September 10th 5:13pm

The town was dark, men and women and children like slept. Their dreams filled with sweet nothings. Women and riches covering beds and floors. Being renowned for their excellent sewing techniques. Sweets and adventures and friendships forged in play. All unaware as lambs.

The morning sky was dusted purple, with stars peeking out, fading from sight. The moon hanging on the horizon reluctant to leave as the sun rises slowly from the East. Clouds purple and dark and ominous covered the sky choking out the stars. Birds were silent, no insects chirped, dogs and cattle and cats were reluctant to make so much as a peep, the fur rising on their backs. Those that weren't chained up ran from the town disappearing into the woods.

In the lonely bay on which the village was built, a single ship sailed silent as a specter into the docks. Men in leather armor brandishing cruel iron weapons slunk off the ship onto the deck, their faces covered in blood, dirt and salt from the foam of the sea where the waves lapped against the ship and christened them as her sons.

A man walked off of the ship, confident and strong. A young man of fifteen with violet eyes and silver hair, the color of the moonlight on a disturbing night where witches roam and spells are cast. The air around him exuded power. Over his shoulders, with his arms draped over the ends lazily, he carried a large ax. Across his shoulders a wolfs pelt lay, and dark rich red fabric fell down to the ground. The end spattered with dried mud and dirt. An iron wolf with amethyst eyes snarled out from the clasp on his cape.

He looked over his men smiling, his eyes glittering with excitement.

"Go on men, you don't have to wait for me. Have your fun. Take what you want, rape whom you want. Kill whom you want. But be aware of each other."

The men grinned and went off following their young Kaptjan's orders.

They crept into houses murdering husbands and children and raping wives. Screams began filling the air and the villagers were roused by the blood curdling screams. A house was lit on fire and soon it spread, the dry grass and thatched roofs aiding the hungry flames.

Within a certain house, crystal blue eyes snapped open sitting up in bed. Valkyrie leapt out of bed donning her leather armor and lion pelt cape quickly. Her eyes darted around the room rapidly settling on her shield and mace. She stood strong and defiant, looking at the front door, mace raised. Ready for a viking to break down her door. She had not experienced a raid on her home village, her fathers name had kept them away for years.

On the streets the man smiled, his wild silver hair flying in all directions as he walked through the streets with ease, uncaring to the blood pooling on the ground and the screams filling his ears. He stepped over a headless man and made his way towards the house with the blue and gold banner decorated with a roaring lion. He looked at the front door before grinning and peeking through a window. His breath caught in his throat when he spied the beautiful woman within. He grinned as his pants tightened, making his way to the back of the house. He silently opened the door creeping into the house. The screams in the village covered the sound of the floorboards creaking under his feet.

Valkyrie narrowed her eyes focusing her senses. She heard the slightest creak behind her. Her eyes widened and she felt the air move. Reacting quickly she side stepped and brought her mace up. The resounding crack of metal against metal filled the room as ax and mace met in a bone jarring clash of metal.

Blue met violet in a contest of wills as the silver haired man and golden haired woman circled each other.

The man grinned at her, lust clear in his eyes.

"A warrior are you?"

The woman scowled at him, her gaze frigid. Fear did not touch her. Curiosity and anticipation, however, did.

"Nej. A valkyrie."

The man's grin widened impossibly.

"Well, I am in luck then. You see I'm a viking. I could use a valkyrie in my bed."

Unfazed she lunged at him shoving him back with a blow to his shield with her mace.

"I care not for what you want. Only a man who can best me in battle may have my maidenhood."

Violet eyes glittered and his posture shifted. She noted how he was like a wolf. A predator, a hunter. And she was his prey.

"Oh I plan to hold you to your word. But how rude of me, I am Nikolaus Kholer. Kaptjan and Lord Wolf. And who are you?"

Valkyrie glared at him ducking under a swing from his ax punching him in the face.

"Lady Lion, Valkyrie Oxenstierna, dotter of the Lord Lion Oxenstierna. I am a valkyrie in name and spirit and strength."

Nikolaus grinned and stepped back raising his ax.

"You'll be the Lady Wolf when I'm done with you."

She snorted and raised her shield and mace.

"Never. I am and always will be a Lion."

The man, Nikolaus, grinned and the began their own dance of blades. She was swift and sure-footed, dodging and blocking every blow, evading when he attempted to trap her into a corner. Shoving him back when he got too close to her. He snarled and raged like a wolf chasing and slashing at his prey, swinging his ax down breaking her walls and her table, destroying everything in his path.

His eyes flickered around. He was beginning to sweat. He had underestimated this girl, this woman who claimed to be a valkyrie. He looked around, there had to be a way to defeat her. She was his equal in battle. And he wanted her to become his no matter what. Losing wasn't an option.

His eyes settled on a beam, supporting her weakened roof. To the left and right other beams stood broken. All the weight now rested on this single pole. His smile turned feral. It was cheating, but he would still win.

With a mighty swing he backed her towards the pillar. He laughed as she ducked and he swung straight across.

Valkyrie frowned at the beaming man as he lowered his ax.

"Why are you grinning? You missed."

Nikolaus shook his head, his silver hair wild, his violet eyes glittering in happiness.

"Whoever said I was aiming for you, my dear?"

The groan of splintering wood filled her ears. tens, hundreds, thousands of snapping sounds of wood splintering apart. She whirled, eyes widening in horror.

The beam was severed, wood cracking and splintering under the weight of the roof. She had no time to make a sound. She had no time step back or turn away. The last thing she saw was the roof falling down on and around her. A large chunk hit her in the face, and her world went black.

Nikolaus smiled watching the dust settle. The woman was unconscious on the ground half covered by the rubble of what was once her roof. He strapped his ax to his back and knelt down, pulling her out of the rubble and slinging her up into his arms bridal style. He walked out of the house whistling. The sun was beginning to take over the sky, fires raged turning the sky black blotting out the sun, men and children lay dead and dying in the streets, puddles of blood forming through the streets.

A light rain began falling and the blood ran down the streets in a morbid river.

Women wept naked and beaten on the streets and in their houses, one naked woman walked the streets stumbling over dead bodies sobbing crying out for help in a tremulous soprano voice. A passing viking looked at her and swung his greatsword, taking off her head in one clean swing.

Nikolaus grinned and walked down the dock and onto his ship. He set her down in the back near him binding her hands and feet.

A crew member walked on lifting an eyebrow blood spattered across his face.

"What have ya got there Kaptjan?"

Nikolaus grinned at him, his entire face showing his glee.

"My future bride."

The men coming onto the ship heard, laughing heartily.

Nikolaus shook his head waiting for his men to return before unfurling their sail.

"ROW!"

The men scrambled to their oars and began rowing, one picking up the drum and beginning the beat to keep them all in sync.