The Three Fanes and the Mountain

A man and a woman lived a simple life near the great lake. Together, they had every happiness. But one day the woman fell sick and died. The man was heart-broken. "How can I live without her? She was everything to me!"
Forlorn, he beat upon his breast and wept into his hands. Wandering far from home, he soon found himself lost hopelessly in the dark woods. "This is the end for me. Without her, I have no purpose and seek only death for myself!" So saying, he wailed and threw himself to the ground.
Hearing his misery, a Dökkálfar stepped forth from the underbrush and asked, "Sorrowful man, why do you weep so? You disturb all of the woods!"
"My wife has died and I cannot live without her!" he replied.
"You must seek the Fanes," said the Dökkálfar. "They will show you the way to bring your wife back to you. Go to the great lake. Speak these words and the Water-Fane will answer your call. I know not how to find the others, but perhaps the Water-Fane will help you find its kin." And so saying, the Dökkálfar taught the man the special words to say.
The man hastened to the lake's shore and there said the words, as he'd been taught. A low rumble came from the depths, and the waters churned and frothed. "Who would disturb my reverie?" asked a horrible voice.
"My wife has died and I cannot live without her!" he replied.
"I can help you," answered the horrible voice. "But first you must give me your dreams, for the waters are dark and there is nothing to see in the deep."
"Without my wife, what worth are dreams to me? Have them!" shouted the man.
"So be it," answered the horrible voice. "Go to the great tree far to the south. Speak these words and the Earth-Fane will answer your call." And so saying, the Water-Fane taught the man the special words to say.
The man traveled far to the south, and climbed a great hill where an enormous black tree spread branches far into the sky. Here he said the words, as he'd been taught. The ground rumbled, the tree shook, and a horrible voice called out, "Who would disturb my slumber?"
"My wife has died and I cannot live without her!" he replied.
"I can help you," answered the terrible voice. "But first you must give me your blood, for I must nourish my roots and the rains cannot slake my thirst."
"Without my wife, why should my heart beat? Take it!" shouted the man.
"So be it," answered the terrible voice. "Go to base of the great mountain far to the east. Speak these words and the Air-Fane will answer your call." And so saying, the Earth-Fane taught the man the special words to say.
The man traveled far to the east, high into the mountain peaks until he reached the base of the Crystal Mountain. Here he said the words, as he'd been taught. The wind blew and he heard the beating of great wings. An awesome voice called out, "Who would disturb my hunt?"
"My wife has died and I cannot live without her!" he replied.
"I can help you," answered the awesome voice. "But first you must give me your soul, for to carry you to the top of the Mountain, I must have something to buffet my wings."
"Without my wife, this world holds no joy. My soul is yours!" he shouted.
"So be it," answered the awesome voice. "Climb onto my back and I will take you there."
The man climbed onto the back of the Air-Fane and it carried him high into the air, high above the clouds, to the top of the Crystal Mountain where twelve dark gods sat on golden thrones.
"Why have you come?" they whispered as one.
"My wife has died and I cannot live without her!" he replied.
"We can give her to you freely," they hissed. "See? There she stands!"
Turning, the man saw the form of his wife, alive and beautiful. Elated, he rushed toward her. But seeing him, she screamed and fled in terror. For in seeking her out, he had given up those things that made him a man;, his dreams, his lifeblood, his soul. All that was left was a monster.
Some say he seeks her still, wandering the hills and woods of the Valley, forever searching, forever wailing in his misery.