Handmade Scandinavian Gnome — Sea King

Have you seen how the sea waves turn gold at sunset? That was the glint of the Sea King's crown as he made his rounds of his domain. Seaweed sometimes tangles in his golden trident — he occasionally swims close to shore. And his cloak, embroidered with pearls, is like sea foam.

He carries the trident everywhere and is mildly annoyed when gnomes suggest it is merely decorative. It is a working trident — for purposes he does not specify, but which clearly imply something more active than décor. That it is also beautiful is, in his view, simply good craftsmanship.

They say it is the Sea King who decides what the sea shall be — gentle or fearsome. In good humour he allows fishermen to return with a catch, travellers to cross without storms. But trouble him, and the waves will rise to the sky itself.

He speaks of the sea rarely. Not because it pains him — quite the opposite: once you start, it is hard to stop. So he saves it for the right evenings — when the wind blows from the right direction and there is someone nearby willing to sit long enough to hear all of it.

The shell at his belt is not decoration. They say if you hold it to your ear on a quiet night you can hear not just the sound of the sea, but something like a distant voice giving orders to underwater currents. The Sea King himself makes no comment on this. He only smiles, barely perceptibly.