A/N: So this is a response to Wimblegurk Brigade Kuroinu Rebellion Challenge. I chose a hybrid of two Origins, the Barbarian and the Lone Wanderer, that being said I also made a few changes to my OC. Things will be further revealed if I can make this at least somewhat successful.
Also, I don't know if this is already known, but I am a huge Norse and Celtic fanboy (and somewhat historian) so a lot of Celtic and Norse cultural stuff in this original culture I made.
Another note too, I have only watched the anime (hentai) and have not read the visual novel or manga, so I am probably not going to be fully faithful to the original content asides from the characters.
I have still yet to decide who my OC is going to be with.
Last note, Siegfried is semi-immortal, he can't age nor can he starve or dehydrated but he can die just very hard to kill, the story will explain everything eventually but the main focus is the war against Vault and his men. Also, this prologue takes place ten years before the start of Kuroinu.
Final note. This took me an entire month to write, a total of +7,000 words, so if you are expecting a chapter that takes a month to take, sorry to disappoint you, also I need a beta reader.
I would really love it if people left reviews and what note, I just need to know if people are interested or I should give up on this. Anywho I hoped you enjoy the prologue.
Prologue
The Long Walk
To the far North of Austian Capitol, bordering the Northern lands where the Black Fortress laid, lived a husband and wife with their young daughter and son with several other servants and close friends sharing a large plot of fertile land, one of the rare spots of the Northern lands and for it to be so close to the Black Fortress meant only two things - that the land was blessed or cursed.
That which was grown there were mainly potatoes and wheat, the farm also had a number of sheep, cows, horses, and chickens that wandered around the establishment. It was a beautiful farm that had large acres of very valued fertile land and the family was able to make quick a profit being one of the major benefactors to the nearby fortress city ruled by the beautiful Knight Claudia and in turn was one of the greatest benefactors to one of Austia's largest army, an army only equaled - or surpassed if you ask others - by the another.
The sun's last light hits the fields of wheat where a man began his harvest, using a scythe to cut the wheat from the ground. The man has long black hair pulled back into three braids, one middle braided that reached his hips and two other braids that reached halfway, a long bushy beard and bushy mustache that curls on the ends, fair coloured skin with many scars - both recent and fading - and he has dark blue eyes, he wears a simple sleeveless light brown leather tunic with dragons etched into the tunic, dark brown leather trousers, fur bracers and pauldrons, and fur boots with leather straps tied around his shins, he has tattoo of a dragon that covers his entire left arm and a tattoos of ravens, wolves, and runes covering his right arm.
Siegfried - for this was his name - grabbed the harvested wheat and placed them in a small wagon carried by a horse. He hopped on the horse and rode off to the large oval shaped longhouse with moss growing on the roof and various round shields painted with red and black dot the exterior walls and several other huts around the longhouse. There are four main entrances, two at the ends where the longhouse faces East and West and two on the sides where the entrances face North and South.
Siegfried grabbed his wheat and walked to the Eastern set of doors. He opened the Eastern doors and walked into a small room with a single table at his left side that had two chairs and a candle in the centre of the chair, a small fire pit in the centre of the room dug into the ground, and an occupied bed with a man sleeping in the bed with sheepskin covering him. Above the sleeping man is a round shield and short sword adorn on the wall. There was a set of stairs that led up to another room. Siegfried walked past the sleeping man and opened next set of doors.
Siegfried walked by several other men and women who rushed around and bowing to him. He stopped a young man and gave him the wheat, "I want these grounded and take extra care for winter shall soon fall on us." He told the man. The man nodded with sweat and nervousness covering his face.
"Siegfried!" Siegfried turned around faced a man with a scarred face that his bread grew in patches of grey and long flowing greying black hair down in several braids adorn with gold and silver, "I see you harvested the wheat, well that is one matter settled before winter kick in."
Siegfried nodded in agreement and watched as the servants scrambled around the main hall. The main hall was a large room that had the Northern and Southern Doors, in the centre of the room was a large fire pit that was on the line of East and West, above the fire pit was hanging meats just a metre above the flames. Long Tables encircle the fire pit with sheepskin and hay beds resting against the walls. On the roof were small openings that allowed the smoke to flow out and could be closed should rain or snowfall. On the walls hanged various furs, horns, axes and swords.
"Did you check the Equipment stock, Ragnar?" Siegfried asked as he looked in a pot with boiling water, "We need more spices in this one!" Siegfried yelled.
"Yes, our weapons have been oiled and are prepared for the winter to come," Ragnar said as he sat down at the table. Ragnar like many of the male servants wears a black leather undertunic, a purple woollen shirt, a black outer tunic and a fur robe with a large belt around the waist. "Everything is ready, shall we begin the feast?"
Siegfried nodded, "The Gods have given us much this autumn! That is enough to have a feast!" Siegfried announced, "Soon we can start our great Raids without the permission of weak and cowardly Jarls back in our home!" Siegfried grabbed a full tankard, "When spring comes! We'll raid these rich lands! Maybe bring home a few women!" Siegfried stated, all of the men in the room laughed and cheered and raised tankards of their own, "But remember, we raid not for the pleasure - but it is certainly a great bonus - but we raid for our survival! For our families! For our clan!" Siegfried said looking around the room, "I may be the Jarl of this clan! I may not have had much sway in the Council of Jarls! But now we are free of the grips of those old fools!" Siegfried said taking a deep breath as everyone looked at him, "We will raid. We will fight. And many of us may die. But everything we do isn't for the greater gain for cowards that call them Jarls back home! We raid! We fight! For our families! And may our blood bring these lands great fertile! For when the time comes we will go back to our home and bring more of our brothers and sister here! We feast because we earned it!" Siegfried yelled "Now let us the feast for great raids to come! And for freedom from the cowards that call themselves Jarls!" Siegfried yelled raising his tankard high before chugging down the content with people cheering and following suit.
Siegfried sat down and grabbed a piece of bread and a bowl of soup. "Daddy!" Siegfried turned to a young girl with long flowing blonde hair and bright green eyes wearing a simple black and purple tunic and black trousers. Her bare feet hitting the stone floor echoed throughout the longhouse as she ran past many servants grabbings their meals. Siegfried stood up and held his arms out as the girl jumped at Siegfried and clasped her hands around his neck and snuggled her head in between his shoulder and neck.
"How's my little princess doing?" Siegfried asked hugging the girl back, "You aren't giving your mother any trouble are you?" Siegfried said as he pulled his daughter off of him and stared into her eyes.
She shook her head and grabbed Siegfried's hand, "Mother is helping with herding the sheep and cows," She said as she led him to the other side of the longhouse. "Sigurd is out feeding the chickens," She said as she waved to some of the servants, "Uncle Regis is sleeping, he's been working the fields for quite some time."
"Yes, I saw him sleeping soundly," Siegfried said as his daughter opened the door pulled him further, "Saoirse, where are we going?" Siegfried asked as they walked out of the longhouse.
"The woman in armour told me to get you."
"The woman in armour?" Siegfried questioned more so himself.
The two reached a small hut made of marble and more decorated than the others with several flowers circling the hut and various religious symbols painted around the rim of the entrance - this hut appalled Siegfried, he only put such blasphemy up to please the clergy at the Austian Capitol, his Gods were sure to be angry with him but he and his family are counted among the last of his people.
Siegfried ruffled his daughter's hair, "Go see Uncle Regis, tell him I want him to come here." Siegfried said with a smile as he placed his hand on the door. His daughter nodded and went off to get her uncle.
His smile slowly faded with a heavy sigh. He pushed the door open and stood at the entrance as he sees one of the seven people he never wanted to see.
She was beautiful, short creamy tan hair wearing silver and gold plate armour that covered her breast, hips, arms and legs with bikini cloth covering her crotch and exposing her chest. Her head ornament and sword rested on the ground beside her as she prayed to the living Goddess Celestine.
"What do you want Claudia?" Siegfried asked as he looked at the golden statue of Celestine - his image did not reflect in the polished golden statue but Claudia's did.
Claudia stood up and smiled, "I remember this statue. You raided from one of the temples in the East didn't you," Claudia sighed as she turned to face Siegfried, "The Immortal Raider of the Northland now nothing but the farmer." Claudia sat herself down on a bench inside the hut.
The hut was beautiful, for being so small, at the end of the hut was a marble pedestal where the statue of the Living Goddess Celestine rest upon along with many of her holy symbols and texts laying on the benches that rest against the walls of the hut. There was a white furs covering the ground and candles circled the statue of the Living Goddess.
Siegfried watched Claudia as she sat herself down and picked up one of the texts, "I'll ask again, what do you want?" Siegfried asked in a low growl.
"I wanted to see if the rumours are true, a tribe of Northmen has come from the East to settle here in our lands," Claudia chuckled as she looked at the texts, "You know I would have thought you really were followers of her Serenity but…." Claudia looked at Siegfried with disdain, "The smell of Ale, the Longhouse, and amount of Pagan symbols and totems, the sacrifices I've seen blow your cover."
"We aren't hiding," Siegfried said as he stared Claudia in the eyes, "Even then it took you three full winters to find an entire clan of Northmen?"
"We had more pressing matters with the Orcs and the Dark Elf Queen Olga Discordia," Claudia said as she stood up from her seat and walked to Siegfried, standing to eye level with him, "If it were up to me I would have your entire land be burnt to the ground, but you have been providing the Fortresses with many grains, even then I would hang your entire clan and replace with one of our non-pagan families," Claudia said with furrowed brows and clenched fists, "And yet the Goddess has shown mercy to you pagans and she has a message."
"Then your Goddess is very naive Shield Princess," Siegfried said in a low growl.
"Brother! You called me?" Siegfried looked behind and sighed as he sees his brother. Regis - this was his name - had a long braided black beard and moustache with a braided hair that has the sides of his head clean shaved, crimson eyes and fair skin - he wore furs and leathers that covered a gambeson and trousers with fur boots and bracers.
"Regis I would like you to meet the esteemed Shield Princess, Knight Claudia Laventain," Siegfried said as his brother stopped beside him.
"A Laventain? Yes I remember," Regis said with a smirk, "Didn't we raid one of the estates owned by Laventain?" Regis asked with a grin, "The little Princess has come here all alone?" Regis took a step forward.
Siegfried places his arm in front of his brother, "No, not yet," Siegfried grinned, "She and the others can wait for our great raids."
Claudia clenched her fist. She grabbed her sword and sheathed it and placed her ornament on her head, "The Goddess is willing to give you ten chest full of gold and silver along with a large sum of spices." Claudia said as she walked past the two men, "But that is if you agree to these terms." Claudia pulled out a letter and gave it to Siegfried.
"The night is rising Princess, and around these parts on the Frontier of the Outlands with this land? Well, the orcs are strong in numbers and bolder," Siegfried said as he turned to Claudia, "You won't even make it halfway, wait until sunrise," Siegfried said with a smile. "Besides if the Orcs catch you, they'll either rape you or bring you to the Dark Elf Queen, most likely the former."
Claudia clenched her fist, "Fine, I'll stay." Claudia said turning to face them, "I would rather be in the presence of Pagans then Orcs."
"Good, we'll be sure to treat you with respect, princess," Siegfried turned to his brother, "She's my guest, no one will touch her, no one will even breath in her direction." Siegfried told his brother, "Tell that to your men."
Regis growled as he left the hut, "Just remember brother if she hurts my niece I won't hesitate to kill her."
"I am of the same mind, brother," Siegfried said as he turned to Claudia. He stepped in front of her, "Come, I'll show you where you can sleep, 'princess.'" He said as he stepped outside of the hut.
Siegfried led Claudia through the chaotic longhouse as men throw foods and drank and cheered on as men would brawl with each other. The married men held their babes close to them and were less hectic as the young men and unmarried man was. Siegfried and Claudia stepped around a passed out man covered in ale. "You pagens know how to party, I'll give you that."
"We haven't even started," Siegfried said as he looked around, "Get the fucking drums out for the love of the Gods! We aren't even having a feast yet!" Siegfried yelled, "Come on you bastards! Dance and sing!" Siegfried yelled as the drummers walked out. Siegfried laughed as the drums started to play and both men and women started to dance, sing and cheer.
"Yeah! Come one let us feast! Let us dance! To Jarl Siegfried!" One of the men shouted.
Siegfried led Claudia out of the main hall laughing as some men throw some food at him. Siegfried walked up the stairs and led Claudia to a room that had a queen size bed with black fur covering the bed with five pillows, "You'll sleep here when the sun rises you can take one of our horses out of here." Siegfried said as he started to walk down the stairs.
"Whose room is this?" Claudia asked as she gazed around the room. It was a simple room with sheepskin covering the floor, candles hanged on the walls.
Siegfried stopped down the stairs, "It's the guest room, previously just a storage room."
"For a Heathen, you have shown great kindness to me."
"It is in my culture to show respect to guests," Siegfried said as he turned to face Claudia, "Now this feast is going to awhile, either come down and enjoy the feast or you can sleep."
Siegfried walked down the stairs and opened the doors to the main. Siegfried was greeted by a splatter of food on the wall next to him. Siegfried shook his head as he walked around the men who were brawling.
Siegfried sat down beside a woman. She had long blonde hair down in a fish braid and bright green eyes with fair skin. She wore a simple black dress with gold laced around the cuffs and rims of the dress. "Hello Siegfried, how as you meeting with Claudia?"
"Regis informed you about her?"
"No, she is standing behind us." Siegfried looked behind him, Claudia stood above him.
Siegfried smirked, "Sit," Siegfried said pulling a chair out next to the woman. Claudia seated herself beside the woman, "Claudia this is my wife, Freja," Siegfried said, "Freja, Claudia is our guest for the night."
Freja nodded her head, "Well it is a pleasure Claudia, do you want to walk with me? The women have their own small little place where we normally go when the men start to get too….hectic."
Siegfried laughed, "She means they mostly hang out around the pound nearby," Siegfried said as grabbed a plate, "Be back before the moon hangs high." Siegfried said as he ran off.
Freja and Claudia stood up, "So tell me about your culture? I assumed you heathens would-"
"The men would want to tear your armour off, no doubt, but Siegfried has the heart and mind of King, out the Northlands haven't had a King in…." Freja whispered to herself, "In over five hundred years."
"So it is true? You lands are split among Jarls?"
"Originally there were four Jarldoms," Freja said as the two walked out of the longhouse, "But more ambitious men rose and started their own Jarldoms, eventually four became twenty-nine."
"And Siegfried is a Jarl?"
"Yes and no," Freja said as the two walked out and followed a trail that leads through the wheat fields, "Siegfried killed the previous Jarl, Wallace One-Eyed but the other Jarls saw Wallace's son be the true Jarl, Ulf Wolven Heart."
"But they called him Jarl Siegfried."
"Yes, he is a Jarl but he has no land, so the other Jarls of the Northlands don't see him as a Jarl," Freja said as they came across small river, "but since Siegfried is here and has claimed land here, the Jarls back in the Northlands have no choice but to see him as a Jarl," Freja said as they came across a pond where many women bathed themselves.
"What about your children?" Claudia asked as he looked around the pond.
"Yes, the children are being taken care of by our elders. My little princess is with my little prince." Freja smiled to herself, "Saoirse Frejadottir and Sigurd Frejason."
Claudia raised an eyebrow, "Shouldn't they be called-"
"They would be called Siegfrieddottir and Siegfriedson, but Siegfried allowed them to be called after me," Freja smiled as she began to strip herself of her clothing. "Besides unlike Siegfried, I was the daughter of one of the first Four Jarls, that makes me Royalty, so I technically have more influence than him." Freja winked at Claudia.
Freja and Claudia bathed in the pond and gazed at the stars together, "So I get that Celestine is your only Goddess and happens to be the queen of Austia?" Freja asked.
Claudia nodded her head, "In some aspects yes, in others no," Claudia said with a sigh, "These waters are relaxing."
"Long ride from your fortress?" Freja asked as she sunk herself more into the waters.
"No, we have just been busy with all these orc attacks and raids," Claudia said as she closed her eyes and let out another sigh, "These waters must be enchanted or something."
"They are, our Druids cast a small coat of magic on the water's surface that sinks down," Freja said as she gazed at the stars. She pointed to a constellation, "You see that constellation right their?" Freja asked.
"Yes, don't you call it Yggdrasil?" Claudia asked.
"My, you have done your research on us quite well," Freja said with a smile. "Yggdrasil means many things, from the tree that connects all living things to the tree of creation."
Claudia slid further down into the waters, "Tell me about Siegfried."
Freja smiled, "He is the most courageous and bravest man I have ever met," Freja chuckled, "When he first met me, he confessed his love right then and there," Freja said with a smile. "Of course I refused him, I believe I said 'Only those who've slain a Dragon may claim my heart,'" Freja sighed as she looked up at the stars, "For ten years he wandered the Northlands, becoming stronger and a great leader. When he came back, he came back with the corpse of a Dragon - one of the few remaining Dragons in the Northlands - and an entire army of loyal soldiers."
"He killed one of the last Dragons?" Claudia asked in awe.
"This Dragon was known by many names, Fafnir, Apollyon, The Destroyer, Tiamat," Freja exclaimed as she closed her eyes. "This Dragon terrorized the Northlands for over three hundred years and when news came out he slew the Dragon the pronounced him 'Siegfried Dragon Heart.'" Freja looked down and her smile faded from her lips.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Freja took a deep breath. "Come it is getting late," Freja said standing up and walking out of the pond.
Claudia got out the pool and followed Freja.
Freja snapped her fingers and her body glowed blue. Her cloths formed on her and her body became dry. "I'll wait for you to dry off," Freja said as she sat down.
Claudia nodded her and found a pile of towels sitting on a chair. She began to try herself off.
Siegfried sat outside of the longhouse, under a tarp with the wind blowing through the tarp and rain hitting the ground around him. He smoked a pipe and blew out smoke rings. Beside him was a small table that had a plate of food - bread, chicken legs and mashed potatoes - a tankard of ale, and an open letter. He grabbed a chicken leg and took a bite out of it.
Claudia and Freja walked towards Siegfried, both soaked. "Well, how was your time together?" Siegfried said still chewing his food.
"Fantastic," Freja said walked to Siegfried. She kissed Siegfried on the cheek, "I will be going to bed, don't stay up too late darling."
"Goodnight darling," Freja smiled and left Siegfried with Claudia. Siegfried took a gulp of his tankard, "The Goddess wants me and my clan to storm the black Fortress?" Siegfried sighed.
"Will you?"
"Why would I go on a suicide mission?"
"Don't you heathens love war and battle?"
Siegfried laughed, "We do…." Siegfried said as he looked at the night sky, "But suicide is not battle." Siegfried said as he stood up, "I have a family, a daughter, a son, and a beautiful wife who I love with all I am." Siegfried sighed, "In the Northlands, I was known as 'Skrímsli,' a fitting title for me." Siegfried grabbed his tankard and gulped down the rest of the ale.
"What does it mean?" Claudia asked.
"It has many meanings," Siegfried placed his hands in his pockets and stared up at the stars, "none of them are good."
"Freja told me of things you've done," Claudia said as she stepped beside him, "You killed a Dragon, the very embodiments of Evil only surpassed in the aspect by Demons."
Siegfried laughed, "Claudia, don't be naive." Siegfried shook her head, "My father was a drunk and would abuse me, my mother left my father and me for some weak Jarl. My father sold me to a slaver for hundred gold." Siegfried said as he pulled off his tunic and extends his arms outward to the sky. On his back are many scars from whips and burns.
Claudia walked in front of him and gasped. On his chest is a brand, a slave's brand - an Othala rune. "How long were you a slave for?" Claudia asked as she traced the rune.
"Sold to the slaver at seven, left as a slave and sold from one master to another for ten years," Siegfried said allowing the rain to cleanse his body, "I only knew one master who treated me not as a slave but as a freeman, with his last breath he named me a free man…. He was like a father to me," Siegfried said sorrowfully as he took a deep breath. "So I will ask two questions. You love someone very dearly?"
"Yes I do, well he is a kind man, a schooler, his father wants us to marry," Claudia said looking southward. "His father raised me as a daughter and I am eternally thankful for him training me to become a holy knight."
"Would you sacrifice everything, knowing that the chances of failure are high, just because your goddess asked you?" Siegfried said as he walked forward and gazed upward at the stars.
"I….if the-."
"That is your first answer, and the first answer is always the answer that is left by the conditioning of others. Give me your truthful answer." Siegfried said turning to Claudia and place his hands on her shoulders.
"No….I would rather stay with the person I love," Claudia said casting her gaze downward.
Siegfried smiled, "Now you see. I have people I need to look after, they for the past eight years have shown me the only peace I will ever know." Siegfried walked towards his chair and sat himself down on the ground and leaned his, "Sit, I wish to talk before I retreat to my chambers."
Claudia sat herself down on the chair and looked at Siegfried, "So….what can you tell me about your culture?"
Siegfried chuckled, "The Northlands, as you should know, is far North from here, a bit to the East, allowing us to Raid the homeland of your Shrine Maiden Kaguya." Siegfried sighed and gazed forward at nothing, "My homeland is an is large island nation with several other smaller islands dotted around the homeland," Siegfried looked down and held his hand outward, pointing North. "My homeland is a mountainous island, with all manner of creature wanting to kill you, we have eight months of winter, two months of spring, one month of summer, and one month of fall, thus the young men are expected to go on raids, pick up sword and shield."
Claudia cast her sight downward, "How bad is it?"
"The Outlands and the Northlands are very similar, just one is colder," Siegfried smiled and stood up, "The Northlands are to any Northmen, home. When it is not trying to kill you, you can find all manner of beauty in the vast lands of hills, forest, and rolling tundras"
"Do you miss it?"
"Yes, and No," Siegfried responded. "Right now my home is with my clan and family." Siegfried looked at Claudia, "Home is not a place of belongings, but a place of family and friends."
Claudia looked down, "Maybe you heathens aren't that bad."
Siegfried laughed and walked to Claudia, "Some of your prejudices are true."
"Like what?"
"I am a Jarl. And as a Jarl, I am considered a Noblemen, and I am married to Royalty," Siegfried looked at Claudia, "As such, I have a lot of privileges most men and women don't have. In our culture, a man can only have one wife and vice versa, but as a Jarl, I am considered to be an exception."
"So you can have multiple husbands or wives? Concubines?"
"Yes, I believe your culture looks down on them don't they?"
Claudia nodded her head, "No, that is blasphemy and barbarism. Under the guidance of Lady Celestine woman are to be treated with respect and as an equal, in some cases, they are to be treated superior."
Siegfried scoffed, "We Northmen are expected to protect the clan, to protect the children and women, to us women are symbols of life, they are water that allows the seeds of life to sprout, and us men are the fires that fertilize the ground by burning all previous unwanted life."
"That barbaric!"
"It is as barbaric as it is for an animal to eat," Siegfried said as he looked at Claudia.
Claudia stood up, "How many do you have? How many concubines?" Claudia said glaring at Siegfried.
"Why are you acting so hostile?"
"Because you Northmen raid and pillage and rape our women. You talk about your culture for respecting women! You are no different from orcs!"
Siegfried pinned Claudia to the wall, holding her neck and staring into Claudia's eyes, "You holy orders have destroyed our settlements! Burned our men and women and children at the stake! If anyone here is the Barbarian it is you Holy Knights! They attack us! The take our children to do Gods know what!" Siegfried yelled. He lifted Claudia up by the neck and pinned her to the wall, "Your Holy Orders and Holy Knights are monsters! They have killed my friends! My family!" Siegfried said as he tightened his grip on Claudia's neck. Claudia squirmed in his grasp - she found it hard to catch her breath and harder to get out of Siegfried surprising strength. "I should kill the leader of the Holy Knights, might spare my people from the Holy Orders and Holy Knights, they'd be in dismay," Siegfried said with a smirk, his eyes showing a primal hunger. "But I won't."
Siegfried dropped Claudia. Claudia landed on her knees and coughed, she looked up at Siegfried who stood out in the rain, "You're a monster!"
Siegfried laughed, "I know."
Claudia stood up and gripped the hilt of her sword.
"If you even unsheath your sword by an inch, I'll pin you to the wall again," Siegfried said with a sigh.
Claudia unsheathed her sword - her body froze in place, her muscles stiffen and he eyes fixated on Siegfried. Claudia blinked and looked around, she cast her eyes downward. Siegfried pinned Claudia to the wall, arm placed on her neck. "That speed."
"I said I would pin you to the wall again," Siegfried said with a growl. "Now you forced my hand!" Siegfried growled and throw Claudia towards one of the huts.
Claudia smashed into the muddy ground and rolled out of the way as Siegfried dashed forward, his speed was faster then Claudia could blink. Claudia jolted up and pulled her sword out. Claudia struck with her sword, Siegfried dashed out of the way leaving a shadowy after image. Claudia's sword destroyed a piece of the hut.
"Tell me, why did you come here? The letter was one thing but this? I welcome you as a guest." Siegfried said standing on the roof of the Longhouse, "After the hospitality of taking you in when Orcs and other such demons would surely defeat even you!" Siegfried growled, "You Austians women are all the same! Self-righteous bitches!" Siegfried dashed forward.
Siegfried struck Claudia with his fist, launching Claudia through a stone hut. Claudia stopped herself, she coughed up some blood and quickly wiped it away. She stood up and rushed forward, sword pointed forward. The dust from the stone would normally hinder both her's and Siegfried visibilities but Claudia could see Siegfried's glowing fiery eyes and Siegfried could hear Claudia's heartbeat.
"Care to tell what you are?" Claudia asked. Siegfried dashed forward and threw a punch towards Claudia, Claudia caught the attack and pushed Siegfried. "Or maybe you'll have your wife do it for me? Maybe your children."
Siegfried growled and dashed forward, a shadowy afterimage becoming more corporeal. He threw his fist through the rain. Claudia smirked and circled around Siegfried and kicked Siegfried in the back of his legs.
Siegfried fell to one knee. Claudia placed her sword on Siegfried's neck, "The Goddess also sent me here to see if the rumours about you are true. Cursed with immortality, forever banished from death. A curse, that makes you a monster."
Siegfried laughed, "Go ahead, test it out for yourself."
Claudia raised her sword in the air, "May the fair lady show you mercy monster."
"No, you'll need her mercy," Siegfried said as he spun around and pushed his palm forward, sending a large bolt of lightning at Claudia. Claudia yelped as she was sent flying backwards, smashing into a stone hut.
Claudia landed in the wheat fields. Claudia stood up, she looked up to see a large aura of darkness surrounding Siegfried as he landed in front of Claudia, "I have heard myself be called a monster, demon, devil, imp, and even a God." Siegfried said as lightning static around his hands, "So, the holy knight, care to try and slay me?"
Claudia pointed her sword forward and threw it to the ground, "All I need to do was confirm the rumours about you."
Siegfried tilted his head, "I beg your pardon?"
"My mission here is down." Claudia sat down and sighed, "Lady Celestine wanted me to recruit you, or to confirm the rumours."
Siegfried walked forward, the shadows subsided and the lightning disappeared, "Why does she want the rumours confirmed?"
"Don't know," Claudia said as she stood up. "Next time, fight more than you talk."
Siegfried scoffed, "I killed a dragon you know."
"I defeated several orc hordes."
"I destroyed one of your Eastern Fortress."
"Wait you were the one who led the raid on the Citadel? We had to move the lady to the Fortress of Ken because of you!"
Siegfried shook his head, "So you threatened by family because you needed to confirm rumours?" Siegfried laughed in hysteria, "You would make a great Shield Maiden."
"Pardon me?"
"Shield Maidens are the strongest warriors we have, only surpassed by Warlords. To be a Shield Maiden is one of the greatest honours any women can dream of, to die and go to Valhah," Siegfried turned to Claudia.
"So do you want me to go?"
"No. You can stay," Siegfried sighed as he started to walk back. He ran his hand through his hair, "Just leave before the sun rises."
Claudia nodded her head.
The two walked back to the lodge. Claudia went to her room and Siegfried entered a large room on the second floor, the room was dimly lit and has a king size bed with furs covering the floor and bed.
Siegfried took off most of his clothing - save for his undergarment- and laid down on the bed and kissed his wife goodnight.
Freja grabbed Siegfried's hand, "Darling?" Siegfried looked at Freja, "Comfort me please?" Freja said as she pushed herself up and allowed the furs to drop, revealing her naked body.
Siegfried smiled and placed a hand on Freja's cheek. "You needn't ask me, dearest," Siegfried whispered as he went in for a kiss.
The two fell onto the bed and pulled the covers over them.
Siegfried opened his and groaned, "Who the hell is not watching the fucking fire!" Siegfried yelled.
"Siegy! Siegy! Orcs are attacking!" Siegfried jolted out of his bed. Freja stood above him, she had simple garments on.
"Get the kids and stay hidden," Siegfried said as he put on some undergarments and a linen shirt and trousers. He placed a belt around his shoulders and waist and stormed out of the room. He grabbed a pair of boots as he walked down the stairs and put them on as he reached the bottom floor.
Men scrambled around the longhouse, grabbing shields and swords or axes. "Give me two axes!" Siegfried yelled. Some man throw him two axes, "Hold the line! Keep close to your shield brothers! Defend the clan!" Siegfried yelled the other men roared.
The doors flew open and no orcs came through. Moments past and the men start to move outside.
As the men reach outside they look around. "I thought orcs were supposed to-" The man was struck by a harpoon. Orcs rushed out from the huts armed with large clubs and a few axes.
"Shield-" Siegfried was thrown to the wall by a large orc. Siegfried struck the orc's neck with his axes and kicked his body off of him. Siegfried roared and rushed forward. He struck an orc in the knee, he used both axes and looped off the orcs head. Siegfried circled around another orc and slashed the back of the orc, another man rushed forward and pierces the orc through the neck. Siegfried parried an attack with his axe and smashed the blade of his axe into the orc's neck, blood gushed out of the wound. Siegfried pushed the orc aside and roared. "No mercy!"
Siegfried rushed forward to a crowd of Orcs, he threw one of his axes at an orc, the orc fell to its knees as the axe hit its head. Siegfried grabbed the axe from the orcs head as he parried an attack and pushed the orc back. Siegfried spun around in a circle, swinging his axes in a flurry of quick yet strong blows. Siegfried stood still as all the orcs around him stared at him. Siegfried howled with him awes raised to the sky, the orcs surrounding him fell limb.
Siegfried looked towards his men, they held a line but the pure number of orcs pushed the line to the longhouse. Siegfried charged forward.
"Not so fast." A deep and bellowing voice said. A large orc grabbed Siegfried by the neck and throw him through one of the stone huts. Siegfried coughed up some blood and chuckled.
Siegfried look up to see a large orc. The orc has a mask made from the skull of a large horned animal and a crown made from bones and gold, he wore lots of fur around his body and held a large great sword that he held like a simple long sword.
Siegfried dashed forward, his shadowy afterimage following him. A smirk appeared on Siegfried's face as stricken with both axes. The orc blocked both attacks and ripped the axes away from Siegfried, "I said not so fast." The orc smirked and gripped Siegfried on the neck. The orc tightened his grip and punched him in the stomach, "It'll be a pleasure to take all your women." The orc threw him towards the longhouse.
Siegfried landed on his face. Siegfried slowly got up and spit out blood, "I am getting a sense of deja vu," Siegfried said as his eyes lit up in a fiery glow, his shadow afterimage began to form his aura. Siegfried stood up, cracking his neck and back.
The orc charged at Siegfried and smashed his axe downward. Siegfried grabbed the axe's blade and tighten his grip on the blade, cracks formed in the blade of the axe and shadows seeped from it, "Hef þig."
Siegfried pushed the orc back. The orc laughed as it pushed hits broken axe to the side. The orc charged at Siegfried and launched his fist at him - Siegfried watched the fist as it flew towards him in the air, a smirk formed on his lips as he tilted his body to the left and grabbed the wrist of the orc and threw him into the longhouse.
The orc looked up and grunted. Siegfried watched the orc charge again - fist flung through the air, he ducked under the first and threw his right arm upward, he punched the orc on the under jaw, an uppercut. The orc stumbled back and chuckled, "I'll make this quick." The orc charged forward.
Siegfried smirked, "Predict-" The orc grabbed Siegfried by the legs and threw him into the longhouse.
Siegfried landed in the fire pit. The hot coals burned his skin - Siegfried laughed as he buried his hands in the coals. He grabbed a handful of coals and chucked them at the charging orc.
The orc stumbled back and wiped his eyes of ash. He opened his eyes to see a now shirtless Siegfried. "Ég er hérna," Siegfried announced with his arms extended outward, still standing in the hot coals.
The orc chuckled.
Both of them charged at each other, gripping each other hands the anchored themselves down and the power struggle began. Siegfried's face turned red, his muscles pushed to their max and beyond, the orc roared as the feet began to break the wood beneath them. Siegfried headbutted the orc and pushed forward gain ground. The orc grunted and pushed back placing them at the standstill. The orc pushed one of their hands down and punched Siegfried in the face. Siegfried growled and launched his fist towards the orc. His fist buried itself in the orc's stomach. The orc roared and grabbed Siegfried's legs and threw him across the longhouse.
Siegfried landed on his feet, the floorboards beneath him breaking on contact. Siegfried howled and dashed forward, appearing to the side of the Orc in a blink and launched his fist towards the orc's face.
The orc was launched into the wall, Siegfried pinned the orc to the wall. Siegfried headbutted the orc, smashing the orc's face into the wall. Siegfried stepped back and threw a punch. The orc was smashed through the wall and landed on his stomach.
The orc quickly stood up.
Siegfried stood in place as the orc roared and began his charge towards him. Siegfried kick in the air - a roundhouse kick, not suppose to hit - his foot land on the ground and launched him in the air, he tucked his jumping leg and allowed his other leg pump - his knee gains altitude - he rolls his body in mid-air. The top of his foot slammed into the orcs face, the orc to fall to its knees. Siegfried gripped the orc's head.
The orc laughed, "Your pretty good." The orc stood up. The orc took Siegfried's hand and threw him into the coals. "But not good enough," The orc turned his back to Siegfried.
"Siegy!" Siegfried looked up. The orcs hold all the women, his children lay dead in front of him.
Siegfried freezes in place, he rushes forward grabbing the body of his dead son and daughter. Siegfried looked up, his wife has tears rolling down her cheek. "Freja!" Siegfried yelled. Siegfried stands up and dashes forward.
The orc grabbed Siegfried by the neck. The orc threw him back into the longhouse, "Kill him."
Siegfried looked up, arrows fly towards with. Siegfried closed his eyes. He grunted in pain as the arrows struck him. Siegfried pulled the arrows out and opened his eyes.
The orc clapped his hands, "Hard to kill. But you like all other humans can be broken." The orc snapped his fingers. The longhouse was set aflame by large bags of oil and fire arrows. Siegfried closed his eyes as the flames quickly consumed the entire longhouse.
Siegfried looks down and fixates his sight on his dead daughter. The sound of his wife being taken or being raped do not ring to his ears. "What do I have left?" Siegfried asked himself as the roof of the longhouse collapsed onto him.
"What do I have left?"
"Come on! Help me move this rubble!" Claudia's voice said. Siegfried coughed up ash, he looked around the dark area, small embers in the wood did nothing to bring light to his tomb. "Hurry!" Siegfried felt the pressure on him become less and more light shined through to him. Siegfried pushed one of the collapsed logs off of him and began to drag himself out of the ash.
Claudia grabbed Siegfried's hand and pull him out. Siegfried crawled forward, he fell on his back and his breaths were laced with sorrow as he stared at his ash-covered hands. "Are their two other bodies in their?"
"No, just you," Claudia said as she sat down beside Siegfried.
Siegfried's heart sank, "These ashes…." Siegfried said gritting his teeth, "My….children." Siegfried stood up and saw his ruined land, burnt to ash. Siegfried scream slowly turned into a cry as he fell to his knees, "Gods fucking damn it!" Siegfried yelled.
Claudia casted her gaze away from Siegfried. She pointed at other female knights, "Get some water and towels." Claudia turned to Siegfried.
Siegfried grabbed a handful of the ash, "My family….my friends….my clan….my home…" Siegfried muttered to himself, "I still live….is….is this some kind of joke?" Siegfried laughed to himself, "Is this all a dream?"
"No….I'm sorry," Claudia said, she placed her hand on his shoulders, "We'll take you to see Celestine."
"Let me mourn," Siegfried said, "Give me a few."
"We'll leave you be," Claudia turned around and started to walk away. "We give him ten," Claudia told her other knights, they all nodded their heads.
Claudia paced around, "Ten minutes is up ma'am." Claudia sighed and walked around the corner. Claudia gasped as she watched Siegfried walk through the burnt crops and kept on walking, "After him!"
Siegfried kept on walking, his gaze forward yet he doesn't notice a thing. He walked and walked, body covered in the ashes of his children and friends. Siegfried muttered to himself, 'Cursed….forever cursed.'
Claudia grabbed Siegfried by the shoulder and slapped him, "What are you doing!"
"Going for a walk," Siegfried said emotionless. "My life has always been nothing but shit. Drunk father, enslaved, tossed to one master to another. Cursed to live forever."
Claudia looked downward, "Knights, leave us." The knights saluted and left.
"I will be back, I promise," Siegfried said looking directly at Claudia yet not noticing her. "Just going for a walk."
Claudia closed her eyes and nodded, "Go for your walk, I'll be waiting." Claudia turned Siegfried around and let him go. Siegfried began to walk again, straight, "I'll be waiting, Siegfried! The Lady wishes to speak to you!"
Siegfried kept on walking. He walked past town after town, city after city, river after river. He kept on walking, Southward, Eastward, Westward, never Northward. He kept on walking, not stopping for anything, not even sleep or food and drinks.