The Rival Suitors

Now the Rainbow-maiden was truly the same as old Louhi's fairest daughter, whom Wainamoinen had once wooed and for whom Ilmarinen had forged the magic Sampo. Wainamoinen had discovered this, so when his magic boat was finished, he prepared for a journey to the Northland, hoping once more to win the fair maiden of Pohjola as his bride.

He adorned the magic vessel with gold and silver, painted it scarlet, and set sails of red, white, and blue linen on the masts. Then he stepped aboard, calling on Ukko to protect and assist him, and on the winds to speed his way. The magic boat flew towards Pohjola, needing no oars to help it.

Annikki, Ilmarinen's sister, was down by the seashore at dawn that very morning. As she gazed over the sea, she saw a blue speck in the distance. At first she thought it was a flock of birds, then as it drew nearer, it looked like a great tree floating on the water. But at last she saw it was a vessel with but one man in it, and when it came closer, she recognized Wainamoinen.

She called out to him, asking where he was going. He replied that he was going fishing, but Annikki said, "Thy boat is not rigged like a fisher-boat, nor hast thou lines or nets with thee. Tell me the truth, O Wainamoinen!" So he answered a second time that he had come to hunt wild geese and ducks. But Annikki told him that was untrue, for he had no hunting dogs or weapons aboard. Then he said he was sailing to war. Annikki replied, "My father often sailed to war, but in a ship with many rowers and armed heroes. Thy vessel is surely not fitted for battle. Now tell me the truth, O wise Wainamoinen, or I will send a storm-wind to break thy ship to pieces."

So he told her the truth: he was going to woo the Rainbow-maiden, Louhi's daughter. Annikki knew he spoke the truth and hurried off to her brother's smithy. She said to him, "Dearest brother, if thou wilt forge for me a silver loom, gold and silver finger-rings and earrings, golden girdles and gold ornaments for my hair, I will tell thee something very important for thee to know."

Ilmarinen agreed, and his sister said, "O Ilmarinen, if thou hopest ever to wed the fair maid of Pohjola, thou must hasten and make thy sledge ready, for Wainamoinen is now sailing thither in a magic boat to win her before thee." Ilmarinen bade his sister prepare a magic soap and a bath while he forged the ornaments she had bargained for.

When he finished his work, he found the bath and soap ready. He washed off the grime and soot of the smithy, and when he came out, he had grown wonderfully bright and handsome. The magic soap made his cheeks rosy and his eyes bright as moonlight. He donned his finest garments: soft linen, silken stockings, a blue vest, scarlet trousers, a fur coat of sealskin with jeweled buttons, and a belt with golden buckles. Then he ordered his magic sledge to be harnessed, placing six cuckoos and seven bluebirds on the front so they might sing and charm the Northland maiden.

When all was ready, Ilmarinen prayed to great Ukko to send snow to cover the country and let his sledge glide easily to Pohjola. The snow came, and Ilmarinen wrapped himself warmly in bearskins and drove off like the wind, invoking Ukko's blessing. On he went, over hill and dale, with the cuckoos and bluebirds singing. He drove along the seashore, looking out for Wainamoinen's vessel. On the evening of the third day, he caught up with Wainamoinen and called out, "O ancient Wainamoinen, let us woo the maiden peacefully, and let her choose between us." Wainamoinen agreed, and they promised not to use deceit. They hurried on their way, Wainamoinen calling up the south wind to help him, and Ilmarinen's steed shaking the hills of Northland as it galloped.

Soon they neared Louhi's dwelling, and the watchdogs began to bark louder than ever. Louhi's husband told his daughter to see what the trouble was, but she said she was busy grinding barley. He asked his wife to go, but she was too busy cooking dinner. The father grew angry and said, "Women are always busy either baking or sleeping; go, my son, and learn what the trouble is." But the son refused, for he was splitting wood.

So Louhi's husband went himself, for the dogs kept barking. At the gate he saw a scarlet ship sailing into the bay and a sledge driving along the shore at full speed. He hurried back and told them what he had seen. Louhi took a branch and gave it to her daughter, saying, "Place this on the fire, my daughter. If it drips blood, these strangers bring war and bloodshed; but if clear water, they come in peace."

The maiden put the branch on the fire, and as they watched, honey trickled out. From this Louhi knew the two men were coming as suitors. They hastened into the courtyard and saw the scarlet vessel in the harbor, with an ancient white-bearded magician at the helm. On land they saw a brightly colored sledge, driven by a young and handsome hero, with cuckoos and bluebirds singing.

Louhi recognized them both and said to her daughter, "Wilt thou have one of these suitors, dearest daughter? He that comes in the ship is good old Wainamoinen, bringing countless treasures from Kalevala. The other in the sledge is the blacksmith Ilmarinen, who brings no presents save himself. When they come in, bring a pitcher of honey-drink and give it to the one thou wilt follow. Give it to old Wainamoinen, for he brings thee countless treasures."

But the daughter replied, "I will never marry a man for riches, but for his real worth. Mothers did not use to sell their daughters thus to suitors they did not love. I shall choose Ilmarinen for his true worth and wisdom."

Old Louhi grew angry and tried to change her daughter's mind, but nothing could move her. Just then Wainamoinen came to the house and addressed the maiden: "Come with me, O lovely maiden, be my bride and honored wife, and share my joys and sorrows."

The maiden answered, "Hast thou built the magic vessel, using neither hand nor foot to touch it?"

"I have built it, and brought it hither," answered Wainamoinen. "It is finely made by magic, and will live in the worst of storms; nothing can ever sink it."

But then the maiden said to him, "I will not wed a husband born in the sea. Storms would bring us trouble, and the winds rack our hearts.

I cannot go with thee, cannot marry thee, O Wainamoinen."