SAGA A Musical script: adapted from J.R.R.Tolkien music and song lyrics: Fabian Lochner Sheiling School, 2012
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
Odin, Loki, Hoenir, three gods Hreidmar, a demon Regin, Fafnir, Otr, his three sons Rán, a sea goddess Andvari, a dwarf
NARRATOR: Of old was an age when Odin walked By wide waters in the world's beginning; Light-footed Loki at his left was running At his right Hoenir roamed beside him.
SONG: We are the Gods
LOKI: Look, Odin, an otter by Andvari's fall! A salmon he savours. He sees us not.
ODIN: Good price will his pelt fetch. Pick him off, Loki! With stone and stealth still him forever!
NARRATOR: Then Loki light-foot lifted a stone. He aimed it true and threw it with power. The stone hit its mark, and otter fell dead. The gods took his pelt and went on their way. At the house they halted of Hreidmar the demon.
ODIN: Hail, Hreidmar! Hear us wanderers! In your home and hall housing we seek.
HREIDMAR: Great gods, givers of trouble, What gleaming gifts give you for my welcome?
LOKI: No gleaming gold, no gifts of silver. Fair pay for your food: the fur of an otter.
HREIDMAR: Otr! My son!
REGIN & FAFNIR: Otr! Our brother!
REGIN, FAFNIR & HREIDMAR: Curse you, killers! Catch them, bind them!
NARRATOR: Father and sons sprang up and seized them Bound fast the gods with Regin's fetters Wrought with runes, rife with enchantments.
HREIDMAR: Afraid in your fetters, foul murderers? Regin has wrought them with runes binding. Pay dear for your deed, or doom will destroy you! Red-golden rings, ransom costly, This fell must fill, this fur cover!
NARRATOR: Then Odin sent Loki to look for gold, The ransom to raise for the rending of Otr. Light-shod Loki over land and waves to Rán came running in her realm of sea.
SONG: DROWN!
LOKI: Dreaded deity, drowner of men, A net I need, noosed with evil, To free my fellows, in fetters caught In Hreidmar's hall, home of demons.
RÁN: Loki Lightfoot, long have I known you. To free your fellows in fetters caught In Hreidmar's hall, home of demons, A net I'll knot you noosed with evil.
NARRATOR: Then light-shod Loki over land and waves To the falls he sped where Otr was felled. As a pike there plunged, his prey hunting, Dwarf Andvari from his dark cavern. Loki's net noosed with evil The dwarf drew up in deadly grip.
LOKI: What fish have I found in the flood leaping, Roaming and rash? Ransom pay me!
ANDVARI: I am Andvari Óin my father. Take all my treasure, trinkets of gold!
LOKI: What hides your hand , holding so tight?
ANDVARI: This ring is little. Leave it with me!
LOKI: All, Andvari, all you must give me, Light rings and heavy, or your life is lost!
NARRATOR: But the dwarf spoke darkly from his diving stone.
ANDVARI: My ring I will curse with wrath and woe! Death it will deal, doom to the bearer. Bane it brings to brothers two. Early will end Odin's hope.
SONG: Curse you!
NARRATOR: Then Loki loped off. leaving the dwarf. In Hreidmar's house they heaped the gold. But the ring of gold Loki gave it to Odin.
HREIDMAR: Red-golden rings, ransom costly, This fell must fill, this fur must cover! A hair not hidden I behold there yet!
NARRATOR: Out drew Odin Andvari's ring. Cursed he cast it on accursed gold.
ODIN: Gold you gained, a god's ransom, For yourself and your sons, seeds of evil.
HREIDMAR: The gods may grudge it, but gold is healing.
NARRATOR: Then up starts Fafnir, fist wielding axe.
FAFNIR: Red-golden rings I will rule alone!
NARRATOR: And Fafnir's father was felled by his son. Gold he grabbed in gore and blood. The dread dreamer, a dragon he turned, Blight on the land, a belching fiend. Gold he guards on Gnita's heath. But one is waiting this woe to end.
SONG: End of the Road
LOKI: Here deadly dwelt dwarfish ring. Death it deals, doom to the bearer. Who will halt this hateful fiend?
ODIN: Wait and watch. One will come. A hero will help, hardship ending. A boy I will bring up, a born fighter. Sigurd will slay the savage beast.
LOKI: The curse kills, no care for heroes! Bane it brings to brothers two, Early will end Odin's hope.
ODIN: Whom Odin chooses ends not untimely, Though little time he has to live. Odin looks to ages after. . In wide Valhalla I wait, feasting. From Hreidmar's house haste now swiftly.
SONG: Suddenly
The End