Freyr Vanir and Oisin.

 

The great Freyr Vanir of the Kerm-Holm people, or Holly Elves, rode out of the forest on Oisin, the Lord of the Woodland Deer.  On Freyr’s head was a crown of antlers given to him by Oisin and decorated with holly and gold ribbons, and in his right hand he wielded his magical sword. His soldiers resembled living holly trees and they were dressed in dark green, tall and powerfully built, with long hair and braided beards. Their swords were heavy and very sharp and so were their axes, but they also carried cudgels of good stout holly for they were experts in the ancient fighting skill of single-stick. Their shields were decorated with the Kern-Holm emblem of the magnificent holly tree resplendent in its dark green leaves and scarlet berries.

 

 

This illustration took 11 hours and it measures 270mm x 180mm.