gyda down and looked around for Freydis. Dyrfinna shot straight up from the bed, heart pounding and mind racing. "Dyrfinna, you need to get out of Birkia, now," she explained, pulling Freydis's clothes to shove into her arms. "You need to get Fjormos and go... now!" she said with more urgency.

"You're coming with too, aren't you?" Freydis asked as she hurriedly dressed.

This was the question Dyrfinna dreaded, mostly because she hadn't decided yet. But now she was being forced to make a decision. "I'm sorry, I can't. Your sister needs me." Dyrfinna stepped forward and kissed Freydis on the lips, then held her face between her hands and touched foreheads with her before quickly and abruptly pulling away. "Go. Now. And may the Gods be with you."

After sending Freydis off, not knowing if she'd ever see her again, Dyrfinna began making her way towards the Great Hall, where Gyda would have been. She reached it moments before the raiding ships landed at their docks and began fighting their way towards the Great Hall. Inside she found Gyda, standing perfectly still, watching the main doors, which were currently shut. Dyrfinna knew Gyda hoped that when those doors opened, it would be her father. But it wasn't. It was Egil.

Dyrfinna watched as he leaned in and gave Gyda the ultimatum: be his as his slave, or be his as his wife. Dyrfinna pitied the position the poor woman was put into. She chose to be his wife, the wiser of the two options. The two were married that very day, and Egil became the King of Birka. He then began looking for Freydis, having promised her to Jarl Ivar who helped him take over Birka.

Posing as Gyda's handmaiden, and healer of the court, Dyrfinna concocted a nightly tea for Gyda to help prevent pregnancy. She hated the way Egil treated Gyda, but knew better than to rock the boat. The last thing she wanted for for Gyda to have no one. While she continuously bit her tongue, she wondered how Freydis was doing. She hoped Freydis was on her way to Tonsberg, where Gyda's true fiance resided. King Harald would be able to overthrow Egil and save Gyda.

Only... they ended up getting a messanger from Tonsberg, who stated that King Harald changed his mind about marriage, and that they could keep the bride price for their troubles. It appeared they were completely unaware that Sigurd was dead and Egil was now king. Maybe, even without the marriage contract, Freydis could still convince him to help Birka? Dyrfinna could only hope.

Part 1

Part 2