I am sure that you already know this but thought I would dend it anyway.  There were the days that sacrifices were made to each god.  Thanks Xanath

EnglishSaxon Monday Mona Tuesday Tiu Wednesday Woden Thursday Thor Friday Freya Saturday --- Sunday Sunne
Title of God The Moon God of War The Cunning God Thunder God Goddess of Love  Wife of Woden
God of Time The Sun

Author's Response:

Xanath,

 

Thank you for the review and the information. :-) For the story, I'm keeping the sacrifices to a more "occasion" such as in times of need or to bless a marriage. :-)

 

-AJ-

Well, poo. Another cliffhanger....sigh LOL

Author's Response:

JLove34,

 

Well I'd like to hope everyone would come back for me regardless if the chapter was a cliffie or not but .... Nah, I'm just kidding you. I try to find a good stopping point, somewhere that will make you want to read the next chapter but also feels like a good stopping point for that chapter. And I also do try to keep my chapters around 5,000 words min. I know as a reader I dislike when I read a short chapter and then am like, "Update already! I want more!"

Thank you for the review, I can't wait to see what you think of upcoming chapters which - not to let too much slip - should include a lemon....

 

-AJ-

oh poor Bella....  sniffle I could not imagine time being a ticking time bomb like this..

Author's Response:

Silly Sad Sarah,

 

Ahhhh, don't worry - she's a tough cookie. Grab some tissues because after we get going, there'll be some rough road ahead. As always, thank you for the review. :)

 

-AJ-

Yes to posting out takes, please (sometime...maybe at the end)

I wondered about Jarpr having bronze, unruly hair in the last chapter...

I enjoyed the added historical details, so thank you for that :)

Author's Response:

PoisonousGarden,

 

I've got a rather large document of out takes right now. Some of them are just a few scenes here and there I'm not sure if will make it into the story or if I want to save for a possible second story, and some are anywhere from half to whole chapters that after writing I didn't feel flowed with the rest of the story so I rewrote them. If I do end up posting them, they will certainly be after Ginnungagap's final chapter is posted because some of them are more revealing than others. I really liked this previous chapter I wrote - so smartly titled: Chapter 18A because it gave me an opportunity to try something new. In that chapter, Izabel became aware of Jarpr not on the road but rather in the temple, trapped by the storm. During this particular time period, the people known as "Vikings" were actually seeking refuge from both blood fueds and from the "new" Christian movement. A really interesting conversation arose between them where Jarpr explained Christianity to Izabel, a woman who did not fully grasp a lot of commonly understood tenants of Christianity (today). So I hope I get to use the conversation somewhere because it was fun to write.

So, what are your theories on Jarpr having bronze, unruly hair in Chapter 17? :-)

Thank you and you're welcome! ;-) I really enjoy weaving them in because as I've researched this culture for the story I have found it to be both surprising and fascinating. So I'm glad that the tidbits at the end are enjoyed. Thank you for your review! I love hearing your candid responses. :)

 

-AJ-

I read Twilight fan fiction for Edward, and the fact that you've kept me engaged this far--with absolutely no appearance from Edward yet--is a testament to your ability to weave a compelling story. Your writing is genius.

Author's Response:

Hulagirl50,

 

Thank you so much for your review. I'm curious if you've reached the latest chapter and if so, what your thoughts were? I am also a huge Edward/Bella fan, but have found a few believable (if that's the right word) stories with Bella and Jasper pairings. They're not my favorite, but I do understand where you're coming from. :)

 

-AJ-

Ooh, great chapter! Finally! I have been waiting impatiently for a progression in Jarpr and Izabel's relationship. Finally, you feed me, haha.

I love that Izabel gets to hear Jarpr's direct confession. I like how Jarpr doesn't beat around the bush. I don't really like reading about confession angst in the early stages of a relationship, so I'm really glad you decided to cut that short.

Thank you for the lovely chapter! I definitely liked this one more than previous chapter. (Perhaps this is due to more Jarpr appearances?)

 

Also, here is a list of corrections that you might want to consider:

Corrections:
moment - I --> moment--I
hall; I --> hall, I
arrived to --> arrived at
anther's --> another's
strands; then they --> strands. They
mouths --> their mouths
it's authority --> its authority
passed each --> passed, each
plight --> flight
outside myself --> apart from me
laughing either --> laughing, either
fur that --> fur had
And though --> And
forearm and --> forearm, and
fingers, my --> fingers; my
nowhere, I --> nowhere; I
him or saw --> him nor saw
see or hear --> see nor hear
him; never --> him, never
alright, you --> alright; you
nodded to --> nodded at
glanced to --> glanced at
her, then --> her, and then
assuring and -->  assuring--and
theories, ideas -->  theories, and ideas
longer I --> longer, I
grimaced; a --> grimaced: a
open and --> open, and I
that I could see --> that all I could see
resolved myself that --> resolved that
him that I --> him, I
of any of the --> of the
 away; and --> away, and
time; had --> time, had
you though, -->  you; though,
quiet observant --> quite observant
laugh and --> laugh, and
face expand --> cheeks expand
embarrassment, heat --> embarrassment; heat
hardened, my --> harden. My
deeply and --> deeply, and
lips, as --> lips as
the touch him --> to touch him
god; had --> god, had
someone; a woman --> someone: a woman
I would wager who --> who I would wager
aspects --> respects
man was --> man, was
her, he had --> her; he had
which had served --> who had served
which had stolen --> who had stolen
casual; as --> casual, as
night; when --> night, when
me, with --> me, and with
 fit, you --> fit: you
understand, yet --> understand--yet
go will --> go, will
I protect --> I will protect
thought his --> thought of his
hesitation, his --> hesitation; his
midair and --> midair, and
did want --> did want
did not want --> did not want
off; perhaps --> off--perhaps
air, breathing --> air and breathing
loss to --> loss on how to
strange, not --> strange: not
him, my fingers --> him; my fingers
side; anything --> side--anything
toe meet --> toe met
waived --> waved
in gesture --> to gesture
flitted me to the --> flitted me towards my
opposite of --> opposite
close and --> close, and
face and --> face, and
weary to --> weary, to
walking slow --> walking slowly
sincere, you --> sincere; you
fierce, you --> fierce; you
loyal; and --> loyal. And
reasons I --> reasons why I
openness, sudden --> openness, this
face, they --> face. They
fire, underlined --> fire which were underlined
attention, they --> attention: they
activities and --> activities, and
in attempt --> in an attempt
prefer and --> prefer, and
touch and --> touch, and
spine, between --> spine and between
me, others --> me: others
embrace and --> embrace, and
loosing --> losing
touch was to, --> touch was,
down and --> down, and

Author's Response:

Pastel,

Thank you for your review. :) If it makes you feel better, I've been waiting impatiently for their relationship to move forward as well! While writing this story, I feel much more understanding towards Alice with over hyper excitement - I know how the story goes and am just so darn excited to just get there already! But it is important to introduce all the characters and allow everyone getting to know them before we just dive into the action.

I also do not like the kind of confessions you mentioned. It has always seemed to me that at some point, people should be able to explain themselves better. I also thought it was important for some kind of foundation be established between the two before we could head into this discussion. So I know it seemed to take Izabel forever to "get it" but she had to feel that one some level she knew Jarpr and could trust him, at the very least not to harm her.

 

-AJ-

I like how the story is progressing.  I am sure that Jarpr is Edward and can read the minda of the people in the pallace so he knew about being followed and that the king was deciving Izabel.  I also realize that he can not hear Izabel so had to use other means to determine if she was also a bad leader.  I suspect the his family is either the gods he told the stories about or the leaders of Tyr.  Was someone in his family (Mother or Jasper) the one that stayed with her when she fell from the tree when she was younger?  Thanks for the update - Xanath  (xanath@afn.org) is an additional email of mine. 

I think this is a small error ---What will to do about Yåkov? Is theis suppose to be What will HE do about Yakov?  Xanath

Hi,

I am enjoying your story immensely, especially with a Scandinavian background.  I am intrigued though; I thought you said it was a Bella and Edward story, but the way you describe Jarpr and Bella's relationship sounds like they are mated already.  Is this a Jarpr and Bella story? Just curious...

Author's Response:

Netemedtotrolde,

 

Hmmmm.... the answer to your question may just be found in the next chapter which has been added to the validation que. As soon as it is approved it will be updated. Please leave me another note after the next chapter and let me know what you find. ;-)

And as always thank you for your review. :)

 

-AJ-

First off, thank you for the update! I have been checking your story for several days, just hoping for an update.

Also, in reply to your "author's response" post: Don't worry at all about offending me. Your jokes aren't offensive at all. :)

Oh, and you don't have to thank me. It was fun to guess and theorize about the flower!

Hmm, interesting development. I think you opened up a possible exploration of the boy's history. Perhaps the boy's story will tie in to Yåkov's story (particularly his relationship with his father)? I swear the boy is Twilight's Jacob. I wonder why Yåkov beat Jacob . . . either Yåkov is just a violent jerk, or Jacob actually did something that was dangerous for the throne (which would be a nice twist).

I also like how in this chapter, Izabel gets a small bit of relief, knowing that Jarpr is not exactly immune to her charms.

Keep up the good work!

 

Typos:

melancholy and --> melancholy, and

scowled towards --> scowled at

her, she --> her; she

and I stifled --> and stifled

his midsection --> her midsection

softly, my fingers brushed --> softly and brushed my fingers

sat, staring unblinking --> sat and stared unblinkingly

started --> startled

stroke her hair and back --> smooth her hair back

in; an attempt to calm herself and --> in--an attempt to calm herself--and

between us as --> as [sounds repetitive]

her, as --> her as

bought --> bout

with dark --> with the dark [sounds more natural]

closed and she grumbled back to --> closed, and she grumbled back at

you my --> you, my

grin and --> grin, and

and he offered --> and offered

cooled and --> cooled, and

time spent with --> time with me

courtyard to --> courtyard, and then to

cupped my own that hooked his offered elbow and every now and then would --> rested over my own hand, which was hooked onto his offered elbow, and every now and then, he would

mind and I --> mind, and I

me, the chirping --> me: the chirping

mine, his --> mine, and his

patterns into --> patterns onto

concluded, they --> concluded, and they

taxes, how --> taxes and if [? This depends on what you want to convey. Were you listing the general topics that the sisters were investigating, or were you actually listing actual problems that the sisters observed?]

good as --> good, as

door; Jane --> door. Jane

door, then slightly opened the door --> door, and then opened it slightly [sounds less awkward]

would fair --> would fare

guard has --> guard have

would leave --> will leave

seemingly have --> have seemingly

posts, if --> posts; if

the release of --> his release by

positions, we --> positions; we

one another, the --> each other; the

impact, my --> impact: my

waist, my --> waist. My

explained then --> explained, then

myself, protect --> myself and protect

had I done --> have I done

Yet, he --> Yet he

Yet, my mind was blank and without thought --> Yet my mind was blank, and without thinking,

skin; tiny --> skin, tiny

not helped any --> not helped at all [sounds less awkward]

midday, sometimes --> midday: sometimes

would foolishly run --> foolishly ran

that if was known --> that if it was known

to bring utter ruin and dishonor to their family names, to bring shame to their villages --> all while bringing utter ruin and dishonor to their family names and bringing shame to their villages

and acknowledge my --> and acknowledged my

younger than myself --> short of my own [You were talking about age very specifically, so I believe this edit makes the sentence sound more natural.]

fresh, even --> fresh, and even

pride; pride for your family and --> pride: pride for your family and for

how we treated --> kind treatment of

like; were --> like. Were

walking determined --> walking, determined

out, eyes --> out, and eyes

afterlife, no grave to visit or talk to, their laps, their --> afterlife, and there was no grave to visit or talk to, and their laps and

partings; the --> partings, the

afterlife. The coins and riches to pay their way at the gates, to allow them to move on and be reunited with one another; the fire that had engulfed their bodies as they --> afterlife, the coins and riches to pay their way at the gates--to allow them to move on and be reunited with one another--and the fire that had engulfed their bodies as they

Highness, he said,” the --> Highness,” he said--the

stood; dusting the dirt from his trousers, then --> stood, dusting the dirt from his trousers, and

father; I --> father, I

knees – it --> knees, it

then my father --> then that my father

steps were long and deliberate and --> steps long and deliberate, and

me, a small voice whispered that she wondered --> me; a small voice questioned

questions, my --> questions; my

whispered, I --> whispered, and I

him, demand answers to my questions, while I also still angry and wanted to strike out. --> him and demand answers to my questions, but I was also still angry and wanted to strike out.

emptied me into --> emptied me onto

room and turned, curious, as --> room, and I turned, curious as

unguarded, and --> unguarded and

shock, it --> shock, that it

over – guilt --> over me – guilt

beating and --> beating, and

Yåcov --> Yåkov

well thought --> thoughtful

husband, my --> husband; my

shock, my horror over what I had seen and --> shock and horror over what I had seen, and

in attempt --> in an attempt

trust it --> trust him

shaken them --> shaken them off

part and I felt --> part, and I felt

Author's Response:

Pastel,

 

Thank you for your review. :) I won't keep anyone in the dark about this one: the servant boy is not Jacob from Twilight. Something to remember is that I wrote an outline and a few chapters of this story back in 2002/2003 and it was an original story. The story just kept at me last year until I finally broke down and began writing it again. I didn't think anyone would read my original story, so I replaced my established characters with Twilight characters. I like to think it adds that extra element of surprise, making readers question, "Hmmm, Twilight character?" I will tell you the boy DOES know some important information that probably seems unimportant to him, but would be another shocker for Izabel.

 

I am hoping none of my future updates take as long as this did. I was working on these chapters while waiting for my Internet to start working, but it was quite difficult to focus when my whole body was just exhausted from moving the whole day, then unpacking, then cleaning - well you get the idea. ;-)

On an unrelated note, did you get the message I sent you through the Twilighted website? I had an idea on how to cut that list of typos down if you were interested. :) If you didn't get the message, just through the Twilighted website here and send me a message, it'll come straight through to my phone.

Chapter 16 has already been submitted and my new Twilighted beta is super fast so it should be up soon! :)

 

I wonder if teh sisters can even attempt to keep up with him!!!

squeee getting closer and closer

Thanks for the update. Her husband is a manipulative man and I know that you will let her find out more about his evil ways soon. Wonder where Jarpr was ....

Merrily

Kat

Author's Response:

Hi Kat!

Thank you for the review. :-) I guess we will see what Yåkov is all about. Is he just at war with himself? Did something happen to set him off? I guess only time will tell. ;-) And I'm fairly sure Jarpr is never far away, he was sent there to spy after all ....

 

AJ

Hm, I have another guess for the flower. Is it an orange lily? Here is a picture:

Because if the flower is a secret message from you to your readers, then you could be telling us that Yåko actually hates Izabel, which is a brilliant and very interesting twist! I would love for you to go into that and why he hates her because that's something I never thought of. The backstory to it would be a lovely twist to explore.

Author's Response:

Pastel,

 

I'm sorry it took me so long to respond to your review, we've been without Internet since our move and I hate replying using from phone. Anyways, thank you for your review and your newest theory - it's always appreciated and I really love reading your thoughts. :)

Regarding your theory, very interesting one - you MAY be onto something there. I'm not saying your quite right or completly wrong, but let's just say that you are onto something. ;-) Looks like the most recent chapter has been updated and I did reveal what the flower was and it's meaning in my author's notes. I am very excited for your reaction (and everyone's reactions of course) to the latest chapter, so please write me again soon!

 

- AJ -