For long I walked through the silent night. Following the dark, massive contours of a mountain that covered the horizon like a slumbering dragon resting on the ground. The full moon spread a pale light from its heavenly firmament and followed my lonely steps as my only witness. I had no idea where my restless steps would lead me or what awaited me ahead. All I knew was that something guided me through the darkness that surrounded me. Something so strong, that it eased the pain and sadness that filled my heart and haunted my soul. I have no idea for how long I had walked like that, when suddenly a glimmering stream crossed my path. I stopped and gazed down… the clear water looked like silver in the moonlight, drawing my attention to it. As I sat down beside the stream, I suddenly realized how tired I was. So tired of walking and searching. Tired of following the mountain that blocked the horizon and my path. Tears from my eyes fell into the water, turning into nacreous droplets on their way down. It seemed like time stopped as I sat there, staring at the water… drifting away in my mind.

Then very slowly and softly, shimmering tones from afar reached my consciousness. The different tones blended into a beautiful yet sad melody, which played directly to my heart and brought me back to awareness. As I looked up, I saw a man sitting in the stream in front of me. I realized that the soft tones came from the violin he was playing. I watched the man in silence… afraid to move or speak and break the magic that filled the air. He continued to play with his eyes closed and a peaceful expression on his melancholy face. His naked skin glittered in the moonlight and the long, silver white hair curled like wild sea serpents down his bare shoulders. The beautiful melody spellbound me with its enchanting tones and I felt no fear in my heart… Yet my senses told me I should be afraid, for I knew what he was. It was Näcken… the one who lived in the stream and was doomed to play his magical tones and lure people to him… to seal their fate in the dark, whirling streams.

Then suddenly his tones spoken to me… "Why are you crying?"

I could hear the words very distinctly, yet he didn’t move a muscle in his face.

"Because I cannot pass the mountain and my love is somewhere on the other side."

The man continued to play for a while and then opened his green, intensive eyes and looked straight through me.

"Your are blinded by tears my child. Let go of the fear and pain for a moment and look around you… In a different light."

I looked up and noticed that darkness had scattered and that dawn had started to transform the landscape with its warm, hopeful colors. I looked at the horizon and to my surprise, the mountain was gone. Nothing blocked my view anymore. I sat still for a long time and watched the rising sun as it climbed towards the sky. It filled my heart with such joy and happiness. I wanted to get up on my feet and carry on with my journey now that the mountain had vanished… but something held me back.

"So why don’t you continue my child?" The soft tones spoken to me once more as if the man could read my mind and sense all my feelings.

"Even if the mountain is gone, I do not know the way to my love who is waiting for me."

In that moment, the shimmering tones faded away and dawn became silent. The man stopped playing and he looked at me with a sad, longing expression in his green eyes. He opened his mouth to speak and the words gushed like cool water over my troubled soul.

"I know how it is to have loved and lost. I cannot lure you with me... you must continue to search for your love."

The man floated closer and reached out his arm towards me. Then he slowly opened the palm of his hand… it was filled with pebbles.

"Take these pebbles with you on your journey. When you feel lost and lonely, throw a pebble into the water. My stream shall carry them to your love and strengthen the bound of hope and faith between you."

I smiled at him and took the pebbles gently in my hand. Then started walking with easy steps, following the stream as it winded through the shifting landscape towards the horizon.

Morina, July 28th 1999