A/N: Happy new year! I can explain why this chapter was late, I got a game called Crusader Kings 2, it has destroyed my life! Despite that I manage to finish this chapter and its...meh, I would like to work on it more but I gotta give something. So here is this chapter, please enjoy as things are finally happening!
Chapter 11
Stories of Old
"Open the gates!" Siegfried yelled as the three arrived at the gates of Feoh - the fortress that is under the protection of Alice. Olga and Chloe had cloaks concealing their visage, they watched as Siegfried yelled frantically for them to open the gate. "I have an urgent message for Alice!" Some guards looked down at Siegfried, they eyed him for a few moments. They started to converse with one another before they went silent and turned their attention elsewhere. The gates started to open with Alice walking out accompanied by other guards, her personal guards of women, and the minister of the fort.
"What do you want Barbarian? I thought you were on a secret mission," she said as she stood in front of him, "Well, out with it!"
Siegfried eye the guards, and the condition of the fortress, "The Black Dogs are planning on storming this fortress, they don't have siege engines luckily, but their numbers are far greater than yours, and they have a great number of demons with them," Siegfried pointed behind them, "You have maybe….five, six hours before they get here. I would suggest that you send a message to the nearest fortress and ask-."
"That would have been Prim, but she is gone and her levies are already with me, along with the citizens of the fortress," Alice said as she glanced behind him and glared at the two hooded figures, "Our numbers have doubled, I doubt the Black Dogs will be able to take this fortress."
"You don't understand, the army is far greater than even yours. This isn't even an army its a horde, the greatest horde you probably saw in recent history," Siegfried said as he took a few steps closer, "if you get the message to the Northlandish army stationed near-."
"I will not have barbarians in my fortress," Alice said with a growl as he stared Siegfried in the eyes, "I thank you for your message, I will be sure to prepare my levies," Alice said as she stepped closer to Siegfried, the two almost face to face with Alice having to look up at Siegfried as his frame towers over her yet she has this glare of anger and hatred in her eyes. Siegfried pays no mind to it, "You may leave, or I will force you to leave."
Siegfried didn't move, he looked her in the eyes as if he was looking for something. Closing his eyes he turned around and shook his head, "Women," he mumbled under his breath. He turned around and shook his head, "Fine, don't call the people here to help with this problem. Don't call them. In fact, I'll call them," Siegfried said as opened his palm, a small golden flame came to life, dancing and mingling in his palm. The flame slowly started to dance in the form of a small fey-like creature with small flaming butterfly-like wings and having the frame of a girl. It flew out of his palm and danced around Siegfried. It moved in front of him and held his forehead and press hed tiny head against his.
"What is it you wish to ask of me Hetja?" the sprite asked Siegfried. She darted around him, waiting for an answer. She is a playful creature and danced around Siegfried and Alice as she waited for her answer.
"Send a message to the Northlander lieutenant, Sigurðr, that I request that he marches up here with his entire army," Siegfried said, the sprite was about to fly off but he raised his hand, "and make sure he gets here before the sun falls." She sprite nodded her head and smiled before jolting off in a fiery, albeit small, blaze that left Alice and Siegfried blinded. "The Gods had to send me a young Valkyrie," Siegfried mumbled under his breath.
Alice glared at Siegfried, "Call her back," she said as she reached for her sword, "Call that demon back," she nearly growled as she said that, "I have don't need any-."
"You will be silent, girl, and you will give me the command of your fortress," Siegfried said in a stern and low voice. "You will follow my orders child, and you will give me the command of the fortress," Siegfried said, giving a stern look, "You are merely a child….Is this truly what Austia's best has to offer?!" Siegfried announced aloud, "A child leading an army of brave soldiers!" Siegfried walked past Alice and held his arms open, "The Black Dogs and their vile Demonic armies are here! They'll be at your gates any time soon! Put aside your hatred for us Northlanders and allow me to help!" Alice was about to speak but Siegfried hushed her with a simple raised hand, "My name is Siegfried Dragon-Heart, I led the great raid against the Oriental lands of Austia, pillaging every village and temple," Siegfried sighed as he closed his eyes, "But today you fight a foe far greater than me! The Black Dogs and their demonic allies have come here bring about damnation! Let me lead you to victory on this trying hour!" Siegfried said as he turned to Alice, "Allow me to help, such a battle would be too much. Give me command and I will bring victory," Siegfried said in an almost fatherly tone.
Alice looked at her personal guard and the soldiers who started to gather at the gates. She let out a sigh, "Meet me in my war room within two hours," she said before marching off with her personal guard, "And keep those Dark Elves on a tight leash," she said before she left the scene.
Olga and Chloe walked up to Siegfried, he nodded to them. "We are wasting our time, we should be heading molten pit," Olga whispered to him.
"I agree, the molten pit is our top priority but we still don't know where it is, only that it is in the Outlands," Siegfried said as they walked into the fortress city, "but perhaps I may be able to find….something here," Siegfried said as they made their way to the centre building in the fortress.
Siegfried waited outside the war room, and has been for a good hour or so. Olga chooses to spend her time elsewhere and Chloe like the dog she has followed her. Siegfried was alone, sitting outside the war room. He opened his palm and formed a golden light in his palms, in his other hand he formed a shadowy mist. He sighed as he stood up and grabbed one of the decorative swords and looked at it. He slides his finger gently down the blade of the sword, "Still sharp…." he said as the door opened and walked out the minister of the city and eyed him as he walked by Siegfried who still held the sword in his hand.
"You may come in heathen," Alice spoke from inside the war room. Siegfried stood up and watched the minister for a moment, his heart was beating pretty fast but the man was a bit overweight, yet that wasn't it, something felt off about him. Siegfried shook his head, he still has no idea how his sense increased, that is what baffled him, could be that he still isn't used to his heightened senses. Siegfried entered the room, Alice looked over a detailed map of Austia and off to the corner a map of the Northlands. "I won't give you command of the fortress, but you can help me defend the fortress," Alice said as she observed the map, "My scouts just came back, they say they'll be making their way from the North," Alice said pointing to the location on the map, "Normally I would send a large force of skirmishers to fight these, but the scouts have reported a vast army of various Demons making the large bulk of the army," Alice said as she looked up at Siegfried, "I would send out large force of heavy cavalry to attack them before they could get here, hopefully, able to kill as many of those bastards as possible."
Siegfried nodded his head, "Shock Combat would be good. Here," Siegfried pointed on the map, "Send a large force of heavy infantry and archers to push the army to here," Siegfried pointed valley, "Northlandish legends speak of this place as the 'Hollowed Valley', its where the Elvish armies killed over hundred thousand Nourns, something that truly shook the tide of war in their favour," Siegfried said as he leaned back and pondered on a few things, "There you can set up the ambush, send the Heavy Cavalry down into the passage. The remaining heavy infantry reinforced with Northlandish warriors can storm in from behind the army, thus encircling the army and destroying it," Siegfried stated.
Alice nodded her head, "It could work but…." Alice said as she eyes the map, "There are rumours about that place….not even the Demons go there," Alice says as she sighs, "I am guessing you don't know them,"
"They are only rumours, I am sure-"
"They say the spirit of a Dragon rests within the valley, and that a cold mist has shrouded for over thousands of years," Alice said as she stared up at him, "My mother, the previous Shield Princess, died in that valley, battling some mysterious army that raided both us and the Demons," Alice closed her eyes, "I know not of our legends and myths, but this valley is cursed, and I dare not send forces their."
Siegfried shook his head, "Then we reinforce and fortified this Fortress," Siegfried exclaimed, "Your fortresses are some of the worst things I ever had to raid," Siegfried said with a smile, "When I raided the Oriental Fortress of Kaguya, a successful raid against a Fortress, I was hailed as a Hero, said to dine with the Gods when I die," Siegfried nodded his head, "But I spent three months, with siege engines, siege engines! We Northlanders had to copy your siege engines just to raid one of your Fortresses, and it still took three months!" Siegfried said in a loud voice, "Three months! Even with the help of siege engines we still couldn't get in, so we had to bribe some corrupt officials to open the gates," Siegfried pointed to the fortress on the map, "Fortified the fortress, organized the army, and prepare for a siege. We are going to win this. You are going to win this," Siegfried said.
Alice nodded in agreement, "That is a good plan, well as any will be," Alice said as walked past Siegfried, "Gather the men! Organize the army! Prepare for war!" Alice yelled as she marched down the halls.
Siegfried nodded to himself, "Reminds of Saoirse, stubborn, brash, but caring as always….although she is a little brat," Siegfried mumbled to himself as he walked out of the room.
Runá was dossing off as a man in very elegant clothing, for a Northlander, was going on about the state of the Empire. His clothing was clearly well tailored, with golden strings woven into silk clothing, he wore a white wolf pelt over his shoulder where a cape hung. "Thus High King Gwyn only requires your hand in marriage to fully bring peace and unity to our people," the man said.
Prim was writing all the things being said, she looked up at Runá and nudged her a bit. She opened her eyes and sighed, "Sir Colleen, I must reject his hand in marriage. Tell him I will not submit to his rule and raid as I please," Runá said as she stood up from her wooden throne, "Gwyn may be the High King but he is not my High King. Tell him I will not be part of his harem of bitches, and the only thing he'll have is my corpse," Runá said as she sat back down.
The man bowed, "Most unfortunate but it is to be expected from your likes," he said as he turned around, "May the fortunes be ever favoured for you," he said as he walked out of the Longhouse.
Runá sighed, "Same damn thing," she mumbles under her breath. She glances towards Prim, she gave her a nod, "Thank you," she said as she postures herself. "I have a favour to ask you, Prim," she said as the next person entered the longhouse, "But it'll wait after," she said as the woman introduced herself.
"Yggdrasil….stories say it is the most beautiful of creation," Siegfried told himself as he leaned over the high walls railing and stared off into the stars, "They say when the Gods came in being from the Ginnungagap the first thing they did was create the worlds in which they could rule," Siegfried smiled as he watched the stars dance, "Yet when the first seed formed in sprouted into a beautiful tree that connected the creation of the Gods," Siegfried looked to his side and saw the fiery fey swinging her legs as she 'sat' in the air, "The leader of the Gods would name the tree Yggdrasil, after the father of creation, Yggdra."
The fey nodded her head, "I always loved hearing the story of Yggdra and Danu, those two truly love their creation for they gave their lives so all others would live," she said as she darted around for a moment before resting on Siegfried's shoulder, "Dragon?"
"Yes, Himinnhildr?"
"Please tell me a story of you and the Mother Bear."
Siegfried smiled as he let out a chuckle and a smile, "Well….to tell you that story it has to be in song," Siegfried said as he coughed. He looked out in the cold snowy plains, he let out a sigh with his breath dancing outward into the cold air. His voice was low, giving this bellowing feeling as he let out a harmonic noise from his throat that put both the fey and Olga and Chloe in a trance as they closed their eyes and listened into his singing.
Hlustaðu á mig núna, sársaukinn minn
Ljóð mitt um ást
Sagan af fjölskyldu minni
Lífið sem guðirnir komu til mín
Systir, má ég segja þér
Móðir björn, fegurð hennar var ætt við stjörnurnar
Ég kallaði til þín
Fegurð þín er Freyja
Vinsamlegast blessaðu mig með hendi þinni
Hún sagði mér
Þú gætir haft hjarta mitt þegar þú deyðir bane ástarinnar okkar
Ó, Dreki, drepaðu ætt þína
Hjarta þitt veit aðeins sársauka
Það mun aldrei vita ást fyrr en þú tapar Dragon
Ég hrópaði til hennar
Horfðu á mig móður, bjargaðu mér
Ég mun drepa þennan drekann
Ég mun krefjast kærleika okkar
Aðeins ef þú vilt segja að þú elskar mig
Siegfried's voice was filled with a choir of melancholy as he sang, the fey swayed her head to the singing, enjoying the story and tearing up as she heard Siegfried sing. His voice carried into the wind drifted into the distance. His voice could be heard across the entire fortress, many of the residences walked out and listened to his song, it filled with a sense of warmth and comfort mixed with sorrow.
O, fífl var ég
Að drepa drekann
Fyrir hjartanu hjúkrunarinnar
Aðeins fyrir hjarta mínu að vera Dragon
Vonlaus mannkynið mitt til drekans
Vetur var sterkur
margir dóu fyrir leitina mína
Ferðin var heimskuleg
Ástin mín var heimskuleg
Eldur og snjór
Bardaginn var lengi
margir voru glataðir
Ég bað til guðanna
Hjálpa kappinn þinn!
Guðin svaraði
Bless þú með sverði þínu!
Gefðu styrk þúsunda til þín
Drepa drekann fyrir ást!
Vinna þennan bardaga til heiðurs!
Siegfried stood still, his song stopped as he looked out in the distances and closed his eyes, "How was that little one?" he asked looking at the Fey who stretched her legs and arms out letting out a quiet yawn.
"You have the voice of seeress," the fey winked at him. "Well, thank you for singing me a song before I have to go. Now let us finish the contract," she said as she floated. "Hold your hand out," Siegfried put his right hand out and looked at the fey, "I, Kráka, swear solemnly to the Gods, that I hereby serve thine till death do thy part," Kráka said with a bow of her head, "Upon your death, your soul shall speak a poem of it," she said, still reciting the contract, "For upon your death I shall carry the poem to the Ӕsir, Vanir, and the Tuatha Dú Danann. They shall mourn your life and welcome you in the eternal halls of the Tech nír Ӕsserheim," Kráka let out a sigh and chuckled with a smile, "I do look forward to seeing your death! But I am more excited to see the adventure we are going to be going on!" she shouted just before she disappeared leaving a single parting word, "The Gods watch you! Do them proud!"
Siegfried smiled as he watched Kráka dart around before a bright golden light shrouded her with a small pillar of rainbow light jutting out from the sky before disappearing and taking Kráka with it. "Never thought the Gods would gift me with such an elegant creature," he mumbled to himself as he slowly turned around and froze as he saw Olga and Chloe, "How long were you there?"
"Just before you started singing," Chloe said, "You….sound beautiful," she mumbled, hoping neither of them heard them.
Olga step up and sighed, "We truly are doing this?"
"Well….you were the one who wanted to come with me," Siegfried said as he looked off in the distance, "They took longer than expected," he said as the distance torches blazed in the horizon, "Well….let us prepare for battle." The army was massive, with loud drumming aiding in the fearful presence of the bellowing singing. Thunderous horns roared in the winds. The army was here and Siegfried sighed as he watched them march towards the fortress. "So….the war begins."
"It already began," Chloe said.
"You know what…." Siegfried turned to Chloe's direction, "Just let me monologue to myself please."