He-Witch

*"The Gates of Hel. There will my sword be just. I will enjoy feeding Draugr til then in everlasting night."
"Then shall you also enjoy the moment when you must choose between kindness for your kin and hate for your enemies – for this I also prophesy."*
―Amleth and the He-Witch[src]
The **He-Witch** is an ancient sorceror encountered by Amleth during his quest to avenge to avenge his father, King Aurvandil War Raven.

## Biography

### Background

*"Poor Heimir..."
"He speaks of days passed...and days yet to come. Fjölnir cut out his tongue and plucked out his eyes before killing him, but I gave him ones anew..."*
―The He-Witch to Amleth[src]
The He-Witch acquires the severed head of Heimir the Fool some time after he is killed by Fjölnir the Brotherless and uses it to commune with Heimir's spirit.

### Encounter with Amleth

*"Mark well the full moon's light. For Shadows are not hospitable hosts."*
―The He-Witch to Amleth[src]

The He-Witch chants and beats a drum as Amleth enters his cave, having been led there by an Arctic Fox Vixen. He invites Amleth to sit and the prince asks if the vixen told him his name. The witch reveals that Heimir told him and produces his severed, rotting head. He tells Amleth that Heimir speaks of days passed and days yet to come and reveals that Fjölnir cut out his tongue and plucked out his eyes before killing him. He then proclaims that he made him ones anew and laughs.

Amleth promises to avenge Heimir, but the witch states that he must address him, for Heimir's ears also met with Fjölnir's blade and he has not made him new ones. Amleth grows impatient and the witch declares him to be a beast cloaked in man flesh. Amleth demands that he speak and the witch angrily agrees, calling him a slave. He cuts off a piece of Heimir's hair and throws it into the fire. He then beats his drum and calls to Heimir's spirit.

Heimir communes with Amleth and informs him of Draugr, an ancient sword forged by the deadliest war-smiths who ever lived. Once Heimir departs, the witch tells Amleth that the sword is of a difficult nature, for it can only be unsheathed in the dark of night or a Hel's black gates. Amleth declares that it is there that his sword will be just and he will enjoy feeding Draugr until then, but the witch tells him that there will also come a time when he must choose between kindness for his kin and hate for his enemies. Amleth states that that is nothing, for his heart knows only revenge.

Amleth asks to be shown the sword, but the witch tells him that he must visit its owner; the Mound Dweller. He holds up a snake and tells Amleth to mark well the full moon's light, for shadows are not hospitable hosts, before throwing it at him. Amleth recoils, but it turns out to only be a length of rope, for which the witch laughs at him.

## Personality

*"My torment is reward enough for midnight doings. Speak, witch!"
"So be it, slave!"*
―Amleth and the He-Witch[src]
The He-Witch follows the threads spun by the Norns of Fate. He aids Amleth during his quest, but grows annoyed by the prince's haste as he imparts information to him. He keeps the severed head of Heimir, but laughs in a sadistic manner when he tells Amleth of how the fool died. He has one last laugh at Amleth when he throws a snake at him, which turns out to simply be a length of rope.

## Religion

*"Hear me, Ódinn, all-father of the gods. Summon the shadows of ages past, when the thread-spinning Norns ruled the fates of men. Hear of a prince's vengeance quenched at the fiery gates of Hel, a prince destined for Valhöll. Hear me!"*
―The He-Witch[src]
The He-Witch is a devout worshipper of Ódinn the All-Father. He performs rituals to commune with Heimir's spirit, making use of the late fool's head.

## Trivia

* The He-Witch has no equivalent in Saxo Grammaticus' legend, though he is similar to the First Gravedigger from William Shakespeare's *Hamlet*.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Eggers, Robert; Sjón, *The Northman*, Focus Features, USA, April 22, 2022