Heimir

*"Wise in measure should each man be, yet wise enough to be the fool."*
―Heimir[src]
**Heimir** the Fool is the jester of the court of King Aurvandil and a high priest in the cult of Loki.

## Biography

### Court Jester

*"Oooh! Look! See how the queen's cup grows wet for more men than her king. What metal might buy a fragrant sip? Sweet silver...? Or hard iron?"*
―Heimir[src]

In 895 AD, Heimir is present in the great hall of Hrafnsey when King Aurvandil returns from a season-long conquest. During the feast, he dances, makes comical noises and exposes his rear end. He amuses those present by dancing and farting until Aurvandil orders him to stop, declaring that they have seen more of him than even his own mother wished to see. The subjects laugh and Heimir bows and steps aside to allow the king to speak.

The king's bastard brother Fjölnir enters the throne room and Queen Gudrún offers him her cup. Heimir makes a crude remark about her cup growing wet for more men than her king. He asks what metal might buy a fragrant ship; sweet silver, as he showers a handful of coins on the floor, or hard iron, as he produces a phallus and slaps it. Fjölnir angrily orders him to be silent, accusing him of slandering his lord and mistress. Aurvandil calms his brother, declaring it a jest. He states that Heimir keeps a foul tongue, but he keeps him as a deep-sworn friend.

### Ritual

*"This is the last tear you will shed in weakness. It will be given back when most you need it."*
―Heimir to Amleth[src]

Later that night, Aurvandil takes his young son Amleth to a nearby temple to prepare him to succeed him as king in the event of his death. Heimir awaits them in a sacred chamber and as they enter and bark like dogs he asks them who barks; the wolves of the High One or the village dogs? He places bowls before them and orders them to drink the Vision Mead of Knowledge. He tells them that it will teach them what it means to live and die and honor, be slain in battle and in death by rewarded by the embrace of the Valkyrja, who will carry them to the shimmering gates of Valhöll. He tells them that they are dogs that wish to becoming men and kneels before Aurvandil, telling him to prove he is not a dog. Aurvandil belches in his face and Heimir comments that not only is he a man, he dines like a king. Heimir then urges Amleth to prove himself, to which Amleth farts, with the king commending his son as a clever pupil.

As the Vision Mead kicks in, Heimir tells Amleth to spy around for hidden foes and that each man must be wise in measure, yet wise enough to be the fool. Aurvandil asks him how Ódinn lost his eye and Amleth replies that it was to learn the secret magic of women. He urges his son never to seek the secrets of women, but to heed them always. Heimir states that it is women who know the mysteries of men; the Norns that spin and weave at the Well of Fate. Aurvandil tells Amleth to live in honor and safeguard his familial blood. Heimir asks Amleth is he knows what that means and Aurvandil tells the boy to avenge him if he falls by an enemy's sword or forever live in shame. Amleth vows to do so, declaring that his blade will not rest until it has drank the blood from his enemy's open neck. Heimir tells Amleth to live always without fear, for his fate is set and he cannot escape it. Amleth swears to uphold his vows.

Aurvandil unwraps the bandages covering his stomach, exposing a deep and bloody wound. Amleth sheds a single teardrop and Heimir takes it, telling him that it is the last tear he will shed in weakness and will be given back to him when he needs it most. Heimir tells Amleth to behold as a man and Aurvandil orders the prince to approach him and behold the Tree of Kings in their blood. He takes the distressed Amleth's hand and presses it against the wound, creating a vision in which Amleth sees the skeletons of his ancestors, all the way through to Aurvandil and ending with himself.

### Death

*"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 next morning, Aurvandil is ambushed and murdered by Fjölnir, who takes Gudrún as his wife and becomes the new king. He tortues Heimir by cutting out his eyes and tongue and cutting off his ears before killing him. Heimir's severed head is later acquired by a He-Witch, who uses it to commune with his spirit.

### Post-Mortem

*"Hear me...wandering prophet...wake now from your murder...Hear me...Heimir...is...come."*
―The He-Witch conjures Heimir's spirit[src]

Years later, Amleth sets out on a quest to avenge his father. He is led to the He-Witch's cave by an Arctic Fox Vixen and the He-Witch presents Heimir's head to him. The witch tells Amleth that Heimir speaks of days passed and days yet to come and reveals the grisly torture that Fjölnir subjected him to before killing him. Amleth promises to avenge Heimir. The witch then cuts off a piece of Heimir's hair and throws it into the fire before beating his drum and calling upon Heimir's spirit.

Heimir greets Amleth, who tells him that he seeks the weapon that the Norns of Fate have chosen for his revenge. Heimir tells him of Draugr the Undead, a sword forged by the deadliest war-smiths who ever lived. Once Heimir's spirit departs, the witch tells Amleth that in order to acquire the sword, he must defeat the Mound Dweller. Amleth does so and uses it kill Fjölnir's soldiers and family before avenging Heimir by killing Fjölnir on the summit of Mount Hekla, though he dies himself in the process.

## Personality

*"Heimir keeps a foul tongue, and I keep him as a deep-sworn friend."*
―Aurvandil[src]
Heimir is a devoted follower and loyal friend to King Aurvandil. In his role as the court jester, he is in an ideal position to learn the secrets of the court, such as Queen Gudrún's desire for her brother-in-law Fjölnir. He will then speak these secrets to the court in the guise of a jest. His loyalty later leads to him being tortured and killed by Fjölnir.

## Religion

*"Harken to me you two-legged dogs: Drink the Vision Mead of Knowledge to learn what it is to live and die in honour. To be in battle slain and in death rewarded by the Valkyrja's embrace. The warrior maidens will carry you to the shimmering gates of Valhöll."*
―Heimir[src]
Heimir is a devout member of the Norse faith, being a high priest of Loki. He serves as a mentor to Amleth, teaching him the beliefs and practices of the faith.

## Trivia

* Heimir has no equivalent in Saxo Grammaticus' legend, though he is similar to Yorick from William Shakespeare's *Hamlet*.

## References

1. ↑ Eggers, Robert; Sjón, *The Northman* Deleted Scene: "Yule Mummer Dance and Aurvandil's Speech", Focus Features, USA, April 22, 2022
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Eggers, Robert; Sjón, *The Northman*, Focus Features, USA, April 22, 2022