Glossary

GLOSSARY

Since I am from Sweden, I use mostly that language’s version of the Norse mythology terms. Also, these definitions are how they apply to the Norse Warrior Protectors world. Other Norse mythology sources offer different meanings

This glossary spans the entire series. Some of these terms may not appear in this book. Also, in the Scandinavian languages, the letters ? , ? and ? , or their equivalent, appear at the end of the alphabets. But here, I’ve put them at the beginning because that is where most English speakers would look for them.

Terms & Phrases

?lskling: Term of endearment. The literal translation would be something like “beloved.” But it’s often used as Americans use “dearest” or “darling.”

?lv Fortrollning : Swedish term for elven magic, elven illusions .

?sir : A family of deities concerned mainly with the cultivation of power and war.

Asg?rd, Asgard : The realm (world) where Gods and Goddesses live.

Battle Mark : A scar earned in battle and therefore brings the wearer honor and beauty.

Berserker : The Valkyries’ and Vikings’ internal warrior spirit that whips into battle fury when they—or someone they love—are threatened.

Blót: A ceremony that connects the warriors with each other and the deity to which the blót is aimed. Usually a communal toast is invoked.

Borg : Swedish term for Fortress .

Drottning : Swedish term for Queen .

Eddas : See Icelandic Sagas .

Einherjar : Vikings and Valkyries who died in battle and then trained with Odin and Freya in Asgard . When ready, the gods send them back to Midgard to protect the regular humans.

Eir: Goddess of healing. Her symbols are the mortar and pestle and she has a gray jaybird as a companion.

Feberandas : What the Vikings and Valkyries call it when they absorb human sexual emotions to keep their berserker spirits from entering permanent battle fury. Literal translation: Fever Breathing.

Folkvagn : Another word for Freya’s Meadow . Where Valkyries who have died an honorable death spend their afterlife, training with Freya until she sends them back to Midgard to protect regular humans.

Freki : One of Odin’s two wolves. They haunt the battlefield and feast on the slain warriors who are not admitted to Valhalla or Folkvagn . The name means the gluttonous or greedy one.

Freya/Freyja : The goddess of fertility, sex, beauty, and war. She rides a chariot pulled by two cats that Thor gave her, and rules the Norse Gods’ Council with Odin. Unlike most of the Norse Gods and Goddesses on the council, she belongs to a group of deities called Vanir that are able to see the future and practice seidhr .

Freya’s Meadow : Where Valkyries who have died an honorable death spend their afterlife, training with Freya until she sends them back to Midgard to protect regular humans.

Frigg : Odin’s wife and goddess of marriage and motherhood.

Garm : The wolfhound that guards the entrance to Hel, the underworld of the dead.

Geri : One of Odin’s two wolves. They haunt the battlefield and feast on the slain warriors who are not admitted to Valhalla or Folkvagn . The name means the greedy or the ravenous one.

Hel: The underworld of the dead. The entrance is guarded by the wolfhound Garm.

Honorable Death : A death earned in battle, which earns you a place in Valhalla or Folkvagn .

Huginn : One of Odin’s ravens. The name means thought.

H?ll tyst : Swedish for shut up .

Icelandic Sagas : Collective noun for the Prose Edda and the Poetic Edda , plus other texts about Norse Mythology and Viking kings. They were written in the 13 th century, hundreds of years after the end of the Viking age.

J?nta : Swedish term for little girl.

J?rv : Swedish term for wolverine .

J?vlar, helvetes, skit : Swedish cursing phrase. Literal translation: Devils, hells, shit.

Jormungandr : The Midgard Serpent

A gigantic sea serpent or worm that encircles the Earth and bites its own tail. The violent unrest of the sea as the Midgard Serpent lets go of its tale is a sign of Ragnarok starting.

Jul : Swedish term for Yule, Christmas.

Julbord : A big spread of Swedish Christmas foods.

Julg?va : Swedish term for Yule Gift, Christmas Present.

Kung : Swedish term for King .

Langbardarland : What the Vikings called today’s Italy.

Lofn : The goddess of forbidden love. She champions true love beyond challenges and traditional boundaries. She personifies that love in all its manifestations is sacred and worthy of divine protection.

Loki : The trickster god prophesied to instigate Ragnarok . He can shape shift.

Mjod: Mead. An alcoholic drink made by fermenting honey and mixing it with water. Sometimes spices and other fruits are added.

Midg?rd, Midgard : The realm (world) where humans live.

Midsommar : Midsummer/Summer Solstice, a big holiday and celebration in Sweden.

Mimers Brunn/K?lla : Mimi’s Well

The well of wisdom that nourishes one of Yggdrasil’s roots.

Min Drottning : Swedish for My Queen .

Min Kung : Swedish for My King .

Muninn : One of Odin’s ravens. The name means memory.

Noita : Finnish for wise woman or witch.

Norns : Three deities responsible for shaping destiny. (Similar to the three fates in other mythologies.) They rule the threads of time and draw water from their sacred well, Wyrd, to nourish Yggdrasil. Urd (what has been) spins the threads, Verdandi (what is to be) weaves them, and Skuld (what should be) cuts them short. The Norns invented the Runes. They shape destinies by carving runes into Yggdrasil’s bark.

Odin/Oden : One-eyed god of wisdom and war. He rules the Norse Gods’ council with Freya. Odin sacrificed his eye for a sip from Mimers Brunn —the well of wisdom—to become all-knowing. Sometimes referred to as “The Wise One.”

P?g : Southern Swedish term for little boy.

Pojke : Swedish term for little boy.

Ragnarok : The prophesied final battle between the Norse Gods and other mythological creatures and the end of the worlds. A great flood sweeps the realms, but two humans will survive and start a new world. Loki thinks he will be the only surviving deity and the ruler of this new world.

Runes : Old Norse alphabet and magical symbols.

Saami/Sámi : A nomadic indigenous people who live the region of Sápmi, which covers large northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula in Russia.

Sagas : See Icelandic Sagas .

Seidhr : Magic associated with telling and shaping the future. The magic of the Norns .

Sill: Pickled herring.

Sj?lsfr?nde : A Viking’s or Valkyrie’s soulmate.

When they meet their sj?lsfr?nde , the Midgard Serpent tattoo on their non-sword arm begins to grow and they have to complete the bond with their soulmate or succumb to permanent battle fury. If they do, Odin and Freya have to call them back to Asgard, since they’ll be a danger to themselves and their battle brothers and sisters.

Sk?l : Swedish for cheers.

Sleipnir : Odin’s eight-footed horse.

Stallare : Marshall, second in command.

Stormhatt : Monkshood or Wolfsbane, poisonous herb.

Sv?rd : Sword

True Mate : An ulfhednar shifter’s soulmate. When they meet their true mate, they have to complete their bond or lose control over their wolf. If they do, they’ll be hunted and killed by their pack since they are now a danger to themselves and other wolves.

Ulfhednar : Wolf shifters who serve as Odin's and Freya’s elite warriors.

Valhalla : Odin’s mead hall where warriors who died in battle spend eternity, training with Odin. Or spend as much time as they need before Odin sends them back to Midgard to protect regular humans.

Vanir : A group of deities who practice seidhr, magic associated with telling and shaping the future.

Wyrd : The Norns’ sacred well.

Yggdrasil : The World Tree, The Tree of Life. A sacred ash tree that grows in the middle of Asgard and ties the nine realms (worlds) of Norse Mythology together.