Skallagrimr
Hear in the halls the telling of tales, the singing of songs of the mind’s worth of heroes, and the sagas stories spun by the skalds. In the sagas it is said to rise to an early meal, to speak through the cup-stream at the tables of kings. But Orren, ring-breaker and securer of glory to the Falcon host, knows that gold must gild those who fill the hall with feasting. And Lyra, the nourisher of wisdom and reconciler of assemblies, rewards those whose backs are bent to tend the fire and who secure the fields of battle for all of the companies of the purple and gold.
Skallagrímr Bárðarson is named hunger-appeaser and fire spreader, gentle bringer of honour. Further is he named to the Cross of Calontir, clad in finest fabrics forever in the sight of all beneath the world’s hall. Let a ring be broken for him, and the horns drained for him, and a joyous place be set for him in halls he has served and fed.
Done on the __ day of ________________________, on the spear-fields of Glenn Abhann, where the warriors of the Falcon have gone to war.
Konungr Drottning
Dyrfinna
Hear in the halls the speech-tools of the skalds, the wisdom of the callers of battles and reciters of names. Those who give voice to the deeds of the companies of the Falcon are precious to Orren, wolf-gracious bestower of gifts. Those who ensure the shields of the shield-breakers are remembered for all time are sacred to Lyra, ring-princess and gold thrower.
Dyrfinna Tonnudottir is named sorrow-thief and possessor of splendor, bright lady of the word-weapons and wyrd weaving. She has named the people of the purple and gold, brought shape to the lands of the Crown, and is named to the Cross of Calontir. Let a ring be broken for her, and her lineage recorded among the lines she has kept for so long. Call her name, oh Calontir, as she has called you to yours.
Done on the __ day of ________________________, in the halls of the heartland, before the folk moot of the Falcon.
Konungr Drottning
(Both texts are done in a Norse style, with generous use of kennings—both historically attributed and created. The line about rising early to a meal is adapted from the Poetic Edda. Skallagrimr’s text focuses on his work with feasts and as an event steward—secure the fields of battle—while Dyrfinna’s focuses on her work as a herald.
The goal was to make both texts work independently, but also to resemble one another in such a way as to work as a matched pair.
Mind’s Worth – Honor
Cup Stream – Drink
Ring-Breaker and Securer of Glory are both kennings for a great or wise ruler, as are Nourisher of Wisdom and Reconciler of Assemblies.
Hunger-appeaser – someone who feeds others
Fire spreader – generous man
Callers of Battles and Reciters of Names are both kennings I created for heralds
Wolf-gracious bestower of gifts – a generous ruler, which is the same for ring-princess and gold thrower
Sorrow-thief is a generous person, because they steal sorrow from others. Word-weapons refers to the ability to speak, appropriate for a herald, and wyrd weaving refers obliquely to setting someone’s fate by naming them. Also, Dyrfinna is a weaver.)