Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 2008 The aj r of light and gold Alexandria Nicole Werner Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the American Literature Commons, and the Literature in English, North America Commons Recommended Citation Werner, Alexandria Nicole, "The aj r of light and gold" (2008). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 15282. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/15282 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The jar of light and gold by Alexandria Nicole Werner A thesis submitted to the graduate faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS Major: English (Creative Writing) Program of Study Committee: Debra Marquart Lee Poague Jan L. Flora Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 2008 Copyright © Alexandria Nicole Werner, 2008. All rights reserved. UMI Number: 1453095 UMI Microform 1453095 Copyright 2008 by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, MI 48106-1346 ii For NeeNee, Papaw, and Aunt Dee Dee who gave me so many wonderful memories, that the real world without them often seems unbearable. I couldn’t have found these words or worlds without you. iii Table Contents: Prologue Before Norwegian History 1 Ch. 1 Heart’s Blood 3 Ch. 2 Svengred and Refola 6 Ch. 3 A Gift 10 Ch. 4 The Binding of Souls 12 Ch. 5 Of Magic Fruit and Trolls in Trees 15 Ch. 6 The North Wind 22 Ch. 7 Turtles Without Sewers 26 Ch. 8 Komsa 30 Ch. 9 Snake Bites 32 Ch. 10 Reindeer 37 Ch. 11 Treetops and Empty Spaces 41 Ch. 12 The Wedding Foretold 46 Ch. 13 My Girl of the Alligators 52 Ch. 14 The New Generation 57 Ch. 15 Jar of Gold 65 Ch. 16 Refola Lost 70 Ch. 17 Beautiful Hands, Broken Hearts 72 Ch. 18 Saint Olaf 76 Ch. 19 A Mighty Roar 81 Ch. 20 Magnus’ Death 84 Ch. 21 The Fighter 90 Ch. 22 Isabella and the Rift 100 Ch. 23 Forney 108 Ch. 24 Industrialization 115 Ch. 25 Canopy Beds 118 Epilogue Dust to Dust 130 1 Prologue: Before Norwegian History Once upon a time long before the Danes ruled, long long before it was combined with Sweden and Denmark, and even longer before it was free again, Norway was a different place entirely. The creatures living in Norway, before its history began, knew one ruling class: the Trolls. Trolls were like humans, only they were bred of the love of men and the gods and goddesses of the Norwegian forests. Half human and half tree god, trolls towered above people. On their limbs they grew moss and their fingers sprouted leaves instead of nails. Their skins were thicker than human, and would peel away in thick, bark-like pieces. Like the Norwegian people, they had glittering blue eyes and long, thick hair. Unlike the people, their hair was the color of leaves. In the summers, every shade of green could be seen flowing from their heads, and as the seasons changed, their hair color would change to fiery reds, yellows, and oranges. Finally, as the snow began to fall in the winters, their hair was white. With the spring thaw, their icy locks would melt, returning to the many greens, and the cycle began again. For many years, the ruling trolls and the lesser humans lived together in the forests peacefully, but peace is not something that can last where people are involved. The humans died with few years. They became jealous of the trolls and their kinsmen, the trees, who lived for centuries, but in spite of this, the people still loved the trees and the trolls. Their desire was only that they might be given some of the older trees that swayed and bent towards the earth to build shelters. The hope was that, not living in constant exposure to the cold and rain, their lives would span more decades. The trolls refused to allow the people even the smallest or oldest of the trees for shelter. The trolls and trees had believed they 2 were more important than the humans for so long that the people believed in their inferiority without question, though they died too soon and many watched their children succumb to the cold winters as infants. After many hundreds of years, there came a man who did not hold more love for the forests of Norway than he had for his own people. He united the people who wanted to chop down the trees and make houses and space for the Norwegians. This man was called Svengred, and he decided they would fight for a freer humanity. When Svengred started his rebellion, Refola was the queen of the Trolls. As the lifespan of trolls is much longer than that of humans, she had justly ruled Norway for nearly one hundred years. Refola kept a level head and a level hand as ruler, and Svengred’s antics could not shake her. She called him to meet with the board of elders. This meeting is where their story begins, but it is only one half of the story. 3 Ch. 1 Heart’s Blood In a hospital, at a time that I don’t remember, I was born, or so the story goes. It was on my third birthday that I asked my mother to see the pictures of my bloody birthday. I wanted to see the weird, crying, red baby she said was me. I was covered in a film of blood, and I asked, “Did I get shot?” My mother laughed and said, “No, that’s what all babies look like when they’re born.” “Oh.” I stared as she turned the page and my Aunt Mary was holding the bloody thing that was me three years ago. “Babies are gross.” Bored, I left the room to find something better to pass the time. Mom’s stories were okay, but she usually told me the truth. Papaw’s stories were better because he lied. If I asked my grandfather why I was covered in blood on my bloody birthday, he might tell me I was covered in the blood of the animals I had to kill to make it into the world. Unable to find him, I sat on the floor in front of the television, turned to the public broadcast station, and pushed the button that turned on the captions. Without watching the British murder mystery on the screen, I read the small white text out loud. Eventually, my grandfather walked inside the sliding glass door from the backyard. “What are you doing?” He asked sitting down at the kitchen table. “I’m reading this t.v. show.” “Oh yeah?” “Yeah. This is the only channel I can read. The other ones don’t have words.” “Is that right?” “Yes.” I continued to read the words aloud. 4 “Are you having a good birthday?” “Yes.” I looked away from the television, and ran to my grandfather. Settling in his lap, I asked, “What really happened on my bloody birthday? Mom says that all babies come out with blood on them, but I don’t believe her. Did I get shot?” “Oh no, but you’re right, you are very special and your bloody birthday was much different than everyone else’s.” “Why, Papaw?” “Because you were born covered in heart blood. Do you know what that means?” “No.” “It means that you can fix broken hearts. You fixed mine.” “I did?” “Sure. Don’t you remember?” I shook my head no, and settled in for the story. Sitting on Papaw’s lap, I pressed my head against his chest, and the story began, “Not long after your bloody birthday, my heart was broken, and the doctors didn’t know if they could fix it, but they were going to try. I asked your mom to bring you to the hospital because I knew you were born covered in the heart’s blood. Before I went into the place where the doctors were going to try to help me, she put you on my chest, and you fixed me before the doctors ever got a chance to try. Listen, do you hear my heart beating?” We sat quietly as I listened, holding my breath, to the beat in his chest. “Yes, I can hear it.” “That’s because you fixed it. You fixed my heart.” “Wow. Can I fix other people’s hearts too?” 5 “Sometimes. If you believe enough, you can do anything, even fix a broken heart. Don’t tell anyone about it. This is a secret. If other people know, you might not be able to do it anymore.” “I won’t tell anyone.” “Not even NeeNee or your mom or your brother?” “No one.” “Good girl, it’s our secret.” 6 Ch. 2 Svengred and Refola The meeting between Svengred, Queen Refola, and the board of elders was not going well. Svengred had made demand after demand, and refused to make any compromises. Refola had continued to refuse all of Svengred’s commands.