Post by Ulf Hednir on Jun 9, 2017 15:16:15 GMT
“Cattle die, kindred die, we ourselves also die;
but the fair fame never dies of him who has earned it.”
-The Havamal
The weather was quite cool at this particular hour--the morning mist caused each blade of grass to glisten while the sun peered out from the horizon; the face of the mountain lit up from the light of the sun. The mountain stretched high; it overlooked a river that emptied itself into the fjord. Nearing the middle of the mountain was a lone climber; clad in all the appropriate climbing gear, the man dangled freely -- Ulf Hednir, he had a smile on his face as he looked toward his eventual goal of reaching the peak. He stretched his arm upward gripping the rock before using his legs to propel himself upward before getting to another secure location. He snaps his carabiner to a ring that was placed in the mountain side from a previous climb, and he sits there momentarily.
I could not keep myself from smiling ever since my first match ended with a resounding victory. I felt as if jeg had pleased the gods; I felt like jeg was growing closer toward my goal to bring fame to my family name… to honor my ancestors… by showing the world what jeg was capable of doing. Although I did feel like jeg did in fact please the gods, how could jeg be so certain? Was I pleasing them? Or pleasing myself? The question did linger; but it still did not erase my smile.
Ulf takes the carabiner from its ring and continued climbing the mountain. His mind’s focus was racing back and forth between the next rock on the mountain to ascend, and his next step to ascend the ranks of IWF and eventually become the champion. One step at a time, he thought to himself, a message directed toward both the mountain and his newly found professional wrestling career. Ulf climbs further up the mountain.
Ever since my victory, jeg continued to consider the Norns… the question remained: did I succeed because they chose me to? Or did I succeed because every man and woman has the chance to change his or her own destiny? But there’s one more question that still stood out to me above all else: did it matter? Yes, jeg seeked to please the gods… yes, it even got to the point that I challenged them; I challenged them, telling them that jeg was going to be great, with or without their will, and I would keep fighting until they decided to see things my way. That was the only option that jeg had if they were to stand against me. If jeg were to give up, jeg would dishonor my ancestors… my family…
And myself.
That is why, no matter what, I knew that I could not give up… I would not give up… This week was going to be another step; this week was my week to prove that jeg was not a lucky shot in the dark. This is the week that I show the world that jeg am here to stay!
Nearing the top of the mountain, Ulf grips his hand on the edge of it and pulls himself up… he gives a tug on the rope to ensure that it is still secure and that he would not fall to his death, should he stumble at the top of the mountain; he treads carefully forward before finding a flattened rock near the top where he is able to take a seat. The wind howls louder at this elevation, but he enjoys the scenery that he is able to see; the fjord in the distance, the silent river flowing -- although it had looked calm from where he sat, he knew that the weather was not permitting it. The clouds had blocked out the sun, and Ulf could tell from the distance as they were enveloping the terrain below. A crack of thunder can be heard from inside the clouds, causing Ulf to smile pleasantly; he speaks aloud, albeit seemingly to himself.
Ulf Hednir:
“Thor! Jeg hører deg komme meg… Tell me, Thor, er du forøyd med ytelsen min? Er du fornøyd med min seier?”
I stared intently toward the cloud, looking for a sign from the god of thunder; the protector of mankind; what would his answer be? Jeg heard Thor slam his hammer again, and light up the sky -- while some may hear anger, jeg hear his approval…
The sky lights up several times from a series of lightning flashes; the thunder grows louder.
Ulf Hednir:
“Takk, Thor.”
I nodded my head, and closed my eyes letting the spirit of Thor surround me. My hope… that he would grant me his strength as jeg continue on my own journey. Jeg stretch my arms out to my sides embracing Thor’s presence; the dark clouds were drawing ever closer, and the booming thunder more rapid.
“It is said that Odin used Ymir’s bones to create the mountains that are known all throughout Midgard-- the world-- mountains that jeg have grown to be familiar with like Galdhøpiggen, Skarstind and the whole range of Jotunheimen! Even to Everest, or Denali-- jeg could list mountains all day, but the point of this is simple: we are presented a mountain each day in our lives… those mountains may represent doubt; some allow that doubt to creep into their mind and let the Norns dictate their life to the fullest, never knowing that the Norns could have fated you wrong-- it is great to have them on your side, but there is no fate nor destiny that is set in stone. People doubt themselves; people allow themselves to become nothing simply because they doubt that they will be able to conquer the mountain presented to them on any particular day.
I choose not to let doubt enter my mind-- I said it last week, and I will repeat it: I will not let the Norns dictate my life-- if they are on my side: great. If they are standing against me: it is probably best that they remove themselves from my path. Because jeg will not be stopped. Just as Mr. Happy represented my mountain last week, and some may say he was sent on my path by the great deceiver; jeg did not let the thought of Loki standing against me stop me from stepping into the IWF for the very first time and conquering the mountain that stood before me! I did not let doubt enter my mind for an instant to believe that jeg could not do what jeg sought out to do! There is no doubt in my mind--”
Ulf lifts his hand to his head and taps his index finger against his own cranium.
“--that I will be recognized as one of the greats. That I will be able to walk into the same ring as the current Imperial Champion, Andrew Jacobsen, and jeg will be able to battle him for the championship, and walk out much like jeg did against Mr. Happy! Much like jeg intend to do with Dre Cutler! Much like jeg will do so long as jeg draw breath from my body-- to my understanding, I have received this contract with a very large opportunity.
Heir to the Throne.
If I am successful enough within my first couple months, jeg could very well make that drøm, become a virkelighet; jeg vil gå to the ring against Andrew Jacobsen with the Imperial Championship on the line! Jeg vil!”
I allowed myself to smile as jeg looked toward my own hands; jeg knew that my ambition was in my own hands… the opportunity was in my own hands… jeg was the master, and shaper of my own destiny, but jeg knew jeg had a long, hard road ahead of me. Ja, the Imperial Championship was on my mind quite early on in my career.
“There… is… no doubt, in my mind, that jeg possess the capabilities to step into the ring with the greatest of the greats; names that have been renown for years in the professional wrestling industry. Ja, jeg only defeated Mr. Happy; jeg feel as if jeg could defeat the best… because jeg feel that I could step into the ring with Cable Arcane; like jeg could step into the ring with Spike Kane… Alex Jones… Mike Laszlo… any mann who has once held the Imperial Championship; I know-- that jeg could step into the ring with them, and take them to the absolute grenser!
There is just no room for doubt in my mind as jeg gĂĄ forward on my journey; jeg know that jeg can climb this mountain to the peak! The next thing that this mountain may represent, that another lot of people allow get the best of them-- Frykt. Fear. People fear that they are not going to be good enough to stand at the top of the mountain-- and it goes beyond that! People not only fear that they are not going to be able to stand at the top of the mountain, but they also fear that once they have come to the top of the mountain:
Who is after them?
For one to climb to the top of the mountain, you must also eventually climb down; are du going to climb down the mountain on your own? Or is someone going to force du down? That threat is always going to be there. Somebody is always going to be looking for bettering you; that is why you must always look to better yourself.”
My own smile would not fade, as I thought of standing atop the mountain as close to the gods as any man could be.
“I am not afraid. Jeg am not afraid of the next person who is going to aim to take my place at the top of the highest mountain; I will fight them to my final breath… and should that day come that they take me from that peak, jeg will know that they have earned it! And that simply means that I must climb my way back to the top!
Og jeg vil!
There is one certain thing in this world; a universal truth that we must all agree on… it does not matter what religion you choose to follow, nor path du gå. Vi alle dør. We… all… die… your housepets, your family, your friends, yourselves; the one universal truth, no matter what part of the world du live on: we all die. Our fame does not; our stories do not! Jeg know the stories of many; Beowulf and Grendel. Achilles; the Trojan War; the Spartans! Guan Yu of the Han Dynasty! Every culture has had their share of stories, and the names carry on through generations.
My own story must continue.
Og det gjør det. This week, jeg am stepping into the ring with a mann who had the courage granted to him by Tyr to accept my challenge! Du se, jeg knew that it was far too early for me to request a break, especially after my own victory!
Dru Cutler…
SkĂĄl, venn!
Jeg applaud your confidence. Jeg applaud your courage. Jeg even velkomme your advice to me; but that is where jeg must stop du… Jeg appreciate your advice, but jeg must make my own path, in my own way. Du understand, ja?
You are quite confident, and jeg admire that; it is the same confidence inside of me that is driving me forward-- it is that confidence that sees the next obstacle in front of me as you, as som berget! The mountain that jeg must conquer to gå forth. Du see greatness in me, because it is there. Because I have crafted that greatness over my life… as a boy competing in glìma in Norway, jeg defeated many in my own age gap, and own weight class; jeg strived to be better. Jeg became… better. It is not jeg ønsker ikke to crush your spirit, but if it is what jeg must do to advance forward on my own. It is what jeg vil do.”
For the first time, I could not bring myself to smile-- my mind knew that Dru Cutler was a great opponent, and a great competitor, but I knew in my spirit, much like he felt in his, that I was going to walk out with this victory. That I was destined for greatness. And while he also looked for his own greatness, I could not let it extinguish my own.
“You may make your promises, Dru, you may promise everybody that you will be victorious much like the Norns have promised a destiny filled with riches… only for those men to be disappointed. Jeg know of the Norns, and whether they protect you or not has yet to be seen; but whether they do or not, it does not matter…
Because jeg will not be defeated. Jeg will not accept defeat! This Monday, at Sacrifice; du become the Sacrifice… og du er flott! But it will not be enough. Lykke til, Dru; jeg vil se du in the ring.”
I closed my eyes, and I was blessed with the vision of a hammer-- two ravens flying toward me-- I smiled again at these images, and felt the words escape my lips.
“Tyr… grant me your courage. Thor… grant me your strength. Odin… grant me your wisdom. These er the bare things jeg need to gå forward. These er the only things jeg need to earn my spot in Heir to the Throne; these are… the only things I need… to become Imperial Champion.”
I opened my eyes, staring directly into the camera in front of me.
“One mountain at a time. Dru Cutler; at Sacrifice, I will walk out with my arm raised as the victor. You are just going to the first of many on my path to achieve greatness!”
Well howdy there pardner.