Days passed, the trip was quiet. The further I went north the ever luscious forest receded. It was replaced by a rocky mountainous landscape. The high altitude makes the air cold and thin unlike the dense warm air of the forest. It was subtle change but a welcoming one. In the North not many actually lived in the mountain ranges usually they lived near rivers or the White Sea's coast. Fish was the food of choice and the clear waters made it an excellent fishing. The few trees here live in valleys and stay green almost indefinitely. The mountains were snowcapped and the snow only grew by the day as winter approached. I trekked on one of the few paths in the North, the transport of choice was primarily was water. Mighty rowboats or sometimes smaller sail boats were the common vehicle. Hylians often had trouble actually invading this place, this climate and the lack of roads make it near inhospitable for them to actually live in compared to their lush farmlands and temperate climate. Life out here is rare but hardy and strong. It would not be uncommon to go weeks without seeing a single soul unless one knew where they were heading. The place I was heading to was the Tomb of Gar, not actually a Tomb for a God but more a like a temple and a graveyard. The Northern faith was highly decentralized to me and the rest of the North. None knows who actually built besides the myths that it was Gar itself. From what I could tell from my map it was probably a seven day journey if I took it slow. However, the food supply is scarce and is only going to get scarcer the higher I go. I would be able to get it down to a three day journey if I disregarded safety. I took a rest on the side of a cliff to think through the suggestions.

"I am about to reach the heart of the mountains, the Tronasleg Highlands if maybe I can pass through them by sunfall, use the Olden Pass, and pull an all-night trek. Then I should reach it by morning." I concluded with that plan, then I heard the faint sound of pebbles moving. I immediately got up, looked up, the lowered my head to the right.

"Rockslides, that's uncommon." I said and continued to walk. There was blind curve up ahead. Got to be careful there was not any wolves or any other creatures that were hiding around. I took it slow, hugged the wall, drew Reprisal and my shield, and assumed battle stance as I went around. There I spotted a grey wolf, it instinctively ran off.

"Strange, those are usually more south, must have gotten lost. Wait what is that?" I saw an arrow on the ground. It looked fresh and was well crafted. Someone is in the area, got to keep my eyes out, sometimes hunters laid traps meant for beasts but sometimes the lone wanderer unknowingly falls into, and there is one right in front of me, simple bear trap covered in leaves. I would not blame the hunters for placing traps on the roads, barely anyone would use them, and the people who were on the probably know more than your average adventurer. I continued to walk through the path, very rarely I would see a village in the far distance. Everything up here seemed so peaceful even though we were a warrior people. I started to get the meaning of the old phrase that War brings Peace.

"Okay Northern surrender your weapons." A voice called out. It shocked me! I was just getting my bearings then I turn around to a large band of Hylians. Hylians, doing this far up, insane, just insane.

"I won't say it ag…" The spokesperson was speared in the torso by my spear. The rest of the Hylians charged after me, even though there was many of them, I could tell they were out of breath. I as I sidestepped to the left one of them fell of the cliff. I crossed blades with another Hylian and blocked a blow from a charging Hylian spearmen. I unlocked blades, twirled the spear, whacked the spearmen in the head, and followed up a jab in the heart. I rushed onto a knee, took a chance and threw Reprisal at the swordsmen, it missed but struck another one behind him. I drew my sword and I crossed blades with my intended target. I overpowered him and slide the sword into one of his chinks.

Then I heard raging battlecry of a female warrior and a sick crunch of armor. Someone was behind them and hated Hylians. It surprised the swordsman in front of just enough so I could slice is neck. I retrieved reprisal from the dead corpse, then a Hylian was launched off into the cliff side. There was about nine left. The spearmen formed a two man wall and began advancing followed up by two more spearmen which would make suicide to charge. However whoever Northman women was behind was making short work of them behind. I could see a glimpse of an axe being swung menacingly. Then I came up with an idea. I ran towards the spear wall. Jumped off…the cliff-side, struck Reprisal into the soft crack in the rock, saving myself, and threw my sword at Hylian about to lunge at me. Another Hylian tried to skew me, but grabbed his spear and pulled him off. I trusted Reprisal, I pulled myself up and reached for the ledge only to meet a brazing from another spear that I nearly lost my grip to.

"Hold on you maverick!" The warrior said, then I heard a surge of fiery magic, then a slam, with a wall of fire blasting and incinerating the rest of the Hylians. Battlemage? I then saw the person who was friend in battle. She was the average height of a Northmen women, fair skin indicated must have been from the High North, bronze hair strapped in a ponytail with a simple white bandana covering her forehead, blue eyes, and was wearing medium set of armor. She was about the same age as me, I could have sworn she looked familiar.

"So you have…never mind. Let me help you first then we can talk." She said, she had a very calm voice even for a Northern lady.

"This going to be a little tricky, I going need this spear I have here."

"Don't worry, I saved many people from this situation, here grab onto this." She lowered a walking stick, taking a deep breath I grabbed one hand on to it.

"Are you ready?" I said.

"Yes."

I released the spear, and there was not even a jerk, her fighting matched her strength! I could just reach the ledge and pulled myself up on the path. I grabbed my sword from its corpse. The got up to meet this wanderer. I got a closer look at her, she was not the common rabble that traveled around here.

"Well met kinsmen, I am Freia Hjornsteim, daughter of Hjorn." She greeted herself.

"Ah, Jorgen Frostsplitter, clanborn. I thank you for your help, but I must ask what is a Hjornsteim doing way over here in the western part of the North?"

"I was about ask the same thing Jorgen. Only people you find here is Aurisband and Snowhearts here. But I must ask you is that Spear what I think it is?"

"Yes it is Reprisal. It is a long story, however, in a nut the entire Frostsplitter Clan is at war with Hyrule. However, it seems that they are trying to expand their presence her, the Gods seem to have had enough. I was struck by a light arrow but I did not die, now I am on my way to Gar's tomb to retrieve Gaurgir. If the legend holds true I am the Unbound Warrior, fateless." I exaggerated on the entire clan, hopefully I was wrong by now.

"It is safe to say that you are. Otherwise I would probably not have met you. Gar's tomb you say, if you are heading that way speak with distant uncle Bolvi in the village a few miles from here, he can get you set up for a ride to the tomb, take hours instead of days to reach it. Just mention Freia sent you, should more than enough. I just got done with fishing with him."

"I have to say, one of your kin must be an excellent enchanter. And take care, I head even farther west towards the Valley of Seers, Huri is leading an army from what he can muster to ambush the Hylians there."

"Aye, it's my uncle's axe, clever fool that one is, never knew how he got so far. So Huri is leading an attack against the Hylians, about time. I'll do whatever I can to send more help your way, but for now farewell, fateless."

Freia continued to walk east while I continued to walk west. I still could not believe the Hylians were up this high. Maybe it was to scout out in case we Northmen interfered with their main army. So Bolvi I must find, I stopped to look for chimney smoke or sail boats around. I did catch a tiny glimpse of smoke in the distance.

"Jorgen, we have a problem. A big problem." Freia came back I turned around. If something was scaring her then it had to something bad. Probably more Hylians.

"Hylians?"

"Yes and a lot of them, practically an entire army's worth!"

"What in the name of Gar are they doing here?" I saw what she was talking about. Nothing but a line of them marching. From our position no more about eight or seven miles, it seemed to stolen a well amount of ships as well, dirty thieving bastards.

"Probably heading west you mention, that Valley you mentioned is only about few dozen miles from here, seems like more when you're going up and down so much. Let's get to Bolvi so we can warn the people about this!"

We began to run through the roads as fast as possible. If we could save at least one of them at that village then it would be. I could not believe it, how in the world did managed to tactically maneuver throughout these mountains? They should have went south, even though it is longer, no Hylian was prepared for this as we passed another blind curve and there was the village. The cliff side gradually got less steep to the point where we could run straight at it.

"Damn Hylians, they don't even respect our mountains and borders anymore. Now they are taking our ships?" Freia said.

"Oh they love to press their claims down in Frostsplitters, the hooligans come raiding down there to. My hamlet was ambushed by them, nearly everyone was taken prisoner or including the Chief. They claim it was to bring us up into civilization, pah! They just want slaves as soldiers!"

We arrived in the little village. It was eerily peaceful for what was about to happen. People were going about their day, harvesting the rare chicken eggs, fishing, pulling the onions and potatoes from the ground, most people here were established families. Freia grabbed my arm and led me to Bolvi's hut. She burst open the down to see a surprised Bolvi and wife having a meal. Freia finally released my hand, I could feel the blood circulating through it again.

"Uncle, an entire Hylian army is heading this way."

"Is that…Reprisal?"

"Uncle! Didn't you hear what I just said?"

"Yes, yes my dear it is just that, that is Reprisal. The Sphere of Ronnourth my Gods, you must be the Unbound Warrior uhh…"

"Jorgen of the Frostsplitter Clan, however as you daughter said there is little time. I need to get to the Tomb of Gar to retrieve Gaurgir. Your kin told me you can aid me with that." I said.

"Aye I can, I always owned a boat to sail myself up there to pay my respects. However, if this Hylian army is coming. Then I afraid were going to need every boat we can possible need."

"Well, send them up to Gariuani, the river leads down there and to the Tomb. We know where the Hylians are heading."

"The Gariuani, I wish I had not come to this day that my people must flee to there. Can we fight them? I can prepare a boat but I will need time."

"Uncle, they are in the thousands. They move with haste, sometimes the bear must flee from his cave." Freia said.

Bolvi looked down, I could see he had to go through a lot. Leaving homeland is a burden one cannot take lightly, especially for these smaller village folk. Even now my old destroyed hamlet still calls for me come home. It is what every warrior yearns to return to whether it be a shack or a longhouse.

"Aggi get everything you need, you know, food, water clothing for ourselves. I have an announcement to make. Come Freia and Jorgen, I'll get you to the Tomb." Bolvi promised

Bolvi stepped outside and took a deep breath. He walked down the steps leading from his door. We followed him to the Shrine of Ulur. He began to call the people from their homes and work. The people began to make a crowd in front of us. I could see the glimmer of shine from armor in the far distance. They were closing in faster than I have anticipated, their general must have been ruthless.

"Brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, daughters, and sons I have to reveal good and bad to come soon. From these two here who stand next to me, have spotted an entire Hylian army. Do not panic gather your food, water, clothing, and whatever else you cannot leave behind. We must sail to Gariuani to seek shelter. The good you might ask, is that the day that we are oppressed by Hyrule is coming. This man right here, bears the Spear of Reprisal, the Gods themselves have gotten angered by the Hylians, and they have lead the Unbound Warrior to Gar's tomb, where he is receive Gaurgir, a piece to overthrow the Tyranny of the Three! Go now, time waits for none! We must move with haste." Bolvi spoke, there was not a word of doubt, and everyone began to gather belongings quickly but with little panic.

"Now let's get out those ships. Follow me." Bolvi said.

"Your niece said that you are an enchanter?"

"Why yes I am, I crafted that axe Freia has to be attuned to fire, inspired by Horga's axe."

"I wonder, how will do your trade now if your table is gone."

"It does not matter, the table only is for the elegance. Ah here we are." Bolvi opened the down, released a lever to open the flood gates. There were to sail boats that could fit more than enough people onto, it was just the supplies I wondered. Most Northmen could go without food for time but there was young-uns coming aboard. Soon enough people started to get aboard, the entire town was aboard in about an hour, stocked with an impressive amount of supplies.

"They are about fifteen minutes out Bolvi!" A commoner who was just entering the port said. I and Freia were still off board waiting for extra stragglers. It seemed no one else was coming so I closed the door singling to Bolvi we were ready to go. Freia boarded the closest ship.

"Alright, time to say farewell before they say hello. Jorgen, hit the third and fourth lever, should send us into the sweet spot if I perfected right."

I pulled the levers, first the far one was launched out then the second one, and then I ran and jumped on deck. Like that we were out, as good we are in battle we are just as good at leaving to. Our ships had to be lighter because we were out running the Hylians. The river would carry us even far north, Gar's tomb was not even that far out it seemed now.

"So, what is your story?" Freia said.

"It is long one."

"Well we all be waiting for a while now, not many people will get to ever see you again."

"Well it all started…"

I was out in the fields, my hamlet was a plateau you could easily see Death mountain, Hyrule castle, the forest that lied just south of the hamlet. I was picking potatoes for my old grandpa, he was ill. I was working for him, as he gave me a place to stay for my work when I was not helping the local defenders raid to shoo away the ever encroaching Hyrule. It was good life then. Then all of sudden Chief Huri of my clan the Frostsplitter came riding into our town. Most of us were confused, why what such a powerful clan leader be doing here. I later found out he was here as a stopping point on his way west about to lead a raid against a Hyrulean outpost. Huri was always fiercely defiant of the Hylians and it showed. He later said that he was taking any followers with him. I wanted to go, anyone would want to go into battle with their chief. However, the battle came to us. Somehow, I would never know how they managed to find us, be it a sightseer, a lord's request or simply a pricy bounty. We were attacked by hundreds of Hylians marching their way into the camp. The even had siege weaponry. I immediately went inside to warn my grandpa. He knew what was going on and told me this.

"That armor fits you over there, the axe is sharpened. The shield is light and strong. Get it on, I will be fine."

I hastily put the armor and shield on and grabbed the axe, but the door was busted and the place was being flooded by Hylians. I could managed to kill two of them, before one whacked me with a spear pole which to my unprotected head made me unconscious. The last thing I could hear is Grandpa wrestling with full armored plated Hylians before I blacked out.

"…that leads me up to here." I told them about the siege of Hyrule Castle, the campsite battle, the miraculous camp infiltration and the cliff side battle. I told them where I was heading. They were generally impressed by the stories, most are, as we barely right down anything, so when someone has a story to tell one has good memory. Thank the Gods I have one. I saw that the Tomb of Gar was in sight, the boat was slowly pulling over to the left. I would have to jump off. The tomb looked much older than last time I looked at it. Broken pillars leading to the doors carved into the cliff side. There lay an altar at the front of the door and the courtyard had Relics of Great Fallen Chiefs.

"You've had hectic journey, may you find fortune and glory within the Valley." Bolvi said.

I said farewell and jumped into the water, I landed just beyond the banks, and then I heard another splash as well, and turned to see Freia jumped off as well.

"I cannot let this pass, to enter Gar's tomb, would be a great honor."

"No turning back now anyway."

Two was better than one, besides I do not know what I could find inside Gar's tomb, probably a lot of traps. Paying our respects to each fallen Chief, we entered the courtyard and prepared to reach the altar. A last wave of farewell to Bolvi and rest, however, when I put my hand down I could felt my sword's sheath was extremely cold, bitterly cold. I unsheathed it, it emanated dark bluish white light and I could feel a blast of cold before it dissipated. I could control at we though it sapped my stamina.

"So much for elegance."