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kat_lair***
Title: Haltija Herää // Haltija Awakens
Author:kat_lair
Fandom: Finnish Mythology / Original Work
Character: Original Non-Human Character
Tags: Drabble, Mythology References
Rating: G
Word count: 100 // 140
Summary: Haltija herää. Nousee kohti ohutta jäätä kuin ilmakupla, läpi ja ylös. // Haltija awakens. Rises toward thin ice like an air bubble, through and up.
Author notes: Spring defiance from under the crushing forces of capitalism = a drabble a day in April. This one forverdande_mi who wanted something original set in Finland. Because of this, it made sense to write this in Finnish. The Finnish version is 100 words but because Finnish doesn't do articles or prepositions and like, makes everything into a compound work, this straightforward non-fancy translation is longer :D I have chosen not to translate 'haltija' that is a sort of supernatural guardian/occupant/holder typically tied to a locality. Wiki article for more info.
Haltija Herää on AO3
Haltija Awakens on AO3
Haltija herää. Nousee kohti ohutta jäätä kuin ilmakupla, läpi ja ylös. Järvenpenkare on mutainen, lumiriekaleet viipyvät yhä kuusien varjoissa.
Mutta metsän yllä paistaa kevätaurinko, kirkas kuin kultakolikko. Se lämmittää haltijan selän, kuivaa maanmustat hiukset, kuiskaa mieleen nimet ja luvatut lahjat.
Kohta tulevat painavat jalat, miehet ja seipäät, naiset ja vakat, lapset jotka näkevät haltijan, jotka ojentavat pienet kätensä kohti järven tyyntä pintaa. Ei haltija heitä ota. Ei, jos kylä käy metsään kumartaen, jos vedenkarjaa pyydetään mahan täytteeksi, ei ahneudesta.
Nyt on hyvä, hiljainen hetki vielä, aikaa heräillä, kerätä voimia. Puitten lomissa, kallion koloissa, muu väki jo odottaa. Kevät kutsuu kokoon.
***
Haltija awakens. Rises toward thin ice like an air bubble, through and up. The lake bank is muddy, shreds of snow lingering in the shadows of fir trees.
But above the forest, the spring sun shines, bright like a gold coin. It warms haltija’s back, dries earth black hair, whispers names and promised gifts into the mind.
Soon come heavy feet, men and spears, women and baskets, children who can see haltija, who reach their small hands toward the lake’s still surface. Haltija won’t take them. Not if the village comes to the forest bowing, if the water cattle is taken to fill stomachs, not for greed.
Now is a good, quiet moment yet, time to wake, to gather strength. From between the trees, from the cracks of the cliff, the other folk are already waiting. Spring summons to assemble.
***
Title: Haltija Herää // Haltija Awakens
Author:
kat_lair Fandom: Finnish Mythology / Original Work
Character: Original Non-Human Character
Tags: Drabble, Mythology References
Rating: G
Word count: 100 // 140
Summary: Haltija herää. Nousee kohti ohutta jäätä kuin ilmakupla, läpi ja ylös. // Haltija awakens. Rises toward thin ice like an air bubble, through and up.
Author notes: Spring defiance from under the crushing forces of capitalism = a drabble a day in April. This one for
verdande_mi who wanted something original set in Finland. Because of this, it made sense to write this in Finnish. The Finnish version is 100 words but because Finnish doesn't do articles or prepositions and like, makes everything into a compound work, this straightforward non-fancy translation is longer :D I have chosen not to translate 'haltija' that is a sort of supernatural guardian/occupant/holder typically tied to a locality. Wiki article for more info.Haltija Herää on AO3
Haltija Awakens on AO3
Haltija herää. Nousee kohti ohutta jäätä kuin ilmakupla, läpi ja ylös. Järvenpenkare on mutainen, lumiriekaleet viipyvät yhä kuusien varjoissa.
Mutta metsän yllä paistaa kevätaurinko, kirkas kuin kultakolikko. Se lämmittää haltijan selän, kuivaa maanmustat hiukset, kuiskaa mieleen nimet ja luvatut lahjat.
Kohta tulevat painavat jalat, miehet ja seipäät, naiset ja vakat, lapset jotka näkevät haltijan, jotka ojentavat pienet kätensä kohti järven tyyntä pintaa. Ei haltija heitä ota. Ei, jos kylä käy metsään kumartaen, jos vedenkarjaa pyydetään mahan täytteeksi, ei ahneudesta.
Nyt on hyvä, hiljainen hetki vielä, aikaa heräillä, kerätä voimia. Puitten lomissa, kallion koloissa, muu väki jo odottaa. Kevät kutsuu kokoon.
***
Haltija awakens. Rises toward thin ice like an air bubble, through and up. The lake bank is muddy, shreds of snow lingering in the shadows of fir trees.
But above the forest, the spring sun shines, bright like a gold coin. It warms haltija’s back, dries earth black hair, whispers names and promised gifts into the mind.
Soon come heavy feet, men and spears, women and baskets, children who can see haltija, who reach their small hands toward the lake’s still surface. Haltija won’t take them. Not if the village comes to the forest bowing, if the water cattle is taken to fill stomachs, not for greed.
Now is a good, quiet moment yet, time to wake, to gather strength. From between the trees, from the cracks of the cliff, the other folk are already waiting. Spring summons to assemble.
***
no subject
on 2026-04-14 07:20 pm (UTC)I am glad I recognized some words as well, like nyt on hyvä, ei, ja and mutta. I knew järven was something to do with water and perhaps would have gotten to lake if I thought more! I also understood that miehet, naiset and lapset was man, woman and child in one form.
I am currently reading Koke Bjørn (Koka Björn in Swedish, not sure of the Finnish title, I would reckon it is translated) by Mikael Niemi and I was so happy today when there were some phrases written in both Finnish and Sami! Ah, small joys! (I recommend the book, I have pretty much just started it, but I have already marked several beautiful passages.
Thank you again <3
no subject
on 2026-04-14 09:17 pm (UTC)And so cool that you recognised so many of the words! Well done
Finnish title of that is Karhun Keitto because Finnish loves alliteration :D It really does look like an interesting book, I shall keep an eye out!